Sleep wasn't brought by my collapse. I was plagued by a lingering restlessness, a prickling bit of caution that blocked my eyes from fully closing. Instead, I used my granted time to keep watch of the door whilst against a desk, an arm slung over my knee.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaha6p21z5u
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub0e95VPSM
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWUHO1L5l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9eUmvkNp5
Juke joined me in my resting. The both of us eyed the door, keeping careful watch for any sudden enemies. It probably wasn’t the best course of action, I realized, as that dean was likely to get in trouble. But he was out of sight, and thus, for the time being, out of mind.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFjkXUpB2v
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2GwkKYCWn
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc2xW8NjWG
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZUowbxptA
“There are thousands of better ways to say I have a sullen or exhausted face. Take your helmet off; I’m certain you aren’t faring any better.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvMWRXawjE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhMakBvchd
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnIOYqgWqx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MLtecXmBJ
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMi3lC6bgb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bzXThi0d8
“Well?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdHOoU2YpI
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtwmZYZCcA
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn74CFVa7SB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmXsKVJEWb
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGzlC3vrt8
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2DADmnqaE
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hOCn9lT3r
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6hi4bLnEI
He stroked his lengthy stubble in contemplation. I let him do that and continued glaring at the entrance, waiting but hoping not for something to pop out.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3GzOeLhrl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8Fv7ohwqS
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdJTvmO46L
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6WVLlR6CA
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKfw2j5Jqc
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0afju8oPrc
He grabbed it and rotated it to spot the marks left by the Bringer’s blade. They were very obvious once he pointed them out, making me feel dumb for not noticing them.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmvfRCQuEu
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpuvDwXwhW
“I’m glad, cuz it means I ain’t gotta get a new one. And if I had ta, I can’t, since I’m stuck in this crazy place. And ta think I still got another tower to fight…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBJ0fu8a5o
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOwfwIQeuD
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdsW80hcPX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEfe2sDAyc
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngmJqhFUfT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5SrHhDtqr
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPQqPafPnm
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkBi6rt3tm
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPwFQwJRoV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRNZoCFoXH
“...Yeah.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BVFZIiQXk
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DgVDAydZA
Though I had my frustrations, he was right. I was convinced, not just by Juke, but by my own distorted feelings to go back and fight. I was as to blame as he was. Still–265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpALzkhdXm
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqr2AQSjYH
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEaCLH4YI1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8WIPQ1dCB
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdf4nzQmxY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht4PGAR7B7
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcyqF8Aohf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoVhgYZXTT
Juke chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue. Little gestures like that dulled my festering feelings. He returned to his resting face. But when I looked at it closer, it was more rigid and fierce than the face of a resting man.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5iSuufNA0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vOyy7Lrfe
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh9Y1NdFeY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZJLSJTZiq
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2LgUVmH1a
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz0gpHojAd
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaTndUWfpa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65Rs6sEBdu
“...?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AC1GDPBgo
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1cZBbIBlX
At that, I had to tilt my head.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxG9UfSkV6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvrOig9qH2
“It’s a detour, certainly, but this furthers our goals, doesn’t it? The Retaliation Crowd are going to help us with our goal after this.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDVkjgDMDi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDtC9AXY0w
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8i3mRX0GQ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYvE6L0djO
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqlobzEkh2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9GbHXSJV3
“Dennis still ain’t here.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTe04F8ZOl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgm1Ta4CPU
“...”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IOZiUV3lw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcR5pTaLvQ
The bubbling fumes within me died down immediately. It was difficult to stay mad when I saw Juke’s forlorn face. But at the same time, I struggled to see it justified.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQNGAvln9K
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1abBlwi7ns
“I don’t really get it. I mean, I understand wanting to help an acquaintance, but you make it out as if he’s a lifelong friend–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWPq30O9Nz
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCY0USi3lX
“I get what yer sayin’ kid. Ya ain’t entirely wrong, but it’s more complicated than that. I know ya well enough to make it click. Gimme a second.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv449Kfxcmi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0RUYzOqdI
