After talking to the goblins who were able to bring back a deer carcass, I learned that they used random rocks they found in the forest to kill the deer. The deer was big, but certainly could not kill 6 goblins and injure 3. I was not shocked to learn that what brought such harm to the group was not a deer, but instead a wild board, which they were lucky enough to run from. Obviously, rocks were not enough for goblins to defend themselves against a raging beast. But we did not have any weapons. The best we could make would probably be by sharpening the tips of tree branches to make spears or attaching sharp edged rocks onto them to make axes. Besides, making axes would be smart since we would make use of extra wood. Either way, we were not lucky enough to find metal equipment in this land which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.

As the cave was deep and roomy enough with no traces of a beast sleeping inside, I was not really worried about a beast wandering in during night either. Regardless, I asked some of the goblins to stay guard while the rest of us slept. I believed having guarding rotations would help protect ourselves against the threats from outside. Afterwards, with a belly full of berries and deer meat, I went to sleep.

My back was hurting like hell as my spine conformed to the rough and painful surface of the rocks. After readjusting my spine with a clever maneuver, I got up, woke up the sleeping goblins, and signaled the guarding goblins that it was their time to experience their heavenly beds.

The cave was illuminated by the torches some of the goblins made by wrapping leaves at the tip of some tree branches. Yet, the light was close to dying the cave was about to succumb into complete darkness. To avoid not being able to see in pitch black, I ordered goblins to keep making the torches and storing them inside the cave in case the light dies out. I told them specifically to not light the torches the moment they make them, but instead pile them up for later use.

As I left the cave, a clear sky like yesterday greeted me. A warm breeze brushed my hair and skin and the wind smelled clear like water and earth. The feeling inside me grew and grew until it was no more manageable. Not knowing how to navigate or direct it, I tried to do the same thing I instinctively did yesterday. I concentrated on the fingertips of my right hand and reached my hand out into the air. As the feeling accumulated inside my palm, I felt its container enlarging from the sheer amount of power it carried. Soon, the power started seeping out and eventually thrusted outside my body and pierced the air. A purple-haze whirlwind of a mysterious gate opened before my eyes out of nowhere.

Green skinned creatures once again marched out of the gate before it vanished into thin air. I was relieved, letting go of the need to keep the power I poured into the gate from my hand under control. This time there were 37 goblins, significantly more than yesterday. Now, in total, we were 57. One of the injured was in grave situation as he was getting worse while the other two were easily getting better. Maybe soon we would become 56.

Cave was not enough to house all 57 of us. If we all sleep at the same time, that is. Thus, I decided to make groups of 19 to sleep in 8-hour intervals. Moreover, I decided that there needs to be at least 3 guards standing just inside the entrance to the cave. Not that I think anything would happen, but because just in case something does.

I assigned 21 goblins to make tools like spears and axes using tree branches and stones from around the cave and I assigned the rest to collect food. I warned them against big animals like boars. If they find a deer, it would be amazing – but we might need the manpower: If they find a deer and a boar, they should still run. The priority was berries and fruits if they could find any. Then smaller games like rabbits if there were any. Deer was a jackpot only if the area was safe enough and the group was lucky enough. However, since a horde of goblins would scare small and large preys away and might attract predators, I made four groups. Besides, four groups should be able to bring enough food back for the entirety of our cave population.

Am I going to need to create a gate every morning when I feel this power overfilling its container? Sure, the container was enlarging, and it was much easier to keep under control today as compared to yesterday, but I still had to open a gate today. What’s more, the number of goblins that came in from the gates I open seemed to grow. I had 26 goblins join me yesterday. Only in one day, that number increased by 11. If this number keeps increasing, I am not sure how I am going to manage securing food and shelter for everyone. This was one of the reasons why I assigned so many goblins to toolmaking.

I started to wonder what was behind the gates. Where were these goblins coming from exactly? Why were always a large group of members coming in from my gates rather than one or two? Why did only goblins come out? Were goblins the only species I can bring from behind that gate? I had so many questions, many of which I brought up when talking to different goblins I summoned today and yesterday. But they were unable to answer any of them.

“Murder, I don’t remember.”

They seemed to not know what was behind the gate or where they came from. They did not have answers for any of the questions I had for them. The only thing each one of them kept repeating after I asked my questions were that they did not remember. Their memories seemed to start from the point where they came into this world through my gate.

Also, was creating a gate the only way of letting go of this power? This power… magic. That is what I heard some of the goblins whisper in awe as I created the gate before their eyes. They were perplexed. Maybe I am a mage. Who knows?

Towards the end of the day when the sun started setting, all hunting groups came back. Apparently, their eyesight was not much better than mine, making it extremely difficult for them to collect food in a dangerous forest after sunset. The groups that came back brought some rabbits and berries, as well as some random leaves and fruits. No deer today – I see. We can still use the meat from yesterday’s catch.

The toolmaker group worked hard the entire day as well. They made some primitive spears and axes, which I will hopefully make some goblins use tomorrow for logging around the cave. Having given myself the privilege o sleep whenever I want and with whichever group I want, I went to sleep in the cave illuminated by dim torch lights. The feeling, magic, once again started raging. I closed my eyes to the cave room echoing in silence.