Chapter 56:

Loh looked at the group of students. Most were bloodied. A few were injured quite badly. One student’s head had been beaten to a pulp, his face was unrecognizable. Judging from the fearful looks his teammates gave Stryg, Loh could guess who the culprit was.

“8 out of 21 students left. Four teams have passed. Clypeus, despite your team not losing a single member, you still did not manage to achieve first place,” Loh sighed.

That wasn’t what bugged her. What annoyed her was that neither did Stryg’s team. She had hoped her apprentice would have done better. Instead he was the only one left of his team.

“I take full responsibility,” Clypeus bowed his head. “My teammates performed well. It was my incompetence that cost us the match.”

“Yes, well your excuse doesn’t make much of a difference. You’re still going to have to take the final exam,” Loh said.

“Understood,” Clypeus nodded.

“The same goes for you,” Loh looked over at Stryg.

He didn’t respond. Stryg sat on the grass, head between his knees. Something was wrong. Loh would need to talk with him later.

“We understand,” Callum said. He sat beside Stryg and Kithina.

“Well, then. Everyone who needs medical attention head over to the infirmary. The white magi there will take care of your injuries. Class dismissed,” Loh shooed them away. “Stryg, I need to talk to you.”

But, he was already gone. He had run off the moment Loh had spoken. She frowned. Something was definitely wrong.

~~~

“Stryg? Hey, Stryg? Stryyyg,” Feli waved her hand in front of his face.

Stryg glanced up, “Huh? What is it?”

“That’s my question. You’ve been spacing out ever since we left home,” Feli frowned.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” He grabbed a chicken kebab from a nearby food stall, “Want one?”

“No, thanks,” Feli shook her head.

“Suit yourself.”

He grabbed another two kebabs and paid the vendor. He devoured them in a matter of a few seconds.

“I know you can eat a lot, but please try to save some space for actual food,” Feli laughed.

“Actual food? This is all real food. Back in Vulture Woods eating grass because you were being punished, now that was some fake food.”

“They made you eat grass? Why?”

“I was weak. I still am I suppose,” he said, downcast.

This wasn’t going well. Feli planned to use their date in the trade district to seduce Stryg even further, to make him focus more on her. Recently he had been busy with his studies and hadn’t spent much time with her.

Just the other night he didn't come home. She had stayed up all night worried about him. He came back the next morning with torn bloodstained clothes. When she asked him about it, he refused to say anything, instead going straight to sleep.

Today he was even more distant. This was bad. It was time she proved herself to be a capable fiance and future spouse. She needed to show him her good points, that she was helpful, that he could rely on her.

Feli stopped walking. “Okay, what’s wrong? And don’t tell me ‘nothing.’ We are on our first official date. I won’t have it be ruined because you’re blue.”

“I’m more of a cyan. There’s still a little green.” Stryg looked at his hands.

“I’m not talking about your skin. I mean how you feel.”

“Since when is a color considered a feeling?”

Feli rolled her eyes, “Feeling blue means you're sad, depressed, bummed out.”

“Oh. I’m not sad.” He walked away.

Feli reached out and grabbed his hand, “Yes, you are. It’s all over that adorable face.”

“I’m not adorable,” Stryg hissed.

Feli had grown accustomed to the hissing. Others were scared off by it, for good reason she supposed. Stryg wasn’t a particularly friendly person, quite the opposite. Feli knew that Stryg wouldn’t hurt her, however. In fact, she had learned how to deal with this exact situation. She pulled him in and hugged him tightly, his face cuddled between her breasts. His pupils went as wide as saucers.

Feli didn’t mind the onlookers that passed by. She didn’t care what commoners thought of her anymore. She had made it big. She was together with a mage, it didn’t matter what any commoner thought, they couldn’t hurt her anymore.

Stryg closed his eyes and nestled his head deeper.

“Pervert,” Feli whispered with a smile.

“I can touch what’s mine whenever I want,” Stryg mumbled.

“You really are adorable, you know that,” Feli teased.

Stryg pinched her butt hard.

“Ow!” She yelped.

Stryg pushed her away. “Was that adorable?”

“You didn’t have to pinch me so hard,” Feli rubbed her butt.

“Don’t worry, next time I’ll use my teeth instead. Then we’ll see who’s adorable,” Stryg pouted.

Feli swallowed hard. She knew his fangs were small, but they were incredibly sharp. His love bites were less love and more bite. Still, she didn’t regret her teasing words. She enjoyed seeing his pouty face. His cheeks would puff up like a child. It really was adorable.

