Chapter 16: The Second Destined Child

“Impossible! Could he be…” Grunt exclaimed.

Lillin nodded. “Probably.”

The two rushed towards the young Gremlin and checked if he’s alright. The villagers, on the other hand, were all confused but started to return to the village.

“Leo!” a beautiful female Gremlin ran towards Leo. It was his mother.

“He seems to be completely exhausted but he should be fine,” assured Grunt.

The female Gremlin hugged her child and carried him slowly to their house. Lillin and Grunt followed. The rest of the villagers went to mourn for their loved ones who have fallen to the hands of the raiders.

“Good afternoon, Madam, can we stay here as well?” asked Grunt. “We would like to ask a few things from your son once he has recovered.”

“I am Loreen. What are you going to ask? Maybe I can answer them for him,” the mother replied.

Lillin and Grunt looked at each other, then Grunt spoke, “I’m sure you’ve seen what your child did to save your village. We believe that your son is one of the destined children who can control one of the four elements.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Loreen said. “The story of the destined children is just a legend. Nobody believes it.”

“Please believe us! One of our companions is a destined child. He can control the element of ice, an ability that has been long forgotten,” explained Lillin.

Loreen looked at her son. Finally she said, “Who are you? Why should I believe your stories?”

Grunt answered, “I am Grunt, one of the generals of the Cyclops. I am travelling with Lillin and a fellow named Chris who is one of the destined children. I was asked by our village chief to protect Chris and find the other destined children who are prophesied to save Uld…”

“Please I don’t want to hear any more!” the woman interrupted. “I just lost my husband and my son is trying his best to recover. I don’t want to hear any make-believe lore of the past.”

“I just lost my village, my friends, my comrades, and the village chief…” Grunt sadly recounted.

“What happened?” asked the female Gremlin.

Lillin responded, “Just like Steeltop, his village was also raided by the Discordians. However, unlike your village which was saved by your son, Ishrock was completely destroyed. The village chief used a spell that killed all the raiders, but also burned the village and its residents in the process.”

“I… I can’t believe it!” the mother gasped.

“It is true,” Grunt said. “The prophecy is happening and we need your son to help us protect everyone from the attack of the Discordians. Our village has already fallen and yours barely managed to carry on. We need the aid of the destined children to protect the other villages!”

“I don’t know what kind of destiny awaits my son, but I don’t want to lose him, not after losing my husband…” Loreen started to cry.

Lillin hugged Loreen. “We will do our best to protect him. Grunt and I are not one of the destined children but we have a firm resolve to protect what has been entrusted to us. Please believe in us, and more importantly, believe in your son. He is destined to protect Uld.”

Chapter 11: The Final Command

On the way back to Ishrock, the group of adventurers noticed black smoke coming again from the direction of the village. They all hurried back, although they couldn’t travel very fast because Chris is still very weak and exhausted from the last encounter.

“Lillin, you take care of Chris and follow,” Grunt said. “I have to hurry back! I have to know what’s happening to my village!”

Lillin nodded. “I understand. Hurry now! May nature’s blessing be with you.”

Grunt hurried to his village while Lillin slowly walked with Chris. The battle seems to be very intense as the war cry and gunshots echo across Dustwind Valley.

“Hold your ground mighty Cyclops! Smite anyone who dares stain our village!” shouted one of the Cylcops captains.

Ishrock is being overrun by a much larger number of yetis and ice wolves. Casualties were minimal during the previous battle, but this one is different. Bodies of dead Cyclops lay alongside several of the killed raiders. When Grunt finally reached the village, he went straight to the village chief. He saw the village chief, preparing a scroll that contains sealed spells.

Grunt exclaimed, “The Scroll of Volcanic Embers! Chief, you can’t possibly be…”

“Yes I am,” the Chief interrupted. “The Discordians are wreaking havoc all over Uld. It is only a matter of time before our village is overrun.”

“No! We will protect this village!”

Gorlon sighed, “Brave warrior, it is inevitable. I have kept this scroll for this very moment. This moment when all villages will be attacked by the Discordians, and only a few brave souls will be able to suppress it.”

Grunt shook his head. “I don’t understand!”

“How was your journey with the human? Is my intuition correct?” Gorlon asked.

“Yes. Chris was able to manipulate the element of ice, but he doesn’t know yet how to use it properly.” Grunt replied.

