Kasla and Mi-mi caught their breath near a river that was nestled by bushes with pink bright flowers. Misterion had led them to the area some distance from where they had emerged. They had hurriedly caught the mapmaker up on their encounter; his immediate response was telling them to put more distance from the parameter.

Misterion at present was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared into the woods at the mention of the trolls, instructing his son to stay with the duo. Chrono was sitting on a rock watching the two with a worried expression, stroking Nava who sat next to him. The pink slime was back to normal, even sort of purring in the presence of the boy, perhaps reminded of its owner. From Chrono’s bag small red eyes peeked out, watching the fat slime with a hint of curiosity and jealousy, seemingly glaring while a faint hiss was heard.

Mi-mi lay on the ground, pale and sweating. She winced as Kasla wrapped her legs with bandages from her bag. He tried to be careful but fast to stop the blood flow. The sight of the exposed bone sent a wave of nausea over him, recalling a boy back home who had fallen out of a tree and broken his arm. 

He exhaled through his nose, fighting down the sickness and adrenaline rush that still coursed through him, trying to calm down. He did his best to block Chrono’s view of the gore. “Are you sure you’re alright, Mi-mi?”

Mi-mi offered a smile despite her pale complexion. “Haha… Believe it or not, I’ve been in worse situations. It’s fine, it’s just the shock from the pain. I’ll manage.” She winced as Kasla wrapped her right leg, the bandages beginning to seep red. “I’m surprised we managed to get out of there alive. Great quick thinking.”

“I’m not too sure about that. If anything, it’s just luck.” Kasla shrugged, still not believing it himself. “If I wielded a sword or couldn’t destroy the tree trunk I would have fought the war troll to the very end.”

“Come on, just take the praise, you deserve it.”

“Maybe your boyfriend’s lucky charm really works,” Kalsa teased.

“Hey—!” Mi-mi visibly blushed, redness replacing her paleness.  

Kasla smirked, glancing at Mi-mi before focusing as he placed a makeshift splint made from sticks. “I’ve been wondering, don’t you have healing potions with you? Why can’t we use them? Wouldn’t it be easier for you to heal?”

“That’s not the case here. It’s true that potions promote healing, but—” Mi-mi went rigid as she winced, pain shooting up her leg.

“Ah, sorry!” Kasla stopped abruptly, concerned and feeling guilty.

“No, no, it’s fine…” Mi-mi took a breath and exhaled, riding out the spasm. “As I was saying… Potions promote healing, but that doesn’t mean that they will heal severe injuries correctly. It could lead to that body part not functioning anymore, like forcing my leg to heal as is or worse, leaving it mangled.”

“That’s—! That’s terrible!” Kasla’s mouth went dry, gulping.

“Tell me about it.” Mimi let out a wry laugh, flat on her back while fending off the shock. “That’s why it’s better to have a healer in your party who knows the body to properly will things back into place. There wouldn’t be problems like this one.”

“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever form a party in the future.” Kasla was careful to file the valuable lesson way in his mind. Gently he finished Mi-mi’s leg and proceeded to wrap the other, making a temporary tourniquet to help brace it.

“Phew, that took longer than I thought.” Kasla wiped his brow, proud of his handiwork. “It pays to know some first aid.”

“Speaking of potions, take this. For your face and whatever else. No arguing,” Mi-mi plucked a potion from her belt and thrust it into Kasla’s hands before he could protest. “One of us has to be at their best, and it was my fault we landed in this mess.” 

“I… thanks.” Kasla nodded and drank the potion, biting back a protest as Mi-mi gave him a look, daring him. The cut on his cheek vanished as the flesh knitted itself back together with a light tingle.

Chrono slipped off his perch on the rock and wandered over. He held out an apple to them each. Behind him Nava was eating one, happily gurgling and sucking noises as if savoring the treat, unable to smack its non-existent lips.

“Ah, thank you, lil buddy!” Kasla took the apple, smiling at the white haired boy. “And good work finding those sticks for me for the splints.” Another pair of helping hands was ideal plus it kept Chrono busy from watching out of curiosity which would likely traumatize him—which he was sure Misterion would be less than thrilled about. 

