by Ian Rodgers
“Anyway, we need to be on guard for a while. I don’t know what sort of repercussions this massacre will have on us or New Castella, but I have a bad feeling about all of this. Stay safe, and stay united,” I said, my tone mimicking the way Liliana’s father would give orders.
Katherine nodded solemnly, with Valen bobbing his head up and down alongside her.
“You’ve got a point, there, Jellik,” he agreed.
“Good thing I have this hat to cover it up,” I said in an attempt to break the mood.
Katherine groaned, hands covering her face. Rosa too was unable to look at me due to the terrible joke. Valen stared at me in confusion before cracking a smile.
“Oooh! I get it! You have a pointy hat!” he crowed.
“That was a terrible joke, Jellik. You should be ashamed! Ashamed, I say!” the diminutive thief declared, Rosa scowling at me in agreement.
~Hold still.~
‘Wuh…?’ A sudden stinging sensation hit me, as if someone had smacked me upside my ‘head.’
‘OW! What was that for, Tara?’
~You told me to smack you if you ever uttered such a lame joke. I’m only doing what you asked.~
‘I meant puns! Only in the event of puns!’
I could hear Tara ‘tsking’ at me from within my mind. ~It was still a bad joke worthy of punishment. No court on Erafore would gainsay me.~
I grumble for a bit about ungrateful, humorless voices in my head, before turning my attention back to Rosa and the rest.
“Alright, that’s enough worrying and bad jokes for now. Let’s just relax, and have a nice evening,” I suggested, and everyone nodded in agreement.
An errant thought brushed up against my mind, and I resolved to find a place to rest for a few hours undisturbed.
.
“Hey, is anyone here? I’m ba-“
Before I could finish my words I was swept up into a crushing hug. Literally, my body was distending grotesquely as I was squished into a tube-like form thanks to the pressure of my owner’s arms.
“Agh!”
“You’re back! It’s been so long!” the voice of Princess Liliana cried as she held me close.
“Liliana, you’re crushing him,” a soft, somewhat timid voice spoke up from somewhere behind my owner, and I sighed in relief as I was released.
“Thank you, Kine! A little bit longer, and I would have been hugged to death!” I said as I plopped down onto my owner’s desk. As I landed, I caught a glimpse of the mountain of homework I’d been neglecting, and I felt myself shrink in terror at the thought of catching up with everything I’d missed.
“So! How has everything been while I’ve been gone?” I asked, studiously ignoring the parchment and paper pile that was my burden.
“Things have been going well, especially with my studies on Oozes and their subspecies. I’ve been able to get a few more of them for testing purposes. Professor Blott has been very helpful in that regard,” Liliana said, praising the former Druid who taught about magical creatures and monsters.
“Anything interesting happening? If I remember correctly, your research gave birth to a new kind of Ooze. Has that shaken up the world of academia yet?” I inquired while letting my owner happily pet me.
“The Perfume Oozes have been widely praised by professors and students alike. Their discovery has changed the way people look at Oozes. Especially by the cosmetics branch of the Alchemist’s Circle. They think that these little guys could be a big money maker for me, if I market it right. After all, who would want a pet that only needs a little bit of sugar water and Soapstone scrapings a day to survive, and in exchange erases foul odors and even cleans dirt and filth?”
“That’s wonderful!” I cheered. I glanced over at Kine, who was standing by the door. From how she and Liliana were both dressed in nice looking clothes, they had either been about to leave for an event, or were coming back from one.
“Am I interrupting anything?” I asked cautiously, and Liliana winced while Kine nodded.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. We were about to attend a dinner with member of the Alchemist Circle and a handful of notable merchants interested in buying shares of Liliana’s new shop.”
“You’re making a shop?” I uttered, incredulous. My owner nodded shyly.
“It’s true. My work with the Perfume Oozes caught the eye of Circle’s cosmetic research group, which in turn gained the attention of one of the most successful perfumers in Varia. I’m meeting with them to discuss my plans on utilizing and selling not just my Perfume Oozes, but other Oozes and their products.”