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaKDAns2WU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwCSHKQPWN
“Think of it this way, kid: let’s say I got an apple, and that I need to eat it within twenny minutes, and if I don’t eat the apple in twenny minutes then I should jump off a buildin’.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iZRXJFtIZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWPEWaUuA5
“--!? W-What!?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe7VXgImBU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgvcfVMjEw
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtrvZoOGdJ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX97GkDGPRx
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwOIk28Wav
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspkmIBq7K6
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ggq7ONuHW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvnSLBDxJt
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4Yu0zOCgn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRIZ1wprtR
Though I still had my eyebrows raised, I did what was told of me. I pinched my chin and stared at the ceiling, wracking my brain and hoping an answer would fall for me to grab. It didn’t come to me very easily, and I looked at Juke with a slight plea in my eyes. He read it immediately and urged me to keep thinking. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xIJGvH31D
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FnJBYZ9ID
I sighed. At the same time though, I figured it was a good use of time, and I knew that playing by his rules would make me understand him better. So I ruminated away. I thought of it from Juke’s perspective at first and realized that wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Then I thought about it regarding recent events– aside from the fighting, that argument we had came up, and a shudder from my shoulders urged me to stop that train of thought. Then, taking how he said it would click for me into account, I thought about it as if I was the Kenneth Juke knew.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Awf4AIqEA
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus9NCHJBET
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXOO0dL0o4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjwJKRBbvu
“If you’d kill yourself over an apple… that must mean it has a lot of sentimental value. But it isn’t just a sentiment that makes it that way.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xBA8W340l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q1KfgckOk
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPLWkGI7S0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7SYIBdeJ7
“It’s like the shape of a grant. Because you said that the apple meant something, that apple became a symbol. Because you made the terms that this apple’s consumption is correlated with your life, you’re putting stock into it. You’re giving it something greater than sentimental value; you’re making it a wager. Either I’m good enough to eat this apple, or I’m not good enough to live.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC9HgY5YaG
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdCRJquQ2E
“...”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxsmYtUah2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwyNKsDv7t
I looked at Juke for a response, but what I thought would be a satisfied face just looked a little lost. My face must’ve looked really surprised.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e8HHXA5ZQ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJq0XT2x90
“Ya ain’t wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a wager. It’s more like a checklist. One that ya just have to fill.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfQU9CyeAi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnxigPRdBa
“I-I see…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsZIDZmjfH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5E9FcAtjj
My analogy must have gone too off the rails. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking like Juke enough. Either way, the side effect of going on such a thought train made itself prominent. The sparks of my earlier declaration rekindled, and I grew proud– but only slightly –for making it to this top floor.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvIeHIG5gY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yi2p37lU3
“Seein’ Dennis safe n’ sound is one of those checks. I got a few other ones, but they’re too private to tell ya. And others, I don’t really get.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqncuIl5rb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomMaW655xy
“You don’t, ‘get?’”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHZOKlEkjd
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQYcIjci6Y
“Y’know, when–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu5jx4KQJZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lBsM9GFij
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6TJvbrEAe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyv9XCYqNx
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxj2cAdFa2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK91Gh81pr
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2F21C7SdX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNeUCG1EhK
**SLAM**265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2D9QmGA1t
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM7633Ak94
A loud, thundering sound rang through the dusty room, startling Juke and me and putting our senses on high alert. Juke put one hand on his handle, and I already called the tendril forth and aimed it at the sound. It came from the door; now it was opened all the way, but the figure responsible wasn’t behind the other side.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6yV6mmTah
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wIu3JZu6J
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oHrdVbIwH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFdB9b8dxJ
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MVQsKv9Qn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE5GMobpgo
The head belonged to the dean of the Pillar. He waltzed in haphazardly taking little steps and checking every inch of the room. When his eyes landed on the Bringer, he squeled for a moment, but quieted down once he noticed all the blood.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQXl0JxVU2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ga8oxSb73
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmHnlvr3JY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bFj5Vl27V
“M-Mister Dean.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReV5GCTnkL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjbdq1T3br
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7X8plr7zR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVN5J5ziH7
“Yes, child?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaYKWvo64f
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JMmJIM7R6
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3afmbH3sXW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmblrr8f8LX
