Chapter 29: Slow March

The fighting was silent, only the noises of people getting injured and goblins dying accompanied with the symphony of weapons clashing. Until one of the defenders fell with a painful scream.

*Gah!* a tired soldier sliced down a goblin in front of him only to have a hatchet swung onto his neck. As the soldier fell onto his knees, gasping for relief. The goblins jumped onto him with serrated dirks as they riddled his body with stab wounds. The goblins as if they had finished painting a masterpiece were covered in a rose-colored stain, gloried at their first kill in battle.

Yet, before the goblins could smile, a few wind blades flew out and sliced their heads off with deadly precision. Derek Kel stood tall within the backline, his eyes darting ever so quickly as to provide the support to protect his fellow allies in battle. The green aura flickering on and off as he tries to reduce the usage of his spells yet at the same time maximize his protection to everyone he could help.

Derek Kel: “Continue to hold your lines! Protect each other’s backs!

Derek Kel's voice boomed throughout the camp, his voice unwavering but had a tinge of fatigue.

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Linzlet: “Is there really nothing else we can do!” Her fingers were slightly bleeding from the constant barrage of arrows she fired.

Scarlett: “We are already in the thick of it. We cannot retreat! We can only hope that some miracle happens.” Scarlett stabbed with precision and execution of the enemies. Keeping the goblins at bay as she killed one after another which each swing.

Ben: “The silver-haired hobgoblin hasn’t moved since. It’s as if it’s waiting for something.” As Ben bashed a goblin’s head with his shield his gaze continued to peek back at the silver hobgoblin.”

Scarlett: “Linzet, send a scout! I want to know how many more we have to fight!"

Linzet upon hearing Scarlett, relaxed one of her hands from the arrows and placed two fingers upon her mouth. Sending a loud pitch whistle, no one heard it within the intense battlefield as it was quickly drowned out. However, a small bird appeared from the tree and flew straight towards Linzet’s arms.

As if there was a telepathic message, Linzet only looked at the bird and nodded. After a few seconds, the bird nodded back and flew off with the help of Linzet’s arms lifting towards the air prompting the bird to fly.

A few minutes later the bird returned and landed on Linzet’s shoulder.

Linzet: “Scarlett! More Goblin mages are coming!”

Scarlett: “Does the noble know about this?”

Upon hearing this, Ben chirped up from the front.

Ben: “If he did, I’m sure there are countermeasures… but we should let him know before it happens.

Scarlett: “Linzet, go to Derek and tell him.”

Linzet nodded and started dashing towards Derek.

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Derek Kel: “Goblin mages? There’s more? How did I not see them? I’ve sent out a wind element to search for them.”

Regis: “Perhaps they had prepared for a spellcaster to search for them, but luckily there was no preparation for the naked eyes.”

Derek Kel: “This news is great, however, we are lacking the manpower to do anything about this… Regis, is there anything you can do about the goblin mages?”

Regis: “We should try and deal with the silver-haired hobgoblin… if he falls the goblins should lose their eagerness to fight.”

Derek Kel: “There are too many goblins… according to this girl’s bird, by the time we finish off the goblins the next batch will arrive with goblin mages.”

Regis: “I suppose, I can create a passage toward the silver hobgoblin… but are any of your troops confident in defeating a hobgoblin?”

Derek Kel’s head could only drop a little as he felt the weight of the situation was too much for him to bear.

As Linzet looked at these two men looking sad, a word was stuck on her throat, her mind thought of the hobgoblins slained by Ben…

Linzet: “Ben can!”

Derek Kel and Regis turned to look at Linzet who for the moment froze in place.

Derek Kel: “Ben? Who is this Ben and is this the truth? You do understand we need someone to break through this line… we will be betting our lives on this.”

Linzet: “Yes, Ben killed two hobgoblins by himself before. Although this hobgoblin looks stronger, I believe he could do it.”

Regis upon hearing Linzet's voice knew it was not a lie, however he did think of the possibility that she is gullible in nature.

Regis: “Where is this Ben?”

