The Slime Dungeon: Book 1 (The Slime Dungeon Chronicles) (17 page)

              Claire giggled as she landed on her perch, "Well, if there is something I've learned it's to expect the unexpected with you. Go ahead and create your herb slime; I'm curious to see what it will become."

              Concentrating, Doc used his mana to create an herb slime in the middle of the circle. The greenish-purple blob wobbled as it floated up from the floor, mindless and obedient. As with the original slime, Doc poured his essence and awareness into the slime. The slime wobbled and jiggled as it drank him in, changing forms as it grew.

              When he was done, Doc and Claire stepped back, figuratively once again, to inspect their newest boss monster. The former herb slime was now slightly bigger than the overslime. It had grown spikes on its body and was pure green in color. Claire clapped happily as she inspected the slime.

              "It's a jungle slime! I've never seen one before outside the southern jungle; how rare!" Claire gushed.

              "You've been to the southern jungles?" Doc asked.

              "Not really, but Mommy showed me pictures with her mind from her trip there. Dungeon pixies have a big meeting every fifty years to share dungeon knowledge. Our bodies stay in our homes, but we can magic our minds to meet at a pre-picked dungeon in astral form. I've never been to one before, but I heard they are really fun and the best places to find mates."

              According to the blue magic screen, jungle slimes were a second tier slime found in warm, jungle environments. After absorbing enough earth mana and plant life, herb slimes could evolve into one as an option for their next evolution. Jungle slimes were naturally attuned to the earth, making them resistant to water and wind magic but weak to ice and fire magic.

Like their previous evolution, jungle slimes were capable of spitting a potent poison from their body and were now covered in poisonous spikes. Unlike their previous evolution, jungle slimes had a limited control over nearby plant life and could use them to capture their prey. However, this tendency to wrap prey had caused the decrease of speed for the entire species, resulting in some of the slowest members of the slime race. As like before, this jungle slime had a general element of magic due to Doc being its originator. The bonus was that, as a boss monster, this particular jungle slime had a far more potent poison than its lesser brethren.

              "This is just what I need for the plant room.” Doc said happily.

              "I agree, it is the perfect choice for you.” Claire declared as she floated down and sat on the slime. She rested back against a spike and frowned, "I think I'll miss your old boss though; it was a much better seat than this."

              As if hearing her, the jungle slime shot a spike into the ceiling, leaving a blank spot on its body. Claire happily lay on its back and sighed in contentment, "Never mind, this is perfect."

Chapter 22

              A carriage pulled up to the adventurer’s outpost. It was flanked by four guards on horseback. Mary stood at the entrance, waiting patiently for the occupant. She had received a letter a few days prior, and was well informed of her coming.

              Princess Diana, in her normal warrior attire, walked out of the carriage and up to the vice-guild master. The two stared at each other for a moment - words being exchanged by their eyes - before the two rushed forward and embraced.

              "It's good to see you again Mary,” Diana said happily.

              Mary, wiping away a tear, smiled gently at her, "I am pleased to see you safe and unharmed princess."

              The two had met years earlier when Diana was just starting out her training as a young girl. Her father, thinking it was just a phase, had sought out Mary's assistance as he feared a boy's harsh training regimen would be too intense for his little princess.

              Mary of course thought the boy's course was too light and put the young girl through hell's personal slice of training. Diana complained and moaned, but she had persevered through the training to become one of the most promising rookies of her year. Mary had been there when the princess had graduated from basic training, beaming the entire time.

              As they pulled apart, Mary turned to the guards. "Gentlemen, I will take over from here. Your first round at the tavern has already been covered, so have at it."

              The guards clanked their swords together and bowed. After they left, Mary returned her attention to her protégé and close friend, "Come, we have much to discuss together. I want to hear about the incident directly from you."

              Diana winced slightly, but put on her brave face and followed Mary up to her office. There, the two sat across one another; one brooding and the other sweating. With the guards gone and nothing to disturb them, Mary’s face changed to one of extreme firmness.

              "Explain." It was only one word, but Diana shivered from the aura that dripped from it. She had been dreading this meeting for quite some time, but compared to the terror she felt back at the palace, this was much more bearable.

              “It began after third brother Ken returned from the dungeon inspection,” she began. Diana described the conversations with Ken and her twin that had led to her coming to the town by herself. She described everything that happened in the camp, including Sir Koran’s involvement; a fact that she had not told anyone else. She went into detail about the incident in the cave; how the men attempted to assault her, how she ran and fell, and how she could hear their terrified screams as she lost consciousness. She told Mary everything that happened to her, except, she did not tell her about Mr. Slime. She described the feeling of being carried to safety, but attributed it to the mysterious adventurer who had rescued her. She even went into detail about the fear that constantly plagued her at home.

              The reason she trusted Mary went beyond the normal mentor bond; the two had sworn a blood oath together when Mary had graduated, one that connected them in a world that looked down on them for their gender or blood. Their bond was greater than family, for it in itself was its own form of family; a special type of blood bond. Mary’s unique blood could tie her to those she truly cared about so she could always be aware of their condition. It was she who sent out the search parties for Diana when she had been hurt; otherwise no one would have known the princess was in trouble.

              Mary rolled her fingers on her desk as she listened. Her eyes never left Diana's face as she considered every word. Finally, she sighed and leaned back into her chair. "What a mess you've dragged me into.” She scratched her hair and sighed, "Why couldn't you make this any easier for me?"

              Turning serious, Mary stared hard into Diana's eyes, "First thing, how could you let yourself be taken in by those fools’ words? Remember what the first thing I taught you was? Failing to control your emotions is the first step to destruction. I can’t believe one of my best students forgot such a crucial thing during her first real battle."

