The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqUdBx6gq
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEunsOpj9iW
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Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEHNOpIshZ
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"Dad!?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZQ55JLB7
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fxz8Cyn8z
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhNtS7Mt5V
"Flinty! There you are!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD7nfFjM5z
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLQlBTE8gD
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0d66NCn2w
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw47EaWTEv6
"And you must be Kenny?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kfj8rf016
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsYH9Ypghr
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfjUiRNVRp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasaQ0zZUYX
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WKggl2kfY
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7kwL9HPb4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXANLuL93uZ
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylj6GHkBXJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGztl752tI8
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjInlLw0SiL
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1tvM9DQsH
Dear Mister Chambers.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrEw5yB5YM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELHxtpZgvM
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehG7Q0WMmw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1d8WtBN9Y
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SPPLt9JQ3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllud9qBMjI
"...I don't remember promising anything."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkAc24BoBo
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnqWBpAIYh
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq0t9XAOTJ
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaNzOAZ5nT
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ozn4ojkfC
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0D18gvHTR
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBO1SrVumn
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP3YvdOQHw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtt21P46aB
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpMJgpzslP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3CiG9gqXg
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81EBiTskou
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4tr5SdGnO
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFE1NEL1vd
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0isXrDG5n
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ40FZc1bgR
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"Kenny!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9qNSnsBr0
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GKIg5MJiy
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpT7H31caV
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY10tEHQM4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrnS7jpOKg
"Is that the plant you asked for?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8lQoTuUEN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKWxyEaqbS
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAxGzbnwnX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFugcbTboj
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEUFkrzavP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bxEbiNeuF
"Hello, you two."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwgu44KnkW
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoMfpLKBRD
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNSmuGxQ1M
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mn32QaoRX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiolYFdwsi
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xTus1dX2S
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu6tgfnEcl
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsIZ26EpXX
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"Please don't drop it or something."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1xfnwSyzq
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tTh6NRvrv
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ1i3cp513
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm3r7lW0p0
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYehM4c6NzW
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhPakIhivD
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XdwwBXllO
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7lpC7rPWJ
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8G35kf2o4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaCPdAjLna
"And you asked for... a flower?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3FN4oG1Xw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSfRtXRBNb
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOkznm0Eja
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuUEWnTvyT
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnBgT950YE
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vLXHUzjQ
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCWhaNd20P
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"Arg! You...!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffMIE4tqSc
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Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtPnrglHPm
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFKu5FgFH1
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BYrfZ1l5d
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"Whatever."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvB7xiMfoX
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We sat in silence for a minute.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEnTOEcxPW
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr01Y9EaQJX
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"Yes! Please tell me!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbTyyw5LOJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BSl2Ctmt1
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkzJFTOVdd
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObgIvNRvQv
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLlc6w6kzr
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"Wait, Eastern country?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAetipmXt1p
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I faced the old man.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BFgnlYisz
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2uJmGdUeM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jb2p8MjXF
"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOueOb1kpyI
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKfSiEsHeQ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINOOnTCNQZ
"...Buffalo village."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFOvUeIZCw
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnhyNH7Jct
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1it668Gc0g
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHuxnUJmO7
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMhy1jDjrz
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2pZ9k23Dw
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgXMX8m0C
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cdemTxieW
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrb86WQj6m
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvX8ZOcfDj
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"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLG6tecSV8
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I nodded along.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q0bLaIe1l
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wWFBg9jfB
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCwHz4piiF
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ92RO70wl5
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"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVsUaI969T
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MIFDBGYnd
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmseZbtp0tK
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She blinked blankly.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtpK7XqwjK
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"Wait, is it?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFZjkx2whV
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiOxWrBZOS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoGrdIr2CL
"No, maybe it is true."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgP95bUeoj
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"O-Oh, okay."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxzZyblCkz
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACp0XtI1gf
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5LjLONfNa
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzngNd8fK4
"How was your guys' day?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwz34O85Vm
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxS7QaNkGz
"Mom, you should've been there!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNS7sUmzDf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE2FiWVwI9
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHbzr7dGVY
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQYAkOKB6S
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5gK96o6c0
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It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHFB9D2Y3e
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIqy4qd4Tr
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q6nIhsoUR
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVC1kvFU1E
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPdRgv0cNI
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"O-Okay."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlzVgSQWpM
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTPa6IXYhi
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Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6qRFWFfSZ
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzerWduECA5
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He sat me right back down in my chair.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwf60Yn95a
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8fruclV8Q
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpftqCthYn2
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkuUldKs26
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu7Tx20LMS
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZer9aYgvN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRIbjKOq9y
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsDbHLRZW1
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8GnNQjcbJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYnMj0OxDL
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI3xWU0zyS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKbLpyDRoU
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5pjbmOkP6
