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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4GkDMpkHK
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoKhxpAkKk
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy32WkSxSK
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakvKuQNQJ0
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0aeGZj1Gw
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6FT2axUe
"Dad!?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AX8O2TZnn
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gedMuuD4L
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4FjgNLNqK
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMDaAOwKtF
"Flinty! There you are!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxCXrnL3RQ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpwo5qDrp8
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7CWU7Fjgv
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggsZBdtfx1
"And you must be Kenny?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB6hrlYqts
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaSdG2BTLV
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS8aexRyEl
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYcMIyMXHU
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtuP0qEWlH
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr56DI9v3Ql
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHOhbR8u2W
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NPA5GchnZ
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 here85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u45ErIwAH
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7t5UJMlOc
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpVSjmbQBd
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo3PAPfjIL
Dear Mister Chambers.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOcXnA5PW8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O1n1x1soB
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymhts965Vq
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeapbxgUFB
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCeGqPeo77
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme1Z4dVaZG
"...I don't remember promising anything."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNGzTJ0gWc
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE0b4uWmu9
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmjVZfJ9Qn
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeYfRLQd9V
"I'll make sure to thank him later."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs4vFCAhjB
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3DhPQ67Hp
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdAM6Ga8lo
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicGyQAWv1X
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTz12rINHp
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX0KBUOzmQ
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqCxcXHiHY
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RbdqsBJZ5
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XQDmrSKus
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP7sC6GWVG
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiK4WSYQbR
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCWu3oa8As
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg57fn6KA8n
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ4gURupBY
"Kenny!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqAHdGVWFy
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm53ZXTI3aR
"Ah, Flinty, hello."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCRCLL3WUA
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiGZqGJEuJ
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXUHNHAcnc
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnYWzR9y3E
"Is that the plant you asked for?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOTIzmtpv4
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj9Sm1DCn7
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtsDmIONFL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtgYK1nJi6
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBPTSsbrwv
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ2nu0DrWX
"Hello, you two."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIKAONF5n
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8Z8Kwiuvs
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwE3foQpqj
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgluVR0h2Xs
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xOt3DltCS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXD1nl6XG7
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKAvh4kIV4
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmZpmrWFK0
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCpKiMVrQe
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGaYg26Ys7
"Please don't drop it or something."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a1ZmzqPLA
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDBKiihi1z
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzniTmw4J8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpHLQ6xBQY
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAZwR3yOIX
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxehHRPth3
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWChfUQ1fe
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGUEYt6k1L
"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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs926eCJZI
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlf90wBk9T
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ5Kjad4Cj
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eyA3HHxAz
"And you asked for... a flower?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHg06k0ZRD
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pv6C0Pbp2
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhugKWtqguU
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobIUNFDs1p
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFAXl5U5uJ
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"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb20k2lyJBX
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC58rKHYDqV
"Arg! You...!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AuxN6TFUT
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopb4asaWTd
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72VIDdCk6x
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChaMMDZcZa
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"Whatever."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2P1pqY4gu
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We sat in silence for a minute.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZeN67RB59
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwfFZcd39k
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QFH7bbniV
"Yes! Please tell me!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD3bWlaQkX
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1wRNoKJqg
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTzfwY5bEG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX5tKersDj
"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–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tNybGKVlH
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"Wait, Eastern country?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULul9Obo6w
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJUBM9C84v
I faced the old man.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhdg2qxPyA
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6WP1CYa0Z
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDrlABOGsG
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sdYHetyrl
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBagSKOzMW
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d2AazlFWd
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1HoXRNrhp
"...Buffalo village."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmagSJuOoel
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HVgYBtWLL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIEJTK3ty8
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSYFKpPlxZ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxozreqa2G
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQA5Mrrszf
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0v7AhxHeF
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg4SLSDzrh
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVc53LnuPD
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQapw6hbBV
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLd498Wy54
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTk0p5idYF
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQgKI4MS2p
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg0zQ8yiCl
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUNMxDsYVp
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24TZBi2geW
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZudA1bloT
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTbTAxvSpN
I nodded along.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lIiNRCtGI
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7LVJpU3E4
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0M9qEDlYP
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNIYfdCdFL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmzxRn3vVl
"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!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNAj4nYH1m
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC6RNuJXGD
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLc5xv1e8A
