They say that the great desert was formed by the death of the Duchess’ brother. But we know that is not true, in fact, before the ((SYSTEM)), the entirety of Mazre was a desert, a waterless planet of red sand. The death of Duke merely removed the ((SYSTEM’S)) influence. If one Wraithdien could cause so much damage, then what of the one creature they fear?
-Rebel Black, the shattering tome
Runt walked slowly, he kept his head down as he weaved through the Nocturnali and Beastkin. Every once and a while, a child would bump against him and attempt to pick his pocket. They were ridiculously inept, and he kept catching their little hands.
If his old tribe was half as incompetent as gremlins as these children, he would’ve been ((GOBLIN_CHIEF)) before the Lady emerged. The slime spoke cheerily, her voice slightly muffled from the bag. Runt didn’t respond, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“ah, yes, and then the Belled Mortal acts as if we should listen to it! Its rather hilarious, but if you don’t, then you get boiled into soap. Terrible, really. Its as if they don’t know we have a complex inner world!”
Runt sidestepped another would be pickpocket, really, where did they keep coming from?
“But the things you pick up, I’m semi fluent in three different Mortal languages, you know. Semi, I’d put heavy focus on. The Belled Mortal was constantly, and I mean constantly talking. I could probably hold a conversation in Beastglossa too, if I, you know, had a way to vocally express my thoughts.”
Runt eventually made it to the gates. He attempted to simply walk past, The guards, a different pair this time, slightly less incompetent looking stopped him by crossing their spears against the gate and barking out an command.
“They said that it is past curfew, and you should run along home now unless you want the Catacomb to eat your soul.”
Runt was not in the mood. He hissed at the guards.
“Oh! Oh! I know this one, say ‘Harak? Lisin da’an jig-naj na!?’
Runt repeated the phrase, stumbling over da’an, but managing to get the words out of his mouth. The guards laughed at him. Runt snarled.
“you know what? Just stab them.”
He really wanted to in that moment, but, as he told Sli’ver, the Lady benefitted noting from their deaths. Instead, Runt turned around he took a few paces, then turned back toward the gate. He broke into a sprint. The guards tensed, and several people turned to point and gape.
Runt ignored them all and ignored the gate entirely, instead he jumped at the wall, grabbing the battlements with on hand, and scrambling up.
What in the Eternal Goodness was the point of a wall if it was so short that someone could just climb it?
An arrow whizzed by his head, and Runt pulled himself entirely on top of the wall. He did his best to pick up speed with the narrow strip of land then launched himself off the other side. He clutched his bag to his chest, ignored the screaming slime and landed in a neat roll. He jumped to his feet and kept up a steady jog until he had made it back into tree cover.
“GOODNESS ETERNAL.” The slime said, “WHAT A RUSH!”
“Why doest thou speakest so strangely? The Mortals I understand, but thou should adopt a proper tongue.” Runt said,
“A ‘proper tongue,’ buddy, you’re the one talking like you’re two hundred years old. Only stuck up nobles talk like that.” The slime said,
“It will reflect poorly upon the Lady. Thou shouldst, then, become Noble.” Runt said,
“EEhhh. Not that kind of noble, but I get it. whatever, thou mayst rely-st onth mest.” The slime said,
Runt snorted, and opened the bag. Picking the Slime up and setting her on his shoulder.
“How kind of you.” She said,
“You may damage the plants.” Runt said,
“I damage nothing.” She said,
Runt rolled his eyes, for a moment, he looked at the glowing eyes sitting above him and shivered.
“wait wait, are thy afraidst of the moons?” The slime said,
“Most certainly not.” Runt said, “What tis a moon?”
The slime cackled. “I shall tell you.”
“Nevermind.” Runt said,
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“TOO LATE.” She said, and made a warbling sound.
Runt sighed.
“Afore the ((SYSTEM)), Afore the Many, whenst the One had just spread the sky across creation, He created Mazre, Tilfet’thin or Sol, the Mulos or Green and billions of others.”
“I get it. You can stop now.” Runt said,
“No interrupting! Anyway, while Tilfet’thin wast the greatest light, the other world-fish were-“
“World-fish?” Runt asked,
“Yes. What do you think the sky is made of, rocks? Ahehem, The other world-fish were granted lesser lights, that reflected the light of Tilfet’thin, as Tilfet’thin reflected the light of the One. And to Mazre was given Herel and Ritci. The twin moons.” The slime said,
“The end?” Runt said,
“Well no, I haven’t gotten to the part where Evirynn the FirstDragon seduces Mazre, Herel, Ritchi and Tilfet’thin, which resultth in the birth of the Elves.” She said,
Runt gagged, “Skip that part, what’s an Elves?”
The slime cube gurgled. “Well, they’re a bit rare around here~ but I suppose I’ll enlighten you…”
“If thy wish to speak, speak.” Runt said,
“Fine fine. An Elf is sort of, well its like a… hm. They are like Lizardkin, but without scales, a tail or snout, and with goblin-ears. They are either sand-red or dust black, or somewhere in between, but I’ve heard that on Litone they’re silv-“
“-Dost thou meanst the Onyx King?” Runt asked,
“The Onyx what?” The slime blinked.
“He is dark, like obsidian, his ears are sharp, but they are pointed back, not forwards, he wears a golden crown, and hath magics that canst clear entire floors.”
“Doth thou meanst Rebel Black?” The slime asked,
“The Rebel what?” Runt said, mockingly.
“Oh shut up.” She said,
They entered the clearing, and the slime grew stiff on Runt’s shoulder.
“This- This Lady of yours… is down there?” She said,
“Of course, tis the Crypt.” Runt said confused.
“Ah. I see…th.” The Slime said,
Runt approached the door and knocked firmly three times.
STATUS:
Name: Runt
Mantra: The big fight, the small take.
LV: 35
EXP 0/35,000
Gender: Male
Affinities: Stealth
Class: Retainer
Race: Feral Goblin
Tethered: N/A
Traits: brave, tenacious.
Blessings: Blessing of Catacomb, Blessing of Sanctuary
Curses: Smallheart
Titles: Runt, Underdog
Notoriety: 0
Fame: 0
Infamy: 0
Kills: 12
INT: 11 (+1)
SOUL: 9(+2)
WILL: 11(+1)
MAG: 10 (+1)
STR: 10 (+0)
DEF: 10 (+0)
CONS: 11 (+1)
STATUS:
Name: Pale Slime No. 332
Mantra: Listen, and you will hear.
LV: 4
EXP 100/4000
Gender: female
Affinities: Heal
Class: n/a
Race: Pale Slime
Tethered: N/A
Traits: Medical, Cleansing
Blessings: n/a
Curses: n/a
Titles: n/a
Notoriety: 14
Fame: 0
Infamy: 0
Kills: 0
INT: 13
SOUL: 1
WILL: 1
MAG: 1
STR: 1
DEF: 1
CONS: 1
