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.20Please respect copyright.PENANA2yfGPb8Ldw
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAzuYrl41Wkw
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"At least... I'm on my back now."20Please respect copyright.PENANAZSXaRy89kN
20Please respect copyright.PENANAw0nfzHUUfF
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAeAvYXSsIkn
20Please respect copyright.PENANAzul6FJEpKF
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANA3iqpnuFvwd
20Please respect copyright.PENANACIgBrtC3Ig
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAYi8sgyrUxD
20Please respect copyright.PENANAWlq62weqNP
"..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAcrDYUQKWUd
20Please respect copyright.PENANArtY3HZTwds
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANANajjqx215n
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I was immediately startled.20Please respect copyright.PENANAFuLU71uQTM
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"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAjBLm3hzkgJ
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAv0GCsV0HSy
20Please respect copyright.PENANA5CwTAl1FR5
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAPemskB8dw3
20Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7EkaFPhnq
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5ZICpiVHc
20Please respect copyright.PENANAUlAlMt3Otu
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."20Please respect copyright.PENANASNNqLouQc8
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAOO8ArFgr6b
20Please respect copyright.PENANACNgNigs9HS
"Do you feel any better?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAI3BErwMJn4
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"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."20Please respect copyright.PENANAZqcWsRRA3y
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"That's good, that's good..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAlPr4LLLrVC
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He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.20Please respect copyright.PENANA4sKtgbY7hm
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"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAd1AFXQFnxt
20Please respect copyright.PENANAeXx8rvJBZZ
"..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAqmYjuzpi1K
20Please respect copyright.PENANAjrFc2reH39
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANABuZRTflOfg
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But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.20Please respect copyright.PENANAk3B1BYE32M
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"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."20Please respect copyright.PENANAo5u3xztxpu
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"H-How'd you know?"20Please respect copyright.PENANABiZTYH2874
20Please respect copyright.PENANAmsAvR8HwND
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."20Please respect copyright.PENANAhF65JHc69C
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I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.20Please respect copyright.PENANAJE0e8Y4XDy
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAr2wRZ5DFJS
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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?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAmINGsJRLak
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Pars nodded.20Please respect copyright.PENANAssamTeqped
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAiVU8YZRmcH
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"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.20Please respect copyright.PENANAEtva4Q8hK0
20Please respect copyright.PENANAN3UyHdmUck
"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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAV7X5PCQRqL
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"Mutual what?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAVeADYRCdka
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"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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAkj3wkJe8Mz
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"Is that a studied phenomenon?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAZEKsFnsxwx
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"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."20Please respect copyright.PENANAgNbbv2drfV
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"Really now..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAah8d23tbc4
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANA3WeAQ4mYvj
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"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."20Please respect copyright.PENANAOHvASRAgoh
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"..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAzoh3cbUNYm
20Please respect copyright.PENANAoCkoTILva8
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANATq24UQQzVG
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"Wow... it must've been bad."20Please respect copyright.PENANA68bFywB97J
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"You're almost as flippant as I am."20Please respect copyright.PENANAm7w9e0tetU
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He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.20Please respect copyright.PENANAO5Jo55wTxw
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"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."20Please respect copyright.PENANAmXi4V0mox8
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"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..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYsRrWIr8Sk
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"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"20Please respect copyright.PENANATiH7xNwNbo
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I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.20Please respect copyright.PENANASgWQq6qi80
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"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."20Please respect copyright.PENANAwAwtJ1EBxP
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANA9T7GFJCpqM
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Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.20Please respect copyright.PENANAtjtS6RAk9c
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"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAiAixGehI3Q
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"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAXUoGUSO7Op
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAbLxttpBgAt
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAQl4u3rcvMw
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"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."20Please respect copyright.PENANAWuWqwl7Ek0
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"I know."20Please respect copyright.PENANAyoaLVpz4KM
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He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.20Please respect copyright.PENANA0JrGVhJ8gy
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"Tell you what; I can't help you."20Please respect copyright.PENANAa2zs69d2Jr
20Please respect copyright.PENANARw6ZLzYLXu
"...Are you serious?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA12rcwLHNKX
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"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYmZq1s1J3u
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"What? What can?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAl3b8hNcVVn
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANA6M7av4wLfM
20Please respect copyright.PENANAVeOnpLxcqw
"..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAGU6PBQECfe
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A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.20Please respect copyright.PENANAU8HKxPPcyO
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His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?20Please respect copyright.PENANAj9qlbQCL9F
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAIBr3VeYiiq
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"Give it a try."20Please respect copyright.PENANAZxpGnTPQSk
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He stood up and patted my shoulder.20Please respect copyright.PENANA1aXbVEi102
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"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."20Please respect copyright.PENANAq2r0P0kcCd
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"H-Huh? Right now?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAKAmEnfw8ZI
20Please respect copyright.PENANASTp2r2YjyP
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."20Please respect copyright.PENANA9Lmr2rHmFs
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Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.20Please respect copyright.PENANADg5TzW6bQ0
