It Started with Slime - Part 1

Interlude XV - Haemish, Captured

"Rion, don't get overly concerned about what this creature is saying. If this thing can provide us with a workable solution, then that will be enough." Haemish said to his companion. Rion had come over-worried about a see-through goopy creature that he had never seen before.

This was very likely the creature they had decided to look around for near the river. Instead, it had been sleeping on Rion's mount's neck. Who would have thought it would come to us...? He didn't have a Luck stat, but he had to say that if this is what it felt like to have Luck, then he wanted it badly for things to so neatly fall into his lap. It was like the Phionix was smiling down on him with its fiery plumes outstretched. That hooklet came to mind again. It could have been, but it had been too much to hope, and he would not entertain it now when it was lost to him anyway.

He had heard that the Academy had elemental chambers and all he could think of was that they must have some elemental source of power to have created them. It would be a closely guarded secret that a certain prince must be privy to.

"Master Haemish, I am not convinced this is...thing, is going to be of use to us. Yes, it is likely that it is the thing that Marteen's father was talking about and had seen that must we can be confident about, but whether it would be useful on not? I am not so sure." Rion was looking at Haemish and the jar in front of him with no small amount of scepticism.

"Rion, I understand your hesitation, but we do not know until we try...?" Haemish raised suggestive eyebrows at the broader man. He was a good apprentice and asked the right questions, but he really did see threats everywhere. It is a trait that has likely kept the man alive when he is with the kook Fenwin. Haemish thought, but this must distrust was not healthy for a man! Eventually, all those feeling would morph into something like paranoia.

"We could just harvest it now and be done. I do not deny that it is something that would be useful, it had many unique traits that I think we could make use of and study in the lab, but we don't need it alive to do all that. We can just chop it up and freeze it. The perfect solution!" it seemed that in his mind, the conversation had reached its natural conclusion.

"Okay, soldier, do you know whether it will disintegrate when we cut it up? Will it survive and turn into fifteen of the buggers? Will it end up just sealing together again, and nothing would have been achieved? Or we cut it open, and it explodes in a massive apocalyptic supernova?"

"Uhhh..."

"Exactly my point. We know nothing of this. How long have you been alive? How long have you been collecting alchemical ingredients?"

"Twenty, maybe thirty years...."

"No, I mean, how long have you been an alchemist?"

"Oh, hmmm....perhaps ten years then."

"Exactly, I have been doing this for centuries...centuries, Rion. I have never seen anything like this. It had the ability to completely hide from sight and mask its smell as well. You can only hear it or touch it. If I did not have my mana-googles on, we would not have been able to track its movements very well." It had seemed out of its depths in the air, though, almost as if its wings would not carry it. But then it had started gliding, and all of a sudden, it had gone from prey to predator. It hopped around and smashed the glasses right off his nose! Thank the gods he always kept a second pair, and he had remembered to pull it out. Plucking his glasses right off his head had come as quite the surprise. Not that he would ever admit it to his subordinates. It was essential to always maintain decorum with one's pupils.

"Sir, does it really need to be outside? It was in your saddlebag earlier. It is safer there, right?"

"Rion." Haemish sighed. All these questions really were bothersome, but he had started trying to encourage that behaviour. It was the fastest way to learn. It would be counter-productive to discourage it now. "It was bumping and fussing, so I decided to take it out of the saddlebag. It didn't seem particularly happy in there. I am not sure why, though. I would have thought it would feel more secure. Either way, once I removed it and placed it here." Haemish indicated the spot between his thighs where the jar was snugly held. "It quieted down. I would like to take it to Karlin, though, for confirmation before we head back."

"Back to the cottage in the forest or once we get to Brewyn, you mean?" Rion asked.

"I mean going back to Brewyn. I think that we have found a unique specimen. Likely the best we are going to find, and for now, we should concentrate on this creature. It could be the greatest Alchemical find since I don't know. Perhaps it could be the greatest discovery in my entire career!" Haemish was hard-pressed to maintain decorum as he uttered those words. They had been bursting to come out since this little guys capture.

"Master, what do you intend to do with it? Some experimentation, I would imagine?"

"Yes, that's right. I am just thinking, what we could take some small samples and then I have also been thinking about the experiments we can try after all as I said, we have never seen anything like this, none of us has!" Haemish was like a boulder rushing downhill. Now that he had been nudged in the direction of the slope, there was no stopping him. He continued to speak animatedly of what the plan was for the tiny creature.

They would first stop by at the McCray's, confirm that this creature was in some way similar to the one the senior McCray had seen and then they could make a quick detour to the cottage where they could round up the materials they had collected, some of them in any case, there too much there to bring it all with them. Then they would head straight to the palace. There was a healer he wanted to speak to briefly as well. Some assistance might be required with this feisty new species. Also, she may have seen something. Not that Haemish was using this as an excuse to have more time with her. He would never do that. He was, of course, ever the dignified scholar.

With those plans firmly in his mind, he instructed Rion to inform the others of the procedure up to and including heading back to the palace. It was early morning as they had started their hunt early. So there was plenty of time to make it. The magical creature they rode had a mana and stamina pool of their own and so could continue to fly far beyond what would have usually been possible.

Studies by Tamers had shown that gryphon had a way to convert food into mana, stamina or health. He wasn't sure if it was different for individuals or if it was just a species trait. The study had not been extensive. Just the one gryphon had been tested, but it was an old and well-known study as well as being conducted by a well know Tamer, Darf's very own Collier Smit. He was both a Tamer and Monster Breeder with quite the eye for detail.

Haemish did a quick mental check on the mana sleeve that encapsulated the Volcanite jar that held the little fellow. Making sure it was holding tight was the only thing that Haemish did while he waited for Rion to pass on the instructions. He did not know what this little guy would give, but Haemish was determined to take as much as he could. The aged Alchemist had a feeling about this creature, and it had started from the moment Karlin mentioned it. Even if he did not solve the Prince's disability, it might still be well worth cutting this trip short and heading back.

It had surprised him a little when the Slime showed that it clearly did not need to breathe air. The airtight jar had been the quickest thing to hand, so he had used it, intending to transfer it into something that would allow free flow of air. Then, as one minute had turned into two and then five, it became clear that air was not something the creature required. There is an unlimited number of mysteries in this forest, aren't there?

Haemish waved to the rest once he saw that Rion had spoken to all of them. They all signalled back that they had both understood and were ready to go ahead with his instruction. Haemish urged the gryphon to a slightly faster pace now that the conversation with Rion was concluded. Their course was set, and they were ready to push forward.

Meanwhile, the blob of something just sat quietly in the jar. That grotesque mouth continued to move endlessly, forming words or noises that Haemish had never seen, some seemed familiar, but that must just have been a coincidence. A monster could not talk. Even that word spoken, "Hello" during the chase, was just a peculiar movement of air over that oddly shaped mouth with its purple gums and mismatched teeth or some kind of mimicking ability.