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcjKZqZ3EL
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib4Y3QCDB2
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvp3Ty54Kc
"TALBOT!?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpzqzcO9cz
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNEBkHOGK5
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI7JXTvAuo
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetcRKOsfIE
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfatjQjPi9
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tJ9be5eFP
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFv4GYzZS3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhalCJZeVrU
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1rUvXcfri
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPoXjKZAYC
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAS3ctDaXZ
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbms6PLg5zg
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7FFZLXlsT
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKklms8gKgS
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFY4n5Gusx
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7kyPTMmkB
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04AokK5yPo
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"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NGbbAbvj6
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbGJKz4BAQ
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0gIX0gIxL
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM9WAyHelB
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSjAoilW5R
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdkT8DxlP9
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"Flinty."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDQVVRB4zD
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"Y-Yeah?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaef6Ayb65
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VNyrWFsmo
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm8YDig5t1
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"Okay! Let's do it!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw278n2a5g
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWb749LP9A
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"...My tome is in the other room."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvlFHLQ0bk
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOz3DP2JTx
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–
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–231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgFCltJWKn
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQLADJXiNm
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNtyiWn0Jy
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DTBfjm6Xn
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"Good morning."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBunLFMCSm
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ4RDr5Ukj
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"I woke up early."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkesszSLbjP
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TrK5sRnvz
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOZldluUkG
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L6Z2IV1be
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"Right."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDbpqfc5Xl
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0gYSAEj8f
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Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptWsOQQOlz
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi6InzhbN2
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"I sure did, honey."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla5iZJ5NdB
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"Oh."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF8ybs68VJ
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCelhkoazB
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"Is something wrong?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z169be5jj
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ4uOS1h82
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqvdUl0i20
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Strange. Strange people.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnbW1zxJuI
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoJKzT8RRr
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"...I uh."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2HmA7G1Ds
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlLv0DnWaK
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4umBxzv3W
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq8Po5Q8kh
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZokaLAP7sO
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"Water under the bridge?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpTbFpecZT
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"Mhm."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeIKQNw7MT
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSI5fPWT0y
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vvIDlZdXE
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They were really good.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qWnXSIK5i
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–
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJreWsTfwo
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"That's a nice outfit"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kRwlv3hvS
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfTWyGbrmU
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nr1R1pSlz
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtemIVdfX1
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9cW960GJt
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"Ah, my apologies."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQxOekKISo
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"No no, I like being around you too."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDi2SuTZ1f
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhauP20YQ5
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexBIidjLSM
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"R-Right."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilOXS7I3t7
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLRTmpPb3n
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywzJGQBygZ
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"Hello, Freed!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6UD2NR7WF
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6R0RBbasa
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN3rqdGY2N
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"So what business do you kids have today?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPirwDalUYd
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEgtcHG5Oa
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3ho3pzKnA
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86dcdHgRpq
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAsjMn8f1q
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrUwheJMBv
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"I see."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrUr56YNQa
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qKYs0j9gY
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"I refuse."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9APvM9Z7v
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"Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmmj2GiAfj
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"WHAT!?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pkgHrbToA
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEsKczNOua
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleK0oHt7lZ
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK70C8CLZij
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"...No?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNyLUM7Lg4
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt8Qtzz9Np
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGpagZyWso
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WZoxMbziY
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmangnDagi
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qyZFYVFiE
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVVgihOeex
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"Down here."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ735NntdJEx
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriWIcmmOJO
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwr3GAYWVd
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG7iwa1Xdt
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8WQ0gxr5
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb5Eyym8hI
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgz83AzwQs
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrnubR6FNN
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1qLsDLWWX
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I shrugged.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0csRKezeDb
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvjjQ9ikZP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo2a8oqtvY
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfVK5UE7WN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaMRb2hAeL
"Am I doing it right?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvwmD4IuDr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhTgiMXoE3
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24oqJje2i4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxEwRsiTJD
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzeHc3KsCk
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrfCg7F4iu
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUtjhwPSgm
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdIKosiTWj
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry89icpo16
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2teR0N4C6J
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAnlxg3TaJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUNefl1L9h
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoC5hLTVfG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE25rE4ObCf
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm0oFAVcgC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LdoulTMAm
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAggdrfDVI
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNApRv9zlSd
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbcnZPmiF7
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UZ9CqoFDp
"O-Okay."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E0Dr5SdIJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VBHGgbSFH
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPIOAmmakr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAGZONXAPA
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPuCNPJ1YC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLTjmYunx8
"W-Wait, how do I–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG09p73RcjD
