Hiroshi's eyes darted around, his heart pounding. He looked around desperately, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His hands found a thick branch lying near the riverbank. He picked it up, testing its weight. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.
The rustling in the bushes grew louder, and Hiroshi gripped the branch tighter, his knuckles turning white. His eyes narrowed, ready to swing at whatever jumped out.
Suddenly, something leaped out of the bushes. Hiroshi raised the branch, ready to strike, but then stopped mid-swing, blinking in confusion.
"A... ball of water?" he muttered.
In front of him, bouncing softly on the ground, was a perfectly round ball of water. It was crystal clear, shimmering under the sunlight as it bounced lightly from one spot to another.
Hiroshi lowered the branch, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. The ball of water continued to bounce around, almost like it was playing. It hopped over rocks, splashed against tree roots, then rolled back onto the path, continuing its little journey.
He watched it for a few seconds Curious, Hiroshi stepped forward, kneeling down as the water ball bounced closer. He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing the cool surface. Surprisingly, it didn't burst or splash—it just wobbled a bit, as if reacting to his touch.
Hiroshi grinned, picking it up gently. It felt like holding a soft, squishy bubble. "You're...alive?" he asked, half-jokingly.
The water ball wobbled again, almost as if it was answering him.
Hiroshi blinked in surprise. "Okay, that's weird." He stood up, still holding the strange creature in his hands. "I guess even water's alive in this crazy world."
He looked around, realizing he was still far from the camp. He sighed, tucking the water ball under his arm. "Guess I better head back before something bigger comes out."
Hiroshi made his way back through the thick forest, occasionally glancing down at the ball of water still wobbling in his hands. He couldn't help but grin a little. "Well, at least I'm not alone now," he muttered, giving it a gentle poke. It wobbled in response, almost like it understood.
When he finally reached the camp, he saw Andrius leaning casually against the side of the carriage, arms crossed and eyes closed, as if resting. Hiroshi scoffed and ignored him, making his way straight to the carriage door. He climbed up the steps, feeling the weight of his small body struggle a bit, but he managed to get inside and flop down on the seat.
He looked around for a moment before deciding to tuck the ball of water into the small pocket on his chest. Amazingly, it stayed in place, wobbling slightly but not slipping out. "Stay put, alright?" he whispered, patting it gently.
The ball of water seemed to shimmer in response, and Hiroshi just chuckled, shaking his head. "A living ball of water... What kind of place is this?"
He leaned back, feeling exhaustion wash over him. His eyes grew heavy, and before he knew it, sleep pulled him under, his head resting against the side of the carriage.
Outside, Andrius opened his eyes slightly, glancing over at the carriage window where Hiroshi was fast asleep. His sharp red eyes narrowed for a moment before he turned his attention back to the guards.
"We're telling the truth, Master Andrius! The young master Axelius... he cussed at us!" one of the guards whispered, his face pale with fear. The others around him nodded, whispering nervously.
Andrius raised an eyebrow, his expression remaining calm and unbothered. "You all must be hallucinating," he replied coldly. "Or perhaps the sun was too bright for you today." His voice held no room for argument.
"But Master Andrius—"
"We're leaving now," Andrius cut him off sharply. He pushed off from the carriage, his coat swaying as he turned. "We need to arrive before the sun falls. Enough with your nonsense."
******
Hiroshi drifted in and out of sleep, his mind foggy and heavy. He could hear noises—muffled voices rising and falling, distant and almost dreamlike. It grew louder, like a buzz that wouldn't stop. His eyebrows furrowed, and without thinking, he grabbed a pillow and threw it in the direction of the noise.
"Shut up..." he mumbled, turning over and pulling the blanket over his head. The noise quieted for a moment, and peace returned.
But then it hit him.
His eyes snapped open, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. He shot up, the blanket slipping off his shoulders as he looked around in disbelief. He wasn't in the carriage anymore. He was in a room—a massive one, bigger than anything he had ever slept in before. The walls were decorated with intricate designs, and thick curtains hung by tall windows, allowing light to spill into the room.
"Where...am i?" Hiroshi muttered, rubbing his eyes just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He looked down, realizing he was on a huge bed with sheets softer than anything he'd ever felt.
He scrambled out of the bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor as he took a few steps forward. The noise he'd heard earlier returned, louder and clearer now. It was coming from outside the door—voices talking back and forth, footsteps moving hurriedly.
Hiroshi paused, his hand halfway to the door when he heard it—a very, very small voice. It was almost like a whisper, so faint that he thought he was imagining it at first. He turned around, scanning the room.
"What the...?" he muttered, his eyes landing back on the bed. The voice was coming from there.
He walked back over, but the bed was too tall for him to just hop on. He huffed, gripping the edge of the blanket and pulling himself up, his feet slipping a bit before he finally managed to climb up. "Seriously...why is everything so damn big?" he grumbled, catching his breath.
The whispering continued, and Hiroshi started rampaging through the bed, tossing pillows aside and shoving the thick blankets around. "Where are you, you little...?" he muttered, digging under the cushions.
Finally, his hand brushed against something cool and wet. He pulled back the last pillow and there it was—the ball of water.
"You...you're the one talking?" Hiroshi said, blinking in disbelief. "Waterball?"
The ball wobbled in his hands, bouncing slightly as if struggling to break free. Suddenly, a very tiny, high-pitched voice squeaked out. "I'm a slime, not a waterball! Let go of me, you monster!"
Hiroshi couldn't help it—he burst out laughing. "Wow, you're the monster here, you know? Can't you see?"
The slime paused its squirming and wobbled in place, as if it was trying to look around. That's when Hiroshi noticed something odd—it didn't have eyes, it didn't have a mouth, but he could hear it talking clearly.
"Wait a minute..." Hiroshi said, poking the slime gently. "You really can't see, can you?"
"Of course I can't!" the slime replied, sounding both frustrated and embarrassed. "I just… I just know where I'm going!"
Hiroshi chuckled, setting the slime down on the bed but keeping a close eye on it. "Okay, okay. Just chill out. I'm not going to hurt you. I was just curious."
The slime wobbled again, as if shaking itself off, but it didn't try to bounce away. "Curious about what?" it asked, its voice still high-pitched but less shaky.
"You know about this place, don't you?" Hiroshi asked, crossing his arms. "Nobody wants to talk to me, damn it. It's like I'm some kind of ghost or something." He paused, then his eyes lit up remembering something. "Wait...what about Owen? What happened to that idiot anyway?!"
Hiroshi stared at the slime, still amused by its wobbling protests. But then, suddenly, the slime froze in place, its body trembling slightly before it spun around sharply.
"Is that you?... Hiroshi? It's me Owen!"
Hiroshi blinked, his eyes widening in pure shock. For a moment, he just stared, mouth slightly open. Then it hit him, and he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "What the hell, Owen? You're a waterball?!"
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?! I'M A SLIME!"