I entered my subspace, and immediately opened a portal back to reality. It may go without saying, considering I died without buying any time whatsoever, but that went far worse than I was hoping. I thought I could buy at least a minute before they killed me, but the hobgoblin seemed to react rather violently to whatever it was I said.

Once I opened the portal, I didn’t go through, instead keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings outside. I had the foresight to make more than one tunnel. Everything that can go wrong will, and all that. I set up that wall at one of the forks in the path, covering the humans’ tracks, and tried my best to make it seem like I was guarding the false opening.

Thankfully they seemed not to realize there was a path behind it, as the wall was still there, but the hobgoblins were gone, likely running down the false path as soon as they killed me. I could just leave my subspace now and try to follow the humans, but I don’t actually know the extent of those hobgoblins’ actual abilities. Returning from my subspace could alert them to my presence, then put the humans at risk immediately after. Instead, I’ll wait here for a few minutes before following. I should be able to catch up with the humans easily in Dolosus Lupus form, and now that they’re free and unshackled, their powers should be returning, so they should be able to defend themselves again.

Since I’m stuck here anyways, I should check up on the goblins now. They may be panicking a bit, considering one of them just… Died. Hopefully they’re not reacting too poorly to that.

I wonder if the goblins have changed at all. The only major difference between orcs and goblins is that the goblins suffer from the voice since their time of birth, and are thus inherently hostile to humans. Since the ancients — Or whatever those bat things really are — have their spell up, it seems my entire subspace blocks off the effects of the voice. In that case, it stands to reason that the goblins might be a little less hostile in this environment.

Though, I suppose there’s no way to know for sure without talking to them, and I don’t exactly speak their language… But the ancients didn’t speak mine, and they had a way to communicate. Maybe they could assist me in this endeavor?

* * *

“You wish to communicate with the goblins?” The ancients asked.

“I do. Though they are monsters, they at least have some form of conscience and language. It was not so long ago that my mother’s species, the Dryads, were persecuted simply for being born of mana. Perhaps in this space, cut off from the voice — thanks to your efforts — they can be reformed.”

The ancients paused for a minute, deliberating between themselves before speaking again. “We suppose that is not too far off from our original goals for this place. Though this project was not originally meant to offer shelter to monsters inherently hostile to sapient life, there is no harm in using it as a means to free the victims of what you call ‘the voice’ from its influence. However, as we mentioned before, there are limits to our power. We do not have infinite resources here, and therefore, will not be able to affect an infinite number and size of what you call ‘terrariums’. That being said, I don’t see us reaching our limit any time soon. Take our form, and we will impart our knowledge of the goblin language through you.”

“Like how the dwarves share their knowledge through the collective?”

“I suppose the ‘dwarven collective’ was modeled after their ancestor Vorfar’s description of our hivemind. Though, there are distinct differences, mainly due to the fact that our alchemy predates magic.”

“Alchemy? What is it, and how could it even make such a thing as the collective without magic?”

The ancient frowned. “‘Tis a shame that you humanoids are incapable of envisioning a science beyond the clutches of that insidious creature’s ‘magic’. Had your species not been given the crutch of magic so early in their lifespan, and had your civilizations not been destroyed due to the catacalysm, perhaps you could have achieved such things as well.

Unfortunately, the explanation wouldn’t make sense to you. It relies on concepts far too complicated and removed from magic to sound like anything but gibberish to one without years of study. Not to mention the fact that our alchemy doesn’t work outside of this space. Not since that thing spread its power throughout the universe…

Though, I suppose with your lifespan, in this space removed from ‘the voice’s’ grasp, and with your ability to take our form and join our hivemind, perhaps we could teach you one day…”

I went over what they said a few times before trying to reply. There was a lot of information to unpack. “I don’t understand. You’re talking about the voice like it’s a creature of some kind. Isn’t the voice just some mental corruption most monsters have? How could it remove the ability to use… this ‘alchemy’, whatever it is.”

“One problem at a time, young Sylas. There are a great many things you are not ready for, and this is one of them. For now, let’s simply focus on establishing our alchemical link.”

Great, another cryptic response. But at least it’s more information than I had before… Though, I feel as though I’ve been given more questions than answers.