Exiastgardsun Chronicles – Twelve Fruits of Creation

The swamp behind them, the party stepped into the dark woods of Nythvare. No gates, no guards, only twisted trees and low-hanging fog. The air was damp and heavy, the ground soft with rot. Shadows moved, but nothing stepped forward. From behind gnarled roots and mossy boulders, adult goblins watched in silence. Yellow eyes glinted from the gloom, cautious and unreadable. Whispers rustled like wind through the branches. The elf children didn't belong here, and everyone knew it.

"This place is... cozy," Kyle muttered, stepping around a muddy patch.

"No shops, no stalls," Gabyola noted calmly. "Feels like we went back in time."

"A village in the Stone Age," Yuuna said, voice neutral.

Kyle blinked. "Stone age? What's that? Like, rocks everywhere?"

Yuuna turned a page in her book. "It refers to a time when tools and weapons were made primarily of stone. No metalwork, no electricity, no structured economy. Just basic survival."

Kyle scratched his head. "So... they hit stuff with rocks and hoped for the best?"

"More or less," she replied. "It was humanity's earliest era. Crude, but foundational."

"Sounds boring," Sinryo muttered. "No money in rocks."

Yuuna smirked faintly. "Depends who's selling."

Suddenly, a voice chirped, "Hey! You guys don't look scary!"

From behind a bush popped out a goblin child, green skin, oversized ears that twitched with excitement, and wide amber eyes full of mischief. A scruffy tunic hung loosely over his frame, and strapped to his back was a comically large wooden sword, worn at the edges from practice, or play. He stood proudly, puffing out his tiny chest.

"Name's Gobuchiemon!" he declared with dramatic flair, one hand on his hip and the other pointing skyward. "But you can call me Gobu!"

The elves blinked. The goblin beamed.

Fahleena gasped, twirled her keyblade, and struck a dramatic pose. "At last! A worthy creature appears from the shadows! Rejoice, for destiny has brought us together, Gobuchiemon!"

Kyle raised a brow. "Is this goblin...friendly?"

"I wanna play," Gobu grinned.

Kyle's eyes glinted with mischief the moment Gobu finished his declaration. A grin slowly crept across his face.

"I have a plan," he said ominously.

Sinryo sighed. "I already know it's a bad one."

"You haven't even heard it yet."

"I don't need to. I can see the chaos forming in your eyes."

Gigih, standing beside them, nodded blankly. "Sounds fun."

Without waiting for permission, Kyle declared, "We'll babysit him."

Sinryo groaned. "We're going to regret this."

"Yay! Adventure time!" Gobu cheered, latching onto Sinryo's arm.

"...I'm not a ride," Sinryo muttered, but let it happen.

---

The rest of the party made their way back to the familiar swamp training grounds, the squelch of mud underfoot now an almost comforting sound. Mist still clung low to the ground, and the occasional croak of distant swamp frogs echoed through the trees.

Adiw remained behind with the boys, rolling his shoulders as he turned to Gobu. "Alright, kid. Time to learn the basics."

He drew his two-handed sword and planted it firmly in the ground. Gobu stared up at him, eyes wide with admiration.

"Whoa... it's huge!"

"You'll start with your wooden one," Adiw said, kneeling beside him. "First, stance. Feet apart. Sword up, not dragging."

Gobu tried to mimic him. It looked more like a dance than a stance.

Kyle snorted. "He's got spirit."

Sinryo leaned on a tree. "He's got zero technique."

Gigih sat on a nearby rock, flipping open his spellbook. "This is going to be fun."

"Hold it like this, no, that's your face, not the target."

"Got it!" Gobu swung. Hit a tree.

"...Close enough."

Gigih chanted spells for practice, occasionally causing small explosions. "Fire I!"

Boom.

"Oops."

Kyle practiced reload speed. "Sharp Shooter I!" Bang! Bang! "Faster!"

Sinryo tried dodging in the mud. "Shadowstep I, ack!" Slipped. Again.

Gobu laughed. "You're funny!"

"Don't encourage him," Kyle said, wiping Sinryo off.

