Chapter 76: Forgotten Kingdom
The ruins became more present the further they walked.
Not more numerous. More present: larger sections of wall, broader stone roads emerging through the root systems, structures that required looking upward to understand rather than simply stopping to examine.
Arthur moved around a tree that had grown through what had been the ground floor of a building, uninterested in the building’s original purpose.
"The forest swallowed everything," he said.
Athena was already writing. "Nature always wins," she said. "Given enough time."
The golden trail led them to a river where the water had the clarity of water untroubled for a very long time.
A herd of Gem Deer stood along the bank. Their antlers caught whatever light reached through the canopy and scattered it in pale blue, and several fawns stood close to the adults, not yet entirely sure about the world.
One fawn moved toward the water’s edge, too small for how deep it was there.
The nearest adult lowered its head. The antlers brightened. The river answered. A section of water near the bank detached from the surface, rising slowly, gathering into a sphere that held its shape without effort. The fawn stepped forward and drank from it.
Arthur stopped walking. "Did the river just listen to it?" he said.
"No," Athena said, already writing. "The Gem Deer are manipulating the mana content of the water. They’re not moving the river. They’re borrowing it."
The fawn kept drinking.
"That’s adorable," Arthur said.
Mithra watched the herd with sparkling eyes. "I want to pet one."
Arthur turned toward her instantly. "Can—"
"No," Sun said.
Arthur looked at him. "I hadn’t asked yet."
"You were about to."
"Fair," Arthur said.
Melo yawned and curled against Mithra’s shoulder, apparently deciding the current environment was acceptable. Vedas watched the herd a moment. "Peaceful," he said.
Arthur nodded, grinning.
The trail continued, and Arthur almost walked directly into what he’d assumed was a boulder with unfortunate positioning.
The boulder blinked.
Arthur stepped backward. "That rock has eyes," he said.
The enormous Stone Turtle lifted its head slowly. Moss covered nearly its entire shell, small flowers growing from its back.
Arthur blinked. "I thought it was a hill."
Mithra laughed. "I almost sat on one once."
Sun looked over instantly. "...Please tell me you’re joking."
"Mostly."
Athena crouched and brushed moss away quietly. "Interesting."
Arthur looked over. "What did you find?"
"They’ve stayed still long enough," she said, tilting her head, "for an ecosystem to grow on their shells."
Arthur looked again. "So they’re carrying tiny forests."
"They don’t just live in nature," Athena said. "They become part of it."
Arthur smiled softly. "...That’s really cool."
Athy landed gently on one shell. The Stone Turtle didn’t react. Athy chirped happily.
Athena smiled. "...I think it likes you."
...
Silver bodies moved between the branches overhead, long and fluid, catching light as they shifted direction with no visible effort.
"They’re swimming," Arthur said.
Sun looked up. "In the air," he said.
"Exactly," Arthur said.
Mithra laughed. "I’ve never thought about it like that."
One Wind Serpent spiraled around another before disappearing into the leaves.
Arthur watched until they were gone. "Everything here feels alive."
Vedas nodded quietly. "...And so different."
They reached another clearing full of golden butterflies floating through flowers.
Arthur smiled. "They’re pretty."
Athena raised a finger immediately. "Watch, something’s about to happen."
A butterfly landed. Golden dust drifted down. The flower bloomed instantly. Another landed, and a wilted flower straightened. Then another and another, until seeds burst open and tiny sprouts appeared.
Arthur blinked. "They’re gardening."
Athena nodded, writing rapidly. "They spread Life energy. Maybe they’re responsible for maintaining this section of the forest."
Sun looked around. "So the forest literally takes care of itself."
Athena nodded. "In a sense."
Arthur looked around quietly. "That’s amazing."
Mithra reached out gently. One butterfly landed on her finger, and she smiled. "Hello."
Arthur stretched his own hand out immediately. "Come here, little one!"
He waited eagerly. Nothing happened. They all kept circling Mithra.
