Chapter 13: The Assessment.
947 4 43
X
Reading Options
Font Size
A- 15px A+
Width
Reset
X
Table of Contents
Loading... please wait.

“IDIOT!” Crystaria shouts.

“D-Demon Lord?” Breeze tentatively calls out to the upset Demon Lord. But Crystaria isn’t listening.

“Idiot, idiot, idiot, stupid, idiot! Damn it! Why am I so stupid!”

This started to worry everyone who was present at the hut, the Demon Lord was just repeatedly shouting and debasing herself.

Artemis looked to her mate, who was looking on at the Demon Lord with great concern.

Artemis let out a sigh. She knew she was the one that was going to have to do something.

“CRYSTA!” She yelled at the Demon Lord.

“WHAT?!” Crystaria yelled back.

“Calm thyself! What is the matter? Let us help you.” She told her.

“The matter? The MATTER?!” She jabbed a finger at Breeze and Hush’s direction. “These two decided that his plan to check my “RESOLVE”,” She emphasized with finger quotations. “Was a better idea and more important, then an army of orcs on their way here to kill everyone! And I am an idiot for not hurrying them up and getting this information, before I went and started all those frivolous formality that I thought up, when we have bigger problems to worry about than that!” She stressed the issue.

“But you were unaware of what information they had? For all you knew, it could have been trivial.” Artemis suggested.

“Yeah! It could have been, but it wasn’t. This is why I am an idiot!” She told her. “If I was as smart or as capable as you guys think I am, I should have found out what the problem was first, no matter the triviality of it, assess the issue and problem, then thought of a plan to solve it!  BUT NNNOOOooo!” She over emphasized the word; no, in an over dramatic fashion. “I have to get distracted, making nice with them because I am such a sap for people!”

“Demon Lord, you are being over dramatic, what you did and said was important.” Artemis tried to reason and calm Crystaria down.

Crystaria took a breath, calming down marginally.

“Of course it was important; I am not saying it wasn’t. But what I am saying, is that the level of importance is to great to even compare the two to each other: that is why I am such an idiot; I should have expected something like this to happen by now, or even sooner for that matter!” She explained her reason for being upset with herself.

“Wait a moment?...” Artemis held up a hand, forestalling the Demon Lord from speaking further. “Is the Demon Lord... upset by the fact that; you have not prepared for when others might have invaded?” Artemis asks, just to help settle her own mind that was currently a swirl, from admits the Demon Lord’s spiraling thoughts and words.

Crystaria huffs her frustration while also putting her hands on her hips.

“You’re sure as shit I am! GOD!”’ Crystaria throws her hands up in the air, letting them plop down at her sides with a quiet thwack. “And I am freaking mad at myself for not just cutting to the chase with them; Next time I hear someone tell me they have something important  to say, that is the first thing I am getting out of them.”

Seemingly like Gabo had been just waiting for this moment, he came bursting into the hut.

“Demon Lord! I have important news!”

Before he could even blink, he was lifted into the air by his vest.

“*AGH*” Screamed Gabo in Surprise.

“What is it?! What is the news? Tell me!” The Demon Lord asked as she shook Gabo back and forth.

“D-D-D-De-mon L-L-Lo-rd! S-Stop! Some-someone! Hel-Help Gabo!” Gabo pleaded as he was shook about.

Artemis had to hide her amused smirk that spread on her face with her hand. The amusement of the scene before her, was something she had never seen before; the Demon Lord had never been so worked up before, while watching her mate get shaken by a goblin about three-fourths his size: close to that of a child’s; was quite amusing.

“Dear, Arty?” Seshat called to her mate.

“Hmm?” Artemis responded with a hum and a raised eyebrow, all while not taking her eyes off of the spectacle in front of her.

Seshat laid a hand on her arm while looking up at her mate.

“Will you please go and rescue our mate from the clutches of the Demon Lord?”

