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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hNfb2Rpc3
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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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc509EgrxI
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Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBn47qywWe
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHpKBx4FGD
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiheFrREgwN
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"Happy birthday, Kenny."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWqQD4Svjt
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQly7NfdKG8
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTRCYgKip8
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFmyhTwLw1
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That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtUJ7gunKR
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Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnRo2QjII6
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQUsmuGrGf
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MYq2rR5GC
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBl7GUBWit
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObhBVrEI67
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtalw5g32J
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"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4881iOfog
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMvFKl2bQI
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhMDorfDvG
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Lxm47gklJ
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eOZEFg2f4
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6OACozcRT
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuoKGM2pci
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMmUVypd7W
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gKn9ni7Tr
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"What is this, Kenny?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6pqWmJzZ8
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"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6T0SDwiIF
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH1yM5nCas
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡancBEHiHrS
"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1mQVgw8rr
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOvI5woz3f
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"Christina, do you know what this means?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sgdeTmnH0
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His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCwBU90Yjd
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"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMYhQBl4B6
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y5Y9dYtiS
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It was.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgOinu20LJ
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleEUVWgXH7
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wBUWqysPH
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjlZjywYkH
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAOFV98xBH
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"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUchlY0M2h
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Kenneth ran upstairs.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fRsfJGFbx
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4hjbYfABA
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXgBfl15y4
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"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoPbiVLn54
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Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JnvP7uM04
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"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZVw1VlNad
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Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrkS1bMwuV
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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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VnPr383rI
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That was when Kenneth's life began.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4hY0AlqHK
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjD7G2RP2N
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9bIcujLMr
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvD0eIj3Wr
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdgAn0PQQ
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AaFEbLSZF
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15d0mfG3Kg
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SLy6WQzNi
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYxeLtucht
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"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2C7xI6ODr
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWscJxoCDo
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"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvB4sd8XaY
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"J-Just some plants, Dad..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiooZ5xMVY
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"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcxzN4Sa4s
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG21GcLmdJ
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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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmEUBrU1LW
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Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEmn8WILh2
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Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3fGEnBsK4
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N5EthYIEG
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoDivCNher
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1rQEvVS82
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What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC47NOJ6k4
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5yI8BBuN7
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm49RHegwBM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WOsHYAI0k
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUjqGuXMzS
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA7EHMQTAq
"...It's dead."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnfrv4RuRC
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NfDM63eGL
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSofiCLxPa
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTkO1IR9wz
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckKZTqH26p
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhUrlgUxRK
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguwy7vGY66
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLTC20s890
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipipkNpSZ6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WbF0vjpR1
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV5MwJX8I1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTQ1JZax5i
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxnZYTFw5Y
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XUF8BEnHM
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM6tYb7TZ5
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO1y4MbG2I
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–139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyzr1Ra5hN
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFaubfHGb6
**THUD**139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmIxJE8Yzb
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVQB5ljox8
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtswrZ7CgE
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69N8pQmA6K
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLpoTWU5Ba
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNBfh64r2p
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1hlsgg8ET
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJumnxMzL9R
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfWDpwTEJh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA8dCd9C3q
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuapaTciEtm
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z9Ut5yoFv
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e91893CuR
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TYgNRHWbu
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRpG4OIX6B
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbgStIHae5
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCHEaJPIU4
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNR6UH1BH6
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYXXUYW6NL
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX5qdxIFlx
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjxtqc7H6P
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7YespLSX4
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxpBPTFRFu
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DsiTIIxxR
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1n1NyZ85S
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuY7BwLjLH
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktcle4Fbtd
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkEPHTCJKf
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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALglunEPXU
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mHMsOjiFp
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeks1wzURZO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19yh7AGN6F
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK2tspaDoh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eFbW0iJeT
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaJkvOaeuk
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CxbtgSDT3
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCNU68E0tc
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjD5WNBRBe
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzg2FvjhlN
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnHox2BjWb
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bJgMoB6LH
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxJ3GbrzOL
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzxdahHXIg
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVQSIbAG3T
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSENJWXTA8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCP3Ar6YcP
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwPwvLp0ej
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMJTaUnUNm
Kenny fainted.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsmZj1l4l4
