The earliest thing he could remember was the book. No, that wasn't quite it, but Kenneth had difficulty recalling. He gave himself a minute, and then it came to him clearly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5wzQlYq5K
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Kenneth remembered a building, a grand one in the middle of his home village. It was a church, the Church of the Buffalo. It was on an elevation of two-hundred feet and was five miles from the shore– hardly anything, he's come to realize. He remembered the town having abundant greenery and a gorgeous forest nearby. Of course, how could he forget the forest?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX9l9bPzOM
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Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZmujdmJVk
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He had just turned three years old. Kenneth was about thirty-two inches tall, which was considerably short for his age. Kenneth was wearing a black robe, akin to that of the priest's. He was standing next to said priest, who was giving a speech Kenneth couldn't remember. After the speech, his head was doused in warm, relaxing water, and then the attendees of the ceremony clapped. Kenneth was just officially declared a toddler. It may seem silly, but his village was small, so ceremonies for the young were held like this quite often. It was Kenneth's third birthday, he remembered. He ran over to his father and mother, and that was the first memory Kenneth could retain of them. His father looked sick, his mother looked guilty.
From this point on, Kenneth could recall it effortlessly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYDwHMW6sE
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When Kenneth returned home, he was treated to a dish of kind words and a refreshing meal. He was only three, but he had such a big appetite already. His father was away from the table. Kenneth just sat with his mom.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRFKFPxfT7
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"Happy birthday, Kenny."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzp0QNbQ1v
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"Mm?" Kenny hummed with a slice of bread stuffed into his mouth. "Mm! Thank you!" Though it was hard to hear, her mother smiled. She was a nice lady, brown hair and green eyes. Kenneth loved her. He loved how her mother made great food. But Kenneth always thought that she looked too old to be his mom, maybe his grandmother.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWmzfuSy1G
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Dad came back to them. He had a glass bottle in his hand. He looked tired, but Kenneth was smiling vigorously at him. He still didn't change out of his church robes. He sat at the table, slamming his empty bottle on it. He stared at Kenneth's mother, and then at Kenneth. He burped and said, "Happy birthday boy," and passed out on the spot.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVCL3oUzsL
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Those words were a lot coming from his father. Kenneth was told to rush to bed, and he did so cheerily. He did it so.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ1dNYKZVN
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That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeY2VflSsZ
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Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFV7tJvu9d
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Customary to the tradition, Kenneth learned how to read and write now that he was a toddler. And he was quite good at it, he soon found. By this time, he was already writing cohesive sentences, and he read every bedtime story in the big folklore book in just a day. Kenneth loved to read, but he loved another thing more: the forest.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KUfK6Y09C
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Kenneth's house was closest to the Blooming Biomes, a gorgeous forest near the village. Kenneth's room had a window placed perfectly for him to gawk at the forest. It wasn't a dense forest either, so he could see the magical plant life there too. Some of it moved, and some of it released spores, but Kenny marveled at it all the same. Kenneth loved looking at that forest so much that his dad forbade him from going to his room throughout the day. So Kenneth, the smart child that he was, went to the forest.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vUa5sdNlO
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His mother stopped him immediately during his first attempt. He couldn't even make it ten feet out the door. Kenneth protested, but his mother explained that the forest was "dangerous and filled with wild beasts." Kenneth didn't believe her, of course. Kenneth spent all day looking at that forest, and he knew wild beasts weren't there.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtosX1I72Or
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On his second attempt, Kenneth made it past the rickety fence surrounding the house. His dad picked him up this time, and he fiercely slapped Kenneth. That was the first time that Kenneth could remember himself crying. His mother was furious, but his father apologized and hugged Kenny. Of course, Kenny was satisfied with that, but he was a smart child, and he knew he could get more out of it. So Kenneth tried to pressure his father to let him into the forest. His father almost slapped him again. Kenneth thought of it as progress.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg27IhUuelf
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Kenneth's third attempt was much more successful. His father caught him trying to jump out the window. Kenneth didn't account for the fall, and he plummeted with teary eyes, but his father was right there, frowning.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsitgMrfb0
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"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CNkheOBlV
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Kenneth began to tear up again. His father sighed. "Don't try this again, Kenneth," he simply said. And Kenneth obliged. For a week.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJZMiFJB53
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Kenneth's fourth attempt wasn't interrupted by anybody. He managed to do it, to finally do it; he was in the woods. Kenneth frolicked around and gazed at the scenery like a dumb drooling moron. He hugged the trees, tickled the flowers, and even pulled one out of its stock before he was hit with a spore that made him cough and wheeze. Kenneth decided against randomly pulling on plants. Kenneth ventured further into the forest, and he swore that it grew more and more beautiful with each step. Even the grass had a sparkly tint to it. Kenneth loved it. But something went awry.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX5FkhVOkJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToLfwHMpSM
Kenneth tripped on a large root he didn't see. He scraped his knee, but Kenneth managed to suppress his tears. His father's given him worse after all. He rested against the nearby tree. Though it hurt, once he raised his head from the wound, his joy washed the pain away. The forest was that majestic.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp3mksxxDn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs58VFdoUPn
Then out came an animal. It wasn't very big. In fact, Kenneth thought it looked familiar. It was like one of the farm animals his neighbor kept around, but it had long curvy teeth coming from its mouth that pointed to the sky, and it had a lot of brown furs. It looked at Kenneth, and Kenneth smiled. And then Kenneth was forced to roll away.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTLZkd9iox
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The boar hit his snout on the tree, dazing the beast for just long enough for Kenneth to get on his feet and haul ass. But he tripped again on a different root. This time, Kenneth cried. The beast inched nearer and nearer and Kenneth's scratch grew to a disgusting flow of blood. Kenneth crawled away screaming but the beast kept approaching. Kenneth's pants became damp. But a miracle happened. The boar stepped forward and forward, and after hearing a snap of a branch, a great purple something emerged from the ground. It resembled the maw of a great dragon, but its eyes were missing and it was roughly the size of Kenneth himself. The boar stepped back in shock, but before it could make any distance, the boar's head had been bitten off. The maw retracted into the ground. Kenneth couldn't move. Ten minutes later he slowly crawled to the hole that was made. It wasn't a hole, he realized. It was a set of four large leaves, parallel and perpendicular to one another, and in the middle of these leaves were blue sparkles. Kenneth knew better than not to touch it. Kenneth smiled with glee, got up, and ran home.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DV765XdZP
