12: ‘Training’
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Recuperated from his uphill runs, Fig picks you up from the ground and puts you back on his back by the same, primitive makeshift ropes and sheath. With the emotional stuff out of the way, you can concentrate on what you came here to do in the first place.

/We should include these two in our training as well./ you say telepathically to Fig.

“Ah, really?” He asks. “I suppose there is no downside to that.”

/You two will be joining our training!/ you communicate to Gilk and Dokloram. /The village could use a couple more good fighters to protect the farmers, and since you’re already assigned this role anyway, it’s an appropriate start./

“Sounds great!” Gilk says and wipes away the last remnants of liquid from his face. “Count me in!”

“Training, eh?” Dokloram asks crosses his hands.

/Oh, and Petunia will be joining our training too./

“Wait, what?” Fig yells and turns his head back to look at you so fast it’s a miracle he didn’t snap his own neck.

/Of course! You were lucky that Ragbazar was utterly incompetent, but we should not rely on such luck in the future. Petunia needs to be able to hold her own to avoid potential hostage situations./

“I will not have her risk her life to fight my battles!”

/”Fig drop your weapon or Petunia loses her head!” It’s that kind of a scenario that we must avoid. Nobody is going to send her to the front lines./

“I... I see.”

Ah, that’s right! You remember that Gilk and Dokloram are supposed to be the lookouts and decide to clarify something.

/By the way, did those four goblins that were with Ragbasomething pass here by any chance?/

“Ragbazar,” Fig corrects you.

/Yeah, him./

“No, why would they?” Dokloram asks as if this is a strange question.

“Wait. Oh! Did no one tell you?” Fig asks and hits himself on the forehead, realizing that he never even mentioned the main event of this day.

“Huh, tell us what?” Gilk asks.

“I killed Ragbazar and half his cronies,” Fig says a little matter-of-factly.

“You did what!?” Gilk and Dokloram yell in unison, leaving their jaws dropped wide open in utter shock.

“Using this magical sword, I killed Ragbazar and routed his lackeys,” Fig says again.

“Awesome!” Gilk shouts and look at Fig with new-found admiration.

“Awesome? Are you both crazy?” Dokloram tries to keep the flimsiest appearance of being calm as his face twitches from the horrific realization.

/So, did you see those four goblins?/

“No, they must have gone south or west,” Gilk says. “You’re worried they’re going to cause trouble?”

“Not really,” Fig says. “Rogzor is still too far away for them to reach. And just like Ragbazar—none of his lackeys lackeys made any friends around nearby villages.”

No live target practice, huh? In the future I’ll need to pay more attention during combat.

“It doesn’t matter!” Dokloram is in a mix of fear and anger. “Don’t you realize what his father will do to us?”

“If Fig took down Ragbazar, then together with us we can deal with Rogzor!” Gilk says loudly and with excitement looks to Dokloram.

“Wake up! Both of you!” Dokloram shouts with clear anger and frustration. “His wargs alone will tear you to pieces! Those are not some growing wolf pups!”

“That’s why I’m training,” Fig explains. “Using this sword, I’ll be able to put an end to Rogzor!”

“Oh? Care to back up your words with action?” Dokloram asks and takes unsheaths his old sword.

“What are you doing?” Fig asks.

“You’re talking a big game, but I think you’re even more naive than Gilk,” Dokloram says.

“Hey!” Gilk takes offense to that.

“Dokloram, I don’t want to fight you,” Fig tries to calm down his fellow goblin.

“Too bad!” Dokloram says and gets into a fighting stance, raising his sword to the level oh his head, holding it with both hands horizontally, pointing the edge of the worn blade at Fig’s face. “Think of this as your ‘training’!”

“Erm, Dok?” Gilk nervously reaches out to his senior.

“Step back kid,” Dokloram says without even looking at him.

“Ragbazar is gone, I killed him! What are you trying to prove?” Fig says, still trying to prevent the fight.

“I’m going to wake you up from your little fairy tale dream!” Dokloram says and takes a step toward Fig, with his sword still raised high and firm.

“Wait, you don’t understand!” Fig yells making one last attempt to talk down Dokloram. “I know you’re strong, but this sword... I don’t know how well I can control it yet. I don’t want to hurt you!”

“Worry about yourself! ‘Training’ begins now!” Dokloram announces the start of the fight and runs at Fig aiming to strike him down.

/Oh, boy./

Fig grabs your hilt and barely dodges out of the way, tumbling to the side. It doesn't look like Dokloram is holding back at all.

Fig lands on one knee, kicking up dirt around him, looks ahead and unsheathes you. Not a moment too late, since Dokloram follows him and strikes from above. Fig barely raises his sword in time to block the attack. You feel Fig struggle under Dokloram’s pressure. The dark-green veteran is taller and stronger than the young goblin. In response to Fig’s block, Dokloram kicks him in the face sending the goblin flying back nine feet and then sliding backward on the ashes seven feet more. The friction stops Frig on the very edge of the steep side of the cliff.

This time Dokloram doesn’t even bother to pursue Fig. He stands in place holding the sword with his right hand, lowered at his side, and says, “You were never a fighter, Fig. If this is all you’re capable of, maybe you should just give that sword to me, before you make this any worse.”

“Fig, he might be right!” Gilk yells from the side, staying a safe distance away as Dokloram told him to. “Maybe you should just give the sword to Dok?”

Fig wipes away the blood from his mouth and broken nose, stands up to face Dokloram, holding you with both his hands and says, “No! I started this—it’s my responsibility to finish this!”

“Arrogant little—... Fine! I’ll take that sword from you and beat you bloody for the danger you’ve put us all in!”

Fig takes his fighting stance once again and dashes at Fig again. Fig grits his teeth, raises you a little higher, as much as he can with his little arms, and prepares to intercept the attack.

What do you do?
  • Help Fig with your powers to win this fight, trying not to kill Dokloram. Votes: 7 9.0%
  • Help Fig with your powers to win this fight, murdering Dokloram. Votes: 5 6.4%
  • Hold back your powers and let Fig fight this with his own strength (unless he's about to die). Votes: 47 60.3%
  • Hold back your powers and let Fig fight this with his own strength (even if that means death). Votes: 19 24.4%
Total voters: 78 · This poll was closed on May 29, 2020 08:04 PM.
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