              Diana winced, "I remember that now Mistress Mary, but I couldn't then. It…it was so scary.” She shivered as the memories came back to her, “They had no hesitation, no remorse; just their lust and that letter of permission from my own family. Someone who has loved me my whole life wants me hurt, and I don’t know who.”

              Mary sighed and walked around to hug the girl. "I understand girl, believe me I do; and so does every boy or girl who has ever had a first battle. I can only blame myself for this, for never giving you the chance to experience a life-or-death situation."

              Diana, forgetting her fear for a moment, shot Mary an angry look, "What are you talking about? What about that time with the tree monsters?” She retorted angrily.

              Mary waved her hand, "Irrelevant; you knew that was training for you. I mean, you've never fought life and death battles with other people, not monsters. It's even worse for women like us because of what a man can do after we're beaten.” She clenched her fist involuntarily, “I'm sorry you had to go through that, especially with that atrocious letter. I cannot imagine the shock that gave you."

Diana hiccupped a tear as her shivers returned in Mary’s embrace, "I'm really glad they didn't touch me, really I am. I don't know what I would have done…"

"You would have broken and splintered,” Mary said flatly, releasing Diana and returning to her chair, "I've seen it before in men and women who lived through disaster and tragedy. Their gazes were empty and their hearts were filled with such negativity I thought they would drown from it all. I suspect, as you do, that your mentality was part of some greater plan, one that was foiled due to the adventurer Doc."

              "Speaking of which,” Mary cast a curious look at the princess, "How did you manage to preserve your sanity? I could tell from our hug that while hurt and completely terrified, you remain unbroken and, more surprisingly, not corrupted by anger or fear. In fact," Mary twiddled her thumbs in thought, “I could have sworn I sensed a strange calmness inside of you. What did you do to yourself to get like this?"

              Diana blushed and shook her head, “I don’t know what you mean."

              Mary snorted, "My dear, your mind is shaken yet unbroken. Your body was hurt, but your soul remains pure. As one who was praised as a newborn to be a disciple of the gods, I cannot believe an experience like that could not change you. You remember being one correct?”

              In the many countries on the continent, there were many shrines, temples, churches, and cathedrals dedicated to the many gods of the pantheon. In rare cases, a child would be born that would be blessed by the gods and become a ‘god’s disciple.’ These men and women would be masters of the portfolio of the god or goddess who blessed them. For instance, a man blessed by the god of swords would be a master swordsman or a woman blessed by the god of agriculture would be able to grow the most delicious crops in the kingdom. Being a disciple, however, carried its own risks. Until one’s 20th birthday, when the patron god’s blessing would become permanent, disciples could easily be influenced by other deities into switching sides. As a result, they tended to be emotionally sensitive and easily affected by their environments. Many of the so called ‘Demon Kings’ of the past who had threatened the world were actually fallen disciples who had been corrupted by dark gods and goddesses.

              Diana nodded with eyes downcast, "I remember Mary; I never forgot my duties. But," She hesitated, “Ever since I went to the dungeon, I feel like I stabilized into my patron.”

              Mary hummed as she rubbed her eyes, “What you are saying should be an impossibility. No disciple has ever stabilized before the age of 20. The only way that would happen was if your heart and soul had settled on a deity. And yet,” she muttered to herself, "Here you are, safe and sound, for the most part, with your mind stable and your soul pure. If what you say is true, then you have some special connection with a new god or goddess, and it is they who saved you somehow."

              Diana looked down at her hands, "Well, if what I think happened for sure, then perhaps you are correct. I have a new patron."

              Mary paused, then slammed her hands on the table, "Fool girl! Don't tell me that is what you did! You have no idea the personality of this new deity; have you lost your mind entrusting your soul to another…"

              Diana stood and up stared Mary down with determination, "I know what I did and I have not regretted my decision. If anything else, that's the only reason why I'm here today talking with you."

              Mary deflated back into her seat, "I have to agree, I most certainly have to agree with you on that point. Still, what you have done cannot be taken back. Are you prepared for the consequences?"

              Diana folded her fists and nodded, "I've been prepared for a while now." Diana no longer shivered and her eyes shone with new resolve.

              Mary nodded, "As expected of my apprentice. Now, we must plan for the future.” She walked over to a cabinet and removed some paper. Returning to her desk, she dipped her pen and began writing.

              "Now, if what you told me is true, you falling into an unstable state of mind was very important to whoever gave Koran that note. Since his involvement was made known to the gossip-mongers, he's been running back and forth trying to save his reputation. In fact, he's been doing some charity work for some of the new adventurers; taking them into the dungeon and showing them how to fight properly. I'm sending him a note asking him to take you on with his class."

              Diana smiled, a hint of bloodthirstiness leaking out of her, "So I, the poor frightened princess, will beg the handsome adventurer to help me break my fear’s hold over me; is that correct?"

              Mary returned the evil smile, "Indeed, my young apprentice; so it's important we get you to join his class. Since your attack was misplayed, incidents have been occurring in and around town. I have a feeling our shadowy friend is keeping a close eye on his servant. By the way,” Mary paused to look at Diana, "You haven't told your family about any of this?""

              Diana shook her head, "I can't take the chance that one of them is involved, and I don't want the innocent members hurt in this affair."

              "In other words, you want personal vengeance."

              "Yes. This was an attack on me, and I must return the favor."

              Mary chuckled, "I guess I taught that point a little too well. No matter, you will have vengeance.” She folded the paper and slid it into a note tube for delivery.

              "I'll see that Koran believes you don't remember anything and accepts you eagerly into your class. In the meantime, I'll invite some of my friends to join your group the same day you do as guest lecturers. Koran will see it as a chance for endorsement and will eagerly accept their help." Mary stood up and gazed out the window with her hands together behind her back.

"Everything will end in the dungeon, where it all started."