In their arrogance, they overlooked one truth — no one survives the goblins unscarred.
Those who fall into their hands face only two fates: death or madness. Survivors rarely speak of their ordeal. Shame and trauma silence them, no matter their status. The scars — physical or mental — remain hidden beneath fine clothes and forced smiles.
This silence masked the true threat goblins posed. Their cruelty was underestimated, their savagery ignored. Few realized just how dangerous they could be until it was too late.
But some learned the truth firsthand.
Snap!
The bracelet on the magician girl's wrist broke. Beads scattered across the ground with soft clicks.
"What's wrong?" Eli asked, noticing her frozen expression.
The magician's eyes widened in shock and fear — and then her head rolled from her shoulders.
Blood sprayed from her neck, her body twitching violently before collapsing. Her severed head landed with a dull thud, her face locked in disbelief and terror. One of the scattered beads stopped beside her lifeless gaze.
"No..." Eli whispered. His hand trembled as he reached out, fingers curling helplessly. He felt as if he might wake from a nightmare at any moment.
"W-What's going on?!" another voice stammered.
The others turned to see what had happened. When they spotted the magician's ruined body, their faces twisted with horror.
"How... how did..." the priestess muttered, staring at the crimson-streaked ground.
The memory hit her — moments earlier, the magician girl had proudly shown off her bracelet.
"My sister gave this to me," she had said with a smile. "After we finish this job, I'm buying a cake for her."
But she wouldn't be going home.
"I'll bring my brother a gift too!" the priestess had laughed. "He's such a lazy brat — I'll scold him when I get back!"
But she wouldn't be going back either.
"Damn goblins!" Kido roared, rage burning away his fear. A violent surge of magic erupted from him, forming a whirlwind that tore through the clearing, scattering leaves and debris.
"Captain, stop!" the priestess pleaded, stepping forward to calm him.
But Kido's fury deafened him. The wind howled louder, and a glowing barrier of magic surrounded him, sealing her out.
Desperate, the priestess raised her staff, preparing to cast a blessing —
But the shadow struck first.
The blade was swift, slicing through the air with deadly precision. The priestess turned just in time to glimpse the figure — a dark blur, eyes gleaming coldly.
The blade swept across her throat.
"I'm sorry..." she thought as warm blood flooded her chest.
I was going to keep my promise...
The cut was clean. The priestess staggered back, clutching her throat, but the wound was too deep. Blood spurted between her fingers as she sank to her knees.
"Run..." she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
And then her head fell, rolling to a stop beside her fallen friend.
"No... NO!" Eli screamed.
Kido turned just in time to see her fall. The grief and rage twisted inside him until something broke loose.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
His roar shook the trees, echoing through the