The fat Nigel and I amassed was substantial for the potion. I didn’t know what to do with the leftovers, but I didn’t dare to throw the fruits of our hard work away. It wasn’t as if another endurance potion wouldn’t be needed.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgzTBPxGtN
“Now all I need to do is to finalize it.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2KD2LbgXf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFgSzC7P81
A few minutes of careful mana suspension was the remaining requirement for a job well done. I did so easily, channeling my shaky focus to form it with haste. The liquid turned deep blue, the color of the distant sea, meaning that–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjGatbZTt8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshbJB8n2MG
“It’s a resounding success. Awesome.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQAdqLxOUu
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFnfWuwNjS
I wiped my brow with my forearm and patted my face with my collar. I wasn’t sweaty or anything, but my head felt undeniably hot, likely from all the blood that rushed to fuel my attention. That aside, I now had a finished product to deliver, but as I tasked myself I came at a small crossroads.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUP8ILYduL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXf5MiZlQp
Should I go and deliver this now, or make a healing potion, and deliver this later?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiZLC5mcmV
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsE1BNA1s9
“...”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2SfByb6EO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn36Z9PTGUr
It seemed obvious to me what the answer was. Pragmaticism dictated the practice of the former, as the recipients of this potion were operating under borrowed time. But my left mind dictated otherwise; it told me that it would be a slight– no, a flagrant offense if I didn’t brew that medicine.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbxY675Vpb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWVHHLhBb5
“...That’s new. Where did you come from?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uL8SfJsyD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8rvJUbWoq
Thoughts like that– I didn’t recall having them. I was hit from left field by this warping, contorting, sapping feeling in my chest. It didn’t disturb me, however. Rather, I was confused. I was uncomfortable, but I could bear this panging, especially with a distracting duty.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8DukxDG3W
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzraIz2WxC
“I know better. I don’t have the time for that. No, I don’t.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeRQ8bQH7D
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq6arepRZu
Indeed, I was creating with urgency. I spent enough excess time finding ingredients as it was, so any further stalling would jeopardize the whole city. I had to get out, and get out now–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8BSMor8zq
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“...”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7D5Q5hAWz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiD80CeIqI
But when I jerked my legs to do so, they didn’t. They stood in place, locked to the ground by that warping sensation. I clicked my tongue, because now I realized what was happening, and my irritated frown turned into a worried grimace.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfBo41bbSO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vt757eXre
Even though I had a duty, to leave Rover to hang with a broken leg longer than she had to, left me with a pit in my stomach. It’s Especially so, because I had the power and the will to relieve her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSvcCugAhF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZw51ZTDFy
Fortunately, I had a compromise. I found that compromise in my bag, slouched against the wall. I sifted through it and found what I needed, then made a quick exit from the booth.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzNfczXFGL
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Knock, knock, knock. The strength of my banging knuckles surprised even me. I stocked hardly half the force in my flicks to produce such noise. But I summed up the cause immediately. I was nervous.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaTjhYK1VP
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxEOVviars
“Yes?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3X6Bv6RQ0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6evM16M8pI
The door opened quickly, revealing a Lola who was peekingher head through the opening. Her countenance lost its vigilance once she saw me, and it likewise calmed me down.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUSs3NGxa8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6NFIupwhy
“You’re here what I think you’re for, aren’t you?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfagIER0T06
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkxFKQEYEu
“Y-Yes, Lola. Here, this is the potion I made.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnTwLY7h8O
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHu5hsrahd
I stretchedmy arm out as she widened the door. She grabbed it with her free hand and inspected it on all planes. At some point, she stopped twirling and nudging it and blankly stared at the blue. I noticed now how fluidly the streams swirled.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3SIdACqAn
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“You made this in eighty minutes?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSxTOxigkp
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“Did I take too long? I’m sorry, I had to grab some ingredients from a lower floor–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewyUp2HfPQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfl7OwJx71
“No, not at all. I was expecting you to take longer. Thank you, Kenny, I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7kSWRjbT
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9tX5yEbMG
I raised my hands bashfully and rapidly waved them at her.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaSrXkgGa1
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYprOJphPOY
“No no no, please don’t! You’re helping us enough as is.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO27CQLz2vu
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“If you insist.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmQlt6ri4W
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She said so with an upscaling cadence, poorly singing the last syllable. I blinked a few times, and my eyes reopened to blaring blurs. Only my mother ever did that.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseU5LsbpuT
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“Kenny?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUfWrY7jLG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP8ULKgr5S
