"Hey, wake up."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0epbt9iBlp
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg26sG28rz
"H-Huh!?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDslH7VQIn
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcqh8617Kr
I was rashly wrung out of sleep, jumping at the sudden touch on my shoulder. I fell pathetically to the floor, groaning and rubbing my chin as I got on my feet.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb9ALkwwU0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoEdwZtb0x
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeoicR7idn
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKvu0hpCSf
"No no, it's fine."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpm3HxeDCT
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSOlsZZl3c
Once the pain subsided, I let out a lengthy yawn and rubbed my eyes. I had difficulty keeping them open. I rubbed my face and took a seat on the couch, hoping to wipe away the grogginess.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEljHYcSJ7
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEghfpAbTB
"Goodness kid, did ya sleep at all?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9nVj78Y6X
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTxDHjFVBk
"Huh? Yeah, sure I did."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbN4Kd818l
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtadmUE1U2
I let out another yawn. After a dozen firm blinks, I was able to keep my eyes open for longer than two seconds.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKGPAhFf2V
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ2uGYOGaH
"Are ya sure–"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctSa5lcbdb
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnDg9WqAuz
"Listen, Juke, I'm fine. I'm, perfectly fine. My neck is just a little sore, that's all."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcawwIafgLI
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEVyWzDSxO
It must've been because of my sleeping position. Perhaps that was also the reason behind my shakiness. It had to be. Using mana expulsion, I produced a bit of water and gulped it all down, then began stretching my limbs.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK41mjV1qf
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeHibMb45V
"Well, if ya say so. When yer ready, come meet me outside."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4x72fsDyy
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5FTKMCDTw
Juke exited the living room, leaving me alone. I wasted no time going through my morning routine in the bathroom. Once I finished, I returned to the living room. Outside the bathroom door, idling, gazing at the couch where I slept.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo09rtMhLg
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyiz3878zQ
"..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZA2QEr2F1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf6lQnKRjk
Now that the grogginess had left me, my mind worked at total capacity. It came with unwanted by-products.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PlOqMwPUb
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4isEzyJrgY
It had barely been ten minutes. Since I wasn't counting, likely less than that. So little time since I woke up, yet the flow of time had already become contorted. I clutched my head and looked at the floor.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nxLctEsOo
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWxBc8QXf2
It was no use mulling over it now. Besides, I was hungry. So I left the living room. Juke and the man were sitting at a nearby table, eating their food with a third plate unattended. I tottered to their table and took a seat.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVcSjAQnwK
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu10AI1xol
The plate was full of fish. It wasn't a food I'd associate with breakfast.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxARO1Xd4gY
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQqNbnnYvW
"Hi young man, how did you sleep?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3umuO4tyz7
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwXk7AF909
His tone was cheery and amiable. He sounded like a pleasant person to speak to.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl6UNwQamh
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSz7yqSXCU
"Hmm. Huh? Oh, were you talking to me?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A6cgzms62
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGWFayo2gw
The man nodded. Now that I thought about it–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fy0W6Vh58
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM431B3bj9s
"What's your name anyway? I don't believe you've ever told us."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWOhxROQR8
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6kpO7KsPT
"...You must be right. My name is Hank, it's a pleasure."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0cmz2fz5L
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L8DtsLIyu
"Hank... did you cook this breakfast?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVWB70LhRb
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JxvEt9Ns1
"I certainly did. Well, go on now, try it."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrKbXGMsOG
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANmfleB10z
I turned my face away from him and looked at the fish. At first glance, even a toddler could discern that it was undeniably well-cooked. The fish was coated in spice and–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sFblASLPI
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvvWpXMv4A
"Don't gotta waste yer time ogling at it, kid."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRYOR1bT1L
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAdMOSI8mv
Juke's statement interrupted my necessary analyses.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Jxkmg8ox
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaM7qfioxA
"I guess you're right. Is good, Juke?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69V157StZ1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdI3WrhLXZ
"Yeah, it is. If ya don't eat it now though, some bird might poop on it and ruin the taste."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamICdyuKZv
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDz0x1YWym
"What?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7HTBbmLSN
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeuqu1E8Cq
He sighed and flicked his head.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jHJgCpGb8
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc3Ywb4cGw
"Come on, let's enjoy our last breakfast here, why don't we?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREttFuFBN4
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaChOi7IcH
"Last... yeah, let's."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEE0hxr5iS
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS97Mwwb1p6
I took the fork and began to eat the fish. It had a kick to it that I didn't expect, but otherwise–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbg5y9a6pc
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXoTQlJPbx
"This is good. This is really good."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGV3cdx74Z
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6kXlXgkJp
"I told ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8NuqnIcWn
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e3uNyM4In
I kept eating. It was pleasant and satisfying. The dish brightened my mood. Marginally so, but it was still something, so I was grateful for that.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6lXqHb5Wn
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfBoRbJYn4
"Wait a minute, Juke," Hank started, "how are you eating with your helmet on?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmQ6U08WAL
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmVs89g9NI
His question caused me to look away from my fish and at his own. Indeed, half of it had already been eaten, but Juke never once removed his helmet to do so.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UBAmudiDe
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP288bM5Pgc
"Trade secret, don't worry 'bout it. Just keep eating."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj049gMeOYE
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA3n0iIjUW
The man backed down. I kept looking at Juke, but he wouldn't eat the fish in front of me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkouHyvEw1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyqLMO085A
In the face of that obstinance, I smiled. I knew it wouldn't last, but at least I would be able to eat my food without any daunting thoughts.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKvtaYwuXB
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqJDfzksDO
–
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–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8djyrI2iB
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtXYCdBOEM
Once we put our tableware aside, Hank corralled us back to the table. Juke and I sat by each other. Hank had a pensive and nervous look, giving me a sense of foreboding for what was to come out of his mouth.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrILEDJdty0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRufAkItXbU
"So, you two want to leave the city, correct?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjNuvJh6HV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCkMbQ7fIx
"That's right," Juke responded.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2sJYxyyzJ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSYFA0yHrE
"I see..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB10hgFIzW
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX6ErRRN0T
He pinched his chin and gazed at the table.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbYZkrVHJN
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwxOZQeDrg
"Well, I won't try to stop you, but I'd like to give you two a word of warning: the streets aren't empty. Those folks at Hard-Bringer are surveilling the area quite compellingly."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BqiFPNb4K
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBrxzATDCK
Juke let out a sigh and I rested my head on my hand. Honestly, this was in my expectations, but hearing it be confirmed was a blow to my psyche all the same.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjoTQwiWqW
