Serepto Fields, Humanoid Territory

The next morning came quickly, the memory of Calcio's anger at their disobedience fresh on Hex's mind. Professor Blackbeard had tried to play it off as a mild disturbance, but Calcio saw through that easily enough. And, of course, he mostly blamed Skel for 'corrupting these gentle souls.'

It was odd... For all the talk of Humanoids hating Monsters, so far most he'd interacted with at the Academy seemed exceptionally friendly. Professor Captain Blackbeard was less angry with them than Calcio for attempting revenge on the orc caravan. The healer who helped Dracala had been so gentle and kind. Calcio does seem prone to exaggeration. Surely, all those stories about him losing his head can't be true. Or maybe he had a bad experience himself at some point and was projecting his feelings on the rest of us?

Either way, it was clear that things up in the Humanoid Territory might not be as bad as Hex had feared.

He exited his tent with Dracala and immediately noticed how much more crowded the field had become. More carts full of Monsters had arrived during the night. In the center of the valley, between the Humanoid and Monster sides, a temporary stage had been constructed.

Something caught Hex's eye across the field. A small group of colorful blobs bounced and bopped toward a nearby campsite. Red and blue and yellow and pink.

"Uhh, Hex?" Dracala tapped him on the head.

"There are other slimes here..." he whispered.

A boney hand slapped his back as Calcio waddled up beside him. "Well, of course there are! You didn't think you'd be the only one this whole time, did you?"

I actually did... I thought I was getting the strange looks because I was a slime trying to join the Academy. But that wasn't it at all. I—

The pink slime across the field hopped into the air, spread a pair of wings from her back, and flew above her companions.

Hex couldn't take his eyes off her. The pink goo sparkled in the reflection of the suns. She hovered with an air of regality, her swan-white wings keeping her afloat with barely any effort—so different from the rapid fluttering of Dracala's wings. He'd never seen anyone like her before. His soft gooey center began to tingle and spin faster.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Calcio squinted his old eyes to follow Hex's gaze. "Don't you know the history of your own species? Those are the children of King Slime. Of course, he's not actually a king, mind you—honorary title. No power really. He's a boss in the Starry Night Gate. That's probably where you'll end up at some point, my friend. Most slimes are assigned there, at least early on."

"I... had no idea. The only other slime I've met is my dad."

"And who's the pink one?" Dracala asked, nudging Hex.

"Oh, Princess Talara?" Calcio noted. "Again, honorary title. Not sure why she's even called that, really. Classic boss arrogance, I'd say. Spending valuable diamonds on worthless titles for children who haven't proven anything yet."

Talara. Whether or not she deserves her title, she's proven something to me.

I'm not alone.

"Why don't you go speak to them?" Calcio suggested.

Hex froze. The prospect of being among his own kind for the first time in his life. Face-to-face with them. With her. That was nearly as terrifying as any fight with a Humanoid. But also exhilarating.

Dracala grabbed his appendage before he could respond. "Come on, I'll go with you."

Then all sound vanished instantaneously—as if sucked out into a vacuum. No birds tweeting, no wind rustling leaves or grass, no insects chirping, no idle chattering of other Monsters.

Hex cupped an ear hole. This isn't just me, right? Those around him seemed equally confused.

Dracala gave him a concerned look as she mouthed something, but no noise came out.

Hex tried to reply, sure his mouth was producing words. None followed.

"Welcome prospective students!" an echoing voice bellowed from across the valley, the singular noise slicing through the silence.

An elderly human man stood on the stage in the center of the field, a strange shell-shaped horn held up to his grey-bearded mouth. His other hand was raised with fingers outstretched. The air around his hand seemed to ripple and vibrate, like it was radiating heat.

More magic, Hex thought excitedly. He leaned in as if that would help him see and hear better.

The man was dressed in an elegant red and yellow robe—the Academy colors. Circled around the stage, several Humanoids—and a few Monsters—stood facing out to the crowd, each with the professorial sash across their chests and over a shoulder.

Many prospective students herded toward the stage to witness the welcome speech up close until a dense crowd formed.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Well, great. Now I can't see. Add that to the list of slime deficiencies. Short of stature.

Dracala motioned for him to follow her back to the wagon. They hopped up with a few skeletons and zombies who had the same idea for a much improved view.

"My name is Geovaldi Castellas. But you may call me Headmaster," the man on the stage said. As he closed his hand, the ambient sounds of the surrounding forest and Monsters slowly returned. He turned to face the Humanoid side of the field. "I commend each and every one of you for your bravery and eagerness to join my humble Academy. Today, each of you will be tested to ensure you have what it takes to travel across the World Gates.

"And to entice you with the limitless possibilities that await... I'd like to welcome our newest professor for an unprecedented announcement, sanctioned by King Uthen Regicast VIII himself."

The Headmaster stepped to the side and passed by an elf, who walked up and replaced him in the center of the stage. The elf's skin was pale purple with teal hair draped elegantly over his shoulders. He was dressed in a light leather tunic under his professor's sash and looked as if he'd come straight from exploring the bowels of a cave.

