Flying Broomsticks

As we waited for the other goblins to return with the necessary plants, I set to work on another task. The animals we had brought back from the traps had already been butchered, so I gathered the leftover animal fat and started the process of refining it into tallow.

Near the cooking spot that Zara had taken me to, I found a hollowed-out log that the goblins seemed to use as a makeshift pot. Placing it near the already lit fire, I filled it with the chunks of fat, carefully watching it to make sure it didn't get too hot. As the fat turned to liquid, I carefully strained out any impurities using a scrap piece of cloth that Nassa gave me and allowed it to cool.

While the tallow cooled, sitting next to the crackling fire and the chirping of crickets in the background I watched the horizon, anxiously waiting for the goblins' return. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, but eventually they emerged from the forest carrying bundles of plants, the purple poppy, and wolfsbane.

With relief, I greeted them and immediately set to work. I took the harvested plants and began to prepare them. The poppy's white liquid sap oozed as I carefully sliced its bulbous head, spreading it on one of the large nearby, then placed it next to the fire to dry. Then, I worked with the wolfsbane, carefully extracting its potent oils.

After I finished adding the wolfsbane extract to the tallow filled, hallowed out log, I gingerly moved the rock I used to dry the latex away from the fire. Carefully scrapping off the dry brown powered chunks of raw opium into the log.

Next came the most crucial part, mixing them together, creating an ointment often called the witches' brew. It can knock someone out, probably cause hallucinations, and possibly kill them. I heated the tallow until it once again turned into a liquid, carefully adding the extracted poppy sap and wolfsbane oils. Taking careful consideration to ensure it was potent enough for anesthesia but not lethal.

As I carefully prepared the witches' brew, Nassa couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. She approached me, her eyes fixed on the strange concoction taking shape in front of her. What exactly are you making?" she asked.

I glanced at her and explained, "This is a special ointment that will help dull the pain, hopefully making her fall asleep." Nassa nodded, though her expression was still filled with concern. She watched intently as I continued to mix the ingredients, absorbing every detail.

"Human, do you really think this will work?" Nassa, asked pointedly. "I hope so, if we don't try then that girl will have a drawn-out, painful death." I replied pointing over to the pale, sweating goblin sitting on the ground nearby.

Once the mixture was ready, I kneaded it thoroughly until it formed a smooth, pale ointment. Aware of its potency and danger, I was careful not to touch it directly.

Laying the injured goblin on a stone slab in the cave, her gangrenous arm hanging over the edge. I explained what was about to happen and got her consent, before scooping the witches' brew with a leaf and carefully rubbing it into her armpits. While waiting for the strange concoction to take effect, I collected the remaining items I would need and called over Mackinzie and Zarra, explaining what was about to happen and asking for their help.

Mackinzie nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the scene before her. She was eager to support me, even if it meant confronting the harsh realities of this new world. Zarra was also burning with determination to save one of the few remaining members of her tribe.

Soon enough, the goblin girl began mumbling incoherently, before eventually losing consciousness. I waited a few more minutes before grabbing her good hand, raising it above her face, and dropping it. Watching it slam onto the girl's face.

Nassan angrily asked, "why would you do that?" I calmly explained, "it is a way to test if she is really unconscious, it is instinctual to protect one's face making it almost impossible for someone to let their hand hit their face without flinching if they are conscious." However, she still seemed unsatisfied after my explanation.

I tried my best to wash my hands and the area where I would be cutting, but my options were limited to untreated water. Telling Mackinzie and Zarra to hold her steady, I tied a leather strip tightly around her bicep just above the elbow to act as a tourniquet.

Next, I knelt under her arm, hooking my hand around it, holding my knife. Nodding to the others, I pulled away, drawing my knife-wielding hand behind me in a circular motion, flaying the skin just below the elbow wide open. As the blood spurted, spraying all over me, I felt sick but continued. Carefully I carved the skin below the elbow into flaps before peeling them back.

