PAREDISO

The Valley

Y/N's fate was still unknown, many from the monestary and surrounding outposts searched throughout the region, yet neither has came up with anything. Although, he did leave a trail behind, an reconnaissance team was set to track and reclaim him. Even they themselves have not returned yet, and it has been a day. Henrietta was a mess, she couldn't think properly, her back slightly bruised from what occurred some nights ago. She couldn't blame Y/N for what happened that night, Henrietta cares about him too much to have anger over. The auburn eyed girl and several survivors appeared by Henrietta, she was seen alone in the main hall on a bench.

Auburn Eyed Girl
"Miss Henrietta, what happened back there, i never thought he would be so livid".

Henrietta
"It's best if you don't know, it isn't your battle to fight, besides, i would never tell a soul about my love's secret".

Auburn Eyed Girl
"You love him? I mean, it makes sense with you two acting like kids around each other and hugging".

Henrietta
"No, i love him more than a husband, what i feel about Y/N surpasses lust entirely, i respect and honor him in every sense for what he's done for me. If i could give my heart i would do it in a heartbeat.

Henrietta begins to slowly tear up, small droplets of tears slide down her cheek, she smiles and quickly wipes away to hide her sorrow from the girls.

Henrietta
"I love him even it means me losing my life, i know he'll do the exact same thing for me. Now, he's somewhere on a fools mission that is pure suicide, and i can't do anything to save him. I feel so useless, he could be rotting somewhere yelling for help and i wouldn't hear it".

She begins to ball into tears, her teeth grit as small droplets fall onto a book, her hands clutching against the fabric of her gown. The survivors looked at Henrietta with sorrow and discontent, she was truly hurting.

Henrietta
"May i please have a moment, i- i wish to he alone right now, i don't want to bother you two right now".

With quick haste, Henrietta exits the main hall and enters into a hallway, leaving the auburn eyed girl alone. One of the survivor's looked towards the front, her eyes gazing onto a man pinned onto a cross, several roses placed below his feet. Some statutes lay beside him, roses placed before them.

Auburn Eyed Girl
"Where ever he is, i hope he comes back, for us and for her especially".

Across the vast grasslands and forestlands lay the reconnaissance team on horseback, arquebusers, crossbows, and axes equipped onto their horses. The stench of decomposing matter could be smelled for miles, it grew stronger and stronger as they reached the area. Some of the horses were spooked, some were forced to lead their horses in by foot. They expected a small raided caravan, what they didn't expect was a battlefield filled with corpses. Among the dead layed goblins, torn to pieces or heads completely blown off. The remnants of giant hobgoblins were gutted and rotting against roadside, serving as artifical barricades for the last surviving goblin forces. It was a sight never to be forgotten.

Vultures appeared within the ranks of the dead, hundreds of them devouring the remnants. However, one of thr reconnaissance rangers noticed something odd about the dead, the color of the skin. Among the fallen were freshly killed goblins, their bodies not having completed the course of rigor mortis, someone has beem here hours ago.

Reconnaissance Ranger Ymir
"If I'm correct, our boy has been through here a couple hours ago. One of the corpses had fresh gunpowder in their skull, let's keep moving".

Reconnaissance Ranger Lancelot
"What the hell happened here? I never seen so many casualties, this has to be a grand battle. But- why is there only goblins?".

Reconnaissance Ranger Ymir
"The savages must've turned on each other, i never seen anything like it actually, usually they love pillaging together but this? This is something we need to report back home when we get back".

The team rides off into the forest, the further the travel the more of the bodies appeared, the trail continues down into a mountain side where the bulk of the grand battle occured. Goblin corpses layed hung on trees, their necks snapped and crushed by steel chains, a writing was etched onto a tree. The letters were clear as day, a moment that the squad will never forget.

"This what happens to traitors"

Reconnaissance Ranger Arthur
"This all doesn't make any sense, the damn things don't even speak english let alone write something so clear. First killing each other and- of my god".

The squad comes across a pit of charred goblins, some were burned down to the very bone. Small thatched housed were burned, stone forts were toppled over. None of it could compare when they uncoverd half eaten bodies, large chunks of head were bitten clean off, large slash wounds were open, bone was visibly shown. It was clear that they bodies were beaten and torn by hand, bones literally yanked out of the body.

Reconnaissance Ranger Ymir
"We better find Y/N fast, this place isn't right, it's all backwards".

Their trail leads them deep down into a valley where a large excavated cave was shown, the mound of fallen goblins appeared more frequent. Where ever Y/N is, he's down in the rabbit hole with a death wish of all things. With their weapons readied, the squad enters deep into the unknown, following the trail.

Reconnaissance Ranger Ymir
"Care to say a prayer?".

Reconnaissance Ranger Lancelot
"though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"

Reconnaissance Ranger Arthur
"At least I'll die with you all, that makes things way better for us".