Another day, another jog through the Whisperwood forest. Why is it even called that? Wood doesn’t whisper. Does it? Technically Dryads can whisper and they’re wood adjacent or at least wood like. Maybe there’s a group of Dryads in these woods and they like to whisper.

  “CJ, are you listening?” Hopper asks as he takes a swig of his waterskin.

  “Of course he wasn’t. He daydreams during History class. Do you think he’s going to do anything different now?” Penelope asks with a pinch of sarcasm.

  “I was listening.”

  “Oh, really? What did Hopper just say?” she says putting me on the spot.

  “Hopper said ‘We should try to go further into the forest if we want to kill more than just slimes.’ Or at least that’s what I remember,” I say with a cocky grin.

  Didn’t expect me to be actually listening did you? Well, guess what? Ever since the auditorium I’ve been training my ability to both daydream and listen to the conversation. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough to get the gist of what’s being said. I can fill in the blanks. Wait, why is she smiling? That’s not good.

  “Actually, CJ, I said ‘We shouldn’t do that’,” he says, slashing my confidence.

  “Ok, maybe, I wasn’t listening. Now, I don’t want to fight stronger things, but why should we stick around here? At the rate we’re going we are going to have to kill a lot of slimes before we [Level Up],” I ask, trying to change the subject.

  “I hate to agree with him, but he has a point, Hopper. We can’t stick around here forever. We’re going to have to take the risk of venturing out further,” Penelope says as she starts to put her stuff away.

  Hopper rubs his temples as he thinks. “You’re right, but I was hoping to get at least one more [Level] before pushing forward. It’s a shame that the spider scared all the creatures away. Ok, let’s head east,” he says as he gets up.

  “What all was supposed to be here, anyway?” I ask as I pack my bag.

  “Goblins, kobolds, maybe a lone worg, and slimes,” Penelope lists out.

  “So, what, the spider wasn’t normal?” I ask as we start walking.

  “Nope. It probably wandered in from the deeper parts of the forest,” Hopper says.

  “Weird. Why would it do that?” I ask as a yawn overtakes me.

  “Spiders are territorial. It probably got pushed out by a higher [Level] one,” Hopper answers.

  “Wait, are we now heading towards the higher [Level] one?” I ask, suddenly realizing the error I made.

  “Yeah,” Hopper says.

  “Lovely.”

  The deeper parts of the Whisperwood forest are darker, creepier, and colder. There’s even some snow on the ground. Thankfully, Professor Stargazer gave us some coats at the start of the class. I would’ve loved one of these last winter. Wouldn’t have gotten frostbite.

  As we trek I keep an eye out for any trouble, but quickly grow bored. It’s mostly trees and trees and more trees. Until my eyes settle upon a cave. It’s on the side of the cliff and is mostly hidden away by shrubs. Now, usually I wouldn’t go and dig around in caves, but I’ve got a good feeling about this one. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I should true that baseless feeling.

  “Hey there’s a cave over there. We should go check it out,” I say to the group.

  “Huh, you’re right. Well, we haven’t found any worthwhile tracks,” Hopper says as he scratches his chin.

  “Creatures usually hide out in caves. Especially when winter is soon approaching. We might find a worg or even a couple of goblins,” Penelope adds.

  “So, can we check it out?”

  “Yeah, why not?” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

  Pushing closer to the cave Penelope cuts down the shrubbery revealing the ominous cave. It looks like it goes deeper in and then drops. I don’t have a good view past the drop, but it certainly smells lived in. Hopper crouches down near the entrance and closes his eyes.

  “I hear three, maybe four goblins. It’s hard to tell. The sound is echoing, a lot," Hopper says as he stands back up.

  “A couple of goblins? Should be easy work,” I say with unfounded confidence.

  “A small group should be easy to handle even for you, but if it’s a larger group or Gods forbid a colony then we’re dead the moment we enter,” Penelope says.

  Checking on the pebbles in my pocket I reply, “I’ve got a good feeling about this cave. Something about it… is good.”

  “Great. So, we’re going to risk our lives on your gut feeling?” she asks, annoyed.

  Hopper speaks up, “Hunch or not. These goblins are the only creatures we’ve even caught a glimpse of since we entered the deeper parts of the forest. We have to take it.”

  With a sigh she enters the cave. “I’ll lead, but if a goblin stabs me I’m not going to be happy.”

  Walking behind her we head deeper into the darkness of the cave. Not too far in we hit a drop and carefully make our way down into a cramped tunnel. Thankfully the feeling of claustrophobia doesn’t affect me. Ever since smelly Doug locked me in a garbage can for a week I haven’t really minded cramped spaces.

