LIMINALITY
Table of Contents
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 56 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 ENDChapter 51
Moving further down to the new hall they landed themselves in, they weren't prepared when the entire lobby soon became a green slime area that isn't so different compared to the other buildings outside of this palace, which Saomi has a feeling she has seen before.
Being further away from the group, who are currently busy conversing themselves about certain subjects, she isn't interested in hearing about them. At least for a brief moment, she can have peace of mind from the endless teasing, even if it lasts for a good while.
Someday she will get her revenge, as an evil grin began to form from her lips. "Oh, you will see, I'll get my payback; just wait and see what I have stored," she said, excitedly whispering to herself as she thought of many ways to exact vengeance against them.
Many things went through her mind, from pranks to humiliations, but that would mean that she had to learn their likes and dislikes for what they were. And that alone is a problem because of Janus and Schrodinger's brooding nature as nonchalant individuals.
A glimpse of ideas is coming together, although there might be an error that she failed to see, for every choice of action can lead to undesired results that would do more harm than good. From that alone, she only wished to not take the entire thing seriously at the risk of compromising her friendships with them.
No, she just wants to get a rise from them. That's all she wants—letting them know those two jerks won't see her coming as a terrible disaster is bound to befall them. This is just one of those moments where the tables will soon be turned in her favor.
This is so exciting to think about, to the point that she didn't hear Clovis calling her to get out of the way, and the unfortunate young woman ended up being quickly pulled away from the man who recently warned her seconds ago.
As he just did that, a mass of green slime fell from the ceiling above them, producing a loud and wet splotch noise while it partially landed on where the woman would've stood had someone not pulled her back, causing Saomi to look shocked by the sudden action.
"A slime?" She questioned confusedly, not understanding why it's here nor did she expect such a thing would fall from the ceiling of all places. "It looks..." Glancing behind her shoulder, she noticed the man and her friends focusing directly on it.
Especially the surprised faces they are wearing, causing her to raise a brow of interest from their expressions alone: "What's so fascinating about it?" It doesn't make sense why her friends are acting like this when Schrodinger and Janus are usually apathetic to things around them.
Knowing she wouldn't get a clear answer from standing here and waiting for either of them to say anything, she decided to take it in her own hands to examine the puddle of slime with her own eyes rather than play guessing games with them.
One turn to the goop, her eyes became glued as her mind finally clicked with the realization of why they appeared to have seen a ghost; the once-same, gooey green substance had suddenly raised up to the height of a human figure and began to take the form of a solid yet slimy figure.
From the top of its head, a shape of a visible crown formed while it's slowly turned; its appearance resembled that of a beautiful princess with alluring eyes and luscious lips that would make any woman jealous from the sight alone.
When it finally morphed into a humanoid figure, Clovis couldn't help but whistle at the sight of such a lovely, dripping beauty. With an interestingly plump chest and a beautifully round behind, this thing was a sight to behold.
Except that she didn't take kindly to the man's form of comment, "pervert," Saomi coldly said as she eyed dangerously at the now sweating man, who fumblingly apologized while trying not to make things worse for him.
"S-sorry," He nervously stated, not wanting to make the situation any more awkward than it already is, "I was admiring her beauty, that is all." It is true, but he was more or less wondering about witnessing such beauty present itself in front of him.
Then the clothes emerged from her slimy skin; first, the top of the dress manifested before its long skirt swished out of her legs. In mere seconds, a complete humanoid person now stood in front of the group as she happily stood there with a smile on her face.
"Welcome travelers," she sweetly said to the group. "I apologize for my clumsy introduction; it was so rude of me to fall on you like that." The woman seemed sincere enough, but there was a hint of mischievousness in her tone of voice.
Saomi looked the lady over once more and asked, "Are you Princess Lime?" She asked without a second thought, feeling it was obvious that this must be her given the circumstances of what she had just witnessed and the way she presented herself.
Lime giggled softly, her smooth laugh-like sound echoing around them in the empty corridor of the building. "Yes, I am!" She declared proudly as she held her slimy hand out towards the other girl. "It is my pleasure to meet you," she said to the young woman with a friendly wide grin plastered on her own face.
Looking down at her extended hand, Saomi could see the visible dripping of slime coming off it. She wasn't sure if she should shake it or not, as the thought of touching an individual made of strange substances was too risky in her mind.
"If you're worried about my slime getting on your hand, I will depart the pleasantries and speak to the reason for my being here," Princess Lime told the group without batting an eye as she lowered her raised hand to her waist. "Also, first allow me to properly introduce myself; I am Princess Lime, the queen of this wonderful kingdom I have created. It is my utmost pleasure to welcome you to our humble home, the Kingdom of Ooze."
Blinking twice, she almost forgot about having to also formally introduce themselves to this person. She knows it would be a respectful thing to do when meeting someone new, regardless of whether or not they were royalty or commoners.
"I'm Saomi," she offered the other girl with a small, friendly smile before turning to look back at her companions with a slightly annoyed expression written all over her face, as they haven't made any attempts at introducing themselves at all. "Clovis? Janus? Schrodinger? Are any of you going to introduce yourselves to her too?"
Hearing their names being mentioned, Clovis quickly gathered his bearings and awkwardly smiled without missing a beat. "Actually, I'm planning to leave," he said out of the blue, completely unrelated to the topic in hand. "My job is done here." As he said his sudden farewell, the man then turned around and quickly walked away, disappearing down the hallway into the distance.