“We’ll see indeed,” Feli giggled. “Seriously, though, something is clearly bothering you and it’s ruining our date. You might as well tell me. We’re in this together now.”

“What do you mean in this together?” Stryg tilted his head.

“You know, together in life.”

“In life? As in a life and death situation?” Stryg glanced around his surroundings.

“I mean, technically, I guess if the situation arose. I’d let you handle any bad guys we’d encounter. You can use your magic and fancy dance skills to end them.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, it’s not dancing. Their combat stances.”

“Yeah, sure. What I’m trying to get at is that we are together for whatever life brings our way. Battles, dates, cooking, whatever. We’re going to have to face life as a couple. Preferably, from a nice mansion in the villa district. Oh, with nice velvet chairs and some fancy wine. There has to be fancy wine, not the kinda stuff the Merry Crescent carries,” Feli placed a finger on her lips.

“So, you’re saying we have to work together?”

“Yes. With silk sheets and sweet chocolate too,” Feli added.

“Working together, huh? Only tribemates are supposed to work together.” He remembered how Kithina and Callum had come and helped in the grove.

“Well, we are a couple, it’s like a tribe but even closer, like this,” Feli wrapped her arm around Stryg’s shoulder. She knew the size difference bothered him, but she made sure her bust was next to his face. He always liked that.

“So… we’re like a tribe then?” Stryg asked slowly.

“Hm. Yeah, I guess we kinda are.”

“But I’m an exile from my tribe,” he muttered.

“Well, screw them. Let’s make a new tribe, just you and me,” Feli said.

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, we’re a family after all.”

“I never knew my family. Not that any sylvan goblin really does. But, I wish I knew what they looked like at least. So I could know why I look like this.” He stared at his reflection in a nearby puddle. He hated what he saw.

“Well, you didn’t miss much. Parents are overrated,” Feli sighed.

Stryg watched her face. There was pain in her chestnut eyes. He hadn’t bothered asking much about her parents. He assumed they were dead, though he didn’t know for certain. Yet, he was glad that he wasn’t the only one who believed parents were unnecessary. He had gotten along just fine being without them.

Stryg looked up in thought, “I never really thought of making a new tribe. I suppose the gangs around here are quite weak. Maybe a two-person tribe wouldn’t be that strange. Especially, since I’m a mage. How many gangs do you know have a mage?”

“None, darling,” Feli buried her sorrow under a smile.

“Hmm, interesting,” Stryg’s hand wrapped around Feli’s waist. “Tribes are about being strong to survive. Since you’re weak, I suppose you’d need me to survive.”

Feli smiled wryly, “I’m more interested in living than just surviving. Though, yeah, same point I guess. Together we’re stronger.”

“You may not be a goblin, but we are... a ‘couple.’ I'll make an exception this one time. First Mother used to say, ‘a lone goblin would get picked off by the wolf packs, but a group of goblins could slay a dire bear.’ I’m glad we’re in a loveless partnership. Otherwise, love could weaken our tribe,” Stryg nodded to himself.

“Yeah. Loveless,” Feli bit her lip.

She had agreed to that when this whole relationship had started months ago. Her body for his future prospects and a stable life away from the cruel fate of commoners. She was okay with those conditions. So, why did she feel a stabbing pain in her chest when he mentioned it now? Sure, she had grown fond of Stryg, she sometimes even enjoyed his bizarre mannerisms. But, it wasn’t love. It couldn’t be.

Feli cleared her throat, “So, now that we’re a tribe, do you wanna tell me what’s been bothering you?”

“I haven’t founded our tribe yet, plus I haven’t thought of a name.”

“Stryg…”

He slumped his shoulders, “I failed.”

“You failed your exams?” Feli asked. Was that what was bothering him?

“No. Though, I didn’t get 1st place either, but that’s not the point. I used to be weak before I came to Hollow Shade. I know I already mentioned it, but you don’t really understand. I was a failure, no matter how hard I tried I always came up short.”

“When I found out I was a mageborn I truly thought everything would be different. Even if I was a freak, I could use my hybrid nature as a source of strength. For once in my life I could be something, someone. Not just an outcast, an exile.”

Stryg took a deep breath, “There was a mock duel yesterday and I thought I was strong enough to defeat my opponents. I wasn’t. Callum and Kithina had to come help me and then… Then I was forced to run away, abandon my teammates.”