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0rPjIWIjW
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghOQ0YSKh0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoylPq5QVrl
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHqG8JOi79
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe3RJglGn4
"...What in the world?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyML1D4Bwo
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmELINxly41
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NZZKSt5Og
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFwhCKRj36
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R0qEHXbLJ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhevtIwgH9D
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnPkzykqgK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qW72EOqex
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsun53zkon
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrqVH6I9oY
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVQ9RhrHCl
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XD0lO4nV8
"So that's what it is..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzGoagpDm2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLy1sW83Tl
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZj8eNRT0N
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u8825bMdQ
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOLRby71Lu
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJTC9r5nJL
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmepKcFIEi
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEPsQ6MHbi
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVFrMggY9o
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz58KxkLZC
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DgRvGrGQM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1qZofBF2W
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI8dRpt1Q5
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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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbJATYq8tK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry3UMYYCEt
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT3LKMqNe6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPxPd58Cg2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomo0Q5w3oA
"...Dad–"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8jd2BbZ8g
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYQP6c2tT3
"Huh?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9vwy7Ylie
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSGNn6ET6G
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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOsn2b7PXe
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHVLzridhz
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5RvPniKxB
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKya7Q1jva
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWxh2YINy3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEG7GwsYmd
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC5nkKO9u3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbnJh6oJLR
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DJumZFkBP
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHG6qMEecj
Kenny just didn't understand why.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7V2WpnuTBu
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIPTlouZHf
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNzYfSa90Z
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPrjoPqwVS
Mother was arrested that day.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSQuilRL8y
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9YzYPC5KL
–
–
–
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNomKaTrcM9
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR81cKTWRMx
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy78Zheb6K
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZnHrZnmpH
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNuoz6GpAP
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1x3c18nD7
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IwPCGthe0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEl3mPyMiG
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroQRGtsbSg
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnD3Qcxzc9
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnYQZvU7YS
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gA9FPNaXY
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMrh4qSowO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeoJVOlpJe
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7zWmFqVgI
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJswaGQCDe
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigQXH4WWZz
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ205RJu5slC
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi8I4q7Klr
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm91VrGWP4
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtW79iNNDA
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4JHLEjitM
It went on for another month.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFZ01PEhYX
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Then another.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tIJnhvqlj
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9jCzgXRrY
Then another.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzpwU1W49w
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hlkzKXzJZ
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbjt2rXZum
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbreLZjuLZ
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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ92vcEERO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln3z0seFhd
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpb8KXOMp8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd1la87Kjb
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2I4fNNmF6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1btxIUlBR
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv5Bfr4wmk
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdPvRaSykM
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1XQet27Vf
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kxQ08zNpG
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjr8Dk3gfX
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And Kenny reminded himself of this.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3deIU5Wbb
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUp4WtbSZl
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerlPxytnH8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk12jahV2N
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtwXWYmviM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaerCXgF6Zz
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59dYRpjZ0a
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYxlbkp0EY
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjqVDYLJZY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPMnEw8YKt
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9jsNzX6I2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iVC2SA41Y
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRgB0fWvCg
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBly8YGMIP
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWisWcl8BSi
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OFdBMbIqd
Over and over.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lzKlKrEfo
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MKuH2HjWm
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEFT5Y1SvD
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4jfd2NNpD
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgvgiiDSLG
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7xtVOdvk7
–
–
–
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlF08fZPUj
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD8Y46VaVF
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusWZChT8Th
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSWU2yPsQt
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnZUUK8LOQ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgzwicjC0s
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr2FEYNtPM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxADALQDlCV
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5npGnia1vu
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5ssV37VXN
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V1KXcAAXr
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiM2QOuQ2j
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd4idB3SjA
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUneEq4e7kN
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDgGNWLTPj
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkd0nObk9a
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NdXGB9a18
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzruD1mKvP4
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmWmsy97ft
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kalOs8VSj
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrEjR27dCE
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78NfnSAqEl
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5JjuClrFw
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHif1USYq2
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6bNuYFwTP
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOErigaCT1b
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeKpBPRM2D
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39XY1aAQHW
It was an invitation.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqbubRBENK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxFpVERlRU
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlvWi3uJ2f
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1SCMZJIg9
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCAJ5BS5lT
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplPZgPUwg9
"What am I supposed to do?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NV2tOsLpO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX5bHEWupg
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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw4EQHDmJm
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeVA1FTqYU
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04DH4Gm89f
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYPRgVhd27
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnNgO1vONQ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6pg31dI2j
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5kPfe8aIr
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF2Qs9Z5kY
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvRndV9cqf
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWz5OtYqTc
The stationary plant went missing.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L1sbjkvv0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F9gBWL3ZT