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Two things happened that day. Kenneth discovered mana, and Kenneth discovered magical plants. He was running back home excited, but a loud ruckus coming from the home prevented him from entering the front door. It was his mother and father. They were screaming and crying. Kenneth waited until they stopped, and it did when he heard a slap. He didn't know who it was from.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EzJ3W69Sp
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The next instance Kenneth cared to remember was when he turned four. Kenneth somehow hadn't been caught sneaking out into the woods, but something of his had been found. His mother was in his room, holding a notebook in her hand that Kenneth was all too familiar with. He turned to run away but was grabbed by the back of his shirt before he could.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnTtkn5A9E
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"What is this, Kenny?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CtakrUOYM
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"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsooG8WW2PU
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Kenneth decided to tell his mom a half-truth. Maybe he could escape a beating that way, he thought. His mother opened the book and flipped straight to the crummy illustration of the purple plant that killed the boar.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei4g3gl7Wt
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"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80YaiFSqwj
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It was no use avoiding it now. Kenneth told his mother that, for the past six months, he has been going into the Blooming Biome and studying the magical plant life there. As well as a kid his age could, anyway. Though Kenny expected to be slapped, that didn't happen.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLtVyCh66Z
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"Christina, do you know what this means?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfUX4kFaPq
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His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDUqi2tdEV
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"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3OtAHdBsK
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Kenneth's mom nodded. Kenneth didn't understand what was going on, but the two of them were smiling and that had to be good.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmTb5KFTIt
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It was.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaTBsmVxD2
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A week later, Kenneth's father presented him with what could best be described as a tome. Kenneth didn't ask where they got it, because he was having a hard time even lifting the thing. His father explained to him that it was a book of magical plants and alchemy. Kenneth had no idea what the second word meant but he didn't care. He just received a big new book to read.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0xR4UBppE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEXUreZhh9
It took Kenneth a month to read the book. Another month was spent reading it again. Kenneth tried to sneak out again but his parents had been keeping an exceptionally watchful eye, so it was impossible. Kenneth didn't mind though, because this book was the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. He didn't know any of this 'alchemy' stuff, but the plants, oh the plants. He recognized the few he's seen in the woods, like the spore one, or the purple one, or the one that occasionally shoots out blazing beams of light, or the ones that make him vomit. But there were so, so many that Kenneth didn't know about, or could've even dreamt about. Most of them were at much higher elevations, but that was fine because King's Peak was easy to traverse anyway. He saw gorgeous illustrations resembling beasts more than plants, and each picture carried an ungodly amount of information. Uses, known habitats, behaviors if they had any, risks, stories of their discovery. Kenny spent all day in his room, just reading about this stuff, over and over. His parents had to take away the book for a week.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzViukDhvDx
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During that week though Kenny managed to sneak out of the house. It seemed that all the time he spent in his room reading made his parent's security lax. He ventured into the forest with his journal, now filled with plagiarisation from the book both text and picture, and attempted to connect each plant he saw with an illustration. Now that he was older traveling the forest was much easier, and Kenneth learned to bring a weapon with him this time. He had a small hunting knife in a sheath in his pocket. He discovered that he could also use the knife to take some of the plants he saw with him, but he made sure they didn't shoot out any spores before he did. He kept the retrieved plants in his other pocket. It was fine for a while until his pants became wet. Not from himself this time, but from the plants. He took them out and they were all leaking a clear fluid. It was clear but it was sparkly, much like the rest of the forest. Kenneth didn't have any cup with him, so he improvised and took the knife out of its sheath and used that to store the liquid. He ran home, forsaking the plants and the knife, and snuck in.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUjUQzocJC
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His parents still weren't home though. Kenneth usually wouldn't pay that any heed, but there was broken glass in the kitchen and small red liquid on the floor.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXujqJZOXz
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"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsK7Pi5MeF
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Kenneth ran upstairs.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC9eCquE1W
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Kenneth spent the next week experimenting with the liquid. He relocated it to a small glass cup and tested it out. He didn't want to taste it quite yet since he knew that was dangerous, but he did touch it. It felt cold, even after being in his room for so long. It amazed Kenneth. Kenneth then spent time putting different things into the cup. Grass, food, a few of his clothes, sometimes his own urine, metal, and by some miracle, fire. Nothing ever came of it though. It satisfied Kenneth for a while, but ultimately, he thought it was a dud. He kept the glass around. It made him feel nice.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXApT3O6HUh
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In a month's time, something exciting happened to Kenneth. His birthday was just a few days away but before any celebration or presents, his father sat him down outside. This had never happened before, so it made Kenny die with anticipation.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ6sDL24EV
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"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLjPiA9YcW
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Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL4kmOIIEj
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"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jlw1Xqjic
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Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF51na6APK
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"Luckily for you, brat, I know exactly what alchemy is. But before that, I need to teach you what mana is."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn7ZGfmXT3
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That was when Kenneth's life began.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOb3RFkj85
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His father taught him the basics: how mana was the essence creatures manipulated to conjure objects and tinker with the world. Fire, water, earth, and wind would all be conjured, and in the right circumstances, they could be manipulated as well. His father also explained how combinations could occur but he glossed over it. His father told him alchemy was the mana manipulation of chemicals, magical or not, and that it took a very skilled user of mana to achieve success in alchemy.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnvRZm4ccf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcpq4QIwTp
