"Hey, wake up."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGznLkNlNtL
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeBtY4zbfv
"H-Huh!?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI20vaNUrJ
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw9QjQgFb8
I was rashly wrung out of sleep, jumping at the sudden touch on my shoulder. I fell pathetically to the floor, groaning and rubbing my chin as I got on my feet.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk8UocNHbi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Y1N9tvPc
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoyC2lklkl
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLmSIn0LDe
"No no, it's fine."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxew7hJKGs
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyneGEQwrR
Once the pain subsided, I let out a lengthy yawn and rubbed my eyes. I had difficulty keeping them open. I rubbed my face and took a seat on the couch, hoping to wipe away the grogginess.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsnFPpbl0q
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnbmUxGtaV
"Goodness kid, did ya sleep at all?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTku9RnDbJV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJew5oohCSD
"Huh? Yeah, sure I did."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lLkrj2HJM
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFdXWvT3HB
I let out another yawn. After a dozen firm blinks, I was able to keep my eyes open for longer than two seconds.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7SevsOdCw
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchrIzh1W45
"Are ya sure–"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EXZy5yZ6F
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO2KN8HcGE
"Listen, Juke, I'm fine. I'm, perfectly fine. My neck is just a little sore, that's all."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzukPdBV3qO
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmVRhARNWF
It must've been because of my sleeping position. Perhaps that was also the reason behind my shakiness. It had to be. Using mana expulsion, I produced a bit of water and gulped it all down, then began stretching my limbs.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEwSMfGuCm
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRloCEb1Su
"Well, if ya say so. When yer ready, come meet me outside."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyGVG5PDl5
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PJODTOm4j
Juke exited the living room, leaving me alone. I wasted no time going through my morning routine in the bathroom. Once I finished, I returned to the living room. Outside the bathroom door, idling, gazing at the couch where I slept.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xjZvl9UIu
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf5qkdoRuq
"..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLZzSUJqKu
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto1vig7kiP
Now that the grogginess had left me, my mind worked at total capacity. It came with unwanted by-products.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxeUSle2bE
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoaUlGur7Q
It had barely been ten minutes. Since I wasn't counting, likely less than that. So little time since I woke up, yet the flow of time had already become contorted. I clutched my head and looked at the floor.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiTMeD3JwY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKooCt2ecfN
It was no use mulling over it now. Besides, I was hungry. So I left the living room. Juke and the man were sitting at a nearby table, eating their food with a third plate unattended. I tottered to their table and took a seat.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaU1EWqJIS
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy5qWE749q
The plate was full of fish. It wasn't a food I'd associate with breakfast.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpMwOsYiCr
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ6znH0j8t
"Hi young man, how did you sleep?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy8kZWjKan
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXXTUT83Hp
His tone was cheery and amiable. He sounded like a pleasant person to speak to.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOgFLXAcWq
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVRYdrxbJv
"Hmm. Huh? Oh, were you talking to me?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7TT95618S
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUjTsp0OBz
The man nodded. Now that I thought about it–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjMntdqkN5
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJt9rUYCHI
"What's your name anyway? I don't believe you've ever told us."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0aU7ynaja
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUW136A4RQ
"...You must be right. My name is Hank, it's a pleasure."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp7RorukW8
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1skHISPYpp
"Hank... did you cook this breakfast?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvttptlw6E1
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYxSCGN6WQ
"I certainly did. Well, go on now, try it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrf0hS6Lob
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC0Gp0TqDb
I turned my face away from him and looked at the fish. At first glance, even a toddler could discern that it was undeniably well-cooked. The fish was coated in spice and–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqCMPTjsDj
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28KCYummE9
"Don't gotta waste yer time ogling at it, kid."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt12iPRXgD
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7PwJUEeCB
Juke's statement interrupted my necessary analyses.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRDTuqYBD9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2JCWMprpM
"I guess you're right. Is good, Juke?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1jSqSVtHl
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVskk9jD4yQ
"Yeah, it is. If ya don't eat it now though, some bird might poop on it and ruin the taste."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1NQr2s02d
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ0FLE238a
"What?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELhf708RdH
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0kDFth3zS
He sighed and flicked his head.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ykNK8KExi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehNo7Uh2lY
"Come on, let's enjoy our last breakfast here, why don't we?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdezJAjuwte
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXjnfQQNcc
"Last... yeah, let's."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbp2pPbXDL
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3IfjZHqGJ
I took the fork and began to eat the fish. It had a kick to it that I didn't expect, but otherwise–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdMciJxftT
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBnh5Fnj45
"This is good. This is really good."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TIJknMRSy
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVBMd8G87C
"I told ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsy40WFgyC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK64KRko9E
I kept eating. It was pleasant and satisfying. The dish brightened my mood. Marginally so, but it was still something, so I was grateful for that.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7oYTr3oEc
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OBso2jP3x
"Wait a minute, Juke," Hank started, "how are you eating with your helmet on?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZXwH0HkTX
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtehSgfp1zI
His question caused me to look away from my fish and at his own. Indeed, half of it had already been eaten, but Juke never once removed his helmet to do so.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlay0cUpmi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKWiFlnYGV
"Trade secret, don't worry 'bout it. Just keep eating."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDhQakx3Rb
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE1PsDsMPH
The man backed down. I kept looking at Juke, but he wouldn't eat the fish in front of me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMOTbqMQUO
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz1yZS03lb
In the face of that obstinance, I smiled. I knew it wouldn't last, but at least I would be able to eat my food without any daunting thoughts.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5QSeX5dTi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug9zIB5eeY
–
–
–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEhd0cvxbn
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvZwGj8OB8
Once we put our tableware aside, Hank corralled us back to the table. Juke and I sat by each other. Hank had a pensive and nervous look, giving me a sense of foreboding for what was to come out of his mouth.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfMeBY71i0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDhqrTMgDY
"So, you two want to leave the city, correct?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxgVVIthlU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bzj0j0RJI
"That's right," Juke responded.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ036Z0VBIZp
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxkOxA8Dh6
"I see..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nq8h9bBBo
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CxwZimxQd
He pinched his chin and gazed at the table.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJFDtQGYaY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL5bjCLHQ4
"Well, I won't try to stop you, but I'd like to give you two a word of warning: the streets aren't empty. Those folks at Hard-Bringer are surveilling the area quite compellingly."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo53H6D5yV9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2Xkh0ViJO
Juke let out a sigh and I rested my head on my hand. Honestly, this was in my expectations, but hearing it be confirmed was a blow to my psyche all the same.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mYM5C3KrC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eDUM6GJRp
