I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

The bright full moon hung in the night sky, illuminating the forest clearing in a silvery light.

The campfire crackled as everyone sat around chatting after dinner, creating a rare relaxed atmosphere.

Eileen asked, "What are your plans after we arrive in Waterdeep?"

"I accepted the mission to exterminate goblins before I set off," Xia Lin replied. "Once the caravan reaches the vicinity of Waterdeep, I'm afraid we'll have to part ways with everyone."

"Oh, I see..." A hint of regret flashed across Eileen's face. "I was thinking that if I had the chance, I could take you around Deepwater City."

"Let's wait until later," Xia Lin smiled. "It's not good to delay once a mission is accepted. Every extra day that's wasted increases the risk of the client being harassed by monsters."

Jimmy, who was standing nearby, chimed in: "There should be an Adventurers' Guild in Waterdeep, right?"

"I'm thinking that once I get to the city, I'll see if there are any caravans heading back that I can travel with. More people means a safer journey."

"Yes, and it's much larger than Elwin Town," replied Kaijin, the caravan leader.

He continued to explain: "Deepwater City is one of the most important ports in the kingdom, with a large population. The city has a dock area, a trading area, and an upper city area for nobles and temples."

The number of caravans and ships entering and leaving every day is countless.

Once we get there, I'll ask the other caravans; finding a spot on the return journey shouldn't be difficult."

Jimmy thanked him repeatedly.

Kaijin waved his hand and continued, "You can buy and sell anything there: furs, minerals, spices, and even exotic items from overseas islands."

The Adventurers' Guild offers a plethora of tasks: cleaning sewers, escorting valuables, investigating ruins... as long as you have the skills, you'll never be short of work.

Everyone listened intently, and even Guts, who was leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, tilted his head slightly.

The night breeze was gentle, and the moonlight poured down like quicksilver through the woods and onto the carriages.

The firelight was warm and inviting, the lingering aroma of food filled the air, and the brief moment of tranquility allowed everyone to relax.

For a moment, no one spoke, except for the occasional crackling of the campfire and the low calls of an unknown night bird in the distance.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The pale full moon cast fragmented patches of light through the intertwined branches of the birch forest.

The night fog spread silently, shrouding everything in a damp, cold veil.

"Rustling sound—"

A dense thicket of trees shook violently, its branches and leaves being roughly torn apart.

Two figures staggered out; the boy was about seventeen or eighteen years old, and the girl looked no more than eight or nine.

Both men were dressed in rags, covered in mud and grass clippings, their chests heaving violently, their breathing hissing like broken bellows.

Daring not to look back, they simply moved their leaden legs frantically, blindly fleeing in one direction.

"ah!"

The girl stepped into a shallow pit, lost her balance, and fell heavily onto the ground covered with decaying leaves.

"Bella!" Young Enzo suddenly stopped in his tracks.

She tried to sit up, but as soon as her right foot touched the ground, a piercing pain shot through her, causing her to groan softly and tears welled up instantly.

"My ankle... I twisted it, I can't move..." She grabbed Enzo's arm, her voice trembling with sobs and despair, "You... you run! Don't worry about me! If we delay any longer... they'll catch up!"

When she spoke of "them," she couldn't help but shudder, looking in horror at the dark forest behind her that had swallowed up the path she had come from, as if a monster might pounce out from it at any moment and devour her.

Young Enzo also cautiously glanced back.

The village echoed with screams of agony; long trails of blood were left in the mud as people were dragged away...

Those images burned in his mind.

There's no time to hesitate!

"I will never abandon you!" he said through gritted teeth, his voice unusually firm.

He quickly turned around and crouched down, his back to the girl. "Get on! Quickly!"

Despite the pain, the girl climbed onto Enzo's back and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Enzo took a deep breath and stood up. The girl's weight was not easy for Enzo, and his knees wobbled before he could barely stand.

"Hold on tight," he gasped, unable to discern direction, and took another heavy step toward what seemed to be a slightly sparser area of ​​woods.

We absolutely cannot let those things catch up with us!

Footsteps sounded again, rustling on the fallen leaves, leading into the darkness of the forest.

And from a distant place behind them, a chilling howl could be faintly heard.

The campfire was already dying down.

The watchmen were scattered around the camp. Apart from Xia Lin and Jimmy talking in hushed tones, the only other sound was the occasional chirping of birds in the distance.

"After working for a few more years and saving enough money, I'll go back to the countryside. My family is still there; I need to build them a decent house and marry a virtuous wife..."

Jimmy tapped the ground with his spear, his voice filled with longing.

He paused, then turned to look at Xia Lin beside him. "Xia Lin, what about you? What do you want to do after you stop being an adventurer?"

"Me?" Xia Lin was taken aback by the question.

He was originally a farmer, but those few acres of meager land had long been sold, and it seemed impossible for him to return to his old ways.

"Maybe...we should open a tavern or a restaurant?"

He rarely thinks that far ahead, and he sounded somewhat uncertain.

"That's not bad either!"

Jimmy gestured towards the silent, dark figure under the tree, lowering his voice, "But that guy... he's really difficult to deal with. I haven't heard him utter a single word all night."

Xia Lin followed his gaze.

Guts sat with his back against a large tree, his greatsword resting on his lap, his armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"I guess all powerful people have a bit of an eccentricity," Xia Lin said softly, withdrawing her gaze. "As long as this journey goes smoothly—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Almost at the same instant, Guts, who was under the big tree, opened his eyes without warning.

Its single eye shone as sharply as a hawk's under the moonlight, showing no sign of sleepiness.

He gripped the hilt of the greatsword with one hand, and his body rose abruptly with an agility disproportionate to his size, the steel prosthetic limbs rubbing against his armor with a low creak.

Xia Lin's heart skipped a beat, and her desire to chat vanished instantly.

Something's up!

He gave a low shout, his right hand instinctively gripping the veteran's longsword.

Jimmy, though a beat slower, reacted immediately, gripping his spear tightly and looking warily at the dark woods Guts was facing.

The last vestiges of relaxation in the camp vanished in an instant.

Just then, the sound of snapping branches and suppressed breathing came from behind.

Two figures stumbled out from the dappled moonlight and shadows of the trees.

They were covered in mud, their clothes were torn to shreds, and their bare skin was covered with bright red scratches and teeth marks.

"Help--"

The two staggered and collapsed beside the nearest carriage. Enzo let out a hoarse groan and then slumped down, unconscious.

The camp was instantly awakened.

The caravan leader, Kaijin, had torches brought over, and in the firelight, the horrific state of the two men made him gasp in horror.

After being fed a few mouthfuls of water and having their faces patted, the two slowly regained consciousness, their eyes filled with the terror of surviving a close call.