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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7cQ0AlMTx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAwfCjQuGg
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxzIcau39m
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWjdXCiYQn
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI24Xeap5R
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpY8Weha1G
"Dad!?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa98IW17hlR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3XYp5Euh8
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOFVDTvGpg
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡProtBaRUO8
"Flinty! There you are!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoZjtSVaGK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFMIaQsFeZ
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uR971OVWg
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwv2OmRTcv
"And you must be Kenny?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk8VWKyM5k
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4bBZEIcFW
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8DD03URl4
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikdKIe1rvO
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJUJLg7cjz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S6ekcHB5V
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFecWHuWN0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1SUrdyvfW
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 here239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpXCtw0NDw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsRKTYAAxk
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvijMthe1h
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4baM3LJrp
Dear Mister Chambers.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIRM53jTCL
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TyWTtDiZ5
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhzdnuamIa
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNjA4Iq2Jm
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBmPra9UNH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4i2zI6Vp6
"...I don't remember promising anything."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKefgWMwrz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB4afhEyZ6
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8avrOx1aN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL8VszBpxZ
"I'll make sure to thank him later."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r9qYRlPmD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGukyN9PNH
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBvyZkRbUH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb65ofp8ImU
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E4Gc2NN28
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim6dNzNgCS
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnwpFGKjQa
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iM2Yjh5A0
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyLpOxxS1B
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4vY0j0JwU
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj7HZhgNlC
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ta0PQ0O0i
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEAoDrnEqm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoowpSP3GWx
"Kenny!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqHvjzxCRt
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPAdrEnfJq
"Ah, Flinty, hello."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnWDiXch84
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvnyG0u9VT
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2apJbeMoq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmCMhlMBfi
"Is that the plant you asked for?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFt7853msm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uURA6ePTs
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7xTd15nT1
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WpVE3AJri
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuFV8zs0uT
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUqNvBAak4
"Hello, you two."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gzxU5XahO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdch3Pd98IB
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBS9LPNq1z
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeBCdDEcpX
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJw7MdGg6N
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtgXkrvi5S
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrm5REZYzy
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNf7TTF6QY
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17N0gjiWcl
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwm23YpWfB
"Please don't drop it or something."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5sLqYYAmf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnpEsaQYQA
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvR8Ss8IRk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bfXj4PfgR
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLcHmznLzv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1hnaHoTkE
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCupkchg0xr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVUC07LqDJ
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIFPALvAwZ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUwt9thCEp
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJvd2nUKCn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIlz5kBKtg
"And you asked for... a flower?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzylN48Xfj8
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIIePcbRyL
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz7tcXpb31
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GaLeSInqc
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJbInyCX5H
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM6sBJWDqM
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ6OyfEzzC
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7V6cXaxfN
"Arg! You...!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxw5SWPNnD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVApStcEDkN
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkxJrlQxUD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9V7Rx8Ksb
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh6Uyus1CF
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTksp0lSqwI
"Whatever."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcLqNQ0rRA
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xSqkrjvss
We sat in silence for a minute.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3VssJM3VQ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiJQrmQo8x
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItVc0mxfwh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblFI7cCJFA
"Yes! Please tell me!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Hd26ghbI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOesoidX4Qe
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZjAW34SKI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2Vkx8s6sa
"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–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdpx4aUHtG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2bG5fmYsW
"Wait, Eastern country?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyXPTO6C3f
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMTGJGRIgZ
I faced the old man.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4znt7L7Lqt
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjkv9MPFoc
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEStfSECmo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaFGQn5pFC
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyfK4T4LqV
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3k05StjKt
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9MhPp3zto
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSkLeMXcIn
"...Buffalo village."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzPUFSwZWc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH2zFdMjPo
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAQHHHVPB3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNErirqIF6
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZeVgDHSSX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4jC0z0egr
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vd9cgNjoX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeatsk41sB
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAd4AbsdUR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpdDyuqp8S
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeeacdpdSD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ZfQ1Rg9D
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oscflHB9t
