Slimantha closed her beautiful brown eyes. She took a deep breath, the long brown locks of her hair gently swaying in the afternoon breeze. She stood in Spider-Lily Park. Her eyes opened back up. She glanced at Samuel, whom she had brought with her to the park.

“What do you think?” she said. She stretched her arms and then leaned toward Samuel. Her eyes were on him. “Nice park, isn’t it?” She straightened back up and smiled.

Samuel glanced about the place. His blue eyes came to a collection of plants growing around a tree. The plants growing around the tree had red blooms. “Are those?” His face paled. A drop of sweat rolled down his right cheek. “Why are so many of those flowers here?”

“Flowers?” Slimantha blinked and then looked at the plants blooming around the tree. Her brown eyes lit up. “Oh, you mean those. They are red spider lilies. Mimi likes them or something.” She brought her right hand up to her lips and giggled. “I guess they are pretty, death association or not.”

“Somehow,” Samuel hunched over and sighed, “they are creeping me out.” He straightened back up, eyeing the red spider lilies cautiously. “Why do I feel like I am being threatened by a bunch of ornamental plants?” He looked away from the red spider lilies, his blue eyes going to Slimantha.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Hero!” Another voice called out. This voice was both feminine and cheerful. The voice belonged to a tall green-skinned woman with long pink hair and pink eyes. Her gray short-sleeved crop-top left her midriff exposed. Gray hot-pants clad her lower half. She wore no shoes. She leaned closer to Samuel and fluttered her eyes at him. A smile spread across her face.

“Good afternoon, Rose,” Samuel said, addressing the green-skinned woman. He took a step back, but Rose pressed closer to him in turn. Rose gave him another flutter of her beautiful pink eyes before finally pulling back.

“So what brings you to the park, Rose?” Slimantha said. Her brown eyes were on the plant woman.

Rose turned to Slimantha and smiled at the slime summoner. “Just thought I’d go for a walk. The sun feels pretty nice today.” She turned her right palm upward, allowing the sun’s rays to fall upon it. “Today is so nice. What brings you two here?” Her pink eyes went to Samuel. “Are you here for hero training? Can I help?”

Slimantha looked at Samuel and giggled. “You heard the woman,” she said. “You want to do some hero training with her?” She leaned closer to Samuel. “I could give you two some alone time if you want.” Her brown eyes sparkled.

“That really isn’t necessary,” Samuel deadpanned. “Besides, remember the slime scout you sent out?”

“Slime scout?” Slimantha froze. A moment later, she blinked in confusion. Then her eyes lit up. “Oh, right. The slime scout. I forgot about the slime scout.” She gave a nervous laugh. “You two look so cute together that I forgot all about the slime scout.”

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“So,” Rose’s pink eyes went to Slimantha, “why did you send out a slime scout?”

Slimantha smiled, her brown eyes meeting Rose’s pink eyes. “We got a lead on Samuel’s magic sword.” She grabbed Rose’s hands. “Well, actually, I got a lead from Black. I sent out the slime to scout the area of interest.”

“That’s great!” Rose smiled at Slimantha, pressing closer to the slime summoner. Then the two separated.

“And there is the slime,” Slimantha said, glancing at the new arrival. She turned to the bulbous blue creature. The slime’s gelatinous blue body pressed down into the lush green grass of Spider-Lily park. It bounced and jiggled. It stood just in front of Slimantha and looked up at her.

“You don’t say,” Slimantha said, her eyes on the slime scout. The creature bounced again. “Ruins? Lots of Birds?” Another bounce came from the creature. “A well?” A big smiled formed on Slimantha’s face, and she turned to Samuel and Rose. “It found ruins, birds, and a well.”

Slimantha looked back at the slime. “Tell me about this well,” she said. The slime bounced and jiggled in front of her. “Uh huh. So an ax was in the well but no sword.” The slime bounced again, and Slimantha crossed her arms. “I don’t care if there were lots of swords outside of the well. Obviously, they would have been in the well if they were important.”

“Maybe we should check out those swords,” Samuel said. “Just to be safe.”

Slimantha blinked. Her eyes then went from the slime scout to Samuel. “But why would the magic sword not be in the well? I mean there is a well. Shouldn’t the magic sword be in the well?”

Samuel sighed, his gaze going the lush grass growing at his feet. He looked back up, his blue eyes returning to Slimantha. “I’m not sure I follow your, uh, logic. However, what if one of those swords was meant to be in the well?”

“Meant to be in the well?” Slimantha lowered her arms and cocked her head to the side. She glanced at Rose and then returned her gaze to Samuel. “Why wouldn’t it be in the well then?”

Samuel shrugged. “What if someone took it out? Or maybe someone forgot to put it in.”

“Took it out? Forgot to put it in?” Slimantha looked away from Samuel. Her right hand went to her chin. Her brown eyes narrowed. “I suppose someone could have either taken it out or forgot to put it in, but that leaves another question.” She lowered her hand and glanced up to the sky. “Is the someone who took it out or forgot to put it in a bird?”

Samuel sweatdropped. “I am not sure that actually matters all that much. Anyway, can we just go and check out those swords already.”

Slimantha smiled, her brown eyes going back to Samuel. “OK. Let’s go and check out those swords to answer the important question. That question being if it was a bird that took it out or forgot to put it in.” Her eyes burned with determination.

Samuel outright face-palmed at this point. His gaze then returned to Slimantha. “I really think you are focusing on the wrong thing here, but I’m glad we are kind of on the same page at least.”

“Can I come with?” Rose said. The plant woman shifted her weight onto her right leg and clasped her hands together cutely. She looked at Samuel and fluttered her pink eyes at him.

Samuel opened his mouth to talk, but Slimantha beat him to it. “Sure,” she said.

Rose turned to Slimantha. A huge smile displayed across her face. “Thanks, Slimantha. You’re the best,” she said. She then turned to Samuel and fluttered her eyes at him again.