In a strange world as a Doppelganger

Chapter 50 -Bewella

It's been a few days since I learned to fully manifest the water within me. When I returned to the village it seemed somewhat empty. Thi explained to me that there had been a large meeting and most of everyone who had lost their homes had left. Not left as in finding a new place to live, but to level up. I was told the reason the Goblins rarely reach any level above 2 is because they live secluded and calm lives. Apparently one grows in level faster by taking risks and since the goblins often travel in large groups or avoid life and death situations they don't get much of any experience that counts towards leveling up. Those who do take risks and manage to accumulate experience tend to find an early grave. At this Thi noted the once who had attacked me for example. Since no one knew if the soldiers would come waltzing in to kill them all, the once who felt they had nothing to lose made small groups of three or four and decided to leave until they had leveled up. Even with small groups like that and risks above guaranteed survival they are looking at spending months out in the thick of the forest or beyond.

After this, Thi asked me to stay put for a bit. As the minutes passed my mind drifted to the soldiers and I wondered if I should go back there to see what was happening.

Thi returns then, with a young goblin girl in tow. Her face sounder than most goblins and she has more hair on her head. A thick warriors braid of pink and green hair goes down her neck and the sides are shave short.

"This is Bewella", Thi introduces the girl, "She's an orphan since the fire. She was living with her mom and she's part gnome so she has a bright mind."

I look from Bewella to Thi and back again. I introduce myself and Bewella reciprocates the greeting.

"I was hoping that you could take her as your apprentice or something? She's still only level one and hasn't chosen her fate yet. Since she's part gnome she has different options than us other goblins and I figured you might be able to help her in ways we can't."

A fellow outsider then. I can't help but give her a sad and understanding look as Thi explains.

"I'd be happy to help. However, Bewella, you must understand that if you come with me it will be dangerous", I lock eyes with the gnomeblin and focus.

She's indeed level one and has not yet chosen a class.

"Uhm, I don't like scary things," Bewella breaks the eye contact, "But I don't want to be a burden anymore."

I can see Thi's face soften when they look at Bewella.

"Mom said to not pick a class until I was certain about what I wanted to do."

"What did your mom do? If you don't mind my asking?"

Thi explains that her mom was a minstrel who would sing in the big hut during feasts. I faintly remember one of the goblins having a wonderful singing voice.

"Thi, I think we'll be okay here." I nod at Thi who gives Bewella a hug and they say goodbye. A group of goblins have been standing nearby and immediately Thi is thrown into work. It's getting very apparent that Thi has been taking on some sort of leadership role here. Most of the goblins here consider me somewhat of an outsider. They rarely ask me things they would ask their fellow goblins and they let me come and go as I please.

"Come", I gesture for Bewella to follow me and I lead her to the small farmland I made with Vera.

"You made this right?" Bewella asks as we sit down on the log.

"Yes, my friend and I made this, it will help everyone have more food."

"Like hazelnuts?" her feet dangle off the edge of the log.

"Sure, we can try to plant some hazelnut. Bewella..." I look out over the patch of land and then over to the gnomeblin. "Did you have the dream where you see yourself as different people?"

I feel awkward asking, uncertain if it works like that for everyone else or just me.

"Yes, just after last winter."

"Can I ask what you saw? Can you describe them to me?" I reach down and pick a worm from the ground and eat it.

"Well, first I saw me with all these pouches and bottles all around me. Then there was me with a thick book and lightning coming off my hands. Uhm I also saw me with these strange things that would should fire and smoke from them. The last one was me being all sneaky-like and hiding."

Her body language gets more and more animated when she talks. I wonder how she's dealing with the loss of her mother.

"And which one do you think you would have chosen if your mom hadn't said to wait?", those are different from what I saw. Options seem to vary depending on some factors I don't know about.

"Hmm. Maybe the one with the book. Or the one with the Pouches, bottles and things. They seemed the most fun and like they'd be useful to everyone." She makes little gestures like she's pretending to pour things into various containers and holding her hands out.

The one with the book is probably magical similar to me, that'd maybe be the best choice if I am to help teach her. On the other hand I don't think a stranger like me should dictate her choice.

"Bewella, if you're going to travel with me for a while I'm going to need you to choose one. Pick the one you want. The one you think is the most You, okay?" She looks up at me and thinks.

"Okay, I will."

Hello Reader!

Thank you for holding out so long for the new chapter.
I've been dealing with "stuff"*tm*
But now I need your help once again! What class should Bewella go for?
I hope you've enjoyed the story so far and I'll be doing my best to get back to regular releases!

Happy Holidays/ Joceyposer