THOSE WHO LOOK FOR FREEDOM

The twilight is clearly mapped in the sky of Nefertyland. For now, the training session was over, changing to light preparations; cleaned up, arranged the formation of pre-hunting troops, and led the cornibuses to cluster around the hamlet hall.

As the crows roared loudly, Bayrak was busy tying his muscular green body with small pivot chains that were held together, so that they resembled strands of cloth. It wasn't just an ordinary chain, it was mithril—a mineral known to be able to withstand dragon flames.

Not many people can have it. Bayrak's mithril actually came from the ancestors of the goblins which was passed down to Alpha from generation to generation. However, having such a powerful object is inversely proportional to the results of his efforts so far.

Mithril seemed to be a mere decoration when he recalled how brutally Fenrir had treated the Nyx forest. Even so, Bayrak was completely powerless to protect this glorious forest. The forest that his father was proud of, as well as the goblin ancestors.

God had rolled back his destiny, and this time the pointed eyes of destiny were right at Fenrir. It would be a great honor as well as an unrequited gift if tomorrow—at dawn—they would return home together carrying Fenrir's carcass. His teeth might be knocked out, his skin would be made a tapestry of the Alpha, and his bones could be used as drums for future wars.

"Our soldiers are ready!" Leander broke the news in a hurry.

"Me too." Bayrak put on a headgear from the skull of the beast he had butchered months ago. "Tighten your silver armor, Leander. We will attack the predator in a moment."

Leander's eyes gleamed in the light of the torches in the cabin. "I'm waiting for you downstairs. Tomorrow we will return with glory, My brother!" His short legs slipped away, descending the steps quickly.

Before standing straight in front of his soldiers, Bayrak took the time to walk down his hut, passing one or two partitions until he finally stopped in front of a small booth. Asleep, emaciated Grep seemed to squirm in the lap of his mother, Karla. The gray goblin with shoulder-length palm hair glanced at her husband.

"Pray for me to come back victorious, Karla." Bayrak approached her while stroking Grep's tiny head.

"Always, I always pray for you." Karla looked up, looking at her tall husband. His dark eyes sparkled.

"Take Grep carefully. Because, after this problem is over, he will be Alpha," said Bayrak in return of a slow nod from his wife.

Their chatter was interrupted by the crackle of fire from the torches. Bayrak's warty fingers stroked his wife's hair for a split second before his stocky legs drifted away. Wooden steps awaited him ahead with dozens of brave goblin warriors.

"For the goblins!" Bayrak exclaimed, his right hand raised firmly.

"FOR THE GOBLINS!" Everyone shouted in unison, greeted with boisterous enthusiasm.

"Right now we are standing between death and miracle. I can feel your spirit and enthusiasm through the pores of my skin. Cheer up, My soldiers! We prove that goblins are not food! The Nyx Forest is not place to be destroyed! We prove to Fenrir that goblins are capable of breaking this despicable food chain!" A loud shout resounded, filling the silence of the forest with a reddish glow from the arms of the goblin warriors emitting flames.

At the very back, Rio and his two friends cheered on their hunt. Kholoros who is now bluish green is still in his arms. Rio certainly didn't want the armor to come off again.

Meanwhile, Revan in a maroon suit with an orange bow tie seemed to be standing tall behind the crowd of goblins. His eyes darted forward to catch the figure of Bayrak who spoke so loudly. Kron beside him instead clapped loudly and then rubbed the head of Frig who was busy eating fresh fish from the Nyx river.

"Bayrak's speech was really cool. I got goosebumps hearing that," Rio commented, amazed.

"Not surprising," said Kron. "It's an important night for them. For decades the goblins were oppressed by Tarnath's tyranny through Fenrir's mischief. So it's normal that their spirits are on fire."

"Eh!?" Revan glanced at him. "You think Tarnath has something to do with Fenrir?" He spoke doubtfully.

"A few months after he ascended the throne, a traveler from the island of Brie told me that the Nyx forest was beginning to be terrorized by a mysterious creature. It coincided with the Tarnath army's first raid into this forest which ended in failure. After that, suddenly a strange creature appeared. This incident seemed to have been planned."

"That's right. I've never heard of a dark beast as strong as Fenrir living in the Nyx forest. Very weird." Revan agreed with Kron's opinion even though his fingers were busy stroking his mustache, a sign of thinking.

"There is nothing strange about Tarnath sitting on his throne. That ruthless man, out of nowhere, was able to master black magic and was determined to seize the power of his own people." Kron added. "If Fenrir is a beast of darkness, and Tarnath has mastered black magic, that means they are related."

For a second or two, Revan's index finger was still touching his thin mustache, until the neatly haired man gasped, met with a curious look from Kron. It's not in vain that his brain works extra, because this one is the most appropriate reason.

"Tarnath is sure the goblins won't give up their land just like that, while he also has to think of ways to rule over other territories. Instead of spending troops on the Nyx forest, Tarnath agreed to set a trap. He purposely left Fenrir in the forest, so that the creature can slowly destroy the goblin village," he said earnestly.

