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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4pnqdBPX7
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls3HIEY96X
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCgxdbr8Yb
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"Dad!?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wGI6S6o2i
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMi0K7Cax5
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"Flinty! There you are!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VtYpLMkjG
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh55Nc9ogUf
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbDI2ahItk
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"And you must be Kenny?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNfkKeKtO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8K52B5kw7
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr052tiyPAx
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I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEZjJnTLKl
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevtVcsSzNH
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJJKZ9Cfwr
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 here230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAsiCZuG52
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdi6IsGLsW
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKqtQerhCn
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Dear Mister Chambers.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9UDsCNcso
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF1XnTE4yz
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZoyCAZxou
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Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8q2tArOjg
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9WNdyG6Cs
"...I don't remember promising anything."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ecfsxHDS1
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO0obP87CD
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgBD4gi3XO
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KVYBdWXMV
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rx7bNLYbD
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm0j1vbU4R
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuiOSXuSJu
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wB87r2hm5
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"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofmZ7acIv5
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOALfjp0xvv
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I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4WLcgcgkQ
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"Kenny!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G1DgMrNv5
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUojRfDwaS9
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71P5VAEWjH
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdKeaA7ooe
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvSxRuEHqx
"Is that the plant you asked for?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcozTN7q9Yg
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"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxxhTbmH0c
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zl94k14AN
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"Hello, you two."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfJVmf0I8S
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI0XQaYpJL
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQOLy1J0hD
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb6QHCrEGR
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"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MrSQCnQ6u
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He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPifckzwUys
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"Please don't drop it or something."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeHHt5bGTD
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo49kLn8iRJ
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Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiapXRNB2j
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET5r3nQPpH
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIrmmYMqYI
"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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3o2gocyBC
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc06BsyAYyO
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSweBDAKmnC
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"And you asked for... a flower?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbazziAeTiz
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sn1TSge8n
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5XJThNMgh
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Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEVeQuxKaw
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"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8IczFg25R
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"Arg! You...!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCwyuxU3FM
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk39M7IhuwV
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"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RJWuYpIg0
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"Whatever."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYmZGuvwls
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We sat in silence for a minute.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58QiMHWT6Y
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu520daNuk
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"Yes! Please tell me!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVizWK2266c
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFwM0o9CUd
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"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–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYdOTXdida
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"Wait, Eastern country?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvLb0l8NUJ
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I faced the old man.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqqQT75sDA
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM2Lb2CsWA
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"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yKsnDRxco
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowXNx1HxtK
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"...Buffalo village."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUV6dQIlfL
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4mXWpnOpi
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8ORgrufXR
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwhGXNCTOn
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBpqb8zTyy
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYscv6R820K
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfhgjg47Jw
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p7B18McVJ
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpMZG6g7Zt
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY5VJhKFDx
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I nodded along.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6XelqfbeG
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHdL3Y0DmJ
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyoRjFRYdd
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"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!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9uwAfc6z0
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"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6itEphlSZ
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She blinked blankly.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV48Aj7tFRL
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"Wait, is it?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidQ5AaIVSD
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdoAOHHiGA
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"No, maybe it is true."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLYFfQ1HQq
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"O-Oh, okay."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIQNwtgjJd
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"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdf0hxDJ8S
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"How was your guys' day?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzPruAl895
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"Mom, you should've been there!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuFh36ejaX
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSYmNqVsiq
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVdsLekcfW
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaSg1XKSLj
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbtJSSE0MF
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnNS9MnpXr
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"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4FJ7TCJ0V
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"O-Okay."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeMVD8hLrr
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgmntKVL6N
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAwayP2A9i
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dyJuz0uJJ
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He sat me right back down in my chair.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQqxJEOmwO
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EQebyXSal
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbcUxpEyiu
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe43Lfa2g8l
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIt3ZPfUBc
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5sGjWovM1
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"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrT5h3LbqF
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k3QKCZ7Kd
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jonKVhZuf
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS4BIK0QN8
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaOrcf2zfY
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Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn1cILSWuI
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"TALBOT!?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dxFM7RAN0
