It Started with Slime - Part 1

Chapter 103 - Answers

"I am afraid I cannot answer that for you now. Powers far greater than mine have sealed my lips. You may learn the reason in time but for now, let it be. That is the most I can say." Aarav was not surprised that he would not learn the reason, and the question had needed asking. No, what had surprised him was that Haemish had given any answer at all.

Aarav realised that his mouth was open, and he quickly shut it. Hmm, curious old man, you have layers like an onion. I am eager to know more about what you hide under that chubby facade.

"In any case, right now, we have more important things to be about!" More important than you telling me why you're leeching away bits of me? But Aarav let it go; one of the disadvantages to embracing this new 'hospitality' was that he did not have any bargaining room.

"Right, okay, so what are those things of great import that we need to do?" Aarav asked, playing along.

"First, you need to eat the rest of the skeleton; if I remember correctly, you only took on three limbs and were decidedly wobbly last I checked." Haemish let the comment lie.

"Yes, well, it isn't as though I have ever walked upright in this life, have I?" Aarav retorted.

Haemish ignored his jibe. "Then there are a few people I would like you to meet."

"Showing me off to your friends?" Aarav chuckled.

Haemish returned the cheer, "Something like that." Then he said in a more serious tone. "For now, I am thinking the best option is for you first to do the other leg, that way, you can try practising walking around and such. I think that makes the most sense. If things go the way, I hope that will then-well, we shall see when we get there."

"You can't leave a thought hanging like that? It is tantamount to torture. Just tell me what you have in mind for me. It is my life, so shouldn't I have all the knowledge?"

"Hmm, not to get your hopes up, but it might make things easier if you have a humanoid form. That is all I can or will say at the moment. Please do not pester me, further apprentice! You have important things to be doing!"

This guy likes using the word 'important', but he isn't wrong. That second leg will be a game-changer for me. Aarav decided to cut his losses in the conversation and head to yesterday's haven, the storage room.

Upon entry, he found the nutrition brick that he had partially Consumed yesterday. He had forgotten about it, but more than two-thirds remained. That will make a nutritious breakfast! He decided to indulge for a few minutes for getting started on the second leg. He had to eat, and the limb was the equivalent of stale bread.

So, after a quick twenty minutes of chowing down on the breakfast bar, Aarav switched to the leg and began knawing on that. Meanwhile, outside he could hear the sound of people moving around. Taler's chirpy voice came weakly through to Aarav's ears. "Good Morning, Taler!" Aarav called, preempting an intrusion while he was working.

"Morning Resh!" came the muffled reply through the wooden door. No entry was forthcoming, so Aarav understood that the man did not intend to interrupt his work.

After speaking a few pleasantries, Aarav could focus again on the work and quickly realised what he had forgotten. Damn, I need Mana Potions! How can I keep forgetting this stuff? I am supposed to be brilliant! "Uhh, Haemish, Master! Can I speak with you quickly?" Aarav called out.

The door opened, and Haemish stood there without crossing the threshold. "Yes?"

Aarav gave him a toothy grin that he thought would be endearing. Haemish's wince said he might have been less than successful. I need to get that Charisma up. Ugh, failing to be convincing in two lives out of two, check! No, that wasn't entirely true. He had gotten Ami out of scrapes in the past.