"Night is falling; we should stop for now," Goblin Slayer suggested as he sat by the witch hunter's side.
"Indeed," Saltzpyre agreed as he began reigning in the mare that pulled their cart.
It had been over half a day since they had departed from Frontier town, and though they were only a relatively short while away from their destination, it would've been unwise to engage the goblins at night; the greenskins would be fully alert, and they themselves were tired. Not to mention, if the horde had been under capable leadership, they would likely have patrols and defenses set up.
"We shall set up camp then," the witch hunter announced as the horse-drawn cart slowed to a stop.
"Well, you heard him, darlings, up and out," Sienna said as she exited the cart, helping Priestess down as well.
"Thank you," the clerical girl said as she stepped to the ground.
"Finally," High-Elf Archer said as she leapt off the cart and began stretching. "I can't stand sitting for so long."
"What's the matter Long-Ears?" Dwarf Shaman asked tauntingly. "Don't have the patience for it?"
"Hardly, I just don't like the feeling of my legs falling asleep," the elf countered. "But I guess you wouldn't get that; you barely have legs to begin with."
"Why you-" the dwarf began.
"Enough of your bickering," Lizard Priest interrupted as he worked alongside the rest of the group in unloading their supplies. "We must prepare ourselves before it gets any darker."
With their quarreling ceased, the dwarf and elf joined in on the effort; after a few minutes, they had most of the camp set up.
"Camp time again, eh?" Dwarf remarked as he set the logs in the firepit, recalling his experience with the trio that had previously accompanied his party. "Should be fun; just let me get this thing alight."
"Aqshy!"
Before the dwarf could pull out his tinder box, Sienna snapped her fingers, shooting a small bullet of flame into the kindling of the campfire.
"Let there be light," Sienna remarked with a smirk as the fire grew to its full size soon after, illuminating the group's campsite. "Much better than matches, wouldn't you agree?"
"Hmm?" Dwarf Shaman said curiously, his eyes going to and from the wizard and her fire. "How did you manage to do that?"
"Just a little bit of magic, darling," Sienna replied.
"No, I understand that," the dwarf replied, having experience in wielding magic himself. "But that word isn't the one for a fire."
"Oh?" Sienna responded curiously; if what the dwarf was saying was true, the language of Magick differed here compared to what the colleges had taught her, or at least what she remembered of their teachings. "Not sure how to tell you this, darling, but it is where I'm from."
"Fair enough, I suppose," Dwarf Shaman responded. There were always things one didn't know, and he supposed this was one of them for him.
With the fire lit, the group began to fully settle in.
"So, are we going to do 'stone soup' again?" High-Elf Archer asked curiously, looking at their four new companions.
"Stone soup?" Goblin Slayer said questioningly.
"Um..." Priestess began as she looked at rocks that lined the fire pit. "Is that really a good idea?"
"Hehe, don't worry about it, darlings," Sienna snickered, noticing the girl and armored adventurer's confusion. "They're not talking about eating rocks; at least I don't think they are."
"Of course not," the elf responded. "It's this thing your friend told us about, the one where we all share our food."
"The sergeant, you mean?" Saltzpyre asked.
"I believe the man referred to himself as a 'captain'," Lizard Priest corrected.
"That is not his official title," the witch hunter countered. "Though I suppose by now he has earned it many times over."
"So, who's going first?" High-Elf Archer said anticipatingly.
"I was the last to do so before," Lizard Priest stated as he began cutting chunks out of a slab of meat and skewering them onto wooden sticks. "It would only be appropriate that I offer first now."
"Starting off with something hearty, I see," Dwarf Shaman commented approvingly as he accepted a skewer and placed it over the fire, fondly remembering the last time he'd sampled the meat.
"Ooh, that smells nice," Sienna commented, appreciating the aroma of the meat's seasoning. "What is it?"
"It is the meat of a swamp creature," the lizardman replied.
"A swamp creature?" Priestess said uneasily.
"It sounds a bit strange, but it's pretty good," Dwarf Shaman added as he offered a skewer. "Trust me."