"However, I do believe you two can get out fine."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz7nAjfs9d
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSjQcYb0Gd
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I doubt those Hard-Bringer bastards got the staff to keep an eye on every part of the city."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri2hf1Y9JK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohZBlWtQy7
I nodded along to Juke's reasoning. Hank did too, less tense than twenty seconds ago.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o39xn3ofs
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RT694hgKc
"Do you two have a plan in mind?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Tax8VgoN
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc1vBKwYrW
Juke turned his head to me, confusing me more than pressuring me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNNrnsYMHI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuQgOoKGa3
"What are you looking at me for?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXd0eLVplh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3OLhFssKN
"Ya got any ideas?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5yUKv3zPi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhyMnnFmY3
"Why do you think I do, anyway?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26aW3VsElP
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc2n0iQrgb
He shrugged at my inquiry. I just sighed and rubbed my temple, racking my brain for anything.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bkGTAVsq6
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXgT6Xk2jU
"I suppose we'll have to gauge just how heavily the streets are being supervised. If they aren't in every nook and cranny of the area, we can probably weave in-between alleyways and whatnot just fine."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZnerqByWt
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8It5MQDjZn
Juke and Hank nodded at my statement. As concrete as the idea was, it hinged on a factor too risky for either me or Juke to confirm.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU8yh0V9az
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKyaL10xUN
"Hank, can you go outside and check the surroundings?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbjznSwsrF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyInQmapKN
"U-Uh, I very well may, however..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZn2DmpMnV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntv12WB1vi
I raised my brow, then realized that just because Hank wasn't me or Juke didn't mean that he was entirely safe.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M18SntVbY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NzM9XaPc3
Rover's visage flashed in my mind. I brushed it aside for the moment, barely.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL3vEI4twE
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy39oyTptv2
"I'd rather not run too far away. Otherwise, I'd get apprehended and questioned, and then it would be evening by the time I come back."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdUFZpiGGF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXFHz6vZIF
"I see. I apologize for asking so much from you."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb2YiVHe6v
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnjveaaeow
He shook his hands frantically and.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iZp1mti0z
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAgZ6qoTg2
"Oh no no, I'll do it. I just don't think I'll be able to scout very far ahead."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi4ukAwFAs
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF57505ey1
"That ain't an issue. Just the first block should be alright."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXziqrQnD8g
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0SkpHPi8H
Hank's gaze turned abnormally stern. He stood up and did a few gesticulations to assure himself.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5DUCGVchM
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb05bGJwRaD
"Pray for me."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1hmIivW9X
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ9HNSP9yX
"Don't worry. We'll arrange yer funeral for ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcsobqec2m
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvtJkJt1Ji
"Juke!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJNGdDoP4Q
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPgTwghAsB
Juke's comment vanquished all of Hank's efforts to pump himself up. Still, though, he rambled to the door, taking a deep breath before opening and exiting the building. Juke and I were alone, now. An awkward and elongated silence permeated through the room.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3ICGWtpUK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eFAwOBjvX
"Thanks for trying to lighten the mood, Juke."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdL5e68Eax
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBE6MkojtH
He turned his head to me, stuttering his words before taking a breath and speaking them coherently.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylIQukOo0o
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F4IXdK3OK
"No need to thank me. The atmosphere's tense, I just don't want it to stay that way."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00d4klt1EB
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzV1J5u8mW
"Still, I appreciate it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnHV3ZBnFQ
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77mSMC4k17
I sat with my legs spread out, lowering my head and leaning over to stare at the ground.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajtEgbttyI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FBxWZUc8f
"I can tell that my wisecracks ain't all that effective, though."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgRsU8RyB1
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3aBMljJH7
I wanted to rebuke that statement, to tell him that he was wrong and that I was feeling much better. I would be lying to him, but that wasn't why I stopped myself. That was because of the tinge of melancholy I caught in his voice, so faint that I was unsure if I was just hearing things.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeq0Vjf3NX
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc2iZimm5d
I wanted to press him on that. But I was in no state of mind to do so. So, we continued to wait in silence.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZXsO4qb8A
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4nYDZ1DRV
Hank came shortly after. His face was drenched in sweat and anxiety. He let out an arduous sigh when he closed the door and sank to the floor.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprKAhFZs0o
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mC7BeL1Kj
I was expecting the worst, but he shot us a thumbs-up with a wink. A smile found its way on my face. I looked at Juke and we nodded at each other. We stood up and stretched our muscles, helping Hank get to his feet and standing before the door.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbMTdyMoQm
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrWqJl7Ylw
"Thank you for your help, Hank."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLJQcof9t9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5xNY1Z3tL
"Yeah, we really of ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZqQBXztPd
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNExTfPWlAg
He gave us a light smile and waved.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8saMwKaXX
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcB4TGLXMF
"No no, it's fine. It's what Dennis would have wanted, I'm sure."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVW3Z4Wvqu
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHEPsL9VYW
"...Y-Yeah."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bvdjoNr9M
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2MvSxWlcr
A morbid parasite was planted in me before we left. It began to eat at me instantly, but I did nothing to address it.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL858QSQKHl
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyst2ihDJ4j
–
–
–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG8Ipa8yWF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uxC9IQtnt
The streets were void of any busy citizens traveling from one place to another. All inhabitants were inimical people in robes. The only remedy was the relative lack of them.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcGaWYINGB
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLgYPMeVQ8
Weaving in and out of alleyways was a surprisingly easy task, as the Hard-Bringer members couldn't stay in one place even if they were paid to. Though it made moving in the streets nerve-wracking with the unpredictability of these people, it was better than having to wait for them to fall asleep or find a detour as they obstinately remained in one spot.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaVvhqn5XU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEWynBnkl1
With all the pauses in between movements and focus on not getting caught, I stopped paying attention to our routing quickly. I was anxious that Juke did too.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6unKiBNFGx
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIrqehHMln
"Hey, are you sure we're going the right way?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenvpWOULJE
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtAACEkv15
"Yeah, I'm sure. I remember that chipped building when I visited the stables earlier."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkqp25wulJ
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx18k3vawuE
He pointed at a building opposite us. Indeed, it was chipped, but somehow I didn't find his memory reliable.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVp5wV2HNi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK4Z0eeWSW
Still, I had no better way to make it to the stables myself, so I kept following Juke as we skittered diagonally across the street.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mLUfJGxBe
