The fat Nigel and I amassed was substantial for the potion. I didn’t know what to do with the leftovers, but I didn’t dare to throw the fruits of our hard work away. It wasn’t as if another endurance potion wouldn’t be needed.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnS4AQyLpE
“Now all I need to do is to finalize it.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvaFL2nFoG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW6bVl8hy5
A few minutes of careful mana suspension was the remaining requirement for a job well done. I did so easily, channeling my shaky focus to form it with haste. The liquid turned deep blue, the color of the distant sea, meaning that–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Y4zNE9MB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaWiP6YDIV
“It’s a resounding success. Awesome.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUljMukSOZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLDbV9lbxs
I wiped my brow with my forearm and patted my face with my collar. I wasn’t sweaty or anything, but my head felt undeniably hot, likely from all the blood that rushed to fuel my attention. That aside, I now had a finished product to deliver, but as I tasked myself I came at a small crossroads.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAkgfl0ijp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaXsiC3uTi
Should I go and deliver this now, or make a healing potion, and deliver this later?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcFhKq4ie6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yCsp9jHDw
“...”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx4pg0EHCs
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvPZ494Idm
It seemed obvious to me what the answer was. Pragmaticism dictated the practice of the former, as the recipients of this potion were operating under borrowed time. But my left mind dictated otherwise; it told me that it would be a slight– no, a flagrant offense if I didn’t brew that medicine.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f0Zsxlz4l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA32dFXcQFc
“...That’s new. Where did you come from?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu1ajD1rNZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jCPzRIud8
Thoughts like that– I didn’t recall having them. I was hit from left field by this warping, contorting, sapping feeling in my chest. It didn’t disturb me, however. Rather, I was confused. I was uncomfortable, but I could bear this panging, especially with a distracting duty.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv7ytRZMNQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUUKkuoDhC
“I know better. I don’t have the time for that. No, I don’t.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAUEqbSNfb
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVFFMMnWrt
Indeed, I was creating with urgency. I spent enough excess time finding ingredients as it was, so any further stalling would jeopardize the whole city. I had to get out, and get out now–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq3h4FEWJX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGpep2Qwew
“...”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKY8qw7nKP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmgAlzp5P7
But when I jerked my legs to do so, they didn’t. They stood in place, locked to the ground by that warping sensation. I clicked my tongue, because now I realized what was happening, and my irritated frown turned into a worried grimace.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmTIlgETUf
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkNyCD58yc
Even though I had a duty, to leave Rover to hang with a broken leg longer than she had to, left me with a pit in my stomach. It’s Especially so, because I had the power and the will to relieve her.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VbueKR2co
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RiGc6MP96
Fortunately, I had a compromise. I found that compromise in my bag, slouched against the wall. I sifted through it and found what I needed, then made a quick exit from the booth.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOLtE0NA2a
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaOruPRWfe
–
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzeUDyHmHM
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276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGrDerz6uY
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276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PplzsOQHy
Knock, knock, knock. The strength of my banging knuckles surprised even me. I stocked hardly half the force in my flicks to produce such noise. But I summed up the cause immediately. I was nervous.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlfzLlY2FT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5hHtpmlSp
“Yes?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG236WBYzC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdVnc3GF31
The door opened quickly, revealing a Lola who was peekingher head through the opening. Her countenance lost its vigilance once she saw me, and it likewise calmed me down.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH62FUqcXM
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bGnLCF4cI
“You’re here what I think you’re for, aren’t you?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCwgaxV2ds
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigob3vUVLZ
“Y-Yes, Lola. Here, this is the potion I made.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEM52kn1J1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q9jbD9HhC
I stretchedmy arm out as she widened the door. She grabbed it with her free hand and inspected it on all planes. At some point, she stopped twirling and nudging it and blankly stared at the blue. I noticed now how fluidly the streams swirled.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ96pdcMts
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pTDQlxaxI
“You made this in eighty minutes?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8KuMXDm3D
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvdM39Z0ZK
“Did I take too long? I’m sorry, I had to grab some ingredients from a lower floor–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJuYSjAhru
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJTLCGWCp3
“No, not at all. I was expecting you to take longer. Thank you, Kenny, I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB7WoXyrgj
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxe2MlOtOk
I raised my hands bashfully and rapidly waved them at her.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9hxcW64qQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pKXr6gazn
“No no no, please don’t! You’re helping us enough as is.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf18dOamIk7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvPpMr2TI0
“If you insist.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqvH2OGX5x
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wau29hYsV
She said so with an upscaling cadence, poorly singing the last syllable. I blinked a few times, and my eyes reopened to blaring blurs. Only my mother ever did that.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVPTPBpxPw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDuXzvmaSS
“Kenny?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJxDORlEr1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtxs8DG0oU
