Chapter 4.1 - A Crackle of Lightning

The party freshened up with much-needed spring water before beginning their descent toward Breezevale.

But Arlen lingered behind.

The others didn’t notice at first—until Lyra glanced back.

“You coming, Guildmaster?”

Arlen’s voice was low, but steady.

“I’ll catch up.”

There was something in his tone that made her pause. But after a beat, she nodded and turned away, leading the others down the trail.

Alone now, Arlen faced the mouth of the cave. The shadows within waited like an open wound. He closed his eyes and listened.

There were still goblins lurking—wounded, hiding, half-feral in their desperation.

That was their nature.

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To scavenge. To multiply. To spill upward into the light again, gnawing at the edges of civilization.

Not from malice, but from hunger, fear, and desperation.

Arlen opened his eyes, gaze hardening.

Survival was a powerful force—but survival did not excuse suffering.

He had seen too many good people lost to misplaced mercy, too many homes burned because someone hesitated, because someone turned their back before the work was truly done.

In the wider world, a larger cast of threats could ravage civilisations, far more than a single adventuring party could handle.

And if he could help it, Breezevale would never know such horrors.

The mage tightened his grip on the staff and stepped forward. He murmured under his breath—not a battle cry, not a warning.

“Crackling through my bones,” he whispered. “Chain Lightning.”

A crooked burst of electric fury shot from the staff’s green mana stone, landing squarely on an unsuspecting goblin in the dark. The sharp crack of impact echoed as the bolt jumped—

—once more

—twice more

—thrice more

Goblin screams followed, brief and panicked, then cut short.

With no further words, Arlen ventured into the cave—emerging only after a few hours.

His boots were soaked in mud, his cloak stained with goblin blood. His face was calm—with no sense of victory, but from resolution.

For today, at least, there would be no more goblin menace from this cave.