The fat Nigel and I amassed was substantial for the potion. I didn’t know what to do with the leftovers, but I didn’t dare to throw the fruits of our hard work away. It wasn’t as if another endurance potion wouldn’t be needed.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHvVpBc6sU
“Now all I need to do is to finalize it.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I0nc8Vm7j
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPIdnTTbug
A few minutes of careful mana suspension was the remaining requirement for a job well done. I did so easily, channeling my shaky focus to form it with haste. The liquid turned deep blue, the color of the distant sea, meaning that–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PZHMvxIST
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OvJWWPkuE
“It’s a resounding success. Awesome.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTb5i5uYHR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszFRlhtU2L
I wiped my brow with my forearm and patted my face with my collar. I wasn’t sweaty or anything, but my head felt undeniably hot, likely from all the blood that rushed to fuel my attention. That aside, I now had a finished product to deliver, but as I tasked myself I came at a small crossroads.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KWJjQKEI6
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnxYPF4dG7
Should I go and deliver this now, or make a healing potion, and deliver this later?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvr41z10xa
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvo9BveUZx
“...”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZtdHQAthD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViRR4JhFZQ
It seemed obvious to me what the answer was. Pragmaticism dictated the practice of the former, as the recipients of this potion were operating under borrowed time. But my left mind dictated otherwise; it told me that it would be a slight– no, a flagrant offense if I didn’t brew that medicine.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9TNio3lBU
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“...That’s new. Where did you come from?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQebVrUsvC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBn2xLvUZQ
Thoughts like that– I didn’t recall having them. I was hit from left field by this warping, contorting, sapping feeling in my chest. It didn’t disturb me, however. Rather, I was confused. I was uncomfortable, but I could bear this panging, especially with a distracting duty.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWzC4vEa5c
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“I know better. I don’t have the time for that. No, I don’t.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B1gEINCBK
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzinFX2x0H6
Indeed, I was creating with urgency. I spent enough excess time finding ingredients as it was, so any further stalling would jeopardize the whole city. I had to get out, and get out now–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvqPqJ3URC
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“...”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4SKbRlxcb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1jtWApvmp
But when I jerked my legs to do so, they didn’t. They stood in place, locked to the ground by that warping sensation. I clicked my tongue, because now I realized what was happening, and my irritated frown turned into a worried grimace.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROvfm7Xavw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibdmtdSF5k
Even though I had a duty, to leave Rover to hang with a broken leg longer than she had to, left me with a pit in my stomach. It’s Especially so, because I had the power and the will to relieve her.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWOqrEnc5F
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj1oOWqSlG
Fortunately, I had a compromise. I found that compromise in my bag, slouched against the wall. I sifted through it and found what I needed, then made a quick exit from the booth.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS4GP0Hd74
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Knock, knock, knock. The strength of my banging knuckles surprised even me. I stocked hardly half the force in my flicks to produce such noise. But I summed up the cause immediately. I was nervous.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xIXjZrzIe
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBCCOY1X12
“Yes?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cyLlJ4CDI
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiafUm3K9HZ
The door opened quickly, revealing a Lola who was peekingher head through the opening. Her countenance lost its vigilance once she saw me, and it likewise calmed me down.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZWHVTx7SF
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrtrCyW1LH
“You’re here what I think you’re for, aren’t you?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sLVyDXpDg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wFOqxdiAp
“Y-Yes, Lola. Here, this is the potion I made.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpLK56arYC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbCwY3PERg
I stretchedmy arm out as she widened the door. She grabbed it with her free hand and inspected it on all planes. At some point, she stopped twirling and nudging it and blankly stared at the blue. I noticed now how fluidly the streams swirled.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCpMWOKjmQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtberHKjbP
“You made this in eighty minutes?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtOqnlDRV3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrNrwo4YOX
“Did I take too long? I’m sorry, I had to grab some ingredients from a lower floor–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksK4PnlEhm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu6dQhyL9L
“No, not at all. I was expecting you to take longer. Thank you, Kenny, I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4FtPqVWu4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4Bfqu2R2j
I raised my hands bashfully and rapidly waved them at her.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF7fmzYoDP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtfmDvNIRb
“No no no, please don’t! You’re helping us enough as is.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPI0bEDuwP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tnXbWRur3
“If you insist.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVFUCb1vEA
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She said so with an upscaling cadence, poorly singing the last syllable. I blinked a few times, and my eyes reopened to blaring blurs. Only my mother ever did that.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDCqyD01mq
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“Kenny?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvL6f6lXBm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RTjy6Fi1p
