The earliest thing he could remember was the book. No, that wasn't quite it, but Kenneth had difficulty recalling. He gave himself a minute, and then it came to him clearly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQnr5h8mIs
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSpnNmu9M2
Kenneth remembered a building, a grand one in the middle of his home village. It was a church, the Church of the Buffalo. It was on an elevation of two-hundred feet and was five miles from the shore– hardly anything, he's come to realize. He remembered the town having abundant greenery and a gorgeous forest nearby. Of course, how could he forget the forest?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeMn4VuaAW
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Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1SCqqf42o
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He had just turned three years old. Kenneth was about thirty-two inches tall, which was considerably short for his age. Kenneth was wearing a black robe, akin to that of the priest's. He was standing next to said priest, who was giving a speech Kenneth couldn't remember. After the speech, his head was doused in warm, relaxing water, and then the attendees of the ceremony clapped. Kenneth was just officially declared a toddler. It may seem silly, but his village was small, so ceremonies for the young were held like this quite often. It was Kenneth's third birthday, he remembered. He ran over to his father and mother, and that was the first memory Kenneth could retain of them. His father looked sick, his mother looked guilty.
From this point on, Kenneth could recall it effortlessly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgCZOpjCMs
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqbbZ8FAr6
When Kenneth returned home, he was treated to a dish of kind words and a refreshing meal. He was only three, but he had such a big appetite already. His father was away from the table. Kenneth just sat with his mom.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vAqrDVtIN
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"Happy birthday, Kenny."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqtohb49K8
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"Mm?" Kenny hummed with a slice of bread stuffed into his mouth. "Mm! Thank you!" Though it was hard to hear, her mother smiled. She was a nice lady, brown hair and green eyes. Kenneth loved her. He loved how her mother made great food. But Kenneth always thought that she looked too old to be his mom, maybe his grandmother.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mPICKHVO8
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Dad came back to them. He had a glass bottle in his hand. He looked tired, but Kenneth was smiling vigorously at him. He still didn't change out of his church robes. He sat at the table, slamming his empty bottle on it. He stared at Kenneth's mother, and then at Kenneth. He burped and said, "Happy birthday boy," and passed out on the spot.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKMdTTmCOp
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Those words were a lot coming from his father. Kenneth was told to rush to bed, and he did so cheerily. He did it so.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtTrTIlBFH
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That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxxZk9TRet
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Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36SM6Fi8st
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzFWtzrfle
Customary to the tradition, Kenneth learned how to read and write now that he was a toddler. And he was quite good at it, he soon found. By this time, he was already writing cohesive sentences, and he read every bedtime story in the big folklore book in just a day. Kenneth loved to read, but he loved another thing more: the forest.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHeF75DsU0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OxpHEcyTg
Kenneth's house was closest to the Blooming Biomes, a gorgeous forest near the village. Kenneth's room had a window placed perfectly for him to gawk at the forest. It wasn't a dense forest either, so he could see the magical plant life there too. Some of it moved, and some of it released spores, but Kenny marveled at it all the same. Kenneth loved looking at that forest so much that his dad forbade him from going to his room throughout the day. So Kenneth, the smart child that he was, went to the forest.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOdiv5hGoz
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX6JNb4jDk
His mother stopped him immediately during his first attempt. He couldn't even make it ten feet out the door. Kenneth protested, but his mother explained that the forest was "dangerous and filled with wild beasts." Kenneth didn't believe her, of course. Kenneth spent all day looking at that forest, and he knew wild beasts weren't there.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ4lknMMpM
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKEakID9Fi
On his second attempt, Kenneth made it past the rickety fence surrounding the house. His dad picked him up this time, and he fiercely slapped Kenneth. That was the first time that Kenneth could remember himself crying. His mother was furious, but his father apologized and hugged Kenny. Of course, Kenny was satisfied with that, but he was a smart child, and he knew he could get more out of it. So Kenneth tried to pressure his father to let him into the forest. His father almost slapped him again. Kenneth thought of it as progress.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigxqiiQqKP
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmyZ00uevW
Kenneth's third attempt was much more successful. His father caught him trying to jump out the window. Kenneth didn't account for the fall, and he plummeted with teary eyes, but his father was right there, frowning.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNTvIGPn7v
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"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloihZ0j9Ng
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Kenneth began to tear up again. His father sighed. "Don't try this again, Kenneth," he simply said. And Kenneth obliged. For a week.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrYkSoo0X5
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQrIwEkERt
Kenneth's fourth attempt wasn't interrupted by anybody. He managed to do it, to finally do it; he was in the woods. Kenneth frolicked around and gazed at the scenery like a dumb drooling moron. He hugged the trees, tickled the flowers, and even pulled one out of its stock before he was hit with a spore that made him cough and wheeze. Kenneth decided against randomly pulling on plants. Kenneth ventured further into the forest, and he swore that it grew more and more beautiful with each step. Even the grass had a sparkly tint to it. Kenneth loved it. But something went awry.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ72ADts06S
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pBqF65uPn
Kenneth tripped on a large root he didn't see. He scraped his knee, but Kenneth managed to suppress his tears. His father's given him worse after all. He rested against the nearby tree. Though it hurt, once he raised his head from the wound, his joy washed the pain away. The forest was that majestic.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoKyP0CVM5
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NtwPawYgt
Then out came an animal. It wasn't very big. In fact, Kenneth thought it looked familiar. It was like one of the farm animals his neighbor kept around, but it had long curvy teeth coming from its mouth that pointed to the sky, and it had a lot of brown furs. It looked at Kenneth, and Kenneth smiled. And then Kenneth was forced to roll away.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl26xFuh6PE
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxeQT60BOf
The boar hit his snout on the tree, dazing the beast for just long enough for Kenneth to get on his feet and haul ass. But he tripped again on a different root. This time, Kenneth cried. The beast inched nearer and nearer and Kenneth's scratch grew to a disgusting flow of blood. Kenneth crawled away screaming but the beast kept approaching. Kenneth's pants became damp. But a miracle happened. The boar stepped forward and forward, and after hearing a snap of a branch, a great purple something emerged from the ground. It resembled the maw of a great dragon, but its eyes were missing and it was roughly the size of Kenneth himself. The boar stepped back in shock, but before it could make any distance, the boar's head had been bitten off. The maw retracted into the ground. Kenneth couldn't move. Ten minutes later he slowly crawled to the hole that was made. It wasn't a hole, he realized. It was a set of four large leaves, parallel and perpendicular to one another, and in the middle of these leaves were blue sparkles. Kenneth knew better than not to touch it. Kenneth smiled with glee, got up, and ran home.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO5yOstd32
