Right between the eyes.

There are a few times in a person's life that were they feel a moment of absolute clarity. A certainty so storng that instinct seems to take over and the body moves on it's own. Intention becomes action before the conscious mind has any chance to offer doubt or hesitation. Where the path forward is like a thin line that cuts across ones vision before it ultimately coalesces into a single point.

It is in that one instance where possibility can fracture into multiple futures; were something as simple as the wind from a butterflies wings could change all over human history.

This was that moment.

BANG!

The spell had burst forth from my finger before I had even realised that I was pointing at the leader. A trail of arcane energy dissolving into a glitter of light before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. My eyes locked on the sight of the now headless goblin, falling to it's knees before finally slumping one side. There was a sickening sound as the body hit the ground.

Silence.

Everyone had stopped. All eyes were on me. I suddenly felt incredibly self conscious, pulling up my dishevelled dress. With my modestly somewhat restored, i looked up to see ghe rest of the little green bastards retreat.

"Come back here, you cowardly shits!" Cried Vulca as she cleaved in two a few more of the goblins as they fled.

As the adrenaline began to wear off, I felt dizzy, stumbling forward a few paces. "Who's bright idea was it to make me so top heavy?" I said aloud before fatigue took over and I passed out.

"This is starting to become a habit."

Once more I found myself staring up at Vulca's face, but I took my time raising myself, my head thumping. "Are elven ears supposed to ring like this?"

"The tinnitus will pass. You're just not used to fighting yet. Probably got a head rush at the end there."

"You're awfully knowledgeable for an orc." I say, while barely able to sit up.

"I was nurse in my old life. At least I think I was. Like I said before, 'don't remember much after all these years."

"T-then...fuck that hurts...let's focus on the here and now. How likely are we to come across more of those green buggers?"

"If the one you just killed was a tribal leader, then we'll be fine for a while, but if he was just the leader of a warband, then there could be more of them." Vulca turns and look at the headless body in question. "Goblins in the Darkwoods are mostly scavengers. It's likely they were a small tribe and he was their chief."

"Why would the chief put himself in danger like that?" I ask more to distract myself from the pain and dizziness then out of genuine curiosity.

"Probably to make sure the others do as they were told. Most goblins don't respect soft power. If all you do is give orders, eventually an inquisitive gobo will start asking why he isn't the one in charge." Vulca paused to look around the mix of blood stained trees and corpses, the smell of decay already masking the earthy forest aroma. "We need to move. This stench will attract others and the Darkwoods are home to more than just goblins."

"No argument from me, but I might need a moment, 'trees are still spinn-Whooaw!" Before I could finish, Vulca had already picked me into a bridal carry. "W-what are you doing. P-p-p-p-put me down this instant!" I could feel my face burning right red. I couldn't even flail about in protest, her grip was that stong and intimidating, and did my heart just fucking flutter?

"It'll be faster this way, plus I know were there is a checkpoint inn for this area. The next town is at least a days travel and neither of us has had anything to eat."

Guuulllllloooou!

With that, my stomach successfully shut down any further argument from me on the matter.

The journey to the inn was indeed quick, Vulca's powerful orc legs easily striding through the Darkwoods while still managing to be nible enough to avoid low branches and bushes. Even as she cleared the jump of a small river, I could barely feel the landing, nestled securely in her arms I was still dieing inside from embarrassment at the thought of who this must look, but for the first time since all this started, I actually felt safe.Thankfully Vulca let me down as the inn came into view, but a small part of me missed the safty of her strength holding me.

What my orc companion called an inn, looked like a fort. High walls of stone with guard towers surround a large, multi-floored, brick building, with a thatched roof. "You sure this is an inn and not a garrison?"

Vulca smirked. "I did say it was a checkpoint. You need to stop thinking this is like a fantasy novel or game. No one builds a place for travellers, this far out in the sticks, without some sort of protection from the monsters that roam the land. Heck, most farmers here have a small army guarding their fields."

"Oui! You two!" One of the guards on the nearest tower had spot us approaching. "If you're looking to say, you'll need to sign in at the gate!"