The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rsg4W1VHY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42MQtevBxg
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH18X8YkIH5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN3rRwtKmJ
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJWzSUp8fx
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP0wtbobnP
"Dad!?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV64LWSCXw
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk20tDtlD5r
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNO79tlBZU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LaBmd7cmU
"Flinty! There you are!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5ZrbkN6S5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhatm5Di8r
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYJps1rZM6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iH3apD0ih
"And you must be Kenny?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICGBAmJZDu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHwssz5kLt
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIR8GCeWZn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iDFE4BNw8
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaybYnN3fxF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtG8pj0PXv
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAapi8MQzL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdpRPwyMlg
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y5ldMeI9H
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYOu3H4tjK
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvpShUdp0Z
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtMcwuiAZw
Dear Mister Chambers.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqoOfGFCLm
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZBBBql4Zk
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd94gUj75MY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjBEdR4VwB
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4nCtPmBkC
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsML79sYWd
"...I don't remember promising anything."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFaI3Vsz8L
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUpxDtuj1W
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BJxW5U3CJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71whTKvjib
"I'll make sure to thank him later."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8UnPeLrxW
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8ljOXtMeg
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUyvkjV3w2
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdID8Clr0j
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOT6VPhpQH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73dwZbJ4fz
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQwZ1OSfmD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjJBTyMSlD
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJmwtcu16c
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHghIwVedD
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde93PzEGbn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQi86rZflx
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24YEsRnhjL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBYGn57vH7
"Kenny!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA4xUGxqTa
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvXcbwGLlR
"Ah, Flinty, hello."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimHJitbF3W
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXCPDG2lCV
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrAnNUIYEF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwCcWh75sY
"Is that the plant you asked for?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRXXZaMosN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCruxZEZjO
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4356B9GQdN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDORRtmySZ
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpAsgqp1bk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ4RzXGQB9
"Hello, you two."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l70XjJqyT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4fJStoInd
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG17H5x3yln
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1u06Siiut
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP43bjrATBz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MiR0yMyaV
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUgQ6aa2uo
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C3Ix4zcx7
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa1PfQQxpa
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ76aHwmhx
"Please don't drop it or something."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbhlM1hmPu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsmJF0ladH
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBRioXS7g6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2i4z5EYGe
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9xd73kK8M
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JXSlvge5v
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPqByUjmp3
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOljOwuDLg
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHngZJFbo7P
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODWWJhX6Bx
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLW0g2tJKA
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3yLFea1xU
"And you asked for... a flower?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgdLofOabi
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHzyVp3LUP
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9FP6ED0dw
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKeYnqdGLs
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6UVBPYIM0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlAHYsEFnd
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe9bwso08z
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPqjfYAzCO
"Arg! You...!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW4LcB1Tux
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6k3m7HYpq
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTWbYMlGXn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86m03ARfih
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R2OoRSB2o
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnGg4eQO2R
"Whatever."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhKGEUhQTb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyqQcEVWT7
We sat in silence for a minute.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pXQKbgzr8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c7rScTJgE
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPC7mfF2mL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXqyLTZZnW
"Yes! Please tell me!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29TGgAWWyV
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgSSHfBnDl
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWltjOgvlD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVUE5lpSl4
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FyRwRMVPz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLndyhAcPuD
"Wait, Eastern country?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZD2iDcuLG
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDWF4WyUPZ
I faced the old man.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLHloKLCan
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYEasgVAzQ
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BpFzy053R
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjL42RgJ5Y
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksoz749U2N
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeZY07IFMq
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16X7nC5DGe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P2oZ1o2KP
"...Buffalo village."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT5ztyAKDE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIaqak9Czz
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ir2cKhaUa
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4bsYXRKW4
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfUTOZN4XT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr4pJskDfx
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTYGrldW0p
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwij8m0sy8j
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJYTIEA2Qx
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HeMzLtDGY
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFADNqSiHTe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4XHtfj937
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruQfuqHIpk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBUKmBF0AW
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ln5cf988D
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVFKCk9TiY
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3eW9DtsNJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZU0wGt6pf
"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aBzvmpyHF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDc2eysqWy
I nodded along.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK8J4EvYZP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4fDB4uYCN
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl8xEnhHSI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BWFmQZNiL
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEnwhHMFmS
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti5qPZILnV
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzY3RAXfA5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvKyIhu95m
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWExCF5aLHU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuiuXG3zzG
She blinked blankly.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcORpNNABf
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9pxQGuCqh
"Wait, is it?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykpseuWm8h
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk8DFmvgyz
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJVMEkFo9A
