The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.20Please respect copyright.PENANAboQ9L7xDgy
20Please respect copyright.PENANAMEZriMeVi8
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.20Please respect copyright.PENANA21IbtJpoY6
20Please respect copyright.PENANAR6E6ibTWV9
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."20Please respect copyright.PENANA2ttBUFBelQ
20Please respect copyright.PENANATvUCN7g5vR
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.20Please respect copyright.PENANAy8QEUW8tzl
20Please respect copyright.PENANAwcEWZliTiK
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."20Please respect copyright.PENANAcvpREsNFyQ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAvdsh3Ju1FC
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!20Please respect copyright.PENANAoQ2mMky1Zy
20Please respect copyright.PENANAyKXScgJxly
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.20Please respect copyright.PENANAm8dTKMpcHU
20Please respect copyright.PENANAYTsaYQoL8c
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."20Please respect copyright.PENANAjg8NLglgsg
20Please respect copyright.PENANAuanKbbiSdh
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.20Please respect copyright.PENANAzJuC0iViul
20Please respect copyright.PENANAVaJTk3tB3Z
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."20Please respect copyright.PENANA7fTJnnouKJ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAcqApB6kziP
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.20Please respect copyright.PENANAq90Flo5N38
20Please respect copyright.PENANA9zpjcYJN36
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."20Please respect copyright.PENANA8AyKdmh8Od
20Please respect copyright.PENANATfgdwLYWwJ
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.20Please respect copyright.PENANARSfKy1DeyZ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAD8c73RvQpT
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAcMq20WMbtV
20Please respect copyright.PENANADTxdv5md9i
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.20Please respect copyright.PENANAZYj1zM7LOr
20Please respect copyright.PENANAvjobXLkko5
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."20Please respect copyright.PENANA2b0hllujK4
20Please respect copyright.PENANAyVc2I01h1z
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."20Please respect copyright.PENANAOvcstyexRd
20Please respect copyright.PENANA5g4WZBE9le
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.20Please respect copyright.PENANAhpuORNprXJ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAQFnbvEO050
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."20Please respect copyright.PENANAMTENUgnhBE
20Please respect copyright.PENANAVS0320TmAV
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."20Please respect copyright.PENANAaDJgNYUW1M
20Please respect copyright.PENANAKqdwH46zJw
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."20Please respect copyright.PENANAJxHJ7iu0ao
20Please respect copyright.PENANA9pv3lU936T
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.20Please respect copyright.PENANAtsVthQVSiK
20Please respect copyright.PENANAxandgQMwIe
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."20Please respect copyright.PENANAcGTY7EXRdj
20Please respect copyright.PENANAj6vzor7NnP
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.20Please respect copyright.PENANAFgViRfrdPn
20Please respect copyright.PENANAMhT9YM6CuM
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.20Please respect copyright.PENANAQEtcqLZINT
20Please respect copyright.PENANAY9EkSDa2FH
"What's the matter?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAcdZMiZpGTz
20Please respect copyright.PENANA6EJAnRqqTP
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."20Please respect copyright.PENANA7FBSltf0Zt
20Please respect copyright.PENANAz4tK760GZW
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.20Please respect copyright.PENANAwep5iKxWIn
20Please respect copyright.PENANAa9wv7SvICV
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAvSch7uXMDJ
20Please respect copyright.PENANA4OLk6bAjdL
"Of course."20Please respect copyright.PENANAXCeVzcK6fd
20Please respect copyright.PENANAgUeC0h9OpG
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."20Please respect copyright.PENANALHmu6YksoV
20Please respect copyright.PENANAejdeMbjQs7
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.20Please respect copyright.PENANAiuYKx92Azg
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"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."20Please respect copyright.PENANAFwGb4MnLHW
20Please respect copyright.PENANAD9OTpBBmZ6
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"20Please respect copyright.PENANABMZFSc82pQ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAnWDxW6s7RR
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."20Please respect copyright.PENANAx1U4gPs7QF
20Please respect copyright.PENANApGuAooLApF
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.20Please respect copyright.PENANA2BJ5G4BsoS
20Please respect copyright.PENANAWr5YTlgSDU
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"20Please respect copyright.PENANAJar1x9jzwq
20Please respect copyright.PENANALMQQcNIZ3q
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.20Please respect copyright.PENANAhaFT21HCA6
20Please respect copyright.PENANAxlS78pbxcZ
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."20Please respect copyright.PENANA3mhQy41aIa
20Please respect copyright.PENANAemjCPINzm3
"...Probably?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAt2dTmxBW9B
20Please respect copyright.PENANA55E0dTQfnP
"Sorry, definitely."20Please respect copyright.PENANANFKzOFkbB4
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She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.20Please respect copyright.PENANAHuYkCFYQCK
20Please respect copyright.PENANAPF1ZrUesjM
"Food's ready!"20Please respect copyright.PENANAksSi2ZFHZ5
20Please respect copyright.PENANAFzf6v5mAPq
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.20Please respect copyright.PENANAX2uKTTFXHm
20Please respect copyright.PENANAH7j03X5GLs
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.20Please respect copyright.PENANAPnK2npi6us
20Please respect copyright.PENANAkMuA35AKty
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.20Please respect copyright.PENANAgWwBy73bWQ
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"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAlhMqZ1sSUp
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I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.20Please respect copyright.PENANAo1wSVP28u5
20Please respect copyright.PENANAmJmZ9pR3xr
"Are you asking me?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAouiSHqsY7W
20Please respect copyright.PENANA2gxPbGCsuG
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."20Please respect copyright.PENANAgJtwSxon14
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I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.20Please respect copyright.PENANAsQpR46FTTS
20Please respect copyright.PENANAI8RTxYZ0ej
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.20Please respect copyright.PENANADCRvrrJSw4
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I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.20Please respect copyright.PENANABhK2v8RROy
20Please respect copyright.PENANAoCR3ElZjuY
It felt heavenly.
