Hemira and the Six Companions

Chapter 6 -Hoblins

My spirit awakened when I felt an attack coming at me.

I quickly opened my eyes, and when I saw a black viper lunging at me, I swiftly grabbed the dagger at my waist and sliced off its head. Its blood splattered around. I immediately stood up and looked at the multitude of writhing vipers scattered around.

Shadowvipers!

They were surrounding me and Nyebe.

When one of them crawled toward the still-sleeping Nyebe, I quickly cut the snake in half. "Nyebe!" I shouted at her to wake her up, and she bolted upright.

"NEHEEEEEEEEEE!" she screamed upon seeing the shadowvipers surrounding us.

I dropped my dagger and drew two swords from my waist. I was ready for attacks on us both.

So many approached us that I swung my sword at all of them. Everyone I struck was split in half, but I heard Nyebe's frantic cries beside me, so I turned to her. She couldn't move from her spot because I had tied her to the tree we had rested against. I quickly cut the binding, and she was free. She stood by my side, and I saw in her eyes that she was ready to fight too. It was as if she had human-like thoughts.

Shadowvipers surrounded us in vast numbers, closing in from all sides.

What was once a vibrant forest had turned dry, with the only source of light being the moon's glow. I continued to stab and slice at the vipers, but they seemed endless in number.

I pointed my two swords at them, preparing for more attackers.

[Trabem.] I heard my Nana Thelia's voice in my mind.

"Trabem!" I exclaimed and, suddenly, my two swords began to glow. My eyes widened in disbelief. Before I could react, a tremendous explosion erupted, throwing me violently into the tree behind me.

The blast ignited a fire, its flames quickly spreading to the dry trees, burning fiercely. The shadowvipers, once surrounding us, scattered in panic. Even Nyebe, trembling beside me, was visibly shaken by the raging fire.

Dazed and in pain, I slowly stood up, my back throbbing from the impact.

A wide grin spread across my face, though it was mixed with shock. I had done it—my magic had worked, and with it, I felt my Nana’s presence guiding me, even in death. I wanted to celebrate, to fully embrace the rush of victory, but I knew I had to calm Nyebe first.

I gently stroked her face, the warmth of the moment soothing both of us before I carefully returned my swords to their sheaths. I mounted her, the panic in her eyes slowly fading as she calmed, but then I remembered my pack. I glanced back at the tree I had crashed into, searching for the place where I had left it.

My eyes widened when I saw that it was no longer there.

I violently scanned my surroundings when I sensed the presence of a strange being. When I looked in one direction, I saw a small creature running away with my pack slung over its shoulder. My brow furrowed.

I yanked hard on the reins, my voice sharp with urgency. "Let's catch that, Nyebe!"

She neighed then obeyed without hesitation, her hooves pounding the scorched earth as we dashed through the fiery forest, the crackling of burning trees and the smoke swirling around us. We chased after that creature, but it was incredibly fast.

"Nyebe, hurry up! You're the fastest horse in our kingdom, so don't let that little thief get away!"

"NEHHEEEEEEEE!" She ran even faster.

The path we were on grew denser and darker. Nyebe was struggling to run because of the thin branches blocking our way, so I sliced through them with my sword as we passed, but thankfully, the small creature with my pack did not disappear from our sight.

The contents of that pack were crucial for my journey, so I couldn't let it get away because otherwise, I'd have a hard time reaching the ocean of Syierian.

Now we had entered a new forest.

The little thief was still running away, but I smiled because we were getting closer to catching it.

As we closed in, I leaped from my horse and rolled onto the ground, quickly pinning the thief beneath my pack. Nyebe came to a stop near me, her presence steady as I secured the capture.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! G-get off me! I can't breathe!" complained the small voice coming from beneath my pack.

I was now crouched over my belongings, forcing my arms and elbows down, so the thief couldn't escape. "Why would I do that? So you can run away from us again and steal this pack?" I pressed down harder on it.

"N-no! N-no! I won't escape! I'll explain to you..." the voice weakened as it spoke.

I felt pity, so I slowly lifted the weight off of it. I sat on the grass. Gently, I removed the pack that was pinning it and saw a small creature lying there, eyes closed and seemingly lifeless.

It had short white hair, and I thought it was a girl. Its nose was also very small and flat. She was dressed in what looked like a commoner's clothes, but they were very dirty and torn in some parts.

I gently tapped her chubby cheek to wake her, but she didn’t stir. Nyebe approached us and sniffed the small creature, her eyes soft with curiosity.

I looked more closely and my heart sank—she wasn’t breathing. “I’m sorry, little creature. I didn’t mean to take your life. I hope you can forgive me for what I’ve done to you.” With a heavy sigh, I picked a lilac flower from the ground nearby and placed it delicately on her chest as a small tribute.

I stood up, feeling the weight of the moment, and glanced around, trying to understand where Nyebe and I had ended up. This was another forest, but it was unlike the vibrant, colorful one we had just left behind. Here, the trees were a deep green, and the air felt quieter, more still, as though time itself slowed down in this ordinary place. The contrast was jarring, and for a moment, I just stood there, taking in the silence, unsure of what would come next.

"Haahhh!"

I was startled to see the little creature standing up, gasping for breath while holding her chest.

I stared at her, and she stared back at me. Her eyes were huge and reddish, with only one tooth on the top and bottom. Her body was very thin, and her bones were almost visible. I estimated she was only knee-high to me or even shorter.

I blinked. "You're not dead yet?"

Her eyes widened even more. "Do I look dead to you?! I'm still breathing! Why did you take so long to leave?! I had to hold my breath for so long you wouldn't know I was still alive, but now you know, so you've ruined my wonderful plan!" she shouted at me, breathlessly.

She was gasping for air again from all the talking. Suddenly, she looked at the pack resting on my thigh and then back at me. Without warning, she snatched it, but she was unsuccessful as I quickly grabbed it.

She kept trying to take it from me. "Give it to me!"

I simply shook my head, then I looked around. "Come out! I know you're there, and you've been watching us for a while!" I shouted. From the moment Nyebe and I entered this forest, I could feel many eyes watching us. They observed my every move.

I stood up and slung the pack over my back. The little living being that was still fussing around hung there.

Slowly, small creatures like the one hanging from my pack emerged from behind the trees. There were many of them; I estimated there were over thirty, and they were all small. They all had reddish eyes and only a few teeth. There were adults, both male and female, and some mothers were carrying even smaller children.

I approached Nyebe to keep watch over her. If these little beings had any ill intentions, I could protect her quickly. I couldn't afford to be complacent because, even if they were small, I didn't know their abilities.

"Well done, human girl. You’ve figured out that we are watching you," I heard the voice of an old man say.

The small beings parted in the middle, and an elder emerged who looked like them. His long hair was white, and his skin was wrinkled. His eyes were almost closed, and his old age required him to lean on a staff for support.

I just stared at him.

"We are hoblins from the Kobal forest, and I am Orum, their leader. You, miss, what is your name?" he asked me.

"Hemira. A warrior from the kingdom of Gemuria, and I come from the third clan of Tritus, the white mages," I introduced myself.

They all gasped in amazement upon learning I was from Gemuria.

"A warrior from the kingdom of Gemuria?" Elder Orum confirmed, and I nodded in response.

Suddenly, he knelt before me, despite his apparent struggle. "P-Pardon, warrior of Gemuria! We had no ill intentions towards you! We only needed something from you, which is why one of our companions took your belongings!"

The other hoblins also bowed to me. "Forgive us, warrior of Gemuria!" they all said in unison.