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtswPp0RRL
"However, I do believe you two can get out fine."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWUrSDhbTu
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6RTc65W2T
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I doubt those Hard-Bringer bastards got the staff to keep an eye on every part of the city."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkimRKzjAKk
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgFyVYi7ug
I nodded along to Juke's reasoning. Hank did too, less tense than twenty seconds ago.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI4Om3zT05
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aPp7NfSkd
"Do you two have a plan in mind?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW16x6Ry10o
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH4DZMph0k
Juke turned his head to me, confusing me more than pressuring me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICoha95qMQ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15AoCQbCJZ
"What are you looking at me for?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZSO3aLmam
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vwIzOd04a
"Ya got any ideas?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaEAgrvAXk
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf6OdYEGnq
"Why do you think I do, anyway?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlptSVqZQdq
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0gwBkdHSJ
He shrugged at my inquiry. I just sighed and rubbed my temple, racking my brain for anything.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN11QVSvOa
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmJD9ad2u3
"I suppose we'll have to gauge just how heavily the streets are being supervised. If they aren't in every nook and cranny of the area, we can probably weave in-between alleyways and whatnot just fine."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2AlEq4aP2
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4VyrNZmcr
Juke and Hank nodded at my statement. As concrete as the idea was, it hinged on a factor too risky for either me or Juke to confirm.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokBJojPKPd
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdQvxiH8hi
"Hank, can you go outside and check the surroundings?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPhIB0MN4d
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc84q7vRDZd
"U-Uh, I very well may, however..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaNw2ATsHZ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFv16TmLKC
I raised my brow, then realized that just because Hank wasn't me or Juke didn't mean that he was entirely safe.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPtX6sHvaw
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCymRbr29f
Rover's visage flashed in my mind. I brushed it aside for the moment, barely.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjqGgmbQ4J
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F7vNUAoxT
"I'd rather not run too far away. Otherwise, I'd get apprehended and questioned, and then it would be evening by the time I come back."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV3okVQfd6
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E8XXG05bO
"I see. I apologize for asking so much from you."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwRzSxiIPG
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSxcpiYqN
He shook his hands frantically and.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpiKVeDcjE
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9R7GAxTg4
"Oh no no, I'll do it. I just don't think I'll be able to scout very far ahead."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioe6jXih3u
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaug87o1uX
"That ain't an issue. Just the first block should be alright."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkWBxAP9Jc
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYPDwULLkl
Hank's gaze turned abnormally stern. He stood up and did a few gesticulations to assure himself.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E2SWQtlWi
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMJoSxsHYe
"Pray for me."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrW8WcgfuP
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXGz2wQvzc
"Don't worry. We'll arrange yer funeral for ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VYqfwj8Mk
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblGhythtuS
"Juke!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mUJYJBMLI
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckHdyZXjmA
Juke's comment vanquished all of Hank's efforts to pump himself up. Still, though, he rambled to the door, taking a deep breath before opening and exiting the building. Juke and I were alone, now. An awkward and elongated silence permeated through the room.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g5VO7ncez
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWrFzllWo
"Thanks for trying to lighten the mood, Juke."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c5dnTVFmG
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVlK5SV5O3
He turned his head to me, stuttering his words before taking a breath and speaking them coherently.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N4hMfENda
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHLcZJmX8P
"No need to thank me. The atmosphere's tense, I just don't want it to stay that way."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfQNNUGlX5
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohO1GzqZrz
"Still, I appreciate it."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRip4lapenc
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS40U6ltSqz
I sat with my legs spread out, lowering my head and leaning over to stare at the ground.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Gp5xjRF8
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsViEA9bn2
"I can tell that my wisecracks ain't all that effective, though."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJG2x1ruo0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPw2n4m723
I wanted to rebuke that statement, to tell him that he was wrong and that I was feeling much better. I would be lying to him, but that wasn't why I stopped myself. That was because of the tinge of melancholy I caught in his voice, so faint that I was unsure if I was just hearing things.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqXrlZLT5n
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXC8xBM76C
I wanted to press him on that. But I was in no state of mind to do so. So, we continued to wait in silence.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdY6c8VHOA
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HRY2uAhpN
Hank came shortly after. His face was drenched in sweat and anxiety. He let out an arduous sigh when he closed the door and sank to the floor.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6NNg8iaor
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhaEJbsY7W
I was expecting the worst, but he shot us a thumbs-up with a wink. A smile found its way on my face. I looked at Juke and we nodded at each other. We stood up and stretched our muscles, helping Hank get to his feet and standing before the door.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhKm8cKoAi
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aul1keOeK
"Thank you for your help, Hank."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW3lmWNxyE
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTRLesg87Y
"Yeah, we really of ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Lq8gqyOV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFjFtAX7N1
He gave us a light smile and waved.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY5fc3S3TQ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyR1xFd9Cg
"No no, it's fine. It's what Dennis would have wanted, I'm sure."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W41H7zDYB
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhNK4MmiDU
"...Y-Yeah."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbjWRi0oQA
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC99V3rVmrG
A morbid parasite was planted in me before we left. It began to eat at me instantly, but I did nothing to address it.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EHqn1RLb0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7CAVqiWCa
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–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5KK4lBeJA
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMbcK1zUFv
The streets were void of any busy citizens traveling from one place to another. All inhabitants were inimical people in robes. The only remedy was the relative lack of them.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrELjbhwPGj
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6yfnJOkH6
Weaving in and out of alleyways was a surprisingly easy task, as the Hard-Bringer members couldn't stay in one place even if they were paid to. Though it made moving in the streets nerve-wracking with the unpredictability of these people, it was better than having to wait for them to fall asleep or find a detour as they obstinately remained in one spot.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2EHHKwzJh
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqKhUOmF7H
With all the pauses in between movements and focus on not getting caught, I stopped paying attention to our routing quickly. I was anxious that Juke did too.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfMsItpJYP
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5442cryNWC
"Hey, are you sure we're going the right way?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0MTAYTw4D
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGt0YW7QoF
"Yeah, I'm sure. I remember that chipped building when I visited the stables earlier."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEuAwwKce1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHaw6skDC7
He pointed at a building opposite us. Indeed, it was chipped, but somehow I didn't find his memory reliable.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAoNd9iPY3
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatm35esGHT
Still, I had no better way to make it to the stables myself, so I kept following Juke as we skittered diagonally across the street.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT3LzUTQcO
