Cynthia smiled and carried her adorable little goblin pet into the dining room where the food was already prepared and waiting. The room smelled of warm bread, fresh fruit, and the savory scent of fried bacon and well done sausages. This was a cherry on top for the perfect start to the day. The lady gently sat Theo down in the seat next to her. “You must eat plenty, dear. Remember, you are still growing.”

  Theo thought about her words. Was he growing? Goblins didn’t always stop growing after the age of eight. He remembered seeing goblins with more hair or wrinkles as they aged. Would he eventually grow taller than a human? Could he even become a hobgoblin someday? The thought filled him with curiosity and wonder… then again the odds of Theo growing any more felt pretty unlikely.

  “Am growing?” Theo asked.

  “Well of course you are, dear. You’re still young after all. So you must make sure to eat a lot and stay strong.” Cynthia reassured him as she brought his plate closer to the edge of the table for him.

  Theo patted his stomach as he looked at the array of food in front of him. His stomach growled with anticipation. This place was a dream come true, full of delicious food and a caring presence in his mistress. He smiled, then hung his head as he felt guilty. “Am sorry. Morning. Not worry, Cynthia.” He wasn’t sure why, but he felt bad for not waking her earlier. Perhaps he reasoned he should have woken her up and asked for permission.

  Cynthia patted his head. “It’s alright, dear. The important thing is that you are safe now.”

  “Am sorry. Go eat?” Theo asked, not looking up but still feeling a little better after hearing Cynthia’s comforting words.

  Cynthia smiled. “Let’s eat.”

  “Eat!” Theo cheered, excitedly looking around the table at all the delicious food.

  They soon found themselves following their morning routine of feeding each other bites of food. The occasional laugh and giggle filled the air as they shared the meal. When they were finished, Cynthia took a napkin and gently wiped Theo’s mouth clean. “Now how about we get you washed up?” She asked sweetly.

  Theo nodded eagerly. “Lessons?” He asked.

  “Those don’t start until after lunch. So you can do whatever you want until then.”

  “Whatever?” Theo’s eyes lit up at the idea. There was so much to do, so many new things he wanted to explore. He had thought about going back to the lake, but… he still felt a bit guilty about what happened this morning.

  “Yes, whatever you’d like to do,” Cynthia said with a warm smile.

  Theo frowned for a moment, then glanced around the dining room. He still hadn’t seen the entire mansion. He’d love to explore it more… His crimson eyed returned to her own red eyes as he looked up at her. “What Cynthia want?”

  Cynthia leaned down, cupping his face gently in her rather soft and smooth hands. “I just want to spoil my sweet little Theo all day~” She cooed, pulling him into a big hug.

  “How spoil? No more food,” Theo rubbed his belly, full from breakfast. “Not train, train already. Not want bath. Lessons later… want fun now?” He wasn’t sure what he wanted exactly.

  “Fun, hm?” Cynthia pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly. “How about we play a game of soccer together?”

  “Soccer?” Theo blinked in confusion. What was soccer? Could you eat it? If it was anything like books, then maybe it wasn't for eating.

  “It’s a type of sport,” Cynthia explained, her voice full of excitement.

  “What’s sport?” Theo furrowed his brow. Humans had so many new words that he did not understand at all.

  Cynthia chuckled at his confusion. “It’s a game. Kind of like exercise but fun. Come on, follow me.” Cynthia gently took Theo’s hand, leading him through the halls and out the back of the mansion. They stepped onto a stone path and each step took them further away from the big building behind them.

  Theo looked up at Cynthia, his small hand clutching hers. “Cynthia, this place... so big,” He marveled, taking in the grandeur of the estate.

  Cynthia smiled down at him. “It is big, isn’t it?” Her voice was light and teasing, filled with excitement.

  They reached a large clearing behind the mansion, where the servants had set up the soccer game. A lush and green lawn stretched out before them, with two goals marked out at both ends of the makeshift field. A black and white patterned ball sat idly to the side. A few servants stood further off to the side waiting and watching their lady.