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OtpCEe4gQ
"--Crap!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYMU0Wfvb0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGEhRGEVvV
This alleyway was void of anything to hide behind, meaning that we had to leave it now or suffer an embarrassing and egregious discovery. I peered over the corner and saw a duo of robed people turning a corner and into our street.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQSXGtFhIc
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUz2RK8YU2
"Crap. Crap!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW7TaSJfTD
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnW3syrPvg
"Eh? What's the situation, kid?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn490sqywWR
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeXgic1eRw
"People are heading our way!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WcsffmrEm
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH53ZGBKaiJ
With a hoarse whisper, I relayed the information to Juke, whose eyes I could see widen even through his helmet. He looked behind him and deeper into the alleyway, reaching the same conclusion that I did.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dhyW8E5rq
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRFZk6PZgz
"I guess we gotta jump 'em."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwsvzg8vz7
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ5CSa3d1d
"What!? That's a terrible idea!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxlUadyjWf
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozzwbKRUyG
Despite the incorrect usage, I knew precisely what Juke meant by jumping the two people. I discarded the idea, as engaging in a fight would only draw more attention. But, as I sifted through my mind, I couldn't conjure up a course of action more tangible.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex5iqLtwc9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvu4LgqU7n
"Okay, maybe it isn't a terrible idea, but we need to knock them out quickly."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAWDmd3bhh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl974QW2xG
"Yeah, killin' 'em will just make a mess and draw attention, ya make a good point."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGi0Oqip6Q
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9iPRWrffn
"...Murder is the first thing you– nevermind, you gave me a good idea."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFyP0yvBxm
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwReMiuZ8t
I produced my tendril and created a Valencia-Bloom at its tip. Then, I ran as far back into the alleyway as I could, signaling Juke to do the same. When we made it to the wall, I began mana spinning and produced a shield from the flower big enough to cover us both.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8wjqdkSG0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzzYFgaIcS
It was unexpectedly heavy. The weight of the shield brought me to the floor and strained my arm terribly247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l4jYXDXKG
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3IjecR9fv
"Ack!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC97Jf25is
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4TCbGv1xH
"G-Goodness, kid. Are ya alright?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLZKOcoTFz
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf0f3Oknx9
"I-I'm fine, just keep quiet!"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuH59uFmaE
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRlCWYDDIc
We waited out behind the shield until I heard two sets of footsteps pass by the alleyway. Once they vanished, I removed the shield, massaged my arm, and with Juke's help, we made it back onto the street.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUeel4I5mN
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfUnBDXw3m
"Ya strong folk really are crazy."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuW2ipjKxA
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0PFKvSGQi
"Shut up. Now isn't the time for this."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI7yE0VPSi
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaW5GMP3lW
We traveled the road a bit faster since we had to cross through an intersection. We made sure both sides were clear before continuing forward. The road curved at this point, so we kept close to the wall, using our ears instead of our eyes to sense any oncoming persons.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKRaCXL0pb
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS6137qjx9
And, by doing so, I heard something that made my hair stand on its ends.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCiGWJrQBC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTZzOZPGDc
"--Yeah, we should find a place to hide, don't ya think?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX645WUhkwp
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxDiO5xk5c
I hastily nodded with him and scanned the surroundings. I spotted an alleyway with a gigantic dumpster at the front. Juke already began running to it before I could point it out, so I followed him.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdDZXIelQ7
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGi6qeP5R3
We sat down behind the dumpster. I gnawed on my finger as I heard what I could only describe as an army of people walking down the street. I didn't see them, nor did I want to, but the footsteps never ended– it was as if the hustle and bustle of the streets had returned, but now, it only disturbed me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiojayEr9J
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesrV6oOtAF
It went on for far, far too long. I couldn't keep my cool. The gnawing turned into rampant chomping, and my breathing became labored and heavy. I rocked back and forth, back and forth back and–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hrvpcTqhK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj67BZLL2ld
"--Kenny, I don't know if that'll do ya any good."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgnP7h01f3
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiE7pVgPoh
"Huh?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHlgBh2QCH
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv5llXxF7t
Juke's deep voice pierced through the thunderous train of footsteps.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u2fUyYyST
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAv5h6OqJw
"That whole biting thing, and that whole shaking thing. That shit freaks me out. I get why yer doing it, but seeing someone like ya do so just don't sit with me right."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSKCbgHz77
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncPma8NDPZ
I knew he was trying to console me. But, I didn't feel as if he was. I felt as if it was a precursor to just another one of Juke's ramblings about his ideology.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefoVGyVQH8
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBBynqNfzt
"Why? Is it because I'm strong?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeb4n4pYOd
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fw8bJL9uo
"Nah, it's cuz yer a kid."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkH3YI9FKy
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLOuLWoBbM
His response left me more stunned than I could've imagined.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6LT2pHVQF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeegZF00rS
"I can tell ya got something plaguing ya. I ain't dense, so I can already guess what it is. Still, I think ya should spill it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcGio7dGDH
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKRzXv7EbR
"..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniqoEBQ43q
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5nz7l5uUz
I brought my knees up to my head, wrapping my arms around my legs. Usually, I'd be concerned about the crowd overhearing us, but the dumpster was far enough, and the thousands of footsteps would veil my voice.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgMMNeQ0S5
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegdK8sL6c7
So, I let my mouth run amok.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQhlBv7Emb
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kn3awSU3e
"I'm sure you know, but what Rover told me has... affected me, I suppose."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH3IPTioGU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWNvQymPuQ
"Yeah, I know."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrTwzenWFS
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC6YKJwJyR
A pause. I used it to formulate my following words more effectively.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOqlF1Tq8w
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wzS8Vm44D
"It left me confused. It was like I was asking myself questions with words I couldn't understand. I didn't even know how to begin to answer them. So, for the time being, I decided to ignore them."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnZCbpu9d6
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI2UK139tX
I darted my eyes to the side. He nodded along. He stared at the wall across. I did the same.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuTZ3L5ui9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrO5xgCcdS
"When I was at the door last night," I continued, "right after Rover left, I suppose the prospect of going after her, of facing her, was too intimidating. I didn't get why, exactly. I just knew that I couldn't do it. I didn't think that doing so would be bad or something, quite the contrary. I just thought that, somehow, it was an impossible task. So, I didn't do it. Instead, I sat back on the couch and fell asleep."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97S1UieBI4
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOf3Yw15yI
"That sounds familiar..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPC1toWajC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHI36rzZvJ
"Huh?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBI38Volm9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0HTmivdqA
"Nevermind. Ya carry on."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp4iWg7X4X
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrMYMibl7h
I felt a little let down, but did as I was told.