“O-Oh, right. Do you need me for anything else?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOivmBucwk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpETpyyVzew
“Hmm,” she hummed, clasping her chin, “if we do, I’ll bug you. For now, make yourself at home, and get plenty of rest. You’ll need it for what comes next.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa87PnO4uA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnxiDmR5XW
I let out a chuckled sigh and slapped a hand on my chest, muttering a breathy “thank you.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmdyKZ38GO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Txvd6Bao
“There is something I’d like to ask you, however, just before you go.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQFklZj6Q5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRubioVQXZv
She said so right as I turned to leave. I twisted my head and looked at her, gesturing for her to shoot.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaZaTZ4JbW
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsElbFDCrh
“The concoction in your other hand; that bright green tint can only mean one thing, yes? A healing potion.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEETPW4UeP
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZA6sB55C7
I nodded at her assessment. I realized the speed at which this could turn dangerous.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAZg95IpYI
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYDxJFTBxq
“I see. I see, I see…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfVbvSE56Z
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5ilqXKFgd
“A-Are you going to make me make one for each soldier?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkUgu7kzkd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE6j61Jxx3
“No, I won’t ask that of an outsider, let alone a child– oh, sorry, you don’t like being called that, do you?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74LAUcXrQ0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfnYQpuprD
“...Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you being considerate, Lola. Is there anything else?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhbcEShH2D
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UCUJxLiaH
“I-If you don’t mind my prying, could you answer a few questions for me?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEvudLBXmB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdRzxeL25m
She stepped over the threshold and closed the door, but stopped just short of shutting it. As much as I wanted to chat with her, though, I had somewhere else to be.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDQhapCa5q
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“Please?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gYoG8iwqO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tb8GCtFi6
Though it was difficult to draw a line while she was making such a face.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGKvG4Katq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAaesIPGTw
“F-Fine, but please make them short. I have somewhere I need to be.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hf2MI3lge
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlJieUTnni
“Thank you, I will. It’s just two quick questions. First–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7BelYpOEt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpUdMb1VdP
She paused right before asking, as if a crucial memory struck her from the woodwork. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn7929BiJi
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SQrRc1bm8
“–How long have you been an alchemist?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ49kk9cm9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf5WUmGYAp
“I’d say… hold on, that question has two answers. Commercially, it’s been about three years(1). Personally, it’s been for… seven?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmHU49OyPg
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7uWxIKzpT
“Seven years? That’s over half your life, isn’t it?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFKyLDVSrW
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjupmsdg75
I gave a simple shrug with sandwiched lips.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWRlyrsS7e
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO3o8SGMTs
“I started young. That’s all.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZOKTJZNXd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwOXocMWAT
“I see. Being trained at such a young age, no wonder why you’re so skilled.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0IAT3BeFM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QpOk13A0v
“P-Please, don’t flatter me. I appreciate the remarks, but they just…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjhqQzIY5s
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40ZqsPLZ5u
They don’t sit right with me, I wanted to say, but Lola gave a predictive, discerning nod, so I stopped speaking.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrWRmmunp3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjkdzK0Nn6
“Only seven years… then, maybe–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIhHgfSbP0
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“Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn’t catch it.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn16TSP64U6
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She jumped and then waved her hand.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbBjsXrrzE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddx485EzFD
“Don’t worry, I was just thinking out loud. Anyhow, for my next question…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljj4oFpFF2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlermcsroT
“Right.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85UjPq9avl
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAqStFyHKt
“...I apologize if this may seem extreme, but I have to ask.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO18RxeCstC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUQn8cPgtP
She straightened herself and turned her head left and right, seemingly afraid of anyone hearing in. That assumption was validated by her leaning her head in.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVbVwtRqSt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWZWpurFzw
“Did you kill anyone in the last operation?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiw0rLWyl3
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“I– Wha!?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7WsXXAEdu
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I couldn’t keep my voice down, much to her dismay. But, goodness, could she blame me? She put a hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down, which I quickly did, but I still had a storm thrashing in my skull.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsISwBx0i41
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvo6NfVfeN
