Sleep wasn't brought by my collapse. I was plagued by a lingering restlessness, a prickling bit of caution that blocked my eyes from fully closing. Instead, I used my granted time to keep watch of the door whilst against a desk, an arm slung over my knee.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhuYk5qjBZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPxbCS3mMv
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3fQ8DRiSM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvBkeqA4So
Juke joined me in my resting. The both of us eyed the door, keeping careful watch for any sudden enemies. It probably wasn’t the best course of action, I realized, as that dean was likely to get in trouble. But he was out of sight, and thus, for the time being, out of mind.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8ob6ZhcVL
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzzK7fBMMz
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkAzQZA0oU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ra5L3J8ga
“There are thousands of better ways to say I have a sullen or exhausted face. Take your helmet off; I’m certain you aren’t faring any better.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4kbMNcqnn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfApFscdCm
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxSCpAQ3yw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqV0b5yWML
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gSKOYsSCt
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuesm2oMCJI
“Well?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbhuo9K8O8
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOM8HVKZzO
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQLgendApN
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktwVbBcLCE
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh8BUYv9hQ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo5eEoyAPg
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOqK7GNXSC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf3mb7rdxL
He stroked his lengthy stubble in contemplation. I let him do that and continued glaring at the entrance, waiting but hoping not for something to pop out.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVjpRl7Fbs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmFCPt52V9
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0JHgjyDRJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqPZ5YALTa
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yRwEF677V
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBNtooNyIq
He grabbed it and rotated it to spot the marks left by the Bringer’s blade. They were very obvious once he pointed them out, making me feel dumb for not noticing them.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnQwAUdntj
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAFTfjGO8I
“I’m glad, cuz it means I ain’t gotta get a new one. And if I had ta, I can’t, since I’m stuck in this crazy place. And ta think I still got another tower to fight…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Znk5rBAT4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR60bUI1xJy
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW51oNaxJPT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiQluZG08S
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVZ4kfeMY9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mkRQw1YR2
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1SotJDZrR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n5xGb8ydI
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjU8ov9JYw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bu6iOETyd
“...Yeah.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutsm8VVQZ7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLHqsdrdqP
Though I had my frustrations, he was right. I was convinced, not just by Juke, but by my own distorted feelings to go back and fight. I was as to blame as he was. Still–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpyLrvwP2f
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoS5oEDUwC
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJo6gg5tFh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVyDCcQRQB
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0UHPifpQ4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ1mreOPGd
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBUXZscTIY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjSEpZdkc8
Juke chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue. Little gestures like that dulled my festering feelings. He returned to his resting face. But when I looked at it closer, it was more rigid and fierce than the face of a resting man.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7cilIoBJU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb95celvJJ
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ9ikwE2oQ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ47DRagV8
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOvMJHPJlA
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvlPXnlAtg
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBFRvBYAd5
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJwAVN4oqV
“...?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7SoKh1ZYT
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At that, I had to tilt my head.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOq7KIWSYg
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“It’s a detour, certainly, but this furthers our goals, doesn’t it? The Retaliation Crowd are going to help us with our goal after this.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUm64XLRxO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz0fV14L1F
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJO5wJZMJy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt0sau6eP5
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV1F62puK7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeijtyiWFqG
“Dennis still ain’t here.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFws9lRZLYu
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzobIbFctW
“...”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBRHgJUTXo
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrjFiOvIgh
The bubbling fumes within me died down immediately. It was difficult to stay mad when I saw Juke’s forlorn face. But at the same time, I struggled to see it justified.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT4wb8d59S
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb5M0ziigl
“I don’t really get it. I mean, I understand wanting to help an acquaintance, but you make it out as if he’s a lifelong friend–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkSROfOCSf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1FUO04LvX
“I get what yer sayin’ kid. Ya ain’t entirely wrong, but it’s more complicated than that. I know ya well enough to make it click. Gimme a second.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqVWdFubkr
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80KAHP4I80
