Aelorin, the creator of the Beast People, stood silently, staring at the small piece of silver slime in his hand. His mind raced with excitement as he considered the full scope of its potential. He already knew some basic facts about slimes from his previous experiences—they could shift into any shape, maintain a firm structure when needed, but how firm? How far could this really go?
He closed his eyes, focusing deeply, and imagined what the slime could become. His thoughts drifted to the knowledge he possessed. He envisioned not just the creature itself but the endless possibilities for its use. What if it could mimic clothing? He pictured a simple shirt and trousers, a classic outfit, totally out of place in this world but enough to showcase something to his young Beastlings—Beta, Alpha, and Gamma.
"Let's give them a taste of modern fashion," Aelorin muttered to himself with a smirk.
He waved his hand, the slime responding immediately, reshaping into various garments. Aelorin twisted the slime into different styles—fancy robes, tight vests, long jackets—letting his imagination flow freely. After several transformations, he finally settled on an attire that resonated with him.
The silver slime transformed into a sleek cloak with a hood, almost shimmering in the soft light, draping elegantly over his shoulders. Beneath it, a tight pair of trousers clung to his legs, along with a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of gloves. The ensemble had a majestic yet utilitarian feel, something that suited the occasion while still blending with the world they lived in.
"Wow! It really fits you, my Lord!" Beta exclaimed with enthusiasm, throwing two thumbs up.
Aelorin chuckled, feeling a sense of pride wash over him. Of course it fit him—it was tailored by none other than himself, using the knowledge he'd amassed over multiple lifetimes. "This material is called slime," Aelorin explained, "and it only takes a small amount of Mana to maintain its shape."
The three Beastlings stood there wide-eyed, absorbing every word like eager students.
"My Lord," Gamma spoke hesitantly, folding her hands and ducking her head slightly as if she was ashamed of what she was about to ask. "I know we're not... fully human, but... can we attend the festival with you?"
Alpha gasped audibly, her eyes widening. It was a bold request. Everyone knew the dangers of exposing themselves to humans—especially during a public event. Surely, Aelorin would refuse. He had to. Right?
Aelorin turned to them, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile. "Of course you can. Your ears are a bit pointy, sure, but that's an easy fix." His tone was so casual it nearly gave Alpha whiplash. "All you need to do is shave them down a bit. As for your tails, we'll hide those under some cloaks. I'll share some of my slime to help with that."
Their faces lit up like children at a festival. Even Alpha, who'd been so nervous, couldn't hide her excitement. Aelorin felt a sudden light-headedness, his vision briefly blurring, but he quickly regained composure, smiling as he motioned them over.
"Give me your hands."
The three Beastlings stretched out their hands, their expressions a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. Aelorin summoned a small piece of the silver slime from his own attire, barely enough to make a handkerchief. From their looks, it was clear they were thinking: *Is he serious?*
But Aelorin wasn't joking. With a simple command, the slime moved from his hand to Alpha's, quickly expanding and enveloping her body in seconds. The silver slime molded into an outfit identical to Aelorin's, fitting her perfectly.
"How... how is this even possible?" Beta gasped, mesmerized by the transformation.
"Lord Aelorin is truly mighty!" Gamma gushed, her eyes wide with admiration. "Magic like this doesn't exist in any text, and he bends it like a god!"
Aelorin smiled, though inwardly he was just as fascinated as they were. The possibilities with this slime were endless. He shared more of it with Beta and Gamma, clothing them similarly, before stepping away for a moment of privacy. He needed to test the full extent of this new tool.
Standing near the window, Aelorin began experimenting further. Could it create weapons? He shaped the slime into a key, testing its strength. It was as sturdy as any metal, refusing to bend or break. A sword? At first, it was blunt and useless, but with a little more magic, the edge sharpened, the blade gleaming as though polished by an invisible hand.
*This is exhilarating,* he thought, feeling the excitement bubble up inside him. With this, he wouldn't need to carry weapons or armor. He could summon anything he needed in a moment's notice. *Wait, can it change color?*
Curious, he focused his will. The silver slime turned black, then blue, then red. Every hue responded effortlessly to his commands. The implications were staggering. *I wouldn't need anything else—this slime could provide every tool I need.*
Just as he was about to experiment further, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "My Lord!" Alpha exclaimed, sounding both embarrassed and horrified.
Aelorin turned around—and his heart nearly stopped. Alpha was standing there, dressed in a bikini that left *very* little to the imagination with her mighty boobs sticking out in who knew what manner. Her ample figure was on full display, much to his shock. His eyes trailed—*no, stop staring!*—he quickly scolded himself. *Be strong, Aelorin, don't lose your composure.*
Beta wasn't much better—he was wearing a full mime's outfit, complete with white gloves and a black beret, while Gamma sported a short skirt and a crop top that looked like something straight out of a modern city.
"Uh... I feel like this is all my fault..." Aelorin muttered under his breath, desperately trying to regain his composure. "So this is what it's like when cavemen discover modern fashion." He sighed and turned toward the door. "I miss civilization."
---
Meanwhile,
Elowen's trembling hand gripped Arianna's tightly as they crouched behind the thick bush, their silver dresses barely concealed in the shadows. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, threatening to expose them, but they were lucky—the bush was large enough to keep them hidden, for now.
"Tsk!" Elowen coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth and dripping down her chin. Her body shuddered as she collapsed to her knees. Arianna, who had been intently watching the thugs from their cover, turned to her, alarmed.
"Elowen!" she whispered, panic seeping into her voice. She quickly knelt beside her friend, gently rubbing her back, trying to calm her. "I'm so sorry this happened. Please, just hold on a little longer."
Arianna's mind raced. *Shit... She's not going to last much longer.* Elowen had been poisoned, and no amount of healing magic could counteract its effect. Her condition was worsening, and every second they stayed out here put her life at greater risk. *But if we turn back now… those thugs…*
Her teeth clenched at the memory of Elowen stumbling into her in the village, bleeding from a deep gash in her back, and warning her about masked thugs hunting her down. Thanks to Elowen's information and her distracting them for a bit, they had barely escaped, and now they were on a reckless mission to follow the criminals to their hideout. But at what cost?
They had to follow the enemies in case they went after other elves and endangered the village. And yet what would they do if that occured.
"We have to stop this, Elowen," Arianna urged, her voice cracking with fear. "We can't keep going. You're barely holding on!"
Elowen, face pale and trembling with pain, shook her head stubbornly, her voice weak but resolute. "N-no… If we stop now… those thugs… they're still in the village. They'll come for someone else. We can't let that happen…"
Arianna's heart sank. Elowen's compassion, even in this dire state, was unshakable, but the risk was too great. "I don't care!" Arianna hissed, her grip tightening around her friend's cold hand. "You're dying! I can't let you throw your life away for this. Not today, not on the night of the Silver Leaf Festival."
Elowen's body shivered uncontrollably, her eyes dimming as she whispered, "Someone… someone could get hurt…"
Tears stung Arianna's eyes as she hoisted Elowen up, wrapping her arm around her shoulders. "I know. But I can't let you die when I know you can still be helped. We'll hope the Royal Guard handles it. Please… you're all I have."
Despite her words, a gnawing dread crept into Arianna's heart. What if the thugs weren't stopped? What if they found another target in her place?