Artemis gave a mock reluctant, drawn-out sigh.

“If this one must... This one really wanted to watch this happen...” She muttered the latter part of her sentence more to herself then she did to her mate.

“Thank you darling.” Seshat whispered to her mate, as Artemis started walking towards the deranged Demon Lord.

Artemis put a hand on Crystaria’s shoulder, this made her stop shaking Gabo long enough for her to turn to see who it was.

Artemis just gave her charming smile.

“This one thinks my mate has been shaken up enough Crysta, would you mind letting him down and letting him speak?” She asked teasingly.

“...” Crystaria looked to Gabo who looked like he had just gotten off of a rollercoaster. She set him down lightly and gently. She then proceeded to pat him down and shaky him off, both literally and metaphorically. “I-... I am sorry Gabo, I-I don’t know what has come over me! Please forgive me?”

Gabo, having used to being shaken by his own mate, he has since just gotten used to such occurrences. He bent his head down between his knees, to clear the dizziness from his head.

“All... is... fine... and forgiven... Demon Lord...” He said as the room was trying to spin before his eyes. “Gabo came to... report that... a representative of... the Western-Hill clan has arrived.”

All at once, the strength left Crystaria’s legs, she then dropped down and rested on her hands And knees.

“Crysta?” Artemis called out to her in concern.

Everyone there then felt a profound sadness and stress overtake their senses. Artemis recognized it as the aura emanating out of the Demon Lord.

Soon everyone there had tears forming in their eyes and were crying.

Artemis kneeled down next to the Demon Lord and called out to her gently.

“Demon Lord?” The only response she got was that she curled more in on herself, then let out a quiet whimper.

Artemis reached down to lift up the Demon Lord, then turned her around to face her. While she to was affected by the Demon Lord’s aura and had tears in her own eyes. She tired her best to smile down through her tears, at the distraught little creature, who rested in her arms much like a child would.

“Dear sweet Demon Lord. What is the matter child?” Artemis whispered to Crystaria that she has cradled in her arms like a child.

Crystaria pulled herself, curling more into Artemis’s chest, crying softly.

“...I... don’t... any....”

Artemis’s smile widened as she witnessed this self assured person laying in her lap, break down for the first time since she’s known her.

“What was that? I can’t really hear you if you talk into my bosom like that.”

Crystaria pulled herself free, then looked up at Artemis’s face. She then said in a quiet whisper.

“I don’t want to kill anyone, I don’t want anyone to die.” She spoke aloud her worries. She then looked back down, not being able to maintain eye contact.

Artemis couldn’t help but think of the Demon Lord as someone  very young and small at that moment, more so than she usually did. She normally held an air of confidence and an assurance in her stance. Now she was someone who needed someone who needed the support of someone; her support.

“Demon Lord,” Artemis called out then lifted said person father up; setting her on her lap and forcing her to sit up. She then lifted her face by her chin, making her look into her eyes. “Why has this made you so distraught? You have proven a valuable hunter. What makes this so different?” Artemis asked.

But the Demon Lord shook her head.

“Artemis... I come from a world without this sort of day-to-day sort of violence: a place that is relatively peaceful; not to say that these things didn’t happen. But they were often so far removed, that most people never thought about things like this, or even dying for that matter.” Crystaria explained herself to Artemis, and basically everyone else there that was listening.

She then continued on.

“I have never had to take a life of another living being like this before, I never had planned to kill Grog and Gobran when the duel was decided. I don’t want to kill anyone... and I don’t know if I could hold back if I fought anyone... and I don’t want to have to send anyone from the village to fight and die for no reason!” She said the latter part in almost a shout before she broke down in tears again.

Artemis understood better, now that the Demon Lord had explained herself. She was a gentle soul that did not relish needless violence. This explained her want and desire to abolish all the raiding that had been tradition. She did not want people to get hurt and or be killed.

Artemis reach up, tapping the Demon Lord on the cheek.