“Who asks something like that to a child!?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDUhv9FlIK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx365KAitA
“Shh! I know it’s selfish, but it’s for my own peace of mind! I have to know, please, did you?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb7vvPFTgv
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4njrFHcH8
“Your own… peace of mind?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwCva34Dbd
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When it was twisted that way, suddenly, I wasn’t so apprehensive. I was still bewildered, but answering that question didn’t feel like falling into a trap anymore. And so, reluctantly, my lips spoke the answer.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZVjGMVUif
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtfrB78cVh
“I didn’t. I hurt some people, but I never landed a killing blow.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw4nCauISJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNYNXq9D8t
“I-I see. That’s a relief. Oh my goodness, that’s a relief.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRc6KDgmwM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrUAeCY239
She leaned against the door, closed it, and putting her hand on her brow, she closed her eyes and began to… pant? I wondered how she could be so worried. I was beginning to think she might have a screw loose.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj3tQz6uJR
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“Thank you for humoring me. You have no idea how much it calms me, to know there’s no blood on such a young man’s hands. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQpn8oRSQf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjowJ3Piwh
“You… for some reason, I feel like you regard me much more highly than you should.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd5cPHlnvQ
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She shrugged at my comment.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsi6yYmS88
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“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. I think I’ll keep you guessing. Now, shoo! You have somewhere to be, don’t you?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7ZhbSj46g
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXinfy4s4yD
Brushing me off with perfect logic before I could respond to her outrageous statement, I clicked my tongue inward and turned on my foot.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRbXHlQ8Om
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJsoEFcksh
“Goodbye Lola,” I shouted. She opened the door and slid right through, waving at me right before closing it.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTaqWQWQ44
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClka7HHmka
–
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As I inched closer to the infirmary, my body had an expected reaction. I coped with it accordingly, though that didn’t make it easy to move.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCajPTKlvd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEyBlWosj2
With every progressing movement of my foot came a wave of resistance double the magnitude. I had to dig my soles into the floor to wade through the spasms, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth just to keep my limbs moving.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbyKHRpwAz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zgHHmkbo9
Of course, I was exaggerating. But goodness, did that swelling weight pound against my chest. My limbs did shake as I reached for the knob, but I managed to grasp it and keep my hand there.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbJGbWqQVZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m1Ht4ZXof
“...This is ridiculous.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp8iFRxOPw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNU3bggQBZ
I sighed. I looked at the healing potion and gave it a few light shakes, watching the agent crash like small waves against the flask. If push came to shove, I could drop this off by the bed or table and turn the other way. In fact, if I had to convince myself that was all I had to do just to open this damned door, then I would do so. So I kept saying so, a lunatic hustling his mantra.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqwmvhqfnK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAV6mCKrp0
“Just go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it off, go out. Go in, drop it– off!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvmqyFvT1s
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8pmybSVZK
In the midst of my chanting, I bit the arrow and slammed it open. It looked far removed from how I imagined it.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZJJMKMhiZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR0fdTCjUG
Instead of a small room with curtain-covered beds lined up with uniform spacing, it was a small room lined with dingy, almost make-shift mattresses. About eight people were in the room, and one was slouched on a chair opposite of me, his head hung and his arms crossed.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kqqPtNpGX
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljjGehH5Gb
And seeing how his groggy face raised to meet mine, I realized how noisy my entrance was.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIM7jukyG4
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalRqy7LaZy
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb anyone. I’m just here to deliver something.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSEkTcXl2V
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRzlg48q4T
“...Hmm.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWJKS8TtQP
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQthoqNO3gB
The man stood up and haggardly walked to me. From his gait alone, I could tell he’d been drinking, though I wondered how exactly he got his hands on alcohol. He stopped a few paces before me, took one long look with narrowed eyes, and casually shrugged.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hHLjS9MTa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB2gAKTtpM
“Do whatever.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhkhr9SFR9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Tgxpg1z2
“R-Right. Thank you, sir.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsMJIbr78c
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFny8XmCLh
He gave me a thumbs-up and plodded back to his chair. I looked around the room, feeling blessed from my lucky break, and eyed all the patients.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBp0vLSZim
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMSO18YHAE
While most were in their mock-up beds, either sleeping, eating, or chatting away, one mattress was empty. By process of elimination, it belonged to the person I was looking for.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO299AJBpg
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1vkj0kMKg
“D-Darn it.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST4yUUX9XV
