The fat Nigel and I amassed was substantial for the potion. I didn’t know what to do with the leftovers, but I didn’t dare to throw the fruits of our hard work away. It wasn’t as if another endurance potion wouldn’t be needed.
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExixiiCnVq
“Now all I need to do is to finalize it.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgjhORgHJo
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKYb5FYrq3
A few minutes of careful mana suspension was the remaining requirement for a job well done. I did so easily, channeling my shaky focus to form it with haste. The liquid turned deep blue, the color of the distant sea, meaning that–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60QNHAHJcm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufhiq0LR7w
“It’s a resounding success. Awesome.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV7Gjl9DRc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTxCp3QbJW
I wiped my brow with my forearm and patted my face with my collar. I wasn’t sweaty or anything, but my head felt undeniably hot, likely from all the blood that rushed to fuel my attention. That aside, I now had a finished product to deliver, but as I tasked myself I came at a small crossroads.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPGTkLAKpK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzsKHtenCe
Should I go and deliver this now, or make a healing potion, and deliver this later?181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVsZ2364WT
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4q84vbRdv
“...”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmw1KsWvMW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPCD0kHaVN
It seemed obvious to me what the answer was. Pragmaticism dictated the practice of the former, as the recipients of this potion were operating under borrowed time. But my left mind dictated otherwise; it told me that it would be a slight– no, a flagrant offense if I didn’t brew that medicine.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4N8jhVdF9
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqBDsLd9Gv
“...That’s new. Where did you come from?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRZrFkunKF
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmohmOWpYR
Thoughts like that– I didn’t recall having them. I was hit from left field by this warping, contorting, sapping feeling in my chest. It didn’t disturb me, however. Rather, I was confused. I was uncomfortable, but I could bear this panging, especially with a distracting duty.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD32JmF7XVr
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurr122NFer
“I know better. I don’t have the time for that. No, I don’t.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ11qO8bXL
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4G5oQM0nn
Indeed, I was creating with urgency. I spent enough excess time finding ingredients as it was, so any further stalling would jeopardize the whole city. I had to get out, and get out now–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KgohAWO18
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hd6uzQcSo
“...”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGpB0lgOVU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl4s5c6aA1
But when I jerked my legs to do so, they didn’t. They stood in place, locked to the ground by that warping sensation. I clicked my tongue, because now I realized what was happening, and my irritated frown turned into a worried grimace.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi88c3A4kQc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLyiwGXWPi
Even though I had a duty, to leave Rover to hang with a broken leg longer than she had to, left me with a pit in my stomach. It’s Especially so, because I had the power and the will to relieve her.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIYXI9eNef
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9AMkK4AqA
Fortunately, I had a compromise. I found that compromise in my bag, slouched against the wall. I sifted through it and found what I needed, then made a quick exit from the booth.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRYs2IfkiJ
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Knock, knock, knock. The strength of my banging knuckles surprised even me. I stocked hardly half the force in my flicks to produce such noise. But I summed up the cause immediately. I was nervous.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscOyPwS0Bz
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvCpv2qESj
“Yes?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMe7ADP7JT
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxVitED1De
The door opened quickly, revealing a Lola who was peekingher head through the opening. Her countenance lost its vigilance once she saw me, and it likewise calmed me down.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeXvTpjsWC
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOnR65R8yA
“You’re here what I think you’re for, aren’t you?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqInkaQzkVY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUNeqci83E
“Y-Yes, Lola. Here, this is the potion I made.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKVc4xcQTV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckp36fcZ0o
I stretchedmy arm out as she widened the door. She grabbed it with her free hand and inspected it on all planes. At some point, she stopped twirling and nudging it and blankly stared at the blue. I noticed now how fluidly the streams swirled.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y02QZBNsO
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc3XlEhm81
“You made this in eighty minutes?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI1Xn7DREg
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2goV3g0Hl
“Did I take too long? I’m sorry, I had to grab some ingredients from a lower floor–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcsbbpDRNq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmewimNWOI
“No, not at all. I was expecting you to take longer. Thank you, Kenny, I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOMr8XjrET
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRgFRoWyko
I raised my hands bashfully and rapidly waved them at her.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2YMLM7TYP
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV1EhGYNgd
“No no no, please don’t! You’re helping us enough as is.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqscqNSq8bt
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“If you insist.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz7srMdyWZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJyLEH8e2o
She said so with an upscaling cadence, poorly singing the last syllable. I blinked a few times, and my eyes reopened to blaring blurs. Only my mother ever did that.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBGNfrCV1x
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIcsrdfssQ
“Kenny?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2ifWUysxB
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3nMZ9p2vk
“O-Oh, right. Do you need me for anything else?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7bjbg6ls4
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFirry1Yqz
“Hmm,” she hummed, clasping her chin, “if we do, I’ll bug you. For now, make yourself at home, and get plenty of rest. You’ll need it for what comes next.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO77ggZMMn2