“Hey?” She said loudly enough to draw her attention back. As Crystaria looked back at her, Artemis said. “This one understands. Maybe she does not comprehend Crysta’s world; where fight is little. But she understands that the Demon Lord wants to peaceful and not have to fight others, or to watch friends die, is that right?”

Crystaria nodded at Artemis’s words.

“Well as an elder to you, I have to tell you, that is to bad.” Everyone blinked in confusion at her words. Crystaria included.

“Demon Lord. Being peaceful is admirable, but it is not something you can bring by avoiding all violence. There is an army coming soon to attack our clan; the village, every able bodied person, will be willing to go and grab a weapon or a stick to fight them back: that is the way this world Demon Lord; it is not your old one anymore. We don’t necessarily need you to fight the battle, but we need you to be strong and stomach it; we need you to be strong, to lead us. Even if you are scared that we might die. Because every single one if us is will to fight and die for our home. Are you different? Would you not fight for me? For Seshat? For Athena?”

Since the beginning of her speech, the Demon Lord’s tears had since stopped flowing.

“That is dirty and you know it Artemis...” Crystaria grumbled petulantly, but she gave a sigh then relented by saying.

“I would... I would fight and help everyone in this village.” She avoided saying the sentence that she would die for the village: not that she wouldn’t, but that she had yet to find anything that could seriously cause her harm: for it wasn’t her own life she was afraid for, it was everyone else's.

The heavy oppressive aura had final been dispelled thanks to Artemis, who smiled genuinely for the first time, without having to force herself to through the sadness.

“There are going to be times where we have to fight Demon Lord. Many are going to come, to try and claim your mantle. But we won’t let them, and this one is sure that you won’t either. But remember Crysta, that just because we have to fight, doesn’t mean that anyone has to die: I am sure we will find a way to win without losing any of our fellow goblins.” Artemis assured her.

But Crystaria shook her head.

“I don’t just want our side to have no deaths: I don’t want to have to kill the orcs either.” She explained.

Artemis could not help but laugh at her naivety. Which caused the Demon Lord to frown at her.

“Demon Lord; Crysta. There is no way we are going to avoid having to kill some of the orcs, they are a strong race, born and bred to fight, to kill. They will not stop until all their bones are broken, or they cannot stand anymore; even then! They might just get back up and continue fighting through the pain.”

This news put a frown on Crystaria’s face.

“Are they that tenacious?”

“They are.” Breeze answered. Everyone turned to look at Breeze at that moment. Who was just composing herself, wiping the last of the tears from her eyes.

“Our clan was originally stationed at the foot of the mountain area, near the plains of Graggoremire. These ones often scouted the largest tribe of the orcs: The War Tusks.” Everyone there was paying rapt attention to Breeze at this point.

“Our clan usually raided or at the least, snuck in and stole the cargo from caravans of the orcs that settled around the base of mount Graggoremire. But as of the last ten years; the orc leader, the new warchief of the War Tusks, had begun going to smaller clans and offering safety or succor, in exchange for fealty. These ones’ had just won our rite of ascension to chieftains of our clan two years ago: these ones kept warning our chieftain that the orcs were up to something. But he kept putting off our warnings. It was the only when the lights had streamed out of their tents and huts, across the night skies, heading towards the top of mount Graggoremire, that we realized that the new Demon Lord had been chosen amongst out kind.”

“Lights?” Crystaria questioned, because it was the only thing she wasn’t sure she understood of the explanation.

Breeze nodded her head.

“Yes, lights; at first, these ones were not sure of what they were. But as soon as the stream of light shot out of the hut, across the skies. We went closer to investigate, as soon as we made it into their camp, more lights came from several directions and all flew towards mount Graggoremire.”

“...” Gabo had a pensive look on his face then said. “Gabo thinks he understands.”

Crystaria, Seshat, Artemis; everyone there looked at him.

“You do?” Questioned Crystaria.