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepNoF1pbGH
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ScFtefhJ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyQg7pUUYy
"But what if I can't let it out?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeBeRdSIbN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TfcA0RmoP
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzPbLniQp1
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCjId0852W
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaJm73ezds
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfxLEPwM0r
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKTslDLooQ
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"Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJD5FpH3ZK
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE3HEAE2Sp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5nSLS88A4
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3USYaYkGO
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIPcVxn43R
I messed up, getting all excited.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHowDEcERBh
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXyIvVwYY6
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ilk5UedwC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSvwsySzlG
I couldn't do it in time.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWg0WyI8CS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ115dDb5uAH
**BOOM**231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlSIOam98Z
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The world around me faded.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRcn1FyN79
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWq4q20jNa
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcZk0znExt
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3uhCZx2sU
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mFZE9D22r
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQKIceeNTN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgqP95KmI3
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0ephKQilF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlCkF1nvDJ
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO7Z95PXuO
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I was in the greenhouse.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6c58yPnKM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTcSdRFEql
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Ht01YslT
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20peXgp8Gm
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFOv6dgpNH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41ldd1uNbD
Thank God, they were okay.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE85INuPnK
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXSEx1lPu8
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcaa1OkFAX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvH9hTL5SK
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnzN981U5g
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sr6c8dHlN
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPltMYnsr1D
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRQIrCtFP0
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmiM5Hx23z
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtLM1xtCVg
"This is... my coat?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d6q2cWAXL
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZjVwQwnHX
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr03xU0vOH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84KJ6Ge06D
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU01o9edFv
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquFw8Re6aS
I love you. I really do. Thank you.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPCgEZhEXy
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHh8tMlGIA
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjAGvudeGE
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2KrhbvgH4
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NenS407un
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDoNRJSGSb
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqUmXROkRq
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1tDJ0aah8
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP2Pn1jKh3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTQALvFMAB
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pEIIaAkRt
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBamxSSlSP9
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjV3XqVBr1
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlxetPbwHg
"H-Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMjH7MeSRt
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IOy3lOmro
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAb6Hha4mH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsJxH8xSRn
"T-That's terrible!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRzpTmjJjF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FbQP3UgJx
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5PGuKvEOA
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFNE2cmach
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I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasnkniXUpU
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQISvrwEmQ
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsCBkGGqdC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNtVeZvvji
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hCRa4thbr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CAW9HCdsh
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1AZSPmOPF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvJJ80NOd2
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3DAUZXVRu
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G0JYmZEcS
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh6O30c02F
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHivWosqOF0
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmakRFr1foS
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"...Ah!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6V025kBnm
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVYqWQHIKX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wHh9U90Eo
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI2ydEYewC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEptKwEtoHx
"...Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRKVCQhXj2
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She meekly turned her head to me.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIRQP2m454
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"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgilSg6N51j
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZs9KQt4Xd
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzDbVMlXHP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULSb76KtZK
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB47gW4Oac
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZszeoAL78N
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ESkgBGUlY
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGstHyFpxd
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"Okay, let's go then!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtYvnIkwGZ
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWkhqjmnIr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTYUIB5bzD
"W-Where are we going to go first?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1uAoFhBvS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EMipBbE4d
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGgJYOZO8v
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMjPmVf5PF
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw5kPwMMu9
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Yeah, let's.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkxHiq8knQ
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–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFwlac1k7U
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6e8oxjkul
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxoj4B8OjS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHNbks2FAR
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHLG0TGFs
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbNuqvabUZ
"This is the combatant's guild!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11lt1OY8Lc
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EmJy53JqS
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZONaiOiD3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSymS5jpf9q
"This place needs a renovation."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkMPR27dkS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykeN9Qt43O
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBvmS8hsbr
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I shook my head.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlTLwnAaEK
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U6FPOBB6f
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCXlHYyq56
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"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78iBIBFcjK
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP1pxAj4BG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJLohpbKod
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEgjQtty8U
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"Do not even suggest it."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoKhihdj0t
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lhaESGfHn
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AhuwsTIHk
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDmou9NZ1D
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce9Sh7lr5z
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgJ32L3wic
"...Well alright."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZyNh7jm8
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw92jaUJUT
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYSiBqngM2
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxvU6QfvXX
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbWbr1v1T8
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXBCty4M0I
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQM7aXRjpI
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ6xSUlbGR
She pouted.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzNnleO7Ku
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkqio5A1NP
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERi3dV0tCP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1avTtdUJ4l
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLaNJYPsDz
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI9RMBLcmV
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41dEv7kYNa
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HQbzII43P
"Huh? Flinty?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiAfC53tSe
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B0QxdtNtu
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5PuxolMGE
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFC5BJ3r1l
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX8bUbTy62
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVkFjNtidH
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tso7sP7e7