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWbECEYGmb
"--Crap!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuvxmfQznC
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeDyheIAy5
This alleyway was void of anything to hide behind, meaning that we had to leave it now or suffer an embarrassing and egregious discovery. I peered over the corner and saw a duo of robed people turning a corner and into our street.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnXYEw5sfl
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkyDYhczrf
"Crap. Crap!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPz5FDmY0s
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XTZ7YSGTy
"Eh? What's the situation, kid?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8hpoWwhdv
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHPKEDh0WH
"People are heading our way!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1YZEShybJ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ9isF3ilv
With a hoarse whisper, I relayed the information to Juke, whose eyes I could see widen even through his helmet. He looked behind him and deeper into the alleyway, reaching the same conclusion that I did.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjCrxPjRpn
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf65xLrRCD
"I guess we gotta jump 'em."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsIpP2jaNu
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2dywiF0hd
"What!? That's a terrible idea!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXmpWJv0NM
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFISFeKHHNh
Despite the incorrect usage, I knew precisely what Juke meant by jumping the two people. I discarded the idea, as engaging in a fight would only draw more attention. But, as I sifted through my mind, I couldn't conjure up a course of action more tangible.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYuy7678el
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0BxbRSPjV
"Okay, maybe it isn't a terrible idea, but we need to knock them out quickly."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zmtQzh9DZ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbp5pXWfai
"Yeah, killin' 'em will just make a mess and draw attention, ya make a good point."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd1Kh1Uc0p
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe85aeTo0JV
"...Murder is the first thing you– nevermind, you gave me a good idea."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAayF6IhcP
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jfMV4e3xe
I produced my tendril and created a Valencia-Bloom at its tip. Then, I ran as far back into the alleyway as I could, signaling Juke to do the same. When we made it to the wall, I began mana spinning and produced a shield from the flower big enough to cover us both.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaETGglBge
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESJ0vynssk
It was unexpectedly heavy. The weight of the shield brought me to the floor and strained my arm terribly106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W7mKYcgdC
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPls7NmCEIN
"Ack!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRutzYPThi
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWDOyLtIvo
"G-Goodness, kid. Are ya alright?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZbr74TONv
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78oJ3kAGRE
"I-I'm fine, just keep quiet!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32R0I9zuCq
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi0Y5T4tmY
We waited out behind the shield until I heard two sets of footsteps pass by the alleyway. Once they vanished, I removed the shield, massaged my arm, and with Juke's help, we made it back onto the street.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zt4ZH1k87
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGS2T7iI3H
"Ya strong folk really are crazy."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTbMs8Hazl
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRidB1MqAxh
"Shut up. Now isn't the time for this."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc0KuBo2n3
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZMqV1pLVf
We traveled the road a bit faster since we had to cross through an intersection. We made sure both sides were clear before continuing forward. The road curved at this point, so we kept close to the wall, using our ears instead of our eyes to sense any oncoming persons.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUzLireKQD
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOr7ddeFyo
And, by doing so, I heard something that made my hair stand on its ends.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB79B3B7sUg
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6DpBq6h7n
"--Yeah, we should find a place to hide, don't ya think?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTjJ9208Ql
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvUSdnjwPo
I hastily nodded with him and scanned the surroundings. I spotted an alleyway with a gigantic dumpster at the front. Juke already began running to it before I could point it out, so I followed him.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtneytEPbgO
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EEE92qkMM
We sat down behind the dumpster. I gnawed on my finger as I heard what I could only describe as an army of people walking down the street. I didn't see them, nor did I want to, but the footsteps never ended– it was as if the hustle and bustle of the streets had returned, but now, it only disturbed me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZMSVrl0oh
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzXv3wH0h1
It went on for far, far too long. I couldn't keep my cool. The gnawing turned into rampant chomping, and my breathing became labored and heavy. I rocked back and forth, back and forth back and–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAzJmYLKBZ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gcgnlqmAy
"--Kenny, I don't know if that'll do ya any good."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RiBSrQ3oW
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI3C26SoGz
"Huh?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fPn5hLcUM
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwrd5LVqdp
Juke's deep voice pierced through the thunderous train of footsteps.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsiSaVSDuT
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvlT0AVwk7
"That whole biting thing, and that whole shaking thing. That shit freaks me out. I get why yer doing it, but seeing someone like ya do so just don't sit with me right."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnUgIrGgKe
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvKbqLvrf9
I knew he was trying to console me. But, I didn't feel as if he was. I felt as if it was a precursor to just another one of Juke's ramblings about his ideology.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRcvtH0GhW
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHovxKUMo48
"Why? Is it because I'm strong?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4frbaay0nV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHS30X2xhm
"Nah, it's cuz yer a kid."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVR7gvgDG7
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmuK6oPRhm
His response left me more stunned than I could've imagined.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1oRZIl3pa
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iEzDFsUvV
"I can tell ya got something plaguing ya. I ain't dense, so I can already guess what it is. Still, I think ya should spill it."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcwIHUoF3l
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE08bhal3QM
"..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dmjS3oCjC
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWu7rV5eIF
I brought my knees up to my head, wrapping my arms around my legs. Usually, I'd be concerned about the crowd overhearing us, but the dumpster was far enough, and the thousands of footsteps would veil my voice.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwpQUhYniK
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSX2KPK7Tm
So, I let my mouth run amok.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfY6f7Y0Sf
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEYVMBSj6f
"I'm sure you know, but what Rover told me has... affected me, I suppose."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YGrOe4mTv
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHyNT0eQKs
"Yeah, I know."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29bwJc14Vc
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVXplgtebf
A pause. I used it to formulate my following words more effectively.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZKFrFmlDV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLPxvf8Kdt
"It left me confused. It was like I was asking myself questions with words I couldn't understand. I didn't even know how to begin to answer them. So, for the time being, I decided to ignore them."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tTnr0xDnu
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFjzzW1jZn
I darted my eyes to the side. He nodded along. He stared at the wall across. I did the same.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzwrL0X5Hs
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5szMDY4Jx
"When I was at the door last night," I continued, "right after Rover left, I suppose the prospect of going after her, of facing her, was too intimidating. I didn't get why, exactly. I just knew that I couldn't do it. I didn't think that doing so would be bad or something, quite the contrary. I just thought that, somehow, it was an impossible task. So, I didn't do it. Instead, I sat back on the couch and fell asleep."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TjaFuGaYr
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnZgecrEvy
"That sounds familiar..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvSY4A1cA1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulvQXyTddG
"Huh?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81o8RWIloj
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX47MJeHA4
"Nevermind. Ya carry on."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtP5MfIcmY
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9Ub1qMUyf
I felt a little let down, but did as I was told.
