Chapter 27 After all the suffering, could I still hope for something better?

Lyn’s tail flicked, her golden eyes glowing softly in the cave’s dim light. For a moment, she didn’t say anything, just watching me. I braced myself for her response. Maybe she’d tell me it was all pointless, that goblins like me don’t deserve to dream of freedom or peace. I wouldn’t have blamed her. I didn’t deserve anything. I was just a worthless sack of goblin shit, I couldn't help anyone when they needed me the most, not even my precious Kaka.

But instead, she shifted closer, her hand resting on my arm.

“Hermit,” she began, her voice soft but filled with a warmth I hadn’t expected, “you’re stronger than you think.”

I blinked, not understanding.

“W-What?”

“You’re stronger than you think,” she repeated, her form pressing lightly against me in a gesture of comfort.

“You’ve been through hell. Most would’ve broken long before now, but you didn’t. You didn’t give up. Not even after everything.”

I stared at her, my mind struggling to process her words.

“But... but I’m just a goblin. I’m nothing...”

Lyn let out a soft, amused purr.

“You’re more than that, Little Green. You’ve survived things that would crush most. You’ve protected others. You’ve tried to build something... even in a world that’s against you. That takes strength.”

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but this time, I didn’t fight them. I let them fall.

“I... I don’t know if I can believe that.”

“You don’t have to believe it right now,” she said with a gentle smile.

“But it’s the truth. You’ve got a lot of heart, Hermit. More than you give yourself credit for. And maybe, just maybe, this isn’t the end for you. Maybe there’s still more ahead. Something better.”

Her words filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. It was strange - after everything, after all the suffering, could it really be true? Could I still hope for something better?

Lyn’s soft laugh broke the heavy silence.

“And hey,” she added playfully, “if nothing else, you’ve got me now. And I’m a pretty great friend if I do say so myself.”

Lyn's golden eyes twinkled with curiosity as she tilted her head, her feline ears twitching slightly.

"Open plains, huh?" she asked, her playful tone returning.

"So, how in the world did you end up all the way out here? You're pretty deep in the forest right now, Little Green. It’s not exactly a hop, skip, and jump from the plains. It's a bit of a trip."

She flicked her tail lazily and leaned in, smirking.

"Did you take a wrong turn? Or were you just so eager to see me you couldn’t help but wander off into the woods?"

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment, my goblin brain scrambling for an answer. I hadn’t even known how far I’d come until now. Lyn’s teasing, though light, made me feel even smaller than usual.

"W-Well..." I stammered, "It... it wasn’t exactly my choice. We were doing fine in the plains for a while, but then... things got complicated."

"Complicated? What kind of 'complicated' brings you from safety in the plains back into the middle of monster territory?"

I scratched the back of my head, feeling stupid just thinking about it.

"I was out in the forest, gathering stuff for our little cave, trying to make things nicer for the hatchlings. You know... some sticks, maybe some berries. It was going fine, then I found a few other slaves hiding in the bushes. They were terrified, poor things, just shaking. I tried talking to them, telling them it’d be okay."

I paused, glancing at Lyn. Her eyes were locked on me, the teasing tone gone for now. She was listening, really listening.

"So... I turned around for just a second, and wham!" I smacked my hand into my palm to mimic the blow.

"Next thing I know, a club crashes right into my face. Everything went dark. I didn’t even have a chance to resist. Not that I’m much of a fighter, but you know..."

Lyn’s tail flicked again, this time with a little more irritation, though her eyes stayed soft.

"I got caught by evil goblins. They were running some kind of caravan, heading deep into the forest to build another breeding farm." 

I shuddered, remembering the days of torment.

"It was brutal, Lyn. They treated us slaves like we weren’t even alive. Like cattle. The beatings... the butchering... it was terrible. Terrible, I tell you."

I looked down at my feet, my voice lowering.

"I thought I was never getting out of there. I did."

Lyn’s teasing grin was gone, replaced by something closer to understanding. She sat down beside me, her tail wrapping loosely around her legs. For a moment, the playful, carefree cat girl disappeared, and in her place was someone who seemed to genuinely care about my story.

