The Goblin Village

The goblins froze for a moment, their beady eyes widening as they caught sight of Aria. Her pale, luminous skin and glowing eyes must have made her seem like a specter in the moonlight. One of them let out a shrill cry, and the others immediately turned tail, scrambling away through the underbrush.

Aria hesitated, torn between curiosity and caution. She didn't want to scare them further, but she also couldn't ignore the opportunity to learn more about this world. The goblins might be able to tell her where she was—or at least point her toward someone who could.

"Wait!" she called out, her voice echoing through the trees. But the goblins didn't stop. If anything, they moved faster, their small forms darting through the forest with surprising agility.

Aria sighed and began to follow them, her movements silent and swift. She kept her distance, not wanting to provoke them, but close enough to keep them in sight. The forest thinned as they moved, and soon she found herself at the edge of a small clearing.

Nestled among the trees was a village—if it could even be called that. It was a collection of crude huts made from wood and mud, with thatched roofs and smoking chimneys. The goblins scurried into the village, their cries alerting the others. Within moments, the entire settlement was in an uproar.

Aria stayed hidden at the edge of the clearing, watching as the goblins gathered in the center of the village. They were armed with spears and clubs, their expressions a mix of fear and determination. A larger goblin, presumably their leader, stepped forward, barking orders in a guttural language Aria couldn't understand.

She frowned, realizing that communication might be a problem. But as she focused on the goblins' words, something strange happened. The sounds began to shift, forming patterns that made sense in her mind. It was as if her brain was translating the language on its own.

"Intruder! Prepare to defend the village!" the leader shouted, his voice now clear to Aria.

She blinked in surprise. "Wait, I can understand them? Is that another skill?"

A quick mental check confirmed it. **[Common Skill: Universal Language Comprehension Acquired.]**

"Well, that's convenient," she muttered under her breath.

Taking a deep breath, Aria stepped out of the shadows, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. The goblins immediately tensed, their weapons pointed in her direction. She could see the fear in their eyes, but also a flicker of curiosity.

"I'm not here to hurt you," she said, her voice calm and steady. "I'm… lost. I just want to know where I am."

The goblins exchanged uneasy glances, their grip on their weapons tightening. The leader stepped forward, his spear leveled at her. "You are a monster," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "We have heard tales of your kind. Vampires bring nothing but death."

Aria flinched at the accusation, but she couldn't deny the truth in his words. She *was* a vampire now, and she didn't yet know what that meant for her or the people around her. Still, she had to try to make them understand.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone," she repeated. "I don't even know how I got here. I just… need help."

The goblins hesitated, their fear warring with their instinct to protect their village. After a long moment, the leader lowered his spear slightly. "Prove it," he said. "Prove you mean no harm."

Aria thought for a moment, then nodded. She focused on her *Bloodweaver* skill, summoning a small orb of blood from her own palm. The goblins gasped, some of them taking a step back. But instead of attacking, Aria shaped the blood into a simple flower, letting it float gently in the air before dissipating.

"I have power," she said, "but I don't want to use it against you. I just want to understand this world."

The goblins stared at her, their fear slowly giving way to awe. The leader lowered his spear completely, his expression thoughtful. "You are… different," he admitted. "Perhaps not like the vampires of legend."

Aria nodded, relief washing over her. "Thank you. Can you tell me where I am? And… what's going on in this world?"

The leader gestured for her to follow him. "Come. We will speak in my hut. But know this—if you betray our trust, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves."

"Understood," Aria said, following him into the village. The other goblins watched her warily, but none of them made a move to stop her.

As she walked through the village, she couldn't help but notice how small and fragile it seemed. The goblins were clearly struggling to survive, their homes little more than shelters against the elements. It made her wonder what kind of world she had been thrust into—and what role she would play in it.