The fire cracked and popped. It was already dark out. Four hours had passed since the infiltration. Flinty, Ng, and Kenny were sitting beside the fire. Victoria just returned with more firewood. Kenny took a tiny bite out of an apple
Victoria sat down. Everyone was staring at the fire. The silence was oppressive, but Kenny didn't have the power nor gall to interrupt it.
"...I apologize for what has happened. My cowardice, my fear, it all led to this," Ng said.
"It isn't your fault," Victoria said, "as much as I'd like to say that it was nobody's fault, I think all of us messed up, hehe."
"Perhaps it was. But still, I feel as if I'm mostly to blame."
And thus, a needless back-and-forth started. Kenny didn't interject.
"Seriously, it's fine, you don't need to take all the blame."
"But–"
"Guys!"
Flinty suddenly raised her voice.
"M-Maybe it's Ng's fault, or Victoria's, but at the end of the day, Kim is still in trouble!"
"Right. Of course."
"You're right, Flinty."
"So... what do we do? We need a plan."
"Well," Ng started, "Jeremiah is formidable, but one of Panz's beasts has already been exterminated. Panz himself is also injured. Once we regain our strength, an upfront assault may be the best course of action.
"Right," Flinty replied, "Kenny can take the blob on by himself. Do you think you can do it, Kenny?"
Kenny didn't respond. He lifted his head and gazed at Flinty with beady eyes.
"...I'm not going back in there," he muttered, and their eyes widened.
"W-What, why not!?" Flinty cried. Shock permeated Victoria's expression. Kenny put a hand on his knee.
"It's best if we leave. Everyone will be in danger if we go back."
"But Kenny, what about Kim? We need to help her!"
"..."
Kenny turned his head away. Flinty's words didn't reach him. Frustrated, confused, surprised, and worried, Flinty didn't know what to do or say under such pressure. So, she didn't.
"F-Fine, but if you won't do it, then I will!"
"Don't! You're just asking to die!"
Kenny spat his rebuttal, Flinty flinched, and Kenny returned to gazing at the ground.
"Let's just... get out. At least, I can guarantee that you'll be fine if we do."
It hit her then. Flinty understood what was wrong with him. But still, she didn't have the words. Still, she didn't know how to convince his friend. Still, she couldn't help him. Flinty was dejected, upset that she didn't have the words.
She looked at Victoria. She was at a loss well, Flinty could tell. But, Victoria was older, and Victoria was smarter. Flinty was sure that she would think of something.
"Why don't we sleep on it?" She suggested, "We'll think of something in the morning."
"Yes! That sounds like a good idea!"
Flinty peered at Kenny, waiting for anything from him.
"...Fine."
Flinty felt relieved. Still angry, still worried, but at least she had time to think of something. And thus, the group readied for bed. None of them had any blankets or pillows, so they had to be content with sleeping on the ground. It wasn't comfortable, but before long they all fell asleep.
All, except for Kenny.
–
–
–
I couldn't get that thought out of my mind. This situation, this incident, none of this was like the one with my parents.
This was my fault. This was undeniably my fault. From the beginning, it was my fault.
That bullet. Why did I miss it? Why? Why? None of this would've happened if I just hit that bullet. That damn, tiny bullet made of stone.
I should've made it bigger. I should've been more patient. I should've gotten closer. I should've just used my tendril, or used fire magic. Who would've cared if I killed him? That alternative was so much better than this. Kim has been captured. The wolf is still out.
These thoughts, they kept me awake. I couldn't even close my eyes without that scene playing back in my mind; the bullet. If I just didn't miss that bullet.
"..."
I needed to take a piss.
I stood up. I tried not to wake up the group. I walked for a few minutes until I found a passable tree, then I took care of my business.
"...Crap."
I was already feeling groggy. I washed my hands with water magic and walked back, but stopped. Somebody was walking up to me. It was Ng. He stopped before me, carrying a makeshift torch.
"What do you want?"
"Kenny, do you mind us having a chat?"
I didn't even have any suspicions. It was ridiculous. But, really, talking was the last thing I wanted to do, so I walked around him.
"Kenny, what has you acting this way? Is it truly today's failure?"
"That's none of your business."
Ng followed me.
"I'll be blunt, this is abnormal."
"Shut up."
"Whether we escape the forest or not, you are the only one who can do anything about it."
"Shut up."
"Are you upset at me?"
I turned around.
"Huh? Why the hell would I be?"
"I see. Then, Kenny, let me ask you this; is this truly the best way to go about it?"
I didn't say anything, just tilted my head.
"You clearly feel at fault. I know, I've been in such a situation before."
"--!"
I couldn't say anything more. I couldn't even pretend to be mad anymore. I just sighed.
"Kenny, as an adult, allow me to grant you a piece of advice."
I didn't respond.
"I don't believe today's incident was your fault, but that is irrelevant. No, what I want to tell you is that, if you truly feel like you're at fault, then atone."
"...Atone?"
"Of course. It's simple, isn't it? You apologize for your mistake, and then you make up for it."
"...That is too simple."
"But it holds true, doesn't it?"
I turned my head away.
"It's..."
Ng walked up to me.
"You have a lot of power, Kenny. So much so, I'm envious of you. Perhaps you think you can't use it, but at the end of the day, who else can rescue Kim and fight Jeremiah but you?"
I turned around. I couldn't deny his words. He was right. And yet...
"That isn't it. That isn't it at all."186Please respect copyright.PENANA0Lq6smqu65
186Please respect copyright.PENANAgQxHLbGsyP
Ng tilted his head. He started to look a little nervous, and also slightly annoyed. I wasn't talking much sense, was I?186Please respect copyright.PENANAIWKXQlZjos
186Please respect copyright.PENANAlTKlLtepWH
"Then what is it?" He asked. I had to take a moment to put it into words.