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dm6XYixLh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQV70q1ey2
“Think of it this way, kid: let’s say I got an apple, and that I need to eat it within twenny minutes, and if I don’t eat the apple in twenny minutes then I should jump off a buildin’.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXNWoJBe5o
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXcUxgTcAB
“--!? W-What!?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlqLT9R30Y
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KcqB0ZXTq
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jc3yplW1O
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbLRDnk7Gl
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0OwybyvXP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Xfd4Hmoc
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgIIolfpD3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ5HNSHgKP
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvFqXgjWtQ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBUo02aHVa
Though I still had my eyebrows raised, I did what was told of me. I pinched my chin and stared at the ceiling, wracking my brain and hoping an answer would fall for me to grab. It didn’t come to me very easily, and I looked at Juke with a slight plea in my eyes. He read it immediately and urged me to keep thinking. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi53ERBhF2E
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zpe4WBnC1
I sighed. At the same time though, I figured it was a good use of time, and I knew that playing by his rules would make me understand him better. So I ruminated away. I thought of it from Juke’s perspective at first and realized that wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Then I thought about it regarding recent events– aside from the fighting, that argument we had came up, and a shudder from my shoulders urged me to stop that train of thought. Then, taking how he said it would click for me into account, I thought about it as if I was the Kenneth Juke knew.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyK7VSqEFZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvqUFwGCrA
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLppyBP7oZO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56EIdTkW7F
“If you’d kill yourself over an apple… that must mean it has a lot of sentimental value. But it isn’t just a sentiment that makes it that way.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh9U5fWIq2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFRqJFaBsf
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH92b6AwXkx
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVqEabyyGx
“It’s like the shape of a grant. Because you said that the apple meant something, that apple became a symbol. Because you made the terms that this apple’s consumption is correlated with your life, you’re putting stock into it. You’re giving it something greater than sentimental value; you’re making it a wager. Either I’m good enough to eat this apple, or I’m not good enough to live.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucmXhqGosL
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1X2oCtP5k
“...”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbAoTleFNv
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9hcDleNl6
I looked at Juke for a response, but what I thought would be a satisfied face just looked a little lost. My face must’ve looked really surprised.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrXQjPU2ho
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFUwHGvk5W
“Ya ain’t wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a wager. It’s more like a checklist. One that ya just have to fill.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUhJLiXANY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ931FqlK7JW
“I-I see…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn7L5OTqR4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEddtxola9
My analogy must have gone too off the rails. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking like Juke enough. Either way, the side effect of going on such a thought train made itself prominent. The sparks of my earlier declaration rekindled, and I grew proud– but only slightly –for making it to this top floor.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySE8EirsOi
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdREC8EntEb
“Seein’ Dennis safe n’ sound is one of those checks. I got a few other ones, but they’re too private to tell ya. And others, I don’t really get.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla07B3Rt9m
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OLImGoV0S
“You don’t, ‘get?’”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUWMlA3BYs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkoHLreZlO
“Y’know, when–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV9hUEmZhH
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscYxwXWKiU
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrKx5mEnaz
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzBj4RcXOy
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX047LiAFW3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIbMVytA8h
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM3z9Qkjw9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeu4f18UO0
**SLAM**295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLWptMLInS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj85mmTf6N
A loud, thundering sound rang through the dusty room, startling Juke and me and putting our senses on high alert. Juke put one hand on his handle, and I already called the tendril forth and aimed it at the sound. It came from the door; now it was opened all the way, but the figure responsible wasn’t behind the other side.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqJjaLI1B0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp02rikLjo
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz7hLHLfpZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNGwC6b7ta
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNz19YHn48
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiuCHSAUHa
The head belonged to the dean of the Pillar. He waltzed in haphazardly taking little steps and checking every inch of the room. When his eyes landed on the Bringer, he squeled for a moment, but quieted down once he noticed all the blood.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl1pAOmFpc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA2YGpDCDS
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQto0BRBarh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjOuYgADm9
“M-Mister Dean.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJkVfIEL9s
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNe8R7gnTe
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9fHMN27NU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurz0bX3uMe
“Yes, child?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqmpgEyRcq
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cxFgoBf0N
