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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymnZm76Vsz
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEnaq7i7jT
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR4HHiVrj5
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUTaWkXy1M
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw2DegRBVR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUgrlRa3TO
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAJDofuDJt
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D26cHaj0M
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDggzCPJlmc
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfq0DLgkW7
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMt9cBIloZ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfIz3OWbFq
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzhLG60Kkm
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhQnEX3av0
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr2PLZmos8
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVDkGnZBjr
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO5KmcK52H
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdXiS2hQx8
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzPSW1vIbF
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsnG3R18df
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMHbi70OIg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimBua8phF4
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlEJKUeVyD
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSc1GdxnQ5
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1v2eB7mBy
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD1pFOYVK8
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsR0YRTu9L
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuej2pFCuTt
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjZBEoLRTh
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRKDEthUZA
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL7ZP1QCIV
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSWyUzMFY8
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB69u5NHr09
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9D9BhWGxQ
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfanr1F7frP
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerf3CyK2IB
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHSSqCpxqr
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KAtrVLRcQ
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcdt4ImWlS
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFHYYZjqsK
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQct6LicXE3
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV4GL4cVwl
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFZfjFl41I
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcEKlnQy8I
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTI5n1xvMD
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNn8ub3KKg
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieRu41IOrK
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUW3XDJKl0
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60P5Fn79tR
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9jvIyR35S
"What's the matter?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoh44yK9YD
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsUMDeHGYx
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh1Zzup3gl
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPjrtSSD9H
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBw1Q8YL3l
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqyRwhURf3
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxNEAZSeMm
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0owUz4dHk
"Of course."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMC7dnWBPJ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJDpYSnnpW
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F7JC2K8nN
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnQC4BcpjU
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRdwjM3WjH
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg4tUCUB5a
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIXzS0Quo2
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3MM5e0jXy
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiaGavBKBi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOVGurWRXU
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagXa07qRrd
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg3xqxxx4w
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvi3Vm9txs
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5FOQ85Px3
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOQN0OZCdn
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7jGsiIzte
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BMFvKUvqK
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hkNNp24br
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoaYAZHxaG
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkuKQ6H3oZ
"...Probably?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXqQdEltlH
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ381ChtUzVy
"Sorry, definitely."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg91x3Brds8
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JIEzWTXNv
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AepkI6nry
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SVGN9Hl5Q
"Food's ready!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa2XjmmeFF
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALLrcUPgHM
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uKBCISwMn
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HVtc7vymG
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe53IGpZtL
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBciGdZTil
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxosE1KcTCY
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE47EQoIlwg
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9wZMZdqUi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu35HajdCm
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvxr4YOICQ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEV0wlTxUt
"Are you asking me?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzvDO2VbMY
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdblgsrvUdw
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkXq2DhBkT
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHakLlX9qeI
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FSjj2jkhV
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c6LYM3l2r
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahsf3L8IxO
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx4OzVMxnc
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPFiSwS4v2
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYqmmk0mfy
It felt heavenly.
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoyrQWxQNu
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxd32bZqiN
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPwThc5XeH
"What are you reading?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx4kzcH3IY
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP4t5CSMRW
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Bn0SmmBM
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo56qo4mTmH
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpUpa1Kqy8
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjClOTgmSw
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TSdtFT6bz
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDDJMjv0nI
"...It's a book about magic."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS8JhNrgFx
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIJlho9njK
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMgoTCnCCy
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhue0DM5Qn
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPa82QNhwS
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy7YFyDvRZ
"Y-Yeah, of course."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qZyRrSlVM
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd2CC2PXMB
She didn't sound very excited.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNBPuRpbSl
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZYhwTqinq
"Do you want to practice right now?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi24F7jI8RL
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNedcU9lWBP
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni9WcTu6hg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW3yZHWBMw
"If you say so."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCWM9Jt69N
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbVW0GaZ8y
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsea5XEFIS
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxRs3PJvqM
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKv0liOFi4
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vocV78ThY
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfGOMLYFx1
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKZ5PNlmDX
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iYZ1oIXea
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iSbHyHYus
"...Did he decline?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZdwimTVet
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX5gsB2G8f
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxj2vwq5DK
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVwtq4rrVJ
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBfasihsql
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KghKObSPE
She paused and stared at the sheets.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkVKMMrola
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3PLYbOD0z
"Today was the first time I made a spell."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLKrQOizqL
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALMZSKb4mj
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziBoeTKYiY
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB8VXmhJ0U
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRGbdZHYWS
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB18QbooxU
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYe6Yo7zEE
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHYquQBhm7
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB36XE8VrUG
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGAhO0t9Nm
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSZa5hwvOu
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1HYG1YqJe
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN8nwIfAt3
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8jHXGJ0yW
We sat in silence for a few minutes.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jZpYfMMEl
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb9elHmLoS
"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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeMUwx8qi3
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtpSJAZwbO
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr868AS6OhE
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tnKIvu1IZ
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZTkdRjx27
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0azYQuFQPI
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMHvfys9Qv
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn25yx4haQo
She shook her head no.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIlaveSTgn
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQGOOKSHLM
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgWaoXrBMW
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCruesvz0k
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyFdEaJ4EM
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd93og02Xus
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRaRnZ1zt8
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7FH4xev9H
I felt like I made a mistake just now.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA4DaY4VwQ
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfxLR9Rlba
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA2qKPWTWm
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbJY3ynU4D
"What is it?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WTi0M3aCt
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHXGZ3kCw3
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MBbvaw4Ar
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquoIXtiyln
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2Pqa6pAqg
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGAvesIa8x
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNQf8t0yvw
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmCABuIUHR
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iPhUrF4mk
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUkqZ8Rd4n
"I know I can do that! But, well..."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbWyBC1l9a
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGPt7R6d7F
She had her fingertips conjoined.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmeU6u09zt
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp33H6ntTKx
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvleX6enAd
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60kPrHBpKz
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB81vctRw1N
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRawRclw5hs
"Alright, I'll show you."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyquxepiSi
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrx6OJUXRC
"Yay!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9cFbhmhKb
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSXaSgIV5l
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhrnsv8VPa
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovHpB3EExn
"I think it's best if we do this outside."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUQTL8NREd
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDWk6P4j6W
"Okay, then let's go!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtEg5qJiMb
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmzigb9yyc
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4USNuzNPiK
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieRPUSupr1
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGePZuLj72a
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Owxmpie5v
"Earth?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7epCTPXmN
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkCyyMMSfp
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuc2e4p44R
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlOcEy7RZc
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEb45AjOzW
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjgaa5Rs9G
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"It's really not that impressive."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73WmYFoZDY
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bRgvl5boL
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1hm0CQDe1
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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiNpR4tRRs
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NjjdwyZLD
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCuTVZdY58
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZO3ipBqkO
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPJzghu7OF
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"How'd you do that!?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMlOrDcF8M
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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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobuNyED7Gn
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I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEDCShABhI
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"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVm3kxBLli
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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."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwFWT4QXCJ
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6u2rQCTLu
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpt5x1AfqB
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKbNFjVTBS
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She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl1vR8OgpP
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOfXytkMDr
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdKt1sElRx
...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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjPSyv1yiL
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"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7ZEGmX7cm
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"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bs1JzvcKl
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Oh.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHeT1z9lmP
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Oh.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmTmVauS5f
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7oJxEqq7s
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1Ya3PxmUT
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The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0vE8A58Jk
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As for me?201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX4rHt6r8p
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Well...201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3MeRx9kPV
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"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7k2GXmR0l
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITqUZQ8LKq
**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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WpriM9MwZ
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F2596tTPJ
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gPk2NRaCi
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JIBUnV8Gp
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs1XinQtsz
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1gn5nvXpM
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WqIXWqcFW
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNgm3XLFnY
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6szccobBh
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAMrUWJxyI
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ACjiU5dU
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZOxAJBl91
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT9JSjyH4o
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2420RgCWR7
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw4o9DVtfk
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FAg2w4CgT
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zULcGowKs
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx88fumBlpm
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDWwvV2BPF
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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–"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5DKP5MSMH
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDI63sDmCK
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1w2n5btAy
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"Of course. What is it?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oHCiK1t6U
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXCKdSi2aY
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlJDdJz0S6
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BTXgKknH1
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VQ295c2xd
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS2BYVRBYq
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzI1sHWECl
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We all looked at her.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbXYOyN81M
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfPT7wvzpn
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"Kenny."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPaivZ5E27
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"Yes?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd0cRU31w5
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdWUvIc2g0
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYfhbv8D1F
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEJIrWuZVh
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"Okay. Kenny?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTAg9LgOwY
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"Yes?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXe7nR4E0M
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSAEAQhpGL
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"Huh?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BBR5aNFPD
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNPAYXsSo4
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"Why do you want to go?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaauzNMi1u
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"I... think I need to."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBqNEiq5uK
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEwv1I2hE0
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBSjNJZRVm
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hAbHEDx2N
201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ772Tnvnaz6
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPEmpsNVKh
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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.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJFeG0COkO
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My heart sank.201Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz9GcRPK0a
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
