“You know, for a child… You sure can take a beating ha ha!” Glenn gleefully said as he kicked Jake in his abdomen on the ground. Jake grunted, and tried to get up, but Glenn just kicked him in his head, causing Jake to roll on the ground again.

“You… Killed my brother, I can’t forgive you, you monster!” Jake yelled as he staggered up on one leg.

Glenn jumped towards Jake, as Jake tried to punch Glenn with his right fist, but Glenn just slapped his wrist to the side with his normal dagger, cutting Jake’s glove and the side of his hand, then Glenn punched Jake in the face, causing him to fall down again.

“If you had told me anything you know about General Karr, I would’ve probably let you live. Unfortunately, you know nothing of that name at all, so kicking you around is quite exquisite.” Glenn said as he stomped on Jake’s right leg, causing Jake to grunt in pain.

Glenn walked around Jake as he’s smiling, he then stomped on Jake’s left foot with a grin, causing Jake groan louder than before. Glenn raised his head while keeping a watchful eye on Jake as he smirked.

“I suppose I have some use of you. Yes… You do have promise for a growing child…” Glenn said as he walked near Jake’s left side.

Glenn stomped on Jake’s left arm with his left foot, then he pried Jake’s arm to the side, just so he can stomp and stand on Jake’s left hand.

“You will become stronger, not just for yourself, but for me…” Glenn said as he looked at Jake’s right arm moving towards Glenn, in an attempt to push Glenn off.

Glenn kicked Jake’s arm, and then stomped on his right hand, and put his weight on it so he can sort of stand on Jake’s right hand, but he sat down on Jake’s stomach.

“Stay still, this little ritual will take but a second…” Glenn said as he moved his ceremonial dagger’s blade to cut his left palm.

After Glenn cut a slit in his palm, he positioned the dagger above Jake’s heart, and then he plunged the blade and twisting it, to stab Jake’s heart. Jake screamed in agonizing pain, he started to shake in convulsion to grasp the pain. Glenn’s grin grew wider as he rejoices in Jake’s suffering. Glenn pulled his dagger out; the wound eerily healed itself up, and immediately jumped off of Jake. Glenn started to brush his hands together, still holding onto his ceremonial dagger between his fingers.

“The deed is done, you are now sort of, one of my children heh heh. You may not be a goblin, but I have partaken to you a gift if you will.” Glenn said as he turned his head to watch Jake squirm into a fetal position.

“Do embrace this gift of mine, you will find it, the best motivator for your revenge. The dagger I stabbed you with, is the same that I ended your brother’s life with. Therefore his blood is now seeping into your heart, along with my gift…” Glenn said, as he turned and pointed at Jake’s eyes, the same eyes that are staring at Glenn with deep inner hatred which Jake has never felt in his entire life.

“Yes! That look! That hatred, please hold onto that hatred, and become stronger, so that one day, you may just be able to kill me hahaha!” Glenn said, reveling in the scene that he has made.

Glenn walked towards the constant grunting of Jake. He then squatted down in front of Jake, continuing his monologue.“This gift would kill those with a weak body, but your body is far stronger than most humans that I have met. I know you can live through this, so keep your head up. You’ll live, you will however be…”

Glenn was about to finish his sentence until a random arrow fired off towards his head, so Glenn immediately dodge to his right side, then he saw a ray of green light aiming for him, then he jumped to his left, and hopped back a few paces. Glenn looked to where the attacks came from, he then spotted a boy, with a funky hat, and the rest of the clothes that symbolize, that this child is a mage.

Zee had his right hand, holding onto his bow, and his left hand holding onto the brim of his cowboy hat.

He glanced at Jake and said, “Howdy… Pard'ner… Apologies for being late…”

Jake smiled grimly and closed his eyes as he passed out from the constant pain that he’s been experiencing. Zee fought the desire to tend to Jake’s wounds, as he keeps a wary eye on Glenn.

“I swear, you humans in this town just come to me like flies. One after another, each for some reason a bit special in some ways and yet it has to be another child, ANOTHER CHILD! Are my kinsmen not enough to take down this town and its children? No… You’re a mage alright, a decent mage with a stupid head gear on…” Glenn said as he kept a serious face.

“Two things that is wrong with that there, mister. One you subdued my best friend there, and two… Don’t you ever badmouth my ten gallon hat… Ever!” Zee yelled as he fired off another arrow at Glenn, but Glenn easily just brushed it to the side with his ceremonial dagger.

“You’re loud, and annoying… I suppose I should just deal with you now, since you reek of the type that would hound me down anyways…” Glenn stated with disgust.

Glenn hunched down, readying himself to dash at Zee and possibly kill him off like the way that he killed Rufus.

What stopped him was that he noticed there is a short sword sticking out from the ground, blade pierced into mud while the metal hilt is still exposed with its leather handle stripped.

“What’s the matter? Aren’t you gona gut me clean, like a pig in a slaughter house? Or are you just going to stand there, whistling Dixie all day?” Zee said with a smirk, goading Glenn one into his trap, so he can fry him up with a lightning bolt from the sky.

Glenn stood straight up and smiled, and then he started to laugh.

“The way you talk, you sure are arrogant, and I’m not even sure if you insulted me or not haha.” Glenn said as he wiped his eyes clean from rain water.

Zee stared at him with a serious face, still keeping his wary eye out for him, and worrying for Jake’s health. Glenn caught notice of Zee’s glances towards Jake and back to him.

