- Shari -

Sigh, Liqu can be quite hard to please at times.

"I was the whole time so worried about you! What if something had happened?" (Liqu)

"I told you already, it all went well." (Shari)

"Still! You said there was this adventurer waiting for you!" (Liqu)

Yep, that part got me a little.

"Everything is proceeding as planned. We only need to do some more visits. It shouldn't be nearly as difficult as last night." (Shari)

At least I hope so.

"Okay, I trust you." (Liqu)

"Anyway, how did it go on your side?" (Shari)

"Oh, some customers wanting potions. The many adventurers coming still make me nervous, but overall it was peaceful." (Liqu)

Yeah, I got that we recently have quite the increase in adventurers as clients of all things.

It's a small miracle that we didn't already have a terribly deadly incident.

Once I got Liqu down to an acceptable level of excitement, I head down to the children.

After all, I'll need them to watch the house in my absence.

However, there's also another point to it.

Namely, that our special storage is in there.

"Hey, you two. Are you alright? I have to tell you something." (Shari)

I find them next to each other.

When I look at Nia, I believe that she already looks quite a lot more stable.

She's even standing on two legs.

At the start, she could only keep herself upright on a bulk of slime, a bit like a snail.

I'm rather sure, she's training whenever she can.

Maybe her brother supports her in some way.

Well, as long as the two are paying enough mind to safety rules it's just as it should be.

"Is it important? We were just in the middle of something." (Nia)

Now that I'm looking closer, the boy holds a stick in his hands.

"What exactly are you doing there?" (Shari)

"I'm trying to touch that thing in her there and she's not to dissolve the stick!" (Okin)

At this, my slime for a split second expands in all directions, as I'm just too shocked at what I'm hearing.

"Aaare youuu fuucking crazy!?! Nia, this 'thing' is your core! Your brain! You'll either die or have permanent debilitations if you get as much as a scratch on it! Goddamnit, don't poke it with a stick!" (Shari)

"Relax. I already have this shell thing down. We're really carefully trying to see if it's worth it. Okin isn't poking me full force. We're as careful as possible about this." (Nia)

Still, this doesn't appear smart to me.

"Seriously, that's super risky. If you have to, use something softer. Nothing that could scrape your very mind." (Shari)

"But I want to hug my sister again!" (Okin)

"Your sister is making great progress, for you. Just show a bit of restraint here. She'll eventually get better again." (Shari)

"Whatever. What did you want from us?" (Nia)

"I only wanted to tell you that we'll be busy the next couple nights as well. So we'll reduce the business hours, and you'll have to watch the shop in our absence." (Shari)

"So, business as usual?" (Nia)

"Yes!" (Okin)

It might be true that we weren't here as often recently.

However, I don't think that we have too much of an obligation to constantly act to them like proper guardians.

I don't want to hear anything about my biological relationship with her.

Is it even biological?

God, that's so complicated!

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"Be that as it may, you'll need to buy your own food." (Shari)

I check our current earnings and separate enough for a decent meal for the two, which allows me to put the equivalent of four silver down our hole.

Of course, I'm keeping the gold coins with me, but the copper got already far too much to carry around.

Yet now I realize that Nia might be able to reach it by now.

While the hole is too small for a core to pass, she could either dissolve herself a path, if she doesn't care for her human form, or even manage to stretch so far.

It would be quite a feat, but she's working towards it.

However, I'm convinced that Nia is in no position to run off with her brother.

Not only because in her state money is quite meaningless, but also because she has to depend on us.

Not only for all the commodities we provide but also for our protection and advice about her state.

Also, I'd add that we can track down her brother by his body composition.

Yet that won't work with Nia.

Slime traces aren't possible to be analyzed by dissolving.

Nonetheless, I'm not too concerned.

There might be a fortune down these planks, but it isn't easily accessible and the two know I'm counting.

"Now that that's taken care of, is there anything you need?" (Shari)

"Training!" (Nia)

That came fast. But what does she exactly mean by that?

"I'm not completely sure what you want me to do." (Shari)

"As difficult as it is for me to admit it, I always made the greatest progress when you supported me directly." (Nia)

Oh god, she can't mean that she wants to link again.

"Nia, are you aware of what you're asking there from me?" (Shari)

"Do I look stupid to you?" (Nia)

Well, you're a literal slimehead.

Hard to deny that.

"Look, I know you won't be around forever. Probably not even for much longer in general. Also, you weren't exactly subtle when this started. You're thinking that I should already be much better at everything at this point, but for some reason, I'm not. So I need to take every little advantage I can get. Even if it's unpleasant or frankly gross. It doesn't matter. I need to get better!" (Nia)

What am I supposed to say against such sheer determination?

While this act isn't exactly comfortable for me either, she pushed herself so far to ask me this.

I feel a sense of compassion with her that tells me it would be just cruel to let her down at this point.

"Alright, but not with your brother present." (Shari)

"But..." (Okin)

I turn to the boy.

