Chapter 192: Goodbyes
"Crow..." Ka’z muttered the name as he continued staring at the twin short axes in his hands.
The name itself was strange enough, but what made it more amusing was the fact that the wielder of the weapon had possessed almost the exact same name.
Ka’z looked down at the two axes, turning one slightly to examine its edge before giving a small shake of his head.
"It’s a bit egotistical to name a weapon after yourself, and he didn’t come off as the egotistical type."
He tightened his grip around the handles and gave them a few experimental swings, feeling the weight and balance of the weapons. They were lighter than Ashin Grim and much easier to handle with one hand, making them suitable for quick movements and close combat.
Crow had never been as powerful as Loki, but the Shadow Magus had left a much deeper impression on Ka’z than his position within the Ashmork hierarchy would suggest.
Loki had possessed overwhelming physical strength and powerful flames, but Crow had possessed something far more troublesome. He understood the battlefield.
During their encounter, Ka’z had walked directly into a trap that could have easily claimed his life if not for his Dragon Scales.
What made the trap even more impressive was that Crow had not relied on trained soldiers or experienced warriors to construct it. He had used ordinary civilians, people who had probably never held a sword properly in their lives, and still managed to turn them into part of a deadly ambush.
Ka’z could only imagine what would have happened if someone without Dragon Scales had been caught inside it. They would have been surrounded, wounded, and killed before they even understood what was happening.
"Imagine a Vaal’kor that had all the talented people of Ashmork Village. We would have been a truly terrifying force." Ka’z couldn’t help but admit as he lowered Crow slightly.
There had been warriors, shamans, artisans, hunters, commanders, and people with different magical affinities among the Ashmork. If those people had lived alongside Vaal’kor instead of becoming enemies, the future of the forest would have looked completely different.
Ka’z’s thoughts inevitably returned to Suki and Tud’or. If those tragedies had never happened, if Ashmork and Vaal’kor had somehow managed to coexist from the beginning, perhaps the Evergreen Forest would already possess several strong groups capable of standing against the threats approaching from the north and west.
Instead, the Evergreen Forest had been reduced to a handful of capable races, and Vaal’kor was now one of the few groups with enough potential to organize a proper defense against the Halflings and the human incursions that would eventually follow. That was why protecting the Gnolls mattered far more than ever.
"There is no need crying over spilled milk. I can only work with what I have and hope for the best, like I have always done." Ka’z muttered as he placed Crow back against his side and started walking toward the Treasury’s exit.
"Are you going to keep talking to yourself all day? The Gnolls are waiting." Tu’ka’s voice came from the entrance of the chamber.
Ka’z did not react immediately. He already knew Tu’ka was there long before the warrior spoke. Between his enhanced hearing and Divine Perception, sneaking up on him inside a cave had become practically impossible.
Instead, Ka’z turned his head slowly and looked at his friend with a playful smile. "Are you so eager to get rid of me?"
Tu’ka chuckled and shook his head as he stepped farther into the chamber. "It’s just annoying to know you are leaving and feeling lonely while you are still here. I would rather have you gone so that I can have a reason to be lonely."
There was a strange honesty behind the joke, and Ka’z understood exactly what he meant. Sometimes knowing someone was about to leave made their presence feel more painful than their absence because every moment became a reminder that it would soon end.
Ka’z laughed out loud and shook his head. "Alright, alright, I’ll get going."
Together, they walked through the tunnels they once called home, though the familiar caves no longer felt like the center of their lives. Most of the kobolds who had once spent their days inside these tunnels now lived above ground, and the old passageways were noticeably quieter.
"I gave Kong’gong the manuals. He is the only one who can read English, so he will help pass on the teachings to you guys." Ka’z broke the silence as they continued toward the surface.
Tu’ka nodded. "Thank you for everything. But you should take care of yourself more. Za’r told us you barely slept."
Ka’z chuckled and shook his head. "Don’t worry, I’ll get plenty of rest on my way to the west. But you won’t have much rest because there is a lot for our troops to learn, and you will be the one overseeing all of them."
He glanced at Tu’ka with an amused smile. "You wanted to become Chief Warrior. Congratulations. Now you get to deal with the headache that comes with it."
Tu’ka chuckled and shook his head. "It’s truly a headache, but I’ve got Ru’k and Kurg. We can always share the burden when it’s too much for me."
Ka’z nodded approvingly and patted his shoulder. "That’s exactly what friends are for."
They continued walking in comfortable silence for another minute. The faint light of the surface gradually became visible ahead of them, growing brighter with every step.
