Having restored some of her life force as she traveled through the forest, Evelyn kept searching for her pet.
Seeing as it was already level 3, she had thought it might be hunting, so she had tried to look in the nearby slime field, but to no avail. All she saw were the regular blue slimes that were always there.
She didn't know what her pet would look like, or even if it might be one of the slimes in the field, but she had tried to call out from time to time as she searched. In the end she had to flee when she called askingly a little too close to a group of slimes and they started chasing her.
Deciding that she couldn't use any more time to look for her pet, as the girl was lying unconscious by herself, Evelyn went back.
'I'll have to search more later,' she dejectedly decided.
As she returned and checked on the young girl, she saw no major difference in her condition.
Her eyelids were no longer moving, and the scar on her cheek had become faint, but other than that she stayed the same, fast asleep.
Evelynn considered using a light heal to see if the girl would wake up but decided against it.
'My condition is still not good enough to try. I might just end up being useless if we end up getting attacked.'
No sooner had she thought it before movement alerted her through a nearby bush.
Springing to her feet, she took the dagger out of her inventory and positioned herself in front of the unconscious girl on the ground.
She could feel her body tense as the bush right in front of her shook.
Gritting her teeth, she locked her eyes on the bush, waiting.
What came out was a black slime with purple spots, much like the egg she had been nurturing.
"Hi?" she hesitantly tried, feeling hope well up inside her. "Are you my pet?" she asked as she slightly lowered the dagger.
The slime stopped momentarily at her words, before leaping towards her and crashing with her chest.
Evelynn, not having expected the slime to suddenly attack her, didn't have time to steady herself for the impact and fell right to the ground. The slime sitting on top of her.
'It attacked me?!' she thought dumbfounded, getting ready to fight back. But, just as she got ready to fling the slime off of herself, she noticed that the slime wasn't moving. It was just sitting on top of her, seemingly content.
Evelynn couldn't quite describe it, but she somehow knew that the slime hadn't meant to hurt her.
Just as she knew the slime was feeling content while sitting atop her.
She slowly used her arms to push herself into a sitting position, before she gently lifted the slime up before her face.
It looked like most the other slimes she had fought against over the last days, with the exception of the color.
But when she touched it, she was happy to notice that it didn't feel slimy. Whenever she fought with the blue slimes, they would always leave some residual liquid behind. Though it usually dried up when she used steal life, Evelynn still wasn't fan of the sensation.
But not the slime in her hands. Not her slime. No, this black and purple slime had a silken texture and was cool to the touch.
The slime, which was the size of a football, gently sat in her palms and looked back at her.
Or at the very least Evelynn thought it was looking back at her. It had no eyes, after all.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you," she gently chided, not sure if it would understand her.
The slime wriggled a bit but gave no other response.
"Well, at least you seem happy," she smiled, glad that one problem was dealt with.
"I guess I should name you something, I can't just continue to call you slime," she muttered as excitement overcame her.
Evelynn had wanted a pet all through her childhood. A companion that would always remain beside her. Someone she could share her days with.
She had spent most of her life alone, after all. Locked in her parents mansion.
Though she never starved for food, she did starve for affection.
She remembered all the times she had watched her family, and how content they seemed together. Samantha would laugh while telling some story and their parents would listen, smiling back at her.
Or they would get ready for some banquet or event, chatting about who would be there and how wonderful it would be.
They would all eat their meals together in the dining room, as if it were the most normal thing for them to do.
And while all of these moments were happening, Evelynn would be alone. Not welcome in the shared spaces of the mansion.
"You're unwell, Evelynn," her father would always say when she tried to join in. "You should go back to your room and rest."
Eventually, Evelynn stopped trying to join in on their family time.
To protect herself, she would tell herself that they were just too worried. If she joined, they would worry too much about her and not be able to enjoy themselves.
But she was jealous. And lonely.
She too, wanted someone to be beside her. Someone to eat meals with. Someone to talk and laugh with.
And now she had.
'Well, maybe we won't talk and laugh together, but that's okay,' she thought as she gently caressed the slime.
"Hmm, what should I name you?" she wondered. "Since you have purple spots on your body, maybe Spot?"
Seeing the slime move quickly from side to side, Evelynn agreed.
"No, you're correct. Naming you by your looks isn't right. I wouldn't like it if people only referred to me as 'brunet' either."
"Then maybe something with a bit more meaning behind it… Oh, and a nickname," she started, running through options in her mind.
"I have it," she excitedly announced a short while later.
"How about Dandelion? And Little Lion as a nickname?"
She could see the slime remained quiet in her hands this time, no longer refusing.
She could feel through their connection that the slime hadn't completely agreed, but it hadn't disagreed either.
"Are you wondering why?" she asked, trying to understand the slimes feelings.
"It's because this world is harsh," she started as she stroked the slime, putting it down in her lap.
"And I want you to stay with me for a long time. So, I need you to be resilient and strong, so that you can survive together with me as we climb the tower."
*Ding*
*Ding*
Seeing the notifications from the system, Evelynn opened them.
*Dandelion has accepted its new name. *
*Dandelion is initiating a soul contract. Will you accept? *
"I'm so happy you like the name," Evelynn smiled even brighter.
"And of course I'll accept the contract, but are you sure?"
Feeling their connection deepen, Evelynn saw a small light between her and Dandelion as a new notification appeared in front of her.
*You are about to accept a soul contract from the black slime Dandelion. Are you certain you want to accept? *
Seeing the message, Evelynn hesitated slightly. 'I don't really know what it is, but shouldn't it be fine?'
"This means we'll always be together, doesn't it?" she asked the little blob on her lap.
Dandelion quickly jumped up and down, it's small body shaking excitedly.
"I'll take that as a yes," Evelynn gently chuckled, as she accepted the soul contract.
*You have accepted a soul contract from the black slime Dandelion. You will now be able to sense where it is at all times and some abilities may be shared.
Shared ability: Life Force Transfer*
*Life Force Transfer: Two beings that share this ability may transfer life force between themselves as long as both parties agree. *