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pNNy3HNaS
Two things happened that day. Kenneth discovered mana, and Kenneth discovered magical plants. He was running back home excited, but a loud ruckus coming from the home prevented him from entering the front door. It was his mother and father. They were screaming and crying. Kenneth waited until they stopped, and it did when he heard a slap. He didn't know who it was from.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhXZY4GzEL
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo01YipI1vY
The next instance Kenneth cared to remember was when he turned four. Kenneth somehow hadn't been caught sneaking out into the woods, but something of his had been found. His mother was in his room, holding a notebook in her hand that Kenneth was all too familiar with. He turned to run away but was grabbed by the back of his shirt before he could.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6kK0tIJQp
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"What is this, Kenny?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqZbaELrbb
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"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoMbYkDzAW
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH2RIfmTjX
Kenneth decided to tell his mom a half-truth. Maybe he could escape a beating that way, he thought. His mother opened the book and flipped straight to the crummy illustration of the purple plant that killed the boar.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EBAque9ry
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH3uJqOrRd
"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiwtOqf6hY
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1kBtHFC4a
It was no use avoiding it now. Kenneth told his mother that, for the past six months, he has been going into the Blooming Biome and studying the magical plant life there. As well as a kid his age could, anyway. Though Kenny expected to be slapped, that didn't happen.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C6cj7FJEN
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEct1oaYGGL
"Christina, do you know what this means?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLm2Pcv8CD
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His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU68DPEYmgw
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"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrv19U70kS
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ9uxlx38m
Kenneth's mom nodded. Kenneth didn't understand what was going on, but the two of them were smiling and that had to be good.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7JNI1YDrW
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It was.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBukLKyBLX
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A week later, Kenneth's father presented him with what could best be described as a tome. Kenneth didn't ask where they got it, because he was having a hard time even lifting the thing. His father explained to him that it was a book of magical plants and alchemy. Kenneth had no idea what the second word meant but he didn't care. He just received a big new book to read.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcg6yaVbr8
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIjgezCcIR
It took Kenneth a month to read the book. Another month was spent reading it again. Kenneth tried to sneak out again but his parents had been keeping an exceptionally watchful eye, so it was impossible. Kenneth didn't mind though, because this book was the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. He didn't know any of this 'alchemy' stuff, but the plants, oh the plants. He recognized the few he's seen in the woods, like the spore one, or the purple one, or the one that occasionally shoots out blazing beams of light, or the ones that make him vomit. But there were so, so many that Kenneth didn't know about, or could've even dreamt about. Most of them were at much higher elevations, but that was fine because King's Peak was easy to traverse anyway. He saw gorgeous illustrations resembling beasts more than plants, and each picture carried an ungodly amount of information. Uses, known habitats, behaviors if they had any, risks, stories of their discovery. Kenny spent all day in his room, just reading about this stuff, over and over. His parents had to take away the book for a week.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN8h5o7LBc
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC3pyLsacK
During that week though Kenny managed to sneak out of the house. It seemed that all the time he spent in his room reading made his parent's security lax. He ventured into the forest with his journal, now filled with plagiarisation from the book both text and picture, and attempted to connect each plant he saw with an illustration. Now that he was older traveling the forest was much easier, and Kenneth learned to bring a weapon with him this time. He had a small hunting knife in a sheath in his pocket. He discovered that he could also use the knife to take some of the plants he saw with him, but he made sure they didn't shoot out any spores before he did. He kept the retrieved plants in his other pocket. It was fine for a while until his pants became wet. Not from himself this time, but from the plants. He took them out and they were all leaking a clear fluid. It was clear but it was sparkly, much like the rest of the forest. Kenneth didn't have any cup with him, so he improvised and took the knife out of its sheath and used that to store the liquid. He ran home, forsaking the plants and the knife, and snuck in.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfHmI8Ec1p
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His parents still weren't home though. Kenneth usually wouldn't pay that any heed, but there was broken glass in the kitchen and small red liquid on the floor.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SZq219RSz
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"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YY0atqCIh
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Kenneth ran upstairs.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y1sdrj8Tp
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Kenneth spent the next week experimenting with the liquid. He relocated it to a small glass cup and tested it out. He didn't want to taste it quite yet since he knew that was dangerous, but he did touch it. It felt cold, even after being in his room for so long. It amazed Kenneth. Kenneth then spent time putting different things into the cup. Grass, food, a few of his clothes, sometimes his own urine, metal, and by some miracle, fire. Nothing ever came of it though. It satisfied Kenneth for a while, but ultimately, he thought it was a dud. He kept the glass around. It made him feel nice.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xgWn0CqLK
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhyRR7CdTS
In a month's time, something exciting happened to Kenneth. His birthday was just a few days away but before any celebration or presents, his father sat him down outside. This had never happened before, so it made Kenny die with anticipation.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrpSitzmMo
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"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OjqFjMOeP
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Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO0AeOL4iP
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"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj46qzf8Ki9
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Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioPZx3brWE
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"Luckily for you, brat, I know exactly what alchemy is. But before that, I need to teach you what mana is."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8351z2jMX
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That was when Kenneth's life began.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTK9HjfV0T
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His father taught him the basics: how mana was the essence creatures manipulated to conjure objects and tinker with the world. Fire, water, earth, and wind would all be conjured, and in the right circumstances, they could be manipulated as well. His father also explained how combinations could occur but he glossed over it. His father told him alchemy was the mana manipulation of chemicals, magical or not, and that it took a very skilled user of mana to achieve success in alchemy.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdK7NyaZmB