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUWNcqSF6Y
"I am just, very confused. I don't quite get how I feel, but I do understand that all the forces inside of me are fighting over the decision I made last night, to do this. And, I guess I say I'm unsure of it, but I do know what I really am."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPPaUszvUf
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2nd5epxtS
"Well?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqT0rYYcNs
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb2HIFQPIE
"...The thing is, if I voice it, I'll probably break apart here and now."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsYc1oC2gV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rbxfwb0eB
"Ah."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bfyvdLWp3
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeMJ3a3rVJ
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but articulating it in my brain was difficult.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3nJprahOq
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxowoHb1iYH
"Some part of it came from the distant past. I'm talking about what drove me to make this decision, I mean. Another part, I'm unsure. And the last one was more recent. It was only for a moment, but when I thought about going outside with Rover, that overgrown bug flashed in my mind."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ki6byRJKx
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5kU17U4ON
"Ah, the Lionant?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCYpH1GKas
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWwb924tc1
"Yeah. The one you saved me from. Thank you for that, by the way."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKcxj8Gp8A
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS1wOz0DZC
"..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uTKzkEBbP
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM26IcO8Ip
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but I hung on to the thoughts left behind by my last sentence and formed a question out of it.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6He7X0Tgea
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6UtsGzMEj
"This might be a dumb question, but why did you save me back then?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanyV4nZOwy
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXnSwhkSBY
"...Yeah, why did I?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwvo42Zb2Q
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvhgQY8eb2
I didn't expect to be met with another question.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfMsNBvyiR
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpfLSturaa
"It doesn't make much sense, does it? After all, I'm weak, and yer strong. A weak guy like me shouldn't have to save strong folk like ya. But I did save ya. I really did save ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE80Hwt2SO
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwP2ijtwam
I turned my head to him. He had his eyes pointed at the sky, one arm slung over his knee.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8054eAloD
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTFZNb91TC
"I don't know why I saved ya. It wasn't in my mind, I didn't think of doing it, but I did save ya."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHguq7MfGTC
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUTr4hZlcH
"..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREdN5QAtOy
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5hX6tPCWX
I felt as if I should have said something, but I remained silent. Juke continued his gentle monologue.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OCf9NVMP5
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcoRuIqLU1
"Rover's got a brutal tongue. Usually, I just brush off what loud folk like her say, but she was blunt and rude about it, so it really stuck with me. I couldn't care less about that 'you should do and think this and that' shit, but, ya know what, Kenny?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIHMmqNF6H
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2bAloatYN
"What?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZww5RhyUX0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5FmvTSJIH
"Before I went out to look for ya two, I talked with Dennis. I had a real good conversation with him 'bout politics, women, and a bunch of dumbshits we've met in our olden days."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAChH0Wa5W
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uY8SUB9eG
"That sounds... boorish?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mU3iJDwFV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQOaNji0cr
"Pff, yer just too young."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGt5PxGpa6
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlnOR3biWF
He paused for a moment.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPWnieidTi
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlSstNqCz1
"Why the hell am I saying this to a kid?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7j2tLPiKw
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ3Sga8IyF
"D-Don't mind that, just keep talking."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5srgwLxMYk
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIcDUIDyxB
"...The thing is, a weak guy like me shouldn't concern himself with Hard-Bringer. It makes sense, doesn't it? Leave the big problems to the big strong folk. Weak guys shouldn't have to fight for other weak guys. That's what I think."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLhgo3ru0Y
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYBmOjXoGW
He took a second to readjust himself. I used that time to spill my own thoughts.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CvB9uGWBg
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwEmqJ13Zp
"That's silly... O-Oh–"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3giWsknqT
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgrvDW00dg
I realized I had just blurted out something insensitive yet again.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNVEcZYXTy
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKE1saHFID
"I didn't mean to be rude, but–"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDIuN3xoWN
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8veWeZSZFE
"Nah, I get why ya think it. To each their own, that's what the masses say, yeah?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNugutBuopH
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe5jS0Kx00
"I... yes, I suppose so."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu8nuHuEgI
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOKkiVvtjT
Another pause. Juke directed his gaze to the floor this time.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEBVO7F806
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yEU3fbB0M
"I think the weak shouldn't have to deal with what the strong does."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZVBSdS82g
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUSgCC3NaI
"Yes, I know."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPuuzwswk1
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4zhrQehBy
"But I wanna make sure Dennis is still kickin'."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6twWm0AkW2
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX3bhSFslh
He said that with conviction I had never heard from him before.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIXIg3T5TT
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl0AqoK1m4
"I believe what I said yesterday. I think he's just fine. 'Sides, I got no interest in fighting Hard-Bringer. But that ain't changing the fact that I wanna make sure with my eyes."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfD2XV1dc5
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJhoUiKBfG
"..."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bfMdAiBtw
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1EGv1XURi
I didn't say it outright, but I agreed with him. I wanted to make sure Dennis was fine as well. Yet, unlike Juke, I doubt I could muster the will to do so.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqLtXRmvki
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFaEmf9bUD
"Ya hear that?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygmBuLNru7
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrydXV4vo71
"Huh?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjALsck0gE6
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXuCYDBcHf
I perked my ears. I didn't hear anything. Then, I realized what Juke meant.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS9QPFHDzS
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVD4c2kBxf
"They passed."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX47gHmCCQ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA2jYJvKy8
"Yeah. I can't hear them anymore."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ5mUobgdb