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlgEg8Lska
Gnawing on my fingers, I did one more sweep before releasing a sigh. Rover was nowhere to be seen– not in the beds, not on the window sill, not in the corners, nothing–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8umq9Aeejr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiL2FFwxVH
“What are you doing here?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQGM9Wzkod
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS8h0denoX
And then I heard a voice call from me. I jolted, nearly dropping my flask, and turned to face its timbre. Only as I saw its bearer’s face, did its course tone ring a bell in me.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrAWMMKjX2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCfkUUImz4
There was Rover, sitting in the one corner out of my sight, eyeing me with a lion’s eyes.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q3ztlbCZ3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofzzUrmcBm
“...U-Uh.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDlgxqSBP5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFI42ADxtI
All my systems shut down at that moment. It was one thing to imagine meeting her, but seeing her face-to-face instead of a mere effigy I controlled the responses of was a completely different beast.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV1EY8Dzvv
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3lpoPffUg
“Well? Come on, spit it out.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QjEJ0gwEy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00r66FFfnt
“I… I-I.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlVQBuIHxf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYJAB2ciKy
My body didn’t shake. My eyes didn’t blink, my lips didn’t part, and only the functions of my lungs and stiff throat continued normally. I was completely and utterly frozen.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvIE0OOM4D
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtMWLHfL2e
Suddenly, I felt my face fire up. It was a familiar feeling, but I was vulnerable during its assassination. In front of another person, of whom I had their undivided attention, witnessing my pale cheeks light like fireflies.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjkmRQg6ik
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQaXjUd1ad
That shame was too much to bear. I stuck my hand out, darting my eyes between her and the potion, and even orbiting my other hand around the flask to emphasize it. Despite me putting it on a pedestal, Rover tilted her head with an eyebrow that raised to the ceiling.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj8fJJkVQI
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixHMYLA7be
“I don’t have time for this, just spit it out!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKaSXKO6AA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rBkJ8gCpF
“I-I’m here.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FyOhGQzVG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Jn3WtEfH
By some miracle, her urging words kicked my chords into action, and I was beginning to form words again. Only, they didn’t have a present pilot.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe3Pc1btEy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvenoCxCBdX
“I’m– I made— I– Rover, I’m here–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRBGfIR3Rg
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB3gieap1x
As I kept stumbling over myself, Rover rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. She looked at me, tapping her finger on herself as if she was waiting for me to stop.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ldl8Xfw8n
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZYUg8ibFn
“I…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpQwNxlmIa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUz3OVagyp
I sighed and pinched my nose, shook my head, and slapped my left cheek. I looked at the corner between the wall and ceiling, whispered something akin to a prayer, and finally looked that woman in the eyes.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9eU0hYk7p
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd5BRUjxxL
“Hello, Rover.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5epFS8522L
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRGewPK1v0
“Hey, Kenny.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GQoANHVqA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncgbVZTCzV
I retracted my stretched arm, then extended it yet again.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND0E3OjH0l
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwniJwDSJg
“I made you this. It’s something I made, in light of the news I heard. Well, it’s just leftovers, but I did want to make one for you–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn8DpInNpo
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUJrNf0rLk
“Cut to the chase!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCKsglyIpa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8B0xvOk4w
“R-Right. It’s a healing potion. I heard that your leg sustained a major injury, and so, I’d like to give this to you. For some relief, and quicker healing.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oob8YfTm2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18aWeLg3Si
Her eyes widened. Her crossed arms slackened, and I took it as a signal to move forward. I took it incorrectly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHbpPtGgLG
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVr3VjYehi
“Hold on, you brought me a potion?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡounIHYT7lJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhK6xpqXqk
“Y-Yes.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2825QyFd1
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKsMjMdvwG
“Now who told you to do that?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5CN62jKuF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgFka19dgm
“W-Well–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcKSMv6fvJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aEfffDAHO
Nigel suggested it, but he didn’t tell me. No, mulling over that was wasteful spending. There was only one truth in this situation:47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbQ17bl1q3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48bAm9uMNX
“I wanted to do it. I wasn’t told.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfHOMjfuhK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctW9aoK5qx
“...You? That wimpy Kenny?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrW8TBZWCf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoF8Jotf0H
I wasn’t mad at her insult. It was all too accurate.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzbekHJn4i
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8H6ADch5p
“Yes, the wimpy Kenny.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvaXk0cszw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFIbFcG9Qg
