Chapter 13: How Keepers/Adventurers Fight

After another night of sleeping in a tree, I open my eyes to look for the sounds of movement below. I was so on guard I ended up catching Serci's attention as Veda but I let her know I was just having difficulty sleeping. 

I inwardly thank Serci for her advice as the large pack of wolves and hobgoblins fail to notice I was there. There is much that would've gone wrong had I been callous and given in to my false resentment toward Serci, but the pack of six hobgoblins and four wolves would've been the nail in the coffin.

I didn't want conflict in my current condition, so I watched and waited as they passed by. Though there were four wolves, only one had a big enough body to act as a mount to a hobgoblin.

What was unfortunate is that the direction they were heading happened to be the direction I planned to go. I may need to wait an hour or so in this tree before coming down just to make sure I don't run into them on their way back. 

Or that's what I was going to do... 

Fifteen minutes after they passed, I hear an explosion with smoke rising in the distance. It was the same direction the hobgoblin pack traveled, and I immediately moved to unfasten myself, grabbing my weapons, and jumping to the ground below before moving at a sprint. 

A fight meant opposition, and unless it was a territorial dispute between two hobgoblin tribes, the only opposition to monsters would be people. And I can't think of anything that could cast a fireball like that beyond a caster. 

The minute I arrive I stick close to the bushes. I see three people trying to defend themselves against the pack of hobgoblins. One hobgoblin corpse is burnt to a crisp, and another lost their arm to flames but is alive. Another hobgoblin is struck down by a sword while a wolf's dead body has arrows sticking out. 

Four hobgoblins are alive, counting the burnt one, with two wolves circling about with a snarl at the humans, the third wolf still having a rider on top. 

Despite the casualties, the humans are at a disadvantage. They're surrounded, the archer has her bow drawn but has shaky hands, threatening to shoot the first of the two targets that makes an attempt to charge them.

The man with a sword and shield is gashed on the side used to hold his shield but it doesn't appear to be bleeding anymore, likely closed by the third.

Lastly was a caster, exhausted by the looks of it but continuing to hold another fireball at the ready.

'A prepared spell? I should learn how to do that for Veda.' 

As I think about how I could improve my other's ability, one of the wolves charges between the archer and caster, causing both to react at the same time. That was the worst mistake they could've made. 

Both attacks hit the same target, but now is the least threatening moment for the hobgoblins to rush them down. And the hobgoblin rider took that chance to go for the Archer girl. 

"NO!" She screams. 

The Vanguard hears his ranger's scream and tries to rush to protect her. "Jikani!" Turning his back, the others all take this chance to charge in on them all. 

But this moment was just as big an opening for me as it was for them as I chuck my axe into the wolf mount's side, causing the Hobgoblin Rider to crash into the ground. The Vanguard used the opening to stab the prone target, not concerning himself with the appearance of a sudden axe.

A hobgoblin that was rushing the vanguard, on the other hand, was confused by the axe. It slowed its charge long enough for me to come out of the bushes to cleave it in two. The wolf changed targets from the Archer to me, who was closer, but a single swing with my scimitar made it keep its distance before getting hit in the vital by an arrow. 

With the number advantage swapped in an instant, all the remaining hobgoblins turn to flee only for everyone to take this chance. The ranger fires another arrow in one's skull while the runner with a burnt arm ends up caught in the mage's spell. 

[[Open the earth to ensnare my foe]] 

A pitfall opens where the hobgoblin tries to escape, closing shortly after with it still inside, the fight over. 

But I felt like something wasn't right. There were six hobgoblins but only four bodies.

Just before my body could move to block the one behind me, the Vanguard raised his shield to block its rusty blade. The two exchange blows one after another, blocking each other's swords with their shields till the human got the final stab into the hobgoblin's chest. 

With the battle finally over, the group all collapsed from exhaustion. I, on the other hand, move almost naturally to the corpses of the hobgoblins and begin examining the weapons made of metal before adding them to my arsenal. I picked up a shield made of wood; thankful it was still in good condition seeing as I destroyed the last one. 

I hear someone behind me, "Thank you for your help. We wouldn't have made it out alive if you hadn't shown up." 

I turned to see the person the voice came from, seeing the Vanguard walk over to me with an extended hand. I stop my looting to shake it. "No problem. If the mage hadn't shot such loud fireballs I wouldn't have realized this group of hobgoblins ran into you." 

The ranger heard my words. "Wait, you ran into these hobgoblins already?" 

"They passed me while I was asleep a few minutes away." 

"And they didn't attack you?" 

"They hadn't noticed me because I was sleeping at the top of a tree." 

The mage was curious. "Sleeping in a tree? Are you one of those adventurers who spend weeks on end in monster-infested lands?" 

I think about what to say but being honest may be for the best, especially if I want to keep any inconsistencies from biting me or my other later down the line. "I lived a day's journey from here with my grandfather and sister. Unfortunately, a red light ran through a few days ago, destroying our home. I'm currently separated from them and am unsure if they're alright." 

Everyone's ears perked in unison hearing about the red light before nodding to each other. The Vanguard takes the initiative. "I'm sorry to hear that. We were given a mission to find out the source of the light that caused yesterday's earthquake. We would happily escort you to Farnom village immediately if you would be willing to explain what you know about the red light." 

Just what I was hoping to find when I came to help. "I'm thankful for your kindness. I will tell you everything I know. But first..." 

I finish up scavenging while the group looks between each other before shrugging it off. Sadly, the only good things this time are a sword and a wooden shield. 