“O-Oh, right. Do you need me for anything else?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJVXyQOD4o
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy1xrqGDq2
“Hmm,” she hummed, clasping her chin, “if we do, I’ll bug you. For now, make yourself at home, and get plenty of rest. You’ll need it for what comes next.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPRiiqxOnr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFT1zoy8Sf
I let out a chuckled sigh and slapped a hand on my chest, muttering a breathy “thank you.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10hTzq50RI
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmQPGwaEZo
“There is something I’d like to ask you, however, just before you go.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ825NYgj1Z7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReFGchRbHO
She said so right as I turned to leave. I twisted my head and looked at her, gesturing for her to shoot.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1xpoF3dnK
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3izCuItUOM
“The concoction in your other hand; that bright green tint can only mean one thing, yes? A healing potion.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO76H5idYhQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSciz1s9oq
I nodded at her assessment. I realized the speed at which this could turn dangerous.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06WrP4ARpj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2wj0B5xac
“I see. I see, I see…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8q9wwzkTg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoMw2hdbEl
“A-Are you going to make me make one for each soldier?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW6ScWCF4A
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJzxsH1YCZ
“No, I won’t ask that of an outsider, let alone a child– oh, sorry, you don’t like being called that, do you?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya982xfjBD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pMvDeHlZA
“...Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you being considerate, Lola. Is there anything else?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoPYUlEqAw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgidRfGsmT
“I-If you don’t mind my prying, could you answer a few questions for me?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnVDJYPwjB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD452X1oNDK
She stepped over the threshold and closed the door, but stopped just short of shutting it. As much as I wanted to chat with her, though, I had somewhere else to be.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhisCgUUhfz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsSgIgxYa8
“Please?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsagCZr8zW
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY81mWS08c
Though it was difficult to draw a line while she was making such a face.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rXDRA4GaT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KfureQgzS
“F-Fine, but please make them short. I have somewhere I need to be.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVdCw0sZPB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYCBnViwUG
“Thank you, I will. It’s just two quick questions. First–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBWwgexkai
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9HIcaJSfW
She paused right before asking, as if a crucial memory struck her from the woodwork. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30HMYuDZYv
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5GP3hodsx
“–How long have you been an alchemist?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDBpHoK75m
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPWLIMKVTv
“I’d say… hold on, that question has two answers. Commercially, it’s been about three years(1). Personally, it’s been for… seven?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSNTEvWScL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9MVa8msxR
“Seven years? That’s over half your life, isn’t it?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvIipf0VVC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAx4hmXCH9
I gave a simple shrug with sandwiched lips.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQrMVUW3gL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuRvrD90sf
“I started young. That’s all.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB7z5Jw2xS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmSq6rdfDn
“I see. Being trained at such a young age, no wonder why you’re so skilled.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtlpJchOLc
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg0hnQk80X
“P-Please, don’t flatter me. I appreciate the remarks, but they just…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLkKdSNSZz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCCV1GzHIN
They don’t sit right with me, I wanted to say, but Lola gave a predictive, discerning nod, so I stopped speaking.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxSQAFgLZN
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNsUNysAUb
“Only seven years… then, maybe–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV9oZLt770
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQlPg28oM9
“Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch it.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruKC5gGoLR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJOF7Jx1Qy
She jumped and then waved her hand.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6MpuDWPf8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QEW0zXD1A
“Don’t worry, I was just thinking out loud. Anyhow, for my next question…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxhd7C9HUR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThBZMh63Fa
“Right.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u6rHNu1W4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbSnmUMSuB
“...I apologize if this may seem extreme, but I have to ask.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm5Kch91A5
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JkMWeWR5S
She straightened herself and turned her head left and right, seemingly afraid of anyone hearing in. That assumption was validated by her leaning her head in.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK5GzRNTUO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdUWp7oft9
“Did you kill anyone in the last operation?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphxX44GiL7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOzlbBCPYz
“I– Wha!?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAarlQSkUmK
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I couldn’t keep my voice down, much to her dismay. But, goodness, could she blame me? She put a hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down, which I quickly did, but I still had a storm thrashing in my skull.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSskrpayIA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4qz7WEpoZ
