Full Moon Monsters


Chapter 4: The Beginning of Wisdom; the First Pages of a Hero pt.2


Deep within the Palace

After a length of running, Rouhan and Mia had reached a big massive door. It looked big and black, with markings like scratch marks made with fingernails. On the only two windows, bars were made in place to prevent breaking in. However, Rouhan looked at the lock and saw it was being locked by a giant padlock of sorts. The keyhole was big enough for something like say, a uni-rabbit's horn to fit right in. He drew out his uni-rabbit horn sword, and held it up, ready to strike. And then suddenly, he charged at it full blast with a strike to the center. It was so powerful that it busted the lock and sent the pieces to the floor scattered, as the door inched open without the lock to hold it in place.

Mia blinked in shock and amazement at that show of strength, and looked to Rouhan, "Rouhan? How did you do that?"

Rouhan shrugged, "Not sure. Guess all that hunting and what we've been doing's paying off."

The two entered into the room, as they looked around, seeing nothing but darkness. But as they went in further, shapes and a little light started to take in effect. Night vision, one of the best features for a goblin to have. As their eyes finally adjusted, what they saw shook them to the core. Lined up at the wall, barred cells were twisted and crafted from sheet metal spikes. And in the cages, Podlings and Mystiks were all in them.

As they went down further, seeing the cages stretch down, Mia was the one to ask, "What is this place?"

"This is where the Szekis keep us during the night."

The two looked and saw a cell room that was big enough as a horse pen, holding many Mystiks. Rouhan walked over to the cells, as he asked, "The Szekis… this isn't their home. Is it?"

One of the Mystiks nodded, "Yes."

Mia, now concerned and curious, asked, "What happened?"

One of the Mystiks walked up to them. But this one was different from the rest of them. He was older, larger, and wore more pristine robes to show his age and wisdom. His white hair nearly covering his face, adorned his head like a silver white crown of sorts. And his eyes glowed bright white, with no signs of irises or pupils. He stopped in front of them, as he explained, "I am Lazzor. The Eldest and Wisest of the Mystiks."

Rouhan bowed his head, a customary he learned from his mother, and asked, "Oh great and powerful Lazzor…" And then looked up to him, "What's going on with your people and the Szekis?"

"Countless moons ago, this was a thriving sanctuary for our people," Lazzor explained. "We had achieved a culture not based on technology or conquest. But more of knowledge and exploration of the Arts of Magic. Some would call it… Paradise. Our people were prosperous." Rouhan looked around, and saw the smiles of the Mystiks remembering those days, but then they grimaced and became serious, like how a person would be when they described a bad dream after they had it.

"But then… they came."

"A pestilence that swept over our valley like a dark flood," Lazzor continued, as the memories flooded back to him and his people. "The Szekis were upon us. We tried to fight back using our magic, but we were no match for their underlings. The Podlings were already under their power, using the power of an artifact that they had called the Dark Crystal. With it, they poisoned the lands we live in, bringing about their reign of ruin, and locking our powers for their own personal gain. For decades, they have abused this land, and if they are not stopped. I fear that our people will fade from history. Forever."

Mia in turn felt sorry for them, but she knew better. Goblins had to look out for themselves, and now, they had to worry about the clan. She didn't want to leave the Mystiks like this, but there was no alternative. And she knew that Rouhan was smarter than that too, and knew that he would say…

"How do we stop them," Rouhan asked. Mia looked at him in surprise at this, but kept quiet as she turned to look to Lazzor for any information.

"The Dark Crystal: it is the source of their power, and their means to control their minions," Lazzor explained. "Without it, they are merely reptilian birds without an army to give them strength."

"Where do they keep it," Rouhan asked.

"In the center of the Temple," Lazzor explained. "The Sun and Moon's lights always shine to illuminate the room. Now, they use it to power the Dark Crystal and themselves with its energies to stay off Death."

Rouhan nodded, as the young goblin sheathed his weapons, "We'll do it." And then ran off, taking Mia with you, as the Mystiks silently prayed for their victory.

Lazzor closed his eyes, as he opened them, showing Rouhan's silhouette in them, "The hero of Gaiseric has finally begun the first chapter… of becoming a warrior. And a hero to all his and other kinds."


