Stray Soul

“Urgh... Gob is tired...” ” Gob muttered while lying face down on his bed, then he turned around, and started looking at the ceiling, thinking about the utter torture he had to go through in the last few days.

While Gob might not look like it, Gob was talented, so talented that, even though Gob was only 14, Gob was nearly F rank, and in a month, Gob would definitely break through and join the other 6 F ranks in the tribe, and Gob though this month would go without any problems, and after it, Gob would become the fierce warrior Gob was always destined to be!

But then, why was Gob so tired and in pain, you might ask?

Well, because, ever since Gram left the encampment with a few of the other most promising warriors, the shaman had pushed everyone in the tribe to work harder, and harder, without caring for them and the environment.

The hunters were ordered to hunt down any and all animals they encountered, no matter if they were pregnant or young, the gatherers were to collect every plant they could find, even if they were not ripe, and etc.

And, most importantly, the warriors were ordered to go into the dungeon every day, and not leave the dungeon un-occupied. Not even for a moment.

Whenever a group came from the depts of dungeon, another one would immediately go in, and not give the dungeon time to reinforce its losses.

However much Gob thought about it, Gob could not find any reason for the Shaman to do this, after all, if things went like how they were going for even a few more days, the forest might become so damaged that it might not be able to support the tribe in the coming years.

And most worryingly, the dungeon might start pushing stronger monster to its upper levels to reinforce its defences, making it impossible for weaker warriors to train, and forcing the warriors and hunters to compete for exp, which would not end well.

And even if the coming of the stronger monsters to the upper floors might not be as big of a problem as Gob thought, after all Gob knew that Shaman must have a reason to do the things the Shaman did, but what worried Gob more than the possibility of stronger monsters appearing in the upper floors was the dungeon deciding to send its monsters outside and cause a monster wave.

Thinking about it, Gob’s face paled for a second and Gob became worried, but after a few moments, Gob stopped worrying, after all, like what Gob said, the Shaman must have a plan.

“GOB! Gram returns!” Gob heard Gab yell at Gob from the entrance to their hut.

Then Gob’s interest became piqued by Gram’s return, and Gob immediately got up from Gob’s bed, after all, Gob might be able to listen to the conversation between Gram and the Shaman now that Gram had returned and learn what the Shaman was planning.

After all, Gob knew of a good place where he could listen to the Shaman without Shaman getting angry at Gob.

Quickly moving towards the gates, Gob watched the happenings from afar, making sure that Gram didn’t see Gob, because if Gob was seen by Gram, Gob knew Gram would check out the temple surroundings, and Gram then might find Gob, which would mean Gob would not be able to listen on the Shaman’s and Gram’s conversation.

But something seemed weird... Gob then quickly realized Gram didn’t have his mace and neither did Gram nor the goblins under him have their undead with them!

Gob wanted to know more... but Gob knew he had to be patient and wait and listen.

As Gram gave orders to Gram’s subordinates, Gob was sure that Gram would soon head to the temple, so Gob moved before Gram could and reached Gob’s spot in the outside of the temple.

Gob would not tell where Gob’s spot was, because if Gob did, Gob knew the gods would tell the Shaman, so Gob stopped thinking about Gob’s surroundings and focused on Gob’s ears and listened in to the temple.

“Ahhh... what a wonderful day it is...” Gob heard the Shaman say, but Shaman was always happy, Shaman just didn’t show Shaman’s positivity to others.

Gob didn’t know why, but Shaman just didn’t, so Gob just ignored Shaman’s words for now and waited for Gram to open the door.

*creak~~”

Then, after a few minutes, the door opened, and Gob started focusing on the sounds inside the temple.

“Hmm? Gram you are early I see—” The Shaman started, Shaman’s happiness seeping into Shaman’s voice.

But then Shaman’s voice got off, maybe the Shaman realized Gram’s situation with the damaged armour and missing mace?

*creak~~*

Then with another sound the door closed, and Gram started talking.

