After a couple hours of steady walking, Kieran reached the ruins he’d seen when he first stepped into this new world.
They turned out to be the remains of one massive building, seemingly a cathedral. As he’d observed even from a distance, the place was almost completely overtaken by vegetation. Moss and vines covered the walls and crept through what remained of the stained-glass windows. Several holes in the building’s side showed a clear view of a an equally overgrown interior.
Approaching from the front, Kieran saw two statues flanking the huge archway that led inside the ruins. They were identical depictions of a humanoid entity with legs that came to needle-like points. A stone capelet covered most of each torso, though Kieran could see crossed arms beneath. The figures’ faces were featureless, save for a single eye placed vertically in the middle of each forehead.
Oddly, both statues were completely clear of vegetation.
“You do not look like Vahr’Khul…” Kieran gazed at the single eye and pointed legs. “I wonder who you are?”
Setting his curiosity aside, Kieran peeked into the cathedral itself.
Grass and flowers pushed through the cracks in the stones, growing wildly and covering the floor like a natural carpet. Pieces of the collapsed roof were scattered all over the cathedral. Despite the sunlight pouring down from above, this debris cast a decidedly apocalyptic atmosphere over the scene. Still, with all the life growing inside and outside, Kieran couldn’t help but find the ruins cozy.
Then he spotted something entirely out of place.
Nestled between two slabs of carved rock was a small firepit, long extinguished. Beside it, large pieces of debris were laid out with sheets over the top, making Kieran think they’d been used as tables. Crates were positioned around the makeshift tables like chairs. A few empty glass bottles lay discarded in a nearby flower patch.
“Looks like it was left behind by someone more civilized than goblins,” Kieran mused out loud. “I wonder if it was the group the goblins were searching for.”
Looking up at the giant hole where the roof used to be, Kieran noticed the sunlight was turning golden as it announced the approach of evening. If he wanted to find the ring before night fell, he would need to make haste.
As he stepped through the archway, his thoughts wandered briefly to the goblins he’d been warned about. What if they had already reached the cathedral while he was traveling from the forest, and pilfered the ring? How would he even know? Would Vahr’Khul update the quest, or perhaps punish him for failure?
Kieran shook his head. Speculation was pointless. All he could do was make a thorough search.
He decided to begin with the remains of the campsite. First, he lifted the sheets and rolled them up, examining the debris below. As he searched, he continued his long-established habit of carrying on a conversation with himself about his work.
“Whoever camped here is long gone. But why leave these sheets behind? In the case of a monstrous invasion and having to run from home, I’d think people would hold onto anything as if their life depended on it. After all, it just might. Eventually.”
There were two possible conclusions. Either the group who’d camped here had monsters hot on their trail and didn’t have time to pack all of their things, or they had planned to make the cathedral ruins an outpost of sorts. If that was the case, they might just be planning to return at some point.
Hope flickered in Kieran’s chest at the thought of meeting someone friendly soon, but he buried the feeling.
“Expecting something like that will only lead to disappointment,” he reminded himself. “Best to operate as if these people are gone for good.”
Kieran opted to hold on to the sheets himself, and stored them safely in his pack. Random bits of fabric could serve him well in the future. He was keen to prepare for any possibility.
Moving on to the crates, Kieran found some scraps of fabric and empty bottles. It seemed as though whatever useful things the crates might’ve once held were either taken by whoever was staying here or looted by someone else.
Rising to his full height, Kieran scanned the rest of the cathedral interior, looking for anything that might stand out in the debris and greenery. He glimpsed another statue halfway up the wall at the back of the cathedral. Though obscured by a pile of debris reaching all the way up to its chest, it seemed to be roughly the same shape as the two by the entrance.
Deciding it was worth investigation, Kieran walked as close as he could to the statue. The golden light streaming through the open roof clearly illuminated the stone shape. Sure enough, it depicted the same humanoid, single-eyed figure as the statues by the archway. Only this depiction of the figure did not have crossed arms. Instead, it held one hand outstretched, as if offering to help someone up or waiting to take something.
From the pattern of fallen debris, Kieran could only guess that the statue should have been crushed by the caved-in roof, yet what he could see of it was as pristine as the statues outside. It also remained free of any vegetation.
“Divine protection, maybe?” he wondered aloud.
He climbed up the piles of debris for a closer look, moving carefully between the precariously balanced bits of rock and trying to avoid crushing the vegetation.
Suddenly, a stray beam of light reflected off of a metallic object on the statue’s outstretched hand. The light flashed directly in Kieran’s eyes, briefly forcing him to squint. After repositioning, he saw that the object was, in fact, a ring. Platinum and wide-banded, it rested comfortably on the statue’s palm.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“There you are,” Kieran exclaimed, his voice echoing through the ruined interior.
Just as Kieran was preparing himself to continue towards the statue, he heard the sound of footsteps clattering over the stones outside the cathedral. Twisting in place, he looked towards the building’s main entrance to see a group of five goblins meandering inside.
And there are the goblins, he thought, shaking his head. I wonder when I’ll fight something that’s not a goblin.
Quickly, he began descending from the pile of debris.