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1Cqjkx5Bh
It was all Kenneth needed to hear before constantly nagging his dad about lessons. His fifth birthday rolled around and his father had bought him a basic alchemy kit, consisting of flasks, cylinders, syringes, and dropper bottles. Kenneth was unbelievably grateful that he practically ignored the new clothes his mother had bought for him. It was a white shirt with a grayish-blue vest, and a nice pair of gloves to go with it. It was meant for his alchemy, his mother explained. Kenneth loved his parents dearly that day.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflO635hA2x
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC8gL7NBcY
His lessons on mana manipulation were coming along steadily. Sometimes he would be beaten for failure, but Kenneth didn't care if it meant getting better. Three months passed, and after numerous bruises and fights between his parents later did Kenneth "graduate" from his father's lessons. The whole time though, Kenneth messed with alchemy, and really, he only needed his lessons for a few weeks. It mattered not though.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINQdOaWZNk
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA7THy1AAz
Kenneth was an auspicious child. He mastered basic alchemy like matter state manipulation and chemical changing, but to him, that was all just chemistry. No, what Kenneth really, really wanted to mess around with were the plants in the forest. His parents didn't care if he was out and about anymore, so Kenneth took advantage of it. What was probably his hundredth trip was taken with new knowledge, his new clothes, and a new passion.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUkZiNTPeL
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpC5jSgUfq
Kenneth brought bags with him, as well as a flask and a syringe. He had a belt where he could hook the flask and syringe and a cork lid to make sure the flask was shut. He put plants in the bag and any leak was put straight into the flask. He regretted only bringing one. He wanted the purest sample possible, after all. He still did have that syringe though, and since it was going to be such a small sample, he knew it had to come from a special plant.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAIprOfWQL
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh61CvlqtJ
Kenneth smiled. He knew that there was a special plant here, alright. He ventured further into the forest until he found four familiar leaves. The sparkles from all that time ago were gone now, but that didn't deter him. He crouched down and stuck his syringe into the middle. And all of a sudden, out popped the purple plant.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5VdUDWk1x
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfmfJJGyIl
But Kenneth was ready for it. He reached for his knife holstered on his belt and cut the stem effortlessly. The maw fell to the ground, motionless, and Kenneth stuck its syringe into it. He also decided to take the head and one leaf for good measure.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHHaKP09xt
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It was a haul, and Kenneth couldn't be happier. He returned home ready to tell his parents of his discoveries. That didn't happen quite like how it should've. His mom stepped outside as he was five feet away. Kenneth opened his mouth to say hi, but she looked at him with ferocity. It was a face Kenneth never knew her mother could make.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwljDeJOgW
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"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWGS87vwVC
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Kenneth nodded and entered the home. His father was sitting at the table. His forehead was bleeding a little and his knuckles were bruised.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5I3uozGmY
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"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD8jJJ8Gku
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39flK93tvg
"J-Just some plants, Dad..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqA9JbC84S
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"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakwFuvBHyx
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Kenneth gulped. He let go of the bag and waddled towards his father. What he got was a soft pat on his head. Kenneth blushed in surprise.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Is1kJdZ4
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"Keep doing that stuff, kid. I'm amazed by how much you love it. Don't worry about me and your mother, alright?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ0wFqfscq
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU89aAznVMp
Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzvnK8UXjc
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Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESY31qeavi
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It was in that laboratory where Kenny would enhance his skills for the next two years. The time flew by fast. Astonishingly fast, but Kenneth's growth showed it. According to his father, Kenneth had already become a grade-four alchemist. Kenneth had no idea what that meant but it made him happy, and it drove him to keep improving.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQr61hieH0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwFpWqkOdw
Usually, Kenneth would follow the book. He learned the mixtures and followed the instructions listed there, and after hours of practice, the results he received were even better than what the book described. He managed to make a fertility potion to grow the newly planted tree in an instant. He managed to create a healing potion which, according to his mother, healed a boy's broken arm instantly. He managed to even reconnect one of the cut plants he brought back to the soil, and now a spore-bloom was in his backyard. His father punched him for it and removed it, since it was making him sneeze.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdETLBDGSx
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lDEtxDCRM
But, after a while, Kenneth ran out of instructions to follow in the book, and he already perfected each and every recipe. He asked his parents for a new one but they claimed the books were "too expensive these days". Kenneth was upset but he didn't protest, he just thought of new things to do. A night in his laboratory made him realize just how potent his mana manipulation had become, so much so that he could do it without thinking. He thought maybe to learn proper spells, such as those related to the four core elements but decided against it. He decided on something new entirely.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18fy0uHNkO
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What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomYSLlZg7O
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The next year Kenneth would learn to do just that. He mixed his alchemy and mana manipulation with the plants he would find in the wild. He made roots grow and shrivel just with mana, and he could even accelerate the growth and decay of plants. He soon learned to amplify the effects of the plants, such as how potent the spores were, or just how large and hot the light beams from the Light-Beam-Blossoms became. Ultimately though, he returned to alchemy, and that was because of one thing: the purple dragon-maw plant. He planted it back using one of his plant-revival potions but did it in a more remote location. The maw, for whatever reason, didn't react negatively to Kenneth. In fact, the maw begged for his attention. It would lick Kenneth from time to time, much like a dog did. Kenneth grew to cherish it.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucWzGy3Kwa
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The plant itself seemed to be rare, as, according to the textbook, it was an "ancient species likely to be extinct." Obviously that wasn't the case, but Kenny didn't mind. That was because there were no alchemical procedures listed with the plant. All of it was free reign, like a sandbox, and Kenny took advantage of it. He mixed and matched substances and potions with the essence of the dragon-maw plant, all to varying degrees of effects. Sadly, Kenny burned through possible combinations too quickly. He had to leave the maw for the time being; he said his goodbyes.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UicwqzOOM
