Chương 96: The Story of Ugly: Part I

The gnome opened the book titled The Goblin and the Green Dragon, slowly turning its pages as though trying to refresh his memory. He remained silent for a moment, then cleared his throat and began. Centuries earlier. A goblin named Ugly came into the world in the cruelest way imaginable. His mother was about to be hanged by the elves when labor suddenly overtook her. The child was born as the noose tightened around her neck, falling into the blood and mud beneath the gallows.

His cries echoed faintly through the air, but no one stopped to listen. For days, he cried alone. Abandoned. His life seemed destined to end before he had even learned to walk. Then, one day, a human boy stumbled across him by chance. Curious about the tiny creature, he picked him up and carried him back to his hiding place. He believed Ugly was nothing more than some strange little animal. He fed him milk, bread and whatever food he could manage to find.

Every day he returned to feed him, pet him and keep him company. For the first time, Ugly no longer felt alone. He felt wanted. He felt loved. He felt like he belonged. He truly believed he had found a friend. But goblins live short lives and grow at an astonishing pace. Before long, the boy realized the creature was changing far too quickly. His body grew larger with every passing day, and his appearance became increasingly grotesque… increasingly unnatural. Curiosity gave way to fear.

Terrified and disgusted, the boy told his parents everything. One evening, Ugly heard footsteps approaching. His heart filled with joy. He opened the door to his hiding place, convinced he was about to see his only friend again. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Instead, he found an armed mob waiting for him. Pitchforks. Swords. Torches. Every face was twisted with hatred.

"There he is! A filthy goblin!"

"Kill him!"

"What a horrifying creature!" Ugly understood immediately. There was nothing to explain. He ran. He fled into the forest without looking back as the mob's furious screams chased him through the night. For months, he wandered completely alone, surviving on whatever animals he could hunt while fleeing from anyone who tried to kill him. He was always being hunted. Always hated. Wherever he went, he found nothing but fear and violence. He couldn't form a bond with anyone. He was alone.

The world was a terribly hostile place for someone like him. Everyone seemed to hate him. Everyone seemed determined to kill him, and he couldn't understand why. Why had he been born? Why did everyone want him dead? He could find no answer. Then, one day, in the distance, he saw Loxia. He heard voices, songs and laughter drifting on the breeze. Humans and magical creatures walked peacefully side by side. Even beings as small as he was seemed to live together in harmony.

For a single moment, his heart filled with hope. He thought he had finally found a home. He stepped through the city's main gate. The silence lasted only an instant. Then chaos erupted.

"A monster!"

"A disgusting goblin!"

"Kill it!" Some fled in terror, screaming. Others immediately drew their weapons and rushed after him. Ugly ran once more. He didn't stop until he had disappeared deep into the forest. Only when he was certain he was alone did he collapse to the ground. He cried. He cried until he had no tears left. For years, he continued to run. From humans. From elves. From giants. From gnomes. From anyone who crossed his path. To everyone, he was nothing but a monster. Until, one day, he finally met other goblins.

Creatures just like him. For the first time, he saw faces that truly resembled his own. He stayed with them for several weeks, hoping he had finally found somewhere he belonged. Instead, all he found was disgust and fear. Senseless violence. Looting. Murder. Unspeakable crimes committed against anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. Their brutality sickened him. It made him feel miserable. He couldn't accept it. Not even among his own kind did he find the peace he had searched for all his life.

The other goblins mocked him for his weakness. They humiliated him. They beat him. They laughed at him. To them, he was nothing but a failure. So he ran away once again. He even abandoned his own race. By then, he was eight years old. For a goblin, that already meant young adulthood. One night, while sitting beside a small campfire in the silence of the forest, he heard a deep rumble echo across the sky. Slowly, he looked up. An enormous shadow passed through the clouds overhead.

For a fleeting instant, the firelight caught a pair of immense emerald wings. It was a dragon. A colossal green dragon was flying directly above him. Teresa leaned forward, unable to contain her curiosity.

"So? What happened next?" The gnome swallowed.

"My throat is dry…" Then his eyes met Teresa's and Naomi's cold, unwavering stares. He let out a resigned sigh. Lowering his gaze to the book, he began reading once more.