Soriya swallowed down her tart, almost choking exactly as I had warned her. I sighed and patted her back till she could speak again.
“Well, what do you suggest we do? We don’t have any leads on why the empire destroys the town, and we can’t exactly ask! ‘Hey there Mr. Imperial Spy, why are you planning to destroy the town again?’. Funny though it would be to see his expression…” She grinned devilishly.
I tapped my spoon against my teeth. Something she said… “What if… what if the town wasn’t there when they went to destroy it?”
“Uh… you lost me, Lily. How do you move a town?”
I smiled at her. “Well how else do you do anything in a fantasy game? With magic!”
She blinked slowly, and then her violet eyes widened. “You mean, a {Ritual}, like I did with Diabloi?”
I nodded. “That’s it! You’re a time/space mage, so we’ll just… skip the town out of time, scoot it forward a little way, and then back.”
“Hm…” she took another tart and started chewing thoughtfully. She started doodling magical formula with the condensation from her fruit cooler, then abruptly stood up. “I need my book of shadows. I’ll be right back.”
I settled back onto the cushion with a smile as she dashed out of the room. Yes, things were definitely looking up!
***
An hour later, I was cursing the Spirits with every sweet polite curse word I was allowed to utter. The table was littered with sheets of paper filled with complex mathimagical symbols that even otherme could barely understand.
Soriya nodded sympathetically and tapped her pencil against the latest formula she’d written out. “Well what did you expect? I’m just one person, and nowhere near max level. It would take a grand archmage or a full coven of mages to pull off a {Ritual} like this!”
“Isn’t there anything we can do to amplify your casting?” I protested, pacing around the table and wringing my hands together. This had to work! It had to!
“Well… let me think.” Soriya leaned back and looked up at the ceiling tapping her chin. “If we could find a place of power we could cast our ritual there which would get us part of the way there. But those don’t come…” She groaned and put her head in her hands. Just as I was about to ask her what was wrong, it hit me.
We looked at each other. We both spoke at once. “The Cavern of Trials.”
I groaned, and stomped my foot. “No! This is unfair!”
Soriya smiled lazily, and twirled her finger in the air. “I told you that we’d wind up going to that stupid starter dungeon somehow!” She smiled sympathetically. “Still. You’re complaining? It’s a good chance for levels, right?”
I scowled at her. “In case you’ve forgotten, I don’t want to gain levels, that way leads to the main storyline! And while we’re at it, yes I’m complaining! The utterly irritating and stupid boy hero is sure to be there, and to attach himself to us somehow!”
“I don’t see what the problem is, he’s probably super cute.”
“Would you stop that! It’s creeping me out!”
“What?” She licked her lips. “I see no reason not to enjoy the scenery if the opportunity presents itself.”
“Ok, leaving that aside… I don’t think boys are all that interesting!” There was a subtle ‘twang’ of dissonance in the air and snap of tension. I looked up in irritation. “Ok, no! I am not going to pretend to like boys just because the world says so! I like who I like! Not who I’m told to like!”
I was pleased to feel otherme’s determined agreement.
Soriya looked around nervously, but nothing further happened. The sense of held tension in the world remained, but nothing broke.
Soriya licked her lips nervously, but after several moments of nothing continuing to happen, she relaxed. “Well. Be that as it may. I like boys just fine. And the main hero boy in a jrpg is always very cute.” She waved her pencil at me. “However! The question then is, if we go to the Cave of Trials early… will he still show up? If he’s following the story arc, he would logically be going to the cave on his own for his own reasons. If we go earlier then we avoid that, right?”
I bit my lower lip in thought. “I suppose…” I grudgingly agreed. “But you said that even with the place of power, we wouldn’t have enough juice to jump the town?”
Soriya shook her head in agreement. “Yeah. A place of power can get us a big jump, but not enough.”
I sighed and nodded. “Ok.” I clenched my fists. “What are the other sources of power that a {Ritual} can use?”