“Then don’t let me keep you!” I said hurriedly, pushing Liliana’s hand away from me. For a moment a deep sense of loss filled me as I rejected her touch, but I shoved it away and tried to fix her with a piercing stare. It lost something without eyes, but I felt it got the point across well enough.
“Liliana, you’re in your fourth year as an Academy student. And though you got in a year early, you’re still already eighteen years old. You need a plan. A plan to make a living for when you graduate. Sure, you’re a princess, but I know you do not want to live off your parents’ welfare or the fame of your name. Or marry for political reasons. If this meeting goes well for you, you’ll not only be making money to continue your research and doing what you love, but you’ll be free. And isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
I reached out with a pair of tendrils and held her hands comfortingly. I saw tears prickle at the edges of her eyes, and I felt her unease and her worries plain as day. I then tilted towards the desk.
“Besides, I have a honking great pile of work to catch up on, anyways. I’ll be fine. And when you return, we can talk all you want.”
She nodded sadly but resolutely, and wiped the tears from her face. Kine came over and helpfully dabbed on some extra makeup to hide the redness of her eyes, giving me a tiny, thankful smile.
She mouthed ‘thank you, this means a lot to her,’ towards me, and I just bobbed up and down in understanding.
The petite half-elf from Distant Qwan took my owner’s hands and led her out of the dorm room, leading her off towards wherever the dinner meeting was taking place.
As the door clicked shut behind them, I sighed and reached out for ink and a quill. Getting to work, I couldn’t help but think of how times changed. In another year, Liliana and Kine would be graduating from the Academy. They’d not only be proficient mages, but outstanding people as well.
I’d known that Liliana’s research and experiments on Oozes had all started because of her love and fascination towards me, but in the years since I’d been gone, wandering the world without her at my side, she’d changed. Her focus was still on Oozes, and on me, but she had new reasons to continue her work.
She had grown up well, and become beautiful. How much longer could I continue being her pet, though? I had a life of my own. Sort of. And she would be preparing to make a life of her own soon enough.
Would there even be a place for me in it, anymore?
.
The hours trickled away, and I sighed in weary satisfaction as I placed the last sheet of homework on the ‘finished’ pile. From his seat on the window, Verde, the Emerald Carbuncle that was my owner’s Familiar, gave me a thumbs-up upon noticing I was done.
I will admit, I cheated somewhat by relying on Tara’s vast repertoire of stored knowledge. On one pseudo-hand, it was somewhat against the meaning of learning it yourself. On the other not-quite-hand, I had access to vast amounts of information, and I needed the homework done.
There was a distinct lack of a guilty consciousness as I looked over nearly a month’s worth of homework that had been completed in less than five hours. Not to mention, Verde didn’t seem to mind I’d borrowed Tara’s assistance. If anything, he seemed amused by my blatant cheating. But that was Feykin for you. Rapscallions one and all.
And besides, when life gives you a Spirit of Knowledge, use it. Because there are usually better things to do than remembering t
he names of dead kings. Like killing monsters, or using magic to make something that helps others kill monsters.
‘Wow, I’m really in a monster slaying mood right now,’ I mused to myself, amused. ‘Homework really brings out the worst in me.’
Any further contemplation was made impossible by a happy, squealing missile that burst into the room and came straight at me.
I jumped somewhat in surprise, as my senses barely had time to register Liliana’s return before she was delivering another debilitating hug.
“IdiditIdidityesyesyes!” Liliana chattered, at rapid fire speeds.
“Agh! Again! Crushing! Me! Help!” I squeaked over her words, trying to wiggle free from her grip.
“I’m sorry! But I’m just so happy!” she cheered, releasing me. I thudded onto the desk, disturbing my carefully stacked papers, and I groaned as I watched my work scatter to the four corners of the room.