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykefDEroGy
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSok60FjrJ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOahjaFb0j
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1csxJPohH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYd0EspAc4
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpfxEg5nwz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pIcxPiXbd
I nodded along.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXjlCHfmma
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2i6UT8Y6D
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUK81uwTXk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenyLDyJkdn
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50AdQ3pUS9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXlfQyNXLp
"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!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbU7lFIrvw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBjcskfUn5
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM208lPKmC
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU3cYeue8L
She blinked blankly.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2n3cq0AB1
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISUoyCnQah
"Wait, is it?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1vMhSajmv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP81llna4tf
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQJAeAuv5D
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcdXr2MV0Z
"No, maybe it is true."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKuQaa9L6n
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wQF7l0235
"O-Oh, okay."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuSpgXxeIe
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgxwaT6JqA
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9HOX1bwVq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtbvtR0rla
"How was your guys' day?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrGyjBFkSs
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8aL9v0uc5
"Mom, you should've been there!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09DUCAhx0p
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8EE3SLxyM
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtndRaTPSn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80OMp6eRpn
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ2xOMofIX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25UhgHbLqQ
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfeFJmnJrv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2V7tpMmdC
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAziIg0nBe
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVVHSgNNa3
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz9wQL5rQm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLTZfaXfu3
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAl1iCMDcK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwELkCAkjsz
"O-Okay."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRDAR5pzN9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuExSdFWX5
"Hold on chum, you come back here."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhnHyqd2P3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TtMLJLvZP
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsMOK0fV1Y
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuDsnLrg4b
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfT3V1ZVKu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11w2n8E5fk
He sat me right back down in my chair.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB4ylC4OAw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm32FEd4QrE
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TFUgukiZ7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCrrrA4MWy
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dVHs2l4Y8
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYkDD4D2GA
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTfEf82Arh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkLTq6Glbe
Nobody even heard my "laugh."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhjoqQkFY3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc12cpGkSx
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbLETxEwYE
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWxAUHtYjs
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouBVAkqQKG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIcWZBOEMO
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw1acmdcis
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz5ciktHkg
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoyqBA6YE5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F52vNfy7j
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQaeliWIyy
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgKfuzHzfx
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEDU4hkhfg
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUHGWVgdYY
"TALBOT!?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DXl2YtWoP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXIwtbosWm
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jVmByxRiz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVSX2CC66b
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxiJEDhpsS
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPOElZp2n5
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS6K6omnvH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyLp1I9nxf
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNrf984ScV
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgZPqPXIaJ
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPLFvtE9Xx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa2nYxk74n
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22tB2XwxMW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL0bz4xpq3
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfuHFmecZc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTxGfJeKsO
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gpdUOKH0v
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulSFsVN4KB
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35IAF9d3db
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdrfnxgQpY
"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6L0ooaO52
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOpXflUJBA
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqaEClf2Pf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY2LvSzOm0
"Yep... sorry, Chum."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcKt4A9kRf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUZNb4fNu9
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClVDxgUhSb
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EkZN3luQg
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq5Av38w6T
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwrP15qwE1
"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEpJcRsrTq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjec9VVO0o7
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWezykx0dF
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzX3sw2ku5
Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyweU5Lsjd
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm7ysWG4Zq
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufqEMUhN3f
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGsFiBXWES
"Flinty."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FjAR5j3RH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHVVXdheEk
"Y-Yeah?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfE2qW1ojS
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGlptzpcPy
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUOp7Pq9ga
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHnblfiB6R
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk0bAZWIVm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB46yNGwA9
"Okay! Let's do it!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yRyr3B2sU
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG89RvNn0UW
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg7xMfwppk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD28A4jBQr
"...My tome is in the other room."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlI7potOsI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjudibsZoE
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacGZwCst4J
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjaWEbXT31
–
–
–239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9vl6sq6i0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8AaK7cscy
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZLKhzob3Y
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L0KOwHix5
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvivKyWoI8a
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcOV9nKhnc
"Ah, mornin' Chum."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEVBHLFZTR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHG1rkHWcD