“Who asks something like that to a child!?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidcXEb5OCH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaDfn5XxB8
“Shh! I know it’s selfish, but it’s for my own peace of mind! I have to know, please, did you?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEoKvhmHGY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVBo7DqlDa
“Your own… peace of mind?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfL7Mfoiw4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxzE7zz0zJ
When it was twisted that way, suddenly, I wasn’t so apprehensive. I was still bewildered, but answering that question didn’t feel like falling into a trap anymore. And so, reluctantly, my lips spoke the answer.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup2WYb9TeA
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“I didn’t. I hurt some people, but I never landed a killing blow.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacZIl3F0OT
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“I-I see. That’s a relief. Oh my goodness, that’s a relief.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSgVNmLoyg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEelFBQnW6
She leaned against the door, closed it, and putting her hand on her brow, she closed her eyes and began to… pant? I wondered how she could be so worried. I was beginning to think she might have a screw loose.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvuSzUP7Xe
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“Thank you for humoring me. You have no idea how much it calms me, to know there’s no blood on such a young man’s hands. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CEfVSIbPi
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cqfFCk8TO
“You… for some reason, I feel like you regard me much more highly than you should.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bA30WbW6u
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She shrugged at my comment.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgBUKlfGLN
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“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I think I’ll keep you guessing. Now, shoo! You have somewhere to be, don’t you?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXT3LCf1Pg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9907nkVGU4
Brushing me off with perfect logic before I could respond to her outrageous statement, I clicked my tongue inward and turned on my foot.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNrVrox2bO
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“Goodbye Lola,” I shouted. She opened the door and slid right through, waving at me right before closing it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mRt0u0o0q
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–
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As I inched closer to the infirmary, my body had an expected reaction. I coped with it accordingly, though that didn’t make it easy to move.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnb2MMOKON
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdypapJk4jk
With every progressing movement of my foot came a wave of resistance double the magnitude. I had to dig my soles into the floor to wade through the spasms, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth just to keep my limbs moving.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5zXz9G2In
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Of course, I was exaggerating. But goodness, did that swelling weight pound against my chest. My limbs did shake as I reached for the knob, but I managed to grasp it and keep my hand there.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWDjnwBY73
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“...This is ridiculous.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnSa6ukdQK
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbs9v69sUD
I sighed. I looked at the healing potion and gave it a few light shakes, watching the agent crash like small waves against the flask. If push came to shove, I could drop this off by the bed or table and turn the other way. In fact, if I had to convince myself that was all I had to do just to open this damned door, then I would do so. So I kept saying so, a lunatic hustling his mantra.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAajBRru1I1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDexjKM1j3
“Just go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it– off!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6IMmHdAKJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVv6tvka7P
In the midst of my chanting, I bit the arrow and slammed it open. It looked far removed from how I imagined it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlXCOMsRN1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXIMqSMH5T
Instead of a small room with curtain-covered beds lined up with uniform spacing, it was a small room lined with dingy, almost make-shift mattresses. About eight people were in the room, and one was slouched on a chair opposite of me, his head hung and his arms crossed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnw0rsHvnd
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And seeing how his groggy face raised to meet mine, I realized how noisy my entrance was.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLwhtjjVKM
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlxtGxj5Fy
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb anyone. I’m just here to deliver something.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEYuc7SxeL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz7MZ4NLcr
“...Hmm.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysaw1SEE0R
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdofEBw0YrW
The man stood up and haggardly walked to me. From his gait alone, I could tell he’d been drinking, though I wondered how exactly he got his hands on alcohol. He stopped a few paces before me, took one long look with narrowed eyes, and casually shrugged.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RNCto0R02
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“Do whatever.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnPMbXsiSp
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“R-Right. Thank you, sir.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTiZUzTkDg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0kN3dJbEe
He gave me a thumbs-up and plodded back to his chair. I looked around the room, feeling blessed from my lucky break, and eyed all the patients.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMleOK4xBy
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBmNGGcOqT
While most were in their mock-up beds, either sleeping, eating, or chatting away, one mattress was empty. By process of elimination, it belonged to the person I was looking for.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAckmz5XHJP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6mKDD7Kav
“D-Darn it.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjtOqkjzan
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXZmjWAzTP
Gnawing on my fingers, I did one more sweep before releasing a sigh. Rover was nowhere to be seen– not in the beds, not on the window sill, not in the corners, nothing–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vsw9ZmEga
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAOwmViwcu
“What are you doing here?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrrOtX5XJg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5AMZvXVVo
And then I heard a voice call from me. I jolted, nearly dropping my flask, and turned to face its timbre. Only as I saw its bearer’s face, did its course tone ring a bell in me.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW81Y5SEgoX
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeneodQXaG
There was Rover, sitting in the one corner out of my sight, eyeing me with a lion’s eyes.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ8xyZulFe
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPBQqa9dAr
“...U-Uh.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzBzitcCYZ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJXJKVmy2P
All my systems shut down at that moment. It was one thing to imagine meeting her, but seeing her face-to-face instead of a mere effigy I controlled the responses of was a completely different beast.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp0f0oNqqU
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQkDJgloD8
“Well? Come on, spit it out.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWfI9WAXec
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhniKu20cFF
“I… I-I.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbldoTuD79
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKC4yWB1ni
My body didn’t shake. My eyes didn’t blink, my lips didn’t part, and only the functions of my lungs and stiff throat continued normally. I was completely and utterly frozen.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULEBuQlpo7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwATDz5ADKt
Suddenly, I felt my face fire up. It was a familiar feeling, but I was vulnerable during its assassination. In front of another person, of whom I had their undivided attention, witnessing my pale cheeks light like fireflies.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgKhWp69eh
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKO3oi36R8
That shame was too much to bear. I stuck my hand out, darting my eyes between her and the potion, and even orbiting my other hand around the flask to emphasize it. Despite me putting it on a pedestal, Rover tilted her head with an eyebrow that raised to the ceiling.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5zOKsWVyY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEx8Q03hsU
“I don’t have time for this, just spit it out!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSqeDWYilr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKzUnmKkPx
“I-I’m here.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUvFCF6jPS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhb6c94yyv
By some miracle, her urging words kicked my chords into action, and I was beginning to form words again. Only, they didn’t have a present pilot.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8RpDYLptq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTTCMQv6dG
“I’m– I made— I– Rover, I’m here–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiax5eknj2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog01rRgDuA
As I kept stumbling over myself, Rover rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She looked at me, tapping her finger on herself as if she was waiting for me to stop.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIRtVpTT9N
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiqPI2wAeb
“I…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtA5lIhNmd
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQCbenQoWM
I sighed and pinched my nose, shook my head, and slapped my left cheek. I looked at the corner between the wall and ceiling, whispered something akin to a prayer, and finally looked that woman in the eyes.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzAjjHRZga
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2xLndppP3
“Hello, Rover.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmrPVCrUYK
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhxp5mdYF2
“Hey, Kenny.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0ydhOKnhY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XlY9YjfHg
I retracted my stretched arm, then extended it yet again.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4XofE6jGA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNfFubKfKq
“I made you this. It’s something I made, in light of the news I heard. Well, it’s just leftovers, but I did want to make one for you–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfS6cjFQjm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlctLIUby3Z
“Cut to the chase!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv95twUQRF3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjrNikXjn4
“R-Right. It’s a healing potion. I heard that your leg sustained a major injury, and so, I’d like to give this to you. For some relief, and quicker healing.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUHbN7ESXg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrIDgjnSC2
Her eyes widened. Her crossed arms slackened, and I took it as a signal to move forward. I took it incorrectly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAMEeRUH3q
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz9ZNEM89l
“Hold on, you brought me a potion?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyDpTQvkdp
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldi2eY8v9Y
“Y-Yes.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP3r699epg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1Xsn5P7j0
“Now who told you to do that?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOFUV7OaO8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9gNspvNZa
“W-Well–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jrrLQKoFV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmWB0UTPCm
Nigel suggested it, but he didn’t tell me. No, mulling over that was wasteful spending. There was only one truth in this situation:74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGSMU53n2Q
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYNeU2ok9T
“I wanted to do it. I wasn’t told.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmSjfnLC8F
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERS1BeoYnV
“...You? That wimpy Kenny?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDGNZFA3ZF
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCtTGfPcwF
I wasn’t mad at her insult. It was all too accurate.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5DVlSAnNX
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MZQguhOOX
“Yes, the wimpy Kenny.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsikUW0yJ9
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw96Rc97lOb