“Ha! You’ve surprised me before, but this really blew my expectations out of the water!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAwjp0BWlJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXwCnoszOY
She rubbed under her nose and hummed to herself with a satisfied tune. As I couldn’t read her mind, I stood in place and didn’t budge.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFd4XjGyQQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo3DsUNZgv
“I refuse your treatment!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtRO7nRzLY
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNfy92nru9
“H-Huh!?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFw401hyKB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dLDXtCUVw
In a single moment, all my apprehension had been voided. All anxiety and dread, crumpled into a ball and thrown out a window, replaced by a slate of terrible vexation.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlezrc9TTUC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcrjXjALtz
“Why not? Don’t you want to recover faster?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EoqhG2HQs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HcbvMcfQO
“Of course I do, but I can’t accept it. Not when you’re looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLFxcVruEn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEp366pClH
“I– Wha?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHHyENznl0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTAz8mCxfi
I stopped pointing my finger and used it to feel around my face. There was no mirror, so it was the best I could do. Something was off with it, and if I didn’t figure out what, then I couldn’t give Rover this potion, and I couldn’t confront–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcFEMssT6P
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4psenAb2xf
“No, stupid! It’s the face you’re making! It’s weird!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDJ3scTVpg
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWgTrTpsZ6
“Stupid? Weird!?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRlpzHSfj7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0qIYgMu8S
“Do you need the whole room to hear it!? You’re looking at me like a weirdo!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1CzFhTc5A
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp8fswMqsX
“...”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfwZVfbg7g
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq13tFBMCp
The energy to argue was sapped. I understood what she said, and could do nothing but stare with mouth agape. Rover leaned further against the wall and looked at me with her chin raised.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGTAE4Pqn9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT3Aa2Qw1G
“Why are you looking at me like that? Hmph.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34bbs7Umen
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn5dof3MjI
As I had no other mode of operating at this moment, I blurted my immediate response.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu2BWscTTa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBW7JaZcSZ
“It’s because I upset you.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEzIlujzOS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kdPQif3th
And then I realized that something like this required thoughtful phrasing.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy99yiZrZ2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXomqSmZJR
“I don’t– well, I don’t want to make you any more uncomfortable than you–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNMDQ5nLVs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYeJ37yAUs
“That’s bullshit! Man, forget answering that, I don’t need your whole, your spiel you know!? Come here!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbaeXcfFGj
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC7aWnnWmN
“Come, there,” I asked, pointing to myself.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh81teSxBqu
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Uec1MCgD
“Yes. Sit by me, I can’t stand looking at your working legs.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1aPPctLI6
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EJ61g1qXU
“S-Sheesh.” 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixx2ng8Hwc
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pyFqgdQqq
I didn’t even begin thinking of a way to respond to that. I just did as I was asked and walked to her side, sitting against the wall beside her. She snatched the potion right out of my hand and eyed it like an appraiser. Only, if said appraiser was terrible at imitating one.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbINoBn2EVb
“How do I use this thing?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ENQWjQPid
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QFzZ5QQGQ
“You, uhm, you have to drink it. If you have a needle, you can inject it right into your leg, that’ll make it work faster, but not better.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTIJUAEtJt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7PY97EnqL
“Drinking works for me.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvNJMHiToN
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSdnBGFceX
She popped the cork and chugged it to its last drop. She shook every drop out, set the flask on the ground, and entered a fierce coughing fit.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1GU1i9xhk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuPXfdeZka
“Cah! What the hell, is in this thing?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWXQG3Q2Nz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cFUIuSJa4
“That’s not the problem! You drank it too fast, you dingus!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6nAccoNhY
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4o9d8QW1C
She looked at me with sharp eyes but couldn’t do anything in the midst of her coughing. I slapped her back a few times to help it pass her throat, and after a moment, she calmed down.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkezfmusj4A
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUkSh0JeKi
“If you drink like that, it’s likely to go down the wrong pipe.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XFeJcwQj7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w4XXTYX9D
“Whatever.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHr1cQW8ks
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYvhXMUweI
With her dismissive reply, she turned her head to the side with what I could only imagine was a pout. I silently sighed, because for all the gritting teeth and flexing fingers her behavior should’ve invoked, it was within my whetted expectations. I tolerated her usual brashness rather well– in fact, my body was as relaxed as a koala. But I didn’t come here to watch her pout, and I no doubt must’ve warranted that face somehow. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C6LOZrzKW
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7hiagGRQl
She discarded my earlier words, but they were genuine. I didn’t want to make her stressed. Not any more than a person with such a leg should have.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ6OJDn1cX
