The earliest thing he could remember was the book. No, that wasn't quite it, but Kenneth had difficulty recalling. He gave himself a minute, and then it came to him clearly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP8yOmnNXZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMyT7O2L0r
Kenneth remembered a building, a grand one in the middle of his home village. It was a church, the Church of the Buffalo. It was on an elevation of two-hundred feet and was five miles from the shore– hardly anything, he's come to realize. He remembered the town having abundant greenery and a gorgeous forest nearby. Of course, how could he forget the forest?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuZVk7UWgt
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Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM1NtWQEsR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamewwpITk5
He had just turned three years old. Kenneth was about thirty-two inches tall, which was considerably short for his age. Kenneth was wearing a black robe, akin to that of the priest's. He was standing next to said priest, who was giving a speech Kenneth couldn't remember. After the speech, his head was doused in warm, relaxing water, and then the attendees of the ceremony clapped. Kenneth was just officially declared a toddler. It may seem silly, but his village was small, so ceremonies for the young were held like this quite often. It was Kenneth's third birthday, he remembered. He ran over to his father and mother, and that was the first memory Kenneth could retain of them. His father looked sick, his mother looked guilty.
From this point on, Kenneth could recall it effortlessly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPjQH7HZ9C
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzwzQKx451
When Kenneth returned home, he was treated to a dish of kind words and a refreshing meal. He was only three, but he had such a big appetite already. His father was away from the table. Kenneth just sat with his mom.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOdim6r82u
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPfu5LgGOV
"Happy birthday, Kenny."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5NQ4fthH4
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fxVtRiLAk
"Mm?" Kenny hummed with a slice of bread stuffed into his mouth. "Mm! Thank you!" Though it was hard to hear, her mother smiled. She was a nice lady, brown hair and green eyes. Kenneth loved her. He loved how her mother made great food. But Kenneth always thought that she looked too old to be his mom, maybe his grandmother.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAwsbA5z33
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BoURppXTa
Dad came back to them. He had a glass bottle in his hand. He looked tired, but Kenneth was smiling vigorously at him. He still didn't change out of his church robes. He sat at the table, slamming his empty bottle on it. He stared at Kenneth's mother, and then at Kenneth. He burped and said, "Happy birthday boy," and passed out on the spot.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLJ89FB5u4
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Those words were a lot coming from his father. Kenneth was told to rush to bed, and he did so cheerily. He did it so.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU2l2TusDV
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That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQKVuw1bQR
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Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9brN4GbTV
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxJ4cyuOwU
Customary to the tradition, Kenneth learned how to read and write now that he was a toddler. And he was quite good at it, he soon found. By this time, he was already writing cohesive sentences, and he read every bedtime story in the big folklore book in just a day. Kenneth loved to read, but he loved another thing more: the forest.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqFemjJaKW
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHndbufVTJ
Kenneth's house was closest to the Blooming Biomes, a gorgeous forest near the village. Kenneth's room had a window placed perfectly for him to gawk at the forest. It wasn't a dense forest either, so he could see the magical plant life there too. Some of it moved, and some of it released spores, but Kenny marveled at it all the same. Kenneth loved looking at that forest so much that his dad forbade him from going to his room throughout the day. So Kenneth, the smart child that he was, went to the forest.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO5Vf2lQ9X
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6diZzOvI62
His mother stopped him immediately during his first attempt. He couldn't even make it ten feet out the door. Kenneth protested, but his mother explained that the forest was "dangerous and filled with wild beasts." Kenneth didn't believe her, of course. Kenneth spent all day looking at that forest, and he knew wild beasts weren't there.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKqlNib1W8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeRCtZyvC8
On his second attempt, Kenneth made it past the rickety fence surrounding the house. His dad picked him up this time, and he fiercely slapped Kenneth. That was the first time that Kenneth could remember himself crying. His mother was furious, but his father apologized and hugged Kenny. Of course, Kenny was satisfied with that, but he was a smart child, and he knew he could get more out of it. So Kenneth tried to pressure his father to let him into the forest. His father almost slapped him again. Kenneth thought of it as progress.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLDZrW8Osm
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCiH8V49Xs
Kenneth's third attempt was much more successful. His father caught him trying to jump out the window. Kenneth didn't account for the fall, and he plummeted with teary eyes, but his father was right there, frowning.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwAVVu9GBS
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"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVzw0DnAUT
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Kenneth began to tear up again. His father sighed. "Don't try this again, Kenneth," he simply said. And Kenneth obliged. For a week.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB61miLWbZD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuRymMu4NN
Kenneth's fourth attempt wasn't interrupted by anybody. He managed to do it, to finally do it; he was in the woods. Kenneth frolicked around and gazed at the scenery like a dumb drooling moron. He hugged the trees, tickled the flowers, and even pulled one out of its stock before he was hit with a spore that made him cough and wheeze. Kenneth decided against randomly pulling on plants. Kenneth ventured further into the forest, and he swore that it grew more and more beautiful with each step. Even the grass had a sparkly tint to it. Kenneth loved it. But something went awry.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDaVazYntz
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsttPSljWi
Kenneth tripped on a large root he didn't see. He scraped his knee, but Kenneth managed to suppress his tears. His father's given him worse after all. He rested against the nearby tree. Though it hurt, once he raised his head from the wound, his joy washed the pain away. The forest was that majestic.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBLXDkgos4
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkug1yssZjp
Then out came an animal. It wasn't very big. In fact, Kenneth thought it looked familiar. It was like one of the farm animals his neighbor kept around, but it had long curvy teeth coming from its mouth that pointed to the sky, and it had a lot of brown furs. It looked at Kenneth, and Kenneth smiled. And then Kenneth was forced to roll away.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPxe5irwMB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8oHjUchbw
The boar hit his snout on the tree, dazing the beast for just long enough for Kenneth to get on his feet and haul ass. But he tripped again on a different root. This time, Kenneth cried. The beast inched nearer and nearer and Kenneth's scratch grew to a disgusting flow of blood. Kenneth crawled away screaming but the beast kept approaching. Kenneth's pants became damp. But a miracle happened. The boar stepped forward and forward, and after hearing a snap of a branch, a great purple something emerged from the ground. It resembled the maw of a great dragon, but its eyes were missing and it was roughly the size of Kenneth himself. The boar stepped back in shock, but before it could make any distance, the boar's head had been bitten off. The maw retracted into the ground. Kenneth couldn't move. Ten minutes later he slowly crawled to the hole that was made. It wasn't a hole, he realized. It was a set of four large leaves, parallel and perpendicular to one another, and in the middle of these leaves were blue sparkles. Kenneth knew better than not to touch it. Kenneth smiled with glee, got up, and ran home.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w2tfZk6vQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tdk3oxx3f