It was all Kenneth needed to hear before constantly nagging his dad about lessons. His fifth birthday rolled around and his father had bought him a basic alchemy kit, consisting of flasks, cylinders, syringes, and dropper bottles. Kenneth was unbelievably grateful that he practically ignored the new clothes his mother had bought for him. It was a white shirt with a grayish-blue vest, and a nice pair of gloves to go with it. It was meant for his alchemy, his mother explained. Kenneth loved his parents dearly that day.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRuHaJtUTb
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His lessons on mana manipulation were coming along steadily. Sometimes he would be beaten for failure, but Kenneth didn't care if it meant getting better. Three months passed, and after numerous bruises and fights between his parents later did Kenneth "graduate" from his father's lessons. The whole time though, Kenneth messed with alchemy, and really, he only needed his lessons for a few weeks. It mattered not though.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoJzjNevKn
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Kenneth was an auspicious child. He mastered basic alchemy like matter state manipulation and chemical changing, but to him, that was all just chemistry. No, what Kenneth really, really wanted to mess around with were the plants in the forest. His parents didn't care if he was out and about anymore, so Kenneth took advantage of it. What was probably his hundredth trip was taken with new knowledge, his new clothes, and a new passion.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ktcy8tmwK
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Kenneth brought bags with him, as well as a flask and a syringe. He had a belt where he could hook the flask and syringe and a cork lid to make sure the flask was shut. He put plants in the bag and any leak was put straight into the flask. He regretted only bringing one. He wanted the purest sample possible, after all. He still did have that syringe though, and since it was going to be such a small sample, he knew it had to come from a special plant.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi72sqjtKFS
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Kenneth smiled. He knew that there was a special plant here, alright. He ventured further into the forest until he found four familiar leaves. The sparkles from all that time ago were gone now, but that didn't deter him. He crouched down and stuck his syringe into the middle. And all of a sudden, out popped the purple plant.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2dbeQ7Vwu
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But Kenneth was ready for it. He reached for his knife holstered on his belt and cut the stem effortlessly. The maw fell to the ground, motionless, and Kenneth stuck its syringe into it. He also decided to take the head and one leaf for good measure.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmL2WUg488
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It was a haul, and Kenneth couldn't be happier. He returned home ready to tell his parents of his discoveries. That didn't happen quite like how it should've. His mom stepped outside as he was five feet away. Kenneth opened his mouth to say hi, but she looked at him with ferocity. It was a face Kenneth never knew her mother could make.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWBoDr0pGV
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"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HwRtXLRgI
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Kenneth nodded and entered the home. His father was sitting at the table. His forehead was bleeding a little and his knuckles were bruised.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8Tk9bKvHI
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"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7EKgrM7t2
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"J-Just some plants, Dad..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowGtG3Skzf
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"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrtgf6mYp7
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Kenneth gulped. He let go of the bag and waddled towards his father. What he got was a soft pat on his head. Kenneth blushed in surprise.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaUC1OsKS9
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"Keep doing that stuff, kid. I'm amazed by how much you love it. Don't worry about me and your mother, alright?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSbY6teJkl
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Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqozMYSPAs5
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Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdWNcbMLHk
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It was in that laboratory where Kenny would enhance his skills for the next two years. The time flew by fast. Astonishingly fast, but Kenneth's growth showed it. According to his father, Kenneth had already become a grade-four alchemist. Kenneth had no idea what that meant but it made him happy, and it drove him to keep improving.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpLycgJxWa
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Usually, Kenneth would follow the book. He learned the mixtures and followed the instructions listed there, and after hours of practice, the results he received were even better than what the book described. He managed to make a fertility potion to grow the newly planted tree in an instant. He managed to create a healing potion which, according to his mother, healed a boy's broken arm instantly. He managed to even reconnect one of the cut plants he brought back to the soil, and now a spore-bloom was in his backyard. His father punched him for it and removed it, since it was making him sneeze.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KgSukFtIH
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But, after a while, Kenneth ran out of instructions to follow in the book, and he already perfected each and every recipe. He asked his parents for a new one but they claimed the books were "too expensive these days". Kenneth was upset but he didn't protest, he just thought of new things to do. A night in his laboratory made him realize just how potent his mana manipulation had become, so much so that he could do it without thinking. He thought maybe to learn proper spells, such as those related to the four core elements but decided against it. He decided on something new entirely.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oao5vlDMX
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What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvMBBsJZV5
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The next year Kenneth would learn to do just that. He mixed his alchemy and mana manipulation with the plants he would find in the wild. He made roots grow and shrivel just with mana, and he could even accelerate the growth and decay of plants. He soon learned to amplify the effects of the plants, such as how potent the spores were, or just how large and hot the light beams from the Light-Beam-Blossoms became. Ultimately though, he returned to alchemy, and that was because of one thing: the purple dragon-maw plant. He planted it back using one of his plant-revival potions but did it in a more remote location. The maw, for whatever reason, didn't react negatively to Kenneth. In fact, the maw begged for his attention. It would lick Kenneth from time to time, much like a dog did. Kenneth grew to cherish it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCRUpiJ8Jm
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The plant itself seemed to be rare, as, according to the textbook, it was an "ancient species likely to be extinct." Obviously that wasn't the case, but Kenny didn't mind. That was because there were no alchemical procedures listed with the plant. All of it was free reign, like a sandbox, and Kenny took advantage of it. He mixed and matched substances and potions with the essence of the dragon-maw plant, all to varying degrees of effects. Sadly, Kenny burned through possible combinations too quickly. He had to leave the maw for the time being; he said his goodbyes.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjijWanIvR4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGWVJ0CFt4
