The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSbKyCXoal
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ECZQyV3Ap
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Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb56RiPHlt
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"Dad!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPLJq96Ioc
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECWfYz9Fu8
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"Flinty! There you are!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGXhACZsgr
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Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFJTdxl2ag
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"And you must be Kenny?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0mgmEAhUI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJFmYo26eX
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MHnrxd3Ti
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I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLNkFYlsU8
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6FQZPtu4F
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLvuHBahnA
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2YB98UQ24
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7chACJyxMC
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRYuab4W8b
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Dear Mister Chambers.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXGMNJKd7F
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After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy7uzAP3Nl
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Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oIYySW7pq
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"...I don't remember promising anything."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShSSGJvp6U
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That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVCCqCxqy5
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDKqvXl7lW
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKAyz2LOa2
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJezBRAKJPy
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBsA1Yuasn
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV1S22Pt37
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv0nPZsonS
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr6EFB3KmW
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N5sySCYR3
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTia3XxTNOl
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It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqSBWqd1VD
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I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpZ6QQ1WWO
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"Kenny!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPbhhXnS1X
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1lnuK2Nhg
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She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3fcjijDQy
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iuEBYxime
"Is that the plant you asked for?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEwGscLvHx
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"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdigQMtg3B
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonmnN7bn5g
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XykbtES6T
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P1YUOx9dh
"Hello, you two."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtc8N3tjmg
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Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR98sZxuiWd
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRbisUjdtg
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"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeifGbjJsCY
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He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SLI7Gypsb
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"Please don't drop it or something."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ifixpVGM
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhSRp5FGOl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM3qyTGJef
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDrYpmHqLh
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1E7so7Z9O
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"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGatwebLVFb
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcuzNqhr8v
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIO3f7blqY
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"And you asked for... a flower?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCDCfoKCK2
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJh9cAmgri
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m6JLVIT7j
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Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp6Q3Eodrw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3AsD9TkmN
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWdsgDOKNR
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"Arg! You...!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCWX6VYt9U
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Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXWYp2phpA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSynaRy0SyQ
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp1pNfqwsZ
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"Whatever."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKlyIsS6Vn
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We sat in silence for a minute.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKhmDrrxgU
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbjtemJyPx
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"Yes! Please tell me!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F83BXbMfT
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthDPqhdioM
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"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnQ0AnUaMY
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"Wait, Eastern country?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45NanZ8RHw
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I faced the old man.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJn4rn935l
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJATy5n1dol
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03DDyzhHl
"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMYvfKPXik
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLeujWPNrf
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yYaCr2dZA
"...Buffalo village."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrurtyoYiUf
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddKFICnTjN
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRqqyxNbbA
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlgFKqLqF2
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8aziCHTsE
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1pHpW3x7G
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gNYrDrgQZ
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgeevzLfLg
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGtbDjBQbm
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"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkuHR2Xb2r
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I nodded along.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlufEJCb7LK
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXqtbfHGWN
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I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fknbNNN7P
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"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOhrlb3KwI
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"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19kRuGNfKO
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She blinked blankly.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDAKk3A0wb
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"Wait, is it?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7JclWGJvs
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bdj6o33Xo
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"No, maybe it is true."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeVWsD9NPA
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"O-Oh, okay."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3id3SvNK5
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"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC6I8QtITE
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"How was your guys' day?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKAlfkQqnF
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"Mom, you should've been there!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJms4BCjT1k
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And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWtwpblK72
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I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSTv8s0xUS
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It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaDwdYvOMf
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk1UtthKJs
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPSxsqnate
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"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlrPwRMECd
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"O-Okay."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqcWgQbv0w
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEwU2vFRHL
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Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0j4JgAi46
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb0ZiwKURE
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He sat me right back down in my chair.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HnMDjMjPO
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTgclrQZtP
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysLpo0Wj4G
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5BAbkseRq
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMvy36U2Dp
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsiFeNRpFU
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"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5fBGthx8R
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPsoR32rjB
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Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVf9rhzTlW
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimGKYRj77r
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Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYUNUPMFVr
