Clean and dressed in fresh, loose-fitting loungewear, Ewan returned to the kitchen. He drained the basin, carefully transferring the ume plums into colanders to let them air dry completely. Moisture was the enemy of preservation, any residual water could ruin the syrup he intended to make.
As he waited for the surface moisture to evaporate, Ewan leaned against the counter, his mind working through the variables of his upcoming product. He needed an edge. Something that would elevate his simple syrup above the mundane offerings of the village market.
A thought occurred to him. He extended his consciousness into his mental summoning space and issued a specific call.
"Come on out, Mossy."
A soft glow materialized on the floor, and Mossy, the Wood Elemental Slime, wobbled into existence.
