The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpAy5GeAVb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8HDHaYYt0
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5mzu7V5kr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sg9gOUO0M
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv19NM6iZUM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1eZvYQEek
"Dad!?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1CRuwD4aP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPQ4crpWYx
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW4tPNYenu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g6zmE4djP
"Flinty! There you are!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRc77zoCu4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF8fEAP1ye
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilejLE3HzI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TmaqHoEGy
"And you must be Kenny?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUkvcGQ3V0
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowTCVcrSeq
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOEA2uC9NG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbVnr59FQe
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfTSiLLjrn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQnZM8H40k
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaroluixrh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgOZWUhrfI
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6YFzkVIK8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6HwueTQoj
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vcEgaOL5x
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8GfMbbrM3
Dear Mister Chambers.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhx5wn3izC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOgO1FR2W7
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIenu5tP7LJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsZCvGQNi4
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUGWsuZpIz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR9qUau1xW
"...I don't remember promising anything."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTGdIyaxpC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f8KbBN6nd
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoDZeTIBoB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bferxzyyL
"I'll make sure to thank him later."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsC8llnv65
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQksiO4095K
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUVhoOyQEZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3p6EtyGqE
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqyiFGP49R
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDklJrpSKzq
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzDr7UpcBo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWau82XM1f6
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlVC9QJXwf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRfX8l3G5y
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizCd8kTjmj
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk24zuwMoPH
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer0VPhlZxz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gMPI6UXus
"Kenny!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rIhFyhDE1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Csf7wbyV1
"Ah, Flinty, hello."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BA6sZIRUO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7zxyEnFdf
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSlJKMOR88
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8sb5qRLiB
"Is that the plant you asked for?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6oQkVxJtn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiyxcc5ihP
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifpNf8ZUOL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWiTee0HfS
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK5cW13UJH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUNkxyOHKR
"Hello, you two."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeZ4DwGcIL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWN5ODVDZU
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA7gvGufDo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fnsCrZvVa
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk0JlhBqzQ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo2bPl3jKU
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd0J5UQ06p
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9mXIRY8yG
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodlxRkTIe7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7yPBvzOmZ
"Please don't drop it or something."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH39OlF4Ejv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qBAqTK4OY
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKsypLHQpz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2qGLVthjh
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTXZiO2SDz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWdbH5H8I6
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Eq7D5Kr23
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheHZTDhgk4
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5U9OOIzWf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBzcJZj4rm
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY6vhEcCeG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksalHu6o9r
"And you asked for... a flower?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnLR0Xl91y
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLQanHtTxV
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HpL8WyppC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh67yEdt2M
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJnCb6dhRW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCqvEZ8tWD
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS47Sp0Fwf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRTCxmN6Y9
"Arg! You...!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNZFAOFzLd
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BIj5yIIU9
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI7ADKbPIO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS6KFA7sSq
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjQOvIMqW4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKh1RU0yM6
"Whatever."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WH4S9Unyw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbDFG0lO2N
We sat in silence for a minute.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8lV60wIWO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1eXvbofwl
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpfNZyDfGs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QL2IMeZfq
"Yes! Please tell me!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfshDPZh0P
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCLtnEteWV
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbLssuEIHm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QyCvCfTC9
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXTp7OJ03X
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglItgLzpnu
"Wait, Eastern country?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjhqbS8wqP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm2eNpHVYJ
I faced the old man.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOhtzgV8u6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdjpY56NMr
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5PqUOFFPq
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoEXpEMgom
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8tnyGR7iL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5anYyC8F9
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPZ6qjpSHU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4NUGtoOVL
"...Buffalo village."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpSBQ7cyKf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGFdUs4Rna
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP9R1modgH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryATpcUESk
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDcwkUdro9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrgch0s15Q
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEtjFdtAbB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ccIuQXM4K
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyQUtaxJwL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSVetAJLve
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzWU4qb7nj
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wf5NrFzwO
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4oraZUUd8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPx9vtN4mO
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWa2JBb2LVL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD40w9wsOVu
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YkHSC54yc
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93axSAXhVI
"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmvHZxw5Qv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD0BQwlNdE
I nodded along.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a8zVC0wvm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGUi7NwpOQ
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32mgz8ELZw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchSs8FBkD8
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nptGyD62C
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVk7EDRklp
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KMtLBRYtY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdpU8bss3D
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBe0hTCfi1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BHU2BkNGP
She blinked blankly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmogigYCkpl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fUQyj5fo8
"Wait, is it?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3eKEJMa2v
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HNEX2ChOn
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2naQTWiYbK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWhk7TD4eb
"No, maybe it is true."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq86abdQAyB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtfyfCr5vk