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNggsOHfsB
"No, maybe it is true."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVScCzXXPti
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HBkRZESAU
"O-Oh, okay."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn2s5ZxJJO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bwPgXuPXw
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2wMtWVmk4
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgJHl90gQx
"How was your guys' day?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNysvmHivk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35KJxJ0QQg
"Mom, you should've been there!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49NARXxvti
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDirlRyGE5
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEymuTXCQ7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xxkw65bC4
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5bbVnWrxM
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcALOWDPiXL
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PXHeHNuM6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv720549O3
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUellP9wIfK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQnzLUHxhI
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjboGfxSVBX
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYBhTAzb2m
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTor57snYm
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2b9ZglNrl
"O-Okay."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ489qPWyicd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6AQ9FnrdK
"Hold on chum, you come back here."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JL3fESXmL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOSkGsHcFn
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJo2RQMSev
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6ZLo1csB5
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5qZMrg62W
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEuLgYHTZO
He sat me right back down in my chair.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7nqnfZBSh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4Mc51KBzD
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLYXzGnwkY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU5C6E872O
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIPx9KZhz7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVB6w5D55V
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mjsCSZvlq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwBghSo0mQ
Nobody even heard my "laugh."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQtCIJPFBl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT34JW5RZT3
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2XDZrzWWn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD3V5Ocu2O
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9neJhGRy51
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqU66855rW
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs990lnecpJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaO5LLPK04
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb8wPOkTOn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnewfG05OLi
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtpl950ekk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzYUlyyt4s
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDvnBSAkRN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1rVUWDRC8
"TALBOT!?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstqpP9Z3JR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaKt0iknG2
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv154vWhmX7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwPqCPe8iw
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz5ru3KEri
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkJ01J0pfP
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPqaVpZFJ7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbykW7MgzU
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzODi0Gyngq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyyVkwBGOe
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjOnXMhWU7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6DpZ5SdzQ
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjLJbMWvIF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv8FgWNmoA
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1El5RZHPqG
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PD3G9c6qo
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdV1BDS3NX
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDQQm8pFKo
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oblG3BXj4
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9YljJsbVP
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkpWyFqQ1o
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"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56PjDtqeFg
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCSDqC7Py6
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHN9tEhAMt
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJC2BKntfn
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOaAlyKds5
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lM1hQXfWi
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbaczaqgJE
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"Flinty."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEdUYiXxGd
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"Y-Yeah?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJL6vi6q8s
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxRTJAzwdD
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaoMDghySs
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F6tvx6CAZ
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzdLiKsrot
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"Okay! Let's do it!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw28YlspJia
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmHH52bZCD
There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww6DJUd912
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"...My tome is in the other room."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQrQagGTSz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXmet2stx2
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW4t4OcIgX
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–
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–186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KUeRJcsO7
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGZFyCo6c8
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTTfnLuNAH
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfP0vIFrS3
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO4vpFUAvr
"Good morning."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57IZR9yPak
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoF18ofqFs
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13I2bJubH1
"I woke up early."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO8d3bOdxQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpEVHACDGW
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuacxEUGuJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7hzDx1ooh
I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDA0MHKe6P
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPv3xOX7Gx
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj8XAuxjl7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvtuAGz1wv
"Right."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbpX8f0Las
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLAIOG3Yj
Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ryRU2LtuD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD4ajM0vsH
Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP1tWTAqHu
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0FcW6URmJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegRFlFGaRx
"I sure did, honey."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0B6ShFjKT
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"Oh."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6YVMxzcYj
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgygwgF4xDC
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"Is something wrong?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2pndbttLy
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDxzvm2QqI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzwUp2Wbes
She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSVO1gNgGq
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Strange. Strange people.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM1m92y6yM
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSbxwkgrot
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"...I uh."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEp9ugveAO
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWsTzCUF5u
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Psd9a5fMW
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcddPCGBhT
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmhUicQBBZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdiNUUI0cH
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jXGKNNLwD
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"Water under the bridge?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAh7L0O5fe
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"Mhm."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffQXiScf7
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OpZKkvmcd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC86t5m7y3T
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpYP6faVOL
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They were really good.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGiF2TziXq
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuQn8OJw4Z
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"That's a nice outfit"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGJsqg5HeD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvaGCPOxI1