Kenny returned to the forest again to gather more plants. This time he ventured deeper than ever, hoping to find a species he hadn't encountered yet. It didn't happen. Instead, Kenny found another boar, but it was smaller than last time, most likely a child. Kenny left it alone, afraid that it might hurt him, and continued to go deeper into the woods. He turned back once the sun began to set. On his way back though, Kenny found an interesting sight.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZSWNcHKXn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5hHWp8l9x
"...It's dead."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2SENXTnb6
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTH0VzPgaw
The boar was lying on the ground, not in one piece, but in several. Its insides, few in quantity, were sprawled around the grass. The boar was practically hollow. All that was inside of its skin were bones. But for whatever reason, a single part of the boar was left out completely untouched: its heart.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkQnCrl6py
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL7mkNbrwT
Kenny didn't know what overcame him, but he reached for that heart and put it in the bag. He ran straight to his room and took out the syringe containing the essence of the dragon-maw plant. He stuck it into the heart. Nothing happened until he used mana manipulation.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a2g8djRu8
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb4CSl5Zsr
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxbdMOzP1g
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxiqTlQjW9
A month passed and Kenneth continued to mess with the dragon-maw's substances. He inject it into other plants, even into a live pig at one point, and used varying levels of mana manipulation just to see what would happen. The pig oozed out the liquid, but was fine. As for the plants though, nothing happened. Kenneth came to the conclusion that only flesh and bone were affected by the ooze.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHhMtpKJn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsdovDPhZe
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrtSHkdR22
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcnweSoyJG
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5UVhPMyLa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHxkkGcgSw
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5tErxUB3s
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokSu9Kq0yu
That was the first time she ever said that. It made Kenneth happy, so he explained his process and findings, how he used the ooze and injected it into organisms. He told her of the pig, and how–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz3x9LCdtC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MxK23gWdn
**THUD**295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIafQw2RRP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJp7W0kROR
A fist flew right into Kenneth's stomach. He was launched to the wall and slowly slid down. He looked up at his mother, who was making a face of pure terror.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwURsr4zpV
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JzV4jtCmY
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdno9SsHOT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlucV7gOPT0
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrVNCZCR6x
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKCGB3l1EU
Three months passed. Kenneth's focus returned to manipulating plants with mana. He quickly grew more and more efficient, to the point where hardly any nutrients from the soil were used to manipulate plants. His raw skill in mana manipulation grew, too. His father told him how splendid of a mage Kenneth could become, but Kenneth didn't care for that. Kenneth's greatest achievement was growing an entire tree in his backyard, just using his mana. The tree was nearly twice the size of any tree in the Blooming Biome, so it attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors, and Kenny got a good beating because of it. Kenny didn't care though, he was improving, he was growing better and better. But it didn't feel as fulfilling. He returned to alchemy and improved his potion-making abilities, and through connections with his father, he even managed to sell them to outsiders of the village. Having a sudden income was pleasant, but the process of making potions became repetitive.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ipbcSfWhe
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0aikBK788
Kenny had the itch to return to the dragon-maw. But it wouldn't amount to anything. After all, he had no flesh he could use.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmIA9JJA7D
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQlG8DTc3z
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn2dmznOKr
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBzPe2ofxF
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafpztGECaf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkDxPeKq2D
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVv4ApWPVH
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNQNHUEFDF
He used his body to test the effects. He started small of course, just a quarter of a syringe's worth of essence, and the effects were immediate. Kenny received a deal of discomfort, and his face scrunched terribly. But something worried him. Unlike the pig, the ooze never left his body.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWxHVfTlk3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUncJ67MVHI
His curiosity grew. He returned home that day, hoping to continue his fiddling in his room, but when he walked through that front door, he was met with a thrashed kitchen.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVpPsDLhFK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxN0WGDB2O
His mother was on the floor, sobbing. It was so distinct to him, that sobbing. The house had disappeared. The hallway, the broken kitchen, everything was gone. All he could see was his sobbing mother.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LAgKaw9iM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYYi4DmEGG
Kenny had no idea what to do, because now he wasn't playing with his plants. Now, he was in his home, and his mother was sobbing on the floor, and his mother was sobbing on the floor and Kenny had no idea why.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF9nVvD1Xe
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZLEAzyK7C
He scuttled upstairs and burst into his room. He rummaged frantically, glancing at potions and doing double-takes, making sure he would grab the right one. He eventually found a healing potion. Keny ran back down and offered it to her, wordlessly. His mother slapped it away, claiming that "she was fine" but Kenny knew it was a lie.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmOutESLjX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HObrBsi9T
And yet, Kenny believed it. He nodded at her assertation and simply walked back to his room. He lied down on his bed, and with a little trouble, fell asleep. Why did he do that?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP2cz8q303
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TPieCshLx
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwAOtGhzrU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujmSNuh3Pr
He returned to his experiments the next day. Kenneth had no interest experiencing such discomfort for results, so he changed his strategy. He drank some of the essence. It tasted like crap, so he spat it out. He tried mixing the essence with fruit and bread, but it tasted like crap so he spat it out. He was nearly out of options until his father brought home a bag of seeds. It was for the garden they were going to supposedly make. Kenneth found a new food item to try, so he injected the tiny seed with the essence– only a fraction of the syringe went in –and ate it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigk0nAtrpM
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYaiSOwbk9
It tasted like nothing. He tried a few more, still, nothing. The dosage must've been too small he thought, but then he realized that didn't make sense. It didn't matter how small the dosage was, it was always going to taste the same. But he didn't taste anything, just the grimy seed.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzCSnDiGPI
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5eelKXPAO
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPTLNELMRw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAyIoKaW6M
He concluded that nothing would happen once his ninth birthday rolled around, since it was four months later. His parents didn't bring him any gifts for this one. In fact, they weren't even at the house.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxo7Jpo664
