Cave

The cave system was long and filled with crossroads. It was a lot more complicated then the mine above. Also it looked more natural then the mines, which was weird for a place like this.

After an hour of walking Catherine stopped.

"I lost their traces. I remember where to go, but they probably masked themselves with magic. There is definetly a magician with them."

"I see. Maybe they are inteligent? Could we just discuss things with them?"

She thought for a moment.

"I doubt it. Goblins are usually creatures that kill without asking. Also the ones we met already attacked us on sight."

"True."

After walking for one more hour they found a sign next to one of the side roads. It was two sticks resembling a cross. On the top of it was a human skull and on the cross part there was a cloak. Joseph walked up to it.

"Seems like they marked their territory."

"Yes. But it's not trapped or anything. But we have to be alerted, anything can happen."

"Got it."

Catherine lead the way and detected magical traps and other stuffs while Joseph was the back guard.

As they are walking in, Catherine stepped on one of the stones, that got pushed down. A trunk from the ceiling got swung at them from the front side. She held out her hand and with a quick flash of light the trunk blew into pieces.

Joseph coughed, then looked around. There weren't any other dangers. They continued on their way.

Catherine found some rope traps and other stuffs, but they successfully avoided them.

After a few minutes they reached a chamber in the cavern. It looked like it was cut out by pickaxe. There were a few straw beds on the floor. On the otherside there was an other oepning, leading in more, but it was baricaded by wooden boards.

Catherine turned to Joseph.

"Seems like they are waiting for us on the other side. Remember that we don't want any explosions here. That would be too dangerous for us."

"I know. Don't worry about it."

As they walked in the room and big rock started to fall on their head, but they noticed it soon enough to get out of the way. Now it was blocking the entrance.

Arrows started to fly in their direction. Catherine made a barrier as fast as she could, but an arrow hit her in the shoulder already. She pulled it out and healed the wound while Joseph looked around.

He saw nothing, but summoned a few magical arrows around him already. As soon as they finished their preparations more arrows flew their way. Joseph returned their kindness with his magical arrows and saw 5 goblins fall to the ground at the edge of the room.

"They are invisible!"

"I noticed it!"

She also sent out a few arrows back at the points they were shot out. All the 8 goblins in the room were dead after the spells.

They continued on their way to the end of the chamber and removed the wooden boards from it. Just as they did a burst of flame came out from behind it, but Catherine's barrier deflected it.

A male hobgoblin jumped out and attacked Joseph, while balls of lightning hit Catherine's barrier and an other, female hobgoblin came out of the passage.

The first one was just as big as Joseph, but his body was really bulky. He weared leather armor and a big cleaver.

The mage was somewhat smaller and slender. She had a few cloth pieces on her and wielded a staff in her's hands.

Joseph barely dodged the first attack and pulled out the black sword he had with him. He felt like the time has stopped for a moment and cold ran down his back. Then he returned to normal and felt warm coming from the sword. It calmed him down and let him focus on the fight.

He felt like the sword helped him move it into better angles as he parried the savage attacks of his opponent. One after an other he successfully defended himself. Until he got a second to cast a spell and lit the air around the goblin on fire.

He jumped back as soon as the fire appeared. His instincts were real good and had no problems with the supprise attack. As soon as he could jumped forward once again and attacked Joseph.

They went back and forth for a while. Both of them got scratches on them, but no lethal or serious injuries. Joseph looked at the face of his opponent for a second and saw him smiling. He was enjoying the fight.

He did not notice it, but he was smiling as well. It was a fight to the death, but for some strange reason they enjoyed it. Even if Joseph could've ended it in a few seconds, he did not wanted to. It felt like that would be a waste.

When he realized what he was thinking he got out of it. He cast a spell that pushed the hobgoblin back and then directed lightning at it. As soon as he was struck he fell to the ground.

He heard shrieking from the side of the room. The other hobgoblin stopped the fight with Catherine and ran to the body on the floor. Blood flew out of her while she was casting a spell on the one lying on the ground.

She coughed a few times and seemed like she was about to pass out.

Joseph walked up to her and pushed her away. He flipped the hobgoblin on his back and used an other arc of lightning to his hearth torestart it. The one on the ground started coughing as it got to it's sense.

The female one hugged him and the one on the ground turned to Joseph.

"Why?"