Soriya ticked off the factors on her fingers. “A specific planetary alignment. A specific time of day. A large coven of mages working together.” She frowned. “In theory, we could sacrifice a living being, but there’s no way I’m doing that.” She gave me a hard look. “And I’m pretty sure even you would draw the line there too!”
I shuddered. “No, you’re right. That’s off the table for sure.” Sacrificing someone to save a town… it felt painfully wrong, and it made my stomach twist around the tarts and ice cream in a most uncomfortable manner.
“The sacrifice could be one of us, but…?” she eyed me questioningly.
I could feel Otherme gearing up to make a noble sacrifice, determined and proud. I mentally grabbed her in a headlock and wrestled her down. No! We are not going to die in some stupid useless gesture! Live heroines solve problems dead ones don’t! I griped at her.
Soriya smiled at my obvious mental struggle, then continued ticking off points. “The ritual can last for many days, that needs a coven too, rotating people in and out to sleep and eat.” Soriya continued. “And a rare and mystically significant object could be sacrificed to amplify the mana available to the {Ritual}. But given that we don’t have any of those either-”
She stopped, staring at me. I realized a madcap smile was spreading across my face again, a little bit like the strange pixie madness. I fished my plot pendant out of my dress and dangled it at her.
“Oh, don’t we?” I said.
Otherme protested loudly and vociferously. You can’t! That’s our birthright! It’s the only clue to our past we have! It’s precious!
And that is precisely why it’s a perfect sacrifice, me! Better than our lives, don’t you think? I could feel myself grinning even broader. Probably ruining my honey and milk good girl appearance too.
“And as an added bonus… we destroy the plot coupon!” I added triumphantly. “No plot coupon, no reason for the empire to invade, crisis averted!”
Soriya’s lips twisted thoughtfully. “I’m not sure that’s going to work, Lilyanna!” She protested. “The magic is very specific; it needs to be an item that is precious and mystically significant to the owner. You… it’s not any of that to you, is it?”
I tipped my head to the side thoughtfully. “Well no, of course not. It’s just a trouble magnet to me… but the question is, does the world soul know that? According to the plot we’ve been pushed into, this is a major critical piece of the storyline! A plot critical element, even! There’s a chance that if we destroy this, we can stop the whole plot cold before anything happens at all!”
I tried to push a {Persuade} into my voice, but otherme wasn’t having any of it, refusing to help me destroy her connection with her past and perhaps more importantly refusing to manipulate her best friend like that. I noted that she wasn’t stopping me from doing it entirely though… she just wasn’t willing to help me.
I take my wins where I can get them. I thought defiantly.
“You know it’s the right course of action!” I wheedled.
Soriya twisted her lip thoughtfully. “Well… in theory then… that… could work, yes. If we time it right, and do it in the lowest level of the Cavern of Trials, and sacrifice your pendant, then we could skip Breezewood out of time if anything threatened to destroy it.”
“You see?!” I clenched my fists in triumph. “This is the perfect chance! And once the pendant is gone, we have all the time we need to figure out the how, what, and why of our current situation!”
Soriya ran her finger thoughtfully over the pages of notes on the table. “Alright.” She finally said. “Then I guess tomorrow we’ll head to the Cavern of Trials.”
“Oh…” I said. “That’s right. It’s late isn’t it? Do we…” I squirmed uncomfortably “Does this world do the ‘sleep and heal everything’ mechanic?”
Soriya shook her head. “Healing and recovery potions are easily gotten so you’re never likely to be stuck without them if you’re resting, but as near as I can tell time passes just like it did in our old world. If you stay up all night, you suffer for it, and if you don’t drink a healing potion, you would wake up wounded if you went to bed wounded.”
I frowned. “What this world allows and doesn’t allow feels very contradictory. I mean, are we in a game or not?”
Soriya frowned. “I thought you said you didn’t think this was a virtual reality or a game?”
I sighed and nodded. “Yeah, actually. I don’t. Just… the rules are inconsistent!” I stomped my foot again. “They should be more consistent! There’s got to be a reason behind all this!”
Soriya smiled. “I thought that I had all the {Loremaster} levels.”
