As I entered the center room, my feet locked themselves in place. I found the situation humorous; a moment ago, I walked with conviction in my steps, but now I stood like a frightened deer.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhFzMpP7wN
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"..."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSwYZ0GjXJ
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When I phrased it that way, it suddenly wasn't so funny.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKymih2fGaZ
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Entering that room would mean that I'd have to confront Rover again. I knew that I'd have to go in eventually, as missing the meeting wasn't an option, but that didn't stop it from bothering me. I was at a loss for what to do. I chomped on my finger and looked at the door. For all I knew, the meeting could be commencing as I loitered outside. My indecisiveness paralyzed me and left me like a statue of weathered stone. Indeed, I stood there like a rotting tree, like a–101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2aFI674rK
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv0rD2tIFv
"--Huh?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH8YoKEDDT
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As I forged my similes, I heard a creak from my left. I turned to see what caused it and saw Lola emerging from the living quarters. We exchanged eye contact. She had a bemused but concerned expression.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhgtGtfGLo
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"Kenny? What's the matter?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnLwTVHaKr
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I must have been making a strange face, so I shook my head and did it over again. She still looked confused. However, I discarded that and focused on something more pressing.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0LYtjkvX3
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"L-Lola? Why are you here? I thought you'd be in the conference room."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k4DZTKRND
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She blinked a few times before she seemingly grasped something. A smile found itself on her face.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsdgBIedzv
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97CfsRefzV
"Well, I had to tell everyone I was holding one, no?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhkHrjOyW5
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"...I see."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA7SaK40Qs
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I sighed, more out of relief than anything, but I still chastised myself for such a silly mistake.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNueJ2mglyo
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"You look ready to go. Would you like to enter first?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMThQNuifcM
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She suggested the worst possible thing. I lurched but composed myself quickly. I didn't want her to start speaking as Pars did, so I figured it would be best to keep my worries secret.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y2WxTVlwj
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"I-I'll wait for everyone else. I'd feel out of place if I went in first, you see."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRc4vyMt2y
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"Ah-ha. I do see. Very well."
She slightly bowed and excused herself to the conference room. I was left alone for about ten seconds before another person exited the living quarters. This time, it was a burly man in a uniform I recognized. He looked at me with confusion, but also with unmistakable pity.
"Who're you," he asked me.
"Don't mind me. I'm part of the troop. I'm just waiting for everyone else."
"..."
He narrowed his eyes at me, morphing them into optical daggers. I shrunk from his gaze, but then he shrugged and walked across the room. Many others followed the man. Most of them had a similar outfit, though the patterns and quantity of fabric changed every couple of people. The only one who walked out of that room without those garments on was the one and only–
"Hey, Juke."
"Good to see ya, kid. I was wonderin' where ya ran off to."
Juke and I exchanged nods. A man walked up from behind him and looked at me intently.
"Is this the colleague you were talking about?"
"Sure is," Juke replied, "but don't let his size fool ya. The kid's stronger than I am."
"You say that with everyone, Juke," I said. He responded with a small but hearty chuckle.
"I'll go ahead," the man said, "my name is Folds, by the way. Folds Fredrickson Johnny"
He stuck out his arm and offered me a handshake. I took it in stride.
"Mine is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but call me Kenny."
He raised an eyebrow as he kept shaking my hand.
"Buffalo, huh? An animal village?"
"Yes, it's close to the base of the mountain. I'm pretty far from home, aren't I?"
"Me too, kid. I'm from an animal village myself. We hail the bear up in the north. Say, has your animal ever been Canonized?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPd5ZTKCsF
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgiTW6uVS3
"Well, it wouldn't exist if it did, right?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0pM1Ljume
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Folds broke into a hearty laughter. He tapped my shoulder, ending our small talk and handshaking, and entering the conference room. A few more people were coming from the living quarters, but I didn't pay attention to them. That was because Juke had me occupied with a question.
"Say, did ya see Rover anywhere? I didn't find her in the living quarters."
"Ah... well, she'll be in the conference room for sure."
He nodded while holding his chin. As well as he could with his helmet on, anyway.
"That makes sense. I was just wonderin'. I wouldn't wanna eat a kick from her outta the blue."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"She just seems like the type of girl. Nothin' 'gainst her personally."
"The type of girl to assault people out of nowhere?"
"Yep," he replied while crossing his arms and nodding his head.
"...If it was me from a week ago, I'd agree with you. But she wouldn't do that."
"What makes ya so sure?"
He put me in a tough position. I could've lied at that moment, but I saw no reason to.
