Foreboding

Saki pondered for a while as they strolled through the forest. After not seeing any monsters for a while, Saki began to speak up. "So, you said I can just think of a skill now, right? And it will appear in my skill set?" Abigail nods at her question.

"So, uh... I won't go as far as thinking of a strong skill right away. You also said that the system has to recognize my ability for the skills, like some sort of compatibility. So, I guess..." Saki ponders more. "You got something in your mind?" Abigail asked as she watched Saki ponders as she gazed down at the ground.

"Well... I'm sure I can pack the combo I have been doing against the slimes into one skill. Now, what am I gonna name it?" Saki thinks of a name for a few moments. "Slime slayer?" Abigail snickered at the name. "Slayer? You made it sound like you're implying that slimes are vicious monsters" She commented. "Well, don't laugh, okay? I'm making up names by myself" Saki thinks more of a good name for her skill. "What about Slime Rending Slash?". 

Abigail pressed her fingers to her mouth, mocking shock. "Do you know what rend means? Compared to how your skill actually works, rend is a bit too much. It's too violent... like hunters pulling off the skin of a rabbit in one fell swoop". Saki flinched slightly at her example. "Then let's make it simpler. Slime-splitting Slashes" She replied. "Good enough for me. It should appear in your skill set once you made up your mind" As Abigail stated, Saki went through her skill set which was empty until now.

'Slime-splitting Slashes' Her first skill appears in her skill set. Saki's eyes glistened in excitement. Abigail proceeds to walk beside her as she watches Saki glow in happiness.

"Now, what would be the executing shout?" Saki asked. "Skill casting? You will say it in battle naturally, you don't have to worry about it" Saki got curious about Abigail's response. "Naturally, huh? How does that work?" She asked. "It's your skill! Your own ability! You will instinctively yell proper words for such skill in the heat of the combat" Again, Saki just got more curious as Abigail responded.

"Wanna test it out? I see two slimes over there!" Abigail points to their right. In the direction of her finger, there were two slimes not too far away from them. "Y-yeah! Those are slimes! Come on!" Saki went ahead with Abigail to the slimes. Once close enough, Saki called the attention of the slimes and initiated a battle.

"Alright, here we go!" Saki put up a stance and immediately went to her skill set. 'Slime-slicing Slashes' She selected the skill and felt a surge of strength to perform the skill. Going along with the battle, Saki yells. "Strike true against the bodies of gel!" And executes her combo of slash and thrust, defeating Slime A and causing it to burst into a pile of sticky gels.

"Hah! I did it!" Saki's eyes shot wide open, showing sheer excitement, and her mouth opened with a smile. She then grins. "Slimes are no longer my fear!" She taunted at the remaining slime, who didn't seem to understand a word from her. "As expected of Saki! Violent as ever!" Abigail cheers from behind.

Saki's proud grin falters for a second after hearing Abigail. When Slime B attacks, Saki steps aside to avoid its attack, then executes 'Slime-splitting Slashes'. As she readies her sword, she proudly yells again. "Strike true against the bodies of gel!" and performs her combo at Slime B once more, defeating it.

Saki gained exp at the end of the battle as usual. Cleaning her blade from the sticky slimes and sheathing it, she turned to Abigail, who had a delighted expression. "That was amazing! Are you gonna keep shouting the same line in every battle from now on?" She said with an upbeat tone.

Saki felt abash and grunted lowly. "You sure do know how to drag my spirits down, huh?" Her remark made Abigail giggle. "Oh, you'd love to keep hearing it from me" She replied. Saki was unsure what to say back and didn't say anything. "Well, anyway, let's go" She and Abigail went away from the slimes' spot and resumed their original direction.

Five minutes of walking later. Saki broke the silence between them. "Hey, do you know what it's like to be an adventurer?" She asked. "No, do I look like I have an experience in adventuring?" Abigal replied. Saki nods in agreement. "Oh, yeah. That's right. Always giving vague explanations, refusing to elaborate, always having a way to annoy someone, always having something to hide, always bringing down someone's spirit, and can't cross a river. I'm sure you'd get kicked out of an adventuring party within a day" Saki exclaimed and Abigail covered her mouth and feigned hurt.

"You're so mean..." Abigail then drops the feigned hurt and speaks normally. "Well... For me, adventuring sounds tiring but fun. I think it also feels liberating of some sort, having special privileges to travel around the world and constantly looked up to and relied upon" She gave her opinion on adventuring, imagining herself in an adventurer's shoes.

She then looks at Saki. "Are you the type to desire fame and popularity, Saki?" She asked. Saki thinks as she gazes down before answering. "Well... Not really, but if it's about me saving the day, maybe" She replied. Abigail hums in acknowledgment. "So, to make it clear, you only like popularity from your good deeds? Other than that, you don't like that much attention?" Abigail speaks Saki's reply in her own words and Saki nods.

Before they could continue their conversation, two slimes suddenly appeared in front of them, surprising them. Saki immediately moves into action as the battle starts. As she and the slimes square off, Abigail reads something from the slimes and yells. "Saki! These slimes have monster ranks! They're D rank! It seems like we've ventured too far! You can't defeat these slimes yet!" Her voice was tinged with worry and urgency.

"Wh-what?! But they look the same! And you said they're D rank, the lowest of ranks, so they gotta be weak!" Saki looked closer to the slimes and wasn't able to distinguish them from the previous slimes she fought. "Same appearance or not, having a rank makes a huge difference! The stats and abilities of those slimes are exceptionally higher than the normal slimes you fought earlier!" Abigail sounded very worried, and it was also evident in her expression. It wasn't something Saki would see on an ordinary day, so a chill ran down her spine as she faced the ranked slimes, feeling absurd about fearing the seemingly same slimes.

"W-well, they're still slimes at the end of the day! I could just step aside and avoid their attack like I usually do" She insisted and Abigail immediately gave a disappointing sigh. "I won't even try to argue, if you still feel spirited despite my warning, then go ahead and see for yourself" Saki heard the clear resignation in her voice and got worried. It was indeed rare for her to hear Abigail this way. "If it gets too dangerous, we can just run from the battle" She assured but Abigail didn't give any response, adding to her uneasiness about the situation.

Pushing the worries aside, Saki focused ahead. Even if she absorbed Abigail's words, she still can't distinguish the slimes apart. Just like Abigail said, she would have to fight and see it for herself if she really wanted to know. She tightens her grip on her sword as she prepares for battle.