- Shari -
The courtyard.
It should have been obvious.
Everyone who can is still at it to brush all the slime here away.
Usually, it would dissipate on its own, but that's apparently not the case if it accumulates meters high.
They put up several tents here from the army's travel equipment to accommodate the servants who lost their quarters along with the main building.
But as I said, most of the field is unusable for this purpose as the slime occupies it.
I would help out, but have a mission and am fully occupied.
I move to the field's center, ignoring all the stares I receive.
Sigh, I'll just have to do it.
Yet there's a slight problem with that.
- "How exactly does one do this?" (Shari)
- "It's not so difficult. You need to get rid of your clothes. Then you're moving over the area where you want to dig down. Ehm, you'll have to let go of your shape for that." (Liqu)
- "Wonderful. Full exposure of something I don't even want to experience, so everyone can gawk at my misery." (Shari)
- "Don't worry, I'm here for you." (Liqu)
- "That doesn't help!" (Shari)
I have no choice.
First, I'm going to strip in front of all the staring men who probably haven't seen a woman's body in far too long.
The one thing that's bothering me more than this is that most of them when they look at the slimy contours only see the bad imitation of a human body thought to deceive and lure an unfortunate victim in.
Which is thoroughly killing any erotic implications.
Yes, this might be even worse.
Damn, I really should ignore that.
- "Fine, how do I go about this." (Shari)
- "We need a hole downward. So you need to lose shape and dissolve against the ground." (Liqu)
- "That's easier said than done. Giving up on my form just like this!" (Shari)
- "But you've already done it. For example, when you climbed the wall." (Liqu)
- "Back then I pressed myself against the surface. This is different." (Shari)
- "Then just think about pressing against the ground." (Liqu)
- "That... That could actually work." (Shari)
While I know that this slime is right now totally smug, she at least abstains from making another reply.
This is already hard enough as it is.
I follow her suggestion and lower myself against the ground till I'm lying flat on the surface.
I've already gotten rid of my clothes, so all I have to do now is to start the dissolving reaction.
Given that I'm naked there shouldn't be anything to increase my sense of shame.
However, I'm so goddamn reluctant to dissolve in front of people.
I always avoid having people looking at me while I'm eating.
This might not be quite the same since it's just earth.
Yet I'm digesting something like this doesn't make it better.
- "And none of these assholes will stop staring!" (Shari)
- "As soon as I'm back at it, I'll dissolve them for you." (Liqu)
- "Stop joking. I have to get over myself here." (Shari)
- "I know you can do it! You're always doing great whenever it matters." (Liqu)
Sigh, once again I'm encouraged by this slime.
And it feels so goddamn honest and supportive.
Damn!
"Zsch"
Before any thought can keep me from doing so, I start the reaction.
It's... extremely hard on me when my self-conscious feeling catches up reminding me of the gawkers, but I persevere.
Instead, I channel this feeling to accelerate the dissolving reaction, since I now really want to sink into the ground and stop being seen.
It's proceeding rather quickly after this.
I dissolve faster through the earth than I thought, given the former impressions I had when I did the same with stone or other hard materials.
I've never consumed flesh at such speed.
It's definitely different to melt yourself through something.
The other issue I have right now is that, once more, my human shape is disintegrating.
Losing form simply feels wrong, no matter how often I do it.
There's always something like an illusion of stability I have going for me.
While I know that my body lacks anything that would make it a body or even provide the slightest bit of firmness, I can, with sheer willpower, push enough against the outer world so I can maintain my shape and even wear clothes or carry stuff.
It's obvious that this requires at least a bit of force to pull off.
However, what happens now is completely the opposite.
The illusion crumbles and I turn into a blob and become once again aware of how liquid I am.
That there's nothing stable about me and even snails would have more resistance against stuff entering them.
There's nothing to retort if I'm just slime filling up a hole.
It's one of those unwanted moments of truth when you're brutally honest with yourself.
Nonetheless, while I'm dissolving the earth, I also have to move further in the direction of the dungeon.
What makes this worse is that the movement for creeping through a hole is a bit different since my body is sticking to the earth.
The only solution, which once again comes disturbingly instinctive to me, is that I have to do this digging movement like when I let go of the dead matter.
I pull slime from where my feet were a moment before and let it travel through my body till they reach the furthest point in front of me while keeping up the dissolving reaction.
Did I ever mention that it's an estranging image when what you just before perceived as your feet is passing your navel and ultimately leaves through your head?
Ever had your feet in your head?
No?
You lucky ones.
After I'm some meters in, Liqu begins to speak in my mind.