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZCsbZe0u7
I let out a chuckled sigh and slapped a hand on my chest, muttering a breathy “thank you.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQibAislNV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55IEIxqTPE
“There is something I’d like to ask you, however, just before you go.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GfzK9yU5q
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaeGMzkHkv
She said so right as I turned to leave. I twisted my head and looked at her, gesturing for her to shoot.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW1twVz8my
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR3PkITSoj
“The concoction in your other hand; that bright green tint can only mean one thing, yes? A healing potion.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8btypLQSs
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8f55tvLmr
I nodded at her assessment. I realized the speed at which this could turn dangerous.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb30XwcTF6g
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpM6ahbEbq
“I see. I see, I see…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDLSUEQ8Sm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznVSdYszj6
“A-Are you going to make me make one for each soldier?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyScNU7d4H
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFVEacTtHf
“No, I won’t ask that of an outsider, let alone a child– oh, sorry, you don’t like being called that, do you?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYTNf0BEQZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmGUZliyHv
“...Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you being considerate, Lola. Is there anything else?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjcHWHrcY0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNOjo3kRuw
“I-If you don’t mind my prying, could you answer a few questions for me?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXlD9smSZF
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOlerqvcQc
She stepped over the threshold and closed the door, but stopped just short of shutting it. As much as I wanted to chat with her, though, I had somewhere else to be.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEL88g7aao
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CI5AocTSF
“Please?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg4fTllBzQ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZqR4g8XGX
Though it was difficult to draw a line while she was making such a face.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJQwTs6OEn
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZf6jR7xdl
“F-Fine, but please make them short. I have somewhere I need to be.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVft0kFn6S4
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKY9asHUsv
“Thank you, I will. It’s just two quick questions. First–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01zZbO9K2Q
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqcfA1u82h
She paused right before asking, as if a crucial memory struck her from the woodwork. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLD9e7cpeD
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtRjKLg7Av
“–How long have you been an alchemist?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gtZyjFjAP
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhoCqQRmaL
“I’d say… hold on, that question has two answers. Commercially, it’s been about three years(1). Personally, it’s been for… seven?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq4xCuVHyE
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr5Dp0D16Q
“Seven years? That’s over half your life, isn’t it?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMoT2VWbDi
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzIEo0ZuzM
I gave a simple shrug with sandwiched lips.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U3lbs9oI5
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06TjaMbM4w
“I started young. That’s all.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCNtJnMnTs
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zAAtEc6js
“I see. Being trained at such a young age, no wonder why you’re so skilled.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaQRuXj3Yr
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrWuWYPLEr
“P-Please, don’t flatter me. I appreciate the remarks, but they just…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38jvwpz4Lb
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguefRRDyoX
They don’t sit right with me, I wanted to say, but Lola gave a predictive, discerning nod, so I stopped speaking.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8krO4KKyD
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46GlFHc1PD
“Only seven years… then, maybe–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zEGP3IkkB
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgrinlomLD
“Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch it.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL7o8E1NEc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NZBuCp4fx
She jumped and then waved her hand.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPjZOIukCG
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcGPch1T7O
“Don’t worry, I was just thinking out loud. Anyhow, for my next question…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHuu6ktTvD
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrwTRyGTsC
“Right.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHpD7LVFrq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVSziDD741
“...I apologize if this may seem extreme, but I have to ask.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtJWnnCtIO
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WHDJtazyj
She straightened herself and turned her head left and right, seemingly afraid of anyone hearing in. That assumption was validated by her leaning her head in.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB0yzusYwt
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecsjgd4u71
“Did you kill anyone in the last operation?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2gxaHHu03
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIztu3GopuI
“I– Wha!?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYXRbheI0v
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0fahpNzSm
I couldn’t keep my voice down, much to her dismay. But, goodness, could she blame me? She put a hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down, which I quickly did, but I still had a storm thrashing in my skull.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZAqVL9bv1
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNnHOweYYJ
“Who asks something like that to a child!?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUVl6C0AV0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoJ4MPkGk1
“Shh! I know it’s selfish, but it’s for my own peace of mind! I have to know, please, did you?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pPJWGJYNu
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf8LpiIcad
“Your own… peace of mind?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtWOFuZN9K
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K9JqQZTYw