"You really had it rough, didn’t you?" she said, her voice quieter now, with no trace of sarcasm.

I nodded, my heart heavy as the memories came flooding back.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry after spilling my entire miserable life story. I wasn’t used to talking this much - or to anyone actually listening. My chest felt tight, and I fiddled with a clump of dirt on the cave floor to calm myself down. Lyn had sat there through all of it, not mocking me or brushing it off. That meant something, didn’t it?

With the last of my tale hanging in the air, I finally dared to look up at her. My heart was pounding, not from fear this time, but from... something else. Gratitude maybe? Or awe? I couldn’t tell anymore. I didn’t even feel like the same pathetic goblin who had crawled in here earlier.

"Yap... that’s my story. It was hard," I muttered, my brain felt like mush, and my mouth struggled to form the next question. 

"Umm... Lyn?"

She tilted her head, those feline ears twitching slightly. Even now, after everything, she looked so graceful, so... above me.

"Yeah, Little Green?" she asked, her voice softer than I was used to hearing.

I hesitated, my tongue twisting in my mouth as I tried to think of the right words.

 "Well, I was wonderin'... could you... maybe... tell me 'bout yourself?"

 The words tumbled out awkwardly, and I winced at how pathetic I sounded. 

"I mean, you saved me, and I don’t know nothin’ about you. Except you're... y'know, pretty and amazing."

As soon as I said it, I felt my cheeks flush. I was sure I looked like a complete fool - again. But it was true. Lyn wasn’t just strong or beautiful, she was... something else. Something special. And here I was, hoping she’d actually open up to a wretched, lowly goblin like me.

She blinked, her golden eyes gleaming in the dim cave light, and for a moment, I thought she might laugh in my face like all the other. I braced myself for the playful jab, the teasing remark that would sting just a bit - but at least make the moment less awkward. But instead, she stretched her legs out and leaned back on her hands, her face taking on a thoughtful expression. Her tail flicked lazily behind her.

"Me, huh?" she said, drawing the words out slowly. A small, playful smile curved her lips, but her eyes seemed distant like she was thinking about something far away. 

"Well, you did tell me your whole life story, didn’t you? I guess it’s only fair."

She paused, her ears twitching again as if she was deciding what to say next. Then, with a small sigh, she started to talk.

"I’m not all that interesting, really. Just a cat girl, doing what I have to survive. My village is a bit farther from here, but I spend most of my time out here hunting, exploring, and… well, getting into trouble."

 She gave a little smirk, glancing at me. She winked, and I felt my face heat up again.

"I guess you could say I’ve always been a bit reckless. Even when I was a kitten, I’d sneak out of the village to explore. The elders used to scold me all the time, saying I’d end up in the belly of some monster if I wasn’t careful. Guess I’ve been lucky so far, huh?"

I watched her in awe, hanging on every word. Lyn, reckless? It seemed impossible. She was so strong, so confident. But hearing her talk about her life like this made her seem... more real somehow. More like someone I could understand.

"I don’t stay in one place too long," she went on, her voice getting quieter. 

"Not really the ‘settling down’ type, y'know? Too many places to see, and too many adventures to have. Staying cooped up in a village just ain’t my style."

 She glanced at me, her smirk returning.

 "Can’t imagine you’d be happy sittin’ still either, huh? You seem like the type who wants to explore too, even if you’re a bit... green behind the ears. Get it? Green? Because you are a goblin?"

I chuckled awkwardly at her joke, though it felt weird laughing after all I’d just told her. Still, something about her made me want to smile, even when things were grim.

"But hey, maybe that’s why we get along, Little Green. We’re both misfits, out here trying to survive in a world that’s way too big and scary. The only difference is, I’m a lot prettier."

 She winked again, and I nearly melted into the ground.

I fidgeted, trying to keep my composure as she leaned back, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen her. Her tail swished lazily behind her, and for the first time, I realized that she wasn’t just strong or reckless - she was lonely too, in her own way. Always on the move, never staying in one place for too long. It reminded me of my own life, bouncing from one breeding farm to the next, never feeling safe, never feeling like I belonged anywhere.