The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVseEGr2Pie
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SDPZQEofG
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPeJApNZlB
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nh24NortE
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"Dad!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhP21vCuYV
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21VtU0Tjwf
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ23xceoIbJ
"Flinty! There you are!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUoHlP4OAI
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0lHscSxKb
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtueiLV2FJp
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhSwENUmKb
"And you must be Kenny?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8c5vRwZko
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP63sVHPHq
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEktTMvlOm7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT15gOx2Zyn
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4D3d69fiw
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR9eXKmjm3
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEFwIflDyu
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6xWUQxuSw
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRghmrmExf
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMunTRdHAe
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4ovuL3tVN
Dear Mister Chambers.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IQKgeoG7c
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVwYQ1wuod
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9887JU9qp
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZwn4Kq2Gh
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDUPiMps4n
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK79snowK8h
"...I don't remember promising anything."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML2NEvkdyy
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4rVs9u5kQ
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibOnZUp2qH
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIRS51y5Ao
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bOGq00acL
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2x6mT0XBT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZi6aUOaY3
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedqsDuj8Bf
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8a2eEEHPu
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbHKGkAzYk
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCWCXhxReB
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31Wm3JJeVm
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQW811ymtf
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRmteyVB0t
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NB6a0hd9T
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM499hp4Fa
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"Kenny!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOcWR2bJ7d
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pOvQcJXrP
"Ah, Flinty, hello."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWjHoGgMXD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBOqVBhbNh
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFKQKkU9kK
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCepIHcjvJe
"Is that the plant you asked for?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxxuGi0H0j
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLcLY0Y0Uy
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HDBF4smbe
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwos13Zr9O
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMmfK4aJG6
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiljhlBkrDX
"Hello, you two."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qhT5VhGVD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE1FmMxXiJ
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26APcthfmn
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9LntTa3jd
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhNlp5DAqr
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Kc8eddh28
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He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF3TPOFdos
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"Please don't drop it or something."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSt8DKWlez
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbtr0R5Snd
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREF9ri04Mc
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas8q2UaxH3
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwkXXnPUWD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ntuGACnAS
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFwvbGg8P6
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpBsHoK7lR
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK4MdUiMBj
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkWbYyb79h
"And you asked for... a flower?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS7sWTpG3C
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk3Uw05yXR
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJKv1TYJPU
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdckMbyvGe
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvdD6H4JnB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dlfySezbH
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQB7k0XWIu
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPVRcq29T9
"Arg! You...!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXhIfStdtx
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj9b4wcfg4
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61cnutfsfX
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCUkL9ZKn8
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitXDzFRXsn
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"Whatever."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNktDc052xH
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We sat in silence for a minute.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiLee81p2e
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZZQ6PBKzR
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ6Cm1Ydm7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB8CTydGbc
"Yes! Please tell me!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qkwG6JCIo
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdrFCrtvzf
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamtaIaHXG6
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqTqpnZQQD
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOZ0yWD0dT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUqAyKAfds
"Wait, Eastern country?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJTOVeut7F
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I faced the old man.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMFOwm4sxT
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzePFFF8a1n
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxjH4UPwn2
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMimvfBYkJ5
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbOZ8Kz8g9
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8sqm1lGX3
"...Buffalo village."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLhjmKw4zA
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCXIZbkdOy
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgJ9MlPd1B
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhJIxaTzOD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3mQyW5laX
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ov0TeUbrg
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlVJ6tkvYH
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl7uM2L7kx
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3hPpSH7nN
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7UkFiB33V
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPaHvMJw7h
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm18ot9xEZ
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9IHWiDARq
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph9fpoJUin
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"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vbozQaHY3
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I nodded along.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NM9pyCYyB
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcju7T7RUW
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHChuqzv95
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1gKeF2N8n
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXsknnQXQP
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP6knNLEKE
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2ftNRb0Ui
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJWhcYdeVK
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkTyMrtRGg
She blinked blankly.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24HLpqlbhR
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"Wait, is it?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NvIFFGqnf
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9LY5IT4We