"O-Oh, okay."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tuUunZf1m
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp5JVFEQPb
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNqw8B2rcP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7d84KaLsH
"How was your guys' day?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFSJqYySs9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ1n2aB9Hg
"Mom, you should've been there!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAkPmAUPqu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpubRWBWHi
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuW3M11Ivw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sBtWIkP9w
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLI6a8rhU7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY6UeF79gT
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBAaAaoHB9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38UuQqkRCJ
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYHPalPvxT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2yKSrBAJk
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfJjVy8fKY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1io7HY5uYe
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPivgHHDNuV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBO9k20bYu
"O-Okay."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUmsaLMENS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkKtCw3M6N
"Hold on chum, you come back here."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEIaQFRjZd
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX504MHGvq
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4phMgvJwVN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6qPprwB2A
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQvdGTZSjp
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uFmzVZNCU
He sat me right back down in my chair.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaHukLcUvv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNdoqDUKQm
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHqckfOiGZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4VngViH74
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWHqsOdiH3
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJIT8xitpq
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI6HSeUNPo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVjJR3AMGE
Nobody even heard my "laugh."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuceBsEbof
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkt1U0IxUF
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV9y7Dc0O6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcRcLT4w4h
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3zprNyzIw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEQe17xpNS
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJJYGUJ8dT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm2itOra9u
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjso7jBxkEJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuX6MB4Bgv
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT19SnFuEV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalb0qBCpwd
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ420In5je6J
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PV4KPqqO9
"TALBOT!?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMBczL4AGZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbyZtWEkeH
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwmLDkDzcu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8925Z70lbT
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2XVLbIBGF
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBMgbSwuA4
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDUYHXHoCv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRDCOFgbJa
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt5CX88Dyc
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwQmK84VUF
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekJhowPeQ5
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzUr4LafiE
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25m3o4SOAq
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WH0PHBWiA
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1v2yaKWx3
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHJ8qOAOFb
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUD33IhXzp
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTQGf15MWZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqRWvf2ljy
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrZyJJAR63
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwHDLZQUou
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"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXWrUzsTX9
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLILJFNnbN9
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5EU9sXzrx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc7aqN2TON
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraoQemzmFL
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nHJc9KPhL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkntZgnwlv
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxzI2NC5rw
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"Flinty."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3gKm93r0i
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"Y-Yeah?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3zwtqqlYn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvIh33dtYW
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS2WUrqPdf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C1GpZr1Rs
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZSdDRsKfb
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"Okay! Let's do it!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3olVf54Rdi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP73uyd1S3v
There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86tKxcq7zl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bvo0F08qp
"...My tome is in the other room."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhg0G1sSyh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYVN5dWVHb
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsFKmNpESs
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–
–
–86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjCuhOzX9a
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDILpb6Q7G2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eR1a67LCK
I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCtqYZ0YqQ
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33hCHkZ0kL
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"Good morning."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0YOucEX9N
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S24ILqEQT
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaedBzU6Ay
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmxbKxT8LO
"I woke up early."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6RfTfZ0ET
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNCqhIrsme
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwVRYqSbLU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLOqEWFwKF
I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOE8YrZjmO
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekYylNm3ja
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENAapUKkYn
"Right."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eSf44Q5TJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWjNzerEBl
Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8pF18hTfE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDyDT5bf15
Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHqwVyFGr
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqr1zZE3uv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi23l4RTYK
"I sure did, honey."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dNgNZ9mgD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKbUa4ccx7
"Oh."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzujIapdXwD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcNkdhPMSY
Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPedhg6aGTH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0eEm2D7IP
"Is something wrong?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYprdSNtuO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS1oQtF2vc
"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3TzqDoVnT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JH7zr7NWE
She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5QIVjRE8g
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Strange. Strange people.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uo0IYAQQS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfEmNpCzB4
After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKBXQf5Czt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ZhTZeqms
"...I uh."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaWkd2iA8q
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHo166sGEx
Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKnh0rEFoJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1cO2fPhxx
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCQhp29yHc
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVrmzqWP35
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzUzcpunX8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx7eNS9i1t
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaXRBbj4KC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00y8w927Hl
"Water under the bridge?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBKIYjfpfw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ZIn8oMUn
"Mhm."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9LESvQxl4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbevZgVFjjN
Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3MBxJUvXX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8HXgQZLDK
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwk87q6YPW
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They were really good.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aSxKCEJjU
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–
–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrRjtFfT43
