Chapter 31: The Shadows Within
Days had passed since the Goblin King's defeat, but the village was far from recovering. Srabon stood atop the newly reinforced wall, overlooking the forest. Dark clouds loomed overhead, a storm brewing both in the sky and in his mind.
"How's the construction going?" Srabon asked as Magnus approached.
Magnus wiped sweat from his brow, his muscles taut and tense. "We're running low on wood and stone. The Goblin King's raid hit us harder than we thought."
[Quest Updated: Rebuild and Fortify the Village. Collect 3000 more Wood and 2000 more Stone.]
Srabon grimaced. "What about the goblin scouts? Any sightings?"
"None," Magnus said, his eyes narrowing. "It's too quiet."
Srabon nodded, his gaze drifting to the forest. "Too quiet means they're planning something."
"And what about Leto's sister?" Magnus asked, his voice lowering.
Srabon's expression darkened. "She still hasn't spoken. Mira's trying to get through to her, but... it's like she's somewhere else."
Magnus sighed, clapping a heavy hand on Srabon's shoulder. "You did all you could, Chief."
Inside the village hut, Mira sat beside Leto's sister, Aria. The girl's eyes stared blankly at the floor, her knees drawn to her chest. Mira tried to smile, offering her a bowl of warm soup.
"You should eat," Mira said softly. "You need your strength."
Aria didn't respond. Her lips trembled, her hands clutching the torn edges of her dress.
Mira's heart ached. "Aria, I know you're scared. But you're safe now. Srabon and Magnus made sure of that."
Still, no response.
Mira sighed, standing up. As she turned to leave, a faint whisper caught her ear.
"He's coming back."
Mira's eyes widened. "What did you say?"
Aria's eyes remained blank, her voice hollow. "He's coming back. He said he would."
"She said what?!" Srabon exclaimed, pacing the war room. Mira and Magnus stood before him, tension heavy in the air.
"She said the Goblin King is coming back," Mira repeated. "But he's dead. You killed him yourself."
Srabon clenched his fists. "Unless..."
[New Quest: Investigate the Goblin King's Resurrection. Reward: 2500 Gold, 1500 Elixir.]
Srabon's heart pounded as the system's notification flashed before his eyes. "If he's still alive, then we're all in danger."
Magnus slammed his fist on the table. "We need to find out how."
Mira nodded. "And fast. If the Goblin King truly has a way to come back, then our village isn't safe."
Srabon took a deep breath, his jaw set. "Prepare the troops. We're going back to the cavern. We're going to find out what's really going on."