Lia blinked, looking from Ethan to the next slime with wide eyes. "M-my turn? But Master, I've never…"

"You'll do great," Ethan said, his tone encouraging. "I'll be right here to back you up. Just give it a try."

Lia hesitated, gripping the dagger in her hand. Ethan gave her one of the daggers he had taken from the carriage driver. Her hands trembled slightly as she stepped toward the next slime, but she took a deep breath, steadying herself.

With a determined expression, she raised her weapon and prepared to strike. With a sharp cry, she brought the blade down in a sweeping arc, slicing into the slime's gelatinous surface.

The slime quivered violently, its body rippling in response to the attack. Lia staggered back, startled by the recoil, but the creature didn't stop moving. It wobbled toward her again, its core glowing brighter as it prepared to lunge.

"Again!" Ethan urged. "Don't let it get too close."

Steeling herself, Lia adjusted her grip and lunged forward, slashing at the slime a second time. This time, her blade pierced through its core. The slime convulsed, its body collapsing into a shimmering puddle of liquid. A faint glow marked the spot where a small crystal core now rested.

Lia stood frozen for a moment, her chest heaving as she stared at the remains of the slime. Slowly, realization dawned on her, and she glanced back at Ethan, her expression a mix of shock and triumph.

"I… I did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I even got a notification about experience gained."

Ethan opened his mouth to encourage her but the next second he saw that the slime remains under her feet was behaving rather weirdly. A small bubble popped out of the dead remains and the bubble started turning bright green and expanding.

"Watch out!" Ethan barely managed to pull Lia out of the way as the acid-like liquid splattered across the ground.

The grass sizzled and blackened where the droplets landed, releasing a pungent, acrid smell into the air. He shielded Lia with his body, his arms tightening protectively around her as they both stumbled back.

Catch the formatted version at M|V|LEM_PYR.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked quickly, scanning her for any signs of injury.

Lia nodded, her breath shaky. "I… I think so." She looked at the sizzling ground where the slime had been, her wide eyes filled with a mix of awe and terror.

"Looks like these slimes have a nasty surprise," Ethan muttered, his gaze narrowing at the dissolving remnants. "I should've expected something like this. In games, slimes are usually harmless, but in real life? Guess not."

"I… I didn't know they could do that. My brother said these were cute and cuddly creatures. Then why…"

"Neither did I," Ethan admitted, helping her steady herself. "But hey, that's why we're out here. To learn. And now we know: stay back after taking one down."

Lia's face flushed with embarrassment as she nodded. "I'm sorry, Master. I should've been more careful."

Ethan shook his head. "Don't apologize. You handled that slime like a pro—it's not your fault it had a death surprise." He glanced at the faint glow where the crystal core still rested amid the acidic puddle. "But let's be smarter about the next one, yeah?"

She offered him a timid smile. "Okay. I'll try."

"Good. Now let's grab that core before the acid eats through it." Ethan scanned the area, quickly spotting a sturdy branch nearby. Picking it up, he used the branch to nudge the crystal core free of the dissolving goo. Once it rolled onto safe ground, he retrieved it and handed it to Lia.

"Here you go," he said. "Your first battle trophy."

Lia stared at the core in her hand, her eyes glistening with a mixture of pride and disbelief.

"Thank you," she murmured. "I never thought… I could actually do something like this."

Ethan grinned. "Well, you just proved you can. Let's keep going, but this time, we'll be extra careful."

Lia nodded firmly, the determination returning to her eyes. "Yes, Master. I'll do better." She then waited a moment and asked hesitantly. "Umm… may I heal myself?" She pointed to a big splosh of acid on her arm.

Ethan's grin vanished instantly. "Shit," he muttered, stepping closer. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"I… I didn't want to worry you," Lia said softly, lowering her gaze. "It's not that bad, and I thought… I should wait until you said it was okay to use my abilities."

"Lia," Ethan said firmly, tilting her chin up so she had to meet his eyes. "Listen to me. If you're hurt, you don't wait for my permission. You take care of yourself first, always. Got it?"

Her eyes widened slightly, and after a moment, she nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Good." Ethan exhaled. "Now, go ahead and heal yourself. Let's see what that class of yours can do."