The town itself was much warmer. Calling it just a town, wasn't quite right. The place seemed pretty big and complex. The village itself seemed normal sized enough despite all the waterways making it look way bigger than it was, but it was the upper half full of giant mushrooms and trees that had buildings inside them that made it look much more interesting. She could see a few villagers casting lines in the water to fish, the scent of food wafted through the air as an old woman cooked in a giant pot that looked like a complex system to keep the platform to burning. It seemed to be some kind of small restaurant. This village was vastly differently from the counts. Not just in colors and brightness, but the way the town looked thriving in comparison. On the other hand, it didn't look nearly technologically up to date. One of the bigger differences was that the villagers here, actually stopped to look at her. Either because she was a slime or seeing a stranger with a giant sword wandering into town was always going to raise questions. But while they looked wary, some seeming caught between wanting to run or fight, the others looked more confused. They were clearly wary, but the slime not actively doing any real damage made them seem more unsure than scared, and after witnessing her friendliness, most seemed to accept her pretty readily easy, pointing her to the direction of the college and telling her the easiest way to get up there along these pathways that would be confusing for an outsider. As she made her journey to the treetops though, she managed to make it to the Bridgeway as the sun started to set on the village , and standing on the bridgeway looking out at it was a girl in a white dress, who soon turned to look and take notice of the slime knight. "Is it heroism that paves the way forward or the desire to be famous for heroism? You thought Goomps was going senile. He didn't want you to go own adventures, so you ran off all on your own. They're still wondering where you went."
Yuuto tried to smile as reassuringly as he could at Diana. He certainly planned to come back for... several reasons that involved "stuff to do" of various natures. And while some would say Diana looked cute when she was angry, he much preferred how she looked with other emotions. Perhaps wanting to see one of those other emotions before he departed was why, when the impulse came, he gave into it and leaned forward to give her a small kiss on the forehead before turning to take hold of Beijon's hand.
Diana's left surprised at the sudden display, mouth open, but not saying anything. As Yuuto takes Beijon's hand, the bluish flash of magic envelops the circle and causes a blinding that lights for a few seconds along with a strange tingling sensation across the skin and inside the body, before calming. The light dims. Too dim. Just pitch blackness. No sounds of animals or bugs, or even the cave dripping. The temperature of the area felt normal, in a weirdly stagnant way, even though he couldn't make out any of his surroundings in such intense darkness.
She cheerily greeted those who stayed up to look at her, taking a moment to smile and wave before continuing on her way. Also apologizing a few times as she had to ask for directions. Their weariness was understandable so while the mistrust did sting a little, Goobriella tried to not let it bother her too much. Letting it bother her would only have distracted her from taking in the wonderful village and its inhabitants anyway. She felt an itch upon seeing the homes built into the giant mushrooms and trees up close. They were so strange and of the norm, especially with her experience with humans so far who tended to build their houses on top of nature. Goobriella thought for a while as she walked, coming to the conclusion that she liked this place better than the city. It had already been late when she reached the village due to taking the long way around, but after walking through the village the sky had turned a shade of orange near the horizon. The weariness in her goo made it feel floaty and like it bounced around with every step, however, that was part of the journey too. Once Miss Cross was safe and the note delivered, she could take the time before falling asleep to consider everything that had happened during the day and letting the experiences become a part of her. She had learned so much already. She nearly walked into the white-dressed woman, just about to apologize as she started to speak. Did she know Goomps? And while she did think that... her mind became defensive and numerous excuses found themselves on her tongue. She didn't use any of them, instead, starting to feel guilty. Guess they would miss her, she had been a very eager ball of slime back then who was certain she had made the right choice to leave, still was, but she could've done it in a better way. "I seek both. They are one and the same." Stating it confidently. "Heroes inspire and lead, even just by the stories told by bards, storytellers, and writers they can be a source of courage and hope. Those who have reached furthest are legends who survive through generations after their death. As my fame grows, so will my influence and ability to good in the world." She let out a breath that she felt she had held since she started speaking. This was what she believed. If she ever found the Secret of Evolution to share it with those who were weak, then they needed to know enough about her to seek her out. Experience had taught her that if she walked from village to village it would take far too long to teach everyone. And if she died, she hoped other good-natured monsters would take up her mantle. Even if she seemed lackadaisical at times, Goobriella knew what she was doing was dangerous. "I-is Goomps fine? Everyone else?" No longer able to deny the growing urge to ask, since the woman seemed to know about them, and also driven by a more selfish eagerness to shift from her sappy answer. It had sounded cooler in her head, but maybe it was still good enough to satisfy the unknown, and quite beautiful woman.
