I kept my weapons ready, the twin swords and spears balanced perfectly in my four mechanical arms. The modifications I'd made to this body served me well as each joint moved in perfect silence, the gears and pulleys all cushioned with strips of cloth and leather.
A branch snapped somewhere in the distance. I froze, my Mind Sight sweeping the area in a perfect arc before me. Nothing moved except the leaves stirring in the night breeze. The pitch black night meant little to me; I saw almost as clearly as I had during daylight.
Human memories flickered at the edges of my consciousness. I remembered seeing with eyes once, remembered how the dark forest would have appeared to human sight as just shapes of deeper black against black. But those memories felt distant, unreal compared to the clarity of my Mind Sight.
I moved forward again, each step calculated and precise. My mechanical body responded perfectly to my commands, the product of countless adjustments and refinements. The asymmetrical helmet I'd crafted swiveled smoothly as I scanned the surrounding area, looking for any sign of disturbance or passage.
The forest floor told its own story: here there was a broken twig, there a scuffed patch of earth. But nothing fresh enough to matter. Nothing that spoke of killers in the night.
I continued my patrol, each one of my mechanical steps precise and calculated. The forest teemed with life around me. Deer were nestled against tree trunks, their breaths slow in sleep. A fox stalked through the underbrush, its mind focused on some small prey. Insects danced through the air like motes of awareness in within my mental sight. I paid them no attention, my four arms keeping the weapons ready as I moved.
Hours passed, with the moon tracking slowly across the sky above the canopy. I then saw something that caught my attention: a scrap of fabric snagged onto a thorny branch. I approached, my joints silent as I reached out for it with one mechanical hand. The cloth was worn, frayed at the edges where it had torn free. Not new damage. This had been part of an old shirt.
I moved forward with greater caution, each step placed with deliberate care. My Mind Sight swept the area constantly, seeking any sign of movement. Through the trees ahead, I detected the flickering glow of flames.
Creeping closer, I positioned myself behind a thick wall of brambles. The campsite beyond was chaotic; this was no orderly arrangement of supplies or sleeping areas like humans would make. The fire burned sloppily, belching smoke in all directions. Waste and filth lay scattered about with no regard for cleanliness.
But what drew my attention were the piles of stolen goods near the center of the messy camp. Bags of grain and vegetables taken from farmers' storage. Heaps of clothing. Farm tools that could only have come from the murdered families' homes. All gathered here in messy clusters.
Near the poorly-made fire sat a tiny figure, no more than three feet tall. Its skin was a sickly green, its body thin and angular beneath tattered rags. Large ears flopped at the sides of its head, and a long, hooked nose protruded from its face. In all my limited memories, I had never encountered such a creature.
I studied the being from my hiding spot, mechanical fingers tightening around my weapons. The small figure hunched near the fire, gnawing on what looked like a raw potato. Its movements were jerky, nervous; not the fluid motions of a practiced killer.
My Assembly-crafted joints moved silently as I shifted position. The stolen goods scattered around the camp told their own story, but something didn't add up. Those families had been butchered in their beds, their deaths violent and savage. This creature looked barely capable of lifting a sword.
Stolen story; please report.
I activated Analyze, the ability Harke had helped me discover. Blue text appeared in my Mind Sight:
Name: Vom
Level 1
A mere Level 1. The thought of this weak creature overpowering entire families was absurd. Even the children in those homes could have fought off something this feeble.
Harke's words echoed in my fractured memories. He'd spoken of intelligent monsters living among humans, forming communities, having lives and relationships just like any other person. This one was clearly sapient. The camp, though messy, showed planning. The creature wore clothes, used tools, and had organized its stolen goods.
I loosened my grip on my weapons slightly. Violence might not be the answer here. If this creature was truly like the intelligent monsters Harke had described, perhaps it could provide information about the real killers.
I emerged from the brambles, my mechanical body moving with deliberate slowness to avoid appearing threatening. The creature's large ears twitched at my approach, and it spun around, dropping its potato with a squeak of terror.
I leveled my main sword at the small creature, who immediately threw its hands up in surrender, dropping to its knees.
Who. Are you? What are you. Doing here? My Mind Speech reached out to him.
The creature bowed repeatedly, its movements frantic and desperate. "Please great metal master, Vom just eating potato. Vom very hungry. Not steal much, just little food." The voice was screechy, like a dying mouse, but its intonation marked the monster as male. The words came out in a strange, guttural language I'd never heard before, yet I understood every syllable perfectly.
A memory surfaced and I recalled seeing in my status box an entry for Language Comprehension, Rank S. The ability to understand any spoken and written language.
Not what I meant. I kept my mechanical body still, trying not to frighten him further. Why are you here? In Weath? Whose camp is. This?
"This camp belong to master Gomka." Vom's voice trembled. "Vom keep camp clean for master and others when they return from raids."
Master?
"Yes, yes. Vom slave. Gomka take Vom from his village many seasons ago. Gang very strong, very mean. They raid all northern kingdoms." His large eyes darted around nervously. "Vom not allowed to fight. Not allowed to level up. Must stay in camp, clean things, fix broken weapons, clean shit off boots with tongue."
Something in my chest tightened at his words. This creature, barely more than skin and bones, trapped in servitude. My mental sight notices the various scarring and bruises on his pale green skin.
What are you?
"Vom is goblin." He tugged at his ragged clothes. "Monster race. But Vom not bad monster. Vom just want to live."
I studied him through my Mind Sight. A goblin, another intelligent monster like myself. But unlike me, he had no means to defend himself, no power to fight back against his oppressors.
I suppose Harke was right. Intelligent monsters were very similar to humans. Even they had scum among their numbers.
Tell me. Your master and his. Gang. How strong? I kept my weapons lowered, trying to appear less threatening to the trembling goblin.
"Very strong, very strong!" Vom wrung his hands together. "Master Gomka strongest of all."
Levels?
Vom shook his head. "Vom don't know. They very strong, though. Once, they broke Vom's hand with a slap!"
I gritted my sharp teeth in irritation. This creature was useless. Damn it, I need information!
How many? What weapons do. They use?
"Ten, besides master Gomka." Vom counted on his thin fingers. "All have big weapons. Swords, axes, bows. Very scary. Master Gomka strongest but others very strong too."
I frowned at his vague description. To a Level 1 creature, anyone would seem formidable. His assessment told me very little about their true capabilities.
Where are they now?
"Master Gomka take others to hoomi village. Say they going to have fun." Vom's ears drooped. "Always have fun. Always make mess for Vom to clean."
My mechanical body went rigid. While I'd been questioning this pathetic creature, the real threat was heading toward the defenseless village.
Come with me. I reached for the goblin. Now.
"No, no!" Vom scrambled backward. "Master Gomka beat Vom if leave camp. Break bones, cut ears, worse things." He hugged himself, trembling. "Vom must stay. Must clean. Must be good slave!"
Anger surged through me. I didn't have time for this!
You stay, I will kill you. Myself.
My mechanical arms raised their weapons.
Choose.
Tears welled in Vom's large eyes. "You mean like master! All strong ones mean to poor Vom!" But he stumbled forward, reaching up with shaking hands.
I scooped him up in one of my mechanical arms, careful not to crush his frail body. Then I ran, my enhanced legs carrying us swiftly through the dark forest. Each stride ate up the distance as I raced back toward Weath, praying I wasn't too late.