The Abysmal Territory

“Dad, I want to help,” Teiko insisted while looking at his father with determined eyes.  Toya, Teiko’s father, shook his head as he patted his son’s head. “Don’t worry, son. This is just like a small errand for me, just stay with your Mom and your little sister,” Toya replied with a very calming voice. Teiko’s dream is to be like his father, to be a hero that will protect and save the world from evil. “I will be like you! Just so you know, I’ll be the best swordsman in the world,” Teiko proclaimed. The face of a man can already be seen from a ten-year old boy as he speaks enthusiastically. I want to be a dependable man so that Dad and Mom will never engage themselves in any harm. The thought of seeing his father and mother relaxing and having fun together in their house gets over Teiko's mind. “I know you will, and you will surely surpass me,” Toya said with a smile on his face. “Don’t worry, I will train with all of your blood, sweat and tears. Just wait okay?” Toya added as he shuts the door as soon as he leaves. Geez. That old man just wants to take all the glory and honor by himself, I know I can do much if it’s only goblins. What’s the waste of just having a little fun? Teiko shrugs. “Teiko, just rest for now. Your dream will come true sometime in the future,” his mother told him. “Hmm? The best swordsman, huh?” Taiya interjects and giggles. “You cannot even beat your own little sister, how can you even be the best swordsman?” Taiya added. Taiya is Teiko’s twin sister from their mother, Aica. Their family is living in a small village where the main source of living is farming, and hunting wild animals.  “Just watch me, I’ll be stronger and you won’t need to hold a sword, because I will always be there to protect you,” Teiko proclaimed. Their mother pats their head and helps them to sleep. The weather outside is very harsh. Nothing can be heard but only the rattling noise made by the blizzard.  The morning came but the rattle was still as loud as a roaring bear.  Wait, I just realized. Yesterday was the only time that my father said that he will train me personally. I will be a pesky child and let him train me throughout the day. Teiko chuckled. “Mom, where are you?” Teiko shouted wondering where her mother was and why he was not seeing her anywhere in the house.  Only this stupid little sister of mine is here. Teiko thought to himself. “Hey, Taiya. Wake up!" Teiko shouts at his sleeping sister. “It’s too early, what are you getting at?” Taiya yawns and gets back to her sleep. “Where’s mom?" Teiko asked. “Are you really stupid or what? You wake up before me, how would I even know?” Taiya agitated said as she gets up from the bed. “I’m just surprised that she’s not here, she is usually preparing our breakfast during this time of the day,” Teiko replied. SLAM! The door almost broke as an old man barged in. “Teiko! Taiya! I’m glad you're awake and well. Hurry up, pack everything you need in this house,” the old man, who is the village chief, said as he got every important thing he sees in the house. “What’s happening, village chief? Where’s Mom and Dad?” Teiko said. “Just do what I said, I will explain everything later. Remain calm and do everything quickly,” the village chief said while being disconcerted and out of breath in packing things up. The siblings packed their belongings as quickly as they could and put everything in the wooden cart that was already set-up by the village chief outside of their house. The three of them walked speedily on the other side of the village where the other villagers were also going. “Brother, I’m scared,” Taiya said with a trembling voice. “Don’t worry. I know that Dad will do something,” Teiko responded. “About that, your father is still on the front line and still fighting without any breaks against the goblins,” the village chief said in a worried voice. “No way, they are just goblins. What is my stupid Dad doing?” Teiko exclaimed. “That’s what we thought, but those are not just goblins, there were also many hobgoblins, goblins lords, goblin overlords, and also goblin kings,” the village chief said as tears started to fall down from his eyes. “What are those? This is the first time that I heard about those things, I know for sure that Dad can work things out." Teiko asked. “To make it easier for you to understand this, this is a Catastrophe Rank S,” the old man replied. “What? Then there’s no way that we can survive something like that.” Taiya gasped as she cannot believe what she has heard. “Don’t underestimate your father, he was not called the Hero of the Geniuses for no reason. But sooner, our soldiers will not hold out,” the old man replied. “No way, I still believe in Dad. But what about our Mom? Why is she not with us?” Teiko said. “She’s not here because she’s our only hope,” the village chief responded in a sad voice. “For us to win?” Taiya yelled. “No, for the rest of the villagers to flee,” the village chief replied. “How can Mom help? She’s just a normal villager, right?” Taiya cried out. The tears that the village chief tried to stop fell down. “She’s a princess, she is a woman that was blessed with a huge amount of magical power. She is the only one capable of a large-scale attack that can slow down the outpour of the goblins,” the village chief explained. “Then that means that Mom is also fighting against the goblins? Why is this happening?” Teiko asked in distress. “If Dad and Mom can only slow them down, then what’s the point of us fleeing? We will be massacred by them,” Taiya exclaimed. The village chief takes a deep breath. He said, “Toya and Aica were already prepared if this kind of thing happened. There is a safe place for all of us to stay.” “Then why didn't we go there earlier? This should not have happened,” Teiko exclaimed.