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5psWBgdm3
And so, I got up from my improvised seat and brushed the little bits of dust that landed on my pants. I turned to Rover, who already had her eyes meeting mine. It was with such swiftness, that I almost staggered before my goodbye. Almost, but I fixed myself before it.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5AxyjKJxe
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyqRtMoAFs
But before I could even take anpreludebreath, she spoke, reading my intentions.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCmf6hVcwq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyx9EKnbXA
“Leaving already?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYNQTjqmQz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk9VbxOBSu
“I-I am, yes. I think it would be best. It isn’t as if I don’t have–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fypT7KEAb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRlfbFksTA
“Hold on, not yet. I still have something to say to you.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9kCfMEdEw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Mxn3NStT
She didn’t reach a hand. No, not one inch of her body nudged my way. But her crossed arms and crunched eyes enacted a greater force than her limbs ever could, as if a fortress wall materialized on my head. My butt returned to the floor soon after, but what I tried my hardest not to reveal, was that it was self-assisted.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9Skq1qAod
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzwDqi2KeA
“That’s funny. I do too. Do you mind if I start first?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYL12nppBz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn2aksNOA6
She shook her head back and forth, keeping that iron countenance but giving me the go-ahead. It made spitting out my words difficult, but I was lucky to have rehearsed them. Only a little, of course.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Pge2DpJJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIezZWrsVcv
“I wanted to tell you, that I’m sorry for what happened earlier. My conduct, of course. I was just– you remember what I’m talking about, right? Back in our little rented room?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI5E4jkdRn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzs7YGBSyp
“Yeah, I do. I remembered how much of a wuss you were.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMrzIZJgt3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClJf6mH1hg
I almost chuckled. Blunt as a bat, but it hit a bullseye.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHw38LJ9Rb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRckETXKfOC
“I was being conducted by fright. I couldn’t fathom, putting myself out there, and making myself a part of this mess. Risking my life, your life, Juke’s. But, honestly, those reasons took a backseat.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSNwLyvUN1
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREkYuvDA8p
I noticed the subtlest rise of her right brow.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzpottSGY7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQYaZIjZDA
“I thought that, the lower the engagement, the better it would be. Screw the job, screw the people. The less involved I was, the better. The less it was up to me, the better. I don’t fully get it– not yet I do –but with the words I have, I can tell you this much: that’s how I felt.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVPbxHtQ3L
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSTtn3ftfi
She nodded along to my apology. It looked like she was expecting more, but I was finished. So she’d understand, I concluded with–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQqakd3ona
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0RsmG6mcC
“So yeah, I’m sorry for being such a wuss.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JkmuVvwwa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5auithSYdg
“...Hmm. Ha, I guess kids really do grow so fast.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0pXHeYtZR
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVopTxhVcL
“H-Huh?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkr3UnYIC4
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsj0SXRKPz
She rubbed her nose a little and continued talking.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiwH3iT95V
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ4jcXuWGK
“Just look at you. You’re nothing like the Kenny I knew.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ4fXvMGU0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSTtbH43N3
“I-I, well, I don’t know if I agree–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYn051Camq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPEkohGBYo
“Nah, on second thought, I take that back. But that doesn’t matter anyway. Seriously, just look at you.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm21WuNPTD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh8iOKK6fL
“I’m n-nothing so special.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3NEZ6h3Dr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HFZAVddlw
“Sure you ain’t. But here you are, in a room with a bunch of battle casualties. You’re in the same mess I’m in, and you’re finally working to get that letter back!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpsOFOPpkZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqemfYOLQ5
“The letter certainly isn’t a priority.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiOFHQCMc0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmIRdauHNY
She casually clicked her tongue, tilted her head sideways, and waved her hand downward.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUggrOdgJQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFjlD6C0ts
“Don’t sweat the details. That’s not the point. The point is that you’re in the same room as me again, and that means you finally grew a pair.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFBxgJFBVT
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5DIvYM0ec
Whether it was he boorish phrasing or encouraging insistence, something about her made me sit on those words. I raised a hand to my chin and looked up at nothing, entrenched in thought. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKZ8oh2a57
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuFqwieKrN
It took me only a few 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ8p3exEYk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHYSsyBYHX
“I don’t think so. I don’t think I grew anything.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIiMufvVLa
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQMHC1AUDZ
“‘Course you did! Stop giving me such crap–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL6SbfPtFp
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF126JX9tD
“No, really, Rover.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7sz1lnAih
