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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT0x5lknmU
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmjmdSqKL4
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKHTOlUs7g
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn63EffKRSZ
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWD033ai7H
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM65ezTjAO
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj28gQVEA9
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8ig7muRoq
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsy6alMzqg
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKB4PriQCU
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqBarp0Hmq
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7fSGgDibd
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecCp76VDnz
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmHZLrTC2l
“Well?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZo7UnKuff
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUi30LbDQr
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErOQmwW6OX
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5URp7xYiVz
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjn1SYvqk1
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKneWKLVMQb
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfEvTMyW9Z
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrkHlblWis
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHHtcO6rLy
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWupUIjjvL0
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR5SKdMu6p
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARjBEniOs0
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEuKAqnF16
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOoKN6Ji4K
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb9o9YMlZO
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXxbxydAvO
“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…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZf0Z0Pfal
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjoZ5lOjzv
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqKUgQwxV5
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡierSg0iX2j
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5Pv3izJ7j
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERFNWutYmx
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgm8OJSb4I
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqkxxsyXed
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxSkBojHFr
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelSJvznbsK
“...Yeah.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qd2WUR4tP
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN8q8cmJUQ
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–135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95KGYzGNVb
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoWp2gwP7a
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2T2hv2jBk
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwphyeArSbx
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrdpmtwHgN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioTcDKd5jc
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bLsj1RTfb
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhzQYQGdFO
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZYom3LwQp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZgboce2Xl
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttc4eiuabA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLjSh1W4gP
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LI0rUcsCp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6088zyDaj9
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65IblIE2mu
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOo2Mm7udF
“...?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu2vn0myuP
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1YvCmSEod
At that, I had to tilt my head.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uR6dBC4d8
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pusz3BBMN
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFmjSBpr9o
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1DAymelkH
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm886YdZN9
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4qDMNJg3b
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZa0zivBRA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyimRkMTvTT
“Dennis still ain’t here.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWIuJwSB43
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3xY3P7CtK
“...”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQYbPeCftb
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGiuz2XVh1
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Yf7DxsCh
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPozWKm7HoW
“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–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN2lUHlpU5
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAgw4Itqcd
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbrq7JEToU
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiHdmcAxAb
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9s6zn9A5m
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vStlhUEkE
“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’.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCPYuefT4o
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48kKojeYez
“--!? W-What!?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTQfF1iMME
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyYkNmrAOQ
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQzZHORomD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84i5FBB55o
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8NznrNDW1
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyzrJyb5Al
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg14fwxveD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZQI9ejHei
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFDkxgYsbf
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVqCQtYk6S
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. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpTwnKNEgM
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdfGx2bUe4
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPtzodpoB0
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSu6WhP0Pf
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiXJVjaGOT
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN63BH5k0v
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B090N0rs6
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwQ7DOiHRq
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY8iKzFGji
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvOfdl8Hvy
“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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT6mz32Y83
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWJKxGkgkq
“...”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbpe3DxdZF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSREb1fXcm
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXJeZqCyC2
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLgTg5dTpz
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaolfRz3eZk
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNVQIeOae4
“I-I see…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R1Le1iZjE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNvPCLdCtb
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQhhZQrDMt
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfwRcHoNTz
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pVpnRbP8M
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8NivvhemT
“You don’t, ‘get?’”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMDFoOs7cx
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt7oYfKRsD
“Y’know, when–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiB4ieu6LZ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjh85vQ5gl
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnGcX5kEBN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1VUWoETPo
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84N6dyxxnF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDhF3OiVIJ
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8qHsFtPvo
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMsA7eruUz
**SLAM**135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpABf9XkQVR
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrDBzqBgRE
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEIj4aR4QI
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfx445zNZb
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfnoivStba
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPX13DyYl9
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZTy3ITNIs
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27DVSNMQMe
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAutbbRfMm2
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ebxWrM91u
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqG15V1HYr
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIWo1WoQlV
“M-Mister Dean.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGJPvT41dR
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nFi5oySxv
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkV04mHRyN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWLXJTYUWq
“Yes, child?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVHOthyux8
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0WwWwmyOf
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq0v6jD4WF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYMrSgaAaA
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeu3DGYyi3
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzLAQ4Mfew
“R-Right.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGuHgRWi5k
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6fNEGw4cH
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeG4MRIrgX
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYw9T9sL6P
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqEhvlQWnw
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnuy71NIDT
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxAntZnTe1
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1qXj50fv7
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdsafsIvuS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB356azw6F
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX2QsDi3Xo
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutx1JmJ7P4
–
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–
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–
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With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNTsSTQ8OE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XysKyZwg2
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcJDFj8qpA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6omISXLSaX
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFWyhmiXlv
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrQeTKqWaz
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwvVrHxxBS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYChCDbXSg
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–135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4YTSjA24b
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y7aTnAjeY
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx3kOWI8OX
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFHtJDmerC
“Haven’t you explained that already?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqNU4TLAp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ022nbBvyJJ
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1WcgvpHGW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKgVdzLMQw
“What’s that?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9ngeQDuM8
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJrLhMaH5p