When it was twisted that way, suddenly, I wasn’t so apprehensive. I was still bewildered, but answering that question didn’t feel like falling into a trap anymore. And so, reluctantly, my lips spoke the answer.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6tVnTorRw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7pqqKPAog
“I didn’t. I hurt some people, but I never landed a killing blow.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsuFNBYSIZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcVFSRkBiY
“I-I see. That’s a relief. Oh my goodness, that’s a relief.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM2MIsAfXX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvvHUKbehv
She leaned against the door, closed it, and putting her hand on her brow, she closed her eyes and began to… pant? I wondered how she could be so worried. I was beginning to think she might have a screw loose.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEzXOdgg5p
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz94wlsaoTJ
“Thank you for humoring me. You have no idea how much it calms me, to know there’s no blood on such a young man’s hands. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKgiYKO4Cm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea1vGG4Gv2
“You… for some reason, I feel like you regard me much more highly than you should.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyXqydc734
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She shrugged at my comment.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVcUt0ozeo
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJmsaMiHzD
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I think I’ll keep you guessing. Now, shoo! You have somewhere to be, don’t you?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpYOhjTqcw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSzLitdmVD
Brushing me off with perfect logic before I could respond to her outrageous statement, I clicked my tongue inward and turned on my foot.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE6uda85N9
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33DKEYcurw
“Goodbye Lola,” I shouted. She opened the door and slid right through, waving at me right before closing it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarYPNKMtCw
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–
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–
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As I inched closer to the infirmary, my body had an expected reaction. I coped with it accordingly, though that didn’t make it easy to move.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5IAnp8d69
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj35lf1bne
With every progressing movement of my foot came a wave of resistance double the magnitude. I had to dig my soles into the floor to wade through the spasms, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth just to keep my limbs moving.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RhhSrS0OJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ325Ioe79b1
Of course, I was exaggerating. But goodness, did that swelling weight pound against my chest. My limbs did shake as I reached for the knob, but I managed to grasp it and keep my hand there.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwhN9doWFc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOq8bQDvGd
“...This is ridiculous.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPNWfBOTqq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU6Zorox5O
I sighed. I looked at the healing potion and gave it a few light shakes, watching the agent crash like small waves against the flask. If push came to shove, I could drop this off by the bed or table and turn the other way. In fact, if I had to convince myself that was all I had to do just to open this damned door, then I would do so. So I kept saying so, a lunatic hustling his mantra.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd71wmspS2
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwHy1SOkxS
“Just go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it– off!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUEBlMghpv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ7ZdY9iKm
In the midst of my chanting, I bit the arrow and slammed it open. It looked far removed from how I imagined it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5woRh6FoJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wDVpGkbt9
Instead of a small room with curtain-covered beds lined up with uniform spacing, it was a small room lined with dingy, almost make-shift mattresses. About eight people were in the room, and one was slouched on a chair opposite of me, his head hung and his arms crossed.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpCQuTfUke
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs2B8fzDvt
And seeing how his groggy face raised to meet mine, I realized how noisy my entrance was.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiqgDFbEzD
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvht6RM4u8
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb anyone. I’m just here to deliver something.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1be8DwRV9G
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYVxQR4fXe
“...Hmm.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxkZL1bT2q
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvmLlBigc0
The man stood up and haggardly walked to me. From his gait alone, I could tell he’d been drinking, though I wondered how exactly he got his hands on alcohol. He stopped a few paces before me, took one long look with narrowed eyes, and casually shrugged.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tgIuyBopu
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc366gRBXVW
“Do whatever.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qmVHYbZ4I
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscYrP8iZU5
“R-Right. Thank you, sir.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYfKtjlY8B
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvBwgAFjFu
He gave me a thumbs-up and plodded back to his chair. I looked around the room, feeling blessed from my lucky break, and eyed all the patients.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLja768ZeWd
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MJbDivNro
While most were in their mock-up beds, either sleeping, eating, or chatting away, one mattress was empty. By process of elimination, it belonged to the person I was looking for.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriR7OQNb08
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQVhkxOGeI
“D-Darn it.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKgo2hhXhY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2lxMgJ4d1
Gnawing on my fingers, I did one more sweep before releasing a sigh. Rover was nowhere to be seen– not in the beds, not on the window sill, not in the corners, nothing–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyE2niBLsa
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohoKCV4CSm
“What are you doing here?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10SU7SNDWW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl2mOdob1u
And then I heard a voice call from me. I jolted, nearly dropping my flask, and turned to face its timbre. Only as I saw its bearer’s face, did its course tone ring a bell in me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3YBoCHIAp
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvzPu53X51