“O-Oh, right. Do you need me for anything else?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaU05cBbNd
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw8fLkmVFr
“Hmm,” she hummed, clasping her chin, “if we do, I’ll bug you. For now, make yourself at home, and get plenty of rest. You’ll need it for what comes next.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qgUZoBXTN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjUksanXx9
I let out a chuckled sigh and slapped a hand on my chest, muttering a breathy “thank you.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQBbCSAlk1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrMmorP81f
“There is something I’d like to ask you, however, just before you go.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cdre1WM1l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQtPBRE5Rt
She said so right as I turned to leave. I twisted my head and looked at her, gesturing for her to shoot.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lI9RTfTpK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbBgm8zMAz
“The concoction in your other hand; that bright green tint can only mean one thing, yes? A healing potion.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQja5kPFGQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYlJz7F3VW
I nodded at her assessment. I realized the speed at which this could turn dangerous.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1sdnHWJXN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTnBUgQuNr
“I see. I see, I see…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCwNOCmLbV
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3m2N9jVA1
“A-Are you going to make me make one for each soldier?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjiimtI4SG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR8ZMQ7gYq
“No, I won’t ask that of an outsider, let alone a child– oh, sorry, you don’t like being called that, do you?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB47wxEpd1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINpqgSY9kt
“...Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you being considerate, Lola. Is there anything else?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhcVkTXq1z
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9cp8BNfIZ
“I-If you don’t mind my prying, could you answer a few questions for me?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLi0kybToG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6kHcQmVZ2
She stepped over the threshold and closed the door, but stopped just short of shutting it. As much as I wanted to chat with her, though, I had somewhere else to be.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltB53xr99e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjoDJulKc6
“Please?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ67ryUmaw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L2aEl1Br6
Though it was difficult to draw a line while she was making such a face.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEz99OGFWW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7vnx2HOQh
“F-Fine, but please make them short. I have somewhere I need to be.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8szE95eCCR
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp77UYvNHB
“Thank you, I will. It’s just two quick questions. First–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYrWVRJ11y
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz5oojZFto
She paused right before asking, as if a crucial memory struck her from the woodwork. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbyZLTC8gQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHbj3kcKlC
“–How long have you been an alchemist?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNil81tgHt
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrphaogQ4E
“I’d say… hold on, that question has two answers. Commercially, it’s been about three years(1). Personally, it’s been for… seven?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR0DczoWYK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg6AEAFyGH
“Seven years? That’s over half your life, isn’t it?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtGYN8Fg3e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7erbRXAYc
I gave a simple shrug with sandwiched lips.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPheBPyAqD1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIU4Z3yHbA
“I started young. That’s all.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF7402nsDK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZLlKj7iCX
“I see. Being trained at such a young age, no wonder why you’re so skilled.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBc1e6yYNQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrOOtitUpe
“P-Please, don’t flatter me. I appreciate the remarks, but they just…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1mH0sjrTO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrQWUXaT6i
They don’t sit right with me, I wanted to say, but Lola gave a predictive, discerning nod, so I stopped speaking.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN43nf34vi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMC0eU5LmO
“Only seven years… then, maybe–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHNk7hDrGi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM0eLKeOdJ
“Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch it.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxeum1Dvv4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XMydr5PB8
She jumped and then waved her hand.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57DuayeD2F
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVdNdJRr4S
“Don’t worry, I was just thinking out loud. Anyhow, for my next question…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBVlDS0CAB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNOeUC6ADc
“Right.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiWKwqB3eI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYtwthd1K3
“...I apologize if this may seem extreme, but I have to ask.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyBrxHPggA
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoYp1GqPc2
She straightened herself and turned her head left and right, seemingly afraid of anyone hearing in. That assumption was validated by her leaning her head in.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJknc5GBnbN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbfMUCVgCZ
“Did you kill anyone in the last operation?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedNcdUEqpT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGdxEaQ7AL
“I– Wha!?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhzia8lUZD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bu5e1ytAu
I couldn’t keep my voice down, much to her dismay. But, goodness, could she blame me? She put a hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down, which I quickly did, but I still had a storm thrashing in my skull.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxUCl1U3uG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB6M89MO00
“Who asks something like that to a child!?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtelWCEs10e
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwjtcupC4a
“Shh! I know it’s selfish, but it’s for my own peace of mind! I have to know, please, did you?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXx3r3WmYJ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMygzpH557Q
“Your own… peace of mind?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNA901FR4J