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PfR4ueiaS
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9DKzXZS0O
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLB9DTuh5v
Kenny didn't mind. He went back to the dragon-maw plant. The plant was excited to see him and repeated the same licking routine it had been doing for a long time. Kenneth was excited to see it too, of course. It became a great close friend of his.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueXB0sA972
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HYklPeWSS
It was while caressing the plant that Kenneth noticed something strange about himself. For whatever reason, his shirt was bulging at his chest, and he felt something cold and hard rub against his right arm. He pulled back and stared at it. He couldn't believe his eyes. He pulled back his sleeve. Still, he was shocked. He took off his shirt and now Kenneth became worried.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi743dBMEAD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFz7kifTRw
A bundle of roots about as thick as his father's arm was protruding from the left side of his chest. It wrapped around Kenny's right arm and stopped right above his hand.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9koJXgIZ6
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9tkzkVib4
Kenny fainted.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHpyjqpDCL
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEhGrZBnGp
Kenny woke up an hour later and the bundle of roots was still there. Kenny tried to move it with his other hand but it wouldn't budge. He tried ripping and tearing at it, but it just grew back. This tendril of wood was seemingly stuck with him now. Kenneth panicked and asked himself, "What could've caused this?" He kept asking this question to himself while flailing his arms, trying desperately to shake the wood off.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeUL8vuUJP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJaeYt5Gde
He thought of all the plants he'd been tinkering with until this day. Was this revenge? Was this way of getting back at him? He knew it was silly but he couldn't think of anything else. He almost fainted again until the striking image of the spore plant came to his mind, and all of a sudden, the tip of the tendril blossomed that very plant.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmlJGukwfE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOX2GOCODx
"...What in the world?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1K0pniCeK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2IC5dyOyl
It was much smaller than the normal plant. Half the size, just about. Kenneth didn't understand how this was possible, but he kept messing with it. Next was the light beam plant, and it blossomed at half the size. Next was the dragon maw plant, then the poison one, then the one with the sparkly liquid, and all of them came out perfectly. Just at half the normal size.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x4NHvAV94
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6gsQWQqe0
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gowl7W31d
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ee94eX3H
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6CMk11SzT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuG9e7pl7s
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwnYHWgJ6J
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOaMnAvrPK
That didn't work, so Kenneth thought about bringing the tendril forth. It came out and wrapped around his right arm without him even uttering anything.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46J5Am3BLm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsSkf7vlis
"So that's what it is..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjjbZhvasY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckbf8r5c9A
Though Kenneth was skeptical, and frankly, disturbed, something about this was incredible. He jumped for joy and ran back home. He couldn't wait until he showed his parents.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD22WGHFah
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUofJhLlugb
Sure, they might've been out when he awoke, but they had to be back by now. Kenny did pass out after all, didn't he? He ran to the front door and slammed it open. He was so excited he could barely see in front of him. He suddenly stopped, because he realized that if he showed a wooden tendril the size of his father's arm coming out of his chest, he was sure to see the priest or something. So he tiptoed in instead.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK44lZI5mU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriIMpOcSqB
He heard some noise coming from the kitchen. How exciting! Even if he wasn't going to show them his tendril, he was sure that at the very least, he would receive a present. Kenneth turned the corner and entered the kitchen.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9liEkGVygy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR2CLbPfaE
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ogEzVLst
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BnYqWb6Qn
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SvuPtEMvl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGAYI27ln8
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD6Oy8WPPV
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM8lSDIgVo
Kenny was sure, for a moment, that he was still passed out, because this made no sense. Of course, that had to be it. A tendril from his chest should've been a good enough indicator, but this practically confirmed it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5tnCo8SPZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqnJQ9lZvx
His mother was standing there with a knife in her hand. It was wet, and the liquid was dripping onto the floor, making a great big red puddle. Kenneth looked aside, and saw his father with his head laid down, and covered in that same red liquid.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gxCQMGjM3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJJgtUOh33
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X8VuVnD2W
"...Dad–"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiM91BbXJ6
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQGpygKRi7
"Huh?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf5IvZLsBO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx5AHXUT9T
His mother turned around. When she saw Kenneth, she looked terrified. It made no sense. If she was terrified, then what was Kenneth supposed to feel?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6MEC8vG3S
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aWLfSWoji
His mother fell to the floor. She dropped the knife. She scurried away from the boy as if he was the one who killed the man she loved.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcthGj77O6
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GnvS2wshh
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5obowKTnO
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q7grBr1yR
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ16yDZhwI
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2smQeFXkG
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7wMNWOO9s
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsD4hqLGNs
Kenny just didn't understand why.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesdbhhqskC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY2I3DK7eS
Kenny yelled. He didn't know what was happening but the tendril stretched and pushed his mother against the wall. Kenny kept screaming and screaming, and then he too began to cry, and he kept crying all while the tendril held up his mother. Soon, a neighbor came by. Then another.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiLfVMFuXm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7aQVP8RAE
Mother was arrested that day.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn2YrG1Ufb
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuKRwyB51w
–
–
–
Nobody questioned Kenny's strange new limb. Nobody had the heart to. "What kind of soulless bastard would ask him that now?" Stuff like that. It made sense.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jgLU06qRB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYZPJjvJUM
He was back in the church. He sat alone, wearing his church garbs. It was the first time he wore something other than his mother's gift. He couldn't possibly imagine doing it now.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBeM0MWdtk
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lKl1R7T4y