"I'll take your word for it," Sienna said as she accepted the dwarf's offer, bringing the skewer close before opening her mouth.
"Wait, you should-" Dwarf Shaman began warning; though he knew raw meat was a delicacy in some places, it was dangerous to consume without proper preparation.
"Aqshy," Sienna said as the skewer burst into flames before suddenly dissipating, revealing a cooked skewer of meat in her hand.
"Oh, never mind," the dwarf finished.
"Must you use your magic so flippantly, Wizard?" Saltzpyre said scoldingly.
"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss, I can control it," Sienna reassured as she took a bite of the meat. "Mmm. This is really good, by the way, you should have some," she said as she held the skewer out for the witch hunter.
Saltzpyre let out a sigh before biting onto a chunk of meat, pulling it off the skewer before chewing; she was right, it had an exotic, gamey flavor, one that started somewhat bitter but turned savory soon after. Whatever spices Lizard Priest had used had given the meat a flavorful crust that synergized well with its natural taste.
"It is a fine provision," the witch hunter stated, putting up a mask of indifference. "Your contribution is appreciated, Master Saurus."
Goblin Slayer followed suit, taking a bite from his skewer that had just finished cooking on the fire; chewing wordlessly.
"Oh, it really is good," Priestess said as she sampled her share of the meat. "I'll go next."
The girl filled a pot with water from her waterskin along with some dried beans before setting it near the fire, stirring every few moments before it began to simmer.
"This is a soup I learned to make from my temple," the girl said as she ladled the liquid into bowls. "It's not much but-"
"I'll take some!" High-Elf Archer said enthusiastically, quickly taking the offer of a food that didn't include meat. As she sampled the broth, she registered its flavor; it was a mild, earthy taste, but one that was highly appreciated by her acute senses. "Ah, what a fine flavor."
"Do not be ashamed of a humble contribution," Saltzpyre advised commandingly as he took a bowl for himself before drinking its contents.
"He's right, darling," Sienna said reassuringly as she took a sip from her bowl. "It's nice to have something simple now and again."
"It's not bad," Goblin Slayer added, consuming his share by the spoonful.
"Oh, thank you," Priestess responded, blushing slightly from the praise.
"Well, it's only right if I share this with you," High-Elf Archer said as she withdrew a leaf-wrapped package. Pulling apart the cover revealed a set of biscuits. "Go on, take one."
Priestess examined the biscuits before picking one up, putting it to her mouth, and biting.
"Oh!" The girl said in surprise at the pleasant flavor of the treat. "It's delicious. It tastes so sweet and nutty."
"Well, now I have to try one for myself," Sienna said as she took a biscuit as well, taking a bite out of it and chewing slowly to savor its taste. "This is a real fine treat, add a little salt and it'd be perfect."
"Salt?" High-Elf Archer said confusedly.
"A little pinch of it enhances the taste of sweet things," the wizard replied as she took out a small pouch of salt, adding a pinch of it to her biscuit before offering it to the two girls. "Try it."
Priestess and High-Elf Archer complied, each salting their biscuit before taking another bite.
"Woah," the elf said surprised. Despite the seeming contradiction in flavor, the salt did indeed make the already sweet biscuit even sweeter.
"Wow, it is sweeter!" Priestess said, sharing the elf's sentiment.
"Told you," Sienna said as she finished hers.
"Ah! I can't be outdone by some elf and her treats!" Dwarf Shaman said as he popped the lid off of a ceramic container, filling the air with the smell of alcohol. "One of you, take a taste of this Fire Wine!"
"I'll have to refuse, Master Dwarf," Saltzpyre stated.
"Same here," Sienna agreed. "Fire and alcohol don't mix too well, get's a bit explosive."
"I don't really think it'd be good for me, sorry," Priestess declined politely.
"What about you, Beard-Cutter?" The dwarf said, looking at Goblin Slayer. "Surely you'll take it up."
"I don't think I will," the armored adventurer responded.
"Ha! Looks like none of them want your stinking wine," High-Elf Archer said gloatingly, still remembering how she was taunted into sampling the alcohol.