“How sweet of you, Chrono.” Mi-mi smiled as she received hers, sitting up slowly.

Chrono brought out his chalkboard, writing carefully. “Dad said that an empty tummy is not good and you need food to heal.”

Kasla bit the apple with a satisfying crunch. The sweet juice was refreshing, making Kasla realize how thirsty and hungry he had become during their mission, excitement and fear no longer distracting him. It made him nearly drool at its taste, tempted to wolf it down to sate his newfound hunger.

While Mi-mi was busy with her apple, Kasla decided to question Chrono. “By the way, what were you two doing here? I thought your dad was done with the map.”

“We were plant collecting.” Chrono gave a knowing smile.

“Plant collecting?” Mi-mi seemed curious as well as in need of a distraction. Chrono nodded, prompting another question. “What kind, if I may ask?”

“For cooking! Dad is cooking delicious stew tonight!”

“Stew?” Kasla raised an eyebrow. Chrono reached into his bag, pulling out the plants he had been gathering when the two had appeared.

“Oh, rosemary!” Mi-mi brightened, familiar with the herb.

“I wonder if your dad is a great cook. I would like a taste of his cooking.” Kasla pondered, curious if Misterion possessed culinary skills or if Chrono simply was mostly ignorant of more refined dishes.

“Me too. I hear it’s divine.” Mi-mi looked as if caught in a dream, longing rather than discomfort.

“I'll ask Dad if you two can join us for dinner tonight!” Chrono looked excited at the idea, eyes brightening like sparkling rubies.

The sound of panting caught their attention as well as footsteps. The trio looked over to see Misterion approaching, looking haggard. Sweat rolled down his face and he was covered in dirt as if he had rolled in it. He wiped a hand across his brow, streaking it with sweat and dirt.

A large sigh escaped him. “This is why dealing with Adventurers is difficult.”

“Hey! We can hear you, you know!” Kasla called, frowning as the clearly worn out man approached. He went ignored as Misterion beelined, tired and anxious eyes on Mi-mi.

“Syssmi, I didn't think that you’d be this careless. I warned you. You should have heed my warnings.”

“Hey man, we were careful! It’s not our fault that they smelled us miles away!” Kasla interjected, scowling as Mi-mi took the brunt of the scolding.

“Trolls are territorial monsters. If they smell something foreign in their area they will follow the trail and hunt it down.” Misterion’s gaze turned razor sharp, his mouth turning down severely. His pointed teeth were visible as he spoke through nearly gritted teeth. “You two stepped in their territory and didn’t even disguise your scent.”

“I know. We should have been careful. It was my mistake. I’m sorry.” Mi-mi let out a sigh, downcast.

Misterion heaved a deep sigh, shaking his head. “I managed to erase your blood trail to prevent them tracking you here. You’re lucky I bought some orc meat earlier to use as a false trail to draw their attention in the opposite direction.”

“Thanks.”

Mi-mi’s meek reply earned another sigh from the man who pinched the bridge of his nose as if fighting off a headache. “If your great grandfather saw you like this he would have my head.”

“My gramps would never do that.” Mi-mi gave Misterion a skeptical look.

“Then you don’t know your great grandfather fully. That man can do unthinkable things.” Despite the man’s near deadpan tone there was something haunting about it and his expression. “A man like him doesn’t become Guildmaster by words alone.”

Kasla gulped. Is the Guildmaster that dangerous?!

Mi-mi managed a small laugh. “You’re way over the top, Mapmaker. Grandpa wouldn’t hurt a slime.”

“He may look innocent, but that man can snap a behemoth’s wing with spite alone.”

“You’re pulling my leg!”

“Whoa! A-a behemoth?!” Kasla eyes were nearly the size of dishes. “Wow, your grandfather might be one of the legendary heroes! That’s so cool!”

“You don’t have to believe him, Kasla. Mapmaker is just exaggerating. If you meet my gramps he’s the sweetest man out there,” Mi-mi assured though she winced, another wave of pain surfacing.