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp9ovrEM1X
Juke stood up first. He brushed the dirt off his pants and peered around the corner.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9ogAgVI2D
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQcdMLKQ9M
"Looks like we're in the clear. Phew."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIHd4DegzB
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovYC4WOvt2
I stood up and ambled to the front of the alleyway. Sure enough, Not one robed person was in sight. It was a clear indicator that I should have taken a step forward, but I didn't. No, I couldn't, not after what I had just said.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGoUPkbFkO
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF7bFgLLUc
Juke had already taken his first steps, though. He looked back at me once he noticed I wasn't moving.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvln899fPv0
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznZSnbMEIz
"Shit... hey, kid, I know what yer thinking."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwSexMLhWC
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGUnjQZGCQ
"You've been saying that a lot."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5zEdUKaOF
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YZ6bjdLHG
"That's just cuz yer easy to read."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCi9jpodTT
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fyP5rrzKI
We stood stock still in silence.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztwot7eXyH
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy3tGkJmUr
"W-Well, what are you waiting for," I muttered, "Let's get going."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqA2hqOimZ
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcXQeMvRTU
"Are ya sure?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dTN1DhmCl
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBilUrLQjs
I walked out of the alleyway, looking both ways before standing beside Juke.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7yCRL2GiN
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQhc32z9Yt
"I should be asking you that."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUYvXAGDnr
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FTGuFAZiR
"Hehe, I guess so. We've come this far, haven't we?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIO0OSatgP
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5PvfYQyUi
"Yes. You get it."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ5CyqMSbK
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTfsuUi1Bz
But before we continued, there was one last thing I wanted to mention.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHOnH0I892
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6NL0QnU4j
"If we see something that might change the accuracy of your hypothesis, then... I'm going to turn back, understand?"
Juke released a lethargic chuckle. I wasn't offended by it, instead, it caused me to think.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHOC9hqLco
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnCtzYDLTg
"Fine by me."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN1hZ9gGl3
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlItn2ghOPz
I wondered how seriously he took my word. I wouldn't blame him if he thought it duplicitous.
We kept going down the streets, running between the alleyways as we avoided being spotted.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPsOB4Z8Wb
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThGAsefwwW
–
–
–
"Ya see that?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78zN4hEagV
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TO6dxw0iV
"Yeah, we're almost there."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2najp4Sec
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnI8JtKZdd
After hours of dodging lines of sight, taking tedious pauses in smelly alleyways, and having one too many heart-attack-inducing close calls, the stables were finally within our view. It was still a good distance away, but being able to see it was relieving. We were fortunate enough to find it unsupervised, too.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3HeTNUp64
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqBCNrxA3k
We approached it with a pep in our step, but not forgetting to employ prudence. I turned my head in every direction as we got closer and closer.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyPHBW0Fmw
106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwusVtULu6s
And as we got closer and closer, a sudden stench assaulted my nostrils.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94mFTYQ0Tb
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"Blurg, what was that?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5McEhxpsR8
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I skidded to a stop. I reluctantly sniffed the air again but didn't catch the same whiff. Juke looked back at me, confused.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHu9aLxYxW
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"What was what?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jvyHqJjKK
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"I caught a whiff of something."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXLRvfgSOB
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"Ah, gotcha. I ain't stopping, just so ya know."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ui4S4prps
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Clicking my tongue, I continued following Juke to the stables, occasionally sniffing the air as we encroached it.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM9eUQ1tZO
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And then, it came again. This time, more putrid than before.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7T3zNJ7po
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"Ugh– ack, what in the world?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYHjYBpdds
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Juke didn't stop to ask me what was wrong this time. He turned the final corner and already made it to the stables. I knew that I had visited this place before, but I didn't quite acknowledge the structure until that moment.
It was like an open barn house with only a meager roof over the parking spaces. Inside these parking spaces were carriages, and opposite them were miniature pens housing the animals responsible for heaving the carriages. These pens were fitted with roofs and thick gates to block the animals from wandering off. Of course, because of the structure of the stables, he barged in without having to bust open any doors. Naturally, I entered without issue myself.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuUuQViI6o
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But never had I wished for a door to be present more than now.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJqIAkutBF
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"...This is fuckin' horrid."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmXqBXeM8V
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The carriages were untouched, but the carriages were only there for me to distract myself with. It didn't last for long, of course. After all, the stench and overwhelming, blinding quantity of red permeating through every crevice of the area made it impossible to keep up the charade.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CsVqBWPqx
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The pens were broken, but the animals hadn't escaped. They were still in their pens, but as cadavers opposed to breathing beings.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyym9BWgcZ
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Bile rose to my throat, but I was able to suppress it. That disturbed me deeply.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeooQme6jJ
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"Well, Kenny, I dunno if we'll be leaving by carriage any time soon."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ254pZPogZ2
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"You 'don't know', huh? Are you kidding me?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuSJFH778I
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I glared at the scene. It was grotesque, but my eyes couldn't divert from it. Every animal in every pen– no exception was made, none were spared. They were unapologetically slaughtered. Juke spoke of the sight perfectly; It was horrid. it evoked such visceral repulsion even when closing the eyes and glancing at it through memory.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUebBYMD7Ja
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But, as much as I hated it, as much as it made me want to turn the other way and run, seeing our way out be cut off like this relieved me of a subconscious weight.