"Well, I wandered into the conference earlier and ran into her. She didn't attack me."
"Yer just lucky. If ya were any bigger she woulda mauled ya on the spot."
"I hope you're wrong. I really do."
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. It was strangely stiff.
"Whether she clobbers me, that ain't the point anyway. We got a building to lay a siege on, so let's get this damn meeting over with."
"...Yeah, let's."
Though I said that, it was a struggle putting one foot in front of another. Juke was leading though, so it became doable. He opened the door and held it for me. I took a deep breath, shut my eyes, and crossed the threshold. I heard the door close behind me. I slowly opened my eyes to see all the lamps lit up and a dozen people in the room. Dave, Lola, and Pars who I somehow missed were there. And then, of course, Rover.
She looked at something above me first and then exchanged eye contact with me. I diverted my eyes to the floor and walked forward, fitting myself awkwardly between a man and a woman.
"I take it, that's everyone," Lola asked. Most members nodded, and Lola whispered "Good" under her breath.
"Then it's time to start."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j50uYjWXK
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Full attention was given to her. Though I knew what she was going to say, I acted like I was hearing it for the first time.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATfsdxpad5
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"As I'm sure you are all aware, we planned to infiltrate a stable. Afterward, we'd attack the Central Pillar and use it to send S.O.S messages to neighboring areas. The raptors necessary for our plan to work are dead."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fWXlWW9qn
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A collective reaction arose from the crowd. Though they differed from how they were expressed– some were silent, while others gasped –it was all a display of dismay. Lola grabbed her head after breaking the news. It was still bothering her.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsSzLErJ1z
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"In light of this terrible information... a new plan is in order. Originally, we were going to act defensively after our first siege, but now that outside help is impossible, we're forced to be belligerent."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHenInIT6nq
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ofle2yBIT
One of the members raised their hands, and Lola signaled him to speak.
"Will our targeted building change?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1Q0BPdy7v
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It was a simple question, but it concerned me and Juke in particular. I paid careful attention to Lola's response, though it started with a debilitated sigh.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha87FTz8jQ
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"Since our means of communicating with the outside is cut off, our targeted building has changed from one to all. Whether it be the Foreign, Central, or Business Pillar, if we are to win this battle, we need to drive Hard-Bringer out of the city completely."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvAVp62XrZ
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The air around me thickened. I could see it in their faces and feel it from the way their idle poses jittered and shook; it was a foreboding sight. I looked at Juke in particular, and though I couldn't see his face, from the way he threw his head back, I could tell he was sick of this.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLorKl2QAyf
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What surprised me, though, was how quiet everyone was despite the shift in action.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ABVAO476x
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"I understand that it is a... dispiriting thing, but please, don't fret too much. There's a remedy for all this."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLUfy16f6t
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From her face, that last bit seemed more directed at herself than anyone else. Though the room was still sullen, everyone still gave Lola their attention.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6FfBifTcS
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"If we were to recapture the Central Pillar, then there is a stark chance dormant Combatants will join the effort."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgADLPoSKaK
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Her conclusion caused everyone to look at each other. Quiet conversations arose thereafter, and a minute later, someone raised their hand and spoke.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl2YWwVLiF
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"With all due respect, Lady Lola, the Central Pillar is by and large the best-defended. Wouldn't it be wiser to attack one of the others?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUeFtNZuQ3
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Lola's response was quick as if she was anticipating that question.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpIfHli6DO
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"It would certainly be easier. Yes, the others certainly are less guarded. But that's precisely why we should strike the Central Pillar while our manpower is at its highest potential."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MyAc3Psnk
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A series of nods came from the members of the meeting.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0bVc5XNqE
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"That's only half of it. Our forces capturing the paragon of the city would be more persuasive to any hiding warriors, no?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzZkxsDnKy
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With that sentiment brought into the room, the crowd was on the same page with her, chatting among themselves with enthusiastic expressions. Lola looked around the room with a satisfied grin. Nobody raised any objections or questions, and thus–
"That was record time! Anyhow, with the impromptu meeting coming to an end, I want to remind you all to put up your best fight! I'll send someone to inform the other camps, and in the meantime, please rest. We have a gruesome battle coming ahead."
The crowd burst into a booming roar, one so sudden and loud it shook my body. Once it ended, people were quick to disperse from the room. I wasn't one of them, though. I was stuck looking at the members of the Retaliation Crowed, confused, but also in awe.