Two things happened that day. Kenneth discovered mana, and Kenneth discovered magical plants. He was running back home excited, but a loud ruckus coming from the home prevented him from entering the front door. It was his mother and father. They were screaming and crying. Kenneth waited until they stopped, and it did when he heard a slap. He didn't know who it was from.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ690S9V1TYf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MwVcNDdPi
The next instance Kenneth cared to remember was when he turned four. Kenneth somehow hadn't been caught sneaking out into the woods, but something of his had been found. His mother was in his room, holding a notebook in her hand that Kenneth was all too familiar with. He turned to run away but was grabbed by the back of his shirt before he could.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTdPypnhGl
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"What is this, Kenny?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCHWXKeLFB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVSlwF4Txz
"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ281UFvDolR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntEBVtrjt5
Kenneth decided to tell his mom a half-truth. Maybe he could escape a beating that way, he thought. His mother opened the book and flipped straight to the crummy illustration of the purple plant that killed the boar.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKEnCuIdNv
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttVKjWkt5b
"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRUQJ4YcQZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLruGA3P0q5
It was no use avoiding it now. Kenneth told his mother that, for the past six months, he has been going into the Blooming Biome and studying the magical plant life there. As well as a kid his age could, anyway. Though Kenny expected to be slapped, that didn't happen.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oSubZdMpG
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqsdy4ZavR
"Christina, do you know what this means?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8Lk4Mzhnz
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjwuQZhQka
His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7aB2tOoCV
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"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6r6ZPcdQl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0RkcmkhtC
Kenneth's mom nodded. Kenneth didn't understand what was going on, but the two of them were smiling and that had to be good.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkj5XViZF8u
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It was.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDvUrcwTze
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbicU56yzTK
A week later, Kenneth's father presented him with what could best be described as a tome. Kenneth didn't ask where they got it, because he was having a hard time even lifting the thing. His father explained to him that it was a book of magical plants and alchemy. Kenneth had no idea what the second word meant but he didn't care. He just received a big new book to read.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fc3l5nlWp
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRwfPrEPDI
It took Kenneth a month to read the book. Another month was spent reading it again. Kenneth tried to sneak out again but his parents had been keeping an exceptionally watchful eye, so it was impossible. Kenneth didn't mind though, because this book was the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. He didn't know any of this 'alchemy' stuff, but the plants, oh the plants. He recognized the few he's seen in the woods, like the spore one, or the purple one, or the one that occasionally shoots out blazing beams of light, or the ones that make him vomit. But there were so, so many that Kenneth didn't know about, or could've even dreamt about. Most of them were at much higher elevations, but that was fine because King's Peak was easy to traverse anyway. He saw gorgeous illustrations resembling beasts more than plants, and each picture carried an ungodly amount of information. Uses, known habitats, behaviors if they had any, risks, stories of their discovery. Kenny spent all day in his room, just reading about this stuff, over and over. His parents had to take away the book for a week.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15TMZ1XpnK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXKjgCKrDh
During that week though Kenny managed to sneak out of the house. It seemed that all the time he spent in his room reading made his parent's security lax. He ventured into the forest with his journal, now filled with plagiarisation from the book both text and picture, and attempted to connect each plant he saw with an illustration. Now that he was older traveling the forest was much easier, and Kenneth learned to bring a weapon with him this time. He had a small hunting knife in a sheath in his pocket. He discovered that he could also use the knife to take some of the plants he saw with him, but he made sure they didn't shoot out any spores before he did. He kept the retrieved plants in his other pocket. It was fine for a while until his pants became wet. Not from himself this time, but from the plants. He took them out and they were all leaking a clear fluid. It was clear but it was sparkly, much like the rest of the forest. Kenneth didn't have any cup with him, so he improvised and took the knife out of its sheath and used that to store the liquid. He ran home, forsaking the plants and the knife, and snuck in.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuUVUSgGCQ
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His parents still weren't home though. Kenneth usually wouldn't pay that any heed, but there was broken glass in the kitchen and small red liquid on the floor.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNalvw0iwg
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"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOpPU5fVTZ
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Kenneth ran upstairs.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxv0j1VzD4
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Kenneth spent the next week experimenting with the liquid. He relocated it to a small glass cup and tested it out. He didn't want to taste it quite yet since he knew that was dangerous, but he did touch it. It felt cold, even after being in his room for so long. It amazed Kenneth. Kenneth then spent time putting different things into the cup. Grass, food, a few of his clothes, sometimes his own urine, metal, and by some miracle, fire. Nothing ever came of it though. It satisfied Kenneth for a while, but ultimately, he thought it was a dud. He kept the glass around. It made him feel nice.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOh84FbizW
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdmVzXIaOi
In a month's time, something exciting happened to Kenneth. His birthday was just a few days away but before any celebration or presents, his father sat him down outside. This had never happened before, so it made Kenny die with anticipation.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7NjDCmAsz
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"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcfdNDGq7r
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Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBgp0qEtVv
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"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vxdhPpNR9
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Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnEIpc55fm
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuF5DbpPqn
"Luckily for you, brat, I know exactly what alchemy is. But before that, I need to teach you what mana is."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g2kFVe3P1
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That was when Kenneth's life began.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w0230KkGo
