Loopshard

Adam frowned as he saw that both Finnian and Migraine were seated inside the tavern. The slime was gleefully devouring heaping plates of food that the patient red ant brought out.

The two denizens were several seats apart and the goblin seemed down about something, but Adam didn’t care enough to ask what it was.

Charlie came over to the door as he and Belamouranthe entered, and Adam placed their orders right away. He could immediately tell that the tavernkeeper was happy to have a child to serve. He still remembered how she’d covered Belamouranthe with a blanket and watched her sleep, and how sad she’d looked when he’d returned after stage four without her.

Finnian turned as Adam sat down next to it, transforming his stool into a comfortable recliner. The slime’s blank face had been warped into a very simplistic smiley with two holes for eyes and a curved slit as its mouth. He shuddered at the uncanniness of it.

Belamouranthe hopped onto the stool next to him.

“Squire Adam, you’ve returned. Have you brought me any cores?”

“Not today. I might get more tomorrow though.”

“Excellent.”

“If I give you the cores, will the progress be saved if I… y’know?”