“Krone, I have bad news, but I assume you already understand what they are.” Gram said.

“But—how?! Wasn’t the undead I provided you not enough? Did you get ambushed by other plant beings?” The shaman asked in rapid succession, then added.

“And how many losses do we have? The ones that went with you were prodgies of their own right, if they are lost, our tribe will have a bigger problem than being wiped!” The Shaman finished.

“Don’t worry Krone, everyone is fine. The bad news I had was that we were unable to capture the plant being and all our undead were destroyed. In addition to that, I lost my mace and the divine artefact you gave me. But other than those 2, we are mostly fine, but I think our loss opens a new door for us.” Gram said, which piqued Gob’s interest.

Gob didn’t know they were under threatened by plant beings, but Gob was happy nonetheless that the Shaman and Gram were planning something to save them.

“And what is that new opportunity you are talking about?” The Shaman asked Gram, his interest as piqued as Gob’s.

“We might be able to escape back underground without having to fight our way through the forest. I know this is not really solid evidence, but when I fought against the plant being, who was able to change bodies as we thought and hopped into the body of the Cave Terror before I could respond, and though I eventually lost against it, my lost was not because I was weaker than it, nay, the creature was weaker than me, but it just wouldn’t be killed by normal means, anyways, after I lost, and was on the ground, instead of killing me, the creature just took the medallion you gave me and retreated back into the forest.

So, I think, the All Mother, or whatever is behind this creature, is giving us an out. It should know that I am one of the strongest goblins in our tribe, but it still let me go alive, and didn’t even try to hunt down or injure the men under my command.

I say that we gather everyone we can, and move with as little supplies as necessary to the caverns down south, then in a week, we can enter the domain of the Pale Lord and be free from this predicament we found ourselves in.” Gram finished, which made Gob think of the best way to proceed from now.

Not that his opinion mattered, as neither the Shaman nor Gram knew that Gob was listening. But Gob thought Gram’s idea seemed good. But Gob was no fool, and neither was Gram and nor was the Shaman. They both probably knew that this might just be a trap to lure their tribe out and put them to the spear.

But even though how much Gob thought, Gob could not give an answer that would please Gob. Gob just didn’t have enough information to use to determine the situation that their tribe found itself in, but Gob still thought Gram’s idea was worth giving a try.

After all, there were only 3 options Gob could see:

They successfully escaped underground.

They got ambushed while escaping and lost a portion of their tribe.

They stayed in the encampment and all of them died.

After laying the options like that, Gob thought the answer was clear, they should escape, as even if they are attacked, a portion, however small that portion maybe, would live.

But if they stayed here, the Tribe would surely fall.

Satisfied with his deduction, Gob continued listening to the conversation between the Shaman and Gram.

“...I see... You are right, what you say is not solid evidence that the All Mother would let us go, but at this point, I am willing to take it. Wait here while I go to the prayer chambers and bring the divine core of the Great One, we must converse with him to determine our next course of action.” The Shaman said after a few seconds. Gob was not sure why the Shaman decided to talk with the gods, but Gob knew the Shaman had Shaman’s own reasons, so even though escaping was the only viable option, Gob was able to relate to Shaman’s decisions.

“Urgh... didn’t you tell him about our situation before hand? What needs is there to talk to him now, the only thing he is going to do is to slow us down.” Gram muttered, and Gob heard, because Gob hears everything, and Gob was sure the Shaman heard too because Shaman’s footsteps cut out for a second and then continued.

Gob wanted to see what the Shaman was doing, but it would be too dangerous to follow the Shaman, if Gram wasn’t here, Gob might’ve risked it, but Gram would surely realize Gob if he did something like that, so Gob just stayed in Gob’s place, and waited for the Shaman to return.

After a few more seconds, the Shaman’s footsteps grew closer, and Gob heard the Shaman putting something on the throne and moving for a few more steps.

“O Great One, hear the prayers of this lowly follower and give us the greatest blessing, your presence!” The Shaman chanted a short prayer, but Gob knew it was unnecessary.