Kenny's mother was under trial. The whole town and the priest served as the jury. At one point Kenny was asked to testify but he couldn't move a muscle. He just couldn't.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL7jzjysJa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mQjlB7iUE
It was a pitiful trial. Kenny's mother didn't utter anything, and in the end, she was sentenced to death. Kenny was forbidden to watch the execution, but he somehow weaseled his way in as he tends to.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs45myQlKiW
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGejapeYBnJ
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWxOxorbLV
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwTjCBcVWn
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlmPZ0qpdi
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopXcOLApi9
The trial didn't even last half the day. Her guilt was just that easy to tell. "But what did that mean for Kenny?" everyone asked. Of course, he was famous in the village. He served excellent potions and has made spectacles for the entire town to see. But nobody knew the type of person Kenny was.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaUY0drI0X
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RZRMuoZ5p
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEFWYjVHTa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhkSkhmxfL
A decision was eventually reached. A family with the surname "Somber" would take custody of the boy. Kenny was asked if he would've liked to keep his old surname but he didn't say anything.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhkFmhJRm4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdtIPDIlCg
Kenny was taken to their home. Kenny didn't know what became of his old residence. He was fed at his new home, and he even had a little brother now.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMphLBp1j4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk2g8j7v5U
For the first month Kenny didn't leave the house. It was excused at the time but eventually, his talents were needed too much. So Kenny, who got his equipment back, returned to alchemy, potion brewing, and the selling of his potions. He did it as well as he ever did, but it was different this time. It was wrong. Sometimes now, Kenny would slip up and make faulty products, and those times he didn't receive a beating, just a scolding. Some part of him wished he did receive a beating though.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOqkEoXP3W
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWAskpzuEs
It went on for another month.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98pyy4Pwpo
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Then another.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAhT1H86iy
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0PrF3lxhb
Then another.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCnOxRQkwC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjJ1dRKDa8
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4F8vcG6ju
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQquLyxwLU
The blood. It was slathered on the knife as if she was going to apply it to bread. And she was just standing there. Kenny didn't see her face but he knew she was smiling. And then her face after. Why was she so scared? Why? Why?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG6lp5oE8K
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpE8vgWtIl
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUUtG3qdIU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhwzNg77EU
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy10daa08sK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlm8hwyGR2
Kenny didn't understand what compelled her. Why did she have to kill his father? Kenny didn't understand. He asked himself and he didn't have an answer.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIhTRYiIfY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzqc9cJmtO
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Td1wisYn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQdzK0ssgi
They hated each other, didn't they? The "why" didn't matter, because look at what it amounted to. And all the while, Kenny was out of the house or in his room, playing with his plants like they were toys. He was at peace. They were not.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxOSHMlWWm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hJyP390mQ
And Kenny reminded himself of this.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG9YyTzUZ8
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY2uBmeVXd
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl6NQtPtO1
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngzGwhjRZ0
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTc31siPjY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksjM43BFby
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUixLK4b6UN
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlayFvypv4
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8vrMmzAiL
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3bu1XeceO
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSCTHuTN7k
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ154hIGeBgz
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86TKj54qsC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvqD0PfXVa
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S9Uv33Vhr
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZxCAG1838
Over and over.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxaYUKjANk
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMxCkYhpKe
He left the house. He turned ten already, somehow, he couldn't fathom how but he didn't care. He returned to the dragon-maw. It was called a Viscous plant, he recalled. But he hated that name. It was Dragon-Maw and that was final.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7TogCc0CU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VE5EqSXVl
Dragon-maw was excited to see him. He licked Kenny's face and even ticked him with his snout. Kenny appreciated it but wasn't here for that. He took out his syringe and took a sample of Dragon-maw's essence.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hiQ1wGCoP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE21EA7zaq
–
–
–
Kenny received a present for his eleventh birthday. It was like a coat. A large puffy white one with brown outlining. But it also came with a stylish shirt and a pair of brown, skinny pants.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XBskuqtRq
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl7uDesMa9
His new mother, Anabelle, said that the coat was there to compensate for the bulge whenever his tendril came out. Kenny smiled and thanked her. It had been a while since he'd done such a thing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HTXtNeNFb
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8OmTaXwnw
After the pleasant event, Kenny returned to alchemy and mana manipulation. He hardly improved though. Kenny lost a lot more than his family during the incident. Kenny tried to stay in good touch with the whole village. He tried to put on smiles and talk politely, but all the words he and other spewed never sat right with Kenny. Nothing ever sat right.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjZFEzwkTD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIihfHtNmFx
Then there was Dragon-Maw. Kenny saw him every day. Kenny used to love the greeting he received from the plant but he's stopped being licked altogether. Today in particular, Kenny received a face akin to disgust, though it was hard to tell because the plant lacked eyes.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbjjIKqzUJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpcIXJdw0f
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Jwk23PaA
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlJBBEyVXs
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriW2ROxa3Z
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX1EOAGmyo
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzmhqhUZSZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxTtTkPyFy
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSx8LpjNs9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJnYIxU8cX
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTWUdpb52c
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqTgqckjnH
He was getting agitated. Still, the plant continued to flail and yell. Kenny rushed in and tried to pin it down but he was knocked away. Kenny grew annoyed and used his tendril. He wrapped it around the maw and shut it tight.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpZb4dW1Z7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRni1C5mYL
