The Wandering Witch Celeste

In the morning that followed, I created another book and began taking notes about the golem I wanted to make, and what type of materials I could use to make the golem and which one of those materials are easy to obtain. I wanted the base of the golem to be something that's easy to repair and the maintenance wouldn't be too tedious. And just as I was pondering this, a sudden downpour of rain happened. 

Thankfully, I was inside the cave when the downpour happened. I didn't have to worry about getting cold, as the hooded robe I had worn was capable of adjusting the temperature as long as I inject it with mana. 

"But, with this rain I won't be able to get any materials..." 

Since I still wasn't set on what materials I could use to create the golem, I took this opportunity to refine the notes I made earlier, but when I was back at the portion of the notes of what material to use, I just stared out unto the rain and on the ground where the rains kept falling, I fell into a deep thought. 

"I can't use wood, it would get weaker with wear and tear, especially since I keep getting approach by goblins and aggressive creatures. Meaning I also can't use earth or stone." 

I kept mumbling to myself as I look out unto the rains that kept falling unto the ground, it was then that I finally realized that the material I was looking for was right in front of me. It was mud, mud was the material I really needed right now and the best material for the golem 

Repairing and maintenance of the golem was easy as all I needed was some dirt and water, which was something I could conjure with magic, and another plus would be its physical resistance. This golem is going to be my vanguard, and with its physical resistance, it was a perfect fit for a vanguard. Most physical attacks would simply be absorbed or pass through the body of the golem, and the core could be placed or moved anywhere, which another thing good about the material. 

"All I need now is a core, and I can create a golem to accompany me deeper into the forest." 

I took [Verdant Staff] into both my hands as I focused my mind on the mana inside me, then focused my mind in the core that I wanted to create. 

"...<<>> Mana Core!" 

Mana started to flow out of me slowly gathering right in front of me, and as the mana gathered in front of me. The mana started to become a bit visible and slowly start to shine and as it shone as more of my mana flowed into it, the light suddenly burst brighter and a beautiful transparent crystal ball was slowly forming and as it was forming, the Core's appearance was mesmerizing as it looks like it contained the ocean inside of it, and when the mana stopped flowing out of me, the Core stopped forming and slowly descended unto the ground. 

As it descended unto the ground, my knees gave out and I fell to my knees still holding on to the [Verdant Staff]. 

"It looks like it ended just before I ran out of mana. Thankfully nothing went wrong." 

Mumbling to myself, I stared at the beautiful blue core which look like it contains a vast deep ocean within it. It seemed a bit fitting for the type of golem I was planning to make with it. A mud golem with a core that looks like it contains the ocean. 

I took out a mana regeneration potion and drank it as I leaned against the cold wall of the small cave, as I closed my eyes and stopped all thoughts inside my head and focused on recovering my mana both with my natural regeneration and the potion. 

Feeling the mana in my body slowly gathering inside me, I felt that I had enough mana to walk around and stand. I slowly and carefully stood up against the wall of the cave and picked up the core, staring at the beautiful core without any thought inside my head. It really was a beautiful core. 

I made my mana flow inside the core and with my mana entering the core, I followed the flow of mana to discover that the core had a big mana capacity and was currently empty of mana. It couldn't be used as a core just yet. 

Taking this opportunity, I went into the tent and slowly poured my mana into it, while the rain outside the cave continued to fall without stopping for even a moment. 

Mana was slowly and continuously flowing into the core the whole day, and just when the sun in the sky slowly descended, the light inside the cave slowly dimmed... the core was fully charged with mana, which meant I could finally use it as a core for the golem. 

Rain was still strongly pouring outside the cave. It seemed as if the rain will continue until tomorrow, but that wasn't really an issue, it was thanks to this rain that I didn't need to use [Water Magic] just to create mud. 

Walking to towards the entrance of the cave, I stop just before getting caught in the rain. Crouching at the entrance of the cave, I looked at the muddy ground in front of the cave's entrance. I was wondering whether I should just get myself wet to create a golem, but I didn't really want to get wet, so I used [Earth Magic] to create a small stump like structure to sit on, while I waited for the rain to stop. 

