I went to meet up with Bartz and the others again the next day. Roc and Waluf were there too. They were all carrying their respective weapons, aside from Jella.

“Here Sven, take this.” Waluf handed me the spear that I used yesterday.”

“Scalus agreed.” Roc uttered.

“Thank you. I will do my best not to be a burden.” I took the weapon.

“Alright, Sven! If we fight together, we’ll be the strongest!” Bartz wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

“You wish! I bet even with both of you combined, you will still not stand a chance against Jella!” Waluf laughed.

“Ha? You talk as if you can beat her, Brother!” Bartz argued.

“I didn’t say that. I am only pointing out that you can’t be the strongest even with his help.”

“It is time. Let’s go.” Roc started walking.

Without further delay we started tailing him. It was a long way before we finally reached the exit. It was blinding.

The outside world was not new to me. But being trapped in the caverns for a few days made me sensitive. It was a struggle to keep my eyes open, yet it was not all that bad. The air did not feel this good back inside.

The open sky that I was expecting was only slightly visible. It was covered by the leaves and branches of the dense forest around us.

“What is today’s objective?” I inquired.

“Defeat the hostile. Then take their meat home.” Roc answered.

“Listen Sven, we live here by the rule that we will only kill those that fights back. You got it?” Waluf instructed.

“But you eat the meat of monsters? Does that even taste good?” I asked.

“It does! It’s addicting! If only I could eat them every day! I wou-” Bartz excitedly described

“Enough.” Roc glared at the boy.

“Are those the monsters you were talking about?” I pointed ahead with my spear.

“That’s them. Why don’t you describe them for us?” Waluf asked.

“They look strange. They are carrying weapons and wearing clothes and armor. Yet their wrinkly skin varies from light grey to blackish. They have overgrown teeth and black circles for eyes. There are five of them.” I did as he said.

I slew a single goblin before. Aside from that, I only saw monsters from the books. The ones ahead were not something that I encountered while studying.

“We’ll scare them. If they fight, we’ll kill them. If they flee, we’ll leave them.” Roc commanded.

The rest of us nodded to tell him that we understood his instructions.

Roc charged and then we followed. They were all screaming loudly. It must be an act in order to intimidate the enemy. As the noises we made were loud, the monsters were quickly alarmed.

Instead of being afraid, they charged back. Roc continued rushing. He was able to knock off the weapons pointed at him, and chop them off one after another. He instantly was able to kill three in one go.

There were only two left. Waluf killed one using his two handed sword. I slew the last one by piercing its neck. None were left for Bartz and Jella who ran behind us.

Just like that, my first patrol was over.