Birth

Dizzy, a partially blind goblin screamed at all force. His throat burned due to his forced crying and the putrid air permeating the air. As his blurred sight improved, he could see to his sides peers like him in the same torment. A guttural sound attracted his attention as he turned his head towards the wrinkled giant praying to the sky in the middle of the room.

"O' huul hekhuc an, haaraan halaan an ghaagec an maan rhec or dech akuun den duur. Ghuul or okhaagach kaac rhaan dhel'daal der lhuun ac okaagakaac."

He winced at the voice grinding his ears but this annoyance slowly let place to fright as an overwhelming pressure came from the orb over the creature, suffocating his wounded throat. Hundreds of tendrils escaped from the dissolving orb that formed over the chanting being. The little infant, like his unfortunate fellows in the room, agitated his limbs to evade the invaders who increasingly crushed his weak body. A scream escaped his foaming mouth as the force rampaged his insides.

His eyes widened in fear as he glimpsed his left just in time to see the bulging stomach popping. Warm liquids dripped from his face as his terror only deepened since he felt himself swell. Panicked, he tapped himself on the stomach and focused all his thoughts on the worms eating his insides. Gradually, his dueling force ended with him on the top and the pain gradually changed to a soothing caress. A brief relief left his mouth but quickly ended since the putrid blood invaded his mouth when the occasion presented itself.

He spat on the ground and directed his attention towards the tendrils from the dead bodies began to rise, igniting his fear once again. Fortunately, the monster who created these tendrils regrouped them in three different orbs which didn't feel as threatening as before. He even felt his body craving for the fluorescent balls, which surprised him.

Unfortunately, he could only shot an envious gaze to the orbs getting absorbed by the three infants more or less intact compared to the others. They giggled as they felt bliss filling every cell of their being. Their veins gleamed in the same light as the orb and their bodies grew by a small margin. His jealousy sprouting in his heart ended when a creature grabbed him towards the protuberances which weren't on the tendrils' master. The being, who looked like the demonic giant but with fewer wrinkles, forced the small goblin on one protuberance.

Preparing to wrestle, he stopped since a rich flavor washed away the blood and fulfilled a craving he didn't have time to pay attention before. Happiness filled him as this sensation was the first one that he particularly enjoyed. This joy remained until he looked over him and see the being looking at the caregivers attending the three lucky infants with a look of envy. The new caregiver glared down to a frowning baby and scoffed in disdain. After all, which baby could understand emotions right out of the womb, including the blessed ones?

Anger turning to rage, he lifted his hand and bit down using his full power which caused a surprised yelp to echo in the room. The tall green-skinned beings looked at the sound's direction just in time to see a little goblin slapping his future servant on the unoccupied protuberance. Astonished at the sight, they sent their sympathies towards the caregiver if her master's display was any sign for his future temperament. The shaman, not waiting any longer, passed by each infant and applied a drop of blood on their forehead while murmuring something. When the wrinkled monster came to him, he agitated himself again, but the glare piercing his soul calmed him down rapidly — to stillness. Not defending himself, blood, once again, stained his forehead as a murmur blew near his ears.

'Kal Ghal.'

As he learned what a name was, the disturbance in his mind led him to darkness.

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A light shined down on Kal's face, burning his unaccustomed eyes. Kal swiftly raised his arm in protection, blocking the window as he curiously examined his surroundings. After a moment, an itch started to harass him and he scratched his forehead to get rid of it. He stopped his movement when a rustling sound came from the leaves. His caregiver pushed aside the curtain as she entered with a bowl of fruits and meat.

"Eat, o'k khraal or dhuugaan duun survive daan cuol'ing"

The visible confusion caused Karthec to shake her head as she fed the now child-sized infant manually. Savoring the new flavors, he rejected her arm away and took possession of the bowl, feeding himself at a disconcerting speed. This rapidly devolved into a series of coughs as he spat out the core blocking his breath. Seeing this deplorable sight, she secretly reveled in his stupidly would get back to him in the culling. She wouldn't have to deal with this master who slapped her on the first day of his life.

