After spending six hours searching for directions Chance and Sage were able to pin down the location of the mine. During the process, it became clear they were not going to be able to use their map to pinpoint the location. After some discussion, they decided not to buy any map upgrades and use word of mouth to find the site.

Together they each put in ten gold towards getting a carriage and using the ride to nap. It had not occurred to either of them that they should check out the bar and see if they could grab a room.

-

I refuse to accept that we could be dead. I refuse. Chance closed his eyes and tried to get used to the rocking of the carriage. How could she accept it with no argument? She didn’t even bat an eye. Though I didn’t give her much of a chance to speak her mind. He crossed his arms and put his teeth together. The carriage would be something he would need more time to get used to. Now we have to go kill goblins? I hope this won’t be as hard as it sounds.

Sage was restless; she alternated her legs as much as possible. Crossing them back and forth, she did the same with her arms. Eventually, she closed her eyes as well. Since the carriage was mainly empty, she felt safe enough to let her guard down. We have a slim chance of making it out of this alive. At least if we work together, we should be able to get in and out. Maybe. I hope so. We need to level up one more time, and everything will be okay after. Sage chewed her cheek, I’m not ready to die, or I’m not ready to die for a second time. If I really died in the first place, I want to use this time to live, or whatever. She opened her eyes and watched Chance bounce around. I wish I still had my car.

-

Once the two arrived at their stop, Sage climbed out first. Confused at her surroundings, “Uh, this doesn't look like a mine.” She said to the driver of the carriage. “I can’t take you all the way up to the mines. The road gets more narrow from here on out.” Chance jumped out of the back and opened his inventory the moment his feet hit the ground, “No problem, man, we can walk. Thank you for the ride.” He took the club from his inventory.

The man gave a nod to Chance, and the two watched as the carriage left. “Any reason you have your weapon out?” Sage asked Chance; she opened her own inventory. “We have to walk, and since there are monsters, I figured we might as well be ready for a fight.” Chance said as he headed up the hill before them. Sage yanked the trident from her inventory and followed. She figured he was right but wanted so desperately for him to be wrong.

The driver was correct. The further they went up the hill, the more narrow the road became. The dirt road eventually became a couple of stones, and soon enough, there was no clear path to follow. “I have a hard time believing anyone works here,” Sage grumbled. If there was anyone here, it would make no sense why the mine is located beyond a hill. Chance was inclined to feel the same, “If this place had workers, the carriage would’ve been able to take us right to the location.”

“So we are walking into a trap?” Sage will stop in her tracks. I didn’t sign up for this. Chance was weighing their options, “We have to press forward. We finish the quest, level up, and get our money. It will be simple.” He wasn't so sure; if this was a trap, they would be outmatched. He didn’t have much time to think about it. Right over the hill was the mine.

The grass around the area looked burned; tools were scattered around the grass and dirt. Leftover armor was spread around the makeshift campsite. “This place has clearly been left to rot.” Chance gripped his club tighter. “Fantastic. What exactly is a goblin?” Sage asked as she walked over to the tents. “Honestly? I'm not sure, but by the look of the tents, probably something big.”

“There are no bodies here.” Sage lifted a helmet to see if it was usable. Unfortunately, it was not. The helmet had been dented and burned, “the people here fought something, and it looks like they lost.” Chance bit his lip and turned over scraps before heading into the tent. He put his club down to look through some bags. Deciding they could loot later, Chance shoved two bags into his inventory and left the tent.

“We should head inside, Sage.” He said as he walked out, quickly heading back into the tent to grab his club. Sage looked towards the entrance and nodded. “Alright, let’s go.” She wasn't feeling too confident about their mission, and neither was Chance. They could hear some rocks fall as they approached the entrance, but otherwise, it was silent. The torches on the wall were still lit. This gave the pair pause. “We are so walking into a trap.” Sage held her trident for dear life and pressed forward. “Oh yeah.” Chance followed.