*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* went my hammer as I pounded the molten metal in front of me causing sparks to fly as I shape my new blade. The blade that I spent months saving up to buy the ore for. I spend hours hammering the metal watching as it takes shape into a beautiful sword. My pointed ears get a little itchy from the cloth I have wrapped around my head to catch the sweat.

It's finally complete, I think about the time it took to get to this point as I look at my new blade. Slim, black, double edged sword with runes in the forbidden language running up and down the blade with a slight glow. The hilt I made out of a black tree I found at the edge of the forest surrounding this village. Since I already broke the laws of mages by using the forbidden language, I decided what the hell and carved some more of it on the handle. As I carved the odd words I chant protection spells making sure it is absorbed by the words on the handle. When I finished I looked over my masterpiece making sure it was loaded with enough enchantments and magic to make a human magician sick and began to sharpen it.

Afterwards, I chant one last spell on the blade, surrounding it with a thick layer of magic and condensing it over and over until the magic aura from the weapon is barely noticeable. Happy with my work I finally sheath the blade and leave the workshop. Outside I take a deep breath and stretch deeply enjoying the new weight on my hip. This village is part of the kingdom of Shaylet, one on the very edge of the kingdom. Recently they have had a large problem with goblins, so they sent a request through a travelling merchant to the closest adventurers guild. So I was sent here, that bastard guild supervisor practically blackmailed me into coming. At least they had a hut an old blacksmith used to live in. I was able to finally create my baby.

I start my morning patrol of the village, boring as always. Only slowing down around the open windows of the houses with the most beautiful maidens in them. To make sure they were safe of course. Oddly, I didn't see anyone. I've been here for months and have yet to see anything green other than the local Flora. Im only giving this village one more week if I don't see a goblin, I'm gone. Thinking about my room at the inn back at the Capitol, I wander around the village. I stop when I realize something...... no one is here. The people in this village are usually up and giving me annoying glances by now. I stop by the village chief's house and look in his windows. Dread fills my mind as I see the amount of blood soaking his sheets.

SHIT!

I burst through the door, ripping it off of it's hinges and looking for any clue as to what did this. I check the whole house and find nothing but blood. Cursing my luck I bolt around to the other houses looking for anyone. I find no one, not a living soul is left in this village. The only thing left are the large blood stains in all the beds. After kicking in almost every door in the village I see something moving. Ducking behind the house just left of me, I try to see what it is. I sneak a little closer to it, staying hidden behind houses and barrels and anything big enough for me to hide behind. As I get closer I see, what appears to be a weird ball of meat with strange twisted sticks poking out of it. My stomach turns inside out when I get close enough and see that those sticks, were actually the limbs of the villagers. I follow the creature, determined to not completely fail my mission and at least determine who or what killed the villagers.