A buried memory resurfaced. At least, I thought it was a memory. It might have been a part of my dream, of which I remembered very little, but I was leaning towards the former. It was a memory of my father. It was a rare moment when I was out of my room and speaking with him. He sat me down by the table and went on a tangent, as "men his age do," speaking of a phenomenon known as restless sleep. It sounded like nonsense to me, and I told him that I thought it sounded like nonsense, but he dismissed my remarks. He said that I would understand when I grew older.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1xT91Tw5S
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He wouldn't have known it, but he was a liar. Because here I was, my eyelids turned to stone, gazing at the ceiling as if I hadn't slept at all.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa7q3aaULm
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"At least... I'm on my back now."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83v1zlPYts
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I tested the waters. My arm rotated just fine, and I could roll from side to side. I lifted my legs one by one, then both at the same time. I wasn't sore, I wasn't in pain. I crooked my head; all the perturbing sears and tears had vanished. I heaved myself off the mattress. I tested my leg strength, and I could keep myself upright without issue. I have undeniably made a full recovery, despite how groggy I was. I didn't know how much time passed, but it couldn't have been long. I walked to the window and pulled on the blinds. It was bright out.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7KRLsXtDj
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAHXM5HBDm
I closed the blinds and scanned the room. I spotted a cup on the nightstand and reached for it, taking a sip. I sat on the bed with the cup in hand, periodically sipping from it as I stared across the room. I had an urge to stick my finger between my teeth and gnaw. I resisted it, though. I found enough solace in the way I sat.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rcUv9Fmu9
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXBdxFXC4Q
It was quiet. Inevitably, I indulged myself in rumination. I was nervous, I knew that much without even thinking. I was also relieved. I was glad that, at the current moment, I was sitting here and not outside the city walls. It freed my thoughts. It let me sip the water with a motionless cup.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7M1NU9PRT
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"..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbQOkK6URD
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But, I was nervous. I set the cup aside, rubbed my face, and stood up. Staring at a wall would do me no good. If I talked to someone, my stress would surely subside. It would help me stay awake, too. I stood up and ambled to the door, opening it.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlYu0h5fNO
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I was immediately startled.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtIdhzpSNC
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2SZGPZ1KV
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQo2KuHD9o
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKcSWPm93m
I jumped silently, grasping my chest and taking a deep breath through my nose. I stepped away and looked at the man conveniently before my door.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqO0ocZtR7
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrucLx0lRYX
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNERvYt0Tn2
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw2c16DFM7
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gpS0tiNpQ
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FKGWg6CtL
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLnUvxDlhb
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdLFhOyUzL
I let him enter the room. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms like before while I sat on a nearby chair, turning it so it faced him.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bnyjpxNnM
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"Do you feel any better?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC1l1JhL1g
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDig0ki7qfA
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqOqFKc3Uw
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"That's good, that's good..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw0dwX7bHV
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He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQH8dywakB
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq1liTPb6H
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQX5J0CBhZ
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"..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVtQebgijk
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To my surprise, I didn't react to his inquiry. My body didn't jolt in shock, nor did my eyes widen. I just sighed, because truthfully, I was expecting a question like this.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdiqTfCC3C
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu37jBmSeDH
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOzAZ35Qt3
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0ZECOmMdw
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn12P1S083a
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"H-How'd you know?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFma9IpQkj
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"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA1FwS1hhf
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I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfj1IU5Ik6
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBusDHqpsW
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1ul6Acfb5
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I leaned back and firmly rubbed my face before returning my gaze to Pars.