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWHTF2MjJP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxdulo3PGc
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBsL2uegup
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1fvU1oJ5d
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibQlXBiynI
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDS0SRKCa3
Anabelle approached Kenny before he entered the house. She carried him inside hurriedly. She asked Kenny to sit down and he did. He waited for a few minutes before she returned with a letter. Kenny was handed it and he began to read.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9rA6ZGQKl
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6dLIYmtEb
It was an invitation.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aWDknzxlb
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdpLd4bjix
Somehow, a scout from a prestigious school of alchemists saw the things Kenny had been doing, and considering his incredibly young age, thought it fit to enroll him there. Apparently, tuition was free, but the school was an extensive journey away. It would take four months on a carriage.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hbJpklb7s
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuPYy3RCZQ
Kenny did not know how to react, nor did he know what to say. He politely told Anabelle that he'd consider it and returned to his room. He continued doing his regular alchemy business but the invitation continued to nag him. He sighed and put down the flask.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcinxV49q0R
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjadKinbyqS
"What am I supposed to do?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsmjgiAGRj
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F60ze44IC
It was a tempting offer. Kenny did love his plants, after all. Alchemy was profitable and enjoyable, and he was very skilled at mana manipulation. The selling of his potions probably caught the eye of the university. But why should he go? He was already exceptional in his field. He was fine here, wasn't he?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko3Gj8VfIT
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzhXgdDDFu
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRao1AtoZb9
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEksbyJyRVR
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rnWztO5DY
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zfuFKTpIX
All of a sudden, Kenny's mind began to hurt. This is something he'd typically avoid thinking about. He sighed, thinking it was time to clear the haze in his mind.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbG6khGCXx
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC8TlURmIo
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7CqH8JRIu
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkqMz5lHMO
The stationary plant went missing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqS5WCAZvX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoDOCh1sGV
He had no way of making a new one. The one in his tendril would simply produce blood– it was something he discovered months ago.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1y6xkSozE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrodtN9go8Y
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhPLBhGGmR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWK8KUqPDK
Dragon-Maw went missing.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywch09dIXc
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu5wYqP0n3
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdjkk5c24A
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJHYaxsjGA
"...Why?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjthSkwzOW
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXSxnts2jZ
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3NMtKJhPG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM4qC32nVq
And still, Kenny took his essence.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhpRuj48c0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwIU1vd7yc
Of course he would leave.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDaKHJRsqQ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamV935ZXMD
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqZyT3YQpG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8uEBlzVp8
–
–
–
Seven months passed since Dragon-Maw went missing. Kenny didn't move much since then. He grew a little bit of belly fat. It relieved him.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy5Te571AH
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3MFCpEk6W
Kenny was still doing what he did best, brewing potions for the village. That's all he ever did, people say, just stay holed up in his room and do alchemy. It wasn't a lie, but sometimes, Kenny felt like he wasn't even doing that–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6sTK5lnAZ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vjv9x6u5a
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmKvzJiJip
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBCbvU3p5u
"Kenny. Come out here."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrG0dRJp5V
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERNxF6pHQ1
But that was a man's voice who just spoke. He stood up and begrudgingly opened the door. His wrist was taken and he was pulled.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r6tC1UyW3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1f1uuaqMV
"W-Woah!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXGqO6nJGE
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRKF42EEFU
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvZzUmWBjK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFlcb30PA8
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaiLmuNlm0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbSqhPXXDx
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLHxVm7ooD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3VH5fFgzd
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8GNu0oHvG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEiAnu7qBW
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRedFE5ZBgK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZLFP65dP2
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEqsOJFL6L
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqYBRU8qwI
The sun was bright outside. Kenny had a hard time seeing so he covered his eyes. He tried to re-enter the building but his turning of the doorknob was met with a kick at the door. He'd rather not get hurt, so he decided to just roam the village.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SNJ0d9mO3
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4bCYzb2pK
It was... strange though. Not because something truly strange was happening, but because the mood was different. People were out and about, doing their work, and children were playing and having fun.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kpdYCYndB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GnZYWQaWY
Kenny didn't get it.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxtpTd0YBK
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPypRwgLR
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqbg7zpPBD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIrE2w1Wwy
"Ah, Kenny! Look at you!" A random woman said with a gleeful smile on her face, "You're finally outside, about damn time you recluse! Hahaha!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpheIs5D8B
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8mAs1Tswo
"I... whaa?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJIEsLDqNa
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCu2hrPMoS
Kenny couldn't formulate a sentence. The woman just waved at him and went away. Kenny didn't understand. Why was she so... rude to him? Didn't she understand that his parents died? That his plant was gone and that he was all alone?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFtF2qBggi
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzporikb3rH
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUayFuqweB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEI3jkvRNx
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp6hhh7BWD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUo7m3y32u
He didn't like that. But still he kept wandering. He didn't know what else to do. He watched as the kids played and as the adults chattered about this and that. Kenny was confused. He didn't understand it at all.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ178uJcutsU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabDxzIduKc
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ohkrb0XLn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyfGJCOtmk
Uncle? Kenny turned around and a little girl was there grinning ear to ear. Kenny was much taller than her, she was probably something like six–295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYqlVwDSRn
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavySGh9QVO
"Huh?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDIgM2sCky
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo3gOSiveZ
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXy1iZHHEB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXR8OtyAyd
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6OIph070Y
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SBQIN8sH8
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSpvcU5Kax
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnRuO9v0Yn
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnhNoRsPcx
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5bswMhtaf
"Uh... sure?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSaR66WkDs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgneOQVLP1i
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd5pM168lB
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yrKXaA0F6
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFca1SmQPYG
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiuLRYcK2k
No, Kenny couldn't still.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXlagJXNfx
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IA9Q2QyPK
He still didn't know what was going on.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ537QLkBpOm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCh7CUqo1P
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf08p3KHfc0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JExFEf5xD
"...Big Brother."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJnYf6k0wg
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwarv0k6Zr
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGto66umzE8
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R6hQa799q
The kid looked upset. Of course, that's the look. That's the look that I should be getting, Kenny thought. They're still dead, and the plant is gone, and he's still alive, and nobody should ever forget that, Kenny thought.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XuaWrPUjD
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRRlyqYtfI
But then he smiled.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptRJyCFCx2
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEbSsHXm6q
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM4LK1Lkev
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPIaGnr7ra
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4aBnnsuGP
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NoJ5QzKxY
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK8uDRMtH0
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yFS3DxmOM
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm51jCczqe
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5seu42swb
"D-Don't you get it? Does nobody else get it? My parents died! I drove my plant away! Am I– am I the only one who cares? And– and its–"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15YJcBIrFU
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBGr8H6goY
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKpIMgpqdz
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELJdRdIcpm
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc1HukLfIm
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwGETVo3Vz
"I get it, it hurts. And I'm not saying you should be all cheery. But for a whole seven months, you stayed indoors, and it was the plant that drove you that far?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vt1zFikLJ
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG39uZ6FCzo
"W-What? Huh?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFotpGH8I41
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtWu7BkHMH
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBFlSCJqyw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJItay3ijtu
This was insulting.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgUH8wxMx5
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNhZxOOK0g
This was just insulting now.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Anb8mLZGq
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ptNl8JRB9
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFicJ6CB5v
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HxcoOqA0B
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyCHB5GbQX
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oNSO9x4Q6
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lPbmc9xOF
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ko93kyaek
And then something shattered in him.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gNieVssdA
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe32AIWcSZI
What was making him so hung up?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96672GvbPC
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA61k05W6H
Why, that's obvious, isn't it? It's so obvious that Kenny didn't feel the need to say it out loud. But Jackson was looking at him like he needed to say something. Kenny couldn't though, because Kenny knew that it was too obvious. Yet Jackon kept that gaze up, and kept pestering him with that look, and–
**SLAM!**295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsDe89VHYf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hWeflamhX
"...Huh?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OZFgJFs1X
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyoX1h9Xgy
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDRSDCe8sw
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKOmKHX3qP
"L-Listen, Kenny..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsROIRdVAf
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mGvNe4LtX
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy0FafTvem
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxqsxR5qDr
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTUK8JkjPR
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3iHDXcS38
"..."295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro4yJ4eTp4
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqttuVFhX0A
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJkheHXjBs
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Pt4qeAOO
–
–
–
He had a talk, to say the least. Kenny grew better. He had a difficult time talking to others, and despite the discussion, his feelings for the incident and himself didn't go away entirely.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneFDkxlPss
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIahcPw54DY
But Kenny was fine. He turned twelve, and he was about to board a carriage. Yes, he accepted that offer. Transportation wasn't free, and despite Kenny's insistence on paying for it himself, a carriage was in front of him while his coin sack was completely full.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUHZSHSt4v
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDJAWHOBWH
Kenny turned to those saying goodbye. It was practically the whole village, but Anabelle and Jackson were at the front. Kenny swore he was going to cry again, but he held himself back. He was wearing the clothes Anabelle gifted him. His snow white jacket with brown buttons and outlining, his complementary light-brown pants. It did make the environment a bit toasty though.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1TeKXnZSt
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHmuD1lnNX
None of that was important. What was important right now was that he was hugging Anabelle and Jackson. What was important right now was that he was boarding the carriage and waving goodbye to his village. His home.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5h2xeKVaj
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7GFtie1aW
He was going to ascend King's Peak. It sounded a little crazy to him, but it was really happening. Kenny brought the tome and his equipment with him. He couldn't believe that a simple set of gifts got him this far.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtUwlXYWG7
295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmnm4xTFxd
He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO2kgHSncI
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Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9wOiIzKCZ
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That's what he remembered. All of that. Not all of his questions were answered, but he was glad he remembered that much. He got up from the rock and scratched his head. He wished that he remembered how exactly it came to this, though. Kenny was in a rocky field. His carriage was totaled, the horses were missing, and his driver was dead on the ground.
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