Chapter 13: Legendary Slime

The water poured down in buckets, there was no sign of a fire charging towards them in a ball. Shivering and jolting when the thunder in the distance sounded. They watched as the brick path was now a spot for tiny square islands surrounded tiny rivers of water. They felt their Core shake either from the cold or from the scare of the fire, if neither of those... Looking into the forest again trying to see if the fire was gone or passed, if not then hopefully an illusion. What’s worse is that they still can’t move from the spot.

‘It’s not there, there is no fire. There is no smell of smoke, ah!’ the shock when thunder sounded in the distance, they tried to make themselves smaller and repeated to think. ‘It’s ok... its ok...’

They sat by the tree quivering under the down pour of water that the Clouds were releasing to erase the dry uncomfortable air. ‘I’m fine, this is nothing compared to that Tamer... actually now that I think about it was I also shaking after that?’

Looking out to the trees, trying to find signs that there was someone out there watching them only to see darkness and blurred images of the trees during the storm. “I’m fine...”

They sat there awake watching the droplets slaughter the earth, the sounds rhythmic and soothing as the thunder and lightening was leaving.

Just the calm of rain.

They liked this part of life, seeing the rain decent washing the world with gloom and grey. Seeing the uncomfortable people trying to hide away and looking out sadly. It was always nice seeing them look so defeated by a few drops of water, where at those times it was ok to be sad and miserable. It was those times where they really liked seeing others misery and frustration, where they can see that they were human after all and not just smiling for the Dust of it.

Dust it all!

What felt like days go by without them even blinking, the rain continued to pour until a familiar shape walked out of the gates with what looked like an umbrella.

“You’re awake! And soaked, how are you feeling? I brought you something to eat you must be starving,” Food Giver set the food down and sat beside them with the umbrella hovering over them both. “Aren’t you going to eat? Or did something happen?”

They looked at the simple meal before them and quivered at the memory of what happened the last time. ‘But Food Giver was trustworthy... wasn’t he?’

Taking a small nibble at the food, they waited for the sudden burning sensation.

It never came so they started to eat more with caution.

“Something did happen, did someone try to... weaken you to Tame you?” they turned to Food Giver and stared at them for a moment before going back to slowly eat the food. “I’m sorry that happened. I’ll try to come by more often, I don’t want to leave you alone for too long.”

They remained silent as they watched the water pool in large puddles, they left half the food untouched and the plate also managed to survive. The smallest sound of thunder was heard and they flinched, the world before them was still blurry and the rain wasn’t lighting up any time soon. Taking a deep breath they tried to calm themselves, the Player’s might think its not real but they certainly do. The pain was real and if the pain was real then so was... they won’t come back like the Players do.

Tomorrow might not arrive.

Surviving was first and foremost.

Living was a Luxury.

‘Did Food Giver have these kinds of thoughts as well?’ they wondered and felt like they understood where the Knight was coming from. ‘If Tomorrow doesn’t come, then what have I to show for it? That I survived as long as they did? Or that they lived the best life they could while I...’

They gently shook themselves, ‘Food Giver has never asked me if he could Tame me. Was he not a Tamer and only a Knight? What makes a Tamer? He was also struggling with a Quest, maybe we could help each other out? If only I won’t get Tamed, if that can happen then maybe saving Midnight World will be easy.’

‘Alright, I get it. So I just have to find someone that will treat me like Food Giver. How hard can that be... actually it would be nice to just stay here. Finding someone like him is impossible and it appears my standards are too high for these pesky Players.’

“Maybe I should just stop playing...” looking to Food Giver they seemed at a loss of what to do next. “Yeah, if this Quest isn’t going to go anywhere I might as well just stop.”

“No more food?” looking between Food Giver and the plate before them.

“The Emotes are a cool feature, too bad it’s only for you. Lets see, a red circle with a line through it, a drum stick from a chicken, and a black question mark. Are you asking if there’s gonna be No Food?” They bounced surprised that the words they were speaking were nothing but Emotes to the Player’s. ‘Or was it just Food Giver? No, the Guards clearly heard me talk and so does the other creatures- no... those are NPC’s it seems. So the NPC’s can hear me speak but the Player’s cannot?’ “Don’t worry, I’ll still come by to give you something to eat. If you still want it that is.”

They stared at Food Giver for a long minute before eating the rest of the food and plate quickly as if it was going to be the last one they’ll ever get without breaking eye contact. Food Giver laughed at the answer and they sat to watch the rain together under the umbrella.

Opening their eyes they seen that the world was vibrant as ever and the umbrella was still there looking like pink strawberries and rainbows, looking around Food Giver was no where in sight. The only thing they could do was wait. Wait and hope that he comes back like he promised.

Tamers had come by but left just as quickly when they started showing hostility towards them when hostility was shown. By nightfall Food Giver still hasn’t shown up and out of fear they dare not go to sleep. Dinner walked out and headed into Zeonsi for their nightly raid. They listened to everything that was going on, they kept an ear out for the Llama and started memorizing the patterns of their patrol. Maybe talking to Dinner about the routine would help them, unless Dinner already memorized the Llama’s pattern. ‘Oh well, it’s still fun.’

The night soon lit up into day and Clouds Parted, Dinner made it out without running into the Llama. The Guards were changing shifts as Dinner explained and they talked or a few moments before he had to leave. During the night the Slime's were relocated to the safety of Slime Hope and since they were busy, there was no talking between them just a simple nod to know that they exist to each other.

It was for the best.

The less they have contact with each other the safer they will be.

‘Unless I leave... Well if I did leave the Slime's have a system that’s working for them so they will be safe while I’m gone. They managed on their own for this long with me just sleeping, it will hopefully be no different if I were to leave.’

They started to wonder if Leaving really was the best option, but then again the Game System mentioned that they could leave the Bug. Let the thing eat the Codes... but what would happen to the life that was created during their time there. Midnight World to them was living and breathing, could everything just end in a blink.

“Food Giver, I have much to worry about if Tomorrow doesn’t come, I don’t have much time. If things continue like this then this place will no longer exist. I won’t exist.”

‘Oh, welcome back.’

‘Yes. But please continue.’

‘Sounds fun?’

‘Tell me about it, my Skill Points are Locked and I have all 4 Classes. I’m sure this Game was broken to begin with.’

They waited for them to finish their moment but it became apparent that they were not coming back to explain. Stretching and yawning they tried to settle back into their old routine, it didn’t sound too urgent about the Code being eaten up. But their own Code was worrying the Game System it seems.

The Darkness started it’s second attack and Food Giver was still no where to be seen. It seems that this was nothing more than a broken promise from the start. Like being stood up during a storm and waiting it out until it’s over. It might be best to forget about Food Giver like the Gentle One forgot about them. The world started getting darker and they couldn’t help but accept the darkness as it was. It was the only thing that was constant and comforting, but now it was starting to feel lonely. It seems staying awake was where all their friends were but when left alone there was no one there but darkness. It would be nice to see some friendly interaction towards them at least one last time before going back to the darkness.