There was Rover, sitting in the one corner out of my sight, eyeing me with a lion’s eyes.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMixfJSAfHg
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyccP1QsEGz
“...U-Uh.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7eyd0OzJh
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1DNHb8N1Q
All my systems shut down at that moment. It was one thing to imagine meeting her, but seeing her face-to-face instead of a mere effigy I controlled the responses of was a completely different beast.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkX0vdKMhS
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVt7CRAhWd
“Well? Come on, spit it out.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1VBOxu9tt
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlndKpKbfkl
“I… I-I.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu84QUGKs49
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yVrsZg84k
My body didn’t shake. My eyes didn’t blink, my lips didn’t part, and only the functions of my lungs and stiff throat continued normally. I was completely and utterly frozen.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSya5HeEoP
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPNZNlCptP
Suddenly, I felt my face fire up. It was a familiar feeling, but I was vulnerable during its assassination. In front of another person, of whom I had their undivided attention, witnessing my pale cheeks light like fireflies.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeudKmqtnJK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9PQN5pVHU
That shame was too much to bear. I stuck my hand out, darting my eyes between her and the potion, and even orbiting my other hand around the flask to emphasize it. Despite me putting it on a pedestal, Rover tilted her head with an eyebrow that raised to the ceiling.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZl81lMq9T
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDICszZQaqe
“I don’t have time for this, just spit it out!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9fZw7rH7q
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCn2nUVyBV
“I-I’m here.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5H41vLOY2
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx89zkkqDU
By some miracle, her urging words kicked my chords into action, and I was beginning to form words again. Only, they didn’t have a present pilot.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DucIP4Xls
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgbEfF7NEj
“I’m– I made— I– Rover, I’m here–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdOwHCAsuq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKYFLczWTn
As I kept stumbling over myself, Rover rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She looked at me, tapping her finger on herself as if she was waiting for me to stop.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP05eNuGYRY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0tuTOMk8x
“I…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXPHa4whbU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRGNzWY0c7
I sighed and pinched my nose, shook my head, and slapped my left cheek. I looked at the corner between the wall and ceiling, whispered something akin to a prayer, and finally looked that woman in the eyes.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmTcBHDETn
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxUzinEkco
“Hello, Rover.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqKuJgDYue
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPywpLIyuoS
“Hey, Kenny.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfhKuivhcN
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9v4PXxckP
I retracted my stretched arm, then extended it yet again.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yuk72hcDe
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRwS5cN4GH
“I made you this. It’s something I made, in light of the news I heard. Well, it’s just leftovers, but I did want to make one for you–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThjXpqR2vQ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGxQ4nJhNu
“Cut to the chase!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjTtzihfgC
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXrVKJA4Cg
“R-Right. It’s a healing potion. I heard that your leg sustained a major injury, and so, I’d like to give this to you. For some relief, and quicker healing.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyWJUVIDiO
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLannV6M8IN
Her eyes widened. Her crossed arms slackened, and I took it as a signal to move forward. I took it incorrectly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaP4tYSNK7
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysb1Ia8OKP
“Hold on, you brought me a potion?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyWqO6Oqys
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOEZaN5waq
“Y-Yes.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1VEtyAdiw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wwq45X2Er
“Now who told you to do that?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KQbWhb3hq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL0txh8r0o
“W-Well–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QXafA5Rwd
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB5l1irgzo
Nigel suggested it, but he didn’t tell me. No, mulling over that was wasteful spending. There was only one truth in this situation:181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwWry1kf62
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfQT8lW3X5
“I wanted to do it. I wasn’t told.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZbdhQD8Uc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkVFmALQA7
“...You? That wimpy Kenny?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmuvf4TZEq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbABuWhqVmR
I wasn’t mad at her insult. It was all too accurate.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR3kP2Oju0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkJIvZi5uQ
“Yes, the wimpy Kenny.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOBpgH4GIm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKNTBLAKz3
“Ha! You’ve surprised me before, but this really blew my expectations out of the water!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpYzNuBCBJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjBtuP4QN0
She rubbed under her nose and hummed to herself with a satisfied tune. As I couldn’t read her mind, I stood in place and didn’t budge.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzieC7K0zZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWjK8sdf0A
“I refuse your treatment!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGJLI2Bccr
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kXPEEvhtB
“H-Huh!?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdNGpfh1Rf
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6RBDxjlB7
In a single moment, all my apprehension had been voided. All anxiety and dread, crumpled into a ball and thrown out a window, replaced by a slate of terrible vexation.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lh5nf8WQ9
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2lFMgaZpK
“Why not? Don’t you want to recover faster?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bcKca2Qxu
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPqbUiUrOQ
“Of course I do, but I can’t accept it. Not when you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCsnns7NRL
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLcLiY0P4Y
“I– Wha?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaVOVauSJi
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy6hH3ujDO
I stopped pointing my finger and used it to feel around my face. There was no mirror, so it was the best I could do. Something was off with it, and if I didn’t figure out what, then I couldn’t give Rover this potion, and I couldn’t confront–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTPOZvDf4I
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73fFrOu0YP
“No, stupid! It’s the face you’re making! It’s weird!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrXB9oUOxF
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhNCdfWPv8
“Stupid? Weird!?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyxK91wctg
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZyUbLCtLi
“Do you need the whole room to hear it!? You’re looking at me like a weirdo!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVuzCjwyU3
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpNxTyXuEq
“...”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TQOaLrU3T
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy0vGDP6om
The energy to argue was sapped. I understood what she said, and could do nothing but stare with mouth agape. Rover leaned further against the wall and looked at me with her chin raised.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPCkIkjpaU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fyuFFJxLX
“Why are you looking at me like that? Hmph.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZeIYQl43M
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZPr0zhTK4
As I had no other mode of operating at this moment, I blurted my immediate response.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK34sWgqSZO
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjNCMYvRAg
“It’s because I upset you.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBrapFQCwZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS3UmKUdTQ
And then I realized that something like this required thoughtful phrasing.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir8bmYFDJ6
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJrJ8H2MHl
“I don’t– well, I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV93uS0Otz
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFypC6hiIL
“That’s bullshit! Man, forget answering that, I don’t need your whole, your spiel you know!? Come here!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX7eqUpXeW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY0kpBQtCB
“Come, there,” I asked, pointing to myself.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMXzv4QXFV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpjW6SgZ1t
“Yes. Sit by me, I can’t stand looking at your working legs.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoNRLKYTdW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiY7zOjqdy
“S-Sheesh.” 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98wUVVfIsa
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZGPcmNj8Y
I didn’t even begin thinking of a way to respond to that. I just did as I was asked and walked to her side, sitting against the wall beside her. She snatched the potion right out of my hand and eyed it like an appraiser. Only, if said appraiser was terrible at imitating one.
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KDUbBJLKI
“How do I use this thing?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzY5xFsJcH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHjPko4IYK
“You, uhm, you have to drink it. If you have a needle, you can inject it right into your leg, that’ll make it work faster, but not better.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPMKqUIjJw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGvSbtZKXR
“Drinking works for me.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4J8RDA9c6
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5voJfNjmXS
She popped the cork and chugged it to its last drop. She shook every drop out, set the flask on the ground, and entered a fierce coughing fit.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIaGTY8Vpw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdHece70g7
“Cah! What the hell, is in this thing?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei4yK8pJ0M
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFGG8VEGpZ
“That’s not the problem! You drank it too fast, you dingus!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbUFTLX2cp
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHngokueJZ
She looked at me with sharp eyes but couldn’t do anything in the midst of her coughing. I slapped her back a few times to help it pass her throat, and after a moment, she calmed down.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9opj2o2h76
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhNN7Yc85Y
“If you drink like that, it’s likely to go down the wrong pipe.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCimHus7md8
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYKqMWbWwb
“Whatever.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jtyFbRNEB
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbYqQTc9Xn
With her dismissive reply, she turned her head to the side with what I could only imagine was a pout. I silently sighed, because for all the gritting teeth and flexing fingers her behavior should’ve invoked, it was within my whetted expectations. I tolerated her usual brashness rather well– in fact, my body was as relaxed as a koala. But I didn’t come here to watch her pout, and I no doubt must’ve warranted that face somehow. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgWsNEz9ms
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrozeZRhPBT
She discarded my earlier words, but they were genuine. I didn’t want to make her stressed. Not any more than a person with such a leg should have.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe9aY1Sfrp
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKYDtDPkyl
And so, I got up from my improvised seat and brushed the little bits of dust that landed on my pants. I turned to Rover, who already had her eyes meeting mine. It was with such swiftness, that I almost staggered before my goodbye. Almost, but I fixed myself before it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BWCdlsjGH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BY2oEworj
But before I could even take anpreludebreath, she spoke, reading my intentions.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWMsXXca8G
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P5SzLLHAH
“Leaving already?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORZQyfzWrT
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUqQ2zWyhI
“I-I am, yes. I think it would be best. It isn’t as if I don’t have–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QhGfcmG0M
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3xq5oLMQW
“Hold on, not yet. I still have something to say to you.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ZLabl2Tc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpCL25PKoB
She didn’t reach a hand. No, not one inch of her body nudged my way. But her crossed arms and crunched eyes enacted a greater force than her limbs ever could, as if a fortress wall materialized on my head. My butt returned to the floor soon after, but what I tried my hardest not to reveal, was that it was self-assisted.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrXM3Gl410