- "Be careful not to dissolve a too large hole. It might collapse." (Liqu)
- "Collapse!?" (Shari)
- "Only if you take so much away that the earth can't support itself anymore. And even if that happens, your mass should cushion any impact and the shell around your core be able to withstand the pressure. As long as there's no scratch, there's no harm." (Liqu)
Great, now I have to worry about being buried alive.
Yes, I know that being alive is questionable in my case.
Now that no one can see me anymore my initial panic slowly subsides.
Sadly, this is accompanied by increased awareness of the process.
While it's good that I am more focused on the digging there are unpleasant sides.
That I'm basically eating dirt is a thought I can push aside by telling myself that it's a pure necessity of the digging process.
Rather it's more a form of manual labor than eating.
However, this doesn't include other things I consume.
I've already dissolved a bug, a worm, and several grubs.
- "Why the heck are there so many critters in the earth?!" (Shari)
- "Isn't it nice? You're barely losing energy even if you're accelerating the process as fast as you do." (Liqu)
- "No, that's not nice!!" (Shari)
I deliberately chose a place close to the cellar.
I only have to melt diagonally in its direction.
As soon as I reach hard stone, I know that my torture will shortly come to an end.
Yet, as expected, the stone is a bit more resilient to my advances.
It takes some minutes till I'm through.
Finally, I can flow into the cavity.
In there I'm rather glad for my night vision as every light source stopped working.
I go straight to my room.
But before I take my cloak, I instead take my remaining blades, stuff them inside me, being careful not to accidentally hit Liqu, and squeeze myself back up through the hole.
There I drop everything I don't need and grab my gloves.
The whole purpose of this endeavor is to have something to wear.
This won't work if I drench them during the transport since I have no time to wash them.
I can't wait to get back in because several onlookers came closer to the hole and made a big show of panicked retreat when I got back up.
Back down, I take mine and Liqu's cloak.
However, I become aware that I can only drag one at a time through the hole if I want to be sure that the ceiling won't crush me.
The earth is staining them a little, but they're traveler's wear and rather proof against outer influences.
Like this, I've reclaimed our most valuable possessions.
So I can now attempt something riskier.
And this is my still-filled bag.
This one is rather big so I couldn't simply get it through the hole without risking a cave-in.
But I don't need to get down another time.
I only have to get out.
I widen the stone hole so it's barely enough for the bag to fit in.
After this, I position myself in front of the bag and intentionally elongate my "body".
Like this, my hind side will drag the load while all the important stuff is located on my front, which is in fact only mine and Liqu's cores.
Now, if transporting the big bag causes the tunnel to collapse, I won't be in any danger.
I can even simply dig it out again because the earthen pressure shouldn't be enough to destroy it.
Fortunately, nothing happens and I can drag myself out of my burrow.
There I'm naturally still confronted with the annoying looks of far too many people who, contradicting the count, don't have anything better to do.
I can't get away from them fast enough.
While this experience wasn't great for my mentality, I think getting my equipment back was worth it.
I pull everything to the room I claimed and start to pack for the journey.
One pack for me, and one for Liqu when she eventually will be able to form a human body again.
Also, after quite a long time since I last wore it, I finally use my high-quality cloak again to cover myself.
Nothing against our uniforms but nothing can compete against a tailored-personally-for-me item.
And since we have to go incognito, I couldn't use them in the first place.
After I'm done, I walk to the carriage.
I like the idea of Shari burrowing into her room, making multiple trips and grabbing all her stuff, and the whole time ignoring the dude she left collapsed in the corner with the bolt wound from yesterday. Just completely not acknowledging him as he is slouched in the corner of this basement dungeon.
Oh, yeah... that guy. Probably suffocated with the fire and the collapse, or the enemy reinforcements. That guy really got the short end of the stick.
Or he's still there, quietly begging for help while Shari is rummaging thrugh her stuff with Liqu distracting her from it.
@expentio
"Uhh, you're back, thank god-" (Guard who had lost all hope)
"SHUT UP!" (Shari out loud to the chatty monster in her mind)
"O-oh" (The now silent guard, watching his would be savor take her stuff and leave)
Editing
It should have been obvious, everyone who can > It should have been obvious. Everyone who can
not the case if it staples meters high. > not the case if it accumulates meters high. (staples is definitely not the word you’re looking for here)
They put several tents up here from > They put up several tents here from
Don't worry, I'm there for you. > Don't worry, I'm here for you.
But you're already doing it. For example when you climbed the wall > But you've already done it. For example, when you climbed the wall.
Back then I've pressed myself against the surface. > Back then I pressed myself against the surface.
right now totally smug she at least > right now totally smug, she at least
I've got already rid of my clothes, > I've already gotten rid of my clothes,
I always avoid it to have people looking at me while I'm eating. > I always avoid having people looking at me while I'm eating.