Tu’ka suddenly stopped.
Ka’z took another step before realizing his friend was no longer beside him. He turned around and raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong?"
"Can you win?" Tu’ka asked.
Ka’z stopped completely.
Tu’ka stared directly into his eyes. "Can you win this war against the Halflings just like you did with the Goblins?" he asked again, his usual playful expression completely gone. "I’m asking as your best friend."
Ka’z remained silent for several seconds. He could hear the distant sounds of the village outside, but they felt strangely distant as he considered the question. Eventually, he shook his head.
"From the Red Scripture, Halflings are very strong. Every one of them has access to magic, and many of them are as talented as us. Also, I haven’t received any word from the Greater Kobold. It has been silent on this matter since the Gnolls got here, so I can’t tell the will of the Gods." Ka’z answered honestly.
He did not want to give Tu’ka false confidence simply because they were friends. "Right now, the deciding factor is the Gnolls. The skill, numbers, and quality of their warriors will be the game changer."
Tu’ka’s brows twisted slightly, but his expression remained relatively calm. He had expected the answer to be uncertain, but hearing Ka’z admit it so plainly still made the situation more frightening.
"I see. That makes me worry for your safety even more."
Ka’z shrugged. "Don’t worry. I won’t commit to a fight I can’t win. If the situation is too bad, I’ll come back immediately."
Tu’ka’s expression finally relaxed after hearing those words. He knew Ka’z well enough to understand that once he made a decision, there was very little anyone could do to stop him. But he also knew Ka’z was not reckless when the lives of the people depending on him were involved. If Ka’z said he would retreat from a battle he could not win, Tu’ka believed him.
With that, neither of them said anything else. They continued toward the entrance, the light growing stronger until they finally stepped out of the tunnel.
Ka’z immediately stopped.
Waiting outside were the Gnolls, his original team of warriors, Kurg, Ru’k, Za’r, and the goblin artisans. The sight caught him off guard because he had expected to leave quietly after finishing his preparations. Instead, almost everyone important to him had gathered at the cave entrance.
North stood among them as well, the large wild boar fitted with the saddle the goblin artisans had spent the last few days perfecting. A large sack of supplies was securely tied across the saddle, packed tightly enough that nothing would fall out during the journey. North shifted its weight impatiently and snorted at the gathering crowd, seemingly more interested in getting moving than in the emotional farewell taking place around it.
Ka’z looked around at everyone before his eyes settled on Tor.
The young goblin stepped forward carrying something made from carefully stitched black leather. "Brother Ka’z, I prepared this belt to help you hold your weapons and supplies. That way you can hold on to some important things when going into the battlefield."
Ka’z blinked in surprise before accepting the leather utility belt without hesitation. He ran his fingers across the material, immediately noticing the multiple loops and compartments designed to hold weapons, small tools, and other supplies without interfering with movement.
"Thank you. This is exactly what I needed for my weapons."
Ka’z quickly put the belt on and adjusted the straps until it sat comfortably around his waist. He then secured Crow against both sides of the belt, allowing the two short axes to hang freely at his hips. He took several seconds to glance down at the weapons and the new belt, testing the positioning by moving his arms and twisting his body slightly. The axes stayed firmly in place without restricting his movement.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you." Ka’z repeated as he turned toward Tor.
He grabbed the goblin’s shoulder and looked him directly in the eyes, making the younger goblin stiffen slightly under the intensity of his gaze. But there was no threat in Ka’z’s expression, only genuine gratitude.
Tor and the other artisans exchanged shy smiles. They were still not entirely accustomed to receiving such direct appreciation from Ka’z, especially after everything that had happened between them and the kobolds.
"We live to make life easier for you just as you have made it for us." Tor said shyly.
The words made Ka’z’s expression soften further. Before he could respond, a voice suddenly came from the back of the group.
"Come back safely!" Kurt screamed.
The sudden shout caught everyone off guard. Kurt himself seemed to realize what he had done only after the words had already left his mouth, but instead of backing down, he raised his voice again.
"COME BACK SAFELY!"
The other goblins quickly joined him, their voices rising together as they repeated the words. "COME BACK SAFELY!"
The warriors followed almost immediately. Then the Gnolls joined in, their deep voices carrying across the entrance, and soon the entire crowd was shouting together.
"COME BACK SAFELY!"
The sound echoed through the cave entrance and across the village beyond it. Ka’z stood there for a moment, surrounded by the people he had gathered around himself in such a short period of time.