Gorlon smiled. “I see. Chris, is indeed a destined child. According to the legends, four heroes will emerge, each controlling one of the four elements. Even the three elements, long-forgotten by many generations, will be revived. They will be the ones who will save Uld from the Discordians.”

Grunt remained silent. He couldn’t understand what the Chief was trying to tell.

“Where are your companions? Leave the village and go with them. Your task is to guide the destined child so that he’ll grow strong.” Gorlon ordered. “In your adventures, you may find the other three destined children who will save Uld. Promise me this, valiant warrior.”

“I understand,” Grunt replied.

Gorlon continued, “Go now! Meet with your new friends and be strong! The fires from this scroll will put a scar in the face of Uld that will never be forgotten. It will also mark the start of the four heroes’ destinies.”

Grunt ran back towards the direction of his companions. He slew the ice wolves and yetis that blocked his way. It was a sad moment for him to leave the chief and his village, knowing the fiery outbreak that will spell their demise. But the brave warrior moved forward, carrying with him his Chief’s last command.

Chapter 4: Fight For Answers

“How dare you! Chief, you want me to crush the skull of this human?” exclaimed the Cyclops warrior.

“No. Let him speak,” says Gorlon. Turning to Chris, he politely said, “I am prepared to answer all your questions, but this is not the time for it. As you can see, the village is currently under attack.”

“I have no concern about the safety of this village. But if that’s what it takes to get answers from you, then I’ll gladly kill a thousand goblins,” Chris remarked.

Chris joined the other Cyclops warriors in the field to battle the endless wave of goblins and yetis. He swung his sword in rapid succession and killed the enemies, one after another.

“It can’t be!” exclaimed Gorlon.

“What is it?” asked the Cyclops warrior.

Gorlon humbly requested, “Grunt, could you help the human in the battlefield and observe if there is something peculiar with his sword?”

“Ok.”

Grunt, once again, fought side by side with Chris. It was a tiresome battle and the hope for the arrival of reinforcements seemed to be lying in the horizon. Grunt carefully observed Chris, but did not notice anything unusual. Chris, on the other hand, continued the slaughter, as if fueled by tremendous rage.

“Watch out, human!” Grunt shouted.

A grass goblin suddenly jumped over a yeti positioned at Chris’ blind spot, but it missed its target. It was already dead when it hit the ground. It was bleeding, and the mark was readily noticed by Chris. Running towards them was Lillin.

“Will you ever learn how to calm down? Rage will only result to your own demise,” said Lillin. “I am not always here to watch your back.”

“Heh. I will never learn to calm down as long as I know that you’re still watching my back,” Chris replied. “Thank you for saving me yet again.”

“My debt to you will always remain. I will always protect you until my last breath.” Lillin said with conviction.

Grunt interrupted the conversation, “You two save the chitchat for later. We have a village to protect and a thousand goblins to slay.”

At a distance, came a shout that gave life to the raided village. Reinforcements have finally arrived!

Chapter 3: The Meeting

“Lillin, hurry!”

The terrifying roar of the war drums thundered more and more as the two adventurers neared the Mountain of Icepeaks.

“Look out!” exclaimed Lillin and shot the wolf that was running towards her companion.

Surprised, Chris let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. Let’s proceed with caution.”

Chris and Lillin breezed through the fertile lands of Elderwood, and killed any creature that threatened their lives. After a few moments of nonstop running, they reached the foot of the mountain. Black smoke tarnished the supposed clear sky.

“The village chief! We have to talk to him before it’s too late!” Chris dashed towards the village at full speed.

“Stay calm! The village is surrounded by the Yetis and the Grass Goblins! Ugh… he’s always so reckless,” Lillin followed cautiously.

The Cyclops are holding the raiders at bay, but the grass goblins continue to come from all directions. Goblins and Yetis are being slain from left to right, but reinforcements keep on coming.

“Where are they all coming from? Why are they here?” asked a Cyclops warrior.

The village chief shrugged his shoulders. “We do not know their intentions, but we must hold until the humans arrive.”

Coming from the south, a familiar form emerged. It was Chris, angrily slaughtering the grass goblins.

“Reinforcements?” exclaimed the Cyclops.

“No. It looks like he’s alone. Who is he?” asked the village chief.

The Cyclops went towards the human. Fighting alongside each other, they defeated the small group of grass goblins in the area. The two conversed and walked straight to the village chief.