And none of these assholes stop staring! > And none of these assholes will stop staring!
As soon I'm back ready I'll dissolve them for you. > As soon as I'm recovered I'll dissolve them for you.
honest and supportive honest. > honest and supportive.
keep me from doing so I start the reaction. > keep me from doing so, I start the reaction.
The other issue I have right now is, that once more my human shape is disintegrating. > The other issue I have right now is that, once more, my human shape is disintegrating.
While I know that my body lacks anything that would make it a body or even provide the slightest bit of firmness I can with sheer willpower push enough against the outer world so I can maintain my shape and even wear clothes or carry stuff. >
While I know that my body lacks anything that would make it a body or even provide the slightest bit of firmness, I can, with sheer willpower, push enough against the outer world so I can maintain my shape and even wear clothes or carry stuff.
while I'm dissolving the earth I also have > while I'm dissolving the earth, I also have
again comes disturbingly instinctive to me is that > again comes disturbingly instinctive to me, is that
estranging image when this what you just before perceived > estranging image when what you just before perceived
As long there's no scratch, > As long as there's no scratch,
Sadly this is accompanied by > Sadly, this is accompanied by
push aside by telling me that it's > push aside by telling myself that it's
Rather it's some form of manual labor than eating. > Rather it's more a form of manual labor than eating.
I only have to melt diagonally in the direction. > I only have to melt diagonally in its direction.
As soon I reach hard stone I know that my torture will come to an end. > As soon as I reach hard stone, I know that my torture will shortly come to an end.
Yet as expected the stone is a bit more resilient to my advances. > Yet, as expected, the stone is a bit more resilient to my advances.
But before I take my cloak I instead take my remaining blades, stuff them inside me, careful not to accidentally hit Liqu, and squeeze myself back up through the hole. >
But before I take my cloak, I instead take my remaining blades, stuff them inside me, being careful not to accidentally hit Liqu, and squeeze myself back up through the hole.
I can't get fast enough back in because several onlookers came closer to the hole and made a big show of panicked retreat when I got back up. (Somewhat confusing. Sounds like the onlookers prevented her from going back in quickly for some reason?) [Maybe – I can't wait to get back in because several onlookers…]
Back down I take mine and Liqu's cloak. > Back down, I take mine and Liqu's cloak.
can only drag one at once through the hole > can only drag one at a time through the hole
ceiling won't crush on me. > ceiling won't crush me.
But I don't need to get down a second time. > But I don't need to get down another time. (At this point, she’s already gone down a second time right? And a third, if I’m not mistaken.)
important stuff is located on my front, which are in fact only mine and Liqu's core. > important stuff is located in my front, which is in fact only mine and Liqu's cores.
If transporting the big bag will now cause the tunnel to collapse, I won't be in any danger. > Now, if transporting the big bag causes the tunnel to collapse, I won't be in any danger.
I can't get fast enough away from them. > I can't get away from them fast enough.
One pack for me, one for Liqu > One pack for me, and one for Liqu
Also, after quite a long time I finally use my high-quality cloak again to cover me. > Also, after quite a long time since I last wore it, I finally use my high-quality cloak again to cover myself. (I added a little more since it sounded like she took a very long time to pack. I don’t think that is what you meant.)
against a personally-for-me-tailored item. > against a tailored-personally-for-me item.
And since we have to go incognito I couldn't > And since we have to go incognito, I couldn't
"I'll dissolve them for you." (Liqu)
"Stop joking." (Shari)
Um...Shari...Uh... I don't think she was joking.
Thanks for all the help.
As soon I'm back ready I'll dissolve them for you. > As soon as I'm recovered I'll dissolve them for you. - Is this completely impossible? I liked that particular formulation. Back at it? Up and going?
As soon as I reach hard stone, I know that my torture will shortly come to an end. - instead of shortly soon/in short time?
important stuff is located on my front, which are in fact only mine and Liqu's core. > important stuff is located in my front, which is in fact only mine and Liqu's cores. - Okay, correction said the same, but I thought Liqu's and Shari's cores are two things.
Great, that's the only comment as for now that caught this.
But don't worry, Liqu is such a stable, rational, and nonviolent character.
@expentio
As soon as I'm back at it, I'll dissolve them for you. – This usually means returning to a repeating action or job, but sometimes just refers to getting well. It should work here, with a bit of a double meaning.
As soon as I reach hard stone, I know that my torture will shortly come to an end. – soon/in short time - Those will also work if you prefer.
important stuff is located in my front, which is in fact only mine and Liqu's cores. - Might help if you looked at it like this - important stuff, which is in fact only mine and Liqu's cores, is located in my front. 'is', both of them, are used because 'stuff' is a collective noun. These are singular subjects unless you want to emphasize an individual part of the group. It doesn't matter how many things or people are part of this group, it's still considered a singular group. For example, 'the jury is taking a recess'. Refers to a singular group doing something.