  Since I’m completely blind in the dark I rely on Penelope and Hopper to guide me through. With one hand gripping Penelope's hood I try to listen for any dangers. As I do the whispers of laughter graces my ears. Damn, Hopper really does have good hearing. With the echoing it’s hard to tell how many there are, but even I tell its goblins. It’s the chattering of their teeth that gives them away.

  Suddenly, Penelope stops. She grabs me and points me towards a low light at the end of the tunnel. That must be the goblins, but we have a problem. The tunnel is too small for Penelope to use her greatsword. Hells I’d be pushing it with my sword. Even against goblins a fight without our weapons is suicidal at best.

  “Penelope, take this,” I whisper as I hand her my sword.

  “What are you going to fight with?” she asks as she slowly places down her greatsword.

  “I have my ways. Hopper, do you think you can cover us without hitting us?” I ask.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Yeah, things should be fine on my end. I’m more worried about you guys,” he whispers.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Penelope pulls her weight,” I joke.

  “I’m not saving you if a goblin stabs you,” she says half warning.

  Readying ourselves for combat we push up while Hopper stays a couple of steps behind. There goblins, how bad can it be?

  Sneaking up to the end of the tunnel we come into view of the lit opening. The opening is small. It could barely fit a wagon. Inside the opening is one exit and five nasty green creatures. The goblins lounge about drinking and cheering as they pelt each other with bones. On their waists are makeshift weapons and in the corner of the space there’s a dismembered corpse. From what’s left it looks like a worg corpse. They must’ve caught it unaware.

  By my side Penelope draws her sword against her forearm leaving blood along the edge. She then points to me and the two goblins in the front. With a nod she takes a step forward and disappears. She then reappears across the space with her blade crackling with lightning. Before the goblins can even notice she cleaves through one of them, killing them.

  As the goblins draw their weapons. I take the opportunity and [Throw] a pebble at the closest one. The pebble flies and smacks right into the eye of the goblin. The goblin then fumbles its weapon and drops it. Gotcha ya!!

  Rushing I crash into the goblin. Its small body goes flying and scraps against the floor. Picking up its weapon I [Throw] it at the nearest one. The jawbone knife slams straight into the goblin leaving it dazed. Penelope on the other side blocks an attack from one goblin using a magic shield as she cuts through the other goblin. As I charge the dazed goblin an arrow whizs past my head and hits the goblin that was about to stab me.

  That was close. When did that one get back up?

  Grabbing the dazed goblin I pick him up and slam his head against the wall. With an audible crack the goblin goes limp. On the other side Penelope cuts through the last goblin.

  “Is that all of them,” I ask, between breaths.

  Hopper stops to listen and then lowers his bow. “I don’t hear anymore. We should be clear.”

  Taking a second to catch my breath I feel a sudden bout of nausea followed by a splitting headache. Why does this feel familiar?

  Oh, that’s why. Struggling to check my breakfast I sit down. Looking over at Hopper he doesn’t look much better as he steadies himself against the wall. Penelope takes a deep breath, but otherwise looks fine. Is it going to be this bad everytime? If so I might consider never [Leveling Up] again. It feels like I just ran for three days after being electrocuted, but as the feeling subsides I can sense myself getting stronger. That part isn’t too bad. Wonder if it’s the same increase as last time.

  I take a quick peek at my [Stat Window].

  Not bad, I think. I think all my [Attributes] are the same or higher than the average person. I think five was the average. I’m not going to think about how my [INT] was lower than average. That’s probably for the best.

  As I get up I still can’t shake this feeling that there’s something good in here. Looking over I notice the other entrance to this space. Walking over I find a small alcove with a pile of stuff in the middle. From what I can tell most of it is rusted metal, wood, some crap, and rotten food. Then there’s this. I pull a small metallic machine about the size of a desk. It’s a portable magic oven!! These things are expensive. How did a couple of goblins manage to get their hands on this? Well, that’s not my problem.

  Oven in hand I walk back to the group and am greeted with mixed reactions.

  “What’s that?” asks Hopper as he pulls an arrow from the goblin.

  “It’s a portable magic oven!” I say poorly hiding my excitement.

  Penelope walks over to me and examines the oven. “Sorry to break it to you, but this thing is broken.”

  “Broken how?”

  “Its mana crystal has a crack in it. It’ll constantly leak mana. If you want to use it you’ll constantly have to refill it with mana,” she says as she examines the mana crystal.

  “Perfect. I don’t use my MP anyway.”

  “You do know that belongs to somebody, right?” she says.

  “Yes, me!!” I reply back.

  “Technically anything we find after slaying the goblins belongs to us,” Hopper adds.

  “Yeah, I knew that,” I [Lie].

  “Fine, but don’t come crying to me if somebody comes looking for it. Actually do come crying. I’m sure it’ll be a sight to see,” Penelope says as she begins to leave.

  Wiping away the dirt from the oven I throw it into my bag and follow close behind. I’m making cookies when I get back to the dorm.