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qo5N4Dmki
When it was twisted that way, suddenly, I wasn’t so apprehensive. I was still bewildered, but answering that question didn’t feel like falling into a trap anymore. And so, reluctantly, my lips spoke the answer.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckmsX8fHBq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVNgTKrQrq
“I didn’t. I hurt some people, but I never landed a killing blow.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jOj2R8A80
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMfokf6pa4
“I-I see. That’s a relief. Oh my goodness, that’s a relief.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0Gzs6y0VD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z9WMd8SKL
She leaned against the door, closed it, and putting her hand on her brow, she closed her eyes and began to… pant? I wondered how she could be so worried. I was beginning to think she might have a screw loose.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm12WhYL1AZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS7xSvZLi3
“Thank you for humoring me. You have no idea how much it calms me, to know there’s no blood on such a young man’s hands. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL6CVPv637
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7TlPjwIoz
“You… for some reason, I feel like you regard me much more highly than you should.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziHFvAjtei
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CtBxp3bmu
She shrugged at my comment.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerTqc6i1AG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WjPsBAnL4
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I think I’ll keep you guessing. Now, shoo! You have somewhere to be, don’t you?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG1C69LErI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3CTrESeEo
Brushing me off with perfect logic before I could respond to her outrageous statement, I clicked my tongue inward and turned on my foot.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMARDL4dp1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg2RbixBOH
“Goodbye Lola,” I shouted. She opened the door and slid right through, waving at me right before closing it.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBxTpgRh2i
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PyTh9XsGB
–
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGgEBCpOLq
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276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLAPY2Cb4M
–
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcXCMK74Z6
As I inched closer to the infirmary, my body had an expected reaction. I coped with it accordingly, though that didn’t make it easy to move.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhABdzKH53l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWXGnJlLug
With every progressing movement of my foot came a wave of resistance double the magnitude. I had to dig my soles into the floor to wade through the spasms, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth just to keep my limbs moving.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E3d2ZbYDp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPL6fIxHq0
Of course, I was exaggerating. But goodness, did that swelling weight pound against my chest. My limbs did shake as I reached for the knob, but I managed to grasp it and keep my hand there.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5uk3mjVFT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9kTTKneFc
“...This is ridiculous.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2NMLVA7t7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm1329LSHG
I sighed. I looked at the healing potion and gave it a few light shakes, watching the agent crash like small waves against the flask. If push came to shove, I could drop this off by the bed or table and turn the other way. In fact, if I had to convince myself that was all I had to do just to open this damned door, then I would do so. So I kept saying so, a lunatic hustling his mantra.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LdX2Na3mg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVIluXNDwi
“Just go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it– off!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zH5XvNBmS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ASBP4xzHd
In the midst of my chanting, I bit the arrow and slammed it open. It looked far removed from how I imagined it.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQxYSgxISz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6JB1oXAzO
Instead of a small room with curtain-covered beds lined up with uniform spacing, it was a small room lined with dingy, almost make-shift mattresses. About eight people were in the room, and one was slouched on a chair opposite of me, his head hung and his arms crossed.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGakd15Nu2v
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH94l4QzbW
And seeing how his groggy face raised to meet mine, I realized how noisy my entrance was.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfIZJAzfBi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MOzz9jvbv
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb anyone. I’m just here to deliver something.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBoh9T8y9P
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQJ6PimV2H
“...Hmm.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevfajLLh2p
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfcl8YSe4n
The man stood up and haggardly walked to me. From his gait alone, I could tell he’d been drinking, though I wondered how exactly he got his hands on alcohol. He stopped a few paces before me, took one long look with narrowed eyes, and casually shrugged.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jzuuMjbzd
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrNsnDI1go
“Do whatever.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTOnMaCZmM
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SMqLhge7s
“R-Right. Thank you, sir.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTUJPq83It
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sLRse4v8V
He gave me a thumbs-up and plodded back to his chair. I looked around the room, feeling blessed from my lucky break, and eyed all the patients.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtiusKOs6s
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfIt2wupHp
While most were in their mock-up beds, either sleeping, eating, or chatting away, one mattress was empty. By process of elimination, it belonged to the person I was looking for.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9F7UUl51F
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVxlXLyw6V
“D-Darn it.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7A88VvrtF
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNIQSSeHIu
Gnawing on my fingers, I did one more sweep before releasing a sigh. Rover was nowhere to be seen– not in the beds, not on the window sill, not in the corners, nothing–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi0jVee1wA
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFtP5MFGxn
“What are you doing here?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEZhS8xxcc
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QYioRE9ix
