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finally the eyes. The goblin was already staring at him, and once he met the creature's gaze, he couldn't look away. One moment passed, then another.
A staring contest,
Eric realized.
    Time went by, and he grew more aware of the subtle stirrings within the goblin's still gaze. Eric's breathing steadied.
Will it make a move?
    There was a meager bone in goblin's hand, and the memory of a previous nightmare flashed in Eric's mind. A feeling of being chased by angry teeth and hardened clubs seeped in.
That was then - this is now.
Eric's gaze wavered for no longer than an instant.
    The goblin stepped forward and let out a battle cry. Instinctively, Eric responded with a tense, loud shout of his own.
    The shout-out lasted several seconds, but neither of them made any other move. Out of breath, the goblin huffed, stepped back, and calmly bit down a piece of meat from the bone in his hand.
It's over.
Eric retreated, and once out of the circle, he let out a sigh.
    "Anyone else? Who's next?"
    Eric walked back to his friends. Rose stood up, and waited for Eric to be seated.
    "Go get him," Eric said.
    "I sure will," Rose smiled, and her eyes twinkled with a dash of madness. "He's a sweetie."
    Rose continued talking as she casually entered the circle. "Oh my, you're a cute goblin, aren't you? Who's a cute goblin? Yes, you are." She placed her hands on her knees and lowered herself a bit so the two of them were at the same eye-level.
    "I met some of your cousins; they act all tough and mighty, but they're just big moochies really." She was treading closer in half-steps. "I bet you have a big heart beating in there too, I just know it!"
    Rose kept talking, on and on without pause. The goblin was watching her quietly, tilting its head once in a while.
    "...wanna be friends? I can be a good friend, why, you just ask anyone..."
    When does she come up for air
, Eric wondered.
She's relentless.
    "...come on, let me see your smile! Just a little, teeny-weeny smile..."
    Finally, the goblin had enough. It reached into the basket, pulled out an apple, and tossed it towards Rose. The goblin looked her in the eye, and made a shoo-away gesture.
    "...an apple? For me? I was just getting hungry. Thank you! You're so kind!" Rose waved back to the goblin and stepped out of the circle. She was grinning senselessly.
    "What's your name?" Mr. Smith asked her.
    "Rose."
    Mr. Smith nodded. "An interesting approach, Rose. Well done."
    "Thank you."
    "'Interesting' is one way to put it... 'insane' is more like it," Lucy whispered. She stared incredulously at Rose as she came closer, and continued out loud, "I can't believe you managed to sweet-talk that ugly thing into giving you an apple."
    "At least I didn't threaten to blast him away, ha!" Rose retorted. "Plus, I have an apple and you don't!" Rose briefly stuck out her tongue and maintained a mock-serious expression, but couldn't keep the grin off her face for long.
    Lucy tightened her lips and gave Rose her best impression of an evil stare.
    "You're both crazy," Eric said. "Much crazier than any goblin."
    The next thing Eric noticed was an apple bumping his head and rolling down his lap. "Auch!"
     

     
     

Chapter 5 - Fire Attunement
     
     
    Heat and light? Burning passion and consuming intelligence? The fire element is violent change and the fuel of willpower. Thirst after self-discipline for restraint, and aspire to wisdom for direction!
    - Fire, Dreamer's Handbook
     
     
    "Come on!" Lyle's words were a break in an otherwise continuous stream of inarticulate yelling. "We're almost there!"
    The brothers were riding Duke and being their usual loud selves a short distance ahead of Eric and Rose. They were adamant about showing off their new discovery: a nearby place with huge flames that don't burn. Despite the brothers insisting on haste, Rose and Eric were walking at a leisurely pace.
    "Where is Lucy? Is she coming?" Eric asked.
    "I don't know. She mentioned an upcoming exam... perhaps she's staying up late