"Welcome. Humans." The voice echoed through the chamber of the throne room. A large open space, with a high ceiling and many pillars of ancient stone. A place of royalty and grandeur.
Although its once pristine beauty was long since tarnished by the goblin occupiers. Trash and debris littered the ground. The walls were covered with crude banners of red and gold. Red lights were lit around the chamber, bathing everything in a dim, almost crimson glow. But, despite the mess, one could still see the signs of a once great empire. The throne at the head of the chamber was adorned with gold and silver trimmings. A long crimson rug laid upon the stone floor, leading up to the throne, where a green skinned female goblin sat.
"I am Lofai, Queen of the Green Skin's under the Red Canyon." Her yellow eyes were locked onto the humans, a look of amusement in them.
"I hear your guild failed to pay the ransom. A shame..." She sighed, her expression turning from amusement to disappointment.
She stood from her throne. A giant of a queen, standing three heads above any of the humans, even the tallest of them all, Haruto. Muscles rippled as she walked, a powerful, commanding presence that could only be achieved through her size and authority. She wore a simple attire of leather armour, adorned with a golden belt and silver necklace. Her skin was green, but unlike the others, there was no sign of wrinkles, blemishes, or imperfections.
"Ahhh, I can see why Narale was quick to claim this one." The queen said, approaching Haruto. Her large hand reaching out and taking hold of the Healer's chin, lifting it so that their eyes met.
Haruto's face twisted in a mix of surprise and detestation; her strength was immense. "You have strong bones for such a frail race."
She released her grip, allowing Haruto to breathe a sigh of relief.
"All right, take them." Her words were cold and authoritative, causing the room to come alive with movement. Behind them, many goblins had gathered, human like, scale like, and even furry in appearance.
The goblins descended upon the group. The two men from before, who were so relaxed, now wore grimaces of horror. Their amour ripped away by the monsters. Their screams and cries filling the chamber.
Haruto wanted to fight back. He wanted to resist, but the number of goblins were far greater. If he were to resist, he would surely die. They all may have died.
"Wait!" Yua's scream pierced through the noise of the goblins; her arms grappled by the green skinned monsters. They held her firm, keeping her from fighting back. The Queen turned to look at the woman, a smirk on her face.
"Prepare this one for Brut." She said, nodding towards Yua.
Yua's amour was removed, she too was stripped of her weapons and armour, leaving her with just a small shirt and pants.
"Come this way, Haruto. We can go somewhere private." Narale whispered in the healer's ear. Her hand caressing the cheek of the human. He didn't know what to do. His squad, in an instant, were being treated like animals.
All he could do was watch in horror. As the large female goblin looked on in amusement. All the while, the screams of impending violation filled the air.
"Why are you doing this." Haruto asked through fear filled eyes.
"Because..." She replied, a soft smile forming upon her lips. A gentle caress on his face with her finger tips. "My people grow stronger from the seeds of other races. We inherit their strengths. Making a stronger breed. Males often breed the most. However, their only half as effective as females." Pride in her eye as she spoke.
"Females guarantee stronger offspring. Your brood with my dear Narale will be strong. Your life will be long. No worry, no stress, and your needs will be cared for. As you, and our offspring grow, so too will you find purpose and meaning in life."
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber. Brut was coming for his share of the spoils.
"Wait...Wait... I-I don't want to be some breeding cow!" Yua yelled, fear and panic in her voice. "I have a boyfriend! Let me go! Please!"
"Oooooh~" The queen sounded amused; her attention drawn to Yua. A wide grin forming across her lips.
"Relax my pink haired girl. My mother wrangled a giant, as did I to birth Brut. You will survive. I guarantee that."
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
Yua was struggling in vain. Pulling at the goblins that pinned her down.
Haruto was thinking hard. His eyes darting back and forth as if looking for an exit. There was none. He had to do something to avoid this fate for his comrades.
"Wait! I demand a fight for their freedom!" He shouted, causing the large female goblin to stop her steps, her expression changing from amusement to confusion. Narale stopped her advances on the man as well. Her yellow eyes glancing at the human with curiosity.
"A fight?"
"Yes. I want to fight for our freedom." Haruto repeated, looking the large goblin straight in the eyes.
"And if you fail?"
"We have no choice but to submit." He relented.
"Hahahaha!" The Queen burst into laughter. "This human is brave, but foolish. Very well. Your life will be a great boon for my people. I accept your challenge. You will face the might of my eldest, Brut."
