Humanity's Hero Of Despair

The carriage wheels slow as we enter Muedar, and the change in atmosphere is immediate.

What was once a vibrant border town now stands as a hollow shell of its former self. The cobblestone streets are unusually deserted, with the wooden shutters of houses and shops firmly shut. The royal carriage's arrival is met by wary eyes, observing from behind the window cracks where shadows flicker.

Only a few buildings remain standing, but they all have scorch marks from the fire, their exteriors charred and damaged. The faint breeze swirls the ashes on the streets, revealing strange footprints: deep, haphazardly crisscrossing impressions with clawed toes.

"Is this... all from a dragon?" I say softly, leaning out the carriage window for a better view.

Awakening from his nap, Zephyr sits up, his eyes squinting at the scene. "That definitely doesn't look good."

Beside him, Quillen's normally composed demeanor cracks for the first time. He leans towards the window, his blue eyes squinting intently as he examines the peculiar tracks amidst the ashes. His face pales, and his lips form a tight line.

"Quillen?" I ask, frowning at his reaction.

"These tracks…" he mutters, a mix of confusion and concern in his voice. "Those tracks are definitely from goblins. But why would goblins be here? And with dragons?"

None of us has an answer. The carriage rolls towards the Earl's mansion, the quiet tension growing with each passing moment as the implications of the situation settle in. The high stone walls and sturdy gates are still in place, watched over by a force of armored soldiers. Seeing the royal crest on our carriage, the guards immediately recognize us and allow us entry without question.

Reaching the courtyard, the carriage stops, and we step out into the cool evening breeze. The majestic mansion stands before us, its grandeur a stark contrast to the devastation we've seen outside. This property must have very strong magical barriers. The devastation of the surrounding houses versus the mansion displays the difference in our feudalist system.

The grand doors of the mansion open immediately as the three of us approach the entrance.

"This way please," one of the servants requests as he leads us to Earl Finley's office.

We follow him to the office and wait as the servant knocks and disappears behind the office doors. After about a minute, the servant walks back out and gestures for us to walk inside.

"Earl Finley is ready to see you now."

The servant shuts the door behind the three of us as we stand in awe in the office of the Earl. The office is at least three times the size of the Hero Principal's office. It practically is a library in itself. Sometimes it's easy to forget how wealthy the higher-ranking nobles are in this world.

Earl Finley briefly rises from his office chair. He is a middle-aged man with sharp features and a couple of grey hairs. His choice of clothes is formal and luxurious befitting an Earl. He bows briefly in acknowledgment to us as we stand nearby his desk. He speaks in a strong, formal voice.

"Lord Lotus, General Uracain, and Master Martin, please have a seat. I suspect what you have to say is very important, since you are all coming from the capital."

The usage of our last names throws Zephyr and me off, but not Quillen. I'm so used to being called Nico by the people close to me. That or it is because Earl Finley is very formal today.

We all take our seats. The Earl sits back down. Quillen is the first one to speak for us on behalf of the group, since he is in charge of diplomacy.

"Earl Finley, thank you for meeting with us. We have come on behalf of the crown to gather information about the recent attacks. The reports we have gathered suggest that dragons may be involved in them. We also noticed strange footprints around the area. Anything you can tell us will be invaluable."

The Earl nods slowly in response to Quillen and then replies with something that confirms our suspicions.

"What you have heard is true. Dragon's breath mostly caused the damage you saw in town. They mostly attack during the night, so the townsfolk won't easily see them. The footprints you mentioned are 95% likely to belong to goblins. If this is true, then our situation just became a lot more dire."

Zephyr and I sit in our chairs, shocked. Unable to move. Quillen looks slightly worried, but keeps the conversation flowing. His diplomatic training kicks in. His voice is full of confidence and control.

"I see. How would this be possible, if I may ask? Historically, goblins and dragons are not known for their intelligence. Dragons are more intelligent and value having order in their social structures, while the goblins almost have none. Is it really possible they are working together?"

Earl Finley nods while handing over a stack of paper documents to Quillen.

"Unfortunately, it seems likely that they will get along, even if historically they have not done so. It is possible that the Eradicators' influence changed their behavior. Since the Eradicators are gone, the dragons are the default apex species again. We know the goblins also lust for power, so they may work together. Please hand these research documents over to his majesty."

Quillen gently takes the documents and places them into his bag while replying with a serious and simple: "Will do."

Zephyr leans forward on the desk with a stern look on his face.

"We will report this information and give the documents to his majesty right away. In the meantime, I will send a couple of light cavalry units to Muedar to help prevent further attacks. All of us do not know the game plan yet, but once we do, we will send further aid."

Quillen adds on to what Zephyr mentioned.

"Thank you for your time."

We all stand up, and I thank Earl Finley on our way out of the mansion. The three of us clamber back into the royal carriage and the coachman lashes his reins against the horses. We are soon galloping off back toward Stonelight as the moonlight cascades on us.

Hopefully, we make it back in time before Muedar is in complete ruins.