"Bah, I can't believe I got stuck with a bunch of lightweights," Dwarf Shaman said frustratedly. "Even your elf friend took a shot."
"You mean Ker-" Sienna began saying.
Just then, Saltzpyre snatched the wooden dipper from the dwarf, drinking down the entire shot of alcohol.
"It is not that strong of drink," the witch hunter said with a facade as he handed back the dipper; he would not be outdone by the likes of 'her'.
"Oh, so you can drink," Dwarf Shaman said amusedly as he accepted the dipper back.
"I will try some," Goblin Slayer stated.
"I knew you had it in you, Beard-Cutter," the dwarf said as he filled the dipper with Fire Wine and handed it to the adventurer, who began drinking its contents.
"You should not do everything as I do, Master Goblin Slayer," Saltzpyre advised, his words slightly slurred as the alcohol began taking effect.
"I see," Goblin Slayer responded as he finished drinking his shot, handing the dipper back to Dwarf Shaman.
"Well, two drinkers here, eh?" The shaman said as he refilled the dipper, looking at Sienna. "What about you, Fire-Head? Wanna make it three?"
"No, I'm still passing on it," Sienna said, looking at Priestess. "Someone has to set a good example."
"Are you implying something, Wizard?" Saltzpyre questioned.
"Hm? Me? No, I think you're just hearing things, darling," Sienna responded.
"I see," the witch hunter stated groggily. "Carry on then."
"How strong is that stuff?" Sienna asked, noticing its potent effect on her companion.
"Nothing he shouldn't be able to handle," the dwarf replied. "After all, your dwarf friend and the Hat-Man said it was good."
"Oh," the wizard said, realizing that the drink had to have been at least four times as potent as any plain ale.
"We must not set a poor example, Master Goblin Slayer," the witch hunter said slurredly. "We must share our fair portion as well."
"I see," the adventurer replied as he withdrew and unwrapped a circular parcel. "Will this do?"
"Wait, is that... cheese?" Lizard Priest said with curious anticipation.
"It is," Goblin Slayer replied flatly.
"It looks so different," the lizardman observed aloud, comparing it to the red cheese the Mercenary Captain had shared.
"Well, there are many different kinds of cheese, Scaly," Dwarf Shaman explained. "All with their own unique flavors."
"Hand it over, I'll cut it," High-Elf Archer offered, pulling out an obsidian knife.
"Quickly!" Lizard Priest said excitedly, as the elf began dividing the wheel into wedges, placing them onto skewers and roasting them before handing one to each group member.
"Oh!" Lizard Priest exclaimed as he tasted the cheese, his tail thumping against the ground mirthfully; while the one he had sampled previously was more savory and textured, this one was more sweet and smooth, but it was just as good. "Nectar! Sweet Nectar! So different, but it's unmistakable, nectar!"
"Goes well with the wine," Dwarf Shaman added. "A fine cheese indeed."
"It's really fragrant and delicious," Priestess remarked, looking at Goblin Slayer. "Is it from the farm?"
"Yes," the adventurer replied.
"Sharing a taste of home with us, darling?" Sienna asked with a smile. "I guess I can as-"
"Hold on, Wizard," Saltzpyre interrupted clumsily, taking out a jar from his belongings. "I must set a good example."
"Alright, darling, go for it," Sienna conceded, amused by the witch hunter's drunkenness.
Saltzpyre opened the jar before pouring its contents into the now-empty soup pot, filling it with a viscous, milk-like semi-liquid.
"Yogurt?" The wizard said curiously, the substance reminding her of the dairy product she'd once sampled during her time in Tilea.
"Quark," the witch hunter corrected. "It is a highly sustaining and nutritious provision; I developed a fondness for it over my adolescence, the chapter I had been sent to train under tended to a herd of sheep; sweet things, they were. Though, this one was made from old milk that the Adventurers Guild kitchen had intended to dispose of."
"Wait, this smell," Lizard Priest said as he sniffed the pot's contents. "This is cheese as well?"
