The Adventures of Lily!

Go back! Go back!/Ch. 8

Previously

Everyone else aside from (y/n) is also too distracted to notice when blood-red colored strings stealthily aim at a few unexpecting people standing- or sitting- there, seemingly disappearing right before it touches them; not to mention that faint blur on (y/n)'s figure which only lasts for a split second... 

Connecting. . .

◖In Eli's Mind Space◗

Eli quickly sits up, panting heavily. He quickly calms down, turning his head left and right only to find himself at the same place he was at before losing consciousness. Only, this version of the place doesn't seem to have any signs of living wherever he looks. No plants, no slugs, no people- no nothing, just the training ground he was at before. Not only that, he notices that his surroundings are kind of greenish and... blurry..? It's as if he's looking through a pair of muddy-green colored-lenses. 

"....." He looks at his arms and notices some sort of dark particles emanating from him. He shrugs, deciding to think about it later and calls out for his best friend. "Burpy?" 

His voice echoes throughout the desolate place before he hears a small squeak below him. 

Eli then looks down to check on his arsenal of slugs. The slugs all give him positive chirps, with Burpy jumping out of his canister and onto his open palm. 

"Good, you're all here. Wherever 'here' is..." He stands up with Burpy still on his hand. His slug/oldest best friend soon hops onto the boy's shoulder to make it more convenient for his owner.

"'Here' is your mind space, humanoid child." 

"Huh!?" Eli spins around with his blaster aimed and ready, only to see... 

Nothing.

Eli's face contorts into one of confusion. 

"Ahem- down here," the voice speaks again at the same time Eli looks down. 

He is rewarded with the sight of that Goon Doc which had hit him before. 

"Greetings, young child. My owner likes to call me..." Here, he trails off as if contemplating whether he should say it or not. After a bit, he decides to continue. "'Doctor'. 'Doc', for short. And I do apologize if I had hurt you anywhere, but it was the only known way for me to enter your mind." The slug says; it has quite a deep and raspy voice, which Eli silently takes note of. 

"Wait. We're... We're in my mind...?" Eli looks around again. 

"Yes," the slug sighs, already bored of this conversation. "And this is where we will begin your training." 

"Training??" Eli is getting more confused by each passing second. 

"..." The slug gives Eli a judging look. "Sometimes, I really wonder whether you humanoid beasts are as sharp as you claim to be." 

"Hey-" 

"Enough talk," the Goon Doc cuts him off. "Now begins your training." 

"Bu-" 

Eli is cut off yet again- but this time, by a wave of 'ghouled' energy sent towards him through the Goon Doc's eye. 

He tries to fan it away with his hands but suddenly feels a sudden stab of pain sear through his head. It goes away just as quick, but the uncomfortable feeling of something unknown seeping into his mind-space, remains. In fact, it kinda feels like it's getting stronger...