14 Gaze into the future.
' That human lied. ' It thought in rage as it saw the last view in this world. The human that it had talked to holding a bloody sword and the other human holding both him and it's body.
[ You have slain a goblin]
[ You have slain a goblin]
[ You have slain a goblin]
[ You have slain a goblin]
[ You have slain a grand goblin+ 6 levels, + 30unused points, + 16 perception. ]
Lockley let a sigh of relief. He knew if this grand goblin was let loose it would become a thorn in their path.
He then turned to look at Cole , his thoughts returning to his fluent language talk with the goblin.
He then removed the thoughts of asking him. After all everyone had their own secrets.
Lockley took an empty vial in which he proceeded to collect the grand goblin blood.
" What's that for ?" Cole asked.
" Goblins have an innate fear for beings stronger than them. If we use this blood on the horses they'll have a less probability of attacking us. " Lockley answered.
Cole was about to ask about using beast lord's blood but then he kept quiet.
He understood that the nature of grand beasts and goblins were different. Grand beasts required to consume a stronger beast to get stronger so using the lord's beast's blood will attract them and this in turn will make them a living hell.
After finishing collecting the blood Lockley turned to Cole .
" Shall we leave. "
Cole nodded. The dark sky was already acquiring a taint of the orange sun. It was a matter of minutes till it fully rose.
Lockley held Cole's shoulder and they suddenly vanished.
••••••• With the Huntresses •••••
Artemis massaged her forehead in anger and tiredness.
She had used the device to search everywhere but none had the hint of that energy or divinity. It was as if the girl didn't exist.
Suddenly an imaginary bulb formed in Artemis head.
' That's it , the girl doesn't exist. She hasn't been born yet . It's possible as the goddess of time can tinker with the time successfully here ' Artemis thought.
Her conclusion however brought more headache instead of giving her a peace of mind.
" Damn it , this is going to be hard. I'll have to filter people with those same divinities who were very close together. " Artemis muttered and with that she got back to her long work.
••• Back to the adventurers ••••
Cole and Lockley arrived to see the fortress had been erected down and the people had already started setting stuff to go back to.
Lyka was packing the tents with the help of Mia.
Lovette with great difficulty was mounting her horse
Priscilla was dragging something heavy with some slight difficulty. It was their essentials.
Lockley worriedly hurried to her .
" Let me help you " He said about to take the luggage.
" Am fine, I can do this on my own " Priscilla said.
" I insist... "
" Lockley I said am fine, if I can't use my hand I'll use magic. " Priscilla said as she angrily glared at Lockley.
Lockley took a step back not knowing what to do.
He wanted to help her but at the same time didn't want her to feel sad and useless.
He knew that Priscilla sometimes felt useless due to her condition even if she didn't say it. Her stubbornness didn't come from nature but from that insecurity.
That's why he let her erect fortresses or fight some enemies that he didn't fully clear.
All this because he loved her.
Cole saw this and internally sneered.
' How can you be a slave to a woman . You're strong yet she limits you . What stupidity ' Cole thought.
Little did Cole know he would get that stupidity in a few months time. Perhaps he would experience the feeling of love earlier .
" In your face I won . You know what to do " Lyka said happily as he raised his hand towards Mia .
He beckoned her to give her something.
" No fair, this is a physical contest and you're a martial apprentice while am a mage apprentice, you have a physical upper hand . " Mia said with a pout.
" Well you should have thought of that before agreeing to my challenge" Lyka said beckoning her to give him something.
Mia pouted and reluctantly gave out a small packet and inside it was sweet candy.
Lyka looked at them with gluttony but then saw Mia's face.
This made him hesitate before saying something
" We can share 50 - 50 " Lyka said.
Mia's eyes lit up.
" Really? "
Lyka nodded making her jump on him.
Cole who saw this scene felt a memory replay in his head . A small smile almost appeared in his face before he shook his head and his face returned stoic.
After a few minutes everything was fully packed and everyone was ready to move.
The horses neighed as they started the journey.
