The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLPZgTrH1Z
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYCEdFiUiH
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAQUVyj4TK
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwMJiTHTxd
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm7LeOyA1v
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqJADiFBKm
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ExdShpSvS
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvyiAFr0FU
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilSHDqVR4x
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Ni2SxTMd
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6WnaxM7H4
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67zEXtjLr2
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7geZSBIWjL
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEKuppIG4Q
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3fvuKGNJW
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMnBsfA7ry
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr1VORCXwl
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SA0zqvKlM
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolOdPPLxOx
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHmPgnwMKn
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgegZLrBQEH
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGYrkiMuYE
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9qO5f1XcC
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pF7rFI7aa
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1tf0rt5JG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAICmeX1f83
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHrUPSQvu4
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl90FdS0ur
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAOdJu0eaB
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkcg1cU1WZ
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGZBweYDmB
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7P6Ir9zN6
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF8fTqBmt3
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQPWiHhzkH
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr4MMFDP0p
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHfAjCE9Rp
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRCbn1LcP4
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYemrwhNU42
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkkyzc7jiQ
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXKaG3nnep
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Wl7P9MDB
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgK6DdAmPx
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYcK7xp228
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeJVhBG0wd
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjRC6q4HBE
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjnFa2zap1
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuBa8UqxS8
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAfFaChcuK
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hcio1M8FP
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJijaV0gaNB
"What's the matter?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhZBubcEUP
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ODIZgucK
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvSnpSmtEs
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYIaafcg3c
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGitnYcUBt
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua3NCzNqpx
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJzYYXnch2
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHcxMj98WK
"Of course."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrSokk9agc
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeicvmAbXEX
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXjODS1mtj
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3sZTQQ9jU
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKihEITQahw
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWSeFZGsC3
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXo4gt3Us10
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao2TAJtuyw
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9kkqn4Jy2
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnQajmVLk8
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBml7pJmVLj
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziTDZStJtI
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWBSrEvGNT
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZyyx2U8lq
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLnDfIJHRH
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlt5TDQ0GK
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0wSAkXYCi
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXg2owpcWU
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN6i4fQoJr
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4WQZMOEPG
"...Probably?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDH4K9exfR
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqsYslQBmK
"Sorry, definitely."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInFlxeWqbq
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xt4XT3oAk
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLlTULTCIP
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgRSLVAQDV
"Food's ready!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5elaEYvRYt
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKsv61M2AU
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwZVzoC0yp
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghug4B8Srv
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmsJeLASXm
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzumhCMqqGL
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkl9u1JTte
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFH1cG9dec
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9qVKNMMvq
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmEUJgtmbg
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvrj4hMmER
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvdc3jff5J
"Are you asking me?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOdLX5xOsH
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztg4hNinPF
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSkzLyd6Z3
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUAIGhvx6k
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6zzWnoWDV
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL7bJNMIJ7
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8Dff2SYLK
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RaV2ddLsa
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsKq4VJtAQ
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl38Tx6fzU
It felt heavenly.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjyKLiARRB
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysUMuLEgD6
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVUEpgOPfq
"What are you reading?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju1myAty8M
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B9jNf9AMk
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBHkYFJB4p
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaz5n6bZRd
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqHpjpSAFG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnM90wtZBH
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBYCBpX0h6
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQe7zxTbdh
"...It's a book about magic."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwwaBq8BPM
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJycnj67Dy
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjjPGjFkUN
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUQKtkhAnW
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnmjPgIS9V
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPXNIOkZxX
"Y-Yeah, of course."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlRp618Wq3
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpFWN0GqSx
She didn't sound very excited.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tkgSY6Ms3
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06HU4BD06g
"Do you want to practice right now?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu1aQZT4kG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2XG0m12iA
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSTmXDTas1
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM576lxPDif
"If you say so."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0dbi9JcOA
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGwVhsZR4i
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIM3bPyqU8
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDai6QQ87JE
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbCHCaYrPk
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZFhIJUpMe
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxASc8162Fh
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEyM7VUgRs
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XBLceqHvF
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK8hLZb2B2
"...Did he decline?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeYAUddXas
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QYt8xFkib
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAD5q4dkuR
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyyrmi2rLI
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFPdRfgLrD
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNV187hfqm
She paused and stared at the sheets.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQapoiDux85
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdYfghYlC1
"Today was the first time I made a spell."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBiyd4YJhG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavL0h27ZFQ
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ6GsABS6s
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0sqNk9uzn
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByRzEFfn6v
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPfbSQIo1p
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVKUcLdpcz
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB1mjVXSjp
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8nIcD6wo2
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6mzYviwiD
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnwsGHwARc
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdteKDtH1Ga
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkWJKQbYEA
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSxFrRiWKP
We sat in silence for a few minutes.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraEbkbOoWM
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSfUgP3Mbn
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeb43r2zhm
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOKpXGegW0
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I1QTuJRqo
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESWkaZ9RQp
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OM9WAYcMj
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gMJoNHKph
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Op8USyvX8
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFpJbltjTd
She shook her head no.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP3rbwaCZ8
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXsa14z1iU
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFXHxRsei6
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTRUxwSigR
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Vfw8WCCEb
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMcUmPylGh
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ac2OcbtHj
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXrXwrhZl2
I felt like I made a mistake just now.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmcRtYGNK9
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uao7TCOXx