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpgR3BiNGR
Kenny returned to the forest again to gather more plants. This time he ventured deeper than ever, hoping to find a species he hadn't encountered yet. It didn't happen. Instead, Kenny found another boar, but it was smaller than last time, most likely a child. Kenny left it alone, afraid that it might hurt him, and continued to go deeper into the woods. He turned back once the sun began to set. On his way back though, Kenny found an interesting sight.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4glIdSqDl
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nwrp9i5fQ
"...It's dead."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFPRDnGUgy
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnYOuOsicV
The boar was lying on the ground, not in one piece, but in several. Its insides, few in quantity, were sprawled around the grass. The boar was practically hollow. All that was inside of its skin were bones. But for whatever reason, a single part of the boar was left out completely untouched: its heart.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY0PuW8R4r
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIbmQLxWVW
Kenny didn't know what overcame him, but he reached for that heart and put it in the bag. He ran straight to his room and took out the syringe containing the essence of the dragon-maw plant. He stuck it into the heart. Nothing happened until he used mana manipulation.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK7c1IeM4c
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke5zF9OcBQ
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEzdnZLmaP
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRTXDCW8gi
A month passed and Kenneth continued to mess with the dragon-maw's substances. He inject it into other plants, even into a live pig at one point, and used varying levels of mana manipulation just to see what would happen. The pig oozed out the liquid, but was fine. As for the plants though, nothing happened. Kenneth came to the conclusion that only flesh and bone were affected by the ooze.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrgSac3FdQ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoOTMgdP7k
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21vrfbv7Rq
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg0FWZDJsc
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Cfz239sA
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhrpbFOED0
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOloU0mMvqq
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGYI3Jk6SR
That was the first time she ever said that. It made Kenneth happy, so he explained his process and findings, how he used the ooze and injected it into organisms. He told her of the pig, and how–167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxW5mjnsLu
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfqyj1kIm4
**THUD**167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8qHFF44Bg
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdWyIEhifF
A fist flew right into Kenneth's stomach. He was launched to the wall and slowly slid down. He looked up at his mother, who was making a face of pure terror.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMuCqNei4b
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rMb33hVZv
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG97QtjIeJQ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoGcz47cIb
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OW3ScT575
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmiznsRaHG
Three months passed. Kenneth's focus returned to manipulating plants with mana. He quickly grew more and more efficient, to the point where hardly any nutrients from the soil were used to manipulate plants. His raw skill in mana manipulation grew, too. His father told him how splendid of a mage Kenneth could become, but Kenneth didn't care for that. Kenneth's greatest achievement was growing an entire tree in his backyard, just using his mana. The tree was nearly twice the size of any tree in the Blooming Biome, so it attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors, and Kenny got a good beating because of it. Kenny didn't care though, he was improving, he was growing better and better. But it didn't feel as fulfilling. He returned to alchemy and improved his potion-making abilities, and through connections with his father, he even managed to sell them to outsiders of the village. Having a sudden income was pleasant, but the process of making potions became repetitive.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec8HKhfN1q
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOMbSQ5hXc
Kenny had the itch to return to the dragon-maw. But it wouldn't amount to anything. After all, he had no flesh he could use.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwrYMVldDR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2du71lsjPh
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡackN3aaHPV
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDqJXisitP
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8BszMKvjp
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg4ryv1nyE
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL7YyZCEt8
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiPYEsA3KH
He used his body to test the effects. He started small of course, just a quarter of a syringe's worth of essence, and the effects were immediate. Kenny received a deal of discomfort, and his face scrunched terribly. But something worried him. Unlike the pig, the ooze never left his body.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviIo1mTVhA
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlewRLlYgZ0
His curiosity grew. He returned home that day, hoping to continue his fiddling in his room, but when he walked through that front door, he was met with a thrashed kitchen.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2nZEgreO1
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaGfzwBwrI
His mother was on the floor, sobbing. It was so distinct to him, that sobbing. The house had disappeared. The hallway, the broken kitchen, everything was gone. All he could see was his sobbing mother.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT2qzKVZ2q
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FSPHEN7VP
Kenny had no idea what to do, because now he wasn't playing with his plants. Now, he was in his home, and his mother was sobbing on the floor, and his mother was sobbing on the floor and Kenny had no idea why.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7i9Za1zcw
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTXXICajsA
He scuttled upstairs and burst into his room. He rummaged frantically, glancing at potions and doing double-takes, making sure he would grab the right one. He eventually found a healing potion. Keny ran back down and offered it to her, wordlessly. His mother slapped it away, claiming that "she was fine" but Kenny knew it was a lie.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Xm75DJTW
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAAdB7VDRU
And yet, Kenny believed it. He nodded at her assertation and simply walked back to his room. He lied down on his bed, and with a little trouble, fell asleep. Why did he do that?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jHdRlxqmH
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysMvo5NCj3
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnA1YNQIKG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgCuJfTVpz
He returned to his experiments the next day. Kenneth had no interest experiencing such discomfort for results, so he changed his strategy. He drank some of the essence. It tasted like crap, so he spat it out. He tried mixing the essence with fruit and bread, but it tasted like crap so he spat it out. He was nearly out of options until his father brought home a bag of seeds. It was for the garden they were going to supposedly make. Kenneth found a new food item to try, so he injected the tiny seed with the essence– only a fraction of the syringe went in –and ate it.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UlsjGS64j
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAAHvXpVEb
It tasted like nothing. He tried a few more, still, nothing. The dosage must've been too small he thought, but then he realized that didn't make sense. It didn't matter how small the dosage was, it was always going to taste the same. But he didn't taste anything, just the grimy seed.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uc9GCuPLE
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nuYLs5qjJ
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR654tjZTD6
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZvr7Mdhoa
