Machinist of Mana

I looked to Lucas for only a second, enough to register that he was still breathing.

“You're no normal goblin,” I said, hoping to provoke something.

“You know us? Very interesting, Father will definitely want you,” he returned before lunging.

That first move was enough. From that alone I could tell that he was slower than myself, stronger perhaps, but slower, and untrained. My blade shone as I ducked his attempt to grab me, slicing up and into the monster's flesh. It moved through almost without resistance, blade shining blue before the red blood spurted outwards.

Both of us danced backwards, both wary of the other. He snarled as I took my stance, ready to fight. I could see no other way out of this. Should I try to leave this creature alive? Someone would want to see it, but it was also clearly dangerous, a smart, potent monster.

“Surrender and I'll spare your life,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.

He chuckled, low and growling. “I'll offer you the same.”

Fights like this couldn't go on long, both of us were just too deadly. One wrong move on my part and I'd be out just as sure as Lucas was, one on his and I'd put my blade into something that he couldn't survive without. At least he didn't have a weapon, depending too much on his own physical strength.

On our next pass I moved in, aiming high, to ram the point of my small blade into his chest, but he ducked, longer arms aiming for my stomach. By an inch he missed, by much more I did, but I still managed to score a deep gash into his shoulder, slicing all the way down to bone.

“Shit! Fuck shit!” he screamed as he pulled back again.

I wouldn't let up this time, taking careful, but fast strikes and scoring a few more light cuts on him as he hopped backwards through the sewer nearly ten feet. This was exactly where I wanted to be. He'd retreated back past the dropped sack, past Lucas' unconscious body, there was however another problem.

“You speak English?” I asked, realizing what those curses had been.

“What?” he asked in the native tongue, confused at what I'd said, and quite angry at what I'd done.

“English?” I asked again.

“Screw you,” he replied on the native tongue again, seeming to realize where we were now standing.

I kept both my stance and my face as firm as I could. He was odd, too odd, there were too many oddities for me and I didn't like it. My opponent however kept moving back, further and further.

“Not coming?” he asked. “All done?”

I didn't reply, but I was. The injured were far more important to me than this creature, and he seemed to know it, sense it. I didn't move until he was well around the nearest bend in the sewer, turning and running at the last moment with a snarl. I waited longer, making sure he was well and truly away before I carefully sliced open the bag, revealing a still breathing girl inside. She was dazed, but hopefully she'd be okay. Lucas on the other hand was still out cold, never a good sign.

As gently as I could I gathered up the fallen humans and began to retreat back to the sewer grate we'd entered through, though I didn't make it all the way before I was met with others. Other men had heard the call to arms and a few brave ones had made their way down. Most were older, with beards and fearful looks as I moved out of the shadows, bloody blade still in hand.

“Who goes!?” One shouted, trying to bring up a lantern of some make.

“I'm one of the ones who went after the child. She lives, as does my companion, but both need aid, and we need the authorities.”

“Good lad,” said an older, balding man as he came forward to grab the girl, another helping me with Lucas so I could put away my sword.

“Eyes sharp, the monster escaped,” I informed them.

“Damn,” one of them cursed. “Looks like you stuck it at least.”

I laughed at that.

Twenty minutes later I sat, going over the story to a pair of policemen in dark black uniforms. A healer, a local priest in fact, had been summoned and the sister who'd called for us was holding her now awake sibling, bawling incoherently. Lucas was taking more time, and both of us were covered in filth. This outfit at least was ruined so far as I was concerned.

“A goblin?” the officer asked me for about the fourth time. “Some kind of green manlike beast?”

“Very manlike,” I nodded. “It could talk.”

“You sure it wasn't just some ruffian lad? Kidnappings may be a bit rare, but... well monstrous men do sometimes take little girls...”

“Boy's a bit young to talk to him about that yeah?” the other said, looking like I might not know what he meant.

“Not that young, and not a fool. That was no man, and if you're unbelieving, get the healer there to examine this.” I held up my blade. “Soon as he's done with my friend of course.”

“Sure son, we'll do just that.” Somehow I doubted they were taking this nearly as seriously as I was. Or perhaps they thought I was just mistaken, a kidnapper would be easier for their reports than an intelligent monster would any day. It would also keep the papers quiet, something police everywhere were keen on.

My thoughts were confirmed when the man took a cloth and wiped the sword clean. 'for evidence' and put the rag in his pocket. Would it end up getting tested? I honestly didn't know, but it didn't matter, I was going to see to it that someone at least heard the truth, even if I had to pull out all the stops to do it.

Sadly when he was finally awakened Lucas couldn't confirm my story. He'd not gotten a good view before he was knocked out, but described instead what looked like a massive man in a coat and hood. That I could only get from a distance as he was interviewed, and I wanted to scream.

At least the locals managed to find us some clean clothes and water to rinse ourselves off with before we were released to go on our way. The four of us may not have been residents of this area, but the screaming woman who'd attracted us eventually calmed down enough to explain that we'd come to her aid, not as part of the kidnapping and that mixed with our social status was enough to see us released. The fact that I'd come back with the girl in hand almost certainly helped a lot too. Kidnappers weren't known to return the victims.

For a small miracle I did see the investigator handing over the bloody cloth the the priest as we walked away. Maybe they could confirm the story and we could get a proper hunt for that abomination underway.