Spineful

Running through the trees, Ansel and Eira hurried to the light, the monster's camp. They bolted from the woods and began their attack. The goblins, who were gathered together jumping joyfully, quickly armed themselves as soon as they saw the two rushing towards them. Eira slashed through two of them with ease, and Ansel reinforced his hands with magic, making him capable of punching the monsters yards away.

They both glanced over at what it was that they had gathered towards. Their eyes shaking in anger and anguish, the body of Talos sleeping on the ground. A few of the goblins teamed up, managing to break through Eira’s swordsmanship through sheer numbers, and impaling her; the resilience of her tempered skin keeping the knife stuck in her lower back as she swiftly beheaded the goblin. She was in burning pain, her arms unable to reach and the remaining goblins unending. Glancing at Ansel, Eira saw the goblins climbing atop his giant body and repeatedly stabbing his shoulders and back, as he grabbed them and threw them to the trees. They were being overpowered by the sheer number of goblins, around 20, just charging at them constantly.

Their bodies burned and the blood dripped down their bodies as they killed the goblins one by one. The bodies piled up and the stench of death filled the air, their adrenaline keeping them sane as they both continued fighting. Eira’s attacks were very effective, and aside from the knife in her back, the rest of her body had only received a few scratches and slits from the E ranked monsters. She huffed in exhaustion as she glanced all around her.

“Only…three.”

Her panting grew louder, she was sweating immensely. In a swift motion she dashed forward and beheaded the two in the front, her body spinning with the momentum. Her balance was solid and her form precise, yet as she readjusted herself, the turning of her torso moved the blade within. Her stance fell apart and she kneeled, her head aching and her skin growing pale. The final goblin attempted to kill her with a stab to the head, however Eira managed to throw herself just fast enough that the knife only slit her right arm. The pain burned with a cold ache. Mustering the last of the strength in her wounded arm, she swung the sword straight at the goblin’s stomach, cutting in between its ribs and lodging itself in the monster’s body.

The goblin screeched in pain as Eira’s breathing grew faster and her vision blurred. She looked at Talos, his already pale skin, even lighter now. The pool of blood seeping into his clothes, the campfire outlining his face, his nose, still breathing. She looked down and then up again, hyperventilating, she blinked and looked at Ansel as he was still fighting. Two goblins atop him struggling to claw at his skin as two blades stuck out of his back like antennas. He had reinforced the rest of his body after receiving the two blows, the knives stuck inside his back not only by the thickness of his skin, but also by the layer of mana that protected him from the outside.

The spell, called “Chain Mail,” only protected the user from scrapes, scratches and sword swings capable of slicing open small wounds. Direct contact from spears, arrows, and swords with enough strength and power would shatter the spell in seconds.

Eira saw his struggle, his fatigue as he pulled the knives out of his back and swung his arm backwards killing one of the parasite-like goblins on him. His outline became blurry and her eyes began to roll up. Her consciousness left as the cold entered her body from loss of blood.

—--

Glancing at Kaito, she lowered her sword, falling silent and frowning as she sheathed her sword and let out a big sigh.

“I’m sorry about her, it’s just, normally the guild lets us know who is in the forest. Today was supposed to just be us.” The broad man spoke in a warm tone, his voice deep and understanding.

“Guild?”

The three adventurers blinked and looked at each other, their faces blank with surprise.

“Uh yeah dude, the guild. Kinda the permission giver to enter this place.”

The boy’s green eyes looking at him as if he asked what year he was in.

“I’m sorry…I just kind of…woke up here.”

“What?”

The girl was next to speak, her eyebrow raising in suspicion. The guild was in charge of managing the forest since the city was so close to it. No one left or entered without passing through a guard, and the closest city on the other side of the forest was over a month away by carriage.

“You…” crossing his arms, Ansel tilted his head.

“Woke Up? Here?”

“Y-yeah, I did.”

Kaito saw their ambivalence, he imagined the impression he had just made. The need to explain himself rising.

“I…”

…I used to live in Japan, a different place from here, maybe even another planet, where none of these monsters exist and I’m just a salaryman that works for a pretty powerful company; but I think I died and woke up here.

He scoffed at himself, the thought resounding in his mind.

They’d think I’m a freaking psycho! I need their help! C’mon think!

“Your…what?”

The girl continued staring, her face cold and attentive. The blonde boy also had the same face, his joyful attitude turned to a curious silence.

“I…can’t remember.”

“You can’t remember?”

“No, sorry… I just remember waking up here and I spent all of yesterday just running and hiding.”