"...If I go back in there, then all of it will hinge on me again. Your lives, your well-being, all of it. If I go back there, then all of it will be up to me. If one of you die, then that's my fault. If one of you get hurt, then that's my fault."186Please respect copyright.PENANAFxDGDgxcrm
186Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xoy49MWu9
"That's not true at all–"186Please respect copyright.PENANAh0Ece5nlls
186Please respect copyright.PENANAaRPflYB3dB
"Let me finish! You, have you ever had a feeling like that before? You said you know, you said you've been there, but you haven't! I can't stomach it; I can't stomach that feeling that, it's all up to me, that I'm the one who has to be the shoulder for all of you to lean on! I can't, I just... I just can't..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAwe2bJY0EP4
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQNlsAw9k0E
I was slurring my words. Tears were running down my cheeks.186Please respect copyright.PENANAnjqSgKbXkG
186Please respect copyright.PENANAAStsfCYrag
"All of you say I'm a genius, but I'm not a genius. A genius wouldn't have gotten us into this mess in the first place. And now, now that I at least have Flinty, and at least Victoria is here– and hell, at least now that you're here, you're telling me to go back in there, and then just, risk it all again? What if I mess up or, God, what if I cause Kim to die? I-I'm not– I can't do it! I can't! I can't do it alone! Kim is already gone, I don't have her to help me anymore, so if something goes wrong then it's going to go terribly wrong! D-Don't you get it? Don't you get it, Ng!? How am I supposed to do anything, absolutely anything, knowing that if it all goes to shit then I'm the one who's responsible!?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAaLZGThW2jU
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhV5UMj1R4c
I fell to my knees.186Please respect copyright.PENANARKEnLsUP4Y
186Please respect copyright.PENANAXQN77oAv9Y
"K-Kim said it herself... all of it, all of it hinges on me... but I'm not someone to make that bet on, I'm not... I'm not..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAbuP7raOrPB
186Please respect copyright.PENANAmwcvQUM3aa
I fell. I was in a fetal position and the top of my head was glued to the ground. I couldn't hear anything over my crying. I couldn't even move. I felt something touch my shoulder. I looked up to see Ng's face.186Please respect copyright.PENANA0FisEq8OxT
186Please respect copyright.PENANArADE1UKAZe
"...Kenny."186Please respect copyright.PENANAJ02vkqrKmN
186Please respect copyright.PENANAIoz2bpWk0G
"What!?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA9iqHrN062a
186Please respect copyright.PENANAjL4q5dgjdZ
He tilted his head at me, narrowing his eyes.186Please respect copyright.PENANAWbSixr2qXV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAJrJRLzE0S9
"You're not lying to me, are you?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA5jNHQTcKv7
186Please respect copyright.PENANAaIqaKomr6v
The environs vanished. All I saw was his face. His condescending face.186Please respect copyright.PENANAoeMxOGqEsd
186Please respect copyright.PENANAtGikC7dvYT
"That was quite a performance, but all I'm hearing is that you're just going to leave your friend to die."
...186Please respect copyright.PENANAn63d71ThGx
186Please respect copyright.PENANAsTqCLCAKiB
I'm lying? I'm leaving her, to die? To, die?186Please respect copyright.PENANAIiHvXehqjK
186Please respect copyright.PENANAgYIVAyyvWV
I'm not... I'm not doing that, am I? What I'm doing, it's just to preserve what I have, right?186Please respect copyright.PENANAZUweH8rIs0
186Please respect copyright.PENANARHQemVAd48
"N-No..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAFS3SqM2JPu
186Please respect copyright.PENANAr2qNuhmnV9
Oh, God.186Please respect copyright.PENANAcOcybSlBUV
186Please respect copyright.PENANA1i0lyo2qiT
Oh, God.186Please respect copyright.PENANAePfyCU1Che
186Please respect copyright.PENANAJKz6PEHBTA
"I apologize, that must've been a bit too harsh–"186Please respect copyright.PENANAQiwcI5iJrh
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9P85XYXV28
Ng leaned down to pat me again. I slapped his hand away. I scurried backward on the ground, panting, tears still rolling down my face. Ng didn't look like a man to me anymore. I couldn't identify what he was. All I saw was something I didn't like. I kept scurrying back and I hit a tree, then I stood up, and then I ran away. I didn't know where it was that I was going but the light from his torch was fading and that's all that mattered. I kept looking back and eventually, I stumbled. Right, the roots here, they were massive. I got up and five steps later I tripped again. The exhaustion from before still hadn't subsided. I could barely move. But, at the very least, Ng wasn't here. At least Ng wasn't there.186Please respect copyright.PENANAdSwb1Rptw2
186Please respect copyright.PENANALh5uMDcgnB
But now I was alone, with my mind. It might've been worse.186Please respect copyright.PENANAyVFkNxbjZs
186Please respect copyright.PENANAnllLSqalx6
"To die...? I'm not doing that. I'm not, leaving her to die."186Please respect copyright.PENANAz1EW0edNPW
186Please respect copyright.PENANAxQYJ5aEU4q
It wasn't the way I thought about it. So, here I was on the ground, affirming myself. Of course, I wasn't leaving her to die. Of course, I was just trying to make sure Flinty and the others were safe. Of course, Ng was right. Ng was totally right. He saw through me, but worst of all, I knew Ng was right, I knew completely but that didn't change a thing. I still couldn't even grasp the idea of going back there and fighting and– and maybe Kim really was killed because of me, because I couldn't do it. But Ng was right. I needed to go back.186Please respect copyright.PENANASzb5aHzUM8
186Please respect copyright.PENANABGj4Byjb5o
But if I went back then what if it goes wrong? What if I go back and I see that I've truly failed? What if I go back and I see her– her–186Please respect copyright.PENANAg5ZMFuB1Sb
186Please respect copyright.PENANAoXHziNzGIS
"--Hrk!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAeKG9dB8C9h
186Please respect copyright.PENANAMZtTGJwMMl
I managed to hold back my vomit. Somehow that cleared the haze in my mind. I leaned against a nearby tree. I didn't think. If I thought, then I would've heard Ng's words again, and if I thought, my anxieties would've crawled back, and then I would be endlessly running. So I sat there instead.186Please respect copyright.PENANALyworQxRaV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAsZVPFvpwB1
One thought did end up crossing my mind eventually: I'm glad Flinty isn't here to see this.186Please respect copyright.PENANAUix6u0Z6XC
186Please respect copyright.PENANAdzwWGiXiqw
"There you are."186Please respect copyright.PENANAu5aoVqzd4Z
186Please respect copyright.PENANAJPAbU68Zvx
Ng already found me, huh?186Please respect copyright.PENANASyg9cFlsMI
186Please respect copyright.PENANA7gPo3Sho5P
"I'm sorry for what I said. Let's just go back to the camp and rest, okay?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAG38ZCIcneb
186Please respect copyright.PENANAKLhWOqOnAo
