|Chapter 3|
-.-.~A Curiosity~.-.-
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“Mana Deluge - Public Release Mark.2... “Mana Deluge” is a fairly frightening phenomenon, which is thought to be in a direct response to an excessive consumption of undiluted mana. Most commonly documented in the lesser intelligent, more simplistic beings that hold cores and mana stones; This influx of unprocessed mana is most often or not lethal to the inflicted creature. But in the slim chance that the creature does survive and recovers from it, things begin to quickly escalate. Although the exact machinations involved in the process, and the seemingly random chance of ‘success’ cannot be fully explained; It does not take away from the resulting effects. Well documented, although not easily publicly available, are the effects of said transformations. Ranging from spontaneous growth, plague inducing auras, mind altering effects and much, much more. One would clearly be able to see the danger of leaving high-mana capacity mediums unattended... - Royal Researchers of The Arcane (R-ROTA)”
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??? - POV -
Sitting in the safety of its hole, the now enchanted slime marvels at its ‘spoils of war’. It, unfortunately, couldn’t seem to separate the endearing object from itself. In fact, it seemed to be getting closer to its core. ‘But why not keep precious things close?’. ‘Gurgling’ in delight, despite this mildly concerning revelation; It continues to digest its most recent meal of nuts, berries, and the weird furry thing that was burying them in the ground.
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Nuki - POV -
Sprinting through the bustling crowds of the local shopping district, I arrive upon a familiar arched entrance gate. Sitting on an old wooden stool in front of said rickety gate, is an unkempt guard tasked with manning the large opening. Dashing past him I receive a confused, yet ultimately permissive glance. Ignoring the evident ineptitude of the town, I continued forth. I had planned on taking the rest of the day off, but I couldn’t wait any longer; I had to get that earring back. In no good conscience could I leave an object with that much stored mana near a town. That never goes over well...
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’Rustle, Rustle’
Navigating through the densely packed foliage that strewn the forest floor, I arrived upon my destination.
Pushing out and into the small opening in which we had ultimately opted to turn around; I took a brief few moments to rest and survey the surroundings.
‘Hahhhh...’. Sighing, I resign to my decision. I’ve gone much too far by now to just up and turn around. Even despite the possibility of something horrid happening; It had cost me 7 and a half gold Datolles for that pair of enchanted earrings. So really, getting them back was more so a response to selfishness than it was ‘responsibility’. Snapping back to reality, I finished plucking out the twigs and pricking leaves that were once snared in my tangled hair. I let out an audible groan, wishing I had brushed it before haphazardly just taking off. Lazily, I snatched my trusty satchel, slinging it over my shoulder; Before promptly getting up from the small granite boulder that I had previously perched myself upon.
Stolen novel; please report.
Whilst waltzing towards my latest encounter with the ‘poor’ slime, I scanned the motley terrain; Hoping to locate the missing accessory. Nothing… ‘Of course it isn’t here... Why would anything ever be even remotely simple’. Abiding by the now all but clear notion of the day, I once again continued forth.
Almost immediately afterwards, I find myself in front of a peculiar bush; A broad indentation snaking through its center, and numerous other flora which happen to be in its vicinity. Curiously enough, they’re lays a random twig, still holding a leaf, that has been propped up in an awkwardly steep angle. Stepping over the oddly placed object, I ventured along the quite obvious trail.
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??? - POV -
As it muddled about in its quaint little dwelling, it pondered on its previous expenditure. ‘Not good... Not when found...’. It knew that it shouldn’t have mucked about. ‘What if it was the Scary Wolves?!’. It didn’t know why they were so mean, but luckily they were in stark contrast to the Noisy Ones. They were much more interesting and didn’t normally take to bothering it; As evident by the few times it had previously been found. ‘Except the smaller ones... Always poking it with sticks and stuff!’. Huffing at the deeply unpleasant memories, it continued patrolling its hole.
It was around half way done with cycle number twelve, it guesses, it has trouble counting, when it’s suddenly hit by an encompassing wave of nigh unimaginable pain. It could feel the gel near its center SEARING under the oppressive force that now steadily envelops its entire, viscous body. It felt HORRID; As if it were in the throes of something a myriad of times worse than perhaps even death itself. Curling and compressing, it tried with all its might to even just marginally mitigate the pure AGONY that was currently coursing through its very being.
‘...help...’
But nothing responded, much less gave it aid. Nothing HEARD it; Nor was willing to TEACH it. It didn’t KNOW what to do. It continued to lay there, feeling nothing but perpetuating suffering; Its body steadily ceasing its once rampant convulsions. Slowly, time itself felt as if it had began to lose its presence, the world around it fading in and out of existence. As if the very reality of the universe was straining, grasping it in an attempt to stabilize. ‘Was it next?’. Was it going to similarly join IT in nihility? But it did not WANT to. If it did, then what would it DO? How will it LEARN if there is nothing to teach it? Edging on the brink of oblivion, it thought of everything it has ever DONE.
For all of what it did, it STRIVED for a single purpose. Every new discovery it had made was something new for it to GRASP and learn from. It wanted to continue doing that; It wanted to finish the one objective that it's ever worked towards...
‘It just... It just wanted to UNDERSTAND...’
And with a whimper, it slipped into the awaiting darkness.