The room was small but cozy, and Raikon was happy to finally have a place to rest and collect his thoughts. The mystery surrounding their arrival in this place was staggering him, but he knew that despite the many unknowns he had the capabilities to see the threats before him, protect himself and others, and take another step forward.

Leaving Dacheus behind had been difficult. More difficult than the elf woman, since he hadn't had an opportunity to meet her to dispel some of the fears and doubts he had. But he had met Dacheus, and while he had been quite odd, leaving someone behind was never a decision Raikon enjoyed making. 

Caspian and Raikon didn't find anything leaving the castle. While they could have explored more inside, the feeling he got from the stone and the place in general made him think it was best to leave the place behind. He couldn't figure out what the building had been used for- they didn't find anything of note just a bunch of destroyed casks and old stone. The statues had given no hints. He remembered another door they could have checked, but decided the likelihood of something worth while being inside, given the decomposed quality of everything else, was minimal. He was much happier having been able to leave the gemstone and statues behind as quickly as possible. Maybe the people in town would have some information.

The weather outside was dreadfully cold, even testing his experience and fortitude. Caspian had taken things hard, he wondered if Dacheus had made it out, how he had fared. Thinking back to the avalanche, how it had destroyed the path they used to reach this place, he wondered whether Dacheus had been caught in it, or if the temple they had arrived in had been destroyed or buried. Had the avalanche been caused by the goblin's horn? Was it deliberate?

He looked across the room to Caspian carefully mending the wound in his leg. The goblin attack had gone well, but even small injuries could lead to lasting consequences. Things may not have gone as well if he hadn't managed to take out one of the three attackers immediately. He wasn't used to dealing with goblins or other lesser creatures- where he came from they mostly stayed on their own and avoided the business of man and their cities. The way the goblins attacked immediately instead of fleeing threw him off. One did escape though, after Raikon had flubbed his second throw, and he cursed himself once more in hindsight.

He had been lucky to avoid losing an arm to the jagged goblin javelin, but he had been saved. By Magic. Caspian had touched him while they fought the Goblins Raikon had gotten his first direct taste of magic and what it was capable of. His skin prickled at the memory of his flesh growing tight, hard and rough like the skin of a tree. His immediate panic had nearly made him lose his step, but his previous fighting experience and military training kept his mind focused. He could still move, it wasn't painful, and it didn't prevent him from doing what was necessary. He had been able to calm himself and continue the fight, but he feared his initial distraction is what caused Caspian to take the blade to his leg. He would need to remain more focused in the future; he didn't want to be the one who let an attack slide through. 

They had survived. His skin changed back during their sprint to the town, and while he was relieved, he could not help but dread the things he might experience later, and also wondered in awe at the powers and abilities he couldn't even fathom.

The goblin swarm that forced him to this place was alarming. He had never seen that many in one place, let alone organized enough to form a swap and siege. His fear and bewilderment had cost him his focus, Caspian was much more quickly able to reach the gates as the swarm gained ground. While the town they were in now had managed to push them back, Raikon couldn't help but ponder whether only a little more tenacity and a few more withstood losses would be all the goblins needed to overtake the village and kill everyone inside. Maybe their eating the goblins wasn't so unusual, with the near constant threat he was sure existed.

He shook his head. Those things had passed now. The decisions had been made and he couldn't look back on them with regret now, only look forward to what he needed to do next to get himself home, and hopefully protect Caspian along the way. The cleric, while having a disposition frightfully unprepared for the events ahead of him, had proven himself capable in many ways. He was quick to follow orders when he found himself indecisive, eager to help in the ways he can, and always hoping to avoid conflict. His speed at offering to discard his weapons to satisfy the towns mayor was admirable, if maybe slightly foolish given their immediate dangers.

Raikon's stomach growled and he placed a hand over it, frowning at his unnoticed discomfort. The thought of slurping down goblin stew had made his stomach turn, forgetting his gnawing hunger, but now that he had time to think and recollect the distraction was frustrating and unwelcome. He couldn't afford bread. Caspian had mentioned he would provide, but Raikon saw no pack on him capable of carrying the food they would need to survive. More magic, perhaps? His mind spun with curiosity.

But only for a moment. The knock on the door came suddenly and Raikon's sword was in his hand and pointing towards the noise before the sound of ringing steel had finished spreading through the air. When he heard Dacheus' voice his blade lowered, but only slightly. Was it really him? They had tried to rouse him when the giant red stone in the temple had captivated him with no success. How had he managed to pull himself away, and what effects would be lasting? He was uncertain about opening the door, but decided without knowing anything for certain, abandoning him after he reached them would be cruel. He kept his blade in his hand but lowered it to his side, and stepped forward unlocking the door.

"I'm opening the door," Raikon called back through it, "But please, please tell me you didn't eat any of that stew."