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"That's a nice outfit"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeswX4yGuwK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgVO69kyFt
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI67sOWzFto
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4ARx7JHfK
Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG9O4sIy6A
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O3jop3Xri
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJdInpXbTw
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQCFChFulp
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd59VQZkbvX
"Ah, my apologies."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgASCKOsqC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79zojPHxwo
"No no, I like being around you too."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFKwCTDhMY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EAbDr0aVv
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLbbrtyBUE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbe4xkseiW
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyevX7FEHp
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZFEjLNJBi
"R-Right."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVR0XVMUSt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WYE3XswJi
She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x4he7hvEk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYinOeAP764
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBEYv7MYbk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ld9GN6AFP
"Hello, Freed!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBryWVXhrO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYlAgjuNTm
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrbx3t5sxu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTJ9waxWsM
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVTt8BIQie
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Hyr4uZdT
"So what business do you kids have today?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHLsfhSgo4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsisoqwlzZr
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoI4oDDLfB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sX7laA2Tc
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwSftlQaVp
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyrXLC7Eue
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusg6TjqRGE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzntziNDEZu
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aaPH9qacs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ4FtftVfh
"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oHj6GUobB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTfSxRHBKy
"I see."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPenzsXwLK9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVtLQfOnas
The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpTDRJgjLf
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"I refuse."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtGZQV23B1
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"Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt7ODZCgEV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTJJ1MhnMm
"WHAT!?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rCAW7jH8b
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfgODubG3u
Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLWPq7wXpX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nl9f60LL3
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BhGiZTaZz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaagms0SkdC
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3rf27ghKX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutnWHXYUQp
"...No?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08G2hUVjH1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrGVtcUIo2
"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDckW0yT5rN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPWJ5Ewdjs
His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtdEBHRLYt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSYaVaxmyR
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzkpdQVFJ7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim9RLdtBwQ
"Hold on, follow me, you two."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq8Iutqvsf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8N5YCSXiB
The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JPpAoP5U4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg40Bxegp4
It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5bgyngq1y
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"Down here."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfwfEvh7JN
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNXMvXizSo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3olV7qQJ4G
It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU35cd5ouV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlY4drHAo9
"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlpgfS9dwo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbCP37MW5N
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TPODl1DHz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAsydNUrOv
Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm7xsIktBj
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES9sEKifVl
"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFZcP6RgbP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g80vRzbPC
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiwPsiEp8y
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIqLUJtfYA
I shrugged.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPHy7IJF9S
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCZ8Q8jx23
"Well alright, go ahead and try."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49htFxioET
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaslxzGWPi
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNqb32mZH9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnQeFb7WyS
"Am I doing it right?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCowK13QjY1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kfz6gLZ7c
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iNAsBc3FQ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3ol2dALI8
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhI24pMLEW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjKBNwCknS
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpByidsar1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshbfYLLjcM
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B2v7Ixgrh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J1OLuI28x
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMwtDh1SBG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ6p3Wzn7d
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ePFe8yDP2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDnSeJyefg
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9gRw4clLJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyLFjbX4Tb
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHq2HQ4Lm4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3QLBPaJmZ
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnehW6DDTl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnEI4Rdb87
"O-Okay."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10ev0mfvdl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCVvO9E8Fn
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdVYiCmKCS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ6hgWzyBR
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGc8XwPxaC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHOmKP6MZl
"W-Wait, how do I–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4tCLfQZMy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyxzr3bGHN
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdStBc23FAS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EE8AsP1Jh
"But what if I can't let it out?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3FPIkSiTW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGgWKrdtto
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaNPuy9e6l
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtjQbfGQPq
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeYVkfunrs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOmJ7ryg0r
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxWc9X7Ouw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QrBuCUsCV
"Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiudKXCmX8c
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTZZWRk0pN
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oul0JvRKW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATRlG8BQSD
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzsAKT5B5e
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd461mzt3wC
I messed up, getting all excited.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoFMpbhnfA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50R5peIe04
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer0B1489fU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFN66YVaOz
I couldn't do it in time.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoaODXxk2F
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqc5R5G24n
**BOOM**86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjQ5OEzSYI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue4xYba6ra
The world around me faded.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZv757iW8S
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmYQoZpE6G
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzIlzLNZoX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK890rfBoYS
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHelpQBYJkK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMoW2l1zkL
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5fAjxFThD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMspa4pmzo
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84PssWGgwx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl0gX5SIHl
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zOCyEMFge
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGcNCawJ5Z
I was in the greenhouse.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2vuZLaj9Y
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu6CQA9n5j
