I wake up from my drunken stupor.

I have a headache and the pain stabs me repeatedly. I cleared out almost all the alcohol in the tavern that I wasn't taking with me last night. The tavern looked like a mess of broken tables and faded memories. A couple days had already passed by and I still haven't left the smoldering ash once known as Swillsden. I know I have to go north and I wanted to leave this place but I couldn't move yet.

The dead needed to be buried, so they wouldn't have thoughts of coming back again.

I had spent my time burying the dead and making sure all the filth was burnt away. I lingered here for far too long but it couldn't be helped. I had some urgency in leaving before, until Martin and the rest of the townsfolk died. My heart and soul needed some time to grieve. It was the only way I could keep myself moving forward. I kept drinking so I wouldn't have to feel the guilt but it didn't help.

There were now mounds of buried bodies and pickets littered in the former town. It notified all, that the dead were laid to rest here. My skills at making graves keep getting better and better. Everyone I buried here was given a small prayer for the afterlife. I had already stopped being a man of faith but these people might not be like me. Only the living could move forward while the dead go to the dirt.

Today I was going to leave and continue my journey to Demon territory.

It was a fool's errand, but I believed it was the least I could do. I know a hero would face the coming odds by first gathering his strength, but I wasn't a real hero. The Demon Lord had to be stopped at all costs. He were the bane of human existence and I had already killed one before. Though I knew it was suicide by itself, I had to try anyway.

Swillsden was the last town before you'd hit the Wild Forests and then the bleak North Mountains. The Wild Forests didn't worry me, it was the North Mountains. Dark terrible things resided there and they would make men wish they only dreamed of nightmares. I just hoped that I didn't meet any Elves in the Wild Forests. They hate trespassers with a passion and they would especially hate it if they saw me again.

Gathering my belongings, I readied myself for the journey ahead. I made note of all the materials and items that were given to me by Morris. I guess I'll keep owing Dante favors even when he's not here. He was an abnormal child but I could tell he was still a decent human being. I'm glad that I received some supplies for the journey into the North Mountains.

I had enough supplies to last half a month. A good amount to get me through the Wild Forests and the starting mountains. As long as there were no setbacks, I would be okay. I wasn't planning on returning alive from Demon Territory anyway. If I did, my life would be forfeit to anyone who wants it.

My left eye started to itch and I uncover my eye patch just for a quick touch. For some reason my left eye wasn't healing, even with all the potions I drank. I knew that Cassandra's gauntlets were blessed by holy magic but was I so tainted that it affected me so? But I didn't think about it for too long. I felt that I needed some scars for my sins as a reminder anyway.

I exited the tavern and gave the blackened area outside a quick glance. This town used to have a name and people living here. Now there was nothing but burnt ground and grave markers. I set fire to the tavern, there shouldn't be anyone living here anymore. With an exhale and some resolve, I left the town.

Some time had passed and I had walked a considerable distance from town already. The public road disappeared and a new one emerged in its place. The road north was rocky and uneven. A thick fog covered the horizon and the path I walked on. It was a place less traveled and the landscape showed it.

There was something strange about this fog but I couldn't put my finger on it. I noticed that the trees were becoming more wild and the vegetation had grown rampant. Did I make it to the Wild Forests already? No, I shouldn't be, it would take me a couple days before I reached it. My senses were on alert and I held the hilt of my sword.

A noise echoed through the fog and I recognized the sound. I pulled out my Mithril sword and grabbed a vial from my pocket. The vial contained a green poison and I had already gained an immunity from overexposure. I poured the contents of the vial over my blade until it was covered in a green film. My sword was ready and I was ready for them, Goblins.

A screeching and scratching noise, followed by mild laughter. That was the sounds Goblins made when they were hunting. They weren't particularly strong by themselves but they made up for that in numbers. A hunting party of Goblins consisted of two dozen Goblin warriors. If I couldn't run, I had to make sure every cut of my blade was a kill.

I moved from the road and went into the forests. I climbed up a tree and held my position. For now they didn't know I was here and I would use that to my advantage. Goblins never strayed too far from the Wild Forest and their territory. Why are they here?