“So, I take it something good happened?” I inquired, reaching out with half a dozen tendrils to try and pick up what I could.
“It did! When Kine and I arrived at the restaurant, not only was the Alchemist’s Circle representative there alongside the perfumer, but the head secretary to the Vice-President of the World Bank was there as well! Apparently, any business -- potential or otherwise -- undertaken by a member of royalty attracts a certain level of attention,” she explained.
“Why was Kine with you?” I asked, trying to process everything, so I uttered a question I’d had earlier.
“I’m an officially licensed notary, as well as being well versed in all manners of legalese,” she explained plainly from her spot at the doorway.
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
She shrugged. “Before I came to Orria and the Academy, I spent most of my life locked up in an isolated wing of the Imperial Palace in Qwan with few people around me. Books were my only companion. I learned a lot, and found ways to apply what I’d learned after becoming freed.”
Liliana and I winced as we recalled that technically speaking, Kine’s existence as a child born out of wedlock to one of Qwan’s princes was illegal. She had little love for her homeland, or either set of parents who had all but condemned her to a solitary hell.
“So! Business! Did you get a good deal?” I asked hastily, steering the conversation back into safer waters.
“Yes! They thought the idea was interesting, and all of my data and sample products shocked them!” Liliana said, eager as I was to shift focus elsewhere. “It really goes to show that people have never considered Oozes as anything more than squishy pests.”
I nodded, happy that opinions were slowly shifting in my kind’s favor. That reminded me…
“By the way, I found the Soul Oozes,” I revealed. Liliana gasped excitedly, and Kine’s normally passive expression turned into one of surprise.
“It’s true. Let me regale you of tales of my adventures in Drakon so far,” I said, cheerfully giving them an overview of what had happened on the New Frontier so far. My edited version did not reveal I had broken into the governor’s mansion and stolen a bunch of documents, but for the most part I told them everything.
“Interesting. I never thought of using Oozes as a modified form of garbage disposal before. These Swamp Oozes sound useful. I’ll have to experiment with them a little bit, see what I can find out,” Liliana mumbled to herself, intrigued and impressed by the Ooze ranch and different ways they were utilizing their resources.
I bobbed up and down in agreement before gesturing to one of the many papers that had gotten tossed to the floor. “I know, right? I jotted down some notes on the way they were handling the Oozes, and some ideas for how you could market some of your products.”
“Thank you, Jelly. That means a lot to me. As does your support,” she said with a cheerful grin.
“Anytime, my dear. Oh, and let me know when I can start investing in your shop!”
“You want to help me with my store?” Liliana asked joyfully.
“Of course! You’re my owner, and my friend. And I don’t really have that much need for a lot of money. I have some savings that would work better being invested than sitting around in my Dimensional Pocket, collecting dust,” I said.
We chatted some more about how things were going, and there was a definite air of tranquility that I had been missing. When I was around my princess, all my worries and doubts were erased. She was an anchor in my sea of self-doubt. I missed being with her.
Time crawled on, and it got late. I could see Liliana and Kine hiding their yawns, and decided that it was time to call it a night.
“You’ll come back soon, won’t you, Jelly?” Liliana asked, all but begging me with that sad pouty face I couldn’t say no to.
“Of course. As soon as I can,” I promised gently, patting her hand before hoisting myself back into my clone’s glass tank.
I sighed softly, before closing myself off from the world, and slipping back into my own mind.
Before everything went dark, the last scene I saw was Liliana peering down at me, a pained, longing expression on her face.
My core ached as I returned to my own body.
~How was it?~ Tara asked as I entered my mindscape.
“Not bad,” I said softly, staring at the door in my head that led back to my spare copy.
“I think I’m going to bed for now,” I announced.
~Sleep well,~ she said with a wave.
Foggy, indistinct dreams were my companion that night. Yet the one thing I remembered clearly was a silver woman gently petting me.