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX59EwE6jR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIVwTjQilR
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLCfhgROQ2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPpt7rNhNa
“R-Right.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrkQ1NT0ap
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEIRF9AzxH
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva660tKxcC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOhnzvKxG3
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5o8ZOKEuF
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtmvsqm8my
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99JMMomJWS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XnTqatDYG
From behind the Dean came a soft voice. A voice of confidence and care, a voice I’ve grown fond of over the past day. And seeing the holder of that voice cross the threshold made me retract my tendril, and put a hand on my chest in relief.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy5BgNWNBc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3ctYE1gLA
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ076MfcoGJA
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEMgZAg9t6
–
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–
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–
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With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFJCAMu2gc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemleweYJY3
Though it wasn’t without casualties, the foreign pillar was rid of pesky Bringers. Its control was seized by the Retaliation crowd, and the Dean still being alive was a great relief.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KCUXgwMpg
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdRSgWL2tU
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMkc3wfg8u
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFgENfquBC
Either way, we had what I was assured was an invaluable asset. I didn’t see how in the moment, but as I was taken to the answer, Lola elucidated me about the status.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqSm2juzjc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohVxwCTQxy
A majority of the crowd hunkered town at the top. One floor with wide windows served as an excellent watch tower, and ranged specialists were tasked with observing the parameters. The floors above were converted into restrooms or hospital rooms. A few crowd members ventured to the lower floors to gather all the food and water available, of which there was a grand amount. It made sense, as all of those supplies belonged to the Bringers beforehand. Half a dozen of the healthiest and uninjured watched the first floor and the surrounding city, both defending from infiltrators and–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9JDZWPN8G
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg3lrQHaZJ
“They’re looking for recruits. If fighters see that we have the most important building under control, they’re more likely to join the effort.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFlQu8gy1H
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcERjENXlLi
“Haven’t you explained that already?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0t5TPEPiR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gRA2Lden7
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaU5FIa5Vy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBIpYrWfRr
“What’s that?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEOq6D3sCa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU8M7kaGr4
Lola turned around and crossed her arms. She nudged her head to Dave who was beside her, and with a sigh, he stepped forth and spoke.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG7thXLkjL
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrvbMyrti8
“Everything is done in two ways here. Either letters or signals. Old man Jackson was always responsible for the latter. We do not have Jackson anymore, so unless we make a lot of noise, we can only commune with letters.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRix0YFEDm3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j0X1choKP
I realized the implications immediately. Even if fighters were available, everyone was in hiding. Nobody knew the state of the central Pillar, and I doubted that the crowd’s existence was well-known either. But then I remembered the prowling Pars and Dave from yesterday and asked:295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqhFXlJ13h
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTNQ7BUSIt
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedqKNYUEK3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxBRfWXN0N
“We thought so too. But we don’t want mages to waste their mana on mere fireworks, so we thought of something better. Since Hard-Bringer miraculously hasn’t set the city ablaze, it’s very quiet out.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm2iPBX57U
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwQO9ps8V7
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiChmCFVP1Y
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx6aE0f8hg
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrlm9nWryK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP4kkhgRTF
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sbPWVK36i
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsxMl02zaV
I followed them further, in a location past the Dean’s office. Hidden by a camouflaging door, the room I entered was lit and energetic but smelled foul.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BbwzvArfb
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfYlldttRo
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVtm4We2UX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag5eWl8QvQ
The room itself was decently spacious, but that detail didn’t attract me. Rather, it was the presence of wooden walls and fences, the hallmark infrastructure of a city stable. Only, it was far tidier and metallic than most.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iP6Pv5d3W
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gXaayB5qp
“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsf6xYSnbS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0bdRWM5gk
“GAH! W-Why is this here?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK9eTnqGJC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMrlFx5y90
A creature resided within the stall. One with reins around its beak, and one with a stature I’ve seen deceased more often than alive. The Communication City’s signature raptor.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebFh3A9Vzf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRGK8Ha8KI
“It’s the Dean’s private delivery bird. It’s specially trained to traverse the city walls, as its tight curves and winding streets are difficult for the average one.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUM30orJ5p
