Logan was confused about how the serpent and Krexa knew each other so well, and yet the slime did not say much about it before now.
"If you're confused, then you must not know slimes. They aren't supposed to be this smart," the large beast's voice rang through his mind, as well as Lisa and Alma, who were standing near Silvia, getting ready to send the flying mounts back.
"A little, yes. But then, who are you, great creature? I am Logan, hero of taming," Logan introduced himself to the wise leviathan.
"I am a forgotten guardian of sorts. I was a keeper chosen by Ferra but stumbled here after being heavily injured many, many, many years ago. Since then, I have healed and turned into what you see now. I need the crystals to keep living, and in return, I provide the necessary protection so they can keep growing. As for names… I have forgotten. Just give me one if you wish; I have never gone outside after finding my place here."
It was probably the wisest of the creatures Logan had tamed, being able to speak so clearly just after being tamed.
"Well, it's nice to meet you. I will give you a name, though, just let me give it some thought as I don't want to offend you. As for why I came, it's two things this time: to get more slimes hopefully living around here, and to get more goblins," Logan explained.
"Oh, those… noisy creatures. They are smart, and their smell is what probably kept more humans from entering," the serpent coughed in disgust.
"Yeah, well, but they will hopefully change with my power. I wonder how many will choose to accept it, though," Logan sat on top of a rock, now speaking normally with the serpent as if a battle between them didn't just happen a few minutes ago.
"Good, if they can stop stinking so much, it would help me," the serpent seemed happy at Logan's announcement.
"So, what kind of beast are you?" Logan asked, wondering if there was a way to add a friend or something for the lonely serpent.
"A… serpent of sort, I was changed by Ferra, so you should ask her," it informed Logan.
"Just don't tell her where I am… I will get an earful," it said while entering the water, showing a little fear of the fox.
"Just how strong is she?" Logan asked, wondering.
"I am… probably strong enough to fight her when she had… eight tails. She now should have twelve or fourteen tails…" it said while calculating.
"She didn't have many when I spoke with her… I forgot the exact number. I assumed it had a max of nine since a fox of that number is known as a myth in my world," Logan replied, trying to recall the exact number.
"She used to have more, but problems with humans occurred in the past. She had to use the accumulated power to calm them down," the serpent said, its voice shivering.
"Damn, just how old is she?" Logan asked, wondering.
"More than a thousand years, that is for sure. I am about that age also, so you can probably say a thousand and two hundred years?" the serpent calculated.
"Damn…" Logan and the rest looked up towards the serpent with amazement.
"Don't look at me like that. If I had trained and not slept constantly for the last hundred years, maybe I wouldn't have lost as easily as I did. Anyway, I am tired, we will speak later. Just make sure you don't take too many crystals; it takes years to regrow them." It tried to go back inside the water but stopped as Kryst used her skill Crystal Cultivation.
"I see… that is how you expect to repay the ones you take… very well, just heed my warning. We may be linked by our soul, but I can easily peel that small blessing off." The serpent then dove inside, leaving the group of teens and Kryst looking at the water.
"Well… that went well?" Logan said out loud as everyone gathered near the water's edge.
"So this is where you found so many crystals, Logan… good to know," Silvia said, looking around.
"You might not have heard this because… well, you're not one of my tamed, but our new serpent friend said we should take only that which we can replace…" Logan said, trying to have the girl know what the problem was.
"Oh, about that. It's about time you give me that blessing as well. It should have been since the start, but with the war and all that going on in your town, I figured I should wait," Silvia said with a stoic expression.
"Blessing?" Logan asked, wondering what she meant.
"Well, it's only logical. If joining your group brings so many benefits, then I should also join. It's not like we are getting married or anything," Silvia shrugged, getting close to Logan.
"So, what do we do, kiss or something?" she asked Logan, wondering what needed to happen.
"No… just a drop of blood, and you accept my… ability…" Logan said, confused.
"?" Silvia got close and lifted her shirt, then pulled Logan's hand towards her chest.
"What are you doing!" Logan jumped up in surprise.
"Having you mark me, of course… it needs to be well hidden, right? What is more hidden than the place of one's heart?" She closed her eyes to feel the connection forming.
"So this is what it feels like to speak telepathically," Silvia sent out words that everyone near them could hear.
"Yes… it's taxing on your mana but great to send out… feelings and words," Logan sent out his communication, keeping the chat between him and the girl.
"Try to search for the channel you need to use. One is for all those around you, or you could pick a specific person. It takes time," Logan informed, trying to get the girl up to speed.
"?" Silvia said, making Logan want to shut down his mind.
"Yes… good," Logan replied, feeling the deep thirst for knowledge the girl had included in the mental link. It was truly a powerful emotion he never thought he would have.