Preditory

As I worked on the sword, a sense of foreboding loomed in the back of my mind. The phosphorus added to the bronze allowed for heat treating, so instead of reprising my role as cave man number one, I started heating and shaping the blades edge carefully. As I worked, I couldn't help but think about the recent attack, my injured body, Agnes's sudden appearance, and of course the tribe's standing request.

After heating and meticulously shaping the metal, I entered the laborious process of tempering it. Restricting the airflow through the furnace in an attempt to lower the temperature, I watched the flames dance and the blade glow with an intense heat, carefully monitoring and controlling the temperature, hoping the blade was receiving a decent temper.

Awhile later, using magic, I lifted the heated sword from the furnace and submerged it in a nearby pot of water. Immediately, a plume of steam erupted as the water started to bubble. But just as quickly as it had started, it stopped, the water quickly dispersing the heat.

Waiting a little longer to make sure it fully cooled, I grabbed the still exposed tang and lifted the unfinished blade, before following similar steps to craft a handle as I had when making the knife.

Having fastened a wooden grip with riveted copper pins and a simple bronze half-guard to protect the knuckles, I started polishing the blade and I smiled, admiring the silvery, copper finish as I started going through common forms and strikes in the clearing. Some of the others in the camp stopped what they were doing and started watching. Eventually, while stretching my body and testing the sword, Zarra approached and, with a sly grin, she said, "you finished your project, that means you can mate now." I stopped mid-swing, my mind racing with the tribe's request, and I was unable to think up a reason to postpone again.

So, after taking a moment to compose myself and setting down the sword, I nodded. Zarra's grin widened into a wide smile, revealing her pointed teeth as she reached up, grabbed my hand, and dragged me toward the cave.

But just before the female goblins, sporting somewhat predatory grins, could pounce, Isabel returned. Her normally happy disposition seemingly recovered slightly as she happily started talking about her visit with her mother. As she droned on, seeing a pause for air rapidly approaching, I interjected, "So did we get permission to clear the forest without angering the treants?"

"Well, Greyroot said that you have permission, but he didn't seem happy about it," Isabel replied, after thinking for a moment.

"That works for me," I said with a grin, as I slipped out of Zarra's grasp and started speed walking to the edge of the clearing. My magic had recovered slightly, but I was still unsure of my limits. I excitedly stood at the edge of the clearing and started gathering mana to release a massive spell.

---

Noticing the growing fluctuations of mana, Agnes, who had been busy napping, tucked away in a gap near the ceiling of the cave, rushed outside. Standing there was Adam, the air whipping up in violent gusts around him, small stones shaking in anticipation. Agnes watched someone who shouldn't even be able to use magic start releasing a spell at a scale that would normally take at least a few human mages to muster.

Swinging his arm, the turbulent gust that had been swirling kicked up dust and formed a long, incredibly thin blade of wind. The edge released a buzzing sound, as all the small particles kicked up were compressed and rapidly grinding against each other along the edge of the blade before it shot out and impacting the dense line of trees. As the wind blade traveled, the first trees it struck were immediately sliced cleanly, and as it continued down its path, it started slowed down. But the abrasive, rapidly moving edge started violently ripping through the forest, stripping bark and scattering splinters through the air.

Mouth slightly agape, Agnes broke into a smile upon seeing such a promising mage, who was technically her disciple. Ideas began forming in her mind, plans on how to properly 'educate' him and show him off.

Standing there, slightly swaying as waves of dizziness washed over him, a grin spread across Adam's face as the dust settled. Dozens of trees, spreading out in a wave, were left lying on the ground, bright jagged stumps scattering the area.

Hearing the rustling wind and deep thuds of falling trees, the rest of the camp rushed out to see what had happened, and some felt that Adam's grin was eerily familiar.

---

With each powerful spell I cast, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was happening inside me, but before I could really think about it, calming down and waiting for the dizziness to pass, I turning to see the rest of the camp standing there, confused by what had happened, I called out, "I am planning on continuing to clear some of the forest to set up a perimeter and using the wood to make a wall," while scratching my head, slightly embarrassed by getting a little too excited using magic.

Hearing this, several of the goblins took a moment to look at each other, seemingly agreeing on something, and then slowly returned to what they were doing before Zarra approached me, some stepped forward, offering to help.

While the goblins who were assisting me went around clearing away debris and stripping the felled trees of their branches, I set to work using magic to loosen the leftover stumps' hold on the ground and setting out an outline for the future wall.

The sun began to set, and after wrapping up for the day, we ate. Deciding that washing off in the creek would be good after exerting myself so much and still barely recovered, I set off. Once I had stripped and entered the cool stream, relaxing for a moment. Suddenly, several sets of yellow eyes appeared in the surrounding woods...