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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx8H4zHld4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczPulxpks7
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0IvdPTarl
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrnz26vlRH
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBynzh8Tfz
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcauAqlBJ9
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU041Xirs3M
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJfOnmnTbN
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFicUrHe7C
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBK9O8vjYV
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I4ik1IY4Z
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEUdYzpRon
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFGyC61NZi
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVGARsncIV
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTDQXy5I8u
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGwNT8crQt
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPjxAtTNDN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk8ucMQwOg
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlUGniycPZ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB6Cty3tsP
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVlUqzKxcg
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPttHmXUuHa
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8MhGvCsgj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqUWq01PDd
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRqyYy204t
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJJ3yl4tHF
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0huZwinDA
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP61ezOoVI
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQWrjcpt4i
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurpdwkPHEa
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubyHmsqftL
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFF22YYXSA
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7jhrDF1Kc
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89AjT1TU8R
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmoU7UZSrK
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYqI2IyOsu
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgZoXFPocU
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28nsP9vjmT
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs0rv3r3PQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bn7ls42vh
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweMsJRtLug
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwQleyZIml
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNp5oAB3VX
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MxnFkMjbZ
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokz3WmO4Wr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HGAGu389X
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGy02jHnMx
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioNPCp5iJ3
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GPjWY9Mua
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTSQXCfFQS
"What's the matter?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwsqPyBi1k
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzf0ZzeG6O
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PDRojdCtJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdmeXrtss4
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A8DT1637i
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p2tBDUSII
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKldKDK7NYk
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAgev0q4Xa
"Of course."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwIN9zFf4q
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubtcR0diR5
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8IBtitkm6
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqHp2lgnS4
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk17SbTpwxk
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRb8LxWhO3
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rRCXyy1Ej
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWbe6mT9LR
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1OxfnhM2K
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4OhBoROWB
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfU3cgMq1P
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2JQXn4FKN
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc42dLE8SOj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdqQxyTiCh
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIxPwHBkoX
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JsJnNzI7i
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZISN1r9Fi
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqOGzEP6MY
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX0dDBQ9Yv
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsZeL6nmCY
"...Probably?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31P9n1W97V
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOjYF7se1B
"Sorry, definitely."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4gE0l1cx1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkxsg2Iszw
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX8L5EIlYd
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG6bYLpqka
"Food's ready!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4pl5S3E74
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF2Nc4hwbh
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLBeY2bj8Y
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSFknn2jPZ
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYft4rfQjT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVd3Xktmjk
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfgJHogCMw
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDCIhwhhA8
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsOv42N30W
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ls9Q3ZTyT
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh6Br6COkv
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NKyLvPFU
"Are you asking me?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYNcdGoaMH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh8nYyfGCq
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb1aztsnrr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx39ivdfT1Y
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL81vDeyM1m
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbKtFJs3gE
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNV9LPzkr1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswEuzaMMXa
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGQOOMvmYj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75sE7KGqYc
It felt heavenly.
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs8Dh6GMSO
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdJmXZkS87
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnJdPYUjVD
"What are you reading?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuHgwLSg74
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVk91TATIK
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcKHGOdusw
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQofeBHF33t
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXNkFzt2oS
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0QqGYN7Ad
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltY4d8yfyj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv0H3O1AQZ
"...It's a book about magic."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEBioasUfN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGDQEvrGVt
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwsd2oYXmp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRj6cGEW9I
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXIWR5n4C8
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDAMSgDtQe
"Y-Yeah, of course."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0iYyHGjOO
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJETM3htu0
She didn't sound very excited.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ty3Ti5kbx
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dSAs5rMYc
"Do you want to practice right now?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJvXvox0uj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBH6cVB0fA
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmbIaoZ7sf
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGtfGzoUxi
"If you say so."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv5EPAimeS
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuXSli4bpx
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHwEVbVkNA
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkEEa2hthd
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo9vkf2IMW
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yzAyhzAaw
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNEeDcc6F7
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSJXhTZ3Fs
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXwOejc25B
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztlX4DUQKH
"...Did he decline?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek5GJbUspH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6k62nZ6fI
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsSLzr6284
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob31aM84Q5
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMJdYZmmbp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtkVL19MtG
She paused and stared at the sheets.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK3JfiRdA5
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXbAnotBxG
"Today was the first time I made a spell."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegOzP7foc4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDripjEXtzd
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHL70Sqf2a
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwVa9m5EDI
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHogNg6gqRt
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82l82H0uQi
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8f6Xep2vE
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXOqrdzVgo
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL409cgva2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVq0h6DfA
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj30Lf4rhc
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm7EuHmYDh
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tSXDtfoyk
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0SBXwq3pI
We sat in silence for a few minutes.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopTi8j7Lg2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcEVdZrdCm
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeNqyky3EX
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8OfaYt9bs
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquxVeYg3Gx
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgdkTauxuX
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVdLw63FH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM2RI8ceNM
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE8HD9JRhz
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4loC9Wc5a
She shook her head no.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDETesMb5Ab
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vq0eDj9oZ
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8GpGWx0tP
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck0GHugYxn
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiCHICMrg0
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp0jyJihOt
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUM9iTm8F1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAk4Zkljmd
I felt like I made a mistake just now.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7rMaB79pD
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweieOGce3I
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL6nsl0fzU
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrnhfjsOOC
"What is it?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP6VVfYD5S
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCpI9lYUUn
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZpdaDgAm7
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhUAhDsl7z
