Sometimes life takes weird twists and turns. Sometimes it leaves you clueless. And sometimes it requires you to take action. I can certainly attest to this. "Shari, are you sure you want to go alone?" Yep, my name is Shari, as you probably guessed by now. The one talking to me is my mother, Hannah. You might have also noticed that I'm currently trying to fight for my independence. "Yes, Mum. I mean, what could go wrong? It's only a small gathering tour. I'm already old enough to marry, so shouldn't I at least be able by now to get the family business done by myself?" (Shari) It's true. In theory, you're already at sixteen years supposed to become a lot more independent. At least, it's the time when you'd get set up to lead your own life in the future. Unfortunately, this village out in the boonies isn't offering all that much in terms of personal development. Fields, wilderness, a forest. The latter being the place where my Mum gathers with some proficiency all kinds of herbs and ingredients. This brings me back to the fact that I, with my seventeen years of life, should be allowed to run my tours through the forest that I know like the back of my hand by now. On the other side, I can probably be glad that my parents didn't attempt to set me up with one of the village boys. I mean, not like any of them would even be interested. I probably beat them up once or twice too many times when we were kids. It's not like this disregard wouldn't be mutual. In my opinion, those jerks deserved what they had coming. Yet that means I'm a bit at odds with the boys, and the girls in the village only know me as that girl with this slightly violent streak. Not the best grounds for building relationships. For this reason, our super remote village in southern Rakis offers very little to me in terms of entertainment. Consequently, I very much prefer the tranquility of the forest. Foraging is my second favorite occupation. And today is the first time I'll be going by myself. "Are you sure about this? You know the forest isn't safe. What if a monster attacks you?" (Hannah) "Mum, you drilled into me how to fend them off, and it's only going to be a small tour. I don't plan on going any further than the outer layers. That's reasonably safe." (Shari) "Still..." (Hannah) "Mr. Dovan got a bad rash from a devora bush and needs your medicine. I can certainly do a small tour by myself." (Shari) Yep, my mum is also quite proficient at processing herbs. She's a prime example of a wise woman. She knows all the local plants by heart, how to use them to cure various ailments, and just how to cook with them. Even able to read and write, she is overall far more knowledgeable than one would expect from commoners like us. Of course, I learned a lot from her. While it's by no means comparable to what a dedicated alchemist can do, her craft is a great help to the people in the village. Yet, more pertinent to my current goal, the process to produce this particular remedy is quite a lengthy one, and as such, it is providing me with a great excuse as to why I can go by myself today. This way, I can prove to my parents that I can be trusted to deal with this task by myself, and for once, I can do everything the way I want to. I mean, I don't plan on going too deep and will stick to the stuff I'm expected to gather. Everything else would set Mum's alarms off. The forest is, by no means, completely harmless of a place. Nonetheless, I feel confident that I can handle this. "Fine. But be careful. And at the slightest hint of danger, you'll immediately return. Be it only the deposits of a direwolf." (Hannah) "Sure, Mum." (Shari) This means I'm ready to set out! I’ve already gathered my things in preparation for this, so I can immediately leave. Quickly, before she changes her mind! I stick to the usual routes I usually take with my mother. I like to think of them as a bit of a family secret. Not like one couldn't find very much the same stuff in terms of herbs, berries, and roots everywhere else in the forest, but I suppose they're easier to traverse. So once I'm at the edges of the deeper forest, which I'd like to avoid, I start picking all the stuff I need. My gathering bag quickly fills with a variety of forest goods. Cinderberries, spiceweed, and a lot of greyshrooms, roots, and wilberries. The latter are a common side dish to all kinds of meals, while the former two are well-used to spice up otherwise bland food. Especially the cinderberries are great if you stomp them into a sauce and add them to all kinds of meat. Though some can't quite stomach their biting sharpness. This is also why they make a structural ingredient to the so-called smellbags my mother makes after an old family recipe. In general, I think it's fine to say that