As Raymond finished cleaning her sword, she looked around at the goblins in the training area. Everything was much the same as when she had first entered the camp and a question sprung to her mind.

“Why do none of the goblins wear metal armor?” she asked. “And not all of them have metal weapons either.”

“We have been hunted for decades, never staying in one place for long. We have little to no trade with other races. It is rather difficult for us to obtain metal. Additionally, the ‘monster’ races, with the exception of Beastkin, have to choose between a combat class and a crafting class… very few goblins choose the crafting route given how often we have to fight for our lives.”

Raymond nodded in understanding. “So how did you obtain most of what you currently have?”

Og smiled as he motioned towards the training goblins. “That stuff mostly came from dead adventurers.”

Then he placed a hand reverently on the sword he had used to teach me how to clean and sharpen my weapon.

“This one was a gift from Master Evelyn.”

Raymond watched him for a moment as he stared at the sword silently, seemingly lost in thought.

Finally, he spoke with a slightly husky voice. “Ah… I guess I miss her more than I thought I would. Since she was immortal, I always knew I would see her again… but fate is not so kind it seems.”

Og stood up, stretching his back with a low groan. Raymond followed suit, rolling her shoulders to work a kink out of her back.

“So what should we do now?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Now,” Og replied, “We go see Vorg. He asked to meet with you days ago… we shouldn’t put him off any longer.”

Raymond grimaced, remembering her two face-to-face encounters. She didn’t have the most favorable impression of him so far… and she likely hadn’t given him a favorable impression of her either.

She followed Og through the camp to a partitioned area that she hadn’t yet been to. Inside the wooden barrier, she saw Vorg and Shaman discussing something surrounded by Gobber Goblins. Somebody must have noticed their approach because both Vorg and Shaman turned to look at Raymond as she approached them.

Vorg smiled as he stepped forward, “The Monarch of Ages graces us with her presence! To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Raymond grimaced slightly, “You are aware that I am not the Evelyn Raymond that you’ve heard of, right?”

Vorg nodded, “I’ve heard. However, the reputation of that body you are inhabiting will proceed you until you overshadow it yourself.”

Raymond internally groaned.

“I came because you asked to speak with me.” she said.

Vorg’s smile widened as he stepped aside, motioning for her to enter into the partitioned area.

“If we may speak in a portion of my domain then, I would be honored to entertain you.”

Raymond and Og stepped through the gateway and moved up to Shaman, who hadn’t moved since Raymond arrived.

“Greetings, young one.” Shaman said.

Raymond raised a hand in greeting, “It’s been a few days since we last spoke.”

“Indeed.”

“How is Lexi doing?”

Shaman reached up, tapping the side of her long, pointy nose with a clawed finger. “She is doing incredibly well. She has already unlocked the Acolyte class and has exceptional control over her mana.”

Raymond felt a rush of joy for her fellow follower. She didn’t know Lexi all that well but Raymond considered her closer to being a friend than almost anybody else that she had met. Og might be on the list too but he was presumably only helping as much as he was because he was ordered to.

Vorg returned to his seat across from Shaman, shifting it slightly to the side to form a triangle as Raymond sat in a new chair that was brought up and offered to her by one of the watching Gobber Goblins.

Vorg leaned forward, “I will be quick and blunt in my statements.” he started. “The Gobber Goblins are interested in your offer.”

Raymond leaned back in shock. “Wait, what?”

“The Gobber Goblins want to follow Legion.”

Raymond’s mind reeled as she realized exactly what he was saying.

“Why?” she blurted out.

Vorg laughed. “Why not?” he countered.

“The Glitter Goblins are hesitating. What makes the Gobber Goblins different?” Raymond asked.

“The Glitter Goblins hesitate because they cling to the old ways. They expend all of their effort and worship for a greater god who disappeared over a thousand years ago. We Gobber Goblins have embraced our new form and moved on.”

“New form?” Raymond asked curiously.

Shaman nodded. “The goblins are a mortal race, but we used to be one of the five immortal races… the one known in history as the ‘Fairies’. The same day that Demestrix disappeared, our race fell, becoming mortal and turning into goblins. Glitter Goblins desire to return to our immortal glory by finding Demestrix.”

“And Gobber Goblins have moved on, embracing the change. We have decided that the past is in the past and we need to look to the future.” Vorg finished.

“So why do the Gobber Goblins want to follow Legion then?” Raymond asked.

“It’s the only logical decision,” Vorg replied. “The Glitter Goblins know this and hesitate because it would require them to change their entire purpose. On the other hand, following Legion aligns perfectly with our purpose… there is no future fighting against the humans as we are. Eventually, all of the monster races will be overrun.”

Raymond nodded in understanding. “I can accept that.”

“And so, whenever you decide to move forward, know that my Gobber Goblins will support you. We only ask that you and Legion help us in return. We have lived in fear of the humans for far too long.”

Raymond grinned, baring her fangs.

Shaman stood up. “I am glad you have found some support,” Shaman said, winking at Raymond, “As for me, I am too old and too set in my ways to change so quickly. Time will tell.”

Raymond watched Shaman leave before returning her attention to Vorg.

“It’s a deal.”

Suddenly, a huge roar reverberated through the air. It came from outside the camp, on the west side.

Raymond and Vorg bolted to their feet.

“What was that?” Raymond asked.