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Juke ventured further into the stables, and I begrudgingly followed. I fixed my gaze to the right, passing by the open pens and observing the carrion they contained. I didn't try to immerse myself in the details; I would've truly thrown up if I did. But, from what I did see, I could judge the means used to kill them. From lacerations to burns, to pulverizations of their bodies, it was obvious that a mix of magic and weaponry was utilized.
I was lucky that the blood had dried long ago.
"Sly bastards. How'd they know we'd try to get out?"
"...They probably just did this preemptively. Did they have to murder all the animals, though? Why not damage the carriages?"
My question had not just reminded Juke, but also myself of our carriage. We steered directions and beelined towards it. From an outside view, it looked unharmed. As Juke pulled out a key and unlocked the doors, I could only hope that the same could be said for the inside.
"Nagging Dennis for this shit paid off."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8prkQitupN
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Juke muttered something under his breath before flinging the doors open and entering. I followed, releasing a heavy breath as I confirmed that the carriage was unharmed.
"'Fore we head back out, we oughta pack some supplies."
"I agree, but I hope you know I won't be able to carry much."
"That's alright. This big body of mine ain't just for show."
We entered the back. Juke took the bag of food and placed his arms through the straps, carrying it like an oversized backpack.
"Anything else ya think we oughta bring?"
"...I can't lift the big bags, but–"
I grabbed a smaller one and emptied its contents, stuffing it with the few potions I had left in the larger bags, leaving me with a pleasantly light load. Juke hummed in an amused, yet agitated tone.
"Ya had potions this whole time? Ya should'a told me!"
"Oh, sorry. I thought I had."
We exited the carriage and returned to the stables, Juke grumbling as he descended the steps. I didn't leave just yet. Before that, I spared one more glance at the animals, meagerly clenching my fists.
"Hey, Juke."
He turned around and faced me. Before I got my words out, I had to stop shaking.
"What do we do now?"
He looked at me intently, or was it blankly? Either way, I could tell that he was digesting my question. Then, he turned his gaze away.
"We can't get out with the carriage, that's for sure."
"I know that much. But, do we... do we try anyway?"
"...Nah, ya should know that yerself."
My facial muscles dropped, forming an ugly frown. He was right, and because he was right, I was upset.
If they took measures this drastic to make sure nobody escaped, then the gates were unquestionably, undoubtedly guarded.
That undeniable notion frightened me.
"Yeah, you're right. But, still, what do we–"
I couldn't finish my sentence. My speech was interrupted by a jerk movement from Juke. He leaned in– almost pouncing at me and pushing me to the ground as he haphazardly fell to it himself.
I hadn't the time to formulate any complaints and questions, but all that I could have formed were addressed by the soaring ball of fire narrowly avoiding my head.
"--Ack!"
I landed awkwardly on my shoulder. Whether it was dislocated, I didn't know, nor could I afford to find out. I scrambled to my feet and faced our assailant. My blood turned cold when I saw her.
"That man is a quick actor. What about you, child? Are you the brains of your clique?"
It was the woman at the plaza. She was not in her unequivocal robe that was the sigil of Hard-Bringer but in a slackened coat, plain shirt, skirt, pants, and boots.
"Well, answer me, won't you?"
"Don't humor 'er, kid, she's got a screw loose!"
"N-No need to tell me!"
Juke got up on his feet and brandished his sword. I took out the tendril. The woman grabbed a curvy, seemingly customized, serrated knife. She raised it as she began to speak.
"So you two won't speak? Fine by me. A mute roadblock is easier to handle."
With a slide of her back foot and a drop in her posture, she burst into a sprint heading in our direction. Then, she veered into me.
The sudden shift left me panicked. I instinctively took a step back and produced a Valencia-Bloom, but before I could utilize it, she slashed her knife at me. I narrowly avoided the swing, but she didn't let up, spinning the blade in her hand and thrusting it to jab me.
That's at least what it looked like she would've done.
She did thrust her knife, but she spun as she did it, clashing with Juke's broadsword so suddenly that even he was taken by surprise. The woman exploited his shock well by delivering a kick to his chest. Juke's body didn't budge from the kick at all, though. A metallic sound rang throughout the stables and his head jerked back.
"Ack! My neck!"
"--I see."
Realizing I wasn't doing anything, I extended my tendril, using it like a dull spear. The woman ducked my attack and slammed her fist into it. I recoiled from the strike, but not enough to paralyze me. Thus, I slammed the tendril on the ground. She rolled away, dodging it effortlessly.
My tendril still near her, I switched the Valencia-Bloom for a Freeze-Dry. But I couldn't use it; the woman leaped and stomped on the flower before any ice came out.
My eyes widened by themselves. I couldn't think of what to do next, but I was fortunate enough to not have to. Juke swung his sword at the woman. She dodged it, but Juke didn't let up with his assault. The woman took a series of backsteps too great for Juke to immediately catch up to. Almost instinctively, she kicked her leg up, and though Juke was a couple of meters away, his head jerked up and a sound rang out as if he was hit.
Though Juke was struck in the chin, and though he was partially airborne, he aimed his palm at the woman, firing a wind spell at her.
And, it connected.
"Hng!"
It was a weak spell, and she was able to block most of it with her arms, but the point was that it connected. Somehow, that fact alone was enough to shock me.
"Yer power's confusing. Is it an Endowment? I dunno, I've got one, and yers sure don't feel like it."
Juke rubbed his chin. I could tell that he felt it, meaning the hit wasn't deflected to his helmet.
"Shit. How'd ya know my weakness, huh?"
