A buried memory resurfaced. At least, I thought it was a memory. It might have been a part of my dream, of which I remembered very little, but I was leaning towards the former. It was a memory of my father. It was a rare moment when I was out of my room and speaking with him. He sat me down by the table and went on a tangent, as "men his age do," speaking of a phenomenon known as restless sleep. It sounded like nonsense to me, and I told him that I thought it sounded like nonsense, but he dismissed my remarks. He said that I would understand when I grew older.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9xah9wmZt
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He wouldn't have known it, but he was a liar. Because here I was, my eyelids turned to stone, gazing at the ceiling as if I hadn't slept at all.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEw949hAen
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"At least... I'm on my back now."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh8B5Ym8Iv
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I tested the waters. My arm rotated just fine, and I could roll from side to side. I lifted my legs one by one, then both at the same time. I wasn't sore, I wasn't in pain. I crooked my head; all the perturbing sears and tears had vanished. I heaved myself off the mattress. I tested my leg strength, and I could keep myself upright without issue. I have undeniably made a full recovery, despite how groggy I was. I didn't know how much time passed, but it couldn't have been long. I walked to the window and pulled on the blinds. It was bright out.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74xRRlC8aL
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I closed the blinds and scanned the room. I spotted a cup on the nightstand and reached for it, taking a sip. I sat on the bed with the cup in hand, periodically sipping from it as I stared across the room. I had an urge to stick my finger between my teeth and gnaw. I resisted it, though. I found enough solace in the way I sat.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqnM9TpBrs
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It was quiet. Inevitably, I indulged myself in rumination. I was nervous, I knew that much without even thinking. I was also relieved. I was glad that, at the current moment, I was sitting here and not outside the city walls. It freed my thoughts. It let me sip the water with a motionless cup.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEML1MSW9V
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"..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBzAB7O3Cg
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But, I was nervous. I set the cup aside, rubbed my face, and stood up. Staring at a wall would do me no good. If I talked to someone, my stress would surely subside. It would help me stay awake, too. I stood up and ambled to the door, opening it.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzm7k6ovMO
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I was immediately startled.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlDid7kRYV
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"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIPSLbsTfJ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBlVB9Krch
I jumped silently, grasping my chest and taking a deep breath through my nose. I stepped away and looked at the man conveniently before my door.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cVuOJNnsY
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACDU6RnYaP
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttmbQoragN
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"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgse0AnSfo
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNE98danMo
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk8Jv1CRNV
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I let him enter the room. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms like before while I sat on a nearby chair, turning it so it faced him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmYilatNpc
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"Do you feel any better?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAz10gCnBh
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"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNzbp23FiO
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"That's good, that's good..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IAxsZ1WvJ
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He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgHzNvOAC3
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B4aKuOjwJ
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7gpylQGRZ
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"..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljxxmdcupK
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To my surprise, I didn't react to his inquiry. My body didn't jolt in shock, nor did my eyes widen. I just sighed, because truthfully, I was expecting a question like this.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeaUj12Rxn
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But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtUKK0ORag
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ3b59Ag51
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcjchFmafA
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"H-How'd you know?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosxhK5yw9v
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"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuljy8lEvs
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I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvI0oNyjsz
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"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzirqCmB7fa
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I leaned back and firmly rubbed my face before returning my gaze to Pars.
