Returning to the ruins

  Chu sat at the table in the workshop while tapping his fingers. He couldn't help but break a smile at the lean, green-skinned character trembling in front of him. The bulbous eyes of the goblin shifted nervously, as it continued twiddling and wringing its lengthy fingers.

  Ever so often, it fidgeted on thin, bandy legs while twitching that characteristically long nose.

  "Why so nervous, Zubyia? Have a seat. Look at how your companions are enjoying themselves."

  Chu said while pointing his chin towards the side. Close to the door, on a long bench, the rest of the goblin party sat chomping politely on steamed buns and washing them down with hot water.

  The words exiting the smiling face caused the little goblin to nearly topple from fear. This human held a high authority in the eyes of the Goblin Shaman and awe among the goblins who witnessed him stroll through the camp before the ruins.

  To others like Zubyia and the Goblin Champion, he represented the devil.

  A cunning devil.

  "Lord, this humble one brings a message from the Shaman."

  Zubyia blurted out. Like a busted dam, the words continued flowing out.

  "Shaman says to make a fast visit. Important news. Visit ruins as soon as possible."

  The goblin breathed out a long sigh as if released from a strangling pressure.

  Chu twisted his mouth while raising an eyebrow. Besides the food supplies, he had no idea what could make the Shaman send a summons in the height of winter. He looked at the goblin.

  "Demon beasts? Danger?"

  Chu asked. He doubted Bitzers roamed the forest while knowing tasty humans practically existed next door.

  The goblin frowned before replying in the negative. When the Shaman sent the message, it contained no mention of the evil beasts. The scout who delivered the brief, worded message would not dare add in his own words. Zubyia shook on hearing the next question since it concerned his performance.

  "Shaman said now?"

  "Yes, Lord, Shaman said now, come in winter. Human needed. Only trust greedy one sitting on the farm."

  ***

  "A winter forest seems so fair, it unsettles my heart with cramped despair.

  The surreal snow and trees differ from spring, their skeletal boughs, I reckon, terrifying.

  A majestic sight under the blazing sun at noon, a place of terror under the eerie full moon.

  How I wish to explore this forest because I can't wait to make my escape from it.

  Only the brave young heart of mine can claim to boast of this, my cowardly old mind will strive to dismiss."

  A lonesome voice recited over a crackling campfire.

  The deep snowbanks around the campsite under the naked fingers of the trees seem to agree. The whispers of the wind, creaking of the white laden branches, and occasional mourns from distant beasts punctuated the silence.

  Whether the sound or the silence, there was a close competition as to which of the two inflicted the greater fear.

  "Why are you here? I don't know why Chu didn't leave you and your groupies back on the farm. And stop mumbling that depressing tune. You're making me nervous. Hmph! Old, which part of you is old? Old my foot!"

  Ming pulled a quilt over his cloak while inching closer to the fire. At his side, Chu and Lucy slept inside a pair of waterproof sleeping bags. Only the four of them, accompanied by two wolves, followed the goblins into the forest. Miki remained at the farm to assume the position of commander.

  With one wolf on standby at the farm, Chu figured his courier service should notify him of any problems.

  Dyna glanced at the critic.

  "Who asked you to listen? And why are you still waking, don't tell me you're still practicing that useless tingling trick?"

  "Hmph! Chu says practice makes perfect. One day I will show you. Tingling, you really have a rude mouth. Anyways, since you have Amarok and Fenrir lurking in the trees, I'm going to sleep. Wake me for the next shift."

  Ming replied to the girl while shaking open a rolled sleeping bag. Like a caterpillar, he burrowed inside the stitched fur-lined bag, feet first.

  Dyna flashed him a smile, which converted into a smirk when she noticed him looking at her. She faced the crackling fire while opening and closing the fingers of her hand. With over a hundred stars ignited in her starfield, she possessed enough mana and talent to cast a fireball.

  The impressive spell and effect did little to enchant this calamitous devil into learning it.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Rumbling sound of thunder. Imagine if I could create a blast like that..."

  The mixed party continued towards the forest ruins while bypassing the goblin cave. The outpost cave and Zubyia's present abode remained heavily defended. The goblin blacksmiths toiled to secure the iron billets for the spring season trade. Even though the tribes had separated, the importance remained a priority.

  In the forest, goblins had very few opportunities to cultivate crops. The location alone listed numerous disadvantages, some of which were ranked as life-threatening. The tribes hunted the wild animals and foraged for roots and the abundant provisions natural to the forest.

  The daily lifestyle left little room to cater for any food-related disaster, so the grains stored and distributed by the shaman acted as the tribe's saving supplies.

  The elders of the tribes voiced no objection since gathering shiny stones fitted in well with their hunting schedule. They also contributed by providing assistance in the forge and opal mines.

  The shaman controlled the center of this operation with the council of elders. These old goblins once held the positions of chiefs in the respective tribes, thus maintaining the aura of fairness and power to the individual tribes.

  ***

  "Hey Chu, don't you think they look weird?"

  Ming asked while removing the stained sword from the flank of a Jaga. The large cat wheezed its final breath moments ago.

  "The snow affects the mobility of the Jaga, but ours as well. And I guess we have a long way to go if we intend to zip and bounce around on the tree trunks and roots... Huh, what do you mean?"