Gabo nodded.

“When we came that night, to ask and pray to the Shard of God; it glowed a brilliant light. For almost a length of a notch in the sundial.” He explained.

“Sundial?” This time, it was Breeze’s turn to question.

“An invention to tell the time of the day made by the Demon Lord.”

“...” The three from the Silent-Wind clan looked astonished at this news.

But Crystaria waved them off.

“We’ll explain that another time. Gabo, please continue.”

But Gabo shrugged.

“Not much more to say; for next notch of time, light after light entered in, then was absorbed into the Shard of God.”

“So what could that have been?”

“These ones’ might know.” Breeze put forth. “These ones’ went to hut, snuck inside, hid behind creates. Warchief was angry! Extremely mad! He break almost everything in room. Many there were also hurt by him. But these ones’ no not what they say at time; but understood what was wrong. Their Shard of the Evil God was Grey and lifeless.”

“Grey?!” Crystaria exclaimed.

Gabo nodded his head. In understanding of what was just said, because it was all starting to make sense to him.

“Yes, grey, see through like a dirty stream, in a bed of white stones... the Shard did no longer glow in brilliant red any longer.”

“Just as Gabo thought.” Gabo announced.

“What do you mean?” Crystaria questioned.

“Gabo thinks he knows what happened: to change Crystaria and make her the Omega Demon Lord of prophecy, our Shard of God had to draw the power from all seven races of the evil God.”

Crystaria’s eyes widened.

“Is that not normal?!” She asked with a raised voice of shock.

Gabo shook his head.

“No. Gabo old enough to know last Demon Lord, not personally, but heard of him; knew what was suppose to happen: Shard was suppose to imbue person it thought was worthy with power, not to create, pull or transform, like it had with Crystaria.”

“...” Everyone was stunned to silence.

“W-What might that mean Gabo?” Crystaria asked with trepidation.

Gabo shook his head.

“Gabo knows not... Gabo only have guess: that this one; Crystaria, is as strong as seven Demon Lords.”

The air hung heavy with his words.

Gabo always had a way to deliver the news straight. Crystaria thought to herself.

“Do you really-“

“Yes.” Gabo interjected and interrupted Crystaria. “The power of the Demon Lord multiplies power of the race; as much as five times.”

Crystaria’s eyes widened at this.

“But that would mean...”

“That would mean,” Gabo continued for her. “That you have the strength of a pygmy goblin, times five, with an additional five times, and an additional five times, and so on.” Gabo shook his head. “And that is if you haven’t been granted a five times strength increase from the race the energy originally came from.”

It took a long moment to let the information set into her mind. She couldn’t even fathom or even concentrating on what the calculations were if she was five times seven.

Correction, five to the power of seven...

Artemis was the first to respond. Which was just to throw her head back and laugh.

“Arty! Look at the Demon Lord!” Seshat rebuked. “This is no time to laugh; see the state she is in?!”

Artemis just put the Demon Lord on her feet, then walked over to Seshat and gave her a kiss.

“Artemis understands that Crysta is shocked. But this is something she is just going to have to get used to knowing about herself.”

“But that is the problem.” Breeze said.

They all turned their heads towards her.

“The Demon Lord is now a target from all races now; Ours and the races of the Alliance: If the Demon Lord does in fact hold all seven of the Shard of the Evil God’s strength then it is more imperative that the alliance races kill the Demon Lord, before this one realizes her full potential.” She explained. “This is why the orcs are coming here. The orc warchief of the War Tusk tribe has united the entire orc race under his banner, with the promise that he would have been the one to receive the power of the Demon Lord, then lead them to conquest of the other races... now that he did not get the power for himself, he is going to kill the Demon Lord for himself and take it.”

“How?! I mean, if I have it; how is he going to take it?!” Crystaria asked in a panic.

“...” Breeze was stunned by this revelation. “The Demon Lord does not know?” She asked the others of Crystaria’s group.