"It's funny– I was just about to ask you if you happened to have seen Rover around. Is she with you guys?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDfjYiONuu
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Pars nodded.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrpXYS4Zsk
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"Yeah, she's in one of the split buildings. Unfortunately for you, she's in the one where we're going, since Lola's there as well."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz72GYfVl43
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68UJn3AlnB
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oHvwtNh4q
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kf7pYbSZd
"But I'm still lost. I don't get why you two separated at all. Last time I checked, you weren't the best of buds, but there was a bond formed there as mutual battle partners."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXo6R1TKRp
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LiPM3t7aO
"Mutual what?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoTgTLCkmR
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"It's something you notice the longer you're in the combatant business. You can make lifelong friends in one day just by battling alongside them."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkHOR29RKm
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"Is that a studied phenomenon?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaiv6HYRZA
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"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYFBL11of
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"Really now..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ240n64Qzv9
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I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X8m9Lwnj4
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"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CRz9oSxmC
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"..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshufZUUx5S
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I fiddled with my fingers. I thought back to yesterday and viewed my memories with warped eyes. Even though it was recent, the magnitude of the event made it remote, detached from my mind as if I were reading a stranger's book. I remembered the outcome but all else I could recall were caustic words, drastic actions, and weighty, suffocating feelings. My amazement rivaled the strength of my jitter; only one day had passed and I had tucked it away. Yet, I let a little piece of the memory stick out of the wardrobe that harbored it.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxorXDnSiB
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"Wow... it must've been bad."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKyPspmGfW
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"You're almost as flippant as I am."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVkflqw4Rx
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He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYTWDKdCRG
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"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkkZRCTlOs
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"Yeah yeah. She and I disagreed on what to do. She wanted to stay in the city, Juke and I wanted to leave. After learning of what you and Dave told us, the situation is different now, which is why we're still here. But..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGhRSxOXTc
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIN0UfVYIW
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprIVPc99Ow
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I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kAEblKOk7
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XNRDuKjvY
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLQiQalH8D
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiEcpLk7nO
My gaze turned into a meek look. It wasn't a plea exactly, but I made sure my face invited advice. I had too much shame to ask what to do with my words.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaZAHf7iB0
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Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLt0sOXZG0
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"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9EQtjggNC
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"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr3jBSeIAe
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmcQJ4HE8i
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3OpcXFHDA
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I wanted to correct him. After all, this wasn't my first fight. But when I looked back on the other few I had, this one was much more severe, so I kept shut.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLc9QwdYml
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"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcSl7KYFod
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"I know."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUdet0I8z9
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He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu6UldVXCT
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r51vLFgBF
"Tell you what; I can't help you."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzrZjavnuG
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"...Are you serious?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIFRXpgF7R
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"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK4XkzFpnm
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"What? What can?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd8y4Z4O32
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"Well, I'm sure you've been told this before, but I do this with Lola a lot, so I have a bunch of experience. I just make up with her."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqbYwiTGai
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"..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNClIaVjzpr
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A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcVOIGY5x6
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His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7qCW8rftR
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When I asked myself that, the haze immediately returned, and as I skimmed through possible outcomes of speaking with Rover, I was filled with more and more apprehension.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw6JcSFCoL
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"Give it a try."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWIZSilbYq
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He stood up and patted my shoulder.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fCwTVPiln
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"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTJPPHaiEy
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"H-Huh? Right now?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LPqVRMxDX
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"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZK7yg49ih
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Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWpaT9M4Gl
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–
–
–250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4MCVZY5E4
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"Are ya all packed up?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WC3DA8VTE
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As I made my way downstairs, I saw Juke at the bottom, his hands gripping the bag's shoulder straps. I gave him a bemused look and responded to his question.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERXskByggv
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"You're the only one who's carrying anything"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIFBFKS1Dy
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"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFHYyC0KJs
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I made it downstairs and scanned the room. It looked the same as when I left, only Dave and Pars were engaged in conversation. Dave was rubbing his head; it was clear something troubled him.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0CSZoHsnL
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"Did Pars relay our discussion?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQwCgj0Kh3
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeN8KJFtWf
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLJTuU1WaN
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErtioo0SEC
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4xQiQcvT9
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He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNzQ4jrnYE
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"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUjnyYGNRP
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"I suppose that makes sense."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPLFYYdwDR
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"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z8aq62puU
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"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuTXCI3h8g
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2zCM0oN6o
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUD7zMvTLg
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I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7s1EMj35c
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9egTELmrW
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3Si3YGFEo
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"What do I think...?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH39CO9NuWA
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I raised my hand and pinched my chin, gazing pensively at a random vase in the shop. Though the craze of the event made it difficult to remember the details, there were two oddities I couldn't forget: the Harbinger could strike Juke from a distance, but somehow didn't always do so, and the Harbinger dodged and blocked my attacks as if she could tell they were coming.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShUbYQ5UQi
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"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2C9CTn1dy
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndlghkWKg9
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9398PvtNK
