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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkCtmNY1Un
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6RKyF71lh
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb60AR9WGfJ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYy9AOASjO
Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMkJPoZk7I
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu118X0tgB
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPpxhZNp3C
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VPV3oGrMp
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Xtseqwmu
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicEDRCIzGU
"Happy birthday, Kenny."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ5Z7b81jU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUbpGha4lD
"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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wFva1E0nf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioh9I99Z7u
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC4vRfGYet
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufwsAvNcpa
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK9W2WVQRo
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEkqRmN2o7
That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFlaEMH1PT
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iB1aGRsDl
Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc1mKWO3Ly
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimL1Xp9UaD
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGE4tWbZat
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMNgiQMGvA
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnIxKeIbzG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG5HrhC5o1
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFiFGOmNRN
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZtiwUF94k
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡposZcuoV8j
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxtJGR7NQ8
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4JHv09ZRv
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvnOE6Ic1A
"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ15HfbeLd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99aAyon8PW
Kenneth began to tear up again. His father sighed. "Don't try this again, Kenneth," he simply said. And Kenneth obliged. For a week.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52IoXiYg5N
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L4e6rcyZD
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ753ZPznOwC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IMiun092s
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zr4pvNFXc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfP6pPdM0m
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeQj4Lcd4O
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qa5kSwtXl
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDqPrTF0iE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZTwXoi4vJ
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnhJp9b1yF
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjaf9NaBJ6
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN36su5Uqh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO7EDuciNP
"What is this, Kenny?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor1vaA0mfG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIUQFWR92Z
"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfongaB3dA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x1rC2PzGi
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXGgalTTMF
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2K2B55dhH
"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCWZSdYMKf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKEw11nLox
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULsJ2vjQx3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y4jq2lLiX
"Christina, do you know what this means?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5fVVqJnUt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCzJIUaJaf
His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuTDr3d8T7
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFddGW5snuc
"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuWxWV2ze5
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLgNesEcxr
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEPppgTJJd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Xm7DCN11
It was.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6uleYNoSt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpbbWMBQaS
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55EVOTwHjb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkpe3aF1Y8
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPShdrb5hE4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SLuSyJZBJ
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcKnkk926X
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9NV4G4aMk
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyqDXrLB0v
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4iNI1dqpL
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAC6yRvKl8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AZ9oflRW0
Kenneth ran upstairs.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE3tMzFeAp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IoBmukxvU
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGa8yH8e9V
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiPUlczpzU
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeEQN2XiPi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl4Vmy6Y53
"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkrmQWhT0j
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSczIMnDlZN
Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMAJLDDogr
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKREdEP0si2
"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecWoXtjRPs
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4laWYU8PTu
Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgJPHg0QfI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA54KrSXDzt
"Luckily for you, brat, I know exactly what alchemy is. But before that, I need to teach you what mana is."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5NY3T8TiL
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsw5zCMEtS
That was when Kenneth's life began.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VyTVRlCkX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRgXRQCLc1
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtUKXbPa2M
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjoceWwNNf
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gv669oerZ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg9i693ERH
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosc0wM8bll
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jVoLblyIG
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nacrc62qE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9JhDCx0I3
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQpSk8zwuz
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHAZbr3ItE
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroq1pa4U97
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBS8gBhBkE
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRxr2BQoFV
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHjtya4RRT
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVTys4zduC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyys3wySaB
"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5U6yaEH7w
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlPqGaDHbL
Kenneth nodded and entered the home. His father was sitting at the table. His forehead was bleeding a little and his knuckles were bruised.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQGaMWeANY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND9KAhufir
"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQhS3QiQcz
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyYlmt8gKZ
"J-Just some plants, Dad..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejkh7vGBHY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTuPmSczzv
"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpJKfn4lpC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg1O3vtvSF
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu8a4LhAd4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaGAB9wTgX
"Keep doing that stuff, kid. I'm amazed by how much you love it. Don't worry about me and your mother, alright?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaXYwa6CgZ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8d7W5h6qa
Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV5W84mFgI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLr2IFUVnp
Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpTu6Rfal2
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0yg97PuL0
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC03312k43
