Therese and I
Judging by the results of the battle, the three representatives hold high-ranking power compared to us goblins. As Elanor and Cece had shown, they overpowered us with their sheer experience without tapping the depths of their arcane. If they really wanted to win, then using their trump cards at the beginning of the clash will end the fight in a flash.
They paired me up against Markus for the next battle, despite tasting defeat to the majestic fox girl. So I put my points in both intelligence and dexterity equally (10 points each). I ought to be someone who has an ample amount of mana that can cast spells at the back-line, which compliments our trio line-up. My team lacks in the spell department, thinking that having a magician in our party will balance our aptitude. I also need to position myself quickly and avoid eating the enemy's magic projectiles or melee attacks as much as necessary.
[Name]: {Nameless} [Titles]: {Slightly Weak} {Loyal Leader-Friend}
[Species]: {Goblin} [Occupation]: {none}
[Age]: {0.04 year old} [Class]: {none}
[Level 7] {Next Level-> 192/18,000 Experience}
[Stat points]-{0}
[STR]- 2 [VIT]- 2 [MEN]- 7
[DEX]- 11 [INT]- 21 [LCK]-1
[M. DMG]-15
[CRT]- 0.02%
[H. RATE]- 105.%
[C. DMG]- 14.0%
[DEF]- 2
[P. RES]- 1.0%
[M. RES]- 0.0%
[EVD]- 3.0%
— [Health] --- {10/10 [+0.5 Hp regeneration per minute]
— [Arcana] --- {318/318 [+3.93 Arc regeneration per minute]
It also appears that I have levelled up, and was now level 7. I, furthermore, allotted the six extra points to my Mentality, hoping it has done something to me.
"Next up-," Draven said, but gets immediately interrupted by the footsteps of Markus descending towards the arena.
"Markus versus Therese and Lake!"
The silent stadium clamours our ears, as both the princess and I gape at the tall figure of the knight clad in silver armour. His kind face does not show in his usual expression. Instead, he gas the leer of a lion looking for his prey.
Markus walks to us slowly and peets at our direction with sharp, with menacing eyes intimidating the two of us with a single glance.
"Lake," He utters while drawing his wooden sword used for training rookie soldiers in the sparring section.
"Yes, your highness," I answered.
"Take care of my daughter for me," He added. "I ask you not as the King of my Kingdom, but as a father."
After finishing his sentence, Elanor cues the start of the match. Markus, however, has a novel idea and wants the princess and me to initiate the attack.
"Therese," I call out her name.
She turns her head and gives me a nod. "What should we do?" her shivering voice echoes in the battlefield.
Suddenly, the clear and azure screen pops in, alerting me the message that I needed to see.
[Due to the unfavourable circumstances, the system perceives Therese as Lake's ally. Therefore, Therese {Princess of Kingdom of Joker}, will be added to the party]
My perception changes around me, allowing me to see a glimmer of light circling the princess. Moments later, a new set of messages reports to me, showing that Therese is now a member of my faction.
"I can somehow feel my body becoming lighter?" She interrogatively said while looking elsewhere at her surroundings. "And more powerful."
Promptly afterwards, a status window appears before me with the familiar numbers that I and the two goblins have.
[Human {Female} lvl 13] [Title: Princess of the Kingdom of Joker]
[Class]: {Magician}
[Stat points]-{0}
[STR]- 7 [VIT]- 13 [MEN]- 21
[DEX]- 3 [INT]- 44 [LCK]-14
I concur she has the most intelligence points among the rest of the people I know. It is unfortunate that I cannot determine the status of the three representatives and Markus. I need to enhance and level up my [Analyse]. For now, this information is vital for our battle.
Markus, who was still waiting for our turn, gives us an audible grunt, hoping it had reached our attention.
"He's getting impatient," I said while conjuring the water jet and water balls I am most familiar with.
Brushing off her curiosity, Therese faces her father and chants a spell neoteric to my ears. As she speaks her arcane, the terra firma around us quakes and somehow lifts the rocks. After reaching a certain height, the pebbles ready themselves and aims directly to Markus waiting arms.
Without a second to lose, I advance and discharge my liquid sphere, together with the gravels that Therese did. All of our projectiles are speedy and linear, aiming at all points where Markus could even escape.
Woefully, Markus uncomplicatedly casts his set of magic circles and materialises a gust barrier in front of him, blocking the missiles.
I already knew what was coming, so I shifted my direction and floated above his head to get an advantage.
'I need to hit his back while Therese distracts him', I told my mind while setting up multiple condense orbs pointed at his way. On command, a dozen orb flies towards Markus' rear and obstruct yet again by the deceptive guise of the wind wall.
