by Kyle Vauss
We spent the next day trekking north, toward the point on the map where Gabber would leave us to find his clan. His goblin army marched behind him, looking more disciplined by the day. Along the way, we took a diversion to a second spawn point and collected a dozen soldiers for Gabber.
With every step north we took, my legs felt heavy. Gabber tried to talk to me, but I just didn’t feel like it. I felt sadness weighing down on me, making each step a chore.
It was crazy. I’d started this whole thing wanting nothing to do with Gabber. But now that it was almost time for him to go, I felt like just turning around. I wanted to delay the moment.
There was no stopping it, though. It was almost the evening when I checked my map and found that we were nearly at the northern edge of the game world.
Ahead of me, a line of craggy mountains formed a border at the edge of the map. This was the Infarna devs’ way of saying ‘this is the edge of the game world and you can’t go any further’. It was the last thing I wanted to see.
We walked until we reached the mountains. There was a solitary path running through them, and that was where Gabber would go. I knew that even if I tried to follow him, I would hit an invisible barrier, and I’d have to turn back. This was the end for us.
We stopped. My legs felt heavy, and my chest was tight. Gabber walked toward me, but I almost didn’t want to look at him. When I did, I realized how much he’d changed. His over-sized, frilly shirt was gone. It was replaced by shining goblin armor that made him look every inch the clan chief. He carried himself better, standing taller, his axe swinging off his back.
Loria walked over to Gabber. She grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. “It’s been nice meeting you,” she said. “Go and take back your clan.”
Then she looked at me. “I’ll give you guys a minute,” she said.
This was it. I felt sadness well up inside me. I wondered what it would be like when Gabber was gone. How would I feel? Would I be empty, like I was when I first met him?
Gabber walked over and stood in front of me. Despite his proud appearance, when he spoke, his voice cracked.
“All I ever wanted was to be part of something, he said. “I always wanted to meet a human who didn’t hate goblins. I thought I’d never find one, but then I met you.”
“Come on buddy,” I said.
Gabber had tears in his eyes. “I hope this isn’t the last time we meet, Tom,” he said.
He called me by my real name. I didn’t know how he knew it. Maybe he’d heard Crawford say it. This was getting too much. Emotion overwhelmed me.
Without thinking, I grabbed Gabber and pulled him toward me. I gave him a long bear hug. When we separated, I knew that Gabber’s goblins were staring at me, but I didn’t care.
“Thanks,” I told him.
It seemed like such a stupid, simple word, but I meant it more than anything. Gabber had helped me more than he could ever know. If it wasn’t for him I’d still have been alone and empty, running away from my past.
I put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you,” I told him. “Go and get your clan back. Be their ruler. You can do it.”
He nodded. “I know that now. I just wish you could come with me.”
I felt myself choke up. “Me too, buddy. But you don’t need me. And who knows? Maybe we will meet again.”
“I hope so.”
“You’re a true friend, Gabber. Now go. Before I get even more emotional.”
Gabber barked an order at his soldiers. He gave one last look at Loria and me, and then he turned his back and walked away. My legs felt heavy, so I sat on the ground. I wanted to look away, but I forced myself to watch my friend leave.
I watched as he walked toward the mountain path, with his little soldiers trailing behind him. He reached the point where the game map ended. He stopped.
He turned around, and waved at me. I nodded, then waved back.
With that, Gabber set out onto the mountain path. His body faded the further away he got, until finally he disappeared completely.
Now we were alone. Just Loria and me, with the wind swirling above us and the daylight trying to break through the clouds. Loria walked over to me and smiled.
“What now?” she said.
I didn’t say anything for a time. I kept looking back at the mountain path and wondering if Gabber would suddenly reappear.
“You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?” she said.
I took a deep breath, and then nodded. “Yeah. A little.”
“Come on, Tamos. You can’t fool me.”
“I can’t get rid of you, either,” I said, smiling.
She laughed. “Nope. Not now that you accepted my friend request.”
I turned away from the mountain. Gabber was gone. He was fulfilling his destiny, and although I would never see him again, I was glad for him.
I had a lot to think about. I wondered if Crawford would follow through on his threat, and try to have me fired. Then I realized that I didn’t give a damn. Why would I want to go back there, anyway? I could sell my sword and earn enough to pay off my debts. I didn’t need to worry about a new job straight away.
It was time to stop grinding, and have a little fun in Infarna.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go.”
Loria looked at me. “Go where?”
I stood up. “Ulrip caverns. I heard you always wanted to go there. Well, now’s your chance.”
Together, we walked away from the mountains. We would fast travel to the caverns in a while, but for now, I just wanted to walk. I held my sword at my side and listened as the tip dragged along the ground.
I knew that I’d always miss Gabber. I’d miss his inane chatter, his frilly shirt, hell, even his never-ending songs. It didn’t matter, though.
I realized that I didn’t feel empty anymore. I didn’t need to leave the country, I didn’t need to run from my past. From now on, the only direction I’d look would be straight forward.
The End
Thank you for reading The Goblin’s Shadow!
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I’d like to thank a whole load of people who read this before publication and gave me valuable advice. Thanks alot everyone, I really appreciate it! In no particular order, a massive thank you to these great people:
Cory J Grimes
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Steve Wright
Troy Calandra
Mahfuzul Alam
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Tony Braddon
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A J Whitfield
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