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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquUJcFlPN1
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsDdsgxYPc
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa0jGOQmlK
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZZZXS7IRN
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCizcOhLF3
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1Hj3lSJ33
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F4kVSi5Tz
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JydD4dcNC
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTUxuxeqzF
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaUJ78TSIc
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2JLgRTF62
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzsApRS72B
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOBEaBk0bG
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDdYMD5mwX
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhS5UOViFi
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn0uAl8z46
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHMK0cyMHD
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqppZS0Y78g
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiqO59H9hl
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U5RPQ8xbz
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NLoqeeczl
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaof7MmI1QH
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPODOLpZdyR
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfOzXVi2Mc
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO0gpqMXK5
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA7QPoJeBH
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtay8lnEqW
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49G0wnfSr1
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdrOnjw7Bd
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPqxozcKCX
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb3dGDgsvu
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl9v8GLgqC
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc582KwAuK0
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyos5mnkQp
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp2GVHWv39
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdhmMBVM3V
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GuXll01EA
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VLTojRnaB
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLY2z5MtWo
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNB4Zh5vOA
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0xaCPJI4s
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nFqS7cHN5
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeFN69MMSq
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZEDbLUwh6
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7seLLRHm1G
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlhtV0jT1o
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjxT1MJraB
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0hza0hYmg
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJ5YmzW4YI
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzxvY4bgdA
"What's the matter?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMMTcivvg0
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoLi359vhN
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZlX5iyisL
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpahIDpjqaE
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxl1C1G0Hf
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPTjr5YyEe
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7VTjKxXMA
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Kztf9RerP
"Of course."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBNemxlN3x
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2R8QFK9Z9
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWeaMqDe08
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMqphgKorW
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lg09B12Kg
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD4gp73YOw
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yXKne9dP0
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztNCUoupEi
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuWIGLOrvc
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGWO1dawuW
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6GpE8LZ0m
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdnET48Ico
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhDg4BUZ9M
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqRfLCqHow
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b03L316rK
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1ZnuBnpL6
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHYMW3K6eF
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxhKMdBsJu
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR247YrUeGg
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WMlgUBWiO
"...Probably?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrczdZCeDfo
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBku5u8wP7o
"Sorry, definitely."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8p0JfRZbZ
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVB1UXL7uB
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlQGjU12r2
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt2uBZKXbH
"Food's ready!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkC7FiUgFy
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgXczbxZ9D
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qNxdYRSPW
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRvFqCUcrs
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EZ4iPNiD4
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ71KECTe5
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztKZLYwJxU
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHrBUmHrjq
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fM54UHFSq
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCKYYOlSyo
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoQPRaAedc
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtbYnjQyOq
"Are you asking me?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheU2jPCkVo
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrIlb65zYQ
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYw4toTjRT
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX35m0oztZP
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJi7XKvf9A
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HDT7ptFxM
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWGKIR10w0
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24xTfS0Ae0
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltHxizWHJj
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycErniyjZc
It felt heavenly.
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklDCc5NyFL
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO10xZJNf7
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXfAHK038F
"What are you reading?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBKT0dLpgx
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQG6p0VgvB
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xhg1RM2zs
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5dHQzF9Ys
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwdxmA79lC
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWRg7Nf52P
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNlIKbyDpn
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhImBpnVqTS
"...It's a book about magic."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw8bsLN4u4
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dFCLDeFsd
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoVEKcuOB2
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAENGsHgNC
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybUxljeT2k
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqHgJGORSg
"Y-Yeah, of course."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwznPunYc2k
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ogdUxLyTH
She didn't sound very excited.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKVWPnQ7LN
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV8GpI2aVy
"Do you want to practice right now?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpGRlS4c7g
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C2GIDdhAF
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xsPYsJ5uP
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgviXShkQKy
"If you say so."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXENZdiph37
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQsB8yRZsc
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuESfWUSLD
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtvNhkacw3
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWMoTbpsLh
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WVAIRacaq
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPtnvHNOGz
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr0Vb464La
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYox18S28q
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeeLZeOAVY
"...Did he decline?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H3jxjqeqW
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M7Fmyl1v1
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMnaJ8SxqT
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9jONyZI3N
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj9ZqFBqlV
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpWH1n5cuo
She paused and stared at the sheets.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2dTOcXfbo
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqIlMquUgh
"Today was the first time I made a spell."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsYviQ1QiY
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImtIR1q8GJ
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC71ult92N
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mOUdkjrmQ
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6tGioCGZn
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkf4dkqeRR
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4pLqhn7ei
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE7ZN3rDCW
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLuYtmEzx5
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoIco73FxV
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiYpBDY49o
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcmKCTTdR0
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsZ2IRFA99
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxGcGr1RnC
We sat in silence for a few minutes.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd4J8oaP9E
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa3bFpsSxq
"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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5uBe0ZZcV
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoO04Or75h
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJfXcoOy8O
