“You caused quite the mess last night,” The wizard told him. “ I had to cut my trip short once I felt the disturbance in the forest. But no matter, it’s about time I pull up my socks.”

Victor didn’t know whether to feel bad about the whole debacle. It was about time he was informed.

“What… exactly did I do?” Victor asked frightfully.

“To put it very simply, you started going insane. Normal monsters..the ones that aren’t reincarnated humans don’t typically evolve without some serious pressure in their lifetime. From what I learned, the sane ones almost always had some outside help. Such as the madmen you so desperately seek.”

His thoughts reminded him of the very moment he had landed in this place. He had been chased by the snakeman from the get-go by something that was almost certainly sentient. Though wasn’t entirely human. It would explain why the snake man had tried to consume humans; reincarnated monsters were driven by whatever force to constantly consume, adapt, and evolve.

“You turned into a giant version of a bowl of jello, Victor. Gurgling and nurgling. Started consuming everything insight. Rocks, trees, dirt, small critters. You left a path of destruction so great, even the forest had it out for you.”

The world has had it out for him from day one he thought. Nothing's changed.

“Well, I suppose I should be thankful that you stopped me.”

“Oh I didn’t stop you and thank the stars above, you weren’t near the village at the time,” Faelion said. Leaving Victor dumbfounded, who else around here held the power to hold him? Certainly not Magnar.” You have an old acquaintance to thank for your survival, and that spook in your sword of course.”

“Acquaintance, what acquaintance.”

He could think of no one other than Marcus. He hadn’t interacted with anyone on the scale he did with Him and Faelion.

“Aelit, the druid you encountered a few times. She stopped your chaotic display.”

‘Oh.’

That would explain a lot.

“Really. What compelled her to stop me and not kill me.”

“You have that Roman spirit trapped in that sword to thank, you know you ought to have a proper talk with him. These Romans sure love you for some reason. Must have been one in your past lives. You’ll speak to the girl soon enough. ”

He’d always admired one thing or another about the Roman Empire. He doubted that though.

“Was the iron block necessary?”

“After she tore you down to size, I needed a way to contain you until i found a way to fix you. But I’m glad the problem solved itself.”

“I’m not so sure about that. What if it happens again in the future.”

“Well then, start making some powerful friends to rely on.”

He curved a smile and started winking at Victor.

Powerful friends like Faelion the Wizard.

Powerful friends? Such as this druid girl or perhaps even Malak. Yes, he did remember what he was asked to do. To lure a man to his demise. A long journey from now to then. So much to do.

As they moved through the town. Victor noticed an increasing amount of villagers, compared to the few he had seen earlier. On the outskirts of the Town, he could see more than reconstruction taking place.

“The people here have been busy?” he stated.

“Yes, for the longest time, I thought, I could live relatively peacefully here. But it’s clear now that this place will be targeted by bad actors, you saw it yourself. Time to grow myself a little republic.”

Ambitious

“So this just started out as a place to isolate yourself from the world. I mean I'm sure you can do greater things.”

“That’s the great problem,” Faelion replied. “I didn’t want to get dragged into the wars or the political nature of the ever-changing world.

As they moved through the pathways of the village-town. Some villagers would occasionally stop and stare at Victor in jaw-dropping awe. It started innocently enough with a few people glancing at him, soon enough, more rowdy actors would come and stare. Give their opinion or insult and move on.

“Is that the same snot of slime, the wizard summoned.”

Stolen story; please report.

Which just offended him to a degree.

“Know when to speak and to whom,” he shouted. Waving his arms in the direction of the talker, intending to intimidate him.

Immediately the culprit fled the scene. It was a successful proof of his terrifying intimidation or perhaps his lack of charisma.

“You really should pay them no mind, conquer their minds with your deeds and not your power,” Faelion said. “Most of these people have been refugees sometime in their lives, not too unlike yourself.”

Victor shook his head. He didn’t believe it was the same thing.

Another villager had come up to the pair, as they strolled past. Running with excitement to Victor. And an old man with long greyed-out hair and stubble. Going on his knees hands clasped together. He exclaims, “Lord Victor, I have heard of about your great deeds in battle. And I have come to seek your blessings.”

Now this was awkward, he didn’t know how to respond to this particular situation. Even Faelion was taken aback.

“My good man, we are in the middle of dire things. As such Victor cannot be disturbed at this very moment.” Faelion answered the man, a polite way of saying fuck off.

“But please sir, just a minor blessing. A message of goodwill to turn my luck around, they say a message from an enlightened beast will turn my life around, ” he said. What exactly was he supposed to do?

A simple message of good will huh?

“What is your name, old man?” Victor asked.

“It’s Raegar lord Victor,” he said now bowing his head.

Victor placed his hand on his head.

“well…then…Raegar. I Victor, uhh.. The former man-made monster here by blesses your journey.”

You cast bless

-10 mana points

0/10 mana remaining

A villager named Raegar’s stats temporarily enhanced

New skill mana proficiency attained (lvl1)

What the hell? What did I just do?

The old man started jumping up and down in utter excitement. He seemed to be moving much faster than normal, happy that he got ‘something’ out of it.

“Thank you, slime lord, I won't forget this. I will spread words of your deeds far and wide.”

The man ran away as quickly as he came.

That was weird

He felt a sudden headache gripping his head. Was it the result of being deprived of mana, it was too early to tell, or was this the result of casting the spell?

