After the encounter that left Sylvia frozen and me on edge, we continued deeper into the cave system.
These cave networks can become labyrinthine if you're not careful. I make a point of staying aware of our route, mentally mapping our direction in case we need to retreat quickly. So far, there haven't been any branching paths, so I haven't needed to mark the walls. Still, I remain cautious. These places have a habit of shifting from straightforward to perilous in the blink of an eye.
The three girls walk ahead of me, chatting quietly among themselves. I hang back just far enough that I can't make out the full conversation, but they glance at me now and then. I have a feeling they're talking about my earlier remarks regarding Sylvia's freezing up. I can't blame them, really, but I won't apologize for being blunt when survival is on the line.
Before long, we reach a large cavern, clearly a patrol post of some kind for the goblins. The signs are obvious: crude wooden furniture, a sputtering campfire, drying racks holding ragged animal hides, and a grimy tribal banner hanging from the wall. It resembles a primitive campsite. Three goblins sit hunched around a makeshift table, their stone-tipped spears within reach. They're dressed in scraps, rags really, and haven't noticed us yet.
I hold my position, and Lexi signals us to stay quiet.
Miria turns to Sylvia, her voice barely above a whisper. "Alright. Here's your chance to prove you can handle this. These three are yours. Take them out."
Sylvia straightens, determination gleaming in her eyes. She lifts her staff and begins to chant.
"[Wind Blade Storm]."
A faint breeze stirs the air around us. At first, it feels like nothing more than a gentle draft, until I notice the dust swirling around the goblins. A split second later, all three goblins stiffen. Then, as if sliced by invisible razors, their heads fall from their shoulders. Blood spurts briefly before their bodies collapse.
Sylvia exhales slowly. The spell is clearly designed to generate razor-sharp currents of wind, capable of slicing through flesh like paper. If she'd used this spell during our earlier encounter, those five goblins wouldn't have posed any threat at all.
She turns toward me, clearly seeking approval. I offer a small nod and a brief smile. Whatever happened before, she's got talent, no question.
"That's a powerful spell," I say. "Nicely done."
"Thank you!" she beams. "It uses a lot of mana, but it's worth it."
"If you need mana potions, I sell them. Fifty bucks a bottle."
Miria bursts into laughter at my shameless pitch. "I heard you also sell hot meals. What's for lunch today, merchant?"
"Last night, I cooked up a nice batch of Indian curry over rice. If that's too spicy, I've got a simple pasta dish too, ten dollars a portion."
The tank and the mage both chuckle, and I swear I see Lexi smirk ever so slightly. She hides it well, but I catch it.
Miria turns back to the task at hand. "Let's loot the area and move on."
We run into several more goblin patrols over the next couple of hours. Sylvia doesn't freeze again. She casts with focus and precision, cutting down enemies before they can even close the distance. I never have to lift a finger.
Eventually, we come to another large cavern and decide it's time for a break. I set up lunch, and everyone gratefully digs in. Even Lexi accepts a small container of curry, though she eats in silence.
Just as we begin packing up, Miria suddenly raises her shield. A sharp metallic ting rings out. An arrow clatters to the floor near my feet.
"Goblins. With bows," she mutters.
I immediately duck behind her. Her tower shield is large enough to protect two or even three people comfortably. I glance around and see Sylvia conjuring a magical barrier around herself. She's learning.
Across the cavern, three goblins with crude bows are firing arrows haphazardly in our direction. Their aim is terrible, and judging by how quickly they start squabbling, their arrow supply is low. One of them yanks the last arrow from a quiver and snarls at the others. They fight over it like starving dogs.
Lexi uses the moment of chaos to strike.
By the time I blink, all three goblins lie sprawled on the ground, bleeding from clean, fatal wounds. Lexi fades back into the shadows before anyone can say a word.
We loot the bodies quickly, and I scratch directional markings into the stone with my hunting knife, an arrow pointing toward the exit.
We continue through the passage they came from and emerge into yet another cavern, this one much larger. I have a bad feeling about it.
At the far end stands a massive tribal tent, decorated with bones, furs, and primitive symbols. Goblins scurry about the area, busy with butchering some sort of animal. I catch a glimpse of something familiar hanging on one of the racks.
A dog's fur, white and fluffy, is now matted with blood. It's probably the same dog that the goblin snatched from the park a few days ago, prompting the owners to find the gate hidden in the trees. Its fur, once pristine, is now a grisly trophy, stained crimson from rough handling. Disgust rises in my throat.
This is the boss chamber. There's no doubt in my mind.
Before we can even begin forming a plan to take on the mob of goblins and the boss lurking inside that tent, a shrill voice shrieks from behind us:
"Intruders! Intruders in Gobbo land!"
We whirl around.
A smaller goblin scout, previously unnoticed, is perched on a rock behind us. His eyes are wide with fear and excitement. He sounds the alarm again, shrieking into the cavern, echoing off the walls like a siren.
"INTRUDERS IN GOBBO LAND!"
Lexi immediately silences him by piercing his skull with her jagged dagger, but it is already too late.
So much for the element of surprise.