We've waited for quite a while. Long enough for me to notice there is no Crimson hue. The Moon is now Black. Cecil went to bed. Ball is... I don't know. I can't tell what Ball is doing with that mask on. The only interesting thing is that Z has sat in front of me, staring at me for a while now. Surely he's almost done pondering now?
He finally speaks. "Who are you?" ??? My confusion is apparent. His gaze following mine as I look all around. Pointing to myself.
"Fish? The Boss? Sovereign of The Garden." Z shakes his head.
"Your eyes have changed. Slowly, ever since you turned the 'Resonance' off." I look to Ball. Ball shrugs. Good to know Ball is paying attention...
"The color?" Z shakes his head again.
"No. Your eyes reflect that of a child. Curiosity, Wonder. Before, they were the eyes of a bored Monster." What does that even mean?
"I'll have you know, I am people, not a Monster." Z does not respond to this. Only laying down next to me in the Snow.
"System! Where are these Goblins?"
[Notice: Goblins will spawn at a rate of one per day after the initial group.
Current Capacity: 13/100]
"That is not what I asked."
[They are in The Garden]
I sigh. Standing, wiping snow off my legs. Patting Z on the head. "In the Garden." Once Z stands, I hop onto his back, grabbing Ball's hand, pulling it onto Z with me. "So helpful." I quickly check to make sure Z has no problems carrying us, then point forward. "Onward! Sniff out those goblins, Z. We must welcome our new people."
Z sniffs the air. Ears perking up, twitch twitch. Tail does a flick. He looks off... I'll decide that is west. Onward we go.
The only thing to see around is trees. Dead or boring. I can fix this. Make this place worthy of being home. "Ball. I need materials. Bad guys. If you beat any up, bring them to me, alive." Ball responds by patting my head.
It's always hot. But when ball patted my head. Was that cold? "So comfy." Ball scoots a bit away from me after my words. The journey continues. The blizzards gets stronger.
"Wah!" I quickly check my surroundings, what happened? Wher-
"You fell asleep, Little One. I believe we found the Goblins." Oh?
"OEWN!" Nonsense noise. From above..? Looking up. I see a thingy. And several smaller thingies. The big one! Girl? Short white hair. White eyes Her skin is... Blue? Dark Blue... About a little bit shorter than Cecil. But... that nonsense sounded soft and excited. She looks very angry, ready to attack.
"Look, Z. A warrior Goblin." Z tilts his head, looking to the Goblin, then to me.
"I suppose she has the Physique of a warrior. A resolute gaze, ready to protect. From what? Unfortunately..." Z turns to Ball. "I think the answer is clear..." Once again, Ball is simply existing. And people think the world is ending! Bah!
I hop off Z. Walking under the branch, looking up to the Goblin. "Welcome! T-"
[Notice: Monsters cannot understand you]
... "AS I WAS SAYING." Ahem. "Welcome! This is home! You are safe! Ball. Tell them!" Ball steps off Z. Standing next to me, looking up to the Goblin.
They have a short exchange. I'm sure things went well. The Goblin jumps through the trees, the rest of the goblins follow suit, becoming shadows in the trees as they move towards where we came from.
[Gadget & The Rest of The Goblins have joined The Garden]
Hm? Bloodlust. I turn to Ball. Ball is standing weird. Ready instead of uncaring. I see. We've unwelcome guest. "Is Gadget the big one?"
[Yes]
"Alright! We did it, good job team." I turn around. BONK! Forehead to forehead. I bumped into someone. It didn't hurt, though. The sounds of pain I hear, seems they didn't fair so well...
I hold out my hand. A small hand, like mine grabs it. I pull up. In front of me. I see a flower blooming. A Blue Star. Her hair is blue like the sky, her eyes green. And there's something moving in her eyes? Is it... rain? Her skin is the same as Gadget's, though a red glow adorns her forehead.
"MHEJ!" Nonsense exits her mouth, excited sounding. Her eyes closed with a big smile. She's very friendly.
"System! Is one special? Can you explain?" The girl in front of me glares at me. Not a thought in her head. I don't think she can understand me.
[Notice: This is The Unique Goblin. I haven't read what that means yet... I can't find it]
"Well, when you learn, you can let me know!" I look down to the goblin and poke her forehead. "I shall call you Star! In honor of the flower I can't see." Star responds by raising her arms up. A celebratory fashion, noises I don't understand.
I point, Star's gaze follows, landing on Z. After nothing happens, I point to her, then back to Z. Repeating this over and over. Instead of doing what I want, she copies me, her expression and the repeated noise. Is she laughing? I to Ball.
Ball picks Star up and sets her on Z. "Return to the pit, Z. I've some business, I'll return shortly." Z looks worried. I think he fears Ball. "Worry not. Ball will not hurt me." Z nods, leaving with Star. I can hear her excitement until she's out of sight and sound. Blocked by the snowfall.
"Ball. Don't kill them." Screaming. The snapping of bones. I turn around, two people are on the ground next to Ball. Their legs are broken. What happened, how did Ball do that? Old, they look like dregs of the unorthodox. Underworld novices. Their clothes match that too. Like the Beggar Sect. But.
"I may be small and stupid. But The Garden is still a strong technique, even if the array core is inexperienced. A novice cannot hide their intention from me inside The Garden." A smile comes across my face. The terror they show is so silly. Worthy bad guys smile when caught. Scum like them cry.
"Ball, keep them somewhere alive." Ball stares at me. Is Ball unwilling to leave me alone? That's fine. I gather some twigs, eight in total. I take four and stab them into the torso of one of the men. Burning a sigil at the center of the twigs. The screaming ends as soon as it finishes. The basic silence array, I remember it. The same is done to the second man.
"Let's go Ball." Our walk begins. I see more life than I did on the ride with Z. Various animals. Even some insects. Was it always like this? Can I see more now? Why? I look back to Ball. Paying the life no mind. Why did I think Ball would react?
"You know Ball, I think I want to see something odd, maybe it'll be pretty. Cherry Blossoms blooming in a forest layered in snow. I can even changes the colors..." I look down to the two being dragged along by Ball. I can't stop the smile. The Garden becomes layered in in a fleeting Crimson moonlight.
"Yes. The Doctor has enemies. Should they break the rule of The Garden. I'll have plenty materials."