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His father taught him the basics: how mana was the essence creatures manipulated to conjure objects and tinker with the world. Fire, water, earth, and wind would all be conjured, and in the right circumstances, they could be manipulated as well. His father also explained how combinations could occur but he glossed over it. His father told him alchemy was the mana manipulation of chemicals, magical or not, and that it took a very skilled user of mana to achieve success in alchemy.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fEXDGFFQc
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukqOfI3u0Q
It was all Kenneth needed to hear before constantly nagging his dad about lessons. His fifth birthday rolled around and his father had bought him a basic alchemy kit, consisting of flasks, cylinders, syringes, and dropper bottles. Kenneth was unbelievably grateful that he practically ignored the new clothes his mother had bought for him. It was a white shirt with a grayish-blue vest, and a nice pair of gloves to go with it. It was meant for his alchemy, his mother explained. Kenneth loved his parents dearly that day.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4orbj3FOQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5sKL2WPdZ
His lessons on mana manipulation were coming along steadily. Sometimes he would be beaten for failure, but Kenneth didn't care if it meant getting better. Three months passed, and after numerous bruises and fights between his parents later did Kenneth "graduate" from his father's lessons. The whole time though, Kenneth messed with alchemy, and really, he only needed his lessons for a few weeks. It mattered not though.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmoeFf3vcf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Haa24WvLf
Kenneth was an auspicious child. He mastered basic alchemy like matter state manipulation and chemical changing, but to him, that was all just chemistry. No, what Kenneth really, really wanted to mess around with were the plants in the forest. His parents didn't care if he was out and about anymore, so Kenneth took advantage of it. What was probably his hundredth trip was taken with new knowledge, his new clothes, and a new passion.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ3zrfioJ6
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclYd7RVhaY
Kenneth brought bags with him, as well as a flask and a syringe. He had a belt where he could hook the flask and syringe and a cork lid to make sure the flask was shut. He put plants in the bag and any leak was put straight into the flask. He regretted only bringing one. He wanted the purest sample possible, after all. He still did have that syringe though, and since it was going to be such a small sample, he knew it had to come from a special plant.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eV3EGe4Cg
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Kenneth smiled. He knew that there was a special plant here, alright. He ventured further into the forest until he found four familiar leaves. The sparkles from all that time ago were gone now, but that didn't deter him. He crouched down and stuck his syringe into the middle. And all of a sudden, out popped the purple plant.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoH6PKRWmz
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK37uWo7har
But Kenneth was ready for it. He reached for his knife holstered on his belt and cut the stem effortlessly. The maw fell to the ground, motionless, and Kenneth stuck its syringe into it. He also decided to take the head and one leaf for good measure.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh9VhGjQgq
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOZbUVKsxy
It was a haul, and Kenneth couldn't be happier. He returned home ready to tell his parents of his discoveries. That didn't happen quite like how it should've. His mom stepped outside as he was five feet away. Kenneth opened his mouth to say hi, but she looked at him with ferocity. It was a face Kenneth never knew her mother could make.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn3n8adKz5
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"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlCWsBbtf9
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Kenneth nodded and entered the home. His father was sitting at the table. His forehead was bleeding a little and his knuckles were bruised.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGi07I6zLp
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"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHblN1ZPtW5
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz6S9455R1
"J-Just some plants, Dad..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q5TxpeHhf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXmZSgTbPn
"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvRwDxEEVl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNIKHKKzLn
Kenneth gulped. He let go of the bag and waddled towards his father. What he got was a soft pat on his head. Kenneth blushed in surprise.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzZcd46vPc
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaCJZTq8ID
"Keep doing that stuff, kid. I'm amazed by how much you love it. Don't worry about me and your mother, alright?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5Mu21CZTJ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8ZPouLYsA
Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSHE9otscd
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Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefNXj6VOMy
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKEdAJogqh
It was in that laboratory where Kenny would enhance his skills for the next two years. The time flew by fast. Astonishingly fast, but Kenneth's growth showed it. According to his father, Kenneth had already become a grade-four alchemist. Kenneth had no idea what that meant but it made him happy, and it drove him to keep improving.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORV2yYjt9h
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6ujGnyCTq
Usually, Kenneth would follow the book. He learned the mixtures and followed the instructions listed there, and after hours of practice, the results he received were even better than what the book described. He managed to make a fertility potion to grow the newly planted tree in an instant. He managed to create a healing potion which, according to his mother, healed a boy's broken arm instantly. He managed to even reconnect one of the cut plants he brought back to the soil, and now a spore-bloom was in his backyard. His father punched him for it and removed it, since it was making him sneeze.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIS6QHTDrm
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfyeO0oyCV
But, after a while, Kenneth ran out of instructions to follow in the book, and he already perfected each and every recipe. He asked his parents for a new one but they claimed the books were "too expensive these days". Kenneth was upset but he didn't protest, he just thought of new things to do. A night in his laboratory made him realize just how potent his mana manipulation had become, so much so that he could do it without thinking. He thought maybe to learn proper spells, such as those related to the four core elements but decided against it. He decided on something new entirely.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAiJAAa7Cl
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What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaJJRY2egU
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The next year Kenneth would learn to do just that. He mixed his alchemy and mana manipulation with the plants he would find in the wild. He made roots grow and shrivel just with mana, and he could even accelerate the growth and decay of plants. He soon learned to amplify the effects of the plants, such as how potent the spores were, or just how large and hot the light beams from the Light-Beam-Blossoms became. Ultimately though, he returned to alchemy, and that was because of one thing: the purple dragon-maw plant. He planted it back using one of his plant-revival potions but did it in a more remote location. The maw, for whatever reason, didn't react negatively to Kenneth. In fact, the maw begged for his attention. It would lick Kenneth from time to time, much like a dog did. Kenneth grew to cherish it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjw5kCcCtx
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriRxzvEXzR
The plant itself seemed to be rare, as, according to the textbook, it was an "ancient species likely to be extinct." Obviously that wasn't the case, but Kenny didn't mind. That was because there were no alchemical procedures listed with the plant. All of it was free reign, like a sandbox, and Kenny took advantage of it. He mixed and matched substances and potions with the essence of the dragon-maw plant, all to varying degrees of effects. Sadly, Kenny burned through possible combinations too quickly. He had to leave the maw for the time being; he said his goodbyes.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S5Ob2wJWa