And then I heard a voice call from me. I jolted, nearly dropping my flask, and turned to face its timbre. Only as I saw its bearer’s face, did its course tone ring a bell in me.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLIpeRcxZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm75l2DlSn2
There was Rover, sitting in the one corner out of my sight, eyeing me with a lion’s eyes.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3dfBOwfM5
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVneABOUdaW
“...U-Uh.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSGFdo63xq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum9qK2OW0H
All my systems shut down at that moment. It was one thing to imagine meeting her, but seeing her face-to-face instead of a mere effigy I controlled the responses of was a completely different beast.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcpT1XgRat
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eOvvAR0PL
“Well? Come on, spit it out.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlN7W3xRMe
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMs4BqRn3G
“I… I-I.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycP7ebrFmX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TWHbztRdF
My body didn’t shake. My eyes didn’t blink, my lips didn’t part, and only the functions of my lungs and stiff throat continued normally. I was completely and utterly frozen.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFtxSdhGKB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLpU09RJHO
Suddenly, I felt my face fire up. It was a familiar feeling, but I was vulnerable during its assassination. In front of another person, of whom I had their undivided attention, witnessing my pale cheeks light like fireflies.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hBd6PP8GH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIJWwuRuW6
That shame was too much to bear. I stuck my hand out, darting my eyes between her and the potion, and even orbiting my other hand around the flask to emphasize it. Despite me putting it on a pedestal, Rover tilted her head with an eyebrow that raised to the ceiling.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sjlXy7HCR
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbRSKIEzys
“I don’t have time for this, just spit it out!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3xLkOj84t
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSskspXJZgo
“I-I’m here.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKnElVbVHw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF0QjbKGew
By some miracle, her urging words kicked my chords into action, and I was beginning to form words again. Only, they didn’t have a present pilot.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIIPw1WYEO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO8GOVqIhv
“I’m– I made— I– Rover, I’m here–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7iM6I9XEC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xmVJdPa0I
As I kept stumbling over myself, Rover rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She looked at me, tapping her finger on herself as if she was waiting for me to stop.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIIfySK18B
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MpdF8YDSy
“I…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PchXdA7fp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEHgYYXsvG
I sighed and pinched my nose, shook my head, and slapped my left cheek. I looked at the corner between the wall and ceiling, whispered something akin to a prayer, and finally looked that woman in the eyes.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20v3Tg4ODP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTraSsjkQNW
“Hello, Rover.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbUnqz0uVH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdBlSdIlR6
“Hey, Kenny.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe2DVBzjVm
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpQw2y7yJP
I retracted my stretched arm, then extended it yet again.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsdNl6fVpX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyKsmQELQq
“I made you this. It’s something I made, in light of the news I heard. Well, it’s just leftovers, but I did want to make one for you–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJDgfWG5qJ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tkezORWxH
“Cut to the chase!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8K9fdCneH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChJ0yxk4Sx
“R-Right. It’s a healing potion. I heard that your leg sustained a major injury, and so, I’d like to give this to you. For some relief, and quicker healing.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNjEZX7qEi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1UqHxouzj
Her eyes widened. Her crossed arms slackened, and I took it as a signal to move forward. I took it incorrectly.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksflboLBXv
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsmRR84iz0
“Hold on, you brought me a potion?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3eeJp7zr4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhKfZ0gDin
“Y-Yes.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreJ2CnbL1l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADMeuhhlRM
“Now who told you to do that?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIuusLNYRw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCuqSb0e6U
“W-Well–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4IEjF8Fdh
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Z7r2q9Kf
Nigel suggested it, but he didn’t tell me. No, mulling over that was wasteful spending. There was only one truth in this situation:276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym5vMIjdFG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxOex1A1wt
“I wanted to do it. I wasn’t told.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKmMm5RBMC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjh34IG3IL
“...You? That wimpy Kenny?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfpy7Y94ox
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSKSgXF5y2
I wasn’t mad at her insult. It was all too accurate.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNXU5BPYGQ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL8o822X95
“Yes, the wimpy Kenny.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzaI2J2qKW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJyDl4FtNq
“Ha! You’ve surprised me before, but this really blew my expectations out of the water!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ci0x129lK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXdtzAoMPk
She rubbed under her nose and hummed to herself with a satisfied tune. As I couldn’t read her mind, I stood in place and didn’t budge.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlc75XLHfv
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeF07W6HnP
“I refuse your treatment!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMbi2aNUO4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCChBHMREq
“H-Huh!?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6gPvjxuwV
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj4K2DqvqA
In a single moment, all my apprehension had been voided. All anxiety and dread, crumpled into a ball and thrown out a window, replaced by a slate of terrible vexation.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgvsj60box
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ilv1J7z1