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm9HDRC7JY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdHHwAFnN9
“R-Right.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9mvjK7Mxj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ2R9j0Kha
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs7daUg5eB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPVLQVX69V
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zqrw1jsgT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWe5Uq77S9
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N4h8aIAq6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4RVjiQfW7
From behind the Dean came a soft voice. A voice of confidence and care, a voice I’ve grown fond of over the past day. And seeing the holder of that voice cross the threshold made me retract my tendril, and put a hand on my chest in relief.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXZliPMwJb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysr5mMNVge
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMQoD341g0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDdJpbx7gU
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIM80Zvzzr
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IXIFP171U
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m5oiNtVPR
With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqsbeRjN1b
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp42mLg5KhR
Though it wasn’t without casualties, the foreign pillar was rid of pesky Bringers. Its control was seized by the Retaliation crowd, and the Dean still being alive was a great relief.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBHiOqKIxI
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBD2lQd5dZ
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt9f5drzT3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOiXbAzkyI
Either way, we had what I was assured was an invaluable asset. I didn’t see how in the moment, but as I was taken to the answer, Lola elucidated me about the status.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxarX6PtdW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYq3bqZr0g
A majority of the crowd hunkered town at the top. One floor with wide windows served as an excellent watch tower, and ranged specialists were tasked with observing the parameters. The floors above were converted into restrooms or hospital rooms. A few crowd members ventured to the lower floors to gather all the food and water available, of which there was a grand amount. It made sense, as all of those supplies belonged to the Bringers beforehand. Half a dozen of the healthiest and uninjured watched the first floor and the surrounding city, both defending from infiltrators and–265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf5iMPN4e2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxwDXTcCXy
“They’re looking for recruits. If fighters see that we have the most important building under control, they’re more likely to join the effort.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEq55TqZRW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxypSfiDNgk
“Haven’t you explained that already?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFcno8c1hZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav1QOAoR6G
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUIvRWMYIU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnXOu5aMrL
“What’s that?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicixUwA4UA
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DsWrQd6cc
Lola turned around and crossed her arms. She nudged her head to Dave who was beside her, and with a sigh, he stepped forth and spoke.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2lGe9LXuH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7dRVDka3Z
“Everything is done in two ways here. Either letters or signals. Old man Jackson was always responsible for the latter. We do not have Jackson anymore, so unless we make a lot of noise, we can only commune with letters.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMWsaeJDw4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbxCDHQNzG
I realized the implications immediately. Even if fighters were available, everyone was in hiding. Nobody knew the state of the central Pillar, and I doubted that the crowd’s existence was well-known either. But then I remembered the prowling Pars and Dave from yesterday and asked:265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNgmGIj1V2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkGejogwAn
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHLEBFvG9Y
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UatigSra9
“We thought so too. But we don’t want mages to waste their mana on mere fireworks, so we thought of something better. Since Hard-Bringer miraculously hasn’t set the city ablaze, it’s very quiet out.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPk1AE3b4K
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VTvAJRuwF
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfz9jWpcJx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvD0mBG1oc
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGOmxrF8HR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuBBnoDE1r
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF6fbUWaWn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDK4rdUqbA
I followed them further, in a location past the Dean’s office. Hidden by a camouflaging door, the room I entered was lit and energetic but smelled foul.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaDoJj31So
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhIzC8GN1K
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtoUOVPOQ0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkS9sAEn8p
The room itself was decently spacious, but that detail didn’t attract me. Rather, it was the presence of wooden walls and fences, the hallmark infrastructure of a city stable. Only, it was far tidier and metallic than most.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa8DvDAZID
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD30M2ZGE52
“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLltVrGy94
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hTkXeN1tG
“GAH! W-Why is this here?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfco5DLn8e9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8w0QyyD61
A creature resided within the stall. One with reins around its beak, and one with a stature I’ve seen deceased more often than alive. The Communication City’s signature raptor.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCfAjitif7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAEO7brYrQ
“It’s the Dean’s private delivery bird. It’s specially trained to traverse the city walls, as its tight curves and winding streets are difficult for the average one.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsdlq9RvUW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumTMoeoMsT
“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k9lMSguZW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYCZXDBMxf
The raptor leaned its head over the gated fence, staring at me with wide, occasionally blinking eyes. I didn’t know what to do. I was never in close proximity to one, and I never had one look at me like I was some kind of puzzle.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuVCSSHO35
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWRNYnJgZ3
“I think it likes you, child.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQji99z3VZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRPS5cPOCT
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDysSeMTmQB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBobjOUgNPQ
The Raptor’s gaze grew more intense. It appeared that he was trying to see into my soul, and I felt like an ant under its wide eyes.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YJELtai5P
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdDazKcevC
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0StAxnjqZf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf8RFk9PkV
“Hah?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zo0yTGNRa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RHTSgyVl3
“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxw3pQAUBT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRwoQ0uTpI
“I… smell like flowers?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQup3sZ83Gz
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Jwvm4kkR
I looked around the room for an answer, and everybody present nodded simultaneously. I was completely taken aback, more because of the shock than anything else.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8m4WjRw1x
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPM3vHLvFC
“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfBecsVeU0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvdbf1wOab
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCdKWObWUb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoLJlaydwl
“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtQh9K7Dy1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaxmFfsT6j
“Really? I didn’t know that…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJuCuk0DwO
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWPzTFP7AG
“Ahem, moving on–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MMNSWyh8L
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbKTyWt7R7
Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdQdvPOFEF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvIrUSiZDj
“The plan of action is quite simple. We’ll have someone riding this beast, sprinting around the town, and yelling about our victory. The Raptor’s speed can be easily modulated, so escape from any roaming bringers is easy.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVNXJkjmlW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfKpRai0GB
I understood what he was saying. I even agreed with it. Though shaky, it was a great and efficient plan with the resources we had. What clogged my throat, however, wasn’t the plan itself, but the subtle insinuation of telling me this plan. So, I had to ask:265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCPYP1DLFW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRPqBycpLP
“May I know why I’m being told this?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vY2VRmWzT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsigkuWUZwA
“If you think it’s because we’ll make you do that, don’t you even worry. We’re not so cruel to put a child in such danger, are we, Dave?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSS5heNg6F
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDlH2qug0y
Lola seized all my worries immediately, causing me to let out a happy sigh. I wasn’t even bothered by her mentioning of me being a child, as I welcomed this discrimination just this once.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE6568L9jA
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRvVPnDe99
“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9D7El6A9e
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy97fLmfQC
“My help, you say…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDRaRcPx0S
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1SCBrGuka
It wasn’t such a terrible request, though I had no idea how I could. I waited for elaboration, since they looked eager to hand it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlBuQPSxPG
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uycUexf83
“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZssKnsK09E
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks8i7KbRR1
“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKdFeltzXX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMuDKlJWxl
“--Anyhow, your skills are most needed. A single raptor can’t traverse every corner of this city without some help, so I was wondering: do you happen to know how to make energizing potions?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yX27OtDcF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn8CPk4zJK
“...Energizing potions?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavWhHO3niB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRWOFZ9ONl
I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiyBepqgTN
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC2caeuV1b
“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlAQ10NlnH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizglQPlox3
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ09jsecuw7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOh8DTzonN
“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD6CcxLFLj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2s5uNXCeK
“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdopA0f4KU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV0LGBezo3
I turned my head at Juke and stoutly narrowed my eyes. He didn’t notice until a few seconds passed, and he jolted when he saw me.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKy45uvfB6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzVJzId3ds
“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Kv7i98Um
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqttLVJpGC
“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuiLbXhCwp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkJhyMQxGE
I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I0VUuVjM4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4RCQ9cwuY
“Is something wrong?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8sETYjiAH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLVDR2JngZ
Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eEwxqmmS4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRjqbuLlol
“Well, kid–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q5hgEdnDH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3zSEPnsbw
Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0aAmKSVJC
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw18ol6Re5f
“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUz2p05ybO
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLPAzhmEIK
After a moment of droning silence, Lola and Dave looked at me, nodding in agreement with Juke. I didn’t know what to say, but I had complete composure to react. Nothing within me flared up, only a single sentence popped into my mind.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVTOAv3igf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjw58UYWe
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1PK8JRwiX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KoinSAHcf
Whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I had a special duty to perform, and that duty took prescedence. Before leaving the room, I asked Lola where supplies were stored, and once I was told I began moseying through the Dean’s room.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYG1XNwIvp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjACtaZhflx
Their perplexed looks didn’t slip by me. I had never seen such a face before, but I knew what it was. I knew it because I’ve made it, albeit a much harsher version. It was the face of a witness to the breaking of boundaries, the erasure of an image of the person one knows. I wasn’t bothered by it– If anything, being looked at that in that way was oddly relieving. But I still couldn’t stand it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA9YVGA9vS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fk2tT6X2O
“...Comfortable.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGcJ9zbUdA
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvcsj3svlu
I mouthed that word a couple of times. Juke always had a fascinating way of phrasing things. Comfortable. I spoke it, I whispered it, I thought it and I chewed it. Comfortable.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZLC5OXeKa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwnyN8vyHH
Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ2Qhr83Mo
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ft9BCob1g
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0DuFuJKCj
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdinBQgdDA
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX6GX9IqCq
This process… wasn’t quite nostalgic. I didn’t know what nostalgia even felt like, but I knew that if I was just five years older, I would be sorely missing performing this.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozmHbV1QVR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5paLZO4o85
Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB88j2ZBOXH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGNkJmjHQW
Even with all my experience, I wasn’t afforded time to let my thoughts stray and frolic into useless concepts. All my focus was directedto the task at hand, the busy method of making an endurance potion. Oh, how I missed it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQAkkERxvU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe9Dtv8myy
“...A little bit here.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72H450bs1x
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZBmY3AeJb
It took a moment for me to shake of my rust, but as it was only a little over a week since I last did this, I felt good as new afterward. I was performing mana suspension with utmost precision. I’ve made this particular potion so many times, I could just let my hands take it away. Still, as I was going through the process and remembering the materials, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my throat that told me something was off. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuDFGivBnr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ382rXeAB1V
And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYjcTSGdTx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTPPd8fmhL
“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJw1hivXOd
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61h1UfjmxX
As I stood in a little booth, there was one natural ingredient from the heap of materials that I was missing: fat. There wasn’t an ounce of raw fat anywhere.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalefntldOe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ku4nLuFWG
I sighed and rubbed my head. I knew that I didn’t look hard enough, but having to descend to another floor to pick up something I already should have was a complete hassle.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0TvhlxmaB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qUfrnHjBH
“No time to waste, though.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmL2jemqZR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahc1G6F9Y2
So I stood up and exited. The booth was one of several in a particular room. Every booth was an office space repurposed into whatever the circumstances demanded, and I was lucky enough to get one for myself. There were a couple of crowd members up here chatting, and I made sure to wave and grant small greetings as I passed by.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpvjhsZ9K7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wvYkTepXr
I reached the stairs shortly after, and while descending them, I thought of how exactly I was going to acquire any fat. I’m sure there was meat as part of the rations, but from the few sparing glances I took, they all seemed dry. The only wild animal in here had a mission to complete, and I didn’t fancy the idea of killing an animal just for a potion. I reached the floor amidst my thinking and figured that I would figure it all out once I got there.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVZf6ef3Id
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUgCmL15JK
I walked through, waved at those who waved at me, waltzed to the mock-up kitchen organized by a couple of members, and inspected. Indeed, I found out that I did not figure it out once I got there.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKh3eDhIrt
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY1w17vZAF
“...Crap.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi7Pdqcjmh
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH8B15le2c
My index and thumb were on my chin, and the arm that held them rested on my other. But looking like a philosopher didn’t manifest what I needed, and I eventually dropped the pose and sighed.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXFWmSNajR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYpfteCtWy
“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDaZJLS4JM
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFyn3Qcv59
Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQevXMPswTP
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc8mEELTxN
“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBmpbsWPZw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR0RMyFkGa
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQXKMJOv3w
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJkamjdlz1
“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja1t69KFE2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOzIhhFlXi
“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHycKZZRlk2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6HyGwFaX0
