From the camp’s southern edge, the dirt path faded into scrubland. Boulders and tall grass marked the boundary of Gravehollow’s reach. The palisade was still visible behind them, but ahead stretched the wild.
The party of four walked side by side, quietly sizing each other up.
Ren adjusted his oversized satchel. “I’ve got a weak light spell and two heals. I think. The second one might just make people glow…”
Elara walked on his left. She didn’t respond. Her arrows were looped into slots on her belt, her stance light and alert.
Brann cracked his knuckles and tapped the wood of his shield. “Tank. Technically.”
Kieran walked near the back. Not because he was cautious, but because it gave him time to observe. No skills, no minimap, no hints. Just wild growth and nerves.
After a few minutes, he frowned and focused on a nearby rock.
[Inspect Attempt: Object – Stone]
[Stone]Yes. A rock.
He narrowed his eyes and tried again, more intently.
[Stone]Yes. Still a rock.
He stopped walking.
The words hadn’t changed in font or color, but the tone felt drier. Slightly annoyed.
“Was that sarcasm?” Kieran muttered.
No reply.
Of course not.
They reached the riverbank within half an hour. Water sloshed over smooth stones and twisted roots. On the opposite side, the land sloped into heavier brush.
They found goblin tracks soon after—three-toed prints, half-buried in the mud.
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Brann took the lead, shield up. Elara moved to higher ground and readied an arrow. Ren stayed behind them, staff in hand.
Kieran trailed at the edge, trying to keep pace. His club felt clumsy, his stance unsteady.
The first goblin came fast—green skin, yellow eyes, and a jagged knife. Brann intercepted it, taking the blow on his shield. Elara loosed a shot that slammed into the creature’s shoulder. Ren raised a hand and cast a weak burst of light to disorient it.
Kieran rushed forward and swung.
The club missed.
He staggered, recovered, and swung again. It hit—but glanced off the goblin’s ribs. The thing shrieked and turned toward him.
Brann stepped in and bashed it aside. Elara’s second arrow ended it.
“That was one,” Brann said, panting.
“Two to go,” Elara murmured.
They moved on.
The second goblin was hiding in a tangle of roots. Kieran spotted it late and shouted a warning. Brann blocked the ambush. Elara hit it twice—once in the leg, once in the chest. Ren healed Brann’s shallow cut.
Kieran tried to finish it off but tripped. The goblin was already dead when he got up.
Elara didn’t say anything, but her eyes flicked to him. Ren gave him a supportive glance.
By the third fight, even Kieran could feel the tension.
The last goblin was tougher, armed with a crude spear. It jabbed past Brann’s shield, forcing the party to scatter.
Kieran circled wide and tried to flank it—but it turned on him. He raised his club.
Too slow.
The spear slammed into his side. His HUD flared red. HP down to half.
He lashed out blindly. Missed. Again.
Elara finally dropped it with a shot to the throat.
Silence.
Then the prompt appeared:
[Quest Complete: Goblin Raiding Party – 3/3 Slain]Rewards Assigned…
Brann grunted. “That all of them?”
“Looks like it,” Ren said. “System says we’re done.”
They stood still as rewards filtered in.
Elara received a faint orange glow:
[New Skill: Flame Arrow – Imbue shots with fire.]
Ren blinked as light pulsed from his staff:
[New Skill: Moderate Heal – Restore 40% HP instantly.]
Brann’s shield shimmered:
[New Skill: Reinforced Shield – Block chance increased.]
Kieran’s screen flickered briefly.
[New Skill: Blunt Weapon Familiarity – +2% accuracy with clubs.]
He stared at it.
No fire. No heals. No reinforcement.
Just… slightly less useless swings.
He didn’t say anything.
Elara packed her gear. Brann stretched. Ren gave Kieran a faint nod, but didn’t speak.
The group turned back toward Gravehollow, bloodied and tired.
Kieran followed, the weight of the club somehow heavier than before.