After dinner, they all sat around the campfire. Aurora sat there, looking at the campfire. It was quiet, to break the silence, Aurora said.
"So, where are you 2 from exactly?"
Taken aback by the question, both of them looked at each other then to Aurora. Trying to formulate an answer.
"Well, we come from a distant place. Our magic isn't based on incantations however, it is the manipulation of the environment and material. Sort of like Alchemy but different. " answered Tokio.
"Our village is distant and follows different moral and ethical standards than here." Added Ryoichi to Tokio's remark. He couldn't do anything, Tokio had revealed most of their identity.
Aurora smiled, satisfied at their responses as she put her hands forward to bask in the campfire's heat better.
"So, about the second question, what are your dreams?" Asked Aurora, wanting to know what their dream was.
"I want to be a kind of healer in my village. One that doesn't use magic but herbs." said Ryoichi, he didn't think doctors would be a common occurrence here." Said Ryoichi instantly. He had a dream to fulfill.
"I don't know, I was average at everything. Always average. It kind of stresses me out, funny. Isn't it?" said Tokio, replying to the question.
"It isn't necessary that everyone has a fixed path, and you should find solace in that. Maybe destiny has something special planned for you, so don't bother" Said Aurora, trying to comfort Tokio.
"I don't think so, but still thanks." Said Tokio.
"Don't mess up," said Ryoichi before lying down in the tent and going to sleep.
"What do you mean, DON'T MESS UP?" Tokio said, asking Ryoichi as he screamed at him, and he sat back down after he calmed down. He sighed in frustration.
"So, I have a question to ask of you." Said Tokio.
"Go on, ask it." Said Aurora
"What do you think of when you think about a hero? What does it mean to be a hero to you?" Said Tokio, the question was out of the blue. The tone was a bit serious, different from his usual laid-back, lucky tone.
"Well, according to me. A hero is someone who fights for a good cause and makes sure not to overdo it. He doesn't overuse his power if not necessary and helps others whenever he can he is hardworking. And most of all, He treats everyone equally. Regardless of their status or appearance. " Aurora said, further hiding her appearance in the cloak she wears.
Tokio just stayed quiet, hearing her response. As he quickly smiled and said, "Where I come from, everyone is supposedly equal in everything except wealth. I believe in the idea of equality, it might not be possible or maybe true, but it's a beautiful idea, everyone being equal."
Aurora replied to him, "It isn't possible, I know it. No matter how hard the oppressed try, they can never be equal. Either they stay oppressed or become the oppressors of someone below them. "
"I know that not everyone will be willing to change their ideals for something they think is inferior. But it does mean no one will, some might change. You just have to find the people that will, and hey, at least you have both of us idiots with you till you find them." Said Tokio, responding to her.
Aurora smiled a little, "I already found them."
She said as she went into her tent, lying down and going to sleep, her face hidden by her cloak.
Tokio just sat near the campfire. Unaware of Aurora. He had his sword, staying on guard duty.
The next morning, Ryoichi woke up first. He stretches as he walks out, seeing Tokio outside sitting awake as he walks to him.
"You stayed up all night," asked Ryoichi
"Yeah, let's get ready," said Tokio as he started walking to the nearby stream to get ready.
Aurora woke up after a while, as she stretched and walked out. She walked out the tent to get prepared, after which all of them collected around the campfire and which they continued walking to the goblin camp.
After reaching the location, they surrounded the camp but stayed hidden. As Ryoichi looked at the mission, 'hunt the goblin leader', "how am i supposed to identify him, it is likely much bigger or giving orders, but if that's the case. Fighting him will be fighting everyone of them" thought Ryoichi as he signalled Tokio to get behind through tapping on the wood 2 times and tapping 4 times consecutively, Ryoichi concentrated on hearing the taps sent by Tokio. the goblins could very well hear the taps, but they were talking within each other to notice.
the tapping system(modified)
EACH SINGLE TAP REPRESENTS THE CARDNAL DIRECTS
1 tap: north
2 taps: east
3 taps: west
4 taps: south
if the taps are consecutive,
3 consecutive taps: attack
4 consecutive taps: stay on the guard to attack
5 consecutive taps: retreat
6 consecutive taps: distract
Tokio heard the taps as he moved east. Directly behind the goblin leader and his lackeys, as He tapped to Ryoichi 3 times normally and 3 times consecutively, then after a few seconds he tapped consecutively 6 times as he thought, "never thought this cheating method would be this efficient to the point of sending orders. Its simple but effective," thought Tokio.
Aurora looked at them move from the side, not understanding the taps but clearly seeing how they were able to get some semblance of instructions from it. She quickly buffed Ryoichi with strength, seeing him get to the front of the camp. "I hope these 2 idiots have a clear plan." thought Aurora.
Ryoichi suddenly moved in front of the entire goblin camp as they rushed at him. He used his spear to impale one of them, killing it with ease as he turned tail to run away. He knew they would eventually catch him. But his goal was to just lead them away. Half of them stayed there. However, the others would not bother him because they would be too preoccupied at the front of the camp to give Tokio the opportunity to kill the leader.
Tokio quickly came behind the goblin leader and smacked him directly at the head with the wooden sword at full force. If not killing him, at least knocking him out as he quickly attracted the attention of the other goblins as he quickly ran back into the forest. leading the other half away, leaving the possibly dead leader and aurora there.
Aurora understood the goal as she came out the woods, quickly taking out a knife and stood over the unconscious leader. She took a deep breath, telling herself that she needs to do it. She stabs it directly in the stomach and opens its stomach as the blood hit her cloth. She walked back, feeling disgusted. She is a support mage, not a combat mage even combat mages don't like to use hand to hand blows, there's something uncanny with killing something with your own two hands that makes one feel disgusted with themselves, something by which casting mere spells couldn't compare.
She threw her cloak onto the ground, her breath heavy from the shock of killing someone. She couldn't really blame them. They did take a hunting job. This was part of the job, she hoped that Tokio was the one who killed the goblin leader. She stayed away from the carcass, She didn't want to stay near it.
Tokio came running from the forest, there weren't any goblins behind him as he quickly pointed Aurora to follow him. He didn't speak as the goblins might hear them, after she didn't react, he grabbed her hand and ran with her. He had to make sure Ryoichi was safe, and he couldn't leave her there because the goblins might come back. They continued running straight in the direction where Ryoichi could have gone.