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo4qLIjYdd
I slouched my posture and leaned back, lifting myself with my hands behind me. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW03n86z1Lp
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBYGvR2IsX
“I think I’m just lucky.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuWVtL88pg
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf088Z2cwO
I veered my eyes away from the ceiling, looking into Rover’s, and was taken aback by her utter dejection. Or was it disgust?47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6rUdXJ7HT
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYQ2LE5lXc
“I-I mean, it’s not as if I haven’t been trying, it’s just–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAyaYK1XP3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0v4vrBvPp
“Nevermind all that, Kenny. You’re starting to give me a headache.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEX1eH9FMo
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7DiDnIhvv
I stopped my frantic hand-waving and began to scratch my head.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTRu1oAkAf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZDYogYM4x
“You’re doing something right. You said it yourself, so you know. But enough about you; I have something to say, and your weird drug is already making me drowsy.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYJxdzqqY9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCH9AzZF1t
“It isn’t a drug! I wouldn’t stoop to such barbaric substances!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJnZZRXL5S
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAOuKjEnR9
“Uh-huh, whatever. Hear me out before you can’t anymore.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fo9C2YJ03
I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut, squishing my cheek by resting it on my face. Though Rover looked ready to speak with her gaze matching mine, she quickly jerked her head the other way and appeared to look off into nowhere. I was confused, but I didn’t voice it. It would be unfair of me to interrupt her as she gathered her words, as I hadn’t been so many times.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY3x0WWSa0
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Eventually, Rover’s face flared and became ruddy. I didn’t think much of it initially, but as I continued to remember that it was Rover who I was talking to, this meant that whatever she said had immense gravity. I perked my ears and sharpened their hearing– as best as I could with the poor funnel my hands formed, anyhow. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGPwCaVr61
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeX54Bk99h
“D-Don’t rush me!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2LMnH9DS7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7PXZzgVVG
“I’m not rushing you! I mean, I wouldn’t mind if you just spat it out, but–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIQ5WK76NV
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“Shut up, Kenny! You told me yourself once that I’m too crass with words. Just let me think; you already know I’m bad at this…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYApzRGV3Pn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclJOGYOxlV
I had no recollection of doing such a thing, but as the clearest memory I had of her was of the incident that night, I chose to believe her. She spent the time fiddling with her fingers, biting then nibbling her lips, darting her eyes this way and that with such ferocity her head jiggled with each motion. I could see my reflection on her sweat, and she was so engrossed in thought that air stopped entering her system.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQuASuaMQI
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I was exaggerating, but I couldn’t deny that it was making me uncomfortable. I wondered then for a moment, as admonishable as a thought that it was, if this is how people felt around me at times.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuhvQhuqW1
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“Gahh, forget it! You convinced me, I’ll just say it!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4W7b1Npg0
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“I didn’t say anything.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnhnYXD7tf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwToZ6ZMMa
She straightened her back and puffed out her chest. Her guise of bravery was there to convince herself. The instance her lips would part, she’d cross a fine line, one whose threshold would shut and lock with her passing legs. I knew that gesture all too well. And since I did, I gave her nothing but my most diligent attention.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX1cQaXc8o
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“I’m sorry for being such a priss.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhwdSlhtdQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cYAQFdFg8
And I was returned an equal blow. Rover stuck her tongue out after saying that, ready to clean off the ‘mawkish verbiage’ she just spewed. That’s what it seemed to me anyway, but she refrained, as she had only her body to convince me of her sincerity.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71yJN4jytc
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But whether she was or not, mattered not to me.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWji9ZH7a61
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“I don’t regret chewing you out, don’t get me wrong. But I shouldn’t have abandoned you two. Not after how we’ve, b-became friends, and not after how you told me all you did.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUqEzayxyC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzolqrdMI9T
“Told you all I did? What?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFCwuIuz0I
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She was caught by a wind of fury.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RsWkLPLv0
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“You don’t remember!? Are you kidding me!? I really should–! Gah, you’re making this so much harder than it should be!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU49WaD7Sg3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTKIBGYR5W
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She stopped her rage immediately, donning a look of perplexion. 47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh914hgYuo
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“What’s so funny?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMVNBNTchN
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiz5cAoiRV
“N-Nothing in particular. I appreciate the apology, I suppose? I don’t think I’m all that deserving of it, though.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5i6OpFWhd
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“Hold on, I’m not done yet!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66vGgSKJfg
