But for a Slime

Chapter 367 - 070.2 - Staggering Changes

<continued - 2/8>

Several boys played eagerly at the location where young boys began their transition to manhood using a hidden traditional village ritual. The location was not hidden, people of all ages often encouraged to explore it and even play in it, but the traditional ritual itself was hidden and known only to the men of the village.

The boys raced around the great trees and the several platforms climbing the various trees serving as an entrance to the entire village which was located high in the trees. It very much was a small playground for young boys and girls, and they often found themselves racing through the various ropes, bridges, platforms and any other strange traversal options available to the people. Several platforms were positioned at various heights with the railing removed, offering a place for the boy to leap to the forest floor below. Several of the youngest gathered around the shortest platform, counting cautiously at a steady beat before scrambling up to leap wildly from the platform. Several times, the boys would hit the ground and found their legs crunching beneath them, shattered before they rolled over and their HP healed them back up. Everyone giggled when that happened, the boy rapidly healed and then counting quietly before being ready to scramble back up the platform.

At a further platform, several older boys also counted, the beat and rhythm identical to the younger boys, if lasting almost twice as long. This platform was quite a bit higher, and similar to the younger boys, these older boys rapidly climbed it and leapt from the top, some landing safely, some crushing legs on landing before rapidly rolling away and finding their HP immediately healing them.

One louder boisterous boy claimed he was prepared and capable, to which his friends demanded they see. His flailing fall and shattered legs brought howls to everyone and he immediately rolled over to allow his HP to relieve him of the pain of his shattered legs.

"I did it fine yesterday! Just you see! I can do it!"

Good natured ribbing accompanied his cries and he quickly joined the boys, chanting the steady rhythm as he counted. One boy finished before him and leapt up the platform before flinging himself from it. He almost landed well, only shattering a single leg as he performed the back roll that would have saved his legs. Cheers at his improvement along with some friendly ribbing had the boy back up and claiming to wait just the next time.

The first boy, a bit irritated he had to wait, immediately clambered up the vines and called out for attention before leaping. He landed poorly; very poorly. His legs shattered beneath him and the pain quickly had him rolling over. He waited, then waited more, then began howling in pain when his HP did not complete the healing of his legs.

Parents arrived, blame was passed, and a few were concerned. By that evening, almost all the young boys and girls had shattered legs, and parents grew deeply concerned, especially when their greatest warrior took an easy leap for him, and found his shattered legs unhealed, his HP unable to adequately heal him, bones still shattered.

The village healer was very busy over the next several weeks and the village's traditions and training became much more reserved.

* * *

Within the city of Zilnashara, a city of great scholars, well known for its schools and wealth, the researchers erupted in wild consternation. Several researchers on disease quickly found all they knew defunct, mana diseases instantaneously lost and only held in memory cores and stories. The new disease was a strange manaless thing, almost impossible to find and almost just as impossible to cure.

Others struggling to understand the difference between monster, beast, and sapient flesh found all their findings now moot, as the flesh of all three suddenly took on almost identical characteristics. Others found a worrisome trend where the bodies of sapients and beasts grew much less mana dense, the mana seeming to evaporate from them leaving them with only matter and almost no mana. Several began declaring the end of the cradle or the invasion of Absence, but time found that the mana density within the environment of all planes of Aelthron's Cradle did not fall, only increasing significantly despite the fall of mana within bodies of creatures, sapients and even plants. New studies arose in response to this, beginning to study living matter itself, the chaotic amalgamation of matter and mana which made up living bodies was now replaced with order and worthy of research. Some began to excitedly study stone and metal, but grew despondant when the found no changes, their research and funding quickly lost.

But regardless of success or failure, the scholars of Zilnashara quickly found themselves in exciting times, and they were not certain they truly enjoyed it.

* * *

Gwenvair had come home last night with agitated glee to speak with her mother, but a minor local emergency had her mother busy most of the night and Gwenvair had to head to bed to prepare for the next day in the dungeons with the eccentric. She woke to find her mother exhausted and asleep, unable to meet with her so she waited. The waiting went too long, so she called for a messenger and told them to pass on a single simple message: He can.

* * *

The Matriarch woke with black circles under her eyes and exhaustion draping her. Her breakfast came shortly after, the maids well aware of when she woke and helped prepare her for the day. As she headed into her waiting room to enjoy her breakfast, a small clan messenger boy stood at attention near the door and the Matriarch paused before continuing to settle into her seat.

"A message, boy?"

"Yes, Matriarch," the messenger offered with a bow.

"You may pass it on now."

The boy rose from his bow and began to speak, "The First in Line for Matriarch sends her message of news pertinent to the clan. She speaks. Hear her words. 'He can.'"

The Matriarch grew interested when she heard it was a message from her daughter, picking up a utensil to begin her meal, but when she heard the message, she paused with some confusion. Then understanding came. Then awe, fear, and stuttering excitement. She dismissed the messenger boy without even realizing it even as she sat in her chair, stunned, struggling to comprehend the implications and what terror might befall her clan if any knew.

* * *