Order Era, Year 1137.
On the way to the Elven Forest.
The land dragon sprinted ahead, kicking up clouds of dust in its wake.
Xia Lun drove the carriage from outside, with Aina nestled in his arms as he held the reins.
Inside the carriage, the ride was smooth—thanks to Aina’s magic dampening the bumps, there was hardly any jostling.
“Ah! I’ve got it!” Liyana suddenly exclaimed.
“Got what?” Mo Lini jumped at Liyana’s sudden outburst.
Joli, who had been resting with his eyes closed, felt the sword across his knees tremble slightly.
“I know why you’re so adorable, Mo Lini!” Liyana pointed at her dramatically.
Pointing fingers wasn’t exactly polite, but Mo Lini knew Liyana well enough to let it slide.
Mo Lini tilted her head, and the slime perched atop her, Little Blue, mirrored the motion.
“It just hit me—you’ve got rabbit blood in you! That’s why you’re so cute!”
Mo Lini blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t know? Your ancestor, Moke’s wife, was an adorable little rabbit,” Liyana explained. “Xia Lun and I even attended their wedding.”
“I was the officiant at that ceremony,” Musen’s voice drifted out from the book.
“A rabbit?” Mo Lini grew even more puzzled, her mind conjuring an image of her ancestor standing before a bald priest, exchanging vows with a rabbit munching on lettuce.
That was just too bizarre!
“Ah, not an ordinary rabbit—a beastfolk bunny,” Liyana quickly clarified, realizing Mo Lini’s misunderstanding.
“Ohhh!” Mo Lini’s eyes lit up with understanding. Of course she knew about beastfolk.
It was surprising Mo Lini hadn’t known about this… though it made sense. Most people probably couldn’t even name their ancestors from a thousand years ago.
“So… Mo Lini actually has rabbit heritage,” Liyana mused, studying her. There weren’t any rabbit-like traits visible on Mo Lini’s person, though.
Then again, it had been generations.
Liyana recalled that Moke’s first child hadn’t even had rabbit ears—they looked entirely human.
Moke’s genes must’ve been strong.
Well… Moke himself was strong, too. Liyana remembered some of her less-refined friends gossiping about how beastfolk were… impressive in certain areas. It was a wonder Moke’s slight frame could handle Shila’s energy… truly, appearances could be deceiving.
Liyana smirked. Now that was enviable—she’d never dated a beastfolk girl herself.
“Speaking of which, I played a part in Moke and Shila getting together,” Liyana boasted proudly. “Without me, Mo Lini might not even exist.”
“Oh… well, thank you, Liyana,” Mo Lini said, lifting her chin.
“You’re welcome,” Liyana replied without a hint of modesty.
“Plop!”
Suddenly, Little Blue leaped off Mo Lini’s head and landed in Joli’s lap.
Joli froze, then cautiously reached out to pet the slime.
Little Blue’s surface rippled, forming a slender, pointed protrusion that swayed like a tiny tentacle.
Joli stared at the little spike and suddenly understood—it looked like a sword.
Was it… asking him to teach it swordplay?
“Sorry, Mr. Joli, this little one’s bothering you,” Mo Lini said, scooping Little Blue back up.
“It’s fine,” Joli shook his head.
Teaching a slime sword techniques… maybe he was overthinking it.
Besides, his own skills were just the basics—hardly worth passing on. Then again, if it was just a slime… maybe he was qualified?
Little Blue didn’t stay on Mo Lini’s head for long, hopping down to Joli’s feet and poking his ankle with its tiny sword-like appendage.
Joli was reminded of his own early days after leaving the Elven Forest—clueless, desperate to grow stronger, practicing with nothing but a basic sword manual bought from the market. If someone had been willing to teach him back then, he’d have progressed much faster.
“Ah, I’m so sorry, Mr. Joli, this little one’s acting strange today…” Mo Lini moved to retrieve Little Blue, but Joli picked it up first.
“Um… it seems to like me. Would it be alright if I played with it for a bit?”
Mo Lini blinked. “Of course. Thank you, Mr. Joli.”
Joli thought for a moment, then set his sword aside and placed Little Blue on his lap.
The slime extended its translucent blue tendril, still poking at Joli playfully.
Joli raised a finger and began demonstrating the sword forms he’d learned.
After one round, Little Blue bounced twice—clearly confused—so Joli patiently repeated the motions.
Little Blue’s tendril started mimicking Joli’s finger, its movements clumsy but gradually taking shape.
Mo Lini watched the scene fondly. Who knew Mr. Joli could be so earnest?
“Joli, are you teaching Little Blue swordsmanship?” Liyana, ever the seasoned adventurer, caught on immediately.
“Ah… yes,” Joli admitted sheepishly.
“What’s the world coming to, when even slimes are learning swordplay…” Liyana muttered.
Little Blue hopped over to Liyana and launched a flurry of tiny jabs at her arm with its makeshift sword, tickling her.
Liyana flicked the slime lightly on its “head.”
“Plop!”
Little Blue wobbled back to Joli’s lap.
“Wait… does this little guy understand us?” Liyana suddenly wondered.
“But Little Blue’s just a slime. It can’t be that smart, right?” Mo Lini said doubtfully.
Liyana: “It’s literally learning sword techniques.”
Mo Lini: “Slimes have mimicry abilities. This morning, it was copying me while I washed my face.”
Still skeptical, Liyana pointed at Little Blue. “Spin.”
No reaction.
“Shake… sit.”
Still nothing.
Liyana scratched her head. Maybe it really didn’t understand. Perhaps it had just been coincidence earlier.
Joli resumed correcting Little Blue’s sword forms with his finger.
The slime waved its tendril-sword at Liyana aggressively, as if she were its sworn enemy.
Stupid elf… as if it’d obey her every command!