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRl11oQ7ke
“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVuBTLd6O9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfblUqV81y
The raptor leaned its head over the gated fence, staring at me with wide, occasionally blinking eyes. I didn’t know what to do. I was never in close proximity to one, and I never had one look at me like I was some kind of puzzle.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY05Syg7y0w
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Z5saOjBD
“I think it likes you, child.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfUY5flX3q
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn1d4PrwLN
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8zJZmiwG3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkpZLMT4dw
The Raptor’s gaze grew more intense. It appeared that he was trying to see into my soul, and I felt like an ant under its wide eyes.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUhoEp148w
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalhtGEIGW1
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p1lGx1ZM8
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“Hah?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOfvvxM1YF
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGmGSj3sV
“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiNsQNaJPG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaQTSKzZTh
“I… smell like flowers?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcu3vXVGua
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM00UWLiDyO
I looked around the room for an answer, and everybody present nodded simultaneously. I was completely taken aback, more because of the shock than anything else.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz9urbsihy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHOvWtVK3F
“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGYi08Ipd1
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFkU3wX1FJ
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d9NSyAf9E
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImzNnV27kg
“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjL5L8tXJM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7tWPO6Xcf
“Really? I didn’t know that…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmzDVHpvt2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2tGxzXIhs
“Ahem, moving on–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiInCuRvnT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkSDQuCWju
Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKjQRl13u1
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVPGv90coI
“The plan of action is quite simple. We’ll have someone riding this beast, sprinting around the town, and yelling about our victory. The Raptor’s speed can be easily modulated, so escape from any roaming bringers is easy.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUmgD4s5oY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkKeWAdja9
I understood what he was saying. I even agreed with it. Though shaky, it was a great and efficient plan with the resources we had. What clogged my throat, however, wasn’t the plan itself, but the subtle insinuation of telling me this plan. So, I had to ask:295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2enWewrWHO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm96nn7O3f
“May I know why I’m being told this?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXZr5UCWP7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ1RyTse6H
“If you think it’s because we’ll make you do that, don’t you even worry. We’re not so cruel to put a child in such danger, are we, Dave?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEl2aoxdGf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBTg6WvmA1
Lola seized all my worries immediately, causing me to let out a happy sigh. I wasn’t even bothered by her mentioning of me being a child, as I welcomed this discrimination just this once.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBpwFQf49j
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEgNftVEFQ
“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UWHl29vln
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhPtLTOre7
“My help, you say…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnfAygafeY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg4rofGoRM
It wasn’t such a terrible request, though I had no idea how I could. I waited for elaboration, since they looked eager to hand it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJLJRT7WlK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H1uWiXa40
“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPGFNRUQOq
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1PEYm8prO
“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPo9dv3vKj
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeuceyd9mm
“--Anyhow, your skills are most needed. A single raptor can’t traverse every corner of this city without some help, so I was wondering: do you happen to know how to make energizing potions?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCpkK0SFL0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFAEvcJC3r
“...Energizing potions?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0t3S3sm88
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Zcunbjl7
I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwWa6HtDwN
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszWGkDgAjP
“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjkGXoVqmm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVjN9rr1x9
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCc8ZMzXBl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z8vlohSZ1
“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCneXZPMXv5
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxSXzSJTPA
“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3DNeNDiic
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGswa8x251H
I turned my head at Juke and stoutly narrowed my eyes. He didn’t notice until a few seconds passed, and he jolted when he saw me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvKfRcvdH7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoapr4ryjF
“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf75bn4ahP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy5y26Kw31
“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ce1pyBOLe
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBLmAQyfHW
I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAOA9Hf7KS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Vrc4kQNL
“Is something wrong?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACaX8nuhz9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFQBRB8Ck5
Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82xHkzoKa5
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOJRGz1QBq
“Well, kid–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGc1ZJqA3H
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblJhtjY2NG
Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq5xLpxCFh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc216RNuce2
“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tYZ7MYN8F
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjteRLcPWk4
After a moment of droning silence, Lola and Dave looked at me, nodding in agreement with Juke. I didn’t know what to say, but I had complete composure to react. Nothing within me flared up, only a single sentence popped into my mind.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8avgg5C4f9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA5EWEgQbT
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcoohAm92l
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeQR8CXedQ
Whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I had a special duty to perform, and that duty took prescedence. Before leaving the room, I asked Lola where supplies were stored, and once I was told I began moseying through the Dean’s room.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtlQzUFh7s
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfqeEo61Sq
Their perplexed looks didn’t slip by me. I had never seen such a face before, but I knew what it was. I knew it because I’ve made it, albeit a much harsher version. It was the face of a witness to the breaking of boundaries, the erasure of an image of the person one knows. I wasn’t bothered by it– If anything, being looked at that in that way was oddly relieving. But I still couldn’t stand it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcnJodrkb3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvdJyBOvyB
“...Comfortable.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWNHihtHkc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF5BKFD9IV
I mouthed that word a couple of times. Juke always had a fascinating way of phrasing things. Comfortable. I spoke it, I whispered it, I thought it and I chewed it. Comfortable.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Mk62dIei
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mWjenyOQk
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–
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This process… wasn’t quite nostalgic. I didn’t know what nostalgia even felt like, but I knew that if I was just five years older, I would be sorely missing performing this.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCso3NQGko
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwZPzFZ5Re
Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNo4GJeB2f
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJtJYowdWn
Even with all my experience, I wasn’t afforded time to let my thoughts stray and frolic into useless concepts. All my focus was directedto the task at hand, the busy method of making an endurance potion. Oh, how I missed it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4EQispPqQ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH458Cg2DCF
“...A little bit here.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj4oGZeE0V
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAbCVf6Pvv
It took a moment for me to shake of my rust, but as it was only a little over a week since I last did this, I felt good as new afterward. I was performing mana suspension with utmost precision. I’ve made this particular potion so many times, I could just let my hands take it away. Still, as I was going through the process and remembering the materials, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my throat that told me something was off. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4jOkoEieT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDMzvENhhx
And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODaRfbw0ih
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o29U1pUfa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnNmuJDGrK
As I stood in a little booth, there was one natural ingredient from the heap of materials that I was missing: fat. There wasn’t an ounce of raw fat anywhere.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbm22Pc0x7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbqEqdQV3I
I sighed and rubbed my head. I knew that I didn’t look hard enough, but having to descend to another floor to pick up something I already should have was a complete hassle.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD6pyJiCQC
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“No time to waste, though.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKfhPpgROD
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So I stood up and exited. The booth was one of several in a particular room. Every booth was an office space repurposed into whatever the circumstances demanded, and I was lucky enough to get one for myself. There were a couple of crowd members up here chatting, and I made sure to wave and grant small greetings as I passed by.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvB3ASJm63
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I reached the stairs shortly after, and while descending them, I thought of how exactly I was going to acquire any fat. I’m sure there was meat as part of the rations, but from the few sparing glances I took, they all seemed dry. The only wild animal in here had a mission to complete, and I didn’t fancy the idea of killing an animal just for a potion. I reached the floor amidst my thinking and figured that I would figure it all out once I got there.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjW6tduOec
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I walked through, waved at those who waved at me, waltzed to the mock-up kitchen organized by a couple of members, and inspected. Indeed, I found out that I did not figure it out once I got there.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IsqhofHus
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“...Crap.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYI52hAev1
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW682VahWSR
My index and thumb were on my chin, and the arm that held them rested on my other. But looking like a philosopher didn’t manifest what I needed, and I eventually dropped the pose and sighed.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLBZo9r2X3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfmWjtaYYM
“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUZTO0dJJw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kGAFDPB3P
Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVg4GT6g2x
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8Fe3XQZaH
“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWs7TL1TpJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8eIErgMrb
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SPwcThxuk
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r8ld905Or
“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QLe6UrT1W
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aNOZgtLzl
“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49H6G1Wek9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfCqP7B6PQ
