The fire cracked and popped. It was already dark out. Four hours had passed since the infiltration. Flinty, Ng, and Kenny were sitting beside the fire. Victoria just returned with more firewood. Kenny took a tiny bite out of an apple
Victoria sat down. Everyone was staring at the fire. The silence was oppressive, but Kenny didn't have the power nor gall to interrupt it.
"...I apologize for what has happened. My cowardice, my fear, it all led to this," Ng said.
"It isn't your fault," Victoria said, "as much as I'd like to say that it was nobody's fault, I think all of us messed up, hehe."
"Perhaps it was. But still, I feel as if I'm mostly to blame."
And thus, a needless back-and-forth started. Kenny didn't interject.
"Seriously, it's fine, you don't need to take all the blame."
"But–"
"Guys!"
Flinty suddenly raised her voice.
"M-Maybe it's Ng's fault, or Victoria's, but at the end of the day, Kim is still in trouble!"
"Right. Of course."
"You're right, Flinty."
"So... what do we do? We need a plan."
"Well," Ng started, "Jeremiah is formidable, but one of Panz's beasts has already been exterminated. Panz himself is also injured. Once we regain our strength, an upfront assault may be the best course of action.
"Right," Flinty replied, "Kenny can take the blob on by himself. Do you think you can do it, Kenny?"
Kenny didn't respond. He lifted his head and gazed at Flinty with beady eyes.
"...I'm not going back in there," he muttered, and their eyes widened.
"W-What, why not!?" Flinty cried. Shock permeated Victoria's expression. Kenny put a hand on his knee.
"It's best if we leave. Everyone will be in danger if we go back."
"But Kenny, what about Kim? We need to help her!"
"..."
Kenny turned his head away. Flinty's words didn't reach him. Frustrated, confused, surprised, and worried, Flinty didn't know what to do or say under such pressure. So, she didn't.
"F-Fine, but if you won't do it, then I will!"
"Don't! You're just asking to die!"
Kenny spat his rebuttal, Flinty flinched, and Kenny returned to gazing at the ground.
"Let's just... get out. At least, I can guarantee that you'll be fine if we do."
It hit her then. Flinty understood what was wrong with him. But still, she didn't have the words. Still, she didn't know how to convince his friend. Still, she couldn't help him. Flinty was dejected, upset that she didn't have the words.
She looked at Victoria. She was at a loss well, Flinty could tell. But, Victoria was older, and Victoria was smarter. Flinty was sure that she would think of something.
"Why don't we sleep on it?" She suggested, "We'll think of something in the morning."
"Yes! That sounds like a good idea!"
Flinty peered at Kenny, waiting for anything from him.
"...Fine."
Flinty felt relieved. Still angry, still worried, but at least she had time to think of something. And thus, the group readied for bed. None of them had any blankets or pillows, so they had to be content with sleeping on the ground. It wasn't comfortable, but before long they all fell asleep.
All, except for Kenny.
–
–
–
I couldn't get that thought out of my mind. This situation, this incident, none of this was like the one with my parents.
This was my fault. This was undeniably my fault. From the beginning, it was my fault.
That bullet. Why did I miss it? Why? Why? None of this would've happened if I just hit that bullet. That damn, tiny bullet made of stone.
I should've made it bigger. I should've been more patient. I should've gotten closer. I should've just used my tendril, or used fire magic. Who would've cared if I killed him? That alternative was so much better than this. Kim has been captured. The wolf is still out.
These thoughts, they kept me awake. I couldn't even close my eyes without that scene playing back in my mind; the bullet. If I just didn't miss that bullet.
"..."
I needed to take a piss.
I stood up. I tried not to wake up the group. I walked for a few minutes until I found a passable tree, then I took care of my business.
"...Crap."
I was already feeling groggy. I washed my hands with water magic and walked back, but stopped. Somebody was walking up to me. It was Ng. He stopped before me, carrying a makeshift torch.
"What do you want?"
"Kenny, do you mind us having a chat?"
I didn't even have any suspicions. It was ridiculous. But, really, talking was the last thing I wanted to do, so I walked around him.
"Kenny, what has you acting this way? Is it truly today's failure?"
"That's none of your business."
Ng followed me.
"I'll be blunt, this is abnormal."
"Shut up."
"Whether we escape the forest or not, you are the only one who can do anything about it."
"Shut up."
"Are you upset at me?"
I turned around.
"Huh? Why the hell would I be?"
"I see. Then, Kenny, let me ask you this; is this truly the best way to go about it?"
I didn't say anything, just tilted my head.
"You clearly feel at fault. I know, I've been in such a situation before."
"--!"
I couldn't say anything more. I couldn't even pretend to be mad anymore. I just sighed.
"Kenny, as an adult, allow me to grant you a piece of advice."
I didn't respond.
"I don't believe today's incident was your fault, but that is irrelevant. No, what I want to tell you is that, if you truly feel like you're at fault, then atone."
"...Atone?"
"Of course. It's simple, isn't it? You apologize for your mistake, and then you make up for it."
"...That is too simple."
"But it holds true, doesn't it?"
I turned my head away.
"It's..."
Ng walked up to me.
"You have a lot of power, Kenny. So much so, I'm envious of you. Perhaps you think you can't use it, but at the end of the day, who else can rescue Kim and fight Jeremiah but you?"
I turned around. I couldn't deny his words. He was right. And yet...
"That isn't it. That isn't it at all."184Please respect copyright.PENANASedjhSlb1L
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWnOQnaaq7H
Ng tilted his head. He started to look a little nervous, and also slightly annoyed. I wasn't talking much sense, was I?184Please respect copyright.PENANAo9IqczvmHV
184Please respect copyright.PENANAdWqadqPFpa
"Then what is it?" He asked. I had to take a moment to put it into words.
