I strolled into my bedroom, flipping on the light switch and releasing a deep breath. I knew Suu would be here soon, so I rested my hands on my hips and set my phone on the desk before browsing my music. After everything that occurred today, I had an intense need to blast some tunes, one of my favorite ways of managing stress. Hopefully, it would help ease Suu's troubles and relax her mind.

After a few moments of contemplation, I eventually stumbled upon a song I hadn't listened to in a while, and it seemed to fit the current situation quite well. A faint smile appeared on my lips as I tapped the play button, and as the beat started playing, I began swaying my hips to the rhythm.

" I remember when I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space."

My feet started tapping with the beat, my bare skin slapping against the hardwood floor. Oh yeah, as my friend Chris always said, "We out here living our best life!"

" And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much."

The door swung open, revealing a wide-eyed Suu with an expression of surprise on her face. Perfect timing. I dramatically pointed the finger at her and belted out the next part of the song with all the enthusiasm I could muster.

" Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?

I excitedly shimmied over to Suu, grabbed both of her hands and pulled her into the room. With an ecstatic grin, I started joyously swinging her around, and to my delight, her expression, which had been filled initially with turmoil, was beginning to soften considerably.

" And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice; that's my only advice."

I playfully booped her on the nose, and she let out an adorable giggle. I released her and jiggled my shoulders in sync with the beat.

" Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control."

For a moment, her face lost its excitement, and her eyes went downcast. It seemed she had not grasped the song's meaning, so I quickly embraced her to assure her.

" Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me."

Suu gazed up at me with her emerald eyes, confusion written on her face. I smiled reassuringly down at her.

" My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking; I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done."

Perhaps now she was starting to understand. She was nodding at every word, her feelers wavering in the air.

"Maybe I'm crazy." I pointed a finger at myself.

"Maybe you're crazy." I pointed at her.

"Maybe we're crazy." I rested my forehead against hers, feeling the cool, sticky sensation of slime on my skin.

"Probably." I shrugged, laughing a little.

At that, the song ended. The two of us stood still like that for a while before I heard Suu's giggling echo through the room.

"Daddy's such a dork," she decided.

"Well, obviously," I replied with a mischievous grin as I pulled away from her. "I've been causing a stir and eliciting cringes from friends and family for over two decades, and I don't plan on stopping any time soon!"

"Mm," Suu hummed. "Good."

"Come on, let's take a seat," I said, settling down in our regular spot and leaning my back against the bed. "Let me hear your worries, and they'll all be gone."

"... I don't think it's that easy," Suu sighed, though she sat down at my side.

"Well, we won't know until we try, will we?" I nudged her with an elbow. "So what's up, buttercup?"

"Hm... " Her emerald eyes flitted downward. "Are you sure you want to know? You already have so much to worry about..."

"Suu," I said firmly, "I'm not one to just say I love someone and not back it up with action. I may not be your biological father, and I don't have much experience in that role, but I want to give it my best. I might have a lot of other things to do, but if it's for you, I'll make it work. Does that sound okay to you?"

Furthermore, the successful resolution of the matter between Rachnera and Ren was a great relief, taking one more burden off my shoulders.

A small smile formed on Suu's face; yay, she believed me!

She murmured, nodding. "Since we started to link minds, I've been experiencing flashbacks, mostly of your previous memories."

"What kind of memories?" I hesitantly asked as over a dozen uncomfortable memories of my ex-girlfriend came to mind. I didn't want Suu to know about these memories, as they were not flattering. I knew there were likely more memories to come, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to face them.

She replied with a sigh, curling her body into a ball and bringing her knees up to her chest. "It's random, yet it's not quite random. Whenever I feel sad, I remember when you were in a similar situation. When I'm feeling happy, I recall a moment when you were happy too. These moments are brief, yet they always leave a lasting impression."

My eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Are they overwhelming you?" I inquired, dreading the thought of what I may have to do. I may have to reduce our mental connection time or wholly sever it drastically.

Suu looked away, her gaze distant. "Until Lala came and told me about Tiamat, I didn't understand. But ever since then, I've been getting more and more memories - not yours, but from a source I don't even know. They feel primal like they come from a time before time."

"Primal?" I echoed, intrigued. Was this before the slimes developed sentience? Everyone seemed to think so - negotiations for the Cultural Exchange Bill had concluded only a few years ago, after all. Could it be a coincidence? I highly doubted it. "So, what exactly happens in these primal memories?" I asked curiously.

"Hunting," Suu murmured, her gaze fixed on the wall ahead of us. "All I sense from them is fear, hunger, and something else," she shuddered as if a chill had crept up her spine. "It's not like it is here," she whispered, her entire body quivering.