"Okin, you can go and man the counter." (Shari)

"Nia!" (Okin)

"Okin, if she doesn't want to we can't force her. Also, it's not like we don't owe her. So let's accommodate her a bit." (Nia)

It certainly feels weird that I need to have a minor here arguing in my sense.

"Ugh, but I'll come back after this!" (Okin)

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be waiting right here for you. Where else would I be." (Nia)

"Okay, okay, I get it! Tomorrow we'll have an outing. Early, when not as many people are out there." (Shari)

No idea where that came from, but it somehow feels right.

After all, I already bought her the hiding clothes.

Though, maybe I'll need a bit more.

Once the boy is gone I feel safe enough to get started.

"We'll start with holding hands, keeping the connection shallow. I hope this will avoid any... meltdown." (Shari)

"Yeah, I'd like to not have my... core fried." (Nia)

She's already willing to call it by the name.

Once again, I am very conflicted about that girl being more mature than I was about that matter.

I extend my uncovered hand and wait till she takes it.

The connection is of course instantly established.

* "Can you hear me?" (Shari)

Can't hurt to still ask.

* "Yes. What now?" (Nia)

* "We'll go about the basics first and then try to get to a bit more advanced stuff. Though, nothing overly special." (Shari)

* "What about that outing?" (Nia)

* "Yep, I want to make sure that this is hopefully covered as well." (Shari)

At least, she'll have to be able to maintain a stable body.

* "Fine, let's get started." (Shari)

From then on, I go about everything the way I said it.

I send her fully immersive images of my own experiences.

Not just pictures, but my feelings, slime control memory, and my deeper understanding of the process.

Of course, I worry the whole time that I might overload her.

Though, as nothing happens after a while I grow more secure.

I'd say that her ability to receive my input improved.

Not to forget, her abilities are advancing tremendously.

By the end of it, she can even wear clothes to a degree without them ending up at all the wrong places.

* "You're getting better." (Shari)

* "If you say so. It's certainly weird to learn stuff this directly. To think you'd stabilize everything like this." (Nia)

* "Yes, a permanent connection is important." (Shari)

* "It's just so hard to keep up." (Nia)

* "Well, nobody said it would be easy." (Shari)

* "You know you're quite harsh?" (Nia)

* "Sorry, direct thought transmission doesn't exactly have a filter." (Shari)

* "Hah. It's probably a small price for the benefit." (Nia)

* "Regarding benefits, we're now going to something quite a bit more advanced. I want you to be sure you're ready, as we can't repeat this too often." (Shari)

* "I could use a sec to cool off. What do you have in mind, errh, core?" (Nia)

Instead of answering, I move to my stash and procure a certain box.

"This here is the special powder I'm using to cover my face with. It might not be a perfect solution, but a white-powdered face doesn't tick off people as much as one visibly consisting of slime. So we'll train to maintain the layer on your head." (Shari)

"Okay. But isn't this expensive?" (Nia)

It is, but probably not as costly for me as when you'd get exposed on the street with me right next to ya.

"That's gonna be my problem. Just try not to waste too much." (Shari)

"S-sure." (Nia)

Before I douse the powder onto her head, I first establish the link again and instruct her on what to do exactly.

The system is similar to wearing clothes, but it requires far more than the former to keep the layer still.

The powder can't be disturbed, as you just would never get it right again.

Once I think she can handle it we start in earnest.

As before, I send a particularly detailed stream of information.

I'm incredibly cautious while doing so, as I notice a slight rise of heat with her core by now.

Not dangerous yet, but I know I have to be careful.

Fortunately, she manages to process all of this without collapsing.

* "Good job." (Shari)

* "What now?" (Nia)

* "Now you keep it up. This is about endurance. As you deducted very correctly, this stuff is expensive. So every time you stop maintaining it, you decide to throw away a fortune." (Shari)

* "Uh, that's quite much. I'm, not sure." (Nia)

* "Well, additionally it's also good training. By enduring this strain your general control will improve as well." (Shari)

* "I suppose you're right. But still." (Nia)

* "Though, I think my Shari looks better without!" (Liqu)

* "LIQU!?!" (Shari/Nia)

* "You wouldn't react to words, so I didn't know how else to contact you." (Liqu)

* "This is so weird!" (Nia)

* "Tell me about it!" (Shari)

* "Ugh, it's... too much." (Nia)

Immediately, I cut the connection, to avoid frying the girl's brain.

"Liqu, this was dangerous for her. What do you want?" (Shari)

"Ehm, you told me we have to do something this evening. Now it is evening. Also, the boy wants back down." (Liqu)

Evening!?

How much time has passed?!

"Well, but it was nice to see you so earnest at this. Would just be nicer if it could be me. Blrlb." (Liqu)

Sigh.

Liqu.

"But yes, it's getting dark." (Liqu)

"Fine... Thank you for telling me. Then please prepare. We have some visits to make." (Shari)