“Well, why do you think I keep you around? Obviously, I’m far too dim to solve a mystery like that on my own!” I grinned at her to take the sting out of my sarcasm.
Soriya stood up and gathered up the paper scattered across the table. “Alright. I’ll get working on this then. Meet up tomorrow at the town square? Second bell?”
“Yes, of course!”
She pointed a finger at me. “Bring lemon blueberry tarts, and lunch.”
I sighed but nodded. “Alright.”
We headed to the front counter, paid our bill, retrieved our freshly laundered clothes, and got dressed. Despite the clinging fabric, it was much easier than I was expecting. The clothes seemed to shift around me, despite clinging to my figure, and I soon had them on with otherme’s gentle guidance in my head. And they smelled wonderful, and felt really good. Even if they were a healer’s outfit.
We said our goodbyes at the bathhouse entrance, and I headed home. I found myself humming cheerfully as I walked, a slight skip in my step. Yes, things were definitely looking up. The sun was just turning the sky red and gold in an amazingly picturesque way as I headed up the gravel path to my house.
As I got closer, I could hear voices inside. Hm, mother must have a visitor. Somebody come to buy a potion? I wondered as I pushed open the door.
“Mother! I’m home!” I called out, and stopped dead in my tracks.
Mother was sitting at the kitchen table with the guild proctor.
“Lily! Oh you’re just in time! Proctor Khine was just telling me about your new class level and the wonderful opportunity to study at the imperial academy!”
I felt my guts turn to ice and twisted my hands around my staff until my knuckles went white.
“Hello again, Lilyanna.” The proctor’s smooth suave voice brought every hair on my neck erect. “As I mentioned, I thought it best to speak with your mother, and tell her of the offer.” His eyes glittered as he smiled at me.
I can’t be imagining the threat, can I!? That’s a threat, isn’t it?!
I… I don’t… that is… but he…?!
See?! It’s weird that he’s here, isn’t it?!
“I heard you’ve had quite the adventure recently.” He continued. “And now I see you’ve gotten sages robes to complete it? They suit you very well indeed.”
“They do look lovely!” mother said, then paused. “Lilyanna dear… are you alright?” Mother got up and hurried over to me. “Come sit down, I’ll get you a cup of tea!”
“Ah… um… actually, mother, I’m really tired… from the adventure. So I was hoping… to just get some sleep?”
Oh dear, we really can’t lie well at all.
I could see it in my mother’s face, and the proctor’s glance as well. Mother and the proctor looked at each other then back at me.
“I see. Well, in that case, we should let you rest. I’m sure you have things you’d like to do tomorrow as well. I will be watching your adventures with keen interest, young lady.” Proctor Khine said.
Oh honey. Now how am I going to sneak away to the Cavern?!
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Why do we have to sneak?
Because if we don’t then the empire will… you know, you’re right! He can follow us all he wants! We’re going to destroy the plot coupon- I felt the stab of angst and frustration from otherme at that but pushed onward. -and then whatever he wants to do will be irrelevant. You’ll see, he’ll lose all interest in us the moment we destroy the pendant!
I dipped a bow to him, hands holding my staff in front of me. “Thank you very much for understanding. I’m still considering your kind offer, sir. It’s a lot to take in.” I dipped another bow to him and scurried up the stairs to my room, feeling a cold sweat on my neck. Behind me, I heard mother and the proctor resume their conversation.
“I’m sure that the imperial college is very prestigious, but I’m just not sure…” Mother’s voice was filled with concern.
“She would be cared for as though she was a precious treasure, I assure you Miss Holly.” The guild proctor’s suave voice faded out.
Is he… he is! He’s using {Persuade} on mother! This is outrageous!
What’s wrong with that? If he really thinks it’s for the best… but otherme’s voice was filled with uncertainty. I sighed. Just… you know what, stick with me. It’s only a week. If I’m wrong, and in a week nothing I’ve predicted happens, I’ll give in and go to Spyre. Learning how I came here and how to go home, the Imperial college really does sound like the best bet.
