A small bit of relief washed over Lidia hearing the request. Slimo nodded his head.

"My queen, I was not aware that you have a right hand. Who should I be looking for to follow?"

"Oh? I was sure you have already met him. He told me that he had shown you all to your house. His name is Pops. Pretty funny name, right?"

Slimo hesitated before answering.

"We know him."

"Very good! As I said before, I just need you to stop him from killing people. He happens to have a very bad habit of that. I know he can’t help it, but I can’t have my people fearing for their lives. You understand, I’m sure. We wouldn’t want a killer running on the loose, wouldn’t we Slimo?"

Slimo couldn’t help but feel she was purposefully prodding at something when she said these words. He took a moment to compose himself before answering.

"No. We wouldn’t."

The queen studied his expression curiously before continuing.

"Right. Anyway, you may both leave me and start on your tasks. Lidia... that’s your name, right? You will not be allowed to return to this throne room until you have completed your task. As for you, Slimo. You may come and visit me whenever you need since your task is more... permanent, if you will. Believe it or not, Pops prefers to be by my side rather than out in the streets."

Lidia’s anger swirled more hearing the queen’s invitation to Slimo. This was no shoemaker she was competing with. This was the queen of an entire kingdom. Slimo could feel Lidia’s emotions emanating off her and he quickly spoke to the queen.

"Yes, your majesty. We will make sure to get to work right away."

With that, Slimo quickly stood up, grabbed Lidia’s hand and ran out of the room. After the two guards closed the iron door behind them, Lidia stopped in her tracks and crossed her arms.

"That... SKANK!! Did you see how touchy she was with you?! It’s like she knows that we’re a couple!! Does she know?! How does she know?! It’s totally not fair! Not only that, why did I get stuck with stupid enchanted wall duty?! Wait... and pops is her right hand who likes to murder people?! What the hell is going on today?!"

Lidia sat on the ground and hugged her knees.

"I think I need a nap."

Slimo sat down next to her and rested his gauntlet on her head gently.

"It’s okay, Lidia. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure pops doesn’t hurt the kids."

"That’s not what I’m worried about! Well... I am worried about that, but I’m also worried she’s going to take you from me! I mean, look at me! I’m always dirty, I’m definitely not as beautiful, I have such an awful personality and-"

Before Lidia could finish her sentence, Slimo grabbed her face, took off his helmet, and kissed her on the lips. Lidia looked at him stunned. She touched her lips and looked into his deep blue eyes.

"Like I said. You have nothing to worry about. Okay?"

Lidia hid her smile from him and crossed her arms.

"Okay. I trust you."

Slimo chuckled to himself and put his helmet back on.

"Do you want me to keep you company for a bit before I go find Pops?"

Lidia slowly stood up and offered Slimo a hand.

"I’m okay. I think you should find that Pops fellow before he hurts one of our kids."

Slimo grabbed her hand firmly and towered over her.

’Our kids...am I officially a father? How strange.’

"That’s a good idea. I’ll see you back at the house, okay?"

"Okay."

Slimo turned around and started jogging away.

"...wait."

Slimo stopped and turned around hearing her voice.

"Thank you... for that."

Slimo nodded his head and continued running, leaving Lidia to search the palace walls herself.

Lidia sighed to herself and slowly walking down the long marble halls, studying the glowing walls for any discrepancies she may come across.

’What am I supposed to look for here?’

The walls all seemed flawless. Not only this, but the more Lidia studied them, the more she noticed small, intricate patterns carved into the glow. Each one was unique from the rest, indicating the amount of work put into the enchantment.

’I mean, if the enchantment has to deal with time, it makes sense why these patterns are so intricate. I wonder how long it took someone to make this place. Paria must have some amazing enchanters.’

As she rounded the corner to go into the first room, there were two guards slowly marching down the hallway. They each war a bright yellow mantle that was covered with spikes. By both their sides, there was a golden halberd that shimmered with a blinding radiance.

"Pardon me, but do either of you know if part of the wall is acting weird anywhere?"

Instead of answering her, the guards kept walking past her in earie silence. Lidia helplessly let them pass by and watched their strange behavior with caution.

"Weirdos. It wasn’t even a crazy question to ask... I don’t think."

Just then, the same pair of guards came around the corner at the end of the hallway once more. They both kept the same unusual composure as they passed her. Lidia watched them walk by feverishly.

"Geez. They sure do have a lot of those guards here in the palace."

Lidia continued walking down the hall trying to clear her head. However, right as she reached the end, she was suddenly back at the start of the hallway, and just like before, two more golden armored guards walked around the corner with indifference.

Lidia shook her head and slapped herself in the face.

"I must be losing it. Get a grip Lidia."

She allowed the guards to pass her once again. However, once she reached the end of the hall, it was as if she simply blinked back to where she had started. Once more, the two threatening guards made their way around the corner of the hall.

Lidia stared at the scene in front of her dumbfounded. Lidia tried walking in front of the guards to stop them this time.

"Hey, what the hell is going on?! Are you all messing with me?"

Instead of responding, the guard threw their halberd forward, piercing through Lidia’s gut with ease. Lidia stared down at the blood pouring out of her stomach in horror. Before she could react, the second guard threw their halberd down on her arm, severing it completely from her torso. Lidia fell on the ground screaming and writhing in agony. Her vision slowly grew darker and darker.

"What is happening... to me..."

One of the guards stood above her and aimed the tip of their weapon at her head and slowly lifted it before crashing it down on her skull, piercing it and breaking through the pristine floor with ease.

Lidia fell on the ground screaming and holding her stomach. Ahead of her at the end of the hallway were two guards walking around the corner heading her way. Each of them wore golden, spiked armor and had long, sharp halberds at their sides.