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fVQZcYOIm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OPwGEV3bb
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HpsNiOaek
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq4vwNWz4Z
Thank God, they were okay.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFvOiSEqQx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr031oCKbdM
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUgxm0H6SY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSVOyZang9
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RUuvSXWyR
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayYE5PxlXu
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuSY7PQZAI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDpHgBVC2x
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy12HyNbGr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP4Ao3trIl
"This is... my coat?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDicecHBtz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1aeu2zqGH
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtHHW9Mo1J
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehqEQM8bh2
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wq8tzo530
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7qaMUmnqT
I love you. I really do. Thank you.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyORNhLDCs7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7hpZ00CBj
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvtxdjCY6X
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfSiunjnDm
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEh4J4mGRU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw3P7cyOrL
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuOTQBCrpm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj47KqIBEe
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvJsKcXSB7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7cfT0rwNI
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblSKkScMft
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4sV8xA7kV
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcbAYBQlA1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQHjZQ4ix4
"H-Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n4whR1fwO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ6QEFRN72
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eYSSzwVDS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrwhovTjkC
"T-That's terrible!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnbegHJHmA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaJVntKB9Y
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0bef3qCkB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yTmikz6D1
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYcYp7bezD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5nfMpb1Y4
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEKDjQw3Ae
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G0qmMtRV6
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeG4QsbFPN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap3CRFpGUf
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHFFSmMjlJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4SKsQhcsC
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwOdiGsH0z
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXErKXZyrHl
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U8sN7G7XG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw2XBhFq3J
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6IHbznDVl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0sATuE10r
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3tCfE0spP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uJmKWGWK0
"...Ah!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O7ZBON0gk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WzPSnEX1X
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGhZmkU8hk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoOVxOdROH
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8YTNAseLE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHMezsClvL
"...Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC97ofSgxQ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnRw9utjgF
She meekly turned her head to me.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01lvOsq9ZP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bWxIu9RdA
"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDzauaMYPb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZi97X9ARL
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj3GQemp1C
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3xdUYj6CY
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXLsJjsjTJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANyHesTDNF
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwO93Y3Shw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehaF8oapX9
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuTk9y6dlP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0SOr5v0GF
"Okay, let's go then!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd8jODAY24
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3AlniXmor
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eQfS5OkkL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBoCP68KmW
"W-Where are we going to go first?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZMoMI5fIu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESacpoOB4W
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa7fULiK7W
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZGlwHPCoh
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeZrt6ozR7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H8vsj5QYc
Yeah, let's.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1VTcIAanN
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–
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–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjYHcB0ZjE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGXicQoXlm
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON4w7wKqEU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNdx71VfmJ
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3gkrf0iBK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4E6x1phV0
"This is the combatant's guild!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzrTXrwcQM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BuCHHuduO
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYYza25wir
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrUN5BhHYL
"This place needs a renovation."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA04fnga2i
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhYUfx91eO
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCGBIIaZI4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5duIHTyM7
I shook my head.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAPwdPBdbs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3oLuOV53c
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVMHvjOjRN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQWUmVpIpY
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM9phB3f93
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0h2dDcy4V
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb5hEP9TfT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfYhrMvxGl
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjOqrzAqau
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t7jhXWO56
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyirwDPhh0
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboKrsJMZIW
"Do not even suggest it."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ542twOsqZR
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn6WKmMdf9
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N2ozIFnxf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMu69Cx0vN
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD5xuuPpId
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZfPOHRoKK
"...Well alright."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxkxQO7y3s
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSIvCaHehF
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhdcGdqHJE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLWknOmKUe
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qTYW2ysw6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaINPkYNmIl
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eZoaUT08u
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7PFx8M96U
She pouted.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6gjbpu2uI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6dYQRFjsc
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopOjyhBHBb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTkNFtmzc0
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezahx8uCZL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t0qZpBmRR
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcRMNnsIRP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOejS4YaRzh
"Huh? Flinty?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKLotDfL11
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKedWEe34N0
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzArITtxL16
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLmPIKyCvi
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mltPBfVRs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2e8aF4TqR
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66aBtq8Gxh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN1L8Guv9p
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V3MkNR8rZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauMN6nnXW1
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmXgzVwbh2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVs6ghkCVW
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EnYIyzNLi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IvuA54c31
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfjYddNnum
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3OJNUQ3Zg
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7YfJMUIBA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTXDbbz2qK
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObzhr2qKuU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyRfdyS7r5
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRV8rwXHp8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUslVYn0Eg