This was the only thing that Haruto could think off to avoid this. If there was something above. Then surely, they would not allow such an atrocity to occur. He had to trust in the hands of some higher power. He needed a miracle.
***
"This way." The whisp found its voice as they descended deeper, leading the Reaper through a small passage, one that went deeper and deeper. Eventually, the red walls of the canyon were no longer in sight. Only a darkness that would make the black oceans feel warm.
An opening in the path, a room, a long-forgotten hallway of grey stone and elven markings. The architecture was a work of beauty. Elegant, yet still touched by the brutality of time and decay. There were no windows, nor light to be seen. The only source of illumination was coming from the wisp, its white light casting shadows on the walls and floor.
"This... is what is left of my people." A sad voice came from the wisp.
"What are you?" Eren asked, staring at the little creature, floating before the Reaper.
"I am..." It paused, thinking hard upon its existence. "I am Alaion. A guardian for the kingdom of Alaisa."
The wisp morphed before Eren's eyes. Growing larger, transforming itself into the shape of an elf. Its phantom still cloaked in white, its form tall, elegant, and slim. Long hair that reached to the waist, and pointed ears. The figure wore curved armour and a long sword, but no details could be seen. Not that such information mattered. All that could be seen were the eyes of the elf. Pools of white light, that illuminated the room.
"Forgive me shadow master, but it has been many years since I've been near the wellspring of my kin."
The Reaper continued his way. Stepping over rubble and debris, the sound of stone grinding against stone echoing in the corridor, the only noise other than the voice of this spirit.
"The people of Alaisa were once a proud people of trade and ocean farers. We sailed the oceans, leaving behind our brethren to live in a land untouched by the hands of men and the greed of others." It spoke in melancholy for a time long forgotten.
"Our land was beautiful. Our kingdom peaceful, and my people happy. The city was carved by the hands of my kin, from the walls of the canyons to the very heart of the city itself. But... that all ended... when the creatures of the night came."
Alaion's white lights brought the walls to life. Showing phantoms of memories before the Reaper; memories of elves towering over lowly goblins.
"To our gates came the goblins. Cast out from their homeland by a great calamity. They begged and pleaded for help, saying they had lost their home to some monster of the night. We took them in, gave them a place to call their own, a home to live, and food to eat."
More phantoms appeared, these ones depicted scenes of trade and commerce between the elves and the goblins. Of two races living in harmony with one another.
"All peace must end. Their numbers grew, their greed and lust grew. Soon, they rose up against us, attempting to take our lands for themselves."
Phantoms of violence now, goblins revolting against their benefactors. The goblin's savage nature was on display.
"War. A bloody war of attrition. However, for all their cunning and numbers could not match the might of the elves. We were a race of warriors, and we were prepared to fight for our home." Alaion spoke, pride for his former people.
"We pushed them back, slaughtered thousands, and forced the remnants to the outskirts of our kingdom. Our walls were strong, and our will was stronger."
Eren continued to walk, following the spirit as it led on. Its white light casting a dim glow in the darkness, making the stone seem even more foreboding than it was before.
"We gave ourselves a choice. Exile or enslavement. We thought ourselves better than genocide. Thus, becoming our servants."
The phantoms of the goblins now being put to work for their new masters.
"They were used for labour, construction, among other tasks. We had hoped that they would one day come to understand our ways. Moulded after our own ethos."
"Yet our people underestimated their cunning once more. For the next century they waited toiled away within the walls of our kingdom, growing their numbers and planning their uprising. When the night came; it was a silent one. Our people fell to their schemes once more.
Our leaders assassinated and warriors killed in their sleep." The white light grew dimmer as the story took on a darker turn, and the phantoms of the elves grew bloodied and weakened. Swarmed by innumerable savages.
"Our people. Men and women... children-"
"Enough." The image before the Reaper was too much to behold. It was a scene of innocence lost.
Alaion turned, its phantom face looking at the Reaper. "I apologize."
"Why? What drove them to such lengths?" He asked, looking at Alaion, the phantom elf was still staring back at the Reaper. Its eyes of pure white light seemed to be lost in thought.
"Rumours of a champion within their ranks."
"A champion?" The Reaper asked.
"Yes. A natural leader. However, we never got a chance to learn who it was. For, the morning after their rebellion, my kin were already dead or bound. They took the city in a single night, and started their breeding. Mixing our bloodlines with theirs."
"And what happened to you?"
The phantom stopped by a sealed door. A large one of grey stone and elvish markings.
"In here..."