Key To A Goblin's Heart

Maland's POV 

My life in the military from that point onwards took a drastic turn. My legs recovered completely in a few days. Over time, I had managed to gain some true comrades and I even managed to learn each and everyone's names in the army. 

I even happened to become quite the favourite candidate for the general, and truth to be told even I grew quite fond of him. The sword he gifted me with had become one with my soul. I would never go anywhere without it, and through the use of magic I managed to hide it in a small pouch that I kept under my pillow while I slept. 

Over the course of the next few months, which seemed to pass by faster than the last few days, my admiration for the general grew quite a lot. Never have I ever imagined I'd come to appreciate someone this much in life, but the general, he was just so perfect that it was almost impossible for me to resist his charms.

I started to pay more attention to him, so that I could become like him. Once I woke up at 3 o'clock in the morning due to some bad food that I ate, and I really needed to take a dump. On my way back I noticed him practicing his sword skills, wide awake in the middle of a lonely street. 

I stared at him through the bushes as he took each swing with utmost precision. His routine went something like this. At first, he would throw a big rock at the tree in such a manner that all the loose leaves would start to fall. Then he will draw his sword and cut down each and everyone of the leaves, surprisingly leaving none of them intact. 

That precision, the resilience, how can someone not be enchanted by it. If any woman passed by at this hour from here, she would certainly fall in love with him. He was so engrossed in his routine that and so was I while observing that neither of us realized when the sun started to peak from the horizon. 

Finally, seemingly pleased with his practice, he put back his sword and turned to leave. Unfortunately for me, he spotted me making me wish I paid attention when they taught us the charm of teleportation. You see, I was never talented nor interested in the matters of magic. My entire focus was on the skills of a knight. Today, I wished it was a bit different. 

"Maland," General Dorin called out to me.So not only have I been spotted but also have been recognised. Reluctantly I abandoned my hiding spot and came forward. "What brings you here at this hour. Shouldn't you be asleep? He asked.

"I… the food…. emergency" I stammered. He narrowed his gaze at me before deciphering what I was trying to tell. He had to be a genius if he could decode my stammer. 

"Then maybe you should rush. Once the soldiers start waking up, there might not be any stall left for you to… well for your business" He cleared his throat.

"No… I am… I am done. I won't need it anymore" I informed him. He gave me a tiny nod but didn't say anything else. "That was marvelous" I blurted. "The way you slayed the leaves without missing a single one…" 

"So you saw that" He smirked. "It is one of my talents, yes. Most of us fight swords to cut, to make sure we cut deep enough to injure. But you see, precision matters just the same. If you cut the same depth in the arm and in the neck, one would survive, one would not. You have to be precise" General Dorin explained.

"Will we be able to do that by the end of our training"? I asked.

"That depends on you. If you can master it, then why not" He smirked, patted my shoulder and left. I kept staring at his back in awe. If he became a General at such a young age, no wonder he was so talented. The more I got to know him, the more I aspired to be like him.

That night, I even decided to practice a similar thing once everyone fell asleep. To complement our general perfectly, I missed every single leaf on it;s fall. Forget the leaf, at this point I wondered if I can even hit a still target. 

"You're getting frustrated, you need to calm your mind" A familiar voice came from behind me. Turning around I realised that General Dorin spotted my feeble attempt at mastering his trick. Never have I ever felt such embarrassment. Now I wanted to drive this sword through my neck and become one with the land.

"I was just…" I tried to come up with an excuse, which I had none by the way but he raised his hand, instructing me to remain quiet.

"If you wanna learn, I'll teach you properly" Instructed General Dorin. Taking my hand he showed me how to make the grip on the sword more firm, but not so firm that it affected my movements. He told me to try again, but instead of trying to get the leaves, try to get the leaf. One at a time. I nodded and did as he told me.

At first I could only slash one leaf in a throw. But still, it was better than no leaf. After many attempts my count raised to five that day. The satisfied smirk on the face of General Dorin made me realise that I was doing it right. It took me a few months to master this technique, but eventually I could even slash each and every leaves in a single throw.

Over time, the General showed me many such tricks, trained me even harder than others, implored me to be better than others. Some might say he was showing favouritism, but I felt like I earned it. And I was not ashamed of it. It wasn't much of a surprise that I raised in the ranks earlier than others. Soon, I was promoted to the rank of kingslayer, with an army of my own to command. Commanding my own army meant I had to leave this one. As much as I was thrilled for the next journey, something in me… hurt. Why did I feel this way?

Scared was understandable, so was excitement. But this? This was completely unpredictable. Why was I so hurt. That feeling did fade away with time, but it didn't go away completely. Yet it seemed to vanish momentarily whenever I met with the general for any sort of advice.

He always welcomed me, no matter how busy he was. Never did he ever refuse me any favor or any advice. Even when the war between Maefhaelore and Arpholeus broke down. I recall how unexpectedly I lost my hand, how devastated I felt for my future and myself. Having unofficially stripped me of my rank, I headed off to the northern territory to seek advice.

Upon reaching there I found out that the general was in the front line. From an honorable general like him, it was nothing but expected. I could have called dhim here if I wanted, but I didn't. Defending the country when it was most urgent, I couldn't deprive him of that honor. I waited there for a whole day before the general was brought to the casualty. 

Seeing him lay lifeless like that I felt something in me shatter. Something that devastated me beyond my disabled hand. I'd rather give up all my limbs than to see him give up on his life. The nurse used all her magic to give him life temporarily. It bought him some time to pass his responsibilities on to his subordinate. Of course they couldn't spend their entire time there so they left him just like that, fatally wounded and waiting for death to embrace him.

"Dorin" I approached him, as I recovered from my horror. Over time, he had instructed me to address him with his first name, and that's how close we had grown. He opened his eyelids weakly, looked at me in recognition and gave me a faint smile. That smile pained my heart more than it could bear. I felt tears run down my cheek as I took a seat next to his head, afraid that I would lose him any minute.

The way my heart shattered made me realise that it was more than just some admiration that I felt towards him, and If I don't tell him I'll regret it forever. "Dorin, I…" I began to confess, He smiled, making it further painful for me."I love you"

I didn't know if he would understand the implication of my words, or would be able to even comprehend what I just said. After a few seconds he mumbled,"I know" a faint smile appeared on his face and a shock on mine "Me too" and that sealed his last words making my entire existence crumble into nothing. If only I had realised it earlier… If only I had confessed earlier, we could have had a different goodbye altogether. How can I be an idiot?