"Good morning."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZWNefw39P
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3hcyjEEka
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFoDcEg97W
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqvv4yhYKG
"I woke up early."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVvMfzvfwF
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG26mTLNMj
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmpPicu9qb
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGZtpUjOd8
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSWnxXLTxW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlKAotxQoi
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3VGKOlk9Q
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvAPYUermR
"Right."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaafl0lKkwh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lU6ujujpT
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYRhplisYh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCInaw85EvM
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMXge3rboP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6hwO6Fys8
"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTH9u3zuCU
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS6eNBlZ1l
"I sure did, honey."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nJT1YtDWE
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dg7EQP5t7
"Oh."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedRSKVxMMG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRBicdAMtI
Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMANCX3Zyx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuTgoLPtZz
"Is something wrong?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObHtwFqJGX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7CZ0MjAXC
"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu40zdqgTi
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQSGwLoTSM
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEP1autxrf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWVgb8O9EX
Strange. Strange people.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxlZq37V7v
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgAusUjeTR
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxir8xyPj2
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu3N5eiltf
"...I uh."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YgvADW1Fr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD4IgYx2SQ
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lzW38wC2N
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTaNvfdCNy
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMSykCnXO0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9CjufFqUI
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDfqWCF4d6
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6omkvvhfS
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNqG54NMYa
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e8Czi7ON3
"Water under the bridge?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BUuhKdv0y
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEmghubDX2
"Mhm."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStxzIUlNkO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcJ2fMBGgS
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyb0EhLObX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFkMiJDMlB
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRipxqHq63S
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfebnBvMbP
They were really good.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE81LxoecKF
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE4wherHow
–
–
–
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlofLujA5in
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPXtlHlHcp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlQNzkaG88
"That's a nice outfit"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrsHRKI34s
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqCwRTJQnC
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Bk57M4e8
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOocnzdntIk
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5IFN8TTLB
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUJTtIWzR4
"You know this town very well, Flinty."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGw0nRO3yv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExm2BvbSwT
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyNXYAMlJ7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoKRoouz6p
"Ah, my apologies."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f7LTsj3X7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu1MlHlCZl
"No no, I like being around you too."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA5rEWHe7R
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFA0SpKAp8
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNkHd2SAeD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTFBRx3VOT
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQS97Pb7zy
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr2bqEWrEY
"R-Right."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV3JpqZZmN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUn1yjZ0Z6
She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPY7wgxQbz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz7C3XxvZN
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA4TYA4BUc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LbZ2nr47N
"Hello, Freed!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai1Jdryajr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vTMkG6Qwz
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qX9R8Tg05
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRaZoue56D
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtpfLX7xBx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYstxLZYKv8
"So what business do you kids have today?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYpviKqWap
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzrs5rDiR4
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTg9vFqj3n
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB6gkVlFXC
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszFMbJosuU
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9vvWfawu6
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRICN4SCPo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt1wMwsG8I
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyycWKAMeaR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PifY4UGeb
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgxgVVcwcY
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOrknSvdE2
"I see."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9nwq4Zkzv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLCJzy1JXg
The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cY8YR5yhG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn4DGKNi2g
"I refuse."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDZVYTcoFM
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACL5nCngsM
"Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNUObG2m8M
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfLTi6LlLL
"WHAT!?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcMF2dmMkN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cww1BtyaJ
Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMQG1ne45A
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1eWUqVKa0
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXOeN3cNrm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqR4npbNKt
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNutlnSVZi
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNqCVtD3zV
"...No?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lV0iB81KK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwt5VvkWJ3
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSxuKFScEx
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNEXrcEB9Q
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwoRWOzcXq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbHx9ceqss
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y5dtLnPbB
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmhtaZiMTz
"Hold on, follow me, you two."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeLG7054Ij
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25H0yKj494
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HHOO7mfIk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eW0EgCYIw
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd73iwunCO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW4WAPWcCg
"Down here."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lRZdAXyEX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNHGAJSfis
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gTljqyK5P
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYogB0HExsn