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0uolwxabY
"I am just, very confused. I don't quite get how I feel, but I do understand that all the forces inside of me are fighting over the decision I made last night, to do this. And, I guess I say I'm unsure of it, but I do know what I really am."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysANHpQB3s
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mGdQFTk2U
"Well?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHm2K2u6T0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuwvLR8biu
"...The thing is, if I voice it, I'll probably break apart here and now."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtoBvgIOeI
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybhu1QJZYu
"Ah."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipzV6ymUs8
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScJDJpk4Oi
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but articulating it in my brain was difficult.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLUWRuzkhK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5U8toHxmW
"Some part of it came from the distant past. I'm talking about what drove me to make this decision, I mean. Another part, I'm unsure. And the last one was more recent. It was only for a moment, but when I thought about going outside with Rover, that overgrown bug flashed in my mind."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYcuHKjDnt
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT40bHZjec
"Ah, the Lionant?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8ofn1BKgh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg4Wu6Inne
"Yeah. The one you saved me from. Thank you for that, by the way."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG7eIbPxhv
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJReFCevUD
"..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S3VZIi2s9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNKE9fR7ns
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but I hung on to the thoughts left behind by my last sentence and formed a question out of it.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBnrpsRB0n
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UrF0715lB
"This might be a dumb question, but why did you save me back then?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDd42qJTFY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4ylpekiuq
"...Yeah, why did I?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdhCDAjisC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgh10hIxKr
I didn't expect to be met with another question.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYwVdre660
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU32YRuHgM
"It doesn't make much sense, does it? After all, I'm weak, and yer strong. A weak guy like me shouldn't have to save strong folk like ya. But I did save ya. I really did save ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTOLOv7xZM
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV567mfV803
I turned my head to him. He had his eyes pointed at the sky, one arm slung over his knee.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVHxCmoAnG
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaWUeN1hAD
"I don't know why I saved ya. It wasn't in my mind, I didn't think of doing it, but I did save ya."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpoxBSdBS5
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO36fF2Z2eN
"..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOczsFsvetM
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq9HL0smVM
I felt as if I should have said something, but I remained silent. Juke continued his gentle monologue.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfPnkzt1RV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwcwkaw9Vq
"Rover's got a brutal tongue. Usually, I just brush off what loud folk like her say, but she was blunt and rude about it, so it really stuck with me. I couldn't care less about that 'you should do and think this and that' shit, but, ya know what, Kenny?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VH8K6hQyg
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQDhcZo2ER
"What?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjshcKYTpV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkTGZwTyu9
"Before I went out to look for ya two, I talked with Dennis. I had a real good conversation with him 'bout politics, women, and a bunch of dumbshits we've met in our olden days."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTgqag3edc
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4OFUNSeE2
"That sounds... boorish?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrCY0gyBHY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQmcgCdl1j
"Pff, yer just too young."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7aCDLgCqe
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HTG72iRNr
He paused for a moment.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAN2WVTQgF
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7Af8kiX69
"Why the hell am I saying this to a kid?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8HYLaPTKG
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWPmlNQeoW
"D-Don't mind that, just keep talking."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREFKiNM1ev
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPG65HfxnN
"...The thing is, a weak guy like me shouldn't concern himself with Hard-Bringer. It makes sense, doesn't it? Leave the big problems to the big strong folk. Weak guys shouldn't have to fight for other weak guys. That's what I think."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8btTcpokw
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWcq77hq04
He took a second to readjust himself. I used that time to spill my own thoughts.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayzVlI2s59
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRrmDu3Aei
"That's silly... O-Oh–"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavFVIATHoo
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oX2LxcwZF
I realized I had just blurted out something insensitive yet again.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAjPpkmS51
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmBdqtzyo4
"I didn't mean to be rude, but–"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE6z2OuuDf
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFREQkqwG5
"Nah, I get why ya think it. To each their own, that's what the masses say, yeah?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ccHlLGCIm
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPEdeJIznT
"I... yes, I suppose so."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHuZ1bENI4
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB9aepgg8x
Another pause. Juke directed his gaze to the floor this time.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxkisP1Vcs
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktuxziinch
"I think the weak shouldn't have to deal with what the strong does."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSBn9h8wGh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNorBCzj4U
"Yes, I know."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC51rWY2H9
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgD18pfKvi
"But I wanna make sure Dennis is still kickin'."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoyiIGvwAN
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IrPCvJpK8
He said that with conviction I had never heard from him before.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GHQXqbLCD
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1C0pyTN9N
"I believe what I said yesterday. I think he's just fine. 'Sides, I got no interest in fighting Hard-Bringer. But that ain't changing the fact that I wanna make sure with my eyes."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf1z2L3zVr
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JZjUhux0C
"..."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrEpqh7HDe
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTlYsGNL4q
I didn't say it outright, but I agreed with him. I wanted to make sure Dennis was fine as well. Yet, unlike Juke, I doubt I could muster the will to do so.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueSZqo8LjW
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc1BUVNod1
"Ya hear that?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQLLEnWlAC
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxINeElbTbT
"Huh?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ysEdzVvrv
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtrJvFHfYq
I perked my ears. I didn't hear anything. Then, I realized what Juke meant.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrciuSyo97Y
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mIDqnzVsO
"They passed."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfcJcU93kh
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg2imMQTne
"Yeah. I can't hear them anymore."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw5zJu44zT