  “Rules are simple. You can’t use your hands and have to score this ball in the opposite goal.”

  Theo looked around at the strange setup, trying to understand it. “Got it. No hands?”

  Cynthia smiled warmly. “Then do you think you can beat me?”

  Theo glanced up at her. Cynthia was no ordinary girl… she had just beaten a knight in a duel with ease. Not long ago he would have confidently said yes he could beat her. But now? “Nope,” Theo said, shaking his head. He knew his limits. And Cynthia was far better than him at anything, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it after what he had witnessed earlier.

  She chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you. I’m sure that someday you will be able to beat me.”

  He sincerely doubted that. Theo couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for ever calling her lazy. “Cynthia good, everything?” He asked.

  “At everything? I wouldn’t say that. Everyone has limitations, you know?”

  Theo didn’t believe her for a second. After today, Cynthia seemed like a force of nature in his eyes. It scared him a little, but it also made him admire her all the more. “Then play now?” Theo asked, eager to get started.

  “Of course, dear.” Cynthia grinned and sat him down. “Let’s play.” She kicked the ball toward him, giving him a head start.

  Theo watched as the ball rolled toward him and then tried to kick it. But his aim was off and the ball veered off to the side. He yelped and ran after it.

  Cynthia jogged after him with a soft laugh escaping from her lips. “Try running with it first and then kick it into the goal when you’re close enough.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Theo gave it another go, running with the ball at his feet. It felt awkward at first, but after a few tries he finally managed to kick it in the right direction. “Got it!” He cheered. Theo felt a little proud about managing that much already, even if Cynthia was going easy on him.

  She clapped her hands. “Good job, Theo. Now I’m really going to try blocking you. Ready?”

  He nodded confidently, but deep down that if she had been really trying… Theo would never be able to get the ball past her. The memory of how fast she had been with a sword was still fresh in his mind.Even still, he smiled and got ready to kick it towards her. “Try block?”

  “Yes,” Cynthia said, her tone playful yet focused. “I’ll try to stop you from scoring.”

  He took a deep breath and steeled himself.

  Cynthia stood in front of the goal.

  Theo hesitated as he eyed Cynthia and the goal directly behind her. He wanted to win. But more than winning, he wanted to impress her. If that was even possible than that. At last with a grin he charged at her, kicking the ball again and again, and laughing all the while.

  Cynthia beamed with pride as she watched his progress. “You’re getting better, Theo!” She called out.

  Theo rushed toward her and just before she could block him, he kicked the ball past her and towards the goal. The ball soared up just over her head and to her right. It was going to go in-

  Cynthia smiled and did a backflip, kicking the ball in the air and sending it directly to his feet. “Nice job! You’re getting the hang of it. You’re a natural.” She praised her pet.

  Theo laughed and the pair continued to play for a while. They kicked the ball back and forth and Theo even tried to block. Cynthia tried teaching him a few tricks too. And one time while kicking the ball into the air. Theo made to headbutt the ball, but his foot slipped in the grass, and he ended up falling to the ground with a carefree laugh as the ball hit the ground a few feet away.

  Cynthia chuckled, walking over to him and sitting beside him. “You’re quite the quick learner.”

  Theo touched his nose, then gently poked hers. “Cynthia good... good…” The word was right there on the tip of his tongue. He just didn’t know how to say it properly in her language. Theo knew what he meant to try to say though. If only she understood goblin speak. Then maybe he could tell her. Alas she did not know his native language. Theo frowned in concentration as he tried to piece the right words together. “Not... master... good... I learn... Cynthia teach…”

  “You’re trying to say I’m a good teacher?” She chuckled softly and pulled him into a tight hug. “Well thank you, sweetie.”

  Theo smiled and hugged her back. “Cynthia best teacher.”

  Cynthia petted the top of his head. “Come, dear. Let’s get you a bath before your lessons begin.”

