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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1OAeWOzQM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gVAe7aZcv
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDalvVREAUo
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQmUSbdbXi
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pSp58Ua6J
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUClXgUA54
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQSQEinbKU
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCafX7BaEZa
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYqQuSdO7Y
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbIaV3BbVd
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzbJSbrcwy
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTamw20YTs
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg0MyMlxyM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHYke0sO01
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsehetuOr7m
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJLSk8M1dB
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JCy6zuib9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBt8kiZhch
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaao71fNq6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynRmdrd5fy
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOobuNHZYW
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOOX1gr3is
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ds7rfP4wa
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHyFQ46wSB
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0hpSofyhF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5xM20LzPo
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdmYTaLGWG
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtIdFWal8k
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sXm3r9z83
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaVQKHonNO
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQognSIR3FV
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquMzaf2vCT
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOcsLcs9t2
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOJsulOPxo
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyeaofI0Tz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXma8jCP6pR
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkyqK8iXAg
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBC22qHmUj
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxONpCviN1
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQOAVLBcKm
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGMmln02ri
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLUsxssNjC
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv00WDFXM7
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh7aYHcTch
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjAWNyv0QI
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLtuEvrye1
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMfgmyoRFG
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT1o6VZyfN
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjaGmGZ862
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHwMgPxGfE
"What's the matter?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhyf4Iceqr
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjUfzLPiub
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnoZyGlJq
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtXjv5igsX
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHyS1AAii4
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzesJxfccl3
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Gz3gGo9p
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87mVb5rFj1
"Of course."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjqZLgxBc8
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagMnDSSW2o
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cTgX6GKzL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRoG5tgg9S
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fLayiGkzb
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQfczCu7Ce
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KDNXOhWmz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmjgVQEg3o
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp6cngc6H0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuzwhiIEeD
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS5LybYMug
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZuMhctaOl
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HkCLn9za9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jv8tZ9zqB
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFk5ForoFw
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX1P4kCzn3
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxZF0EB74Y
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsig6FsNxGU
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wbxnTiORj
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkPzbvmchA
"...Probably?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzX5fLqddo
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnILiOXj9TS
"Sorry, definitely."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRkXVRMZry
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwv79QK7Tg
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrycaQhIzz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyVtfSkOkT
"Food's ready!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINxLwgAqge
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAkk5DAz13
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqTuJWYWJM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi0N7s5h9t
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJxtLzUuyC
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMfp2xfanZ
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuADDUEUnjC
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajDTM3Uhgp
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLP7kEcflu
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7fGRlfQum
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0MrQtPvz0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAROylZO1Id
"Are you asking me?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet6DQbxyZF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ylAUZeXyG
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJZhD1G2Ql
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvEYSTNocv
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivx3tkGj8y
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gAuItKKPo
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ5K8apqqF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOpb3BYMWP
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe9TjBjiy6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sZa2uhIy3
It felt heavenly.
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVaK0DWx5U
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsGmamcyZE
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMujnbg3JrZ
"What are you reading?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlnReiF8cU
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8jQwqb7ny
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJBnzV35Cz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENwt37D4eA
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKh8RFa95q
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jLH3mxvCQ
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pX95HVOdM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz16270DCXg
"...It's a book about magic."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRVYdfuhSb
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsJLDIZU80
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pVbed72bP
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2lH8h9bAz
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7FjbIH4Rw
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr6A7nAxXP
"Y-Yeah, of course."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHObhtsEQe
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31bVife9zU
She didn't sound very excited.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkMrHVKeBF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpaJToanRD
"Do you want to practice right now?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZac9YeC4T
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1EBeEKOjh
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRxLhaTit
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Igrxrnw3Q
"If you say so."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ4UvwGwXn
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWQu19IYSh
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVJf5p606j
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinSMMCLh19
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR0gdPkF0O
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFlriJ3d7B
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKUQFTC7B2
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8IVK5Kfhp
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg1jr5mlym
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53xwrJmlVa
"...Did he decline?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo2sQ8zaKP
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMczpeg39c
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqccGHPjd4q
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2BeH7e5Gt
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH140xcdwa
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGG2lTD1e3
She paused and stared at the sheets.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7QDGWwZ4v
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu7A0OLXvd
"Today was the first time I made a spell."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bm3rSjRIw
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaOLi6fbV4
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp9miStwdF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1arKeDtD5
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jnGTmWKG0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCrhvfzXRt
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyVLTLMl13
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYRRKBfVOv
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUG52ZHIyW
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMweil81Q1J
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1wnR8XCII
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxd7o0J3Py
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriyr38rOG2
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ERYF0ZiLj
We sat in silence for a few minutes.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6q2BqtcKX
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeiEfTwPNL
"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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSIFRsMdNB
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZgNgIjZuN
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQgLTUVqeS
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9PrD1DPI6
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmFCOrwQ9u
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ208Ao7NE1D
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV86I7PESSe
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFnjuNfnEA
She shook her head no.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgEedtPmgL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWjGIkTVXe
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARbXdpRqAA
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mUrUzwYSI
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWjryWgV8P