He concluded that nothing would happen once his ninth birthday rolled around, since it was four months later. His parents didn't bring him any gifts for this one. In fact, they weren't even at the house.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49Q4b1QMu0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSubggPoGx
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGKvRNic8x
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBX7Ys18d2
Kenny didn't mind. He went back to the dragon-maw plant. The plant was excited to see him and repeated the same licking routine it had been doing for a long time. Kenneth was excited to see it too, of course. It became a great close friend of his.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLusOBxVYmu
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2p12hMB9Z
It was while caressing the plant that Kenneth noticed something strange about himself. For whatever reason, his shirt was bulging at his chest, and he felt something cold and hard rub against his right arm. He pulled back and stared at it. He couldn't believe his eyes. He pulled back his sleeve. Still, he was shocked. He took off his shirt and now Kenneth became worried.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb4GrkCif9
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TRYgWienH
A bundle of roots about as thick as his father's arm was protruding from the left side of his chest. It wrapped around Kenny's right arm and stopped right above his hand.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoN4I88Hk0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpGRMph8zw
Kenny fainted.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqkr5pkX3i
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL2oVo6Fzi
Kenny woke up an hour later and the bundle of roots was still there. Kenny tried to move it with his other hand but it wouldn't budge. He tried ripping and tearing at it, but it just grew back. This tendril of wood was seemingly stuck with him now. Kenneth panicked and asked himself, "What could've caused this?" He kept asking this question to himself while flailing his arms, trying desperately to shake the wood off.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RbBSvOtzv
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzlxcirPcH
He thought of all the plants he'd been tinkering with until this day. Was this revenge? Was this way of getting back at him? He knew it was silly but he couldn't think of anything else. He almost fainted again until the striking image of the spore plant came to his mind, and all of a sudden, the tip of the tendril blossomed that very plant.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvqxRUwvpr
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAvdISQVRz
"...What in the world?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrTR2jXQ8Q
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aLZQtqUln
It was much smaller than the normal plant. Half the size, just about. Kenneth didn't understand how this was possible, but he kept messing with it. Next was the light beam plant, and it blossomed at half the size. Next was the dragon maw plant, then the poison one, then the one with the sparkly liquid, and all of them came out perfectly. Just at half the normal size.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG84PXPueOH
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcRTxsdEDe
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PyKkQFfB6
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbmrsDmUlZ
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNazmrxd2dj
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpfkNhhiAl
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMRoIWInUM
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZn38K3B1Q
That didn't work, so Kenneth thought about bringing the tendril forth. It came out and wrapped around his right arm without him even uttering anything.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa4BMIO1dZ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWiMlMvDtH
"So that's what it is..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNbpDIWB0Q
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uc9vMr7ah
Though Kenneth was skeptical, and frankly, disturbed, something about this was incredible. He jumped for joy and ran back home. He couldn't wait until he showed his parents.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigAIFviqOj
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCILE85tpE
Sure, they might've been out when he awoke, but they had to be back by now. Kenny did pass out after all, didn't he? He ran to the front door and slammed it open. He was so excited he could barely see in front of him. He suddenly stopped, because he realized that if he showed a wooden tendril the size of his father's arm coming out of his chest, he was sure to see the priest or something. So he tiptoed in instead.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ2s1dgFil
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzAnMfkS0Q
He heard some noise coming from the kitchen. How exciting! Even if he wasn't going to show them his tendril, he was sure that at the very least, he would receive a present. Kenneth turned the corner and entered the kitchen.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4JdsQe7C5
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQO0GfVeJS
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSZakhjaFu
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxETHYaUWO
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0VJLN2OmO
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefJhWGHgg5
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hehH8RNUf
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52O3HzIiYB
Kenny was sure, for a moment, that he was still passed out, because this made no sense. Of course, that had to be it. A tendril from his chest should've been a good enough indicator, but this practically confirmed it.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyHA4bShtC
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJVIVk5lbC
His mother was standing there with a knife in her hand. It was wet, and the liquid was dripping onto the floor, making a great big red puddle. Kenneth looked aside, and saw his father with his head laid down, and covered in that same red liquid.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89KCypgW4L
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfK9QWMknf
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwbzS9GAuk
"...Dad–"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZanQleapl
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aqJsXN4MF
"Huh?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbgYRCEIa8
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh5jWQHBF5
His mother turned around. When she saw Kenneth, she looked terrified. It made no sense. If she was terrified, then what was Kenneth supposed to feel?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyfD5JlHkk
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NMpMCgqgO
His mother fell to the floor. She dropped the knife. She scurried away from the boy as if he was the one who killed the man she loved.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7sXAshaED
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oAPJ9F21s
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w6d4g7Ie4
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnO4V2rTiT
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqytU9adkR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifj5IlMWgf
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO2Bzp16Fk
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nmmv0n4XD
Kenny just didn't understand why.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6HlXbVPsQ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0DuzmjG87
Kenny yelled. He didn't know what was happening but the tendril stretched and pushed his mother against the wall. Kenny kept screaming and screaming, and then he too began to cry, and he kept crying all while the tendril held up his mother. Soon, a neighbor came by. Then another.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYXU1ePIBV
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyyGak46AF
Mother was arrested that day.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWWeOwsO3Y
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKkD6rTNTP
–
–
–
Nobody questioned Kenny's strange new limb. Nobody had the heart to. "What kind of soulless bastard would ask him that now?" Stuff like that. It made sense.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjT3dofxmy
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVd4pu9S4V
He was back in the church. He sat alone, wearing his church garbs. It was the first time he wore something other than his mother's gift. He couldn't possibly imagine doing it now.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssmXNF8trN