  “Okay,” Theo agreed, still smiling happily. He felt content and happy with the way things were going. He never wanted it to end.

  She scooped him up into her arms and carried him back inside of the mansion and into the washroom. “Want to try getting in on your own again?”

  “Can… Cynthia help?” Theo asked.

  “It seems you still need a little help, huh?” Cynthia smiled and helped him into the tub. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to do it on your own someday. I’m sure of it.”

  Theo nodded. He wasn’t sure when, but he believed he would be able to do that much someday. He just had to get stronger. And with Cynthia as his teacher he knew one day he would be really strong.

  Cynthia began to wash him. “Have you ever climbed a tree before, dear?”

  “Once.” Theo responded. He recalled the painful memory of climbing too high and falling…

  Badtoe had been watching other goblin children trying to climb a tree. It had started out with a few of the older kids simply watching an adult climb up into the tree to retrieve some eggs from a nest. It had turned into a competition.

  An older kid had made it up the tree along with a few others. They stuck their tongues out and jeered at the other goblin kids who couldn't climb up.

  "Stupid. Goblins not climb." A fat and round goblin boy huffed as he glared up at the kids in the tree. He was bald just like Badtoe was. Bald like most of the male goblins around. And he was tall for his age. He was the tallest kid in his age group. He was even bigger then some of the older goblin kids. Tall, fat, and ugly.

  "Can do!" A goblin girl with pigtails grinned before running at the tree. She leapt and dug her nails into the bark, using her hands and feet to scale the towering tree.

  "...stupid." The fat goblin huffed next to Badtoe. Then his eyes slowly slid over and down and he smirked. "What you doing? You can't climb. Can't do anything. Useless Badtoe."

  Badtoe frowned. "Can to!"

  The fat goblin hit Badtoe in the stomach. "Shut up. Stupid Badtoe."

  Badtoe winced and doubled over. "Ugh... Boghar..."

  Boghar then gave the little goblin a kick, sending Badtoe onto the ground. They were both the same age. However, one of them had been born to be bigger and stronger than the other. "Said shut up. Stupid. Stupid Badtoe."

  The little goblin just nodded his head silently as he tried to pick himself up off the ground.

  "..." A goblin girl with straight black hair crossed her arms. "Bugbutt."

  Boghar whirled on the girl with a fist raised. "What you say?"

  "Bugbutt." The girl repeated, unimpressed by the implied threat.

  Boghar growled and grabbed the girl by the neck and held her against him. "Bog. Har. Boghar."

  "...Boghar." She relented and finally called him by his name.

  "That right. Stupid Leafbite."

  The goblin girl, Leafbite tried to push away from him but he held onto her with a firm grip. "No. Stay. Fun later." He glanced over and smirked once again as he looked down at Badtoe. "Try climb."

  Badtoe blinked. "...climb?"

  Boghar raised his other fist. "Climb. Stupid Badtoe. Maybe fall. Maybe die. No more. Useless Badtoe."

  The little goblin looked up at the tree and hesitated. "...tall."

  Boghar then smacked the back of Badtoe's head. "No talk. Climb. Stupid."

  Badtoe winced and felt at the back of his head. He almost turned and hit the bigger boy. But he knew better than to try that. He'd only get himself pummeled. And so the little goblin just sighed and walked up to the tree and began to climb.

  The other goblins and goblin kids around them paused as they watched. Badtoe had a slow start. Struggling up every inch of the tree. And much to some surprise... he was actually climbing it.

  His body was burning as he climbed. His arms and legs shook as he pulled himself up higher and higher, holding on for dear life. He kept his eyes on the goal though. He never once looked back down. He just kept climbing.

  Boghar frowned as he watched. "..." The little goblin was supposed to fall. He wasn't actually supposed to climb the tree! He was a weak and pathetic and worthless goblin! A waste of the tribe's resources!

  Leafbite found herself beaming as she shouted up at him. "Climb! Climb Badtoe! Climb!"

  A few other goblins began to cheer as well.

  The cheering ended when they watched him finally fall.