Faelion stared at him. However, I wasn't surprised. He put his hands on Victor’s skin as if testing something.

“Well, aren’t you something? An innate talent for magic as well. I think we’ll have to test these powers of yours to a severe degree for now let’s get out of here before you attract more unwanted attention.”

“Agreed.”

As they went up passed the little mountain passage, Victor stopped to stare at a little puddle of water. There he could see his full-body reflection staring back at him. He took a good look.

He had become humanoid after all, with no discernable facial features other than large black eyes, two pointy holes for a nostril, and a retractable mouth more akin to a lid. His ‘skin’ was still gooey and seemed to slosh around while he moved. Though he could feel no ‘bones’ or ‘muscles.’ His inner body was almost sculpted to imitate it.

One step closer is all he told himself, over and over again.

One step closer, but I am still a monster.

“I hope you didn’t become a narcissist overnight." Faelion snorted. "If your appearance is bothering you. I could always cast an illusion spell on you.”

“No, no… I’m just observing all the changes I went through.”

“Hmm, well let’s finish our meeting then. I have preparations to be made.”

Faelion was a busy character it seems, always preoccupied with something of this or that nature. He had heard the man complain about getting ready so many times now. He wondered if he was burdening the man.

They moved on towards the cabin.

“So uh… you said I could use this cabin, while I stay here indefinitely, does this rule still apply.”

The question took the wizard aback. Like he had opened a sore spot.

“Yes… though there may be some complications now.”

“What complications.”

The wizard opened the sliding door. There on the bed he had slept before lay a woman with braided reddish hair, feet in the air, carefree and lazily a book in her hand. One of the books he presumed was from the bookshelves, the books he wanted to read.

“What do you want now, are you to interrogate me again.”

Interrogate?

A fowl expression formed on her face the moment she spotted Victor, one of shock and disgust.

“Hell no, this is not what we agreed on.”

“Agreed on what Faelion?” Victor asked the man.

The man sighed and held his hands up in the air.

“Look there’s no other place for you two to stay at the moment, so unless one of you sleeps outside, you’ll have to share this cabin. I don’t care who sleeps on the floor at the moment, you’ll just have to vote on it or deal with it”

“You couldn’t get one of the villagers to take her in, or keep her in your house at least, have to be honest I'm not going to be comfortable with this I was here first.”

Victor already had a sneaky suspicion about how this was going to end up. He knew he would have to be at the receiving end of it. He was certainly no saint, but if he must…

“No, that’s not possible. The majority of the villagers aren’t going to agree on this, this village is based on democracy, as powerful as I am. I have to conform to the rules. No one is going like an outsider such as you two, ‘integrating’ down there. And until my missing mayor turns up, this is out of the question. I also can’t keep her in my household for other reasons.”

Trouble with the missus? Perhaps she didn’t want a young woman near her stud of a husband. He could only guess.

Victor much preferred sleeping indoors, despite being resistant to the cold or having the ability to burrow himself in some kind of dirt hole. He wanted this cabin, it made him feel as close to home as possible.

“So.. you must be Aelit then. I suppose I should thank you for saving my life.”

“Sparing not saving, though I believe I owe it to you ‘man-monster’ if the Wizard's words are to be believed. Whatever you are.”

rude

“It’s Victor…”

“So I’ve heard,’ she stood up. “Well what now, i need some rest. After the stunt, you pulled in that forest. You can’t seriously expect me to share a room with a male and a monster?

Better not to waste any more time on silly arguments.

“Does the barracks have any tents Faelion, That would work as well. I’ll sleep outside.”

“My, my what a gentleman,” Aelit said. The sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.

“Hmm, I think so, I let Magnar bring you one. You're a reasonable man, Victor,” the wizard let out a sigh.” At any rate, I want you too to be ready first thing tomorrow morning, before dawn breaks. We’ll be setting off toward the necromancer’s lair.”

“I did not consent to any of this,” Aelit said with a stroke of anger.

“You said you’d do anything for food and shelter, I thought we had an agreement.”

“Conscripting young ladies for warfare might not be in the book of good deeds Faelion. Aren’t you gonna bring out the town army?”

“No, I changed my mind. I'm afraid just the three of us will do it. I need the village protected from outside elements, while we are gone. We have the right skill sets to counter this force. If you two are willing.”

“I was hoping for some more rest and recovery. There are also things I wished to discuss” Victor argued.

“Normally, I would agree with you, but since your evolutionary stunt in the forest things have drastically changed for better or for worse. I know you wanted to learn some magic, I wouldn’t mind teaching you on the way.”

bummer

“Well, since introductions are finished, I’ll be seeing you,” Aelit said. Slamming the door shut.

Victor took quick note of her temper, he also wanted to ask her some questions, but she clearly wasn’t in the mood.

“Nasty temper on that one ay?” Victor said.

“Don’t blame her, she has been through a lot,” the wizard looked to the stars as if he were reading something. “ If there’s something you want to do I suggest doing it immediately. But please refrain from wandering into the forest. It might get nasty for you, I don’t want any more surprises right now. Too many things to think about.”

He was hoping to test his newfound evolution on some white boars, but it was probably for the best.

“Oh, I also know you went into that forest with Faro, I also know about that boar.”

Oh shit, he was in trouble now.

The man waved away any concern.

“It’s cool, just the next time …the dog follows you somewhere. Please bring it back. I’d hate to explain something horrible to my daughter.”

He felt relieved.

Of course.

“Now then I have to find that damned stagecoach.”