" Hey Cole , we start your training here " Like Lovette said, her horse next to his.
Cole knew she had something that she wanted to do that didn't involve teaching but he nevertheless agreed.
" We'll start with how I ' see ' . I use the sorrounding mana to see. By feeling and visualizing the mana around me , I am able to see " Lovette explained.
" So for the first training you'll be trying to feel the mana around you"
This was easy for Cole , he already knew how to absorb so sensing was easier
Lovette noticed the shift of manner and slightly smile.
" Good now everything has their own mana signature like the horse you're riding, the ground and even the plants. Notice and visualize it " Cole did as Lovette had said.
2 minutes passed and he let a breath of cold air.
' This is hard any life form I can only sense it is a ball of energy, not it's actual shape ' Cole thought.
Lovette gave a small laugh.
" Try spreading your senses over it, see its aura" Lovette said.
Cole did that continuously until 3 hours later he was able to visualize an area of about 3 m³ .
The very fact of visualizing was mentally consuming. Visualizing for half a minute gave him a splitting headache yet his ' teacher kept for an entirety of a day and definitely at a higher range.
He honestly couldn't help but slightly admire her.
" Hard isn't it?" Cole nodded.
" It honestly gets better , everything does. " Cole didn't say a word.
He sat cross legged and began absorbing mana.
Just as the previous day he didn't notice anything until he was woken up at the evening.
He opened his eyes to see a beautiful sparkling lake, untainted by Earth's mechanisms.
It was so clear as it reflected the now setting sun.
Cole saw Lyka suddenly run and jump to the lake before giving a boyish laughter. He was currently only wearing his underwear revealing his abs and toned muscles.
" Guys come in , this is our time to bathe or we'll reek of bad smell. " Lyka said.
Lockley was about to say something when Priscilla chuckled.
" That's a great idea " She said making Lockley sigh in acceptance.
He knew that it would slow them down but it doesn't hurt to enjoy yourself right.
He then playfully grabbed Priscilla and jumped high and into the water . This surprised Priscilla and when they landed Priscilla playfully splashed water on his face.
" You're a bad husband, how can you be so cruel to do this to your wife " She said playfully as she continued splashing water at him.
" Water fight! " Lyka shouted before swimming towards them and splashing water at Lockley.
" Lyka you too ? why me ?" Lockley said in a fake sad voice.
" Because you scared Priscilla, how dare you ?" Lyka said as Priscilla and Lyka splashed water at him.
Laughter and chuckles filled the air as Lockley defended himself from both of them.
Lovette couldn't swim deep to her injuries but that didn't prevent her from having fun.
" Lyka splashes water on Lockley's eyes blinding him and Priscilla splashes it to his chest . Oh no what will Lockley do being heavily barraged with this two ? Lockley submerges into water hiding himself before he reappears a different place and turns the tables. " Lovette commented in a commentator like voice.
More laughter.
Cole seeing Lockley's antics was slightly shocked.
This was the same person who coldly looked at the deaths and rape victims of the goblins like trash.
Yet here he was enjoying himself like a little child.
He could see that he valued those two by the look in his eyes.
This made Cole give a small sigh.
There he was being limited by love when he had the ability to be stronger.
Currently the only two people on the surface was Mia and Cole.
Mia looked reluctant to enter the water to which Cole noticed.
" You don't know how to swim?" Cole asked making Mia look at him.
" I never got those luxuries when I was a kid " Mia replied.
Cole didn't say a word as he thought for some while.
" Ok let's go I'll teach you " Cole said.
This surprised Mia as Cole was always cold towards people but offered to teach her swimming.
" O-ok " Mia answered hesitantly making Cole chuckle.
" I ain't gonna hurt you kid. " He said.
He jumped down from his horse and removed his shirt showing his chiseled abs.
This made Mia blush madly.
" W-what are you doing?" She asked with a deep blush in her face.
" This is customary to do when swimming" Cole said as he pointed to those swimming.
Everyone only had underwear and clothes to cover their cleavage if they were girls.
••• Three minutes later •••
Mia was in the water with Cole besides him .