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KNAvVGmJp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBGUykCGQ5
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLhdbSfxnh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gbCsHqofE
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ouj5Z8NOv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIZLZYtISB
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZnKGSQaRS
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AEmvdOsdg
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG7Td5Cht6
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbeUS3VyzS
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kF1sXzYXl
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgrjtYsW61
I shrugged.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCbvuRM95H
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZJv3w7AEZ
"Well alright, go ahead and try."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo1I8Ob1BY
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzFEd2yjIz
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0AHwyUeRN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0sTMNfx3N
"Am I doing it right?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5xGMhgmz5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPpT2p9p9z
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMcUE2Kq8j
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG8pBo1bZF
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB7o5I0Goj
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQ5L10gXV
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam3gGnPnhR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKLYUyk4f4
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWNsqqANKW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwL6OR785V
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJMRtNDol7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2xboRm0CJ
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIv0Kru5BI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fiu15bMQ9
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj9z0LnLJ7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue2w45itDI
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRHNXVlQyt
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8iNOKkybE
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi6c37JU8J
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvven7fNLWn
"O-Okay."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I1qFBhSQc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVVq5ArFUc
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKdxYvIn6t
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeGODQtIl7
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp335YNLb3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX9Mg62DZS
"W-Wait, how do I–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtsbNG2Rbh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ7j2sBrVA
"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?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8ohvPX6x5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZz6lWHz8r
"But what if I can't let it out?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nYArXL0ii
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y1CA3gh5Z
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wx8bknOWH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoYq0XBaet
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjVnNTqTye
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EGkZx7dfy
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmiUup5EmL
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGQ6zGs2BW
"Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjB3kKnHj7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QFls5vfAU
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRD89kChPM
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIXZy2UK14
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wr0taQyKO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYBZ7XC7Vc
I messed up, getting all excited.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAKWWxW3dz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpRWw5f5Qi
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaewHGQogBP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikKnw20vnr
I couldn't do it in time.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapiOGJahaX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE2kpvp4OI
**BOOM**239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwUGQtcAzR
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqudyd6wBa4
The world around me faded.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOu1GlSLcG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH3Fo8VdfM
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiaqJkuQpm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqttYR3jxiN
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?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHkkbXMwqW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QjutWifqT
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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jsyTZRKQ9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtUDsdrurl
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvCpFAtx0S
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PrK7PElWm
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMSluRwofA
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzrLYtHIue
I was in the greenhouse.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR4ZBJUq0z
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5y6HWlvkn
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29JhWcUETu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lj81TuwqT
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa4DkVEXy1
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJOb1kcbFe
Thank God, they were okay.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTtP8cX6vV
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVvzHGXFoc
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquSvvWbHwn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAOuWz5rzf
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40pjrVH0bU
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBo4vmZX2s
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37yyFBm4aj
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSilnqZbXWf
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyzSkg1ZVX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMOmVEqxiZ
"This is... my coat?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx66DreXEG0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa22hlIgPnw
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOQiebV4dd
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEgljlzEFN
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn2mLAsem3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xNxyRpYMD
I love you. I really do. Thank you.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvbj6U3gHp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZhtxReDq9
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98uuVzUETv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSMS7ubT9l
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSxhDeL9BJ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSjsv0pSCL
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqQFALNpos
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjPmkFfitW
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlfbZaOngD
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOZIoUgptq
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwL9jumOKz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzUjCB9bHg
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76CM09QzSI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPPHhT17m1
"H-Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRCToqLX8F
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXaBy8icj8
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmVcwBjULw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI60zbW3CGc
"T-That's terrible!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAcRzbZUub
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDSjGeLhwk
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkoR0tnDcS
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErFhzIX6vT
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAcUmTaLr5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8eXMb4hwg
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".239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuv8bSuKEL
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppf2MNEvM4
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCcMkH0n6e
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xd6vOFqnf
–
–
–
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBheVeQgAG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ5N9Ek50K
