“Ack, you’ve eaten it all already...”
Dahlia wasn’t convinced that it was a laughing matter. “That wasn’t hay, Mena, that was processed green slime. What if it hurts the monster? Should we call for a veterinarian?”
“You two don’t need to worry so much. Sleipnirs aren’t regular horses, and they’ll eat whatever they can get; grasses, meats, fish—nothing will really hurt them. They’ll even gobble up small monsters too.”
“But that was enchanted slime—dried and powdered, but still. I wouldn’t want the other properties in the mixture upsetting its stomach or anything.”
“Dahlia, sleipnirs eat green slimes. When they’re resting on the side of the highway and they spot one, they’ll use one of their front legs to crush its core and chow down.”
“Oh...” Well, what Marcella had just said wasn’t in the bestiary. Sleipnirs were far wilder than she’d imagined.
“It’s not like sleipnirs go hunting for slimes when they have time to kill—they’re more like treats,” explained Mena.
“The slime doesn’t need to be dried first so that it doesn’t burn their mouths?”
“Nah. It’s just like Mena said—sleipnirs eat whatever they can get. They’ll eat proper food, of course, but they’ll happily crunch on shells and bones alike after applying strengthening magic to their mouths.”
“Whoa.” She glanced at Number Twelve. Those pearly whites sure looked tough and healthy, but she had never imagined it could simply eat slimes.
“It seems to have really enjoyed it too.” The sleipnir brought its muzzle to Ivano’s breast and nickered as it looked up at him. “Hey, cut it out with the puppy dog eyes. But I guess I do have another piece in my pocket.”
“You’re a pushover, Vice-Chairman!”
“Very well, then, Marcella. You go ahead—look into its eyes and say no.”
As though the sleipnir understood the entire conversation, it pointed its glossy black eyes at Marcella. They stared each other down for a bit, but he was the first to give in. “Ah, well, I don’t think that stuff will hurt it; might as well give it the other piece.”
“See! You’re no better, Marcella!” Triumphant was Ivano, though they had both lost to a monster; Dahlia knew she would have fared no better, so she kept her mouth shut.
Mena chuckled at them from the top of the coach box. “That’s a pretty filly for you.”
“Sorry?” Dahlia needed a little clarification.
“She is very popular with the male horses, see, and they intended to use her as a broodmare, but her personality was far too strong for that—so the shop owner said,” explained Ivano.
“Are male horses too difficult to pair with female sleipnirs?”
“It’s likely that her standards are somewhat unrealistic. It’s said that she dislikes other sleipnirs too, and that she even kicks and runs away from would-be mates who get too persistent. She’s a high horse, if you get what I mean.” The way Number Twelve was squinting in bliss as Ivano petted her, she seemed like the gentlest creature, incapable of acting so aggressive; maybe it was a lack of chemistry.
“She’s got attitude, eh? Well, the stronger she is, the better she is at pulling a carriage,” said Marcella.
“That’s a good thing, then. I hope she’ll one day find a person—er, a partner she likes.” The sleipnir nodded in agreement with Dahlia.
Two days later, Dahlia and Volf went to the station in the West District near the Green Tower. Inside the basket she was carrying were two bunches of purple grapes—a slightly pricey treat during wintertime. In the back of the lot were the stables where the sleipnir named Number Twelve was. While Mena held down the fort, Ivano and Marcella had arrived earlier and were now speaking with the veterinarian.
“How is she, Doctor?” Voicing concern was Ivano—not only had Number Twelve not eaten since the evening before yesterday, she hadn’t slept a wink at night.
Normally, sleipnirs ate, well, like horses, but feeding it the processed green slime must’ve harmed it somehow, so last night, they had called for a veterinarian who also treated monsters. Dahlia couldn’t help but worry, hence her and Volf’s visit today.
“There is nothing wrong; in fact, she is extremely healthy.” With sleeves now rolled back down, the vet once again donned a coat.
“But for a sleipnir to lose appetite for so long surely can’t be right.”
“That is simply because she is full—she is brimming with magic.”
“She’s full?”
“She’s brimming with magic?” They looked on in confusion.
As though realizing a little more explanation was required, the vet smiled and continued. “Sleipnirs are monsters. Unlike regular horses, their sustenance is magic. Wild sleipnirs can go for some time without needing another meal when they feed on magic-rich monsters. Though it would be unlikely from a monetary standpoint, domesticated sleipnirs can be fed monster flesh or quality herbs; perhaps this one has eaten something like that. A sleipnir moving around the city also does not expend much magic unless it uses body strengthening magic, therefore I believe that she merely does not need to eat yet. Monitor her and feed her when she needs to be fed.”
“Whew.”
“If anything, Number Twelve is in peak physical condition. Her restlessness is due to excess energy, so I recommend taking her for a long ride and letting her gallop it off. Oh, and be sure that her rider is very experienced.” Thus concluded the vet’s visit, leaving behind a relieved party.
The sleipnir in question had had her eyes fixed on the basket. “Seems like you can give her a treat, Dahlia,” said Volf.
“Everything has a dessert stomach anyway, right?” As Ivano’s audience giggled, Dahlia extended the sleipnir a single purple grape. Number Twelve nickered and lapped it up, tickling the palm of her hand. “I’m glad she’s perfectly fine, though I have got to say that it’s quite surprising that such a small amount could fill her stomach for two days.”
“I suppose it must’ve contained a great deal of— Oh! With that stuff, we wouldn’t need to bring fodder on our expeditions!”
“Sorry?”
“Ah! I’ll go gag the veterinarian right now. Marcella, you handle the staff at the station later.”
“Will do!”
“Who do we go to first, Ivano? The squad or my brother? Guido is home today.”
“Lord Guido, and as soon as possible! See if you can request we experiment on the other Scalfarotto sleipnirs too!”
“On it! Dahlia, once you’re finished here, head back to the tower.”
“Oh, uh, okay.” She couldn’t quite follow the conversation, but with everyone in such a great rush, she found it even harder to question them.