I casted a gaze his way. An indescribable tug on my stomach was telling me to forgive him. It felt terribly unnatural, but I couldn't help but give into it. I didn't accept his apology, but–186Please respect copyright.PENANAdyVoxovOPr
186Please respect copyright.PENANAmF8f0mrU98
"...Fine."186Please respect copyright.PENANAFeIUg6YB4m
186Please respect copyright.PENANAFvTYo9g063
He offered me a hand but I stood up by myself. I followed him through the woods. I was staring at his heels. Sometimes he turned his body to me, likely to say something, but he didn't speak it.186Please respect copyright.PENANA0o59i7wQ9g
186Please respect copyright.PENANAxnlwVt3CF9
"Kenny, do you happen to have any parents?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAomhhxXuzVd
186Please respect copyright.PENANAcPgDRBtSJv
Nevermind. What a strange question.186Please respect copyright.PENANAgFwhcLE7W3
186Please respect copyright.PENANAr119xNgmHp
"No. They died a long time ago."186Please respect copyright.PENANAlNf3FrZpA5
186Please respect copyright.PENANA5lKbzVkEil
"I see. You have my condolences."186Please respect copyright.PENANAvTSyO1wQeA
186Please respect copyright.PENANAd2PeJsxdJW
"I don't need them."186Please respect copyright.PENANA9FePHXXNuN
186Please respect copyright.PENANAC3CbPI0r7k
A pause.186Please respect copyright.PENANAg2JI1UEyO3
186Please respect copyright.PENANAuGDHSzu0Jx
"I imagine that, when they died, you didn't take it very well, did you?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAHqkp6Ocgsy
186Please respect copyright.PENANAMadpBimh8K
"..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAX6IJoPGeG8
186Please respect copyright.PENANAAcCZ1AFvTy
I stopped walking. Ng stopped shortly after. I don't know what it is that just happened, but a button of mine was pressed.186Please respect copyright.PENANAd8GslwIN4d
186Please respect copyright.PENANA5jBdWWzDrD
And then the memories came flooding back. Those months where I refused to walk outside, being taken in by Anabelle, and lastly the talk. That vital conversation I had with Anabelle and Jackson. I started biting my nails.186Please respect copyright.PENANAD0Pp0GKghM
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9ErPN7qM0y
Despite it, nothing changed. My mind was still at odds with itself. But I calmed down. I calmed down a lot. At that moment, a bundle of warmth spread throughout my body. I was feeling fine.186Please respect copyright.PENANA86OjTKXe84
186Please respect copyright.PENANAW6Y6ZRPrpQ
"Did I–"186Please respect copyright.PENANAuIn5YTzlSN
186Please respect copyright.PENANAY3JwczPWiF
"I'm sorry Ng. I still don't think I can do it. At least, not now, not by myself. Even thinking about it is making me shudder. I can't go in there."186Please respect copyright.PENANAVnmIxngWcg
186Please respect copyright.PENANAPyqtKmWxUw
"I understand. Then, do you want me to create magical beast assistants?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAQ121llfzdy
186Please respect copyright.PENANAtOOmuf2QgI
I had to make sure I heard him.186Please respect copyright.PENANAd9d2Gpit3A
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQ50dtlhKde
"Assistants?"186Please respect copyright.PENANATU5f8Wd1pD
186Please respect copyright.PENANApiv9XClJXH
"Of course. I can still use the mana here to make some. It doesn't have to be anything powerful, just enough to grab Kim while you're fighting Jeremiah."186Please respect copyright.PENANAv2grKczfWP
186Please respect copyright.PENANA74wOVhhqtz
"Ng, you... you might not be such a bad guy."186Please respect copyright.PENANAaJXHAKcJdb
186Please respect copyright.PENANAfG4XrGEQKG
"O-Oh no, I'm not at all, hehe."186Please respect copyright.PENANApKCJTVYLyc
186Please respect copyright.PENANA1pgTfvMp5o
"...Maybe it'll work. Maybe, just maybe."186Please respect copyright.PENANAFR1Z9eGl1l
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhpmIfB8RMF
We kept walking. We didn't exchange another word but I could feel the air around us lighten. Thanks to the campfire, we made it back to the others.186Please respect copyright.PENANAQi6qNx1Zds
186Please respect copyright.PENANAC9IDMfbgIQ
Except, everyone was awake. And it wasn't just Flinty and Victoria, someone else was here. Somebody that I recognized.186Please respect copyright.PENANAz8lfXVX6LE
186Please respect copyright.PENANA6qQskcYr6p
"Ah! Kenny, Ng, me, and Victoria were just about to go looking for you two!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAQXuUuZKdNZ
186Please respect copyright.PENANAkRbCJEOWLl
Flinty ran up to me and gently hugged me, patting me on the back a few times. I would've been embarrassed if I wasn't so bewitched by the presence of the third person.186Please respect copyright.PENANAb0AU3QHZU8
186Please respect copyright.PENANASdY7RJZuh2
Right there, beside the fire, sat the first person I saw when I entered the city: Skylark, the commander knight.186Please respect copyright.PENANAPaAPlkJGMn
186Please respect copyright.PENANA4onWI0RR8r
–
–
–
186Please respect copyright.PENANAiltr4VMpPS
We were all sitting by the campfire. Though I was sleepy, the knight's presence alone made me unable to sleep. I had too many questions to ask, and it looks like I wasn't alone.186Please respect copyright.PENANAqlq1ayZvTw
186Please respect copyright.PENANATgvnTS8I1N
"Hello, Kenny. You remember me from earlier, don't you?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAytEy2jGDQz
186Please respect copyright.PENANAPvzBgFwXyC
"Yes. You're the one who got the prince off my tail. Thank you for that."186Please respect copyright.PENANAKmXZHMIGOP
186Please respect copyright.PENANA23P1Zry6A4
"Of course."186Please respect copyright.PENANAqgLuRZTFU6
186Please respect copyright.PENANAzN9fMoDhFj
"So, to address the elephant in the room, why are you here?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAcBqc9gAWzO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAGJ0SwalWOS
"Ah, of course. I am here because I've been tasked with tailing Kim. My reasons are secret, but I assure you it isn't anything malicious, not from either party."186Please respect copyright.PENANAKfGGgloZ3j
186Please respect copyright.PENANAwyrBLawups
Tailing her? Well, if that was the case, he must not have been very good at it. But when your target is as disguised and inconspicuous as Kim, then even a knight would have difficulty pursuing you.186Please respect copyright.PENANAPscS69aiSR
186Please respect copyright.PENANAlz2jGz5VAS
But, no, something else was bugging me.186Please respect copyright.PENANA4jQeDwqZgW
186Please respect copyright.PENANAmPRxl4mND4
"How did you know where to find us here?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAcy00Ai3gVt
186Please respect copyright.PENANAaqO8zw5cPj
"I simply spent the day searching."186Please respect copyright.PENANArNvA4Rj4rm
186Please respect copyright.PENANAZd3i588cen
"The whole day?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAWFsF39FQE8
186Please respect copyright.PENANA0sjd7a3H80
He didn't respond to that. "Victoria's mother informed me of your whereabouts. This forest may be small, but it sure is dense."186Please respect copyright.PENANAkw8TvTbm0h
186Please respect copyright.PENANAvqzozLKqux
Knight's were some dedicated workers, weren't they?186Please respect copyright.PENANAEWwV0EKQwC
186Please respect copyright.PENANAvckZQifWxD