I held my breath as some movement occurred down below me. There I saw them, a party of goblins lurking about. They were smaller and scrawny compared to humans but just as dangerous. The yellow eyes, sharp teeth and deformed heads would tell you how monstrous they are. Their pale green skin was covered in stolen armors and clothes. Some of them wielded swords and axes while others had bows.

My eyes searched for a commander but I couldn't see him. It looked only to be about ten Goblins moving together. This was probably just a searching party from the regular group. What were they searching for out here? A sound alerted the goblins and they screamed. Something was moving in the far distance and most of the goblins gave chase. I jumped down and killed a straggler in the back.

I didn't know what they were chasing but I was going to find out. I had to whittle down the number of Goblins anyway. If they were out here, my journey to the north was going to be troublesome. I followed behind the Goblins as quietly as I could. I stayed behind them for several paces and made sure I wasn't followed myself.

The forest we moved in, was wild and eerie, it did seem like I was already in the Wild Forest. The trees here twisted and grew tangled together. Potholes and wild shrubs seem to slow down movement. I could tell that the Goblins were annoyed by the forest but they still kept pursuit. Whatever the Goblins were chasing, it knew the forest well. I continued behind the Goblins as they moved through the treacherous terrain.

The sounds of metal striking could be heard in the forest and I gripped my sword a little tighter. A Goblin archer stopped in his tracks and readied his bow. Before he could take aim down the forest, I slit his throat. My poison worked almost instantly as the cut boiled and corroded over. There were two other archers left and they tried to move into position.

I hurried behind one goblin archer and took off his head. The sounds of battle continued and I looked for the final archer. The Goblin archer readied his bow and let his arrows fly down the forest. A girl's scream resounded and my expression turned grim. I ran towards the Goblin archer and he noticed my presence but I stab him through the neck just the same.

My sight moved down the forest and I could see what the Goblin's were after. It was an Elven girl with lilac hair and brown skin. She was fending off the goblins admirably with a sword but it wouldn't be for long. There was an arrow stuck in her arm and she was bleeding. These monsters weren't looking for food but something else. She would have a fate worse than death if I didn't save her.

I rushed over giving up my advantage of stealth. The Goblins didn't notice me until I slashed one of their own in the back. The Goblin screamed and alerted his comrades. There were only five of them left now and I could face that much easily. One of the Goblins was making a noise like he was calling for help. They didn't know that the archers weren't going to help them any time soon.

The Elven girl looked startled at my appearance but I gave her a quick glance. She understood that I was there to help. A Goblin covered in full armor roared and tried to attack me. I dodge his movements and give him a quick slash of my sword. The Goblin moved away and patted his armor in arrogance. He didn't know I had a Mithril blade covered in poison until he saw his blood spurt out black.

There were only four Goblins left now and they looked hesitant to attack me. The Elven girl stabbed one of the goblins who turned his back to her. He screamed in pain and she plunged her sword deeper into his body. The other three goblins looked back and forth between us. I could see the fear in their eyes and the perspiration on their heads.

They realized I was the bigger threat and moved to attack me in unison.

One of the Goblins was wielding an axe and tried to attack me with an overhead blow. Moving low on the ground, I dash over to him and slice open his stomach. I use my momentum to spin around and cut the head off another Goblin. The last Goblin rushed to stab me but I kick his sword up in the air. He fell down on the ground and I made him rest there permanently.

I began wiping the blood off my sword with a cloth from my pocket. I sheathed my blade and tried searching the Goblins. Some of the Goblins had healing potions and I threw one to the Elven girl. After I was done, I tried moving towards her to fix her wound. The Elf girl still held up her sword as she looked to be cautious of me. I stood my ground and held my hands up.

"Are you looking at me with lust in your eyes?" She asked.

"No, I just wanted to help you from these Goblins." I replied.

My gaze moved from her to the Goblins.

"It's strange though, why are these Goblins so far out of the Wild Forest." I said.

"What are you talking about?"

The Elf girl looked confused.

"We are in the Wild Forest."