“Why not? Don’t you want to recover faster?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH97NKyCCu
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg3kQZtcad
“Of course I do, but I can’t accept it. Not when you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBr0K8PkJa
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu0pIg6A1k
“I– Wha?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM9GakPHrd
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB22Ig5gHvG
I stopped pointing my finger and used it to feel around my face. There was no mirror, so it was the best I could do. Something was off with it, and if I didn’t figure out what, then I couldn’t give Rover this potion, and I couldn’t confront–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqEW31HHBy
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHANMNKFCtF
“No, stupid! It’s the face you’re making! It’s weird!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmaKS073Xx
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4QCHzJfqs
“Stupid? Weird!?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLF0Bn2vL7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtAfan2EqF
“Do you need the whole room to hear it!? You’re looking at me like a weirdo!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaclY9EbHP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MCoHs1veR
“...”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fwOTnN8U2
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg0uuZSt1d
The energy to argue was sapped. I understood what she said, and could do nothing but stare with mouth agape. Rover leaned further against the wall and looked at me with her chin raised.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxg7RIwHbs
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkrs1Uj2da
“Why are you looking at me like that? Hmph.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs594PkSBw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kQrMdbyQr
As I had no other mode of operating at this moment, I blurted my immediate response.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF0TJl2o4S
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4fHaVKwH9
“It’s because I upset you.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ397GaJ2ZLI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV61kZXC9I
And then I realized that something like this required thoughtful phrasing.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8arKOxj2pa
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYakqGJ3AiI
“I don’t– well, I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv2NP0hjnD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC9VsbuaUn
“That’s bullshit! Man, forget answering that, I don’t need your whole, your spiel you know!? Come here!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQO0fCKo4s
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4K2nAe4R8
“Come, there,” I asked, pointing to myself.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtQtTrrd8q
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDX3CFE2NU
“Yes. Sit by me, I can’t stand looking at your working legs.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDP9plRepw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROWAgSxuoI
“S-Sheesh.” 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGpHNGsKOB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV1H5W5MdR
I didn’t even begin thinking of a way to respond to that. I just did as I was asked and walked to her side, sitting against the wall beside her. She snatched the potion right out of my hand and eyed it like an appraiser. Only, if said appraiser was terrible at imitating one.
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNlwwnToFo
“How do I use this thing?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7U5OlP10lP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQlT5w4GZQ
“You, uhm, you have to drink it. If you have a needle, you can inject it right into your leg, that’ll make it work faster, but not better.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xw5bRnjDZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOATkf6CN2
“Drinking works for me.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddoIBdKW0W
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcsF4ZarsX
She popped the cork and chugged it to its last drop. She shook every drop out, set the flask on the ground, and entered a fierce coughing fit.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddVgLd7cTq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC9eo76ZiD
“Cah! What the hell, is in this thing?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3WoBHPrYW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ODEGX0j41
“That’s not the problem! You drank it too fast, you dingus!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUzi5zur9A
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkOgkmR9lk
She looked at me with sharp eyes but couldn’t do anything in the midst of her coughing. I slapped her back a few times to help it pass her throat, and after a moment, she calmed down.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnH1k14wjc1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PVj3dX1fE
“If you drink like that, it’s likely to go down the wrong pipe.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP2AsYUqKe
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yDwNlWJJh
“Whatever.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc19fbKOdQ1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzbxxRrhfa
With her dismissive reply, she turned her head to the side with what I could only imagine was a pout. I silently sighed, because for all the gritting teeth and flexing fingers her behavior should’ve invoked, it was within my whetted expectations. I tolerated her usual brashness rather well– in fact, my body was as relaxed as a koala. But I didn’t come here to watch her pout, and I no doubt must’ve warranted that face somehow. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mVyilTY9i
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo60vO00ENs
She discarded my earlier words, but they were genuine. I didn’t want to make her stressed. Not any more than a person with such a leg should have.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHVwJt1mLZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5MW3UAnNw
And so, I got up from my improvised seat and brushed the little bits of dust that landed on my pants. I turned to Rover, who already had her eyes meeting mine. It was with such swiftness, that I almost staggered before my goodbye. Almost, but I fixed myself before it.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPDrvXoWtK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsWcn7OgWm
But before I could even take anpreludebreath, she spoke, reading my intentions.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCu8gEjnzG
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoVFTf4Hca
“Leaving already?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjofxJI38D
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsIMhhu8RR
“I-I am, yes. I think it would be best. It isn’t as if I don’t have–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl0rizJtgx
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeP5pVlz54
“Hold on, not yet. I still have something to say to you.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UHRffPZWe
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uByEkip4m