"...If I go back in there, then all of it will hinge on me again. Your lives, your well-being, all of it. If I go back there, then all of it will be up to me. If one of you die, then that's my fault. If one of you get hurt, then that's my fault."184Please respect copyright.PENANAxrBjDMZAAg
184Please respect copyright.PENANABBlJLaOV0f
"That's not true at all–"184Please respect copyright.PENANAaDnAJigloQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANADi99pM3VYL
"Let me finish! You, have you ever had a feeling like that before? You said you know, you said you've been there, but you haven't! I can't stomach it; I can't stomach that feeling that, it's all up to me, that I'm the one who has to be the shoulder for all of you to lean on! I can't, I just... I just can't..."184Please respect copyright.PENANA95uAK4XR4h
184Please respect copyright.PENANA9YWi11XcAm
I was slurring my words. Tears were running down my cheeks.184Please respect copyright.PENANAIMcgKo7ZFe
184Please respect copyright.PENANA6E6o9hlwWV
"All of you say I'm a genius, but I'm not a genius. A genius wouldn't have gotten us into this mess in the first place. And now, now that I at least have Flinty, and at least Victoria is here– and hell, at least now that you're here, you're telling me to go back in there, and then just, risk it all again? What if I mess up or, God, what if I cause Kim to die? I-I'm not– I can't do it! I can't! I can't do it alone! Kim is already gone, I don't have her to help me anymore, so if something goes wrong then it's going to go terribly wrong! D-Don't you get it? Don't you get it, Ng!? How am I supposed to do anything, absolutely anything, knowing that if it all goes to shit then I'm the one who's responsible!?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAipqALRC6p3
184Please respect copyright.PENANAO1XxKlpUmG
I fell to my knees.184Please respect copyright.PENANAjfm4WkMoFb
184Please respect copyright.PENANAY9LmECvrwo
"K-Kim said it herself... all of it, all of it hinges on me... but I'm not someone to make that bet on, I'm not... I'm not..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAMzCJgAGvrT
184Please respect copyright.PENANAlR3rS9wRCx
I fell. I was in a fetal position and the top of my head was glued to the ground. I couldn't hear anything over my crying. I couldn't even move. I felt something touch my shoulder. I looked up to see Ng's face.184Please respect copyright.PENANAqqNFeqm8h3
184Please respect copyright.PENANAYlD2UAu2Tz
"...Kenny."184Please respect copyright.PENANA78jNtSLJxX
184Please respect copyright.PENANAtm8jnj7IJh
"What!?"184Please respect copyright.PENANApUck7cjakV
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWs7KNR1sgP
He tilted his head at me, narrowing his eyes.184Please respect copyright.PENANAQFzaVwrUSA
184Please respect copyright.PENANAVstpI4RJWZ
"You're not lying to me, are you?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAG16kFujNp4
184Please respect copyright.PENANAunyzffGgkr
The environs vanished. All I saw was his face. His condescending face.184Please respect copyright.PENANAnfTx1k2gGh
184Please respect copyright.PENANAJFcRjx9qLM
"That was quite a performance, but all I'm hearing is that you're just going to leave your friend to die."
...184Please respect copyright.PENANAnfpiguVtYC
184Please respect copyright.PENANAGEVplJ8XPy
I'm lying? I'm leaving her, to die? To, die?184Please respect copyright.PENANA2RuHW2uPYN
184Please respect copyright.PENANAhM8qvFUJdl
I'm not... I'm not doing that, am I? What I'm doing, it's just to preserve what I have, right?184Please respect copyright.PENANAeGw63ml4Es
184Please respect copyright.PENANA4jkAac61KM
"N-No..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAnvNYhoLfyI
184Please respect copyright.PENANA5ensCNBlF9
Oh, God.184Please respect copyright.PENANAhciSXic8sC
184Please respect copyright.PENANAcECJy9zIa1
Oh, God.184Please respect copyright.PENANAUny5t6Sbr5
184Please respect copyright.PENANAbQRucdFRq9
"I apologize, that must've been a bit too harsh–"184Please respect copyright.PENANAMlx0sQPXwP
184Please respect copyright.PENANAtudbeqL9W6
Ng leaned down to pat me again. I slapped his hand away. I scurried backward on the ground, panting, tears still rolling down my face. Ng didn't look like a man to me anymore. I couldn't identify what he was. All I saw was something I didn't like. I kept scurrying back and I hit a tree, then I stood up, and then I ran away. I didn't know where it was that I was going but the light from his torch was fading and that's all that mattered. I kept looking back and eventually, I stumbled. Right, the roots here, they were massive. I got up and five steps later I tripped again. The exhaustion from before still hadn't subsided. I could barely move. But, at the very least, Ng wasn't here. At least Ng wasn't there.184Please respect copyright.PENANAfg8O5x3hvW
184Please respect copyright.PENANA2UHmUXLUUm
But now I was alone, with my mind. It might've been worse.184Please respect copyright.PENANAW2w2mXJIiZ
184Please respect copyright.PENANARitYcbeYMD
"To die...? I'm not doing that. I'm not, leaving her to die."184Please respect copyright.PENANAAOfAsXcibE
184Please respect copyright.PENANAdrtBg8owuH
It wasn't the way I thought about it. So, here I was on the ground, affirming myself. Of course, I wasn't leaving her to die. Of course, I was just trying to make sure Flinty and the others were safe. Of course, Ng was right. Ng was totally right. He saw through me, but worst of all, I knew Ng was right, I knew completely but that didn't change a thing. I still couldn't even grasp the idea of going back there and fighting and– and maybe Kim really was killed because of me, because I couldn't do it. But Ng was right. I needed to go back.184Please respect copyright.PENANAYfXL13hWIG
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ2fP8htoq
But if I went back then what if it goes wrong? What if I go back and I see that I've truly failed? What if I go back and I see her– her–184Please respect copyright.PENANAhJcDOQ5COs
184Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xg9dcxmCX
"--Hrk!"184Please respect copyright.PENANARivIsHbCA7
184Please respect copyright.PENANAa4k7eOy5Sk
I managed to hold back my vomit. Somehow that cleared the haze in my mind. I leaned against a nearby tree. I didn't think. If I thought, then I would've heard Ng's words again, and if I thought, my anxieties would've crawled back, and then I would be endlessly running. So I sat there instead.184Please respect copyright.PENANAjQtcEbCqOZ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAgryyi7or0x
One thought did end up crossing my mind eventually: I'm glad Flinty isn't here to see this.184Please respect copyright.PENANA6tHTXwaHyv
184Please respect copyright.PENANAvAk7h9iI4d
"There you are."184Please respect copyright.PENANALMpwKZl1mS
184Please respect copyright.PENANAMJOozM22uH
Ng already found me, huh?184Please respect copyright.PENANAO4bcvwJZU9
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHXlZr4zR0L
"I'm sorry for what I said. Let's just go back to the camp and rest, okay?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAgcLJKbFMxx
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHPPIa0IJPE
