Chapter 14: Goblin hunting... again!

Chapter 14: Goblin hunting... again!

As Maximilian and Zeke sat inside the carriage, they were both lost in thought. They were on their way to a nearby forest, where Maximilian had received reports of goblin sightings from the adventurer's guild.

"Goblins have been sneaking into nearby villages to steal food," Maximilian explained. "And they've even tried to attack kids who were left alone. They're usually not brave enough to fight an adult man one on one, but they'll attack if they outnumber their target."

Zeke nodded, understanding the danger that goblins posed. He knew that they were vicious and cunning. His own experiences with hunting them had been one of his greatest failures to date.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

"Goblins are only around 1.3 meters tall, but their muscles are stronger than their scrawny arms suggest," Maximilian continued. "Still, they're slightly weaker than a grown man who works in the fields all day. You just have to be careful and watch out for ambushes."

Zeke nodded again, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. This would be his first real test after being adopted, and he was determined to prove himself. As the carriage rumbled along, Zeke began to wonder about Maximilian's experience in this field, "Do you have a lot of experience fighting monsters?"

Maximilian gave Zeke a complicated look. "I used to hunt a lot of monsters when I was a student," he said. "By the time I was a third year, I was already a silver-rank adventurer. But I haven't been on any guild missions since."

Zeke was confused. "Why not? The strong mages such as yourself should be fighting all the strong monsters, right?"

Maximilian looked saddened by Zeke's question. "Unfortunately, thats not how it is. Most Mages aren't used for fighting monsters at all. They're used for something else."

"Whats that?" Zeke asked.

"War" Maximilian replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "Mages are often used as weapons of war, fighting on the front lines and using their magic to turn the tide of battle. A single Mage is worth more than 1000 regular soldiers."

Zeke was stunned. Sure, he had known that Mages were deployed on the battlefield. But the way Maximilian talked about it painted a completely different picture than he had held in his heart. He had imagined Mages to swoop in and save the day. Not as indiscriminate killing machines that rained down fire and fury on helpless victims.

He couldn't imagine using his magic for something as destructive as that. Also, he was very confused by something else. "If mages don't fight strong monsters like Dragons and Titans, then who does?" he asked. Maximilian's expression grew even more saddened.

"Nobody has to fight them at all," he said. "Monsters like Dragons are not mindless beasts but have human-like intelligence. They have their own lives and don't just roam around killing weak humans as the lower monster species do."

Zeke was shocked by this revelation. "Then why are there so many stories about heroes slaying evil Dragons?" he asked.

Maximilian turned somber as he explained. "It's most often humans who go into the habitats of those monsters and kill them for their valuable body parts. It's a brutal and dangerous business and not something I condone. But there are always those who are willing to risk their lives for the promise of riches. And when a Father comes home and finds his nest plundered, his children and mate killed, what do you think the Dragon is going to do?"

Revenge? Zeke asked with growing unease.

Got it in one, Maximilian replied. Dont get me wrong, Dragons are no saints. They are probably the most arrogant creatures under the sun. But its exactly that arrogance that keeps them from attacking humans, they see us as far beneath them. No, they would much prefer we left them alone.

Zeke was horrified by this news. He had always thought of monsters as mindless, rampaging creatures, but now he realized that they were much more complex than he had ever imagined. They both spent the rest of the ride in silence, lost in their own thoughts.

As the carriage arrived at the edge of the forest, Maximilian turned to Zeke and said, "It's time for you to go on."

Zeke was a little nervous at the prospect of going into the forest alone after what had happened the last time, but Maximilian reassured him.

"I'll stay hidden and follow you, but try not to count on my help if at all possible," he said. "This is your chance to prove yourself. Show me what youve got."

Zeke took a deep breath and entered the forest, feeling a mixture of determination and anxiety. The forest was quiet, and he had the eerie feeling that something was watching him.

"The goblins should be towards the center," Maximilian called out from somewhere behind him. "Keep your eyes and ears open, and be ready for anything."

Zeke followed Maximilian in silence as they walked through the forest, his mind still racing with the events of the previous fight. After a while, they came across a small hill, and Maximilian began to climb it, motioning for Zeke to follow him.

