Swordmanship and Learning.

When Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes arrived at the farm Cow Girl was waiting like she normally did. When she saw Goblin Slayer she waved at him from the window.

"Your back. With-"

She froze when she saw Red Eyes and his mother. He was not looking at her as he was looking at a kitten at his feet that was rubbing on his leg.

'Cute.'

Goblin Slayer just as always explained in as few words as possible.

"His name is Red Eyes. Special Goblin who hates Goblins."

Red Eyes nodded.

"Hi."

Cow Girl blinked a few times as she knew how much Goblin Slayer hated Goblins. If he was vouching for Red Eyes she would believe him.

"I will get my uncle. If you trust him I will too. Still, I think he will need a bath and some real clothes. Those look old, torn, and covered in Goblin blood."

Goblin Slayer nodded.

"I will help him. Can his mother stay?"

Cow Girl walked up to Red-Eyes to look at his mother. She looked hopeless and it was pretty obvious what she went through. She did not ask, but she herself had no issue with it.

"Uncle would not mind, but it is better if you pay."

Goblin Slayer got some coins and paid the same amount he paid for himself.

"I will pay the first month. He will pay the rest."

As they were talking, Cow Girls' uncle noticed Goblin Slayer was back.

"So you found a good Goblin?"

Red Eyes nodded.

"I'm good."

"We will see. I don't mind letting her live here, but she will need a full-time caretaker. She had gone through hell and only time will tell if she will recover at all."

Red Eyes looked at his mother who had not reacted to much of anything since she left the cave. Goblin Slayer handed him the payment and walked into the house followed by Red Eyes. Cow Girl's uncle led them in.

"She can use one of the spare rooms. If you two will be going out, be ready to pay someone to look after her. You might need to hunt more things than just Goblins to make ends meet."

Red Eyes nodded.

"Dragons."

Cow Girl chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"If you kill one of those you will be set for life. They aren't rare for nothing."

Goblin Slayer was not interested in anything, but Goblins.

"You will go on your own to kill those."

Uncle pointed at a sparring room

"This one does not have anyone using it. You can put her here."

Red Eyes went into the room and laid his mother in the bed. He held her hands with sadness in his eyes. He let go, but he moved the hair out of her eyes. Uncle noticed that it was all genuine sadness.

'She just might have hope.'

"First, get clean and change out of those clothes. Set him a bucket of water and a towel."

Cow Girl nodded.

"Alright. You can follow me. Some of Goblin Slayer's old clothes should fit you. You are not very big."

Goblin Slayer shook his head.

"He will grow. He has another week of growth. He can use my spare clothes."

Cow Girl was not surprised by how knowledgeable Goblin Slayer could be about Goblins. She was followed by Red Eyes as she got him a bucket of water and a towel.

"I will bring you the clothes. Just take those off. They are too old and damaged to be fixed. Also Goblin blood smells."

Red Eyes nodded.

"Nasty."

She left him alone while he removed the tight leather clothes. They were probably used by a young adventurer or something, but they would not fit him when he finished growing. He grabbed the towel and dipped it in the water as he cleaned himself.

It had been three weeks since his birth, and not a single bath in that time. This felt nice and relaxing, but a river would have also done fine. The nasty dried blood was removed from his body and while he did that Cow Girl left him a change of clothes.

It took him about 10 minutes to remove any dirt, grime, and grease from his body. He felt refreshed and clean. He put on the change of clothes that were rather baggy as they were made for a man of Goblin Slayer's size.

When he walked out, Goblin Slayer was waiting.

"Follow me."

Red Eyes did not question where they were going as they went to Goblin Slayer's shed. Here he had many spar weapons and armor sets.

"Take your pick."

Red Eyes looked around and there were two weapons that got his attention. One was a regular Short Sword like the one Goblin Slayer carried around, but the main one was a large broadsword Goblin Slayer picked up in a cave. It was too big for his use and made of mithril.

(The one on the cover)

It was too hard to grind down so he wanted to sell it, but he did not get a chance. Red Eyes felt drawn to it and when it was in his hands it felt like he had one all his life. He got in a few stances that made Gobin Slayer watch with interest.

"Have you used it before?"

Red Eyes shook his head.

"No. I want it."

"Take it."

Goblin Slayer started to explain some information.

"The Short one will help in the caves. The broadsword can be used for your other adventures. Leather and Chainmail are the best in caves. I know a blacksmith that can make you some gear if you pay."

Red Eyes nodded as he placed both swords on his back.

"Goblins?"

Goblin Slayer knew he was asking when they would kill more Goblins.

"3 days."

Red Eyes understood.

"Ok."

Goblin Slayer felt it was also a good way to get Red Eyes to learn a little more.

"You can ask to help for some shiny?"

Red Eyes was instantly interested. He liked the shiny things.

"Ok."