"Well, I guess they do taste similar," Sienna answered.
Lizard Priest quickly filled his bowl with the quark before putting a spoonful into his mouth; his expression immediately turned to one of bliss. It indeed tasted like cheese, yet it felt completely different from the ones he had before; it was slightly sour and very creamy.
"It's quite refreshing," High-Elf Archer commented as she savored a spoonful of quark.
"It's really good!" Priestess said, happily eating her share.
"It's okay," Goblin Slayer added, sampling from his bowl.
"Hmm, I think this might just work," Sienna thought aloud, as she tasted the yogurt-like treat, before taking out a small, rectangular, parchment-wrapped object. "Have any of you ever had chocolate?"
"Chocolate?" Priestess repeated curiously.
"It's quite an exotic treat, darling," the wizard said as she unwrapped the object, revealing a dark brown brick with a pleasant scent.
"Wait, I am familiar with that smell," Lizard Priest spoke up. "It's cacao."
"Cacao? What's that?" High-Elf Archer asked.
"Go on, Scaly, tell us about it!" Dwarf Shaman encouraged.
"It is an ingredient used for a delicacy consumed by my people," the lizardman explained. "But I have never seen it in that form before."
"Well, darling, I'll tell you right now, you've never had chocolate like this," Sienna said as she cracked a portion of the chocolate brick off and tossed it into the pot of quark.
"Wizard, you have tainted my good example with your chalk-, chocaley- chockill-" Saltzpyre stammered out.
"Chocolate," Priestess corrected.
"Yes, thank you, girl," the witch hunter said appreciatively.
"Oh, quit whining, you narcissistic nag, it's fine," Sienna said as she stirred the pot while heating its contents to a simmer, its once viscous white turning into a more liquidy brown. She ladled the substance into a bowl before offering it to the witch hunter. "Here, try some."
"Indeed, I should check to see if it is safe for the others to consume, lest you are up to your trickery," Saltzpyre agreed as he sipped the bowl's contents. "If this is, in fact, poison, it at least has a pleasant taste."
"Well, you heard him; try it out!" Sienna encouraged as she took her own bowl and began drinking.
"OOH!" Lizard Priest exclaimed joyfully as he quickly finished his bowl; the addition of the chocolate added a hint of bitterness with a savory and sweet aftertaste to the creamy dairy product. "You were correct, I've never consumed cacao in such an amazing manner!"
"It's like a dessert," Priestess commented. "We don't get many sweets at the temple."
"I have to say, from all my travels to sample the world's cuisine, this has to be one of the best," Dwarf Shaman remarked.
"Yeah it's-" High-Elf Archer began to say before being interrupted by a cough. "It's-"
"Is something-" Priestess tried to ask before having a coughing fit as well.
"Hm- " Goblin Slayer hummed before letting out a little cough.
"Huh, I think I've got a little bit of a burning feeling in my throat," Dwarf Shaman remarked.
"Is that so?" Lizard Priest said as he downed another bowl of chocolate quark, seemingly unaffected.
"Wizard, what was in that bar?" Saltzpyre asked urgently, feeling a growing heat as well.
"It's just cooked cacao," Sienna answered defensively. "And some honey, cinnamon, salt, coffee, Lustrian fire pepper powder... oh."
"Someone- get the- water!" High-Elf archer struggled to say between coughs.
Lizard Priest obliged the elf's request, handing her a waterskin.
"Wait, you don't want to do that!" Sienna warned.
The wizard's warning came too late, as High-Elf Archer began drinking, only to immediately spit the water out when the burning sensation intensified.
"Ahh," Priestess said as she ate a spoonful of plain quark, finally relieving the burning sensation.
"You see darlings, water just moves the spiciness around," Sienna explained. "You need something like milk to absorb it."
"That would've been nice to know," High Elf Archer said as she ate her share of the plain quark.
"Y'know Long-Ears, this is the second camp time in a row that you've drank something you couldn't handle," Dwarf Shaman said amusedly, looking at the elf. "Wonder if it'll become a trend."