"It's funny– I was just about to ask you if you happened to have seen Rover around. Is she with you guys?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsotNaS8Qlq
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuu9OmrTig
Pars nodded.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSui2vx8s8
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"Yeah, she's in one of the split buildings. Unfortunately for you, she's in the one where we're going, since Lola's there as well."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E2QsyBcsf
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqmDjpGKqx
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYZQ7MqTy6
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVpi9WLRqs
"But I'm still lost. I don't get why you two separated at all. Last time I checked, you weren't the best of buds, but there was a bond formed there as mutual battle partners."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCOWEiWBrx
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"Mutual what?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9bpJQzhGk
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFJ5meJz77
"It's something you notice the longer you're in the combatant business. You can make lifelong friends in one day just by battling alongside them."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z7fMRXtwL
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"Is that a studied phenomenon?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcSiwJzHRw
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfQ8DKhckD
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIylgnrNYL
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"Really now..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrPaxUIYEM
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I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQdSQFm85z
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"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmihsCZb4cw
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"..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrZ6Ta8S7I
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I fiddled with my fingers. I thought back to yesterday and viewed my memories with warped eyes. Even though it was recent, the magnitude of the event made it remote, detached from my mind as if I were reading a stranger's book. I remembered the outcome but all else I could recall were caustic words, drastic actions, and weighty, suffocating feelings. My amazement rivaled the strength of my jitter; only one day had passed and I had tucked it away. Yet, I let a little piece of the memory stick out of the wardrobe that harbored it.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy84ijpmkD6
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"Wow... it must've been bad."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDCU70hRrH
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"You're almost as flippant as I am."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEYJbW8jcB
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y7UlVG1BO
He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNQQozXaUK
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"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0KfvsrHPG
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0SQmLHq8M
"Yeah yeah. She and I disagreed on what to do. She wanted to stay in the city, Juke and I wanted to leave. After learning of what you and Dave told us, the situation is different now, which is why we're still here. But..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPUSLTDUK6
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"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPERubTRFBP
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I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPu0f5ou8Y
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"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnApbmyouV
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My gaze turned into a meek look. It wasn't a plea exactly, but I made sure my face invited advice. I had too much shame to ask what to do with my words.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSOCNQsmaz
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Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecIUzJMCoa
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"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsj2J6ScYs
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"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluyutaVy56
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"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSYANdXDV3
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I wanted to correct him. After all, this wasn't my first fight. But when I looked back on the other few I had, this one was much more severe, so I kept shut.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeLGdg7YNZ
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"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlOXDG7NdW
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"I know."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLrzlb3PTA
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He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oe56DaaOJ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOGoikJA7Y
"Tell you what; I can't help you."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HynlTIA7Q
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"...Are you serious?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPb9SJ8tME
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"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dzMLvD8qS
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnOctL5BDh
"What? What can?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRJocFetiU
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"Well, I'm sure you've been told this before, but I do this with Lola a lot, so I have a bunch of experience. I just make up with her."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAFmNPhjGr
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"..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HiEuSWBLw
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A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbamkp8c56v
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His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMle1JzwWqY
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When I asked myself that, the haze immediately returned, and as I skimmed through possible outcomes of speaking with Rover, I was filled with more and more apprehension.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ534wQEwS9R
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"Give it a try."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vQr0KX52C
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He stood up and patted my shoulder.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ud5Au2L7i
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"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFNx3pOVyO
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"H-Huh? Right now?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDqz0dt6TK
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"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt8u0Nua7H
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0IOk1Las4
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HyoMk2aHJ
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–
–
–215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCCrzS5SKT
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"Are ya all packed up?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e3LyiHmY5
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As I made my way downstairs, I saw Juke at the bottom, his hands gripping the bag's shoulder straps. I gave him a bemused look and responded to his question.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1265EcmFYj
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"You're the only one who's carrying anything"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMVa5ZqcZG
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"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpatZZ6ycL
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I made it downstairs and scanned the room. It looked the same as when I left, only Dave and Pars were engaged in conversation. Dave was rubbing his head; it was clear something troubled him.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfB37lGB4t
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"Did Pars relay our discussion?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAf4mkoCB9
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"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJArCepj3l
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"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c0VABWVrG
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He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGknx8ahOP
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"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnHTboVz0V
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"I suppose that makes sense."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUhm9eLjcr
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZtBdi6CnS
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY21TPyI2w
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"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr33pyFftE5
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmqMCfQghF
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib3KzhGYos
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I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOcMHjX9w3
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"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScpk8h2Bhd
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"What do I think...?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFx4yCORQ9
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I raised my hand and pinched my chin, gazing pensively at a random vase in the shop. Though the craze of the event made it difficult to remember the details, there were two oddities I couldn't forget: the Harbinger could strike Juke from a distance, but somehow didn't always do so, and the Harbinger dodged and blocked my attacks as if she could tell they were coming.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfEyS2KE4C
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"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Aq8TiaFP
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"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU89Ydypwtx
