The Sludge Meadow was exactly as charming as its name suggested.
The ground was damp and springy underfoot, buzzing insects clouded the air, and the faint smell of rot clung stubbornly to the breeze. Patches of greenish slime wobbled lazily over the grass, glistening in the late afternoon light.
James adjusted his grip on his staff, trying not to think about the way one particularly large slime seemed to jiggle in anticipation.
"Remember," Olivia said from behind him, "slimes don't think, but they react. Stay light on your feet, and aim for the core. The faster you hit it, the faster they go down."
"Right," James muttered.
He squared his stance, conjured a Magic Missile, and—
Fwoosh! The glowing dart zipped past the slime, sailing harmlessly into the muck with a splash.
The slime bounced in his direction, leaving a wet trail in the grass.
"Not your best shot," Olivia said dryly.
James gritted his teeth, switching to Ignite. A small burst of flame hissed against the slime's surface, doing… almost nothing. The blob just kept bouncing toward him, unimpressed.
"Why isn't it burning?!" he demanded.
"Because it's mostly water," Olivia said. "Come on, Scholar—think!"
He pivoted back, quickly summoning Gust. A sharp burst of wind knocked the slime sideways into a shallow pit, giving him a clear view of the faint, glowing orb inside.
"There," he breathed. He raised his staff, focused, and this time let the Magic Missile fly true.
Shhhk! The dart pierced the core, and the slime collapsed into a harmless puddle.
"One down," Olivia called. "Seven to go."
James groaned, wiping sweat from his brow. His aim was poor, his spells underwhelming, and every miss only seemed to make Olivia's smirk a little sharper.
Still… by the time the sun dipped low, his satchel held four slime cores. Not much, but enough to prove he could do the job.
As they trudged back toward Iguro Town, Olivia glanced at the bag swinging at his side.
"Not bad for your first hunt. Room for improvement… but not bad."
James managed a tired smile. "I'll take 'not bad.'"
"Good. Because tomorrow, we aim higher."
He didn't ask what she meant. But something in her tone told him slimes had been the easy part.