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmaBmiA2AH
She blinked blankly.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv7kUWmMIw
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"Wait, is it?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6huHD5XHW
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMtm3AqzSG
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbim5r6fu5p
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCaSjXHc61
"No, maybe it is true."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9iIAvJTuQ
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"O-Oh, okay."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrvdy2VTMD
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVGl4UoeoB
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaAbmAjOqM
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJui2TA0JV
"How was your guys' day?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEIHBw5YDS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvhB43om6h
"Mom, you should've been there!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01KBeVsoPR
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIZYRh6aof
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnpuVy5oi0
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJCd7u8CIj
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCaHvnRhXx
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvto5Iza0L
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQT4O9ZLr2
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJJZG10JTa
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqKyp7jBT6
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl7iVyhwMH
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DsY8dSZnS
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaxJKPmk5Y
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"O-Okay."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tDN0KmSe1
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqGDwm9l3O
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEQXS0Vi2u
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j2gOjCcde
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVEwqkl2im
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrqE5Yee0Y
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsd8MyWvhv
He sat me right back down in my chair.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3APgPJqyu
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUebksbdhog
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB2bSnQlRB
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J4xcsVMHt
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqLHkdxh0B
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY1ToqDsn0
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEmDSa21OU
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn4KJ3Dqkj
Nobody even heard my "laugh."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUWe2ZpZu2
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvfbWL281D
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjzS9wn3BW
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9FjLeQ1IS
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWdBFlgm5B
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW6hxFraZA
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdZxCU0B2H
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfX9bhEp2j
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl80984ut1l
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrko5FvhAR
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs8XqAzGrv
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHf0OjDmKp
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuE7AY1CWV
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLOP1XJTrG
"TALBOT!?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4hNDyIcuF
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4DJvwQgUX
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCzjbDbND5
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZgTrZSfg8
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRZKnlgYeV
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNHoBZaB1O
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0reuq66TNL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJPpzoaTtS
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRtq3XNh6I
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GBg4VWYDq
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcywp3lkULD
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosk7pM91e5
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC14hQTkZg
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZBGsiuO6P
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQdMH0BXsB
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvSZEqFiNR
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NKL2pDN0K
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGDObtpiIF
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"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqnd5MNR0W
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jllVFhFjh
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGCxPjUjbf
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RYSw8L4y6
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOLv1DPPMN
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe96dxulya4
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"Flinty."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHRQJNBigl
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"Y-Yeah?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9oCWH37Tx
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDT7tiFa3
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ut90FaOuR
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"Okay! Let's do it!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG4i3homRb
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao6rEKqU9J
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"...My tome is in the other room."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gad9VqGyL
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGg5SU16sG
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–
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–85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuQX3AmsjU
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHsQxRgbIl
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhxx8FhVKW
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUUmObUvyD
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"Good morning."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauLw7xiQ4E
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5wtUhY2Ox
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"I woke up early."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMykccx87d
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXsT5Nf2EN
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4N7UsVVrp
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq6nfWVuyP
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"Right."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tx9cxufED
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w5W6ElLUV
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu6Ng64rAb
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcmblifq1R
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"I sure did, honey."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfztRGMpVW
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"Oh."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZRyCJvQG5
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2psQmG35p
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"Is something wrong?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v3ixctpWL
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIAsQHEfDd
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVuq0Cb8Te
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Strange. Strange people.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3JbSH4Hz8
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvyZTIr0XL
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"...I uh."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTUSsWrylo
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV27ygP1IZ2
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FR2DlHDJQ
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsEwrSzEo6
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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?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7ohudWrj8
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"Water under the bridge?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kTZfsDPV8
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"Mhm."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7bvtBL1R1
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeAqlsykO4
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF2bdKLUH7
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They were really good.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA445Bbpaha
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgRl2GCqm6
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"That's a nice outfit"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69i1xdIQJ9
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3R3RgNv4w
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72ZoPxq84u
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf4kVMDyaZ
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP58a1VyZCY
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"Ah, my apologies."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmrO2mAzZV