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvTSx8Yxgv
Juke stood up first. He brushed the dirt off his pants and peered around the corner.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNNqswhbfL
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHImrVyF9wv
"Looks like we're in the clear. Phew."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJPqGwRxjs
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xGJm140z3
I stood up and ambled to the front of the alleyway. Sure enough, Not one robed person was in sight. It was a clear indicator that I should have taken a step forward, but I didn't. No, I couldn't, not after what I had just said.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK4m5q21Yz
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmq0EZtL5F
Juke had already taken his first steps, though. He looked back at me once he noticed I wasn't moving.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf5c8yamJK
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUkxsspSaZ
"Shit... hey, kid, I know what yer thinking."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yvlYwlXXq
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu7CB5IwTa
"You've been saying that a lot."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobZ2Fxkwln
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNRHEYy6LQ
"That's just cuz yer easy to read."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPgJx8tO28
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht8ktuJwT3
We stood stock still in silence.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lwnojQV5Q
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSgZofqALC
"W-Well, what are you waiting for," I muttered, "Let's get going."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEI4oiKVJX
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sSyHf0YDL
"Are ya sure?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhGepCR1e4
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lg0Usu9g8
I walked out of the alleyway, looking both ways before standing beside Juke.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyqgljnzUY
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaeQJ1o0J9
"I should be asking you that."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32JQh5RMtw
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gZWedzGSL
"Hehe, I guess so. We've come this far, haven't we?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ZPrNTmUU
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd504MQj1ci
"Yes. You get it."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk8tEnG6fx
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEwd8xgfr8
But before we continued, there was one last thing I wanted to mention.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ycp4c2CxQ
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeDxdiYyu1
"If we see something that might change the accuracy of your hypothesis, then... I'm going to turn back, understand?"
Juke released a lethargic chuckle. I wasn't offended by it, instead, it caused me to think.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nXDoTAas0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30OmRBihz9
"Fine by me."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuMl7yc5g1
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZSq5URfvw
I wondered how seriously he took my word. I wouldn't blame him if he thought it duplicitous.
We kept going down the streets, running between the alleyways as we avoided being spotted.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Yk0Udsl5r
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCegCk9vx7
–
–
–
"Ya see that?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PnEAOZ8TS
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW5X7400ru
"Yeah, we're almost there."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXTqz2HtH0
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa2aMLp377
After hours of dodging lines of sight, taking tedious pauses in smelly alleyways, and having one too many heart-attack-inducing close calls, the stables were finally within our view. It was still a good distance away, but being able to see it was relieving. We were fortunate enough to find it unsupervised, too.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsI3qAWa4l
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R0cdok1Iy
We approached it with a pep in our step, but not forgetting to employ prudence. I turned my head in every direction as we got closer and closer.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos7hA5Y3zT
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And as we got closer and closer, a sudden stench assaulted my nostrils.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnclWX8jZvB
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"Blurg, what was that?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIseED1igQ
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I skidded to a stop. I reluctantly sniffed the air again but didn't catch the same whiff. Juke looked back at me, confused.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡul1leWsWdC
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"What was what?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ktUaASO9r
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"I caught a whiff of something."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO5ouiXHmT
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"Ah, gotcha. I ain't stopping, just so ya know."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR1Bi64lZf
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Clicking my tongue, I continued following Juke to the stables, occasionally sniffing the air as we encroached it.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG7bpv4QQf
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And then, it came again. This time, more putrid than before.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSjYWclszu
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"Ugh– ack, what in the world?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC83dbzOsL2
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Juke didn't stop to ask me what was wrong this time. He turned the final corner and already made it to the stables. I knew that I had visited this place before, but I didn't quite acknowledge the structure until that moment.
It was like an open barn house with only a meager roof over the parking spaces. Inside these parking spaces were carriages, and opposite them were miniature pens housing the animals responsible for heaving the carriages. These pens were fitted with roofs and thick gates to block the animals from wandering off. Of course, because of the structure of the stables, he barged in without having to bust open any doors. Naturally, I entered without issue myself.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTjvK8DgaR
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But never had I wished for a door to be present more than now.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0hIO61JUu
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"...This is fuckin' horrid."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXXzFPZ4K1
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The carriages were untouched, but the carriages were only there for me to distract myself with. It didn't last for long, of course. After all, the stench and overwhelming, blinding quantity of red permeating through every crevice of the area made it impossible to keep up the charade.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wq3UOIviB
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The pens were broken, but the animals hadn't escaped. They were still in their pens, but as cadavers opposed to breathing beings.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBMg2xpymJ
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Bile rose to my throat, but I was able to suppress it. That disturbed me deeply.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvx5ejp7Lp
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"Well, Kenny, I dunno if we'll be leaving by carriage any time soon."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsBnoQpl6f
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"You 'don't know', huh? Are you kidding me?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuOpp6zYY6
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I glared at the scene. It was grotesque, but my eyes couldn't divert from it. Every animal in every pen– no exception was made, none were spared. They were unapologetically slaughtered. Juke spoke of the sight perfectly; It was horrid. it evoked such visceral repulsion even when closing the eyes and glancing at it through memory.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa2b2BF1YX
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But, as much as I hated it, as much as it made me want to turn the other way and run, seeing our way out be cut off like this relieved me of a subconscious weight.