Mithra looked over. "Maybe it likes me more."
Arthur frowned, sighing. "I’ve been rejected."
Sun laughed. "By a butterfly!"
Kong pointed at Arthur. "Ook."
Arthur sighed. "Even Kong’s laughing."
Mithra couldn’t stop smiling.
...
They were walking again when the forest darkened.
Not weather. The light dimmed uniformly from above, the way it dims when something large blocks a lot of it. Every beast in the surrounding forest went still at once, itself a clue to the scale of whatever was above.
Through the gap in the canopy, one eye was visible. Just one, the rest of the creature above the cloud line partially hiding it.
"A Sky King," Athena said quietly.
The group went collectively silent.
"Legend says the oldest ones can spread their wings wide enough to shade an entire city," she said.
Sun, after a moment: "Gold Rank."
They watched until it passed and the forest sounds gradually returned.
"I want to ride one," Arthur said.
"No," Sun said.
Mithra laughed. "I actually have," she said.
Everyone turned.
"When I was small," she said, "Dad took me into a Secret Realm. We found one resting and rode it." She paused. "It was terrifying when it sped up. But when it slowed down, it was really nice."
Arthur stared at her. "When we’re as strong as your father," he said, "let’s find another one."
Mithra smiled. "All of us," she said.
Sun looked at Athena. "I keep forgetting she’s the Principal’s daughter," he said.
Athena nodded. "Given her father’s history, it makes complete sense."
Sun thought about it. "I’m more concerned he thought bringing a small child into a Secret Realm was appropriate."
"Dad’s a little special."
"How is that fun, though?" Sun said. "It’s dangerous."
"Principal Steven is extremely strong," Arthur said.
"Well, yes, but—"
"So the danger is managed. Is there a real difference between him taking her to a Secret Realm and your parents taking you to a town festival? Both carry some risk. But if your parents can handle it, are you actually worried?"
Sun opened his mouth and then closed it.
Mithra was laughing with actual tears. Athena had a hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking. Vedas found something interesting in the middle distance. Kong patted Sun’s leg sympathetically.
Sun stared into the forest for a long moment. "I don’t know why I said anything," he said.
As they started walking again, Arthur looked around one last time. "There’s so much we still haven’t seen."
Mithra walked beside him. "We’ll come back."
Arthur looked over. "Definitely."
She bumped his shoulder. "Next time, I’m petting the Gem Deer."
Arthur grinned. "I’m helping."
Sun sighed immediately. "I feel like somehow the only responsible person here."
Athena didn’t even look up from her notebook. "Correct."
Sun looked betrayed. "Athena!"
She kept writing, calm. "Statistically."
...
The ruins deepened, and the scale changed.
Stone roads ran beneath the root systems, still visible where roots hadn’t fully covered them. Collapsed bridges crossed rivers still flowing. Wells stood at intervals along what had been a street, the stonework intact, water still present when Athena checked.
Mithra walked beside Arthur, fingers trailing along the walls.
"Goblin children ran through these streets," Arthur said.
Mithra smiled. "And got yelled at," she said.
"Probably," Arthur said.
Vedas had slowed, moving through the street at the pace of someone reading rather than walking, eyes moving across each building.
"Home," he said. "It feels familiar." He frowned. "...But I don’t remember why."
Athena stopped at one of the wells and examined the construction. "Wait... this shouldn’t exist."
Sun looked over. "It’s a well."
Athena laughed quietly, and everyone paused.
Sun blinked. "...Did you just laugh?"
Athena looked at the well. "Sorry. This is incredible."
"Well, share it with the rest of us," Sun said, raising a brow. "Isn’t this just a broken well?"
"No." Athena shook her head. "It’s still functioning."
"Wait, are you saying—" Vedas’s eyes widened.
"Yeah, we can use it."
Athena pulled up water, and to everyone’s surprise, it was pure, somehow uncontaminated. Vedas took the bucket and drank some before blinking.