Down the Hall

Rouhan and Mia were hauling as fast as they could, but Mia was able to talk to him, "Rouhan, I don't understand. Why do you want to help them? I thought survival was something important for us."

"It is," Rouhan explained, still looking ahead. "But I won't let innocent or the helpless/powerless be bullied like this." He then cleared his throat, not crying to act all cool on it, "And besides, the Szekis Emperor was asking a whole lot of questions about our clan and where we live. I have a feeling that their next target is us for enslavement."

Mia blinked at that, "Oh."

But Rouhan looked serious, "But all in all, I don't like what the Szekis have done here. And I'm not gonna let them have their way."

Mia was stunned to say the least with Rouhan's selflessness, "Rouhan…" But suddenly, she was pushed to the wall, as Rouhan pinned her there, and was close to her, nearly six inches. She blushed at such an advancement, as she nearly stuttered, "R-Rouhan?"

"Shsssh," Rouhan politely hushed her. "Szekis."

Both were silent, as two of them, the Chamberlain and the General, were leading a few of the Garatins following suit. And being escorted by them were Kichi, Shino, and Seiji… all chained up and taken prisoner.

"Why are you doing this," Shino demanded for answers. "I thought we were welcomed here as guests!"

"SILENCE, GOBLIN WORMS," the General snarled out, as they continued to make their way to wherever they were going. "By the time we're finished here, you will tell us everything about your clan: how many members there are, the strategic location, everything!"

"Be happy that you live as our slaves to help in the cause of the Szekis," the Chamberlain whimpered with a smirk.

As they were being escorted to their cells, Mia slowly pulled out her sling staff. But Rouhan stopped her, as she looked at him confused, "Rouhan?"

"Let's follow them first," Rouhan explained. "We follow them, and hopefully we'll find out where they're taking them. Possibly near this Dark Crystal. Once we find it, we free the others and then we destroy the crystal. Once that happens…"

"Then the Mystiks would be free to use their magic," Mia finished, figuring out the whole plan.

The two then silently followed suit, keeping to the shadows as best they could.


Later On

Main Cathedral

The cathedral was a large oval-shaped room, with triangular openings up on the roof of the place. Pillars and platform-like balconies were all around the room. An opening in the floor with hot soot from lava beneath the place billowed out, with an eerie red glow from down below. Kichi, Seiji, and Shino were led into the room, and then chained to the floor. But the trio of goblins saw that they weren't alone. For there were also a few frisky Podlings chained around the circle, but also something else.

Chained across from where the Goblins were at, were five goblins much like them. The only difference was that they had brownish orange skin than their green skin. They all had the bodies of physically fit ten year olds, with the girls having short patches of hair on their heads much like the green goblin girls, and the boys were bald too, and were also naked as well. They currently showed not to have the skill or the experience they themselves had possessed, and lacked the weapons to boot.

The middle one was a female, with short black hair and golden eyes, obviously the leader. On her left was a stupid-looking male much like Kichi and next to him was a scrawny male who fought hard to try and break himself from the chains. On her right was a female goblin with black hair, fighting at the chains as well, and another female with a blindfold on her face, looking afraid as her body was shivering with fright.

Peeking out from a corner, Rouhan and Mia looked to see the scene play before them. But at the moment, what lowered into the chamber in the center of the group of the goblins and the Podlings, was the most awaited thing the Szekis were waiting patiently for. It was a massive crystal no bigger than two goblins on top of the other, and illuminated a dark purple aura, as the crystal itself was dark purple. This… was the Dark Crystal that Lazzor had told them about.

Mia gazed at the crystal, as she deduced, "I take it that's the crystal the Mystiks talked about?"

Rouhan nodded, "Yeah, but I wonder what they're doing with the others here? It'd be pretty risky to have them there just to break loose and shatter it."

Mia thought about it too, and knew that Shino and Kichi were powerful in their own way, as she asked aloud, "Yeah, what are they doing?"

The scientist Szekis drew one of the Podlings closer to the crystal, as he hissed, "You'll be the first for today, little podling." The Podling whimpered, crying out in its unknown native tongue, as the scientist chained him in place, "This won't hurt. In fact, once it's over, you won't feel anything: physically and emotionally. Then you can be the same as the other Podlings here: a slave." He looked to one of the more zombified Podlings, as he ordered, "Ready the reflectors and position them."