  Chu asked after being awakened from his thoughts. The swift movement of the striking paws approached that of a slow-motion clip. This superior vision lasted for a few seconds when activated, but had some shortcomings.

  When the effect stopped in the middle of a fight, it left him dazed as his brain tried to process the changes.

  He dusted off the snow stuck to his pants from when he fell while trying to flash and jump on a root that emerged from the white landscape. Ming repeated his question while pointing to their white-furred companions.

  "They have been looking like they haven't rested for weeks. As if the life was sucked out of them."

  "Hmm. Now that you mention it, they do appear tired. Dyna said they have been more active recently. I'll ask her if she has any pellets to boost their energy."

  Chu replied. Today proved how dangerous the forest remained to even them. A Jaga bypassed the wolves and the goblin scouts to launch an ambush. Luckily, Lucy found it crouching half-hidden under the snow, thus providing them with a suitable adversary.

  The fight lasted longer than normal as the three recent Sersens practiced their abilities. In the end, Ming used an opening to dash and pierce the heart with the fatal blow.

  "There is so much we have to learn. I also understand why the Bitzer retreats when it launches a failed attack. If facing dangerous opponents, we should utilize our speed to deliver a fatal or critical blow. If unsuccessful, then we perform a withdrawal dodge. This will give us a few seconds to find clarity and assess surrounding dangers."

  He said while using the previous fight as an example. The return from the burst of high speed to normal disoriented his mind. In intense close-range combat, this may prove dangerous. The paralyzing defense of the Bitzer seemed suited to overcome this disadvantage. If struck, they actually launched a fatal counter.

  Nearby, the goblins had much less on their minds as they constructed a makeshift sled to transport the precious cargo. Food wastage did not exist in their vocabulary, especially when presented with free gifts.

  The rest of the journey proved uneventful save for a few skirmishes which might have decimated a normal adventuring party. For Chu and the others, a night raid by a band of wildcats became a well-desired training demonstration. Winter hunger kept the predators aggressive while the wolves chased and subdued the escapees.

  Slowly, Chu grasped the power delivered by an ancient talisman, one modified and reinvented by him. Unlike the Tower Talisman, which unlocked a basic function of the lifestone, the Ancient Talisman provided more. It allowed the holder to gain more of the traits of the lifestone creator.

  For instance, a Sersen with a demon boar Tower Talisman could harness the powerful dash and brute strength of the creature. This usage also had limited activation times for the day. He, with this overpowered talisman, could display the speed skills of the Bitzer along with its other inherent traits indefinitely. Only the drain on his body and mind acted as a limiter.

  Chu concentrated on trying to unlock and develop the trait of detecting incoming danger. When Lucy discovered the Jaga, he needed to arrive within a few feet before his mind screamed danger.

  Ming's skill in this aspect remained non-existent since he focused on building that battery charger in his hand.

  Dyna concentrated more on developing her rapid speed. This proved that they could all learn similar abilities.

  What he needed to achieve this was time. Time to master all these skills provided by one talisman. With the advantage of modern-day knowledge, he avoided the pitfalls created by rumors and legends. He and his companions used scientific explanations to unlock and harness their powers.

  "Mr. Thomas highlighted that the Military never ceased in training their Sersens, both young and old. It seemed like they knew that even though the Sersen may only have one ability, it could always be improved. I think I know why General Kettle and his guards possessed such an aura so different from Akey and the others."

  Chu said one night over the fire. With continued training and use, their skills may develop into formidable strengths. Lucy stood as a living example. They needed training and experiencing danger in the wide world. No wonder Heroes and Great warriors in history embarked on such a path.

  The world suddenly seemed so big to explore within his limited lifetime. An unmapped expanse of unknown truly roused or intimidated the heart of a man.

  "Are you saying that if I train hard, someday I can even beat Lucy?"

  "Possibly, but Lucy has a lead of a few years on you."

  Chu replied to the rough-chinned older boy. He kept his doubts hidden on issues concerning Lucy's talisman.

  After nearly a week of travel and hunkering down during an unexpected snowstorm, they arrived at the ruins. Little piles of snow topped the wide, intact tower while the surrounding broken stones proved its ancient lineage.

  Crumbling, yet defying the centuries of time.

  The large goblin camp now lay empty as the tribes scattered to their lost homelands. A few tents housed warriors and scouts who remained on the hill to serve the needs of the Shaman. It didn't take long for a party of goblins to descend out of curiosity.

  Upon learning from Zubyia and the goblins that these humans were not captives but guests of the Shaman, word spread. But then again, during the hard times in the south, goblins rarely returned with live humans.

  The chatter increased when the leaders in the tents scrambled down the incline. Most of these goblins had fought along with the Champion and his human servant to reclaim the ruins. There, they fought alongside the legend. Seeing the long blond hair, chaos ensued.

  The rumor within the entire horde before disbanding spoke of a female human with sun-colored hair. The Elders of the Council rated her as the killer of the Ancient Terror.

  The Ancient Terror, a demon beast that drove them from their tribal lands. The younger fighters, however, concentrated on the sleds piled with vicious predators. The sight of the two wolves hovering patiently stoked their awe and fears.

  With enthusiastic helpers, it didn't take long for the travelers to arrive near the entrance to the dungeons. News spread quickly since, on reaching the ruins, Chu saw a goblin decked in chainmail exit the scattered stones.

  "Well, if it isn't little Pug..."