Chapter 99: One Last Dream
They returned to the village. But everyone was still staring as they closed at Melo’s new form as they closed in on the back of the village.
Then Arthur finally walked over to her, scratching the side of his cheek. "So," he said. "What exactly can you do now?"
Melo blinked at him. "Don’t know," she said.
Arthur laughed. "Fair enough."
Mithra giggled beside them. "I think your body knows before you do," she said.
Melo tilted her head, considering this. "Probably," she said.
Melo closed all three of her eyes.
The crescent moons resting inside them slowly began to glow. Pink dream mist drifted gently across the village.
It slipped between broken walls.
Across shattered roads.
Through collapsed homes.
Like it was searching for something.
Nobody understood what was happening at first.
One little Goblin pointed toward the mist. "Flower," she said.
A dead flower nearby bloomed instantly, its petals unfurling as though it had never withered at all.
Another child pointed. "Bridge," he said.
The broken bridge at the edge of the village slowly repaired itself. Wood reformed plank by plank. Ropes tightened and pulled taut where they had once hung frayed and useless.
A third child pointed toward a pile of rubble. "House," she said.
One house rebuilt itself.
Then another.
Then another.
A little Goblin suddenly gasped. "That’s our house."
She immediately started running.
Her parents chased after her.
The forge reassembled from scattered stone and metal.
The training ground reappeared exactly where it had always stood.
Watchtowers rose back into place along the walls, and smoke began drifting up from chimneys that had been cold ash only hours earlier.
The village slowly returned, exactly as everyone remembered it.
Silence swept through the crowd.
Nobody breathed.
An elderly Goblin near the front whispered a single word. "Home," he said.
Arthur looked around slowly at the rebuilt village, his mouth slightly open. "This," he said. "How?"
Mithra smiled. "Dream Weave," she said. "She’s not restoring the village. She’s weaving everyone’s shared dream into reality."
Arthur blinked. "That’s possible?"
"For one hour," Mithra said.
Silence held for a moment longer.
Everyone turned to look at Melo. She watched the recreated village quietly for a while before speaking.
"I’m not," she said, "bringing back what was taken."
She looked toward every Goblin gathered around her.
"I’m letting everyone say goodbye," she said. Then she smiled softly. "Before moving forward."
The entire Su Tribe trembled at her words. One by one, every Goblin present bowed, not because she had evolved into something new, but because she had understood exactly what they needed without anyone telling her.
An elderly Goblin quietly entered his old house. He said nothing as he stepped inside. He simply sat down beside an empty chair and smiled.
"I’m leaving now," he said quietly.
He rested one hand against the doorway and smiled. Then gently closed the door behind him. This time he never reached for the handle again.
A tiny Goblin girl ran into her old home a few seconds later. She emerged holding an old stuffed doll clutched tightly against her chest, tears already filling her eyes.
She looked toward Melo. "Can I," she asked, "keep her?"
Everyone froze.
Arthur blinked. "Dreams can’t become real," he started.
Melo looked at the little girl, then at the doll in her arms. "She cried," she said simply.
The dream doll began to glow, and slowly it became something solid and real, no longer a fragile piece of the fading illusion around them.
Arthur stared. "You can do that?"
Melo shrugged. "Didn’t want her crying," she said.
Mithra laughed. "Yep," she said. "Definitely Melo."
The little girl hugged the doll so tightly she nearly toppled over, then ran off toward her parents. "Guardian Melo gave her back!" she shouted.
The adults smiled through their tears.
"But little one, she can only stay to say goodbye." Melo rubbed her face against the child making her tremble. "But that doesn’t mean another one can’t be made. One that will follow you on your new journey."
"Really?"
"Of course. In fact that new doll can be the current one successor in watching over you." Arthur knelt down and rubbed the girl’s hair. "So that when the new one has to go, she can tell the old doll everything that you guys did."
The goblin girl’s eyes widened before she beamed at him and then said. "Yes! I will go to the forge now!"
The little girl rushed, leading everyone to smile.