The slave reached on the wall, and pulled a lever. As that happened, mirrors started to position themselves, as they prepared to reflect the light of the crystal to him. As this was happening, Rouhan had already devised a plan, as he looked to Mia, "Mia. Can you get up to the 2nd level and position yourself to take head shots?"

She looked up there, seeing that the Garatins weren't in place up there. Although they were, they were more on the curled up position of sleeping or in some kind of waiting. She looked to Rouhan, and nodded, "Yeah, so long as the Garatins don't wake up to see me."

"Okay," Rouhan nodded, as he explained. "I'll keep them busy down here and free the others. You cover us from up there. While you do that, we'll try to break the crystal."

"Okay," Mia nodded, and then ran to the other end of the entrance without being spotted, and making her way towards the stair level.

Rouhan looked behind him, and then paled, as a Garatin was heading towards his direction. He pulled out his uni-rabbit sword, and growled, as he charged in. Meanwhile, back in the crystal chamber, the sun was coming into position in the openings above the roof. Once they did, the light hit the crystal, causing it to bean out lights all over the room. Once that happened, they hit the mirrors, which bounced back and forth, as they struck the little struggling Podling, as it shined light into the Podling's eyes. The Podling seemed to stop, as it just stared in a zombified state.

The doctor Szekis chuckled, as he explained, "Hehehehe, the reflector will capture the beams of the Dark Crystal itself as long as the sunlight shines in position. Now feel it, young Podling. Feel the power of the Dark Crystal."

As the Podling did, without hesitation or struggle, the light seemed to change the little Podling. His eyes became milky and lifeless. His body seemed to shrivel into a husk of sorts, as he appeared more skin and bones than a lively person. His skin became gray and almost colorless, as if all life was being sucked out of him. Then his hair turned white and limp, falling out as it left him bald. In truth, whatever was happening to him, it was almost all the light was being drained out of him.

All the Goblins looked at this in worry, but only Seiji asked, "What the heck are you doing to him?"

"Nothing harmful," the Doctor chimed, as the reflectors were moving out of position, as he looked to the young podling. The other zombified Podlings walked over and removed the restraints, letting their new follower free, as he slunked to them, a shadow of his former self, as the doctor explained, "All his fears, his thoughts, his vital essence, have all been erased and stored within the Dark Crystal. He is now a loyal servant to the Szekis as well as to the Dark Crystal."

He turned to the Goblins, an evil smile spreading across his face, as Shino gulped, "Why are you looking at us like that?"

"In truth, we never tested the process on any other creatures aside from Podlings. Mystiks are far more powerful than they were, but not powerful enough to fight against such a concentration of power," the Szekis scientist chuckled, "So I am interested in seeing what would happen if we tested the power on a Goblin…" and then pointed at the orange goblins, "Much less Oni Goblins." He then looked at them, as he taunted, "But which one should I use it on? The dumb males… the speedy males… or I should test it on one of the weaker females?"

GAAAAAAAAARGH!

The roar of a Garatin caught all their attention, as they looked to the other side of the room. There, staggering, with the top part of its main claw weapon torn off, with a uni-rabbit horn stuck in it. It staggered a little, until finally collapsed at the Chamberlain's feet, as he cawked out, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! What is going on?!"

At that answer, a bloodied Rouhan stepped out from the darkness and into the light, as he was shown for all to see. It turns out the bleeding wasn't from Rouhan, as the blood was purple. A Garatin's blood. And in his hands was the handle he had used for his uni-horn sword. But now, in place of the horn was the missing upper claw of the Garatin, making it more of a buster sword for the goblin.

The Chamberlain freaked out as he saw the blood-soaked goblin, pointing to him, "It's their leader! He's gone mad!"

The General bellowed out, "GARATINS! ATTACK!"

Rouhan held his sword up in place, as the Garatins were charging at him. However, rocks were thrown hard and fast at their legs, causing them to falter over. Rouhan looked up as he saw Mia hard at work with her job, slinging rocks at the enemy. Before the General and the others made a move, Rouhan charged at them. He used the downed Garatin to jump up like rocks in a river, and leapt at the Scientist Szekis, who looked at in fright as Rouhan held up the Garatin sword. However, he passed the scientist, and landed behind him, slashing down.

The scientist, for a moment of fear, finally chuckled hap-heartedly, as he turned around, as he gloated, "Foolish goblin! You mi…!" but he stopped and paled at what Rouhan had done.