She pointed with a spoon to the corner of the floor. In that corner, small, lidded buckets were clustered together. They looked to be made of wood. But, those details aside, what I noticed was how nobody was within ten meters of them.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtCS7e7pVh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelfR5gNgDy
“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB2fSkFo3U
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaIYKJ1YmL
And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bhYkahINg
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“It’s from spoiled meat. We didn’t have salt or ice or nothing to keep it preserved, so it’s already home to the bugs. Crazy how it turns to junk so quick, isn’t it?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGdAm3G8JX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeMn7LUNso
“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ9u1tol5W
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdM10CZhzE
With my back slumped over, I hobbled to the corner with a profound frown. I thought of maybe taking my tendril and producing some kind of flower, but none of their aromas were strong enough to suppress that stench.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNxBhUZA9V
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttBiOyX6D7
“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6uBiZqMj2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMfw7cm3mO
“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZniy6H0Oy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKgrgVBP5A
I cut my sentence short because, unlike the feminine voice of the lunch lady, the one I heard had the sound of a gentleman. What’s more, I recognized its timbre.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYYWz2eU3D
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDUuhv22Zy
“N-Nigel!?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXisSTxig5g
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcq96HfmCe
“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyQObWcvfi
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmsedKEMKH
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40LUKTF683
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmZFsl8OO0
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kcb8ys7s3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKrzMfSh9w
“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuOF7COjqO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugdBl2wCfM
“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrMuoFRe0L
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkw3OxVZ1h
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGDFN2kDQp
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i5E13xQdt
“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3lvM0N7xn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr8VrgYFrT
He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZDvFpTU4Q
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjF4D0ohcw
“Is this… a clamper?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8tYiDE9ic
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlRl4UkyyT
“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRb4jkqvph
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkFqYNLiHY
–
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–
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Nigel’s presence was a lucky blessing. Another pair of hands was one thing, the knife was another, and the clamper was nice, but what I was truly thankful for, was having someone to talk to while I groped and tore stale, smelly, stonymeat.
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qeDLOigAp
“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTOoloyTWC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CPLSQf4Wy
“That I asked you?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jXBL2V3rG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25FYG4XjKp
I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp23aOBga3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYR4EMq6JV
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFQR0UiWGF
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpHxL5W4TB
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsE35tEaND
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMeE7JRdcB
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g2LAqTGQC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBLMz7DGDJ
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UVwaF6bZa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYzUX9RYJH
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTywS6z9wK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdoqIiotl1
“How did you–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYSVnnjldv
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JZYOiCzcw
“I was behind the crowd the whole time. I had everyone’s backs in front of me, so I started keeping track of the members, seeing who was there and who left by the kind of hair or weapons you all had. And, well… at some point, I noticed the head you were with changed at some point.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5krSZr0JVT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6rGudMHbN
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2saY84qUm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPAmLTsL1A
He continued cutting as he spoke.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF1geZXJiC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZm2BgaWFq
“Yeah. Damon died during the big ambush. One of the six casualties we suffered. I was left without a partner for the rest of the raid.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSnxPIHLAn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLzm3ZyaAr
He looked at his hand. I stopped my own cutting, and my limbs twitched, urging me to reach out and do something. But the only thing I could muster was a few consoling words.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hwmM9HVoT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbKisyiwsg
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9zO3qPK6U
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5acVrrMLTg
“...Do you think so? He and I fought a lot, I wouldn’t call him a good friend. Just a colleague. Besides, things like these happen in the field.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cYH6mLqvq
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTZQJwDnmJ
He said those words. He said those words coolly, without wavering hands or trembling lips. His cutting paused, and his eyes seemed to stare off into nowhere, but I couldn’t read anything from his profile. A part of it relieved me, and another made me want to scamper away.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoa6sGp8Fr
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQYDDNFKvl
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xxBkEbYM4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiV4EPoR0l
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg29uEWJIJs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jyCSLPxQX