this was a good haul. It's not like I can boast about doing my job as expected, but it's already nice that I can prove to Mum that I can handle it by myself. But then, as if on cue with my thoughts, I suddenly hear the creaking of branches and heavy steps approaching. "Groooooooohh" A grinding board? What is that thing doing here? They might theoretically have a chance to be encountered in this region, but we are fairly far away from their usual habitats in the south. A monster of the boar variant, grinding boars are easily recognizable by their extra-reinforced fronts. Their heads are one solid plate, where only a sharp horn and the tusks are jutting out. They belong to the stronger beasts one could encounter, easily waltzing through everything that may cross their path. Nonetheless, while they are dangerous, I'm not overly worried. The reason is quite simple. Damn! It's charging. Time to dodge! I take some steps back and jump at the last moment, only a second before that creature rushes straight past my old position and right into the tree that was behind me, while I already take cover behind the next. "Wham" But, yep, that's it. Grindingboars are very front-loaded, have a narrow vision, and are extremely unmaneuverable. This means once they charge, you only have to sidestep. This works even better if there are natural obstacles around, which shouldn't be too unusual in a forest. In addition, they are among the few monsters who rather go for plants and fruits, instead of trying to get their fill with humans. They are only quite territorial and easily bothered by your presence. However, as they just as easily lose sight of their target and have no motivation to go after them, it's quite easy to avoid getting maimed by their charge. Even an average forager, without any combat capabilities, such as I, can do that much. This, in addition to the fact that they always shout before charging, makes it quite the challenge to lose one's life to them, despite their relative strength. Nonetheless, this one is quite close to the village. It would be bad if it went there. If it charged right in and started to rampage, there might be quite the damage. Also, there's still a chance for someone to accidentally get in the way. So I should deal with it now. What? No, I don't intend to fight it. Didn't you listen? Those things are super dangerous up close, and all I got is a small but sturdy knife to cut the plants. Even if I were proficient as a fighter, beyond my brawls with snot-faced brats as a kid, there's no way I'm going to do something so stupid. No, I have something much better. My smellbag. A leathery ball that contains certain herbs and other secret ingredients, which, if mixed, release a smell that is unbearable for any monster. Especially, if they're of the kind that relies on that sense. Such as a grinding boar who uses it for foraging on the ground. So, without further ado... "Catch!" (Shari) The little bag flies and hits the boar right on the snout. At this, the intentionally loose knot opens fully, and a mix of spicy herbs, rotten roots, and whatever else that together make up the most unignorably sharp and pungent smell one can imagine spreads on its face. "Squeeeeaaak, squeeaak, squeak, squeeeak!" (grindingboar) Yep, that should've done it. Usually, a grinding boar would now attack after having been provoked like this. However, attacking won't do anything against this smell. Rather, it does the only smart thing if it doesn't want to get doused with another one and runs straight in the other direction, away from the village. Yep, family-approved recipe. Works every time! Though I'm glad that it was only a grinding boar and not a direwolf. The latter might be objectively seen as weaker, but they're sneakier, and there's the chance that they come in a pack. This far up north, there's little chance for that, but it isn't impossible. Also, they make for a difficult target for the smell bags. In theory, it should also work to just throw it on the ground, but life-and-death situations are not exactly the times when I'd like to take chances. So yes, I think I'll just finish up here and then be on my way back home. The day wasn't all that productive, but I only have so many smellbags, and continuing after your lifeline got diminished is like the perfect way to court death. Yeah, I very much prefer to be alive. Let's just hope I won't encounter more monsters like this. As my pack is quite heavy, I decide to walk home on the clearer paths. Well, calling them paths is said a bit too much. Rather, it's more about finding some not-quite-as-overgrown dirt trails through the greenery, which, aside from my family, seldom ever sees anyone passing through. Truly, our village lies completely in the boonies, and