Several mothers quietly gathered in the recreated kitchens, preparing one final meal exactly the way they always had. Children sat together around the tables, laughing and eating like nothing had ever happened to the village at all. One mother wiped her eyes as she took a bite.
"It still tastes the same," she said.
Nobody corrected her.
An old Hunter walked toward the training ground and picked up his old spear, running through the exact routine he had practiced every morning for years. When he finished, he planted the spear back where it belonged and bowed toward it.
"Thank you," he said.
He walked away smiling.
While everyone else moved through their goodbyes, Athena wandered quietly through the dream village on her own. Unlike everyone else, she wasn’t looking at the houses. She knelt beside an old herb garden growing near one of the fences.
"Interesting," she murmured.
Mara noticed her and walked over. "You recognize it?" she asked.
Athena nodded. "Some of these herbs disappeared centuries ago," she said.
Mara’s eyes widened. "They’re real?"
Athena reached out and touched one carefully. "No," she said. "Dreams." Then she smiled. "But they’re accurate."
Mara immediately opened her notebook.
Athena laughed softly. "I thought you’d do that," she said.
They began walking together through the dream village, side by side for the first time.
Athena pointed toward an old stone well near the center of the square. "The carvings," she said.
Mara walked over to study them. "I’ve never seen this symbol before," she said.
Athena ran her fingers along the worn edges. "It’s pre-collapse," she said. "The Goblin Kingdom used this symbol to mark sacred water."
Mara began writing rapidly. "How do you know all this?" she asked.
Athena smiled. "I’ve spent my entire life studying civilizations," she said. She looked around at the recreated village. "I’ve just never been able to ask one questions before."
Mara suddenly perked up, pointing toward another building nearby. "That’s an herb drying house!" she said.
Athena looked at her, genuinely surprised. "You know herbal architecture?"
Mara nodded proudly. "I know relics," she said. "I know herbs. I know ruins. I know books. I know," she paused, "a lot."
Athena laughed. "You really do," she said.
Mara blinked. "Was I talking too much?"
Athena laughed. "Not even close."
The children had already forgotten their sadness by then, running through the recreated streets in a loud game of hide and seek, their laughter echoing between the rebuilt houses. One mother watched them quietly.
"They’re laughing again," she said.
Luka smiled beside her. "That’s what Voro wanted," she said.
As the dream continued unfolding around them, Arthur smiled to himself. "Wonder how everyone back home is doing," he said.
He opened the recent development of the Cronwell Tribe.
[Cronwall Tribe]
[Population: 140
Average Hunter Level: 18
Highest Hunter: Gruk, Level 19
Suri, Level 16
Dire Wolf Pack Average Level Increased
Threat Report: Orc Tribe Removed
Territory Expanded
Village Reputation Increased]
Nearby wandering tribes have begun approaching the Cronwall Village.]
Arthur grinned. "No way," he said.
Another notification appeared beneath it.
[New Discovery: Unknown Ancient Totem]
[Effect: Emits Fear Aura toward Snake and Reptile Beasts]
[Status: Under Investigation]
Arthur blinked. "Interesting," he murmured.
Sun glanced over. "What?" he asked.
Arthur grinned wider. "My village found treasure," he said.
Sun nodded seriously. "As expected."
"They chased away the Orcs," Arthur continued.
"As expected."
"Population reached one hundred forty."
"As expected."
"Suri reached sixteen."
"As expected."
Arthur laughed. "You’re literally agreeing with everything," he said.
Sun shrugged. "You look happy," he said. "Thought I’d help."
Arthur laughed even harder. "Thanks," he said.
Then he suddenly stood up straight. "My people are thriving!" he announced loudly.
Sun immediately stood beside him. "Long live Chief Arthur!" he declared.
Arthur pointed dramatically toward him. "And long live Vice Chief Sun!"
Sun nodded proudly. "I graciously accept," he said then folded his arms. "I expect my office by tomorrow."
Arthur nodded seriously. "Done."
Athena sighed. "Neither of you has an office."
Mithra laughed. "Idiots," she said.
Athena smiled quietly. "Very loud idiots," she added.
Even Melo looked over at the two of them. "Very," she said.