Deciding that the one who's still conscious is more dangerous, Mogmak brings her club down onto the head of the man on the ground. Trying to buy more time before the others attack, she breathes in deeply before letting out a gush of fire breath at the two men who were further away, aiming mainly to simply keep them at a distance, though she wouldn't mind if they were burnt. Then, if she can, she brings the weapon down onto the head of the dazed thug.
For a moment, he was unsure he had opened his eyes again once he had closed them to protect himself from the bright light. He could feel himself blinking however, so he knew that was not the case. The darkness was so absolute he began to prod around with his foot, unsure of if even the ground he was standing on was solid or potentially a small patch over an abyss into even deeper darkness.
"I wonder..." Hearing the answers, the woman didn't seem phased or surprised by them. A tone that indicated she completely expected it. "Stressed. Concerned." She was quiet for a moment, staring. "...though just ever so slightly understanding of why you felt the need to walk down this road. If you still feel this is the right one, the college is just up ahead. Once you enter, you'll face your first real challenge of an adventure. If you feel ready, you're perfectly welcome to walk through those doors. But the course set out for you, is not limited to time. You have the opportunity to prepare, perhaps find a few companion stars meant to share your destiny. If you want to ignore all that, that is also meant to happen, though nothing in the constellations guarantees your safety."
The fire forces them back, catching the clothes of one on fire and taking him down while forcing the other to lose momentum only to be taken out by the oncoming swing. The thugs were easily dealt with, though the attempts to use fire worked a little too well, starting to engulf the floors and walls of the house, and threatening to take the unconscious merchant with it.
The part of ground he can feel is solid. Hard as rock or stone. This was definitely some sort of solid platform and as he made gradual progress, it changed when he felt the solidness of something come into contact with his foot. Cold. more rock. But he could tell they were stairs. He couldn't see any of his surroundings, but there was clearly solid construction behind it, to wherever he had ended up.
"Ah, shit." She grunts. Mogmak puts back on what little clothing she possesses, picks up the merchant and heads downstairs. Quickly raiding the cash box if she can find it, she leaves with the man over her shoulder. Putting on her distressed expression, she cries out "Fire! The shop is on fire! Someone get water and buckets!" As a crowd gathers, she takes the opportunity to leave with the merchant, pretending to be getting him medical care.
The panic and confusion allows her to escape, with most of the guard mobilizing to focus on the ensuing flames and the crowd gathering too confused to pay a lot attention. The merchant definitely could stand to exercise a little, but Mogmak can still carry him without too much effort.
The troll carries the merchant into an abandoned building not too far away, and waits by the window for the oni to appear.
Yuuto began taking each step one at a time, slowly. Each time he put his foot lower he tested the solidness of the next step before fully putting his weight down. This made his pace slow, probably maddeningly so to anyone who could have potentially seen him through the darkness, and he was unsure just how long it was taking him to make actual progress down the staircase. The only sense of time passing he had was his own internal one and the rhythm of his movements as he tested, stepped, tested, stepped, tested, stepped...