"But, Mister Knight," Victoria started, "Kim is currently... well."186Please respect copyright.PENANAWXnmHMKmvO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAihRqBjLWR4
He sighed.186Please respect copyright.PENANAFi91Eoqlph
186Please respect copyright.PENANABe0AoqiTGd
"So I figured. She isn't dead is she?"186Please respect copyright.PENANArC2fptmcVY
186Please respect copyright.PENANATPWrc4gK6z
"No no, not that we're aware of– Ng. Ng!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAs0RgQsKReg
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyqcD39OkgI
"Oh! Yes! Kim is being held captive by a magical beast my ex-colleague has created. He is formidable, and occasionally reckless, but not a creature who would intentionally kill. He wasn't programmed that way."186Please respect copyright.PENANApyRSPGQK1v
186Please respect copyright.PENANA2hWOzPAxnL
"I see. Is there anything about this creature I should be aware of?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAtnLzLchokz
186Please respect copyright.PENANAdgag2zX4ni
"...Why do you ask?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAHJTBRMmpHs
186Please respect copyright.PENANAbHC3WwqX3C
"Why, because I will be slaying it, of course."186Please respect copyright.PENANAM7J5aHdmIA
186Please respect copyright.PENANADubKdZswLa
Those words made me perk up. They had two meanings to me. Ng went on to explain the blob's ability to contort its body and produce a hypnagogic haze when injured. Skylark didn't look intimidated at all. I didn't see him in action yet, but I imagined that such confidence didn't come from foolishness. Skylark's presence was still strange, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have any suspicions about his relation to Kim, but– frankly, it didn't matter. Frankly, I was just glad that I was able to pass the baton onto somebody far more capable than me. A short while later we all returned to sleep; aside from me, of course. And, apparently, aside from Skylark. I lifted my body and stared at him. As we stared at each other, I tried to unbridle certain words from my throat, but he talked first before I could.186Please respect copyright.PENANAPKGjgm2iny
186Please respect copyright.PENANASyQGI1mxat
"What is it?" He asked me, "Shouldn't you be getting rest?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAorAEoaPNB5
186Please respect copyright.PENANATcDJpZpqK6
"Sometimes, you're too tired to sleep. Do you know that feeling?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA71lnSFPFuO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAfVGsF2oxTg
"I can't say I'm very familiar with it."186Please respect copyright.PENANA5knwMdihq0
186Please respect copyright.PENANABnqcy5OAWm
"I see. I'll get sleepy eventually, it's just a matter of time. But since you're awake, I might as well talk with you. Talking with people is especially exhausting."186Please respect copyright.PENANAP7MuWyOj7r
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9zYRZADU6r
"Alright. Is there anything you had in mind?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA8gHrhysvvd
186Please respect copyright.PENANAreI0WK26QY
"Of course. Can I ask you what your relation to Kim is?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAPTs6NAXk5q
186Please respect copyright.PENANAXAdNEJOMx8
He put a hand to his chin.186Please respect copyright.PENANASEWmfDJnue
186Please respect copyright.PENANA8ejfnRzf91
"...Well, I'm sure you in particular will find out soon. For now, let's just say that I was sent to defend her, in case anything goes awry."186Please respect copyright.PENANAk7EB9CkVCV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAnt0PH9Y8xF
"Well, duh, that much was obvious. Is there nothing else you can tell me?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA4IlYmclZQD
186Please respect copyright.PENANAAVQwGPpd0S
"No."186Please respect copyright.PENANAd1vNU1p3lO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAeqO9oHw4A1
"Fine. Then, one more question, when did you get here?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAVjnNwSrJmW
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQXpOBD909W
"Do you mean in the woods?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA6vDZRtPjm0
186Please respect copyright.PENANA7AUSeMgets
"Yes. I'm just curious."186Please respect copyright.PENANARVOXva6SmL
186Please respect copyright.PENANAAELiIFiBbE
"I entered the woods two hours ago. I was told by Linda to wait until it became dark. Honestly, these woods are a bit of a nightmare to navigate."186Please respect copyright.PENANAQc32VzLp8H
186Please respect copyright.PENANAUsYBpVacP7
I nodded. It was about time I just got to the point.186Please respect copyright.PENANA91jLGXzBhF
186Please respect copyright.PENANAX5fsFI5R5U
"Skylark... I want to thank you, earnestly. You were needed here badly."186Please respect copyright.PENANA5YKwTfVU5A
186Please respect copyright.PENANAOEmelJflFQ
"Ah, well, as a knight, I'm glad I was able to fulfill my duty."186Please respect copyright.PENANA5Fzrgo0f7W
186Please respect copyright.PENANAe7iIDB15pa
"Me too."186Please respect copyright.PENANA2f9Qf3ZDGz
186Please respect copyright.PENANAlCYlPPnHiT
I realized how strange it was that he called it knightly duty, since he met us by coincidence, but didn't press him on that matter.186Please respect copyright.PENANA900EjLQi0Q
186Please respect copyright.PENANAaSBptTVWLr
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA2wvDlH8lON
186Please respect copyright.PENANAUIgTX8hSba
"Yes. For now, at least."186Please respect copyright.PENANAdVMDGUPLkd
186Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3Etzhojhp
"Are you sure? I may not be able to answer all questions related to Kim, but I have a lot of knowledge of other things."186Please respect copyright.PENANA1Z7ddDO83B
186Please respect copyright.PENANA4StMhFZORo
"..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAth4v7UcQ6T
186Please respect copyright.PENANANSEecwSJ5b
It might not have been appropriate, but he did offer, didn't he? I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.186Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9VCRY0NFu
186Please respect copyright.PENANAkZkd9rvhGl
"How many unique magical plants do you have in the royal palace?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA04RmQCDdis
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyo8NBEb93d
"...Huh?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAlX1mHJscse
186Please respect copyright.PENANALWhpZXso7q
–
–
–
There was a gap in the trees perfectly positioned to where the sun hit my face. I woke up with an uneasy feeling in my chest and had difficulty keeping my eyes open. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well. Despite that, I was feeling fine. Everyone else was still sleeping. Everyone, aside from Flinty, who was not present.186Please respect copyright.PENANABy6XRIVSeo
186Please respect copyright.PENANAEjUH1RyfZT
I thought of the worst immediately. I calmed down once I heard a sound nearby. I walked towards it and saw Flinty standing with her arm out, creating water balls and... firing them.186Please respect copyright.PENANAxWWwId0HYL
186Please respect copyright.PENANAjiVMgP1pjM