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pogCVDAIx
“That’s funny. I do too. Do you mind if I start first?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgqHvwgEY0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tub5cc5Ki
She shook her head back and forth, keeping that iron countenance but giving me the go-ahead. It made spitting out my words difficult, but I was lucky to have rehearsed them. Only a little, of course.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpPwcaDqcV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlKOTPNTbp
“I wanted to tell you, that I’m sorry for what happened earlier. My conduct, of course. I was just– you remember what I’m talking about, right? Back in our little rented room?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rESRY0pWi
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhCPwGZkJ9
“Yeah, I do. I remembered how much of a wuss you were.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZXBzecnta
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmI8Ux2HQC
I almost chuckled. Blunt as a bat, but it hit a bullseye.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi4iOvT4ai
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunNHdAWTPQ
“I was being conducted by fright. I couldn’t fathom, putting myself out there, and making myself a part of this mess. Risking my life, your life, Juke’s. But, honestly, those reasons took a backseat.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZChzoBegg
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXib73KfdW
I noticed the subtlest rise of her right brow.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE62XofRBkN
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcC3hQrbkr
“I thought that, the lower the engagement, the better it would be. Screw the job, screw the people. The less involved I was, the better. The less it was up to me, the better. I don’t fully get it– not yet I do –but with the words I have, I can tell you this much: that’s how I felt.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ywyLr1hDE
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMseU1w6cM5
She nodded along to my apology. It looked like she was expecting more, but I was finished. So she’d understand, I concluded with–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdCf08UDPM
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzGNNCFUWk
“So yeah, I’m sorry for being such a wuss.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EvZ7eZ2PW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxRfISmgKm
“...Hmm. Ha, I guess kids really do grow so fast.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt6M5f7qW7
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYDv1fZ9Xf
“H-Huh?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NzgZjcR6Q
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzGYS0vXVL
She rubbed her nose a little and continued talking.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYAJ9JiUk3
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbzWf12w30
“Just look at you. You’re nothing like the Kenny I knew.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DKavZ03b0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTwtQlkZw8
“I-I, well, I don’t know if I agree–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcsuF07LUk
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZzDKYPSq7
“Nah, on second thought, I take that back. But that doesn’t matter anyway. Seriously, just look at you.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVjV9NZNJZ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriv8gFLK0G
“I’m n-nothing so special.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzyCafaocE
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGanDqD6GcQ
“Sure you ain’t. But here you are, in a room with a bunch of battle casualties. You’re in the same mess I’m in, and you’re finally working to get that letter back!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX74K1Ih5V
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2BqZmU83r
“The letter certainly isn’t a priority.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0egkGVo90c
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1V10lmTiL
She casually clicked her tongue, tilted her head sideways, and waved her hand downward.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeu0ElQSTw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWUPszuLMV
“Don’t sweat the details. That’s not the point. The point is that you’re in the same room as me again, and that means you finally grew a pair.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ962EfTuVt3
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgnggYAaCE
Whether it was he boorish phrasing or encouraging insistence, something about her made me sit on those words. I raised a hand to my chin and looked up at nothing, entrenched in thought. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzBBdjZD32
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIma0E2Pvj
It took me only a few 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3fRvtis8K
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAvokqeozq
“I don’t think so. I don’t think I grew anything.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQkRmdSMsv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlGVhvEap7
“‘Course you did! Stop giving me such crap–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFPv0d4TRE
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgCCsZvRTr
“No, really, Rover.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h9fH0TBGr
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYbSijMECb
I slouched my posture and leaned back, lifting myself with my hands behind me. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg1dAaD4XW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbfBguSX5M
“I think I’m just lucky.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8DqG3HZaW
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnKaMLWiJI
I veered my eyes away from the ceiling, looking into Rover’s, and was taken aback by her utter dejection. Or was it disgust?181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJwU0nMaAU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84TZZ5aiO1
“I-I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t been trying, it’s just–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymSTXbzuNB
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoUSCFpLPU
“Nevermind all that, Kenny. You’re starting to give me a headache.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJa94SJg6m
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiL4RllP4e
I stopped my frantic hand-waving and began to scratch my head.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUSyRqDrBw
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqH0naBnBf
“You’re doing something right. You said it yourself, so you know. But enough about you; I have something to say, and your weird drug is already making me drowsy.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLKmqMkvdz
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewlmPbSqjS
“It isn’t a drug! I wouldn’t stoop to such barbaric substances!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dH4fdyZTC
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg8o85xRHw
“Uh-huh, whatever. Hear me out before you can’t anymore.”
