Encounter

It's been two hours following the tracks of the two orcs and the troll. Their heavy feet leave a mark on the soft soiled ground.

Maybe this is a bad idea?

I have this eerie feeling since I step inside of the forest. It feels like someone… or something is watching from the bushes or above the trees. My hands are shaking so I need to stop scaring myself…

''Maybe I should go back at the gates…'' but they suspect me if I ever did that… Since the kingdom never raised a weakling 'mage'.

I tightened my grip on my wooden staff. I'm readying myself since I could feel the gaze again…

I quickly turned my head.

But nothing.

*rustle* *rustle*

In the bushes… at my left? No… right?? No…

Where is that… Then suddenly a shadow formed at my head.

''Shit!'' I swing my staff to block the attack. I knew it… A forest goblin E-rank monster residing at this forest goblin is carrying a knife made from stone. Gladly I saw its shadow jumping from the trees.

''H—u-u-u-m—a-a-a—n---s''

What the… ''H-how?''

Again… how in the world this monster could talk?! As far as I remember A to S rank monsters is the only ones who had the capability to communicate with humans!

The goblin tried to walk at me but I just pointed my staff. Trying to think that I'm capable of defending myself.

''GET AWAY AT ME!'' I swing my staff to scare it but it's not working. This forest goblin is small and weak, but it could talk… I never killed a monster before even if it's low-rank.

The goblin twitches its tiny head and looks at me… The expression on its way is want to kill me.

''I SAID GET AWAY!'' I swing my staff to hit it but the goblin jumps and evaded it. The monster suddenly dashes at me, I tightened my grip in my staff once again.

This is it I'll kill a monster right here right now!!

The goblin slash vertically but I managed to block it with my staff… ''ughh…!'' But the thing is this goblin is strong.

''Kekekeke!'' it suddenly jumps and threw its weapon with its strength. I tried to deflect it, but it's too fast!

''Fuck!!'' I fell from the pain when the knife struck my right thigh.

The fuck a mere goblin could do that?! I looked at it the goblin is looking at me with a bloodshot at its eye. I suddenly grab the staff with my left hand and pointed it again at the goblin.

I need to heal myself… but I need to chant it first. If I get distracted the goblin will attack me without a moment.

''This is bad…'' I murmured.

''S-s-s—a—c—r—f—i—c—e—'' the goblin spoke again. What the hell 'sacrifice' even means… A normal E-rank goblin is not this strong… It is also quite intelligent it's even trying to read my moves since it's just looking at me with a bloodshot on its eye. Its claw is quite sharp by just looking at it. Maybe that is the reason why it throws its dagger.

The situation is looking dire to me the bleed won't stop and I couldn't use a healing spell since this goblin is waiting for its chance to attack me.

''I have no choice then…'' The goblin looks at me with a question in its eye.

I need to do this or else… I grab the dagger and immediately pull it with my strength.

''Ughhh…!!'' I cried in pain, but I successfully remove the dagger. I could still feel the fucking pain… I couldn't explain it since this is the first time that I experience this shit!

''kekekeke..'' The goblin just smiling like it was according to its plan. I slowly stood up and used my wooden staff to support myself.

I'm going to kill this goblin…

I'm going to smash its head until die…

I'm going to kill it!

I didn't realize that I have enough strength to move. I just dashed towards the goblin and swing my staff as hard as I can. The goblin dodge but I know in what direction.

''YOUR FUCKING DEAD'' As I said those words, I swing the staff again to the left and it hits on the abdomen of the goblin. The goblin stumbled on the ground and growls in pain.

''What's the matter goblin?!'' I walk and endured the pain in my thigh. ''Not so intelligent now huh.'' I just looked at it and the goblin is still smiling at me.

What an annoying piece of monster. I step on its stomach as hard as I can and still the goblin still smiling. The grip on my hand tightened on the staff.

''STOP SMILING!'' I swing my staff and smash its head and yet the goblin still smiling.

''A---w—a—k—e-n!'' The goblin shouted ''k—e-k—e-k—e''

''I SAID STOP!'' I smash its head again.

AGAIN

AGAIN

AGAIN

AGAIN

AND AGAIN!

''What just happened…'' I was out breathing by repeating smashing its head.

How did I do that?

I tried to pull my staff, but it's stuck at the skull on the goblins head…

''What—buurrhgghh!'' suddenly a vomit came out from my mouth.

I'm disgusted by the view the goblin head was smashed to pieces. I could even see the skull... I cover my mouth since I'm going to vomit again.

My leg suddenly fell down on the ground and look at my right thigh… It still bleeding and it won't stop at this rate…

I'll die…

A healer forgets to heal himself.

What a fool.

''Such a fool-'' My vision starts to blur, and I could not feel the pain in my legs anymore.

I let out a chuckle before my mind went blank.

--------------------------------

My head still hurt, and I couldn't feel the bottom part of my body especially my legs. But I heard two people arguing a voice of a man and a woman.

''Why are you trying to save that person?!'' By just the tone of the man's voice. I could tell that he was mad at someone.

''I am not saving him.'' The woman's voice is a little bit calm.

''Then why are you healing him?!''

''To ensure that he will survive when he wakes up.''

Ensure my survival?

Wha-what?

What the hell happened… I tried to move my body.

''Ughh…'' I groan.

Shit, I couldn't move. I slowly open my eyes and I saw the man and woman looking at me. By the look of them, they are not from the Kingdom of Aresian.