I wouldn't repeat the same mistake as before, so I stood by the sidelines and watched. She didn't even have her eyes closed, yet she was able to create a water ball and maintain it for twenty seconds. And then, she fired it. It was a very weak spell; it hit a tree and merely splashed it. If it was another element, it likely would've only scratched the bark off. I was still impressed.186Please respect copyright.PENANAbJDYHH1QyW
186Please respect copyright.PENANAauhJh0Xts9
I walked to her clapping my hands. She was a little embarrassed, but she smiled when she saw me.186Please respect copyright.PENANAaUMxoZjeU4
186Please respect copyright.PENANANltYXUVYNu
"Good morning, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.PENANAVGPlxVH36v
186Please respect copyright.PENANAwselgGrVwR
"Good morning. When did you learn to do that?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAz6gFjAaVq8
186Please respect copyright.PENANA2zStOWZlDb
"Oh, well, when you were infiltrating, and while you were sitting at the camp, I spent a lot of time practicing."186Please respect copyright.PENANAvrp2e6IkGV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAdIBgfhGU4A
When I was at the camp? It must've been during my slump. Crap. My mood was a little soiled.186Please respect copyright.PENANAJ99vwjt3wC
186Please respect copyright.PENANAHLnIzBcxuE
"W-What do you think?" She asked. She had her fists to her face in anticipation.186Please respect copyright.PENANA3F0PpCrXuF
186Please respect copyright.PENANA8DMqeEMM0j
"I think it's impressive. You've been hard at work, haven't you?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAIC4AQLBOoY
186Please respect copyright.PENANA06ydxU9aIG
"Yes! I have, ha!"186Please respect copyright.PENANALoDqrT1g8n
186Please respect copyright.PENANA1OOsRvFhRb
She puffed her chest out. I felt happy for her. I was also impressed by how well she allocated her time.186Please respect copyright.PENANAvOOkyJzUFn
186Please respect copyright.PENANAFavfFGx9TJ
"You passed my preliminary test, Flitny. Congratulations."186Please respect copyright.PENANAVzADq87ppV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAMBZvVqmIZv
I stretched out my hand. She looked at it in disbelief at first but sternly shook it after.186Please respect copyright.PENANAAJrbgw8f3G
186Please respect copyright.PENANA88dGZDLBXE
"Thank you, teacher."186Please respect copyright.PENANAQL6fH4GDa4
186Please respect copyright.PENANALascqxNv41
"Yeah. Don't call me that."186Please respect copyright.PENANANuoHyN96fV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAOUyPUHae0q
"Okay."186Please respect copyright.PENANAEob8NQQmOx
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQidSPGDPD9
My spirits were lifted. I turned around and began walking to the campsite, but Flinty put a hand on my shoulder.186Please respect copyright.PENANAlEq47gZZ3C
186Please respect copyright.PENANAHZR4PAshtP
"Hm? What's wrong?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAriNzN4Zb19
186Please respect copyright.PENANAEZVuUZAwHd
"Um..."186Please respect copyright.PENANA5Aj6SqJkKV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAFxdOdVkjj8
She let go of me and began taking off the coat.186Please respect copyright.PENANADCJ6KCXLd1
186Please respect copyright.PENANAq2BTA7r4l6
"Here. Have it back."186Please respect copyright.PENANA09oI0LFfnQ
186Please respect copyright.PENANATjWgBZmjtW
"Huh? Y-You can still keep it, at least until we get out of these woods."186Please respect copyright.PENANArM4NzX8P9B
186Please respect copyright.PENANA6wCxGsLDSU
She shook her head no.186Please respect copyright.PENANANQVkySmP5S
186Please respect copyright.PENANAvY2C3560K8
"I think you need it. You like it a lot, right? I think you need something that you like."186Please respect copyright.PENANAxjgOuazNtJ
186Please respect copyright.PENANABBadih21A5
She had a pensive expression. I felt like refusing again was a bad idea.186Please respect copyright.PENANAaiMiRIBh0i
186Please respect copyright.PENANAZyhMKG14g5
"Thank you, Flinty."186Please respect copyright.PENANAcTDNxP8n85
186Please respect copyright.PENANAne3RAN1fO0
I grabbed the coat and put it back on.186Please respect copyright.PENANAjIeJxmEWqW
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhdbytAxejb
"Kenny, do you feel better?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAhs5K65FgCP
186Please respect copyright.PENANAPMQqvZKV9Y
Ah, so that's what it was about. I suppose she couldn't tell from my face, I must've looked like a corpse.186Please respect copyright.PENANAQXHrAnkaRv
186Please respect copyright.PENANA3r8ufQ5zni
"I feel much better. Thank you for looking out for me. And, sorry for being like that yesterday."186Please respect copyright.PENANAT5ZWDQce2M
186Please respect copyright.PENANANnRomRHARf
"It's okay. I'm glad you're fine."186Please respect copyright.PENANAoofOJ83hM2
186Please respect copyright.PENANAF0m2FyXFwm
Flinty and I returned to the campsite. Skylark was up and raring while Victoria and Ng were half asleep.186Please respect copyright.PENANAvyu1tAZnjx
186Please respect copyright.PENANAtqZUwTndZO
"Good morning, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.PENANA65ISZmtNDf
186Please respect copyright.PENANARF3nc5CT9p
"Good morning. Let's wait for the others before we discuss a plan."186Please respect copyright.PENANAIOAFK6IvAv
186Please respect copyright.PENANA5tg5BDSaH6
He nodded. When Victoria and Ng got on their feet our strategy meeting began. It was simple; Skylark would enter the compound and battle Jeremiah while Victoria, Ng, and I would surround the building to capture any escapees. With that set, we began our breakfast. It was just simple rations, but they tasted especially fresh. Flinty and Victoria were engaged in conversation while Skylark vigilantly watched our surroundings. I looked at Ng and was suddenly reminded of last night.186Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZQs9rUtjU
186Please respect copyright.PENANAdTgsVr81w1
"Hey Ng, can I talk with you for a minute?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA4NltsjrvRs
186Please respect copyright.PENANA4cZx8LiGYC
I scooted closer to him.186Please respect copyright.PENANArW4X8xCzWz
186Please respect copyright.PENANADQFjsHf3F5
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAErWJ94tKNk
186Please respect copyright.PENANAH3efIhwpcO
"I just wanted to thank you for trying to cheer me up, and apologize for being so suspicious of you."186Please respect copyright.PENANAc0YvuKFV4I
186Please respect copyright.PENANAqaAa8FEf82
"O-Oh, don't be sorry. I completely understand why you'd be wary of me. Besides, I wasn't very successful, was I?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAMyxf1wTbqt
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhEbKaOnzQ0
"...Maybe you're right. I renounce my statement entirely."186Please respect copyright.PENANA2nLMp1MduI
186Please respect copyright.PENANAx3RA1pXToL
He didn't laugh. Crap. He didn't look mad either, so at least I didn't say anything offensive.186Please respect copyright.PENANAzpFGFfKbJs
186Please respect copyright.PENANAtjz1i66ywx
"You know Kenny, when I saw you last night..."186Please respect copyright.PENANAPAucOLoXZY
186Please respect copyright.PENANA3gG9H4FrJn
"What?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA10jhVsV1Nq
186Please respect copyright.PENANAzWgTgKowkU
"Somehow, it reminded me of myself."
