Letting out a long yawn, Imira stretched out her limbs for the fourth time. Her uneasy movements once again caught the momentary attention of the militia standing watch, before he dozed off again. Disdainful of his lackadaisical attitude, Imira scanned the fields herself.

Despite standing next to the town wall, farmland could be seen giving way to untamed grasses on the horizon. She found it strange so many wandered the streets here when there were fields to be claimed just a short distance away. It shouldn’t have been the result of beasts, otherwise the guard’s incompetence was truly betraying the trust of the townsfolk. And she couldn’t stand that—

“Lucy, I know it’s early, but let’s enjoy the sun as it comes up. Let’s not worry about others, okay?” Alric interrupted her internal thoughts with strange clarity once again. He claimed not to read minds, but it would probably be less unsettling if he did.

“Did they not say they would meet us here early in the morning?”

“Ah, I was the one to suggest the time. I suppose my definition may be a bit earlier than others. You don’t have many hours in a day, it’s got to be before the sun comes up.” Turning to look over the horizon, he tapped the metallic spot on his cheek. “Or, not, but it ought to be that way.”

If there weren’t many hours in a day, then he needed to explain his penchant for wasting time. Zoning out, talking nonsense, and wanting the three of them to undertake unnecessary tasks… while Alric could be ruthlessly efficient, he seemed to take pleasure doing otherwise.

As they waited, a surprising number of people came up to chat with him. All seemed to have varying degrees of admiration, overjoyed they could talk together. While under a pseudonym, secrecy more or less was abandoned, openly talking about how they’d be traveling north for a few days to fight some goblins.

Telling unrelated stories, Alric waved his arms erratically, quickly closing the gap between himself and others, making physical contact with them to punctuate certain elements. Both of them were unfamiliar with how others would usually act throughout Derriad; she had no better idea than he how city folks acted. Yet as soon as one recognized him, they acted strangely as well.

While the Guardian of Man encouraged fellowship and teamwork, that was because working together brought greater results. Being on good terms helped with this— but who throws themselves into the arms of a frivolous person? All these people were just rushing to waste their time with him. There were no profits by befriending Alric, and it wasn’t some long standing relationship. If she’d not travelled with him, it would strike her as an attempt to con them into doing his bidding.

“You listen to your brother-in-law, you hear? He knows exactly how to get by in life, your sister is a lucky lass.” Alric began dispersing visitors, and one gave Imira his unsolicited opinion while leaving.

“Hop aboard Lucy. Though we’ve been kept waiting, it can’t be helped.”

“It’s still unclear why we are helping them. Aren’t you supposed to be finding a cure?” He sighed as she climbed aboard, as if she’d asked a thousand times already. While certainly thinking it that often, Imira rarely voiced her concern; since it wasn’t the cure so much as—

“Look, if I declare a task important, I’m not going to forget about it. Time may feel like it drags on for you, but once you learn to let it pass… Hmm, well you’re closer to Kat so you probably can’t understand it yet.” His head slowly turned back and forth abandoning his explanation; subconsciously surveying those around while lost in thought. Settling down, she double checked that Ria was properly covered and her spear was readily available. Of course the older girl had no flaws in her disguise after Alric checked on her, and the spear was waiting atop the rest of the gear along the wall’s bottom as usual.

Leaning in the corner of the cart opposite Ria, Imira felt comforted as she grabbed hold of her weapon. Though they may not have been moving forward at full speed out of Derriad, she really had come quite a long way. Even lacking combat experience with any stakes, it felt as though she reached a point where being abandoned wouldn’t lead to her immediate demise.

Any non-trivial threat would still be her demise, but she felt progress. Alric may have something that might generously be called plan after all.

“So you’ll need a few more years before reaching the understanding he did. At least in the meantime, keep the faith. Again you’ve managed to convince yourself, but I truly hope you can find something more from my company. ‘Tis the first time I’ve had a pupil so reticent as thou.” Again he sighed, from a feeling of malaise this time. He faced the other way, but Imira did her best not to show any reaction, in case could somehow see.