She pointed with a spoon to the corner of the floor. In that corner, small, lidded buckets were clustered together. They looked to be made of wood. But, those details aside, what I noticed was how nobody was within ten meters of them.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAKWBAR7yI
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKNXxn0e8W
“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLI20EOI7I
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNQe6tuuk8
And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRedflExFl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKRPlhBmaQ
“It’s from spoiled meat. We didn’t have salt or ice or nothing to keep it preserved, so it’s already home to the bugs. Crazy how it turns to junk so quick, isn’t it?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILUy3T1HeL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1Vgl02XRm
“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKAwLytaIy
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkUKsctibW
With my back slumped over, I hobbled to the corner with a profound frown. I thought of maybe taking my tendril and producing some kind of flower, but none of their aromas were strong enough to suppress that stench.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzv3vnXJag
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqKQU8zgKb
“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYp4SYNk3I
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VIHE0JVUB
“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRLeWDDA8A
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApxut15yyy
I cut my sentence short because, unlike the feminine voice of the lunch lady, the one I heard had the sound of a gentleman. What’s more, I recognized its timbre.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bfyPBI9Vq
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkGTCqdMlE
“N-Nigel!?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbKV3WBR2L
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi20zC8KhyE
“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6OJMuqF2L
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPh3LEGclPr
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K5RDk7qtW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QjbakHSF6
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgFNsfkjfL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAcTIKpj86
“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrEKd6jyKi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcefPArk7Dk
“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipBZCeQvdU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWH2FbmeU1
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm4cAxOLkC
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvvzuZBcJ7
“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06rgOiAs3b
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8OPdjMWZf
He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ8smp4bsr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvzROEsiJQ
“Is this… a clamper?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJZoICK7Nv
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptctkWzGzE
“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZAocty6SR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwH8dWZcBQ
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeQo6DpvJt
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFyONQ2Hxw
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss4vjmUJ1C
Nigel’s presence was a lucky blessing. Another pair of hands was one thing, the knife was another, and the clamper was nice, but what I was truly thankful for, was having someone to talk to while I groped and tore stale, smelly, stonymeat.
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw8HVEmdmI
“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBonlxzKN2t
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4czKXel7U
“That I asked you?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu64cj3qmbS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqBhT1Ck6Z
I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLxsLDEiMX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZO72yiZUA
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIrpbVQAeE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBpEroBn9r
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4masB7wYx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD424CaEDgP
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfbtLb5Vbj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD6juJ3zBx
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bAgRazYyp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF84hDus4f
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe4Kmfwew1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzLYY7190H
“How did you–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vQ4fJH7Bg
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0sDszurI4
“I was behind the crowd the whole time. I had everyone’s backs in front of me, so I started keeping track of the members, seeing who was there and who left by the kind of hair or weapons you all had. And, well… at some point, I noticed the head you were with changed at some point.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdtVpIKhc3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUZBhRoMxl
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OXqp82K0Y
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68hHhdDnb3
He continued cutting as he spoke.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtys1HZIoct
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURb7tkbHip
“Yeah. Damon died during the big ambush. One of the six casualties we suffered. I was left without a partner for the rest of the raid.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZS5DEvwYr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fhO1fCtLP
He looked at his hand. I stopped my own cutting, and my limbs twitched, urging me to reach out and do something. But the only thing I could muster was a few consoling words.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUweGjSgMo
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgXWWJW9EZ
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx9jkMkvU7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkwqY7WuOF
“...Do you think so? He and I fought a lot, I wouldn’t call him a good friend. Just a colleague. Besides, things like these happen in the field.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO5vZDbwA3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7XsMyOjwZ
He said those words. He said those words coolly, without wavering hands or trembling lips. His cutting paused, and his eyes seemed to stare off into nowhere, but I couldn’t read anything from his profile. A part of it relieved me, and another made me want to scamper away.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwbTKZyxLM
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwuGO9w5cB
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyXS4QVhga
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM3UG2kWOe