The all shuffled sheepishly.

“We liked her, we never thought to tell her.”

“Tell me what?!” Crystaria questioned in a high voice of panic.

“That your power can be taken and absorbed by another, if you are killed.”

I should have expected this kind of answer.

“It can’t be that easy can it?” She ask  with an uncertain tone in her voice.

“It is, after a fashion.” Seshat said to her. “The one that kills you has to either be close enough to touch you when you die; while also being a part of another of the Evil God’s races. Or be the Chosen One of the Gods Shard of the Allied races: if they strike you down, they will absorb the power into themselves and disperse it back to the Shards of the Evil God.”

“...” I really am just a big target for the other races aren’t I? Crystaria contemplated to herself. “... Is that why Gobran was so eager to challenge me?” She asked.

All three of her friends nodded their heads.

“That is right; and now it would seem, that the leader of the orc clans is coming towards us, bringing an army to take that power for himself.” Gabo summing up what was happening eloquently.

*SIGH*

Crystaria lets out a deep sigh of breath that was part stress, part tiredness, and part frustrated.

“I still don’t relish the idea of fight them and us getting into a battle...” Crystaria spoke her thoughts in the matter. “But I am not going to pretend that I can avoid it... or avoid getting anyone killed; as much as I want that.”

Seshat went to the Demon Lord, she knelt next to her and surrounded her in a loving, grandmotherly embrace.

“We all do Demon Lord: no one wants their friends or family to die. But it is some times unavoidable. Some die, so that others may live. That is just the way things are at times.” She then pulled back and looked at the Demon Lord in her eyes. “But I feel that with you leading us, we could do it.”

Crystaria smiled up at Seshat. She then leaned backwards back into her arms and chest for more attention and warmth; just wanting to be held and spoiled a bit. Which Seshat was more than willing to provide.

“I am not sure you should put all your trust in me, but I am willing to try my best to make that happen, where no one needs to die needlessly in battles like this; because that is what I want as well.”

Artemis smiled at the spoiled looking Demon Lord, then leaned over to pat the Demon Lord on her head.

“We know, that is why we put that kind of trust in you: you look out for our care and well being, just as much as our interests and wants. We will get through this, because we’re sure you lead us well.”

“...” Crystaria wasn’t sure what she should say at that point. Their words and their trust in her was almost to much for her to bare. She wasn’t sure when she had made it this deep into these people hearts, that they would trust her like this; but she wasn’t sure when they had made it that deep into her heart as well. “Then I guess that means I need to stop mopping about my fear of hurting people, because if there is one thing I don’t want more; is for people to hurt my new family.” She said as she looked towards Seshat, Gabo and Artemis.

“Then what is the first thing you would like to do Demon Lord?” Seshat asked.

“The first thing we need to do, is to have the first ever gathering of our united clans.” She turned to face Artemis. “Artemis, I am going to have you go to round up Leaf and the other rangers. Tell them that we are all going to meet back here after the evening meal.” She looked to Gabo. “Gabo, I need you to go and gather the other clan leaders and bring them here for the same meeting, after the evening meal. I know it will take some time, so recruit Athena or some others to help you.” She looked back to Seshat. “Seshat, please go introduce yourself to the Western-Hill representative. Tell them what we are about to have to deal with. Tell them that they are always welcome to come and join us right away, or they can go back to their clan right away and hopefully miss encountering the orcs.” She then hopped up to her feet.”

“What of these ones?” Breeze asks.

“You? If you wish, then you may go and settle your clan in an area near the village or near the forest where the other goblin clans have been settling. Just make sure to be back here for the meeting after the evening meal.” She informed them.

But Breeze and Hush both shook their heads.

“These ones do not want to do nothing, there is plenty we can do.” She then pointed towards their father. “This one’s father will take care of our clan settle them in an area suitable for our people. Please let Breeze and Hush help the Demon Lord.” Breeze begged to be of use.