When they reached the top, they were greeted with the sight of a tiny, shabby village filled with goblins. The huts seemed to be made of driftwood and stolen parts from a human village, and Zeke even saw one goblin who appeared to be living in an upside-down wheelbarrow. Zeke was wordlessly taking in the sight, until Maximilian spoke, waking him from his stupor.

"Do you know why some mages have middle names?" he asked.

Zeke looked at Maximilian with confusion in his eyes. "I thought that middle names were a tradition for nobles.

Maximilian chuckled and shook his head. "Nope, that's not it at all. Middle names are only given to accomplished mages. It's a way of honoring their achievements and contributions to the magical community. Another name for them is Mage names."

Maximilian quickly scanned the village beneath them to make sure they had not yet been discovered. He then turned back to the young mage and spoke in a whisper.

"You must be careful about the reputation you earn as a mage, my boy, he said in a serious voice. I once knew a man, incredibly talented in both air and water magic. He had always dreamed of receiving the middle name 'Hurricane', and it seemed like the Mage Guild would grant it to him after a few more achievements. But then, it happened

What happened? Zeke asked. He had completely forgotten his depressed state, so invested was he in the story.

One night at an important ball, he became too drunk. And I dont mean, a little too drunk I mean he was completely shitfaced. While relieving himself, he used his water magic to make the stream of piss circle him and forgot to stop it before returning to the party. He ended up spraying several of the most influential Mages with his urine. Do you know what they ended up calling him?"

Zeke looked at Maximilian with a quizzical expression. Maximilian gave a rueful shake of his head and sighed.

"They called him 'Urinecane'," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "And let me tell you, that is not a name you want to be known by in the mage community. A Mage name is often more important than the one you were born with. I don't even remember what that man's actual name is, everyone just calls him Urinecane."

Zeke's eyes widened in disgust at the thought of being known as the 'Urinecane'. He couldn't imagine the embarrassment and shame that the unfortunate Mage must have felt after such a public mishap.

Maximilian gave Zeke a serious look, his expression turning grave. "Remember, it is important to be careful what you are known for. Your reputation can make or break you, especially in the world of magic."

As he spoke, Maximilian stood up from their crouched position, immediately drawing the attention of the dozens of goblins below. He turned to Zeke and told him to keep in mind what he had said, before raising his palm towards the village.

"Pay close attention," he said, before uttering a single word, [Eruption].

Zeke couldn't wait to finally see his teachers magic. But to his surprise, nothing seemed to happen, causing the goblins to let out snickers and jeers. However, their laughter was short-lived as the earth began to shake beneath their feet.

Suddenly, the ground erupted, spewing fire and stone in every direction. The village was reduced to rubble in an instant, the screams of the goblins drowned out by the chaos. It was like the earth itself had stretched out its molten fingers to demand its tribute.

As the smoke cleared, a heavy silence settled over the area. Zeke stared in shock at the immense crater that had replaced the spot where the village had just been. Molten stones dripped to the ground here and there, bathing the area in an eerie, pale light. Zeke had learned that this substance was called magma, but he had never seen it before. He turned to Maximilian, his mind racing with the realization of the power this man possessed.

Zeke watched as Maximilian stood tall, his face a mask of calm, despite the destruction he had just caused. He remembered the full name Maximilian had given him days before: Maximilian Bombastus von Hohenheim. It was a name that demanded respect, one that spoke of power and influence.

As he gazed upon the old man, he was startled by what he found. For an instant, he was allowed to glimpse something behind the veil of agreeableness. He found a man who had seen and done things that most people could not imagine. He saw a veteran of war, A slayer of men, with nerves of steel and a heart as cold as ice. This was a man who could unleash unimaginable destruction with a flick of his finger, and yet stand tall and unshaken.

None of them spoke as Zeke followed Maximilian down the hill and back into the forest, still trying to process the events that had just unfolded. As they walked, Maximilian's demeanor shifted back to the kind, grandfatherly figure that Zeke was used to.

He turned to Zeke and said, "I think thats enough for today."

Zeke nodded, still lost in thought, and followed Maximilian back through the forest, their journey home was filled with a contemplative silence on both sides.