Everyone burst into laughter.
...
Night fell over the dream village in the next ten minutes and it still shone as brightly as it had during the day. A huge bonfire burned in the center of the square, and everyone gathered around it to eat together.
The Mu Tribe.
The Su Tribe.
Arthur’s party, all sitting side by side around the same fire.
Mara walked over carrying a huge stack of notes, and Arthur blinked at the size of it.
"How many pages is that?" he asked.
Mara smiled proudly. "Forty-three," she said.
Arthur nearly dropped his food. "In one afternoon?"
Athena smiled. "She actually skipped lunch," she said.
Mara blinked, looking down at her notes as though only just noticing. "I did?" she asked.
Athena quietly slid her own plate over toward Mara. "Eat first," she said.
Mara absentmindedly began eating while still flipping through her notes, and Arthur laughed at the sight.
The children climbed all over Melo’s five tails, and she barely seemed to notice anymore.
One of them looked up at her curiously. "Guardian Melo," she asked, "can Guardians get hungry?"
"Very," Melo said.
She immediately reached over and took the meat straight off Arthur’s plate.
Arthur stared at his now empty plate. "That was mine," he said.
Melo calmly took a bite. "Not anymore," she said.
Arthur looked toward Vedas. "Help me."
Vedas calmly took another bite of his own food. "...No."
He sighed. "I created a monster," he said.
"Too late," Melo replied.
Everyone laughed.
Another child asked quietly, "Guardian Melo, will you always protect us?"
Melo looked at every child gathered around the fire, and then she smiled.
"Until," she said, "you don’t need me anymore."
Silence fell over the group for a moment.
One little Goblin smiled. "Then we’ll become strong really fast."
Melo smiled. "Good."
Mithra smiled with quiet pride.
Arthur turned toward Luka. "Are you sure?" he asked.
She smiled. "Very," she said, watching the children play near the fire. "Voro was right. If we stay, we’ll stop growing." She smiled again. "So we’re coming with you."
Raku nodded beside her. "I’ve spent my whole life reading history," he said, laughing softly. "Perhaps it’s time to become part of it."
Arthur grinned. "Glad to have you," he said.
Mara stared quietly into the fire. "I hope the Yan Tribe is alright," she said.
Luka sighed. "So do I," she said. "The Mu Tribe. The Su Tribe. Both suffered." She paused. "I just hope they didn’t."
Vedas gripped his spear tightly. "If they did," he said, "we’ll help them."
Arthur nodded firmly. "We’ll help," he said.
After a while, it was close to an hour. Melo quietly looked around the village one last time and she raised one hand.
The dream paused.
Every Goblin still inside looked around.
Then, one by one they walked out together.
Nobody was left behind.
Only after the last person stepped outside did the dream begin to fade.
Melo smiled. "Now we can move forward."
One roof faded.
Then a doorway.
Then an entire street.
The laughter remained...
Even after the houses were gone.
Nobody cried this time. They had already said their goodbyes.
And then one little Goblin waves. "Bye!"
Another wave too.
Then every Goblin begins waving goodbye to their village until it is fully gone. The bonfire burned low, and everyone began packing their things for the road ahead.
Arthur looked out toward the northern forest.
Luka spoke quietly beside him. "It’s still a long journey," she said.
Arthur nodded. "We’ll get there," he said.
Mara closed her notebook. "I hope they’re alright," she said.
Silence followed.
Vedas gripped his spear again. "If they aren’t," he said, "we’ll help them."
Arthur smiled. "We always do," he said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
As they began walking away from the fading village, Arthur suddenly paused mid step. The King’s Mark on his hand grew warm, not hot, not painful, just warm.
Arthur frowned. "Hm?"
Sun noticed him stop. "What?" he asked.
Arthur looked slowly toward the distant mountains stretching along the horizon. "Nothing," he said. "It just," he glanced down at his hand, "felt familiar."
Then the warmth faded away completely.
Arthur shook his head. "Must’ve imagined it," he said.
They continued walking into the night.
Deep within the northern forest...
Something ancient slowly opened its eyes.
It had waited...
For a very long time.
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