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvTyT3DiVQ
Kenny returned to the forest again to gather more plants. This time he ventured deeper than ever, hoping to find a species he hadn't encountered yet. It didn't happen. Instead, Kenny found another boar, but it was smaller than last time, most likely a child. Kenny left it alone, afraid that it might hurt him, and continued to go deeper into the woods. He turned back once the sun began to set. On his way back though, Kenny found an interesting sight.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVnI9J88dM
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJNAa9jpqu
"...It's dead."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdCuvf5ToS
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZs86ix8JB
The boar was lying on the ground, not in one piece, but in several. Its insides, few in quantity, were sprawled around the grass. The boar was practically hollow. All that was inside of its skin were bones. But for whatever reason, a single part of the boar was left out completely untouched: its heart.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujN1gjgpnu
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgTjlLKO50
Kenny didn't know what overcame him, but he reached for that heart and put it in the bag. He ran straight to his room and took out the syringe containing the essence of the dragon-maw plant. He stuck it into the heart. Nothing happened until he used mana manipulation.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohPnnzpSo0
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBULcHrk5M1
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQGfrB5UM
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCgHZnxObL
A month passed and Kenneth continued to mess with the dragon-maw's substances. He inject it into other plants, even into a live pig at one point, and used varying levels of mana manipulation just to see what would happen. The pig oozed out the liquid, but was fine. As for the plants though, nothing happened. Kenneth came to the conclusion that only flesh and bone were affected by the ooze.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5BNy1NtZr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUQAxJTlqr
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGtaRMXjcr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWRrhBmuSA
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKKrCF7GkN
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzUUa2uGIM
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzP36a5AYL
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyAqy1AQPI
That was the first time she ever said that. It made Kenneth happy, so he explained his process and findings, how he used the ooze and injected it into organisms. He told her of the pig, and how–168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma02OoLLM5
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZdeMHeqrq
**THUD**168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0xFeRBU4y
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡese1bKLh8C
A fist flew right into Kenneth's stomach. He was launched to the wall and slowly slid down. He looked up at his mother, who was making a face of pure terror.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXv6F5KfHs
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VCKtzJ6W0
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2rhGeF5Va
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZeMCXNQQ3
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUDM8042f2
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77c4EErSvk
Three months passed. Kenneth's focus returned to manipulating plants with mana. He quickly grew more and more efficient, to the point where hardly any nutrients from the soil were used to manipulate plants. His raw skill in mana manipulation grew, too. His father told him how splendid of a mage Kenneth could become, but Kenneth didn't care for that. Kenneth's greatest achievement was growing an entire tree in his backyard, just using his mana. The tree was nearly twice the size of any tree in the Blooming Biome, so it attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors, and Kenny got a good beating because of it. Kenny didn't care though, he was improving, he was growing better and better. But it didn't feel as fulfilling. He returned to alchemy and improved his potion-making abilities, and through connections with his father, he even managed to sell them to outsiders of the village. Having a sudden income was pleasant, but the process of making potions became repetitive.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmuhrIslsD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOekdgJVYh
Kenny had the itch to return to the dragon-maw. But it wouldn't amount to anything. After all, he had no flesh he could use.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bPo41cmu4
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilaU30LU2e
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIg25BQo9S
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfhAt9MIK5
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDsRQ2cyNI
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOf4LtUrYi
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4wSicTttf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiDqFraAAC
He used his body to test the effects. He started small of course, just a quarter of a syringe's worth of essence, and the effects were immediate. Kenny received a deal of discomfort, and his face scrunched terribly. But something worried him. Unlike the pig, the ooze never left his body.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwFMGE3PWD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vwv6trE9A
His curiosity grew. He returned home that day, hoping to continue his fiddling in his room, but when he walked through that front door, he was met with a thrashed kitchen.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQakzjauOeM
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTwXz4xKfL
His mother was on the floor, sobbing. It was so distinct to him, that sobbing. The house had disappeared. The hallway, the broken kitchen, everything was gone. All he could see was his sobbing mother.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOmmJyohtQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUjozBI46E
Kenny had no idea what to do, because now he wasn't playing with his plants. Now, he was in his home, and his mother was sobbing on the floor, and his mother was sobbing on the floor and Kenny had no idea why.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK6XyWpYAr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlEXUIjcXH
He scuttled upstairs and burst into his room. He rummaged frantically, glancing at potions and doing double-takes, making sure he would grab the right one. He eventually found a healing potion. Keny ran back down and offered it to her, wordlessly. His mother slapped it away, claiming that "she was fine" but Kenny knew it was a lie.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO7aUYyMcn
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpPrR1AhJc
And yet, Kenny believed it. He nodded at her assertation and simply walked back to his room. He lied down on his bed, and with a little trouble, fell asleep. Why did he do that?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU3ThpV29u
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcAz0bs6HS
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3AeWiuDri
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIsku6R3uc
He returned to his experiments the next day. Kenneth had no interest experiencing such discomfort for results, so he changed his strategy. He drank some of the essence. It tasted like crap, so he spat it out. He tried mixing the essence with fruit and bread, but it tasted like crap so he spat it out. He was nearly out of options until his father brought home a bag of seeds. It was for the garden they were going to supposedly make. Kenneth found a new food item to try, so he injected the tiny seed with the essence– only a fraction of the syringe went in –and ate it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Wda8C6V3
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYRJ9H7DfR
It tasted like nothing. He tried a few more, still, nothing. The dosage must've been too small he thought, but then he realized that didn't make sense. It didn't matter how small the dosage was, it was always going to taste the same. But he didn't taste anything, just the grimy seed.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95qGypGCal
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt5XOQzP7L
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zW4SLw7Dx
