Chapter 234: Comrade (1/2)
Walking the distance towards the strange, bioluminescent clearing with the overgrown lichens took less time than expected, as Aiden's thoughts continued racing trying to find some answers to his most pressing identity questions.
Arriving at the magical barrier that seemed to withstand and block all outsiders from taking a step inside, Aiden, just like before crossed through with ease. Once done so, he quickly found himself at the other side, the barren wasteland, this horrific, another world with the lone tent-like shack not too far away from him.
In front of it, there was already a large bonfire lit. Its long, tall orange flames danced their rhythmic dance against each other, wiggling and squirting towards high up the sky. The fire was much bigger than what they set in the camp, reaching the heights of the yurt behind it.
Next to the bonfire, the decrepit, old man was already sitting in a stump twiddling the ends of his long silvery beard with what seemed to be a bone from a humanoid's finger…
His gnarled stick, which he mostly used as a traveling aid was resting next to him. Seeing the old man again confirmed his last suspicions; Aiden was now absolutely certain that it was he who kept monitoring them and sent those two on them previously.
Still, from the memories of the absorbed orc, he knew that the old man wasn't the true mastermind, he was merely a pawn, a tool to be used by the being behind him. Although he couldn't see more, he was also fairly certain that even with getting his memories wouldn't reveal much more than likely it would be the same as the goblins leader's.
With that, another thought came to Aiden's mind, his eyes snapped on the very same gnarled, ugly and useless-looking branch with the unusually large red gemstone placed at the top. It was almost the exact same as what the goblin leader had, the same 'holy relic' the entire tribe almost worshipped. He also clearly remembers that the gemstone was 'talking' to the deceased and absorbed goblin throughout his life and pushed him to the top of his tribe and to join the horde as well. It also provided strange, mystical, magical powers to him, and to the warriors with him, turning their frail, weak bodies into fearsome, brutal, bloodthirsty killing machines.
Could that item sitting next to the old man, that walking aid be serving the very same purpose for this old man? Could the source of his powers, this strange barrier surrounding their tribe, his inexplicable methods of keeping watch, whatever other powers yet to be revealed be coming from that same gemstone? What type of connection was this? Where and more importantly: who they were connected to?
Letting his eyes linger a bit longer on the resting walking aid, Aiden, still donning his goblin form calmly approached the sitting old man.
”[Goblin] We meet again, old man.” Despite the anger he felt, he still forced his usual calm and friendly tone towards the old man. At least for now.
Not minding the obvious fakeness in his voice, the old man nodded at the little, green guy's approach.
”[Goblin] Come, take a seat. We have much to discuss and got so little time to do so.” The old man's raspy voice filled the air between them. He gestured towards the second small little tree stump a bit further to his right.
”Hmm…” Giving a light nod, Aiden took the offered seat and looked at the old man. ”[Goblin] Please, begin.” He asked, the friendly, kind smile not leaving his face as he looked at the shaman.
Instead of giving a straight answer, the old man simply smiled. Stopping his current action of combing his beard with the strange piece of bone, he reached out for his walking stick with his frail, bone-like left arm and threw the gemstoned branch in front of Aiden, surprising him with action by a great deal in the process.
Not expecting that he would just simply hand over the staff without any fuss, Aiden was at a momentary loss for words. Silently reaching for the ugly piece of wood, he grabbed it and raised it in front of his eyes, taking a closer look at the scarlet gemstone adorned at its top.
”[Goblin] It is just as you think. They are connected.” The old man's raspy voice once again could be heard as he continued to put all his attention on his own combing.