Cole currently held her from sinking as she furiously kicked the water.
" Slower, Swimming doesn't require brashness but rather fluidity in your actions.
Mia tried kicking slower.
Cole nodded in approval.
He slowly lowered her into the water as she did what she was told.
She hadn't noticed at first but she moved fluidly through the water .
However when she noticed the changes she panicked and as she was deep enough she started to sink making her further panic.
Cole caught her easily.
" Calm down am here, remember fluidity rather than brashness" Cole said.
The others who were having a water battle didn't notice them but Lovette did and this made her slightly smile.
••••• With Artemis •••
Artemis groaned in frustration. There was no such situation.
She sighed knowing what to do .
" Zoe , call for me Dinah " Suddenly a figure appeared bowed then disappeared.
A few minutes later someone entered her tent.
" You called for me m'lady. "
" Am sorry to disturb but I need your help on finding the parents of this child. " Artemis said handing her a photo.
Dinah touched and caressed the photo, suddenly her eyes gave a golden glow as she fell into a trance.
" I - I see them , the parents and the child" Dinah said.
" Who're they ?" Artemis asked.
" I think it's better if I show you m'lady. " Dinah said.
Artemis sighed then glanced into those golden eyes before suddenly finding herself in a modern like house.
The house was neatly decorated and she stood on the sitting room.
The television played a kids cartoon show and a small girl gazed at it intently.
She had deep sea blue eyes, black hair and elf like ears. She was around 3 years old.
Suddenly the door towards the verandah slid open and and another older girl ran to the younger girl passing through Artemis as if she was a ghost.
The older girl had long white hair and deep orange eyes. She also possessed elf like ears. She was the target Artemis was looking for despite the different changes.
She jumped to the other girl and started hugging her tightly.
" Let's go Zoe you have watched the television for so long , Mom wants to teach us archery. " The older girl said.
The younger girl tried to free herself of the younger girl.
" No , I don't want to go Alyssa. I wanna watch SpongeBob. " Zoe said with a cute pout as she tried to see the television.
Suddenly someone flickered from behind the couch slightly surprising the girls and Artemis herself.
The person was one of Artemis's targets Cole but he seemed different. He had elf like ears, short black hair with white tips on the edges.
His red eyes glowed intensely yet so sweetly especially at the girls.
He suddenly grabbed those two children and started to tickle them .
" The tickle monster has arrived" He said in a fake menacing voice.
The girls laughed uproariously.
" Stop it daddy. That's enough " Alyssa said amidst giggles.
Cole chuckled as he picked the two up.
" How about we go outside to mummy" He said.
Zoe pouted.
" But I wanna watch SpongeBob SquarePants " She said.
Cole chuckled.
" How about this, since tomorrow isn't school day, we watch One Piece the whole night" Cole said.
Alyssa's eyes shone .
" Yay , One piece" She shouted happily however Zoe on the other side had a bored look.
" It's not that fun compared to SpongeBob" Zoe said.
Alyssa gasped in shock.
" You take that back" She said to which Zoe shouted no.
Cole on the other hand chuckled and carried them to the verandah.
Artemis followed. She knew that Cole was the father according to their interactions but who was the mother ?
It was midday according to the sun's position. The grass was well taken care of and so was the flowers besides them .
Thump!!
About 15 metres away they could see a lady who had her back turned on them practicing archery.
From her back you could already see her gorgeous hourglass figure and her long white hair with black edges.
Zoe suddenly jumped away from Cole and ran towards the lady practicing archery.
" Mommy!! Daddy and Alyssa want to watch One Piece at night" She said as the lady finally turned towards them and caught Zoe who fell on her.
" They do ? Don't they know that that show is inappropriate for us two ?" She glared at Cole and Alyssa who just whistled looking away.
" Come on it's fun " Alyssa muttered.
" Preach daughter of mine" Cole muttered.
Artemis however stood there rooted to the ground as she looked at the lady glaring at Cole and Alyssa.
She was shocked to say the least because the mother to the children was.....
Herself