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hxxXwdoVo
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9DHqmALCP
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFUQg0dV9R
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDFXfPEQpq
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPRuZfKp79
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7izsGiXKwG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eSbiX7Sx7
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXNjNiRpOO
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmf0qvITzP
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ9eBPhKyN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPhP3RuJAu
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieKr9GnMBS
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PaKKhNieJ
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn4imvwsUF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zj5lHE8uf
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrTlslKVzN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZJqnuqLRd
"Huh?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QH2z2D01P
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgPp6o2Lsh
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ljsSCnn5z
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhiYX4WJxi
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6pbQG9j3u
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhDF86rrFr
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8LrVwRnho
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBGIRPQpzk
"You're right. Wait–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqbxl5O3pY
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDBZ4M8HCm
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WiabV50cM
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTcRwH1Nm5
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpeglVc6Zv
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld2IPuwM5e
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxP6IYLo0s
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPUUGTazvt
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkfN89J3ql
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd3Jfafl57
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLcKehE57t
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qIIT9broU
"No. I'm here for another reason."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfJb8KoBGA
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbmESs91hk
"And what may that be?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhLEJSpeUG
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoubpIqnvb
"None of your business."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjDjAw4pi9
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs6WUEGTt2
"O-Okay..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvIWfYsAzs
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90QKlkC1YP
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wXW3yLJ8y
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uZbMdEfln
"She is super shady."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZIW5PqU2K
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEC2QaWm9o
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DtG5FgpmL
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JPZkFZ11H
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SvWSlpwgf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC4Pgo9zYs
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcw9SNp2zc
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgY6EAlcCA
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLuWnIxtD3
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTofjf6uHSB
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT5EYzjjTn
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEHCDOFJQ3
"T-Then let's get his attention!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YZav0uKiX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFVCCVHNVU
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYZyhmHX9c
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuzOskNBFp
"Let me handle this."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBntf2fs7G
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwqBFD7oPq
"W-What, why?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIDGXJPQTN
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWIENoZ0FD
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyNe3AK1QH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmv5Tu4Us0
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQM4I4GIRa
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCXgaoDzfm
"S-Sorry, Kenny."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55LpZzLUv4
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjhGpg55y2
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX4bFM4YVo
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILEzZ1OBxG
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyN8FuzNNh
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2Knz2TfUs
"Hey, you guys!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29Ne73Xhv5
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyU74fTxKQ
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaimUXICVVZ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzMUYnF3PS
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3RNJlaJq7
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgtYseAQm8
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX0J9379EE
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1XnKmN1lb
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneFUFHPIy1
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PRbwyMksl
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NJRnSaGgw
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58zNb2q7AO
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmHwAsm5D2
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAefhZES1lc
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN4ClvSnWk
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpPdrt5MRz
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu91uOCj8k
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GKJ89IRRo
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGWNxe9Nhr
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoilkJU2dfp
"Here's your bill, miss."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1GP9pL58w
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa35wxMycR1
"...I..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RdXtzaUWp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwKeM3TuZi
She was having a difficult time speaking.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3Jbo6myrh
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUodvnqNJj
"I forgot to bring money."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3xBEzhidz
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnojqUWJZ4
"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3WlwFaMin
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cUCiIzg7m
"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQLJsdW71U
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCs5G4FcIp
"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbEFuGsKyl
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bnfU6ao4I
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM8se3EEJv
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGrvIotpk8
Ha. What a moron.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzhritFcKB
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eQKVao56l
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA0MKoYyKl
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgObnOsgyN
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC5ejqB7Nc
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbDgRUpjrO
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8powwa8wD
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o8i0elvr2
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6RE2nsZZC
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmIx5eFQpU
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDTZczPeZg
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6rOweq84g
"..."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwMj5I3Gxp
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnDpn9uage
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjOIPOEh5b
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmr1dS5CBS
"Hey, cloaked woman."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC5TOLeoEK
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvmF3zY6RL
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokYT415MVW
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELMk1P3n37
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSdLUG4nhn
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG5NhrYeC5
"Yes, of course. Thank you."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgqeGHmmbq
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6yVfjRdpg
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6RFqUi8uH
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyOgMzwvLz
"Alright Flinty, let's go."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH6eETXiQZ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78iKbZi5nj
"Yes!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdITMX892gO
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hly35stnh
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ra3ZwAhxx
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3X6Gc0yTI
"What?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2StLDqEDsT
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDFMCZzgIM
"Kenny, you're awesome."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7Pd5ajGY6
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrkrjAFheg
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAgvcdnQp1
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnrjKMx0cn
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jF39N8wnl
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpytYZBYDo
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFmaMVbcOD
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1iamzH4qg
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ9TlpH7WQ
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssS6bbCmIV
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCidzzbICV
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxApFWSvwF
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYhyUNZF1D
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHrHzV7su8
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT0ifqDIk0
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYkdq0Nt7u
"...Is something wrong?"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4u9gpKatF
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqHcTWxUxn
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2GZELCqnX
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu5Bub2ff3
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPltr4RKi2
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSixGVxHoi0
"R-Right."231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJfBta3NBf
231Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuksYSWvyWz
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