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICpvnjWZv7
He concluded that nothing would happen once his ninth birthday rolled around, since it was four months later. His parents didn't bring him any gifts for this one. In fact, they weren't even at the house.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WhOoU3PTW
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7iclp5KKF
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNGagfQsOx
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20hBtO5Zta
Kenny didn't mind. He went back to the dragon-maw plant. The plant was excited to see him and repeated the same licking routine it had been doing for a long time. Kenneth was excited to see it too, of course. It became a great close friend of his.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF8rXLKmYv
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMjVJE4TKx
It was while caressing the plant that Kenneth noticed something strange about himself. For whatever reason, his shirt was bulging at his chest, and he felt something cold and hard rub against his right arm. He pulled back and stared at it. He couldn't believe his eyes. He pulled back his sleeve. Still, he was shocked. He took off his shirt and now Kenneth became worried.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdluO3KSxP
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uSvhEXYeQ
A bundle of roots about as thick as his father's arm was protruding from the left side of his chest. It wrapped around Kenny's right arm and stopped right above his hand.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi9ZBm7cdG
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosM8PFuyTX
Kenny fainted.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOlrCjprOF
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVvjt0x1zy
Kenny woke up an hour later and the bundle of roots was still there. Kenny tried to move it with his other hand but it wouldn't budge. He tried ripping and tearing at it, but it just grew back. This tendril of wood was seemingly stuck with him now. Kenneth panicked and asked himself, "What could've caused this?" He kept asking this question to himself while flailing his arms, trying desperately to shake the wood off.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehxPcSaqDX
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq77cnNug9
He thought of all the plants he'd been tinkering with until this day. Was this revenge? Was this way of getting back at him? He knew it was silly but he couldn't think of anything else. He almost fainted again until the striking image of the spore plant came to his mind, and all of a sudden, the tip of the tendril blossomed that very plant.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HCDJQ2NGV
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wqUYyhynd
"...What in the world?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG1wMmXb55
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i25lH6E0z
It was much smaller than the normal plant. Half the size, just about. Kenneth didn't understand how this was possible, but he kept messing with it. Next was the light beam plant, and it blossomed at half the size. Next was the dragon maw plant, then the poison one, then the one with the sparkly liquid, and all of them came out perfectly. Just at half the normal size.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7GYEKxEcB
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdvciTM8U7
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqXZ7fMobU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4vObapBt1
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMRG3MYTXI
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ477EYL8GDW
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl4ubk0Eoi
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZCNQCFyA2
That didn't work, so Kenneth thought about bringing the tendril forth. It came out and wrapped around his right arm without him even uttering anything.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXYoWrazdW
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9zIIiHXHd
"So that's what it is..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXsKEGQPdF
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHcwX2UMTt
Though Kenneth was skeptical, and frankly, disturbed, something about this was incredible. He jumped for joy and ran back home. He couldn't wait until he showed his parents.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSdazsYBHt
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFno2ML4J2
Sure, they might've been out when he awoke, but they had to be back by now. Kenny did pass out after all, didn't he? He ran to the front door and slammed it open. He was so excited he could barely see in front of him. He suddenly stopped, because he realized that if he showed a wooden tendril the size of his father's arm coming out of his chest, he was sure to see the priest or something. So he tiptoed in instead.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS6LQy3K2H
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA5srJ2xXv
He heard some noise coming from the kitchen. How exciting! Even if he wasn't going to show them his tendril, he was sure that at the very least, he would receive a present. Kenneth turned the corner and entered the kitchen.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SFVLae0Nd
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekkq4Ovfcn
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtbnhqpNyw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkKKmnGoDZ
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaKAUYx6Dr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuRPNDk0d8
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLielonczS
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSAuphFF6V
Kenny was sure, for a moment, that he was still passed out, because this made no sense. Of course, that had to be it. A tendril from his chest should've been a good enough indicator, but this practically confirmed it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLUEV4Pvat
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMds0s4ZD1O
His mother was standing there with a knife in her hand. It was wet, and the liquid was dripping onto the floor, making a great big red puddle. Kenneth looked aside, and saw his father with his head laid down, and covered in that same red liquid.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwie9a0tDA
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTJUzdug19
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oW4AZKCIK
"...Dad–"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgvARkbxF7
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iT6bx8n0K
"Huh?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzStqPmXiO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm6WYh8Bme
His mother turned around. When she saw Kenneth, she looked terrified. It made no sense. If she was terrified, then what was Kenneth supposed to feel?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPQsq4FWW8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaspzsXsZWU
His mother fell to the floor. She dropped the knife. She scurried away from the boy as if he was the one who killed the man she loved.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvwVZGGXwI
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzuFl9KQP1
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD4bWO6s2N
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzf0RTuGhL
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZyunnAxpT
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQRLMzJpKd
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZnkLbSv1f
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTz0P49u0w
Kenny just didn't understand why.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFl8hMOwIj
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDUz98hjaz
Kenny yelled. He didn't know what was happening but the tendril stretched and pushed his mother against the wall. Kenny kept screaming and screaming, and then he too began to cry, and he kept crying all while the tendril held up his mother. Soon, a neighbor came by. Then another.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNY4EvOVnJ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIln0SF8WG
Mother was arrested that day.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSCveWpPCC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSSsMDKHit
–
–
–
Nobody questioned Kenny's strange new limb. Nobody had the heart to. "What kind of soulless bastard would ask him that now?" Stuff like that. It made sense.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wcBbPQSYR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JaQUsKDF5
He was back in the church. He sat alone, wearing his church garbs. It was the first time he wore something other than his mother's gift. He couldn't possibly imagine doing it now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJT6EphhQb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15CGFpbO6Z