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I nodded in understanding, and so she continued.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFXa2X0tND
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“As I was saying… I was so mad, but I was never that mad. And I get why now. Because when it comes to anything Hard-Bringer, I get a little crazy.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAAPdIzqH1
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“A little crazy?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKTHvixaIv
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“Yes, idiot, I just said that. They piss me off like you wouldn’t believe. Screw that, I don’t get a little crazy, I grow mad, mad!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dFQraCx9L
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Her hands balled themselves to compliment her offshoot tangent. Her escalating tone made me concerned, but she relaxed soon after.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF6t4cEZZL
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“So yeah. Sorry for messing up. And, sorry for thinking you were such a wimp. I thought you were totally hopeless, but I was off the mark.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p7rDs39n0
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“Well–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW9aWZiHSC
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“Shut up! Shut up! Do you know how annoying it is to hear someone undersell themselves all the time?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqTZXmDOXh
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWrCtdFRHn
“I–”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3EQQA4vpf
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It was that precise phrasing, that specific selection of words and syntax, and her usual, but energized voice that spelled it out for me, that allowed a candle to ignite in my mind. A quick image flashed in my mind, one of a man of close acquaintanceship, and then my throat spoke on its own.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhbBBz4ukH
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“Yeah. I do. It sucks.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uVNDkFuro
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“See! I– huh? You do?”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dZlj8Rbfs
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I slowly nodded along. Rover looked with pleasant surprise. She was more than eager to take my word for it, and in fact looked delighted after I spoke.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ub0LzkGV
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“Still,” I began, “as grating as it may be for your ears, I really have to stress that I think you’re wrong about me. I’m still a wimp.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevh6izg7Nl
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“Whatever. Think what you want, but don’t speak it out loud anymore.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmQ3JOgMaV
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“I… haha, sure thing, Rover. I’ll do just that.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUbXrIvCE1
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Her candid words were the perfect closer. There was wisdom in that harsh language– a funny thing to call it, as she was only a few years older than me –but wisdom nevertheless. No speech of mine could be a better finale, so I gathered myself and stood up from the floor.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAeRnxC1g5
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“Perfect. I was just about to tell you to leave.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp8V1MIdyU
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“I’m starting to think you hate me.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IarvMbIUI
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Her hands twitched upwards defensively.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudEVJLfssf
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“I-I don’t. I’m just getting sleepy. Any second now, I’ll doze off.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe4q0hQg2z
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“Ah, right.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1oda1JP45
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ORsTYbeMX
She mentioned it just a few minutes ago, but it didn’t compute with me until now. Recovery would always be an exhausting thing, especially with assistance from potions. I wondered for a moment if there was a way to mitigate that.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMJwXU4Nm5
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“That one Bringer was invigorated even with a restored limb, after all…”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhhOiU5coa
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“What are you mumbling about, eh? Scram! Scram, I tell you!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhjhdM5Xec
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaUwdKTspS
“Alright alright, jeez. With how grouchy you’re being, you really do need that rest.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKTVyyDmwr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe164Oz0JW
She stuck her tongue out at me this time. I took it with a light heart, waltzing to the door and stretching as I made my way. I placed my hand on it but stopped short of opening, taking one last look at Rover. Her eyes were taking turns closing. I could tell she was exerting herself when she waved me off.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR8WWIEZXz
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“Wait, one last thing!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EYSAYaEBI
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Then, she shouted unexpectedly. I looked at her with a blank expression to signify my okay, and she continued shortly.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6G0LmPz45
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“Tell that old bucket-wearing fart to visit me sometime.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0UuEXyO0j
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“...”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAsBgdZLFg
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I smiled.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoxmr9tUuJ
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“I will.”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAPs9jtNxP
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I returned her wave and exited the room. The moment the door shut behind me, I let out a quick breath and–47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnlYqhPYU5
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“Yes!”47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElqPSZw2Sn
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A jump with jubilation. I had to. I never experienced such success before.47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdL32GUyCr