"S-She’s right. It still tastes fresh!"
"How..." Sun muttered blankly.
"It looks like this after all these years," Arthur muttered, surprised.
Athena looked around at the roads. "The Ancient Goblin Kingdom’s technology must have been amazing, or their magic was terrifying." She smiled quietly. "Either way, this place is incredible."
"Agreed," Mithra nodded, smiling.
Everyone sat with that for a moment.
...
Arthur’s foot hit something metallic in the road.
He bent down. A small coin, gold still visible under a layer of soil. One face carried a Goblin crown in fine detail. The other carried a symbol he didn’t recognize.
"Neat." He slipped it into his pocket.
Sun’s eyes widened. "Wait!" He walked over immediately. "You found Ancient Kingdom currency?"
Arthur nodded. "I think so."
Sun held out his hand slowly. "Can I see it?"
Arthur handed it over.
Sun stared at the coin, his breathing picking up slightly.
"You okay there, Sun?"
"Arthur. Do you realize what this is?"
Arthur tilted his head. "A coin?"
Sun looked like he wanted to grab Arthur by the shoulders. "It’s an ancient artifact! If collectors find out these still exist, this could be worth a fortune!"
Arthur blinked. "Oh."
Sun smiled immediately. "So, can I have it?"
Arthur held out his hand again. "Sure."
Sun’s face lit up as he took it. "You’re the best!"
"I thought you were sick of him—"
"Don’t lie about my good name! Arthur has always been my best friend! Practically a brother to me!"
Athena gave him a dry look while Mithra giggled. Arthur was already moving, looking for more.
A few minutes later, Arthur quietly picked up another coin. Then another. Then another.
Nobody noticed. Except Athena. She looked down, then at Arthur, then at his suspiciously bulging pocket. "Arthur."
Arthur froze. "Yes?"
"How many coins have you picked up?"
Arthur scratched his cheek. "Not enough."
Mithra started laughing immediately. "I knew you were hiding something."
Arthur looked genuinely confused. "They’re neat."
Sun nodded enthusiastically. "They’re incredibly neat."
Athena walked over. "Let me see one."
Arthur handed her a coin. She studied the engravings instantly. "These symbols are different." She turned it toward the sunlight. "This could completely change our understanding of Ancient Goblin economics."
Sun’s eyes sparkled. "Or we sell them for a fortune."
"No." Athena pulled the coin closer immediately. "It’s going to the Academy. For research."
Sun reached over. "And research needs funding." He smoothly took the coin back. "We sell it. Then use the money for research."
Athena snatched it right back. "No."
Sun took it again. "Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"History!"
"Money!"
"Knowledge!"
"Profit!"
Arthur looked quietly at Mithra. "Should we stop them?"
Mithra watched Athena and Sun keep trying to steal the same coin from each other. "Give them another minute."
Vedas watched the two of them. "Competitive."
Melo yawned. Kong pointed slowly at the coin, apparently wanting in on the argument. Even Athy gave an amused chirp from Athena’s shoulder.
Arthur smiled. "I think they both really like the coin."
"I like the money," Sun said immediately.
"I like the history," Athena corrected without looking up.
"History becomes money," Sun said.
"Money doesn’t even last, unlike history," Athena folded her arms.
"Unless I sell it," Sun grinned.
Athena narrowed her eyes. "You’re impossible."
Sun smiled proudly. "I’ve been told that before."
Mithra laughed so hard she had to lean against Arthur.
Arthur nodded seriously. "They make a good team."
Sun and Athena answered at the exact same time. "We absolutely do not."
Arthur turned to Mithra. "See?"
Mithra nodded, amused. "Perfect teamwork."
Sun looked horrified. "This isn’t teamwork."
Athena adjusted her glasses. "It’s a disagreement."
Arthur smiled. "Together."
"You’re annoying!"
...
After a bit, they found a mural covering an entire cliff face.
Thousands of Goblins, rendered in distinct detail, moving in the same direction. At the front, a single crowned figure larger than the rest.