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZpJVizjNT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVozHrCs2D
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO5yqAkGBT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f4ZKLJABL
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLBNymwq1i
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHgssZ9akB
"I know I can do that! But, well..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv6XrzBn8h
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXguPLAfMX
She had her fingertips conjoined.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NloMM3MeG
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEmgbGoPin
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bcfQPsf6Q
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqdHqCygJ6
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWTtsxUc57
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuY7mCwh8k
"Alright, I'll show you."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL1xt6e5iH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH6rCgcbFf
"Yay!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWWIA6txoP
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR3e1zM97J
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdViStMBIh
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1biROS6IWt
"I think it's best if we do this outside."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bdac0v9ED
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IU1MzEYgw
"Okay, then let's go!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaYuCNZLeQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNGfZBdNKR
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJXMJtWa1Q
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRBZ6BwKj1
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xWcyx8q3N
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vOy7I1LtA
"Earth?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZa4TE0KDI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJuUXoTXG6
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eP6DzKN5G
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLja3bo6f3
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi16eSmha0
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R5fJ4s2t8
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49VyXb01oP
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30pEV9X3Wv
"It's really not that impressive."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSP00j1BEK
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk49yeLa8s
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlylxjgyPn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yB4BzxF2y
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5L444elD2
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HS1r92CHq
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxQ1JgFwie
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkVSZfV93h
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4IgaEYung
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmEuP4hinN
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpV58mNato
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpv37sgTOC
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf77IHO7AXY
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc5UIANVYm
"How'd you do that!?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdlmILAIp3
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusSNRyavxX
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK1DvtyAIX
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkeTzd3eDA
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq46V1xqgN
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgQdKiZH1h
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhD0aUivUx
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8to9a0IItV
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS9pZPBuxI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTThBuOxMMx
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9PxUGAFCJ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P4a7uxFue
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Io83guzOh
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHClOJJdS7C
"What's wrong, Flinty?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvw7TLrzQ9
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdTd8GdmNa
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRvsnmCpHr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOW9lnSNiF
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOqvEXWwrp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRShG95XBhR
...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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOaUKwvKcQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgSeHWwL5L
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusRlBvCyyo
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm0NLZmbjy
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfoWuIIKpI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJHxaRbzOH
Oh.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pVHbRviEz
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0U90TYYnK
Oh.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcj4bgU567
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZbaCREgJM
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLxjALw5gH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu8NHUOIZ0
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoiS4tRiTV
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8gO4Glhum
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGOx0NxbsB
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8unnhNCefW
As for me?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZyTbMhB2h
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86m9Mxk4R8
Well...207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaFmcInJQn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQOVJgHE4M
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJihaAjL55
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3WHeALRUe
**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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AMFItwalH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9pdX827ku
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qur4K6r1j
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPoZ8vlfbp
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0N1yvTwZD
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWxlJAi3q5
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlR2zT7NNo
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdIUwUpcgk
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeorR9HtIT
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngbcGw7qDh
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6BT3WskHn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio66rlXL9J
–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzxOKu4nD7
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7trPGHy6tt
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qSymCkbRn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tC76IZxxJ
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpurbq9KnCl
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2GSABSVAX
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrIwBKFRgF
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSn0lNSQNq
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRFFubY7a1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcu85pJgq2
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY56CG3K7Yp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv546eXr0xh
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB8Ww1gbg6
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ277VxFbXCh
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvaujTjKD4
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36gT2dmXsU
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY64KjD81XY
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5A1LzyIwB
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CoG97RdPz
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2smDapqo29
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ692K5wBLKp
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVIEBGlh31
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpnPfygeaQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1GPLyxFN5
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv2g99enlj
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgGNwHlLoi
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzHgx8gLsS
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsUlYd86Vj
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfqVuSbSqH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZxWN0315G
"Of course. What is it?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsl3dIsA7r
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jH0Di9NUv
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb849guZMH
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQpp6pGefl
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ277iTTM88c
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfIQCtRseB
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2vyN9zcFr
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2JhN3U4rg
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WTiRYIPU0
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8bZajXxH0
"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QjWy02AJR
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5SmJzRd2l
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWSraf2Mcg
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FxIukeY4d
We all looked at her.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVo0wa8S4T
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPYD0jFcE8
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEkRiM3d3c
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDameymNfZ9
"Kenny."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudBU6CvKO8
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0CVliUdRT
"Yes?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLjsY6ZxZm
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQHZ1P4KmG
"I'm sorry I freaked out."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRtzDTi1zX
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuLXd7AJjL
I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3LVZD09nn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFqhAy5CdC
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB39qxKsOaG
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZaHMDbGob
"Okay. Kenny?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsohwgQHbQ9
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAhCe8JlyT
"Yes?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbdguyrMpq
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMYycE03Ft
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDrRpmJwBQ
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E0i5JmXzb
"Huh?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R3dwdU0CG
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnwCKwv7te
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2VEqZa6CW
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHbkE8DQTn
"Why do you want to go?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8zFrwETjn
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbK0F2nPUd
"I... think I need to."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyJBWXFUty
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE5OWHyotq
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz46LMCl3E
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHkNl6QmIu
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtZz7q8pLR
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub3Yni4sQD
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsKgDOW2fI
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOtr52Nbub
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXCli7KvKq
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3zufiZL4D
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPEsAadRs1
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUajPd4RI7
My heart sank.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWCkqWsTRd
207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHvNlTghdF
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