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d4vSNhvKk
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DrMCJDuWA
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGA468mkv9
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRSH8YR1L7
Dragon-Maw went missing.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhklaMHVuzH
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO2VPXVjrD
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFkfBVDGWh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovpEtQdd5v
"...Why?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMBi7SdaiQ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNp49n7WDM
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsbb2BVNUZ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35qMi4ZMO5
And still, Kenny took his essence.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jWgoYTh8u
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx6dED3are
Of course he would leave.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFp0qOBEL4
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtiDAr2mA9
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHe6gMdcC6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBy1aagSMX
–
–
–
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGSjwnoDFK
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDc4MM2nRT
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–139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQpOREWAjh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYOXme7Nvr
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkrruVkayM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea53DlLKq2
"Kenny. Come out here."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mZRrFa64V
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6toWWhQydb
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjNDR1FSCn
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qDvz2jxVG
"W-Woah!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd37TIPP4tY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwej0i3WLUo
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI8yXfCHRv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeXvUZYQWq
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7C5rnoq53
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bzRYcmHgs
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwfazx7xbz
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscEAImI2vQ
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjs1ZBIG8u
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbIsxLPrA7
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9nKoKJZyO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuRflnQ8Yg
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdDAF3ypH1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUGGSFidt3
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAXKnZ0QMS
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFImKPIpO2
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14XRUxGIXv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkm9hT1GBf
Kenny didn't get it.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0I3F1Aw5e
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTazqbOyRym
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1518dWW6I
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdY3LEyCMp
"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!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQZUjAyrKP
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1NlJEnCrP
"I... whaa?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8womp0ZpTV
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLp2xYWF2X
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?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKET7vqgO8
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZO7Pkhsk6
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFIM5or0RR
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDkjRiTqn3
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5Z1fZe58m
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkvE0eSSB2
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh3e86iRY3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVwtqVFuTL
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWb5Q46tZA
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8yDvBcHQt
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–139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oTFHjqaln
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrG23akN7N
"Huh?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lQvU4NFGT
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AgQTAVEtv
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxxR2jJliH
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQcsUdnbgK
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB67dod1oU
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBj3jiCc4X
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MgNhrUiZj
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCATs5QtJe6
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGa1yVEc81
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzllP4SiYCQ
"Uh... sure?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcITch3t1d
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTMx2nIYu9
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIchQToCFM3
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFf0oD89E4
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpUxU4IBj6
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rp9p6wDV7
No, Kenny couldn't still.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzomX730jV1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFDbDxIKpO
He still didn't know what was going on.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5393s3UwvG
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhJxGyeXhT
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnItMHVElv
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZhB3ZbGRU
"...Big Brother."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfFMZ1lALt
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTPjRznaRJ
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMIrVY6wl1
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm41oJRDQx7
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqQJYlW9Vw
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SF8Egfno0
But then he smiled.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMy9aXiSBF
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusEepn6eie
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbUhTAt01t
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLFxgbJf95
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85vPX2eNZk
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh5AHKyKZp
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg3gmorHs4
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipYSyYjiSw
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9xEVp9ohO
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsZl97FBv6
"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–"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD9Zrcd571
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yEjvHlQ1u
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAsZv1ZVmY
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHDLHSeiEt
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz08iW5mn2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb71cG9V9o
"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?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfGnq96Byl
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqMKUcAbFW
"W-What? Huh?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOLFiwHtEo
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWCgzjBuPL
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHlS0gq5Fc
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANNyFWNqTD
This was insulting.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU1rmFoJea
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0AycQjoQN
This was just insulting now.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby0PkzZhjh
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsKE4yDzkn
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8l2QIywh4
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpupyIjLiro
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1U1PR8XhM
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNecKMODqlj
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVtEmHIOGC
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0cMONgjdw
And then something shattered in him.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cHOmngNjE
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYhozuCiMd
What was making him so hung up?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a8swVO2V9
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH9JZvthdL
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!**139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUQGGb5fEz
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFboD9FiMN
"...Huh?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVZxszA5rZ
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGyZNG4MFi
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcakJWNWngE
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF34rBZ2g0
"L-Listen, Kenny..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtXnR93OrT
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9iLICmsdp
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKTq2IQzya
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1XD0XkllV
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4VTc5TuDT
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERYfE6LEDn
"..."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAZ8ybbuS9
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI49k6I66Z
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1soL2iRa2
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfccn2MHXF
–
–
–
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiWlaFRxNR
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlOKNLCpJ9
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3SSDJiyq9
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfOzbrSzW8
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx7QnmoLr0
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12wMryDTsw
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwtfpQIEvx
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDTrim5dQa
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdwMF67vQA
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0LAFWak4n
He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvXCWwaH0
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Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sZgcZUSUA
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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 15.158.61.23da2