Finding a mostly dilapidated house, she makes her way in pretty easily, taking the unconscious man with him. As she opens the door, a lot of the rubble and broken beams make it hard to see things, but as she moves into the room she can find a window to wait down by. She's probably only been waiting for a few minutes, though it felt longer. But a sudden draft of coldness hits her neck, while still inside the building and she's forced to look over her shoulder to see someone standing a few feet away. "What exactly is your plan here? You'll get your pay...then what? You'll pay for alcohol and possibly some company. And that's fine. But does it bring you any closer to getting revenge? Even the whole quest, isn't more for just you in the first place? They don't blame you. They're still dancing and drinking just as hard in the afterlife as they did. They don't seem all that concerned with their current state. I wonder if they even noticed."
She was glad and relieved to hear about Goomps, and if he worried for her then things must be fairly calm at home. And about walking the path of a hero, Goobriella did feel that way. Especially now when everyone's emotions were heightened like the monsters in the Count's town had been, they needed hope and the ability to stand up for themselves. The rest sounded a little like Goomps when he was in a cryptic mood, and made the slime knight feel some pangs deep in her gooey body that came with a longing to see him and everyone else again. Goobriella couldn't read the constellations. They were stars and looked nothing like letters from a language she recognized. But just because something was written down didn't mean it was true, another saying from Goomps, and if it dealt with with her then she could decide what she would do. Goobriella shook her head, rejecting the woman's offer for her to turn back. She still had a delivery to make.
Mogmak's eyes, dart to the newcomer, glaring menacingly even as her eyes drink in the sight of the busty brunette. "Who. The fuck. Are you?" She hefts her club, giving the charlatan shopkeeper another kick as he starts to come to. "How do you know any of that?"
He slowly makes his way through, and every so slowly, it feels like things change even though he can't see it. Bravery means having the will and confidence to keep moving forward. He heard it. Something. It wasn't a whisper. It wasn't all in his head. But something had spoken to him as if trying to give him some encouragement. And as he made his way through, ever so slightly the shadows were getting just a bit lighter, and while still difficult to see he could start to make out the shape of the stone and walls. But that wasn't the only thing getting his attention. The torchlight on walls made it's skin come into view, along with the sounds of grunting as something rose from where it was sitting, swerving it's head left to right, looking for whatever just stepped into the room, but the heavy shadows working against it's own sense to detect a intruder. The hero to defeat Estark faces unimaginably dangerous enemies.
The red haired woman, gave a slight giggle. "Oh, poor slime..." "I'll be seeing you." As soon as Goobriella looked back, the woman had vanished to thin air. A very strange human...if that's even what she was. Pressing onto the college, she opened the doors to find it to be a perfectly functional library full of scholars and people readying books, all busy writing down notes as quickly as they could.
"Why wouldn't I know things?" The woman didn't look at all concerned about the threats. "I know Estark will wake up. I know the oni is running a protection racket. I know Holly works as an informant to the guard so they won't charge her for all that money she stole when she was a nun. I know that you think you can kill me. I know my sister is out there, plotting to kill me. And I know I want to live. I know you need work. I know you will be interested in a job offer because you know that I know things other people don't. You also know that means playing games with me is a bad idea which is why instead of attacking me, you will put that club down and hear what I have to say. Does that about cover it?"
It had been a pretty neat trick disappearing into thin air. The Slime Knight had heard of teleportation spells like Zoom, but hadn't seen it used before so couldn't tell if her method was normal or not. At least the woman had confirmed that miss Cross was inside. Seeing all the books made Goobriella a little nervous. Slimes and paper weren't on the best of terms and she was afraid of getting her goo all over some priceless manuscript as she, carefully, made her way inside the library. It was overwhelming to see the accumulated knowledge and her head turned every which way trying to make out the titles written on the spines. Surely, if there was anything she wanted to know then it would be somewhere here, unable to imagine anything more expansive than what was before her eyes. But that wasn't why she had come. Shaking her head, dispelling the sense of wonderment, she walked toward one of the less busy looking female scholars on the off-chance it was actually miss Cross. "H-hello. Are you Candice Cross, or do you know where I can find her? I am here on behalf of a friend of hers. Woof." Tapping her shoulder, to catch the woman's attention and pry it away from the book. All the words on the open pages made her head swim. They were so tiny.