I casted a gaze his way. An indescribable tug on my stomach was telling me to forgive him. It felt terribly unnatural, but I couldn't help but give into it. I didn't accept his apology, but–184Please respect copyright.PENANAod8Le23reR
184Please respect copyright.PENANAtDIpM8uIdz
"...Fine."184Please respect copyright.PENANAyOCSxjr2AN
184Please respect copyright.PENANAEnPUAWq4Vx
He offered me a hand but I stood up by myself. I followed him through the woods. I was staring at his heels. Sometimes he turned his body to me, likely to say something, but he didn't speak it.184Please respect copyright.PENANARVNSrLvLYd
184Please respect copyright.PENANAC2SuACb4uS
"Kenny, do you happen to have any parents?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAoZGZZzOi8C
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmOVhSf2ull
Nevermind. What a strange question.184Please respect copyright.PENANACgoX2J4A5R
184Please respect copyright.PENANASfeFsM1Pb2
"No. They died a long time ago."184Please respect copyright.PENANAbRHUARevJ7
184Please respect copyright.PENANAFRqC14OcQE
"I see. You have my condolences."184Please respect copyright.PENANAGjCYSEaaVS
184Please respect copyright.PENANAIVTDDTFQHT
"I don't need them."184Please respect copyright.PENANA1mUFekSHg1
184Please respect copyright.PENANAYumOWupXLP
A pause.184Please respect copyright.PENANADKzDfKAAvf
184Please respect copyright.PENANAvTTTvugVjE
"I imagine that, when they died, you didn't take it very well, did you?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAgdtVmicehT
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2sJiITa8i
"..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAGj4gaps9Xu
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmhhsTEO1kg
I stopped walking. Ng stopped shortly after. I don't know what it is that just happened, but a button of mine was pressed.184Please respect copyright.PENANAwTvY0ZK7eD
184Please respect copyright.PENANA8wtLIyuTc0
And then the memories came flooding back. Those months where I refused to walk outside, being taken in by Anabelle, and lastly the talk. That vital conversation I had with Anabelle and Jackson. I started biting my nails.184Please respect copyright.PENANAFu1SnnfBLl
184Please respect copyright.PENANAkqQeqE8xBX
Despite it, nothing changed. My mind was still at odds with itself. But I calmed down. I calmed down a lot. At that moment, a bundle of warmth spread throughout my body. I was feeling fine.184Please respect copyright.PENANAymRZeJCHrq
184Please respect copyright.PENANA1X5j534UZP
"Did I–"184Please respect copyright.PENANAx4AYVGsuXW
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmXQmUgPTzs
"I'm sorry Ng. I still don't think I can do it. At least, not now, not by myself. Even thinking about it is making me shudder. I can't go in there."184Please respect copyright.PENANAp7aJEpulaG
184Please respect copyright.PENANAO2m2XD0LIs
"I understand. Then, do you want me to create magical beast assistants?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAeEVTOT2eyM
184Please respect copyright.PENANADmdkUFr7E1
I had to make sure I heard him.184Please respect copyright.PENANA6xmjVgRQJt
184Please respect copyright.PENANAApf56uizjg
"Assistants?"184Please respect copyright.PENANA5TayuqohYg
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKQGtOtlqyI
"Of course. I can still use the mana here to make some. It doesn't have to be anything powerful, just enough to grab Kim while you're fighting Jeremiah."184Please respect copyright.PENANAeydi1e7g2a
184Please respect copyright.PENANA5HdeGVWnC1
"Ng, you... you might not be such a bad guy."184Please respect copyright.PENANAwfGNg67pfC
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWGp02IhzxO
"O-Oh no, I'm not at all, hehe."184Please respect copyright.PENANAES3wV6FU4e
184Please respect copyright.PENANA8LEgqhNR47
"...Maybe it'll work. Maybe, just maybe."184Please respect copyright.PENANAfh4fRnBShb
184Please respect copyright.PENANAD1kd7AvkyQ
We kept walking. We didn't exchange another word but I could feel the air around us lighten. Thanks to the campfire, we made it back to the others.184Please respect copyright.PENANAd25Y5hB0an
184Please respect copyright.PENANA18x0zQiTCn
Except, everyone was awake. And it wasn't just Flinty and Victoria, someone else was here. Somebody that I recognized.184Please respect copyright.PENANAJGGBLkN0Aw
184Please respect copyright.PENANAP1wX1xYbzh
"Ah! Kenny, Ng, me, and Victoria were just about to go looking for you two!"184Please respect copyright.PENANA2BtFadWlqp
184Please respect copyright.PENANAfdouPNc6iI
Flinty ran up to me and gently hugged me, patting me on the back a few times. I would've been embarrassed if I wasn't so bewitched by the presence of the third person.184Please respect copyright.PENANAtkiEBkJ5EI
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKxXozTV6ZG
Right there, beside the fire, sat the first person I saw when I entered the city: Skylark, the commander knight.184Please respect copyright.PENANAvT3uxeT5mn
184Please respect copyright.PENANAW7baK5Cj4C
–
–
–
184Please respect copyright.PENANASjAU0ltGLb
We were all sitting by the campfire. Though I was sleepy, the knight's presence alone made me unable to sleep. I had too many questions to ask, and it looks like I wasn't alone.184Please respect copyright.PENANA26ZTIx1O5h
184Please respect copyright.PENANAxjLbvwDqrk
"Hello, Kenny. You remember me from earlier, don't you?"184Please respect copyright.PENANADmFIkYr4Ll
184Please respect copyright.PENANAOxFMu9qwo0
"Yes. You're the one who got the prince off my tail. Thank you for that."184Please respect copyright.PENANAsKrivEusiv
184Please respect copyright.PENANAAwUMuOBZWC
"Of course."184Please respect copyright.PENANAYaZBNUsQeF
184Please respect copyright.PENANAw6ZSLzI4Pn
"So, to address the elephant in the room, why are you here?"184Please respect copyright.PENANA9L49bSbbWW
184Please respect copyright.PENANA5O4UjdvYcp
"Ah, of course. I am here because I've been tasked with tailing Kim. My reasons are secret, but I assure you it isn't anything malicious, not from either party."184Please respect copyright.PENANAhz2d4IrtQ6
184Please respect copyright.PENANAqqXhYIFfn3
Tailing her? Well, if that was the case, he must not have been very good at it. But when your target is as disguised and inconspicuous as Kim, then even a knight would have difficulty pursuing you.184Please respect copyright.PENANAF5pmPTUo8y
184Please respect copyright.PENANAG709V1YWFr
But, no, something else was bugging me.184Please respect copyright.PENANAyA5IB5GgRs
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQq7EqJWTCC
"How did you know where to find us here?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAVb1CJYxRt3
184Please respect copyright.PENANAFqIn3ZEl7F
"I simply spent the day searching."184Please respect copyright.PENANArLOBXukbLS
184Please respect copyright.PENANAlf5zaPCflM
"The whole day?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAodp0r3xPAQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAccE9F05Djb
He didn't respond to that. "Victoria's mother informed me of your whereabouts. This forest may be small, but it sure is dense."184Please respect copyright.PENANA6rxKI9GyCO
184Please respect copyright.PENANADdtMpUo4S4
Knight's were some dedicated workers, weren't they?184Please respect copyright.PENANAtOozFsdOex