"Oh, and you could handle it just fine?" the archer asked accusingly, pointing at the bowl of plain quark in the dwarf's hand. "You're trying to wash down the taste as well!"
"What, this?" Dwarf Shaman said goadingly, holding up the bowl. "You're mistaken, I just wanted a second helping of the stuff. Like Scaly over here," he stated, pointing a thumb at Lizard Priest.
"Mmm," the lizardman hummed as he savored the spoonful of dairy in his mouth, his tail thumping behind him gleefully.
"Wizard, I would suggest that you refrain from sharing any more of your eccentric 'treats' in the future," Saltzpyre stated as he eyed the two now-empty jars in his bag. He had expected them to last much longer.
"Oh please, darling, it's not like anything serious happened," Sienna replied dismissively. "After all, you and Goblin Slayer managed to tough it out."
"It was tolerable," the armored adventurer replied. "I'm feeling more alert now."
"Now that you mention it, you two don't seem as drunk as before," Sienna observed. "I guess the spice sobered you up."
"I suppose that is the case," the witch hunter said ponderingly, thinking of the heavy drinkers of his usual group. "On second thought, perhaps you should prepare more of these 'treats'. I suspect Goreksson and Kruber will be much more indulgent in their drinking now that supply isn't so much an issue."
"Ha! Who do you think you're kidding, darling?" the wizard asked, letting out a laugh at the idea. "It might work on Markus, but I doubt it'll do anything for Bardin. Haven't you seen what he already eats?"
"You already know that I, unfortunately, have," Saltzpyre replied.
"Hmm," Goblin Slayer hummed as he observed the interactions of his party members. This was a new experience for him. For a long time, he had only ever felt the warmth of companionship with Cow Girl and her uncle. He never expected to feel the same warmth amongst other people.
Just then, the armored adventurer heard the faint sound of rustling grass to his side. Turning around, he saw a crawling High Elf Archer staring at his opened bag.
"Is that?" the elf said curiously as she reached out her hand to a rolled-up scroll.
"Don't touch that," Goblin Slayer said firmly, causing the archer to go still.
"I was just looking," High Elf Archer said defensively as she backed away from the adventurer's bag.
"Don't look either," the adventurer added. "It's dangerous."
"Wait, is that a magic scroll?" Sienna asked. Using her witchsight, she could see traces of magical energy emanating from the parchment, an indicator of the spell inscribed within. "Well, that's unexpected."
"So it is one," High Elf Archer remarked, looking at the scroll. "I've never seen something so rare."
"I only know of such things from tales," Lizard Priest added. "Some contain ancient magics now lost to us, and they are simple enough that even a child could use them."
"Aye," Dwarf Shaman affirmed. "But it only lasts one spell before it's gone. You have to think carefully about how you'll use it."
"I won't look, but just tell me what spell it is!" High Elf Archer demanded curiously.
"No," Goblin Slayer refused. "If you were captured, you might tell the goblins about it."
"Hah! It's no use Long-Ears, he's more stubborn than I am!" Dwarf Shaman remarked, watching the pair bicker.
Sienna took note of the others' comments about the scroll; some of them didn't line up with what she knew. While magic scrolls were rare, they weren't exceedingly so. She had on occasion assisted her teachers in the creation of scrolls during her time at the College of Fire, and the spells they inscribed certainly weren't 'lost' to them. They were also not 'easy to use'. Sure, one only needed to unroll it and read out the incantation, but even such an act required at least basic knowledge of the language of Magick unless said scroll included phonetic transliterations of their contents.
Though she, admittedly, wasn't the best of students, Sienna was sure that the others were mistaken. Then again, from all that she sensed, and now heard, this land's magic seemed to operate differently from how she was used to. Perhaps they weren't as off as she thought.
As the wizard stewed in her thoughts, she realized that someone who should've been vocal about such a reveal had remained silent throughout.
"You don't seem so surprised about all of this," Sienna said quietly to the witch hunter at her side, curious of the reason behind such an anomaly.
"I already knew of the matter," Saltzpyre whispered flatly.