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWln3bamQ
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0Sp30uSFS
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG2RRAqhPP
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5zwgOGsOC
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdOh6nW7wl
She shook her head no.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY4H49IES3
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfk5bjU9dB
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyipYcb4qH
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60fzxx1jvJ
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuScAe0Z8SN
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5SAO5L1dh
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2YYgXxVsh
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32eyWNtuaw
I felt like I made a mistake just now.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko3xnd2a1L
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrc7JQ3mlv
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeoAIxJ0do
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hsyZWBAhR
"What is it?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpR3uzathj
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj2aWYEK4s
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodnz6uzqkK
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7GKiu1wDE
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd2GwFuZQi
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVatDtRdkj9
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiXTllnzTO
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNOBYLTUd0
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmEetWWVjW
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy4xhufFfM
"I know I can do that! But, well..."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM3PUkcX6W
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpaG4anBKa
She had her fingertips conjoined.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O2kDeHWcV
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiI0lTr7Af
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg4hRhb7Nx
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WLlBLxBFT
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWNdIVRiqV
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai0DM3kWM0
"Alright, I'll show you."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZanPaawUi
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUMIymM6Gt
"Yay!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV6LqTHETH
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JvwsiOEMg
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjslMwpF67
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAvJEuq2Oi
"I think it's best if we do this outside."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWKvVCw8Tn
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Em8YH7vi
"Okay, then let's go!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUl0o831qx
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3jKWulm0s
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EaGMyZnpN
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESzpPn2mni
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREX0tcnhCl
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusjigMC9nl
"Earth?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX8ZdLfLc3
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"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgww3tnGzj
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBedlifFmp
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjFtYlkqzX
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HTYYikx9N
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"It's really not that impressive."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7akErVmub
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHp1hxzwtl
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDW263tW5V
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VZeAnO6Og
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbqLNZCIGL
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmieSgZlW4
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKAObEvT3q
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9EOjqmgVJ
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"How'd you do that!?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx07IFihFy
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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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIktYVNCidH
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I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbrXXQnrkN
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"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd69W3KuPqx
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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."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YctuvecX5
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN5s43DfIf
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvMuOzPyUU
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZTyMdBqJS
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmUgUEuLWB
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She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6oaSACxvK
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjif8J7k8u
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5QMfmx5D0
...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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe90VHsJWb
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"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhbwjdgiZz
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"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQjY1H9ydw
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Oh.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H4eGy400B
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Oh.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrX9m7m1IC
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4htwXi3Ew
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozb90MArze
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv7BpwCo3K
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The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkMYc74iK9
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As for me?221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlwCPJZpkI
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Well...221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhaHbX4LbJ
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"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvFXoCcGCg
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV0n7YwQjh
**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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XUTxjEFnM
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujPOKpsXg9
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseIXVjxIFF
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwUA5Od2Y4
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73c1me9kFa
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyACJ0T9PQA
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUqIglovjf
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K8DsjezQr
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnMd1YlXXh
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJMXjfPZIJ
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl53VswJuo8
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVKWAYv3TG
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb0qQOHhBA
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga3shYJBUf
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7peikFYOY
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8TNjtY7o0
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRP6NMbfLX
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SOlvEYIY8
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AEdtcPeV2
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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–"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9JmHj6C2a
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe4bcVvQDO
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQIJSXd3T4
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"Of course. What is it?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7NmJ1nJvN
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4hAczeufN
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswcuAHIliI
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyeruq1GN8
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu5QPXCubf
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmpc8jlSX0
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPyl6eqw4Q
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnqrObYnNC
We all looked at her.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm799H7Mn9
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntfl5FVqGu
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"Kenny."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDPpJ2ACl2
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"Yes?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSQR63uNYQ
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieCcR9YmZp
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FQf9dA1an
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuodwUHhgAy
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"Okay. Kenny?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWrGbcUrIM
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"Yes?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9CJ5hcwGQ
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhcddB6Qct
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"Huh?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxtxhrginx
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PevCwujct
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"Why do you want to go?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AcWp8R0XL
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"I... think I need to."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7HdZykh5e
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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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ayOSOAFMu
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN116wG8sHq
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4KF03LupT
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdls1mr3Sof
221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9h7Z4LhTL
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.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWOsLKHA7r
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My heart sank.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrxi3BBsQ0
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
