After a few attempts at learning a new language we found out something very important, it wasn’t going to work that easily. You’d think that having the help of a telepath would be ideal for learning a language, but apparently, it just makes things worse.

If the spell is on, I understand everything she says, and if it’s off I don’t. At first, when Gabriel tried to teach a simple word, I didn't hear it in her language. After a few more tries, she tried activating and deactivating the spell almost every other word. I still don’t know how magic works here, but after the results I’d say that’s a bad idea.

On the 10th word she started feeling light headed, on the 15th she looked pale, and after that I could see the nausea on her face. I tried to stop her many times, but she’s quite stubborn. I had Stern, the big guy, help her out, He made her take a break and after a late lunch she took a nap.

I didn't need to eat yet; my body was still quite large. So, I spend some time practicing my control over my body. I went around a corner of the mansion and left all my knifes next to a tree. I started stretching myself as long and thin as I could. Even with my big size, I was able to stretch quite a lot, however the longer and thinner, the more time it took to stretch more.

I kept stretching for a while, until I got a feeling I’ve never got before. It was very hard to describe, a weird combination of unease and… vulnerability? It felt kind of similar to being in the cold without a jacket. I stopped stretching and when I got a bit wider the feeling stopped, and when I stretched again, I got the feeling once again. Just to confirm it, I tried it a few more times, and every time I stretched past a certain pint I got that feeling once again. I guessed that it must’ve been part of my instincts as a slime, so I finished stretching and went over the rest of the abilities I thought off, except for the water shot, I didn't have that much water left, and I didn’t remember where the river was.

Just as I was finishing practicing, I heard some footsteps. I turned around to see no one, but I continued to hear them. It wasn’t the sound grass or dirt being stepped on, however, it was wood. I thought that it might’ve that guy Lance, breaking that other girl’s rule, though I find it unlikely. My curiosity got the better of me, and I was already trying to pinpoint the source. I found the nearest broken wall, and peeked my head to the side.

Inside the mansion, walking very carefully, was Razel. I wonder what she’s up to as I keep silent, not like I can make much noise. She was watching every step she took as she looked around, kind of in a hurry. Considering the reason why they are here, I can only assume that she was looking for the bathroom. Well, that, or the crystal at the basement that’s causing this whole situation, nah, definitively the bathroom.

I should go show her where the stairs to the basement are, they weren’t hidden or anything, but they weren’t that obvious either. But a small part of me thought that she would get angry if I broke the rule she put. Another part of me wondered if I’d even manage to get her to follow me, with the language barrier and all that.

I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try. Using that to resolve myself, I made my way towards her. As the wood creaks bellow me, she turns in my direction, startled, but as soon as she sees me, she goes back to her previous conduct. She said something as she let her breath out, a bit of relief in her tone.

I kept approaching, ignoring her voice, until I was between her and the stairs to the basement. Then I turned to look at her, her face was slightly puzzled, not getting what I was doing. I thought for a second and came up with a simple idea that should’ve been obvious. I just made a hand shape with my body, it looked somewhat weir and crooked, but it was the best I could do, and waved it at her to come closer. Now, hopefully signs and body language are not different as well or I’ll just give up on everything.

But lucky for me she understood me and started following me. She still talked a little in a hushes tone, probably to herself. Once she noticed the stairs, she looked at me and asked a question, probably unconsciously, I just tilted my head. I could try to guess, but I feared I got it wrong. She sighed to herself while turning her head down the stairs.

It was slightly dark with the light coming from the hole in the middle of the room. She seemed reluctant to go down, fearing everything would collapse the minute she stepped in. Can’t blame her, though. I started descending, slithering my way down the stairs. She soon followed, watching her step on the most unlit areas. I guided her to the end of the passage up to the door that led to the room with the crystal formation.

She stopped in front of me, looked at me, to which I just nodded, and she opened the door. Some of the light that the crystals emanated covered her as she did, and she stepped right trough. She stood a few meters away from the formation, inspecting it very carefully. I’m not sure what she was able to get from it, but after a minute or so she came back out, closed the door behind her, and told me something in the same strict tone she used outside. I quickly nodded and left with her.

We climbed the stairs and left the basement, but as she headed for the nearest exit I turned to the stairs to the upper floor. There was one thing up there that I really wanted. As I was climbing the stairs, the girl suddenly yelled at me. I can why she would, but I still wanted to go up. I turned to look at her for a moment, she yelled again and pointed a finger to the floor, clearly conveying her intentions. I had no way of telling her what I wanted, and even if I could, there was no way that it would convince her.

I made a hand and pointed a finger up, her eyes open wide at that, clearly getting angry, but I still made my way up, avoiding the loose and rotten steps. Giving my new size and the idea in my head that things my fall apart I stretched my body over the floor to distribute my weight around as much as possible, looking like a puddle. As I reached the end of the stairs, I noted how Razel started climbing them as well, thought very slowly, and watching every step.

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A part of me thought that I should wait for her, but another didn’t find the idea of her dragging me down very tempting. There was also the part that thought that I should just get what I came here for and leave. Two to one, I headed towards the door that, if I remember correctly, lead to an old office. I came out of it carrying the old spinning chair with me, grabbing it with small protrusions from my body. She managed to reach the end of the stairs just as I came back, looking at me three parts angry, and one puzzled. Nope, make that one and one. She must’ve realized what I was carrying then.