184Please respect copyright.PENANACKiIgHyqcD
"But, Mister Knight," Victoria started, "Kim is currently... well."184Please respect copyright.PENANA9hCs1mxeEK
184Please respect copyright.PENANA3fJgzn1BUw
He sighed.184Please respect copyright.PENANANB1i9YM8Zi
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQHDqAp3ij1
"So I figured. She isn't dead is she?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAfTywGePd2Y
184Please respect copyright.PENANA4LAMNwLJxI
"No no, not that we're aware of– Ng. Ng!"184Please respect copyright.PENANApdFNED7Gew
184Please respect copyright.PENANAAxfqrp8SKM
"Oh! Yes! Kim is being held captive by a magical beast my ex-colleague has created. He is formidable, and occasionally reckless, but not a creature who would intentionally kill. He wasn't programmed that way."184Please respect copyright.PENANAZtGOEibqyZ
184Please respect copyright.PENANANhhUwqmQFt
"I see. Is there anything about this creature I should be aware of?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAtBpRcea5Be
184Please respect copyright.PENANAi8ubmzNX3A
"...Why do you ask?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAjonVUHQEu9
184Please respect copyright.PENANA7q43hSNYkf
"Why, because I will be slaying it, of course."184Please respect copyright.PENANAJwYSES3q7q
184Please respect copyright.PENANACUiZOIKhJX
Those words made me perk up. They had two meanings to me. Ng went on to explain the blob's ability to contort its body and produce a hypnagogic haze when injured. Skylark didn't look intimidated at all. I didn't see him in action yet, but I imagined that such confidence didn't come from foolishness. Skylark's presence was still strange, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have any suspicions about his relation to Kim, but– frankly, it didn't matter. Frankly, I was just glad that I was able to pass the baton onto somebody far more capable than me. A short while later we all returned to sleep; aside from me, of course. And, apparently, aside from Skylark. I lifted my body and stared at him. As we stared at each other, I tried to unbridle certain words from my throat, but he talked first before I could.184Please respect copyright.PENANA8UaWG5OP8t
184Please respect copyright.PENANAh64rE39ory
"What is it?" He asked me, "Shouldn't you be getting rest?"184Please respect copyright.PENANArzQOuHZScQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAsVrr0wkCq7
"Sometimes, you're too tired to sleep. Do you know that feeling?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAoHYeTwHn0p
184Please respect copyright.PENANA9dUYlc06P0
"I can't say I'm very familiar with it."184Please respect copyright.PENANAKI5QicktnZ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAgM0Lb3QDnR
"I see. I'll get sleepy eventually, it's just a matter of time. But since you're awake, I might as well talk with you. Talking with people is especially exhausting."184Please respect copyright.PENANAVJVouGEVjW
184Please respect copyright.PENANAfcuZ3MnsU2
"Alright. Is there anything you had in mind?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5tkZmju7s
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmUn24ALEVs
"Of course. Can I ask you what your relation to Kim is?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAKvNEZW3v0j
184Please respect copyright.PENANANsFEjNUsZo
He put a hand to his chin.184Please respect copyright.PENANAVzBNhWcXjI
184Please respect copyright.PENANA75rgQtiSDL
"...Well, I'm sure you in particular will find out soon. For now, let's just say that I was sent to defend her, in case anything goes awry."184Please respect copyright.PENANAZzElMNzRq2
184Please respect copyright.PENANAjsXTgmqWMl
"Well, duh, that much was obvious. Is there nothing else you can tell me?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAj8YIZD3F3f
184Please respect copyright.PENANA5uE0u54cyB
"No."184Please respect copyright.PENANAKLyyHqdEb6
184Please respect copyright.PENANAFcneajjEL9
"Fine. Then, one more question, when did you get here?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAxOhnq6kOvX
184Please respect copyright.PENANAXYeB1jluCz
"Do you mean in the woods?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAUY6JZmtsMu
184Please respect copyright.PENANAcDvaCsnYf3
"Yes. I'm just curious."184Please respect copyright.PENANAvlFWeewMGY
184Please respect copyright.PENANA4CREBuu2Wt
"I entered the woods two hours ago. I was told by Linda to wait until it became dark. Honestly, these woods are a bit of a nightmare to navigate."184Please respect copyright.PENANAypZfvysW74
184Please respect copyright.PENANAInZaozf0x8
I nodded. It was about time I just got to the point.184Please respect copyright.PENANAyAbvyxcoSV
184Please respect copyright.PENANAL6jTjLVMaP
"Skylark... I want to thank you, earnestly. You were needed here badly."184Please respect copyright.PENANA7VvEMGr4I0
184Please respect copyright.PENANAaKDkKnXUS4
"Ah, well, as a knight, I'm glad I was able to fulfill my duty."184Please respect copyright.PENANAGUQY4e5a98
184Please respect copyright.PENANAvOCD7pEYgt
"Me too."184Please respect copyright.PENANAzH8oXKZdIB
184Please respect copyright.PENANAoYAuPRTooa
I realized how strange it was that he called it knightly duty, since he met us by coincidence, but didn't press him on that matter.184Please respect copyright.PENANAWzyuKSI0Pa
184Please respect copyright.PENANAZZb9A8MDi9
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAfuXHsDGBaB
184Please respect copyright.PENANAM3hq2zxfsE
"Yes. For now, at least."184Please respect copyright.PENANAfyhPjb6agI
184Please respect copyright.PENANAthD2johHxn
"Are you sure? I may not be able to answer all questions related to Kim, but I have a lot of knowledge of other things."184Please respect copyright.PENANAmJApU2Z04B
184Please respect copyright.PENANAD3bRcfRHme
"..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAPuTEfd8RFY
184Please respect copyright.PENANAyRQNsqqiqp
It might not have been appropriate, but he did offer, didn't he? I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.184Please respect copyright.PENANAmtS0TGZW8S
184Please respect copyright.PENANAUsrXa0LMTb
"How many unique magical plants do you have in the royal palace?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAdP7HWLSdn4
184Please respect copyright.PENANA0O0724H4om
"...Huh?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAvgjHUmPtDl
184Please respect copyright.PENANAkePhadCSwb
–
–
–
There was a gap in the trees perfectly positioned to where the sun hit my face. I woke up with an uneasy feeling in my chest and had difficulty keeping my eyes open. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well. Despite that, I was feeling fine. Everyone else was still sleeping. Everyone, aside from Flinty, who was not present.184Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0O8nj5JEJ
184Please respect copyright.PENANA9d5Ey775Np
I thought of the worst immediately. I calmed down once I heard a sound nearby. I walked towards it and saw Flinty standing with her arm out, creating water balls and... firing them.184Please respect copyright.PENANAX5Q2y7o9hQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANADVN9Bep4oy