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3laVbPEJ5
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPN2c0WUMk
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCrjqy0Ivl
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHpBcawct8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKezNsAXfZ
What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtYTqx5fc4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8izH2703F
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kc2U0r8t1
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNseId6vQdO
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT909pGkOCj
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD41h4qGlwP
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc5Lw8jQWy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnXXi7CZWK
"...It's dead."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eJ5uYcAht
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03o6p6PUPT
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz97OhgEwOY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQdaC777lt
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T8euWi9vD
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt1cu0TCea
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb6aPaw5BH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz1XH5rmEF
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8UDuKEL9B
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GSBP0Trg0
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj1hGIyomy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmBd37BeQd
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO18pDXC1C
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0t9vYip9y
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUym8vZ70f
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0EHatKOEK
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–342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPGAIDDE28
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHKMTIcQHi
**THUD**342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrHUg7Acdm
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFebu9olp3
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcaiummYrx
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMulN9TbZys
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunrpctOlEo
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcylne3y35T
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw8rjDXdpS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrqH3zk2sg
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghNcKtd8tv
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysZkvVzPv2
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPADD9zaD5S
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kDS2cLVcs
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgYWHbZRzh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOatQNHyXTl
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5kzNJi5Qe
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0DkjDaipz
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GM9lUAdnA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RVkaxVrmp
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDastQWtKx
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpGzGnRMmp
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLia2rcp3gR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrXVdehLZt
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFId43AXf6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi368QQrvK
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw08BL1ltj
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZWQJJWalP
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAugVVddwkF
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvFfjhruEj
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIatsQuVaAY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac5bi6BeUe
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW613Q7GpoM
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yBieLQS6H
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3lDdxRQrE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R0vdaIAPa
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUbyFTGOCd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyBGhZde57
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqE6YzWqDU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q9KpNzlO1
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pZsIIeLge
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNg4MiKEG5
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZNGfyJvxg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMKC05R7u0
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7OWfiMh20
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvYQiRGWlZ
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN6KeYKOSx
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3121DGr1B
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmMFrMOZYA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L33RimtG5
Kenny fainted.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZiarYFj5P
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd3WA1OGcJ
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3LAQ04REY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSsvjFoK9t
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdarMlyLMId
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kYN1QjSFG
"...What in the world?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAP9yJiaAy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD8oH1FlqY
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zw3yIOIlP
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB75paiHtNx
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz9wG7DHey
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82if0CnN86
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BpPA0akCB
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4Dz8tjytd
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNtyTiFGNc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ3ujGDaH4
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCObnKWYY1q
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo3t0sm7Wf
"So that's what it is..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHpmvzvESt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlpaLzIvfQ
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmQCImAJUi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2xdmYU3bn
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKiX6JSvxh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaWeurD8LG
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32fYs78xUo
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVsq405iLq
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgdgMH7Mrm
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocRI8Y2miA
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1I5bOaftn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLpzHdtGUN
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOONrcG36bf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HvCumVW9t
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelewzs9eLc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoQfiSJONg
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TZhm8CM4Y
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dcoYgKg9j
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDgd3GXWgT
"...Dad–"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjaAMxcvvp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN1lkLA0GR
"Huh?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrF2ECxU54
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJchqKZm4kV
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScHXb67Hzi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZmiNd2OXO
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0AYEaJ6Av
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnweZuSLzY
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWn4Egj4zcb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPWbKvKvvV
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThAK2y2w2S
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC3XpA9eUn
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfTIrlZ0Zc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDZ7t2XAcv
Kenny just didn't understand why.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq56FLaTMkI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjD4mpuPIs
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLw6HgrPas
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy4TW2MeKU
Mother was arrested that day.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0afHBRBFA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGJFN4cAU4
–
–
–
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36IiPbNBI5
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsA1GO8wDx
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp8OMrtM1y