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"TALBOT!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bsWNAHAQ1
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"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkP6zqFKBE
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"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOluUTW5p0
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJIWKv0wkc
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsJDJ0wb3D
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83SErBDkyH
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeA6ki3KYu
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32ZenVBIIr
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCoKu1TAB0
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxWILTS1lE
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIFkqPVvSE
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnnVBMUGMW
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtD3RHlVsN
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"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN3KlZQI89
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzGXCIKnQK
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNLQdEv022
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XedbMLoQu
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwdcicWG47
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzaO0RbCQj
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"Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUMahq2SpK
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"Y-Yeah?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdJQxdeKt5
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlCVzi7lbJ
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjb99SvGp2
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"Okay! Let's do it!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS5KY6UAwN
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSlVABZMTm
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"...My tome is in the other room."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL58My4WuL
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLxeWDctNC
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–
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–130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRZ68kYIob
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOGvUUr8qH
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0ng8e0Qy8
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtQwq0DR3Q
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"Good morning."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWutMJNxrh
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVxn5HIUSA
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"I woke up early."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkt0MZIYLTX
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnYOOMIzD3
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4DUvI87nQ
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78iKidHXHy
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"Right."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yDEP7JpnA
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFuaiX84oS
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Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdSowwLrYT
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkXBpGuJW3
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"I sure did, honey."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwOssEY3nw
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"Oh."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Je04tJRL
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwqxA3scIu
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"Is something wrong?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUFzcJV2ZA
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG06Dcvv08V
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQNcZ2MEcq
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Strange. Strange people.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsePlZpXaAu
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrJxy9NHMz
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"...I uh."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi0cDrHsPe
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Fub9BTm6
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb6v26oEJv
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6fOCha7h9
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDraSw8Kl9
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"Water under the bridge?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn7olQGTkw
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"Mhm."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlHsfsxSAl
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRI1Az2pK2
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL1cww7cWQ
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They were really good.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8j7mOfEWdI
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlXVVf4XWI
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"That's a nice outfit"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0rtpNFznO
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVSx8RzDGb
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZddbcrBTL
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQj8F4qw47
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApFrgN9Jrc
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"Ah, my apologies."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroeZ39ATcs
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"No no, I like being around you too."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXuWkWkzAM
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSXTMpOSPU
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxHWL2XazY
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"R-Right."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy35gN5MaF
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxvyATS0Gu
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQnDTQc0bc
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"Hello, Freed!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dBuemlWya
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutfjNSXAhd
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlP3Hkd7kU
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"So what business do you kids have today?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjreUi4QtVV
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKGfcPFkKt
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDFOiLxuiz
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu7oe4e71j
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zg02OP5fr
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzNlmF98UX
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"I see."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPocXcVTpOx
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRvXrfqEP3
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"I refuse."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmitTmPdjAB
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"Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcI3A3mxlO
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"WHAT!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dU2Dpgl8h
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9gP3IxQZE
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJoBODvjZ3
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVwjWntSI6
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"...No?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4HEAA4qXd
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtj0M21HgK
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOy1VNXZ8x
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppu4QGPm4G
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6EQB8kxI8
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgNOTvmwOH
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVdLr5UTn5
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"Down here."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReRp4uUH4R
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgeToktXbq
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYjA492pem
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3h8x9sBbt
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv2aXfw7gS
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dfQKPqPIa
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8fd54VqJw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdztGXTVq6U
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oZ5XgZhQA
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I shrugged.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutNey1xf5n
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnWEpJM0tV
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With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR8eQw76Rz
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLsbMQQi9f
"Am I doing it right?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpzIsC2OuX
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxHkgMgyDI
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfT9LzHSc6
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3JvI9998Y
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4OZ5HlD7R
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR3VbKw7Xd
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRekPzFGc3w
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhnWa21kf0
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ237Uq8vi
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHZy8P2RiK
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT80lx4eQw6
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJlZe1GbwG
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q8S9ThiQl
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E2E9xan5u
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ5SM5AKPv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkntV9Ey9cF
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapPfaqInAM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT6meuNHhS
"O-Okay."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgamZr1kuk
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SihLg7yTI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBu44EnmmR
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKXokYC68M
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeBFrDj3SW
"W-Wait, how do I–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMvrDmITyD
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"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd3FgG9JWU