Otherme floated a feeling of satisfaction and agreement, as I headed up the stairs, suddenly yawning hugely, my hand over my mouth.
“Oh. I guess I’m more tired than I thought… and I do have to get up early to make lunch and treats for Soriya.” I mumbled to myself as I entered my room, and shut the door. I glanced at it, and then wedged my staff against the door handle. Just in case. Then, stifling another yawn, I got undressed, pulled on my nightgown, and fell into bed.
It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, but after the baths I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was just, as I tried to tell myself earlier, anatomy. I tossed and turned a bit in bed, chewing over the events of the day. I couldn’t come to any real conclusions. I was pretty sure I’d hit on the right course of action… and even if I hadn’t, really all I had was “the next right thing.” That made it easier, even if it didn’t become easy.
I don’t really know what I expected. A visit from a goddess? A sudden answer in revelation? A dream that explained the meaning of life? I got none of that. I dreamed that I was going to the festival, only the festival was in the Cave of Trials. Proctor Khine waited outside, selling potions with mother. “You shouldn’t go alone! Little girls are vulnerable, you know! Here we have a selection of the best heroes!” Only he kept the heroes on a rack of clothing, and mother kept wanting me to try them on. Soriya kept picking out all the best ones, and there wasn’t really anything left in my size…
I woke, only becoming aware that I was awake slowly. A trickling awareness of my body, strange and soft in a warm bed, with a wooden ceiling and… oh. That’s right. I was Lilyanna. I yawned, blinking. It wasn’t nearly so bad as it had been. Barely a rash at all by this point. The first light of the dawn was streaming in through my window. My staff was still in place, locked tight under the door handle, and it didn’t look like anybody had burgled their way into my room in the middle of the night. I sat up and rubbed at my eyes, yawning again.
“Honestly what was that all about.” I muttered to myself. “I thought all anime dreams were prophetic and profound. I’d have more luck trying to parse whistling pokadotted kangaroos.”
What’s a kangaroo?
I shared an image with myself and got a very confused bafflement back. Such a thing exists?!
Well, maybe not in this world. Or maybe so, the world is much larger than we know.
We should see more of it!
“Ok, woah, hold up me. First you want to stay here forever, then you want to leave immediately, which is it?”
I didn’t get an answer back, and honestly I really wasn’t expecting one. Who didn’t want everything to be exciting and different while remaining exactly the same?
I yawned and stretched again, then climbed out of bed. “Right!” I faced myself in the mirror, slapping my cheeks lightly. “Time to save the village and derail the plot!”
And bake lunch and treats for Soriya and me!
Right, and that too.
I stared with distaste at the robes, seriously considering just wearing my normal dress instead, but otherme shared memories of wild slimes, horned rabbits,-
What is with the horned rabbits!? I’ve only ever seen those in Dragon Quest!
-and glimpses of wolves in the woods.
“Ok, you’ve made your point, me. We need adventuring gear if we’re going to go on an adventure. Even if it is just a short one.” I sighed as I pulled on the robes and put on the wrist bangles. “It’s just one quick quest, then the plot will be dead and I can relax.” I told myself as I picked up the staff. “Soriya says the stupid boy won’t be there, and we can do whatever it is we’re supposed to do and go.”
I picked up my staff, pressed my lips together firmly and headed down to the kitchen to make lunch.
The cottagecore kitchen was quiet and still in the early dawn light. I wasn’t at all sure what to do, but otherme knew exactly how to start and gently nudged me along. The process was much more involved than I expected, and yet much less at the same time. The magitech of this world invaded everything, and yet it was so fantasy and simple. Elemental ice crystals to keep food cool. Elemental fire crystals to heat the oven. But no thermostat, no way to properly measure the heat, no way to evenly thaw the frozen food. I even had to put my hand in the oven to judge the rough heat before otherme judged that it was ready to put the dough in!
It was about halfway through the cooking process that I realized I had no idea what we were making.
Hey, hold up, isn’t this gravy?
Yes?
Why are we making gravy?
For breakfast?
