Today I’ve unlocked trading. I might not be the biggest merchant, but I know my stuff.

  If I give a goblin a juice cube, in return I get a ShinyRock.

  This Trade stuff is very simple!

  In my possession, I already have eight rocks. It makes me feel mighty rich.

  But there is a problem. The rocks are round, you see!

  The goblin currency is in dire need of improvement.

  > Distortion

  My inner vortex opens. A shadow blooms from inside.

  An ebony tendril, slick like the night but ghostly like smoke, slaps the rock.

  Lo and behold! The rock has changed, it has been transformed!

  Well… It’s still a ShinyRock but now it’s all square and symmetrical.

  This is perfection.

  I manipulate all eight, clumping them together.

  The united cube of currency floats right behind me.

  Goblin A and Gobin B – the names the system gave them – clap their hands impressed.

  They even give a quirky dance. All in celebration of cube money.

  I wiggle my shadow to their applause.

  Done making silly dance moves, we return to work.

  Yes, that’s correct. Even goblins and non-euclidean entities have to do that.

  What for? – You ask.

  Goblins want berries and I want more of ‘em shiny rocks.

  Huh, berries and rocks? – You ask.

  Yes, goblins desire the berries greatly. They fill their joy meter and boost their morale.

  And yes, I desire the stone cubes greatly. I think they’ll help me to build IT.

  > Quest: If You Build IT They Will Come 0/1

  My core is itching to complete it.

  But hey… did the quest change somehow? No… It reads all the same.

  Either way, I am super lucky to have teamed up with goblins A and B.

  They have amazing noses!

  Not only are they cute, they can smell a berry bush from miles away – an ability I don’t have.

  And thus, our War against the RedBerry Bush rages on.

  …

  The bushes capitulate once again, offering me their tribute.

  > RedBerry Juice x16

  > +10 EXP x16

  My allies A and B relieve me of my cubes, netting me another 16 ShinyRocks.

  But where do the goblins get the shinies from? – You ask.

  Don’t ask! I have no clue!

  The mysteries of Trade are hard to comprehend.

  Oh, by the way, trading with goblins also nets me some experience.

  > +1 EXP x16

  It ain’t much but it’s something.

  Even if I don’t know what this Experience is for, my contained shadow swirls in joy.

  There’s just something pleasant about accumulating it.

  Somewhy, I remember the hotheaded humans. And their craving for experience.

  Now, I too know that insidious hunger.

  Will I become like them? Greedy. Craven. Short-sighted.

  I hope not…

  Goblin A, oblivious to my inner turmoil, tugs at my shadow tail.

  I noticed that neither of them consumed the juice cubes this time. Weird.

  “Gob? Gobu!” Goblin A speaks to me, waving goblin hands.

  I haven’t learned their language yet, but by spending time with them, I sort of get what Goblin A tries to say.

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  The goblins want me to help them carry the cubes somewhere. To who-knows-where.

  I stretch and undulate a midnight tendril, telling them that I will help them.

  I’ve never been to who-knows-where! I tell them that I would love to see it.

  The two give me a happy goblin dance.

  “Go-Gobu!” Goblin A urges me to pull the cubes and follow.

  > Manipulate

  I float the cubes as we traverse through the forest.

  We walk deep into the untamed green. And oh my, the goblins picked the best route!

  There are feral berry bushes on our way to who-knows-where.

  I liberate the berries from their oppressors. Welcoming them into a cube utopia.

  Come, cubes, come! Right behind me!

  > Redberry Juice x4

  “”Gob?!”” The two yelp suddenly.

  Listening to the cubes singing praises to me, I failed to notice it.

  The source of Goblin A and B alarm is yet another cube.

  It’s green and jiggly and awfully familiar. It greets us with a cheery wobble.

  “It’s a CubeSlime. No need to worry.” I tell them with my shadow.

  The two relax. Coming closer to sniff at the jiggling cube.

  “Gobu?”

  “Go-bubu!”

  They tell me that the slime smells like grass and meadows.

  Wait… could it be? Are SlimeCube and CubeSlime somehow related?

  My revelation is interrupted by the System message:

  > CubeSlime #420 wants to join you.

  > [Accept]?

  I smash that button! The more the merrier!

  Thus, the slime joins us on our journey to who-knows-where.

  On our way, four more juice cubes join the utopia right behind me. Viva La Liberation!

  And… we’re there.

  Through the hole in the rocky outcrop, we head into a cave.

  The narrow cave tunnel isn’t lit, making it very dark.

  Oh! Did I ever mention that I am uncomfortable with total darkness?

  How come? – You ask.

  Shadows cannot exist in total darkness, that’s why! No Light = No Shadow.

  But it’s not like I would disappear. I just DON’T like it.

  Hiding my irrational fear I keep following Goblin A and B.

  CubeSlime #420 jumps ahead, between me and the goblins.

  It starts to jiggle and wobble, turning into a breakdancing cube.

  And then…

  “OHO! ??” I cheer.

  The slime starts to glow, illuminating the cave passage in bioluminescent green.

  I don’t know where the distant memory stems from, but the slime reminds me of the glowstick.

  Break, Stir, Shake – and here it glows!

  Thank you, CubeSlime #420! You’re the GOAT!

  The goblins are momentarily surprised, but soon they motion me to follow.

  “Gobu, gob.” Goblin A tells me we’re close.

  True to the word, through the narrow corridor, we emerge into the cave proper.

  It’s more spacious than I thought. Actually, it’s massive!

  I wow at the wide expense, yet I am left somewhat disappointed.

  The cave is barren. It’s devoid of character. There’s only stone, stone and more stone.

  No furniture. No art. Not even moss or mushrooms.

  Only barren, hewn stone walls and floor.

  “Gobu!”, “Gob!” The goblins shout into the darkness.

  “Bu-bu? Bu!” A third, smaller voice replies.

  It’s another goblin! A Goblin C.

  A super tiny goblin! So cute!

  Goblin C is wary of my presence. Goblins A and B quickly run up to C.

  There is a lot of ‘Gob’ and ‘Gobu’ sounds, goblin words swapped around from A all the way to C.

  > Goblin C wants to join you.

  > [Accept]?

  Why not?! – I obliterate that button.

  I set the juice cubes the goblins traded in their corner. Goblin C, ever the hungry, scampers to devour them.

  I set my cubes in my corner. Slime offers to guard them. Alright!

  Just so, the side quest of finding who-knows-where is complete.

  However, I cannot relax.

  The who-knows-where didn’t live up to my expectations. But it doesn’t need to remain that way.

  I ask the goblins if they will allow me to make a small improvement.

  They give me a positive gesture.

  I pull all my ShinyStones together. Setting them in the centre of the cave.

  This might be very ostentatious – decorating the cave with a cube literally made out of goblin currency – but I find it fitting.

  I am making art. I throttle my CubeAffinity at full power.

  Success! A new cube takes shape. This cube is the shiniest of them all.

  > Congratulations! You have created your first Masterwork!

  Even the system acknowledges it.

  > You have crafted the GoblinCube.

  And then…

  > Sacrifice EXP to upgrade GoblinCube

  > [Accept]?

  I accept. Then I feel something precious leaving my body.

  Huh? What’s happening?