Find a partner.

After all that, you still feel the adrenaline pumping. You were able to keep your cool, but you still just faced the biggest threat to Tivera in a way perhaps no hero ever has before. You make your way back to the Throne Room with a sigh. That aside, you need to think about William's offer. If you're going to go, you need to decide today, and that includes picking who to bring. Hopefully, this isn't a long journey, though you feel far more relaxed knowing you can Bunny Hop away if something goes sour.

Anyone in your main party would do well. Niki. Amara. Eva. Snow even. For an entirely solo adventurer, perhaps nobody can beat Nyllia. There are some who are beyond mere adventurers, however, like Mistress Dajy. As you ponder this, you pace and back and forth along the carpet leading to the throne.

You then notice something. There's some sort of pale purple slime oozing out from the side of the throne itself.

"... Jelly?" you ask.

Pop! Suddenly, the slime joins together into a head like a balloon behind inflated in an instant. She hops out, bare naked, though just like Peony, there isn't really anything to cover. "Oh. Oopsies." She turns back around and disappears behind the seat. After some shuffling, she emerges yet again in a white t-shirt tucked only partly into a pair of black shorts. On her feet, she has red sneakers with white socks beneath. "Anyway, yeah! It's me. I overheard you talking to people in there."

"Those were pretty important, private conversations, Jelly. It's not right to eavesdrop like that."

She frowns. "Sorry. I didn't realize."

"So--"

"You're bringing me, right?"

"Excuse me? No. I mean, probably not. I don't think that's a good idea. You're still learning about the world outside of a dingy dark cave. I know you seem to be magically evolving and stuff, but this could be a dangerous quest."

She steps slowly up to you with pleading eyes. She looks as if she's going to cry. Carefully, she lays her hands against your chest and sniffles. "B-But Kyle, this is the perfect opportunity for me to learn more. I've been suck in this castle for so long, because everyone keeps saying it isn't safe for me to go anywhere. But nobody takes me either! Please oh please, let me go on just one quest with you. Please."

You stare down at her sad puppy expression. "... All right. You can come with me. But only--"

"Yippee!" She throws her hands up and begins to bounce up and down in joy.

"But only if you behave yourself. All right, Jelly?"

She halts immediately and salutes. "I'll be on my best behavior. I'll even keep my clothes on and everything."

"We're going to be meeting with William, so don't say or do anything without asking first. We don't want to make another enemy. Nor do I want you to get hurt, especially when we find this laboratory. I care about you, Jelly. We all do."

"... I know." She pokes her fingers together nervously. "And I care about you too!"

"Good. Let's get ready to go."

This might not be that bad. William will have an ally of his own presumably, and all things considered, Jelly is a powerful ally. She's difficult to take down, and her ability to change her shape and entrap enemies has served us well in the past. But I also can't say no to those damn eyes. She's way too adorable.