The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5p3cLvU9V
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0p1TkT9Nt
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdB83kQ1TA
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOfnxV3iHm
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"Dad!?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SCwcKfP1L
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrrr7Fz5ha
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"Flinty! There you are!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6D0iAPA0I
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQbE9LRfZJ
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq72OCaveJg
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"And you must be Kenny?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ9WKxk6BG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnqonJSFas
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41DuZbGbP
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGSF7GjhBf
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmB75nWpj0
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrykkIX6stn
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDQlTtT3zo
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFxAZ335mA
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5igfKKwlIR
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl30aPAHD5M
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWclQIYsjR
Dear Mister Chambers.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGd2LkjtnG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgwDnRBWBY
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CGhZNMBsl
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqHqNicACb
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTzWAKeV5W
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wl5nmt2Gw
"...I don't remember promising anything."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZQYt51VU1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeu49SsG4U
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSgXoecbFd
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmcEUX3vSJ
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMBXMsNdZQ
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUcFNDqZKY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc3tqNiSoH
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG6iDJ19Oi
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO5KSUnGbD
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjJ1ZhABhk
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnNftxN5lE
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk9iS36xiQ
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCSlTdzZ3v
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9s67wT4Is
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EeFUNfmHs
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNTx3Nq04o
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"Kenny!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxPvt6oTFx
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYTgTgvIjp
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QH6lGIbFv
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41sG5CkQle
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xVlezNreO
"Is that the plant you asked for?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRr8iLQVmS
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0LIsPdkVQ
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9P7cO0B77
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJKXbnQd4L
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPIQG0V5BQ
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"Hello, you two."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GvoLdQzlx
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3d3GRODc1
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4YrkUhedw
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjFRLU7WKF
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NEDgRjlFz
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPjQdcq4dq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DFI0I51Ne
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXqAx3zWwW
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"Please don't drop it or something."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfMAfBP1cM
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifwSavAb9B
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYeg33pHor
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Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMJcQhHfnt
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAMHq0KHqC
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZp86zL1nr
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzNNi2IVdd
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EmqXOFbRk
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInU59tzml4
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RtwcWbsey
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDIxIXROkq
"And you asked for... a flower?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrBJImpvck
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcNVJzM53p
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuokftXifg
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1Y5x0wVFR
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxljZbadP2d
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWpVlBMGVH
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gfu8ecH92
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"Arg! You...!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzLkKJjRgE
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Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4JNSk5Gtq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInIlqHozsW
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW6Bb2wOpc
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"Whatever."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavKRRy2zF6
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We sat in silence for a minute.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa57reGMyka
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQczKzbyAN
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"Yes! Please tell me!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxIhbaA3ke
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lwqF2IT2J
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRgmgrryca
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAN2L39YAo
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"Wait, Eastern country?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MUfnkIOQe
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I faced the old man.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vnqTXTKvq
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcof5RYc0L1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKwisedIsh
"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvarkRWZPh4
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmGDDHpHkv
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"...Buffalo village."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSk5pyPq3T
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GbPdl5UEh
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz5gVlL1o7
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNsQV86OdF
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdDfXqKTif
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2wVFnQbKN
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARau8Re6Pe
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQQwqt0n9U
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FbxNlKfO2
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN28d3gCeS
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6vK9Yah9x
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"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PC1ykVwSX
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I nodded along.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJU5fLGK2R
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq41pS3Ppk
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXvc0V3azp
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmrpsBhDoO
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtdbA5110n
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQar5Vztp7
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0dtM73FH8
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGfmxe2pgq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJKvd8rSNE
She blinked blankly.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQFzi68pqF
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"Wait, is it?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwDYa6jtHV
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlSnwEvkWa
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"No, maybe it is true."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gZ4KOAcfU
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"O-Oh, okay."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZoCvIXVDN
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"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfBiECgE9t
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"How was your guys' day?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdvQVE2sBz
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"Mom, you should've been there!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fvXbFgkoF
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And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxc5n6DbiP
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I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNPcvospG4
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It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPioUI6pCdV
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGS8WkjJ50
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3Soq3EDks
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXOZzj7wG6
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX5jpNJfDJ
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"O-Okay."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7mRXEAyO5
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatmfTUjeOL
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Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kYRahv8oH
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8tYtQWooK
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He sat me right back down in my chair.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6HSoZ3AYa
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSLxN1nZnh
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaEKO0U5XP
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3pHRaUuey
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS46GaCU9A
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zBr5u0Yc8
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFocSWvUob
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY9uA6KItN
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K1p3zTAB7
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpLnlUTASh
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM63JUIPY1A