Because Gob had heard the Shaman commune with the gods by just calling them by their name through their divine core, prayers like that were only useful for when you didn’t have a divine core and wanted your god to hear you.

But why would the Shaman take the long route? Gob didn’t know, but the situation in the room seemed tense, so to prove the Shaman’s, and God’s, superiority over Gram?

Probably Gob thought, but before Gob could think on it further, a heavy presence made itself known, and Gob felt weak, but Gob didn’t make his presence known, because Gob couldn’t now, because if Gob did, Gob would have to go through a few lashes, and Gob wasn’t letting that happen again.

“Speak, Krone, my loyal priest. Why have you bothered me with this little request of yours?” The heavy presence said in an authoritative voice, its voice seemingly made from dozens upon dozens of echoes, but clear, nonetheless.

“O Great One, we have made progress with the situation about the new strain of plant beings detected near our settlement, and our theories struck true, and one your servants who you put under my control, Gram, saw it firsthand. But sadly he, and the forces that were sent out with him, were unable to achieve victory against the new strain as it changed bodies too fast.

But we believe we have found the opportunity to retreat safely, and can be back underground, in the Pale Lord’s territory in a week.

O Great One, please guide these lowly servants with your wisdom! How should we proceed?” The Shaman said in a tone softer than Gob ever heard the Shaman speak, but Gob understood, after all, the Shaman was talking to a god, it was only natural.

“Hmm... so you seek my wisdom, eh?” The voice said.

“Correct me if I am wrong, but you failed to capture the new strain, right Kro?” The voice said, and Gob saw the little play of strength the voice did.

It put the blame on the Shaman, even though the Shaman did the best the Shaman could, and intentionally shortened the Shaman’s name, a grave insult to any goblin!

After all, the length of one’s name was determined by their rank, and the voice acted as if the Shaman was only a G rank!

“Yes, o Great one, this lowly servant has failed you, but still seeks your wisdom.” The Shaman said, and Gob could feel the genuine shame coming the Shaman’s voice, and Gob was sure it was genuine as Gob had seen many who tricked their emotions, and there were always small tells to figure out who was acting true to their feelings and who was lying.

The Shaman was genuinely ashamed of the Shaman’s mistakes, even though the Shaman did no mistakes.

“Knowing that, you still dare ask for my wisdom? What a shame, what a shame indeed.” The voice said and added.

“But you can still be forgiven, Kro, you can still be forgiven. And you’ll do whatever you can for me to forgive you, right Kro?” The voice said, and this time Gob could understand from the voice’s voice that it wanted the Shaman to do something bad, something really bad.

It was planning to use the Shaman for something, and Gob could only hope the voice wasn’t a cruel god.

“Yes, o Great One, this lowly servant is ready to put his life forwards if it pleases you!” The Shaman said with so much devotion and will in the Shaman’s voice, Gob was baffled for a second, but before he could calm down, the voice continued.

“Good! VERY GOOD! You know, Kro, ever since the day I saw you for the first time, I knew you’d make a good follower. Your zealousy to follow orders always makes me happy and brightens my day! But today... today is the day I will have to test your zealousy to follow my will. After all, you are a tool of my will, are you not? You will surely follow my will, right?” The voice said once more, and this time Gob became sure that this god wasn’t a good god after all.

Gob had always joined the sacrifices done for the Great One, and the prayers and sermons, but Gob had never known the Great One was a bad god.

Gob now didn’t care that the Great One was a bad or good god, Gob only cared for what it’d tell the Shaman to do.

“Yes, o Great One, this follower of yours is ready to do your will.” The Shaman said with a resolute voice, and Gob couldn’t feel the previous shame and a bit of fear the Shaman showed before, there was only devotion.

“Good, very, very good... You see, Kro, I need that new strain of plant beings. As soon as possible. And you returning without it will put me in a bit of trouble, and you wouldn’t want your god to be in trouble for his follower’s folly now, would you?

