----------------------------------------

Entry 8 | Date Unknown | Good Bye

----------------------------------------

The implications of the memories raced through my mind as I sat in the liminal space. They at least confirmed that I used to have a body. However, I didn’t know how I came to be.

Toad hadn’t given me anything more than neutral feelings since I took my frustrations out on them. The slime was more accepting and gave me some warm feelings, but not much. I had lost their trust. They wouldn’t react to any of my requests. If I needed something done, I had to spend orbs to command them. I couldn’t think of a way to make it up to either of them.

Then there was the issue of protecting myself. Once I had a few frosted orbs again, I experimented with creating walls. I found that if I had the slime dissolve some stones from one section and regurgitate the liquid where I wanted to build; it reduced the cost. So, my conclusion was that transferring fully formed blocks to the location and choosing a new wall would significantly decrease the expense. But I still had some doubts and would have to test that theory first.

Through experimentation, I found that the minimum space I needed for airflow was one centiblock at either end of the passageway. But it gave me the bare minimum I needed to survive. Since blocking off the passageway was out of the question, I built a stone outer cage, six cubic blocks in size, and an inner stone cage, four cubic blocks in size. I evenly spaced the bars for each cage and offset them from each other. So that someone could not directly reach in and touch the crystal. But the air could still flow through. It restricted the air a little. But it was the best I could do with the materials on hand. However, by leaving the passageway open, the creatures and mushrooms would get all the air they needed.

As I was checking over the map for any other improvements I could make, I noticed that the slime tab was still blinking. I checked it and it still wanted me to name a paragon. So I selected the only one left and spent the orbs. The same process happened, as it did with Toad.

Energy flowed out from the crystal and into the slime. Causing it to grow to twice its original size. However, lines did not appear on its skin. Instead, glowing clouds appeared within its body. Then it wanted a name. I didn’t have the mental energy to go through a list of names like I did with Toad. ‘Crystal, is there a way to give the slime a choice?’ I asked the void.

A new button appeared on the information sheet, ‘Allow Choice’. I clicked it and after several moments, a name appeared on the sheet. Oon. The sheet prompted for a home. ‘Oon’s home needs to be spherical, 3 blocks in diameter, with access to plenty of water. It needs to be within 40 blocks of the core.’ There is that word again, core. I wondered what that meant. I wasn’t sure if the crystal was telling me it was my core or that it wanted to be called Core. I sighed and shelved those thoughts for the moment.

I went and asked Oon where they wanted their home. It didn’t respond or react to my question for several long moments. If I had hands, I would’ve been pinching the bridge of my nose. I was about to spend orbs to command it, albeit reluctantly. When it tapped on the stone six blocks to the left of Toad’s home. ‘Okay, can you hollow it out and then place the dissolved stone next to the crystal?’ I asked cautiously. To my surprise, it did as asked. Once Oon was done, I asked Toad to move five of the Aquarels to the top of the sphere.

Toad looked at my vision, chittered, and went back to clearing out a new plot. Making it clear, it was going to ignore my request. However, Oon went over and burbled a bit. Toad chittered back and then moved the Aquarels. After the five mushrooms were set in the sphere, I could designate it as Oon’s home. Energy flowed in and etched swirling lines in a band around the center of the sphere. After it was done, Oon flowed in and split in half. Contently leaving half of itself in the home.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

I went and checked the information sheet. Under the Slime tab, it listed the ability to allocate orbs to create new slimes. ‘Oon, would you like me to create more slimes?’ Oon gave me a warm feeling that did not translate into words.

I could spend orbs outright or do a ‘Spawn Tax’. The spawn tax seemed to allocate a certain percentage of each orb gained to Oon’s home. Once a sufficient amount of orbs was collected, a slime would appear.

I spawned five slimes and then set the tax. Five hazy orbs popped, and the energy flowed into Oon’s home. The mass in the home grew until it filled the entire space and then produced a slime. It repeated this process until there were five new slimes. Oon greeted each one by burbling and then briefly merging with them. It seemed like Oon was welcoming and hugging them. After the fifth one was done, they dispersed within the passageway and started to clean. I figured Oon must have told them their duties.

I checked the Fungacean tab, and it didn’t give me the option to spawn any fungaceans. It stated that I did not meet the happiness requirements. I went out and checked on Toad. They were tending to the new plot of regular mushrooms. When they saw my vision, they turned away. ‘I’m sorry, Toad. I know what I said was hurtful. Is there a way I can make it up to you?’

It just looked up at me and then walked away. I got the feeling of ‘leave’ through the bond. So I left them to their task. After several moments, a feeling of impatience came through the bond, then the feeling of ‘leave’. I went to find where Toad was and it took me a moment to find them at the edge of my area. They were tapping against an invisible barrier.

I felt that prickly feeling again. I went back to the crystal and checked the information sheet. Under Toad’s section of the Fungacean tab, it stated, ‘Fungacean Paragon, Toad, would like to leave the dungeon. Allow or Deny?’ I couldn’t believe it. I sat there for a long time. Toad sent through a feeling of angry acceptance and seemed to go back to their duties. However, the prompt was still there.

I didn’t know what to do. ‘Should I let them leave? I mean, they aren’t giving me a chance to make it up to them. But who am I to tell them what to do? I created them, but that doesn’t mean I own them. Or do I? I created them using my energy and from my efforts. Shouldn’t I own them?’ Then I thought about the memories and my mother. Did she own me? Did my father own me? The answer was no. ‘So why would I own Toad?’ That question had an obvious answer. I clicked ‘Allow.’

The lines disappeared from Toad’s home. Then the Fungacean tab became empty. Toad looked back at the crystal. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking. They came over to the cage and tried to get in. Since they were so small, they got in relatively easily. Toad just sat there looking at the crystal while bathed in its light. Toad chittered for a moment and then left. I don’t know what they said.

I told Oon to let Toad know they could take what they wanted. Oon went over to Toad and, I assumed, relayed the information. Toad chittered back and then picked two of the regular mushrooms and placed them on their back. Then slowly made their way to the edge of my domain.

Toad took a hesitant step outside the domain. Then chittered a little, took one last look back. Then down the dark hallway leading away from me. After several moments, they started walking slowly to the right, down the passage where Bea’Don came from. Afterwards, I just looked at the now empty home. The yellow mushrooms wilted in the flamorel’s light with no caretaker to notice.

For a long time, I stared at the hole. Water trickled down from the Aquarels, soaking into the dirt. I knew mold would eventually grow there. But I wanted to leave the space as a reminder. Not to take these creatures for granted. While I created them, I don’t own them. They are not here to serve my whims. My ultimate goal should be to nurture and care for them.

I asked Oon to move the Aquarels. It tried, but they dissolved in its grasp. So I just had Oon remove them and the dirt. Sadness came through the bond as they did. Oon cleaned it and there was a question through the bond. It felt that Oon wanted to know what to do with the space. ‘Just keep it clean. If Toad returns, it will be their home again.’ I answered.