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"No, maybe it is true."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6vPuchdwk
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"O-Oh, okay."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9W2Dk5yH6
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbDgIJXXbW
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR7TJnCb6E
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUKUST8GB5
"How was your guys' day?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH7SP5L6dB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEQvRWZwyx
"Mom, you should've been there!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFTvjXVbLN
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And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvnRcrPZ7V
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jsk3ZsuWG
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqwV2ZT0q3
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG2CBJNCgY
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWSh4Er5xH
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3sbbCXrE2
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaistsbgUbq
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx5q8IDMX5
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNG5AVgPkU
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjaZBKx8YE
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgycwTxx1ND
"O-Okay."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeB8AWMoVMF
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczwlHKucvL
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Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsbur9pt2J
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4OAmYMl30
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vav3F10kA
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He sat me right back down in my chair.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UPt4DmrUK
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzrb4P6COG
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGITciIbbs
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qXvpgjRvO
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKm3kza7o7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSInK3NQlmJ
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrXmc0PIPM
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DO8rJA0jW
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV3qghB0jF
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZifFsCF0g
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUzz9V4Qzk
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4NCXlixMW
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjy04YtXJN
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2HVLsw21b
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqUVARtefs
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MOPS705bX
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"TALBOT!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKYEiRVYhm
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"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhKN4TMR3
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jMqVHeNdY
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyaojUssF5
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3Ipig6F3u
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LUuv0cl1l
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ok895pahD
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0AQP00SN6
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61erp1hZ0W
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV3m1Wcapf
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCnRKKVl1n
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87VdPqlbMi
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASGlRP8Tfr
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT1e9ypb4I
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5prPq89ARJ
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"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGJdO7Z1vz
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFA5BM4mfo
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp7FRsKEoM
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiUy9m10om
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MRcFlAR3h
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I4XFGIT8r
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"Flinty."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJckDNf3P4y
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"Y-Yeah?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kve7O5iEB
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKcHcY4tXF
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB1Zgv1KX8
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"Okay! Let's do it!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVj1pXiPPW
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIbWd1oPmI
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"...My tome is in the other room."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOO4QCZJQd
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsxerc0BBq
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–
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–211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30CC7ddKfE
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGNUL6rIxu
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvc7jFxBCw
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3S7MGDrPd
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"Good morning."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58tDksDiHm
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS6OB07ofw
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"I woke up early."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUg6l6BJY1
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbXWv2m2oL
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKkBPubup5
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16n6NwRVkf
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"Right."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1TFUeShmQ
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RNw2YflV3
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Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobSbPKRrP5
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ1J3LxxF3
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"I sure did, honey."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzH9HcPwzr
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"Oh."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWVuvsPFqm
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK968tfzxg
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"Is something wrong?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpHkxChzHL
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9EJPdYmXH
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj2deHGQzi
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Strange. Strange people.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38pQUS5FRe
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7Kipf21M1
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"...I uh."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGcD6ruwNC
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8G8gcNmqH
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywnJ0sgkXO
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwr4QuV1y4
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3ibRWN7kb
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"Water under the bridge?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBLxSmd5t9
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"Mhm."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxajzVh7TGm
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9SgGQrkqP
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Ge53Db5b
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They were really good.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBbMdHhFY0
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS5LBtnXCv
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"That's a nice outfit"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5ePk66tcR
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF8uI6zOnE
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbW2yTuYhq
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6pCrIxP47
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZli8hFQ7e
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"Ah, my apologies."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDlvn70id3
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"No no, I like being around you too."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bHc7MqfIo
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zScuvMutc
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdaSQfxpSB
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"R-Right."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SpUf4ICfy
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XqW5jGje6
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP6roUHdM9