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–
–
–20Please respect copyright.PENANA6d2VzdMagu
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"Are ya all packed up?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA92ihNzs4Ey
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAlVlOMggGmI
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"You're the only one who's carrying anything"20Please respect copyright.PENANAEk2fJP3FxJ
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"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."20Please respect copyright.PENANAkAUEWFUy81
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAy62iRktXj8
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"Did Pars relay our discussion?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAzRpcG0VQ8M
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"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."20Please respect copyright.PENANAG162gscknl
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"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA4N9T8juZGM
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He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.20Please respect copyright.PENANAuOGYAwXGRu
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANA0rYwheBdi8
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"I suppose that makes sense."20Please respect copyright.PENANAqvCHw5NRUw
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"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA34pqRzAKug
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"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAeJ2lnAPBBF
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"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."20Please respect copyright.PENANAC3xjzfkuUX
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I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.20Please respect copyright.PENANAExoys3Ij7R
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"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAa020765TXo
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"What do I think...?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAiKDKGoVpzi
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAqL4wsCUbye
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANA6msRFrPCZG
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"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."20Please respect copyright.PENANAY6zp6LqPH2
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"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAfOUIzfputw
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"I'm asking ya, kid."20Please respect copyright.PENANAmMubc9vn8y
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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–20Please respect copyright.PENANAdM5nB1a8zF
20Please respect copyright.PENANA1cnI58f0oc
"It had to be an Endowment."20Please respect copyright.PENANAx18g2BrGAb
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"..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAmVKxX9A0Ca
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Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.20Please respect copyright.PENANAeJ1vUJksoc
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAFV7qg0NxhN
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"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYVdRJWh8qA
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I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.20Please respect copyright.PENANAlDest7Oq6l
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"Why not?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAWReRzF5PYE
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0JtIN7J5Q
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"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAhhqtJM7aBV
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAWzapMCGNPh
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"Surely, there's a better option."20Please respect copyright.PENANApNU9XwmS8J
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"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYRuyUN1w56
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAndXa5Fq9n6
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"What if we spy from a distance?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAaa9Nj6D93Z
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"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA7wshy8Bnjq
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"...Point taken."20Please respect copyright.PENANA1kvYJDqLYU
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAIUHmB0MqIo
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"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."20Please respect copyright.PENANAqd27psIXLw
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"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."20Please respect copyright.PENANAU1CnhviZXy
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"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."20Please respect copyright.PENANAiFTvP8Va71
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAI6c7A8C9ME
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"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAfgx0AYJdGC
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We nodded in unison.20Please respect copyright.PENANAbFeV8EI7FM
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"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."20Please respect copyright.PENANAnBOt5RHr1y
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAJv5u6oh46O
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAGp7uoAwXn3
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"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAsVY0H4XRQm
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Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.20Please respect copyright.PENANAWND6DXLRGy
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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?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA9RTkkZtKxz
20Please respect copyright.PENANABlDB2jrMte
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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAxreRumExt8
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"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."20Please respect copyright.PENANAsh5YLuAufl
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"Well... I won't deny that."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYC60KidM37
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.20Please respect copyright.PENANAqUDBzcrzmI
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANArJadJ1vEBQ
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"Again? What do you–?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAWhwBthlMq6
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAOrxXiJOrwf
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"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."20Please respect copyright.PENANAK89ano0DoR
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He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.20Please respect copyright.PENANAwnFM3gsBZf
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"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."20Please respect copyright.PENANAdhcP73gTR6
20Please respect copyright.PENANAHEXZA1ieTA
"I didn't ask ya that."20Please respect copyright.PENANABSmrZfbARg
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANADoj0Hp9WKB
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"That ain't surprising."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYdAolGCM6Z
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."20Please respect copyright.PENANA4SD7CAjcTd
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.20Please respect copyright.PENANAjqs3vmGBOB
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANATI5XyJTawG
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"Yeah? Like what?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAadocsdZbBN
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAM9hQfaCwhL
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAWvpAPxRc1o
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAL3Cnjw4dyS
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAHPUU0rh2Jo
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANACbttHz4jEs
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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."20Please respect copyright.PENANAo9XhN0qJyy
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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.20Please respect copyright.PENANAiElocdeQVI
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."20Please respect copyright.PENANAeRXUNLYJFi
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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–20Please respect copyright.PENANAuXvGrHib0g
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAkIjx80Plfw
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.