"Huh? You're crazy."186Please respect copyright.PENANAtlmUe32mhR
186Please respect copyright.PENANA82uBUfpotI
But then I thought about his behavior back in the cellar, and during the initial stage of the infiltration. He lightly punched me in the shoulder.186Please respect copyright.PENANARhOCELYSKe
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhDkQB7qEn7
"You and I are alike, I've realized. But unlike me, you are powerful and gifted. I know you can liberate yourself from the fungus in your brain. You are still young, after all."186Please respect copyright.PENANAIofuoplRQq
186Please respect copyright.PENANAxfWefGZCwF
"R-Right."186Please respect copyright.PENANAtjtC8CSGFa
186Please respect copyright.PENANAGXDWykpk0x
"Well then, shall we go?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAKUjaKmuBHV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAh7OyKvNOCi
Ng reached into his robe and took out a miniature wand. I looked at the others. They were up and ready.186Please respect copyright.PENANAP01soDqGna
186Please respect copyright.PENANATpW7unalE4
"Alright."186Please respect copyright.PENANAjjrfck0Bol
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQpGddvWh39
We grabbed our bags and left the campsite. With Ng leading us, we arrived at the compound thirty minutes later. Flinty and Ng stood nearby in the woods guarding our things, and more importantly, away from any attention. Skylark, Victoria, and I stood before the broken gates of what was essentially the compound's front yard. Skylark took a step forward. He had a rag covering his mouth.186Please respect copyright.PENANAPAj8jKIayF
186Please respect copyright.PENANAp5ELWl7tPR
"I'll be sure to be quick. Don't worry."186Please respect copyright.PENANA5r9xnou4Ly
186Please respect copyright.PENANAaiocc6gqU8
And then he walked across the field and into the building. Now Victoria and I stood there alone. I felt a hand on my shoulder.186Please respect copyright.PENANAc5hcmyX5ib
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyCZVoONcKu
"What?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA8VFJL1m0Bc
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyWco9B1xhH
"Don't worry, Kenny. The knights here are serious business, y'know? He'll rescue Kim for sure."186Please respect copyright.PENANAXEn7Kf4khi
186Please respect copyright.PENANAbHj0WBF77m
"I know he will."186Please respect copyright.PENANADfopNdmcAw
186Please respect copyright.PENANAswpC9LU8P4
"Then why are you shaking?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAI6IQ5iSw9z
186Please respect copyright.PENANAgxfd4qYO63
"...I just can't help myself."186Please respect copyright.PENANAUAN6MM8gls
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyucHkfDkbf
I walked to the walls and sat against it. Victoria joined me. We sat and waited. Five minutes passed without anything happening. Ten minutes passed without anything happening. Victoria was jittering a little.186Please respect copyright.PENANA5WuTjph33F
186Please respect copyright.PENANAAamyM77sBI
"It's a little quiet here," she said, "why don't we talk?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAEcyB5XDgfC
186Please respect copyright.PENANAFyI3lXWevY
"What do you want to talk about?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAjpTOr3m32K
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhv3TwwQBt8
"Uh, how about... well, is there anything you want to talk about?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAiWyNFarsoS
186Please respect copyright.PENANAy1HRXUKB8D
"Not really. I just want to get this over with."186Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3ihjAG6IY
186Please respect copyright.PENANACgH5dk1iNs
"Yeah, tell me about it. At the very least, it doesn't look like we'll be getting our hands dirty."186Please respect copyright.PENANAw1pv7TJddn
186Please respect copyright.PENANAKPVp4aNPqs
"Now that you mention it, how did you get so good at fighting, Victoria?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAlyx15t4xXE
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyV7oGv2kTN
"Ha!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAjNPj42btNQ
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9Re6PyekSQ
She pulled back on her sleeve and slapped her biceps.186Please respect copyright.PENANAbmNJnr79b9
186Please respect copyright.PENANA4r9qgUKRmi
"These muscles came from all the work at the farmhouse, and fighting is something Mom taught me. Y'know, she used to be a combatant! An extraordinary one, too!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAfcpIILYuhd
186Please respect copyright.PENANAyDRAcuFJfJ
"Good for her. Was she a martial artist?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAiE9BbFWHg0
186Please respect copyright.PENANANKjltcIP1v
"Hehe, something like that."186Please respect copyright.PENANAtcDbvBsdcI
186Please respect copyright.PENANA1XxBgPGGhd
She didn't sound confident.186Please respect copyright.PENANAXgqtJlKxNI
186Please respect copyright.PENANAfjMyzghNpd
"Mom taught me a thing or two about fighting people, but what she specialized in was hand-to-hand fights with monsters."186Please respect copyright.PENANAcPcc3wcBom
186Please respect copyright.PENANApxJiK7AaFP
"Ah. That makes sense."186Please respect copyright.PENANAfzziygdqoo
186Please respect copyright.PENANAjuUdCHWzF0
I was very close to saying something insensitive.186Please respect copyright.PENANAg04u4sLCOj
186Please respect copyright.PENANA7xlM41bpmZ
"That blob thing was a bit too much for me to handle. I think though, if we were to fight that wolf, I would be fine."186Please respect copyright.PENANAHhV6lK13PZ
186Please respect copyright.PENANAOrJtLbW5Ux
"...Wolf?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAWrcdd6d8a9
186Please respect copyright.PENANAUjE0SMCO4h
All the air suddenly left my lungs. I looked to my left. The broken gate. Its mauled doors were sprawled on the grass, and chunks of stone accompanied them.186Please respect copyright.PENANAPt9o8wVxqK
186Please respect copyright.PENANALAntSq0tii
Of course, the wolf. He was in the woods earlier, wasn't he? How did I forget?186Please respect copyright.PENANABJCS8CRj6M
186Please respect copyright.PENANAxMPxXDQ802
"Kenny?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAlY7QCGfYhE
186Please respect copyright.PENANAHnf8UDLjql
With how quiet it was in the compound, I naturally began to theorize. I did not doubt that Skylark was alright, but we should've heard something, anything by now. Because we weren't, then Panz must've been hiding. And I already knew from Ng that Panz had the ability to summon his creations.186Please respect copyright.PENANA4GT13zgIxV
186Please respect copyright.PENANASh9VLLWk7V
I stood up and walked forward.186Please respect copyright.PENANAUhosRl7GU2
186Please respect copyright.PENANAPh6CxF70YD
"Kenny? What's wrong?"186Please respect copyright.PENANADLzeF5KQon
186Please respect copyright.PENANAwxvZJ1tPCl
"Victoria, brace yourself. I think that thing is coming."186Please respect copyright.PENANAOMZGg0PzBZ
186Please respect copyright.PENANATNoPDFLvdc
I took my tendril out and grew a Sunlight-Blossom. I snatched a seed and stuck it in the ground, then grew it to full size. I clasped the flower by its stem and aimed it at the woods.186Please respect copyright.PENANAxrpbVKuGUt
186Please respect copyright.PENANA3D4nvXxOff
Victoria stood beside me with her hands raised. She caught on fast. I keenly eyed the woods, almost like a hawk, waiting for anything to flutter.186Please respect copyright.PENANAqIpWJXLGLv
186Please respect copyright.PENANArbllOaDBLO
And then, I saw it. I began mana spinning.186Please respect copyright.PENANAY4Eq6PIZuj
186Please respect copyright.PENANAVOTiH4oxSu
**BANG**186Please respect copyright.PENANAisFcqOm5Vy
186Please respect copyright.PENANAquXzUkmoKa
The Sunlight-Blossom's seed rend the wind and trees. It left my line of sight in a second. I didn't catch the beast, but that wasn't an issue. A resounding wail echoed throughout the woods. I saw the bushes fly in the distance.186Please respect copyright.PENANAzpyi8C5rwK
186Please respect copyright.PENANAHS4nlzc1zF
"Victoria."186Please respect copyright.PENANAGNJi1xkHib
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQpHyusCuhB
"Right."186Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZqQchfMff
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1erz849ni
I had to think fast. I produced a Freeze-Dry and encased the ground in ice. Next, I brought out Dragon-Maw Jr. and raised the tendril over the ice.186Please respect copyright.PENANAQxnFGWEltr
186Please respect copyright.PENANAIUfDgCcRxU
**SMASH**186Please respect copyright.PENANA1SFCzISYBK
186Please respect copyright.PENANAI7Jodv8Ady
There he was.186Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9AqGIXFa4
186Please respect copyright.PENANAIp9VBL95yi
The wolf crashed through a tree and landed on the ice field. He lost his footing quickly. I lowered the tendril and Dragon-Maw Jr. snapped his jaws immediately, nipping at the wolf's back. The wolf slid towards us with his maw agape, brandishing hundreds of sharp, unsightly teeth.186Please respect copyright.PENANAU9R42DaRBt
186Please respect copyright.PENANAL3bmioyaU0
Victoria crouched. The wolf jumped. I retracted the tendril and prepared to strike, but the size of the wolf surprised me. I hesitated. But that was fine. Victoria clenched the wolf's neck as it soared through the air. She slammed the beast to the ground, hardly able to keep it pinned, but she was able to punch its snout a few times. The wolf struggled and clawed Victoria in the chest. She winced, and the beast escaped from her grasp. He was bleeding, but so was Victoria. She reached for her pocket and doused herself in a healing potion, then threw the glass bottle at the wolf who stepped aside to avoid it.186Please respect copyright.PENANARfCphMYRwE
186Please respect copyright.PENANAIIRsixEzf4
"That thing is strong," she said, "We can either wear it down or pin it again, but if I do, you need to kill it."186Please respect copyright.PENANAZBUt5zGJQ1
186Please respect copyright.PENANA3uHmpzYWcB
"Right."186Please respect copyright.PENANA03OvAnBNej
186Please respect copyright.PENANAnYlNUbnyUx
With my other hand, I began mana expulsion and created a bundle of thin, elongated rocks. I threw them at the wolf one at a time. He avoided them all, but as I threw, Victoria inched closer. The wolf jumped at her with his jaws wide open. Victoria stepped to the side in the nick of time, but as the wolf landed he turned around and leaped again. I struck him with the tendril and he spun across the field.186Please respect copyright.PENANAOMMlSwpq1v
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9UYybI3xMM
"Thank you!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAS5oJWHuleX
186Please respect copyright.PENANAMAme1HxHaL
I nodded. The wolf was temporarily incapacitated. He was still bleeding from Dragon-Maw Jr's wound. Victoria and I were unharmed. We could do this.186Please respect copyright.PENANApehfY3M7ui
186Please respect copyright.PENANAc9raMi8mVf
I began mana expulsion again, creating a stone and suspending it in the air. I covered it with fire magic. The wolf came back to his senses and sprinted at me. I stretched the tendril out; he avoided it but I struck him as I retracted it. I threw the fire-rock at it. The wolf caught it with his mouth.186Please respect copyright.PENANA8mZXSq213A
186Please respect copyright.PENANAbxZOx3tNrC
"Huh?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA2tqYLrCR6T
186Please respect copyright.PENANA0jh8qzDwmB
Not just that, he clamped down on it, shattering it instantly. The fire was proven to be ineffective as smoke casually escaped his mouth.186Please respect copyright.PENANAzF1TBVScLb
186Please respect copyright.PENANAWaJm9ohEdE
The wolf opened his maw. But he did not charge. His mouth grew brighter and brighter.186Please respect copyright.PENANAyMd0osnm8o
186Please respect copyright.PENANAExwzh4Iz94
"Shit!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAxq6iyLMllq
186Please respect copyright.PENANA5rZj5TAIEZ
I put my hand on the floor and created a small wall of earth before me. A stream of fire pummeled it. I wasn't harmed, but the heat made me feel woozy.186Please respect copyright.PENANA5DpHRopTVk
186Please respect copyright.PENANA9LTxaX6GBO
"A beast made of mana, using fire magic?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAmC4xo2BTRm
186Please respect copyright.PENANArXmlZCIdxl
I removed the wall and began mana expulsion again, this time, creating a ball of water. Victoria was beside me, her palms open and her fingers strained.186Please respect copyright.PENANARbO2X6sN1G
186Please respect copyright.PENANAJwjMAt81H2
"I can't keep up with that thing, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.PENANAF6eMyQ5aXO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAKK6nPRxdBo
"I understand."186Please respect copyright.PENANACwH1JUaP6u
186Please respect copyright.PENANAlbMJJHAdEX
I retracted my tendril and began mana expulsion with my right hand, creating a bundle of pebbles. I shrunk the water ball down and clasped it with my left. A pure-white water geyser erupted from my palm. The wolf avoided it but found himself on the ice field again, and thus lost his footing. The geyser ran out before I could hit him, so I created another ball of water. The wolf blew fire on the field and melted the ice, and unfortunately, made the grass catch fire as well.186Please respect copyright.PENANA9dVnJ8ACUh
186Please respect copyright.PENANAWjqUhPSZBW
"Uh oh, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.PENANAlM6q4zTtB6
186Please respect copyright.PENANAwDmZBQgWaW
Sweat beads were trickling down my forehead, and it wasn't just because of the heat.186Please respect copyright.PENANA9YUUU3anX2
186Please respect copyright.PENANAZNNQ84aLCW
"I-It'll be fine. Just focus on grabbing him."186Please respect copyright.PENANAQQfPu9QJxV
186Please respect copyright.PENANAVKIapPnMM3
I didn't clasp the ball this time but spread it out across the field. The fire was extinguished and the wolf was now wet, but seemingly unbothered. He started charging at us again. I scattered the pebbles in my right hand with intense force. They were small, but the wolf would undeniably be hit and staggered.186Please respect copyright.PENANAAdonurfYiO
186Please respect copyright.PENANA0y68HVNuaK
But, though he was hit, his charge didn't halt even a little. I panicked and brought the tendril out, stretching it out yet again. He didn't avoid it. Instead, he snapped his jaws at it.186Please respect copyright.PENANAXMIalh5EbA
186Please respect copyright.PENANA6n5cVVNCus
"Hrk!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAhn5h9kp2pV
186Please respect copyright.PENANArsQDaiz6Df
Pain permeated my whole body. Maybe even my soul. It was terrible, but the situation wasn't irredeemable. The tendril was in between the wolf's jaws but was still intact. I quickly thought of a way to retaliate and produced a Flash-Bloom. I'd be lying if I said I expected it. I hurriedly held my hand over my eyes.186Please respect copyright.PENANA64PyGd1Ohp
186Please respect copyright.PENANAhihZl4ceH5
"Victoria! Close your eyes!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAhaBif154ns
186Please respect copyright.PENANAq2HHlalmJk
Even with my eyes covered, all I saw was white. Pushing the Flash-Bloom beyond its limit was exhausting my mana supply but I didn't have to keep it out for long. A few seconds later I stopped it and opened my eyes. The wolf was still gripping my tendril but was nabbing at its own face as if the light was on him. I produced Dragon-Maw Jr. and he bit at the wolf's nape. The wolf let go of my tendril. I coughed out some purple goop.186Please respect copyright.PENANAO6oOgIfTKO
186Please respect copyright.PENANAQWeRCA6hS8
"Victoria!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAyC7bgIT8rL
186Please respect copyright.PENANA5lUtyYb3nC
"Right!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAsLOFEeFk0x
186Please respect copyright.PENANA8FESVGVKyj
Victoria ran over to the wolf. She didn't pin him down, but instead, grabbed one of his oversized hind legs and bent it in an impossible direction. The wolf opened its mouth and wailed and readily spat fire. With all his squirming, Dragon-Maw Jr. could hardly keep him in place. I produced another water ball and flung it at the wolf. I managed to perfectly land it inside its maw, and the beast was forced to cough it all out.186Please respect copyright.PENANApRSqHxjGQc
186Please respect copyright.PENANAeVdqq4d6ys