Despite the objectively terrible news, the group seemed to be in high spirits. Remarkably high spirits. I thought it was just Lola's skills as a leader, but I couldn't credit this amicable attitude to her exploits. It seemed like the Retaliation Crowd was composed of a hopeful bunch, and that relieved some of my worries about the upcoming battle.
"Can ya believe how eager everyone here's to fight Hard-Bringer? Ya'd think they got a screw loose!"
Juke spoke from behind, startling me a little. It seemed that he reached the same conclusion as I, only, he was irritated by it.
"I think it's admirable," I replied, "Even in the face of adversity, even with so much at stake, they're all cheerful and determined. It is truly admirable."
"Maybe ya got a point, but yer just saying that cus of yer age."
"...Well, I'm not sure about that. And, hey, since you're mentioning my age, what are you doing talking to a kid in a building full of adults!?"
"--!"
Though I couldn't see his face, I knew what it looked like. I had a snarky smirk, I was sure of it. Juke didn't let up, though.
"'Least ya admit to being a kid."
"What's there to admit!? Isn't it obvious!?"
"I'll take yer advice and high tail outta 'ere. Ya should make new company while yer 'ere too."
I rubbed the back of my head with a strained expression and then sighed. Juke made a salient point, but I was apprehensive about making company. I kept rubbing as he began to exit the room, but a noise that came from behind me stopped him in his tracks. I too was paralyzed by it.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuyQzHtR7k
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Someone coughed into their hand. I didn't have to make a wild guess as to who it was, the answer was obvious.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrKcSXKle3
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"So... we meet again, Juke, and Kenny."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmK2uFYbvO
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I wanted to turn my head and face her, but her words terrified me. I could only imagine her face and body language, and it was ominous.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kIfBLPml7
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"Yeah, are ya surprised to see us?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5uuryvA8F
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I released a quick gasp of relief, silently thanking Juke for not being stunned like I was. Unfortunately, Rover took her time responding to Juke's question. The room was filled with an oppressive silence. I felt like I would be crushed any second.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Cfh8zdzFC
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"...Hmph."101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3bxu0EY3q
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And even when she did respond, it was just a huff. She walked around me and to the door, putting her hand on the knob. She looked at Juke, then at me. That was the first time I saw her face in days, and I was shocked. I expected a face of vitriol, one that scorned and chastised me with the glare of its eyes alone. But Rover's look was... conflicted.101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mYCC8VxOn
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"...At least you two finally manned up!"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgODKpxHxp7
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Her final shout was strained like she was trying to force those words through her mouth. She flung the door open, almost hitting Juke, and slammed it on her way out. With the petrifying silence that permeated after the matter, I had to wonder–
"Am I dreaming, Juke? What just happened?"
Juke shrugged in reply, reaching for the knob without saying a word. He didn't turn it. He looked up from the door handle and stared into nothing, then he turned his head to me.
"Yer right, kid. What the hell happened?"
As I obviously had no answer, I just copied his shrug. Juke sighed with a hand on his helmet. I approached the door as he did, hesitant to leave though I knew I had to.
"What's the hold-up," I asked. Juke looked down at me while quietly groaning.
"I'm thinkin'. It ain't just about whatever the hell's going on with Rover, but learnin' what I did from the meeting..."
"It's quite the hassle, isn't it?"
Juke shook his head no.
"Call it what it is: a pain in the ass. Ya put things too cleanly."
I released a short huff from my nose.
"I ain't gonna keep ya prisoner," Juke said while opening the door, "go run wild. That's what ya strong folk like to do anyway."
"You weren't keeping me prisoner, but I appreciate the gesture. What will you be doing in the meantime?"
"Hell if I know, kid. Hell if I know."
Rolling my eyes, I walked across the threshold and into the center room. Juke closed the door behind me, which made me jump a little. I didn't understand why he didn't follow me; for the time being, I assumed he needed time alone. That left me entirely alone, however, with a basement to explore and a plethora of people to meet. Every time I'd enter a room, there was a chance of me running into Rover.
"..."
Though it still made me squirm, that thought wasn't as daunting as it was before.
–
–
–
I was in front of the living quarter's door, gazing at it like a lofty tower. My mind did me the favor of producing the room behind it: likely, it was a dimly lit one where clustered beds lined the left and right walls. Most of them were out of line, though. A room filled with combatants, even if they were dignified and courageous, could only mean that the room was a jumbled mess. And then the smell, it reeked of sweat and–
"--Ugh. Grody."
I waved my hand in front of my face and stopped thinking about the smell then and there. Imagining it would just make me less likely to enter the place, which I knew I had to do eventually– I wasn't going to sleep on the floor, after all. Though the idea of Rover being behind the door put a chain on my leg.