"Oh, of course! The reason why Fenrir consumed vrave is…."

"…He wants erevna end!" Kron and Revan spoke together.

"And when erevna is gone, there are no more big goblins who become Alpha. Or in other words, the goblin civilization is slowly approaching extinction," said Revan ambitiously.

In the midst of the boisterous atmosphere of the village hall, Revan and his friend, Kron looked at each other. Their faces were confused as if they were in big trouble. Apparently the hunt this time had a plausible reason. Moreover, this reason is related to the existence of Tarnath, whose miscarriage is highly coveted by the oppressed.

As Bayrak brandished his gleaming dagger and shouts of encouragement continued to echo, Revan decided to step forward. He pushed aside the crowd of goblins who didn't want to look anywhere but Alpha.

In his head, Revan kept thinking reason after reason, cause and effect underlying this hunt. He wanted to immediately convey it to Bayrak. However, as he got closer, Kron grabbed him and forced him to stop.

"What is it?" he asked irritated.

"The battle is in sight. We certainly don't want to prolong the problem, do we?" Kron stuffed the sentence with a basic question.

Revan was silent for a moment, considering the answer that he admitted had a side of truth. The seconds ticked by, leaving one response in his mind.

Feeling his initiative less useful, Revan agrees more with Kron's opinion. Let the goblins regard Fenrir as their sole enemy. After all, the result will be the same. Bayrak, who happened to be looking far back, finally found the three humans busy talking.

"Welcome!" he said aloud. "Your Highness Rio!" Bayrak's exclamation made all gazes turn to the barren youth who was tired of hugging Kholoros.

At first there was an uproar, but now it was silence. Not a single commotion endured, apart from the crackle of fire and the snorting of a few goblins. Their black eyes locked on one object, Rio.

"Come here, My king!" said Bayrak smiling.

Too tense, Rio's steps became stiff. He seemed to drag his own feet among the sea of ​​goblins staring intently. About eleven steps, he arrived in front of Bayrak's wooden steps. He shook his head nervously, not used to this kind of treatment. Bayrak rushed down to meet him. The goblin's big arms wrapped around Rio's shoulders, causing him to stutter.

"This young man, he is the future Lord of Nefertyland. His touch can make Kholoros shine, and that is our valuable asset to beat Fenrir," said Bayrak. "As planned, our attacks are just bait to keep Fenrir from focusing on Rio. Only after he is busy enough will the King approach with the light of holy armor."

"A few more minutes," muttered Kron as he gazed out at the smoldering dusk, while the round moon was already lurking behind the thin clouds.

It seems that Bayrak's behavior was noticed. Suddenly he directs his troops to take a position. The fifteen main goblins—the best warrior and the Alpha—hurriedly mounted a herd of cornibus carrying a pair of sacks filled with stones and spears. Meanwhile, dozens of other goblins formed a long line behind them while burning fire in their left arm.

Revan (who according to plan will serve as a state monitor) prepares to cast a transfiguration spell. When the goblin legion started to move, then he said: "Transfiguration: Parrot!"

His arms bent in an instant, becoming small green wings. His lips were replaced by a short, powerful beak, and his body shrunk to the size of a red-green feathered bird. Revan was in the air twelve feet, ahead of the line of goblins that resembled dragons. In the night, its striking colors managed to be covered by the shadows of old trees. His little eyes watched the situation under Bayrak's command.

The last position was filled by Rio who was riding on a Frig with Kron beside him. They looked worriedly looking at the several goblins in charge of guarding the village. Who knows tonight Fenrir came to attack the village, that's why he left some of the best fighters together with women and children.

"Hey, Kron," he said in return of a glance at Kron who was carrying Revan's backpack in his right arm. "Sometimes I wonder. If you have magic to reduce goblin flame size, why don't you use it to shrink Fenrir?"

"Re-size spell, you mean?" Kron chuckled. "The spell only affects inanimate objects, not living things. If so, then it takes a lot of energy to do it."

"Is that so?" Rio's lips twitched. "You think I can learn magic?" His eyes sparkled.

Kron took a deep breath, then snorted loudly. "Basic spells are the only magic a talentless person can learn."

"Talentless?"

"Talent determines the type of magic we are born with. Those magics are called genus. For example, I have two magic genuses, Summon and Re-size. Meanwhile, Julius only has one, Transfiguration. The goblins also have one, we call Elementals fire-type." Kron's explanation became a new fact for Rio, the fact that he was not the real king.

"Then …." He's still not satisfied. "What clan does Tarnath belong to?"

Kron's grin suddenly turned serious. His eyes widened slightly as Tarnath's name slipped from Rio's lips.

"I bet you don't want to know," he said lazily. "That Tarnath…." Kron's sentence was cut short as the line of goblins stopped. They almost crushed the last soldier because the moment was so sudden.

It turns out that the answer to this incident is far ahead. Bayrak brandished his dagger firmly, signaling the journey to stop for a moment.

"What happened?" Rio muttered in surprise.

"They are still waiting to hear from Julius. That means we also have to be prepared," said Kron.

"Okay," he replied, nervous.

(To Be Continued)