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Juke ventured further into the stables, and I begrudgingly followed. I fixed my gaze to the right, passing by the open pens and observing the carrion they contained. I didn't try to immerse myself in the details; I would've truly thrown up if I did. But, from what I did see, I could judge the means used to kill them. From lacerations to burns, to pulverizations of their bodies, it was obvious that a mix of magic and weaponry was utilized.
I was lucky that the blood had dried long ago.
"Sly bastards. How'd they know we'd try to get out?"
"...They probably just did this preemptively. Did they have to murder all the animals, though? Why not damage the carriages?"
My question had not just reminded Juke, but also myself of our carriage. We steered directions and beelined towards it. From an outside view, it looked unharmed. As Juke pulled out a key and unlocked the doors, I could only hope that the same could be said for the inside.
"Nagging Dennis for this shit paid off."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLd0xE1QXV
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpbhDk9SAH
Juke muttered something under his breath before flinging the doors open and entering. I followed, releasing a heavy breath as I confirmed that the carriage was unharmed.
"'Fore we head back out, we oughta pack some supplies."
"I agree, but I hope you know I won't be able to carry much."
"That's alright. This big body of mine ain't just for show."
We entered the back. Juke took the bag of food and placed his arms through the straps, carrying it like an oversized backpack.
"Anything else ya think we oughta bring?"
"...I can't lift the big bags, but–"
I grabbed a smaller one and emptied its contents, stuffing it with the few potions I had left in the larger bags, leaving me with a pleasantly light load. Juke hummed in an amused, yet agitated tone.
"Ya had potions this whole time? Ya should'a told me!"
"Oh, sorry. I thought I had."
We exited the carriage and returned to the stables, Juke grumbling as he descended the steps. I didn't leave just yet. Before that, I spared one more glance at the animals, meagerly clenching my fists.
"Hey, Juke."
He turned around and faced me. Before I got my words out, I had to stop shaking.
"What do we do now?"
He looked at me intently, or was it blankly? Either way, I could tell that he was digesting my question. Then, he turned his gaze away.
"We can't get out with the carriage, that's for sure."
"I know that much. But, do we... do we try anyway?"
"...Nah, ya should know that yerself."
My facial muscles dropped, forming an ugly frown. He was right, and because he was right, I was upset.
If they took measures this drastic to make sure nobody escaped, then the gates were unquestionably, undoubtedly guarded.
That undeniable notion frightened me.
"Yeah, you're right. But, still, what do we–"
I couldn't finish my sentence. My speech was interrupted by a jerk movement from Juke. He leaned in– almost pouncing at me and pushing me to the ground as he haphazardly fell to it himself.
I hadn't the time to formulate any complaints and questions, but all that I could have formed were addressed by the soaring ball of fire narrowly avoiding my head.
"--Ack!"
I landed awkwardly on my shoulder. Whether it was dislocated, I didn't know, nor could I afford to find out. I scrambled to my feet and faced our assailant. My blood turned cold when I saw her.
"That man is a quick actor. What about you, child? Are you the brains of your clique?"
It was the woman at the plaza. She was not in her unequivocal robe that was the sigil of Hard-Bringer but in a slackened coat, plain shirt, skirt, pants, and boots.
"Well, answer me, won't you?"
"Don't humor 'er, kid, she's got a screw loose!"
"N-No need to tell me!"
Juke got up on his feet and brandished his sword. I took out the tendril. The woman grabbed a curvy, seemingly customized, serrated knife. She raised it as she began to speak.
"So you two won't speak? Fine by me. A mute roadblock is easier to handle."
With a slide of her back foot and a drop in her posture, she burst into a sprint heading in our direction. Then, she veered into me.
The sudden shift left me panicked. I instinctively took a step back and produced a Valencia-Bloom, but before I could utilize it, she slashed her knife at me. I narrowly avoided the swing, but she didn't let up, spinning the blade in her hand and thrusting it to jab me.
That's at least what it looked like she would've done.
She did thrust her knife, but she spun as she did it, clashing with Juke's broadsword so suddenly that even he was taken by surprise. The woman exploited his shock well by delivering a kick to his chest. Juke's body didn't budge from the kick at all, though. A metallic sound rang throughout the stables and his head jerked back.
"Ack! My neck!"
"--I see."
Realizing I wasn't doing anything, I extended my tendril, using it like a dull spear. The woman ducked my attack and slammed her fist into it. I recoiled from the strike, but not enough to paralyze me. Thus, I slammed the tendril on the ground. She rolled away, dodging it effortlessly.
My tendril still near her, I switched the Valencia-Bloom for a Freeze-Dry. But I couldn't use it; the woman leaped and stomped on the flower before any ice came out.
My eyes widened by themselves. I couldn't think of what to do next, but I was fortunate enough to not have to. Juke swung his sword at the woman. She dodged it, but Juke didn't let up with his assault. The woman took a series of backsteps too great for Juke to immediately catch up to. Almost instinctively, she kicked her leg up, and though Juke was a couple of meters away, his head jerked up and a sound rang out as if he was hit.
Though Juke was struck in the chin, and though he was partially airborne, he aimed his palm at the woman, firing a wind spell at her.
And, it connected.
"Hng!"
It was a weak spell, and she was able to block most of it with her arms, but the point was that it connected. Somehow, that fact alone was enough to shock me.
"Yer power's confusing. Is it an Endowment? I dunno, I've got one, and yers sure don't feel like it."
Juke rubbed his chin. I could tell that he felt it, meaning the hit wasn't deflected to his helmet.
"Shit. How'd ya know my weakness, huh?"
The woman narrowed her eyes at Juke. Using the downtime, I began mana expulsion with my right hand and produced a Sunlight-Blossom from the tendril.
