Maternal Slime Chapter 135: Identity Crisis

[ Rose's Ho ]

A second passes.

Rose stares outward, her pupils faded and mouth hanging open as Anne remains attached to her head. Unlike with Marlin, who was conscious throughout the process, this is more or less what Viviane expects.

Yet, Viviane’s gelatinous form quivers with uncertainty. She looks toward her sli sister, eyes closed respectfully. 'Is it really a good idea to let her connect?'

Rachel swallows beside her, harboring similar concerns. "Do you think—"

"Ack!?"

Anne suddenly yelps, her eyes snapping wide. Her companions flinch in surprise as she stumbles back from Rose, the gooey connection between them stretching thin before snapping. A brilliant light reflects from Rose’s glasses, refilling the historian's dead eyes. However, Rose jerks back too hard, hitting the back of her head against the edge of the couch.

"Gah!"

Splick!

Lines of blue sli finish detaching from the historian, receding back into the sli mother's hand. Fortunately, Anne catches herself before Rachel and Viviane have to step in to stop her from stumbling further.

A mont of silence follows.

Viviane blinks several tis while Rachel’s shoulders ease with a deep breath. Both of them smile weakly, relieved to see that both girls have returned safely.

"Ooooh..." Rose groans.

Minus the whiplash, at least.

As Rose clutches the back of her throbbing head, Anne stares blankly, organizing the rush of information she has gathered from that eager, mysterious mind. Coughing to break the tension, Rachel moves past them, leaning closer to the historian’s side.

"Rose, are you alright?" she asks. She glances back at her slimy friend. "Anne? Hello?"

"Ah!" The sli mother nods hurriedly. "Y-yes! I'm okay, but... here, let help her."

Rachel hums and steps aside as the two friends swap places.

"Rose," the sli mother calls gently, easing herself down and placing a hand on the girl's trembling shoulder. "Take a deep breath, okay?"

"Hoooooo...." Rose opens one teary eye. "Y-you said it wouldn't hurt!"

Anne gives her a flat stare. "It doesn't unless you throw yourself backward like that."

"Urgh..." The historian’s lip trembles. After a few more breaths, she straightens herself. "So, you're a... sli? No... a Remnant? A Mother?!"

"Ahaha, don't think too hard about that last part."

It is easier said than done, but Rose manages to steady herself against the onslaught of foreign mories. While her brain continues to pulse, the pain is no longer sharp. In its place, however, her hands begin to shake as the threat of the Order becos terrifyingly clear.

The professor, too... He is alive.

"Oh, my God..." Rose's pupils contract. "Th... this can't be real."

Anne frowns. "Rose..."

Before Anne can offer comfort, the historian snaps her hands to her face, tilting her head toward the ceiling with a squeal. "Eyaaaa! This is scary, but so exciting! How am I supposed to feel!?"

The others stiffen. "Huh?"

Rose drags her hands down her cheeks, her eyes dancing wildly behind her glasses. "There's just... so much! Fuuuck, I was so stupid! Why did I leave the project?! Why!?!?"

Her guests stare dumbly as Rose spirals into a blur of regret, fear, and revelation.

Rachel's shoulders drop first, a crooked smile forming. "Looks like she's fine."

"That does not look fine," Viviane counters.

Despite their concerns, Rose doesn't slow down. Her expression snaps into focus as she drops her hands. She stares firmly at the two slis, her gaze darting between them with stars in her eyes.

"I... I have so many questions! No, wait, I have answers too? Do you two really believe you're Daniel's mother? What about others you connect with? Oooh, oooh, King Arthur! To think that all those stories could be partially true... this is incredible!"

"Rose!" Anne shouts, groaning. "Relax!"

"Oh..." In a sudden switch, the historian zips her lips. The living room enjoys a few blessed monts of quiet until Rose thaws, lowering her head ekly and fidgeting. "Haha... my bad."

The others exhale in relief as Anne clears her throat. "I think we've gotten what we ca for. For now, it's better that you stay here and recover. Besides, your fiancé is coming ho soon, right?"

Viviane's silver gaze flickers. 'A fiancé?'

Rose's forehead creases with surprise. "Yes, but how did you... oh, right. Sorry, I didn't think to tell you, but I promise it wasn't intentional!"

"It's okay." Anne waves a hand, closing her eyes reassuringly. "For now, I wouldn't want you to worry him. Please, keep what you've learned about us to yourself."

"That goes without saying!" Rose huffs, then bites her lip. "But... will I be safe?"

"Safer than we are. Besides, I know you wouldn't just leave with us. It wouldn't be easy to explain to your fiancé why you're suddenly gone."

Rose chuckles weakly. "Oh, looks like you know well enough, haha..."

"That's..." Anne pauses for a mont, her lips curling into a dry, sad smile. "Hardly."

Viviane raises a brow, catching an unmistakable shimr of sadness in her sli sister's eyes. Anne?

Rachel catches it as well and realizes so things are better left unsaid for now. She leans forward, forcing a smile for the forr group mber. "Dear, just give us a call if there's any trouble. You should know where we're headed since I told Anne."