His intended target was never the scientist. It was the chains that held both his friends and the orange-looking goblins. Now freed, both parties cracked their knuckles and necks, as Rouhan smirked evilly, "Who's up for some payback?"

"You know I am," Kichi smirked, as he cracked his knuckles.

"CHARGE!" Rouhan shouted, as both parties charged at work.

Shino and the eye-covered orange goblin brawled out, tearing the Garatin legs off and used them for close-range daggers on those that didn't attack. Seiji and the battle-crazed female orange goblin used fast attacks to get at the legs of the remaining Garatin group they fought, causing them to buckle over as Seiji stabbed their eyes with his claws; his female counterpart did the same as well, but rather ate them out, along with tearing open their throats. Kichi and the orange goblin counterpart charged, beating the downed ones that Shino and Seiji had downed, using torn off claws as clubs to beat them to death.

The doors burst open as a pair of snarling Garatins charged in, cruel spiked swords clasped in their hands, and loose scale like armor covering their chests. They howled a horse throaty call as one pointed his sword at the ensuing chaos and through the doorway poured a brood of Podlings scurrying and hurrying with blank slack jawed stares descending on the goblins and slaves with a slow haphazard charge.

The guards though wasted no time and marched ahead of their slaves, descending on the Goblins with ruthless abandon. Their greater size allowing them to carve a way ahead for the reinforcements as the Podlings descended on their saviors. Soon the larger of the two bought their sword slashing down onto Shino, the metal splitting flesh and severing the makeshift limb-like knife she had formed. The second strike cutting the pointed ear of eye covered accomplice in one fluid moment.

Shino rolled onto the floor, clutching at the gaping wound stretching from her shoulder to her chest, dull red green blood leaking across the floor. The eye patched Goblin dived at the larger attacker and tried to pounce on him, but was soon drowned in a sea of Podlings, who snatched and clawed at her with all their might, forcing her back towards the others.

Seiji was quick to dodge the seconds guards attacks, but the blows from his claw made club did little to the huge beast, as the blows bounced off the scale like metal. The brute of a Garatin laughed, smacking him with the back of his hand and sending the poor goblin flying into his angry orange partner. He charged past however diving for the Chamberlin, grabbing him by the wrist and hauling him to the exit.

"Your excellency we need to get you out of here," he cried as he booted back a charging orange Goblin, only for the creature to wrap itself around his leg, clawing at the exposed flesh above the knee.

"No!" the Emperor screamed, as he pointed to the goblins, "Kill them! Kill them all!"

Rouhan just finished stabbing his Garatin, while the lead orange she-goblin pulled off one of the claws to imitate him. Ignoring the flattery of imitation from her, Rouhan looked at the crystal, as he looked to her, "Hey, what's your name?"

The she-goblin didn't ignore him, but kept her back turned to him, as she said in an annoyed tone, "Sayako. And what do you want, Goblin?"

Ignoring the annoyance in her voice, Rouhan pointed to the giant crystal in the center of the room, "If we both want to get out of here, we need to destroy that crystal. And by 'we' I mean both our parties."

Sayako looked at the massive floating dark crystal, and knew what to strike, as she smirked evilly, "Sounds good to me." And charged right at it, with Rouhan following after her.

The Chamberlain looked at the scene before them, and then spotted Rouhan and the she-goblin heading towards the crystal. Panic filled his eyes, and emanated from his voice, as he screamed out, "AAAAAAAAAAAH! THEY'RE HEADED FOR THE CRYSTAL!" He looked to the Podlings and Garatins, as he screamed, "Protect the Crystal at all costs! AAAAAAAAAAAH!"

His Garatin guard peeled off, drop kicking the Goblin on his leg into the air and onto the second level, charging into Rouhan and sending him crashing into a pillar. Rouhan rolled to the left, and then to the right as the Garatin guard swiped down at him, missing him by inches, before Rouhan raised his Unirabbit sword only for it to thrown out of his hand with a single powerful blow, the blade rolling across the floor and into the ensuing melee. He then felt the boot of the guard on his chest, pushing him against the pillar as he swung his sword back.