this forest only ever sees some traffic if adventurers come over on a penalty mission to make sure we're still there and no massive infestation threatens to spill over to the nearby farmlands. Not like there's much of a chance for this to happen. I mean, most monsters stick to the south where there is a greater concentration of magic. Even for them, we're too uninteresting. This far up north, there'll be at most some stragglers. Those make use of the fact that they can hunt without any competition, which is enough to keep them alive despite the lesser amount of magic. Which either means grinding boars who don't care that much for what they eat, or direwolves that have no group to hunt bigger things together. The only things other than those that have a chance of showing up here to justify any kind of intervention would be... "Zsch" Oh no! Oh no, oh no, oh no! Shit, why now?! From all the godforsaken pests I could've encountered on my way home! Why does it have to be a goddamned slime?! That wretched blob of yellow doesn't even attempt to be sneaky while it dissolves some plants that might have had some use to me. Not like this yucky, crawling puddle of ick actually would have the brains to do so. All it got is a glowing core somewhere between orange and red. Damn, that's going to ruin my day. No, I'm not in any actual danger. If you know how to handle them, they're harmless. Usually, a slime will only start crawling in your direction once you're close enough to show up in their perception, which isn't all that far. Also, they're so incredibly slow that even a child could run circles around them and not be at any risk of getting caught. The only risk when encountering a slime is if it catches you unaware. Something that shouldn't be underestimated, given that they barely make a sound while sliding on their matter over the ground. If you, for example, accidentally get your foot stuck in one of them, even at their sedate speed, you won't have much of a chance to escape on the resulting stump without assistance. One shouldn't underestimate the dissolving reaction inside their bodies, as it disintegrates any kind of matter within seconds. This also translates to their second most annoying factor. Trapping them is nigh impossible, as they'll burn themselves right out of any container, and if you want to deal with them for good and smash their cores, you can already say goodbye to whatever tool you're using. If I ever am to meet that mage who was responsible for their release around a hundred and fifty years ago, he'll regret creating the greatest annoyance this world knows more than he probably already did when it happened! However, for now, I seriously should take care of this. We are already very close to my village, and this thing could do some serious damage if it finds a way in there. I mean, there's a reason why slime culling is the one most-despised mandatory job adventurers can be assigned with. So I take up a nearby branch, rip off as many of the leafy parts that would get in the way, and walk closer to the slime. As is typical for slimes, as soon as it notices my presence, it starts moving my way. Incredibly slowly, that is. Yet at this point, I won't be able to back out anymore. While some lose interest after a while, especially if distracted by another target, others will continue the chase, and in this regard, they're tenacious. I've heard stories where a slime would catch up to an unassuming adventurer days after the encounter. They might move at a sedate pace, but they can maintain it. The stick I grabbed is a long one, so once I think I can make it, I go for a heavy vertical strike, trying to smash its core. "Zsch" Yet the moment the wood splashes against the surface, the reaction sets in. I still drove it down, but soon found that I had done no damage. Mostly, because it's still moving. Also, the core isn't as cracked as I'd like it to be. Which means, not a bit. As I was prepared to do so, I managed in time to step backward, away from the mass that grasped my legs. Though when I look at the branch, I find that the bit that's left of it won't suffice for a second try. Not like I'd believe this one would work any better, even with an intact staff. Hitting an object that is only slightly larger than a marble and floats inside a pond of jelly doesn't work that well with merely a thin stick. Also, I'd assess that random sticks that still have leaves on them make for mediocre weapons at best. Not to forget that this stunt wasn't all that safe. I prefer my legs undissolved after all. So it seems like I need to move on to plan B. I simply walk past it and get on my way home. However, every few meters, I look back to make sure that the slime is still crawling towards me. In this manner, I