Wondrous goblin of magic

Chapter 9: Is This Name Cursed?

Alex couldn’t help but admire the black-bladed sword in his hand, its sleek design catching the light with each movement. He’d wiped out an entire group of goblins in one swift, fluid motion, and yet, not a drop of blood stained the blade. The goblins around him were now utterly silent, their earlier raucous chatter replaced by wide, fearful eyes locked on Alex, who grinned wickedly in response.

Raising the sword, he turned his gaze to the goblin who had dared to challenge him. The creature, realizing its fate, barked orders to its trembling followers, trying to rally them for one last desperate charge. But Alex closed the distance between them in a single stride, and with a clean, effortless swing, the goblin's rebellion was extinguished.

The remaining goblins fell to their knees, bowing in terrified reverence. The throne was his once again, and they knew it.

Alex surveyed the pitiful sight before him, his gaze cold and calculating. “Get lost,” he spat.

A chorus of squeaks and whimpers erupted as the goblins scrambled away, eager to avoid his wrath. Alex called after them, his voice laced with venom, “If any of you come back, I’ll kill you on sight!”

Silence descended upon the cave.

After sheathing his sword, Alex let out a frustrated sigh. He glanced at the pile of goblin corpses scattered around him. “I should’ve made them clean up before I killed them,” he muttered to himself. Now, the grim task of cleaning up was all his.

A growl from his stomach interrupted his thoughts. With one last, reluctant look at the bodies, he left the cave in search of food.

Outside, the sun hung high in the sky, and the forest was alive with the sounds of nature. It wasn’t long before Alex managed to bring down a horned deer by the river. As he began the grim task of butchering, a sudden chill crawled up his spine. Turning, he found himself staring at the open jaws of a massive crocodile.

To Alex, it wasn’t so much a threat as an unexpected gift. “Thanks for the offering, nature,” he said with a smirk, clearly unbothered.

With a swift, calculated strike, he felled the crocodile in a single blow. “More variety for the menu,” he grinned, returning to the riverbank to finish his work.

But before he could finish the job, a rustling noise broke the quiet. Expecting another predator, Alex spun around, only to find a scrawny goblin peeking at him from the grass, its beady eyes filled with wariness.

Alex sighed, rolling his eyes. “Come here.”

The goblin hesitated, but when Alex spoke in its language, it shuffled forward and bowed, recognizing its new leader. Alex, amused, handed the goblin the task of washing the meat in the river. As a reward, he promised it the crocodile’s tail, and the goblin’s eyes practically sparkled.

“Well, guess this one’s done grunt work for long enough to get good at it,” Alex mused, watching the goblin work with surprising skill. Soon, the meat was sizzling over a fire, and the goblin was already eyeing it hungrily, drooling in anticipation.

After a moment’s thought, Alex tossed the goblin the crocodile tail. “Here, for your trouble.”

The goblin squeaked in delight, gnawing eagerly on the tail as if it were the most prized treasure in the world. Watching the creature devour its meal, Alex felt a strange pang of sympathy. How long will you last? he wondered, remembering the fate of the last goblin he’d named “Clever.”

“Let’s call you Clever,” he mused aloud. “Maybe it’ll stick this time.”

The goblin, oblivious to the grim fate of its namesake, beamed at its new moniker and dug into the meat with gusto, its face quickly covered in blood. Alex shooed it away to a safer distance. “Go on, kid, before I lose my appetite.”

As the fire crackled, the scent of the roasting meat filled the air, making Alex’s mouth water. He finally settled down with a skewer of perfectly roasted venison and brought it to his lips.

Suddenly, a shrill scream sliced through the air, sending a shock of adrenaline through Alex. He looked up just in time to see a gray-feathered bird snatch Clever off the ground, its talons sinking deep into the goblin’s flesh as it soared higher.

Clever’s frantic wails echoed as Alex leapt to his feet. Without hesitation, he grabbed a skewer and hurled it at the bird. But the stick fell short, thudding uselessly into the dirt.

Furious, Alex slammed his fist into a nearby rock, shattering it. He snatched up a chunk of stone, and this time, his aim was more accurate—but still not enough. The rock whizzed past the bird, which continued its ascent, with Clever still in its grip.

Rock after rock followed, each one thrown with increasing desperation. As Clever’s cries grew faint, Alex’s fury reached a boiling point. Then, just as it seemed all hope was lost, one final rock found its mark.

The stone struck the bird with crushing force, and with a pained screech, it tumbled back toward the ground, still clinging to Clever.

When Alex reached the crash site, he found Clever sprawled on the ground, motionless. Despite Alex’s efforts, the poor goblin had not survived the fall.

Alex stared at the lifeless body for a long moment, frustration gnawing at him. “Is this name cursed?” he muttered, his voice tinged with dark humor. “Every goblin I call Clever ends up dead.”

With a heavy sigh, he left the body where it lay, not bothering to perform any rites. Fate had dealt the little goblin its hand, and there was nothing more to be done.

Still, Alex wasn’t one to dwell on things for long. He collected the bird carcass with a nonchalant shrug. “So be it,” he murmured, as if resigning himself to the whims of destiny. “You win, fate.”

He returned to his fire, ready to finish his meal, unbothered by the loss of yet another goblin. Life, after all, was one giant joke, and Alex was in the mood to laugh.