With nothing left to do, I begin explaining what I learned from Serci while continuing to be vague with the details. "From what I know, it was a battle between five Keepers and monsters that got their hands on a recently fallen Artifact the Keepers were searching for." 

Everyone's eyes widen at the mention of Keepers being involved only to be nervous upon hearing that monsters had acquired artifacts. 

The mage asks, "How do you know that the Keepers were part of it?" 

"They stopped by our home looking for an Artifact that fell a few days ago, back during the Falling of God Tears. When they learned we hadn't even been near the crater, they went to check the forest. The only thing I know about their battle was the conclusion, a red light destroying everything in its path." 

The Vanguard was hesitant to ask. "Did they lose?" 

'From what I learned about Keepers, they're important to the kingdom, making their deaths a significant loss. But how should I answer without giving anything away?' 

I clear my throat. "I doubt they won the fight. But I don't think they died. They seemed like a well-trained group so they might've all avoided being hit by the blast." 

The group contemplates how to take this information before everyone nods to one another, the Vanguard being the one to respond. "Thank you for the information umm... Well, this is embarrassing, we didn't even introduce ourselves. I'm Sapheir Harti, an adventurer born from Sarmon Village northwest of here and the leader of the Frozen Sapphire." 

The archer shakes her head with a sigh at Sapheir for just realizing. "I'm Jikani, also from Sarmon Village." 

The mage waved his hand. "And I'm Floris Murjir. The three of us grew up together." 

"Nice to meet you. I'm Verei Deidura." 

The three members of the Frozen Sapphire grew quiet as though they froze in place before all erupting in surprise:

"What! B-by Deidura, do you mean THAT Deidura! The Cockatrice slayer?!"

"I haven't heard his name in over 15 years!"

"You're his descendant? And he was living in Varen Valley?!" 

I didn't expect them to react so suddenly but I may be able to use this situation to help in solidifying my identity. "Well... the timing fits. Fifteen years is how long we've been living in seclusion." 

With this, I've truly made myself known as his grandson. Sprinkle in a tale of my grandfather raising me and they couldn't help talking about the tales of his adventures that made them wish to become adventurers. 

When I got them back on track, Sapheir was the first to apologize for 'overreacting' as they prepared to escort me out of this forest. "Right, seeing as we've met the conditions to complete our mission, we should start heading back to town at once!" 

With the others shouting in affirmation, we continue west.

Going from traveling alone to traveling with three other people. My journey outside the forest became safe enough, I could probably relax. Veda is already outside Hobgoblin lands and Verei is almost too thanks to these three.

The Mage, Floris, walks next to me as I greet him. "Thanks again for agreeing to escort me." 

"We should be thanking you. You turned a three-day trip into a five-hour one. Though sorry it's resulted from your separation." 

"Thanks for the sympathy. Though I could say the same thing with you being ambushed by the scouting party that missed me." 

After a minute I realized he was examining me only for him to notice some dried blood on me. "Are you injured?!" 

I forgot all about the wolf's claw wounds left by my first fight, the pain subsided shortly after the battle so I didn't think too much about it. "Nothing serious, it was just some wolf claw wounds that already closed." 

But that doesn't alleviate his worry. "Can I still check to make sure it won't get infected?" 

I don't see a reason to decline so I proceed to take off my shirt and show him the places I think I was struck. The others took notice but I told them it wasn't serious. 

By the end of Floris's examination, he seems to agree. "Hmm... it doesn't seem like it'll leave a scar. You might've been born with a highly regenerative body like Sapheir's family line, but I'll cast a spell to eliminate infections just in case." 

[[Holy light, cure this flesh to ensure no illness]] 

I feel a warmth spread across my back to my shoulder. "Thanks, my sister would have checked it if she were here but she's likely still on the other side of that landmass we once called our home." 

I point back to the oddly shaped mountain peak Verei was made to roll down. Though I know Veda's already much further south, pointing where she would've been just makes sense. 

Floris took an interest after hearing about my other's specialty. "So, your sister is a Recovery Caster?" 

"She can cast more than just that. She's quite versatile in her magical capabilities, while I, on the other hand, don't have enough mana to cast a single spell of any kind. I guess she took after our grandmother while I took after grandfather."

I gestured to the armory on my shoulders but Floris only gave a dry laugh in response. "Well uh... you are quite a capable warrior considering how easily you saved our lives. Your sister also sounds like just as capable a caster if she isn't as limited in what incantations she can cast as you say." 

"Of course she is! With a large mana capacity and a wide range of spells, she is quite capable. Only a week into her training, she was able to use twenty incantations from our grandmother's book. And there are plenty of incantations in there!" 

It might be cheating to boast about my other self, considering I don't know who she was before. But 'I' technically did learn how to cast magic an hour after we first awoke and was able to cast several spells nearing the end of the 2nd day. 

Floris switched from a dry laugh to genuine shock. "L-learned how to cast twenty spells by her first week?! If that's true, then that's insane! D-did she practice mana manipulation in secret before getting the book or did she have a teacher make her practice control for a hefty amount of time before giving her spells to cast?!" 

I wish I had any information on their past beyond territorial knowledge, but I have to keep sprinkling truths with these fibs to not confuse myself later. "A... little bit of both actually. I don't really know how much time she spent training alone but as far as I know, she never cast a spell until grandfather's training." 

He starts taking notes on what I just said, seeming as though he'll be taking a different approach to training himself as a caster. 

I couldn't help but feel like I'm wronging a man's training by telling him something that half assed when I don't even understand my counterpart's talent myself.