Mackinzie's face became pale and began panting trying to suppress her panic, but still firmly held the goblin's shoulders down.

Due to the goblin's arm being tied, she thankfully stopped bleeding after the initial spray. Using the knife to separate the remaining musculature, and then forcefully cutting through the cartilage of the elbow, the rest of the arm came free. Taking the loose skin and carefully arranging it to cover the entire wound, I nodded to Zarra so she could cast healing.

The skin I was holding around the wound began to rapidly grow back together, and in a few moments, there was only a smooth stump. Letting go of the arm, I said to Zarra, "Good job, if you know a spell to cure poisoning you should cast that on her as well, otherwise, the ointment I used might have negative side effects when she wakes up," as I stumbled out of the cave.

Emerging into the cool night, I immediately emptied my stomach's contents on the ground, sick from what I had just done. The sensation of carving flesh and being sprayed by blood replayed in my mind. Mackinzie followed shortly after and asked, "are you okay?" even though she was still pale herself.

"No, but I will be in a minute," I replied still retching.

Zarra eventually came out, "I cured her of poison, also Nassa wants to know what to do with the arm?" Having calmed down slightly I replied, "You can do whatever you want with it, but I would recommend burying it or burning it because it will continue to rot."

I walked away from the camp, heading towards the stream to wash away the gore. After bathing I returned to the cave to find the goblin girl whose arm I just cut off, had been moved off of the slab and placed on one of the straw mats on the ground, still sleeping soundly. The arm nowhere to be seen. When Zarra noticed me enter, she pulled me aside.

"Is it our fault she lost her arm? Would you have been able to help her if we got back sooner?" Zarra questioned me in a hushed voice, obviously feeling guilty. Shacking my head, I replied, "No, her condition would have already been past saving last night after the fight. So don't worry, okay?"

Zarra smiled; relief plastered across her face. Unexpectedly, she grabbed my hand, dragging me over to the goblins who had gathered around the sleeping goblin. They turned towards me, expressing gratitude. Some managed to say thanks, while those who only spoke goblin waved or smiled in my direction.

After a while, Mackinzie and I slipped away, returning to the hut I woke up in to lay down. Mackinzie unabashedly clung to my arm as she drifted off to sleep.

Concentrating on my system, a scrolling list of notifications that I had been ignoring popped up:

[Making Out +5 PP]

[Groping +1 PP]

[Sex(Virgin, Nonhuman) + 60 PP]

[Completed Going Green + 250 PP]

[Vaginal Creampie +15 PP]

[Blowjob(clean up) +10 PP]

Excitedly, I opened my shop, smiling at my new balance of 352 points. Thinking, "Hey AI, please sort the list by things I can afford, abilities, and hopefully books that could help me."

{Sure thing!} the AI chimed excitedly, apparently pleased to see me using my system. I spent the next hour or so scrolling through the list of curated items before narrowing it down to two options. Surprisingly, while I was doing this, Zarra snuck in and curled up on my other side before drifting off to sleep. After making sure that Zarra was sleeping, I refocused on what I was doing.

[Telepathic Link lvl.1: Allows the user to link minds with another sentient being, choosing to share emotions, sensations, or memories. Limited to a single person at level 1. This ability was devised by a sage known only as Bob, who, after many years of seclusion, developed Erectile dysfunction. Cost 50 PP]

[Magical Temptations, Unmasking the Enchanter's Secrets: This introduction to magic book was written by Wanda Whimsy, whose study of magic started when she accidentally cast a love spell on her entire village while attempting to bake a magical cake for a secret crush. Cost 300 PP]

Concentrating on them for a moment, suddenly a notification appeared [User has learned the skill Telepathic Link lvl.1], and a book appeared in the air above me, before falling onto my chest.

With both my arms currently occupied, I briefly considered trying to free myself, but still not having had a chance to recover, I decided to sleep.