The goblin remained wary of Oto, but lowered her stance. The relaxed stance also helped Oto calm down.

“If you’ll allow me, I would like to try giving you powers that could help you fight the elves.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well I’ve just started to learn about my Cosmic powers, so I’m not entirely sure how it works. But I feel that I am capable of empowering you.”

Oto’s offer did tempt the goblin, but she couldn’t forgo her uneasiness. Oto had abducted her and could be trying to manipulate her. She had no reason to trust them and Oto understood this as well.

“I’m not saying that I’ll force you to accept this. If you’d prefer, I can just send you away from the mine instead.”

Oto turned to face the fog and a patch began to swirl. Then the fog opened and a bright light appeared and blinded the goblin. It was brighter than anything the goblin had ever seen in her life but after a moment her eyes adjusted and she was able to see again.

The fog had formed a doorway that was framed by two trees on either side. An open field of grass lay beyond the trees that was encircled by trees reaching up to a clear blue sky. This scene was alien to the goblin, but at the same time she felt a familiarity with the forest she couldn’t describe.

She was drawn to the forest and wanted to step forward. She wanted to walk among the trees and breath in the fresh air as she felt the grass beneath her feet. All of it was only a few steps away from her.

But she remembered the other goblins who were still in the mine. She knew they would also want what she did. But they didn’t have the opportunity that she had. Instead they were suffering and needed someone to save them. She couldn’t abandon them.

SHE had to save them.

Resolving herself, the goblin turned away from the portal and faced Oto again.

“Thank you but I would like to go back to the mine to protect the other goblins. Please make me stronger.”

“Alright, just remember I’m still learning how to do this. So please be patient with me.”

Oto looked upward and paused for a moment. Then they closed their eyes and raised their arms. This seemed to cause the fog to blow around them. As this happened, the portal was swept away in the whirlwind. Before it was gone completely, the goblin took in one final glimpse of the forest before it vanished completely.

“Uh, is this supposed to be happening?”

The goblin looked back at Oto, who was looking upwards again. Then she saw the lights in the fog. They were the same hue as Oto and formed a ring around them.

[ The relics have acknowledged you as a challenger. ]