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39ZFvLOyGx
I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut, squishing my cheek by resting it on my face. Though Rover looked ready to speak with her gaze matching mine, she quickly jerked her head the other way and appeared to look off into nowhere. I was confused, but I didn’t voice it. It would be unfair of me to interrupt her as she gathered her words, as I hadn’t been so many times.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP5I5k1ERR
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGes72dVZre
Eventually, Rover’s face flared and became ruddy. I didn’t think much of it initially, but as I continued to remember that it was Rover who I was talking to, this meant that whatever she said had immense gravity. I perked my ears and sharpened their hearing– as best as I could with the poor funnel my hands formed, anyhow. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXGmdySMfm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jfgo3O4cY
“D-Don’t rush me!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM2LIawmGd
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIojShQ84S
“I’m not rushing you! I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you just spat it out, but–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULQIKZGkOh
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarEg453Hny
“Shut up, Kenny! You told me yourself once that I’m too crass with words. Just let me think; you already know I’m bad at this…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDyCsF63Qj
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtEgrEbfxy
I had no recollection of doing such a thing, but as the clearest memory I had of her was of the incident that night, I chose to believe her. She spent the time fiddling with her fingers, biting then nibbling her lips, darting her eyes this way and that with such ferocity her head jiggled with each motion. I could see my reflection on her sweat, and she was so engrossed in thought that air stopped entering her system.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oLfi5NtLy
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR14VV5r31Z
I was exaggerating, but I couldn’t deny that it was making me uncomfortable. I wondered then for a moment, as admonishable as a thought that it was, if this is how people felt around me at times.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFddL5PMnHY
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“Gahh, forget it! You convinced me, I’ll just say it!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hPGvvsgWk
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwxN3yXoC6
“I didn’t say anything.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGdEOrlq9E
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She straightened her back and puffed out her chest. Her guise of bravery was there to convince herself. The instance her lips would part, she’d cross a fine line, one whose threshold would shut and lock with her passing legs. I knew that gesture all too well. And since I did, I gave her nothing but my most diligent attention.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1yO4ytQVb
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZXCkWOqML
“I’m sorry for being such a priss.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVApeWyhaW2
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbUHLr8CuV
And I was returned an equal blow. Rover stuck her tongue out after saying that, ready to clean off the ‘mawkish verbiage’ she just spewed. That’s what it seemed to me anyway, but she refrained, as she had only her body to convince me of her sincerity.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmMlEoPXRa
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But whether she was or not, mattered not to me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VkpodllDA
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“I don’t regret chewing you out, don’t get me wrong. But I shouldn’t have abandoned you two. Not after how we’ve, b-became friends, and not after how you told me all you did.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfej0VB8tdh
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZAx26ziBI
“Told you all I did? What?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTis8UfsrRC
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She was caught by a wind of fury.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xgqRGt42z
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“You don’t remember!? Are you kidding me!? I really should–! Gah, you’re making this so much harder than it should be!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFtbMxadti
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQETsjA0OT
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She stopped her rage immediately, donning a look of perplexion. 181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8JldNbHV8
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHLAa42YPV
“What’s so funny?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ131BwsN7aH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05Lg02gqeX
“N-Nothing in particular. I appreciate the apology, I suppose? I don’t think I’m all that deserving of it, though.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBccf6XG3PX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXEYQukmZY
“Hold on, I’m not done yet!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4rPOyZqNp
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I nodded in understanding, and so she continued.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwge8ZAbLk
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“As I was saying… I was so mad, but I was never that mad. And I get why now. Because when it comes to anything Hard-Bringer, I get a little crazy.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuUsCrHz5e
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“A little crazy?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstcxtlufGI
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“Yes, idiot, I just said that. They piss me off like you wouldn’t believe. Screw that, I don’t get a little crazy, I grow mad, mad!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xDmGT0qwH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vBPeB352t