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"But what if I can't let it out?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXazyAIgIq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi2oghPLfD
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD7uXpl0Tr
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6l26utwrP
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnv4LHE4f5
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcYmnefm3D
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRAAG1VPT6
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"Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFxW6nDnYq
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv26gdctaw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDMqkgdeUT
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65t4Xs5Hv1
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I messed up, getting all excited.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT68YqX8fcw
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I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY5nVUaHKJ
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I couldn't do it in time.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6X1Sb00WE
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**BOOM**130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpUoB7PgS8
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The world around me faded.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKqmYgfxww
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI3PhwJMCF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0JKxrUvT7
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qpy1TJyKF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRppNuWsF2e
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfNo8rHrKk
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhrkwh1rqd
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCi6xYsAX4
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRj4VmmUfi
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3v801gy3L
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I was in the greenhouse.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSZlHby60q
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4Ff5GOIb1
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEljFUix2xN
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmXCX9tzkj
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Thank God, they were okay.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1CdZuXTR5
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"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuINrQ3j8b
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL0HBkxRul
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VYsxOFAtf
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PqY0R7ODt
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoUdEZUh6d
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ISpbzSyFC
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbWy2926wz
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoxxQheVO3
"This is... my coat?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCS2SvF1j6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMV3nTrE3Z
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHMqLuTe50
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsd3IvINzG
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ketN66qsH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8ydG5Bn4E
I love you. I really do. Thank you.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PPFp0ugf2
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowmp6PAv0X
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfpTFNyrSR
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BsxDG0flI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr0Ord2wFF
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ9yb8j7kB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xAM8kLHvO
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjAgH2tbzS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFSdeybLrM
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJmWafoiyG
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReyMFtmNxY
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ndyhdLl1S
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"H-Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucoSHDMyIn
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"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVquU4uvYzi
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"T-That's terrible!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJdYjAhOSN
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElvSog5ADk
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH8M9dqkhm
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEyK2TpjYx
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I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSSYrxekpm
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It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwKSgcj0d9
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–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpESpC74wMg
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgunWJpv43
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMrebC0CrI
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I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5FeoHqczE
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The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImJ82j2nyg
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But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRlKN9UyZo
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"...Ah!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUjpCshFNd
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwdAVP8lKN
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"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpklHog0oPU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5APgormGDC
"...Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN6FVSH2KI
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She meekly turned her head to me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0yJfrDkzx
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"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmKVxvafUR
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She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk8QXxbkEl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cPiDgPXKI
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT5ExiQLtm
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKCDPYAmPT
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kr0sqQoCC
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtcAWwA1In
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"Okay, let's go then!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBBvBwqUdu
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZnd1j3rx1
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCl5sUi7An
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She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K5BSbHKZv
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5qRSy1Hvq
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Yeah, let's.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65K7U4p1hT
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–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5YPZkvVAL
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We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1GHbt8Cvb
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscwCdj9Jx1
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXqbgqkreN
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"This is the combatant's guild!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA5Fpu7VRR
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It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8PDABMurC
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"This place needs a renovation."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHp1gmTMKF
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H3mOjQUFH
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I shook my head.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zQxwca3CA
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9RfkmGBhi
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lmnZqnznX
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"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5N0u6pwcJ
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQo8asR9oO
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"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFutw3TxCc8
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxboxmvSi3B
"Do not even suggest it."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtgRFLH0IS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0QCF2a4hl
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoONT7sKyR
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7YWedRKrR
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6gXalYVuu
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXwKWZoTUm
"...Well alright."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj8lPsGFII
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqQkARKZcd
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSBRaYYG5H
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WRZz5MZ1D
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h8jAzvxLw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91F39jRsT9
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyoKMK8T4L
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOzXwhEm3V
She pouted.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYIOP8ksfT
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkBzQgMhWa
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1gmbFxbAk
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSN8jDoDg5
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BohBbER3E
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzXfcCDVOy
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXobTu7QO3
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpyQxlaiiA
"Huh? Flinty?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5JkEiJSW5
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51KFbVGpsr
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IOWhaCydf
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzlBOF8Uu4
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrrZBG1zEq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzQoGs3IlN
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphwU1EeOXy
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBIXQhNSZX
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST33SmTtid
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkxWjEQfYa
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHmpQLtcH2
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexo1SoGTb0
