Chapter 307 Heartwarming Innocence

The sheer speed and efficiency of their work were astonishing. The site buzzed with activity, the sound of goblins' feet pounding the ground, bricks being slapped into place, and the constant chatter of excited voices filling the air.

Suzuka, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but laugh.

 "Look at them go! We might just finish this ahead of schedule," she remarked, her eyes shining with amusement.

By the end of the day, the progress they had made was nothing short of miraculous. All of the bricks Jacob made were transported and neatly piled at the edge of Suzuka's land and ready to start the construction of the wall. 

Jacob, exhausted but impressed, finally called in a day.

 "Alright, alright! That's enough for today. Sun is going down, we better rest. You all did amazing but you better save some of that energy for the next day," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The goblins cheered, their voices rising in a triumphant squeal that echoed through the camp. They had proven themselves capable, and the sense of accomplishment brought them an overwhelming joy. As they gathered around the fire for their evening meal, their chatter was filled with excitement and pride.

The goblins, who had once been miserable and crushed under the weight of their former lives, now showed a newfound energy and excitement. They clapped each other on the back, their faces split with wide, toothy grins. Some danced with wild abandon, their feet kicking up dust as they twirled around the fire in a cringy, yet infectious, merry jig. Their laughter filled the air, a sound so foreign to their past selves that it seemed almost magical.

The hatchlings, too, were caught up in the fervor. They clambered over the adults, their tiny hands and feet moving in a blur of green as they chattered and giggled. After little more than two weeks, the hatchlings were no longer the tiny, fragile creatures they had been. With plentiful food and kind treatment, they grew quickly. Their bodies filled out, their limbs strong and capable. Not only did their bodies grow, but their minds as well. They absorbed knowledge and skills at an astonishing rate, showing a learning capacity that belied their dim-witted look.

Even though they were still considered hatchlings, they were almost adults now, capable of helping out the other goblins with the work. The adult goblins looked at them with tears in their eyes, marveling at how well they had grown compared to the sorry sight they were used to seeing in the breeding farms. And here, under Suzuka's rule, they felt blessed beyond measure.

Suzuka, looking out over the bustling camp, felt a swell of satisfaction. The goblins had come a long way, and their eagerness and hard work paid off. She had given them hope, and in return, they had given her their unwavering loyalty. The goblins swore to work tirelessly, not out of fear, but out of a genuine desire to build a better life for themselves and their hatchlings.

The adult goblins, their eyes filled with tears of joy, watched the hatchlings with a sense of awe. These young ones, who had once been weak and helpless, beaten and tortured every day, were now thriving. They were the future of their tribe, a future that promised strength and prosperity. The sight of the hatchlings growing so well was a constant reminder of the miracle Suzuka had brought into their lives.

One of the elder goblins, a figure hunchbacked with age and experience, stood within the group. His gnarled hands shook, and his voice, thick with emotion, trembled as he began to speak. His words carried the weight of countless years of suffering and newfound hope that seemed almost too fragile to grasp.

"We've never seen them grow like this," he began, his eyes misting over with tears.

 "Not in all our years in the breeding farms. This... this is a blessing." He paused, his voice cracking as he tried to contain his overwhelming feelings.

"We have lived in pain for so long," the elder went on.

 "We have known only pain and suffering. But now, look around you. Look at what we have earned in just a short time. We are building a new life, a new future. One where our hatchlings can grow up free, where they can dream of more than just survival. Here, in this new home, we are free. Free to live, free to hope, and free to dream."

The goblins around him began to murmur, their voices rising in a chorus of agreement. Some clutched their neighbors' hands, others wiped away tears.

"We will not waste this chance," the elder vowed, his voice rising.

 "We will build a home here, a place where we can all live in peace. A place where we can laugh, love, and dream without fear. We will honor the gift we have been given, and we will never forget those who helped us find our way."

The elder's words struck a chord with the assembled goblins. They listened in rapt silence, their eyes wide with awe and their hearts swelling with a mixture of disbelief and joy. His sentiments echoed their own, a shared sense of wonder at the drastic change in their lives.

"I still cannot believe it," the elder continued, his voice growing softer, almost as if he were afraid to say the words too loudly.