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"Hello, Freed!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aeMIqsmhN
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjo3IbMDNU
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsrvrHXUlh
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"So what business do you kids have today?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pefk1z6AY
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubxM1VgON9
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocPCeIWKeH
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWspQkpq2jF
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKzOj5WzKh
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgFgop7K0M
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"I see."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk6DlPDM58
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO1Xp6EAsN
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"I refuse."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubfr3D7Bwv
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"Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg2EMwOfcY
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"WHAT!?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLhZgrHWFL
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgD2Q76C9S
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvoIKDRqep
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ySoZHXQX
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"...No?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpAE88hpdR
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU0XQ5gtY3
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4MSSCW2zO
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNeFhSl2DT
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHS1rKkepn
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46FYHgLE9c
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ7nfAlcvR
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"Down here."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyleGErzla
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EzsnWbw9u
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7yHwjdNp1
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMptdaWGM2O
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4tO8X6sZu
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKv3VYF3d2
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJykZtPyIL8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuIwbALFsR
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGY1oPfHGX
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I shrugged.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL1eb5uBQ0
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8w5pOWrCU
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08auLJMiY0
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY5M7n5N3h
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3blDqvHk8
"Am I doing it right?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqX4pZeojA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhAlyokVN9
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsj22gK6yu
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0mSQ3j8uI
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ7i7ONdpZ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO00GRNGIqA
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNDI0qX9OA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupTLMlyz4Z
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1thCWqrHXW
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIMBAjXKnL
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7gsiuRvfh
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I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRdg7ZNyRJ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbRpFooKwD
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhK5KOomTb
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXWOtqlgEz
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnpNuDXlG8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H6mdQciQV
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOolc2RVhCw
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRYRFJIeK1
"O-Okay."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDiJmq5KqA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84bu4pL1UG
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbTxw8f5Pu
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQZKUWBMqf
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUWPlNz1cl
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gGhaXOkMn
"W-Wait, how do I–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9Cd02YbsO
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBf0Zp9vRV
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzmUr8BrI2
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G99RFbZDq
"But what if I can't let it out?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NwXr5QoB0
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBk0dkDobH
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSfD4rT1CQ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQsqYeBm2U
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19Hcn9obhv
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfRrQe48un
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZnvvHDHxt
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bMFTqVzjz
"Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzrCwUbZ9a
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK6yhgjei1
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx27ykCh8Rg
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8ylnozIc8
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr67w30hiz
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPHxZo56ke
I messed up, getting all excited.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndoVGQz7cy
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1VlpKFXb6
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQG3A8yb2S
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ABemiPcdV
I couldn't do it in time.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB02Ur9nal2
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUiHaiwnoW
**BOOM**211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9KGQ0jl4t
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaCrC0Qcq6
The world around me faded.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQiCZdSm8D
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbADVLHP7u
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDRasunNkU
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejbARijSRj
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96EWZ5tUZe
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN4CMGF3aj
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTRJHqHTrs
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcwJLTv5rY
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o8bkyk400
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg7oXHbRKd
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I was in the greenhouse.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1whrb8kQlx
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuCJVbzVdL
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KbspzoUht
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd216z5GzfR
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtVy5F4D6m
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUMe34RWoM
Thank God, they were okay.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgypMBxdyT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4cOgcGlJN
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcfCXsB26H
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGfR5LWTjl
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV65AbQRLCF
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPWua7kV7R
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9UQcU3heU
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKCQ7UcZQG
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4XtuPmEos
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HsRCDxfEc
"This is... my coat?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHNwqoOQUv
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNLOtc0ZRY
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0cbdZPUlt
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnzIgLkNPC
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5XXAehg3j
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxeYOO1R5j
I love you. I really do. Thank you.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6eP1z5n7E
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYUWfKla0l
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj30SzAt00
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hcQtENGBZ
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33xie9g6yD
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZUOErJ273
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2uI7KD5BW
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvh5fAbDYI
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB6cjookFn
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURJXHdxf9c