Kenny's mother was under trial. The whole town and the priest served as the jury. At one point Kenny was asked to testify but he couldn't move a muscle. He just couldn't.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOFLUvmymb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUkpFA5Yvv
It was a pitiful trial. Kenny's mother didn't utter anything, and in the end, she was sentenced to death. Kenny was forbidden to watch the execution, but he somehow weaseled his way in as he tends to.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfWn9WXuqR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ACqvHf2d
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hOu7KyQTn
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzjHmSR8QU
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDichRFiu5O
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweLAbEnyLo
The trial didn't even last half the day. Her guilt was just that easy to tell. "But what did that mean for Kenny?" everyone asked. Of course, he was famous in the village. He served excellent potions and has made spectacles for the entire town to see. But nobody knew the type of person Kenny was.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIY2M9kkg9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgXG8mAjPZ
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNyWy5Oxnn
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH82HHBxiza
A decision was eventually reached. A family with the surname "Somber" would take custody of the boy. Kenny was asked if he would've liked to keep his old surname but he didn't say anything.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIJpiWgoU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjb7VAErKp
Kenny was taken to their home. Kenny didn't know what became of his old residence. He was fed at his new home, and he even had a little brother now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaf5FgAFjY
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEGFZgkOAt
For the first month Kenny didn't leave the house. It was excused at the time but eventually, his talents were needed too much. So Kenny, who got his equipment back, returned to alchemy, potion brewing, and the selling of his potions. He did it as well as he ever did, but it was different this time. It was wrong. Sometimes now, Kenny would slip up and make faulty products, and those times he didn't receive a beating, just a scolding. Some part of him wished he did receive a beating though.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fw5IXkJ9E
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ9FXcAzm1
It went on for another month.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeKKG3Z1Kw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsnpfefpRe
Then another.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzNAhE6ikC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklIoR5EPEV
Then another.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMwWzk7Z1H
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFnw5KznHH
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCGFe5iUO9
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd04yWSpS1U
The blood. It was slathered on the knife as if she was going to apply it to bread. And she was just standing there. Kenny didn't see her face but he knew she was smiling. And then her face after. Why was she so scared? Why? Why?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAdEObpkNR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztRed7OgSZ
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffX5DZclEG
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn4ZVFP7Os
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxFeBR3twU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVvc4wyse7
Kenny didn't understand what compelled her. Why did she have to kill his father? Kenny didn't understand. He asked himself and he didn't have an answer.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTitAKM3Cl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJfbY5ayZA
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0euZDYZB96
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvPqpnKGrS
They hated each other, didn't they? The "why" didn't matter, because look at what it amounted to. And all the while, Kenny was out of the house or in his room, playing with his plants like they were toys. He was at peace. They were not.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSL6682Q1T
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjbDAIWEB6
And Kenny reminded himself of this.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0VLzxdigu
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp3bQWI0qj
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOUpl6mwtt
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSLsA6qH0B
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vKZWT9fyL
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukNNl6RrCP
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDQVMxFF8m
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo42yqHDpxb
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBhtPHLAZz
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TOhe8KHiY
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vVqepDLDw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRS3g4U4pD
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUEU9RtyMH
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGloyVInkAD
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Wmp9H2jlU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhPRNy6eEM
Over and over.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWg879z6T8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rWVF6xMU6
He left the house. He turned ten already, somehow, he couldn't fathom how but he didn't care. He returned to the dragon-maw. It was called a Viscous plant, he recalled. But he hated that name. It was Dragon-Maw and that was final.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPEliOZibr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLuFB0Cpdu
Dragon-maw was excited to see him. He licked Kenny's face and even ticked him with his snout. Kenny appreciated it but wasn't here for that. He took out his syringe and took a sample of Dragon-maw's essence.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUUj0t8s5F
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hmwmsNAiv
–
–
–
Kenny received a present for his eleventh birthday. It was like a coat. A large puffy white one with brown outlining. But it also came with a stylish shirt and a pair of brown, skinny pants.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5kJozqKCl
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwkLFNg77W
His new mother, Anabelle, said that the coat was there to compensate for the bulge whenever his tendril came out. Kenny smiled and thanked her. It had been a while since he'd done such a thing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGjFlLnG5G
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wM14pe78R
After the pleasant event, Kenny returned to alchemy and mana manipulation. He hardly improved though. Kenny lost a lot more than his family during the incident. Kenny tried to stay in good touch with the whole village. He tried to put on smiles and talk politely, but all the words he and other spewed never sat right with Kenny. Nothing ever sat right.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsgvWHvYTK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEqH0WOh9C
Then there was Dragon-Maw. Kenny saw him every day. Kenny used to love the greeting he received from the plant but he's stopped being licked altogether. Today in particular, Kenny received a face akin to disgust, though it was hard to tell because the plant lacked eyes.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Rvbx5Sja
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p8YAyPMf5
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPVLwwBpHX
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuustaAivO
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEX3WxkmUg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy7EYkB5Hg
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeomtGao1yT
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW1iBaVjzV
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmwzCedoFK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBdvBMTV2m
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPDVLFew0Q
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFR3i08pIY
He was getting agitated. Still, the plant continued to flail and yell. Kenny rushed in and tried to pin it down but he was knocked away. Kenny grew annoyed and used his tendril. He wrapped it around the maw and shut it tight.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gq2iBRIjJ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE89h9Ooyf