I felt like a complete fool. Of course we were making breakfast. For our mother, and us! We still had to eat breakfast… so this was why peasant girls got up so early! It was also a much smaller meal than I had anticipated, bacon and biscuits with gravy with a little fruit wine and some cheese. And since we were going on an adventure-
As much as I hate to admit this, we really are.
-bread and cheese and bacon with an apple and a boiled egg went into a hamper for lunch. Otherme was reaching for the cider before I paused.
Hold on? More booze?
This is just cider! Like the fruit wine at the bath! Not booze!
I shook my head. This world truly was different. And despite my expectations, the honey and milk good girl seemed quite able to hold her (very modest) liquor.
Mother arrived as I was tucking the last of the food away into the hamper, rubbing at her eyes. “Good morning, sweetie.” She greeted me. “Mm, is that breakfast I smell? Thank you for cooking.” She gave me a hug, and then started serving herself from the skillet on the stove.
“Are you planning on staying out all day this time?” She said, sitting down at the table and munching.
“Uh?”
She gestured to the hamper. “You wouldn’t make lunch unless you planned to stay out. I hope you haven’t already spent all the money you saved!?”
“Um…” I froze. I had never been good at lying, but mother would completely flip out if I told her what I was planning on doing!
Mother got a serious expression on her face and she put down the biscuit. “Lily. Where are you going?” She asked in that tone that said ‘I will know, or else.’
“No…where? Just to town?” I tried. It was no good, I wasn’t sure if it was otherme or just plain me, but even I winced at how unbelievable that was.
Mother sighed and shook her head. “Lily. You just got done being beaten up by a bunch of pixies of all things! I will not stand for this again! Where. Are. You. Going. Young lady?!”
I deflated and gave up. “I’m going to the Cavern of Trials with Soriya.”
Mother stiffened in surprise. “What?! But the ceremony isn’t until next Starday! The forest path hasn’t been cleared! There’s horned rabbits and wolves!”
We’re in for it now. Mother is always like this when we do something even a little risky.
Is she? Well then… that opened up several lines of attack. I pulled on that strange sense and started weaving a {Persuade}.
“Mother, I know you’re concerned, especially after the disgraceful showing we made the first time. But you must have heard we went back and-
“You WHAT?!” Mother leapt to her feet; her face plastered with horror. “Lilyanna, you promised me that you wouldn’t do anything dangerous!”
I felt a core of steel welling up from other me, binding tightly with my own opinions in a harmony of spirit.
“Mother!” The whipcrack of my own voice surprised me with its force. “I did no such thing! I promised to be careful and think my actions through when doing dangerous things! And I did! I will! I also told you that I will do what I please, because I am your daughter! Soriya and I defeated all 15 pixies at Old Man Wither’s farm!”
“But Lilyanna!” Mother protested. “The cavern!? Now?! What on earth is possessing you!?”
I almost burst into a giggle fit but controlled it in time. The spirit of a possibly dead American male? I thought.
“I want to prepare! Like Soirya and I did with the pixies. We’re going together, and we’re going to use Soriya’s {Loremaster} to identify the dangers and prepare for them!” I frowned at her. “And I know that Proctor Khine is was {Persauding} you that I should enroll in the Academy, but that’s just as dangerous! The imperial capital? Spyre? You wouldn’t see me more than four times a year, and there’s no telling what kinds of dangers there are in the big city.” I glared at her, hands on my hips.
Mother’s eyes glittered with repressed tears. I could feel otherme cringing in emotional agony, but I used my determination to support her.
We need to do this. Mother can’t live our lives for us! I said firmly. I could feel her approval, and pushed the {Persuade}.
“I am going, mother. I’m going carefully, with a full stock of potions and my best friend, but I am going.”
Mother was silent for a long time, then she looked up, her eyes shining again. “Lily… please be careful? If anything were to happen to you, I don’t…”
I hurried over and knelt down next to her, hugging her. It felt good… and a tiny bit of guilt because it felt so good because I knew I’d just won.