"...Screw this!"
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and turned the knob, flinging the door open and running a few feet into the room. I sniffed the place first. To my surprise, it didn't make me want to hurl. It had a pleasant aroma, one similar to the Tea Mage's shop. It wasn't the smell of a distinct plant, but of many. It was incense.
The smell made me comfortable enough to open my eyes. I realized that I left the door open so I quickly ran to close it. Then, I looked behind me and beheld the room. My surprise multiplied, for it wasn't a room lined with beds, nor was it particularly full of people. It was a small atrium, decorated with couches, tables, chairs, and other furniture. The lighting was just dim enough to where the brick walls didn't stick out and batter the eyes. If I didn't know any better, I would've guessed that I walked into a separate building. I stepped further into the room, marveling at the expensive furniture. There were even paintings on the wall.
"How was that shopkeeper able to afford all of this? And he puts it in his basement of all things?"
"That's precisely what I said! Hahaha!"
A bellowing voice erupted from one of the couches. I looked in its direction and saw a bald and... rotund man leap off of it. He turned to me with his hands behind his back and a large grin.
"You've got a good eye for spotting things, child. I for one am confused about how a basement so large can even be allowed in a city like Komunikatsa. We're on a lake, for goodness sake!"
The man had an abundance of enthusiasm in his voice even though he was speaking critically. My words were dormant in my mouth, but since he seemed nice enough, I begrudgingly spoke them.
"The lake is hundreds of meters below the city, though."
The man's grin somehow widened.
"Indeed. Very observant of you. You've exceeded all expectations of mine."
"You had expectations for me? I met you ten seconds ago."
"Hahaha!"
The man burst into roaring laughter again. I didn't see the humor in the situation. All he did was confuse me.
"Enough tomfoolery. You're the child with Juke, are you not?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjwKzZ8wYz
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpirEtxJpho
"Ah, that's what you meant. Yes, I'm with Juke. Who are you?"101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v4GbvBsTT
101Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9LDLLNHPW
"Please, call me Trevor. Let me show you around the living quarters."
He approached me as if I had already agreed. I took a few steps back and propped my arms up, palms facing his way.
"T-There's no need. I walk around the area just fine."
"Nonsense. You wouldn't want to walk into the changing room by accident, would you?"
"Changing room...?"
I was more confused by the existence of such a thing than I was worried about waltzing into one, but when Trevor brought it up, avoiding the chance to embarrass myself needlessly sounded sensible. I sighed and begrudgingly lowered my arms.
"Fine, give me a tour. I appreciate the hospitality."
"Why, of course! Now, enough lollygagging, let's proceed."
The man spun on his feet and walked to the other end of the room. By the wall were three doors; one perfectly in between the other two. Trevor opted to go to the left first, and as the door creaked he gave me a description.
"This is the kitchen. Here is where you'll find all your food and water."
"I see."
Indeed, from what my eyes gathered, the room I was in was a kitchen. It was rather small, but the architecture was foreign to me. There was a table in the center, made of a material that bounced the light of the ceiling lamp perfectly. I touched it and dragged my finger across it.
"This is... marble?"
"Oh, it might be. I'm not well-versed in rocks."
"That was rhetorical. It is marble. I just didn't know it could look so brown."
I diverted my attention to the drawers and cupboard. Food was being stored in ceramic containers behind them. I discovered that because a man was eating from one, a man who I had not noticed until now.
"..."
The man already had his eyes on me. I was too stunned to say anything, and the man was chewing too vehemently to speak. So we kept staring, and staring, until he eventually swallowed. His face was a sign of bad things to come.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"M-Me? I didn't mean anything by it, I was just..."
"I'm waiting."
"I was just surprised that I didn't see you, is all."
"...It looks like you didn't hear me either. I still got it."
The man nodded rapidly with a satisfied smile, then reached into the pot and pulled out another piece of bread. It was an incredibly large piece of bread, and he took a fittingly large bite. It was twice the size of my arm, yet the man looked like he could finish in six more chomps.
"Are you going to eat all that?"
"What's it look like? Why else would I just take a bite out of it?"
I looked over at Trevor, who eyed the man with a similarly warped sense of awe, like witnessing an animal in the wild. I turned my head back to him right as he took another bite.
He chewed and swallowed in roughly five seconds. I had a feeling that I'd be punched if I mentioned that, so I relented.