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsc1XBuUcZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacfmsUHG25
His switching of the topic was decisive, so I decided to halt my scary thinking. I sighed and paused my motions, reaching for stored memories I preferred to forget. However, the deeper I dug, I had to wonder:295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLfUCTuyak
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5lMVAVO7t
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1HrDFrx6L
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOa3kwmcY2
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GAU4jmhgU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4A9EhDG6Q
“I… darn it, you got me there.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8HjrfqWSO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxs5E8j8Rn
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEwQmeC0gg
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kBsWZNuPb
“It was me and Juke. He and I were partnered, and for the most part, we just whizzed by the rooms. The one we had to tackle was that of the Dean’s, and for what it’s worth, our fight went smoothly. No major injuries, we weren’t too tired, nothing.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL0PKOC8la
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHerdLD6OG
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS85bPDqdp
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8NO3ofTA1
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaIfXkQOAn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauKBUvDE9E
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0mMOdMRUp
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cH2Pe4Wzb
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwe6CLijsU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW03knw0gT
I looked at him with pursed lips.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLXIYIAYQt
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tCNmvQFkN
“Why not?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFxjhH1AXl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl779x0Z6T
“Lady fortunate dictates only half the battle, and it's never the half that’ll be the coup de grace. She is the roof of the house, and man is the foundation; without you, she would simply collapse.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjE2gs6vMk
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5u0LDwRam
“That’s… an interesting way of looking at it. But I’m not convinced. I mean, we even ran into an opponent we already beat.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bzsSZt9xp
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqIIQs7buS
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQtndqERFY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVWEqaPLg1
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLQqIQvDBR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuP1xwkjA4
“--!”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYp0AHPrnD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0tnEhrZf4
Though my gut still told me something was awry, my mind was convinced by his words. I took it with a grain of salt, and taking it with such a sully still loosened my facial muscles. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMqmw6YeQd
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHsvrXy3yN
“Did anything else happen?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHcXHgPYb1
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzsyKjgld8
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OhHINhGJ2
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XPUeo1Lna
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYTa7SoObU
“I forgot to tell Lola and Dave about some information we learned. Juke might’ve already said it, but I still want to make sure.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrob1IWDfS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljcXNkRB1P
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoTK7Tlg2m
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiatiSMK29
“Uh…”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiMxLJOObJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WtNDQH60z
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xg9QAnM4E
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2f32IT62f
“I don’t see why not. The gist of it is that Hard-Bringer has a grade-zero mana spinner, so it’s prodigalto let enemies slip away.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ztob35WqP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsKmgGeJz1
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsujK4FtMAl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweJ4WiE8Yr
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBBInJDdT2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyST0Al9ZaN
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGszqg7Syyx
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc6A3K36Rw
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoPMz3DJuj
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYyyhX9MPT
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0YVGo3iNM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBoMc9UU8Q
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJvaTGUnDs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcaLza39hb
“...O-Oh.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9Lcm9roc2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5bwHIQOsU
I realized then that there was a great misunderstanding. I didn’t quite know how to address it, but I decided to take a swing anyway.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslPE50CJ8X
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TEyOlVM85
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUc98liaDC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN9THHLOPs
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdrKNf5Eyb
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsfZY7zeNR
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjNw5ZhzRY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRLcuZqwEp
“Make sense? How?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZsqLECCGX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qBEE5wUml
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj9nxxcx7b
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauHBK53AHM
“When Damon died, I had to make a quick adjustment. My intuition told me to stick to our agreed formation, and I was advised by a buddy there to group up with her. I did, and we spoke for a minute, but when–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2FPQAfzyy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ydqnlGmXt
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXfCUZ0CRR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUThPhMTkO1
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxTqQsSroE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNZP6qjabt
