Sarah had just finished washing and drying their clothes when she heard the familiar knock and call for breakfast. She smiled. Things had really improved since Silas arrived. They were now offered a couple choices for breakfast. Today was a day they would get fruit. She hadn’t realized how much she missed something as simple as an apple. The nutrition they were receiving from a variety of fruits and vegetables had improved their health and stamina. Silas had argued with the guild that the workers would offset the extra cost of the food with more gold. He had been right. All the workers had benefited from the increased nutrition and wanted to make sure they would continue to enjoy it. They had been working harder, willingly.
“How much sleep did you get Sarah?” Daphne asked as she sat up and stretched.
Sarah rolled her eyes. Daphne was obsessed with sleep. “Enough. Plus, I levelled up my stealth again last night. It’s worth the lack of sleep.”
“Yeah? Good for you. I should level up my hearing magic today,” she said with a yawn.
“How far away can you detect sound now?” Betty asked as she got dressed.
“Well yesterday I could hear the red headed guy muttering about his old girlfriend. He was, what, three hundred meters downstream from us?”
“Wow, that is amazing Daphne. When you get the bow you want, you will be a powerful hunter or warrior.”
“Thanks guys, I would have never considered trying to level up my hearing. But after those cat attacks I was focusing so hard on listening to the forest, it just kind of happened.”
“I haven’t been able to practice my skills while here. Maybe I can ask Silas to let me dance later,” Betty wondered out loud.
“I’d love to see you dance,” Sarah said. “I took dance in school. I loved the music and the creativity.”
“Mmm hmmm, maybe you two can sing or drum for me?” Betty smiled.
“I’m sure somebody in camp has some skills for that,” Daphne said. “Are you ready?”
“Yup,” they replied as they went outside for breakfast. Silas was already enjoying an apple and a bowl of oatmeal. He was sitting with one of the other guards and telling him about a hunting trip he had gone on with his friends. Sarah had found herself curious about Silas. He had chosen an Elf for his character, but he was tall, with dark eyes. She had always thought elven warriors would be blond haired and blue eyed. He had the lean athletic build of an elf though. It made sense that he was so good with the bow. She had been hoping for an opportunity to learn more about him. She sat close enough that she could overhear his story.
The three girls enjoyed their breakfast and set out for the day with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. It got even better when Silas made an announcement.
“The members of the Black Wolf Guild have made a decision. Since we are down some panners, they have agreed to allow a bonus system for anyone able to bring in more than their quota. Each day you exceed the quota, you will receive a point. Collect points to earn rewards such as days off or extra food. Good luck today panners!”
“Yes, finally a chance to get something extra,” Daphne said as they crawled into the water.
“What would you use points for, a day off to sleep?” Sarah chuckled.
“Yes.”
“I would use it for a chance to spend a day making clothes for you two. I could use what you are wearing now and redesign them,” Betty said wistfully.
“Thanks Betty, that would be great.”
“What about you Sarah, what would you use the points for? You could really rack them up with your ability to find the good spots to pan,” Betty inquired.
“I don’t know, I would want to see what kind of options they were willing to give,” Sarah said strategically.
The two girls nodded and went to work. They had extra motivation now. When the lunch whistle blew, they joined the others on the creek bank.
“What have we got today?” Daphne asked the cook.
“Beans and bacon with buns,” he replied proudly.
“Yum,” Betty said as she handed her bowl over.
The girls sat down to enjoy their food. Betty finished quickly and then went to talk briefly with one of the guards.
“What is she doing?” asked Daphne.
“I don’t know,” Sarah said.
“I got permission to dance while everyone eats,” Betty said excitedly.
“Really? Wow, cool,” Sarah said.
“Wish me luck,” she said as she walked away.
“I’m kind of nervous for her,” Daphne said quietly. “It takes a lot of guts to get up and perform. You never know how people will respond.”
