Civilization-14 Chapter 14

"Wait lad, I forgot to give you something."

Old man Hus comes running out of the shelter holding a wooden shield.

"I know I made more however they are not equipable at the moment. Lad, I do not want you to depend on a shield that might break after a small hit. This is the only one I was about to make. I made it so you can sling it around your back. Cut the strap away when you go into battle and lad be careful out there."

Old man Hus passes me the shield while looking into my eyes. I could see his eyes get a little watery and his fragile hands seem to shake a bit as he held the shield.

"Don't worry old man Hus. Nothing will get past us."

I pat his shoulder and give him a reassuring smile before walking away and towards the gate with everyone. 𝗳𝘳𝒆𝘦𝑤𝐞𝚋𝗻𝚘𝘷𝘦𝙡.𝑐𝐨𝘮

[ Wooden Shield

Defense: 5

A rectangular shield made from roughly cut woodland tied together by vines. Made by Hus ]

I walk towards the gate with everyone else behind me. Howard and Robin were already stationed at the wall and Lucina and set up a couple of fires behind the wall to relight any torches. The sun was setting and the evening glow washed over us. I stare intently past the gate and into the forest. The forest seems to stare back and the shadows of the trees bend and twist into the darkness of the forest. I could hear David and Owen nervously swallow their saliva, and Oscar anxiously shifting his weight from one foot to another.

All of a sudden the blue screen appears in front of me.

[ Have Fun! ]

A small message from the system sparked a series of events. The forest moves like a tsunami, the rustling of leaves and the various howls and shouts fill the quiet atmosphere. It was like a night market inside the forest but with one loud shout, it quieted.

A tense atmosphere fills in and the forest is silent. So silent I could probably hear bug move a rock. Seconds felt like years and minutes felt like decades. I grip my spear tightly and lower my body balancing on the soles of my feet.

,m I see a glint from the forest as if something shiny was there. A soft whistle in the wind could be heard. Then a thud.

I felt like I had just gotten punched in the chest. I stumble back a bit and see an arrow stuck in my armor. I silently thank old man Hus for making the wooden armor for me. I open my status screen and see that I took no damage, I let out a sigh of relief but that relief lasted shorter than I would have wanted. The forest came back to life and the howls and yells once again fill the air.

Yellow dots appear from the depths of the forest. Goblins. Hundreds of goblins. Their green skin, yellow teeth, pointy ears and nose appear one by one from the forest.

Robin was the first person to retaliate, sending arrow after arrow towards any goblin. Some killed the goblin straightaway, others hit their arms, legs, and body and some outright missed. Howard quickly followed suit and started to send out arrows.

"With the number of goblins, we can't stay behind the gate. We need to open the gate and stand our ground right at the front."

I shout at the people behind me and started to run towards the gate. I open the gate and stood at the front. The first person to stand next to me was Luke. He had been with me from the start. Albeit quiet, Luke was reliable and I felt glad he was next to me right now. Oscar and Owen were next to follow standing nervously to the right of Luke. They looked at each other and laughed slightly before shaking their heads and looking forward. The face looked a little less nervous. It seemed like they had accepted their fate but they are here to make a stand.

David looked at the four people in front of him. He looked at his weapon in his hands and looked around him. He saw the woman he was carrying a couple of days ago sending arrows upon arrows to a crowd of goblins. He saw a man who he help build a wall between the shelter and the forest. He saw the small green monsters running towards him from the forest, all of them half his size if not even smaller. He remembered the conversation he had with that man and he thought.

"What if I run away right now? No one would know that I ran away, they would be too busy with the goblins."

But even with that thought, he found his feet moving forward not backward until he stood on that man's left. He left out a nervous breath and heard the man talking to him.

"See, it wasn't that hard right?"

I knew with David's cowardly personality that there was a chance he would run away but I believed in him and waited for him to stand next to me. With everyone at the gate ready and willing I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"RUSH AT THEM!! OFFENSE IS THE BEST DEFENSE!!"