Crystaria thought about it for a bit before she answered.

“I do think we need to know something before we all disperse. How much time do we have before the orcs arrive? Days? Hours?”

“If they hold the same speed they had at the beginning of their journey, they should be here in about double the amount of time it took us to travel here.”

“...” Crystaria felt her eye twitch again. “And that would be?” She asked in frustration.

“Oh! It took us three, ten days.”

Crystaria had to think about that for a second, because that was the old way the goblins tracked the days and months.

“...” Then her mental jaw dropped. “A month?!” She squeaked.

“Yes!” Breeze acknowledges. “This one knows it is not a lot of time,-“ Breeze trailed off as Crystaria started rubbing her face again.

“D-Demon Lord?” Breeze was feeling a sense of having repetition.

“It is fine... it’s just fine... I thought we were dealing with something imminent. But this is more than fine... if we have more or less then a month, which is three, ten days; then we have plenty of time.”

“We do?!” Breeze questioned in disbelief.

“Yeah, plenty. If we really have that much time, then I think we will be fine to be able to think up a plan.” Crystaria assured.

“And what is the Demon Lord planning to do?” Gabo asked.

She turned and gave a cheeky smile.

“I plan to go say hello to the orcs. Hopefully I will be back by the evening meal, if I am not. Start the discussion on ideas and thoughts on how to handle the orc invasion.”

All except Artemis, could not believe their own ears when they heard what the Demon Lord had suggested she was about to do.

“But Demon Lord,” Breeze started to say. “That will be a month’s journey. How-“ But in the next instance, the Demon Lord had vanished before their very eyes. Breeze, Hush and their father all blinked at this spectacle.

They started to look around, when Hush gave a start, then tapped on his sister's shoulder with the palm of his hand. She turned towards him, to look in the direction he was looking, only to see the Demon Lord, laying down on one of the pillows of the room intended as a seat, in a completely different outfit then she was just wearing a moment ago.

She was wearing an outfit not to dissimilar to their own: it had browns, greens, and greys.

“Not to boast. But I am pretty fast when it comes to moving around. I should be able to go about mostly unseen in this,” She grabbed the hem of her shirt to pull on it as a gesture to explain herself. “So believe me when I say, that I will be back after dinner.” She stood up slowly. Looked back-and-forth between Hush and Breeze.

“If you two want to do something productive. Go with Artemis, she is in charge of the rangers of the clan, which is like other clans scouts and hunters combined into one. She will be the one to show you how we do things here. Otherwise, I would do as I suggested; to get your people settled: I think that is important to get yourselves acquainted with the village and the other clans.

With that she took off. It was always fun to pull off the speed she could do if she really wanted to start moving. Even when she went to the flap to the hut, she moved it, went through, put the flap back into the same position, before they were able to realize she had already left.

She was at the entrance of the village with in a second. From the entrance, she took a moment: because it couldn’t have been a second, she was to fast for that. In that moment, she looked down at the slope that would take you away from the village, down to the gulch. Already her mind was formulating a plan. But to enact it, she would need more information.

The mountain was a weird place. It had woodlands, a river flowing down from side a ledge, where the river turned into a waterfall into the gulch. Crystaria suspects that the river used to be larger, and used to drain into a crevice between two slopes of mountain ranges, which formed this modern day gulch. Now the gulch was mostly filled with trees, vegetation, flora and fauna both.

This was a prized place for some goblin clans to call home, to hunt for food. But her clan had access to their own private spot for such things. At the ridge of the mountain, on a plateau several miles; or alms, as the goblins called it, away from the mountain summit, was where their village sat and rested. Here, a cave system could be found. As luck would have it, it lead all the way through to the other side, which housed another plateau and a steeper cliff face. Here on this lower side of the mountain, sat a lush forest with a natural spring and water source.

This clan was fortunate to have been banished to this mountain. Crystaria thought to herself. Goblins were often thought of as the least of all the races in Astaria, even among the other Evil God’s races.