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAzd9clJxq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjI48hsa7Q
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5yjojVjKd
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"TALBOT!?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY1S2jCALG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAsSAPgflQ
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDqBgwj09V
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZSDlOLfJi
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEICBLiHuoZ
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HeBNibem5
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCcy0qSxLB
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXcNuSmSG8
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP4S30bUbW
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPaBbqCOcf
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZxvqE6A6U
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqzzxGYOWM
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0S1VI3UPp
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETOw4ZokgO
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uOMmZpxOw
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"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8wM7hxzSN
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU60jrgG3bG
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNqbG17kdF
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARf7a06fyM
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKqpHBWwr7
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdpWxZS669
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"Flinty."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoZ2tEglnP
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"Y-Yeah?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g0goRwZkt
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOBT3Ov5Jp
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ8bCrpl14
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"Okay! Let's do it!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosnTP9RtA9
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9VgJVeer5
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"...My tome is in the other room."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkYZ7vJ9yr
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHexaDzfIu
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–
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–185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPF24SxLfE
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6wCoxf2iw
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zhfAbQbBU
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Yej3YpbS
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"Good morning."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtgnSb9ius
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AXN1L1nPh
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"I woke up early."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2XDlZ2upP
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZe7whSGBO
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdYRRun07d
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddcRrtjOWq
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"Right."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1esxMRisW
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKizDQ0wmgw
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Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLoTPkBNay
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMaQqvHs12
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"I sure did, honey."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV35H5TJ7dJ
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"Oh."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeoIKaKopr
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUnAkDGyML
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"Is something wrong?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsIvkLpUDN
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9kayVJGw7
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ62vZZcOP
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Strange. Strange people.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6VxAmNFEe
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTAr0dSmhg
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"...I uh."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJOJ0aK1Bc
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPXoN0LEsb
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2W6PuZWud
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifZafmTYKs
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gl7VjUnrt
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"Water under the bridge?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UUZMEDVlZ
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"Mhm."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwp2bsJSyX
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL1oR82aIb
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ciPGVKAA9
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They were really good.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw90k44OyK
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneCc8B4RIW
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"That's a nice outfit"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkH3dhLYBd
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZvhSTzHez
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJJa1FGQgb
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYderaBqOK
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXCJDt7hWO
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"Ah, my apologies."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFoREcxVGN
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"No no, I like being around you too."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AtKN8gv9w
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqXosH8Z1H
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM70NlKHwQ
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"R-Right."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVicTb1fuDa
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe9rhM5rit
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnIscqyeMe
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"Hello, Freed!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWMX5Sr1Yy
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Y07JYLP8
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSdfWtKKOT
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"So what business do you kids have today?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcroGu3dzq
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE46YSoEa7
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDsucej2wX
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH58jxl9W8
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYUQLSLBPN
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWwyx77hQV
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"I see."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kpbIDi5TR
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHuyBX1XgF
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"I refuse."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aYvl2MuS5
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"Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaVFDeaKNk
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"WHAT!?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD0iDiZDQU
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jyC0PxHJI
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI9wV4hJG5
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQlgw3Unz3
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"...No?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQm3EU9PXZ
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94rwZn4dEz
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQu20fKbEG
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qnEBNgAMY
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg77d9U5IE0
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr1YppVUXb
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkusuopTMR2
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"Down here."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIqO49kOR3
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ix5JZIa1Z
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TABqBSnno
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYnwenr1rl
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5TEJbVizW
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoW8hoJ8oG
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbQNwQI4Fm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7KnQDrCnv
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg4kg3Y981
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I shrugged.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnwIzY7vpE
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKQQpNujD6
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With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRX4mzoxwV
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"Am I doing it right?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yLrTJrrJY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNiK4PIvVZ
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Hw2HaJRK
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91eagtYwES
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2YjfclKCh
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfCc2fur3m
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAm1lu7oT2
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTmi4uSj40
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5Mg6CWtJs
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx7MW7d0Gf
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDQsjhtQ2Q
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRpdHqrNqx
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgnb9ALbhC
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwhFOb33Tt
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTlOEne00q
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pkePSDxvl
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU03B4dIy6
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWcTzHOmol
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZp3wjhcQf
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDfHe2vzxQ
"O-Okay."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbCkk1LY6N
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrI8xdocgz
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLDbjZkbjL
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gx13OnTjA
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToGqC6t5MD
"W-Wait, how do I–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUZkwLyIA9
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"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WYhkW36MA