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXEEXXQ2Fs
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIItVEX99HA
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPageSawe2
I felt like I made a mistake just now.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNNtV9RUr7
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk5Rq2XGKo
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIdEURGz5R
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjgt9xx50B
"What is it?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lHXuuMR5Z
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD1mB7m823
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2xASfXVLi
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOqV3TpQCR
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPx1HF335K
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCrGjnZae2
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeEGinJDnS
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuFbjN9fsA
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhshVtFQTYj
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4EqLV45gV
"I know I can do that! But, well..."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW8CqaKOmK
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJCiIIM4x
She had her fingertips conjoined.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuF3z2UYAA
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PYcO6OiDh
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZldqVV5mA
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnim3zIy2Q
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jquLdAUZN
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vrAdvHhkC
"Alright, I'll show you."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnq9tLYNc4
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2LDztEoL8
"Yay!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlMUYy8uAy
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnacD3R7Vc5
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldP30CbSjS
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOatrch4X4
"I think it's best if we do this outside."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfxe7RcOGf
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk6RbWY1Tr
"Okay, then let's go!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOUq93LhaU
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgF7kuyNFL
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O1c8BPPQv
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCPsSuGYR2
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpVFvR2TiR
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tm1vKdotg
"Earth?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TgvlPULiF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JNxxEp8J2
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz3tC6CCMK
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQCDJ19BNJ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8fGgJsw3j
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ529RyBPUds
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"It's really not that impressive."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwvtj92pHk
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQhjxCU14J
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqUvA1Xrj3
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcbyQ1Jj3q
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHlKacGwNT
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmaMF55Rcc
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfm2u0uJRu
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2lt8HqC2I
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1yqtpv11o
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"How'd you do that!?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRArryiPvl
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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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmimCBcJsnT
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGazTUwReew
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6IEP5ocJ2
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"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCYP9OkPlP
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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."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dhnAn39M9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnCZF4eGmF
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdC0zbz3Ku
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnTY86MQ3h
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs2j4l7I8e
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She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAJRRYW3sp
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ1a6AnsUX
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kWsqfBkfZ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrUPYUmDxY
...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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVNWsCiokH
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPySIIO5BOn
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZthTAe3lR
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3dRJAsTmc
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P1y7zBy9N
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrdqnH7Ig2
Oh.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwLpZnlagn
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Oh.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHEkzkujTj
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtwkCGuwXz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSnCLtoenv
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA8poNcKnM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0e0Fx9Yln
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkGK8teHCZ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ED5lSm1KG
As for me?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD0MVMVR60
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Well...179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUShzey84E4
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"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZzyt8tiFM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXJwJwNJjz
**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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LIQ3X9fBm
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZUzv0vSTn
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVVb4QJGu2
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YOP010Jlk
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nYgZ6lQXa
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVuiBOxH1W
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlPnG0Z9Ex
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJFssegczJ
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZKZzPalHM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBKw3oQFmH
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ix2Qy8hhp
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedoiCCh0pf
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wG4J7kTQ7
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KYDS2vq6U
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgijAYjBgHI
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqVuJygI4e
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50InkEDYP0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnjLoz47Nd
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotunDGWZuL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YWj5046cJ
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJrHdbPJ3H
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEl7yvFIUG
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHas2iV81B
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0YVr3FkM1
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jb3gcJAy9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT9NKg17wX
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU2SfV8VnA
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dlWe8vHFU
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO4T8K3YXW
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4aGART5FT
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXt1MCkDaN
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfERzrJ4qe
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7v7kD1N4j
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCugTFgFpC
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELGzVcLUnf
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"Of course. What is it?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUhrkbF3jg
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Xvy4rKAn
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDdhHuABEG
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzOQ9u6PQ3
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFdHVWeGKs
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQoONEo8vb
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4uALhWh5z
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFXivoIt2X
"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBecGHWSX5P
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhejF0uwig
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCVG8wcAzN
We all looked at her.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZx6TPsGYj
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv3siJ0Q04
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTrHUXM6FK
"Kenny."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlovXDMhJq
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"Yes?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqCO3H7LIv
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mxfkfx6uC
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbZifcHXgy
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhxirhWLUM
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVMXvc8FKY
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"Okay. Kenny?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyVl469ZfN
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"Yes?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3VqZpWaI0
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ0lqVDwNu
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"Huh?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZscuEzTJ9S
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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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWIe3a8hwg
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHsOGVWYw8
"Why do you want to go?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFHRqywaBq
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"I... think I need to."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Soh66qvvV
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlnW6wkuif
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfklY2cycN
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX1aJ7KfGy
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpabPNc2vr
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhIbgYo00F
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZEFb18cXx
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KzPQyNeLz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyNe6g048
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34XZkV03FN
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My heart sank.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOzg8A61MX
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