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZRB4GJBO4
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WuImbPyTz
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"I'm asking ya, kid."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInRmv8Pjzw
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I rolled my eyes and continued rumination. Since there was nothing rational about her power, I threw ideas into the world and saw how my better conscious would react. Was it wind magic? If so, Juke would know. Was it an illusion? Illusionary magic has been stated to exist, but no corresponding mana exists in this area. Was it an Endowment? Likely. In fact–215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXJKQUDYt7
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroQUMRRt2r
"It had to be an Endowment."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwUchgzTz4
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"..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PtzIou3PM
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Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fhs8dOLX3
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"It would explain the inconsistency. Endowments can have downsides, so maybe she could only strike from a distance under special conditions. I don't know what those conditions are, of course."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnHpZWeqS6
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"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGcDJtiOE2
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGGot4nqoI
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o3i4M0tC0
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"Why not?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcQcySEHz2
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"It's just a gut feeling. I ain't sure. But yer probably right. It's a pain in the ass not to know what's goin' on behind her bullshit."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBidrJ5CGo
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"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLQN1IexqB
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Juke nodded solemnly. From the tone of his voice, it looked like we both knew what that entailed. I sighed and pinched my nose, then spoke again.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQu5mV4i8n
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"Surely, there's a better option."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgGpA4odaL
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"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRTn2ikoTN
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I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXb7KhQrfH
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"What if we spy from a distance?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhP2gV5hIn
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"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd4oyfjlVx
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"...Point taken."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkXNpSurby
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As I thought about it more, the idea of leaving people to fight the Harbinger while we sat by the sidelines was sickening. I discarded it immediately, thought the reality it meant I had to face was frightening.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0qvd18Hwv
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"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx64nIIDWU
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"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bFhlWyHuN
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"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QFtURuCvb
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I smiled weakly. I took comfort in our shared reluctance to do this. In truth, what Juke said about others finishing her off would be nice. If I could, of course I wouldn't want to fight her. But, that wasn't for us to decide; that was up to our luck. As I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, Dave approached us with Pars in tow.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9tc8ZJyfR
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"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauEBy0suZa
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We nodded in unison.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMP9UBv3gq
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"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0HdzKgQmI
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–
–
–
Out on the street, the sky turned ever dimmer. We went through the same motions as before, scuttling in and out of alleyways as we watched for oncoming Bringers. I no longer felt like I was always on my toes, dreading even the slightest error. It just became tedious.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnByuuxOxd
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At some point, we became comfortable enough to chat. We spoke in whispers, of course, but exchanging words at all made me think we were getting careless. I didn't voice my concerns, only chewed on my finger as I darted my eyes around.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhWxJpBb00
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"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr9sKV1CjF
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Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD1gnNsh8U
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"I feel like that's all you've been asking me today. Of course I'm nervous. Of course I'm not fine. What part about this is fine?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVs5SJWM51
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Silence came for a few seconds, and I realized that I might've spoken too rashly. I didn't apologize, though. I felt no inclination to.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4xD5TCTO7
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"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnl9vS1ko9
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"Well... I won't deny that."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRm7cf4QB4
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCjEZW5Ago
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"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9af82pmkD4
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"Again? What do you–?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Su8r4nsI
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As I formed my question, memories of my first mission with Juke surfaced. I kept quiet, but I could feel my cheeks curl into a smile.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq9zgtzj0l
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"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZXBCHrYQh
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He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJy9a9MSad
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"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen2C5fK0XD
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"I didn't ask ya that."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jBk32ayAf
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"Pars came into my room yesterday. He asked why I wasn't with Rover, since I was with her when I met him. It was, well, a difficult conversation, but I learned that Rover ended up joining the Retaliation Crowd."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9drIiFwdle
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"That ain't surprising."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMLW4U8EPp
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTstowIcxS
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiIqkg3yBF
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"It's funny. The thing I'm most nervous about is meeting her again. I realized that quickly, and then it made me think about a lot of other things."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaHGsCFsea
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"Yeah? Like what?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WVStKGWuR
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"It made me think about home, and coming back to it. Not just Buffalo Village of course, but the Capitol too. I was so caught up in the state of affairs that I forgot I even had places I called home."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHKZlUM2QA
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"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUOicrcpCa
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHudWcnY98
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I stopped myself and pinched my chin. The words got stuck in my throat. They required tuning before being released, yes, but there was another thing keeping them from leaving Before chaos broke loose and the three of us separated, it was the robes of that woman.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmSYKocEAb
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I had terrible thoughts in my head. An abundance of worries and I withered because of them, but nothing I could do would make them leave. All I could do was shut my eyes and look the other way.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5MKubpwtx
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"I hope they're doing okay, is all. Flinty, Annabelle, Jackson, and even the Tea Mage. I hope they're doing better than I am here."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqONZItqhSh
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I let out my thoughts in earnest. A minute passed without a reply, and it never came after. I thought I would've been agitated, but I was relieved. Dave and Pars continued their conversation, but we stayed quiet. It was a moment I'd be ashamed to spoil. With how easily my mind wandered back into contemplation, we arrived at our destination seemingly instantly.215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWgTOrmOcr
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7br5wVu7w
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I moved to his side, squinting my eyes to see through the darkening sky. The outline came to me quickly, and then I could make out the building's details. That of which were–215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfWDeFAG4C
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHJgpt7gRP
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.