“Ha! You’ve surprised me before, but this really blew my expectations out of the water!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnysdBczrK
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWADhZBwPj2
She rubbed under her nose and hummed to herself with a satisfied tune. As I couldn’t read her mind, I stood in place and didn’t budge.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU663Lcb78
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7mLzc2t8K
“I refuse your treatment!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh27DSnZNlr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfEsFODqS6
“H-Huh!?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlciEwWuzRP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzj53Ml1cf
In a single moment, all my apprehension had been voided. All anxiety and dread, crumpled into a ball and thrown out a window, replaced by a slate of terrible vexation.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbKgyyjrjm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vwqZqkSnJ
“Why not? Don’t you want to recover faster?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B45A8ParN
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGgwYCfUXy
“Of course I do, but I can’t accept it. Not when you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAVu3Y4y3e
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sWMPa3TKY
“I– Wha?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlqlKuC6dV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPkK1MRzHJ
I stopped pointing my finger and used it to feel around my face. There was no mirror, so it was the best I could do. Something was off with it, and if I didn’t figure out what, then I couldn’t give Rover this potion, and I couldn’t confront–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9a0rfbJ5X
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfxlxi9iXz
“No, stupid! It’s the face you’re making! It’s weird!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9JZGCJkKa
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6ESwUSbtm
“Stupid? Weird!?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNEv79zPlw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX41CKZDoZR
“Do you need the whole room to hear it!? You’re looking at me like a weirdo!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pUH3fiOwe
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlabjX5ZX4p
“...”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCVH70Oaq2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaqrKNOnsu
The energy to argue was sapped. I understood what she said, and could do nothing but stare with mouth agape. Rover leaned further against the wall and looked at me with her chin raised.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByEpIAno2V
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMcPvbiYQe
“Why are you looking at me like that? Hmph.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdjux2vdBE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8HCXyuK43
As I had no other mode of operating at this moment, I blurted my immediate response.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonMbMnWYs3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBqpG2FuEA
“It’s because I upset you.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3PR2qUrQj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3fW5xsgNz
And then I realized that something like this required thoughtful phrasing.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDlfS1737a
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd05MnuDqQe
“I don’t– well, I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzL9by19fk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkajSWibx1E
“That’s bullshit! Man, forget answering that, I don’t need your whole, your spiel you know!? Come here!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFQ4KfZG88
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SBKUu80so
“Come, there,” I asked, pointing to myself.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4XA7khOgC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUOcLAlcEp
“Yes. Sit by me, I can’t stand looking at your working legs.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKMcttXt5b
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaAB68k7Ih
“S-Sheesh.” 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabLsvgBCcE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp8DddITb0
I didn’t even begin thinking of a way to respond to that. I just did as I was asked and walked to her side, sitting against the wall beside her. She snatched the potion right out of my hand and eyed it like an appraiser. Only, if said appraiser was terrible at imitating one.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OxFnDNZbO
“How do I use this thing?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSGBKSTctQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrXZfHnz3I
“You, uhm, you have to drink it. If you have a needle, you can inject it right into your leg, that’ll make it work faster, but not better.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0GV45lZOl
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PAvMfc4DZ
“Drinking works for me.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfGLLzfY8L
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHm73Ky4fx
She popped the cork and chugged it to its last drop. She shook every drop out, set the flask on the ground, and entered a fierce coughing fit.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA4pbwZ2Tn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VwczxgmAw
“Cah! What the hell, is in this thing?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCtUhOhpGk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHNDQSEuYm
“That’s not the problem! You drank it too fast, you dingus!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2jWF5PNx8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX4BlmAnMR
She looked at me with sharp eyes but couldn’t do anything in the midst of her coughing. I slapped her back a few times to help it pass her throat, and after a moment, she calmed down.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mhd2uRyz9
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAriUsceuVl
“If you drink like that, it’s likely to go down the wrong pipe.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lwqTLcjuA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rxnVKBTUN
“Whatever.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9QiCyXzT2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzOnbI4KNL
With her dismissive reply, she turned her head to the side with what I could only imagine was a pout. I silently sighed, because for all the gritting teeth and flexing fingers her behavior should’ve invoked, it was within my whetted expectations. I tolerated her usual brashness rather well– in fact, my body was as relaxed as a koala. But I didn’t come here to watch her pout, and I no doubt must’ve warranted that face somehow. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriAzAG8pv4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XU23KQOIb
She discarded my earlier words, but they were genuine. I didn’t want to make her stressed. Not any more than a person with such a leg should have.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhgxFk0PQd