“I was the last to leave the room. You left right before me. I gave her a look, and I think she understood it. I’m very particular with my messaging faces.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAalTw1Keaa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBrgvxn7fE
“So she still fought alone, eh?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TBqrc2DoA
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IvkbYQOEB
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZtgZqpqzv
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzpGC3uCcU
“Relieved? How come?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUMmAjSvr3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQGFMaaZja
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX871rkL16A
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHx3vIW8Fy
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXYYx8RMPG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW58YYKjnc
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MqrLvoNBy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iXu9hsPKX
“You’re probably good friends with her.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp7n5mHNWg
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5HNLMIpWT
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB67PF2sRZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSlQ4VL2Xq
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WRn7rjq3k
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsStRfFCQ1
He continued his peeling without care while I sat still, shaking and stupified. An outrageous conclusion, an unbelievable string of words, worming its way into my ears and trapping the nerves that signaled my limbs, the engine that ran my thoughts.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZNrefy32a
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpPln0engB
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGJ7zpZlfm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnecFsEi5h
“H-Hurt? What happened?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtHK65uQ3Y
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxlSh0B2jD
“I don’t know the details, but she couldn’t walk when I saw her. She was making one hell of an uproar though, so it’s nothing permanent.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbtQrV73p4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGp5XdLija
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR05C6ylSh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcnjnOcUuw
“I got a suggestion for you. I know your relationship is shaky with her, but believe me, what I’m about to advise is good for your health.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPEZ3CICEJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6i2qKI1ne
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4OLm6YHTy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8UAw5u1IK
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RyFfLt9k5
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY1nrkE5vm
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt38n796VZc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMRisGyIi7
He shrugged.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC8aQHZJqh
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw41Ovm4v3V
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2So79pvGVS
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW19pzzA2W
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Hrq8lH0v
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9a1eAm2Du
I stared at the blubbering mass. It was small enough to fit into my hand, and though it would feel gross, it would be light as a feather as I carried it back to my mock-up lab. But I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Because now that chunk was no longer an ingredient, a box to check for my task’s completion. It was a rope; a rigid line to drop me into the depths.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbZyW4IVHz
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiCD3tKsVY
All those thoughts, all those tingles, all that premonition and ominous prospecting. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. So I had to.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX17KG3yaP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdA8v1FEpB
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQevAuq7PHM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wAcHTHmbF
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI4D00rcbB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn0JdvaoFU
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWHDMLWBUu
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz92vOlL4aV
I picked up the fat, momentarily amazed at how he cut so much so quickly, and waved him goodbye, making my way to my lab and steeling every twitching fiber in me.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfRt1oR2s7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlbqQJDWlw
–
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bUNV9V9rf
–
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdthMYvwBi
–
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ85Uc2aYT
“...Role model.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5rS2tXuI0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRgaek5XWI
Nigel’s hands were a complete mess, covered in gore that assaulted his nostrils. At least as a soldier, the flesh he bled wasn’t rotten. This was a new experience, and in some ways, he was glad about it. He was glad he didn’t run his mouth. He was glad the kid didn’t notice his hands.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrZ6txlKNO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJY7L9W0XD
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKhugn6Nm8
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNKV9VitKu
He stood up and brushed his palms against one another, though all that grime would need more oomph to come off. He sighed and tucked his knives away since the kid let the other loiter on the ground.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBcdQoauy9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3sQF2kefS
“I’m not cut out to be a role model. But I’m glad that kid’s doing good. I’m glad you’re not here either, man.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2OP24hkeW
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTJs6i8Vmq
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9p3MBerNe
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Sf7WWvzS0
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVS6gTxOk9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P23XaEYEE
His legs came to a sudden halt. They jerked to and fro, but they didn’t make one nudge of distance. Nigel scoffed and laughed, looking at his disobedient limbs with a hopeless smile.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr4n3drKhr
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmuNwYk5ZH
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTsTSJUHD7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ8wGl9QTQ
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