 "Are we truly allowed to be this happy? Is this all just a dream? Will we wake up one day and realize that it was all fake?"

The reality of their freedom was still sinking in, and the elder's doubts mirrored their own deepest fears.

Hermit, sensing the fear in goblin's voice, stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on the elder's shoulder. His touch was warm and comforting, like a mother reassuring a frightened child.

 "This is real, friend," he said softly, his voice steady and full of conviction.

 "You are free. And this happiness, this new life, it's ours to keep."

The elder goblin dropped to his knees and thanked Hermit, their beloved leader.

"Thank, oh mighty master Hermit, we are unworthy of such praise. We will do everything you tell us. We will! We will not disappoint you. We won't!"

Hermit helped the goblin to his feet and said, "I am not a master but a friend, a fellow goblin like you all. A slave who was brutally beaten and tortured throughout my whole life just as you all have been. I was just lucky to run into good people who helped me. There is no need to bow to me."

The goblins reveled in their newfound freedom, their laughter and chatter filling the night air. They danced and sang around the campfire, their crude yet heartfelt melodies echoing through the trees. The hatchlings, no longer fearful but playful and curious, scampered between the adults, their tiny feet pattering on the ground like raindrops on leaves.

As the night deepened, the goblins' energy began to wane, their earlier energy giving way to a contented exhaustion. One by one, they started to drop where they stood, succumbing to the fatigue of a day well spent. Soon, the campsite was littered with sleeping goblins, each in their own unique, haphazard position.

Near the fire, one goblin lay sprawled on his back, his mouth wide open in a loud, rumbling snore that seemed to shake the very ground. His hands clutched an imaginary pillow, his legs splayed out in opposite directions as if he had been mid-dance before sleep claimed him.

Another goblin had collapsed against a freshly cut tree stump, using it as a makeshift pillow. His head lolled to the side, and every time he exhaled, his lips fluttered comically, making a soft, buzzing sound that sent nearby hatchlings into fits of giggles before they too fell asleep in a tangled heap.

Hermit, their beloved leader, was snuggled in the middle of a pile of goblins, their bodies forming a protective cocoon around him. His usually anxious face was softened in sleep, a small smile playing on his lips. His snores were gentle, almost melodic, blending harmoniously with the symphony of goblin snores around him.

Near the edge of the clearing, a goblin had fallen asleep sitting up, leaning against a large rock. His head had slumped forward onto his chest, and with each breath, he emitted a high-pitched whistle that harmonized with the rustling leaves.

A trio of goblins had managed to find their way into a recently dug pit, their bodies arranged like the spokes of a wheel. They lay with their heads touching in the center, their limbs radiating outward, creating a star-like formation. Despite the awkward position, they snored loudly, their synchronized breathing sounding like a strange, rhythmic chant.

Some goblins had clustered around Silvia’s tent, where the hatchlings had fallen asleep in a cozy nest. The adults lay in a protective ring around them, their snores mingling with the soft coos and murmurs of the tiny ones. One particularly small goblin had curled up on top of a log, his body forming a perfect crescent moon shape, his little chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath.

Nearby, a trio of goblins had collapsed in a tangled heap, their limbs intertwined in such a way that it was impossible to tell where one goblin ended and the other began. Several other goblins had found peculiar spots to rest. One had curled up inside a hollow log, his tiny frame fitting perfectly within its confines. Another had climbed onto a low-hanging branch and fallen asleep, his legs dangling off the side and his arms wrapped around the trunk as if it were a beloved pillow.

Isaac stood sentinel at the edge of the clearing, his eyes ever-vigilant, scanning the darkened perimeter for any threats. The flickering firelight cast long shadows, dancing across his handsome face. He had been on countless adventures, battled fearsome monsters, and faced the darkest corners of the world, but tonight, the sight before him stirred something deep within his soul.

The goblins, huddled together in a massive pile of intertwined limbs and meaty ears, snored softly, their breaths rhythmic and peaceful. Their tiny hatchlings, nestled safely within the protective embrace of the adult goblins, exuded a heartwarming innocence. It was a scene so precious and adorable that it seemed almost surreal. The elder goblins' skeletal frames, once symbols of suffering and despair, now glowed with newfound hope, their faces contorted into expressions of peace and contentment.