I wouldn't repeat the same mistake as before, so I stood by the sidelines and watched. She didn't even have her eyes closed, yet she was able to create a water ball and maintain it for twenty seconds. And then, she fired it. It was a very weak spell; it hit a tree and merely splashed it. If it was another element, it likely would've only scratched the bark off. I was still impressed.184Please respect copyright.PENANAEoN0or7gIs
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKjyo3Q21KR
I walked to her clapping my hands. She was a little embarrassed, but she smiled when she saw me.184Please respect copyright.PENANAe120VzYugE
184Please respect copyright.PENANAF3xRfQdAxQ
"Good morning, Kenny."184Please respect copyright.PENANAQGgKljPGIG
184Please respect copyright.PENANADKTCqebqiI
"Good morning. When did you learn to do that?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAK6EAbDhUJI
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmmQFIIPlDT
"Oh, well, when you were infiltrating, and while you were sitting at the camp, I spent a lot of time practicing."184Please respect copyright.PENANAebDMWJXihN
184Please respect copyright.PENANA008qZXzRUw
When I was at the camp? It must've been during my slump. Crap. My mood was a little soiled.184Please respect copyright.PENANAvGs9B2h25a
184Please respect copyright.PENANAYG9cc05QSB
"W-What do you think?" She asked. She had her fists to her face in anticipation.184Please respect copyright.PENANA52tt6uIDbt
184Please respect copyright.PENANARGMACJZ1qp
"I think it's impressive. You've been hard at work, haven't you?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAzxvoUJTcVI
184Please respect copyright.PENANASxh2jRdsgF
"Yes! I have, ha!"184Please respect copyright.PENANARq73oIbZuf
184Please respect copyright.PENANAOMDxsZ28SJ
She puffed her chest out. I felt happy for her. I was also impressed by how well she allocated her time.184Please respect copyright.PENANApm5lvuvn0w
184Please respect copyright.PENANARVGwEIWZwY
"You passed my preliminary test, Flitny. Congratulations."184Please respect copyright.PENANASTNKDpdVSf
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWtqnKuKXKh
I stretched out my hand. She looked at it in disbelief at first but sternly shook it after.184Please respect copyright.PENANAbPQqzmPkdA
184Please respect copyright.PENANAgddhakm2h5
"Thank you, teacher."184Please respect copyright.PENANACwsXhYzqyx
184Please respect copyright.PENANAVwoha8QJWX
"Yeah. Don't call me that."184Please respect copyright.PENANAoaVA2A4PSv
184Please respect copyright.PENANARIMlX2eTxF
"Okay."184Please respect copyright.PENANAfLE8NkqPdL
184Please respect copyright.PENANAf7kYITnHra
My spirits were lifted. I turned around and began walking to the campsite, but Flinty put a hand on my shoulder.184Please respect copyright.PENANAR0lcuVAKMs
184Please respect copyright.PENANAaFE3Llzsss
"Hm? What's wrong?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAXfmq9jgxQn
184Please respect copyright.PENANA5W0K64hqKR
"Um..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAXbzwN6Kq1a
184Please respect copyright.PENANAUcd4OlYXhY
She let go of me and began taking off the coat.184Please respect copyright.PENANAubxKiPn4ps
184Please respect copyright.PENANAchzngUjb9o
"Here. Have it back."184Please respect copyright.PENANAXStC5Ko8vh
184Please respect copyright.PENANAm697FxHW62
"Huh? Y-You can still keep it, at least until we get out of these woods."184Please respect copyright.PENANALT0gVRdXmq
184Please respect copyright.PENANAUf1IOYBKps
She shook her head no.184Please respect copyright.PENANADHOlxz7PwG
184Please respect copyright.PENANAVDorq4sfsZ
"I think you need it. You like it a lot, right? I think you need something that you like."184Please respect copyright.PENANAKZuferZPAQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAV6OstFbIWh
She had a pensive expression. I felt like refusing again was a bad idea.184Please respect copyright.PENANAdJIJxLBDqa
184Please respect copyright.PENANAzE86rrIstH
"Thank you, Flinty."184Please respect copyright.PENANAMjBn3SGHp1
184Please respect copyright.PENANAxzppXcPL4b
I grabbed the coat and put it back on.184Please respect copyright.PENANA21wiQBZbTx
184Please respect copyright.PENANAypJcTwNRjU
"Kenny, do you feel better?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAbx4cSnruwJ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAgcB22yQDPt
Ah, so that's what it was about. I suppose she couldn't tell from my face, I must've looked like a corpse.184Please respect copyright.PENANAnWtbWaiRd5
184Please respect copyright.PENANAkCWfhciL6Z
"I feel much better. Thank you for looking out for me. And, sorry for being like that yesterday."184Please respect copyright.PENANAGDYA0PEdCD
184Please respect copyright.PENANAFeTub32mSF
"It's okay. I'm glad you're fine."184Please respect copyright.PENANA5vMS7PnwRI
184Please respect copyright.PENANA4tLnlG4dkl
Flinty and I returned to the campsite. Skylark was up and raring while Victoria and Ng were half asleep.184Please respect copyright.PENANAa06sp6WwLK
184Please respect copyright.PENANARC1MjqjzeA
"Good morning, Kenny."184Please respect copyright.PENANA5auYwCv7A8
184Please respect copyright.PENANA66VmCZmTt8
"Good morning. Let's wait for the others before we discuss a plan."184Please respect copyright.PENANAtlFn4GtDGQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANAXvUW0rDC5B
He nodded. When Victoria and Ng got on their feet our strategy meeting began. It was simple; Skylark would enter the compound and battle Jeremiah while Victoria, Ng, and I would surround the building to capture any escapees. With that set, we began our breakfast. It was just simple rations, but they tasted especially fresh. Flinty and Victoria were engaged in conversation while Skylark vigilantly watched our surroundings. I looked at Ng and was suddenly reminded of last night.184Please respect copyright.PENANAtoW5weE0o6
184Please respect copyright.PENANAdP9T9SFpWf
"Hey Ng, can I talk with you for a minute?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAQc5PNc3Kj3
184Please respect copyright.PENANA2gQ4PZYAqd
I scooted closer to him.184Please respect copyright.PENANATbtflx1htP
184Please respect copyright.PENANAVPhtr4J2wp
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"184Please respect copyright.PENANACRIv1WvcKg
184Please respect copyright.PENANAowtP4HfrqX
"I just wanted to thank you for trying to cheer me up, and apologize for being so suspicious of you."184Please respect copyright.PENANAXlBL1pRWeM
184Please respect copyright.PENANAtAMQjldiYH
"O-Oh, don't be sorry. I completely understand why you'd be wary of me. Besides, I wasn't very successful, was I?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAAt2yBDV3J4
184Please respect copyright.PENANAC7RXWETdBB
"...Maybe you're right. I renounce my statement entirely."184Please respect copyright.PENANAV1cpyhFD8A
184Please respect copyright.PENANAFy2u3pTKeG
He didn't laugh. Crap. He didn't look mad either, so at least I didn't say anything offensive.184Please respect copyright.PENANAayOiDJVD1K
184Please respect copyright.PENANA8sMP8XgUlV
"You know Kenny, when I saw you last night..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAbunVfQoLtD
184Please respect copyright.PENANAhrqsskHGSk
"What?"184Please respect copyright.PENANA2QN71s67dY
184Please respect copyright.PENANACSrMXxw4qo
"Somehow, it reminded me of myself."
