The Two Hunters

Gnome Your Enemy

Y/n POV:

Another day, another one of Blinky's lectures. It made me feel like I was back in magical world studies class at the Hunter Academy. But much to my surprise I was actually enjoying this story. I wasn't really taught much about trolls so the fact I was given the chance to learn made me happy. Though I couldn't say the same for my skinny legged friend, Jim, who had started snoring not even five minutes after the book was opened. I could've woke him up but I noticed the Spanish textbook in his lap so I just let him be.

Blinky pulled the book away from his vision finally noticing the sleeping male beside me. He groaned, walking up to the younger holding the book in front of his face. The troll slammed the book shut the loud noise scaring Jim awake. "Lo Siento, Senor Draal! No me mates!" He pleaded in Spanish.

"The training of troll history might seem like a minor duty, Master Jim, but-" "Sorry, I pulled an all-nighter studying for my Spanish Comprehension exam and my brain is muy gooey." Jim quickly interrupted apologizing. "I don't know. I guess I thought if I'm facing Draal in a week, my training would be a little more... active." He said rubbing the back of his head. "I could try kicking you in the face while you dodge to test your reflexes. Is that active enough for you?" I teased, snickering a little. "Ha-ha very funny." He rolled his eyes before standing up to stretch.

Toby and I followed his actions standing up as well. "Before one fights, one must understand why one fights." Blinky explained holding the book closer to his chest to show example of what he was trying to say. "Well, tomorrow, my Spanish exam is with Senor Uhl "the Unforgiving." My main concern is for my immediate future." Jim told the other.

"A-ha! But, to learn what will happen in the future, one must only look to the past. I recommend A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore by the venerable Bedehilde. Volume one of 47." Blinky said before dropping the heavy book into Jim's hands. He groaned his body dipping forward not used to added weight. I chuckled at his reaction causing him to shoot me a glare. My smile faded when the sound of rapid footsteps approached us. We turned to see a green female troll with spiky hair running up to us before coming to a stop out of breath. "Oh, no. Is it the Heartstone?" Blinky asked worriedly. "No! No!" She exclaimed. "Stalkling?" AAARRRGGHH asked.

"Vicious magic wolves in Trollmarket?" Toby tried to guess. "Oh wow." I gave him a look in response to the subtle jab. "No! Gnome! Rogue gnome!" She cried finally giving us an answer. 'Not gnomes' I grumbled in my head remembering my last run in with one. It took 2 days to catch that thing and even longer to get the stuff it stole back. This was not gonna be fun at all.

*Bagdwella's Shop*

"First, I couldn't find my monocle, then my collection of bed coils. Now, something disappears every minute!" The troll who's name I learned was Bagdwella recalled as we entered her shop. She walked over to a nearby stool about to sit when in a flash it was gone. Obviously she fell, landing with a thud. I heard faint giggling afterwards and started looking around trying to find the pest while Blinky helped her up. "Fix this, Trollhunter!" Bagdwella yelled at Jim, flailing her arms.

"Uh, yeah, I'm really sorry about that. See, you need a gnome-catcher, and I'm, well, the Trollhunter, so" He turned ready to leave when Blinky stopped him. "Oh, no, Master Jim. The Trollhunter cannot refuse the call. And what better a call for you to train with than a pint-sized quarry?" The older smiled, gesturing to the gnome that had paused for a moment before running around again. Jim sighed looking back at me. "Is kicking me in the face still on the table?"

I shook my head, backing up to show I was staying out of it. He's the Trollhunter if that calls for him to hunt gnomes too, who am I to stop him? Granted I will help him catch the thing because they annoy the crap outta me.