Like Rion before him, Alric was just a way to escape the confines of village life, and perhaps serve the purpose of demonstrating how to explore the great world. If he left on his own, or took a path she didn’t wish to follow, she didn’t want to rely and trust in him too much. His brief emote brought a doubt to her doubting, but more than a mage or warrior, Alric exhibited the spirit of a roguish actor.

The farmer he’d not-quite swindled in naught but seconds, those fake disciples hunting him he’d easily duped, even those earlier who flocked to him as tame animals would; Imira remained steadfastly wary against inexplicable charisma. Perhaps it had not been any sort of ploy at all, but a mere sigh pulled her to feel remorse.

“Greetings Harlod, Lorn. Allow me to properly introduce myself once more, with my family. My name is Kazuma, an alchemist trained under Theodore of Glaucen. My wife’s name is Rea, and forgive her lack of a personal introduction, as she is quite ill. For the same reason, we are unable to share the cart with you. And lastly…”

“Lucy, Rea’s sister.” Raising herself over the edge so as not to appear rude, Imira tried getting a good view of their ‘employers’. She couldn’t discern why Alric chose to help them, carrying no outward signs of excellence, yet they still carried themselves with enough pride that this was not an undertaking of pity. In plain clothes, and only one weapon between them, they also did not appear wealthy or well connected. The only thing of note, and it was a stretch to try and call it a reason, was the glimmer of determination in their eyes.

Imira never put much stock in such things, but Alric did, so she could only assume such a subjective trait granted the couple a chance.

“Let us talk on the way. Though you were waiting for us, we’d like to get there as quickly as we’re able.” Lorn spoke in a commanding tone, vying for the position of de facto leader. An unnecessarily aggressive move that made Imira think ill of her.

“As you say, we should not waste time.” Alric happily smiled and Sparky set off along the road, and they left the town behind.

She’d grown used to it in part, but the underdeveloped lands so close to a proper town made her suspicious. While there were occasional hints of boulders and other large stones protruding from the soil, leaving so much land fallow seemed odd. Since they were heading out to hunt goblins, perhaps a tribe lurked in the dense grasses? It all felt too reminiscent of the interstitial area they passed through right after leaving Salt Village— untamed.

Without a care in the world, Alric chatted with their guests about the path between them and their destination, what the village was like, and other things that might be expected on the mission before digressing into more personal matters, like the people who once lived there, and how the two lived before being driven out.

Of course, the discussion seemed primarily with Halrod, as Lorn kept a stern, and redundant watch over their surroundings. While having hired Alric, she didn’t seem to have complete trust in him. Strange to pay someone you don’t trust to watch your back, but numbers were their own form of safety, even if they didn’t contribute much. Harlod on the other hand, while still slightly curt with his answers was at least keeping up a polite facade. Imira didn’t know for sure if it was a facade or not; but likely he was not thrilled with how gregarious their mercenary was, just concealing it better than his partner.

Several hours later, after announcing they’d passed the halfway point, Lorn gave her husband the large pack she’d been carrying, while relieving him of the spear. Alric sent a glance towards the back of the cart, a hopeful smile on his face.

“Stamina balance.” She answered half under her breath. Lorn planned on fighting on arrival, so she let Harlod carry the weapon to protect them on the way, so if they were to encounter some small skirmish, she would be in top condition for the main battlefield. Trading for the spear some time in advance would let her rest up, relatively speaking, after carrying a large burden.

“Good. And observe.” Half sentences were enough, with his depth of tonality. Had she always been able to discern such subtle clues? Were those at the village just so obvious in their intentions that she’d never noticed? Or was this one of his tools in getting people to do his bidding, being capable of subvocalizing hints without speaking? He clearly expressed an expected dissatisfaction, along with an encouraging urge for her, that she might take joy in analyzing the movements of their companion as well.

Or he said pride— looking upon Lorn carry the spear gave Imira a deep sense of satisfaction in her own progress. Gripping the haft in a manner halfway between a readied position and using it as a walking stick, the switch to a combat-ready stance would take longer than if she’d just held it in a more relaxed manner. It also implied she used the weapon solely as a spear, without regarding possible use as a light quarterstaff. Imira could even faintly make out a paleness to her knuckles from holding it too tight, digging into the ground as if making postholes, trying to enlarge her presence.