Goblin Slayer felt like he got an apprentice, much like his old teacher. He wondered what the old Rhea would say if he saw his new apprentice. Red Eyes and Goblin slayer went to talk with Cow Girl who was milking a cow. She noticed how they were walking over to her.

"Goblin Slayer, what is it?"

He pointed at Red Eyes next to him.

"He wants to help."

She looked at Red Eyes and noticed he was in front of the cow petting it.

"Cute."

"Hey, you want to milk her?"

Red Eyes titled his head.

"Milk?"

She nodded.

"Come on, I will show you."

She stood up and let Red Eyes sit on the stool.

"Alright, you first grab the teat like this around the base. You squeeze gently and pull. Simple right?"

Red Eyes was careful and did as she said. Only a little milk came out confusing him.

"Wrong?"

Cow Girl laughed.

"It's not easy. Try again."

He kept doing the same process over and over, but he only got a little bit out. Eventually, he gave up. Cow Girl took over again, but she left him with some encouraging words.

"Don't worry about it. There are always a lot of jobs around the farm. When you are not hunting Goblins or Dragons you can always try again."

"Alright, Bye Red lady."

Goblin Slayer decided to teach him something he did every time he was here.

"You have a lot to learn. You are young after all."

For the rest of the day, Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes went around the Farm doing odd jobs here and there. By the end of it, Red Eyes got 2 Copper Coins which he kept in a small pouch. He felt proud of himself, so when it was the night he went to his mother's room.

He saw that she was asleep which was rare. He did not bother her and just sat on the floor in front of her. He left the door open and he was seen by Uncle.

"Red Eyes, walk with me."

Red Eyes looked at his mother and he left her to go with Uncle. They walked outside where the many moons were visible.

"Do you want to help her?"

Red Eyes nodded.

"Yes."

"The best you can do is give her to a temple. You won't see her again, but maybe she won't want to remember you. She went through hell and no matter how kind you are, some things won't work."

Red Eyes looked at the ground.

"Why? I help."

Uncle patted him on the shoulder.

"Not everything can be fixed by yourself. Maybe she will recover, but keep your mind open."

Uncle walked back inside leaving Red Eyes alone. He looked at the Green moon and titled his head. He raised his hand and covered up the Green Moon. He clenched his hand like he was crushing the Moon and made a promise to himself.

'Kill you all.'

He returned to his mother's room and slept leaning against a wall. He was used to sleeping like that in the cave, but he honestly did it to stay ready. He did not know if a threat was coming so he was always on guard.

Just as he had Goblin Slayer agreed on, for the next two days Red Eyes simply held around the Farm. He got some copper coins for his labor and he was fed in exchange. He even grew larger as in those 3 days he grew 4 inches.

He now reached Goblin Slayers' chin so when he finished growing he would be about as tall as Goblin Slayer. He even practiced with his two swords, as it felt like something he should be doing.

He had to bathe and change his mother as she could not look after herself, but he did not mind it. He was willing to do that for her as he wished she would one day recover. One thing that changed was that he picked up more words.

He could not learn a lot of them but talk to more people helped. He and Goblin Slayer were walking out of the farm as they were going to take a Goblin hunting mission. Red Eyes wore some leather armor over chain mail.

On his head was a helmet-like Goblin Slayer's as he would need something to protect his head. On his back was his broadsword and on his hip was his shortsword. They stayed quiet the whole time as they had nothing to talk about.

When they got to the guild Priestess was already there. When she noticed how Goblin Slayer and Red Eyes came back after two whole days made her sigh in relief. She thought they forgot about her, but they actually did not even think about her.

Goblin Slayer approached Guild Girl who smiled at him.

"Goblin Slayer is that Red-Eyes next to you?"

Red Eyes raised the visor and said hello.

"Hi."

She smiled at him as he was barely recognizable.

"Almost didn't recognize you. You sure cleaned up. I got three Goblin Slaying missions. One of them was taken by a rookie team already, but the other is more dangerous. A hoard of Goblins took over an old Elven Fort. A few days ago another party took the quest, but they have not come back. The last one is a report of a few stragglers."

Priestess remembered how her own party had ended up.

"We have to warn them. They don't know what they are getting into."

Goblin Slayer shook his head.

"If we wait too long the Elven Fortress will get even larger. They are on their own. Me and Red Eyes will take on the Elven Fortress and then the stragglers. You can go stop them if you want or come with us."

Priestess nodded.

"I will follow you two."

Red Eyes cheered.

"More friends to kill Goblins."

Goblin Slayer looked her over as he heard the sound of Chain mail.

"Are you wearing chainmail?"

She nodded.

"I took your advice and bought some."

"Good. I need to buy some arrows and oil."

Red Eyes knew why/.

"Burn them all?"

Goblin Slayer gave him a thumbs up.

"Yes."

They left the guild to buy some of the supplies they would need. Goblin Slayer was ready for most situations so this was just another one. He taught Red Eyes the three grails of Goblin Killing. Fire, poison, and water all were good ways to deal with them.