  And Boghar laughed in the silence.

  Cynthia smiled as she worked, washing him with the care of a mother. It felt like she did have a child of her own with Theo around. “I used to love climbing trees when I was younger. It was always so much fun.”

  “Fun? Tried once. Climbed too high.”

  “Hm… are you scared of heights?” Cynthia raised an eyebrow curiously.

  “No? Maybe. Climbed high.”

  “Well then,” Cynthia grinned, “how about we both go climbing after dinner? It’ll be great exercise.”

  “Fun!” Theo cheered, eager to try something new again. This time he wouldn’t fall. This time he would succeed!

  After she rinsed him off, she dried him off with a towel and wrapped it around his little body. “Alright. But first you have got to work hard in your classes. Got it?”

  “Work hard. Learn lots,” Theo nodded with the determination to please her.

  “Good boy.” Cynthia patted his head. She guided the little goblin into the bedroom and helped him get dressed.

  “Thanks.” Theo smiled, feeling happy at the odd praise. Good boy? He didn’t know why but those words brought a giggle out of him.

  She kissed his temple before helping him to his feet. “Have a good time in class, dear.”

  “Cynthia to?” Theo asked, not wanting to be separated from her.

  “Oh, not right now dear. I have to meet with my father to choose my future fiancé, but I’ll join you later. I promise.”

  Theo’s head perked up. “Cynthia get married?”

  Cynthia smiled softly, a hint of bittersweetness caught in her eyes. “Yes… I need to start seriously looking for a spouse. It’s about time I settled down.”

  Theo’s mind raced with thoughts. “What about Theo? When married?” He couldn’t help the fear creeping into his chest. Would she have time for him once she had a husband? Would she spend all her time with her husband instead, leaving Theo alone?

  “I’ll always care for you, Theo,” Cynthia reassured him, kneeling down to look him in the eye. “You are a part of this family, too. That will never change.”

  Theo frowned but nodded. He tried to push away the unease building in his chest. “When bigger, marry Theo?” Theo blurted out, unsure of what he was even asking. It was almost like a childish thought, but his heart felt tight as they spoke to each other.

  Cynthia blinked, then laughed softly. “What? Pfft- Aww, Theo. Do you want to marry your dear master?” She pinched his cheeks, her heart swelling with affection. It was such a sweet and innocent question that she couldn't help but smile. This must have been how it felt to have a child ask to marry their parents.

  Theo recoiled from the pinch, but his cheeks warmed at the playful teasing with a light blush. “Not child.” He muttered with an embarrassed feeling rising inside of him. “Yes… want Cynthia teach. Want Cynthia... all time. Like lake. Like train. Like bed. Like now. Cynthia fun, nice.”

  Cynthia smiled fondly at him, pulling him into a hug. “Well, you’ll always have me, dear. We can still do all those things together.”

  Theo nodded and felt his worries melt away. If Cynthia would always care for him, then he was sure he could handle anything. “Thanks, Cynthia.”

  She squeezed him tightly. “There’s no need for you to worry. Now go on ahead to your classes, alright?”

  Theo smiled brightly. “Where’s classes?”

  She let go of him at last. “Come, I’ll walk you there.”

  Theo’s excitement grew as they walked. He wondered what the day’s lessons would be about.

  "In your first class, you’ll be learning the human language, the basics. Then you have reading, swimming, math, and some lessons on how to serve me properly. Make sure to behave and pay close attention, alright?”

  “Okay, Cynthia,” Theo said, ready to take on whatever came his way. He was eager to learn more. Eager to please her. Eager to show her just how capable he could be.

  Soon enough they reached the classroom door. Cynthia gave him one last pat on the head. “Alright, this is it. Have fun, dear.”

  “Thanks, Cynthia!” Theo cheered, feeling a bit nervous but mostly excited. He felt like he was ready for whatever came next.

  Cynthia opened the door for him and waved goodbye before heading off to meet her father. And Theo stepped into his first classroom experience.