His throat tightened, “... Again. I realized I’m the same weak goblin I was back in that cave in Vulture Woods. I’m a failure.”

Feli stopped in her steps. “Stryg can you wait for a second?”

“What?” He furrowed his brow.

“It’s just your shoes.” Feli crouched down.

His shoelaces were untied and tucked into each shoe. She really needed to teach him how to tie them one of these days. This wasn’t what she had in mind this morning when she was planning her date. Not that she minded helping him tie his shoes, it was kind of funny, actually.

“Give me a sec to tie them for you,” Feli said.

Stryg glanced at the crowd of people. Some glanced at the beautiful woman tying the young goblin’s shoes. A few laughed. That is until Stryg hissed at them, they quickly went on their way after that.

“Are you done?”

“Almost. There.” Feli stood up. “Stryg, do you have any problem with me tying your shoes?”

“No. Why?”

“Because, people sometimes laugh while we’re out in public. They think it’s strange that you don’t do it yourself,” Feli said.

“...People have never liked me. Who cares what these ones think. You’re mine, it’s expected that you take care of something like this.”

Feli ignored his latter words and pressed on. “Even if you can’t do those tasks yourself?”

“Hmm, I guess,” Stryg frowned.

“Are you weaker now that I tied your shoes?”

“No, of course not.”

“Exactly. Sometimes it’s okay to get help from others when you can’t do something yourself. It doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us stronger. These two people, Callum and Kithina was it? Their help didn’t weaken you, it made you stronger. Like that thing you said about goblins taking down a dire bear.”

“Yes, but I was referring to tribemates when I said that.”

“It doesn't matter. The point still applies. You don’t need someone to be in your tribe to work with them and so what if you had to run away. Maybe you lost the fight, but you didn’t fail the exam, right? Despite having it rough you managed to scrape through. You’ll get another chance, and I guarantee you’ll be stronger for it.”

Feli grabbed his hand, “We all lose once in a while, it’s how we learn. Trust me, I made plenty of mistakes back at the tavern. Thanks to the help of a few coworkers, not Carla mind you, I was able to get better at my job. I think all you need is some time. Time to get better and maybe some time to rest.”

“Like for example, on our date,” she winked.

Stryg closed his eyes in contemplation. It went against what he had learned back in Vulture Woods. Then again, he wasn’t in Vulture Woods anymore, nor was he a part of the Blood Fang tribe.

He stared at their clasped hands, “Maybe. Just maybe, you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” Feli smirked. “Now who are Callum and Kithina?”

“Oh, they're classmates. We’ve been placed in a group for the year as project partners. The professors believe it helps simulate teamwork.”

“They're just classmates then?”

“Yeah.” Stryg paused, “Actually, no. I guess you could call them… friends.”

“Ah, friends. Got it,” she chuckled in relief.

“What are we supposed to do on a date?” Stryg asked, his mood finally lifting a bit.

“I’m glad you asked. First, we’re supposed to take a nice walk through the district, shopping at different stores, and enjoying ourselves.”

“Haven’t we already done that?”

“I’m not talking about buying groceries. This is different. We’re supposed to go to fancy stores. You’re supposed to buy me nice clothes, treat me to some delicious food. Maybe even share a sweet dessert. Probably chocolate, I love chocolate.”

“Oh, I’ve done that before,” Stryg nodded.

“What? No we haven’t?”

“Not with you. I’ve done that with Plum before.”

“...Who’s Plum?” Feli asked with a crooked smile.

“A friend of mine. I don’t have many friends, but she’s the first,” Stryg admitted.

“You share chocolate with friends?”

“Just Plum. It was actually hot chocolate, pretty tasty really. I honestly don’t like sharing, but I forgot my mug, so I had to share a mug with Plum. Now that I think about it, she drank most of it,” Stryg frowned.

Feli blinked. “When can I meet her?”

“I don’t know. We’re both kind of busy with finals coming up. Why the interest?”

“I just want to meet my darling’s friends. Is that too much to ask?” Feli frowned sweetly.

“Yes. Yes, it is. I’m busy.”

“Come on. How about after your finals?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” Stryg sniffed the air, he could smell the confectionary store from around the block.

“I’m craving chocolate, wanna get some?” His mouth was already beginning to water.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she grinned.