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ4t761EM8
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1yaZCkfia
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZHUUzVJvN
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8G3Bm79Bf
His switching of the topic was decisive, so I decided to halt my scary thinking. I sighed and paused my motions, reaching for stored memories I preferred to forget. However, the deeper I dug, I had to wonder:265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeNf7rjW5x
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFtPSzpLaJ
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunCcroFpUf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIpfa064dh
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobO1SoAOC5
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxt6cC0BUv
“I… darn it, you got me there.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZcXi68vJa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff2h1IqLOK
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhkxwNLx19
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4f0a38s1k
“It was me and Juke. He and I were partnered, and for the most part, we just whizzed by the rooms. The one we had to tackle was that of the Dean’s, and for what it’s worth, our fight went smoothly. No major injuries, we weren’t too tired, nothing.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCZ0KzSsmb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjjLuCv8Gr
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6wyoTYDtB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmrHoqiOtk
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwByCo0unRF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aKIuu6XOu
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6cE3TtSCi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYlLB2hmKm
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfioL3qfvX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnN2EzzmlW
I looked at him with pursed lips.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnvV1Hekl0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwYRiV7YZe
“Why not?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf7JMqtuUA
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEaQ0j40u1
“Lady fortunate dictates only half the battle, and it's never the half that’ll be the coup de grace. She is the roof of the house, and man is the foundation; without you, she would simply collapse.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MXHipUSnE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7W40nk1wN
“That’s… an interesting way of looking at it. But I’m not convinced. I mean, we even ran into an opponent we already beat.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG7rtTixT4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FWuvRIVNj
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nv1RSIYTp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXoD722WHl
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmBgEetL9q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCTlfBh4Is
“--!”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj9kTbTcst
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizUtfPwul3
Though my gut still told me something was awry, my mind was convinced by his words. I took it with a grain of salt, and taking it with such a sully still loosened my facial muscles. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmRJ8alatM
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz7tl3jxU5
“Did anything else happen?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5p68UVWa1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHZIXRlUPZ
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W3lcWXZU3
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKJMlKEpHe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdhLQwj0sO
“I forgot to tell Lola and Dave about some information we learned. Juke might’ve already said it, but I still want to make sure.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuod6fN0m9c
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPFUznP9iY
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqMFWS4Tes
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSG5iX2BDP
“Uh…”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgTKwaLu4q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs8Zv09wDo
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEqROcXTaz
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpOxXFNeVE
“I don’t see why not. The gist of it is that Hard-Bringer has a grade-zero mana spinner, so it’s prodigalto let enemies slip away.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQD8QlWVxi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37QsL0myHI
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPexAzm9Ffv
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPEACh0rJe
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBWZ6ifWAa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOjnKIKmLq
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEnfkLUuoT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1jzLIRPWQ
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk0GhUAcwd
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d8QDgph8Z
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpse4n0Imh
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEFcMEiGau
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLL49kYx56
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HBxBR81i9
“...O-Oh.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WoDExLhOa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F1B138UiA
I realized then that there was a great misunderstanding. I didn’t quite know how to address it, but I decided to take a swing anyway.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsygCoN3zP5
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2wlpkilFW
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCHdcodrpw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPnUAMXZp7
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u1RGRYSZ6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGiYgUuAWp
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUXPlRDcn9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkHxeOEvGu
“Make sense? How?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBxW96CrgB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq61xCMWti
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXt5pvT313
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnfEhzlONh
“When Damon died, I had to make a quick adjustment. My intuition told me to stick to our agreed formation, and I was advised by a buddy there to group up with her. I did, and we spoke for a minute, but when–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfU6P6Trvw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1kcXWLRZM
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S8aaQZlYV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt5BnQaHrW
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtpVHiyEGb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF8QNkBnAc