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxd0eLb360
Kenny's mother was under trial. The whole town and the priest served as the jury. At one point Kenny was asked to testify but he couldn't move a muscle. He just couldn't.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydUkYnhYf6
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2r3cqUgra
It was a pitiful trial. Kenny's mother didn't utter anything, and in the end, she was sentenced to death. Kenny was forbidden to watch the execution, but he somehow weaseled his way in as he tends to.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPunFTC6xy
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkEdvzHFyw
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yVknHY7nw
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu7oWLmnp7
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6oPRjdRli
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2WJ5rEtG
The trial didn't even last half the day. Her guilt was just that easy to tell. "But what did that mean for Kenny?" everyone asked. Of course, he was famous in the village. He served excellent potions and has made spectacles for the entire town to see. But nobody knew the type of person Kenny was.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm44yRUZUpk
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK5uUgVXRy
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef1vI1H6Ur
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2tJXhI03G
A decision was eventually reached. A family with the surname "Somber" would take custody of the boy. Kenny was asked if he would've liked to keep his old surname but he didn't say anything.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9ZbWMRtpu
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYUD4xwoic
Kenny was taken to their home. Kenny didn't know what became of his old residence. He was fed at his new home, and he even had a little brother now.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBwb4owfFJ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nA8ICdKtU
For the first month Kenny didn't leave the house. It was excused at the time but eventually, his talents were needed too much. So Kenny, who got his equipment back, returned to alchemy, potion brewing, and the selling of his potions. He did it as well as he ever did, but it was different this time. It was wrong. Sometimes now, Kenny would slip up and make faulty products, and those times he didn't receive a beating, just a scolding. Some part of him wished he did receive a beating though.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdNaIFDY6O
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsz7sZs3DX
It went on for another month.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV3fJpBeLy
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb386taClR
Then another.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsud5DUQqJK
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcgsUUCT6Q
Then another.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dWRrgEeCn
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAeyY41dbe
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfEsZrsDGH
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhpv07ydis
The blood. It was slathered on the knife as if she was going to apply it to bread. And she was just standing there. Kenny didn't see her face but he knew she was smiling. And then her face after. Why was she so scared? Why? Why?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonknoHvRQ2
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDSOPR58S0
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQV2gLX7sD
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5IZmBXHFm
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamT4SGZ1J3
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaklkTuN02
Kenny didn't understand what compelled her. Why did she have to kill his father? Kenny didn't understand. He asked himself and he didn't have an answer.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwTYVJneoT
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl0w8ijE6O
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlhx6ZpCo4
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa3jLXoZCn
They hated each other, didn't they? The "why" didn't matter, because look at what it amounted to. And all the while, Kenny was out of the house or in his room, playing with his plants like they were toys. He was at peace. They were not.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA35FlAAkz
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dkM8DF16q
And Kenny reminded himself of this.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uCPEjjY9p
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYPA2n1hLn
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0To7R67mq
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmbtoGJXsk
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbBBFAhIAe
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JTfW6BTB4
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK5syX7hPx
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCdIt7T3rC
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggdL6d0sZ0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEnd79EaOM
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjgMuEJv2
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KdupqXDfT
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnMu228gaf
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3jagz0Mrr
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOHeHSuIqB
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicwAuV9usr
Over and over.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsVETjx9Vf
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpXTYELuvY
He left the house. He turned ten already, somehow, he couldn't fathom how but he didn't care. He returned to the dragon-maw. It was called a Viscous plant, he recalled. But he hated that name. It was Dragon-Maw and that was final.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkyOAl7GBr
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZYqkEX8CN
Dragon-maw was excited to see him. He licked Kenny's face and even ticked him with his snout. Kenny appreciated it but wasn't here for that. He took out his syringe and took a sample of Dragon-maw's essence.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwrq6Po3VF
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktaegacU2r
–
–
–
Kenny received a present for his eleventh birthday. It was like a coat. A large puffy white one with brown outlining. But it also came with a stylish shirt and a pair of brown, skinny pants.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ7hy20i35
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB8Mjda0qt
His new mother, Anabelle, said that the coat was there to compensate for the bulge whenever his tendril came out. Kenny smiled and thanked her. It had been a while since he'd done such a thing.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKe8TCs8wF
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg9HPPsSXL
After the pleasant event, Kenny returned to alchemy and mana manipulation. He hardly improved though. Kenny lost a lot more than his family during the incident. Kenny tried to stay in good touch with the whole village. He tried to put on smiles and talk politely, but all the words he and other spewed never sat right with Kenny. Nothing ever sat right.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPhB17Wgrf
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb7ZiY6hhM
Then there was Dragon-Maw. Kenny saw him every day. Kenny used to love the greeting he received from the plant but he's stopped being licked altogether. Today in particular, Kenny received a face akin to disgust, though it was hard to tell because the plant lacked eyes.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52u2VazHab
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVjy8cFYR8
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcArJnd8wj
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeJeRCYC0F
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QpUttQ7uO
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpkN8z7Sr0
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh6GYRwYha
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcuKnkNnrU
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcA8EN6gd9
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HbE1oYvQi
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxgPyCfkzT
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe2TeR8uij
He was getting agitated. Still, the plant continued to flail and yell. Kenny rushed in and tried to pin it down but he was knocked away. Kenny grew annoyed and used his tendril. He wrapped it around the maw and shut it tight.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpmkhNhJfG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0s5Jne9GZ