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAnMHYonj8
And so, I got up from my improvised seat and brushed the little bits of dust that landed on my pants. I turned to Rover, who already had her eyes meeting mine. It was with such swiftness, that I almost staggered before my goodbye. Almost, but I fixed myself before it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXMzbBLYHY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI67MGmeRl9
But before I could even take anpreludebreath, she spoke, reading my intentions.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytmEt6Umlm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe32wOxsnvQ
“Leaving already?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahtIdJgtpo
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnxMofvnZs
“I-I am, yes. I think it would be best. It isn’t as if I don’t have–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHswdkE1aA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgkP98dpSg
“Hold on, not yet. I still have something to say to you.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE29ESsn9Ai
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFASZ7CNiSt
She didn’t reach a hand. No, not one inch of her body nudged my way. But her crossed arms and crunched eyes enacted a greater force than her limbs ever could, as if a fortress wall materialized on my head. My butt returned to the floor soon after, but what I tried my hardest not to reveal, was that it was self-assisted.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0k4yZmnOt
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKDoqdcvwT
“That’s funny. I do too. Do you mind if I start first?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4sSu4Izuv
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo2cYQGQQ4
She shook her head back and forth, keeping that iron countenance but giving me the go-ahead. It made spitting out my words difficult, but I was lucky to have rehearsed them. Only a little, of course.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXohjXjSBP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHsO0O5gW3
“I wanted to tell you, that I’m sorry for what happened earlier. My conduct, of course. I was just– you remember what I’m talking about, right? Back in our little rented room?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy18jX0oCFT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF4gRZKCRs
“Yeah, I do. I remembered how much of a wuss you were.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoPwn3j0hk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhkZMCNcrH
I almost chuckled. Blunt as a bat, but it hit a bullseye.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUWPxwKTVx
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vq1ACoO6X
“I was being conducted by fright. I couldn’t fathom, putting myself out there, and making myself a part of this mess. Risking my life, your life, Juke’s. But, honestly, those reasons took a backseat.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzHkolTfaj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChhhwXdjQw
I noticed the subtlest rise of her right brow.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrL8i4ezA3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtedcf5CGzq
“I thought that, the lower the engagement, the better it would be. Screw the job, screw the people. The less involved I was, the better. The less it was up to me, the better. I don’t fully get it– not yet I do –but with the words I have, I can tell you this much: that’s how I felt.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykSzhk3Unc
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlaYoArz5T
She nodded along to my apology. It looked like she was expecting more, but I was finished. So she’d understand, I concluded with–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9FDX3wUc4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcnsoNbvaF
“So yeah, I’m sorry for being such a wuss.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwzshhBFoR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wyPRIISgV
“...Hmm. Ha, I guess kids really do grow so fast.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dfPmv6mlu
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOq6nBxkOt
“H-Huh?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesj6R1rbI2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4gFJyDmol
She rubbed her nose a little and continued talking.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtzo1Ptsa1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqcGogkA7g
“Just look at you. You’re nothing like the Kenny I knew.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPft7Xis2b
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGkgVGTrlu
“I-I, well, I don’t know if I agree–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwaDYTBsTj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPADc81SJo
“Nah, on second thought, I take that back. But that doesn’t matter anyway. Seriously, just look at you.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkbSKDeKC7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJJ7nYtPeK
“I’m n-nothing so special.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn2oVIXGhP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLCJNN21SU
“Sure you ain’t. But here you are, in a room with a bunch of battle casualties. You’re in the same mess I’m in, and you’re finally working to get that letter back!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6sxY4l7Gs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjTIRQ0F1e
“The letter certainly isn’t a priority.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJra0lFQmL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI2Cwiz5mX
She casually clicked her tongue, tilted her head sideways, and waved her hand downward.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gYHFAufOT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKk5kWEIbf
“Don’t sweat the details. That’s not the point. The point is that you’re in the same room as me again, and that means you finally grew a pair.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzknb33wDyD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY2yuFXZWY
Whether it was he boorish phrasing or encouraging insistence, something about her made me sit on those words. I raised a hand to my chin and looked up at nothing, entrenched in thought. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEDt3D3eou
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzuSePvny4
It took me only a few 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fjeqJHItW
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YfezF9ZBi
“I don’t think so. I don’t think I grew anything.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWmzyEM8pU
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjShV5W8uq
“‘Course you did! Stop giving me such crap–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uknEAGRkV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGFCTgRVwc
“No, really, Rover.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtNjS0hl1W