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecHDAx4LJq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevSrkXLB0X
Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYETMdXJebp
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt8dzQYe2J
"You know this town very well, Flinty."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62i65qrb2p
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh2WP0Cwmy
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuG7qbZ7lh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o5ArO6bd2
"Ah, my apologies."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3hcYLZwP8
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"No no, I like being around you too."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVlwterUKk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5JF6I4GPk
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRsQSLu9lP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbE8qFaMQE
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sEkib19D0
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"R-Right."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ttk38PoyD
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD8REV5mq6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoEnCSVxDM
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Tq6reI8lI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbP5cra6OO
"Hello, Freed!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUia5McGf6j
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn3XXcQMQq
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkLj24QNMk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKQijJqqKj
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI0OBFmyip
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3MFBBAfKI
"So what business do you kids have today?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSvpJjvPzz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20CltcXTme
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRH8oJD9wG
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueTAmlX8Bg
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoDuvyKHMr
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJkOEqSz5n
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGGhRYgsAT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bOggyLrQL
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXLiz9w6fv
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZRoH4lcwY
"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKQIl5ld3h
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1DI6xEsWa
"I see."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46F0zQ6D13
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrI54D5bdg
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"I refuse."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T3ZcmrDZn
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"Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD4EzIq311
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"WHAT!?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJv3d2bdpI
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGtIlzWE8j
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIyYH44s2G
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lHAd0q3Hk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsmBYJlGCC
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7idbZFGjUw
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"...No?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR4Ff5lEE7
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbsnMprGhT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZeutKnYFT
His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3XO5BB890
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H2sj5xRu9
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6zljh6DEX
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhWj7sssYs
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJd5PUzAh7
It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YJPR2x97A
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"Down here."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyaPwtfscu
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwueNoxCFhu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnUGrYkcC0
It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJbGFfhhi4
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9exrcRy22C
"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4NRFOlemI
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPqwOy8HEQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfqD7w6KVU
Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDCJ1t2K79
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08FblM2Fvr
"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlM7SqPYtO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiXuxNS4Z9
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3ws99HpnU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhbMe2y4wu
I shrugged.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80jjEdnrK2
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEh1rtOUZN
"Well alright, go ahead and try."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3fFqsdD1j
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5STDVwGMp3
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBJDx1zX89
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLj1cQ8JV0
"Am I doing it right?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSkRBXMYJR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf76SFnMYF
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M3KmCc7ag
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJmWsIAxj1
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLM2aibWt8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo9XhiRrJ1
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjvOMmPt2K
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8CKlAVNc1
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuVBfCrG6o
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl12N4N3CgC
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO79CFOjxP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR1bmm2hiP
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1jmxpaETI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSXkxqoivW
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaJUT1Ffl3
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoXESMt0SW
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw0X9buaY8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrDdYXmEtu
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2GLeD5wfb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5NbdNYGsU
"O-Okay."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFonPyXARoB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBzUkQeX7a
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpzkDkKCBe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9aK1oR77H
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzldQatfGk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7ugzHPxwX
"W-Wait, how do I–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu22e4s2m3m
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4gwIJld8E
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHWCuQDau1
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnnRV7RSDd
"But what if I can't let it out?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw2mK93NfE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfTM3fMr3m
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdPzYACly
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDNSawTZYv
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnZGHWidak
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQLGmtqQNh
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2TFQeQK2V
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhd4XPaPJ1
"Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuDayak1fy
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEd1rRU6FC
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouqkpzi9Yz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsOShmWFBt
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9i7mVCkYI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQnVBZInnQ
I messed up, getting all excited.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T26yreBtR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZFSx30M0T
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBwisYVU7Y
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcsZUhIy4B
I couldn't do it in time.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbaBDxGk9C
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhnCCvRNGE
**BOOM**186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0l5f7GdiK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUSj6gdMPY
The world around me faded.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBKpPPIxZ1
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NYBCkuh1K
–
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–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sfy8pINma
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYGnelUR5u
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD5MBkmJjW
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimO5xy1WBn
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F5yuc0VQE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5NaE0aeJa
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBmeEmSPHk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyxMGCjLSs
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2ZeQ9yUvh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguVtMK7Vof
I was in the greenhouse.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWhKTh6Ip8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMLg87p8cx
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBg7R7LFVK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr7jegUpV1
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhdRP34Hcb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCh2vYcESv
Thank God, they were okay.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7VOBB5wtl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BGb7iMBDY