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3F0BDYm2d
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gvlvya9xi
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vRQykUhQd
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXh85QTDeW
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQJ0srU43A
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01uWTfbGmF
Anabelle approached Kenny before he entered the house. She carried him inside hurriedly. She asked Kenny to sit down and he did. He waited for a few minutes before she returned with a letter. Kenny was handed it and he began to read.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Af0gLI6kH
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKYjRw1B7v
It was an invitation.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jSllVsdHs
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZSt5VS4mj
Somehow, a scout from a prestigious school of alchemists saw the things Kenny had been doing, and considering his incredibly young age, thought it fit to enroll him there. Apparently, tuition was free, but the school was an extensive journey away. It would take four months on a carriage.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppH3QZhOfL
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkWCbCwIbk
Kenny did not know how to react, nor did he know what to say. He politely told Anabelle that he'd consider it and returned to his room. He continued doing his regular alchemy business but the invitation continued to nag him. He sighed and put down the flask.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRvrbOLigk
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOin63YDdQt
"What am I supposed to do?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBrPl7RMrD
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv562p6UuMI
It was a tempting offer. Kenny did love his plants, after all. Alchemy was profitable and enjoyable, and he was very skilled at mana manipulation. The selling of his potions probably caught the eye of the university. But why should he go? He was already exceptional in his field. He was fine here, wasn't he?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO66DPqNpT
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1IqbCcF3j
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6T9Kp2qcO
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhpMFkc2Wt
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgVt73KDrV
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvV9UdUOkS
All of a sudden, Kenny's mind began to hurt. This is something he'd typically avoid thinking about. He sighed, thinking it was time to clear the haze in his mind.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExuoFKLfkG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV9HeEVPOY
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFpFZLfnfg
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidcczF152D
The stationary plant went missing.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80lGw4LtRV
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT0PHKT9b1
He had no way of making a new one. The one in his tendril would simply produce blood– it was something he discovered months ago.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WIWKzD8cU
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66GOgKncXj
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnvYJCuUym
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhtB4rdSEn
Dragon-Maw went missing.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwylYeWtVg
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUD3XlRQTp
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ72g58fQDM
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazjSZ72CDi
"...Why?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFU4f8YoUn
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ7LkNcWfH
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3w8PK9Fea
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB8nyCzcCG
And still, Kenny took his essence.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluh8JFTi4w
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNESA45PUIe
Of course he would leave.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs7lMJpir2
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nRo8KKHd8
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtqtfF2qiU
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpaepIbRFT
–
–
–
Seven months passed since Dragon-Maw went missing. Kenny didn't move much since then. He grew a little bit of belly fat. It relieved him.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBFtNpl0VC
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OhqL1NCD2
Kenny was still doing what he did best, brewing potions for the village. That's all he ever did, people say, just stay holed up in his room and do alchemy. It wasn't a lie, but sometimes, Kenny felt like he wasn't even doing that–167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lMEI67RjC
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnEoBwAyxb
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVUNOIsgvR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPpbmbLsza
"Kenny. Come out here."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtonmm5hIz0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC6jI7svmi
But that was a man's voice who just spoke. He stood up and begrudgingly opened the door. His wrist was taken and he was pulled.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vWvLbd70m
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBA5Bf7SQ3
"W-Woah!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ4m2a6mFo
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3CaxLeLRA
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o0J2yTkZG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57yVUHwaZg
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGuob02m5H
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzunen8OR7
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhXvFJblPb
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS26kjTpOhc
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPMYr8Loud
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZU2hKEl18
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P33FeOdod
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe3yjkxbIm
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOdfYPRvz2
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZoKxe8bSg
The sun was bright outside. Kenny had a hard time seeing so he covered his eyes. He tried to re-enter the building but his turning of the doorknob was met with a kick at the door. He'd rather not get hurt, so he decided to just roam the village.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLooUGVO24
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc7g4sw9ok
It was... strange though. Not because something truly strange was happening, but because the mood was different. People were out and about, doing their work, and children were playing and having fun.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YGWYfyeiI
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmomImmtifo
Kenny didn't get it.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo0z5I29E8
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyCSB04fUU
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1qpKSQUQR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJVzzNJwyb
"Ah, Kenny! Look at you!" A random woman said with a gleeful smile on her face, "You're finally outside, about damn time you recluse! Hahaha!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNHgV5X23g
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwKpqxPHAC
"I... whaa?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5yGYALEWW
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhAVW0Z1fF
Kenny couldn't formulate a sentence. The woman just waved at him and went away. Kenny didn't understand. Why was she so... rude to him? Didn't she understand that his parents died? That his plant was gone and that he was all alone?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuffuxfDGR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8823QlyBwy
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA6IpVlTXL
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ6fzYMVGe
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlyPf5kkWm
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OmxoU5RRg
He didn't like that. But still he kept wandering. He didn't know what else to do. He watched as the kids played and as the adults chattered about this and that. Kenny was confused. He didn't understand it at all.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLEtbbwO7H
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJswpcvRAiY
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0NxOD972U
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMZcobYP2Q