So after the first great war thousands of years ago, when the Evil God’s races were scattered. All the other races forced their might on to the goblins, often either treating them as slaves or just lesser beings. They did not want to be near them in relation to their lands where they had settled, so the only place they had left to go, was to retreat to mount Graggoremire.

As Crystaria thought about everything and the circumstance surrounding the goblins inhabiting this mountain for centuries. She saw what a blessing they had, and squandered as well.

The goblins did not take care of themselves, did not use the opportunity or the resources to better themselves. But it is also a cruel fate because of the their races as well. Because even if they wanted too; they never got the opportunity. Every fifty years, a new Demon Lord was chosen and every time, the goblins were subjugated into the ranks of the Demon Lords army.

And now an orc warchief is coming and planning to do the same to my new family and friends.

Not if I can help it. Crystaria determined to herself.

She took off again and headed straight down the gulch.

She zipped past the Silent-Wind’s clansmen that were awaiting their leads, down the slope, towards the bottom of the climb, that would average about half a days walk or climb if a normal goblin attempted it. She did it in what she suspected was about ten seconds.

As she reached the beginning slope of the gulch, where the tree line started, she then took off, dodging and weaving through the trees with practiced ease. For the past month, she has done everything she could to try and master her strength and limit herself in how she uses it. She also tried and failed frequently, to master her aura, which she was having, limited success with. The only time she had an accident with her strength involved a tree, which he just passed by.

“Sorry tree!” She whispered as she passed it.

When she first tried to use her super speed for a test. She went as fast as she could feel that she could go. The results were varied, her top speed was unknown, because on take off, she launched herself so fast, that she was airborne and flying through the air at such ridiculous speeds, that she could do nothing but crash into the first object she hit: which happened to be that tree. She split it in half with body and tumbled end-over-end, making a divot into the ground, until she skidded to a stop. She had received no damage from the event. But the ragged clothes she took with her were destroyed.

I am so glad I didn’t have anyone with me for that test! For multiple reasons! She lamented about the events.

Now she sailed through the trees at what she thought of as her, cruising speed.

About fifteen minutes later, nearly three-forth the way through the gulch, Crystaria spotted smoke. She slowed her speed and kept to the top of the tree, making sure to hide herself amongst the leaves.

On her approach. She noticed that is wasn’t just one smoke cloud, but but three separate ones. This was Crystaria’s first time seeing another race, that is, if you didn’t include the goblins.

Orcs were large. She estimated she would have come up to their knees, maybe a bit higher on the smallest ones. But even then, she wouldn’t even reach their waist.

I wonder how big the these guys are in relation to humans? That would finally give me a good frame of reference to how tall I am. She pondered to herself.

She decided to sneak in a little closer. To get a better glimpse of their features. As she surveyed each orc, she noticed that they were very angular looking. Even the females. Almost all of them leaned more to androgynous or masculine, Than any of them leaned towards out right feminine.

It wasn’t to say these creatures were ugly, just different.

Their skin was a dark shade of brown with a slight green hue or tone, almost like if you painted over a green wall with a thin layer of dark chocolate brown.

Some had light tones, namely the women. They tended to lean more towards a golden brown, but this also didn’t seem to be the rule for them either, as far as she could tell. She had since spotted both sets on both sexes. But noticed that there was a trend or similarities for their skin tone, to what sex an orc might have been: but it was not the rule.

Most of the orcs had brown hair, ranging from either; black, brown, light brown, and to a surprise for Crystaria, a shocking auburn or red.

 Now that is an odd contrast.

From her observation, only two had this hair color. Both of which were surrounding a stump that they were currently hunched over looking down at something.

The one with auburn hair was a very young looking female, dressed very much like the rest of the orcs: hardened battle leather, with metal plate that looked to be fused into the leather itself. The armor was resting from their shoulders, belted and tied to their person, there vitals covered from the waist up. They wore less for their legs, with only strapped on, toughened leather leg-guards.