Linzet pointed at Ben and Scarlett fighting the goblins. As Regis’ eyes followed Linzet’s fingers he gazed at Ben. His eyes only squinted in disappointment.

Regis: “I understand the possibilities or chances that someone can kill a hobgoblin by himself with ease, however, isn’t this Ben young? Does not seem experienced or have the magical aptitude flowing about him. Does he have expertise in magic?”

Linzet: “Haven’t seen him use magic… but he’s stronger than he looks.”

Derek Kel: “.... call him over, second-hand information is taking too long.”

Linzet nodded and ran over towards Ben and Scarlett.

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Linzet: “Ben, Scarlett. Derek Kel has called for you.”

Ben: “What could he possibly have to do with us?”

Linzet: “I told them that you killed two hobgoblins before.”

A brief moment of silence highlighted the time. As Ben, Scarlett and Linzet looked at each other. Ben’s face frowned as he thought more about it.

Linzet: “Come on, he called for you and Scarlett to talk to him.”

Linzet started to rush back to Derek Kel as if there was no issue. Ben and Scarlett finished off the two goblins and followed Linzet.

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Ben and Scarlett slowed down as they reached Derek. Derek turns around to see Ben and Scarlett.

Derek Kel: “Ben, I have a task for you…”

Shocked at the sudden request, Ben took the moment to catch his breath.

Ben: “A.. A task?”

Derek looked back at the silver-haired hobgoblin. His face grimaced at his own thoughts.

Derek: “Ben… although this is simply from a second-hand talk from your companion here. How well can you take out hobgoblins?”

Ben: “Hobgoblins? I’ve taken out two before but the one over there seems pretty tough.”

As the group turned to look at the Silver-haired hobgoblin, it looked back with a sneer. Standing up from its seat, it flexed its muscles and grabbed a spear on the side of its seat. Standing with purpose, it threw the spear at a soldier and a goblin. The soldier seeing the projectile immediately braced his shield in front. The spear skewered through the goblin’s head and through the shield and body of the soldier. The strength, the prowess of the spear continued towards the ground until a quarter of the spear was buried within the dirt.

Derek: “See that confidence? We need to kill him.”

Derek looked even more grim as his plan to kill the hobgoblin grew even more crucial.

Ben: “Are you expecting me to kill him?”

Derek: “Markos will be assisting you. While Regis and I will help clear the path. We’ll send as much help as you have the most experience on killing hobgoblins one on one. Are you confident?”

Ben: “Quite frankly, no.”

Derek frowns a little. “If you don’t want to do this it’s fine. We’ll send someone else with Markos. This plan is going to be important, it’s a life and death matter… I’m only relying on you only because I have no other options but to listen… a possible hope.”

Ben continued to look at the Silver-haired hobgoblin, its entire body was exuding confidence from its well-defined muscles, its power over the goblins, and even its eyes were filled with a form of intelligence.

Ben: “The way it smiles…”

Derek: “We have no other ways… the goblin mages are coming. Although Regis is with us, he is simply a traveler.”

Regis: “I apologize… in this dire time. Even when I could stop this easily with a single swing of my hands. The wizards have sworn to only help as normal mages.”

Derek: “No, this much help has already given us the support we need to stand our ground.”

Regis simply frowned with disappointment. Then he faced Ben once more. Regis’ mouth opened to utter one sentence to Ben. As Regis’ mouth spoke, everything felt slow to Ben. As the words entered his mind, one by one.

Regis: “Ben… Do not be afraid… for your life is your own, as is your fate and destiny.”

Things started to feel slow, noises started to trickle into Ben’s mind. Yet, everything feels dull, and the only thing Ben could think of… is to turn the tides. Yet the rage could be felt from the harsh waves, unrelenting and unforgiving to the careless. For one slip, is all it needs to envelope it's victim into the cold realities of death. Ben's eyes shuddered as the massive gore of this battle reminded him of the village attack. Although the numbers were far less, the reality of war and battle has not been dulled in Ben's mind.