The man is suspiciously looking at me his wearing a brown leather robe with a blue trident symbol on the right side. He's holding his wand in his right hand preparing to cast a spell. While the woman…

Well, she's a little bit odd… She's wearing a plated armor her hair was short and a scar on her face makes her a little bit intimidating, but the way she looks at me.

She's worried…

''Are you okay? What happened?'' The woman suddenly asks me she kneel down and gave her hand to me. I grab it and use some of my strength to sit.

''T-thank you…''

''That's not the right answer to her question—a-aa-aw!'' Before the man finishes his sentence the woman pinches her stomach.

''Abe, you know the boy is injured.''

''I know but you know that person—'' He suddenly pointed at me ''He came from that 'Kingdom' the warmonger one, the murderer kingdom!!''

I just look down and bit my lip. I guess even in this new era the Aresian still had this bad reputation.

''Abe… Just stop. He's just a kid.'' The woman held the hand of the man that still pointing at me. The man suddenly removes his hand, but I could tell that he was blushing.

The man or Abe looked away at me.

''What's your name?'' The woman asked.

I just look down. I'm a little bit worried about my situation right now.

Should I tell them my name? I'm a hesitating… but they saved me. I looked at my right leg the thighs are covered in bandages.

So why am I hesitating? I just need to tell them my name.

It's just a name...

''M-m—marvis'' I answered my voice is stuttering. The women let out a chuckle.

''Call me Keida. And this person---'' He pointed at the man leaning on the tree while still looking away in our direction. ''--- My friend Abe. We are patrolling in this area of the forest, and we stumble on your body. We thought that you were dead but gladly Abe uses his healing magic on your thigh.''

Then suddenly a memory flashes into my eyes.

I remember… That goblin! I look around at my area, but I couldn't see the body of that bastard goblin. As far as I remember that I smash its head…

''W-where is the goblin?'' I ask. She looks at me with a question in her eye.

''We didn't see any goblin in this area… and this forest has no goblin only trolls and forest orc.'' I tried to stand up, but my right leg won't move.

''Hey, relax your wounds are still fresh…'' She grabbed my shoulders and force me to sit down.

''B-but there's a talking goblin in here!'' I suddenly raised my voice.

Abe suddenly looked at me ''A talking monster? On this forest?''

I nodded.

''But we didn't see any goblin in here even footprints. That is strange, So tell me where are you come from?'' Keida stood up and look at me.

Then I start talking and telling them what really happened about the caravan, the talking orc, the troll and orc carrying the girl and me trying to save it, and about the crazy talking goblin. Abe and Keida just looked at me with seriousness in their eyes they don't know what to react.

I understand them even I would not believe it if someone suddenly started talking about those crazy stories.

but I really hope that believe in me

''Well… That's story is a little bit strange. If there's a caravan coming from your kingdom, we would hear about it.'' Keida look at Abe.

''Hmmm. I didn't sense any drugs when I healed you, but if you're telling the truth why you didn't return to your borders to get some help?'' Abe's question starts to get in my head. Since I knew that he was right.

I let my pride decide that time and look at what happened.

But if I go back that guards will create suspicion at me. 'A mage gets beaten by a mere orc and troll?' What a fool. They wouldn't accept my reasonings if I ever go back.

''But I could tell that you're not a mage.''

My eyes suddenly widened when I hear Abe said those. Even Keida was a little bit shock.

I'm definitely going to die in here.

How did he even know?! Did they use a scroll of wisdom at me when I am unconscious?!

If yes those are against the law!! It the same thing as seeing someone naked!!

But ifs no how did he... Is he a mage?

''For some reason when I healed your wounds. Your blood is not similar in mage which is quite strange since you dress like one.'' I just look down and heard his step walking in my direction.

This is bad… Really bad...!

''What are you implying Abe? He's pretending to be one?'' Keida asks him. Abe let out a sigh and nodded.

''you're a healer aren't you Marvis?''

When I heard those questions, I just tried my best to pretend that I didn't hear him.

God if you have mercy, please strike some lightning in my direction!

I'm begging you God, please—

''—That's ridiculous! A healer in that Kingdom?!'' The way she reacts feels like he didn't believe what Abe said about me being a healer. Even I wouldn't believe him if I heard that a healer survives in that kingdom?!

But here I am survived in that kingdom.

''You sure know how to make my day, Abe.'' Keida just laughing at Abe. But the man just looks at me like 'I need to tell the truth or else.

A looks like that still sends a shiver down my spine.

''H-his not wrong though…'' I whispered.

''Abe not what??'' Keida look at me.

''H-his not wrong…'' The smile on keida face disappeared.

''You… A healer in that kingdom? Survive?'' I just nodded.

''So, the talking monster is not a lie either?''

I nodded again.

I saw her hands start shaking like she was afraid.

Abe suddenly grabs Keida's hand. ''We need to leave and report this incident.''

But Keida just look down and didn't respond she even didn't move when Abe tries to pull her.

''So about the girl getting kidnapped. Is she still alive?''

''I- I Don't know...'' I just look at Keida and the emotion on her face suddenly went blank.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I say something wrong?

I'm not sure but right now I could feel that the pressure on her aura.

''When did you last time see them.'' Abe suddenly removes his hand on Keida's arm. Her voice is serious like when I look at her it feels like she's going to punch me if lied.

''T-the tracks that I followed lead to the northern part of the forest—'' before I finished my sentences.

A gust of wind suddenly blows it was so strong that even the trees are moving.

''Arghhh...!'' I just closed my eyes until the wind disappear.

And that Keida is gone. I looked at Abe and his face is worried his sweating and… afraid. His expression suddenly changes when he looked at me.

''Marvis. Let's follow her.''