Her hands balled themselves to compliment her offshoot tangent. Her escalating tone made me concerned, but she relaxed soon after.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sXDWgrA3t
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOVr7oBAym
“So yeah. Sorry for messing up. And, sorry for thinking you were such a wimp. I thought you were totally hopeless, but I was off the mark.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcp7HJlBBv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodSrSiYJPU
“Well–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzb426YqbR
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“Shut up! Shut up! Do you know how annoying it is to hear someone undersell themselves all the time?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4e9i0OPJ8
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwknPo1K2z
“I–”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHCEDPUWaT
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It was that precise phrasing, that specific selection of words and syntax, and her usual, but energized voice that spelled it out for me, that allowed a candle to ignite in my mind. A quick image flashed in my mind, one of a man of close acquaintanceship, and then my throat spoke on its own.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EaxqIHWou
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“Yeah. I do. It sucks.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqyRLhfbez
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“See! I– huh? You do?”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoJY7jwQ6l
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I slowly nodded along. Rover looked with pleasant surprise. She was more than eager to take my word for it, and in fact looked delighted after I spoke.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5Jz38YZZI
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9BUZMQSnL
“Still,” I began, “as grating as it may be for your ears, I really have to stress that I think you’re wrong about me. I’m still a wimp.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEr7Flwlyy
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW868M8bz1L
“Whatever. Think what you want, but don’t speak it out loud anymore.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqDoNWe1l5
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN225ljM2Ut
“I… haha, sure thing, Rover. I’ll do just that.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSRFI0eUiC
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBosjdKnHdS
Her candid words were the perfect closer. There was wisdom in that harsh language– a funny thing to call it, as she was only a few years older than me –but wisdom nevertheless. No speech of mine could be a better finale, so I gathered myself and stood up from the floor.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpN3D1SXKc
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“Perfect. I was just about to tell you to leave.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8kZeASqBq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUKveseXtQ
“I’m starting to think you hate me.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC88JtyfgAr
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Her hands twitched upwards defensively.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihnysSOATp
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“I-I don’t. I’m just getting sleepy. Any second now, I’ll doze off.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5rnFXpfKD
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“Ah, right.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7VkvBT7ma
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She mentioned it just a few minutes ago, but it didn’t compute with me until now. Recovery would always be an exhausting thing, especially with assistance from potions. I wondered for a moment if there was a way to mitigate that.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisTHAqGBgp
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“That one Bringer was invigorated even with a restored limb, after all…”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2YueZQNIf
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cPdrr4mq9
“What are you mumbling about, eh? Scram! Scram, I tell you!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZSeZpWBc0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjals8Fx8Gy
“Alright alright, jeez. With how grouchy you’re being, you really do need that rest.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjacyftdBY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0L9qI95FT
She stuck her tongue out at me this time. I took it with a light heart, waltzing to the door and stretching as I made my way. I placed my hand on it but stopped short of opening, taking one last look at Rover. Her eyes were taking turns closing. I could tell she was exerting herself when she waved me off.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlQ7FyseSy
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“Wait, one last thing!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX79efaN11
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Then, she shouted unexpectedly. I looked at her with a blank expression to signify my okay, and she continued shortly.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPSP9c1TGv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPELgAPzvm7
“Tell that old bucket-wearing fart to visit me sometime.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEESJt8EWq
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“...”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjelTnxMJYH
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I smiled.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBhDhfk9rN
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“I will.”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbhWJKA0Pr
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I returned her wave and exited the room. The moment the door shut behind me, I let out a quick breath and–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh9s3NpeTe
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“Yes!”181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnfEefHkuI
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A jump with jubilation. I had to. I never experienced such success before.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsTs6vx9Ld
