Chapter 17: Endless Cold

“Ugh… where am I? Why is it so dark in here?” Chris’ voice echoed in the midst of a vast lightless void.

“Lillin? Grunt? Can anyone here me!?” he shouted. “This is probably just a dream.”

Chris hit himself hard but he did not feel anything.

“I knew it! This is a dream! But why does it feel so real?” Chris was so lost in thought.

A small light emanated from afar, and in a split second, everything became bright. When Chris opened his eyes, he found himself in an icy terrain surrounded by mountains. The ground is covered entirely with snow.

“From total darkness, now I’m in a snow-covered land. What the heck is happening? I still can’t feel a single thing!” Chris remarked to himself, slightly annoyed by what’s happening to him.

Chris started walking to look for a village where he can stay. After a few minutes of walking, dark clouds started to form. Chris knew that a blizzard is coming. He was right. Seconds later, strong winds built up. Temperature is getting lower and lower but Chris’ numb body couldn’t feel it. He found a small opening that looks like a cave and went inside.

For nine days and nine nights, the blizzard didn’t stop. Chris stayed inside the cave, without the feeling of cold, hunger, and thirst. The cold blizzard also blew away Chris’ anger, boredom, and all his emotions. He just lied inside the cave and waited for the blizzard to end.

When Chris woke up the next morning, his body was sore and his stomach was grumbling with so much pain.

“Aaaaarrgghhhhh!!!!!” Chris screamed from the sudden pain that he is feeling.

“So this must be what Grunt was telling me… On the tenth day, I will feel everything that my body should have felt during those nine days…”

Chris became like a madman. He punched the cave walls and banged his head in agony. His screams echoed inside the cave. It is a scream of pain nobody else has endured before.

“Is this the challenge you want, huh!? Lillin, just give me one day and I’ll be able to craft you a beautiful ice crystal.”

His body is shivering nonstop and the pain in his entire body is like a thousand needles piercing repeatedly through his skin. He let out a big, tormented shout and then he collapsed.

Chapter 8: Calming of the Waves

“So before we reach the Cavern of Firefall, we have to pass through Dustwind Valley, right?” Chris asked for confirmation.

Lillin replied, “Yes, which means that we probably need to kill the green goblins first before we reach your real enemy. Let’s proceed silently and keep confrontations at a minimum.”

“Who cares? Green or fire, they’re all goblins and they are all enemies. Let’s kill whichever goblin is on sight,” Chris arrogantly said.

“I’m taking back what I said to you before,” Grunt intervened. “It seems that you did not inherit your father’s courage. You are just plain stupid and arrogant.”

Chris retorted, “Coming from a war-freak Cyclops? You’re just following us so keep out of this conversation.”

Chris continued walking. Lillin briefly talked to Grunt and apologized for Chris’ behavior. They followed him shortly after. While striding through the scorching heat of the valley, the two noticed that Chris is walking very carefully, cautious of his surroundings. Lillin and Grunt looked at each other with a smile.

“Stop!” Chris suddenly but silently exclaimed.

A group of green goblins walked through a narrow passage, and then disappeared from sight. Lillin and Grunt became even more astonished and intrigued, but they went ahead without uttering a single word. After a few hours of careful travelling, the three successfully passed through Dustwind Valley without being seen by the enemy.

“There’s the Cavern of Firefall,” Lillin said.

Chris looked back and gave a smile.

The three travelers carefully entered the cavern. Inside, they saw fire goblins that are busy mining something from the site. Confrontation is inevitable. They rushed towards the goblins and killed as many as they can before the goblins could alert their leader. They pushed deeper and deeper into the cavern until they came upon a huge room.

Waiting for them are several fire goblins, and their leader Purete. The size of their leader is almost ten times the size of a normal fire goblin. Chris, however, is so determined, he didn’t even show a sign of fear.

Chris and Grunt ran towards the horde, while Lillin stayed at the back to support them.