And just then Rouhan felt his blood run cold, struggling as his attacker thrust down, the Goblin seeing more Garatin and Podlings pouring into the hall from all angles. Yet as the final blow came Sayako jumped onto his back, using her hands to cover his eyes, forcing the strike off to the side and deep into the ground inches from where Rouhan lay. Now flailing around like made the Garatin danced about, swinging wildly as the Orange Goblin swung on for dear life, punching him the face when she could.

Suddenly, more stones were being pummeled right at the Garatin that Sayako was blinding. Mia was still attacking head on, as she managed to stop, and look at Rouhan, "Break the crystal, Rouhan! Go!"

Rouhan nodded, as he looked up at the accursed geode. In front of it, Podlings and Garatin were coming at him, but he ran towards them. With strength he didn't know he had possessed now, he leapt up, and landed on two of the Podlings heads, jumping from one to another, as he leapt up at the Garatins. He managed to grab one, using his hands to blind his eyes, as it flailed around with its sword and huge claw. The flailing creature knocked down its brothers and kicked away any Podlings swarming it, as he managed to get to the crystal. Once he was close, he hopped on to it, using his hands and his feet to crawl up to the top.

As he did so, he looked around, seeing the sight before him. Kichi had managed to use his club to batter the Garatin that attacked Shino, and cradled her bleeding form. Seiji and the other orange she-goblin were struggling as Podlings were swarming them like ants would do to a kill. And then he heard a small scream, as he looked up, seeing the General hold Mia off the ground, with one hand on her neck with a dagger in the other.

"If any of you try to harm the crystal this runt dies," he roared over the party, his eyes darting now down at the Goblins who had stopped mid fight to stare up at him, as he held Mia three feet off the ground.

Taken by shock Rouhan felt something else grab him by the neck and he was hauled from the crystal, a firm molted hand around his throat. Now lifted till he was face to face with the Emperor, the creature spat at him as he then took Rouhan and rammed him face first into the ground. "Pathetic creature," he roared with absolute fury, his fist flying back and forth as he rammed the Goblin into the ground. "You thought you could defeat me! ME! I am a avatar of the Crystal, a chosen amongst the filth of this world!"

In his rage he continued with this as the general grew distracted by his lords antics, smiling as Mia struggled now against his grip.

The Emperor though after numerous beatings lifted bruised Goblin until he was at eye level with him. "You're a waste of life! Filth upon my robes and a stain upon the glory of the crystal! You are rats, and compared to you I AM A DEMIGOD!"

"Oh really?" Rouhan managed to croak as he nodded to the crystal, a single clawed scratch made into its immaculate surface.

The Emperors scream was deafening as he dropped his prey and ran to the crystal in terror, running his hands along the tiniest scratch, falling to his knees almost in prayer and denial at its now flawed dark beauty.

While the Emperor was in serious denial about what one goblin had done, Rouhan bit the Emperor's hand, taking a good clean chunk. The Szekis rule screamed as he held his gushing wound, letting Rouhan go in the process. The little goblin saw his chance, as he ran to the crystal once again, with everyone looking at the situation. He then grabbed the bottom… and then took a big bite out of it, taking an apple-sized chunk.

The Chamberlain cawed out, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The crystal suddenly started cracking, veins glowing and pulsating as they continued to crack further up the crystal. It suddenly hummed louder and louder with all the cracking, until finally, the light shined brighter and hummed louder. Suddenly, the crystal exploded, lighting up the room with the intensity of the first dawn of light. The energies washed over the temple, pushing everyone back, while Rouhan crashed a few feet from the blast radius. The General was thrown off from above, causing Mia to fall right on top of Rouhan's stomach, knocking the wind out of him as well as swallow the fragment, while she was safe and sound, falling flat chest to chest on him. The Podlings were affected most by it, as the energies that swiped in a blast wave washed over them, and in a result, returned them back to normal. Finally, the light died down, as shattered bits of the crystal were strewn about. The Dark Crystal… was no more.

All around Garatin were falling to their knees while a few began to flee out of the room in terror, some wept, others howled and one began to hit himself out of frustration. For the general he just stared in slack jawed horror, while the Chamberlin bawled his eyes out across the floor. The emperor just lay on the ground, knocked prone by the explosion, his decadent robes burned and signed by the blast, his eyes dead and glazed as he murmured to himself in a stupor.