He thought back to his encounter, the giant bird with the power to breathe fire. His unease on his face, remembering the monster.

“Really?!” The boy jumped forward, closing in on his face. “Were you running from something? Wait no, so you don't remember anything? What about your-”

“Talos.”

“Whaaaaat?? He’s saying he has no memories! Isn’t that like…super weird? But it’s also cool! Can you imagine-”

“TALOS.”

“Okay okay jeez.”

“Sorry about that. Here, can you stand?”

The man reached out to the nervous Kaito who’d fallen over on his butt as he’d been held at swordpoint.

“Y-yeah. Thank you.”

“My name is Ansel, the little guy right there is Talos, and she’s Eira.”

“It’s very nice to meet you.”

Kaito shook his hand and bowed out of instinct.

“Woah man, you don’t have to do all that.”

“S-sorry. I- I’m just so glad to know that there's other people around.”

Kaito kept bowing, watching some droplets fall on the muddy ground. The sun had disappeared without them noticing; the droplets beginning to fall more and more.

“There’s no need to cry.”

“I-I’m not crying” The droplets falling and falling, but the sound of rain was nowhere to be heard.

Kaito composed himself and sniffed his nose. He looked at the three, their armored attire and slightly ragged clothes underneath.

“Would you like to come with us? To the city?”

“You… don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Right?”

“Yeah! Finally another member!”

“Whatever.”

Kaito giggled and smiled. He was finally going to leave the forest.

—--

2 Hours Later:

The leaves rustled and the light beamed. Kaito and the three adventurers finally made their way out of the forest. Their eyes adjusting to the sudden change in light, a grand plain of grass was revealed, hills spanning miles and miles. The ocean colored sky rested atop the herd of clouds as they made their way down to a path of dirt. Following the path carved onto the ground, Kaito saw a walled town, the many roofs peeking out and the fields of crops surrounding its perimeter.

“That’s the elven city of Eigo, the only city this close to forest”

Talos pointed far in the distance, his tone mockingly informational.

“So does the name ring a bell?” Ansel asked, his leather boots accidentally kicking up dust as he walked.

“Elven?”

As in…human-like people with pointy ears that live for centuries?

Eira sighed and glanced at him.

“Yes, elves, one of the four Great race’s.”

Kaito tilted his head, his eyes lost and mind spacing out.

Elves? Four race’s? Goblins? Fire breathing birds??? Is this a damn RPG fantasy world??

The four discussed Kaito’s “memory loss” and the things that he didn’t know. They taught him of the four Great race’s and their differences. Humans are the beings of s, the strongest of races, every single one of them born different, and their capabilities varying. Each race has one or more crux which describes the essence of their race; theirs being “The strong protect the weak, and the weak support the strong.” The elves were the beings of record, living long lives they contained more knowledge than all the races combined, yet they mainly kept to themselves, focusing on their research rather than their territory or any sort of war. Their crux being “the desire to know feeds the soul,” which the three adventurers explained is what keeps them living for centuries. The third race was the Dwarves of Apaz, a smaller more advanced Nation where human-like creatures but at half the size, built grandiose machines and cities. Their crux “Progression for law” depicted their sheer desire to create and innovate. For years they allied with the elves and humans to further their progress, their technology aiding them in their respective needs, however humans grew greedy and used their own machinery against them which led to a rift between them. They shut themselves off from the rest of the races, similar to the elves, only sharing very limited back and forths with the leaders of the Elves and Demons who agreed to a non-aggression pact in return for some technology. The demons were the last of the four races, the three adventurers describing them with disdain as they said their crux: Strength shall fear the weak. They explained the 500 year war they are currently in with them, and how many are slaughtered and recruited in efforts to turn the tides.

“But why are they-”

“IF IT ISN’T THE SPINEFUL CREW!”

“WELCOME BACK GUYS!”

Two armored soldiers yelled at them from a distance, their hands waving in the air.

Walking closer, Ansel waved back.

“Just finished up, and found ourselves an interesting one just sleeping there.”

“WHAT?! Sleeping in those woods, what a psycho!”

“Haha yeah, we thought so too. Here.”

Ansel gave them a few coins and showed the two guards three cards. Looking at them not so thoroughly the guards stepped to the side and let them pass. The four walked through the grand arch, big enough to make Ansel seem small, and Kaito mumbled just loud enough for only the other three to hear.

“Spineful...crew?”

Eira and Ansel drooped down and sighed as they walked. Kaito looked at them, each right next to his shoulders. He then looked at Talos who walked backwards in front of them with a beaming smile on his face.

“Cool huh, that’s our party’s name, spineful.”