The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0ZpvXqsKa
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiGFRJfY10
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3WaNhVlDO
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ710ORrNqRo
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5qd3SQOY6
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz6CmgNwtB
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbxbyqlQ1n
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY7JINUqmJ
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhd2KGCRmw
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNvfrW2gAX
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S7cTYTDKR
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYF5Y9kJH5
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlZj5YSbiO
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Q1bcopgD
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIJ9HeVq8D
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcjV4oZQ1d
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L0Qm4QjTY
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv27fC75U6
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoW0v09Gxj
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEZkdbDrET
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbRIKRsbFf
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDfLJ5Dn59
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMV5G5AdBh
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvu9ZMrdFJ
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLy4NafrKt
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjfqD0InG1
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0E6V3kgED
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD5K5N6gEM
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6LYz3HzGP
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFyh3Gmjtw
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgXb7cWK6j
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12CAi9Lzpf
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM944ikl2R
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13hgsP5aSr
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt1sgIV9w9
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3OSOzQp4g
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREiMrljsLa
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZIQdje6eq
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ticMQx26P
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2IFx9V3TR
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0jJf4DSsv
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gZspupKyg
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAqP6Zu2LT
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXaETOPGvT
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHNStFnKAt
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt38fU0A2A7
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwDITxiBxG
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95QJQfwypo
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jynW4c5d9
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncgL6PcHlM
"What's the matter?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK1LxNgDhe
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXDVrXVpRB
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pS4i57fQV
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JmYx2zfp2
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiDMaigi4M
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtJ4OWBxIU
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBftwtSKmK
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61RXEpKXyf
"Of course."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC9stOsKNN
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDHufTqL3C
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCc7Qd1vea
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36XwK8Ya8i
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr1ZOgOR8C
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLLD8RZjUq
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNLPUHZgmo
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8F21pgCXG
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WLz5Hvasm
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Nl9ZelvNA
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl15b3BNoyM
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zjR7Tmk05
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFAq8c2hnb
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Bem5nDc4
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN91vWOKN0
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf4uJXnACq
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUHTQSYgyI
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Clg1mVQDL
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IYlHusV18
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4oGaDu6bq
"...Probably?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2HZtEmmoV
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zfbhGEM7g
"Sorry, definitely."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC35iQDXAp
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKIqpLe8CY
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDKoGMhgef
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hRSjupZUr
"Food's ready!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZozGLEd4R2
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSSQhwZXhL
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IjaSAMhky
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RKPP2Zki
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4mucfbzRZ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mf8dIHtfT
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQRmUU86AF
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9ssAmGVY7
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Ddd7YHgu
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeUGTScsXz
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj37jpxLj6
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQMgsUKINq
"Are you asking me?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q2VLJXCgA
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxIb2HpHCY
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnQENAOzTz
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF56a6FMnU3
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLE7YuI4YW
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3un5BCSibY
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFFvnFhlfZ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdw8Nqkyh2
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdu5OgL0Ab
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejlxjclk9x
It felt heavenly.
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgSFH2flA
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDaVvSMq1H
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSNSkoZJu7
"What are you reading?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2f6c1A5Ro
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLrNm30vHm
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KqYgFHtQu
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwtP95WM5P
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUrWzQLw4l
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QGz8kr2l6
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrqJYgOsON
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZYzPrLHDU
"...It's a book about magic."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7AzD0eqpZ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxujp7cXMC
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGT3mM87kG
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6zNP0VVgP
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yUPcBDLHZ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCSj6vmCRy
"Y-Yeah, of course."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAOwThM2lC
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVltF8tFel
She didn't sound very excited.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwjuxODsMH
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn2XLBVClP
"Do you want to practice right now?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCHVh2Mov5
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsmbk2YDSy
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35W5nQcbBh
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF46JkToge
"If you say so."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN8qlFHzKd
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWkvi9K4La
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4xlYvBDfu
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmmYtQmu29
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1BuAf0ZIi
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QmKoeOCLs
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jIpaRQ7PK
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV1oDFYgu6
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMfFRwgILd
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGetFYI42q3
"...Did he decline?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVRlT6qja8
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnX1vGSFam
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWfbiKJNpg
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey4reFR5uO
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kxbn9vKB3
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYcn21ftuc
She paused and stared at the sheets.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GiPCusM6q
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64wzBN5Xag
"Today was the first time I made a spell."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNxCfDxmB1
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWGFqHKKhZ
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocL2FS1iyp
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4UkIEehKY
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9UeAVpHQi
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhxwMrwBCx
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLjsQ7CZDt
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBmzOizQ0o
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoFif2CCK7
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX1aegsIUO
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx4zYU5bvk
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy8jAaw4Bt
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmQkgyZyE3
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwkm3N6qhL
We sat in silence for a few minutes.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb635QoHwC
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHafS7OUKt
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EZS8UOye5
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxQMibDZ9q
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw3eJTx9Et
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg93sCUwfV