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGeGeYD8W0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl8KLF6CuT
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbYiCGXUA7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprUtgMsNrc
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKr3ArTbfw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwmgTDVjBj
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?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8lUPMb2Fu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2D1ZEOhUp
"...Ah!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbLjLnaoxM
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyuNlvPUdZ
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5PTOIJC86
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxRJTNgfqs
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnpUN00gtw
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeCqq7FLeJ
"...Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoja3IXPYh
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EDF9Smm5a
She meekly turned her head to me.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOJdKqAHiX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCtZBKwEcA
"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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOUKFxLDoY
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfBAJsyFN2
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ZaINp6Fi
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4SW9UoHkA
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHP8zwNhUQ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz1adKgYLM
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXIu26UhHu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY51ru9xlG
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLTkLDHBuS
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcVV7ASznx
"Okay, let's go then!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSB60ufDlm
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCeyXZMrSt
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaVIBlnGNA
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeXWgV5GGj
"W-Where are we going to go first?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaMjgfaL6k
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1fqcHo8nn
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI0jnGZfu0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvph2lcm8z
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LUd0OAHc1
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf2wvjoTvD
Yeah, let's.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw8gqGozHc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyRBy3oili
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4NiiIifFu
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpx1V40kmp
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3daZPe8BqO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zTp103zDA
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvu1ZQEGmj
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkkoUFAA2O
"This is the combatant's guild!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmbTUBgft9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHqwZcUgNW
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxGCAvWhtn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoP0xE2yIR
"This place needs a renovation."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWYEhJmKj1
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZs1I6D0qk
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6WY6RU07J
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL9M4G3pmk
I shook my head.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3TRh2bdrg
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuhfdtucf8
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW8uru1OZ3
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoBS8PZu67
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvs495TS38
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9DjuiQmO2
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq6xemIM4i
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzh7qGOoZp
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmkP5HDLIC
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH34IgIEdE
"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–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNqnx9Ufdj
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY6tNEnHZ8
"Do not even suggest it."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VkUDAVj2s
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z5ohF3X5u
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk2Z2KmeNf
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX418dr5iIG
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJwmnoPBiO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT0xF8xBoL
"...Well alright."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyZZZeGde5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LiO0OMzuI
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwnWqxGI1W
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLji9K9X8a
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc4xxiBiTX
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc3ov7TXB6
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeISVKSUlzp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f6FKJfsLE
She pouted.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70SiIwBQUz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi09ili9jUx
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH4B24v3dp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQVP5FdfnF
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNrclEPTvT
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK2oq6rIFT
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GNMOYwlsr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLAERKdoIx
"Huh? Flinty?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnPxZmf1U8
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZSXWiZc8O
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cqATyjwCo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddWmX14nWx
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8lKqxHLE4
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJdggzEoj3
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWyNjvHSA5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWFYfTx0K2
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUKgqwHn0q
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T17Q4XAJ2
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH55svvoeBk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVmKNRbkDL
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eR7p76XSY
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAkZKgXumg
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3mUG0LaCK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyrKzb0zRG
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLZAuYYEfP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOiqCcAyvE
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!239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOCEm6oxao
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y6K9u7QiG
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cT5NgCQu4
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fC6BHnawL
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnvBN3DrO0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqXS9iFmRq
"Huh?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf82cTMgy8x
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinMzFxidnr
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeQw31Yoqo
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTQyQhNdxM
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHSzrEnhIZ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxR6QKppGZ
"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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9AgKMdt3E
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvcIPkYJRx
"You're right. Wait–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglPod5zy4r
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP6fUIHTuj
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffIwvU1B9J
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTibecwo4A
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJhCCyOnqq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRREm4rB6rv
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ134ivI6BPV
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGXyhoB6IG
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeza1q7Uq7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF08lpDB62G
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmstIIO1Mww
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhb3OwXK3h
"No. I'm here for another reason."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53SPPQ2xMc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00gFYUw1vQ