The woman narrowed her eyes at Juke. Using the downtime, I began mana expulsion with my right hand and produced a Sunlight-Blossom from the tendril.
"You are right about one thing, oaf: my power is nothing like that absurd Endowment of yours."
"And yer calling my whole thing absurd? That's just–"
Juke's speech was cut short. I shot at the woman with a water spell. She dodged it, but I accounted for this and made the spell a powerful geyser, following her movements as it continuously sprayed. The woman clicked her tongue as she kept backing away, producing a ball of fire and firing it at the walls.
I gasped and processed her actions to make sure I understood what I saw. She threw a fireball at the walls, which were made of wood. She threw a quick wind spell at it right after and smashed through the weakened structure.
My geyser put the sudden fire out but had missed the woman entirely. It aligned with my expectations, though. She came back bursting through near the ashened hole. However, I had another attack prepared.
The seed was already loaded. I aimed the flower at her and fired, crossing my fingers in my head, praying that it would land.
It didn't. It didn't even come close. She ducked before the bullet had even been launched. I bit my lip in frustration.
"That's why I hate being aggressive. How cruel that I have to act against my nature."
She cracked her neck and swayed her lengthy hair in the air, glaring at us with her blue eyes. She looked ready to perform a deadly pounce at any moment.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJUmke1eZA
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I stood beside Juke. We eyed the woman vigilantly. My prior assessment was overwritten as she didn't look like she would move at all, leaving me bemused.
But, then, a fireball formed in her hands. I expected her to throw it immediately, so I prepared to duck, but it continued to grow in size; it was far larger than her previous ones, almost as tall and wide as Juke was.
"Ah, shit."
Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. Frankly, I didn't expect her to be so adept in fire magic that she could make a spell of that size. It was stupid of me not to consider it. The woman reeled her arm back. I had to act fast.
I ducked, placing both my hands on the ground. I began mana expulsion with one hand and performed spinning with the other. A wall of stone sprung from the ground before me. Then, I produced a Valencia-Bloom from the tendril, expanding it as far as I could reasonably do so. Juke already took cover behind me. Now, all that was left was too–
**SLAM**
"--Ack!"
I didn't suffer any severe damage. In fact, my defenses were hardly penetrated. But the heat from the fire nipped at me through it all. The spell dissipated in no more than five seconds, but it felt like forever.
"How the hell are we breathin'!?"
"Is now really the time for–"
**THUD**
I felt a sudden force clash against my shield. Due to my already shaky balance, I fell to the ground, but I made sure to retract the Valencia-Bloom so my arm wouldn't be dislodged. When the shield vanished, the woman took its place, her leg raised. She continued her assault, raising her knife and, with her other hand on the top of the hilt, plunging it into me.
I shut my eyes and grit my teeth, expecting the sensation of a blade being lodged into my body. But that never came. Instead, a metallic clang reverberated through the stables.
I opened my eyes. Juke intercepted her with his sword. He was on the ground with both his hands on the blade's hilt. Judging by how he was lying on the ground, gripping the hilt with both his hands like a rope, he must've slid.
They remained that way for a moment, engaged in a struggle between their blades. When it became apparent that she couldn't win, she clicked her tongue.
"Irritating," the woman sighed before kicking his helmet and sending him flying. She returned her attention to me, but I had used my borrowed time to regain my composure and swing the tendril.
My tendril hit her. But it felt as if I was the one who was struck, and it wasn't by a blunt object, but by a steel blade. Purple liquid erupted from my chest.
Yes, she was flung away. Yes, my tendril had connected. But when it retracted by itself, I found the woman void of bruises and her knife slathered in a viscous purple.
"D-Damn it."
I rose to my feet with shaking legs. She hadn't just blocked my attack but hurt me back as well. I clutched my chest and coughed harshly.
"How are ya?"
Juke stood beside me, brandishing his sword. We eyed the woman who was flicking the liquid off her knife.
"This ain't looking like a winning fight."
As much as it frustrated me to agree with his notion, I was forced to. Every attack I launched had been avoided, and the one time either of us landed one on her, it was more of a fluke than anything.
"So what do we do?"
"'Till I get how she keeps seein' the future, I ain't got a clue."
"See the future...? Do you think that's what it is?"
"Can't think of anythin' else."
I narrowed my eyes at her, mulling over Juke's theory. When I thought about it, certainly, it would make sense that she could see the future. However–
"There has to be a limit, or some kind of restriction. Her behavior is too inconsistent."
"I agree with ya, and I still got no clue how she kicked me from across the damn room."
Indeed, she had too many unknown factors about her, and combined with her astonishing physical and magical prowess, it made this fight impossible to win. I was wounded, Juke's weakness had been discovered, and the woman didn't look like she even broke a sweat.
"Are you two plotting something? I ought to interfere."
She broke into another dash, but it wasn't an utter rush; her steps were laced with trepidation, and her knife was raised defensively. It was as if she was approaching expecting us to attack her back.
My moment of clarity subsided as the pain washed over my being. But Juke, pulling me by the collar, had fortunately noticed the same, and–
"Book it, kid!"
Helped me turn tail as we both broke into sprints of our own.
I ran. I ran like the wind. I ran to abuse my legs. I ran to survive. But I wasn't so naive; my legs were small and my stamina was pathetic. Whether it was my lack of endurance or my lack of speed, the woman would undoubtedly catch up to me. No thanks to his luggage, I couldn't hitch a ride on Juke's back.
I swiveled my head. She was catching up to me like a wolf in pursuit, and I was sure to be caught in her fangs at any moment. I didn't try to speed up; too many factors prevented me from doing so.
So, if I couldn't speed up, then there was only one thing left for me to do.
I began mana expulsion with both of my hands, creating a mass of earth in one and a mass of fire in the other, expanding it. The woman didn't show an expression of surprise. She was expecting me to do this– no, not expecting, she knew.
Something about that pissed me off. So, instead of throwing it–
"--You!"
Her eyes widened. She skidded to a stop and leaped away. Despite that, I had to see this through.