“I promise. I will always promise to be careful, mother. I owe you that. And it’s only good sense.” I had to breathe a sigh of relief. It was so much better when I could tell the truth, and still get my way.
Mother sniffled and wiped her eyes, then smiled at me. It was a sad smile, but also an accepting one. “Then I suppose I’ll just have to be content with that.” She wiped her eyes again and blew her nose. “I guess I know how my own mother felt now when I demanded to go off on my first adventure too.” She suddenly hugged me tightly. “Go and come back safely, please.”
I smiled at her, and hugged her back. “I promise I’ll try. That’s the whole idea. Try not to worry. You did a good job raising us.” And I dipped her a bow of gratitude.
I grabbed up the lunch basket and my staff before otherme could pull me into anymore waterworks or tearful goodbyes, and hurried out the door, trotting down the path towards town.
It was absurd. I was going to face slimes and horned rabbits and wolves, I was in a party consisting of just 2 mages, the world was trying to push me into a role I didn’t want… and I couldn’t help but grin all the way to the village square. I was going on an adventure! And more to the point, I was going on an adventure that was off script! I was going to save Breezewood and then derail this whole silly doom plot in one go!
I reached the fountain in the middle of the town square, and looked around for Soriya.
Oh this always happens! She’s always late, and we’re always on time! Otherme muttered in my mind.
I sighed and sat down on the rim of the fountain, and fiddled with my staff. Several of the townsfolk greeted me, and I let myself respond to them by name, cheerfully answering their question. Yes, I was going out on an adventure. No, I wasn’t going alone. Yes, I would be careful, the woods were dangerous for a young woman.
It seemed that indeed, the horned rabbits had been making more of a nuisance of themselves, possibly because the wolves were pushing at them. How a rabbit with a horn could get hunted by a wolf I wasn’t sure, but then lots of prey animals had horns on them, and still died. I wondered if unicorns counted as a prey species? I was mentally trying to figure out attack strategies for a unicorn vs wolf battle, and if the wolves had horns or not, when Soriya finally arrived.
“Hey, Lily!” She waved cheerfully and plopped down next to me. “Sorry I’m late! I was mixing up more poison powder, and then I had to close up my stall. I sure hope there’s some kind of reward. The pixies didn’t drop any loot when they died, do you think this world does things like that?”
I blinked. “I… I don’t know.”
She grinned. “Well I guess we’ll find out!” she peeked into the lunch basket, and I swatted at her hand. “No food until lunchtime, you’ll get a cramp! Speaking of which, we’re going to be doing a lot of walking… are you going to be ok?”
Soriya put on a tragic air. “Somehow, yes, I will survive! I don’t even have a flying broom, yet I will prevail in the face of this tragedy!”
I scowled at her. “I’m being serious! You said you didn’t come to my house often because it was a long walk, and bemoaned the food and your figure! That doesn’t speak to someone ready to go on an epic hike!”
Soriya flipped her hand at me. “It’s fine, it’s fine! We’re supposed to go to the cave, so I’m confident that I’ll be able to make the trip! And if I’m a little winded, then we can just rest at the entrance!”
I bit my lower lip. “I’m… not entirely comfortable with that, but I can’t deny that making predictions based on the expected world logic is working out for us so far.”
“You see?! We’ll be fine! Ooh, you did bake the lemon blueberry!”
I glared at her. “Put those back! Those are for lunch!”
She was already cramming a square into her mouth. “Oo, they’re still warm too!” She swallowed, making satisfied noises, and I felt an absurd swell of pleasure… it felt really good to make food that others so obviously liked! She wiped her lips. “Besides, that was the payment for the bet we made. Doesn’t count as lunch!”
I raised an eyebrow. “I hope you don’t expect to eat all of the tarts! Some of them are for me you know!”
Soriya blinked, her wide violet eyes genuinely startled. “You know, I keep forgetting you’re not entirely honey and milk!”
I grinned at her. “I never was! You just didn’t want to believe it! Come on, lets get going before you eat more of our lunch and have a stomach cramp on the road!”
I picked up the basket and headed out, Soriya trailing behind me.