Just waiting felt a bit of a waste, so I practiced manipulating mana to acquire [Mana Manipulation] instead. I don't know if this was how I was before coming to this world, but it felt uncomfortable to just do nothing. 

. 

.. 

... 

As I keep practicing manipulating mana, the rain had died down to a certain extent. With the amount of rain no longer being an issue, I carefully walked around outside the cave. Looking for a large muddy puddle to use as the base of the golem. 

Finding an adequate muddy puddle, I crouch down near it and carefully placed the beautiful core on the muddy puddle, and began chanting and activated the [Golem Magic] 

"<< Form, from the depths of the earth, awaken and stand tall. 'Animate'>>!" 

The beautiful core was slowly being lifted by the muddy puddle, and as it rose to a certain extent the muddy puddle was slowly engulfing the beautiful core, forming a humanoid shape... A golem had now form in front of me. 

It had the general shape of a human; a head, arms, eyes and mouth but when it comes to its lower half it was just mud. When it walked towards me, it simply glided across the ground. However, there was nothing to worry about as its speed was good enough. Although a bit slow, it was enough for now. 

The mud golem glided closer to me, and when it was just a few steps away from me it stopped. The mud golem was staring at me with its hollow eyes, tilting its head a little to the left. It felt like it was waiting for something, while I was wondering what it could be, it had occurred to me that I had not yet given it a command to follow. 

"Why don't we give you a name first?" 

It felt wrong to just order it around and kept addressing the mud golem as "It", so I decided to give it a name. They say that a name is like a soul, and while I know the golem runs on magic and has no soul... It feels a bit lonely to just leave it as is, and it felt more intimate and human for it to have one. I wanted to give it a name, in the hopes that it will gain a soul, as well as become more human in the future. 

"What name would be good for you... you don't really have any unique characteristics to make a name for..." 

But there was... It was something that I had a difficult time finding and something that it's something I pondered for almost the whole day. 

"It's mud... muddy, no... how about Mirelle... It sounds cute and its closely connected to your origin. Your name will be Mirelle from now on, Mud Golem." 

Mirelle. That's what the mud golem's name will be from now on, and Mirelle will be protecting me as it accompanies me as I delved deeper in the forest, it will be a companion from now on, with warm feelings within my heart, I gazed towards the hollow eyes of Mirelle and told Mirelle my first command to follow. 

"Mirelle, please stay close and ensure my safety by guarding me as we move forward." I said as my lips slowly turn into a small smile, as I continued to gaze softly towards Mirelle. 

As if responding to my voice, Mirelle started to nod to my request. I was shock, if felt like it understood me. It felt more alive than what golem were. I didn't understand what was happening. Somehow, I couldn't control my thoughts and as if desperately hoping for something, I spoke to Mirelle. 

"...Mirelle, I hope that we can get along..." 

I felt stupid for doing something like this, but suddenly as if hearing my words and responding to it, Mirelle started moving its golem body. Mirelle sluggishly nodded its headed multiple times, and raising one hand above its head like a child, while I was surprised by this sudden action, something more surprising had happen afterwards. 

"Mii~" 

I was shocked to hear it also respond verbally to me. A high pitch noise came out of Mirelle as if speaking, I didn't know how to respond. I couldn't help myself; I couldn't hold it in, I didn't know what to do. With all sorts of thoughts raising inside my head, I noticed a warm and wet feeling slowly gliding on my face to my cheek. 

Placing my hand on my cheek, and slowly moving my hand up to my eyes. I know realized what was going on, and what I was feeling all this time. 

"...I was lonely all this time. I.. I have been lonely." 

It had been a month. Almost 2 months of being alone in this world, and when I thought I wasn't lonely, maybe at the start but it seems like I had been lonely this entire time. As this realization hit me, I couldn't stop myself from crying, and soft sobs would occasionally come out, as I fell to knees in front of Mirelle. 

Mirelle lowered itself, still looking at me with its hollow eyes but now it felt more alive than before. It felt warm. I reached out my hand towards Mirelle's hand and held it, without fully caring about getting my hands muddy. However, my hands didn't get dirt, nor did it feel cold... 

Mirelle's hand on top of my own felt incredibly warm.