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTANH9fzTbC
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtntSBsHB3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn7qK4gUM4
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvkhQHsPc8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznUtMLHny9
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogntQRfufX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2QXBjq67D
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFdjZgqeJ0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEBVYxxEL8
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzfzYiNDWi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8pIROKn7N
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD79d5SXSy
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8x5nIUdEz
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr5ssOt0kC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡossvjjYLvF
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQJnAsihDd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yV596glQD
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSxtSZlVi3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLjpES0Ld7
It went on for another month.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Zy1vo5f0J
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinzFGZHaz
Then another.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr04gkIkTw2
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCCSBxN14q
Then another.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNvOh56lxD
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmciJmNufz5
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8VGbUqfSr
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ms2uS4fZj
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3dy5aNhWR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLCttOWsRm
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPE9y2IiCB
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9I3ON63QP
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9ALYG5gs6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRKaC7rYrF
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo0faErgoQ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAmTtKn6MU
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFdK0IvMsu
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1rFPzYuP2
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK113NSDqh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gPYKnL4EF
And Kenny reminded himself of this.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xFkiPbXYH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcqnWjAr09
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy66k3jTpp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C2dF0Gh8w
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v6MCcPs2H
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8vU7kyJkg
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2odRUzL5Es
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbtWsNUY71
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqUpr4vhU4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut0p2swA5o
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkfaibfpbn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNsVXkOwoP
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUmWTvlq8U
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhCmd4vHpV
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkSLRzyADE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeIm0GVKDz
Over and over.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PiXSSoWZl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV1rGE1NBv
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOZXoMUNqX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKyFgWEjJr
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVyL0rxvJi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnQUkTy5aj
–
–
–
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm5RQBwgC6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71qbmvpR41
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8Svguk8fH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0en9i3MqH2
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsdeQi6NZV
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInBYLfQpxG
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMpFVOMKc4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rRkr5uZ8n
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1csUzBicFn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDn7bCQNFQ
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftjKi0kPyi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9auTudfbVz
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4mzxIOJTE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzVk1d1tou
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS58fYU0GJ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJmMmpoyK2
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoKpMx1Q7p
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaYaVOaCpr
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjLmorcJxi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGl7pIGWoe
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ORvNFG6pY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn1CJboWnv
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOWIxb5bPB
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftO9KnRZu5
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vzTyK5azW
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N5Bj4DisK
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV6locoZEp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy42FmN7jq
It was an invitation.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmo2NKATz8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6PMuRayhg
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd5gyAzjt8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mrnTCi9MC
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jayvMy01y
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlrrFlsW7t
"What am I supposed to do?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4DngFT7lp
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrchx0gfDB
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7mqTfJ9Y0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW1n6hy9Dp
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRRVcUeJbw
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93jqso6m78
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJARghTJPEl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecsSGVlRJA
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKlUIPOfeE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ515yxlwNh2
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUvg7Y26sh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPtGEt5iBc
The stationary plant went missing.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxT9O97uiw
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpGv6mQCQm
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq4eOVI1kK
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYmNe0lJgB
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRQw6raCnl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPYEihRSJY
Dragon-Maw went missing.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiikzadrVIB
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEnw3110hr
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhezdVP4NB2
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh4ZVX6alz
"...Why?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ6leNBqTf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehxkc7axOt
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25sAdxrkC8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I1fe4eDjG
And still, Kenny took his essence.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaIFtzPOGd
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Q5FVLVGC
Of course he would leave.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjAjLT5sas
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSxyzZTzls
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PInulOZRN
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2OjfBDWtg
–
–
–
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfD1UvXrTh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6waARNR9u0
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–342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7kYu8LN0a
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVkQ6YhWFp
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJsC1LPuNM
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zZlXoSjrZ
"Kenny. Come out here."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM83j5FXOR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKkyzdazNI
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRQsLNR8va
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpfB5kbMeW