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPcIPNnAoF
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFwSEoGya5
"What is it?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaEwKXTfaj
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2L5VN6Wns
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3r9mDphkc
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ8VUSrw0I
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIxS20ag6E
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GxcPZGEBk
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vpe4AKt0K
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6TCHbn8R9
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ou6Y9DtvH
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP56Z1h18r
"I know I can do that! But, well..."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiGo8VCSvW
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEjNNTVSMt
She had her fingertips conjoined.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pWHestNbG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5AI19j75W
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4AqaSO98B
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IYMhG7MIm
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZJdcUkkEu
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVYymiyRs6
"Alright, I'll show you."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbbStddGQU
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJGTDe5BtE
"Yay!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahu5sUUt4Z
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUXd3eokSf
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx21jrfDPY
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxogvXJQcD
"I think it's best if we do this outside."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iiqY760PG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqpEsN5KPr
"Okay, then let's go!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEbAhrfMoF
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjxoHJIOaz
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnfnukZwJz
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzSDvCHNdw
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeANpi5kro
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatOv7wsB0m
"Earth?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm94j7s7xu
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"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhikAph8IIu
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QRSwEf7ga
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mgWTibdcM
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT4qeogoGJ
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25jxrc4uFr
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxCTX5QJcQ
"It's really not that impressive."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoEMQPlvLT
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTc1RLcDE3
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmqDmOLglH
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNYOffYJBe
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY0gixBaB1
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84QfxIfAkP
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9dS0AULrS
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl96XUuh6U
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSPHlTRHhB
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5vbEEtVu7
I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKDOWpWfDx
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXTZhzMrjj
"How'd you do that!?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB10zdCJsu
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpuDTu5TUz
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZrgVzvR06
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZIIMEyNjF
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgECQnmrl3m
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gildYlioe
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AUtoFPlQh
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQvCsnVUQz
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dJ5i7QDJh
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m3uS4JwNE
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2rQMuWEML
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssloaEhm5n
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsdjGQtxHb
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sGxvAy4zv
"What's wrong, Flinty?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZftfZd3F2
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5Z5NgKpuj
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJa4WzpuhG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtGBgEUeDX
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI4iF3BDEA
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UiaJ36Z3r
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbGGso8Pum
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VImoFjcls
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxDf0uVlOG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOcLZcTJTc
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NJTYiJN8R
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpnW9baUCO
Oh.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7axeHfEJ9B
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4BRIdS7EG
Oh.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgphHokp8
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The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEur9KURHY7
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIkrEyiMvh
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsPy4QSDJL
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshaBR3uLTy
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQEodCwbZa
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW90itcHG2X
As for me?202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOWIZMsYUR
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC1Ga1KRhk
Well...202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z5jgy1IKN
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL652zfGng
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQgVLrbW2F
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJRCkYNeUn
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X7je7bu7D
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUrUCXMcGk
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvts5pq2Mt
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XFgVIFDix
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnuSxsULgL
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK5Aa7O67n
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUSa2QghQd
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bzrlW9hXY
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcnVvwD4gz
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTahBMfj4O
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTCdgBt9Xq
I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbact0mJknZ
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡequcHx1hVr
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpo3qo4XJn
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGTE1PBhwU
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lMVAokT80
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoJryh0aaI
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf0IpAxH0A
I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0wC8DpZGS
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdDMAY7eFY
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B3AH9yV8Z
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2yFUrVVXL
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidj7arvQgh
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlWg2jNETJ
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ62pjheM4j
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40iT0UAiiy
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwStcmHPFJ
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdHbmzFgog
She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gIAsDK6V5
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjNqE751cF
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3pwrwzEI5
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvR2By1lPT
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGDWw5X4zU
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCowbpEVRVS
I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXpbhthKm5
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfclCPi7wc
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3jmIKTV8r
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlsOpfl8oQ
"Of course. What is it?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO7zx2jgYh
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KgxnwU511
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv666rVvNEr
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6frMJMuzD
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMsXtTjlBo
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b7StxLWDM
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSxCYgz6NV
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX219oOSBAw
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi455M6V6rd
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNtuggLoNY
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We all looked at her.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgBase6YTd
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsNPpTm72y
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwZ4aLaoBB
"Kenny."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPxYZDl1y6
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKATZeol4Q
"Yes?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBY2bwzcu4
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8k5X9mtiO
"I'm sorry I freaked out."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzWiTm9EOc
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTE0MfEHFG
I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjOzEsaA4G
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWiScvMhxW
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuw4H0e9g5
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"Okay. Kenny?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HTyQbVGYO
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"Yes?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW0elH1I5Z
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UhzQ86iwX
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02zzm4jB4W
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJd6LJQL9o
"Huh?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy1PvpmTUb
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlwilGftwH
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMQV4zVoVr
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp4u5WAqwG
"Why do you want to go?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjVTBr0u7N
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1V6B2zXen
"I... think I need to."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl14OUcKWu
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQZRmgb53J
I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLNA4MCLh0
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKy1VsNs42
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHhKNSkC27
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm6JhsZWXN
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4wFx0rkgm
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlSmHUoLfo
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmrW34eLqG
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIU2ycrmXg
I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIthadxJ6F4
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeIkAkgiDo
My heart sank.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLReNy5euI
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoJwECoF68
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