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe8HXgzH7P
"But what if I can't let it out?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALtBvYlwMo
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhAShIDDYj
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTREsTUj0U
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUZIh7ztC8
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H91G4UqcW
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50yCJSTq0g
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt50hC8AjXi
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"Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGdJpUA1ib
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzfidAH26R
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRRWRTRGsi
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQkUyrcwn1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb95039CZvh
I messed up, getting all excited.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwoH0Ji9yG
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I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIFJElzmF9
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknkl2aiakc
I couldn't do it in time.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVJXW3Ybyg
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**BOOM**185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwKOzOfdXc
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweUiwsNWyD
The world around me faded.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvqKyddf2Z
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJJETHtkJm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrzRZrhC47
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdWtnBJfuU
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUjwd3ZycE
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeEIRKOUup
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXDYj8Udo3
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlWADjNSe8
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSOgnMu7KF
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXTzjr5usO
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I was in the greenhouse.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYg7qt1Bn3
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNFggLjG70
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwCaJ0UEyY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj2IoPXMaW
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Kig0fmKa
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Thank God, they were okay.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUej1Jrvpo
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL8imautzT
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rKOlaVMf1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB97Jb3UTuj
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUmMw2grme
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9ZTv69TEF
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9hl7UuYs1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q0uN9G0r7
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79nDYpb2t4
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4XIDgVAgP
"This is... my coat?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURJmBHGVy9
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mf5ApzxIz
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo0a4TEcDm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o0UIhgr24
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoTiDqvP2V
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvxkSVVBh4
I love you. I really do. Thank you.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jRVAGTuVG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD7YNn2KCt
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l6RblPRfE
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUqj0n8cwc
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0KOGgb5n9
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXLgUJRYB
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgEXRbgbkF
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjl9slVwi6
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5NQfh9YMy
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CWG8Y1LIL
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zG5MIBv4d
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5qdDhNzMD
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiB1BRehj6
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNMSMZqMBw
"H-Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2czRDdOo2K
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubeStxniBE
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XVWodNBhW
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCnh3JAGuE
"T-That's terrible!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHV6nd6RuV
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XGVHCUHHh
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8SInXJzUb
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdqOX16osd
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhorAbYsRpt
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I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW560K2lF4
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVJemVR3sa
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT1kNHoQsU
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–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLPzYMXqdY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxhEzKLCE2
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlYB8OF6gl
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXuGaCLLOp
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rwzsVmM0h
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBBg4e6Uxa
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVBiBerhfe
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But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJaHneeZrK
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"...Ah!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBOkXMhphs
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhijk24IoL
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujZj9v9QOd
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GNyVjjcHR
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnVeiPEbpf
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb98QFPl6yH
"...Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPIEaAIJHY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKKFadDMsp
She meekly turned her head to me.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3bZpQavL7
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"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2f4B7w7hy
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSMsxdrOjB
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQKgLwM4m4
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsplrWMd4Y
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCtZen9jOm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDjyw1zTyP
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy7qNDKRx6
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo4ZrXhqww
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOxKnzecQQ
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"Okay, let's go then!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AKO5VPutp
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgrAjTEpdd
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2g6v8avg3
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBomPfLzyKW
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She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGu5PBaM1N
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij3Zygnoqt
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Yeah, let's.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF86nsrHIA
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–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5vL7sslOq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPmDBvnTQZ
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXNNvHFRv6
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I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdvcHilwF2
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"This is the combatant's guild!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6tFExW5SH
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It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEzK2vy8YM
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"This place needs a renovation."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGmKVs7mSw
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUSh5OOGVj
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I shook my head.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskcD8BQlQn
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48zHm6PQYH
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ea08YfRPW
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"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaXhQemgrD
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDESNSwxXgL
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEWcd4lduv
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MGG0C7FGm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4KGx3eBYj
"Do not even suggest it."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0tUcEkp2s
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxJZ5A6Hon
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGn2Em4ySK
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFLbUcfoCC
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qb5zGE1jN
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGUt7H5lPb
"...Well alright."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWS8mpjULv
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrJB0NWh80
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw91wDZyjs1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL0jQ86KZN
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofNhnRf7Pl
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hoW7qIkju
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4szYQQcbh
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ98mCOzRo
She pouted.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9srGxH5vq1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshJoFjTEUR
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PuK3PR3bl
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhIZsAP7EE
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeS6fEcDj1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBifDeEnU6e
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVY5ttg1oO
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzVE8NWXwp
"Huh? Flinty?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOk6tuqzjc
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeIp5VPn6d
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmHLdLudhM
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGBhN9v3ZF
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCDdvUlueV
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTONWm80jw
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWjPDPwCXn
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMt5lJQxBD