"W-Woah!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB74AH7OFY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaovTfK45uD
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T7FAIPqAX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZzA4L9mIx
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSNm6nBTW3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKbFK9NyYx
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGokqBdey5g
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ucckhJFzj
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSbuzZ4si4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8CkIiCxIx
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpRe7JotcY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPhTUZqxo9
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOvx13WM5m
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b5FrAia6E
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIHY5MYSXg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf0jwN4AFu
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUAFp8HjgS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDmTCUThhs
Kenny didn't get it.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcpyjFn8FB
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm4De06szZ
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwx8ozxj3b
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTqhNKKX68
"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!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AEd4q3ZHR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aMeRHkT69
"I... whaa?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNdAjnqsho
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yzHhzTpSs
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY2kilw8d6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjODNSGet3n
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bxND96Odz
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP5Dbpr6hE
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJptzswmYr
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07KTGreN6v
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLELey5cGf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff3C02nkrr
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklEXejAtZt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwVwNTeE62
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–342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDarcUB9Qm
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEt3iGMbHA
"Huh?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BR0zaXKF3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtqLXbHuP5
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZsHdL4c1Z
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEWL1eW2d7
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC6SE63lrt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9UkLHonfV
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA3d3sYTMn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysF63agAuJ
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusLAIz69M9
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLLPv6x8Yw
"Uh... sure?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjboTVVLBA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfe5owJ0nN
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMDMbK1RDn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ173jDHMgWd
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iXatO3512
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC98qJgZgGE
No, Kenny couldn't still.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbVPhNnRo0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8VRgJu8Dm
He still didn't know what was going on.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHb09fbCKT
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz1wI7gRzT
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QCHgmnyZw
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5Vhtdkg7Y
"...Big Brother."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciG7szh4XC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7twQEeSbN5
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqckKVIz2eY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVP3oAUmD4
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhCdbryjCK
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1TCONNc3k
But then he smiled.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWK3kRqnbS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZKxutx1GA
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgKkTfHOu4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k0O5OyhUn
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh8ygW8PyT
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iWFOcputA
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnCNNneBcG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLbMnemtqC
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuInRvSbexU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmknbAAxkI3
"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–"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjB0vDG4yJ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYunVFnrg9
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v4acQDebb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMp7TnVCQqq
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwYBgFzNPO
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVICjyutQhI
"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?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjp38msVoI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6UemAwLee
"W-What? Huh?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Zj1hvIwi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVOONWqqGO
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsdQyEqOnW
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62GBR2bYwy
This was insulting.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCrgkB62XZ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoSPZbO5iw
This was just insulting now.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7v2XGWxPI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdbqMq29JN
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RmR1HMrMe
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXizx8fPsT
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7QEfAQ2Rf
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBSMTiSI8Y
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HQEJe77Fc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP1vqGFRt2
And then something shattered in him.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZUOnf4YcE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlajVEpUgNk
What was making him so hung up?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsb8WUMv1X
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMe1EBF4JM
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!**342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxiCJwwaUE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NousJZ60r
"...Huh?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAsb9hKlI3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAeO6xJThE
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJA5apzFnj
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhuu0GYtb0
"L-Listen, Kenny..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLheY0UIrF
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZipEM61xEg
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOar9k62t3L
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP34TJU5xI
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q7GO0PN7x
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDg24OOWBl
"..."342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat8E4D7uTw
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYhYb85Q8w
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5tMuWboOk
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy0SBVEFrM
–
–
–
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSyKys4I6M
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ522wUrqHxc
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0qx6kDLU1
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUNw7chR3x
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N79aFHi4O
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0uucfLawU
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMqeaUHqw9
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux7alfB8t8
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTZ1p1mTbv
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV6HLnrImT
He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes90quL47g
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEjqauIfFG
Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGw9UBFEw3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8OtPWRaf1
–
–
–
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.
ns216.73.216.124da2