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf3DR5Jhc7
I slouched my posture and leaned back, lifting myself with my hands behind me. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wgudKwnEz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN4284aiU2
“I think I’m just lucky.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNwgiPNTKp
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQOV6jIZaV
I veered my eyes away from the ceiling, looking into Rover’s, and was taken aback by her utter dejection. Or was it disgust?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpmBhPT6JT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WfuchrSE6
“I-I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t been trying, it’s just–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qbx64WZze
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtQWOIP9Ps
“Nevermind all that, Kenny. You’re starting to give me a headache.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh24uOpspvx
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLZIZnlyq5
I stopped my frantic hand-waving and began to scratch my head.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5cMsLVX70
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7zTqerutA
“You’re doing something right. You said it yourself, so you know. But enough about you; I have something to say, and your weird drug is already making me drowsy.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKalT8gejB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWSgsyftEl
“It isn’t a drug! I wouldn’t stoop to such barbaric substances!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhznc6pmm4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri36Ybahrq
“Uh-huh, whatever. Hear me out before you can’t anymore.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZuaLU7SsZ
I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut, squishing my cheek by resting it on my face. Though Rover looked ready to speak with her gaze matching mine, she quickly jerked her head the other way and appeared to look off into nowhere. I was confused, but I didn’t voice it. It would be unfair of me to interrupt her as she gathered her words, as I hadn’t been so many times.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GdT2Iq3KT
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Eventually, Rover’s face flared and became ruddy. I didn’t think much of it initially, but as I continued to remember that it was Rover who I was talking to, this meant that whatever she said had immense gravity. I perked my ears and sharpened their hearing– as best as I could with the poor funnel my hands formed, anyhow. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNAI6Wc8ND
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“D-Don’t rush me!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7AM6sX0zF
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“I’m not rushing you! I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you just spat it out, but–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV2sgIVnlG
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“Shut up, Kenny! You told me yourself once that I’m too crass with words. Just let me think; you already know I’m bad at this…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWryYZmPL7
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I had no recollection of doing such a thing, but as the clearest memory I had of her was of the incident that night, I chose to believe her. She spent the time fiddling with her fingers, biting then nibbling her lips, darting her eyes this way and that with such ferocity her head jiggled with each motion. I could see my reflection on her sweat, and she was so engrossed in thought that air stopped entering her system.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcGfJzDfrE
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I was exaggerating, but I couldn’t deny that it was making me uncomfortable. I wondered then for a moment, as admonishable as a thought that it was, if this is how people felt around me at times.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8pwf9zY0O
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“Gahh, forget it! You convinced me, I’ll just say it!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2T5vJNGGc
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“I didn’t say anything.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgGxMdspJQ
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She straightened her back and puffed out her chest. Her guise of bravery was there to convince herself. The instance her lips would part, she’d cross a fine line, one whose threshold would shut and lock with her passing legs. I knew that gesture all too well. And since I did, I gave her nothing but my most diligent attention.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ0wbO38Dw
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“I’m sorry for being such a priss.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhvGojZDoI
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And I was returned an equal blow. Rover stuck her tongue out after saying that, ready to clean off the ‘mawkish verbiage’ she just spewed. That’s what it seemed to me anyway, but she refrained, as she had only her body to convince me of her sincerity.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKhmJ0oudV
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But whether she was or not, mattered not to me.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHcwoVmv9c
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“I don’t regret chewing you out, don’t get me wrong. But I shouldn’t have abandoned you two. Not after how we’ve, b-became friends, and not after how you told me all you did.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzxBt5AB6k
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“Told you all I did? What?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbpNKAUMdG
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She was caught by a wind of fury.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnS4bhTU4q
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“You don’t remember!? Are you kidding me!? I really should–! Gah, you’re making this so much harder than it should be!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZwCTlqes3
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I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She stopped her rage immediately, donning a look of perplexion. 74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7qfQmWhjF
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“What’s so funny?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9awUSnHRy
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBcTHmsJIr
“N-Nothing in particular. I appreciate the apology, I suppose? I don’t think I’m all that deserving of it, though.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsuqWLtrCt
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“Hold on, I’m not done yet!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJgoVTpFCI
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I nodded in understanding, and so she continued.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI9NNgGaxQ
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“As I was saying… I was so mad, but I was never that mad. And I get why now. Because when it comes to anything Hard-Bringer, I get a little crazy.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoGxvYqFFx
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“A little crazy?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTrWPe4kAF
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“Yes, idiot, I just said that. They piss me off like you wouldn’t believe. Screw that, I don’t get a little crazy, I grow mad, mad!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCrKnuEcFa
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Her hands balled themselves to compliment her offshoot tangent. Her escalating tone made me concerned, but she relaxed soon after.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF074gvLEQ
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“So yeah. Sorry for messing up. And, sorry for thinking you were such a wimp. I thought you were totally hopeless, but I was off the mark.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Uq4EC66h
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“Well–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2iUsMwEq3
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“Shut up! Shut up! Do you know how annoying it is to hear someone undersell themselves all the time?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtApAzWdT3
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“I–”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0XTHgQIE7
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It was that precise phrasing, that specific selection of words and syntax, and her usual, but energized voice that spelled it out for me, that allowed a candle to ignite in my mind. A quick image flashed in my mind, one of a man of close acquaintanceship, and then my throat spoke on its own.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiZsNeZooI
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“Yeah. I do. It sucks.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdrtK1ejUB
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“See! I– huh? You do?”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLbjN4Sr9M
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I slowly nodded along. Rover looked with pleasant surprise. She was more than eager to take my word for it, and in fact looked delighted after I spoke.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EWSy3XHj9
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“Still,” I began, “as grating as it may be for your ears, I really have to stress that I think you’re wrong about me. I’m still a wimp.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qz7vyL2Rs
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“Whatever. Think what you want, but don’t speak it out loud anymore.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEExiGLGS2h
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“I… haha, sure thing, Rover. I’ll do just that.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIk8S9akRa
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Her candid words were the perfect closer. There was wisdom in that harsh language– a funny thing to call it, as she was only a few years older than me –but wisdom nevertheless. No speech of mine could be a better finale, so I gathered myself and stood up from the floor.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzzyBJwJL3
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“Perfect. I was just about to tell you to leave.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAcNONZQ7x
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“I’m starting to think you hate me.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8uIK5tQuo
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Her hands twitched upwards defensively.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXhnLFQ75r
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“I-I don’t. I’m just getting sleepy. Any second now, I’ll doze off.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OtC1jm5WU
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“Ah, right.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vZZh4XFW7
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She mentioned it just a few minutes ago, but it didn’t compute with me until now. Recovery would always be an exhausting thing, especially with assistance from potions. I wondered for a moment if there was a way to mitigate that.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52AMtIw1oq
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“That one Bringer was invigorated even with a restored limb, after all…”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K7r0N8dFo
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“What are you mumbling about, eh? Scram! Scram, I tell you!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrEpOBTqyh
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“Alright alright, jeez. With how grouchy you’re being, you really do need that rest.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlEhGPIe1Q
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She stuck her tongue out at me this time. I took it with a light heart, waltzing to the door and stretching as I made my way. I placed my hand on it but stopped short of opening, taking one last look at Rover. Her eyes were taking turns closing. I could tell she was exerting herself when she waved me off.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgqqcJFruK
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“Wait, one last thing!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagy40FfdBT
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Then, she shouted unexpectedly. I looked at her with a blank expression to signify my okay, and she continued shortly.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo7Hkb4XuB
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“Tell that old bucket-wearing fart to visit me sometime.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5BM2gBuTP
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“...”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXhnORGpZA
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I smiled.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdO8mokC6V
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“I will.”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yrPmC6jzR
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I returned her wave and exited the room. The moment the door shut behind me, I let out a quick breath and–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPRdjfvrEz
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“Yes!”74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrryMXFPyV
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A jump with jubilation. I had to. I never experienced such success before.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32eZ8n61Xq