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"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUPisNQjQv
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"I'm asking ya, kid."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVu2vCwYMk
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I rolled my eyes and continued rumination. Since there was nothing rational about her power, I threw ideas into the world and saw how my better conscious would react. Was it wind magic? If so, Juke would know. Was it an illusion? Illusionary magic has been stated to exist, but no corresponding mana exists in this area. Was it an Endowment? Likely. In fact–250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI3qPdyBuC
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSEI6Ilzzb
"It had to be an Endowment."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSoUsXNP9w
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"..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7w9ADasTe
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Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOF3eoBrU7
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"It would explain the inconsistency. Endowments can have downsides, so maybe she could only strike from a distance under special conditions. I don't know what those conditions are, of course."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdpC8x8GWW
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrwCktSIbD
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JXbJ3aryU
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I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwPwg5aBni
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"Why not?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJSHLK35Vl
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"It's just a gut feeling. I ain't sure. But yer probably right. It's a pain in the ass not to know what's goin' on behind her bullshit."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil81DVWhLw
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"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRdU3CUNaU
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Juke nodded solemnly. From the tone of his voice, it looked like we both knew what that entailed. I sighed and pinched my nose, then spoke again.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ATCTinb0K
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"Surely, there's a better option."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZMaqV0lE8
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"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BwZSFnfWL
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I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhdVf3Yk3H
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"What if we spy from a distance?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2FV0qY59i
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"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ3fn1LYCN
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"...Point taken."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlg0SXVpIf
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As I thought about it more, the idea of leaving people to fight the Harbinger while we sat by the sidelines was sickening. I discarded it immediately, thought the reality it meant I had to face was frightening.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcZ9UPQxta
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"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmWvrNlio7
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q1amVsD3z
"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPECdcHaqM
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"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OwjIL5e7d
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7krNdrJ14
I smiled weakly. I took comfort in our shared reluctance to do this. In truth, what Juke said about others finishing her off would be nice. If I could, of course I wouldn't want to fight her. But, that wasn't for us to decide; that was up to our luck. As I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, Dave approached us with Pars in tow.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa5uckCmdx
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"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQlRSbGMz9
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We nodded in unison.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIq5z4afgD
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"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiVRwLB1TB
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–
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–
Out on the street, the sky turned ever dimmer. We went through the same motions as before, scuttling in and out of alleyways as we watched for oncoming Bringers. I no longer felt like I was always on my toes, dreading even the slightest error. It just became tedious.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOIZnMn42M
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At some point, we became comfortable enough to chat. We spoke in whispers, of course, but exchanging words at all made me think we were getting careless. I didn't voice my concerns, only chewed on my finger as I darted my eyes around.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LVRVclrqt
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"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4HSunyWCt
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Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6oJs8g75N
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"I feel like that's all you've been asking me today. Of course I'm nervous. Of course I'm not fine. What part about this is fine?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFajJCw058d
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPPW534Irj
Silence came for a few seconds, and I realized that I might've spoken too rashly. I didn't apologize, though. I felt no inclination to.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTyCZZRplV
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy9CTRXLd0
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW4wJvdmPJ
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"Well... I won't deny that."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f0i6Fie0P
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ckcrbhmmj
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"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1bzmJ3if8
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"Again? What do you–?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx5rJip33w
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As I formed my question, memories of my first mission with Juke surfaced. I kept quiet, but I could feel my cheeks curl into a smile.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZQfzMxzt7
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"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ens0doGiY
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He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xN5xTObcY
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"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2Zcp3dyz0
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"I didn't ask ya that."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfFSCfM3tT
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"Pars came into my room yesterday. He asked why I wasn't with Rover, since I was with her when I met him. It was, well, a difficult conversation, but I learned that Rover ended up joining the Retaliation Crowd."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kUW7qb1CP
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"That ain't surprising."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxQU5aesDY
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO7LaCYyzD
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4ZQgR8pEw
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOfR9EDj7H
"It's funny. The thing I'm most nervous about is meeting her again. I realized that quickly, and then it made me think about a lot of other things."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz9feo0Pwg
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfczA5xgChI
"Yeah? Like what?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEO4Pb1jZu
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"It made me think about home, and coming back to it. Not just Buffalo Village of course, but the Capitol too. I was so caught up in the state of affairs that I forgot I even had places I called home."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrtgB3ElCN
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"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Mez0CcOB
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9XYhlc3hR
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I stopped myself and pinched my chin. The words got stuck in my throat. They required tuning before being released, yes, but there was another thing keeping them from leaving Before chaos broke loose and the three of us separated, it was the robes of that woman.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQXgWdA6cy
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I had terrible thoughts in my head. An abundance of worries and I withered because of them, but nothing I could do would make them leave. All I could do was shut my eyes and look the other way.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eWCYziz8s
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"I hope they're doing okay, is all. Flinty, Annabelle, Jackson, and even the Tea Mage. I hope they're doing better than I am here."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRcEuqffg7
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I let out my thoughts in earnest. A minute passed without a reply, and it never came after. I thought I would've been agitated, but I was relieved. Dave and Pars continued their conversation, but we stayed quiet. It was a moment I'd be ashamed to spoil. With how easily my mind wandered back into contemplation, we arrived at our destination seemingly instantly.250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1aJBKinWk
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBOkflClXb
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I moved to his side, squinting my eyes to see through the darkening sky. The outline came to me quickly, and then I could make out the building's details. That of which were–250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1ZB2zahF5
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BxHGqcyEf
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.