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKdkghIf9M
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYPHpxboDp
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLWYeRocau
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI8cN8RJzR
She shook her head no.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftFfmIkRdv
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH9LuUoBZM
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyACtmsJgQ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzmqd2F69U
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jxT5eBoel
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EZnkzUDER
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBbRMqftKH
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk1Ub2fJlj
I felt like I made a mistake just now.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFAMD8hYp2
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3lWWvcD1Y
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzTS4ZF0kb
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfvLDCLLFg
"What is it?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJtdTRQiHr
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9koGjBGJlS
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLxaaIuhxb
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq7AwZj21u
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU21oXkdduU
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4cvG9APfR
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXOn6UbnQp
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W3thWaSAO
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuoxpKz7gv
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lGww77Smz
"I know I can do that! But, well..."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmRtTMijWd
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPESsPpPsH
She had her fingertips conjoined.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLncP2HDkU
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQK9iJzw2
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JEDZq0XdO
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIYVcSl0hR
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxo7OygfAC
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQenJjk58Y
"Alright, I'll show you."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ5AenNcE7
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh5wRgKljN
"Yay!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqohcBDS6dZ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE4ybvpIsm
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bVf5ySx3i
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOMqfPKTWV
"I think it's best if we do this outside."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdJzPPGuaX
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLMisBpFHS
"Okay, then let's go!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7pYHCBbAn
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i4mJ9DiQe
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknfEgLL6mi
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw27lbCCaH
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zs06txXWJ
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRIwQTMREG
"Earth?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqyz0MnDme
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"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE6Ryr3TjM
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Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNbVlROm0i
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Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV76K5w1pDL
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"It's really not that impressive."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEySApVVnZ6
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6A0qPnClg
159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLTtRAWHny
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v4S9kKwi7
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6M0pqWgAN
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUGFLwHVNI
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTSS6mTnfM
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I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36chfiFY3R
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"How'd you do that!?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg3z8rd9zC
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"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR9xDMaN2S
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I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWEgwrJI64
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"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KllCYuDk1
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"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhvcLIRPd2
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I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xJqSWfyjw
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ59R3oK8vk
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwUILnvw9F
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She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XAyaFmXYz
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My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW7JOKR2sO
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...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hBhBQZnlX
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"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRRD1CG2LZ
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"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O7MuXb4an
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Oh.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgo2oTTDqH
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Oh.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0qcZmYx93
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The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kUuirrdBr
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The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzZ8wwS5ev
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The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonNA5Q6ZfV
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As for me?159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx0uww3s3n
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Well...159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKeVQahRPj
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"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6DUqRbUx1
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**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP86YAchnD
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe1Rwm24Dn
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sWuE7Licr
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8paUB64e5
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFzMq523ga
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQAlIm54q1
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PFfU1MsFB
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I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKneuJHpIE
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr0dNivafA
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I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPpHuyzuE
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kPrfIQXzN
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I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aj67aeqSX
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqqTx40rZk
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"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPMVbEiqzN
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUJtceaFZp
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxxBnnI9hI
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She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvjRLmZ9Jd
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR71IcYYjv
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6X6VRoRXx
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I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9tG98ldke
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfgWUWDxej
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"Of course. What is it?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHy19bhmbI
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQzmyw9wAC
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEjc1Q8hU9
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaLvphlYUf
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXAzHgcN6x
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEfILJJXLx
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEXjABo2SS
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We all looked at her.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReftOnH0IE
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g0THJSbGn
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"Kenny."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJqn8LVFuk
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"Yes?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpAnBotvBt
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkQlcVQFRo
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJggDIP5O0H
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWBpmAqyrL
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"Okay. Kenny?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0OPk4knDI
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"Yes?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkjdjvWp98
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdUxaLEMY8
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"Huh?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMWbi9peEc
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I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7f6kx5cfc
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"Why do you want to go?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Lt59g2GVt
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"I... think I need to."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIha650sCQc
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I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxc5O8CbfI
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXg6VUBok1
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIegWnBOHFA
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3vLoHv0AS
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I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNkIMSFj30
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My heart sank.159Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXeszmHhE7
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