20Please respect copyright.PENANAE0LngiI4Jl
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.20Please respect copyright.PENANAsAIfNSy6KL
20Please respect copyright.PENANAtF6K4jPupP
"What are you reading?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAU80QUhLUzp
20Please respect copyright.PENANAZLv2HmA83Y
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAkqchGZv8Xl
20Please respect copyright.PENANApoghzSu4ra
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.20Please respect copyright.PENANA373EEfkcHY
20Please respect copyright.PENANAp0LicuF3M0
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAE9yg5zQP7y
20Please respect copyright.PENANAiy6wve4Jfm
"...It's a book about magic."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYOLgWsC5DC
20Please respect copyright.PENANAlwpWtkMDwD
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.20Please respect copyright.PENANAehqS1y2oXI
20Please respect copyright.PENANAxWfQNOCMpU
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAdYxplTZki7
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"Y-Yeah, of course."20Please respect copyright.PENANAm9jQobGB1V
20Please respect copyright.PENANAi7Yo2h09pQ
She didn't sound very excited.20Please respect copyright.PENANAoGkkpmfPFF
20Please respect copyright.PENANAXiZSitphbS
"Do you want to practice right now?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAyTHpykz2n3
20Please respect copyright.PENANA4NmEpynpjK
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."20Please respect copyright.PENANA5vhbM70rpv
20Please respect copyright.PENANAs9dC79GMLZ
"If you say so."20Please respect copyright.PENANAm3F9bh0ccK
20Please respect copyright.PENANAgCX83ChQ0L
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.20Please respect copyright.PENANARhLeXnmDq8
20Please respect copyright.PENANAgioAIKKyPy
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."20Please respect copyright.PENANA8dhvAcvfVH
20Please respect copyright.PENANA5aB8dfCpNJ
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.20Please respect copyright.PENANAOaL9tFhvKY
20Please respect copyright.PENANAyWVnRHXMXt
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."20Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2va2UW7qz
20Please respect copyright.PENANAcTmsbTFyok
"...Did he decline?"20Please respect copyright.PENANALa0GiVbrwv
20Please respect copyright.PENANA1YM0RxLTle
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.20Please respect copyright.PENANAq158kXPhZi
20Please respect copyright.PENANA6Aoxs5EccS
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."20Please respect copyright.PENANA966Pl9uooC
20Please respect copyright.PENANAOVolRg50Oo
She paused and stared at the sheets.20Please respect copyright.PENANAHUkKqpnjtl
20Please respect copyright.PENANAOZF1gu8XQP
"Today was the first time I made a spell."20Please respect copyright.PENANAdgMa1bdhLO
20Please respect copyright.PENANAhhvQbdeo34
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA5x9fXAjElK
20Please respect copyright.PENANAj7LQ6gKjoG
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."20Please respect copyright.PENANAo35hJKi5ae
20Please respect copyright.PENANA0pJUnJDDF1
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?20Please respect copyright.PENANAh6FLnkSynG
20Please respect copyright.PENANAS2uIcvKeex
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."20Please respect copyright.PENANALmcd658jTB
20Please respect copyright.PENANAOOBkXupTSi
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."20Please respect copyright.PENANAtzcgEa4RAZ
20Please respect copyright.PENANARzWRUXksSz
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."20Please respect copyright.PENANAyaPQNC5Rv8
20Please respect copyright.PENANArLA4GTjA7g
We sat in silence for a few minutes.20Please respect copyright.PENANALnY6NuoE0c
20Please respect copyright.PENANATTkyKEJR6u
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."20Please respect copyright.PENANAYAvwVAta2J
20Please respect copyright.PENANAoawUBVVIXc
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA77TEWtjzfc
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"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."20Please respect copyright.PENANADtt3IN7y0f
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"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAkcszSPuYlh
20Please respect copyright.PENANAAUUrUjyFMy
She shook her head no.20Please respect copyright.PENANAiltQryf13Q
20Please respect copyright.PENANALAc6doawiv
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."20Please respect copyright.PENANAu4jEVzrB6w
20Please respect copyright.PENANA7UnLnL68BR
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAafSeThDv0l
20Please respect copyright.PENANAtW2wVaGqv1
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."20Please respect copyright.PENANAao8TbrDJaW
20Please respect copyright.PENANANkJPwIXao2
I felt like I made a mistake just now.20Please respect copyright.PENANANTokvlNy2s
20Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7bc0TrrBP
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."20Please respect copyright.PENANAugcqylJtPr
20Please respect copyright.PENANARt8uaBGqMT
"What is it?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAbgCHnhEAIO
20Please respect copyright.PENANAiwjxLwNEDD
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.20Please respect copyright.PENANA21rlrBywum
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"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."20Please respect copyright.PENANACuKCNCMwSm
20Please respect copyright.PENANAKa7CGoIrlF