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltVc00nFpo
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo7VhoEANQ
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJBDzPxCNO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCAch0TALZ
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8eKzOEKXd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUcOqj4Lk0
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbU3I0DUE8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMw0AU0OHP
"This is... my coat?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUZFO7ukLg
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVA4g3n2Rk
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUEHpUyqW0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuHScbt6N9
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRZ0Itu3fU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj9jVCo3NE
I love you. I really do. Thank you.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55TOZD1U74
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldAXvjc9vc
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBGl86v3yP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8g6314g31
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7y1YNRBl7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabEO2i01qj
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk55Xb4v0B
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDjI20ntdw
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfhx8zhEGk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96WPR0EWzr
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYRvAJsoXc
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bSw6oQvVw
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOfLX3Mmbq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzHRfZ8a7i
"H-Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fz9aDBJnu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZcdtn9z9Y
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixE9cq3WVm
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbE3TrMvgT
"T-That's terrible!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSmHBTSecH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqH0lYfgLk
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLc3TbRGVr
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5BQV7ff5T
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlkCpSJvQM
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAs9vKrCNT
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53GAK6Xm4D
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KRyMJDXsd
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoE8sEK4eb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf63dS6Tai
–
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–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWKWgI1yQA
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6RIKjG9Pr
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr1XxH6cRD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9QwljAX6m
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7WIzbPVey
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdOPyvfFHm
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7r5qxdjnQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82tPTcTjp9
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtrjrfaEne
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkbCkCVBsT
"...Ah!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCf5VsInhT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCERxxXSsI
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYmh0huBvf
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSuLhbegTU
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdntSTYgyZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IMdlC3UB6
"...Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1s5HpzU1J
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmev4y4GEGZ
She meekly turned her head to me.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvGg7s0sSY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68BYHjtaRE
"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslGzR1qSHN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y18lmPwTo
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvy9Riffm0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPScvKy2AQ
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bekhigZ3F
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwXRL94a6K
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3JvNvAtkp
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BRC3I1vIU
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurvv15cxs5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSOR31jOA1
"Okay, let's go then!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SRfgDCYPh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP7XcGxYdb
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuNnMHJI2D
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEPe4q6Phq
"W-Where are we going to go first?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPczAzLJAG
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw13yup1H2
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgn2qijGTJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3tvP7F8G8
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTiSB2mNt8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ694M5QGrJC
Yeah, let's.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGb650echr
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8DNC74JIY
–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZshSQk8jZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypIqnbu0LS
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87xpd7BhfD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgwsXgt83v
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxqlAQuu5x
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykeAnTXDTQ
"This is the combatant's guild!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf7qjamguY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqOr5QbElj
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP7GPx5GsC
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfcPPT3TsJ
"This place needs a renovation."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfHyseiGNu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecIVcnAC0E
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sq5Dom3C8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUfxrT460g
I shook my head.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXsc1jHImZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJ1x97e9cr
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlRArhGk33
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzAXYyHjFs
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYImQz6MfVm
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0GBwHuCpf
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQEwJeoaIR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEufikTcDHE
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU54IUIcG6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YzF0LCvft
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAZdE3labK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESbfSCkIlS
"Do not even suggest it."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW8PYeGh9x
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulv89XzGwt
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHuyebfyEK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGYRnua4Ck
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5gZRFX9RZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJYhrFbRIk
"...Well alright."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kLinxAjvB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNXWkiirLy
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS5zeJWA92
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcUpkSQgte
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay2knHRlWM
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUmu3Hol3K
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0GzfuW6F0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoasLhzcJkV
She pouted.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQYRzMx42P
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcPAdNKoeb
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerJddRmjT7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAUNX6BXAz
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi57L1Qhrcs
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cGEoF7XaP
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdKp5hLWRi
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmzrdQaNH7
"Huh? Flinty?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZaxgFfDQj
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1bSGvj2fq
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh145kWftu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvHR9SSAvV
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmduzDqPcGb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvNvJv937O
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsffDMv4Up
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ2NRpZApK
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdktANxqo5Z
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVN7eR7tBu
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVSkXcpxqY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxmHs22zzZ
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVA1fzAldP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKG1FrBnfq
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFaF8LlGLA
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtoMNEvff8
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SxJwF2FTS
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqchmlUwzHO
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHb0Oct4sd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dIt5DLOpb
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMImreOT422
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqgM0M0HaD
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF4C0ik4A2
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTw5YR8lNG