"Well, it just seems a bit selfish. There's a dozen or so people here, and you're eating all that–"
"I don't eat like this normally, alright!? Are you just gonna judge me because of how I eat? Well, scram!"
The man's voice boomed and reverberated in the room. I was stock still by the volume, and right as he went for another bite, he continued speaking.
"I'm waiting! Scram! I mean it!"
"R-Right. Have a good day, sir."
I bowed and sprinted out of the kitchen. Trevor was already outside the room, so I shut the door without any qualms. Then, questions formed in my head.
"How did you get out so fast?"
"I've dealt with his kind before. He was a particularly sensitive one."
"His... kind? What are you talking about?"
On top of dodging my first question, he turned around and started walking to the middle door. Right as he put his hand on the knob, he spoke.
"Stress-eaters."
He didn't elaborate upon that, merely opened the door and walked in. He peered his head through the frame and looked at me.
"Are you coming?"
"O-Of course I am. You just move too quickly."
Noises were coming from the room. It was the recognizable sound of idle chatter, but I also heard a strange few pings and thuds, sounds that were foreign to me. I followed Trevor into the room but took a peek before I stepped in. There were at least half a dozen people in the room. Four surrounded a large table, holding sticks specialized for whatever activity they were engrossed in. The other two were just playing board games.
"I take it this is the game room?"
"Almost! It's actually called the 'Entertainment Room.'"
"...Right."
"As you can see, it's a room for games and other activities. There are already-"
"Yes, I can see that. Can you tell me what a stress eater is?"
Trevor's look lost his smile. His new one wasn't upset, but undeniably perplexed.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Of course it... is."
I was embarrassed for not connecting the dots myself. I rubbed my head and tapped my feet, thinking of something else to ask. After all, knowing what the word meant was only half of the question. I didn't ask about it yet, though. I wanted a chance to figure it out myself.
"If you'd like, you can check the games available here. In fact, I implore you. I'm going to go chat with the others."
"Right, go and chat with– hold on!"
But by the time I called out, Trevor had already joined the game the people at the table were playing. With my tour guide suddenly quitting, I was forced to finish the exploration myself.
Though, when I thought about it, there was only one door left, and since the only room I hadn't seen yet was the changing room–
"...What's half the Retaliation Crowd doing in the changing room?"
That was an uncomfortable question to ponder, so I didn't. Instead, I took Trevor's suggestion and searched the room for a piece of entertainment, trying to avoid the already present players. The first place I looked was the shelves. They had a few books, but none about topics that interested me. There was one that resembled the tome, and out of sheer curiosity, I took it off the shelf and peered at the cover.
"A catalog of fishes and fish-beasts... boring."
Though I liked how they tasted, a book about gill-having river dwellers didn't interest me. All other books were about fairy tales and the like, so I shifted my attention elsewhere. The closest thing to me was an open box beside the two board-game players. I walked to it. Its height made it difficult to inspect, so I had to grab onto the rim and look inside as if I was peering over a wall. Though I should've expected as much, I was surprised to find it full of other board games.
"There's not much to do here by yourself, is there?"
My search was fruitless. Certainly, there were other stations in the room with objects to occupy myself with, but I could tell they were all meant for multiple people. It was either the books or finding out what was so attention-hogging about the changing room.
It was frustrating at first, but as I fussed about it, I realized how genius it was: if nearly every activity required another person to do, the team would become more interconnected. When I figured that out, I looked at the other players much less dismissively.
"I said something about getting to know everyone better earlier, didn't I? Or was that just what Juke told me to do?"
Either way, a golden opportunity was before me. Still feeling a bit of resentment for how brazenly Trevor left me alone, I decided to go to the two board game players. I walked up to them and began speaking.
"Hello. Do you two have room for another player?"
The two men looked at me. What immediately stuck out were the circular glasses one had and the scrubby short beard on the other one.
"You're the child from earlier, aren't you? The one who was standing in the middle room?" The man in glasses asked. I nodded in reply and gently bowed.
"My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but please, call me Kenny."
I stuck my hand out, but he shook his head no.
"No need to be so formal. You're part of the crowd, as far as I'm concerned. Have a seat."
The man scooched down the couch, letting me sit beside him. I did just that, and as I let my body sink into the cushion, I gazed at the board.
"Uh..."
"Hey, Nigel, you know two-on-one isn't fair."
"Oh, relax. Everyone knows Serpents and Vines doesn't work that way."
"Serpents and VInes? Is that what this game is called?"
The bearded man had a dubious grin on his face. I felt like I said something I shouldn't have.
"We got a lot to teach you."
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