Goblin Goblin Goblin

‘What was life supposed to be without you? I shudder to think of such a world.’

Lim slept soundly under the warmth, touch and embrace of a person who he owes the world to. His whole life and existence, it wouldn’t have mattered in the cold dark cage. The truth of the Raven clinging to life only to die before even spreading his wings to the wider world.

He rubbed his face against Estra with eyes that relaxed glaring into every part of her. The foolish idiot whose dool would fall on him while he sleeps or the courageous warrior who at all odds will be by his side. In life and in death Estra was always there for him.

“I love you.”

Estra smiled smugly, retorting back.

“I’m still awake idiot!”

Lim jumped out of bed hitting her with barrages of pillows.

“HUH! You want to hear more! HUH! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!... HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT!”

“Heavenly… hehe….”

Estra laughed as she took the constant assault of pillows on her.

‘There is no need for dreams Lim, you are my reality. My truth to My lie. You are my perfect contradiction. I love you in life and in death… always.’

***

Lim slept soundly hugging onto something soft. He opened his eyes and subconsciously kissed Estra. However, she was already long gone and his lips touched one of his many stuffed animals.

“LIM!”

*BAM*

Estra kicked the door open with excessive enthusiasm. She paused to the sight of Lim kissing his toy.

“Huh. Miss me that much?”

“NOOO!!!”

Lim threw the stuffed animal at Estra which she easily catches placing it down carefully on the ground nearby.

“Guess what I got?”

Estra ran towards Lim with a joyful skip holding up a stone plaque in her hands.

Lim shrugged unenthusiastically.

“Lim? Really? Give me some energy here.”

“Yeeyyyy.”

“Ok never mind. Here it’s a quest!”

He rubbed his tired eyes to examine the quest details reading it back.

“Clear the goblin cave over at Ghim south of Kaimhuyt. Difficulty Standard. A payment of 10k gold… huh Standard I expected you to pick a harder one.”

Estra had a devilish grin on her face which startled Lim.

“Oh yes I did. TADA!”

Estra pulled out another quest plaque which read: “Slay the Magic Golem located at Iyum south of... Difficulty Extreme. A payment of 100k gold.

“We are doing two quests?”

“You are doing one solo.”

“Solo with a bunch of goblins… SOLO!”

Lim screamed out but before he could raise a complaint Estra dropped a whistle on his lap and stormed out of the room.

“Use this if there's any trouble. I shouldn’t be too far behind. Good luck”

“Huh?”

***

Lim stood in front of a cave entrance by himself as he meekly carried his sword.

“Damnit Estra why me… I don’t want to do this alone.”

He began to mimic Estra’s voice and mannerisms

“Oh but Lim, its character development….”

His voice returned to normal with a snarky tone.

“Damn character development, I don't want to do this. I want to laze around at the inn all day doing nothing.”

Lim breathed in as he attempted to steady himself. He slowly entered the cave wielding the sword out ready to strike at a moment's notice.

It was a dark and damp cave with stalactite hanging up top and dripping with water.

“AHHH!... Shit its just water.”

A droplet fell into the back of his neck causing him to reel back. He adjusted himself and continued to dive further in.

“Come one, Lim it couldn’t be too hard right?”

***

Estra sat atop a pile of glowing rocks with her legs crossed and hand placed on her chin. She was bored, since defeating the golem there was nothing else to do but wait for Lim.

“What's taking him so long?”

A part of her was concerned and wanted to rush in and help him but she knew that for Lim to grow he must tackle these challenges by himself.

“Eh... I guess a small nap shouldn’t hurt.”

***

“SHIT! GET AWAY!”

Fire flickered in the distance with Lim running around the cave for dear life. Goblins were quick on his trail screaming wild animalistic calls.

He jumped over obstacles and turned around pillars to evade their patrols. Sneaking behind he stuck a few unsuspecting goblins with a one, two pronged approach. He would hit them with the sword followed by a fireball spell then running away and hiding.

“God this is so cowardly.”

The goblins looked around as their comrades were being picked off one by one. The chieftain walked out with heavy grunts and screamed out to his fallen brethren.

“AWAAHAAAAHAAAAAAAHHH!!!”

“SHIT! I really pissed them off.”

Lim’s only course of action now was to run for the exit and run he did. He sprinted with all his might trying to maneuver out of the labyrinth-like cave structure.

“YES!”

Lim’s eyes gazed upon the bright light ahead as he was nearing the exit all it took was one final step.

“Huh?”

A single goblin had caught onto him causing Lim to slow down. He turned and stuck it with his sword but when he looked back a horde of goblins was already there to greet him. Even if he make it out of the cave he would still have to deal with all of them.

An idea suddenly came to him.

“I SAID GET AWAY!”

*Clap*

Lim clasped his hands together with fingers interlocking.

“Cycle 1! ”

A thud of thunder echoed as Lim clasped his hands together tightly with fingers interlocking. His hands were made to look as if he was praying.

“Deconstruction.”

Lim opened his hand outwards causing beams of concentrated white light to fill the cave. This beam had reduced everything in its direction to nothing but ashes. The cave entrance was carved to the shape of the beam looking like a smooth rectangular hole.

“AHAHAHA I did it!”

Estra stood behind him with an unnerving face.

“I came to check on you and you seem fine. When did you learn that? Geeze that's a bit excessive don’t you think.”

“Oh Estra… OW!”

Estra hit Lim softly in the head.

“How are you going to get the money if there's nothing left!”

***

“So the total comes down to 100k gold and 1 silver coin.”

The guild's receptionist smiled blankly with her eyes twitching in increased annoyance. Her desk was filled with piles of ashes. She took the glowing rock but not the ash.

“Unfortunately, we don’t accept ashes so when you’re ready please….”

The pair exited the building with Lim throwing out a giant bag filled with goblin ashes.

“1 Silver! They gave me 1 silver?”

“You’re lucky you even got anything.”

“AAARHHHH… I want to go home.”