Once again the maiden comes back to consciousness.

A dream, to all must have been a dream. it felt so real though...  She thinks to herself as she becomes aware of her surroundings. She first noticed that she was on a soft almost pillow like substance, which she mistook as her bed. As she moved her hand over the soft fur of the blanket-

Wait, what?

She slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was in a stone room with small lanterns with burning candles within, giving the room a soft golden glow of light. The furs blankets her hand was touching were soft with wiry hair. While incredibly soft and and warm, it was slightly itchy. She raised one hand to look at, and the other towards one of her ears. What she felt and saw depressed her greatly.

Her hand was small, at least in her perspective, it was skinny and an almost leaf green color. The nails on her hands were long and pointed, almost to the point of being jagged or very small claws. Her ear was as she remembered it when she first had awoken who knows how long ago that was.

This can't be real! She screamed internally, how the fuck does this just happen?! She cursed the world for the reality of her situation. She felt her eyes start to burn with unshed tears. She let out a small sob for herself at what has become of her, and what she had lost.

Why did this happen to me?

But before she could contemplate her predicament, she noticed small movement by the entrance way of the room. There had been no door for any sort of privacy, so she did not even have the luxury of such privilege to weep her life.

Guess I just have to saunter on. Cryings not going to fix things or get anything done. She used the back of her hands to dry her eyes and remove the traces of tears away. she sat up, but noticed to late that she was nude as the blanket fell way. SHIT! She held the blanket up to herself, covering herself as best as she could. 

HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN NAKED?! She tried to recall the last time she was awake, to see if she could remember being clothed. She couldn't sadly. She sighed to herself internally.

I must have been naked that entire time I was in front of those... what were they again? She could not recall if that person Gabo had said what they were. But she remember before blacking out that he had called her a pygmy goblin.  

So I am a goblin now huh? Does that mean they were goblins? Is that what I look like?! Her thoughts swirled in chaos. The movement by the entrance became more visible as a goblin came full into view and came into the room.

It was a female goblin this time. And not as terrifyingly shocking as she had seen when she first woke up. While she wouldn't have thought she was pretty or gorgeous, this goblin was sort of cute with her high cheekbones and brown hair tied back into a ponytail. She had a large mouth, but from what she felt on herself and what she had seen. It seemed that goblins had very disproportionate heads to their bodies, and a large bite radius with sharp rows of teeth.

She stopped half way towards the bed and bowed at the waist. 

"Greetings and good morning O' great one." She said in an enthusiastic voice that rang at a slightly less chipmunk like and more of a tenor or sopranos voice then she herself had. That must be because of the type of goblin I was, I suppose... Not really having a frame of reference, she could only make her best guess at everything that she has learn so far.

"Umm... Good morning..." She said to return the greeting, not wanting to appear rude.

"You honor this one for returning this one's mediocre greeting of awakening." Seems her fears of polite etiquette were unfounded as it seemed as the female goblin was almost delighted by her casual reply to her greeting.

"You... don't really need to be that humble and can just take me saying good morning to you as any other... goblin would?" She ends her sentence in a question, not even knowing if the creature in front of her was a goblin herself.

The females goblins head snaps up, then gasps and then immediately snaps back down to avoid eye contact.

“This one could never! This one would never be presumptuous as to think she is on the level of casual greetings of the great Demon Lord!"

Having noticed a strange pattern to the way she was addressing herself. She couldn't help but ask, "Is that the way goblins refer to one's self? As this one? I remember the one from before said his name was Gabo..."

"Ah! You speak of the elder, yes! He is Gabo. He is one of the few in are clan blessed with a name." The female goblin informs her.

Shocked by this revelation, she couldn't help but blurt out.

"One of the few with a name?! Does that mean that you do not have one, and that is why you call yourself this one?!" She asks the female goblin standing before her.

"Yes, that is so, O' great one. Goblins are not given names at birth or when found. We are given names by the clan's chieftain when we are recognized for our achievements." This new revelation horrified her sensibilities. So she made a snap decision at that moment.

"I can't just call you nothing or just goblin! You need a name!" She exclaimed.

The females head snapped up in shocked horror, waving her hands in front of her like she was trying to stop air from coming towards her. 

"OH NO! You mustn't! This one have done nothing to have earned it!" Apparently the female goblin was under the impression that she couldn't have a name unless she did something worthy. The maiden in the bed waved away her concern with her free hand.