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVmxjWDBGb
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpA87QTk9a
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpoUR6krZw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjc9QzqSa2
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwbHN4jwzc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKnjxdGOef
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVDNEu4eqA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59WRCpnvpF
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNiEiZpVlC
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50ZN40RnDQ
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCLxebS7cf
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZFKfYveyF
"Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT7mkxkebj
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwgySdiMs6
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUitBIS5dHZ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQU5DbE2SF
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VFB4rhQWd
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pp3mSiX7x
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZgpkhEMcE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5l6wDTP0h
"You're right. Wait–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDtj5CLXAq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBYqNUHWGz
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ustIAAHmD
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESWWAl8TKm
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWltFgrAxv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34ekxEQoSC
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqmBAdIaIF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2BMvbrSYJ
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqUFjmqnwA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6WCd0ieyw
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZXAlULoZq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxWoM9DZKb
"No. I'm here for another reason."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIxOVQAuPC
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekxLwZDfA2
"And what may that be?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFkqEDiEm0
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mkkDdIqQT
"None of your business."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi29yhguXZF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxB97XPK19
"O-Okay..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj41FzAcvrE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgFZq64ysj
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHG80epX5V
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCVp3DnE4S
"She is super shady."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoHSfdN6vi
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu26dzd5yKv
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ9u1LwPyA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa69mtMTXh
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxxRcHV52Z
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7qhKzw2lf
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI7tPp1OZd
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdf0zpv9jl
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yRuJCAoOh
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSClraDIQ0
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLboMBwliiI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2mTK9E9c2
"T-Then let's get his attention!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UmLA8xWzj
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRhkhf4FoY
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1z2Fx8sgg
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1iBsePrsA
"Let me handle this."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDxGuiQbCh
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6spA2wCFWV
"W-What, why?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCDP81gMS8
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5vSNIDd1Q
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wVfs5JpF8
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMEohevOiS
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTjmflT5ow
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgJWQd2VrD
"S-Sorry, Kenny."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8X4wIL41d
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6suCOSWMP
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HdxkUA2hE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6FoMx1cX1
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0btP58rkD
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQITuEcXQc
"Hey, you guys!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDB0wfqXxj
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQchzmRoCG
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEz9yi1rXF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiET7nTZsa
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7RlYiRVQV
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2SAIu92hq
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldnmdTLaF9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKhhWAvPH5
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUMekid7JB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnFTx69FuH
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo797NK5We
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjYrBavfDd
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4DrRFlDik
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44jaSurbM6
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBYDTjcGdZ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkcyvlRMHJ
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bqJnUSFJq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaaKwP5Rly
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN73DTMR0KF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8kfZbPIUg
"Here's your bill, miss."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsATqAZCygS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeUaM3JPll
"...I..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpysueDrHMk
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She was having a difficult time speaking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYyDHFp14C
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5amzJNJw53
"I forgot to bring money."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vyh7Efm9H
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpXKk4oODf
"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ2A0H8TZd
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbCUI8jkh9
"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYvC71LCs6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR7ENQAE5v
"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpRftI7ZAE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJVU04mUQK
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzaIVUDbb3
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCTt6jkVb2
Ha. What a moron.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCXFL5dQVS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjAHcqFqq0
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSacFXGnqu
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdH8KN8qLZ
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88WpT8uweT
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUBPN2xnpz
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8t5lJ4QS2
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9keSbRIlb
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI8iWBb9Yj
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFmN2z2610
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfULXVsdye
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCJUZ1MXSp
"..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2xvgVMEHr
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8KigWA5cA
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRckpi1SAc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoowVBXGZ4G
"Hey, cloaked woman."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzyxcFNncE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDMhxs2Ppj
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgnPCdufca
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2ec92vy4X
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRReydugDs0
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NoLcML2Xl
"Yes, of course. Thank you."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lBW7ChtFI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx4UGgoG1k
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Codq7Xyf9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZzkdXL4am
"Alright Flinty, let's go."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg35ZEltzQK
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACp2QhThZB
"Yes!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3eQ4kfL1a
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcIGdtf43V
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUd8iFoMGh
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLqOnhwAbi
"What?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQFVggVFjM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR06ITcI2m
"Kenny, you're awesome."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaenghF4AlF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPLw4MxG0k
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bKYKNHInK
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jrWx9j6FE
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBICFR64L8V
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9kuS8WzqS
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcIBe0Xr8A
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsNdTC3ESi
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKfjkPQVSN
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0ik20aUbZ
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMsfQmWefC
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9AZQEasGF
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn318Reb1p
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQs9NGjGmB
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvyFQ0BqbA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7UUJJDLBP
"...Is something wrong?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHbqAFOiEc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5KbtKCYSL
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjus3cujBSa
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yLA5qiV86
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFQLGlOFv5
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR0uk4bjbQ
"R-Right."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnTvLxd00g
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r7SiOJ6AG
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