Dragon-Maw Jr.'s teeth sunk deeper into its neck. The wolf was still desperately clawing at its eyes, but each succesive swipe made it obvious that the beast's strength was fading. Victoria broke its other hind leg. The wolf struggled, but he didn't attempt to spit out fire this time. The wolf simply howled, and howled, and its howls grew weaker by the second. Dragon-Maw Jr. kept clamping down. I noticed it myself, how the neck was being sluggishly pulled off the body. Victoria clasped the wolf's snout. She began pulling at it.186Please respect copyright.PENANAG7z9l6fsjC
186Please respect copyright.PENANA05Jkk7tWmi
"GRAHHHH!"186Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZcByRBqjm
186Please respect copyright.PENANA20bbgoqINx
A warcry. She was a total barbarian.186Please respect copyright.PENANAWvmWr9bq3c
186Please respect copyright.PENANAF1Uf1f7ROl
With the help of Dragon-Maw Jr, Victoria tore off the wolf's neck and threw across the field. The head crashed and spallered against a tree. It immediately evaporated into the air, and the rest of the wolf's body followed suit. She grabbed her knees and began to pant.186Please respect copyright.PENANAi6elO8Bqmp
186Please respect copyright.PENANAqh5W1u4Krd
"..."186Please respect copyright.PENANA60as3LG1kq
186Please respect copyright.PENANAUTHKt09bno
I retracted the tendril. My mana supply was relatively plentiful. Still, I plummeted to the ground, face-first. I stopped coughing up purple goop, and a minute later, it stopped oozing from my chest.186Please respect copyright.PENANAzxw4Ts8QCu
186Please respect copyright.PENANAMIT5X1AWpu
I had questions about it, but those were for later. At the time being, I was happy. I relishing the moment. Even with grass pressing against my face, I was relishing.186Please respect copyright.PENANArjamxKCzsS
186Please respect copyright.PENANANM7DpZaCHd
We did it. We really did it.186Please respect copyright.PENANA7262sHiVQX
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"Kenny!"186Please respect copyright.PENANAVvRcKzNL0s
186Please respect copyright.PENANAfZ25NdaVDC
Victoria ran up to me. I looked up at her.186Please respect copyright.PENANAjzO2xKDxH4
186Please respect copyright.PENANANhfMH3sEZX
"What's coming from your chin? Are you okay? Are you poisoned?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA4cYxljypk4
186Please respect copyright.PENANAZGGQJJdD7n
"I-I'm fine, just a little... pained."186Please respect copyright.PENANAOSVQoh9mTB
186Please respect copyright.PENANAVsFY8hcA52
She sighed. I only now noticed the blood splattered across her dress. The dress was torn, too. That wolf had some sharp claws.186Please respect copyright.PENANA4AA2u3OKbI
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"I'm a little pained, too. The potion I used didn't have any pain suppression."186Please respect copyright.PENANA7YInfGG781
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"No pain suppression? What kind of second-rate potion is that?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAmrDRdbLxpS
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She shrugged. She plummeted to the floor herself but comfortably landed on her butt, unlike me. We waited in silence for a bit.186Please respect copyright.PENANAYq9rlULg8E
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"We did it," I muttered.186Please respect copyright.PENANAGCWjidK8A3
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I struggled to believe it. Not just because the wolf was taken down without much hassle, but because of how I was feeling.186Please respect copyright.PENANAdAYqTOyHWS
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Right now, I was immensely satisfied. I glanced at Victoria, and she was fine, and I was fine, and the beast was dead, and I was satisfied.186Please respect copyright.PENANAwl0w8iH8lQ
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I had trouble deciphering what that meant. But, I was satisfied. I couldn't help but smile.186Please respect copyright.PENANA6tP4NVNNw7
186Please respect copyright.PENANAU9u2LWorvq
"Yeah. That wasn't so bad, was it?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAb9Q2Qbp598
186Please respect copyright.PENANAUgu6NSoPjR
"...It could've been a lot worse."186Please respect copyright.PENANAnBBPZbJYYw
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"Yeah. I'm lucky my dress is the only thing that got torn."186Please respect copyright.PENANApHoyRmAVxW
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Victoria looked at something above me.186Please respect copyright.PENANAazAIaS3XNa
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"Hey, Kenny, are you unable to fight?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAon1uBvjZWC
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Feeling a bit rushed, I answered anyway.186Please respect copyright.PENANAV8OoHTzyUi
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"No. Why do you ask?"186Please respect copyright.PENANA4CvEt7s52i
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"I haven't heard a single thing coming from the building. Our fight was noisy, so I thought that maybe someone would come out. I'm starting to get worried."186Please respect copyright.PENANAMaczoH9H6P
186Please respect copyright.PENANARIqHNxW8eF
"You... for someone who just tore off a living thing's head, you're awfully calm."186Please respect copyright.PENANAM3jMsH8KPD
186Please respect copyright.PENANAnuIcnK6pkW
"O-Oh, sorry."186Please respect copyright.PENANAhs0oiqeoMf
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She scratched her cheek a little.186Please respect copyright.PENANAjOfbLPSDmv
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"Just what kind of fighter was your mom? What did she teach you?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAorYPV71K27
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"That's just how you need to be with monsters. Equally brutal. It's something I got used to. I watched my mom fight a lot when I was a kid."186Please respect copyright.PENANAJCxgkqJVMJ
186Please respect copyright.PENANAqHGZBTIy5G
"Well, I'm not used to it. Give me a second, please."186Please respect copyright.PENANAdM0ZBqEoKk
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"Of course," she exclaimed with a thumbs-up and one of her eyes closed.186Please respect copyright.PENANAE3owVM4DyM
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I sighed. My face returned to the grass as I indulged in the silence. I could feel the fatigue worm its way into every nook and cranny of my body. I was surprised at the toll the fight had on me. Eventually, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my shirt. It was even more purple than before.186Please respect copyright.PENANA1iS6I7FPcb
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I helped Victoria up. I limped to the busted gate and stared at the compound. A weight formed in my stomach. I almost began to pray, but the doors to the building slowly opened.186Please respect copyright.PENANAMwvOORp6SY
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Skylark was there. Kim was on one shoulder, and when he opened one door wide enough he grabbed Panz by the hood. He had a lot of dust on his body. When he caught up to us, he frowned.186Please respect copyright.PENANALUNfC9m9kf
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"Victoria, your dress... what happened?"186Please respect copyright.PENANAgI0ogfpqrq
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"We fought something, Kenny and I."186Please respect copyright.PENANAMSea9pWcwh
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She patted me on the back. The pain jolted across my body yet again, and I clicked my tongue.186Please respect copyright.PENANAtb7Erj9uCq
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"I see. Well, I'm glad you two aren't hurt."186Please respect copyright.PENANAXHP4spxRPJ
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"How is Kim?" I asked.186Please respect copyright.PENANAGDnkdGFLqS
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"She's fine, just unconscious."186Please respect copyright.PENANAycxAKd77vL
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I could only say one thing.186Please respect copyright.PENANARGA33zx3YF
186Please respect copyright.PENANAOOYF4wQR5g
"...Haaaa. Thank God."