The first generation

The women got much more comfortable and calmer over the following days. Even though they were still restrained at all times, they could comfort each other, had light, food and water, Flinch would go as far as to say they were adapting well.

He still went through his daily routine of meditating, hunting and training, but with the time left he spent time with the two. At first they were **** to open up, but over time he wore them down with teasing and prodding. They talked about how they were sold to the Temple of the Goddess as children by their poor parents and how they didn’t know much besides the faith and fighting. Flinch did notice that there didn’t seem to be any longing to go back to the temple from either of them.

Then the day came. Flinch returned from another successful hunt to be greeted by the two women and eighteen little goblin babies. Astra didn’t seem to know what to feel, torn between motherly pride and residual disgust towards the goblin race. Valery on the other hand was beaming, “They are all healthy and strong!”, she sounded relieved and with a blush she added, “It was as you said, almost no pain and even… pleasurable.”. Flinch grabbed her cheeks and kissed her, he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t know what transformation was happening in the minds of the two, but hearing Valery talk with pride about the children filled him with joy.

At just a glance it was obvious which children came from which mother. Ten of them were very large and would grow up to be strong fighters, Flinch was sure that they were born from Astra. The other eight looked slightly smaller, if still larger than a normal goblin, but they all had a certain magical glimmer in their eyes he had only seen in Valery.

Flinch retrieved the keys and unlocked Valery’s restraints. She looked confused, “W-What are you doing?”. “You can’t properly care for them while tied up.”, Flinch replied and walked over to Astra. He gently placed a hand on her cheek, “I thank you for giving me strong children. Sadly I can’t trust you yet to not harm me or them if I free you.”. “I wouldn’t harm them!”, she blurted out, seemingly surprised at how offended she got at the implication. After a long pause she added, “They are my children too.”.

Flinch genuinely smiled, “I am very happy you feel that way, you could teach them many things.”. Astra blushed and averted her eyes. Flinch turned towards the bundle of lively goblins, already playfighting on the ground and trying to walk, “You are the first generation of my children. You are my pride and joy and in time you will become mighty and feared far beyond these woods.”.

A lofty claim for what was a lonely goblin fighting for survival just three weeks ago, but Flinch felt that great things were ahead of him.