Still things were not quiet for long. The remaining Goblins who were still up were quick to back off as they saw the Podlings coming to. The small creatures were dazed, but were no longer dead and misty, clearing as the color returned to them slowly. Indeed their movements seems more fluid and less formless as they rubbed and even helped one another to their feet - but it was the shrieks of anger that showed they were back to normal.

The small bloated creatures began to yell, their high pitched and welching voices squelching like demented creatures as they pointed at the Garatin who had stayed. They began to gather around the sorry monsters pushing the larger brutes back and around, their anger swelling as more and more began to come back to their senses. And soon the cries of anger turned into a full-fledged riot.

Podlings leapt onto Garatin, scratching and throwing stones, many of the soldiers began to run, while the Chamberlain began to shriek in protest for them to return. "No stand and fight your sorry excuse for warrior, stand and - " He shrieked in shock as three Podlings jumped into his chest and sent him clattering to the ground, the small round beasts now crawling all over him, pulling and clawing at him in a furious rage that grew more clear as the demented cries of defiance turned to horrified pleas for mercy as they began to tear the chamberlain apart.

The Goblins in the room cheered the little creatures on, the green and orange fists raised in a mutual cheer of triumph, a few Goblins leaping on the fleeing soldiers and wrestling them down for Podlings to swarm over as well.

Rouhan and Mia both got up, a little smoky from his mouth. But Mia hugged him, as she cried, "Rouhan! You're alright!"

Though he coughed up a puff of smoke, as he groaned, "Singed… but triumphed."

However, he took notice that Sayako and her troupe were running out of there. He sighed, "Well, I guess we're free. That's all that matters."

Suddenly, a bright light erupted into the room, as the Szekis were running scared, but froze up, as something kept them from leaving. The Mystics from before, once imprisoned and powerless, were hovering in place, glowing brightly, as they looked at the bewildered Szekis and their Garatin.

Lazzor, leading the front, glared at them angrily, as he commanded, "Leave our valley and our peoples alone. And live in the wastelands you created."

His eyes glowed brightly, as their magic soon awoke. The Garatin were shattered, revealing themselves to be empty and hollow, merely brought to life by the dark magic that once floated in their former temple. And the Szekis glowed bright, as the Chamberlain screamed out his whimpers, until finally in a flash… they disappeared. The Mystics returned to the floor as they wobbled over to Rouhan and his friends, as the Podlings cheered their unlikely champions.

Kichi blinked as he still held on to Shino, whose wounds had mysteriously healed leaving only a scar going from her right shoulder to the right side of her chest, going down midway to her nonexistent breast below it and stopping where her ribcage ended. He looked at her and was happy, "Shino! Your wound! It's healed!"

Shino looked at her wound, and was amazed by it, "Yeah." But then she realized she was in Kichi's arms and blushed, "Uh, could you put me down please?"

Kichi blinked, as he gently put her back on her feet, which was an odd thing, since Kichi wasn't known for a gentle giant.

As for the Emperor, he just lay there on the stone floor, unmoving and alive, as he stared about watching his kingdom crumble into dust. All he could mutter was one thing, "How? How could a mere goblin defeat our mighty Dark Crystal? With merely taking a bite out of it?"

"You lost the moment you brought the chosen champion of Gaiseric amongst your people," Lazzor spoke, as he hobbled over to Rouhan and Mia. "Even the Szekis should have known better than to defeat the chosen reincarnation of the Skull King God."

That little tidbit of info had rung around the room in silent. Rouhan looked away, not wanting to answer that question, even as his friends turned to look at him with questions on their minds. But Mia was burning with all questions, as she looked in confusion at the goblin boy she stood side-by-side with.


Later On

After the Emperor had been banished like the others, albeit he was still in a stupor zombified state, the Mystiks had held a celebration with their Goblin heroes. Even the Podlings seemed eager and friendly towards the goblins, as Mia and Shino were cooing on how cute the Podlings were around them. But now would have been the time to say goodbye, as the Mystiks would try to rebuild their home again and restore the forest around them into a lush forest instead of a barren wasteland eye of the forest storm. But they would not let their goblin saviors go empty handed. The five stood before the Mystiks, as each one was gifted with a rather spectacular, albeit human-sized gift.

