It Started with Slime - Part 1

Chapter 105 - Crawl

Haemish's question was pragmatic. If Aarav had not been so excited to try out his new body, he might have considered it before wasting the last hour trying to stand up and walk.

"I hadn't considered that! I am going to go." I should have considered it myself. Adding a torso and skull to the mix will change my centre of gravity, and I would have to relearn walking all over again. But damn it, I was so excited to be able to get on my two feet again!

Just before Aarav headed back into the room, this time on his hand and knees, now I know why babies start with this.

"Resh! Wait, I would like you to meet someone." Then the round man turned to the boy beside him who had still failed to say a single word after the initial question.

"Ahh, hello! Sorry, how rude of me not to introduce myself. I am Resh!" Aarav said to the boy.

Haemish nudged the boy forward in an attempt to jolt a few pleasantries out of him. After a moment of visible taking hold of himself, the buy finally answered. "Boren, my name is Boren." The words seemed to bring him back to the land of the living, and he smiled slightly.

"Well, it is very nice to meet you." Aarav replied.

"Boren, the animal I had in my hand yesterday, you asked me about it?" Haemish then gestured pointedly to Aarav to indicate what the blob had been.

"Ahh! What-ohh." A few things clicked into place for the boy, like listening to the machinery whirring.

"Haha, yes indeed, it is I! The lump of skin." Aarav said theatrically.

"Incredible, how did you learn to speak so well? Have you grown up in Darf? You almost sound like you from here. A few pronunciations here and there; otherwise, I would say you are a true-bred Darfan." Boren's excitement was palpable.

"In a sense, you could say I grew up in the forest. I have been roaming there until someone –." Aarav stared pointedly at Haemish but without heat, "kidnapped me and brought me here!" then he removed the bite by smiling without teeth.

Boren looked at Haemish before turning back to the Slime. "So, Resh. Why do you look so different from when I saw you yesterday?" Aarav reflected how children always went straight for the heart of the matter.

"Well, Boren. I can use and manipulate parts of the creatures that I eat, and it's quite an interesting ability."

"Incredible!" Boren whispered in genuine awe of the Slime.

"Prince Boren is the youngest son of our illustrious King Borowyn, Resh," Haemish said by way of a complete introduction. Boren had left out that he was royalty. Indeed, at the mention of his royal lineage, Boren winced before looking up at Haemish and smiling again.

"I forgot to mention it." Conveniently, Aarav, though.

"Ah, your highness! Aarav said, attempting a seated bow that ended with his arms dragging on the floor as he rolled his body forward. Then he raised his head again and smirked at the boy, and he received a smile in return.

"Glad to see you too getting along. Now, Resh, you have some things you need to be getting on. I just wanted you to meet young Boren here. You two may have more in common than you think." Haemish laughed at their incredulous looks. Though Aarav reflected that appearances could be deceiving, the Slime was less than a year old as far as the older man was concerned. Even if it conversed more maturely, that was not necessarily an indicator. Maybe Slimes matured faster than people. Who knew?

"Very well then. It was very nice to meet you, Prince Boren. I hope that we will be able to meet again soon!" With that, Aarav attempted to get off the chair, slipped on the smooth floor and fell to the ground. Very embarrassing, the Slime thought. Boren stepped up to help him to his feet again and aided him in getting to the storage room.