"You are right about one thing, oaf: my power is nothing like that absurd Endowment of yours."
"And yer calling my whole thing absurd? That's just–"
Juke's speech was cut short. I shot at the woman with a water spell. She dodged it, but I accounted for this and made the spell a powerful geyser, following her movements as it continuously sprayed. The woman clicked her tongue as she kept backing away, producing a ball of fire and firing it at the walls.
I gasped and processed her actions to make sure I understood what I saw. She threw a fireball at the walls, which were made of wood. She threw a quick wind spell at it right after and smashed through the weakened structure.
My geyser put the sudden fire out but had missed the woman entirely. It aligned with my expectations, though. She came back bursting through near the ashened hole. However, I had another attack prepared.
The seed was already loaded. I aimed the flower at her and fired, crossing my fingers in my head, praying that it would land.
It didn't. It didn't even come close. She ducked before the bullet had even been launched. I bit my lip in frustration.
"That's why I hate being aggressive. How cruel that I have to act against my nature."
She cracked her neck and swayed her lengthy hair in the air, glaring at us with her blue eyes. She looked ready to perform a deadly pounce at any moment.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBk5a1OqOZ
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I stood beside Juke. We eyed the woman vigilantly. My prior assessment was overwritten as she didn't look like she would move at all, leaving me bemused.
But, then, a fireball formed in her hands. I expected her to throw it immediately, so I prepared to duck, but it continued to grow in size; it was far larger than her previous ones, almost as tall and wide as Juke was.
"Ah, shit."
Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. Frankly, I didn't expect her to be so adept in fire magic that she could make a spell of that size. It was stupid of me not to consider it. The woman reeled her arm back. I had to act fast.
I ducked, placing both my hands on the ground. I began mana expulsion with one hand and performed spinning with the other. A wall of stone sprung from the ground before me. Then, I produced a Valencia-Bloom from the tendril, expanding it as far as I could reasonably do so. Juke already took cover behind me. Now, all that was left was too–
**SLAM**
"--Ack!"
I didn't suffer any severe damage. In fact, my defenses were hardly penetrated. But the heat from the fire nipped at me through it all. The spell dissipated in no more than five seconds, but it felt like forever.
"How the hell are we breathin'!?"
"Is now really the time for–"
**THUD**
I felt a sudden force clash against my shield. Due to my already shaky balance, I fell to the ground, but I made sure to retract the Valencia-Bloom so my arm wouldn't be dislodged. When the shield vanished, the woman took its place, her leg raised. She continued her assault, raising her knife and, with her other hand on the top of the hilt, plunging it into me.
I shut my eyes and grit my teeth, expecting the sensation of a blade being lodged into my body. But that never came. Instead, a metallic clang reverberated through the stables.
I opened my eyes. Juke intercepted her with his sword. He was on the ground with both his hands on the blade's hilt. Judging by how he was lying on the ground, gripping the hilt with both his hands like a rope, he must've slid.
They remained that way for a moment, engaged in a struggle between their blades. When it became apparent that she couldn't win, she clicked her tongue.
"Irritating," the woman sighed before kicking his helmet and sending him flying. She returned her attention to me, but I had used my borrowed time to regain my composure and swing the tendril.
My tendril hit her. But it felt as if I was the one who was struck, and it wasn't by a blunt object, but by a steel blade. Purple liquid erupted from my chest.
Yes, she was flung away. Yes, my tendril had connected. But when it retracted by itself, I found the woman void of bruises and her knife slathered in a viscous purple.
"D-Damn it."
I rose to my feet with shaking legs. She hadn't just blocked my attack but hurt me back as well. I clutched my chest and coughed harshly.
"How are ya?"
Juke stood beside me, brandishing his sword. We eyed the woman who was flicking the liquid off her knife.
"This ain't looking like a winning fight."
As much as it frustrated me to agree with his notion, I was forced to. Every attack I launched had been avoided, and the one time either of us landed one on her, it was more of a fluke than anything.
"So what do we do?"
"'Till I get how she keeps seein' the future, I ain't got a clue."
"See the future...? Do you think that's what it is?"
"Can't think of anythin' else."
I narrowed my eyes at her, mulling over Juke's theory. When I thought about it, certainly, it would make sense that she could see the future. However–
"There has to be a limit, or some kind of restriction. Her behavior is too inconsistent."
"I agree with ya, and I still got no clue how she kicked me from across the damn room."
Indeed, she had too many unknown factors about her, and combined with her astonishing physical and magical prowess, it made this fight impossible to win. I was wounded, Juke's weakness had been discovered, and the woman didn't look like she even broke a sweat.
"Are you two plotting something? I ought to interfere."
She broke into another dash, but it wasn't an utter rush; her steps were laced with trepidation, and her knife was raised defensively. It was as if she was approaching expecting us to attack her back.
My moment of clarity subsided as the pain washed over my being. But Juke, pulling me by the collar, had fortunately noticed the same, and–
"Book it, kid!"
Helped me turn tail as we both broke into sprints of our own.
I ran. I ran like the wind. I ran to abuse my legs. I ran to survive. But I wasn't so naive; my legs were small and my stamina was pathetic. Whether it was my lack of endurance or my lack of speed, the woman would undoubtedly catch up to me. No thanks to his luggage, I couldn't hitch a ride on Juke's back.
I swiveled my head. She was catching up to me like a wolf in pursuit, and I was sure to be caught in her fangs at any moment. I didn't try to speed up; too many factors prevented me from doing so.
So, if I couldn't speed up, then there was only one thing left for me to do.
I began mana expulsion with both of my hands, creating a mass of earth in one and a mass of fire in the other, expanding it. The woman didn't show an expression of surprise. She was expecting me to do this– no, not expecting, she knew.
Something about that pissed me off. So, instead of throwing it–
"--You!"
Her eyes widened. She skidded to a stop and leaped away. Despite that, I had to see this through.
I discharged as much mana into the fire as I recklessly could, and naturally–
**BOOM**
A Flinty incident occurred.