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"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOm48QMoWD
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"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYrFOPRWoO
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeidvAAcTP
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJQfaBGyiU
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY1a7Brtcv
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgBnQfyE8g
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtestpDHmfL
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5IpkkDv7A
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYpoQppIwA
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZA7ubIM58
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2ozkjk3qk
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUIA3vc0ES
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"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv4vBa542x
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmFRfO2F8G
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0EfESxA7T
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T7WlcGbz6
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT6hv5gxNt
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq0QrPCl6I
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"Flinty."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx0BpZwhzO
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"Y-Yeah?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSR4rQq8mK
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmOpi21GF4
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueoEkgeDmV
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"Okay! Let's do it!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NbC5dpBmG
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1azUzemP0P
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"...My tome is in the other room."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjigQNNBugv
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNBpP84FFg
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–
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–230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKBUg8hgDT
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl3q2P9301
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfza5sOWxO
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5k2laRdHr
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"Good morning."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyC7bqyRED
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHBg8OqpPB
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"I woke up early."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0CrVjjK87
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTyMdSuTde
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0BjYfK52w
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRrrlVdZyd
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"Right."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0JcxcT9jY
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoBzdqz8v8
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih1qElaYAD
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEqihQ5nPu
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"I sure did, honey."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZYG63DFqE
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"Oh."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcF2h6I9Dc
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpVXDxb60U
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"Is something wrong?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtihkJPnPPd
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fQ2Ob8bNB
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrsz2puOOx
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Strange. Strange people.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmVY5oxkZT
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO9G8Lwb0Y
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"...I uh."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKZIcv41S6
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorEiF09hO4
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXBGm2o9sf
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtDOKblzJV
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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?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxpWX3Jxjc
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"Water under the bridge?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYPszS4CEX
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"Mhm."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJZljpZTr4
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDdhnsZtW8
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcqucngrpw
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They were really good.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyQuxdSFoR
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG7hnjAxJ9
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"That's a nice outfit"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lg1fcN5Oi
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABjV099pu6
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr81IMAB8d
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5fsDi3wko
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq71Tr3h5H5
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"Ah, my apologies."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobrbN7fyyX
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"No no, I like being around you too."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4mtac6Krg
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH0SHkAJtC
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs57T66HJxs
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"R-Right."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbI7a8usbc
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9uMyxNSrI
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiP8dM5Mbf
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"Hello, Freed!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NKWmPannj
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn7T7pf5fg
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ8VPxp0St
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"So what business do you kids have today?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWezpRtcOV2
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJmCcbLPcw
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gEiqUTSji
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzzvr0wbMk
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69M86Yp90J
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0ZgkTgY6Z
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"I see."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCjTCPNrWI
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigNfQjpwAf
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"I refuse."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNldhFvKqlo
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"Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVib0AMSYf
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"WHAT!?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrW9sZQiNW
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0A6lzNPxDS
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUoErX8Lcn
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIH5gJcqZM
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"...No?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80yeU6kUMe
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV1RwUVZ7E
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyColIQurbO
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCzasEafJz
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kvVZlLUpi
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKW6SudK2L
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXyFLQn9Fp
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"Down here."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHyiV55y1s
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfXSW75Kvr
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrXz0m1iEi
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DimUzgUsF
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO76yAa6Vc
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6trTUIgxj
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPS2sLqPOd
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"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vVX5SxcOC
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I shrugged.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVsLBY0pm3
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HF2ipCAM4
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3bqtkqA3F
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"Am I doing it right?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQbMoJKWTz
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"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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE10OgeQFQg
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv2CGRRnQN
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"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1pNYBgsoE
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"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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5ejYVTW9R
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"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvw23XPSm1
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I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBiVtpUHPQ
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFhnYNb7KL
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpMqKrNi8m
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIU8weyytv
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"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXosw5NjKX
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"O-Okay."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7poNIOEEy
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkodZhfUR1r
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"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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYssecR7OzN
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"W-Wait, how do I–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sCL5ZtuXZ
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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?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfE1p8rN9c
