Will of a Prince

As everyone shook off the excitement of winning their battle, they started to interrogate Slimo and Squabee to learn as much about them as possible. However, before they could start asking questions, Slimo raised his hand to stop them.

"Guys, it is really nice to meet all you folks, but where should we go from here? Do you need me to help take back your kingdom?"

Jacob walked over, still carrying Maria in his arms.

"We can’t go back there for a while."

Lidia seemed a little shocked hearing this and walked over angrily to Jacob.

"Why not? Do you see how powerful we are?! We could take down your uncle no problem!"

"It’s because they will have someone infinitely more powerful waiting for us. Remember?"

Dark memories of the general flashed in Lidia’s head, causing her heart to skip a bit in realization.

"You’re right. Maybe we should build our strength for a little bit longer."

"I’m sorry. We will return one day and reclaim what is rightfully ours. I promise."

Slimo stretched his legs on the ground.

"Okay, so where she we head to then?"

Jacob rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

"Why not the empire?"

Slimo paled.

"The Paria Empire in the east?! Uh, Jacob. Have you forgotten that I am not exactly welcomed back to that place?"

Jacob nodded his head.

"I understand, but we don’t have many other options."

"What if this general that attacked your kingdom is from Paria Empire?"

Slimo was right. Jacob didn’t know exactly which place had attacked their kingdom. However...

"It’s unlikely."

"What makes you say that?"

"The general that attacked us seemed to come from either the north or the west. It would also make sense because of how well they knew the dark forest. Also, If the Paria Empire is to the east, it is much more unlikely they would send a general hundreds of miles across the continent for one kingdom."

Slimo wanted to retort, but Jacob’s logic was almost flawless.

"Fine. But I’m going to need some sort of clothes that can mask my face if that’s okay."

Just as he said this, Lucy started creating a heavy set of Iron armor for Slimo to wear at his leisure. Slimo studied the armor with wide eyes and put it on immediately.

"This is perfect! Thank you so much!"

Lucy bowed her head.

"It’s the least I can do for you saving us. It will take a bit longer to make your helmet. I still need to practice."

Zoey seemed to impatiently interrupt Lucy and jumped in front of Slimo.

"So, who are you big guy? Where did you come from? Why are you a criminal?! How can we trust you?!"

Slimo raised his hands and backed away slowly.

"Easy there, I simply got in trouble for attacking one of the goons who captured you. Apparently, the empire may have an alliance with them or something that I didn’t know about. As for the other stuff, you can trust me because your other friends trust me... I think. My name is Slimo, in case you didn’t know."

Lidia walked over and put an arm around Slimo’s neck.

"I wouldn’t trust this guy further than I can throw him! It’s a good thing I can throw him really far!"

Everyone except Slimo seemed to laugh at the joke.

"Maybe we should wait until I’m on slightly nicer terms with them to make jokes."

"Huh? Are you questioning me?"

Slimo coughed into his hand.

"Nope. I would never think of it."

"That’s what I thought."

Serena started playing with Squabee’s long, blonde hair. Strangely, she didn’t seem bothered by this at all and let Serena do what she wanted.

"What about this blonde lady? She has really nice hair."

Squabee beamed hearing the compliment she received.

"I’m Squabee! I only joined these cultists dorks because of a cute boy. But he like totally left me!! So, I decided to leave them and join these guys instead. I met them in a forest!"

Serena looked at Squabee with wide eyes.

"That’s so... stupid."

Squabee’s face dropped hearing the insult leave Serena’s mouth.

"Hey! He was really cute, okay?!"

Serena pointed a thumb at her while looking away.

"What exactly does she do? It feels like somethings been emanating from her since we’ve met."

Slimo sighed deeply.

"That’s just her Zalo. She has no idea what it is, so she has been using it on full blast for as long as she’s had it."

Serena looked at him confused.

"... Zalo?"

Slimo slapped himself in this face. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

’That’s right... Iron Kingdom people. If we ever go back, I’m updating their education system.’

"It’s what people call the powers you all have."

"Ah, I see."

Gabriel walked up to Slimo and shook his hand firmly.

"Thank you again for the help, sir. Is there anything else we should know about the outside world?"

"As a matter of fact, it’s extremely important you all understand just how dangerous some place can get. To be honest, the only reason all of us are alive is because that warden was able to kill the beast deity before it got to us first. However, a creature like that, as well as the horde of rat-like creatures you saw, are nothing compared to the true monsters out there in the world."

Gabriel shivered slightly upon hearing these words.

"Just how powerful can monster get in this world?"

Slimo gave everyone around him a brief introduction course on how powerful creatures could get and their experience levels that can multiply their lethality. As he finished, everyone’s faces were much darker than before. A somber mood spread across them.

"Providence... it sounds so... evil."

"I know. To be honest with you, there have been no recorded providences in the history of humanity. The title is there more for a ’limit’ of sorts. A being like that would not only be a threat to an entire continent, but the entire world as a whole. If one were to ever appear, even as an infant, it may spell the doom of humanity as we know it."

Everyone looked at Slimo dubiously.

"A continent is a large stretch of land! We have three of them in this world!"

Steel raised his hand.

"Can we cut these condiments?"

"It’s continent. And no, you cannot. Unless you were the size of the planet itself, maybe."

Steel raised his hand once more.

"If your question is about cutting, just forget about it!"

His hand slowly fell back down to his side. Slimo stood up proudly and looked over the large group in front of him.

"Listen. I hate to dampen everyone’s good mood, but I cannot stress to you all enough how perilous this journey may be. Even with all of us working together to save you guys, we faced death in the face countless times. It was practically a miracle we made it here to begin with. Do I make myself clear?"

Everyone nodded their head.

"Good. Now follow me."

As Slimo walked eastward, everyone followed his path close behind him. Squabee seemed to be on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion as they travelled, but before she passed out, Lidia scooped her up in her arms.