He was halfway to the ground before they noticed him. The one in front began screeching and pointing at Kieran. All five goblins immediately drew their weapons and charged towards the debris pile.
Kieran drew his own sword and held his ground, waiting for the goblins to close the distance while forming a plan. Fighting all five at the same time was a terrible idea. Instead, he could use the unstable debris to his advantage.
The goblins were only able to climb two at a time. As they scampered up the ruins, Kieran scanned the nearby debris. Spotting a loose rock near him, he moved towards it nimbly, purposefully giving the goblins the impression that he was running away.
The goblins fell for the bait. They sped up their chase, screaming with joy as they scrambled wildly up the debris.
Kieran's expression remained unchanged. He came to a stop and stuck his sword beneath the piece of loose rock. Using the blade as a lever, he sent the debris tumbling towards his enemies.
Caught up in the chase, the goblins failed to notice what Kieran was doing until the rubble was already barreling down towards them. Two of the goblins failed to react in time. They were crushed into bloody pulp by the rubble’s immense weight.
Of the three remaining goblins, one stayed on steady ground, just barely dodging Kieran’s trap. It drew a bow and loosed a quick shot.
Kieran was focused entirely on the other two goblins, who were still climbing towards him. He didn’t notice the incoming attack until the arrow struck him in the thigh, throwing him off-balance.
But he wasn’t ‘thrown’ for long. Assessing the situation with cold precision, Kieran drew Last Breath and flipped it, holding it by the blade.
Let’s see if the army days stuck with me.
Finding the center of the dagger’s weight, he raised it above his shoulder. He had a few seconds before the goblins reached him, and he used the time to take careful aim at the archer goblin. The creature was actually nocking another arrow when Kieran threw his hand forward, releasing Last Breath.
A beautiful silvery sound filled the cathedral as the dagger flew through the air. Kieran’s focus seemed to make time slow down as he traced the blade in flight. The goblin raised its gaze towards Kieran just before the blade landed in its chest with a dull thud.
The goblin’s weapon clattered onto the stones as the creature grabbed at the blade sticking out of its chest. Then the goblin, too, fell to the ground and lay still.
Kieran felt a chill run down his spine, as if an invisible and impossibly cold hand had caressed him.
Of the two remaining goblins, one slowed down to look back at their friend, screeching in anger. The other, finally reaching Kieran, raised its dagger to strike at his legs.
Balancing on his uninjured leg, Kieran swung his blade low, redirecting the goblin’s attack. Then he focused on ‘Mend’ as he swung his injured foot at the goblin. From where he stood, the goblin’s head was at the perfect height for a kick.
The goblin was still finding its balance on the unsteady ground after being parried. It didn’t even attempt to dodge the blow. Kieran’s foot connected with the goblin’s chin even as a wave of cold rushed through his body, trying to close the wound in his thigh.
But the arrow was still embedded in him, preventing the spell from sealing the wound. A sharp pain ran through Kieran’s thigh from the force he put into the kick, and he bit back a cry.
Still, it was enough. Already unstable on its feet, the goblin went tumbling down the ruins. Several loud cracks echoed through the cathedral as the creature hit various sharp edges on its way down.
The final goblin watched its friend break itself on the ruins, then turned towards Kieran with terror in its eyes.
Satisfaction surged through Kieran as he watched the final goblin turn tail and run carelessly down the debris. He followed suit, though moving with much more care. Testing fate amidst unstable ruins wasn’t the best idea.
Vindication came swiftly as the remaining goblin stepped on a loose piece of rubble. Losing its balance, it fell all the way to the bottom of the debris pile, face-first. The creature scrambled to its feet hastily. Not bothering to pick up the dagger it had dropped in the fall, it took off running.
Kieran made his way calmly down the pile of debris. Ripping Last Breath from the chest of its first victim, he took aim one more time before hurling the blade at the fleeing enemy.
The silvery sound of Last Breath’s flight rang out again. A moment later, it struck the goblin in the back, right around where Kieran expected the creature’s spine to be. One pained yelp was the only sound the thing managed to make before falling to the ground, lifeless.
Another impossible, yet pleasant chill ran through Kieran.
Feeling strangely relaxed, he strolled to the goblin’s body and retrieved Last Breath. He called on the weapon’s screen:




Last Breath
A gift from me to you, my Chosen Contender. May you wield it with grace and intent.
Has Slain: 2 goblins. The first of many.




Kieran took time to clean his weapon thoroughly on the goblin’s clothing. Then he turned back towards the statue. Climbing with confidence, he retrieved the ring from the statue’s outstretched hand. A nine-pointed star was engraved along the band.
For a moment, Kieran paused. He half-expected the cathedral to collapse around him, or the voice of another god to call him a ‘plunderer.’
Yet no fanfare followed his actions. The ruins remained silent. The golden sunlight was fading, deepening the cathedral’s melancholy ambience.
Then a screen popped up in front of Kieran:




Quest Complete
Reward: Recall (Spell)




As he dismissed the screen, Kieran realized that the light was fading faster than he thought. Night was about to fall, and he wasn’t too keen on traveling in darkness.
“I guess I’ll use this campsite for my own rest,” he said aloud. “I need to investigate this new spell also. But first…”
Kieran’s eyes swept over the scene, his mind working quickly. Whoever these statues were meant to depict, they clearly still had some power. It did not seem wise to leave this sacred space littered with corpses.
A rare, grim smile settled over Kieran’s features as his gaze landed on the goblin bodies.
“But first… clean-up.”