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.20Please respect copyright.PENANAAz4a5FGg8d
20Please respect copyright.PENANAXogqQd3QLh
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."20Please respect copyright.PENANAzLwY0kkFuQ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAdgkTf3xNEZ
"I know I can do that! But, well..."20Please respect copyright.PENANAvc0fHSSWh0
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She had her fingertips conjoined.20Please respect copyright.PENANAryqsglNdns
20Please respect copyright.PENANAbMK3TTVoBQ
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."20Please respect copyright.PENANAqXLXOIfQ9o
20Please respect copyright.PENANAUjwkWSAd56
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.20Please respect copyright.PENANA4hOaGbvtgy
20Please respect copyright.PENANAy5wHTkzUSv
"Alright, I'll show you."20Please respect copyright.PENANAC9ejqcNN8Y
20Please respect copyright.PENANAcYtISGJiIM
"Yay!"20Please respect copyright.PENANAN574jaPG3z
20Please respect copyright.PENANAtCJBw1wiZF
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.20Please respect copyright.PENANASbNtTJQNFl
20Please respect copyright.PENANAYiDA8uubGE
"I think it's best if we do this outside."20Please respect copyright.PENANAyfmv5DLjBo
20Please respect copyright.PENANAfEOCE10mt2
"Okay, then let's go!"20Please respect copyright.PENANA3lmpetnaYP
20Please respect copyright.PENANAxwV8s8Gogr
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.20Please respect copyright.PENANAkoTQWDr0Cm
20Please respect copyright.PENANABo1qNS9eah
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."20Please respect copyright.PENANAmtHEk4RT9U
20Please respect copyright.PENANAuiPH9acWvH
"Earth?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA9IWbScH4Xn
20Please respect copyright.PENANAUVhPC6GP1W
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."20Please respect copyright.PENANABsTyxHDZOP
20Please respect copyright.PENANAXaPqssq0Nv
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.20Please respect copyright.PENANAQIbJimOFlA
20Please respect copyright.PENANAUGjTQjQwEr
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.20Please respect copyright.PENANAncLAupdvsa
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"It's really not that impressive."20Please respect copyright.PENANAgJHkfKJUQj
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."20Please respect copyright.PENANAIYSMX9DHL0
20Please respect copyright.PENANApsA1hdQIBt
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.20Please respect copyright.PENANAQRvuLheu1q
20Please respect copyright.PENANApBRni8v2Ye
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.20Please respect copyright.PENANAiuxfJhIIHq
20Please respect copyright.PENANAsTbRuDUZ7Y
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."20Please respect copyright.PENANAN4QUAzxUW9
20Please respect copyright.PENANAAMq09VwaLe
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."20Please respect copyright.PENANAIo0vR9UhmJ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAnPPMOMg6Wh
I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.20Please respect copyright.PENANAhtADTtRMbA
20Please respect copyright.PENANADidme3Uuho
"How'd you do that!?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAkVSaNYBFLK
20Please respect copyright.PENANAI4GNJQf1wi
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."20Please respect copyright.PENANAc9stt1iJUP
20Please respect copyright.PENANAxzxU8w0JRT
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.20Please respect copyright.PENANAsueePVi8lS
20Please respect copyright.PENANABUhl6hHlsu
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"20Please respect copyright.PENANADwId41TAxo
20Please respect copyright.PENANAgtQBZrPz9w
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."20Please respect copyright.PENANAbwQX4fGmj7
20Please respect copyright.PENANAAVu0q24I81
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.20Please respect copyright.PENANApChWrID1bG
20Please respect copyright.PENANA1plwIAqiNn
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.20Please respect copyright.PENANAhdvFJNn6UZ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAVWQZhX5WWo
"What's wrong, Flinty?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAbJV6uXMZeQ
20Please respect copyright.PENANATKXSBs24me
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.20Please respect copyright.PENANA98vzw90NZt
20Please respect copyright.PENANAt1SeXOCyyR
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.20Please respect copyright.PENANAI5CM5hTa18
20Please respect copyright.PENANAQAOPtlFeK6
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.20Please respect copyright.PENANAjOhbitfqhr
20Please respect copyright.PENANAlbGElr6AQl
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAOT9xtg8q5y
20Please respect copyright.PENANAlHIEbBSUYT
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"20Please respect copyright.PENANAbLEF0zMeQU
20Please respect copyright.PENANAx0OTug3nOG
Oh.20Please respect copyright.PENANA8JYhJDYOeJ
20Please respect copyright.PENANAUlD9qAcyCG
Oh.20Please respect copyright.PENANASq8hE8AbZP
20Please respect copyright.PENANApL8KBlOahq
The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.20Please respect copyright.PENANA8mi6u1x2F2
20Please respect copyright.PENANAGFufhUY4Vc
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.20Please respect copyright.PENANAaUkLW3qUvL
20Please respect copyright.PENANABM22nGrO9o
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.20Please respect copyright.PENANAJTCBmDGtJr
20Please respect copyright.PENANAIJNY4LCUk9