Sarah nodded to Daphne and then smiled and gave a thumbs up to Betty. She was on a small rise where everyone could see her. She started with her back to the group. The conversations stopped as her hips started to sway. She raised her arms and began to move them in a hypnotic, rhythmical wave. By the time she turned to face the group, she had them all transfixed. Betty’s face was flushed. She began to step forward, rolling her hips and waving her arms. It was sensual and mesmerizing. Sarah found herself leaning forward not wanting to miss any part of her performance. She wondered for a moment, what it would be like to watch her with music and lighting. She suspected it would be very powerful. Daphne, the guards, and the rest of the gold panners were also transfixed. Betty began moving through the group, making eye contact, and smiling. She was magic.
“Wow,” Sarah whispered as Betty made her way back to where she started, turning her back and ending the performance. Everyone sat in stunned silence until Betty turned and bowed. Then they erupted in claps, whistles and cheers.
“Well, she wasn’t exaggerating about her dancing being magical,” Daphne laughed as Sarah and she watched their friend walk towards them.
“No, she wasn’t,” Sarah smiled.
“Betty, you were amazing!” Daphne said as she hugged her friend.
“Thanks! What a rush. I love performing.”
The group was packing up their lunches and talking amongst themselves. It was a relaxed scene when suddenly a horde of goblins, armed with spears and throwing nets burst out of the forest. The group of gold panners were slow to react. Several were caught in nets before they even had a chance to run. Thankfully, Silas was prepared and had taken up a position where he could fire off arrows at the Goblins. One of the guards had picked a fight with a goblin. They were battling it out on the far side of the clearing. Daphne, Sarah and Betty had run to the creek. Daphne was throwing rocks to keep the goblins back and Betty was using her stick to ward off any attempt to net the girls. Sarah was waiting for when her magic would be needed most. She wanted to make sure she had enough mana in case her friends got hurt.
Sarah gasped as she witnessed the guard get impaled with the goblin’s spear. It was a grisly sight. She turned her attention back to Silas and saw that the goblins had determined he was the greatest threat. They had surrounded him and were using their spears and brute strength to push him into a defensive position. He gave up on his bow and drew out his sword. He made a lunge for the one goblin, but his sword was deflected by the spear. He was fast to recover, but not fast enough to avoid the sharp point of the spear. Sarah watched as the point sunk into his belly. Silas stumbled and tried to raise his sword again, but his one hand was holding his belly. Sarah leapt into action, she harnessed her magic power and sent a blast of water towards the goblins. The water was powerful, it pushed the goblins down to the ground and then sent them rolling towards the edge of the forest.
Congratulations, you have defended against Level 5 Goblin. +50 Exp
Silas was swept up in the water too, but Sarah saw that he had wrapped himself around a tree and was trying to climb up it. Encouraged by the effectiveness of her water attack Sarah began blasting the goblins. It gave the gold panners enough time to wiggle out from under the nets and run to the creek to stand behind Sarah.
Betty was attacking the goblins that were still standing and Daphne was using the deadly rocks to knock them out. Many of the goblins had disappeared into the forest, the rest were strewn around the clearing. The gold panners were quick to loot the bodies. Silas was the only guard, but nobody was running away this time. The three girls ran to where he clung to the tree. He was pale and shaky.
When they had helped him to the ground, Sarah used the remainder of her mana to heal his belly wound. They all watched in wonder as the wound closed and Silas’ color came back. Sarah was happy to see that she had not only healed Silas but increased her skills.
Water Healing +5, Water Manipulation +5
Sarah smiled at Silas. She hadn’t noticed the scar under his eye until now. She would have to ask him about it the next time they had a chance to talk. For now, she helped to sit him up.
“Thanks, all of you. I can’t believe you were able to fight them off. We would all be goblin slaves right now if you hadn’t been so resourceful.”
“Think maybe we will earn some bonus points for our efforts?” smirked Daphne.
Silas laughed. “I’ll sure try!”