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmayZstido
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMrdnVYyzX
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUUHY4dkcJ
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"H-Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzCNt2H8SR
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPHAtn1DjU
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8L7MkSasJ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9FUJDBiZn
"T-That's terrible!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV9NhLrqFT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjjSW2FWbU
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyUP3xCGtn
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Q37Mu54C
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cmZsWhTlV
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDhXP5rlMC
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFfqzkIHe0
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZiG33MFU8
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlRuMukP7L
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–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNUGtxeg1w
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMJCWHRNuV
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjQB2Rpz3M
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSnO5aPHx2
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrr6mb57AB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJUX1Kk099
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSNF7VgmC2
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTWWXInJme
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WymHvylTd
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"...Ah!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbK2EnD7Ci
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdUTmevgmz
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j8A62U2Hd
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R9ExJ2tNX
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMdM226BK1
"...Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lKS4dT3ey
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvMhc3aV3X
She meekly turned her head to me.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzujEaJ6Hxy
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"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoIXIqQXZI
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZYU23j8lz
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPWoyQSA6A
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtpG3zMYGN
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3QMkLy9vu
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cjh2FIJmn
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnKVcvBn9U
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vPTEuQpsV
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC7l9CfUhP
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"Okay, let's go then!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjXeBnxeUQ
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJW6xJWPqH
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1RsOo5MQg
"W-Where are we going to go first?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrjWxo1Ckk
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zWPJQze5r
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYxh1XaSMR
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCemjuvBt1Z
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91FqGLbaiX
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Yeah, let's.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn8qJ0O9RJ
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–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdMnOCyyDf
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Nlf61Xrqj
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs56fb09d0S
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDlX5zl44w
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9DafmnIVH
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3ZRd1nemF
"This is the combatant's guild!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX0sVj3R5Y
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXprbOUi0z
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlxYOJRTEe
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIwDAh6VVO
"This place needs a renovation."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVRr9ttMiy
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhLmAgkDrz
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i2McByrqt
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I shook my head.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8GFFfN8ni
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkhCr9EQX2
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ6gX76tzK
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"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokHDbjY9Yf
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqYsLIfDDF
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG8W9RBRRS
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpdxfUzdx7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF7JctwVYj
"Do not even suggest it."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HwcKriBvi
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWrahpe5HW
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpZZ5u5r3H
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT5YaxytJU
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc74GSiSOjO
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHyO1lcWYq
"...Well alright."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYXggKfsOq
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3GS5FMCrU
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ596ktcMChM
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVRm71aRaJ
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fg6U3wktz
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHIlpp4xIJ
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOvfa87AzL
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRGqGSA27Y
She pouted.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEj9xzcfYM8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2aP8QGpaA
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6vidg5mJX
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbINmBBCogQ
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKQi9ncXJj
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMl5Ih0RUl
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8FMj07Dnu
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3n5z78dY2
"Huh? Flinty?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxVOFrHx2U
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTSaqguGQy
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mvnMpmCRI
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jcikaaZfN
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w7BRpq222
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa62YkhaF8
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPuMy2HthK
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjq3ojBOUP
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVFVJJ8LEL
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxpdkI7FUp
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlWZChwhDm
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEWllJNBmk
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBPk7WAukB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TqMgeCBgj
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bFjVtHYYK
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrMe4RRxhH
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW0z0iH8CS
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNitmL93EYe
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEG1YbHtyA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhIokiSTzr
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBuEdMA9ci
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjQWP8W8p9
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaet2oRGLc
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj8sBjc9YD
"Huh?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZTF37KCtO
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft5A5yzC3O
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y1IvnV6oq
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdW6iPR6dE
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95URdJl7QL
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLS6LpAkQD
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4OaDEpC1f
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYesRxDFaJY
"You're right. Wait–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPRkXEScBa
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94KO7PNFrb
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhcjoM0dUi
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MJXnSSmBs
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMDbEPYTlT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPmDEtoLoH
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE9dNVQyKB
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfJ9MNpX4D