"And you didn't think I should know?" the wizard questioned, confused by her companion's refusal to share such information.
"Surely, you must have sensed it before," the witch hunter responded.
"Well, you're not wrong, but I just assumed it was some kind of enchanted trinket like that ring he wears," Sienna replied. "But that's besides the point, you should've told me about it. For all you know, that scroll could've had something nasty like chaos magic."
"You would have informed me if you sensed such corruptions," the witch hunter answered. "The fact that you didn't, confirmed what I had assumed."
"Alright, whatever," Sienna said relentingly before placing a hand on her chin in thought. "So, what's our next move?"
"What exactly are you referring to?" the witch hunter questioned, raising a brow at his companion.
"Figuring out what spell is in that scroll," the wizard answered. "I've got a feeling I can read it, we just have to get a hold of it. You're pretty sneaky, maybe you could snatch it from his bag while he's sleeping and-"
"That will not be happening," Saltzpyre replied flatly. "And it is unnecessary, I already know of the scroll's spell."
"Really?" Sienna said, surprised. "What is it then?"
"It is not my place to say," Saltzpyre replied. "If you wish to know, you will have to ask Master Goblin Slayer yourself. He will decide if he wishes to share such information with you."
The wizard glanced at the armored adventurer, then back at the witch hunter, realizing what had happened.
"Wait, he told you about it?" Sienna asked.
"That is correct," Saltzpyre answered.
"And he wants you to keep it a secret," the wizard continued.
"Indeed," the witch hunter confirmed. "And I intend to keep that promise."
"Oh, a promise?" Sienna repeated, an amused grin growing on her face.
"Is something humorous, wizard?" Saltzpyre questioned, giving his companion a look of suspicion.
"No, no, it's nothing," Sienna said insistently, failing to stifle a giggle. "It's just... adorable."
"What?" the witch hunter responded, his expression turning to one of confusion.
"It reminds me of my juvenile years back at the college," the wizard continued. "Used to be pretty close with a junior; sweet girl loved gossiping and sharing secrets."
"Juvenile? Gossip!?" Saltzpyre repeated irritatedly.
"Oh, do you two share gossip with each other too?" Sienna questioned enthusiastically.
The witch hunter looked at his companion with an expression of annoyance; clearly, he did not appreciate the wizard's comparison. As he was about to rant at Sienna, he suddenly stopped, letting out a sigh as his expression turned neutral.
"I know of your trickery, wizard," Saltzpyre stated flatly. "You are attempting to goad me into revealing information. But it will not succeed."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me, darling," Sienna replied. "I would never try to get in the way of your friendship."
"And stop trivializing our partnership, wizard," the witch hunter ordered sternly. "I will have you know that we have been officially made mentor and apprentice as of this morning."
"What made it official?" Sienna asked.
"I enacted the rite of initiation with the offer of a pendant bearing a symbol of Sigmar, to which Master Goblin Slayer accepted," Saltzpyre answered.
"You gave him a friendship charm?" the wizard questioned, her amused grin growing wider.
"A what?" the witch hunter asked confusedly.
"It's a thing that's really popular among little girls," Sienna explained. "Usually it's with bracelets, but necklaces are common too."
Once again, Saltzpyre's expression turned to one of frustration at his companion.
"This discussion is over, wizard," the witch hunter said conclusively through gritted teeth as he got up from his seat.
"Over? We barely started, darling," Sienna replied with a laugh.
"It has been a long journey," Saltzpyre announced to the group, ignoring the wizard's comment. "We should begin resting for the night. I shall take the first watch."
As the witch hunter finished speaking, he looked expectantly towards Goblin Slayer.
"I will too," the armored adventurer volunteered.
With the order of watch duty decided, the group retired for the night, changing shifts throughout their rests until morning.
After a night of respite, the group continued on their way, riding in the horse-drawn cart to their destination.
"So, what made you all want to be adventurers?" High-Elf Archer asked curiously. "I became one because I wanted to see more of the world."
"Well, Long-Ears, I did it to sample great cuisine throughout the land," Dwarf Shaman answered. "So far, it's worked out quite well if I do say so myself."
