The only downside to this slime-water ruse was that I couldn't use my plethora of slime traits to enhance it. Personally, I was distraught at not being able to find an excuse to deceptively use [Nitro Slime], as it had rapidly become one of my favorite traits of the bunch.
The one exception was [Cryo Slime], as ice and water magic had a lot of synergy between the two. This meant that I could use "icy cold water whips" or even "freeze" portions of my slime for some sharp point bits. [Metal Slime] was sadly a step too far, and when I tried incorporating it, Llewel could sense something wrong with my deception.
In a similar manner, [Blaze Slime] was also out, as it wasn't producing excessive amounts of steam like it should have been. The oddity of having such perfect-looking water releasing such blazing hot temperatures broke the illusion.
I made thorough use of my time, using Llewel as a fake detector to see when I was pushing the boundaries too far. It helped that he logically knew that what he was seeing wasn't water, so in theory, if I was fooling him, then I could fool pretty much anyone.
Throughout our tests, I'd often catch Llewel muttering to himself, "I still can't believe that I'm talking to an intelligent slime." I still couldn't help getting annoyed at being treated that way, even if I had to admit it myself—I was a massive abnormality from the slime norm.
Llewel didn't hold back asking some questions about slime traits and some of Vee's spider traits, and we tried to answer as truthfully as we could while still holding back some secrets. At the same time, we tried pressing for more information to help us; Vee continued to express her desire to learn about rare and advanced spider evolutions, and I continued asking questions about magic and requested any research or notes on [Dimension Magic].
Llewel gave a light chuckle and shook his head, "Honestly speaking, with all the political intrigue and revelation about monsters with souls, I entirely forgot that both of you have [Dimensional Magic]."
"At this point, I don't even know if we can say that we have it. I'm at level three and feel like I can barely do anything with it, even with Syl's help," Vee sighed.
Llewel nodded, "Advanced magic is very much like that. Any chance you get a fully completed spell, you should spend ample time researching and practicing it as much as possible. With [Time Magic], it took me ages to produce any tangible results."
"Ages… time magic…" Vee giggled softly.
"That's why if you have any notes we can read, I'd appreciate it," I replied. "If I'm struggling to exert my will over water, I can't imagine ever doing it over dimensions."
"I regret to inform you that's an impossibility, same as how I cannot exert my raw willpower over time. That is something only elemental mages can accomplish; often seen as an advanced method to bring it up to scratch with some of the rarer forms of magic." Llewel explained.
"Does that apply to [Corrosion Magic] too?" Vee asked.
"Ha! No extra work for me!" Vee cheered.
"Unless you count needing to replicate the custom dimension spell I'm creating," I teased. "Then again, we can always forcibly change it like the other custom spells I've taught you."
"Oh no… me and my big mouth," Vee groaned.
"Just please be careful," Llewel warned. "I'd rather you not accidentally teleport the entire room into another."
"Promise I'll be careful," I replied.
"Sure…" Vee whispered.
"Speaking of rooms, though, how safe is this one?" I asked.
"Likely second only to Mistress Loreleia's own room," Llewel answered. "Why?"
"I was wondering if it's safe for me to blob out here."
"Blob out?" Llewel repeated curiously.
"Syl wants to turn into a slimy puddle on the floor," Vee answered.
"Oh," Llewel said, sounding a little startled. "I can't see any issues with it from a security standpoint. Although Paeris will likely complain when it comes to your education around etiquette."
"Great!" I cheered and practically melted onto the floor.
"Gods!" Llewel shrieked, almost jumping backward in surprise.
"Sorry!" I replied telepathically and waved a tendril apologetically. "It's just I've been stuck shapeshifted for so long that I was beginning to cramp."
Llewel stared at me in disbelief.
"You're a slime. You can't cramp," Vee sighed.
"Look, I enjoy returning to my natural form," I answered bluntly. "Sleeping in my glorious tub and just… floating… it's an experience unlike any other."
"That's just because you haven't tried sleeping in a spider hammock, let me tell you—"
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"My bedtub!" I cried, interrupting Vee.
The two of them stared at me, Llewel a mixture of confusion and panic.
"Your what?" Vee asked.
"My gift from Trixie, my bedtub! I lost it in the teleportation accident."
"I'm sure we can have another one made," Llewel offered. "Although there is already a bathtub, assuming that is what you are referring to."
"Please don't slime up the bath; what if I want to use it?" Vee whined.
"Ha! I'll have you know that I've had someone beg me to clean things. I'm a very clean slime and can leave things absolutely spotless through selective dissolving."
Llewel nodded, "This is true. I hear the human cities have slimes living in and cleaning up their sewer system."
"Oh… oh!" Vee exclaimed and then started making retching noises. "That is so gross! No wonder you ran away from the humans as soon as you were born. Please tell me you didn't?"
"No! Never!" I denied.
"Good! Oh, bloody hell, I drank your Mana potions! Just thinking of that…" Vee groaned.
"I will point out that alchemically, anything dissolved and digested by a slime does not become part of its slime composition," Llewel said, trying to be the voice of reason. "It's a rather fascinating process in how they can turn anything into their slime. Of course, there are exceptions, such as silver slimes, which digest metals that become part of their composition."