"Nonsense, I can give you a name if I really want to. Heck! you can give yourself a name if you really wanted to, you just have to want it." She said, explaining her reasoning.

But it seemed that the female goblin would not be swayed that easily.

“But this one is unworthy! This one has done nothing of worth for the clan!... and besides, the Chieftain would be very mad if he that this one had a name and used it..." She trailed off, seeming almost depressed by her own words.

The maiden in bed gave her a concerned look, and then had a thought that might help this situation.

"Then this one before me. I have a question."

She stood straight and readied herself. "This one will do all her might to answer the Demon Lord's questions!"

The maiden smiled to herself.

"Then let me ask, who is higher to the rank of the clan. Is it the elder Gabo or you?"

The Female goblin answered immediately.

“The elder Gabo of course! Any goblin who has a name has authority over all other goblins that don't."

Going to have to fix that then, She mused to herself.

"Then tell me, who has more authority over the other goblins, elder Gabo or this so called chieftain?"

Upon hearing the undercurrent slander of her chieftain, the female goblin gave a visible flinch.

Not very good at hiding your emotions, are you? She hesitated for only a second before answering.

“The Chieftain has the highest authority of all the goblins within the clan..." She finished in an almost trailing manner.

Hmm... she is smarter then probably others might give her credit for, if she can read where I am going with this. Let's test this out. Then the maiden asked.

"So then who has more authority in this clan then, I the Demon Lord, Or this clan's would be chieftain?" This time the female goblin gave almost nothing away. But her stiffing posture and twitch of her eye lid revealed everything the maiden needed. Gotcha!

This time, the female goblin hesitated quite a bit. Twitching her hands nervously without speaking for almost five seconds.

"This one would not like to answer if she would be aloud..." Fear having crept into her eyes.

"And why is that?" The maiden asked.

She was fidgeting with her hands before she answered.

"T-This one does not wish to be punished for blasphemy against the the chieftain." Her eyes widened and she continued. "If he learned that this one said anything against him. He would hurt this one to the point of death, then probably feed this one to the others!" She exclaimed to fear.

Appalled by what she just heard, the maiden asked something before she moved on.

“Has he ever done something like that?!"

The female goblin looked back towards the entrance before turning back towards the maiden and answering,

“Yes... Any who have spoken again his verdicts have met their ends... Not many have wished to challenge him. And those who have, he beat to the point where they could not walk... Then he took them to the clan's cook, then made him chop them alive and use them as ingredients for the food that day..."

"..." The maiden had no words. Rather then be appalled, or disgusted, or horrified. She was angry. She doesn't remember the last time she has been this angry. This kind of injustice is unacceptable! She thought to herself, determined to fix this chieftain's policies. But I still had things to do, and a few more questions to ask.

"Then let me ask a few more things: Is it common to for goblins to eat one another?" She had to know... If this was a cultural thing... She wasn't sure what she would do. maybe leave, but she was half a mind to do that anyways. But as it was, She was a goblin now. Without the proper knowledge of this world or customs. She could very well walk to a town and end up dead if she wasn't careful. If the fantasy genre has taught her anything.

The female goblins eyes went wide again. 

“NO!" Then she realized that she had yelled and restrained herself. "Th-this one didn't not mean to shout at you O' great one. This one just meant to say that; no, eating one another is not common. It is in fact a taboo. But this most recent Chieftain rules with an iron fist...." She seemed to go quite for a seconded before continuing. "T-This one does not wish to lie or mislead the Demon Lord. Once in our clan's history, after one of the great wars. When our clan was forced up towards the mountains of Graggoremire. When we were without a ready source of food. The clan was forced to eat are weak at the time... it was a dark time after that war..."

She trailed off and the maiden thought she was done. But then she said.

"This one will say that, your authority is greater then that of the chieftain's." She help up her head and with a determined nod stated her case. 

I like this one- I mean this girl! She corrected herself mentally, so that she did not get into a habit to call her, or any of the goblins, “this one” or “that one”. As determined by their custom.

Speaking of! She thought to ask as it came to mind.

"Has this not having a name thing, been a tradition in the clan long, or just since this chieftain?" Upon hearing the question, she shook her head and Answered.

"No, the clan has only given names to goblins of worth and strength or the elderly." She replied.