I used the stone I conjured up to defend myself, but truthfully, it hardly did anything. The most I could do was defend my head, and sure, my eyes hadn't burst, and my face wasn't seared, but they were still rolling on the stone pavement along with the rest of my body, picking up spikey pebbles and other trash like they were seashells on the beach. I only stopped when I collided with, something. I didn't know what and the means to find out were stripped from me. My ears rang, my nose burned, and I had to clobber dozens of particles off my face before I could even think of opening my eyes. But, my arms were too heavy for me to even lift.
So, I remained there, waiting for all the internal chaos to subside before I moved. Then I felt something touch me, then shake me, and I groaned in response. I didn't know who it was. Since I was alive, it probably wasn't the woman. Was it a street dog, or maybe one of those robed men?
Was it Juke? I dismissed the thought. That was a ridiculous proposition.
I was lifted and tussled with. It wasn't done harshly, but goodness, was it irritating. At that point, my annoyance powered over my fatigue, and I rubbed my eyes before slackening my arms yet again.
I opened them and saw the ground. Whoever it was that was messing with me was behind me. I couldn't turn my head to see them, though, so I groaned and heaved my breaths.
"Good to know yer still kicking. Which bottle 'ere is gonna patch ya up?"
Hearing a familiar voice, I was struck with an inordinate amount of clarity.
"Green, one," I mustered.
"Yer lucky I caught that first try. Open wide."
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. He understood that too, so he grabbed my jaw and pulled it down, sticking the bottle inside my mouth. I was sure that I was going to drown; the amount of liquid entering my throat was overwhelming. But it passed as quickly as it came. I coughed vehemently, and Juke patted my back to help. I cursed my inability to voice my thanks.
"Take it easy, ya really did something crazy back then. Strong folk, I tell ya."
Now I just wanted to tell him to shut up. He lifted me and hung me over his shoulder, then he continued to run.
"Did ya get that crazy bitch? Err, tap once for yes, twice for no."
All I could exert myself to do was pinch, so I pinched his skin twice.
"Shit. Shit! Is she followin' us now!?"
I pointed my eyes up. I could only see a little bit of the ground, so I painstakingly raised my neck.
It devastated me to have to pinch once.
"Are ya kidding me!?"
Juke's running increased in tempo. Unlike me, he was able to at least keep the distance between him and the woman the same. Unfortunately for me, my head was bouncing up and down every step. I was sure that I'd vomit any minute, and then pathetically pass out a moment after.
But I couldn't afford to do so. I couldn't afford to be a burden when our lives were being threatened like this.
I tried to call it forth, but my tendril wouldn't appear. I tried mana expulsion– tried, but struggled. The explosion hadn't drained me of my mana, but my supply was so low I might as well have been shaking a bottle for droplets. I couldn't form anything grandiose or dangerous, meaning that I had to do something to just slow her down.
So, I formed a small mass of water. Supporting it with my other hand, I lifted my arm, aiming my open palm at her feet.
She didn't react preemptively at all. It gave me a surge of hope, and with that borrowed vigor, I fired the spell at her feet.
Except, I didn't fire it. It unceremoniously plummeted to the ground. She simply jumped over the puddle the spell created.
"Damn, it."
"--Ay kid, are ya seeing this!?"
"Seeing what", I wanted to ask, because I was still incapable of moving my body more than an inch at a time. But I didn't have to turn my head to see what he saw. As Juke kept running through the street, we passed by a myriad of bodies loitering about. My first assumption was that they were corpses– and, well, judging by all the red, it was likely correct.
But what really caught my eye was their attire: dark, hooded robes. All of these bodies were that of the people in Hard-Bringer.
Did a fight break out? Is that what happened? I looked up at the woman and she was entirely unperturbed. I was hoping to gauge a different reaction, but not only was hers uninformative, it was disturbing.
And then, my vision swerved.
"Huh?"
"I'm takin' a gamble."
"Gamble!?"
That was the loudest noise I had made that day. Juke didn't elaborate on what gamble he was taking. I thought of wiggling out his grasp right there, as obviously foolish as it was. But–247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxF2kwg2Ep
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGYFeX9pD1
"Just trust me!"
He said it as a feverish plea. It shocked me into staying in place. With nothing else to do, I placed my faith in him. The sun-lightened streets disappeared and we ventured into a darkened alleyway. We came to a stop shortly after, leaving me confused and worried.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPHHCZCDNI
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Then, Juke began to talk, but it was clear that it wasn't to me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ2PRqHjuq
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"Who are ya people?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH3T1ztR8E
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"Wow, he really followed us. Well, sir, we're here to help. My buddy will be doing the dirty work, though."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLjojzEcGp
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"Buddy?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9MjLjtEbT
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I froze– froze more than I already was frozen, anyway. The voice that Juke spoke with was familiar to me, though I struggled to put a name to it. But then a set of footsteps sounded through the alley, and a man in a trench coat brushed passed Juke and me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa8qXNjjlb
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbMHHdBWfI
Of course, with an article of clothing that distinct, I'd be lying if I didn't recognize him. My recognition was only solidified when he drew his hands in it and pulled two crossbows out.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEGCAeZ92o
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"Quiet now."247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjXjoPmBC7
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Pars gave a command to us all, aiming his crossbows at the entrance of the alleyway. I didn't understand why he was using two of them, but there was a tube of earth protruding from inside the coat and connected to the ends of the crossbows, so I knew there was some trick going on.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn4yHEcRIy
247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy82yGJOXI
Pars kept his aim steady, and steady, and kept it up for seconds, then minutes. I realized then that we had lost our pursuer, but Pars only tilted his head.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJjUCAa4AP
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"Where did she go? Do I smell that bad?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uUMGwNRcz
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He pulled his crossbows back and sighed, rubbing his head as he turned around. His eyes met with mine, and he practically blenched.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCetNPxhaA
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"K-Kenny? Where did you come from!?"247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdWT7iufxp
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I sighed, and I smiled. There was something heartwarming about seeing this man act as usual, even if it pained me.247Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYkx6g3IHS