“Are you the village chief?” asked Chris.

“Yes. I am Gorlon, the village chief of Ishrock,” was the calm reply.

“Then you have a lot to answer from me!” Chris said angrily.

Chapter 2: From Green to Blue

The rustling of dried leaves echoed throughout Elderwood as the two ventured the forest. It was certainly a pleasant sight to behold. Gigantic trees stood tall with branches opened wide as if welcoming the adventurers. Everything was green and brown. The growth of the forest hasn’t been disturbed for many years, and the Satyrs have done well to preserve it.

“Ah… there really isn’t a place in Uld that is more vibrant than Elderwood!” exclaimed Lillin.

Chris, on the other hand, continued walking as if he didn’t hear anything so the two proceeded. Elderwood is vast and it’s easy to get lost with one misstep. It was only because of Lillin that Chris can easily go in and out of the forest.

“Chris, don’t you like this forest too?” asked Lillin.

Annoyed by the question, Chris looked at Lillin. “We are not here to sightsee!” said Chris. “Besides, I’m not a lover of forests. Anything that easily burns is a thing of weakness.”

Taken aback, Lillin let out a deep sigh. It is one thing for a Satyr to be yelled at, but it’s another thing for someone to disgrace their most beloved place. But Lillin knew Chris well enough. She took everything in, and proceeded silently.

As they get deeper and deeper into the forest, Lillin heard a vicious howl from a distance. Almost immediately, Chris took out his sword and killed a snake that swept through the ground and jumped behind Lillin.

“What’s wrong? All the animals in this place don’t normally attack people, especially a Satyr…” Lillin was lost in thought and was very confused.

“This is not the time to think about it! Pull out your gun! We are completely surrounded!” exclaimed Chris.

Finally, Lillin was able to gather courage. “I’m sorry my beloved forest. I have to take the life of some of your children, in order to preserve mine and my companion.”

The wolves attacked ferociously, but Chris made quick work of them. Lillin fired three bullets with her sturdy rifle, and they pierced through the wild bear leading the pack.

Letting out a sigh, Lillin mumbled, “No! What happened to this sacred place that the Satyrs have protected for so long?”

“Things are getting worst. We have to know what’s happening. Let’s hurry to the Mountain of Icepeaks!” Chris said with great resolve.

As soon as they started walking, a loud explosion was heard from the direction of the Mountain of Icepeaks. Surprised, the two sped up and ran towards their destination.

Chapter 1: Chris

“Run!!!”

The terrified screams of the villagers rang across the fiery sky as the fire goblins raided the once peaceful town of Seren. Bodies of defenseless humans fell one by one, and the ground was painted red with blood and fire.

“Stay here! Don’t come out no matter what happens,” says a bearded man.

“No! I’m scared. Don’t leave me here, Father!” the voice of the child was barely heard.

Wielding his iron sword and shield, the man calmly said, “I will be alright. It is my duty to protect our town. The Cyclops will come to our aid so you need not worry.”

The man departed the house. The young child anxiously waited for the arrival of his honorable father. Minutes passed and the screaming and wailing slowly faded. Then, there was silence.

“Father?” the child whispered.

He slowly crawled out of the cupboard. Shaking, but with great determination, he peeked through their battered door. Outside lies the bodies of villagers, soaked in their own blood. The stench of burnt flesh and blood seeped through the tiny holes of the door. Terrified, the boy let out a gasp. It was then when he saw five fire goblins, gathered around a seemingly familiar form. It was the corpse of his father, with his sword still pierced through the heart of the goblin’s leader. The other goblins are desecrating the corpse as if in grieve retaliation.

Filled with anger, the boy dashed outside and charged towards the goblins. Startled, the goblins prepared to attack, but the boy suddenly collapsed when hit by something from behind.

“Father… no…” were the final words of the boy.

__________________

“It’s that dream again,” says Chris as he slowly wakes up from his deep slumber.

Lillin, a female Satyr travelling with Chris, noticed that he is awake. “Are you really sure about this quest you are speaking of? You have been dreaming the same dream ever since you ventured outside your village.”

“I have dedicated my whole life to fulfill this mission. The horrors of the day Seren was attacked will never leave me until I extinguish every last fire goblin in Uld!” Chris said to her worried companion. “Petty dreams like this will not stop me from my goal!”

With those words, the two started to pack their bags and headed out to the Mountain of Icepeaks.