And, and, if you manage to deliver on your promise and bring that new strain to me... ho ho ho ho ho ho! Great things will happen for me! And, of course, I will not be forgetting you and your tribe and will be rewarding you accordingly.

But, buuuut, I need you to pull your weight and get that new strain to me, no matter the cost.

I will be reimbursing you with giving back 2... no, 3 new members to your tribe per every dead, so do not worry about losses, and, of course, I will be giving them according to the ranks of those who willingly sacrificed themselves for my will.

If an F rank dies, you get 3 new F ranks! Exciting, isn’t it?” The voice said, and the way it encouraged deaths scared Gob, but Gob was in no position to do anything ab out it.

“By your will, o Great One.” The Shaman said again, with devotion, but the Shaman’s resolution didn’t seem as strong as previously.

“Vert good. Did I tell you how pleased by your performance I was Kro? Anyways, make me proud and, see you later—wait.

Actually, before I go, remember this.” The voice stopped mid-way through its sentence and the air surrounding the temple and in it became even more oppressive.

“Failure is not an option. You will deliver, or I will make sure you will never have to worry about doing anything for the rest of your life.” The voice said threateningly, and the oppressive air continued for seemingly eternity, but soon, the oppressive air disappeared.

“Well, I have better things to do so... see you later Kro! And don’t contact me unless you succeed, ‘kay?

Anyways, ciao!” The voice said, and its presence suddenly disappeared, as if it was never even there.

Then silence overtook the temple for some time, only broken by the sound of the Shaman’s robes.

“Gram, we will deliver.” The Shaman said with a resolute voice.

And after some time Gram answered.

“...No, we will not.”

“What?!” Shaman yelled out in surprise.

“Krone, you cannot be thinking of sacrificing our fellow tribesmen just to please a maniac! If that bastard asks you to kill Grok, will you do so?!

Because he is literally asking you to!

It doesn’t matter if he’s the Great One or the Dark Lord, or any other god or deity with their head shoved up so far into their ass that they can’t see their own hubris, we are not following those orders!

To the abyss with them!” Gram yelled at the Shaman with such a passion and resolution, that Gob got scared for a second that the Shaman might attack Gram, but nothing happened.

Then a few moments later Gob heard a sigh.

“Ahhh... and what other option is there?” The Shaman asked with a defeated voice before continuing.

“We have to follow orders, or we will fall prey to the Mother’s children. We need to retreat back to the underground and into the Pale Lord’s domain, otherwise we are all dead.

Of course, I don’t want to do this. You know better than who I am and what I hold dear, ever since I was given control of this tribe, I’ve seen every single soul in it as my sons and daughters, and I do not want to sacrifice them, and I will not.

I will do everything in my power to keep everyone safe, and will put myself in the frontlines, if necessary, but we also need to get that plant being, otherwise... there will not be a otherwise.

I know what you’ll say, you’ll say we should escape with the tribe while we have the opportunity to do so but, where?

We don’t know what’s north or south, if we act without thinking none of us will survive instead of most.

But I cannot save anyone without your help, so tell me friend, will you lend me your trust once more?” The Shaman finished in a pleading tone, which Gob had never heard before.

Gob then could hear some angry breathings which lasted for some time, but soon, the sound stopped, and walking noises could be heard, and the door creaked open.

*creak~~*

“...Krone, I will put my trust in you once more, for old times sake. But know that, if at any point I think you are going the wrong way...” Then Gram stopped for a few seconds before continuing.

“You will be felled by my spear friend.” Then no one talked for a few moments and the door closed with another creaking.

*creak~~*

Then all was silent for some time, then Gob heard the Shaman walking, most likely putting the divine core back in its place, and though Gob couldn’t see the Shaman, or hear the Shaman, Gob knew the Shaman was more solemn right now than the Shaman had ever been.

Taking the opportunity to make his get away while the Shaman was busy, Gob started walking through the empty roads of the encampment towards his hut, then Gob looked towards the sky, and thought for a few moments, standing still, then muttered...

“Gob sleepy...”