Adiw left with Sakura and Yuuna, heading deeper into the swamp for exploration. Nearby, Gobu excitedly tried to catch a few swamp frogs, hopping and lunging with youthful energy. Gigih stepped forward, eager to assist with his magic, but Kyle and Sinryo quickly held him back, wary of another accidental explosion. They shook their heads, silently warning him to keep the chaos in check, for now.

---

Meanwhile, Sakura, Yuuna, and Adiw quietly moved through the murky swamp, careful to avoid the deeper pools of water and tangled roots. Each step squished unpleasantly beneath their boots, and swarms of insects buzzed low in the thick, humid air.

The trees gradually grew closer together, their trunks warped and twisted, draped in moss like ancient curtains. Shafts of light barely pierced the dense canopy, giving the entire area a dusky green glow. The further they walked, the quieter the swamp became, no frogs, no birds, just the soft sound of their movement and the occasional drip of moisture from leaf to puddle.

Eventually, they came upon a strange clearing. In the center lay a circle of moss-covered stones, unevenly spaced but too deliberate to be natural. A glimmering pond sat nearby, its surface unnaturally still and almost too clear, reflecting the distorted trees like a mirror. The air here was colder, heavier.

Sakura clutched her staff a little tighter. "This place feels...wrong."

Yuuna's eyes scanned the circle carefully, her expression unreadable. "It's not natural. Something, or someone, made this."

Adiw placed a hand on his sword hilt. "Let's not press our luck."

---

Back at the little island, the party gathered again, grateful for the dry ground that offered a brief respite from the relentless swamp mud. The elevated patch of earth was firm and clean, a rare comfort in the soggy wilderness. Fuhiken had unpacked the magic stove and carefully placed a pot on it. The soft glow from the stove's mana fire cast a warm light as the pot bubbled gently, filling the air with the rich aroma of the meal slowly coming together. The atmosphere was calm, a momentary pause where tired bodies could rest and hungry stomachs could anticipate a comforting meal amid the harsh surroundings.

"Dinner soon," he called, stirring with care.

Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Yay!"

She sat beside the pot, plate ready.

Unseen by all, Orchid moved with quiet mischief, a sly smile tugging at her lips. From the folds of her cloak, she produced a small, gleaming bar of chocolate, dark and rich, wrapped in a delicate foil that crinkled softly in her fingers. With careful stealth, she slipped the sweet temptation into the pot, a secret ripple in the calm surface of the bubbling stew. It was a small act, subtle as a whisper on the wind, yet charged with playful intent, a hidden flavor destined to stir unexpected waves beneath the peaceful gathering.

"Secret flavoring!" she whispered with pride.

Fuhiken turned just in time to see Sakura taking a huge bite.

"Mmh...odd taste...but not bad?"

"Success!" Orchid whispered, fist-pump. Fuhiken just sighed.

Nearby, Gabyola watched. "Orchid... that wasn't a seasoning."

"Chocolate is always seasoning!"

Gigih blew up another swamp frog. "Boom."

Kyle collapsed beside Sinryo. "Why are frogs so slippery?"

"Why are you so reckless?" Sinryo countered.

Gobu sat between them, grinning. "This is the best day!"

Jessica, who had been quiet, handed Gobu a pudding. "You earned this."

Gobu's eyes sparkled. "What is this?"

"Treasure," Jessica said with a nod.

--

As the sun touching the horizon, casting a gentle reddish light over the swamp, Gobu suddenly stood up from where he had been sitting comfortably between Kyle and Sinryo. His bright eyes glanced toward the shadowy edge of the clearing, a flicker of responsibility crossing his mischievous expression. With a small sigh, he announced his departure, explaining that his goblin mothers would be worried if he stayed out too long. "I gotta go. Goblin moms worry too." Without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared quietly into the mist, leaving the party behind under the calm glow of the night.

The party watched him wave goodbye, vanishing into the shadows of his quiet village.

"...He'll be okay?" Gabyola asked.

"He's tougher than he looks," Adiw said.

Fuhiken exhaled. "One less child to worry about."

"Hey!" Kyle shouted. "We're not children!"

"Technically," Yuuna said, flipping a page in her book, "we are."

Everyone groaned.