Karthec suddenly received an intense glare filled with a trace pressure, a hint of a mage, from the small boy previously eating. She caught her breath out as he moved his head down to the bowl, this time eating properly. Sweat stream down her as this was the second time the little boy looked at her in a particular way...

'Does he have some sort of perception? Even then, could he comprehend his environment right after this birth?'

She decided that whatever ability he possessed, she would vanish any bad thoughts or actions leading to his displeasure - Angering a mage is the last thing anyone desired. The warriors may be stronger than the mages in the tribe, but they didn't know as many weird techniques which caused anyone who caught their attention to leave their residence blank-eyed, moreover, they were patient — very patient. Just remembering what happened to an unfortunate fool caused her nightmares for days before she could somewhat recover.

"More dhuul."

Her thoughts spiraling down got interrupted by the boy now pointing the empty bowl. She could more or less take a shot at his desire and shook her head.

"No del-me, daan cuol'ing tar soon."

Karthec took the boy's hand and led him to the ritual as she couldn't wait for him to assimilate the language gifted by the shaman. Khal, dragged by his caregiver, observed everything that he could. As he explored the camp, he noticed most huts were smaller than his and there wasn't any door on them block the view. In one hut, he saw two goblins fighting at close proximity while they were producing weird sounds.

This strange sight sent a pulse down his spine and he would have moved closer if only he didn't get drag. He tried to resist the pull, but his efforts were in vain as she couldn't care for his curiosity since she would get punished if they arrived late.

As they continued their walk, he saw most goblins following the instructions of a goblin dressing the same robe adorning the wrinkled monster. Seeing so many of those in the camp filled him with fear as he wouldn't rebel against them for any reason — except for the weird duo.

His tension cooled down as he found himself among the survivors who were as curious as him, absorbing their immediate environment. However, what troubled him was how the presence of the monster didn't faze them... He concluded all of them were brave. His mood decreased since he couldn't have that much courage, but he quickly erased it down, determined to improve himself.

As he saw the orb's master stood in front of them, on a podium, he bumped his chest out and steeled his heart. If only his hands and lips weren't betraying his facade. A light departed from the old man's staff in a fraction of a second and reached the group who couldn't even blink. Kal froze under the sudden attack, but he calmed himself since a cloud, which he didn't even notice, vanishing from his mind.

"Choose your opponent by touching their shoulder. Afterward, you'll have a death battle on the stage behind me. I'll explain everything you need to know will once you are done. After all, I won't waste my breath on corpses."

This abrupt instruction let the children agape. They looked around defensively and unsettled. Kal's reaction didn't differ but remembering the three infants who received those strange orbs scared into action. These orbs felt like power and he saw what power could do vividly, more than he wished. Furthermore, his courage took a boost as the 'brave' children all around him, even the trio, seemed perturbed by the turn of events. He couldn't believe the carnage in the cave escaped their mind, but it seemed to be the case.

He spurned into action as his discomfort increased since the three goblins, one head above their group, slowly grasped their wits back. He scrutinized the group, aiming for his potential prey. He saw a small female in the group, but a nagging sensation scorched the back of his head so he skimmed over her. The girl in question turned her head towards him, a dread engulfing her, and, for an instant, her hair floated.

After a brief review, he chose a boy who was trembling like a leaf and, even more important, looking like one.

Not wasting any moment, he grabbed the nearest dagger he could find and made sure anyone wouldn't touch him or aim for his target.

The skinny boy sensed footsteps behind him and returned himself, only to fall back as the malevolent being licked his dagger and approached him like a cat playing with a mouse. He kicked himself backward but met a wall — a smiling warrior. His heart skipped a beat when he returned his head towards and saw the glare which immobilized him — to stillness.

The monster's eyes pierce into his being as the pat on his shoulder sealed his fate. He closed his eyes, a tear running down, as a murmur blew near his ears.

"You are death."