“I like you kid, I will keep you alive for now. As long as you don’t chase after me that is… Besides, you need to tend to your best friend over there. Especially after what I’ve done to him, he might not even survive hahah.” Glenn said as he raised his arms up in the air.

Glenn started to walk backwards, while keeping an eye on Zee, as Zee drew in another arrow on his bow while keeping it at low ready. After Glenn gained enough distance he spoke out loud, “Remember this as the day, which you were spared by Glenn the Goblin! With that, farewell and until next time!” Glenn said as he bowed down for a moment, then looked back up to see if Zee fired off his arrow or not.

Zee didn’t but aimed his bow towards Glenn, not releasing the arrow yet. Then Glenn turned around and ran off into the distance, after he passed a few buildings, he changed his course out of Zee’s sight around a tree, just to head towards where he saw the beast last head to.

Zee relaxed his posture for a moment, and then he dropped his bow and arrow. He ran towards Jake, worried for his life. He knelt down on one knee, assessing Jake’s body. He immediately pulled out more bandages from his pocket, and wrapped it around Jake’s hands after taking his gloves off.

He took Jake’s jacket and shirt off, and bandaged up other cut wounds. He even replaced Jake’s old bandages. He tore off the pants’ leggings of Jake’s cargo pants, and bandaged those cuts too. He placed his hands on Jake’s chest and concentrated his mana throughout Jake’s body so he can find other problems with Jake and possibly restore them.

He noticed that Jake has a few broken bones here and there, and a couple of internal bleeding in a few places in his body. Zee concentrated his mana to recover those internal bleedings. He was so focused into his work for a while, he didn’t even notice the silhouette of a humanoid figure standing before the body of Rufus until now. He almost went into a fighting position until he realized, it is Master Magician Brenda Gibbons.

What gave away her identity to him was the rod that she was carrying in her right hand. She was very unrecognizable to him, if not for her rod. He remembered seeing that rod, held by her back when he would visit Jake and Rufus once a while. He can understand why she’s standing in front of Rufus, motionless.

“Master Magician, if you would, please help me save Jake’s life. Please I beg of you, I know that you’re grieving for uncle Rufus, but please, we must save his younger brother’s life before it’s too late!” Zee pleaded as he continued to heal Jake’s wounds.

Gibbons looked up into the sky, while biting her lip with her bottom row teeth. She turned her head to look slowly at Zee, with her wide open cold dead eyes. Her eyes gave Zee the shivers for a moment and set him on edge. Then she moved her pupils to look at Jake, and then she turned her head to Rufus and continued to stare at him.

Zee was hesitant to ask for her help any further, but felt like he has no choice since Jake’s life is on the line. Before he could plea again, she holstered her rod into her belt holster and untied her utility belt. She then threw her belt towards Zee’s direction without even looking at Zee; instead she continued to stare at Rufus.

“Apprentice Magician Zee Lancelin, I… Master Magician Brenda Gibbons, hereby entrust you, with the Gibbons’ family heirloom… After all, it is what my younger sister Diana would’ve wanted…” Brenda declared as she muttered the last sentence softly, even though Zee barely heard it with his keen perception.

Zee was lost for words at this very moment, he had questions, but knew the answer as he picked up on what she meant by those words. Apprentice Magician Gibbons must be dead, and now Rufus.

Before Zee could ask if she had any potions that can heal Jake, she already started to speak.

“You can use the Gibbons’ rod as an accurate focus to heal Jake’s wounds, as for his broken bones… My belt has a vial in it with white liquid; I believe it had some golden flecks floating around in it…” Brenda said as she turned her head and viewed Rufus’ claymore.

She reached to grab for it, and placed the blade on her shoulders while her right hand rests easily on the hilt. She turned to face the east side of town.

Before she headed off, she turned her head to the left, so Zee can hear her proclamation. “Zee… Please grow up and be the best magician this world has yet to see. My sister wanted to see you rise as a proud magician, not just for this country, but for this world.”

Before Zee could ask her where she was going and why, she already cut him off with a continuation of her monologue.

“I will be off, to seek vengeance to the only one; I know is behind all of this… A man known as General Karr… please inform Elder Davis this information. He may be able to dig up some clues from the past. I know I will die, but I’m willing to take this bastard down with me… Do not follow me, just stay here and tend to Jake, be there for him since he just lost his brother. He will not be the same after he recovers… I wish you, Zee Lancelin and Jake Reeves a happy and fulfilling life. Farewell young ones…” Brenda said as she walked towards the east in a fast and silent pace.

Zee was still lost for words, but he knew that he had to help Jake out. He grabbed the belt, pulled the rod out with his left hand, and continued to heal Jake’s internal wounds with it. Surprisingly it recovered much faster than expected with the rod. After he finished sealing the internal wounds, he searched for the vial with liquid that Brenda mentioned. It did however have golden flecks, but with brown powder floating around it.

He opened it up and poured it down Jake’s throat. After he was done, he fastened the belt around his waist, above his current belt. He picked up Jake’s belongings and carried him to a nearby shelter, out from the rain. He laid Jake on his Jacket and shirt, and covered Jake up with his own coat, to keep him warm to help ease his rest. Zee sat next to Jake, looking down at the rod that is newly entrusted to him, he gritted his teeth as he thought about the events from today. He lowered his cowboy hat, to hide his tears running down his face.