"I, for one, wished to root out heresy and earn stature so that I may become a naga," Lizard Priest replied.
"That sounds a bit familiar," Sienna said as she looked at the witch hunter.
"I can understand that," Priestess added. "My reason is religious too; I made a promise to the Earth Mother that I'd help protect the innocent."
"They are noble causes; I am much the same," Saltzpyre stated as he remained looking ahead, his hands holding the reins. "The motive which drives my work is to seek and purge those who wish to bring about our destruction."
"I just couldn't take the boredom of college anymore," Sienna answered. "After I learned all the essentials, I left and never looked back, though I still brush up on my books from time to time."
"I wanted to kill-" Goblin Slayer began.
"Goblins?" High-Elf Archer finished.
"Yes," the adventurer responded.
"Speaking of the goblins, there is a matter that I am curious about," Lizard Priest began. "Where do they come from? My forefathers spoke of a kingdom beneath the Earth."
"'When someone fails at something, a goblin is born'," Priestess added. "But that's just a story used to scare children into behaving."
"Really? Better watch out for Long-Ears then!" Dwarf Shaman remarked. "She'll create a whole army on her own."
"Hey!" The elf said annoyedly. "You better get ready to eat those words; I won't miss a single shot today!"
"They come from the moon, the green one," Goblin Slayer answered. "Or so I've heard."
"Hmm, the opposite of my people's stories," Lizard Priest said amusedly.
"There is no grass, or trees, or water there, only stone; it is a lonely place," the adventurer continued. "They yearn for more; that is why they come here."
"I've never heard that story before," Priestess remarked.
"My older sister told it to me," Goblin Slayer replied. "I don't believe she was ever wrong about anything."
"You have a sister?" The clerical girl asked curiously.
"Had," Goblin Slayer corrected solemnly.
"There may be some truth to that tale," Saltzpyre added supportively; though the creatures were of a fungal nature, where they actually came from was still a question left unanswered, and the light of Morrslieb tended to bring about sinister happenings, at least in his time. "The greenskins seem to enjoy the iconography of the green moon; perhaps it is an indication of their origin."
The witch hunter turned his head back, his good eye looking directly at the armored adventurer.
"However, the way I see things, the origin of the greenskins is mostly a subject of intellectual speculation," Saltzpyre stated, changing the subject. "What matters practically is that we understand how they persist and the methods needed to eradicate them."
"That's true," the armored adventurer said, his voice giving off a subtle hint of relief and appreciation at the old man's words.
"Wait, stop!" High Elf Archer said as she noticed a marking on a tree. "Make a turn here."
The witch hunter complied, driving the cart down a much rougher path into the woods; as they neared the end of the treeline, they finally had a view of the ruins.
"Stay quiet until we return, Sergeant," the witch hunter whispered to the mare as he got off the cart, offering an apple to the horse before drawing his spyglass to get a better look at the ruins. "Two guards and a wolf among them."
"Well, Long-Ears, time to make good on your word," Dwarf Shaman said as he and the rest of the group exited the cart as well.
"Watch and learn," High-Elf Archer responded as she got into her stance, readying her shot.
"Remember not to miss," the dwarf whispered.
"Shush it, you," the elf scolded as she let loose her shot.
The arrow flew far away to the side, seemingly completely missing its mark.
"What happened to not missing a single shot?" The dwarf said bewilderedly. "You went wide!"
"Wait, I got a feeling about this," Sienna said, following the arrow's movements with anticipation.
The arrow abruptly curved in its trajectory, piercing through the eyes of one of the goblin guards and striking a direct hit on the other's head. The wolf was about to howl in warning, but was cut off by another arrow that drove deep into its neck; the beast only managed to let out a few struggled gurgles as it suffocated on its own blood.
"Amazing," Priestess remarked.
"So, what was that about me missing?" The elf said goadingly.
"Impressive; did you use some kind of magic?" Lizard Priest asked.
"It sure looked like magic to me!" Dwarf Shaman accused.