Chapter 7: Moving Forward

Chris and Lillin prepared to set out early the next morning. The sun shone beautifully. The village went back to its calm and peaceful state, as if no battle occurred just the day before.

“Aaaahh… it’s time to leave,” Lillin cheerfully said. “This is such a nice place, but the cold wind is too much for my skin.”

“Yeah…” Chris gave a weak reply.

Lillin felt sorry for Chris and gave him a hug. “It’s going to be alright, Chris.”

“All this time, I believed that the Cyclops abandoned us. My anger for them was just as much as my anger towards the fire goblins,” Chris said. “I can’t believe that I was wrong all along.”

“Where’s the strong-hearted Chris that I knew for a long time?” asked Lillin. “I’m sure the Chris that I know will just charge forward and kill fire goblins instead of thinking about something unnecessary.”

Chris let out a small smile. “Was that a compliment or an insult? Anyway, you’re right. Now I’ll definitely make sure there’s no fire goblin left in Uld before I die!”

Grunt and Gorlon went out of the house and saw Chris and Lillin.

“Leaving already?” asked Grunt.

“Yes. There’s no more reason for us to stay here,” replied Chris.

“I’ll come with you,” Grunt said.

Chris and Lillin were both surprised. Chris then asked, “Why are you coming with us? You don’t even know where we’re going.”

“I don’t have to know where. I just know that you’re going out to kill the fire goblins,” Grunt said. “I’ll help you. That’s what the village chief wants.”

Chris smiled, “If you’re going to help us, then you’re welcome to join. Just make sure you kill more than you eat. Haha.”

“Good luck with your journey, young ones,” Gorlon said. Then, he went to Grunt and said, “Farewell warrior. Remember what I told you last night.”

The three warriors walked towards the west, to follow the rumor about the fire goblin leader’s whereabouts. All of them are aware of the danger that’s coming to them, but they are all walking bravely, each with personal goals in mind.

Chapter 6: Revelations

The yetis and the grass goblins became disorganized after the fall of their leader. They ran at all directions, which made it easy for the humans and Cyclops to kill them one at a time. After a few minutes, the village of Ishrock was devoid of living yeti and goblins. Many of the raiders were able to run, but many have also fallen and will just remain a footnote of this battle’s history.

“Long live the village chief!” shouted the Cyclops. “For Ishrock!”

There was a huge celebration that night. The humans and Cyclops ate and drank to their heart’s content. Amidst the celebration, was a house filled with intense conversation.

“I have helped save the village,” said Chris. “Now you have a lot to answer!”

Gorlon spoke calmly, “What is it young one?”

“The town of Seren!” Chris angrily answered. “Why did the Cyclops forsake our village?”

“So you are Chris, the sole survivor in the town of Seren… The Cyclops did not forsake your village.” said Gorlon.

“We got the request from your town,” Grunt said. “It was I who headed the reinforcement squad and we immediately departed as soon as we got your request. Unfortunately, we were ambushed by a group of fire goblins. They were expecting us to come.”

Chris listened intently.

Grunt continued, “We are a strong race. We annihilated the ambush group, but it was able to delay our arrival.”

“Delay?” Chris retorted. “You didn’t even arrive!”

“You were a small child back then,” said Gorlon. “If our reinforcement didn’t come, you wouldn’t be standing in front of us at this very moment.”

“We are very sorry for what happened to your village. We were too late to save it, but not yet too late to save you. It was I who knocked you unconscious when you tried to attack the fire goblins. Even as a child, you certainly have the courage of your father,” Grunt explained. “My squad quickly dispatched the fire goblins that stayed in your village, then took you to a neighboring town. Your surrogate mother, Elsa, should still remember me.”

After hearing this, Chris slowly stood up and walked outside. Lillin followed him, and they both stared at the night sky.

Gorlon, on the other hand, spoke to Grunt. “He is indeed the descendant of the ancients…”