make it back home. As we're woodworkers and gatherers, our house stands a bit off the rest of the village. Not so far that we couldn't call for help, but I don't think this is that much of an emergency. Nonetheless, I call out to my parents once I get closer. "Mum! Dad! I'm back! Also, I have a problem I need some help with here!" (Shari) I make sure the slime isn't anywhere close to me before I focus on the door. Yet it seems like my mother heard me first and came over to check on me. "Shari? Is everything okay?" (Hannah) I hope I didn't interrupt her from anything important. "Nothing too bad. Though, I'm in a bit of a pickle here!" (Shari) At this, a second figure appears at the door. "What's the problem?" And there's my dad. His name is Jona. Quite the gruff man, but as his daughter, I know he's incredibly gentle if it's about Mum. He's usually chopping wood or performing other heavy duties and has the frame to match that. "There's a slime on my trail. I couldn't kill it, and now it's following me. Could you please help me out here?" (Shari) "A slime? Damn. Alright. I'll get the heavy-duty hammer. Just don't let it catch you." (Jona) "Wasn't my intention!" (Shari) "You can still walk, right, Shari?" (Hannah) "Yeah. Just wouldn't want to keep doing so for another hour. Already got quite a bit of action for today." (Shari) After some more minutes of sidestepping this annoying, moving puddle of acid, Dad finally returns with the hammer. It's quite the thing, usually used for construction works, with a massive wooden block at the end. "Okay, bring it over!" (Jona) "Sure! Just make sure to hit it first try!" (Shari) I let the slime follow me a bit more and walk past my dad. This way, the slime slowly drifts by, while still being focused on me. Now, Dad just has to bring down the hammer on the center. "Skracksplsh" Yes! It worked! Take this, you damned fiend! The slime immediately loses its blob form and drifts in all directions. Once Dad heaves the hammer back up, there's the cracked core below. "Damn, it got its dissolving on. Just look at the hammer. Doesn't look like we can use it much longer." (Jona) Uh, yeah. Seems like the dissolving reaction did its thing. "Sorry. I would have done it myself, but this didn't work." (Shari) "Not! Shari, you know how dangerous they can be! It was the right decision not to do this alone. This is just one damaged hammer. A broken tool is far more preferable than risking your life!" (Hannah) She's probably right. I even promised Mum not to be too reckless, so it's probably in my favor that I went back to have them deal with this. "Maybe we can get a bit of a coin from the next adventurer team. Some are said to buy those cores to bring them in for the reward. I just doubt it's going to be enough to replace this hammer." (Jona) It's certainly unfortunate. Out here in the boonies, you're not going to come across any dedicated tools or even craftsmen. "Well, after all that excitement, why don't we get ready for dinner?" (Hannah) Dinner is quickly done. As our family does not have much in terms of food production going, it's either stuff we trade for at the local inn or whatever edible thing we can find in the woods and prepare. Today is unfortunately one of the later days, so it's a rather basic porridge of roots and wildberries. Unfortunately, wild berries are a bit bitter and otherwise rather bland. Especially at this time of the year. While I'd like to add some more cinderberries or maybe some spiceweed to our meals, we trade with those, so I can't use them all for my own taste experience. Especially, as we'll have to save some money to replace that hammer. While I think this kind of expense should be covered by the whole village, as slime hunting is a form of community service, Mum and Dad are not the kind of people to loaf off others. They may mention what happened, but much of our job depends on the goodwill of the locals. This again makes me wish more that I had dealt with this slime by myself. If I'd just been better at hitting my target with a branch. Or well... "Is there something on your mind, Shari? You're looking rather absentminded." (Hannah) Mum is very perceptive if it's about things like this. Well, no harm in telling. "I just thought it would be cool if I could use magic." (Shari) At this, Dad looks at me as if I just grew a second head, and Mum chuckles to herself as if that was the best joke she heard all day. "Ahem. How do you come to that sudden conclusion, my dear?" (Hannah) I feel like this conversation is developing to my disadvantage. Nonetheless, I don't see why I would be wrong. "If I'd been able to use some, I could've just dealt with that slime from afar. No need to put myself at risk." (Shari) "Pffft! So slime-killing it is