Turning back towards the oozy princess, her friends then finally introduced themselves in rather unique fashion: "Schrodinger, I hail from the feudal town of Ulthar; the white cat answered with a simple yet direct response," she said rather seriously and matter-of-factly.
The princess became flabbergasted by the sight of it. "An Ultharan? Here in my palace?" She was clearly astonished at seeing a cat here in all of these places, especially being occupied with species outside of his race, as she approached him with curious eyes. "This is so rare to see; how did a cat end up all the way over here from that secluded place?"
Although he appeared calm and collected at her appearance, Schrodinger was internally screaming at having to further waste his time answering people's stupid questions. Can't this woman just get the idea that he doesn't want to talk to anyone and just wants to be left alone?!
To his relief, however, Janus managed to grab her attention when he took the turn of formally introducing himself. "I am the God of all beginnings, gates, transitions, time, choices, duality, doorways, passages, and endings," he said out of the blue, "Janus, belonging to the Roman Pantheon." This immediately made the princess walk over to him and circle around with eyes strictly glued to him.
"A god?" She repeated in a low whisper, sounding impressed at such a title in a professional yet dignified voice, "There is no doubt you're an outsider to these lands then. I'm guessing someone forced you to be here." This caught Janus off guard for a moment; he hadn't expected her to say such a thing. How does this woman know that he came here unwillingly?
Actually, just the way she is looking at him while circling around as if she were some predatory animal ready to pounce at her prey is almost unbearable. This woman is seriously getting him annoyed by the second for having to stand her being examined like some specimen.
Then she stood in front of him, face to face and clearly close to one another, with their bodies almost touching, before the princess asked something very unusual and unexpected: "Can I touch you?" Her response had caused Schrodinger and Saomi to grow a pair of visible pale eyes at this request.
"Touch me?" Janus asked curiously, unbothered by the weird looks he was getting from the two, "For what purpose would you do that?" He raised an eyebrow, not understanding where she was getting at; then again, the young man didn't particularly care what was happening to him at the moment.
Taking a step backwards to give each other enough space, she caressed her own chin with contemplating eyes as her mind began pondering the possibility, "to feel how soft you are, to see how smooth you are, and the application of a god's biological function in having a physical body."
This immediately made Saomi clench her fists tight, anger and jealousy beginning to flare within her soul by how the princess was seemingly hitting on him. "Get your slimy hands off him!" She exclaimed in a furious voice, unable to hold her rage as the jealousy festered inside of her heart. "I won't let you sexually assault him in my presence!"
At first, Janus wasn't sure how to respond to her claims as he looked at his feline friend, seeming somewhat puzzled at what was happening. Before he could make any confirmation, Lime briefly turned to the clearly enraged young woman, who had thought of the worst intentions of what could've transpired if it weren't for her intervention.
"Calm yourself. My interest lies solely on the research of understanding anatomy from my scientific endeavors that this god of yours and his companion so graciously can allow me to participate in," she said softly in an attempt to defuse the tension between them. "I hold no interest in your boyfriend, nor do I plan to copulate with him; it's all for the sake of understanding from a mere observer's perspective."
Saomi stopped immediately; her expression instantly switched to one of shock. "What?" Stupidity of mistaking an innocent scientist for some pervert trying to hit on Janus? Was she hearing correctly? "Are you a scientist or something?" Trying to make sense of the whole confusing situation they are in.
Lime quickly laughed at the misunderstanding. It's amusing that the person she least expects to draw such a conclusion is a random stranger who must not understand that science and sex are separate things. "Just a simple observation of your boyfriend is all I want."
Her cheeks quickly fumed scarlet after clearly hearing the term 'boyfriend' directed towards Janus, who looked just as stunned and dumbfounded as she is at this moment. "Wait a minute!" Waving her arms to emphasize her point, she nervously corrected herself, "He's not my boyfriend; he's just..." Glancing at Janus, she notices his intense gaze as he seems to be observing her reaction with an awaited answer that she herself is unsure of whether they can be partners.
She froze, unable to say any further. "His, my..." What exactly is their relationship? Saomi knows their friends—likely more than that. But could they call themselves lovers when they themselves likely have no romantic interest in one another?
Especially her lack of answer if Janus holds any romantic feelings for her. This is what's stopping her from admitting their relationship as lovers: does he really love her, or is it all an illusion of what the world has manifested in her head?
"We have important things to do!" Schrodinger had finally had enough. If the two of these lovebirds continue to waste their time, then he guesses it's his job now to lead the way. "Were here to visit you about the safest designation to heading Celephais?" he loudly cleared his throat while continuing on to address the princess. "We come to speak with you regarding the most safe and easier route to reach our destination, princess."
Having snapped back to reality, Lime merely looked at the cat with understanding of their purpose: "I see," nodding in confirmation of their reasons; "I know a way to instantly head there without having to use a vessel." Her answer was enough to ease them all, as it saved them a lot of trouble doing so; "Now may you have the honors to comply by following my lead?"
Janus, Saomi, and Schrodinger briefly glance at one another before nodding in agreement with this proposal. They have no choice but to agree in order to arrive at their desired destination. Although none of them had any problem going along with this request, they followed from behind.
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