Gaia's Champion Ch. 57 - Teaser (Patreon)

The house was alive with the soft murmur of voices and the delicate clinking of teacups on saucers. Felix, in all his dramatic glory, stood in the center of the common room with a flourish, a wide-brimmed hat cocked jauntily atop his head and an enchanted silk handkerchief dangling from his fingertips. The goblins, doe-eyed and utterly enthralled, sat cross-legged on the floor, munching cookies with reckless abandon as the show unfolded.

“Observe!” Felix announced with a grand sweep of his arm, though he hadn’t spoken more than a sentence or two during the whole performance. Words weren’t needed. Not when he could summon illusory pies to splatter his own face, pull an endless string of sausages from one goblin’s ear, or pretend to be locked in a fierce silent battle with a mop that clearly had the upper hand.

Laughter echoed like music, especially when he pretended to trip, land face-first in an oversized hat, and emerge wearing the thing like a tutu. One of the older goblins practically howled, rolling on the floor with her feet kicking in the air. Even the usually stoic Xaera cracked a grin from her perch by the doorway.

Felix’s final trick involved a flock of tiny sparkling paper birds flitting out of his sleeves and exploding into confetti mid-air. The youngest gobbo, a sleepy little one with a jam-smeared face, blinked up at the shimmering cloud and gave a soft giggle before slumping against her sister with a yawn.

“Well,” Velithra said fondly, rising with a stretch that popped a few joints. “I think… believe we need sleep. Been long day.”

“Long night too,” Xaera added with a smirk, lifting the sleepy goblin into her arms. “And for some, it’s probably just getting started.”

Lissandra snorted, gently herding the rest of the goblins like a schoolteacher corralling unruly students. “Come along, small disasters. Time for bed. No, you can’t bring the teapot with you. Yes, I’m sure it’s not sentient.”

As the gaggle of goblins was ushered down the hallway toward their rooms, the rest of the group settled into the cushioned chairs and couches, sipping the last of their tea.

Emalia leaned over, whispering to Amy, “Should we be concerned that we haven’t heard anything from the grove yet?”

Amy sipped thoughtfully. “Depends. If we start feeling tremors or hear someone singing Ave Maria from the treetops, then maybe.”

“Ten bucks says Sheena breaks something before Rosa does,” Darren murmured from across the room, eyes twinkling.

“Please,” Daelina chimed in, “Rosa’s the one who’s been bottling it up for years. That woman’s going to go full apocalypse when she finally lets loose.”

Eva arched an eyebrow over her cup. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Lissandra smirked as she returned, settling back into a cushioned chair. “Knowing Sheena and Phalmina? That grove is either a temple to love right now… or a cautionary tale.”

They all laughed, even Darren, who winced and added, “We should probably send someone to check the structural integrity of the portal stone come morning. Mainly because we all know what Jason is capable of when he’s all riled up.”

Felix plopped down into an armchair with an exaggerated sigh, removing his hat and fanning himself dramatically. “I’ve exhausted my theatrical genius. Hopefully, our foursome in the woods has only just begun.”

“You’re enjoying this far too much,” Emalia said, chuckling as she leaned back.

“My dear,” Felix replied, “if I must be denied a scandal of my own, I’ll live vicariously through theirs.”