Misterion had turned his back to the two as they talked, muttering to himself. “Danger prone Adventurers. Why can’t they just plan things first? They never listen to me.” He walked over to the rock where Chrono had returned to sit with Nava, retrieving a small box from his bag he had left behind. Inside were assorted tablets in pills that he looked over, pulling out two.

He made his way back to Mi-mi. “Here, take these. This is a painkiller while the other will fight infection until you get to a healer. You’ll feel drowsy, but it’ll help, especially with the shock.”

“Thanks, Mapmaker. Prepared as always.” Mi-mi gave a grateful smile as she took the pills, swallowing them before taking a swig of water from a canteen from one of her pouches.

“Thanks, dude!” Kasla was surprised by the consideration and resourcefulness of the grumpy man. He cast a look at Chrono and quickly decided he was the reason for it. The boy’s father hardly seemed one to take a chance at any small inconvenience, firmly erring on the side of caution. That’s one prepared parent…

“We should get Syssmi back to the city to treat her injuries. We’ve dawdled long enough. Can you carry her?” Misterion gave a sharp look to Kasla who automatically stood at attention with a wave of panic.

“Y-yeah, I can. No problem.”

The response earned a nod from the mapmaker. “Then I’ll carry the slime.” His tired gaze went to the pink slime. Chrono was offering it another apple to which the pink slime inhaled. “Hm, judging from the size of the slime and its accessory, I guess this is no ordinary quest that you two took?”

Kasla was busy helping Mi-mi onto his back, adjusting her so she would be comfortable. “You can say that.” Mi-mi gave a sheepish smile, her arms around Kasla’s neck as he gently hooked under her legs. The meds were beginning to kick in surprisingly fast, the pain subsiding.

“How’d you know just by looking at the slime?” Kasla gawked as he crouched, looking up, once more surprised by the mapmaker’s abilities.

“The accessory.” Misterion pointed at the slime’s green ribbon, eying the jewel. “That alone costs more than our income combined. Plus a slime of that size is clearly a pampered pet; they will grow if you keep feeding them sugary treats at least five times a day. I would guess that it’s a pet of someone who has the money to keep up with the demands, likely a Noble or well to do merchant.”

“Huh, I never knew that about slimes. Are you perhaps a slime breeder or maybe you were a tamer before a mapmaker?” Kasla inquired as he stood up, Mi-mi safe on his back. 

“To answer your question Mr. Kasla: No, I am not a slime breeder nor a tamer.”

“What? It's not everyday that anyone has that handy knowledge!”

“If you must know, it comes with the job,” Misterion explained flatly, unimpressed. “Monster knowledge is important if you want to know where to find them, how to deal with them and how to avoid them. Even if it's insignificant details about them. Ignorance can spell disaster, including your death.”

“Yeesh, you’re too serious, man!” Kasla frowned, any glimmer of admiration fizzling out. A small snort escaped Mi-mi as she tried to stifle it, disguising it as a cough.

An annoyed sigh escaped the mapmaker. “I didn’t think you’d be this much of a handful… Why do I have to deal with you?”

“Chrono! Your dad is being mean! Tell him to stop!” Kasla called, looking past an annoyed Misterion.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re not seriously—” Misterion turned to Chrono who was writing on his board furiously, turning it around so his father could read.

“Stop being mean to big brother Kasla!” Chrono frowned, pouting with a disapproving look.

“Not you too, Chrono.” Misterion appeared taken aback as well as offended. “You don’t have to humor him.” He looked a bit confused and slightly worried. A likely pang of fear and anxiety went through him at the notion of a rebellious stage so soon.

“Haha! It’s two against one!” Kasla crowed victoriously, unable to pump his fists.

“Count me too!” Mi-mi chimed in, looking well entertained.

“Heh, then that makes it three!” Kasla grinned widely, watching the mapmaker as he was outnumbered.

Misterion’s frown deepened into a scowl, showing off a hint of his sharp teeth as he clucked his tongue in disapproval. “Tch. Kids these days. Let’s get going, it’s getting late.”