"Why the elderly?" The maiden asked. The female goblin tilted her head confused by that question.

"It is tradition that all goblins that reach old age receive names. Because if they have made it to old age, then they are a goblin of wise status and have traversed through life and outlived most other goblins."

Worried at what she ad just said the maiden asked.

"Do goblins have a short life span?"
The female goblin shook her head.

"No, goblins can live up to eighty years: our eldest goblin ever recorded has lived ninety summers."

So not that much difference in human life span. This tells me that the mortality rate is stupid high... Her thoughts swirled within her head. questioning the things she has learned so far. She looked up and asked the female goblin.

"How long do goblins typically live for? And how old is a mature goblin?" She had to know, not for her own sake. But also to determine for herself what she would do in the future if she were to be asked about her age or if she could determine how old she was in this body. The female goblin answered.

"A fully mature goblin is about five summers old, and a female goblin can give birth to their first child at about seven summers." She stated nonchalantly.

"..." Once again the maiden had no word to give. That is a ridiculously fast mature rate!

"I am almost afraid to ask but, how long does a typical goblin live?" She asked the dreaded question. The female goblin's face gave a sad smile towards the maiden's before saying.

"Almost fourteen summers is then average life span of most goblins." The maiden gave both a physical and metaphorical whistle at that.

"Not much of life if you can get as old as eighty years old but die before twenty..." She wasn't sure if she was talking to the female goblin or to herself at that point. The female goblin nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it is a sad reality that most goblins have come to face..." She spoke as some one who has lost and one with regrets. The maiden decided to ask the taboo question.

"If I may be so bold. How many summers have you lived?"

The female goblin gave a sad smile then answered.

"This one had lived for almost fifteen summers..." Curious. The maiden wondered why she had looked so sad and thought to ask. But that was this goblin's business, she had no right to ask, at the very least, not yet.

But before the maiden could ask anything more, the female goblin spoke up.

“May this one be permitted to speak and ask a question?" The maiden smiled sadly at the young goblin, who she realized was very mature by her races standards. But to herself, she was only still a child. It saddened her at the way this female goblin thought and acted. In her mind, this was no way for people to live. Even if they weren't human.

"You may speak, ask your question." Said the maiden, granting her the permission she thought she already deserved.

"This one is a little confused... Why is the Demon Lord asking common knowledge things; such as our age and life span, should you not know this?" The maiden was surprised and pleased by her question. So she not only has a brain, but knows how to use it and question things. I can use this.

She smiled warmly at the female goblin and said.

"I can answer that. But I think there is somethings we need to do first and I still have some questions." She informed the female goblin of what she was expecting.

"O-Of course. Forgive this one for being so presumptuous!" She stammered nervously, bowing her head and bending at the waist. The maiden waved her off, but realized she could not see her gesture and instead said.

"That is quite alright. Your question actually pleased me." Confused by this, the female goblin raised her head.

"I-It does?"

Nodding the maiden replies.

"Of course it does! It shows you have a brain and the smarts to use them!" She exclaims excitedly. "But before I can answer you question, I must have my questions answered first, and I am in need of something and was hoping you could provide it."

Smiling at the chance to serve the Demon Lord, the female goblin jumped on the opportunity to serve.

"Of course! How may this one serve you O' great one?" The maiden then smiled at her impromptu servant.

“As you can see," She shifts her arm that has thus far been holding the fur blanket up. "I require some clothing if there is any available to wear." And just as she was finishing her sentence, her stomach started to growl. Blushingly she added, "And some breakast for two please."
Eager to serve, the young female goblin said.

"Right away, O' great one!" As she then turned and hurriedly headed out the entrance way.This gave a moment for the maiden to organize her thoughts since she had almost lost track on what she had wanted to originally ask the girl.

She has told me a lot, but it only raises more questions then answers. To top it all off, I am not one step closer to figuring out how I got here in this body. She thought angrily at herself.

But that will come in time, there is no reason to rush, what is the saying after all? “Haste makes waste” and all that... I need to properly understand the situation I've found myself in... And as her thoughts trail off with her situation. She grow angrier still. But this time, her anger being directed towards this clan's chieftain.
I might not stay here in this clan or village, or whatever this place is... But for the time being. I can at least make it a better place while I am here. After all... I am a demon lord. She smiled at her inner monologue and joke.