While these orcs did not have them visibly near them, that Crystaria could see anyways, she assumed that it was also the standard axe-maul she had seen many of the other orcs carrying.

A terrifying weapon if used by these behemoth.

She looked again at their muscles and realized that these creatures; these orcs, were truly a race born and bred to fight. She was truly worried for anyone of her people if they had to fight one of these guys. They would squish a goblin to paste with the hammer side of their weapon, this didn’t even included her fear of the blade-side. It looked sharp enough to cut straight through tree branches with ease.

While she wanted to get a closer look at what she assumed was the leader; the warchief.

Crystaria couldn’t risk revealing herself by sneaking into their camp. There was no cover or tents she could use to hide away. It wasn’t because she thought she would be in danger, but just for the simple fact that she didn’t want to put them on alert.

It would ruin the plans she had percolating in her brain if they became alert to her, or became cautious of a surprise attack.

She was lucky in a way. These orcs looked to be prioritizing an offensive, over having to lug unnecessary defensive equipment.

She did not observe any sort of equipment like that of the sort; no shields, no heavy armor, just the necessities; Bedrolls, backpacks, their weapons, light rations of food, and wagons that were pulled by hand, rather than animals.

They won’t get much farther than this with those wagons, they are going to have to abandon them soon.

Crystaria thought as she looked them over. As she was observing, she noticed an older grey haired Orc, wearing lighter leather armor, no leg-guards, and no gauntlets.

Who was this? He couldn’t possibly be the warchief could he?

He walked up to the duo that were staring at the stump. She moved over to an adjacent tree, one who was slightly taller, but a little farther away.

From up here; Crystaria could see what it was they were huddled around.

A map!

It was honestly tempting to her to zoom down there and steal that the map for herself to gain information. She could finally learn the area from a topographical view, even if it wasn’t a hundred-percent accurate as a modern map.

She could see the bright red head, male orc, welcome the older male orc that walked into their group. She saw him put an arm around the older orc and brought him closer to the stump, closer into their group.

They just huddled around the map, pointing occasionally at it or talking with each other.

She was then distracted by a patrol closing in at the parameter of their camp.

She hopped down and landed a few dozen yards away, then made her way back quietly. She didn’t want to risk making sounds by climbing down the tree near them. So as she approached. She could hear the sounds of rancorous laughter.

“Ak’ra shantarea?”

One of the orcs laughed while nodding his head.

“Ooku kran ak’ra. Ak’ra eorn nor sook awa’hanka ak’ma!”

They then both then laughed and chortled about whatever it was they were saying.

Well, that solves the mystery of whether I can understand all languages or not. Stupid transmigration! Why send me to a world without the ability to know what everyone is saying?!

Crystaria realized, in a way, that she was fortunate to be able to understand the language of the race she met.

But that didn’t explain whether I was speaking goblin, or they had a similar language to English. She sat and pondered this for a moment. Guess it doesn’t matter; that is a question for later.

She decided she only needed to do a couple more things and she could go.

She raced out and ran back up a tall near by tree. She decided she wanted a head count before she left.

When she finished, she thought to herself.

That’s not good.

 


 

Crystaria raced back through the forest of the gulch. As she approached the climb towards the village, she took this moment to take in the area to see if her half-baked plan could work. She decided that the beginning of the slope’s climb would be no good.

She then took off again. Heading up the slope, out of the gulch. As she was about half-way home up the slope, when she saw it, she had actually jumped over this area on her way down the first time. This was where the Silent-Wind clan had been waiting for their leaders to return from their meeting with her. A small flat rest area of the slope be for it started to climb again.

This. Is. Perfect!

With a smile on her face as she thought of the possibilities, she decided that she was going to set up a demonstration before going back to the school. So she raced off to the field on the plateau behind the mountain.

43