Rose nods. "Yes, but, um... before you guys leave..." She looks between them. "It's a little fuzzy, but I'm starting to see why you're suspicious of Dr. Grayson. I understand from the mories that he was part of the Order. Still, as far as I know, he hasn't done anything to . It also sounds like he may have saved Lecia too, right?"

Anne's eyes widen before her expression softens. "Yes, at least, that's what we're hoping." She considers her next words carefully. "Let ask, do you recall a lecture from him about Stonehenge?"

"Stonehenge?" Rose squints, searching through her deeper mories. "No... er, I don't think so."

"...I see."

Now Rachel and Viviane are truly curious, but they hold their tongues.

"I'll call if I realize anything," Rose adds, then shrugs. "Although, you'd probably realize it too, since you have in your head now."

"You would think so."

REBIRTH.

Anne recalls what Victor wrote on the chalkboard in the mory setting. Whatever aning he intended, she's beginning to think it wasn't just to describe a Remnant’s nature.

Not wanting to dwell on it in front of Rose, she taps her legs. "We should get going now."

"Aww... I understand."

However, Rose places a hand over Anne's on her shoulder, grinning brightly. "Thank you for trusting ! I know we only t yesterday, but..."

"It was necessary, don't worry," Anne cuts in.

She looks to the others, who nod. Without another word, they stand and head to the front door. As they say their goodbyes, ending a short visit that has secretly exchanged lifetis, the three visitors offer more reassurances. Only Anne stays behind for a mont as Rachel and Viviane move to the car, Viviane glancing back knowingly before turning away.

Anne hugs the historian briefly. "You're a little too heavy on my mind, you know? I thought Mary was big enough."

"Ahaha..." The historian's glasses shimr over as she pulls away. "Levy says the sa, but we stick it out. A-also..." Her face flushes slightly. "I... I know you said not to think about it, but I just wanted to say that you, Viviane, and Mary have a beautiful relationship with Daniel! M-maybe I can be as free as that with Levy."

"Eeeehh, please don't," Anne advises, her lips rising crookedly. "While I don't regret becoming his Mama, his real mother wouldn't like this one bit." She puffs out her chest. "This is my own selfishness, you see!"

"Oooooh."

Anne coughs. "Ahem, anyway, please be careful."

"I will!" Rose chirps, then winks. "You should know I tend to hide when things get rough."

"I know all too much now." With a sigh, Anne studies the girl for a mont. "One odd question before I go... do you rember any particular mont where your parents called your na?"

Rose blinks. "My na?" She looks upward. "Well, I'm sure they did many tis. Nothing strikes about those details, though. It's kind of implicit, isn't it?"

Anne hums, then closes her eyes with a smile. "No, that makes sense. Please, take care."

Rose waves as Anne turns away. The sli mother's smile slowly dims, like the sun setting across the distance of Keystone.

Viviane waits by the car, which Rachel has already started. Arms crossed, she glances at the running vehicle carrying the other half of their anxious group, then back to Anne.

"I told them we'll align as soon as we visit the safe houses." She narrows her eyes. "But I have to know: What did you see?"

Anne thins her lips. She checks behind her, seeing that Rose has already closed the door.

"A fog."

Viviane stiffens, her silver gaze widening. "What?"

Anne climbs into the backseat, and Viviane hurriedly follows. With Rachel listening while readying the navigation, Anne continues.

"I was stuck in a mory of a lecture hall during her studies in Egypt. There were only voices, but I could make out Rose and Victor. He was talking about Stonehenge and its relation to the Great Pyramids."

Rachel glances back before shifting the car into drive. "Didn't Rose say she doesn't rember Victor talking about Stonehenge?"

Anne nods. "I'm pretty sure that's because it's a hidden mory. Not only that..." Her gaze lowers. "When I tried to exit the room after the voices stopped, I was greeted by another fog outside the room."

"...Seriously?" Staring at the road, Viviane remains silent for a long mont. "Then, she's... like ?"

"I don't know." Anne groans, twisting her lips. "The fog might not be unique to us, but an effect of the flas."

Viviane lowers her gaze. "Even so, it's possibly similar to my sealing, or..." Her eyes widen. "A masking! In fact, this might be what Nico was going to do to us!"

"Yes, that was my thought as well."

The elder sli turns her head, gritting her teeth. "Then why didn't you tell her? She's clearly been manipulated by Victor at so point!"

"Yes, but..." Anne's eyes narrow with uncertainty. "When I entered the fog, I heard more voices. I'm not sure how long I wandered inside before I coming back, but it was filled with broken pieces of her ti in university and with her family. But, what really strikes is when I hear her parents..."

Taking a mont, she looks between Rachel and Viviane. "They... they call for Layna."

"Layna?" Rachel raises a brow. "As in, Layna Moore?" Her hands tighten uneasily against the wheel as the implications set in.

Viviane stares, her silver gaze vacant.

"She's Layna Moore, isn't she?"

Anne bites her lip before nodding. "I think so."