For the word core, it becomes cores since there are two of them.
Hopefully, I understood your question and this helps a little.
Also, "Great, you're the only one who caught up on this." – in this context means, you're the only one who's read this story to this point. I'm going to assume you meant - Great, you're the only one who caught this. (Meaning you noticed the joke\pun\nuance\etc.)
She's very stable right this moment, she doesn't (can't) really react at all.
@Saril1489
As soon as I'm back at it, I'll dissolve them for you. – This usually means returning to a repeating action or job, but sometimes just refers to getting well. It should work here, with a bit of a double meaning. - I think I'll take back at it then. The word back is going to become important. Back in action!
I changed the comment a little. I don't want that anyone thinks I'm thinking poorly of them. Everyone who read so far is in my good books.
Oh, but she's certainly making a list. She has much time to think after all.
You know, Shari housing Liqu’s core has given me an idea; an idea that Shari would hate but an idea none the less.
When Liqu recovers she could mind crush some regular basic slimes, and they could use those unblemished cores as decoy cores, either to attract blows to a specific area of their bodies while their real cores are obscured, or to fake their deaths by letting those decoys get struck during a fight and then collapsing into a puddle, making the enemy think that they have won the fight, only to be engulfed once they go to inspect their kill.
I doubt Shari would ever agree to housing a core of a wild and mentally destroyed slime, but tactically it could work out. I guess she could also use a fake core made of glass, but it wouldn’t look as authentic.
That sounds even appliable, yet with some concerns. But why not simply use colored glass? If they find a craftsman good enough. Normal slime cores are quite a bit smaller than theirs. Liqu was processing at a greater degree, so the crystal of her core grew. The same goes for Shari who had to fit a human consciousness in there, while slimes are usually far simpler, concentrating on their base program. Another issue is that an active core glows in a certain individual color. While I doubt most enemies care for such a detail it's hard to overlook a shining stone (maybe hidden within the clothes).
Word order feels odd in:
"since I really want now to sink into the ground and stop being seen."
not sure, but this feels a bit better:
"since I now really want to sink into the ground and stop being seen."
Changed. Thanks.
There also a duplication of words, but it may be intentional:
"Why the heck the heck are there so many critters in the earth"
@puggan Nope, certainly not intentional. Thanks.
It's... extremely hard on me when my self-conscious feeling catches up reminding me of the gawkers, but I persevere.
Instead, I channel this feeling to accelerate the dissolving reaction, since I now really want to sink into the ground and stop being seen.
Once again Shari really is living the dream!
The one of every introvert at public gatherings that is.
That I'm basically eating dirt is a thought I can push aside by telling myself that it's a pure necessity of the digging process.
And now also the dream of every toddler! Such a lucky woman(?)!
Well, it's more of a way out of the typical nightmare of an introvert.
I'm almost a bit sad that there was nothing about my big finale for the arc and the "bonding" of our two slimes.
@expentio Oh, well if you insist I definitly enjoyed the finale of the arc a lot it was pretty tense and really nice to see the fabled technique Liqu has alluded to since so long, it definitly is devastating although I find it hard to believe that she could truly wipe out a city like Ekoras like that, I mean she just couldn't keep up that state for long enough to cover an entire town. Also I like the new quest/squad looking forward to where this is going.
Regarding the "bonding" it was really not what I was expecting when you alluded to Liqu getting a "reward" after the arc. If I had one thing to comment it would be that it really is nice to see how far our dear Shari has come in just a couple of weeks in regards to both her acceptance of her slimy reality as well as her relationship with Liqu. I wonder if this long term linking will leave each of them with a broader perspective afterwards, Liqu more able to play human and Shari less reliant on doing so. Having almost caught up I gotta say I am interested where this novel will go, I hope you continue the story for quite a while.
@Sizano The thing with Liqu's technique is, that as shown it's flawed. But also Liqu voluntarily stopped it when she got back to her senses. If she kept her all-devouring mindset she might've been able to go for much longer. Yet without any sense of reason. In the end, this would be a death sentence since she would need too much energy to sustain her giant self while being too slow to catch anything that moves. That and naturally the backlash is much worse if kept up for longer. The first time she almost died from it, so naturally she was apprehensive of using it again. This and being as defenseless afterward as she is.
Sadly I'll have soon to go on a temporary hiatus. I simply need time for more chapters. But I'll definitely continue writing those.
@expentio Makes sense.
Noo... how dare you! Seriously tho take all the time you need to gather your thoughts and weave your story Please just start the hiatus at a point without any immediate cliffhangers...