As for me?20Please respect copyright.PENANAlAIHyFHa6H
20Please respect copyright.PENANA0RTWdnKPIQ
Well...20Please respect copyright.PENANAybFehxMKQb
20Please respect copyright.PENANAdRk0nPs7C8
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAy6010lQJAw
20Please respect copyright.PENANArigPOuu2kf
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.20Please respect copyright.PENANASUMReSx5uu
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.20Please respect copyright.PENANAcPRzuLWWir
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAE1g3qp0LTP
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.20Please respect copyright.PENANAFY6HDqmMG7
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"20Please respect copyright.PENANAQB7q96yH9U
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.20Please respect copyright.PENANAfhrVYu3iQr
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAFOMDqFSNrv
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I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.20Please respect copyright.PENANARfSJW2gmSS
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"20Please respect copyright.PENANAMbFCo0N3r6
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I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.20Please respect copyright.PENANANuovY8OrVl
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."20Please respect copyright.PENANARjOA88nJVb
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I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.20Please respect copyright.PENANALRYViTHwDE
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAqEcOqnXVnL
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"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"20Please respect copyright.PENANAxerAFAyDMv
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"20Please respect copyright.PENANADlnZTqxRou
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."20Please respect copyright.PENANA7wi99Iqa9t
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She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.20Please respect copyright.PENANASMURm8X4sV
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."20Please respect copyright.PENANAgcCDDARtQy
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"20Please respect copyright.PENANArnAW5TLcXa
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I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.20Please respect copyright.PENANAg8v7sV4F2V
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.20Please respect copyright.PENANAA5nXCLkbwU
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"Of course. What is it?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAOoSqqLDeq5
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA17X4UPKBTd
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."20Please respect copyright.PENANAIeE1reK3Sc
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."20Please respect copyright.PENANAHBLMjBLgn2
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.20Please respect copyright.PENANAL3QUUEL5ao
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"20Please respect copyright.PENANASL0x9OxYLf
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."20Please respect copyright.PENANAIRWGgOdcLW
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We all looked at her.20Please respect copyright.PENANA3yjE3fllzs
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.20Please respect copyright.PENANA5t5kTKKlCc
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"Kenny."20Please respect copyright.PENANAR1JQDCWMW0
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"Yes?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAvxO8VQgjwq
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."20Please respect copyright.PENANAJpFOJ3SOEV
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?20Please respect copyright.PENANASW1QaZU5Kt
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."20Please respect copyright.PENANAed9ti6qJOB
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"Okay. Kenny?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAdHf9jLEoEB
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"Yes?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAa7UVn8ty2J
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."20Please respect copyright.PENANADbzSTmMWyw
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"Huh?"20Please respect copyright.PENANAUJf2HKrApx
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I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.20Please respect copyright.PENANAMeKSukbALn
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"Why do you want to go?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA3QsC2ZPCSj
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"I... think I need to."20Please respect copyright.PENANAegt32Mat7a
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I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.20Please respect copyright.PENANAZLtIze7ye6
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."20Please respect copyright.PENANAuRmhbOB5BR
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"20Please respect copyright.PENANA8SQKaGlZdZ
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."20Please respect copyright.PENANASPqfd0dgDJ
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I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.20Please respect copyright.PENANAcLFRxsT70l
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My heart sank.20Please respect copyright.PENANAux4gJVYLrS
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.