The sun had just started its slow descent, following us west as we made our small journey to the Goblin King's dungeon. The walk had only taken a few hours, including the short rest we took to snack on some bread and dried meat.
We had made it to the dungeon entrance, a small cave opening in the side of a hill covered in slimy moss, marked with a single torch that did little to illuminate the pure darkness farther in.
"Everyone, check your equipment before we enter."
I didn't need to tell Kyros or Amethyst this; they were always prepared, but I had to remember this was still training for Tia. I needed to make this a lesson for him and keep my eyes on him at all times to make sure he was safe.
Although this quest should be a breeze, anything could happen once we step into this cave.
"Yes, sir," Amethyst responded, full of sarcasm. She twirled her golden royal sceptre in anticipation, the large purple gemstone on the tip painted dancing spirals of violet light in the air.
Kyros nodded once, taking in the shadows that wafted from the cave entrance.
Tia was playing with her skirt again with one hand, holding onto his new magic staff with the other. He was definitely nervous.
I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He was so warm. His nervous movements stopped almost instantly, and his shining blue eyes looked up to meet mine.
"Don't worry, just stay behind me." I smiled, in my best attempt at making him feel safe.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from his as he stared up at me with blushing cheeks. I couldn't take my hand off his shoulder either. At that moment, I could only wish to be next to him always, to touch him, feel the warmth of his skin, to be lost in his gaze while I taste the sweetness of his lips.
"Hey, Draven, let's go." Kyros hissed.
Right, there's no time for me to daydream. I shouldn't be indulging these thoughts anyway.
"Everyone! Follow me."
I stepped into the musty dungeon with my shield drawn.
"Holy Lantern!" Tia's soft voice rang out, bouncing off the black cave walls.
A radiant orb of golden light appeared from the end of his wooden staff and floated above our heads, illuminating the rock walls around us.
"Good job, Tia."
His cheeks grew red from the praise, and he couldn't hide the excitement from his expression and mannerisms. He seemed so innocent, the smallest things made him happy, and in turn made me happy as well.
We continued through what could barely be called a dungeon along the only path forward. After walking for around 10 minutes without anything happening, suddenly we could hear the rustling and growling of goblins ahead.
"Quiet," I ordered in a whisper, "I'll engage them and draw their attention. Kyros, sneak around the right for a flank attack."
The party agreed with silent nods not to alert the goblins, then I moved in for the attack.
Rushing in shield first, I spotted around 5 goblins, each carrying rusty daggers, and 2 more in the back equipped with makeshift bows. I made contact with 2 of them, knocking them down simultaneously with brute force. The remaining 3 in front of me brandished their blades and lunged forward with bloodlust.
The clashing of metal rang out as their pitiful attacks met my greatshield, absorbing their damage entirely. Their assault continued, but none of their attacks could break through my defenses. After smashing one's head in with my mace, I called out to Amethyst to finish them off.
"Oh, Crystal Mother, cleanse these foul beasts with brilliance. Crystal Darts!"
Glittering gems of amethyst and turquoise materialized from the mage's royal sceptre, and with a swipe of her hand, they were sent flying at unbelievable speed, hitting the goblins directly. The crystals ripped clean through their flesh, and they succumbed to the wounds.
"U-up there!" Tia screamed out nervously. He was pointing towards the 2 goblin archers who were drawing their bows aimed directly at me.
Before he had time to worry anymore, they collapsed with blood spewing from their throats. Kyros' shadow had already vanished from behind them before they even fell.
I let out a chuckle after our small victory.
"Thanks for the call out, Tia."
He seemed to be a reliable party member so far.
We continued through the dungeon, regularly running into small packs of goblins and defeating them swiftly and with ease. I sustained a few minor cuts and injuries, which Tia healed quickly, always with the same warm sensation, which left me feeling revitalized.
Eventually, we reached our first crossroads, the cave split into 3 branching directions. Oddly, one of the paths was marked, the one that seemed to continue downward, with what seemed to be a runic spell, drawn in blood on the black stone of the cave.
"Do you know what it means?"
"Hmmm," Amethyst pondered, "It's not a spell I've ever seen before. Its origins don't look elvish. I don't think goblins can even understand magic… I wonder how it got here?"
"Let's take this path then, maybe we can figure out more, and I have a feeling that's where the boss will be."
We went deeper into the dungeon, following the winding cave downwards. Somewhat eerily, we discovered more and more of the unknown, bloody runes as we continued, and fewer goblins came to attack us. The little that did were no trouble at all.
Tia started to show signs of fear in the eerie darkness, but I assured him everything was fine, and it really was. So far, this dungeon was a piece of cake.
Kyros suddenly stopped in place.
"I sense something up ahead," he said coldly.
"More goblins?"
"I think so, but something seems… off."
"Hmm, go scout ahead. If you find an opening, go for it. We'll follow behind."
He nodded in response, pulling his hood tight around his face and brandishing one of his black steel daggers. With a singular motion, he uncapped a vial of poison and poured it over the blade before heading towards the darkness ahead.
"You two, stay behind me. I'll draw aggro when we attack. Tia, get ready to heal."
"U-understood!" Tia grasped his staff tightly and followed so close behind me that I could feel his breath against the back of my neck.
Just up ahead, I found what Kyros must have sensed. A pack of 8, no 10 goblins. They huddled in the darkness with no torches or fire to guide them. Oddly, they carried no weapons, not even a single dagger. The pack seemed to stand perfectly still, not even breathing, and their skin was sickly and gray.
Kyros was right; something definitely seemed off.
I waited for the assassin to attack first. As they were right now, they were sitting ducks for him; he could probably take 3 or 4 out before they even noticed we were here.
The gleam of his blade revealed itself from the shadows, and he lunged towards the goblins. Faster than I could blink, 3 of them were down. All 3 suffered deathblows, 2 of them stabbed in the heart, the other received a deep gash to the neck.
It was time for me to follow up.
"Come at me, you dirty Goblins! You don't stand a cha-"
I choked on my words.
What the fuck is happening?
The goblins Kyros just killed… stood back up. Viscous black blood oozed from their wounds like curdled milk.
I'm sure of it, they suffered fatal wounds from a highly skilled assassin. How could they still be alive? How are they still moving?
"Kyros, again!"
He obeyed me, swooping in for another attack. This time, he made sure it would be fatal. I watched as his dagger cut completely through the neck of one of the odd gray goblins. Its head came clean off and rolled on the ground towards my feet, making disgustingly wet sounds.
I looked down.
Its eyes were still blinking.
And the headless body began to march slowly towards me.