"Huh? You're crazy."184Please respect copyright.PENANAyWoutOb2Yy
184Please respect copyright.PENANAvsyLpC5dIK
But then I thought about his behavior back in the cellar, and during the initial stage of the infiltration. He lightly punched me in the shoulder.184Please respect copyright.PENANA9irmJulhcf
184Please respect copyright.PENANA3AATELav66
"You and I are alike, I've realized. But unlike me, you are powerful and gifted. I know you can liberate yourself from the fungus in your brain. You are still young, after all."184Please respect copyright.PENANASqEbBtB7cr
184Please respect copyright.PENANAnSKaaxZWz3
"R-Right."184Please respect copyright.PENANAV6K8IGrtSG
184Please respect copyright.PENANA155k2mjuxE
"Well then, shall we go?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAsF5xJeqjeV
184Please respect copyright.PENANAP6c5LKmnDC
Ng reached into his robe and took out a miniature wand. I looked at the others. They were up and ready.184Please respect copyright.PENANAR6YhEvkg46
184Please respect copyright.PENANA7CI78Iiz34
"Alright."184Please respect copyright.PENANAE0nEFp1uB0
184Please respect copyright.PENANAkPp7L42V7S
We grabbed our bags and left the campsite. With Ng leading us, we arrived at the compound thirty minutes later. Flinty and Ng stood nearby in the woods guarding our things, and more importantly, away from any attention. Skylark, Victoria, and I stood before the broken gates of what was essentially the compound's front yard. Skylark took a step forward. He had a rag covering his mouth.184Please respect copyright.PENANArm5WEAiWLw
184Please respect copyright.PENANApjwt1HB1S6
"I'll be sure to be quick. Don't worry."184Please respect copyright.PENANAybsksL0mRx
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQrcV3U9ccN
And then he walked across the field and into the building. Now Victoria and I stood there alone. I felt a hand on my shoulder.184Please respect copyright.PENANAmVHpuKqibi
184Please respect copyright.PENANA9wUfFH2TJ8
"What?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAcQatbiMNWw
184Please respect copyright.PENANATPSMi2Ju1s
"Don't worry, Kenny. The knights here are serious business, y'know? He'll rescue Kim for sure."184Please respect copyright.PENANA0FqtfyOOXI
184Please respect copyright.PENANAZ132jQqAqx
"I know he will."184Please respect copyright.PENANAAhoeqQNsLa
184Please respect copyright.PENANAcbcCiqjTVJ
"Then why are you shaking?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAJRS0zBa9aq
184Please respect copyright.PENANAORfTy1MqIX
"...I just can't help myself."184Please respect copyright.PENANAlHZi8Sn4tK
184Please respect copyright.PENANAt9PROVSysp
I walked to the walls and sat against it. Victoria joined me. We sat and waited. Five minutes passed without anything happening. Ten minutes passed without anything happening. Victoria was jittering a little.184Please respect copyright.PENANAPCyPIutdk5
184Please respect copyright.PENANAdDf448hk6Y
"It's a little quiet here," she said, "why don't we talk?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAnByMcRKkM4
184Please respect copyright.PENANA77KxPgzN4D
"What do you want to talk about?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAypj5zM4x6K
184Please respect copyright.PENANAy7Ij4saZwn
"Uh, how about... well, is there anything you want to talk about?"184Please respect copyright.PENANArxp4rSPqPu
184Please respect copyright.PENANA9iD3GxARwO
"Not really. I just want to get this over with."184Please respect copyright.PENANAGkRM7ebrNe
184Please respect copyright.PENANArERWVNW4c3
"Yeah, tell me about it. At the very least, it doesn't look like we'll be getting our hands dirty."184Please respect copyright.PENANAhZRYgZaGsS
184Please respect copyright.PENANAx7MsTz7hr2
"Now that you mention it, how did you get so good at fighting, Victoria?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAnSRyrLjO1E
184Please respect copyright.PENANAIPs7weK6l8
"Ha!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAKhUQAcNYHE
184Please respect copyright.PENANAxwH0XdeaOQ
She pulled back on her sleeve and slapped her biceps.184Please respect copyright.PENANAAKmUzgKda6
184Please respect copyright.PENANAU1cvANGfwt
"These muscles came from all the work at the farmhouse, and fighting is something Mom taught me. Y'know, she used to be a combatant! An extraordinary one, too!"184Please respect copyright.PENANA6MlliwdUGd
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWsFBG9Hb29
"Good for her. Was she a martial artist?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAGoNnIqMxwh
184Please respect copyright.PENANAlpFb7IGf0e
"Hehe, something like that."184Please respect copyright.PENANAG3JAgcdxus
184Please respect copyright.PENANAPgza9nvoz6
She didn't sound confident.184Please respect copyright.PENANAL30vh0DV0e
184Please respect copyright.PENANAl6CH7VmZ2g
"Mom taught me a thing or two about fighting people, but what she specialized in was hand-to-hand fights with monsters."184Please respect copyright.PENANAdkU7PGNRfP
184Please respect copyright.PENANAppjHfW1qHE
"Ah. That makes sense."184Please respect copyright.PENANAocZp29H947
184Please respect copyright.PENANACeDB1yzLwW
I was very close to saying something insensitive.184Please respect copyright.PENANAAWbdNEHLH8
184Please respect copyright.PENANANhSckGkvSR
"That blob thing was a bit too much for me to handle. I think though, if we were to fight that wolf, I would be fine."184Please respect copyright.PENANAqgAdYw6pHd
184Please respect copyright.PENANAZvS7HrSsiW
"...Wolf?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAQdjUKAF6RH
184Please respect copyright.PENANAgiJy8UxGFs
All the air suddenly left my lungs. I looked to my left. The broken gate. Its mauled doors were sprawled on the grass, and chunks of stone accompanied them.184Please respect copyright.PENANA4EFr7r2WI1
184Please respect copyright.PENANAjeDcUfXTNV
Of course, the wolf. He was in the woods earlier, wasn't he? How did I forget?184Please respect copyright.PENANAEDXiupuJEA
184Please respect copyright.PENANAaBrJBLSOv0
"Kenny?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAwSLQYLtgC7
184Please respect copyright.PENANA6H9jBjeaOp
With how quiet it was in the compound, I naturally began to theorize. I did not doubt that Skylark was alright, but we should've heard something, anything by now. Because we weren't, then Panz must've been hiding. And I already knew from Ng that Panz had the ability to summon his creations.184Please respect copyright.PENANAsA8P9uzD6g
184Please respect copyright.PENANAnVRzSgElX2
I stood up and walked forward.184Please respect copyright.PENANAxSZA0K8qJ0
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6rR7YU1f5
"Kenny? What's wrong?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAMulpNOqpJ0
184Please respect copyright.PENANAvqtGG7wszO
"Victoria, brace yourself. I think that thing is coming."184Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZsyxjUmQ9
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQhuvxIxw7k
I took my tendril out and grew a Sunlight-Blossom. I snatched a seed and stuck it in the ground, then grew it to full size. I clasped the flower by its stem and aimed it at the woods.184Please respect copyright.PENANAC5mEgmmA1O
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKhGt7ctgHG
Victoria stood beside me with her hands raised. She caught on fast. I keenly eyed the woods, almost like a hawk, waiting for anything to flutter.184Please respect copyright.PENANADv7ghlGvm1
184Please respect copyright.PENANAcixwtpQ6Ip
And then, I saw it. I began mana spinning.184Please respect copyright.PENANAKJHQHbz6BQ
184Please respect copyright.PENANA04rcs4VjrW
**BANG**184Please respect copyright.PENANAJEuVXziDzT
184Please respect copyright.PENANAhiF5AEifnS
The Sunlight-Blossom's seed rend the wind and trees. It left my line of sight in a second. I didn't catch the beast, but that wasn't an issue. A resounding wail echoed throughout the woods. I saw the bushes fly in the distance.184Please respect copyright.PENANALt59wJcdJT
184Please respect copyright.PENANAuf7FmALuv7
"Victoria."184Please respect copyright.PENANAuhyQq8Erlv
184Please respect copyright.PENANAnPCTBPRPpP
"Right."184Please respect copyright.PENANAeh8SVV6fq5
184Please respect copyright.PENANA3k0nbwVY4B