"Sorry, darlings, I didn't catch anything magical about that shot," Sienna corrected.
"What?" The dwarf said surprisedly.
"Any sufficiently advanced skill is indistinguishable from magic," the elf stated.
"Believe it or not, our elf can do the same," the wizard added. "But with three arrows at a time."
"Th-three!?" The archer said in awe; the only other person she could imagine performing such a feat was her sister.
"Not sure how I feel about that," the dwarf grumbled.
"Let's go," Goblin Slayer stated as he took the lead and began advancing on the ruins.
"Onwards, to glory," Saltzpyre announced as he and the rest of the group followed suit.
As they arrived at the entrance of the ruins, Goblin Slayer examined the corpses of the goblin guards.
"Two," the adventurer counted, before driving his knife into the abdomen of one of the corpses and cutting it open.
"Wha- what are you doing!?" High-Elf Archer shouted in shock at the adventurer's barbarity. "I get they're our enemies, but-"
"Goblins have an excellent sense of smell," Goblin Slayer stated as he soaked a large rag with the goblin's bodily fluids. "Especially for women and elves."
"What?" The elf said before realizing the adventurer's intentions. "N-no way! Somebody stop him!"
"You get used to it," Priestess stated with an understanding look.
"Just cover your nose if you start to feel like puking," Sienna advised.
The elf held a worried expression as Goblin Slayer approached her with the rag.
"Hold a moment, Master Goblin Slayer," Saltzpyre interrupted. "What you are doing is improper."
"Finally, someone with some sense," High-Elf Archer said with relief.
"You have ruptured the greenskin's stomach and intestine," the witch hunter pointed out, pulling out the goblin's organs for the adventurer to see. "Its acids and fecal matter have likely mixed in with the fluids the rag absorbed."
"Is that so?" The adventurer asked, listening intently.
"To avoid this, you must first carefully disembowel it," Saltzpyre stated as he withdrew a flensing knife and began skillfully dissecting the goblin to demonstrate, quickly removing the intestines and stomach from the corpse. "Now we have abundant access to its fluids with less risk of disease and damage to our equipment."
"I see," Goblin Slayer said as he began soaking a new rag in the 'cleanly' dissected goblin.
"Huh?" The elf said confusedly as her relief turned into despair.
"Well, they're the experts on the matter," Dwarf Shaman commented. "Best do as they say."
"It is an effective hunting tactic to disguise one's scent," Lizard Priest added.
"Indeed," the witch hunter agreed as he finished soaking his own rag before whipping himself with it across his body and limbs in a motion that Sienna recognized from the occasions when he would flagellate himself. Upon finishing, and being thoroughly covered in blood, he resoaked the rag and offered it to the dwarf and lizardman. "You two as well, quickly now."
"Wait, what?" Dwarf Shaman said confusedly.
"Many thanks," Lizard Priest responded appreciatively as he rubbed the bloody rag on himself.
At that moment, Dwarf Shaman shared High-Elf Archer's expression as the latter let out a cry in protest.
"Oi, drengbarazi, did you hear something?" Bardin asked as he and his companions walked along the road, having recently purged another goblin den less than an hour before.
"Nope, not really," Kruber replied. "You sure you don't have something in your ear?"
"Hopefully not, it'd be a right pain to clean out," the dwarf responded.
"You heard it too, dwarf?" Kerillian asked. "A distant screaming?"
"Aye," Bardin answered. "Sounded like it came from ahead."
Not taking any chances, the group rushed down the path, the sound of screaming grew louder as they went further, eventually reaching its source. A merchant cart was being attacked by a horde of greenskins, one that was on the verge of overwhelming the guards.
"Alright, mates, you know the drill," Kruber said as he readied his sword and shield, charging into the fray. "Weapons up! Fight like it's payday!"
"Of course, Azumgi," the dwarf said as he followed suit, hammer and pistol in hand.
"Mayfly brains, always wandering off," Kerillian scoffed as she drew her bow and began picking off targets.
Thus another battle against the forces of destruction was added to the tally of the Ubersreik Five… or three.