As I headed down she kept looking at me. I didn't care, though, as soon as I got down and outside, I placed the chair down and started spinning, and spinning, and spinning…mi vision changed from the old mansion to the forest, then to the mansion as Razel came out of it, the to the forest again. Then to the mansion once again, but she wasn't there now. A few more loops, and Razel came back with Gabriel. In the seconds that I could look at her, I could see she was looking much better, and forest again. They approached me as Razel asked her something.

She looked angry, probably because I, forest, went upstairs. They talked some more, but eventually Razel left, shortly followed by, forest, Gabriel. With not even the slightest clue as to what that was all about, I kept spinning in my chair.

A mental sight that I didn't know I was holding suddenly left me. Spinning like this it’s quite relaxing, the shifting sight of the green forest, suddenly contrasting with the man-made building, abandoned for so many years that nature had come to take back, and the pass of time giving a helping hand. Added to the motion of spinning, lets my mind wonder aimlessly, without anything to focus on.

I didn't realize until now all the stress that I had built up. But looking back I can understand it. In this last, and really only month that I’ve lived, many things have happened. Waking up in that clearing and leaving it out of simply boredom, running for my life from so many deadly things, just to find an old mansion, and running again once again. Then finding this group, that was definitely a life saver, living surrounded by things that want to kill you can’t be good for the mind. And then coming back here, after having to go through mobs of those enraged creatures. It may not be that much to someone else, but funny enough that’s my whole life. Until I get my memories back, if I even can.

I’m not sure how much time I spent spinning my thoughts away, but it must’ve been quite a while. I may even have dozed off a bit. They sky was turning an orange red, giving the clouds a beautiful pink shade. I think this was the first time I saw the sky like this, it’s not a sight you can see under the canopy of the forest, after all.

I watched for a moment before deciding to go back to the group, not that I have much to do or say, but maybe I can catch a few words here and there. Maybe tomorrow Gabriel and I can come up with something, but for now it’s all I got.

They were gathered around the campfire, talking. I’d say they were simply chatting, but by their mood and the flow of the dialog, it felt more like they were discussing their next steps. Some spare me a few glances when I arrived but they kept going. But, just as I begun listening…

-…an old crystal array.

Gabriel casted the spell, I was just about to tell her to undo it, but picking up on what Razel was talking about, I decided otherwise.

-Let me guess, some parts are broken, right?

Gabriel asked her, almost certain of the answer

-Yes.

-I thought that’d be the case when you mention that this part of the forest was ignored for so many years.

-It was something that’s been bothering all this time. I couldn’t find a single map of the area.

-I believe this barrier was created many years ago, with the purpose of simply keeping wild creatures away from this place. But, something happened and some of the crystals broke. Provoking an unexpected behavior, probably causing even people to be affected, which would explain why it’s been abandoned for so long.

I was surprised at this voice, but up to this time the archer didn't spoke that much, what was his name again? Aaron, I think. Just like Razel his voice carried a hint of refinement. These crystals seem to be very complex, if every part changed the end result so vastly. I’d also be very surprised that he’s so informed on them, if I knew anything about their society.

-I agree, then it broke again, and it cause all the animals to be affected in this way.

-I suppose we can’t just break the crystal, right?

Lance asked the obvious question. How often does breaking something, makes it work better? Razel quickly replied to him.

-Of course not. If we remove the barrier, then nothing will stop all the animals affected by this spell from swarming us.

-And if we don’t do it properly, the spell could take another form as it’s has… done… wait…

Suddenly, Gabriel moved a hand over her lips and my head was swarmed by the girl’s thoughts as started thinking rapidly.

-I’d need to analyze the structure of the crystal array and see if I can adapt it to work with an outside catalyst, then I can define a spell to calm down all the beast that come close to the barrier. I’llneedsomethingstomakeapropercatalyst, maybe... lab… useful…keep… power source… trough… catalyst…

She was thinking too fast for me. My head started hurting like crazy and I could barely keep up with her. By the end of it I didn't even register what she was saying. I ended up turning into a puddle of my own body, but didn't even realized until she stopped with her mental rambling, probably because she noticed my condition.

-Uh, sorry.

-Uhm, what happened?

I think the one that asked was Stern, I think, my mind was still a bit fuzzy. Gabriel went on to explain while I literally put myself together, and then explained what her idea was, clarifying that she’s needed to see the crystal array, as she called it, to be sure.

-Well, it’s the best plan that we got so far. Look into it tomorrow, Bri. I don’t want you to spend the whole night down there, especially after you had your mana depleted.

-I’m fine!... but alright.

She quickly changes her position with a glare of Her. If I could blush I’d do it out of embarrassment, it was kind of my fault that it happened.

-We don’t need to make watch since all the animals are behind the barrier, so I’ll see you in the morning.

With that she got up and headed for one of the tents that were set up around. Minus her brother, that disappeared at some point, the rest of the group stayed at the campfire talking for a while. Since they seemed to just be chatting I asked the mage to deactivate the spell to try and practice for a while. Tomorrow we’ll hopefully put an end to the problems this barrier has caused.