If he was honest with himself Haemish was feeling bored. The excitement of the last couple of weeks had been more than he had expected, actually having the Slime to work with had been something else. What an odd fellow he was, there was far too much to say about the creature and its mysterious origins.

His experiments with the Slime extractions had started to bear fruit which was exciting! However, it was a waiting game. Everything took far too long as far as he was concerned and there seemed to be no discernible way to improve the rate of the experiment.

So far Haemish had tried drowning the creatures in various detritus, warming them up to improve the reaction speed and cooling them down. As well as submerging them, burying them in dirt and singing to them. Needless to say the last had definitely not helped. If anything it had slowed the reactions down as the creatures seemed to become distracted.

Tearing his hair out had also done less than nothing even when he added the resulting handful to the debris on the Slimes. The good news was that the material that he did add and was absorbed was having a marked effect on the creatures. They were now the size of apples, having started as teaspoons.

“What else can I try?” Haemish asked no one.

“Well you could try visiting more often. I see you almost every day for weeks and then nothing! As soon as the two boys are away you withdraw into your shell again like a particularly shy turtle!”Marasa came sweeping in as she made her declaration.

“Ahh, well, as to that…” Haemish was stumped. “What could he possibly say to this woman. He had been fine interacting with her when others were around but just the two of them alone…it was a little intimidating for him. “How, uhhh, have you been?” That seemed like a safe choice, wasn’t it?

“Hmm, after a week of not coming for some much as a hello I would have expected a little more than: How have you been?” Marasa’s eyes flashed for a moment before she visibly calmed herself. “Perhaps you should rectify the situation by taking me to that place that you like, the one that sells nice drinks? I recall you telling me about it the other day. That could be worthy of not coming to see me for a week. A woman can get used to a man when she sees him enough.” Marasa’s smile turned a little predatory.

Haemish had no idea what to think, certainly he found the woman beyond attractive but she seemed to toying with him. She seemed to enjoy his company well enough but this whole conversation had his mind in a mess. Why couldn’t he just go back to thinking about Slimes?

“Haemish, I am only pulling your leg. How are you?” Marasa relented. “What have you been up to since the two boys left and we brought Aarav back from the brink?”

“Hmm, well…I would not mind taking you…” Haemish’s brain had failed to move on from the previous topic and then suddenly ground to a halt when he realised that Marasa had already moved on. Ahh…I missed my chance! Stupid brain, all this stats and still slow to the punch! If there had been one thing Haemish wished he could be better with it was conversations with the fairer sex. Just those few exchanged sentences had him sweating.

“Ummm…well, I am conducting some research into his, that is Aarav’s, substance.”Haemish regained his equilibrium as he went into detail on the topic he was so passionate about, not noticing the smile forming and growing on Marasa’s lips.

“So are you going to simply talk about it or show me these legendary slime creatures that you have been cultivating?” Some of Marasa’s genuine curiosity came through in her question despite her best efforts to mask it and retain her stern demeanour. “Considering it is your experiment I expect something spectacular.”

Haemish couldn’t help but grin at those words. He and Marasa had been through a lot those few days trying to get Aarav to respond and getting nothing in return. It was a nerve wracking time and they had also both learned and questioned a lot at that time. Wanting to desperately understand what this creature was. That purpose and desire had united them in that moment. With the two boys having left the importance of that purpose seemed to have dwindled a little. Or perhaps that is just my feeling.

“The speed of their development is incredibly slow and so in the week since Aarav and Boren left it has been tedious to wait and watch and see. I have been conducting other less important and inconsequential experiments but this is what gets me up in the morning and makes me want to work through the night. I can tell it is getting quicker but the difference is marginal at best. Slow and steady is the game and I wish I could push things forward forcefully…” Haemish took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “But I can’t, nothing seems to make things faster.”

Marasa frowned in concentration slightly and Haemish couldn’t help but keep looking at her face and the adorable why her brows furrowed. “Have you tried heating up everything?”

Haemish nodded. “I have tried that, cooling it down just to cover the bases as well a number of other things.”

“What about combining one or more of them together?” Marasa said suddenly. “I can see you have just as many as you did before so you obviously haven’t tried that. Do you think it is worth a shot?”

"No I cannot believe I did not think of doing that! You are absolutely right! Let us try that then go for dinner! What say you?" In his enthusiasm of trying something new he has completely forgotten his shyness on coming back to himself after the question had already slipped out. Marasa smiled and blushed delicately at his words and Haemish speechless at his bold inquiry. 'What came over me! To ask something so indelicately!' But as the seconds ticked by and Marasa's smile didn't fade he regained his confidence and his shocked expression changed to a smile mirroring hers. Something had changed between them. Some barrier was broken down and they were better for it. "Well, shall we?" The blushing woman said.

Congratulations you have gained the Luck Stat. Luck +5! Good Luck!

Haemish could not help but grin.

*************************************

As a visitor to Pravwell, Garva had free movement in and out of the city. She could not be bound by the restrictions placed on the city. Not unlike those despicable criminals that frequented the place. Her master’s mandate rung strongly in her head as she walked. Find out more about this prophecy. She had finally managed to gain the attention of the reclusive leaders of this city and planned to wait for them here, outside the barrier.

While Garva was confident in her strength and abilities, she didn’t know what type of people these self proclaimed Dons were and preferred not to take the chance. After all, carrying out her master’s wishes required her to stay alive.

As twilight crept closer she released an explosive sigh. Waiting patiently had always been the strength of the Earthern Adepts but she had been relatively lacking in that department. Still she had learned to fake it over the decades, she would not be out waited by anyone.

As twilight grew to dusk the shadows lengthened and deepened. It was full night before the players started to move. Garva stayed firmly on the outside of the barrier. She could not take any risks at this stage after over a month of savagely in the city and a surprising number of killings she was finally here, one of the leaders of the factors had agreed to meet with her.

Renfay stepped out of the shadows and though their agreement had been to meet alone she could sense a few subordinates in the background just in case she decided to make a move. Not that Renfay would require any assistance, if anything they would likely get in the way if he chose to move. So why did he bring them?

“You have been killing a lot of my people. You have my attention.” Renfay spoke softly, like sound of silk sliding across a knife’s edge.

Garva allowed the silent to grow and lengthen, taking her time to see what this tall, dark haired man would do. His stubble visible from this distance showed grey and silver hairs spaced between the dark. He clearly liked the look because no one got grey hairs unless they wanted them. “Speak, or the next time we meet it will be the last thing you do, I do not take this lightly. If you wanted to talk to me, now is you one and only chance.”

Garva allowed a small smile to form on her lips. “Well, you see…”