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwOhCnren6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp1HzUIPmJ
"Huh?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQsatkdY6l
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmerUh8cMR2
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWLkVurGMt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zhLgfqcKJ
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0Xx51gTl0
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq43bEai5H
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJh69225Gu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7JwKXMISI
"You're right. Wait–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0uQPicy1w
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVOWYyRMuZ
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4hoP5zpcq
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzax2Xa8e5
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYjifUXy9H
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2ss51G4DR
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z3QYSJm8V
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PrMrURplB
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQUClxMwAU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjOMBCJci6
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMaiH7LDUN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf3GYmwQYt
"No. I'm here for another reason."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB319sVHyOl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Jhj6epaa
"And what may that be?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetAJOIl1JI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgIWgx3UL7
"None of your business."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnlJHUIZXP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYqhW9QnsU
"O-Okay..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgslkeiQyNK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE2O1IMJqe
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVJfrH91z6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9WMAoGsL0
"She is super shady."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFT4j807Gg
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTetf9UOqCl
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPWwOgXRDA
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X3pYuk9wx
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNek8r4bB4G
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDeQNBlVot
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ18BwgOeE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspu3Qr6mNk
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG3XftPnKs
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0fC3W5WDp
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyx18p7l2x
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXlf9HMfk8
"T-Then let's get his attention!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaMKRZQa47
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq3TszsCje
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKz2JwaTpi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwkx6V6W7i
"Let me handle this."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUxMEkIxI9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNPoHhcPYo
"W-What, why?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC0od2FLrH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbcy2jm4px
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAhe2jKpxh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRcBSBQY11
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkcfohdwti
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChfsJBZvsF
"S-Sorry, Kenny."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtOyivumqi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCamrVteaXL
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf5shLfqSc
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN6umw8oCa
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPQ6JoNPfY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JcAIOqIK1
"Hey, you guys!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJWBumlVjJ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY3cwexNfO
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IBxqkqm16
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR7cB7eiDs
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSUTyjOjuF
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1b7DqzxPA
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IngEHildE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWuto2lIoI
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IqAMQJJqt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnPuKcobr3
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYuyvlhCWk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjU9W9GEjz
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0txw1alYP
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII8I4cXL1x
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtCm0rUsJm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOSCNJtLbt
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM1FeJs3Gu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw1XlIBzAH
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsmWnWLAlo
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD7HiCM90D
"Here's your bill, miss."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uScfGkELV
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsPKvYEDbp
"...I..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAX2Ll2TZR
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFSAFJXxtu
She was having a difficult time speaking.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP4cUKMPSO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEQv5YeoY5
"I forgot to bring money."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38IQKVn9qk
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP6eSBlN8t
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhVBtiYA8u
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVHIfWJC2X
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuXKyBhct0
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYFEm7r0bf
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQmatWa6eh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhaIq8AqOC
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBMrZWHOlN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZwGevd6nU
Ha. What a moron.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6Fu5y1tRS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmPPCDNDFY
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvBjkA21oU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZirK0vas9
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaGS6ZI90M
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb5BjPVFyA
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX8KFnsCc3
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFwIeY3oY9
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouhMvCFiFf
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kVUxcTOAN
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFkg357mWb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOqXCsADGp
"..."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4zFzTr1Nj
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WFxsGeaoz
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9OcqWXW8U
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1uXSMmhSA
"Hey, cloaked woman."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlpepLeVaa
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiVb1qQjAR
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxIdYZetjt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8d2AvhFt0
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMOY13Z65k
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI4jnfxX0u
"Yes, of course. Thank you."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NQoVDwPr9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAw1l6h5i0
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCkgm25vRT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK9cTbW7jR
"Alright Flinty, let's go."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoQ0BOcKBl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUMjU0lnsx
"Yes!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfprAp8iUv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoAgcoAHpV
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvirsy6xQU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlyo8gM0rR
"What?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6zc27wP2Y
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVgJ0EbHH7
"Kenny, you're awesome."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj4gLnAIlY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrE7vhc9uW
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE65qmhYij
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhIWU7BKUX
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVNTaQ80y3
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87B6hjC0dS
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvStvmgouF
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri5Hinkx52
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgL512c5xC
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiuTCLOfAm
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU3zKNDuU3
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmqIkEOq8Q
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2tpPGstmu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU7yU1siHa
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Gw6Xjv5ON
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtvllQXqg3
"...Is something wrong?"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wCAmjAvIZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpEJAmgouu
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwxBNORtrL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ1MHsh2Ob
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrd7WiyCPb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0BLlphduy
"R-Right."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ5ys8vqOS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0D2n5g7s0
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