"Purple slimes, too," I added. "It's a trait that builds a list depending on what I've sampled. I can then pick and choose what I want."
"So you're not permanently crippled by eating different metals?" Llewel asked, beginning to look excited.
"And to think that was supposed to be a dwarven secret," Vee commented.
Llewel shrugged and didn't answer. Clearly, the elves had spies or perhaps their own silver slimes.
"No. It just gets added to the list. I can pick, choose, and make any combination I want, although bad combinations will result in poor metal compositions. Likewise, with [Poison Slime], each added effect will lower the efficacy of the rest."
"Fascinating; it is truly a pity that your natural state is a blue slime, so you can't capitalize on that. Imagine if you sold Mythril or Orichalcum slime. Likewise, with the poisons, you could, in theory, reproduce some extremely scarce or complex strands and save countless hours and resources."
"At the moment, I'm sort of happy being a blue slime, but my next evolution might change that, so who knows?" I replied and then paused as a stray thought caught my mind. "Actually… speaking about poisons, the elf assassin who attacked me had one—[Sanguine Dream]."
"Gods!" Llewel exclaimed again, this time actually jumping a little. "That is an extremely controlled substance, and the price of constructing it is astronomical! For it to be used against you, this just further proves that they must have the backing of a powerful branch."
"Sheesh, what did the Feirelle elves do to deserve this much ire against them?" Vee asked.
"That I do not know. Before I joined the branch, their reputation was impeccable. Since joining, I can't think of anything Mistress Loreleia has done or anyone she may have offended."
"I guess Sylthaeryn just happened to be the perfect target for their plot, whatever it is," I suggested.
"And hopefully, we will uncover it and avenge her," Llewel agreed.
We continued chatting about various topics, with Llewel asking about slime stuff while I kept trying to steer the conversation towards magic. Sadly, he was still very tight-lipped about anything related to [Time Magic], but he was more than willing to spitball some ideas when I tried talking about [Dimension Magic].
When Paeris eventually returned, I nearly thought he would explode when he saw me blobbed out on the floor. However, he kept his calm and merely requested that I make myself "presentable." Somewhat reluctantly, I returned to my shapeshifted form.
Paeris then informed us that Mistress Loreleia was not opposed to the idea but mentioned keeping it in reserve if we needed it. She knew her declaration and revelation of me would stir up much attention. Still, contrary to Paeris' original opinion, she thought that none of the other branches would want to get near me due to her daughter's reputation.
"She was boisterous and a problem child," Paeris explained. "Her wanderlust for adventure and interacting with the outside world was most peculiar, and thus she had few friends. Furthermore, you've joined the Adventurer's Guild, a big taboo, to say the least, so many will see your… attitude as potentially corrupting."
I'm surprised he's being so honest about it now. Maybe he didn't want to say anything negative about her until Loreleia said it first. It's certainly not great to speak ill of the dead.
"Of course, there's a high chance those opinions might change once you make your debut, presuming you can keep up the act of a future branch head," Paeris further clarified.
"Why even bother going through the act then?" Vee asked. "Wouldn't it be better for Syl to keep being on the wild side?"
"No. We want her nomination as the next branch head position to be taken seriously. There will be a lot of doubt and slander thrown around, but with enough practice and routine, we can turn it all around," Paeris answered.
I nodded in agreement. I had already agreed to this whole thing, so I was pretty much willing to go along with whatever ideas they had. I was hoping my new [Roleplay] skill would do the heavy lifting for me.
Or even assigning a [Sub-Core] to do it for me.
"Speaking of which, starting tomorrow, we will begin your training. There's a lot we need to cover if we are going to make it in time, and I do not wish to see the Feirelle branch embarrassed."
"Why, what's happening?" Vee asked before I could.
"We will be hosting a gala in the capital, where Mistress Loreleia will make her announcements to the general public. She's already made her intentions known to the elders, which has been approved, and most of our branch knows or will know in the next day or two, but it still needs to be officially announced to the masses," Paeris answered.
"A gala!" Vee gasped in excitement. "Please tell me that I get to go?"
"Of course," Llewel replied.
"Naturally," Paeris said at the same time.
"Sounds… fun," I said, trying not to spoil Vee's mood.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm willing to pull out all the stops," Paeris reiterated.
I agreed but wasn't too happy about it. I would have much preferred a dungeon adventure or another hunting trip over attending a gala. Sure, the food would taste good, but I dreaded all the people I'd need to interact with.
Well, at least there are not that many elves—I hope.
Paeris and Llewel didn't stay much longer. The latter left early, while the former stuck around just to get my measurements so some fancy dresses could be made for social events. I offered to recreate robes or clothes with slime, but Paeris immediately rejected it.
When he finally left, I immediately collapsed into a large, slimy puddle.
"Come on, Syl, no need to be so dramatic," Vee sighed. "I'm sure even you will have fun at it."
I grumbled noncommittally and started slinking through our home, searching for the bathtub—determined to claim it as my new bed!