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk0jrPvVLQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8xLnlzQOD
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewxv6B8fzZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ilZNb8Cr0
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiAPbn1ssj
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML9TL0G2Sj
Anabelle approached Kenny before he entered the house. She carried him inside hurriedly. She asked Kenny to sit down and he did. He waited for a few minutes before she returned with a letter. Kenny was handed it and he began to read.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoabJYa1TX1
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnO006LZZE
It was an invitation.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n2jXTjpdd
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXyYNQiBPE
Somehow, a scout from a prestigious school of alchemists saw the things Kenny had been doing, and considering his incredibly young age, thought it fit to enroll him there. Apparently, tuition was free, but the school was an extensive journey away. It would take four months on a carriage.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqL6qhimWg
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZV4XxHv6t
Kenny did not know how to react, nor did he know what to say. He politely told Anabelle that he'd consider it and returned to his room. He continued doing his regular alchemy business but the invitation continued to nag him. He sighed and put down the flask.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc4TRMYM6Q
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5ZWAG1tNI
"What am I supposed to do?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvKfdEY7xH
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmfkltbGxQ
It was a tempting offer. Kenny did love his plants, after all. Alchemy was profitable and enjoyable, and he was very skilled at mana manipulation. The selling of his potions probably caught the eye of the university. But why should he go? He was already exceptional in his field. He was fine here, wasn't he?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXcBFnRApP
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9DqdSm6u1
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStEgLEbMmO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkJq6kV35N
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBZVQ9STXk
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QTYD40UQw
All of a sudden, Kenny's mind began to hurt. This is something he'd typically avoid thinking about. He sighed, thinking it was time to clear the haze in his mind.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X6quPgZ29
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbdaVZknv9
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz9xRJRrON
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6it8CzAXR3
The stationary plant went missing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNWeloQ8MG
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmest5Ar6yo
He had no way of making a new one. The one in his tendril would simply produce blood– it was something he discovered months ago.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42lYTTBNy2
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpmwXEQclW
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA60ktw50aO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Eaza5mbtV
Dragon-Maw went missing.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRPW0Mu3u2
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34t96uczem
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6VgQjw2E8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ370NO42jld
"...Why?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FFIttdJFP
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0FlFgfOml
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPxotfBI1l
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysAEdtnR4M
And still, Kenny took his essence.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc80sv9SsU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLAVHqOk9K
Of course he would leave.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAn2IRnrVp
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAUnpihW15
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzldgvCDnv
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvORm8uSC3L
–
–
–
Seven months passed since Dragon-Maw went missing. Kenny didn't move much since then. He grew a little bit of belly fat. It relieved him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kVuw8M5Bd
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpNFHT4nrw
Kenny was still doing what he did best, brewing potions for the village. That's all he ever did, people say, just stay holed up in his room and do alchemy. It wasn't a lie, but sometimes, Kenny felt like he wasn't even doing that–168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kj5LTMCCw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjLwJrMqn9
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lrhx1uWQ4
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9VQUhyvht
"Kenny. Come out here."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hOhsL5cLr
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBYdXogkrY
But that was a man's voice who just spoke. He stood up and begrudgingly opened the door. His wrist was taken and he was pulled.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtJluCythD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1xO5ECcWd
"W-Woah!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqk4vimiHs
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVrf2tGX91
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvULWXreuk
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzOsge92gf
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed2WznvHuy
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF25fTOb863
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cB6GDklJf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ0XVAw5CO
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouZYg5dHo6
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mwmgODX2b
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY1E8I7v99
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWwBrQ4CGk
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec6zKqQSOU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3sFWZGDTQ
The sun was bright outside. Kenny had a hard time seeing so he covered his eyes. He tried to re-enter the building but his turning of the doorknob was met with a kick at the door. He'd rather not get hurt, so he decided to just roam the village.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KxArWm4Mb
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKqKcrrIHG
It was... strange though. Not because something truly strange was happening, but because the mood was different. People were out and about, doing their work, and children were playing and having fun.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8158L2N7F
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHatrOp5JJO
Kenny didn't get it.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt5KgUl5ur
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fQDAYfnA2
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xm3jZMhmO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAAHjde70J
"Ah, Kenny! Look at you!" A random woman said with a gleeful smile on her face, "You're finally outside, about damn time you recluse! Hahaha!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhblysZL1O
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PxkANqjuw
"I... whaa?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS17DVLOuBw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyNrd0JFar
Kenny couldn't formulate a sentence. The woman just waved at him and went away. Kenny didn't understand. Why was she so... rude to him? Didn't she understand that his parents died? That his plant was gone and that he was all alone?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgobrTf5XMz
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmm07aHj6t
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4sdFIY4uy
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5FhMaZ6wu
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YDOb82k0P
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa6e1Txk2N
He didn't like that. But still he kept wandering. He didn't know what else to do. He watched as the kids played and as the adults chattered about this and that. Kenny was confused. He didn't understand it at all.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGJF73g5RO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8t3Ml4SZY
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TljiO902y
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx1UaeOmnb