I had to think fast. I produced a Freeze-Dry and encased the ground in ice. Next, I brought out Dragon-Maw Jr. and raised the tendril over the ice.184Please respect copyright.PENANAf6j5xuyhpW
184Please respect copyright.PENANAJK6gXhtDFA
**SMASH**184Please respect copyright.PENANAmRkDmEOSYO
184Please respect copyright.PENANAM6uFvFaF0h
There he was.184Please respect copyright.PENANADgCt2lGFbm
184Please respect copyright.PENANAlXdYMXMVm1
The wolf crashed through a tree and landed on the ice field. He lost his footing quickly. I lowered the tendril and Dragon-Maw Jr. snapped his jaws immediately, nipping at the wolf's back. The wolf slid towards us with his maw agape, brandishing hundreds of sharp, unsightly teeth.184Please respect copyright.PENANAEgpr9i1uoT
184Please respect copyright.PENANAwUzrV50bne
Victoria crouched. The wolf jumped. I retracted the tendril and prepared to strike, but the size of the wolf surprised me. I hesitated. But that was fine. Victoria clenched the wolf's neck as it soared through the air. She slammed the beast to the ground, hardly able to keep it pinned, but she was able to punch its snout a few times. The wolf struggled and clawed Victoria in the chest. She winced, and the beast escaped from her grasp. He was bleeding, but so was Victoria. She reached for her pocket and doused herself in a healing potion, then threw the glass bottle at the wolf who stepped aside to avoid it.184Please respect copyright.PENANAX46qqvOeZk
184Please respect copyright.PENANAzdQiFWZMNs
"That thing is strong," she said, "We can either wear it down or pin it again, but if I do, you need to kill it."184Please respect copyright.PENANAbZirEoiTZB
184Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3tLF2Be71
"Right."184Please respect copyright.PENANABP0Hp8PUkx
184Please respect copyright.PENANAxTbwtQzwb0
With my other hand, I began mana expulsion and created a bundle of thin, elongated rocks. I threw them at the wolf one at a time. He avoided them all, but as I threw, Victoria inched closer. The wolf jumped at her with his jaws wide open. Victoria stepped to the side in the nick of time, but as the wolf landed he turned around and leaped again. I struck him with the tendril and he spun across the field.184Please respect copyright.PENANAFDsfqYkyGt
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHgt8wBaqsY
"Thank you!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAupsEJa7M59
184Please respect copyright.PENANArxHgoBuIJI
I nodded. The wolf was temporarily incapacitated. He was still bleeding from Dragon-Maw Jr's wound. Victoria and I were unharmed. We could do this.184Please respect copyright.PENANAqCwXkBCt4m
184Please respect copyright.PENANAq1mPYU0O2I
I began mana expulsion again, creating a stone and suspending it in the air. I covered it with fire magic. The wolf came back to his senses and sprinted at me. I stretched the tendril out; he avoided it but I struck him as I retracted it. I threw the fire-rock at it. The wolf caught it with his mouth.184Please respect copyright.PENANABi4tg4pKpG
184Please respect copyright.PENANApNRhg30rXc
"Huh?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAosx1AqB6iw
184Please respect copyright.PENANAF61srgSjLv
Not just that, he clamped down on it, shattering it instantly. The fire was proven to be ineffective as smoke casually escaped his mouth.184Please respect copyright.PENANAEilhb4cKPs
184Please respect copyright.PENANAjgQOwAiijX
The wolf opened his maw. But he did not charge. His mouth grew brighter and brighter.184Please respect copyright.PENANAV51FiFF9w5
184Please respect copyright.PENANAd4oqLTcNq8
"Shit!"184Please respect copyright.PENANA8ywPZaAZuk
184Please respect copyright.PENANA7VbwSfMCEd
I put my hand on the floor and created a small wall of earth before me. A stream of fire pummeled it. I wasn't harmed, but the heat made me feel woozy.184Please respect copyright.PENANAyRMNreFeTa
184Please respect copyright.PENANAx4BKoAxpvT
"A beast made of mana, using fire magic?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAg2Q1D5C005
184Please respect copyright.PENANAtHd88fHJtY
I removed the wall and began mana expulsion again, this time, creating a ball of water. Victoria was beside me, her palms open and her fingers strained.184Please respect copyright.PENANANwOnItLqtu
184Please respect copyright.PENANAti2ipHTmaM
"I can't keep up with that thing, Kenny."184Please respect copyright.PENANAAqx1YFA419
184Please respect copyright.PENANA8tlk8kQJoU
"I understand."184Please respect copyright.PENANAYFlKumDjg6
184Please respect copyright.PENANAJ69AeB8Ff2
I retracted my tendril and began mana expulsion with my right hand, creating a bundle of pebbles. I shrunk the water ball down and clasped it with my left. A pure-white water geyser erupted from my palm. The wolf avoided it but found himself on the ice field again, and thus lost his footing. The geyser ran out before I could hit him, so I created another ball of water. The wolf blew fire on the field and melted the ice, and unfortunately, made the grass catch fire as well.184Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1fGvaFZbU
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHDXDYLKHMa
"Uh oh, Kenny."184Please respect copyright.PENANAdzkSUxtg54
184Please respect copyright.PENANAKuMdIFJ4ly
Sweat beads were trickling down my forehead, and it wasn't just because of the heat.184Please respect copyright.PENANAiL8wLNOoQ8
184Please respect copyright.PENANAEAbXCbSwdA
"I-It'll be fine. Just focus on grabbing him."184Please respect copyright.PENANAK8ztyD5Uwc
184Please respect copyright.PENANACCkAzB1ktE
I didn't clasp the ball this time but spread it out across the field. The fire was extinguished and the wolf was now wet, but seemingly unbothered. He started charging at us again. I scattered the pebbles in my right hand with intense force. They were small, but the wolf would undeniably be hit and staggered.184Please respect copyright.PENANAassXp9DSCo
184Please respect copyright.PENANArHHWzmmyGm
But, though he was hit, his charge didn't halt even a little. I panicked and brought the tendril out, stretching it out yet again. He didn't avoid it. Instead, he snapped his jaws at it.184Please respect copyright.PENANAzeaU8mKF1m
184Please respect copyright.PENANALyHm5V735s
"Hrk!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAbTHEqt6S41
184Please respect copyright.PENANAmmta6nfb7S
Pain permeated my whole body. Maybe even my soul. It was terrible, but the situation wasn't irredeemable. The tendril was in between the wolf's jaws but was still intact. I quickly thought of a way to retaliate and produced a Flash-Bloom. I'd be lying if I said I expected it. I hurriedly held my hand over my eyes.184Please respect copyright.PENANAPLgfHbKalh
184Please respect copyright.PENANAQYeeB9PvE0
"Victoria! Close your eyes!"184Please respect copyright.PENANACbA9Vmouci
184Please respect copyright.PENANAjz9fpMD1eR
Even with my eyes covered, all I saw was white. Pushing the Flash-Bloom beyond its limit was exhausting my mana supply but I didn't have to keep it out for long. A few seconds later I stopped it and opened my eyes. The wolf was still gripping my tendril but was nabbing at its own face as if the light was on him. I produced Dragon-Maw Jr. and he bit at the wolf's nape. The wolf let go of my tendril. I coughed out some purple goop.184Please respect copyright.PENANAHqRhTOxPmC
184Please respect copyright.PENANAI0adZtXJNX
"Victoria!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAr92TxnYZ6T
184Please respect copyright.PENANASZCtDq5xny
"Right!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAgrkUSwr88S
184Please respect copyright.PENANAhMti2LiWEn
Victoria ran over to the wolf. She didn't pin him down, but instead, grabbed one of his oversized hind legs and bent it in an impossible direction. The wolf opened its mouth and wailed and readily spat fire. With all his squirming, Dragon-Maw Jr. could hardly keep him in place. I produced another water ball and flung it at the wolf. I managed to perfectly land it inside its maw, and the beast was forced to cough it all out.184Please respect copyright.PENANAaBemuReWTl
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHk282golIc