Alric occasionally sent her deferential words on silver platters, so as to solidify ‘party dynamics’. Again his presence as an actor revealed itself, Imira could only imagine how much internal scorn he had for posturers with large egos. He referred to it as diplomancy, and while it was a skill she could hardly comprehend, it served its purpose to smooth over the mood.

Sun dipping near the horizon, Imira noticed Alric adjusting himself. Looking out over the horizon, she spotted wild grasses giving way to farmland once again. A few more minutes and she could make out buildings.

“Now then, your house is that one, across the one with the demolished porch?”

“Yes.”

“In that case I’ll go inside, to make sure it’s clear. Lucy, help with the ambush… if it occurs. I’ll come out shortly after to help you retreat to our base. Harlod, you can borrow this shield. Is the plan acceptable Lorn?” Reaching back, he pulled a buckler from the air next to Ria, though only Imira could tell from this angle. It didn’t look particularly strong, but Harlod accepted as it would be better than nothing.

“Your idea is fine. Do you really expect an ambush?” Looking across the vacant streets, Lorn seemed skeptical. She wanted Alric to lead the way in case there were ambushes inside and didn’t think holding their position was a risky move.

It was a logical course of action, and as Alric suggested it himself, one couldn’t blame her for forcing him. Imira felt troubled because if something was inside, he could detect it from where they were, and there most definitely was an ambush. Her confidence couldn’t keep her heart from beating faster.

“Well, you never know. Best to always stay on guard.” Lifting his maul up over his shoulder, despite its good make the cart creaked at the sudden movement. Hopping down, he stroked Sparky’s flank. “I’ll be right back boy. Keep Rea safe, and don’t let Lucy get beat up either.”

So he’d intervene if things went too far, but would hesitate to interfere.

Well that was fine. She had her spear, and goblins couldn’t compare to what lurked in the forest.

Alric opened the door, waving back to them before vanishing inside. Quiet began to fall over the group.

“How long do you think it’ll take him to check? I don’t see why goblins would just hide at our appearance.”

“They’re cowardly when alone. If one stayed behind, it would definitely flee until backed into a corner.” More than any other creature, her lessons focused on goblins. From habits, their facsimile of culture, down to the inefficiencies of how their hearts pumped blood; they’d been such a focus Imira felt they’d been oddly absent from the journey. Even not considering the abnormal attention in her studies, other than a slime or rats, shouldn’t goblins be the most prevalent encounter?

Softly scraping sounds of metal from around the corners of the nearby buildings suggested that they would finally be showing their ugly hides. Crouching, while keeping visibility over the edges of the cart, she once more glanced over the bed to confirm where everything was, taking note of areas she could dodge to.

“There!” Harlod put his shield up and called out as he noticed three goblins round the corner. Looking bulkier than expected, the goblins were slightly larger than Imira, but with readily apparent muscle. All wore cheap leather armor, but it looked surprisingly well fitted.

“They’re unarmed. Watch the front and I’ll be able to take them down safely with this reach.” It wasn’t an altogether bad plan, the path between buildings was wide, but still limited lateral movement. Going on the offensive with such low attack power against three enemies, a dedicated Tank only made their prospects slightly less risky.

“Stay on the defensive.” After some thought, Imira gave advice to the couple. With Alric nearby, they weren’t in mortal danger, but she didn’t want to fall short of his expectations. He mentioned the importance of being able to lead and give commands; it had never been a focus, travelling only as a group of three, but any opportunity to show her growth would please him. Besides, they were allies who had not taken the whole of the battlefield into account. “There’s still the armored opponent. They are preparing an ambush.”

Stationed before the first pair of buildings, the cart gave a vantage point over the fields, making a surprise attack from the rear impossible. If not for that, the couple would be easily surrounded.

“There are two more coming around this side, one from the left, one from the right. Both wear scale mail.”

“So goblins can do this as well… we’ll try to break through these three and loop around to strike their back.” Harlod raised the buckler up, looking to Lorn to confirm, about to charge.

“Some goblins understand Derrish.” Imira grumbled aloud, were it just the two of them that may have been a good plan with the information they had. If they couldn’t drop all three goblins, at least they would only have to deal with one front. That ignored the possibility of further reinforcements, quality armor implied at least one intelligent leader.

