Coker sit on the ground for a long time, just staring. His arm hurt where the dog had bitten him, but he could hardly feel it. His mind was racing.
The blue dog made of slime stood perfectly still, watching him. It didn't blink. It didn't breathe. It was waiting.
Coker's heart was beating fast, but now it was from excitement, not fear. This changed everything. His slime wasn't useless. It was amazing! It could become whatever it ate!
A wild thought popped into his head. If it could become a dog what else could it become? Something bigger? Something stronger?
He looked at the slime-dog. "Can you… understand me?" he asked quietly.
The dog tilted its head. Then, it dissolved. It melted back into a glowing blue puddle on the ground. Then, it quickly formed back into its normal, small slime shape. It jiggled softly.
Coker almost laughed. It was like the slime was saying hello. He felt that strange connection in his mind again. It was weak, like a whisper, but it was real. The slime could understand him, at least a little.
First, he had to take care of his arm. He tore a strip of cloth from his tunic and wrapped it tightly around the bite. It stung, but it would have to do.
He picked up the slime. It felt warmer now. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" he whispered. He put it back in his pocket. This time, it didn't feel like a weight of shame. It felt like a secret treasure.
He started walking again, but now he walked taller. He wasn't just a useless boy anymore. He had a purpose. He needed to get to Ironhaven, yes. But more importantly, he needed to get stronger.
The rest of the day passed quietly. He saw a few rabbits and a large deer, but he didn't try to fight them. He wasn't ready. He ate a little of his bread and cheese as he walked.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky orange and purple, he knew he needed to find a place to sleep. He saw a soft spot under a large, thick tree and decided to stop for the night.
He was just about to lie down when he heard a voice.
"Hey! You there! Are you okay?"
Coker spun around, his heart jumping. A boy about his age was walking toward him. The boy had a friendly face and was carrying a large bag on his back. Behind the boy walked a creature a badger with fur that looked like shiny bronze. It was a summon. A Metal-Badger. Not the strongest, but definitely useful.
Coker immediately felt nervous. He shoved his hands in his pockets, hiding the slime. He didn't want anyone to know what he was.
"I'm fine," Coker said, his voice cautious.
The boy stopped a few feet away. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. My Name's Bren. I'm heading to Ironhaven to apprentice with the blacksmith." He pointed at Coker's wrapped arm. "That looks nasty. What happened?"
Coker didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell the truth. "I… fell," he lied. "On a sharp rock."
Bren nodded, but he looked like he didn't quite believe him. "Well, you should clean that properly. I have some water." He offered his waterskin to Coker.
Coker was surprised. No one had been nice to him since… well, since before the summoning. He slowly took the waterskin and carefully cleaned his cut. "Thank you," he said quietly.
"No problem," Bren said with a smile. "It's not safe to travel alone out here. Wild animals everywhere. You're lucky you only got a scratch."
Coker almost smiled. If only he knew.
"What's your name?" Bren asked. "And what's your summon? Maybe it can help keep watch while we sleep."
Coker's blood ran cold. This was the question he was afraid of. He couldn't show him. Bren would laugh, just like everyone else. He would call him a Zero-Star and leave.
He looked down at the ground. "It's… not very good," he mumbled.
Bren was quiet for a moment. Then he sat down on the ground nearby. "Hey," he said, his voice softer. "Mine's not exactly a dragon, you know?" He gestured to his badger, which was sniffing the ground. "I wanted a Wolf-Hound. Got a Digger-Badger instead. My dad was pretty disappointed."
Coker looked up. Bren wasn't laughing. He looked understanding.
Slowly, nervously, Coker reached into his pocket. He pulled out the small, glowing blue slime.
He held his breath, waiting for the laugh, for the mockery.
Bren leaned closer, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Whoa," he breathed. "I've never seen a summon like that before. What is it?"
"It's… a slime," Coker said, bracing himself.
But Bren didn't sneer. His eyes got even wider. "A slime? Seriously? I thought they were just a story! Like, a myth! That's so cool!"
Coker was stunned. Cool? He thought it was cool?
"What can it do?" Bren asked, fascinated.
Coker looked at the slime in his hand. For the first time, he didn't see a symbol of his failure. He saw what Bren saw something unique. Something special. He smiled a real smile for the first time in days.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Coker said. "But it's stronger than it looks."
And for the first time, he actually believed it.