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmYkffXnCt
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaHCO471Fd
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp4WswRvfZ
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4WCK2ZDDw
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWy4lkESJ
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrdfz5bt1e
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxdbUrXKil
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPf6BLVm8m
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc96I8BTj6o
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelRU1yBc4t
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGa36erxGc
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeprkkN2Cmy
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OzFBbRxOX
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS862mvM1n
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySvuMwuOJ3
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr4yyvXwiA
"Huh?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhta7qJB1T
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jn58j5JbG
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr2wKFBDHf
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv9JgRR8lE
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsiLZ9pg4p
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpmCEYFRpZ
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5xkv25kvo
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwdqX8bHVI
"You're right. Wait–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsDIA1GUBT
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF7cdcjxvk
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbtmLifjrG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIaKHPQLEX
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKDQc6l1BY
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nqrb5DTaU
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx5PlApfn3
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWz9hojV2Z
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9LApwKYwE
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bkjguttlm
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd7airOJSy
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZL1TTnuZD
"No. I'm here for another reason."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGFcFEl7Ba
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7XwXVgQ6H
"And what may that be?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WPrUvHhX0
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2EmDbfmd2
"None of your business."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxAKLZaQKK
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ156kWdmSzX
"O-Okay..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWicPJdfFz
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicoBXUpyTy
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDdjYFlGLU
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMlo7OcgqP
"She is super shady."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1DDn8Yb7a
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKQzHMkiPj
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LmAMkVjS2
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncYCzkyyvg
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkrP3kPlVi
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmHGD7X4i2
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZpyPWZJ9Y
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKnLldG3t4
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELFadcqKCt
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboLuXiZhIx
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLBJmpulGG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNygwku9aqr
"T-Then let's get his attention!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5pIOSNrHq
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw08uoyl9CH
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbxiF1mt8z
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWViFRvCJUR
"Let me handle this."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzp43wKAQV
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡachAu2oXyT
"W-What, why?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIrqng7BU8
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMDLYIvGq2
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd06hbToc6A
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLFy5ughGR
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEF49TRluZ
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWKmqdlwAm
"S-Sorry, Kenny."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMejjpR4qcp
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xFHJKsmnk
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe836vFJr3
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGfBdfVzTs
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J8QMDsP9d
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LsPrravbW
"Hey, you guys!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDggEIjOT8r
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPyQEqBDsG
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu47uVKi0l
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHLsvhLkJ1
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nS8fXYU39
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGYfV3R5go
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQw4NQU1j
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvFj6kYUyT
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD5n1uqc0l
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HCzLBtBh4
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwjniOIVkw
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPtLMJfyQx
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn6kjTaP6y
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMAHXQtUE6
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3FreuZhK7
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRvV5pudb6
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct1DyJNGnH
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYIGV2NsCd
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqgJinRiq9
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4pRwP3q4O
"Here's your bill, miss."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HHxjnWONl
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPM21sSdlm
"...I..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbhMRJ4L9b
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSLUtZFngs
She was having a difficult time speaking.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYDquURnGv
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcPc6YjbcY
"I forgot to bring money."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HFUJ0dOBt
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LbhTEWrKQ
"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94s4AmMbPK
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMplnbk3x8G
"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5Z57q0fpI
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzoos4lafA
"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiVAc71aNX
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpuU3ehnpa
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoglK4CPox
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeCFZXF5UI
Ha. What a moron.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBmoYftzxC
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY1fmeJZBk
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiHWI0SSs1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54zdgXC045
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z2JMZxive
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZdSfmuhOR
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHJ5hPfEIN
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEFhzwSPrc
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCHaOuysbe
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YI6oWNyr4
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIYhabgjDh
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyzaGawIP4
"..."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ezUX1FzJ1
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgOD1WqFnc
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWTInagjjL
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvnqlnEcfI
"Hey, cloaked woman."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwGJAhOIEK
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhHtefkeLB
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBgTaS08q7
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT32ne2Zu6
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqBIxkTJDF
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui0csmI4YI
"Yes, of course. Thank you."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86PFHu17Wv
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUcIFkNRXq
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetAa49n0aS
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5zjkJXoTM
"Alright Flinty, let's go."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsqDZecAlm
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjhPQBrwIQ
"Yes!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTL8ddpDRV
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNRiwux48Q
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjp4ug2v3s
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFThEVScdJS
"What?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGWW3xCmbn
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnA1R7gcQv
"Kenny, you're awesome."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYPdf750ts
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVEoQTJ0BW
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOGc8tqNxz
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k8sMUDSRr
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdgc6p0lzR
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMr6Fcks5h
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdBbdn9RaG
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM7TE8j7ky
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMpZqQZeMb
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9eW59sTWs
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzu9BkiFY3
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCF0O9QJNq
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARWN4WHhEe
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW0SlYOhzc
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyWQSSwT0w
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNCjcEw7TR
"...Is something wrong?"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I90h3MolB
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGymDMk08JS
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw9R4npM2Q
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ1Sr2my3V
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJPzSY2yiW
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CvR9dGpx8
"R-Right."185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOzys81Bgc
185Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CrTX4rx9H
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
