Chapter 4: An Unlikely Conclusion

"Oh shit"

The spear was thrown in close quarters out of desperation and fear. It was by all rights a terrible idea. It was sheer panic. Panic at the sight of Goblin A crumpled over, dead. Even if the spear had hit me it wouldn't have done much injury let alone be lethal. So it would've been correct for me to calmly deal with it, either side stepping away or hitting it out of the air with my stick. But that's not what happened.

All I saw was the spear sail towards me. A possibility I had not considered in the slightest. Dumbfounded, I watched it fly until the last moment. Then I willed myself to move away.

Too late.

The spear passed by my side leaving behind a gash, landing somewhere behind me. Pain. All I could think about was the pain, I didn't even register falling to the ground, or dropping my weapon. I could barely even concentrate on Goblin B charging at me. Clutching my wound, tears in my eyes. I crawled. I crawled towards the spear.

Please please please I begged

The goblin arrived simultaneously and jumped as I grabbed the spear. Rolling on my back, ignoring the pain for a brief instant and held the spear out praying. The goblin mid-jump... impaled himself. I could see my own terrified expression in his widened eyes. Then he died. Eyes turned blank, raised arms limping and all life drained from his body.

I pushed his corpse off of me, spear still embedded.

I did it, I actually did it

Still lying on the ground, I looked up into the sky. Sun peeked through the clouds onto me. I smiled and exhilaration filled my entire body, pain forgotten.

"That *pant* was really *pant* scary" - I said to myself

"...and fun"

* * *

I made my way down the hill. My wound wasn't as deep or serious as it felt. I used some of my clothing to wrap around it as some rudimentary first aid. I didn't find anything worth looting on the bodies. Only picking up Goblin A's spear. I thought I'd feel guilty killing them after the adrenaline faded but something about being hunted down helped me get over it.

I returned back to where I found a pale Serena and the remains of a terrifying battle. Parts of the grassy floor for lack of a better word were simply missing. Deleted from existence. As if a god had got out his divine eraser and took offence to the ground. Around one of the holes closest to Serena lay the only evidence that she had an opponent, four goblin fingers. As for Serena herself, despite obliterating the goblin, looked like she was going to pass out any second.

Serena finally noticed me and let out a breath of relief

"...you survived...I'm glad" - She said slowly

"Yeah I did. So you better not die after all that" I said nervously. Her complexion was truly awful.

"'ll recover...I only need a little...bit of time"

"...I'll keep lookout"

"Thank you"

I walked up a big hill and plopped myself down. Here I could watch over everything, both Serena and the surroundings. I looked up towards the sun trying to estimate roughly how much of the day was left, not that I expected the day cycles to be similar at all to what I was used to but it was better than nothing.

"I think we have around half the day left" - I said aloud

If we nearly died to three goblins in the middle of the day. We might as well just offer ourselves on a dinner plate if we were caught out at night. We hadn't quite left the hilly environment and I was willing to bet my new Goblin spear that under some of the mounds was a whole pack of them ready to meet us. So ideally I'd like to postpone that welcome forever. Or at least until we had gifts to bring...in the form of swords and fire.

Around 20 minutes later. Serena came up and sat beside me without saying anything. Before then, I spotted another goblin patrol that went by without any threat... Interestingly, a few minutes later a pack of wolves followed in their direction thankfully not taking any notice of us. I glanced at Serena. Colour had returned to her face. I was secretly relieved, if she died I'd be alone in dangerous lands and I would never find out what the rehabilitation was all about.

"How are you feeling" - I probed

"I can only use my Reaper abilities one more time" - she replied

"Oh...and you can only recover when my rehabilitation is over?"

"Yes and we do not know when that will be, I'll only be able to recognise it when it's finished"

"I see...so you're stuck with me from now on huh?" - I said guilty

"Correct"

I felt bad. I was the one who brought her into this new world after all. Even if she had agreed knowing the risks. She probably didn't imagine being almost completely powerless. For someone from the race of Reapers who might as well be gods. Serena's current situation might as well be worse than death.

"May I ask you a question?" - Serena said, interrupting my line of thoughts

"Yes of course"

"I'm still ignorant of the human body but I believe I have been cursed" she said calmly

"Wait what?!?" - I said standing up

They were just Goblins. Goblins! Beginner monsters. The tutorial for a fantasy RPG. What kind of messed up world is this? Goblins with the power to curse people after death?!? That's insane. Impossible. Wait...hold on.