“Aren’t you concerned about being followed?”
I smiled smugly back at her. “What are they going to do? Destroy the village early? Learn where we’re going? We’re off the script!” I laughed giddily, waving my arms. “It’s great!”
Soriya frowned, but said nothing in reply.
The trip was indeed very simple. The path was clearly marked, though a little overgrown. We did indeed catch sight of several horned rabbits, and had to scare them away with a few blasts from Diaboli. I was worried we were going to be forced to fight, but the closest we came was a pack of wolves snarling over a fresh kill. We detoured around them carefully, Soriya casting a quick spell to silence our footfalls.
We were just clearing the bush and getting back on the trail when Soriya let out a pleased ‘hm!’ I looked over at her questioningly.
“I just leveled!” She announced proudly. “I guess you can get xp in this world from avoiding fights too! That’s so cool!”
“Oh, you did? Well that’s good. I guess it can’t hurt to be a little better prepared. What was it?”
“Another level in {Loremaster}.”
“Really? I thought you’d get more levels in your spellcasting for sure.”
Soriya smirked at me. “Not even. I was using my {Loremaster} skills to avoid the fight! Plus, I used them really extensively in the pixie fight! For a NPC class, it sure comes in handy!”
I sniffed. “Who says it’s an NPC class? For that matter, who says we’re even PCs? I still don’t understand what we’re doing here!”
Soriya nodded. “Well that is a puzzle. I’ve got some ideas, but…” she shrugged. “Well, the {Loremaster} has ideas too. It’s like the best puzzle! I’m sure it all makes sense; I just have to figure out how!”
I smiled, feeling a warm glow of pleasure that she was so happy. She even started humming a song as we walked. She wasn’t a half bad singer either.
“Say, did you ever want to be one of those… what do you call them? The pop stars in Asia?”
Soriya’s violet eyes darkened. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
Now that was an easy reaction to read. I nodded. “I’m sorry.” I felt terrible bringing her pain, so I pushed an {Encourage}. “I didn’t mean to hurt you… it’s just that you have a really pretty voice.”
I felt the surge of energy flow out, and watched Soriya brightened immediately.
“Thanks! That means a lot when you say it! Though I’ll never get a hit single here. But don’t go regretting your words now!” She smiled and went back to singing. I was pleased to note that her voice was stronger and a lot happier. Also, the noise helped scare away animals. It seemed that the wildlife in this particular world didn’t follow jrpg rules and mindlessly charge forward to attack any and all humans that crossed their path.
Quite a relief, honestly. I bet those horns could do a lot of damage.
We reached the mouth of the Caverns around midday. Our path opened up from the forest behind us, and the lead into a large roughly circular dirt patch outside the entrance. It was very simple, a large archway dug into the slanting cliffside of a low rocky hill. A small signpost planted near the entrance proclaimed “Cavern of Trials: your spirit judged” I looked around nervously, and then gave a little giggle of relief. Soriya looked over. “What?”
“Oh nothing. Just a silly dream I had. Glad to see nobody’s here.”
“I wouldn’t say nobody” Soriya said, and pointed into the mouth of the cave. Peering in, I could very dimly see small brightly colored orbs, splorting back and forth. As I watched a few splorched forward into the light.
“Oh my gawd!” I gasped. “Are those…?”
“Yep. Slimes.” Soriya grinned.
Eee! They’re so cute! Otherme squealed.
I pressed my lips together. It’s true. They were cute. But I was not going to-
“Eee! So cute! I almost don’t want to blast them!” Soriya squealed.
I sighed. Oh well. At least we’re in sync here. “Alright, you win. Yeah, they’re cute. Too bad they want to eat us. Let’s have lunch then, and we’ll find out what this mysterious cavern has for us, besides gelatinous delights.”
“Oh yes!” Soriya clapped her hands together. “Lilyanna tarts! Even better!”
My heart warmed again, and I gave my otherself a highfive as we settled down and spread out the food from the basket. This… really wasn’t such a bad ability we have. And it is pretty awesome to cast magic.