I discharged as much mana into the fire as I recklessly could, and naturally–
**BOOM**
A Flinty incident occurred.
I used the stone I conjured up to defend myself, but truthfully, it hardly did anything. The most I could do was defend my head, and sure, my eyes hadn't burst, and my face wasn't seared, but they were still rolling on the stone pavement along with the rest of my body, picking up spikey pebbles and other trash like they were seashells on the beach. I only stopped when I collided with, something. I didn't know what and the means to find out were stripped from me. My ears rang, my nose burned, and I had to clobber dozens of particles off my face before I could even think of opening my eyes. But, my arms were too heavy for me to even lift.
So, I remained there, waiting for all the internal chaos to subside before I moved. Then I felt something touch me, then shake me, and I groaned in response. I didn't know who it was. Since I was alive, it probably wasn't the woman. Was it a street dog, or maybe one of those robed men?
Was it Juke? I dismissed the thought. That was a ridiculous proposition.
I was lifted and tussled with. It wasn't done harshly, but goodness, was it irritating. At that point, my annoyance powered over my fatigue, and I rubbed my eyes before slackening my arms yet again.
I opened them and saw the ground. Whoever it was that was messing with me was behind me. I couldn't turn my head to see them, though, so I groaned and heaved my breaths.
"Good to know yer still kicking. Which bottle 'ere is gonna patch ya up?"
Hearing a familiar voice, I was struck with an inordinate amount of clarity.
"Green, one," I mustered.
"Yer lucky I caught that first try. Open wide."
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. He understood that too, so he grabbed my jaw and pulled it down, sticking the bottle inside my mouth. I was sure that I was going to drown; the amount of liquid entering my throat was overwhelming. But it passed as quickly as it came. I coughed vehemently, and Juke patted my back to help. I cursed my inability to voice my thanks.
"Take it easy, ya really did something crazy back then. Strong folk, I tell ya."
Now I just wanted to tell him to shut up. He lifted me and hung me over his shoulder, then he continued to run.
"Did ya get that crazy bitch? Err, tap once for yes, twice for no."
All I could exert myself to do was pinch, so I pinched his skin twice.
"Shit. Shit! Is she followin' us now!?"
I pointed my eyes up. I could only see a little bit of the ground, so I painstakingly raised my neck.
It devastated me to have to pinch once.
"Are ya kidding me!?"
Juke's running increased in tempo. Unlike me, he was able to at least keep the distance between him and the woman the same. Unfortunately for me, my head was bouncing up and down every step. I was sure that I'd vomit any minute, and then pathetically pass out a moment after.
But I couldn't afford to do so. I couldn't afford to be a burden when our lives were being threatened like this.
I tried to call it forth, but my tendril wouldn't appear. I tried mana expulsion– tried, but struggled. The explosion hadn't drained me of my mana, but my supply was so low I might as well have been shaking a bottle for droplets. I couldn't form anything grandiose or dangerous, meaning that I had to do something to just slow her down.
So, I formed a small mass of water. Supporting it with my other hand, I lifted my arm, aiming my open palm at her feet.
She didn't react preemptively at all. It gave me a surge of hope, and with that borrowed vigor, I fired the spell at her feet.
Except, I didn't fire it. It unceremoniously plummeted to the ground. She simply jumped over the puddle the spell created.
"Damn, it."
"--Ay kid, are ya seeing this!?"
"Seeing what", I wanted to ask, because I was still incapable of moving my body more than an inch at a time. But I didn't have to turn my head to see what he saw. As Juke kept running through the street, we passed by a myriad of bodies loitering about. My first assumption was that they were corpses– and, well, judging by all the red, it was likely correct.
But what really caught my eye was their attire: dark, hooded robes. All of these bodies were that of the people in Hard-Bringer.
Did a fight break out? Is that what happened? I looked up at the woman and she was entirely unperturbed. I was hoping to gauge a different reaction, but not only was hers uninformative, it was disturbing.
And then, my vision swerved.
"Huh?"
"I'm takin' a gamble."
"Gamble!?"
That was the loudest noise I had made that day. Juke didn't elaborate on what gamble he was taking. I thought of wiggling out his grasp right there, as obviously foolish as it was. But–106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKGAPEmWcr
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"Just trust me!"
He said it as a feverish plea. It shocked me into staying in place. With nothing else to do, I placed my faith in him. The sun-lightened streets disappeared and we ventured into a darkened alleyway. We came to a stop shortly after, leaving me confused and worried.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT6JGNeLij
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Then, Juke began to talk, but it was clear that it wasn't to me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9BmOXbxIh
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"Who are ya people?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSmkukyWSs
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"Wow, he really followed us. Well, sir, we're here to help. My buddy will be doing the dirty work, though."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj86lb21F7
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"Buddy?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAzuauyUMN
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I froze– froze more than I already was frozen, anyway. The voice that Juke spoke with was familiar to me, though I struggled to put a name to it. But then a set of footsteps sounded through the alley, and a man in a trench coat brushed passed Juke and me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8NQQJhKp6
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Of course, with an article of clothing that distinct, I'd be lying if I didn't recognize him. My recognition was only solidified when he drew his hands in it and pulled two crossbows out.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi4yksapcw
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"Quiet now."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzuHdwjQat
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Pars gave a command to us all, aiming his crossbows at the entrance of the alleyway. I didn't understand why he was using two of them, but there was a tube of earth protruding from inside the coat and connected to the ends of the crossbows, so I knew there was some trick going on.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2y00cPZkp
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Pars kept his aim steady, and steady, and kept it up for seconds, then minutes. I realized then that we had lost our pursuer, but Pars only tilted his head.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVDvcEUO3W
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"Where did she go? Do I smell that bad?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLpum7dF9F
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He pulled his crossbows back and sighed, rubbing his head as he turned around. His eyes met with mine, and he practically blenched.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MW4sAoIfb
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"K-Kenny? Where did you come from!?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1V8VhDDZh
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I sighed, and I smiled. There was something heartwarming about seeing this man act as usual, even if it pained me.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj3sNv9ni2