Nobody spoke. The mural felt less like artwork and more like history refusing to disappear.
Vedas walked toward it and stopped close enough to reach it without reaching, looking at it for a long time with a dazed expression. "Athena... what does it say?"
Athena walked over and read the broken inscription. "The First King led us west," she said slowly. "Split the mountain. Built our home."
"He did all of that?" Vedas muttered, surprised.
Arthur looked at the mural. "Split the mountain?"
"I believe," Athena said, "he threw his hammer."
"T-That’s impossible. A Goblin did that?!" Sun said.
Athena pointed at the carved scene above the inscription. "It’s depicted here. Yes, a Goblin King crushed a mountain to make a home for his people."
Mithra looked at the figure with the hammer. "For a Gold Rank Beast Tamer, that’s about the level I’d expect."
Arthur smiled. "Gold sounds fun," he said.
Sun looked at him. "Your sense of priorities is alarming," he said.
"You skipped the mountain part," Mithra pointed out.
Arthur nodded. "I figured we’d get there eventually."
Sun buried his face in one hand. "...I don’t know why I expected anything from them."
...
They continued until they found three statues at the mural’s base.
Arthur touched one, and a notification appeared, surprising him.
[Evolution Path Discovered!]
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Archer]
[Goblin Greatbow Archer]
[Goblin Phantom Sniper]
His eyes widened. "A new path... and it’s long range."
Wait. Could it be?
Arthur rushed to touch the second one, hands clasped together.
[Evolution Path Discovered!]
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Healer]
[Goblin Shaman]
[Goblin Spirit Druid]
"This one’s a healer..."
He touched the next one.
[Evolution Path Discovered!]
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Rogue]
[Goblin Golden Stalker]
[Goblin Twilight Assassin]
[Evolution Paths Updated!]
[Evolution Paths Recorded: 11]
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 6]
Arthur stared at the three notifications.
An archer.
A healer.
An assassin.
He slowly looked around the ancient ruins. "They really did it."
Mithra tilted her head. "Did what?"
Arthur looked back at the statues. "There were various types of Goblin evolution." He pointed toward the first statue. "Archers." Then the second. "Healers." Then the third. "Assassins."
"Wait... That’s true." Mithra’s eyes widened.
Arthur laughed. "There are probably dozens."
Athena’s notebook was already open. "If that’s true..." She looked around the city. "Every district could have preserved different evolutions."
Arthur’s eyes lit up. "This whole kingdom might just be one giant evolution archive."
Vedas looked around slowly. "Our history."
Arthur smiled. "And the future too."
He tried the other statues, but nothing appeared. He tried again, still nothing, even after touching the rest. He sighed but then smiled. He just needed to find a goblin tribe and look around for more evolutionary paths.
Then the King’s Mark shifted.
Not forward along the forest path. Downward, pulling through the ground beneath his feet with a warmth different from the forward pull of the trail.
Arthur looked at his hand. "That’s different," he said.
Everyone looked at the ground.
Athena crouched and pressed a palm against the stone road. "Underground," she said.
"A cave?" Sun said.
Arthur snapped his fingers. "An underground base," he said.
Sun looked at him. "How did you immediately reach that conclusion?"
Arthur pointed down. "The mark. The ruins. The King. The size of what we’ve already seen above ground." He spread his hands. "If there was a kingdom here, there was infrastructure below it."
Mithra tilted her head. "That does make sense," she said.
Athena nodded slowly. "Structurally, it’s plausible. Large surface ruins typically indicate extensive sub-foundations."
Sun looked between them. "Are we all just going to accept enormous assumptions and start digging?"
"We’ll find out if I’m right," Arthur said, and started walking.
Sun sighed. "That’s becoming your answer for everything," he said.
The King’s Mark brightened.
Far below them, unnoticed by anyone, stones began shifting and shaking. A single golden light slowly appeared in the darkness.
Like something had just awakened.
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