I hesitated, desperately trying to figure out what could have been the cause. "Are these memories truly yours? Could it be that when Lala mentioned Tiamat's name, it triggered some ancestral memory?"

Suu shook her head. "They're the memories of a slime," she said, sounding confident. "Not hers. I know that."

"Yeah," I replied, running my hand through my hair. "Those primal memories combined with mine... It's no wonder why you've been so quiet lately, trying to make sense of it all. It's a lot to take in." I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "It's too much to process."

"It's getting better," Suu said, finally meeting my gaze. "The distractions are fewer and further between. I've found that focusing on the people around me and the present moment helps lessen the intensity of it all."

"That's good," I said. "I noticed you were more active at the dinner table today, which was great!"

"We had a fun day," she said with a smile. "Rachnee felt a lot better after that, too."

"Yeah, she did," I nodded. "She and I managed to have a good talk earlier, too. I think the two of us are good now. Cleared the air, all that jazz."

"Mm," Suu sweetly hummed, resting her head against my shoulder. "That's good."

"It really is."

We remained in that position for a few moments in silence. The faint chirping of crickets from the outside darkness and my breath were the only audible sounds. But Suu's breathing was absent. I looked down at her and noticed her motionless chest, even as she shifted to get comfortable. I figured that slimes didn't breathe like the rest of us.

Her eyes flitted open, but only partially. "Can we... Can we connect minds again?" she asked.

"You're not worried you'll get too many memories again?" I wondered.

"Mn. Maybe. But," Her eyes closed again, "I miss it."

"... Okay." I missed it, too. I couldn't deny that. "Go for it."

I felt her head feeler slowly slither its way up to the crown of my head and then gently rest there. The familiar sensation of a path being opened, and-

I crouch in the darkness, my eyes devouring the village with a voracious hunger. The insatiable emptiness in my chest cries out to be filled, but I must remain still. Too many people, too much light. I must wait patiently.

The village is under siege, with humans screaming and cowering in fear of the heavily-armored creatures ravaging them. The thundering of hooves reverberates through the air, accompanied by blood-curdling war cries. For a brief moment, I thought they were humans riding horses, but the illusion is quickly dispelled when they come into full view.

Centaurs. Both males and females partake in the raid, cutting down the humans with swords and spears.

They are strong prey. Too big to quickly kill, as I am now. Were I only stronger...

But for now, I can only scavenge.

Most of the bloodshed has moved to the further edge of the village. Thirst drives me forward. I must risk it. I can only wait so long.

Puddles of water and blood soak into my body, quenching yet intensifying my thirst. I try to remain in the shadows, but now that I've tasted it, I can't contain my craving. I desire it more than ever before.

I approach the first dead body. Both of them lay motionless, tightly embracing each other as if in a last attempt at protecting one another. The larger one was a man with well-built arms that were a testament to his strength when he was alive. His blood pooled around him, and my instinct was to lap it up, but the sight of the smaller corpse lying beside him made me hesitate.

It is a girl, only a dead child. She stares vacantly at the dead man, her tears still wet on her cheeks. Her eyes... they are a vivid green, like two emeralds, glittering with grief.

I stare at the face, perplexed. I am not used to encountering humans, as I usually hunt those isolated in the shadows. An unfamiliar feeling wells up within me, but I quickly realize it is only my instinctive reaction to potential prey. Why do I feel this way?

It is only far later, in a land far more peaceful than this, that I realize the emotion is (sorrow [envy {revulsion}]). But is it for the girl or myself?

"Do you even like yourself?"

The connection faded. I stared ahead with wide eyes, not seeing anything.

"That was a funny memory," Suu giggled at my side. She sounded so happy. "Your friend Jonny couldn't even walk!"

"Yeah..." I murmured, having no idea what she was referring to. We must have had different experiences; she had one of my memories, and I had one of hers. That had to be the reason.

Every breath I took shuddered, my heart pounding in my chest. I was intensely aware of my entire body, and it was all I could do not to become a trembling wreck. Whatever I had just experienced was not meant for a human to endure.

"Mm." Suu nuzzled my arm. "I feel a little better now. Thanks, Daddy."

Maybe I had been able to take away some of the burdens that Suu was carrying, which should have made me feel relieved. However, it seemed like the exact opposite was happening.

"You're welcome, sweetie."

As soon as I uttered those three words, I felt an immense weight of responsibility on my shoulders, knowing that if this was all I could do to help her, I had to make it work. To my surprise, it did, and although I knew it wouldn't be a long-term solution, for the moment, I had brought her some joy.

That was really what mattered most.

To be continued...