Mia strengthened her grip on her dagger, trying to remain calm. This was her first real combat experience in her life and despite her best efforts lying to herself, she was scared. It could be worse, she thought, it could have a weapon or there could be multiple, it could even be higher level then what it was now. Also, in the back of her mind, she knew that she was now officially a piece in what ever plan the princess had cooked up. They wouldn’t allow her to die here.

She tried to look at Rowan to try and gauge if he would step in or not if things got too dangerous, but a gut feeling was telling her not to move her focus on the goblin. Deciding it was best to trust this feeling she dedicated her focus fully onto the goblin. The goblin itself had been slowly approaching her, it’s arms outstretched and raised above its head.

“Ke ke ke~” It was laughing, thinking it had found easy prey. It’s steps slow but constant, with it’s gaze sometimes falling on Mia’s dagger.

It was being cautious... should she make the first move? What should she do? Charge it? What should she aim at? What if it strikes back? It wont hold back like Rowan did?! It’s stronger than me! If I mess up it will counterattack, I will get hurt. I am going to lose. I might die. I might die! I am going to die!

I AM GOING TO DIE!

Mia started panicking, her grip on the dagger loosening as she took a step back. Seeing this, the goblin made its move and dashed forward “Gua!” it screamed, swinging its raised arms down in an attempt to grab her.

Mia leaped back, stumbling and dropping her dagger to the ground. She hurryingly picked it back up. Close, too close. She gripped the dagger and looked at the gobbling, who was angerly stomping his feet.

Just remain calm… she reminded herself, she couldn’t lose herself like that. Thankfully and despite her panicked state, she had managed to keep a bit of her focus on the goblin which allowed her to react on time. With that, and the goblins temper tantrum at his failed attack, she had a new sense that she could somehow do this.

She took a deep breath, it was underestimating her. Something she could easily recognize, it shared the same opinion as everyone in this damned capitol. She was nothing to it, just easy prey that could be taken advantage of.

The goblin finished it’s tantrum, brining its attention to Mia it cackled “Ki ki ki” It pointed to her, then back to him and thumped it’s belly, licking it’s lips in apparent anticipation.

“Fine.” Mia lowered her posture, tightened her grip, and charged the goblin.

“Gi gi!” The goblin yelled, raising its hands in preparation to grab her again. When Mia got close it swung them down again but only managing to grab empty air.

She had anticipated the same move and had dodged, changing the trajectory of her charge to side step it and using the knowledge she had gained from her skill she slashed at the goblins distended belly as she passed, grazing the belly and breaking through a layer of skin. She had miss judged the distance, failing to make a deep cut. She then took her distance away from the monster.

Seeing the deep green colored blood drip from the cut Mia sighed in relief, while it wasn’t deep she had managed to hit it, she could do this.

“Gua?” The goblin stood up straight, placing its hand over the small wound and then raising the open palm towards its face. It inspected the fresh blood on it’s hand before clenching its fist “Ga gwuah!” It faced her and charged, it’s clenched fist raised into the air.

She could do this, right? Mia raised the dagger between her and the goblin, readying herself as it angerly charged towards her. When it reached her it swung it’s fist down, Mia jumped to the side and recalling the training of yesterday she tried to counter attack, but as she moved to do so another fist came from below and caused her to dodge back.

The goblin was swinging recklessly but was relentless in its angry assault. It followed up each hit with another. Mia managing to dodge by stepping backwards each time. She remained focused on dodging and finding an opportunity to counterattack but it was getting dangerous. The goblin’s fist was getting closer to their mark each time as it picked up it’s pace. Mia was having a hard time keeping up.

Mia backstepped, getting more distance away from the goblin but she made a mistake. She had been solely focusing on the goblin and not on her surroundings and as a result she felt her back hit something solid. “Eh?” She looked back, it was the wall of the training area. She had back peddled so much she had reached it.

“Ge gi!” The goblin swung its fist towards Mia who no longer could dodge out of range. The girl’s attention brought back to it, she instinctively raised her arms in an attempt to shield herself from it.

A sickening crunch could be heard echoing throughout the training arena as the goblins fist slammed down on her left shoulder, the girl letting out a scream before she was thrown to the side. She skidded as she landed, laying still. It hurts… She sat up, finding she could no longer move her left arm as it fell limp to the ground.

She looked towards the goblin, who was celebrating by dancing in place shouting “Gi gi gi!” and clapping it’s hands. Mia then brought her attention to her stinging shoulder, the entire area dented inwards on itself, and quickly shifting to a different color. She flopped to the ground, having now seen it the pain made itself known tenfold, a scream getting caught in her throat.

She was now fully aware of what level and status difference meant, and just how much people have been holding back. Comparing this to when she got kicked by Rowan was laughable, her shoulder was crushed.

“ah, gue ga?” The goblin had stopped celebrating, it’s eyes falling on Mia it outstretched it’s arm as it began walking towards her.

Mia froze, she had to get up, move, do something, anything! She looked for Rowan but found he was still sitting on the side lines, showing no sign of helping. What? Mia found herself confused, was she not apart of the princesses plans now? Wouldn’t her death be inconvenient to the princess because of the hero?

She felt the goblin get closer, help wasn’t coming, help was never coming. She forced herself to move, her arm weighing heavy on her she moved her right arm closer to help prop herself up. Something sharp hitting her side. Surprised she looked down, she had managed to keep her grip on the dagger! She kept it close to her, hiding it under her body.

The goblin approached, now standing above her it looked at her, mocking her position on the ground it bent down and wrapped it’s hand around her neck “Ke ke ke~” it then lifted her effortlessly above him. It then dabbed its palm in fresh blood from it’s cut on it’s belly, raising up the palm and showing the blood to mia “Gua! Ga gwauh gi ka!” It yelled angerly.

Mia dangled there, finding it hard to breath. She kept the dagger behind her, thankful he hadn’t noticed yet. she watched as it opened it’s mouth wide, licking it’s palm and cleaning the blood.

“Ke ki.” It then placed its hand on top of her head, gripping it tightly it opened its mouth wide and began moving her towards him.

Now! Mia swung her dagger, firmly stabbing it into the goblin’s neck.

“GWAUA!” It screamed, dropping her. Mia scooted away as the goblin flailed around in panic before ripping the dagger out of it’s neck.

Mia watched as blood spewed out from the open wound, the goblin staggered, raising its free hand towards the wound and pressing down into it. It glared at her “b-bua bi…” blood was streaming between it’s fingers “Bua? B-buu b-b-bie…” it gurgled and pointed the dagger towards her. Mia began scooting back in response, gaining distance away from it.

“BUEA!” it screamed, taking one step towards her before falling to the ground, landing face first with dark green blood pooling around it.

“I… I did it?” Mia blinked, gripping her broken shoulder “Did I… do it?” and as if to answer her question…

*Ding*

She heard in her head, followed by her status screen appearing in front of her looking a bit different. Firstly the scribbles were her she assumed her level would be changed, guessing she had leveled up she felt a sense of accomplishment wash over her. Secondly below her level, a new set of scribbles had appeared, not being able to read it she brought her attention to the last bit, her hp.

If she was guessing correctly, her hp. While she couldn’t read it, she still remembered what she was told about her status. This made her break out in a cold sweat, she was in a lot more danger than she realized… If she was correct, her health now shared it’s value with two of her stats, to be more specific her strength and constitution. Both of which were at 3.

Her remaining strength left her body as she flopped on the ground, the stinging pain from her shoulder keeping her from passing out. “Too close.” She said, turning her head to her shoulder, which was now dyed a nice dark purple, bright red blood seeping from the wound.

“Too close.”