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"But what if I can't let it out?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzWYidGRKm
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"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01EvAe2VoA
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLeyt4Pzph
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"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUTUAtyV1Z
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"Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf3j058TX3
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WsnHi6pVQ
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA9WkedezP
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I messed up, getting all excited.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kdINN71ZD
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBWODcYKP4
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I couldn't do it in time.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3MvhZQqkr
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**BOOM**230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCdOmMqXfH
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The world around me faded.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Q7lKb9Mg
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGzMrzNnr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz5qGjwbXO
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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZfQEcrUVH
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UBgQF0l9p
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Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYYAwn9s3c
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8eSi92SzK
"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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zodzduxIP
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I was in the greenhouse.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQxN9c7Su2
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xtXALmFfi
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I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9OgRUThvz
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Thank God, they were okay.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wz9klAlRD
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"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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf9SEyFnxI
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyCe6r1iUl
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp82yZa6OQO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmEhInijNn
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDfSwM9xRU
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOjS1yY2ci
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"This is... my coat?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTndgRJDIOZ
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUd7LWu0mr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR7MjHIxEP
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4MFQhtnJU
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx2xSQ5l0z
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt6T8ElLoB
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt5MGLLliz
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ns2PBns87
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"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1eIe0ybYM
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"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjB7iuuwy9
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRTK8aCyXf
"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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTGacF0B03
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwGJvzTdDy
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf1zaLwcrp
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"H-Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb89TvuNHr
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"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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9di4sKdJV
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"T-That's terrible!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7wDyci1Mc
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Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUIwjAMSPV
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPYrDfWMm6
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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".230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ562CjEblcl
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It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIripgGaSf
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–
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilyoa4HH0p
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z31rNvum9
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSM0GN4x79
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsIvwRW0dk
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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?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gVeBN1Eeo
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"...Ah!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrN8AoOXUt
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kUaqdSBJy
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"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzlyAjB69a
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"...Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aCKNHIiZy
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She meekly turned her head to me.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmprXWOsta
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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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj4CT3ZEb6
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She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsVVQ1wDUj
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"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsIE5ASlT6
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"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlrQIYxXvA
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMBBQuvSo7
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"Okay, let's go then!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya4jnMz8zH
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmn2jaWFLA
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidx1VzEoyy
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCqZLE8llE
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7K3JP85VO
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Yeah, let's.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKnwnntJnJ
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–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3NmWfCznN
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qLKO3fcRf
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoHkKNdUnr
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"This is the combatant's guild!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmVvi9LFhQ
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn545GmIPJ
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"This place needs a renovation."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsKUFuUpSu
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJpDrkJYx2
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I shook my head.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyonX9Z2L4
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xIYBEj0AT
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfemrSqBYo
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"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E3IrlUPp1
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8NoUEQ8A2
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"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–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN8WhOy8iZ
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"Do not even suggest it."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKy5c2Pghe
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She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9OEF90f4z
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"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZYq74ef3h
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmk6AlwWSc
"...Well alright."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAlLaU0TSq
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmtCEgD8RA
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYEBuQSMoD
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"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV6wutpKzp
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She pouted.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv2ri3HeTg
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMk46WhJ8W
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfSKZhLLAV
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"Oh. Please don't say them, though."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4igDbLjcc
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM1urcFi0T
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvjs7a5h2J
"Huh? Flinty?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBH6seWwsn
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPytlNYK6dq
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObtYIUvdNH
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K5Qhc1R7v
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS93mJfiref
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"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJemtiGCLg
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48rZ9DLNjP
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgPIc5UW7f
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysBBttWcCg
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefL9IyuBqX
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddODcvDVlU
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoU6oGMNVj
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR8aaRgNci
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oX2qpKLBE
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5BMQ99bV3
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd6P0IBWXV
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJXhTDbsUP
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!230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPwOHjnWTJ
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgBhOjt0Xk
"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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8tJX66C9v
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jiYsJl1NZ
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2uM1KmxRZ
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRkpeWwMNR
"Huh?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OyYMEZf9O
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU2s21UWWk
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPmizQz4b6
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pLC8rSr6K
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYT87kVy8k
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZsZj9HySc
"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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u9u5KY1vl
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"You're right. Wait–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PwB0Ei475
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I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeat4PrnLcc
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH4CzIShEp
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAUsEwLQQf
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasx4XokR9G
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmmk72rCfE
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJtmGhP1s7
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iVauENFOA
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBB1BdpBHZ
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZf0nzcVP4
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkeh4xvVeG
"No. I'm here for another reason."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4fp5Di4cY
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSLHzlnikn
"And what may that be?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKbx06qzSN
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5XfglNfwH
"None of your business."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5OmJqYluT
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUJ4YA0GEJ
"O-Okay..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatEcl6iD9b
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD8yzSFuhb
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AATQv0kDr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ876GnGIoJp
"She is super shady."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN5fZQqNvr
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FEfYZr6eQ
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTolZCAk6z3
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbbxksRTci
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGAbLLNLVi
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncPOuq1x2o
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzxlyMiMQb
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQo5ptkpvq
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4qhM6TO9d
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"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDxMLizTa1
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7xUEFYN2X
"T-Then let's get his attention!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoDh2lfOtt
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEO7brprIq
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTINqx3FPw
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHNXARwu9w
"Let me handle this."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PsV6DID93
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42EYwWxPc0
"W-What, why?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasNN4DD498
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2pZgnfnwC
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx2EAcBGy5
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawLqjMtnX9
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGD1WmpO1a
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ed6wDnRnh
"S-Sorry, Kenny."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9bxzUrAkE
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeWwHiFyTD
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgjvsgg5c9
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzX4dXF0SF
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccl9lnhbsk
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayfmuR0MDa
"Hey, you guys!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTzWDDqM14
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40fFsLE2ua
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBqPPM2VIl
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6NaSIxWBg
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFj1WLm2oF
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ596HRwIGl0
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FKJytn6J7
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtfKzwa3Cj
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mgFznxbAT
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbGsc4NJfO
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VAyOX32dB
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2doq8xrDlL
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtgXFWRWdR
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dE3ForxXe
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsG78t45i7
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGFSZumUh6
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSspY6UUqsl
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s93Ws0fWv
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0CRiTrBY1
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"Here's your bill, miss."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxYmq9kJrw
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL4z1JDM5V
"...I..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYP90SF44p
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She was having a difficult time speaking.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Sk61hjjt
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"I forgot to bring money."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4K3ahKtC2
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnKZv1ehNY
"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FX6LycfxD
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oPEhcLWrn
"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZCBc9M91R
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"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIpFq2j5yu
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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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg8WgjiT1q
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Ha. What a moron.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU87tHVfAdD
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeXnZqIK53
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwktoZPAcf
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH49qdmoyv
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyCDHhpHL0
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaObnLkxWV
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0VNQA6XO0
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAAXRVUNza
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7X1z1jIlO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUugZ5mnpKE
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."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2iyaKSM8d
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsWW61zzPM
"..."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO06CfLIgcC
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsD8yjxWPz
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISFgGgeLK6
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mwyj4ackq
"Hey, cloaked woman."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOp5DhH6CO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4TsoBQ3Lp
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvoKKXoqRw
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrsjZvRyOy
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00br8OJXEF
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ4EfjUMfh
"Yes, of course. Thank you."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSQhyYAoeO
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJuEp8kuf0
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDTgoksG0g
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco4nFCchwS
"Alright Flinty, let's go."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXqqoXrvM1
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtneWeutBQ9
"Yes!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BpKB9DSio
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQL6LoHNph
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4gNsAG5qa
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrpJgp64Ux
"What?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3nKasgIOc
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvUmt3dpRa
"Kenny, you're awesome."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T9ZGZhB0r
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKhZSrhw3y
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO2OdcAVkv
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtv9CEnvOY
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYGulKeqbH
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HHnTLUJLo
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxOl5yINhg
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU90X7yxeHr
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCIb5uOiDp
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIe7teq2WK
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsGISxE83I
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch5O0dtPLv
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.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeDTJlXtLD
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMiVRYDi7O
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDfAnrSLgI
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh1vZMJlN0
"...Is something wrong?"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWAyBNZZKN
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ855StjpHss
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwVQAvuToY
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw9RsD4f5a
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpUlDCuGUC
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzYHzXjKFa
"R-Right."230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8BK3ZhyNH
230Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjxoOJo916
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