Dragon-Maw Jr.'s teeth sunk deeper into its neck. The wolf was still desperately clawing at its eyes, but each succesive swipe made it obvious that the beast's strength was fading. Victoria broke its other hind leg. The wolf struggled, but he didn't attempt to spit out fire this time. The wolf simply howled, and howled, and its howls grew weaker by the second. Dragon-Maw Jr. kept clamping down. I noticed it myself, how the neck was being sluggishly pulled off the body. Victoria clasped the wolf's snout. She began pulling at it.184Please respect copyright.PENANApaQ8k5PDYj
184Please respect copyright.PENANAWCGsvadiQ5
"GRAHHHH!"184Please respect copyright.PENANA5pG3nybsog
184Please respect copyright.PENANAHPBC8IejJN
A warcry. She was a total barbarian.184Please respect copyright.PENANAYZ8E7LoPfS
184Please respect copyright.PENANAEVOBJIQsYJ
With the help of Dragon-Maw Jr, Victoria tore off the wolf's neck and threw across the field. The head crashed and spallered against a tree. It immediately evaporated into the air, and the rest of the wolf's body followed suit. She grabbed her knees and began to pant.184Please respect copyright.PENANAz8dG7cZsvg
184Please respect copyright.PENANAXPQkudVoS8
"..."184Please respect copyright.PENANAt45MGSTykD
184Please respect copyright.PENANAwHHLpVKRF8
I retracted the tendril. My mana supply was relatively plentiful. Still, I plummeted to the ground, face-first. I stopped coughing up purple goop, and a minute later, it stopped oozing from my chest.184Please respect copyright.PENANAh50REXGxTH
184Please respect copyright.PENANAL4Uu1PzMg7
I had questions about it, but those were for later. At the time being, I was happy. I relishing the moment. Even with grass pressing against my face, I was relishing.184Please respect copyright.PENANAz4ixpxYUUO
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We did it. We really did it.184Please respect copyright.PENANAf3vJhIsPTu
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"Kenny!"184Please respect copyright.PENANAskW9bHtMsj
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Victoria ran up to me. I looked up at her.184Please respect copyright.PENANAP5pE6gxWFK
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"What's coming from your chin? Are you okay? Are you poisoned?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAORDaTibmPF
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"I-I'm fine, just a little... pained."184Please respect copyright.PENANAeqoq3Xw8HT
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She sighed. I only now noticed the blood splattered across her dress. The dress was torn, too. That wolf had some sharp claws.184Please respect copyright.PENANAGDd4Jg4juw
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"I'm a little pained, too. The potion I used didn't have any pain suppression."184Please respect copyright.PENANAONgV86pWpo
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"No pain suppression? What kind of second-rate potion is that?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAVKKtB8QRVx
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She shrugged. She plummeted to the floor herself but comfortably landed on her butt, unlike me. We waited in silence for a bit.184Please respect copyright.PENANAn9ndFhWlB5
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"We did it," I muttered.184Please respect copyright.PENANAAOBFsKeCg5
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I struggled to believe it. Not just because the wolf was taken down without much hassle, but because of how I was feeling.184Please respect copyright.PENANAaDQFeZhh3P
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Right now, I was immensely satisfied. I glanced at Victoria, and she was fine, and I was fine, and the beast was dead, and I was satisfied.184Please respect copyright.PENANApg2Ry5XjNa
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I had trouble deciphering what that meant. But, I was satisfied. I couldn't help but smile.184Please respect copyright.PENANAecns6j1H8s
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"Yeah. That wasn't so bad, was it?"184Please respect copyright.PENANADbkJWtGniT
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"...It could've been a lot worse."184Please respect copyright.PENANAoBzBRRt05i
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"Yeah. I'm lucky my dress is the only thing that got torn."184Please respect copyright.PENANAmfbYSgAdLU
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Victoria looked at something above me.184Please respect copyright.PENANAUcoSTlliV0
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"Hey, Kenny, are you unable to fight?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAARQere2tfb
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Feeling a bit rushed, I answered anyway.184Please respect copyright.PENANAfA7bTztnOT
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"No. Why do you ask?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAiNrvDv7Xuq
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"I haven't heard a single thing coming from the building. Our fight was noisy, so I thought that maybe someone would come out. I'm starting to get worried."184Please respect copyright.PENANA6WssVC8u6A
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"You... for someone who just tore off a living thing's head, you're awfully calm."184Please respect copyright.PENANAAyp31zWxVC
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"O-Oh, sorry."184Please respect copyright.PENANAJ89kRh74Gc
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She scratched her cheek a little.184Please respect copyright.PENANAWbDrCrjJdw
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"Just what kind of fighter was your mom? What did she teach you?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAmWsFLfTeWa
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"That's just how you need to be with monsters. Equally brutal. It's something I got used to. I watched my mom fight a lot when I was a kid."184Please respect copyright.PENANAmDhRkvFJLC
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"Well, I'm not used to it. Give me a second, please."184Please respect copyright.PENANAZxkMUBMEPj
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"Of course," she exclaimed with a thumbs-up and one of her eyes closed.184Please respect copyright.PENANAPM8blFxrfc
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I sighed. My face returned to the grass as I indulged in the silence. I could feel the fatigue worm its way into every nook and cranny of my body. I was surprised at the toll the fight had on me. Eventually, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my shirt. It was even more purple than before.184Please respect copyright.PENANA9m8Z7B4LHT
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I helped Victoria up. I limped to the busted gate and stared at the compound. A weight formed in my stomach. I almost began to pray, but the doors to the building slowly opened.184Please respect copyright.PENANADYYrEpvY5m
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Skylark was there. Kim was on one shoulder, and when he opened one door wide enough he grabbed Panz by the hood. He had a lot of dust on his body. When he caught up to us, he frowned.184Please respect copyright.PENANAlTGFETckTB
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"Victoria, your dress... what happened?"184Please respect copyright.PENANAfGU09DTw6u
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"We fought something, Kenny and I."184Please respect copyright.PENANAVtrWqzKr4b
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She patted me on the back. The pain jolted across my body yet again, and I clicked my tongue.184Please respect copyright.PENANAWSnYGOcgJr
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"I see. Well, I'm glad you two aren't hurt."184Please respect copyright.PENANAutLOIuxJXY
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"How is Kim?" I asked.184Please respect copyright.PENANA7qcHcBuXdu
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"She's fine, just unconscious."184Please respect copyright.PENANALtk62uCWFn
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I could only say one thing.184Please respect copyright.PENANAFbAlK5UWgS
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"...Haaaa. Thank God."