Aarav was torn; on the one hand, the offer was lucrative. It would allow the Slime to accrue power much more quickly in stats. The task didn’t seem too taxing either; he would be protected until strong enough to defend himself. Working for Boren might not be so bad either. He was a child and was unlikely to have ulterior motives like the Queen. That woman was still one Aarav didn’t trust.

Aarav slowed his whirling mind and looked between the boy and his father, taking a deep breath. Even kneeling, the king was much taller than Aarav and cast an imposing shadow. “I will need time to think about this. I won’t deny that leaving and returning to my forest is not appealing. I have wanted to go back since Haemish captured me. However, I also cannot deny the kindness people here have shown me and the appeal the strength you offer has to me. While I may only have been alive for half a year or so, the forest forces you to mature very quickly, which is why I can speak to you the way I do.” Aarav smirked then. “Humans also have a very long growing up period that the rest of us cannot afford when predators lurk everywhere.” Borowyn chuckled at those words and nodded. There was no denial there.

Finally, once it was clear Aarav had said all he would say, Borowyn nodded and then continued with what he had clearly planned. “Regardless of your decision, every sentient creature in Darf receives one year of free education at the Academy. Enough to make sure they are not going to be a danger to themselves and the people around them, even if your home is the forest. Again if you do take that route, I will not stop you, but like the tribes in the forest, you will be, for the most part, on your own.” The King continued looking gravely at the two young children. Then he smiled and stood, once more towering over them at his full height of eight feet. Then he nodded to two of the guards who had just walked through the chamber entrance. “One of you escort the Prince and his friend to their chambers, one of you will be enough for me to send messages if I need.”

With a simple nod, both boys left the King’s presence as the regal man himself returned to sit on his throne, a contemplative look on his face.

The guards nodded and stepped aside for Aarav and Boren to walk out of the throne room before one followed them, the other closing the throne room doors behind them. They knew the way to their chambers, and they had much to discuss. “Boren, thank you for what you did for me out there, sticking your neck out for me. I know your dad knew how you left the palace, which still surprises me, but still, I don’t think your mum would have hesitated to kill me on the stop. She looked ready to do it.”

“There is no need for thanks. I did what was right and would do so again, regardless of personal circumstance. I have always been taught to speak the truth. But it was also my pleasure to help someone that saved my life at least twice today, maybe more. It could be that I will need to rely on you more in the future. Assuming you stay.” Boren smirked at Aarav's sideways glance and then laughed at Aarav’s odd expression.

Many emotions were warring in his mind, and it was hard to make sense of it. If he stayed, he would have more freedom than he had experienced up to now. It would be good to speak to Haemish as well before he decided. The man had shown him more kindness as his captor than most friends in his previous life. If that didn’t speak to the man’s character, he didn’t know what did.

“Boren, I think you go on ahead to your room. I need to speak to Haemish first.” Aarav said, turning to the guard. “Let’s take Prince Boren to his room, and then can you take me to Haemish? Do you know where he is?”

“Uhh, sorry, sir. I don’t know where Sir Haemish is, but I am happy to escort you wherever you like.” The man replied, and Aarav smiled at the change in address and freedom. He could go where he liked. That alone made him feel better, and he smiled at the man. The guard smiled uncertainly back, and Aarav realised his canines likely made the man think he would be a Slime’s next meal.

I guess I have gotten too used to people accepting me for who I am now. Most are still unsure what to think of the monster in their midst. Boren did not have it, though. “No way! If you’re going to see Haemish, I am coming with you. I am not going to be left out of another thing in this palace!” And the nine-year-old Boren was back, this was a full-on tantrum, but Aarav could understand the boy’s feelings. After all, he also hated being left out and worked hard to learn everything he could to make sure no one could pull the wool over his eyes.

With an overly exaggerated sigh, Aarav relented, “fine! You can come. I can’t stop a Prince, after all!” Boren grinned unabashedly, and his steps became a little more animated. Aarav couldn’t help but laugh at this. “Where do we go to find Haemish?”

“You know him better than most of the people in the palace, you know,” Boren said; when Aarav looked back at the guard, he also nodded and shrugged.

Aarav was confused at this reaction, “but doesn’t he live in the palace? I mean, after bringing me in, he went to his room.” Both Boren and the guard tried and failed to hide their laughter. Clearly, there was some inside joke he had missed.

Boren finally managed to splutter out. “Mr Haemish is a famous recluse! He stayed in a cabin in the woods for almost two years before coming here a few weeks after his cottage exploded or something! It was probably a failed experiment or something, knowing Mr Haemish! Luckily he wasn’t hurt in the explosion, but you will find that things like that happen a lot around him. I think his favourite method of experimentation is explosive.” The guard was also trying hard to suppress his laughter at these words while Boren cackled openly.

Meanwhile, this simple series of statements made a few more things click together in Aarav's mind. His origins as Resh and a brief understanding of what could have happened initially. Although he did not remember the first of his memories in this world, he could match Boren’s words with his Sanctuary. It evidenced that his creation or birth might have coincided with that explosion. It was a bit of a leap, but if the explosion had been in his lab and Aarav’s Sanctuary was Haemish’s lab…it only stood to reason.

Aarav remained quietly contemplative as the three walked. Soon both of the Slime’s walking companions lapsed into silence, both looking at the deep-in-thought Fairy-Slime. “Aarav, what is making you so thoughtful? You didn’t know that side of Haemish?” Aarav shook his head; he knew Haemish wasn’t a fan of company and that he liked his own space.

No, that definitely wasn’t what had him so contemplative.

The rest of the distance to the lab was covered in silence. The others couldn’t break through Aarav’s fog of thoughts. Perhaps the guard and Boren spoke, but Aarav heard none of it. He was laser-focused on what it all meant. But by the time they reached the lab, he had come to no solid conclusions, only speculation. If there was any hope of getting to the bottom of that mess, it lay with Haemish, and there was no point wasting any more time with it without first speaking with the Alchemist.

Entering the familiarity of the Alchemical lab was like returning to a past life. Even though it had been less than a day since he left to visit the city, so much had happened that he couldn’t believe so little time had passed. Unfortunately, Haemish was nowhere to be seen in the lab or in the adjoining storage room. “Huh, I really thought he would be here. It is either here or his room; I don’t know where else he could be. Do you know where Haemish’s room is?” Aarav turned and asked the guard with them. He shook his head in denial, causing Aarav to sigh. Why are things always more complicated than they need to be.