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYDpTKqf6a
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EXP3nbAXL
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsW6cL3YPg
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr9AChXoGv
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:135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBofuFifEV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNJAAg0Chb
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjWqYg95kP
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcHU0JhRrp
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjMNNy0HIV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi1f6unzDu
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIT6oeReux
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jkWGHtavU
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67PYjEVRhV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKwpDIDqRL
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NRiMqw6nw
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjAS080vHL
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG1lhykSVE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPcAI1tEl7
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiiBK7l8qn
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQIklGvIEw
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo9RUbAcLb
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“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum6VzWGChm
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“GAH! W-Why is this here?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDteffJHqyf
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPewFCeHUY
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“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKT5Iic2yN
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“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7II5lkxZYc
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZpQxJjjLG
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“I think it likes you, child.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZztRQwGqT
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO2fIpX2dG
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyIHS9LrHV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4LW3yD6Go
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1k2tRE4Be
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And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpUlbZmob8
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“Hah?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXhnOvz97l
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“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARUQEdTMBW
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“I… smell like flowers?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbKm06DBmM
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwGhHiM2sc
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“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeqElP67kU
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8mAtvUkXG
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8DagLBQ5T
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“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYifQX4LIQd
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“Really? I didn’t know that…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJlpHIXNHV
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“Ahem, moving on–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34RPWMct3L
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Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g68PHG1gy
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“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzHnWcORtk
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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:135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnNVYLJAoh
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“May I know why I’m being told this?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qkudkSk2H
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“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?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL4enJviLZ
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPJGQjUZmO
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“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5DJooKiLC
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“My help, you say…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwH4uJ34kI
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z5HTTi0DB
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“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ418waMvMqQ
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“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReME2idvxI
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“--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?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s2fHCqIKg
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“...Energizing potions?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSERe4jR81
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I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0ehIGR6Ec
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“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgJK9sy7n9
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRokkFN089c
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp65e8J4fxR
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“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQTGcysQrC
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“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHKtKAlLjW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UylpZkFgk
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DYAeaB21u
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“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjiHneuwBr
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“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM187f6IruC
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I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBpFOFLjEJ
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“Is something wrong?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK9jnNVKaL
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Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBcnwBX1rR
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“Well, kid–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq8mvsW1V8
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Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SCjUATGst
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“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oix1FoGqK
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZon92ei2h
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“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj1nWUrNcO
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3p5caShUH
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEmKM2iDiA
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“...Comfortable.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOXiWly19f
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO5RwWs8NR
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ97L0blRK8
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsDIyiv1EY
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Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MaziZa4Mh
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrHwOeujbA
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“...A little bit here.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7RWPYcHBo
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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. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxFwsX3Un1
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And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMufojcV7Qq
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEufjdZQFZ
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQzPMDm1UX
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOLOthwHTz
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“No time to waste, though.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OJULC9obH
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m6rmVlsFV
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLmNpNK5cj
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR3Y08MwFf
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“...Crap.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEss4lpDSY
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2wMEETGF7
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“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4YkqLWChV
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Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb88eT8T6v
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“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyEh3frT3T
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemttGa50FS
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T3NU9Xhi3
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“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKoGKf8l3C
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“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCdeFrv0rA
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2gFRQMmTZ
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“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKToDCEHEV
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And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteTUw93qAY
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“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?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotSfPzfaw4
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“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LcxAbg0hb
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkBkpnTNvA
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“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kiWe0csHZ
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“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRamymfjrc
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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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7iGw5kfA7
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“N-Nigel!?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡratt7HPLrd
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“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8qjxUK6dm
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“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0obPOw4kOJ
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He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ltP7efbS
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“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX84hMj90Ir
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“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hwSFLMLSX
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“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0ePHIdj1q
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“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7iV5BSDWW
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He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbMEFBmFIv
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“Is this… a clamper?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cznpCgQk9
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“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIW6sDyzoq
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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.