She didn’t reach a hand. No, not one inch of her body nudged my way. But her crossed arms and crunched eyes enacted a greater force than her limbs ever could, as if a fortress wall materialized on my head. My butt returned to the floor soon after, but what I tried my hardest not to reveal, was that it was self-assisted.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ5G6GidCX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzeTNLaou7
“That’s funny. I do too. Do you mind if I start first?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmQz6dGS16
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIse7ipfUbU
She shook her head back and forth, keeping that iron countenance but giving me the go-ahead. It made spitting out my words difficult, but I was lucky to have rehearsed them. Only a little, of course.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTmNYBHyTp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uEvVF49Po
“I wanted to tell you, that I’m sorry for what happened earlier. My conduct, of course. I was just– you remember what I’m talking about, right? Back in our little rented room?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HEmmmlMwC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80dcvLNlLu
“Yeah, I do. I remembered how much of a wuss you were.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXShwfnPUF
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvsddEF6aL
I almost chuckled. Blunt as a bat, but it hit a bullseye.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey03ZdrgKY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUdgA1oFha
“I was being conducted by fright. I couldn’t fathom, putting myself out there, and making myself a part of this mess. Risking my life, your life, Juke’s. But, honestly, those reasons took a backseat.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJGcFCdjJK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP5zHVtRo9
I noticed the subtlest rise of her right brow.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHEjZ1PoZi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJiK40odO3
“I thought that, the lower the engagement, the better it would be. Screw the job, screw the people. The less involved I was, the better. The less it was up to me, the better. I don’t fully get it– not yet I do –but with the words I have, I can tell you this much: that’s how I felt.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBajOx5LZgk
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5NVaKirT6
She nodded along to my apology. It looked like she was expecting more, but I was finished. So she’d understand, I concluded with–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmhkCZxjlP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnSVJCA8sd
“So yeah, I’m sorry for being such a wuss.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPjJ3XWQzT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuuNgbS3oQ
“...Hmm. Ha, I guess kids really do grow so fast.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUsf4xp2GZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEnqhkyQsK
“H-Huh?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa7dkqRdjC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxTUAuYRZh
She rubbed her nose a little and continued talking.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ8wlVgLZz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp7QKX0Ner
“Just look at you. You’re nothing like the Kenny I knew.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFpITTyulo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS73lfUKbng
“I-I, well, I don’t know if I agree–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKKXO01QYX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny6ckyVLZP
“Nah, on second thought, I take that back. But that doesn’t matter anyway. Seriously, just look at you.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUsRSmNHng
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwviCKR5qI
“I’m n-nothing so special.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNHGijEnaY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIns3ZEoE42
“Sure you ain’t. But here you are, in a room with a bunch of battle casualties. You’re in the same mess I’m in, and you’re finally working to get that letter back!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAB3Ve6Umx
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA6mHr2oqX
“The letter certainly isn’t a priority.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pnkr7FCOU
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIpmw6GsaL
She casually clicked her tongue, tilted her head sideways, and waved her hand downward.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiBiX7OlBZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IthmRq6bL
“Don’t sweat the details. That’s not the point. The point is that you’re in the same room as me again, and that means you finally grew a pair.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt94ClPMZ9l
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bm0gVAVTD
Whether it was he boorish phrasing or encouraging insistence, something about her made me sit on those words. I raised a hand to my chin and looked up at nothing, entrenched in thought. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OwdxxEvmd
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZZ7uXPiBO
It took me only a few 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceytS1whPx
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXNPTgfpll
“I don’t think so. I don’t think I grew anything.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s0wQAKvMk
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdoHD4AVka
“‘Course you did! Stop giving me such crap–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuzMKDPPKY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRCekWiVi4
“No, really, Rover.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBp4FpSrvPX
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpxbvggCao
I slouched my posture and leaned back, lifting myself with my hands behind me. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilBR7T2it9
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh28hHKWVjS
“I think I’m just lucky.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliqni6NCIJ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKcbx4pV4n
I veered my eyes away from the ceiling, looking into Rover’s, and was taken aback by her utter dejection. Or was it disgust?276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlWiGJZgWI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl3xFj8DW3
“I-I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t been trying, it’s just–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOLjIXyS3h
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1arzhHJvi
“Nevermind all that, Kenny. You’re starting to give me a headache.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXQlHjS2PZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eUY0KI4sw
I stopped my frantic hand-waving and began to scratch my head.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEihoBOUeK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH0HrFJ1gL
“You’re doing something right. You said it yourself, so you know. But enough about you; I have something to say, and your weird drug is already making me drowsy.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFvFO30vj6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapV7UZvjuN
“It isn’t a drug! I wouldn’t stoop to such barbaric substances!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqBCMhRj43
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9S7ur3TeY
“Uh-huh, whatever. Hear me out before you can’t anymore.”