Uncle? Kenny turned around and a little girl was there grinning ear to ear. Kenny was much taller than her, she was probably something like six–167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnmR5ar85Y
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcxOiG8QYX
"Huh?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNip7TIY8N
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRTJssLK9b
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep3sFJMR5O
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRHfZb6kyl
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUxOtO0RcB
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6ECsA8Ebd
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y1WiYiL4D
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qyk0rJkoJ
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlshj9HKCDB
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQxacssntM
"Uh... sure?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURdtrrO2iG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfhbQvzb1q
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzxsKGeHYS
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJLOv6Xtev
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh14Ficx1jw
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrmG2PSdfr
No, Kenny couldn't still.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfzAWajlPm
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjgpFw0J7l
He still didn't know what was going on.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx579mLZ1BU
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzYezQZsLn
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQkxx6SqBI
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W48mT7S5j
"...Big Brother."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT8lfht4PO
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NUwM3zLSJ
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVr4GraI73
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9le1QGWpno
The kid looked upset. Of course, that's the look. That's the look that I should be getting, Kenny thought. They're still dead, and the plant is gone, and he's still alive, and nobody should ever forget that, Kenny thought.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eZlce1Mc5
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8PZa6LW7d
But then he smiled.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg781fGoaAq
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6rjh2W4h9
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykPveOdcZN
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3peDh0CIy8
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYMa8dB5HN
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NHdb8srD3
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRboQT2hBmQ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKlw61hqmu
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSX4uB8yyA
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEacemSEJ5w
"D-Don't you get it? Does nobody else get it? My parents died! I drove my plant away! Am I– am I the only one who cares? And– and its–"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYYWuug2jm
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuL6DfEu5v
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2BHuA5NG2
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5bnfNiiE4
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozZT2g6ger
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f3120GR8g
"I get it, it hurts. And I'm not saying you should be all cheery. But for a whole seven months, you stayed indoors, and it was the plant that drove you that far?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh425IOTvyd
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMqhNTjpOP
"W-What? Huh?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh0J1wZkbv
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6dPrbEUOu
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ887Lt9wgzc
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfKxydnCtB
This was insulting.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlplQXYJjXV
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaW4wyMc3u
This was just insulting now.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4W4lQ2Yzj
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCSk3odIgN
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyI28FelyN
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiWpVrpq0F
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyruHdWtLJl
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXAou5XM1i
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZU3vjlfji
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA66Sze8ga9
And then something shattered in him.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yLDC4Kla4
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuDBn8oEyc
What was making him so hung up?167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgodXv76GR
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO23kV2Y5g4
Why, that's obvious, isn't it? It's so obvious that Kenny didn't feel the need to say it out loud. But Jackson was looking at him like he needed to say something. Kenny couldn't though, because Kenny knew that it was too obvious. Yet Jackon kept that gaze up, and kept pestering him with that look, and–
**SLAM!**167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0BB4W9ixO
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYHmcunweU
"...Huh?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAvNlpDdVU
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxjJsMGOVD
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36EtDd7HpK
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHn2w2RGpT
"L-Listen, Kenny..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qkid9P30X
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFEY38K1qp
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZFcLAbVvC
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG7OaVZ2nT
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aKhGxmQA0
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH4zyDzAkb
"..."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtNQEa3sYQ
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo4bDx5Amc
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT0ODZQpY5
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLScXNw8sJ
–
–
–
He had a talk, to say the least. Kenny grew better. He had a difficult time talking to others, and despite the discussion, his feelings for the incident and himself didn't go away entirely.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmfagLh3XB
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BxwBWT2cH
But Kenny was fine. He turned twelve, and he was about to board a carriage. Yes, he accepted that offer. Transportation wasn't free, and despite Kenny's insistence on paying for it himself, a carriage was in front of him while his coin sack was completely full.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGxfrE3CCh
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2khmIvruA
Kenny turned to those saying goodbye. It was practically the whole village, but Anabelle and Jackson were at the front. Kenny swore he was going to cry again, but he held himself back. He was wearing the clothes Anabelle gifted him. His snow white jacket with brown buttons and outlining, his complementary light-brown pants. It did make the environment a bit toasty though.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGe8spw1wr
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQewrs7kqNm
None of that was important. What was important right now was that he was hugging Anabelle and Jackson. What was important right now was that he was boarding the carriage and waving goodbye to his village. His home.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhQEIPv6xG
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s6YSsEQtW
He was going to ascend King's Peak. It sounded a little crazy to him, but it was really happening. Kenny brought the tome and his equipment with him. He couldn't believe that a simple set of gifts got him this far.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AmKwlD9Ti
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjr7fmjmIS
He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH4UTzG3K7
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT32ZmNcmT
Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKzBzu3EhM
167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT4u598wpT
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That's what he remembered. All of that. Not all of his questions were answered, but he was glad he remembered that much. He got up from the rock and scratched his head. He wished that he remembered how exactly it came to this, though. Kenny was in a rocky field. His carriage was totaled, the horses were missing, and his driver was dead on the ground.
ns 15.158.61.5da2
