Spirit Worms were called "worms" not only because they truly looked like fat worms, but because they behaved like worms too.
Worms only ate, drank, slept, and grew.
Other than occasionally eating a little Jade Powder, Spirit Worms basically did nothing but sleep and grow. They had no other interests. Unlike little sprites and Mushroom Birds, they were not active all day, chirping noisily without stop.
So they normally did not become restless easily. If they did, there were generally only a few possible reasons.
Their Worm Grass was under threat, their lifespan was nearing its end, an unfamiliar member of their kind had approached, their contract master had been badly injured or had died...
Or they had reached a critical point in their growth and begun evolving into the next stage.
"Every other possibility can be ruled out. I even passed through the birch forest after returning from fishing, and everything there was normal... So only one possibility remains..." Russell took a deep breath and suddenly wondered whether the Grand Duke's Shadowflame Dragon truly was watching him.
Otherwise...
Why would this Fluorite Mushroom Bug, the first one he had contracted, become restless? With every other possibility eliminated, evolution was the only explanation left.
Very soon.
Jack, the Knight Retainer who served as captain of the Birch Forest Insect Grass Guard Squad, came galloping over on horseback and hurried into the manor's annex.
He reported to Russell, "My lord, the Worm Grass of the first Fluorite Mushroom is safe and sound, with no difference from usual. I also checked the Worm Grass of the second Fluorite Mushroom, and there have likewise been no unusual changes."
Russell had two Fluorite Mushroom Bugs. One had been gifted to him when Baron Roman granted him his fief, while the other had been a