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhDRhceS0w
I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut, squishing my cheek by resting it on my face. Though Rover looked ready to speak with her gaze matching mine, she quickly jerked her head the other way and appeared to look off into nowhere. I was confused, but I didn’t voice it. It would be unfair of me to interrupt her as she gathered her words, as I hadn’t been so many times.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi7fmwrpFY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiJE1IZwLO
Eventually, Rover’s face flared and became ruddy. I didn’t think much of it initially, but as I continued to remember that it was Rover who I was talking to, this meant that whatever she said had immense gravity. I perked my ears and sharpened their hearing– as best as I could with the poor funnel my hands formed, anyhow. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXJmE6qJDw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYZ1YXxMoO
“D-Don’t rush me!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxuT1zMmSZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4iXRQr0h7
“I’m not rushing you! I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you just spat it out, but–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iR5F6BCJg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHSMd8Pkbu
“Shut up, Kenny! You told me yourself once that I’m too crass with words. Just let me think; you already know I’m bad at this…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pNmJ2F631
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfaseuC4xH
I had no recollection of doing such a thing, but as the clearest memory I had of her was of the incident that night, I chose to believe her. She spent the time fiddling with her fingers, biting then nibbling her lips, darting her eyes this way and that with such ferocity her head jiggled with each motion. I could see my reflection on her sweat, and she was so engrossed in thought that air stopped entering her system.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHvjHPzjqm
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkAc9fXGNl
I was exaggerating, but I couldn’t deny that it was making me uncomfortable. I wondered then for a moment, as admonishable as a thought that it was, if this is how people felt around me at times.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCg6o7DuHZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroOY9VEZfL
“Gahh, forget it! You convinced me, I’ll just say it!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1YY7mknTD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0n9VY09gG
“I didn’t say anything.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBMSTsdNDi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpSlRSzKPW
She straightened her back and puffed out her chest. Her guise of bravery was there to convince herself. The instance her lips would part, she’d cross a fine line, one whose threshold would shut and lock with her passing legs. I knew that gesture all too well. And since I did, I gave her nothing but my most diligent attention.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g8ao408Lf
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO7Phjdwnt
“I’m sorry for being such a priss.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhQ1vMT3W1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZUgaeMYaB
And I was returned an equal blow. Rover stuck her tongue out after saying that, ready to clean off the ‘mawkish verbiage’ she just spewed. That’s what it seemed to me anyway, but she refrained, as she had only her body to convince me of her sincerity.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwqeSBgV6B
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtvI6JCHhX
But whether she was or not, mattered not to me.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmtxgHrKwK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtWc1FcDg9
“I don’t regret chewing you out, don’t get me wrong. But I shouldn’t have abandoned you two. Not after how we’ve, b-became friends, and not after how you told me all you did.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a7nwcfhZ6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9OPMmldnW
“Told you all I did? What?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYUcSryjAz
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3skxaD0fO
She was caught by a wind of fury.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuYylxoMMv
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgdKb7St2o
“You don’t remember!? Are you kidding me!? I really should–! Gah, you’re making this so much harder than it should be!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cHGlLDkWT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqyov3aD75
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She stopped her rage immediately, donning a look of perplexion. 276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SrKT5fU43
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXKtMopMEd
“What’s so funny?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfROKG08IvV
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedAlzG5lOk
“N-Nothing in particular. I appreciate the apology, I suppose? I don’t think I’m all that deserving of it, though.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PD33YPicL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGMKJVLkFb
“Hold on, I’m not done yet!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCcofUH6cF
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxwGyFHO3Q
I nodded in understanding, and so she continued.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lZeIIuQs
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGTfwwW5ph
“As I was saying… I was so mad, but I was never that mad. And I get why now. Because when it comes to anything Hard-Bringer, I get a little crazy.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikgDYJkKCZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ofZX8mYlf
“A little crazy?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz4h12MU0h
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKKcY6blAn
“Yes, idiot, I just said that. They piss me off like you wouldn’t believe. Screw that, I don’t get a little crazy, I grow mad, mad!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7Bxa6JqMq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMEtCe34RF
Her hands balled themselves to compliment her offshoot tangent. Her escalating tone made me concerned, but she relaxed soon after.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjItqq9S1K