"Huh?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvivlwilxbA
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF5GCUGqle
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI58NEpPWmo
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0bkD5rGfY
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsiRnKbRCk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3osOw2gDDf
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yY3QeWg8G
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5YhxjudRm
"You're right. Wait–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabCgXM29pe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQctTibhLC6
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEHCwefEoo
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpQesqwJYF
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegURvPLWHk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqltNWOKDm
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21S08WbTQu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLqDFLK0a6
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsixZy9V2e
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64zwuMextB
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgUZGr5vtO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvUMyBfNbo
"No. I'm here for another reason."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa3Ork6F8E
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuZ7Ck4Yae
"And what may that be?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8bWwtlbka
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDvKhxpOx2
"None of your business."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfzjlzSg8C
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqHA7MbNfg
"O-Okay..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUPUVCix3Q
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwxcCOlcke
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kuYSbPNFc
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF0ta8oIkA
"She is super shady."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTLA7SsyAc
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtbvye0ZJz
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rSNluZOF7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBatP4mC5P0
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87pX9mGb2R
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7H5AQQxRb
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXPliQoqVu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OTJrAlB1N
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1X0o5MEtH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwVBIGVOu6
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIpy70RUi8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ5dHti9DR
"T-Then let's get his attention!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WedhH61sZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7caRZoIXhv
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk8gxJb0OX
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBeyJEzMHt
"Let me handle this."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkEBDKs3A0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0AG2CvVqO
"W-What, why?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOMn2tgj0v
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNor49SwXVP
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBYI3qCG3Y
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbWOTDHNc
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pDmMTRZMZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESnNbQl5Nv
"S-Sorry, Kenny."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7N8Owv0dZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizsec2cuyv
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQZSPnIarZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hfrM4vVoz
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTCB32ewU1
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVAz32mLh3
"Hey, you guys!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmkb5T26kR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzaXeIRMLz
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLUAtgQQX5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Vs6S0Bi2v
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNuxUZN9mH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Yygx1IAX
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfDnuKpF0n
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0FcjGfgi5
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKDPt261i6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom8SEEjtDY
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7uUlJPoxe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW2Qyn1bc0
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mQFSL3gF7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O86MyW3sq
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZhhht7PHP
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOIpFJbxX5
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexmY9VmJ91
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8r5xbN6TG
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwVsPYZ76G
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8kfDU1t3d
"Here's your bill, miss."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pJp3bLJDx
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWydndMy48
"...I..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTxwgUKa2C
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyFmx8Plgj
She was having a difficult time speaking.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVsDDmjYLJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA4jTzBkCm
"I forgot to bring money."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSlqaF7WxV
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE71p4uV2EN
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOh1kLNPk2
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZcUFUKr52
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrd03q7xVE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzamY62Bbh
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQonLYBpfXE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9HLGZny7M
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBFpAqUcCb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExiEUh2Mg5
Ha. What a moron.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMPAOMM5Ho
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2nka7rMt5
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD8gTaYYMq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1RujmmZtv
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgpQAuTURX
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzy3ChU9EC
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzH1v9Oi5B
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqhrdbHiKD
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ObBbL3DD5
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NTFJdlQnj
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6hmniZYnX
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjNkgxrSui
"..."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vXj89c3te
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElFs8724ks
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9rbLUNIgd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoCMNKF8Mn
"Hey, cloaked woman."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ykwELpx8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBzs1uTBpk
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL2kiqftAt
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ9d8vFZSW
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCyMRUuVnd
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uIV2Ue258
"Yes, of course. Thank you."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wMPPRW7Mh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5mYVqao67
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjQcPGd65K
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET9FUgrQIx
"Alright Flinty, let's go."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sE7ynGiyq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3JAMChYLf
"Yes!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H2U8YpNLk
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaKR4rCygd
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIWNXfD6q6
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu9HphhBjp
"What?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4LRjKwA7K
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvB160h4lS
"Kenny, you're awesome."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNm9MQDbCR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvssXT5uw1
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwpSloijDI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSguuQNAciu
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA23w8v8ryM
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0FVoUSDQE
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNxXRSP17L
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXaZHTWrbx
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdmra0IwIe
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwtySTP8Tm
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbiFdz41Z4
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOlgjPa971
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA5kXWLMp0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkODypzI7PC
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD7Cx6crkh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wskXmBMrA
"...Is something wrong?"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkFoIK7iNy
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA9rBwEhkX
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYCVER96g7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqzFp9QLze
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifIqN6ufum
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6xg9MYj2H
"R-Right."186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPh68THJax8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXkpc1hM1s
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