Dracala fluttered up to get a better look, then landed back beside Hex. Her eyes trembled with agony, terror, and hatred.

"Hex..." she said. "It's him."

Here? How?

He looked less evil in the bright morning light rather than the dim fire-lit cave, but there was no doubt... This was the same elf who assaulted them. His eyes shimmered with rapture as he brought the shell to his mouth. "Prospective students..." he began. "My name is Professor Thorncloak and I come with news of a world-altering discovery. During my recent travels through Monster Territory, I uncovered something that was thought not to exist. An inactive World Gate outside the Gate Concourse."

Hushed whispers washed over the crowd.

"My team is currently completing excavation of this new Gate. Soon, we will begin exploring this new world. Some of you may be lucky enough to aid in this endeavor." The elf paused for effect. "Today marks the beginning of an incredible new era of exploration and the opportunity to harness an entirely new source of Heroic Energy for generations to come."

The Humanoid side of the field cheered with his final statement.

"He's being treated like some kind of hero," Dracala hissed through clenched teeth. "He never would have found it if we weren't there."

Hex had no response. Everything she said is true. I just hope I never have to take one of his classes.

"I can't wait to have him for a professor," Dracala said.

"Wait, what?" he gaped at her. "You want him as a professor?"

"Of course! I'll make his life miserable. It's the least we can do."

"But he's a professor."

The Headmaster returned to the center of the stage as the chatter lulled around them. "If that's not inspiration, I don't know what is. Thank you Professor Thorncloak, and welcome to the Academy family. I'm sure many of you new students will be eager to join expeditions through this new Gate. However, there is still the matter at hand to attend to before you are all officially enrolled as students here. The entrance exam.

"We will be testing students by species, each group of which will be escorted by a professor when the time comes. I will see you all again soon for the welcome feast in the castle." He raised a hand in the air. "Without further ado... Please separate into your groups and await further instruction."

The valley melted into a swirling sea of students trying to segregate into their appointed groups.

Dracala grabbed Hex with a wing. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked.

"I'll be fine," he said.

Geesh. You faint once and suddenly everyone's all concerned about you freaking out again. But things are different now. When I first found out we'd be separating, I thought I'd be alone. At least now I know there are other slimes here.

Hex hopped down from the wagon and into the chaos. Prospective students weaved around him, trying to find other of their own species. There was no order to it whatsoever. Dracala quickly vanished into the mass of Monsters, easily spotting a flurry of bats fluttering among the trees. Skel and Brains were already with most of their kind and were corralling others to their positions.

And then there was Hex.

He spotted the flying slime princess, Talara, floating above the churning sea of bodies. Obviously, the slimes would be gathering around their unofficial royalty.

He took a hop forward and was nearly trampled by a pair of wolves darting through the madness.

"Sorry!" one yelled back without stopping.

"It's okay," he said, but they were already gone.

A dark shadow descended overhead. Hex looked up, only to find the boulder-like foot of a grown golem plummeting toward him.

A burly-fingered hand grabbed him and pulled him away seconds before the golem slammed his foot into the ground, leaving a depression in the dirt where he'd been. Younger golems sitting on the giant's shoulder waved apologetically.

"Well, looks like I've saved ya again, wee slime," a familiar sea-worth voice said behind him.

Professor Captain Rufus Krakensbane Blackbeard IV smiled down at him, his companion, the spirit raven Florimell, perched on his shoulder. The bird cocked its head curiously.

Then it spoke.

Its beak didn't move. Its throat didn't produce a sound, yet words flowed into Hex's mind that couldn't have come from anywhere else.

"You're a curious one, young Hex." The purity and formality of her voice left him speechless.

Professor Blackbeard must have noticed his blank expression, because he sighed and poked his friend. "Ah, she spoke ya, didn't she? Flor, don't give the poor slime a panic attack."

"S-She knows my name. I never said my name."

"I know many things."

"Ah, she must like ya then," Professor Blackbeard said. "Consider yarself lucky, my young friend."

He thought back to Skel's reaction during their first interaction with the raven. He'd never said what eventually got him to give in. Now I understand.

"The old scar face is right. You are lucky, Hex. Few have the ability to communicate with me so easily." She blinked at him and hopped onto her companion's other shoulder. "It took your skeleton friend all his focus to transfer his thoughts. Yet you are like a sieve."

"Transfer thoughts? I don't know how to transfer thoughts."

"You may not know how, but you are already doing it."

"I am?" Hex glanced down at his hands as if they would somehow provide an answer. Then he realized he hadn't been speaking aloud either. Well, that's new.

Professor Blackbeard stood there, observing the exchange with clear entertainment. Then he paused and looked around.

The madness around them had ended. Most Monsters and Humanoids had segregated, leaving only a few other stragglers still trying to find their groups.

"As fun as this has been, It's time ta get ya where ya belong." Professor Blackbeard ushered him in the direction he'd originally been heading before almost getting squished. "Lucky for ya, I'm the professor who'll have the honor of guidin’ ya and yar fellow slimes ta the entrance exam."

Florimell looked back at Hex as he followed in the pirate's gargantuan wake. "Worry not, young Hex," she said. "You are no longer alone."