Rem followed closely behind Amaia as they cut westward off the road, Ciara nestled against Rem's chest. Rem decided firmly in her mind that the trail beneath their boots will not be just some side path it will be the main road to the Dark Forest from now on. Any road she uses must became the main road. When she returns to Darkgloom, Rem would make sure everyone knows this.
"Amaia," Rem said suddenly, her tone sharp with certainty. "I have decided that from this day forward, this side road I have wandered onto thanks to divine providence will be the main road between Darkgloom and the Dark Forest from this day forward. Remind me when we return to the city that it must be designated as the new main route. There is no such thing as Rem of the House of Remembrance getting lost. Is that clear?"
Amaia stopped, turned, and placed her fist over her heart in salute. "Yes, my lady. I will make sure it is done."
Rem's eyes softened in satisfaction. She waved her hand dismissively. "Continue."
Amaia turned and led the way, her red armor silent as they walked the path curving deeper into rough plains and scattered bushes.
Rem slowed as her nose wrinkled smelling something bad. She lifted Ciara from her arms and set the fox carefully on her shoulder. "Stay put, okay Ciara? The scent of blood is thick in the air."
Ciara let out a tiny "mew," her eyes glowing faintly as she got ready to strike and guard new her mistress if the need arises.
Rem stepped up to Amaia's side, her voice low. "Do you smell that, Amaia?"
Amaia's helmet materialized in place over her head with a hiss. Her voice echoed slightly under the metal. "Yes, my lady. It smells of blood and slaughter. It has been some time since I last breathed in this scent"
Rem narrowed her eyes at the rising wind. "Indeed. It has been quite a while since I've smelled this level of bloodshed as well."
They both walked forward together. Cresting a low hill, then the full sight of the nest hit them.
Below lay a goblin village fenced in with crude timber wood stakes. Smoke rolled up from pits and torches in the ground. At the village's center, an altar of stone was erected, its base blackened with soot. Goblins crowded around, chanting in broken tongues. Several demi-humans were tied to poles. Flames covering their bodies, screams cried out in the air. Others were held down and cut open with rusty ritual blades, their blood splashing over the altar..
Amaia's hands tightened at her sides. "It looks like they're offering sacrifices to their gods. I don't understand how creatures like this are capable of such cruelty."
Rem's expression turned cold. "There's no need to think about it, Amaia. They're goblins. That's all you need to know. Leave none of them alive."
Amaia gave a sharp nod.
Together, they broke into a run down the hill. Amaia's wrist opened as a sword hilt materialized into her palm. In a surge of dark light, her massive black claymore formed, its blade humming with menace.
Rem raised her finger, power gathering at its tip. Dozens of fire arrows came into existence and streaked toward the goblins. Each arrow pierced a goblin's skull or chest, puncturing bone with a wet squelch.
Rem closed her fist. Every arrow detonated. Goblins shrieked as fire engulfed them, their bodies collapsing into ash.
The village erupted in chaos. Dozens more poured out of crude huts, brandishing scavenged swords, and shields dented from past fights, bows strung with frayed cord.
A dozen charged straight for Amaia.
She pivoted, swinging her claymore in a wide arc. Eight goblins were cleaved cleanly at the neck, heads flying as fountains of blood sprayed the dirt.
The others stumbled, their eyes blinded by the blood mist. They screamed in outrage, panic enhancing their movements.
Rem stepped into Amaia's blind spot, raising her other hand. From her fingertip blasted out a pressurized torrent of water, compressed so tightly it cut like a blade. Goblins were split down the middle as if carved apart by steel, their bodies falling in halves to the ground. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The air filled with the roar of fire and the gurgle of dying goblins. Amaia pivoted again, swinging her sword through another group that tried to flank them. Rem fired off another barrage of arrows, explosions lighting up the crude village huts with bursts of orange fire.
Still, more goblins poured from the huts, shrieking as the battle swallowed the encampment.
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