"And what may that be?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HsbvgNOak
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXfnGNsLic
"None of your business."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2fyVmQbiH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq4VeMZ5KL
"O-Okay..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznzaxYG2Qp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg0mZxuHbu
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y2rv1izCB
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PIRyu9PPT
"She is super shady."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHRA1TYGUN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8yyTG8OVy
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuB9Kp6Vwa
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51KOEhhYQp
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxomJjRvaz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0uy3M53qT
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkHbaMqD2g
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog45DUKI7c
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeogqpMMI3J
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cSyvnRVCJ
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnmbXru57D
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WajECArPq
"T-Then let's get his attention!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTWFyCyvZa
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVG6O9u9R9
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9hxJEtCp2
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0LlEaSgPK
"Let me handle this."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQiFqZxGQL
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKvvypH7gd
"W-What, why?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHyWJUSOF0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBN6PZ993X
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwWiju6i3x
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvuSruihim
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2IrWk035S
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDYVLNN9w5
"S-Sorry, Kenny."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJaxCpYuva
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElSKjNwrPU
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cvGqNywxd
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqMyBYOa1D
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvJuZb8vxP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMDFtyRFcw
"Hey, you guys!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV7mMlZWPg
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Un7m86B3R
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQHATON1LH
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMnHGySrJz
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5TJxxSdBZ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurmqysSOg8
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDeU6UfssO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oHPDTmqTb
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHPaAW43k0
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSuNlVEQhg
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc9O1Mnm7I
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIRs7qCObV
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNnMMLAzlp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmH1W0Qkkd
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcPqZ5YZjb
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz05RVjRSn
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpzPgn95F9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmogkUXgEEG
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdeVaprLUP
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHd0yzUI9H
"Here's your bill, miss."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU71IwRjc1H
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D2oe3s3oW
"...I..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPOtt57CHW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2Gi0ho24G
She was having a difficult time speaking.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH7v4OTu8A
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7cbS0Nj35
"I forgot to bring money."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lMA2g9SUc
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtE9SNfTlo
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpARZMsAZb
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYONRJoKMa
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF3oDAGSxi
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj58lUHciYf
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPX6Zie6u9
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zCaYWH3UN
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyH82Unxag
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TRa26H80K
Ha. What a moron.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6zjFrAftk
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aIJnZj87p
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcHdyWR8kO
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBUODLiIXk
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKUBUCryIt
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8x4t1X7f2
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT7Pbu65Ng
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTZxJhcfEz
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn6XIjPuIT
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlna3eYpOR2
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."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerK3zaSE2R
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVWI5p6SQG
"..."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqsrUSa1HG
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl11Q1cngr
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI0poGTuZT
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCslG47Qta8
"Hey, cloaked woman."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfIEILBSkW
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIiF8TRz7x
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDm9S9XMMF
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2l3MgCMmT
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfkbUhYT7B
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRllDYvmNkn
"Yes, of course. Thank you."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkasRAuPAbn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOE5Gii7de
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47RxoKjiQr
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbxvQA5pjL
"Alright Flinty, let's go."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCbnXyB9Y7
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EOYnTXmZl
"Yes!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Say0dPWda
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31GRHBcxEi
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvVgEX6Dif
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5JwrqS0Gq
"What?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoeOX2LZlN
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8qheuG8Kv
"Kenny, you're awesome."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYKTli8AUz
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMVQf5g65g
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIOOWUcJm5
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrW9sEfsK2
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbDCQhibBv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hfy2BxyDr
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFYB6RYWQI
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKIwJy0jHA
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cpcMeFUZK
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYb4Z4MTZr
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrPy8hwnVp
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyCCFk0BCb
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.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dLmGTAvOA
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhJVVRnI5n
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2S2n9azMq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM1lo6RqwQ
"...Is something wrong?"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtAJXKWWyv
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapvYsmSLrP
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCTVnAaeqq
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2NCK6XfD8
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfFRs5EdnZ
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkEJCMbQ8j
"R-Right."239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Ogutotmn
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo7cgHRIQV
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
