Slimantha stepped through the lush green grass of Bleakfyre Forest. Her black shoes gently pressed down in rhythmic fashion. The brown locks of her long hair swayed in the refreshing breeze as she continued to walk. She was a curvy woman with tan skin and brown eyes. She wore brown pants and a red crop-top that drew attention to her midriff. In her right hand, she held a sandwich, a cheese sandwich.

She glanced at a tree as she walked by. Its brown trunk showed thick and sturdy. A plethora of branches reached out from the majestic tree. Leaves decked out said branches. Said tree was one of many.

She raised her right hand and brought the cheese sandwich to her mouth. She took a bite. She chewed and then swallowed. Her lips formed a smile, and she lowered the sandwich back down as she continued to walk. Her footfalls stopped. She brought the sandwich back up and took another bite. She chewed, gazing at a figure up ahead. A rock sat just beside her, a rock easily large enough to sit upon. She swallowed and then plopped right down onto said rock. She rested the sandwich on her lap. Her brown eyes were still focused on what was going on ahead. She raised her sandwich back up and took yet another bite.

A man with short brown hair crossed swords (well, not literally) with a large brown bear. He wielded his sword in his right hand. His weapon’s empty sheath rested against his left hip. The color scheme of his outfit was the same as hers, black shoes, brown pants, and red top. His top, though, was a long-sleeved shirt instead of a short-sleeved crop-top.

The man held his sword up, its gray metallic blade glistening in the dappled light of the forest. He gripped the weapon’s brown hilt firmly as he swung it. He scored a hit, but the blow bounced harmlessly off the bear’s impressive hide. He took a slightly shaky step back, his blue eyes on the monstrous beast before him. His cream complexion turned clammy. The bear lunged, and he dodged. By chance, his eyes fell upon Slimantha, who was still just sitting on the rock as she ate her sandwich.

The man stiffened and then promptly returned his eyes to the bear. “Miss, I will distract it. Please get to safety.” He swung his sword again, a diagonal slash, but the blow bounced off the bear’s tough hide once more. He gulped as he stepped back.

Slimantha swallowed another bite of cheese sandwich. She set the half-eaten sandwich down upon her lap. She cocked her head to the side. Why should she run? Was it not just a bear? What danger did it pose her? Why should she miss the show? Besides …

Her eyes followed the fight as said fight continued to play out. She picked her sandwich back up and took another bite. The bear lunged again, this time knocking the man off balance. He fell to the ground. She blinked. Her brown eyes went to him and then to the bear. She stuffed her partially eaten sandwich into her right pocket and stood up. She drew her right arm back, viscous blue materializing around her. She swung her arm forward, and the blue did likewise. A gooey blue mass slammed into the bear, sending said bear flying. The mighty beast tumbled back to the forest floor. It staggered to its feet, took one look at Slimantha, and then fled as fast as it could. The viscous blue melted away.

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“You OK?” Slimantha asked as she stepped up to the man. Her brown eyes were on the man, who climbed back to his feet.

“Thanks,” the man responded curtly. He glanced away, seemingly a tad embarrassed at Slimantha having just saved his butt. “Just what was that?”

“What was what?” Slimantha retrieved her sandwich from her right pocket. She took a bite, chewed, and then swallowed. Her brown eyes were still on the man.

“Did you just pull a sandwich out of your pocket?” The man’s blue eyes were on said sandwich. As Slimantha took yet another bite, his gaze drifted to her lips before returning to the sandwich.

“You want a bite?” Slimantha held the sandwich out.

The man’s blue eyes went from the sandwich, to Slimantha’s lips, and then back to the sandwich. “Wouldn’t that be an indirect kiss?”

Slimantha cocked her head to the side, the brown locks of her long hair swaying. “An indirect kiss?”

A drop of sweat rolled down the man’s right cheek. “Actually, never mind that. What was that blue stuff?”

“Blue stuff?” Slimantha blinked. “Oh! You mean this.” She stuffed her partially eaten sandwich back into her right pocket and then formed an orb of viscous blue in her hands. “I am Slimantha the Slime Summoner.” The blue orb dissolved.

“I see.” The man’s blue eyes went back to Slimantha’s face. He smiled, took her right hand into his own, and gave it a kiss. “I am Samuel the Hero. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Slimantha.”

“Where are you from, Mr. Hero?” Slimantha retrieved her cheese sandwich from her right pocket. She took a bite, chewed, and then swallowed. “You sure you do not want a bite of this?” She held the sandwich out.

“I am good,” Samuel turned the sandwich down. “As for where I am from, I am from another world.” He froze for a moment. “Maybe I should not have said that.”

“Maybe,” Slimantha glanced over Samuel, “I should have jumped in sooner.”

“I really am from another world. A goddess brought me here, and look.” He gestured to his sword. “The goddess blessed me with this magic sword that,” he looked more closely at the sword, “was not all that useful in that fight with the bear. Did the goddess prank me? No, I have to have faith in the goddess. Surely I just need to awaken it or something.” He held the sword up triumphantly over his head. Then he wiggled his fingers, no sword (magic or not) to be found.

Slimantha swallowed another bite of sandwich and then pointed at a large bird flying off with a pointy object. “That bird pilfered your sword.”

“I,” Samuel stared at the bird in horror, “can see that.” He took off after said bird, breaking into a run. “Give me back the sword the goddess blessed me with, you thieving bird!”

Slimantha stuffed the rest of her cheese sandwich into her mouth. She chewed and then swallowed. Her brown eyes were on Samuel as his figure grew more distant. She broke into a run herself, following behind him.