Shino was the first, as one of the Mystiks gave forth a lovely battle hammer with a pick-axe back. The hammer was nearly four times her size and girth, but the Mystiks put a spell on it that would enable her to lift it when she was strong enough to lift it up herself. The hammer was brown but embroiled with orange and topaz materials, the handle was orange with a brown handle leather parts, with the tip having a topaz gem embedded into it.

"This is the Warhammer of Gia: a weapon and a tool for those in tuned with the Earth," a scientific-looking Mystik explained, as Shino's eyes sparkled as she marveled at the hammer she was given. "Use it well in battle, and allow the Earth to shift and mold under your strength, Shino."

It was Seiji's turn, as he was given a green hooded cloak with silver patterns resembling vines. "This is the Cloak of Typhoon. Sewn into it are the spirits of Wind itself. They will enable you to run faster and jump higher than anyone who you come across," the Mystik explained as Seiji graciously accepted it. "Always be kind to them and ask for their help; they will listen if you ask."

Kichi's gift was a mighty double bladed crescent moon axe that looked too big for him to wield. The inside was red with yellow claw markings pointing outward with the silver blade. The handle was silver and red, but mostly red, as it was designed to be held by two hands, but in reality, only to be weld by one hand. "This is the Demon Fame Axe. Forged by Hephaestus and given to the Minotaurs," the Mystiks explained, as Kichi took the axe but nearly faltered. "The Flames will cut and burn only by its user's emotional state. Wield it well, Kichi."

It was a quiet dignity that Rouhan and Mia were called forward, their footsteps gently crossing the quiet hall as the eyes of the podlings, Oni and fellow Goblins rested upon them. The Mystiks were all swelling with pride as the two stepped up to the front of the grand hall, Lazzor standing before them in new resplendent robes as he beamed down at them both.

Two Podlings walked over to Mia, carrying with them a beautifully crafted bow. It was white with blue elvish designs on it, with the string almost glowing like silver, and on the ends of the bow, as well as the front were pincer-shaped silver daggers. "The bow of Legoilas. Forged by the Dark Elves and baptized by the Wood Elves, this bow carries with it the strength and magic of those that have wielded it before others," Lazzor explained, as Mia joyfully took the bow. "For someone whose aim is true, we gift this to you, Lady Mia."

Rouhan looked to Lazzor as the final gift was given to him, covered and wrapped in a cloth. When Rouhan took it, he unfurled it to get a better look, and was confused to say the least. It looked like an old cleaver sword, forged completely black, but with three cracks leading to a gap in the blade. "This was Ragnarok: the sword that was once wielded by Gaiseric himself before his ascend to Godhood."

Rouhan looked confused, as he stated the state of the blade, "But… it's broken."

"Not forever, Rouhan," Lazzor replied, giving assurance to the little goblin before him. "Once you understand your own magic, and learn to use it… I believe in time you will not only discover a way to reforge the sword, but to use it to unlock your true potential when you have knowledge of it."

Rouhan lifted the blade up with some difficulty, the blade, like the rest of the gifts being made for a person too large for someone of their size to really gain any worth out of it. But for Rouhan his eyes would narrow as he ran his palm along the dull black and dented edges and held out the blade as if that would reveal its secrets to him. But no answers came.

"Do not worry child," the Mystik said with warmth in every word. "Few heroes know their path, fewer still know they are treading it, but I am sure with time you will find your way."

"Yeah really interesting," he called haughtily as the group turned around to face their friends. "But why the heck is the deal? All of these things too big?" He pointed up to the cloak he was now wearing, its hem trailing along the ground behind him, the actual hood covering his eyes and face as it almost drowned him in its cloth.

Indeed all the tools were a tad too large, with Shino falling backwards as she tried to lift the hammer over her head to test it out, while Kichi's began to try and haul the oversized axe behind himself as he tried to pick up the axe that was almost as big as he was.

Lazzor managed a small chuckle, but his eyes darted away from the cross half hidden stare of Seiji and quietly muttered, "You'll grow into them."

Rouhan blinked for a moment, and then smiled, as he nodded, "Thank you."

"These are mere gifts to help you on the trail. We are still forever grateful to you all, to your deeds done today," Lazzor said, with an elderly smile, as he looked to them all. "If you are in ever need of a home, you can come here to stay, or we can help find a home more suitable to your adjustments and understanding."

Rouhan bowed, "Thank you."


Next Chapter: Reason to Grow Strong; Befriending Allies and Foreseeable Futures