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“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGUdi6ohEN
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“That I asked you?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X3A4FSVoF
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I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD2phYYNrJ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB2l5mlzyQ
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kf3YmVK3n
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY99mliD7n
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IfegAB0Rc
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKYft3oQsv
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9tuZWOM2e
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYo3YmArxU
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1KyXpnKIN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xYdedyTJq
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJduZmRbOXe
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q74dstdeG
“How did you–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl7vxk1S7b
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPo2i2x9oS
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YeAzCgHGo
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU54eC2r8C
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJHmBCrghn
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm4B55Jpg7
He continued cutting as he spoke.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev53RsizSl
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpgo6EcoQ1
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBbl8waHqY
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnYyLqDcAV
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlcXt0uif8
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKCXu77jFM
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3QMCQZbP9
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSlxqrm17O
“...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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn5e8R9Wyc
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SHzhyYmFo
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUlQoMQt5G
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf6vj6Wwtv
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCH6s7qL4b
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynqzGldboR
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9aJltSHop
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyIytIX5Y7
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jBFUob2o7
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdQrshG0px
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:135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQNH6CIqAA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV7kj7ZKKZ
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wAsarl4bK
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNTKeM6eaM
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8NqIIQuD5
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4Ge4XXusV
“I… darn it, you got me there.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj706jVYCUB
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSZO64ahza
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJP52lig9n
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLaG5bnxmc
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlkbjcbqSa
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9mzWtZUtS
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAHnyNxMTm
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI77ylC5Uv
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fFxhQJHfI
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFrVk4Y0Xm
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyeTSpi7vH
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93wwNjBH76
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldhq2BAdgr
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgYt4jDqbq
I looked at him with pursed lips.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3usG4r7NgD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSYl9xtrwg
“Why not?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULs49kwNly
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLw8L65h4a
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysYYBZE4Kp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC8Q4cO49L
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96MOjLoZ2i
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjcsElSirq
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2CKC1jN70
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhjklkGsVZ
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBvIRLmBCF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jnveRsqjq
“--!”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWo9FAd57V
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRic0tXo2F
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. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBgLMYvUjg
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwM3zcICJX
“Did anything else happen?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONApzpYhQW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMwsq4oyVU
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32rL8Dqb0D
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqW5y6R4uW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GZUsnlcb6
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJxhFGfn35
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcnOQACjfI
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQfyKZimzv
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSJz6Qhmqg
“Uh…”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCj7t31YvG
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYuBBSE3jA
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUwy9DQUE5
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImIUCmyNbl
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVW1CnaFoc
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTxC5NyA96
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACcMmjyMdW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkZMDExpUW
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJpYvy90B9
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGpMUnnJJ1
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDJvulsFbn
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDPgi8v1ys
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlruLoKApr2
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD57lcqQlr
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc7kN38tOF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3FfxmXPU7
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUSsNQzHUN
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSPESXNdmu
“...O-Oh.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarI61m562E
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFXYtp217w
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A24rOCOeE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu4Us0Wk69
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfKAA2CMKi
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRk6z0ocms
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe3ZRcRWk5
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vaobcKB4P
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwEaDegspS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh8hBPzlgN
“Make sense? How?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ255TC5mD3i
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0vQRGHeGf
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgBogeS6wA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27mJ4zvP14
“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–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dr5lUo1cZ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbamAjDZg1R
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Rfp7pOMS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL4UJB6dAB
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmayzwObFJt
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1HxKk7JA6
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4IsqjwVsA
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lfR4RRFzE
“So she still fought alone, eh?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoN6XpHHpi
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevaZGx86tD
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8UAAu1dXT
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmvep4oJQM
“Relieved? How come?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUycPMC8YuG
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJgt8SLGOf
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtP5j64TUX
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67w5xqtmnr
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYDkUhQws
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WOOyqunZk
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyA2UQHpMP
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqrrqzMlkl
“You’re probably good friends with her.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByHe6RHyWF
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtjNVuntsP
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoyiBJ4Z6f
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJKxxrR4ds
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PG6ACQBhS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3Nq3nin6u
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8UDiNK8Xo
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw7xswys37
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG5eeWwbDS
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M3BZRpzfL
“H-Hurt? What happened?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW3aj2hwNW
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wq691sPpA
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreiFlUhvXQ
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSaVdoV24s
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqeZjclVFu
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzISPlxOWpF
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSUQsDWyfV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOvmKyrTJl
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzRSx8CRNp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgxHdHcOgW
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D6KZWefHL
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPeuCdbZDB
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xqErMlbNu
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeAYsoIidd
He shrugged.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzoEaKoxDk
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvFidNHN1E
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMS9OGpmXD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVewS6P8LH
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5tdLlaNAp
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKnKYMJoX8
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNJl8tICUY
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIk0N3RWqt
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L95IPX4po
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pYHyP5c6Z
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Xd0FkFROK
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXUMPzKQy8
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTBpoYCbW3
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynPdptGQql
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnYRKt2uiD
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgv0lCuMyz
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvoJJiJ6iI
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCeqgaiezt
–
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–
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–
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GU98kOGt3
“...Role model.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEjgh9cZzE
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmtQVZq6FW
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD3r2Q7Jzz
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj8uSjk7dG
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhooZEyKvwr
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSsZVX9Zhl
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtKvKt3tio
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKGvtsCjJW
“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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYjoLNCzSa
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIda0kOaSY
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAa0zhKITV
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYB6inhas6
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1mt2yfPI0
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L2puTEdDo
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlJHNOq3mx
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTaYWadTjn
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EAff9ekDu
135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO9yJ7pBIg
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