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe27eZ6OB7
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXInlIgwUxz
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOxE3R6Ffr
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV3gWvzlRl
"No. I'm here for another reason."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11es905JG8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwQSDQdJqo
"And what may that be?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f5eEe4DiN
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps1oUxlfZc
"None of your business."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVgndeMU7h
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QHvo13QSS
"O-Okay..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD59sm1Cm4
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqdtHWKSnl
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvOPb6EbI1
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC5TyW0Yhb
"She is super shady."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDFAIhY1gV
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXhgY1y0Zy
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1id5WZYRsm
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ993DVA3rlZ
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LC0GZWB5I
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kWYdkEl1V
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf71NBzAah8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRnCLXtw4f
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83YMkPtRPe
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNmvIxY3TZ
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf2povZUl8
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fh7eHJFTk
"T-Then let's get his attention!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy6g1vk4Wm
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOwKEDnDqb
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8ybC6RGhm
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmqnO3CEcl
"Let me handle this."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytvTMFFP2W
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTcNbbIEtI
"W-What, why?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWR2KgzlfG
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRJUEuSMb2
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rkMwrh1ia
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuedXSoaB1
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGYm7PdMhJ
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYRElUBBnQ
"S-Sorry, Kenny."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXJKpFB9MC
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDmd0zyIaD
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPC3A3x6u1
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78lcwwKT6K
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GdQTGTxPt
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVll612UB1
"Hey, you guys!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSsbXjObBP
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C9sTXq3vV
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHhGq3QYbv
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPCJuhrUf3
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyaNQVDMLT
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFUcRCME6l
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl2CSO4jsl
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLikXZNWwdA
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm6K3Tu51c
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvgWcxBkvS
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2VkuR22nL
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNWJpDk2we
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jh8IkFbQS
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHodK25OML
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqPHoSRar1
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0c06vLkEl
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKZzMRGM0B
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDwwqXOSR5
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRHnmftrfA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh5hFBEjjb
"Here's your bill, miss."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wPSQdNKpq
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPabOLxXRmD
"...I..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF36ufyVKo
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08Xrkgyo3H
She was having a difficult time speaking.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUMbEwiC0Z
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmT5LkVXfy
"I forgot to bring money."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4QXfXJGTP
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyotACFZ0J
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkur9M869wO
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCzIulQos3
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjjFr4bFRH
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2vneLZ3VC
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNMCXc7hP0
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT8NjSY1Dz
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PAbdODcgb
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UvJ6Rb7wt
Ha. What a moron.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9qYBuGaUF
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFlLqmVIyp
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJILjyejpRH
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkC85SDvpd
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgtU4b86A2
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu3kfYrmvQ
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7voopaj0Q
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmOzSzuSCe
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkM3Ck4GGG
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CA3jY0Wco
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zeCIgF2TV
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZLYrTKWnG
"..."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6UJgCmKnq
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ75kDdcfwv
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyK5Jb1wDI
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec7wju3wTx
"Hey, cloaked woman."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UmXf7U1Kt
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtw7qIcksU
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiS9pbW6YA
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sm0EYqpFp
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y9tKe8n9B
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sviKAjXYr
"Yes, of course. Thank you."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNiHdbptb6
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUETz822UXm
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUazlWCyoue
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fp5GREIuy
"Alright Flinty, let's go."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBArG3B8m0v
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvmZbPDKfz
"Yes!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ncg9NBjuV
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJvQqGzt3V
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWdkHGeVjh
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJilAeix5H6
"What?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWLslYSK5
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3JODheucU
"Kenny, you're awesome."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGNdXkHD1Q
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1vqvDxIJ7
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLfwDYo6b9
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ5vP33TpU
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY75cPtjlMd
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFn8SFWRE0
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hq2E24PWU
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zumc4eJhT
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQcgxLPxXw
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sK7OyZASP
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCg4iXm0PL
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPWvb3Yr6C
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0xtHlXIan
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uVGzwcPby
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAB5CoA7ER
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupnU0RMwnx
"...Is something wrong?"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ojUAY7L8D
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4PFk8etUm
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrMNFhDEg3
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCGzTTE6mn
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHar3VWNX3
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuzy5tgugk
"R-Right."211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhI2tynBVk
211Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoKR2Q72zA
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