Vorg shook his head. “Maybe a Mountain Yeti or a Wendigo…?”

A second roar filled the camp.

Og rested a hand on the hilt of one of his daggers. “Definitely a Mountain Yeti.”

***

Lexi awoke to the sensation of the ground rumbling beneath her. Faint tremors rattled her teeth and caused her cat tail and ears to twitch. She bolted upright, looking around groggily as her mind processed where she was. Memories of her attempt to shred the forest came back in an instant and she chuckled to herself, wincing as she felt a piercing pain in her head. Mana deprivation.

The ground trembled again and she searched for the source. A huge white blur was moving towards her. She heard a loud crack as it pushed a tree out of the way. She stared at it in confusion. What…?

The blur took a step closer and her eyes focused as a blue notification appeared in front of her, identifying the creature.

Mountain Yeti - Level 25

A mountain yeti this close to the edge of the mountains? She quickly scrambled to her feet, stumbling backward as she tried to move away from the huge monster. As it noticed her movement, the yeti roared. The surrounding trees shook and a torrent of snow fell from the leafless branches, cascading the mountainside in a storm of white powder.

The yeti roared once more, pounding it’s huge, white-furred chest with a ginormous hand. It charged.

She screamed, scrambling away from the beast.

Suddenly, she heard a huge, meaty thump followed by the yeti’s roar in pain. She turned back just in time to see Trog fall back, disappearing into the shadows once more. The yeti had fallen forward, catching itself with splayed arms. She took the opportunity to gather her mana, releasing the aura she had spent days learning to control. The air took on the faint, familiar fishy smell. The scent calmed her slightly and she smiled weakly.

She focused the aura around her hands once more, converting it into air magic just as she had practiced earlier. She grimaced as her head protested the use of mana.

She was tired of running… of being too weak to help herself. Now, she had a combat class. Now, she had magic. She ran forward, swinging her claws with a roar. The wind stretched away, digging into the yeti’s thick fur. The fur was much harder to pierce than the tree bark but her attack still left five bloody furrows.

The yeti roared in agony.

“Trog,” Lexi said calmly, “Let me handle this one. Don’t interfere unless you think I need the help.”

“Understood.” Trog’s voice said, coming from somewhere off to the right side.

Lexi snarled, baring her canines and raising her claws as she analyzed her opponent.

“Let’s go, you big furball!”

***

Kelsey Vale was conflicted. For the past four days, she hadn’t been able to get over the fact that she knew one of the biggest secrets in the world. She knew which Temple had allowed Evelyn Raymond to register the new Overseer. She had personally escorted the True Vampire to the High Priestess, though she had no idea at the time.

Yet she hadn’t told anybody. If she reported Eileen, doubtless the High Priestess would be imprisoned and dehydrated for treason. But she didn’t want to. She liked Eileen. The older woman was very wise and kind and always had a nice word for Kelsey, complimenting her on her new hairstyle or accessories.

Also, Kelsey had been wondering for years about the universal tenet of the four Overseers. The one that commanded death or enslavement of all monsters. Why would a benevolent god demand slaughter and enslavement? She had read the scriptures of all four Overseers looking for answers but all she could find is a claim that monsters are ‘inferior’.

That wasn’t good enough. If being inferior is deserving of death, then where does it end? Once all the monsters are gone, should the rich purge the poor? Should the talented murder those with less natural talent? What about the disabled? The crippled, the elderly, the orphans or widows?

In Kelsey’s mind, there were some clear flaws with the tenets of the four Overseers… and so she anguished over what she should do with the knowledge that only she had.

Dwelling on this issue once more, Kelsey was walking through Cairel aimlessly. She couldn’t stand to walk through the Temple after the first two days. Every time Eileen walked by, Kelsey would hide. She felt like the walls were judging her for her inaction.

She had already been walking for almost two hours, turning down street after street. As she continued walking, she realized that the crowd had thinned. She looked around, trying to determine where it was that she had wandered to.

Her heart tightened in fear and her body tensed up as she realized where she was

She had wandered into the portion of town that people called the ‘Underworld.’ The home of the most unsavory types of people that dwelled in Cairel.

As a border city that was also the first line of defense against invasion by the neighboring Slimelords, orcs and trolls, Cairel attracted many adventurers, mercenaries and merchants. In addition to the corruption that often resided within those three groups, the influx of trade goods and monster parts from collection quests attracted bandits, thieves and other underground crime groups.

The Underworld was the home of the majority of these crime groups and nearly all black market dealings in the western half of the Kingdom of Rovar could be traced through the Underworld at some point.

This was the amount of information available to the public. It was well known that the Kingdom had once attempted to purge the Underworld. It didn’t work… at all.

Needless to say, this was a very dangerous place for a pretty, young, sixteen-year-old girl like herself.

She turned to walk back the way she had come in but stopped when she realized the path was blocked. Two men with masks blocked the road leading back to safety. Kelsey looked around in a panic, noting that the streets were rapidly emptying of people. Nobody would help her.

She quickly turned and walked the opposite direction of the two men, glancing back occasionally. They followed her, keeping a relative distance as they hounded her towards something that she couldn’t see.

Kelsey silently prayed. She didn’t pray to her Overseer, Jocelyn. Her recent doubts made her hesitate to pray to any of the four. Rather, she prayed to nobody in particular, hoping against hope that she could escape this situation without having to resort to suicide.