𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 [𝐣𝐢𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐱 𝐨𝐜]

Chapter 45 | Gang of Goblins

"Jim. Jim! Can you hear me?"

Liz telepathically connects with Jim, speeding through the neighborhood on her blue KTM Duke 200 motorbike. Its roaring engine shatters the tranquility of what was supposed to be another ordinarily quiet night.

"Liz?" Jim's thought enters her mind. "Liz! I'm here at Claire's place. I see no signs of the goblins anywhere."

"Be on your guard, Jim. They're tracking her as we speak. I'm on my way."

A few minutes later, Liz was turning onto the road leading to Claire's two-story Victorian-style house when she felt a rising panic in her chest. However, this feeling was not hers. "Jim, what's going on?"

"They're here. I'm getting Claire out. We're heading into the woods."

"Got it. I'll find my way to you." Liz parks on the side of the road, climbing off the motorbike as she scans the edge of the woods before entering. However, her telepathic response was met with silence, making her frown in concern. "Jim? Are you still with me?  Is everything alright?"

"There's something wrong with the amulet. It's not working."

Furrowing her brow at his last words, Liz instantly recalls Strickler pausing by the end table, where she saw the amulet rolled beneath. Strickler must have switched it.

Upon realizing the danger Jim is in without his amulet, including Claire, Liz starts running through the woods as she reaches out to Jim telepathically. "Jim, the amulet. It's a fake. Strickler must have switched it."

In the distance, Liz could faintly hear snarling and yelling deep in the woods. The goblins. Wherever those are, Jim and Claire must be there too. "I'm almost there, just hang on."

"The goblins—we're completely surrounded!" Liz heard Jim's panicked tone in her mind. Liz picked up speed, sprinting through the trees. Following the sounds of snarling goblins, Liz hears Claire's screams and Jim suddenly crying out as she feels an odd burning sensation run across her left cheek. Seeing them close ahead, Liz shouted, "By the power of the Arcane, magic is mine to command!"

In a burst of bright cyan light, pieces of silver and gold-trimmed armor attached themselves to her dark navy blue transfigured bodysuit as she held a hand forward, summoning a silver longsword with a golden hilt. Then, with a sweep of her blade, she cast out a massive wave of magic against a crowd of goblins, blasting them away from her path toward the two teenagers. Claire gasped upon her approach in full armor with a glowing sword, looking at her friend in astonishment. "Liz?!"

The Guardian grinned sheepishly. "Hello there."

"Wha – what? This has to be a dream – no, a nightmare." Claire muttered, placing her hands on her shaking head. "I must be losing my mind."

"I'm afraid not, Claire. Things are about to get more real." Liz said, holding up her sword at the ready, as she turned face forward against the growing number of goblins replacing those she killed. Then, she glanced over her shoulder at Jim with a firm gaze. "The amulet. Call for it, Jim. No matter where it is, it'll come to you."

With a nod, he furrowed his brow in concentration, shouting in desperation, "For the glory of Merlin, where are you?!"

Liz stood her ground before Jim and Clare as the goblins advanced, pouncing forward. With each swing of her longsword, she cast multiple waves of magic to disperse the coming onslaught of gremlin-like creatures, their bodies bursting into goo upon impact. As she sliced down another goblin, Liz squinted her eyes, noticing a bright orb of bluish-white light in the distance, heading straight for them. Realizing what it was, she shouted, "Jim! The amulet, it's coming this way!"