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIPhi3CuTy
“So yeah. Sorry for messing up. And, sorry for thinking you were such a wimp. I thought you were totally hopeless, but I was off the mark.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ5BruAjfT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ndZW11FbV
“Well–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzRRTiRDp6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPcvbiMwYo
“Shut up! Shut up! Do you know how annoying it is to hear someone undersell themselves all the time?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRAGNOHy7y
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoksGQiZ2zB
“I–”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7w27VJJrJ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlQLPyF05g
It was that precise phrasing, that specific selection of words and syntax, and her usual, but energized voice that spelled it out for me, that allowed a candle to ignite in my mind. A quick image flashed in my mind, one of a man of close acquaintanceship, and then my throat spoke on its own.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShzRKPBxQ7
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXprdmENrwZ
“Yeah. I do. It sucks.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf0DDk4K8m
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gqzdW5DMe
“See! I– huh? You do?”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCxil88T1q
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4JtEQ3aPb
I slowly nodded along. Rover looked with pleasant surprise. She was more than eager to take my word for it, and in fact looked delighted after I spoke.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDozSot29j
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRqQL6KcM0
“Still,” I began, “as grating as it may be for your ears, I really have to stress that I think you’re wrong about me. I’m still a wimp.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMzR1k45wO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnzCZZKnvk
“Whatever. Think what you want, but don’t speak it out loud anymore.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunA3gn9AtL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28hFl88ghD
“I… haha, sure thing, Rover. I’ll do just that.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr8foDACDT
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqJsg5kv4N
Her candid words were the perfect closer. There was wisdom in that harsh language– a funny thing to call it, as she was only a few years older than me –but wisdom nevertheless. No speech of mine could be a better finale, so I gathered myself and stood up from the floor.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifvs32QhWL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeQfbVMG1M
“Perfect. I was just about to tell you to leave.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mnMVfmvSg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b7SIZrukD
“I’m starting to think you hate me.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlncaQnWXW3
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM00KLIIOj
Her hands twitched upwards defensively.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EhY3JP9S5
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6xme5If3z
“I-I don’t. I’m just getting sleepy. Any second now, I’ll doze off.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhVLzLyEXC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDX40SxnPP
“Ah, right.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYdER4oLjZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pQ08bb3td
She mentioned it just a few minutes ago, but it didn’t compute with me until now. Recovery would always be an exhausting thing, especially with assistance from potions. I wondered for a moment if there was a way to mitigate that.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TCsohrxH0
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Rc0SzqCl
“That one Bringer was invigorated even with a restored limb, after all…”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIPxsmxUvI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg4kxcoxCo
“What are you mumbling about, eh? Scram! Scram, I tell you!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7tl2K5lli
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqUWF6F9kZ
“Alright alright, jeez. With how grouchy you’re being, you really do need that rest.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kWB8UHjnk
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrT2jzYnyt
She stuck her tongue out at me this time. I took it with a light heart, waltzing to the door and stretching as I made my way. I placed my hand on it but stopped short of opening, taking one last look at Rover. Her eyes were taking turns closing. I could tell she was exerting herself when she waved me off.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J1ktlBSL3
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJRN9szqEf
“Wait, one last thing!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMjzJK8rwK
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKlsBZNexc
Then, she shouted unexpectedly. I looked at her with a blank expression to signify my okay, and she continued shortly.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7334y4hP7F
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6BxkOyS4C
“Tell that old bucket-wearing fart to visit me sometime.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHeL3HqPGY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLHOiYSD2b
“...”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GeVWs9TMU
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTXbO2fx9p
I smiled.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01NaC5ZwUb
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Pl9iV42m
“I will.”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjlbr9afgt
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkDT0ro57p
I returned her wave and exited the room. The moment the door shut behind me, I let out a quick breath and–276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt3mAqKcIy
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfop6uDaCpL
“Yes!”276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GsfvcR69H
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JyLp2VAtn
A jump with jubilation. I had to. I never experienced such success before.276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1qQ8o2d5W