"Are these spells the only thing you have learned, my beloved daughter?" Markus taunts Therese continuously firing all sets of spells at his way. However, I can see the tears in his eyes flowing like a river, exhausted from consuming an extensive amount of arcane inside her body.
I must end this soon if we want to win or lay a scratch on the unassailable knight. Gazing down below, I notice a puddle of water and mist coating below Markus's legs from the attacks that both Therese and I did.
A light bulb emerges in my brain as I hurriedly perform my cheap tactics.
"Markus!" I draw his attention while firing water balls once again as a sort of distraction.
The transparent walls deflect my attack and launch back straight at me. But with a slight drift and turn, I evaded the counterattack while pursuing the plan I wanted to achieve.
"I like your daughter!" my voice blurt out loud while sneakily controlling the mist and the puddle beneath his post. "I love her!"
"What?!" It was the very first time that the Kingdom of Joker expressed an angered look on his face. He grinds his teeth against the surface of his tongue, expressing the untamed rage swelling inside.
I wanted to call out the deity that dumped me here, asking for forgiveness and a shield that can protect me from Markus' anger.
At long last, Markus snaps and wields his hands over to my direction, completely oblivious to my scheme. Seeing his focus on my figure, I conjure my magic and envelop his legs with the fog and pool of scarlet blood.
His intuition riles up, notifying his senses from the dangerous coup. Deeming it as a threat, he swiftly transfers his aim to the surrounding haze while heating the wet floor.
The more he struggles on increasing the temperature of the water, the mist only goes thicker. I did not know whether Markus was aware of his situation, but the skirmish was in our favour.
Truth be told, my heart pounds more turbulently than before while converging near to my goal. However, like a graceful dancer performing on a stage, Markus unsheathes his wooden sword and embeds it with magic. He swings his blade and vanishes into the mist with the water on the ground.
In just a few seconds, the lead that I have disappears from my sight, shackling me to the grave.
I could not follow his movements as he rushed forward and hit the head of Therese with the pommel, knocking her out cold.
"Fast!" I gulped, trying to escape my impeccable doom; but alas, it was too late.
One sleight of a fist was enough to eliminate me and my consciousness. The last image I saw was Markus's figure walking closer to me with a faint smile on his face.
"You are one of a kind, Lake, the goblin."
__________________________________________________
Similar to what had happened to me before, the quiet room awoke me, with birds chirping from afar. Familiar works of literature compiled on the shelf welcomes my eyesight, and Therese's sleeping body on the bed.
Her hair was chaotic when seen up close, but her petite appearance sleeping silently paints her as an angel in disguise.
I remember everything now. The arena we had fought, the lessons we have learned; these make sense to me.
Markus and the others are all conducting our strengths and weaknesses in battle. Each of them takes part in the spar, hoping to check our moves.
Rubbing off my failure, I place my hand over her shoulder and lightly tap her.
"Mmgh," She responded, but the force was not enough to rouse her mind.
"Wake up, you sleepyhead," I said to her while adding more force to my arms. I wanted to, at least, watch her doze for more, but I bet that there are more things that we need to take care of.
"I am awake!" She exaggeratedly retorts while wiping her drool from her mouth.
I cannot help but let out a hysterical laugh while desperately covering my lips in her current state of embarrassment.
After a while, Therese finally realises that she was back from the actual world and sees that I am fine as well.
"You're alive!" She said while pulling her body close to me and inspecting the surface of my skin.
She then realises the distance between her and my smelly emerald derm, and made her jolt backwards and avert her gaze.
"You're alive!" Therese snorted and pushed me away.
"Don't make everyone worried, you oafish." She added and buzzed to the ingress of the room.
The handles of the door twists and turns and opens from the other side, revealing Markus and Elanor surprised and at wonder.
"You're awake," Markus utters and shifts his line of sight to his daughter at the fore. He then extends his arms, waiting for Therese to embrace his girth looking body without his uniform. But, with a disgusted grunt, Therese runs pass him and leisurely strides at the hallway.
"I swear, that daughter of mine," Markus exclaims but decided not to continue his sentence.
Elanor pays it no mind and continues to walk towards my direction, bringing a bag made of wool; a distinct object that is unknown for me.
"About what I have said," Before I can even converse to Elanor, I turn to my side and address the King about the earlier incident.
"Don't even bother," Markus replied while browsing the series of books in which he had already read.
"May I?" Elanor lets out a forced cough while taking out the herbs and diverse plants on the flank.
I slowly bow my head in acknowledgement, letting the elf know I am ready for what anything to happen.