then? That's a unique position to strive for as a mage. I'm sure you could find better if you'd be able to wield the power of the elements." (Hannah) "It was just an idea. No reason to laugh at me." (Shari) "Honey, please." (Jona) "Yes, okay. I promise, I won't laugh. But if we were to entertain that idea. At the one-in-a-hundred chance that you could be a mage, which element do you think would even have helped you in your predicament?" (Hannah) "Well, maybe fire? Fire is cool. I could've just chucked some fireballs at the slime from a distance. Also, I got red hair, just like you. Maybe even a bit fiercer. Wasn't that one of the signs?" (Shari) "As are red eyes, while yours are blue, generally heightened body temperature, dry skin, or the general urge to set things on fire, among many others. Regarding the latter, I'm rather glad that is not the case for you. You know that all mages tend to play around with their element, right? We're living here in the woods, my dear. I very much prefer you the way you are, Shari." (Hannah) While I do appreciate that Mum sees me as a responsible adult, I don't like quite as much how that's getting used against me here. "Okay, I get it! Just thought it would've been convenient. It's not like I planned on burning down the forest with fire magic." (Shari) "Well, even if you would've been one, how many times exactly would you've tried to 'chuck fireballs' at this slime? You're aware that mages can't cast indefinitely, right?" (Hannah) Huh, she got me there. I didn't think too closely about it. Just that throwing fireballs would be quite cool. Yet in hindsight, slimes aren't flammable, so I'd have to throw for quite a while until all the slime would've been evaporated. Given that, depending on the effect, most mages only manage up to six spells in a row, or so I heard from the adventurers at the inn, this doesn't sound feasible. "Well, what about another element then?" (Shari) "Which? Of water, wind, and life, none could muster the kind of effect you'd need." (Hannah) "Well, what about ice?" (Shari) Maybe the branch would've worked better if I just had to crack that slime. "Shari, when did you last see a frozen slime? The answer is never, because they simply don't freeze." (Hannah) Now that she says so, I also didn't know about them. I'm sure ice mages would be far more wanted if that were to be the case. If they weren't already so scarce by default. "Well, then I could've dropped ice on it instead!" (Shari) "I never heard of an ice mage who could conjure it out of thin air. And it's already one of the rarest elements." (Hannah) "Then, earth instead! I'd simply drop a stone on it!" (Shari) "I once knew an earth mage. He was the laziest bum one could imagine. Lying most of the day on the ground. Though when he deigned to move, he could dig foundations faster than a whole construction team. Which conveniently was what he did for a living." (Jona) Both Mum and I stare at Dad. Almost forgot that he was still around our table. "However, while he could move it very well on the ground, making it fly wasn't part of his repertoire." (Jona) Right, that was another thing adventurers talked about. Mages are rather limited in their versatility feels "wrong" to them to use magic in any other way than what they're used to. "Then maybe I'd be one of those who could make stones fly? It's not impossible." (Shari) "So, you want to become a mage of a very specific element, that just happens to have developed the one personal spell useful for dealing with slimes? Why, in addition, happens to conveniently have a heavy boulder around? I know it's not your favorite subject, but do the math, Shari." (Hannah) Urgh, I hate math. Never got much access to all of these numbers. Also, now I'm even put on the spot? "Okay, okay, I understand. Sorry that I have dreams." (Shari) "It's okay to have dreams, Shari. Yet to solve problems, it's often better to base yourself in reality." (Hannah) "I'm proud of how you handled today, Shari. You showed good judgment with how you tackled the problem you were confronted with. It's often better to be safe rather than sorry." (Jona) "I guess you have a point. Though did I already tell you how I goa grinding boardrr to flee today?" (Shari) "What!?" (Hannah, Jona) Hah! Finally, I'm in the winning position. However, I didn't tell them that part of the reason why being a mage would've been cool is that it would present me with an option to help me get out of this village at the edge of nowhere. I mean, if iweren't't so likely to get me killed, the adventurer lifestyle sounds a lot more exciting than the stuff I usually experience around here. However, at least I don't have to deal with slimes as regularly here. Seriously, I hope this was the last one in a while.