Not to mention, this plan ignored her existence. Despite her combat power equalling theirs, they underestimated her due to her age, though that was fine. That brought up a slightly more infuriating implication, the two had no qualms splitting off from her. Absolutely understandable. An act Imira felt she agreed with in theory, but it irritated her. What sort of ‘comrades’ were these?

Her presence was deterring the flanking goblins, but they still steadily approached. By abandoning the cart she could easily link up with Harlod and Lorn; Alric would control Sparky to take Ria to safety, but if it came to that Imira would feel as though she failed. Or at least have her mistakes pointed out to her.

Mistakes she would always have been able to overcome had she thought a little more on the issue. Alric avoided impossible puzzles, even if the answers were unorthodox. What did he want her to do here? Gain skill in fighting?

And protect those around her.

“Both of you stand fast.” Imira gracefully hopped out of the cart, using her spear to dissipate energy from the fall to land softly. She couldn’t defend Ria and Harold and Lorn if they split up. She could defend from the cart, but her best spear techniques were meant for charges. Being uncertain of how long those two could hold out for, she needed to end things quickly.

“Hold on, you had a better position in the cart!” Harlod worried, the slight distraction a signal for his opponents. However Lorn kept herself readied, and goblins still feared death. The two closer to her side hesitated as she lightly jabbed her spear, with only one closing in quickly, he was able to knock down the last.

Tilting forward after overextending himself, Lorn fended off the other two; unable to land the finishing blow, the goblin scrambled back. Resetting themselves to the same positions as before, just slightly more tired with a few meaningless abrasions on the goblins’ side.

Knowing they wouldn’t die immediately, Imira fully turned her attention to the goblin ahead of her, with the cart hiding her figure from the other ambusher. Angled Imira rotated her position back to increase her peripheral vision of the other opponent, while trying to keep the distance between herself and her target steady.

Not seeing her as much of a threat, it charged. Waiting for this moment, she responded in kind.

Suddenly uncertain of its decision, the goblin tried to slow itself, but found doing so difficult in metal armor. Heavy impact shook her arms, but the spear messily pierced its skull, instantly falling limp towards her.

She’d done it.

Imira forcibly suppressed the momentary elation, as the other armored goblin advanced. Approaching the cart, she grew worried, trying to dislodge her spear. She’d hoped the weight would push the goblin all the way to the base, making it easy to retrieve, but the corpse fell over leaving the spear precisely halfway through the cranium.

Luckily the armored goblin chose another target, veering left down the road.

“Watch backs!” One more from another direction would doubtless break their equilibrium, so Imira hurried on after. But with her in the mix, things again came to a standstill for all to catch their breath.

If she charged first, she couldn’t guarantee a kill, especially against scale mail, it would have too much time to react. It could tell if it charged her, it would likely die, and charging the couple might wound them, but leave it exposed to Imira. Harlod and Lorn already were failing to break through the group of three, and exposing their backs to the larger group was infinitely foolish. Those three goblins were in the same predicament, aggressive, but unwilling to be the one knocked to the ground or risk being stabbed.

The armored goblin began barking and croaking, putting Imira into a hyperaware state. It didn’t seem to be directing its call at the three either. More reinforcements? Moving out of her charge-ready stance, she stepped into a pose to better watch the area.

Behind them at the end of the street, a goblin missing its right forearm charged awkwardly towards the cart. Was she meant to leave it to Alric, or to protect Ria over their employers? Combat meant making snap decisions even in uncertainty. Though she still felt uneasy with Ria’s presence, she charged towards the crippled goblin.

The only time it took to dispatch it was the time necessary to close the gap, but from behind her, there was a shout. After tearing through half the goblin’s neck, she pivoted around to return, starting to charge back, but her steps faltered a few steps in.

Harlod stood over a prone Lorn, shield at the ready, but all goblins save one were on the ground.

“Hmm. Apologies for using your kitchen utensils for that, but I’m sure there are plenty left behind. Let’s move inside before any more come this way.” Her giant of a teacher kept the last aloft by its neck, applying just a bit of pressure until it fell unconscious, before heading back inside.