“I was the last to leave the room. You left right before me. I gave her a look, and I think she understood it. I’m very particular with my messaging faces.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtgbvO4aGN
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j9hZTIETf
“So she still fought alone, eh?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxXV6FePO4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqbxsolEP8
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhIL4wahXS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxnnYwu5bo
“Relieved? How come?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtFQiZer0B
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCOrfDLxGm
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEijOysiZox
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgMk0TUXUB
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOzxbawboG
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUtO2nypun
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2um2brt3on
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrCNFbpi2D
“You’re probably good friends with her.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKlsQswbnc
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDs11aRUeB
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr4KLwq5zn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOJ0jX6Kpp
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcbYBtbPDf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDrOwKQUb7
He continued his peeling without care while I sat still, shaking and stupified. An outrageous conclusion, an unbelievable string of words, worming its way into my ears and trapping the nerves that signaled my limbs, the engine that ran my thoughts.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlmB0Pvzg8
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQsG5XdyOj
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvguDSHk8jt
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCjY5xSW8P
“H-Hurt? What happened?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfUyJ1BQ0G
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnbOqjHepH
“I don’t know the details, but she couldn’t walk when I saw her. She was making one hell of an uproar though, so it’s nothing permanent.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMnagABHbp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Phcp9qpzT
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1IpPJwNGX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii8EGGMA7o
“I got a suggestion for you. I know your relationship is shaky with her, but believe me, what I’m about to advise is good for your health.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhudr38qGI
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMeX4npCc5
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QVLc5MIf4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs1yCOjnpv
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjOM4XVjpm
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UbyX4QtRQ
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyfFYv8nLe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEB5UQmmKJ
He shrugged.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQiXjoStTt
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdLzgF4ugA
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OHEiIzYM3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrOV2gQKBr
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVRXVCXjkw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7mdyWenRd
I stared at the blubbering mass. It was small enough to fit into my hand, and though it would feel gross, it would be light as a feather as I carried it back to my mock-up lab. But I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Because now that chunk was no longer an ingredient, a box to check for my task’s completion. It was a rope; a rigid line to drop me into the depths.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnTIZuF4n6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTS0hTbfJ3
All those thoughts, all those tingles, all that premonition and ominous prospecting. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. So I had to.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs8xCh7Wnn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVjrag0hBR
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzD87dmuRi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUStpRMc9N
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFWO8cXeKi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVIiRhUGzm
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBOsE7ER9w
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXbCA97YQk
I picked up the fat, momentarily amazed at how he cut so much so quickly, and waved him goodbye, making my way to my lab and steeling every twitching fiber in me.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDUI6qZu28
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcTOHCxX4q
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HVq5EUYHO
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gabgwjPdF
–
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C6nKFuApm
“...Role model.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWM7dab3Zx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdpwgsDcq2
Nigel’s hands were a complete mess, covered in gore that assaulted his nostrils. At least as a soldier, the flesh he bled wasn’t rotten. This was a new experience, and in some ways, he was glad about it. He was glad he didn’t run his mouth. He was glad the kid didn’t notice his hands.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LbzKZtUwZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEr8Uh4UU2
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE92YZiA0u
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMfzZwZu6H
He stood up and brushed his palms against one another, though all that grime would need more oomph to come off. He sighed and tucked his knives away since the kid let the other loiter on the ground.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKDY8SCWco
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLMrcrdqUp
“I’m not cut out to be a role model. But I’m glad that kid’s doing good. I’m glad you’re not here either, man.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6rEZHSrtl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OHK8bpg3s
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwZcYKD4dV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEaMgHqHzn
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6hSxZf7jE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprj5ONtwMw
His legs came to a sudden halt. They jerked to and fro, but they didn’t make one nudge of distance. Nigel scoffed and laughed, looking at his disobedient limbs with a hopeless smile.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2wvVYBfsC
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2j7fz0KH8
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG2HdouVk1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4nRR2Dkrg
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