Uncle? Kenny turned around and a little girl was there grinning ear to ear. Kenny was much taller than her, she was probably something like six–168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEkma5Q9g4
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKCmjo5V73
"Huh?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oFewha4MQ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGhDZJvQjc
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH8coOAZhc
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrscV2f1eUU
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvtPqo4Hp8
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zavKAfJ3D
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5LxGSsqLU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxQmsFlRFb
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcEZsLQJuZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoM0ujMNU2
"Uh... sure?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng7M2uj9aK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYQIvvBzyf
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykUlkBdHEO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv8ozysa37
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG17S9paMa2
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxsQbbAr7i
No, Kenny couldn't still.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSqyeK5HJK
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkRQWrk1r9
He still didn't know what was going on.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ3jZ33V0b
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jbaQaI59W
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYhT1FENBh
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaSOuZXs2e
"...Big Brother."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8IreDar22
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT49tiJ7PG
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZNaQ65cZD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtM5TP5NXA
The kid looked upset. Of course, that's the look. That's the look that I should be getting, Kenny thought. They're still dead, and the plant is gone, and he's still alive, and nobody should ever forget that, Kenny thought.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutRoQhrbYT
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNurZm8ZJGB
But then he smiled.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoVdKlZpua
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4xWCVxQEm
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImxrwd8wBt
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0biv2vO7w4
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHeFuJcORi
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJXCb0R6jV
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFadonMkCC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N7sTl16d8
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTHKnP0sly
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKa0liPDVv
"D-Don't you get it? Does nobody else get it? My parents died! I drove my plant away! Am I– am I the only one who cares? And– and its–"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxl8eL0jqN
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPlUEeAsu8
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQWGYuncjD
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEf5JSgGMt
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4Ov8kN1Ve
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkxdLpdy78
"I get it, it hurts. And I'm not saying you should be all cheery. But for a whole seven months, you stayed indoors, and it was the plant that drove you that far?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrGlSWvIhU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSpztx96yC
"W-What? Huh?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3WRnENeXS
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGibC6tnvx7
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu8RLQ0Jib
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jqTeV73nA
This was insulting.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9cEijVN2l
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkuhix7gyl
This was just insulting now.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMkyipOSIZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXju2wDkdYq
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8MW04olcj
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5poETaEVw
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocBrB6ksCR
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWUEiB2Pbg
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrf8vvtmap
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWEuzlLvTY
And then something shattered in him.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEqpUJcDw1
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmVdXCiVaG
What was making him so hung up?168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9xiBfd8QC
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCLcDUbCvo
Why, that's obvious, isn't it? It's so obvious that Kenny didn't feel the need to say it out loud. But Jackson was looking at him like he needed to say something. Kenny couldn't though, because Kenny knew that it was too obvious. Yet Jackon kept that gaze up, and kept pestering him with that look, and–
**SLAM!**168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp6H7OVZmf
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaDj7JfB4A
"...Huh?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVNed37x2J
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmZkSQaHKm
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBBFBHC6Mw
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH2WmXVYLH
"L-Listen, Kenny..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihPYkTSyIZ
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuEy2xaI5D
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYwbW3STgX
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYQrot3H6m
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PPUqkOZeO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BbBbgUGtc
"..."168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ePrOjCxfO
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8fk6IBDzj
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T0WPLlYzq
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97uCASUpH5
–
–
–
He had a talk, to say the least. Kenny grew better. He had a difficult time talking to others, and despite the discussion, his feelings for the incident and himself didn't go away entirely.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qI7hDcILH
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gnxmgGHJ8
But Kenny was fine. He turned twelve, and he was about to board a carriage. Yes, he accepted that offer. Transportation wasn't free, and despite Kenny's insistence on paying for it himself, a carriage was in front of him while his coin sack was completely full.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3G91tJQFS
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfOmWnSk2y
Kenny turned to those saying goodbye. It was practically the whole village, but Anabelle and Jackson were at the front. Kenny swore he was going to cry again, but he held himself back. He was wearing the clothes Anabelle gifted him. His snow white jacket with brown buttons and outlining, his complementary light-brown pants. It did make the environment a bit toasty though.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiyPoSHzKm
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfictHSruvO
None of that was important. What was important right now was that he was hugging Anabelle and Jackson. What was important right now was that he was boarding the carriage and waving goodbye to his village. His home.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2Q4INfa4f
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwzE4D8lHX
He was going to ascend King's Peak. It sounded a little crazy to him, but it was really happening. Kenny brought the tome and his equipment with him. He couldn't believe that a simple set of gifts got him this far.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8UGCByGPX
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qfv6WcZSw
He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePRdCrlMZt
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Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P0X6SiPEr
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That's what he remembered. All of that. Not all of his questions were answered, but he was glad he remembered that much. He got up from the rock and scratched his head. He wished that he remembered how exactly it came to this, though. Kenny was in a rocky field. His carriage was totaled, the horses were missing, and his driver was dead on the ground.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