Chapter 14: Night of Hatred
As a Royal Ooze, I require far less sleep than other creatures. Four hours minimum to remain rested and not suffer any adverse side effects, like hallucinations.
Unfortunately, I only got about two hours of ‘shuteye’ before someone was frantically shoving and shaking me, trying to wake me up from my dreams.
“A good night’s rest. Is that so much to ask for?” I grumbled as my mental faculties whirred to life.
“No time!”
“Katherine? What’s going on?” I demanded, recognizing the dwarf’s gruff yet still feminine voice.
She was standing at my bedside, with a groggy Rosa wobbling in the air next to her. An expression of fear was on her face, and that galvanized me to wake up completely.
“There’s a mob approaching Haven,” she explained worriedly, glancing out the window, where a faint red glimmer could be seen from beyond.
“Huh. Feels a bit early for sunrise,” I murmured to myself, wordlessly casting a Time Keeper Cantrip. It was indeed too early for dawn. Almost four hours too early.
“Those are the torches, complete with pitchforks,” Katherine said darkly.
“What the Hells is going on?!” I demanded. I practically flew out of bed, donning robe, hat, humanoid form, and illusion faster than humanly possible.
“I don’t know. The sentries spotted a large group of people, maybe a hundred or more, coming up the road. They’re all carrying improvised weapons of some sort, and none of them look in the mood to talk,” the thief revealed, following me out of the room.
“Where are they headed?” I inquired as we rushed towards Haven’s walls.
“Here.”
“Why?” I cried, pleading for an answer. None came, and only muffled sobs and hushed cries could be heard from the Soul Oozes, who were hiding in their homes.
Valen was waiting for us atop one of the two small watch towers built next to the town’s gate, a grim look on his face.
Around us, a handful of Soul Oozes were arming themselves with cheap spears and crossbows and taking up positions along the rim of the palisade.
“When I first drafted Haven’s defensive plans, a part of me knew that I’d one day have to make sure the town was able to withstand assaults from an angry mob, and not just wild beast attacks,” the head of Haven’s defenses muttered sadly as Katherine and I stood next to him.
“Are there any means of escape, or hiding
?” I asked as I watched the bobbing glow from the torches grow closer.
“There’s a small tunnel beneath town hall that leads out to the edge of the marsh,” Valen said, not once removing his gaze from the horizon. “And every house has a small, secondary basement built deep underground meant for hiding within for a day or so.”
“It won’t come to that. I promise,” I said, gripping my staff tightly. Valen merely nodded mutely, engrossed with the mob approaching the home he’d built with his own hands.
“Yeah! We won’t let them touch this place!” Katherine declared loudly. Valen smiled weakly at her encouragement, and unconsciously reached out with a hand and grabbed Katherine’s, holding her close for comfort.
Nothing else was said, and we waited in grim silence for the mob to reach shouting distance from the wooden walls.
Once that happened, I cast the Booming Voice spell on myself, and shouted at the oncoming mob.
“Who goes there, and why are you here?” I demanded. The crowd stumbled a bit, surprised by my loud voice reaching them, and ground to a halt.
“Where are the damned scalies?!” someone shouted back. I tilted my head confused.
“There are no lizardfolk or kobolds in this town! Haven is not a part of their dominion! It is chartered by New Castella’s government!” I called out.
“Lies! We know there aren’t humans in there! Send out the lizards!”
“I repeat, there are no lizardfolk or kobolds in Haven! And even if there were, we would not throw them to a mob!” I retorted.
Angry mutterings filled the crowd, and a few swears and insults were hurled my way.
“Leave now, or I will fight back to defend this place! And unlike you, I am well-versed in the art of combat!” I announced. “I am Jellik, an adventurer, and this place is under my protection!”
Uneasy and worried chatter swept through the mob, many of the people faltering as they found out someone powerful was defending it against them. Unfortunately, just when it looked like the situation would defuse itself, one idiot from within the crowd decided to throw a rock at us.