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"No no, I like being around you too."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVOnWaiA8D
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAGkCqLEDm
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSj7uYxyOl
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"R-Right."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKBKiPgyl4
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcFCQxabbV
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIH3uQYdJ0
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"Hello, Freed!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRBeVcPeeR
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDrPbcr1DS
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEQGtTUnNw
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"So what business do you kids have today?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ7quWLkVN
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVjnAZLx4r
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ7keW2j8R
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKFBQA2yDP
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5jN4vvPoK
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXJmMkgZpQ
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"I see."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3CmlE4s8S
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaFUZ0NHkC
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"I refuse."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Svdk5TdJN
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"Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcelET2QN7
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"WHAT!?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdMOImcm6M
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYMHgZhrAn
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr0C1rsWR1
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA70EOYhIiK
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"...No?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUM5j9GRl8
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQu3MiB57y
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxZmJ7Ldca
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOdsyPaBPG
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9QRgxwZCa
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uoxrxzl8M
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYaVLU2apg
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"Down here."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraMC5JWbZi
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMw6YDsWXN
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfggQoPxW4x
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLvYoYlftH
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RZcLXWzsp
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAVd2PLmhz
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYNSz2WIgm
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ9OurzfOP
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5Bii4Jewb
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFtg2qkuHL
I shrugged.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqHfvHQRcT
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPTgBeFkxN
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1yhGTc8oK
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"Am I doing it right?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynqZj1Z5gM
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMywPcz9n8t
"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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdv2oqWUvo
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetGtvdKR6f
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dI1wwHaZp
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2cNgEzz4q
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ110TNBzeqv
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WohEaJrWi
"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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjBbgHz82w
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1we9CCvDm
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKcQ9D9Xmj
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3qDivk5zo
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyeth2qKKQ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51O80orPqk
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJW3HXZqMr
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyBzD8LI2P
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhpHbuxMA8
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fYC2WWhkV
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"O-Okay."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0qpb8ZNP4
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujnR6DYByu
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpto13KfDM
"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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4eecQEu0y
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"W-Wait, how do I–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUDmAhhiuQ
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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?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJbYr7eq3K
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uSZq9dXUb
"But what if I can't let it out?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VlKMACjw7
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BZZiwmM5N
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb3QXJByX8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmATZcQ6FdF
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg7a8o1KvG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoWttkM9I9
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D9g9XoGWw
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"Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV1kDVTU76
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhT4mBaK1N
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWibGey81Zv
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I messed up, getting all excited.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OAuxuJ0Ma
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa4cMQxZuZ
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I couldn't do it in time.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYeIBGXAhW
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtf156nS4t
**BOOM**85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1n8homNTP
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The world around me faded.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLzJgmhUkT
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxEV70axqp
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVowSU9cEo6
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?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNCXXzGGBS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vmyw7tKhg
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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz6ikPwpXS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVHBBQwxK4
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor2PeXxehJ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp43THZJAF
"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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1yfjY0AK4
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I was in the greenhouse.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93JzfvQPSt
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeURP5eXKj
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAymzEdp2zz
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpruPxDsAO
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Thank God, they were okay.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCYEIBvaru
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND8np8CToH
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm1Uig4sYY
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6tIN0vjqy
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HQ45aGtn6
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowc5BAP6A7
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAVTcZeseh
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa3MBM1DNo
"This is... my coat?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OviNFOwaw
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKagyaZUtX
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Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IdSoKoAgJ
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizysiFAi4F
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"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PMMU42k6K
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJPOoEdoPX
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECkDkq06St
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw56IYBMrKR
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORK34fKEBo
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBffm64nT2
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkYzQUYZkc
"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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHpM8Ca5Lz
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dRonRsRcb
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnenP1tNWG
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"H-Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ5T2lXLMQ
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCIMhTnyqu
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86xrCP3KFL
"T-That's terrible!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzl0gz3z9Q
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk92uU6Ici
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D0JNn61yo
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI48gmoPfh7
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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".85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfJsMCu7XF
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It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhSGOLhR1a
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGi4SCtzxl
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHElnvzO4K
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD7fnxJuSv
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyPsOzbUiC
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVFZEfbNAo
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pVdO7BSx0
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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?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB66yfsNX8G
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"...Ah!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDZy2lpKTe
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH4qTCuqrY
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ChSJtj3kG
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXoBgOtKD3
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKvnMA6hIw
"...Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXsmHq7WsL
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She meekly turned her head to me.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTiI1D6vt2
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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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ladNTBZ5
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxEv0ZDtsh
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dbMQDyQxG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsiieBMcrY
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUWQy6TxkG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzztoRjOUI
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDiPAev7tV
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XgUIr0zzp
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"Okay, let's go then!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfopdJYhDPE
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fvSHmyxoh
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5A7SOjbB4
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAydDpOOzvF
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodFquACb4L
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bLjWyXc7P
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPWZgA6Mg5
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Yeah, let's.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nH0CofsIA
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–
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–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstVa5AjWWq
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBpnBL7Aq0
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfneP42wde
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs3LsSMvme
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKOVagXOfd
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qlqULXMCf
"This is the combatant's guild!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenOFWG53NX
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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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscye7M5B2y
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"This place needs a renovation."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpPcv7T7Su
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWnznzNY7k
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLIDtNR5VB
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I shook my head.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEOe9l530b
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcIn4nSrya
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTYgB5WJWD
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWwbvbwMI7
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLxhuoxqsQ
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu924I3O4rE
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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–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAJtJucj3b
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkgZzXrL8f
"Do not even suggest it."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3ajoPUXsS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRXmnX4FId
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp22pKPx0wy
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRTdSJ7IlP
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5tVhRVHrS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtPlaWFRtG
"...Well alright."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagvOUWQdL1
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG1SoWzDCN
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQuZ2gWeKk
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiZ3hjREai
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpLx1qpdkY
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijnqhbOxkH
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvnIsW8UDb
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1MFI3pNUd
She pouted.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAguNYVysT
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelrNF65ZC0
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U3vmN44LT
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HDStQXesW
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIMHunzLpS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9iwS2m0dE
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE90XJRj7Z
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BiogNs6j6
"Huh? Flinty?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6VthRydE5
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbBTUFhMXf
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKQB5ibXS1
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAcFM0FeD3
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2TCw9ZVii
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Obz9MAbKs
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0S5psZ1kT
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy6zdXQUZN
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQs05FRNLu
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiLmb1tUFF
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdIMFOaKiI
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl4NsNXeH1
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnY3PHqPxC
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsrZ59NpTT
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDDEmtu39v
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoY3SGxkee
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2NuqwTru9
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AivO4EjOv
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!85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l4fEAWBeY
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jniSl4P2U
"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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0aGHTYfnr
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohwoEc3SPR
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiC0WHCion
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL9Wn6ESdU
"Huh?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IgSifJ3NL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiag0qUGVY
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fSvtiQfFo
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f6g4W5B2a
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8qpD1IE0P
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAi0a0aFB8
"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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvANiJuUKjh
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfihz1XhoY
"You're right. Wait–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0x5wda1Y9
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fLTHxsZs7
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGcw82I7P9
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxGfb9dpKV
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9kAJMOOyc
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflcoXYcIvi
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh71yx7UeaL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK0EptbX99
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFV7b2FgJS
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PO95NGCus
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbTrVJTYTJ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg31o8hRFZ
"No. I'm here for another reason."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbWv8E28ds
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALrjD7WF6A
"And what may that be?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpHNjhWo9t
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXfHU1133M
"None of your business."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVQ0BILrpn
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ksb2EbNyx
"O-Okay..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7jyivHOUu
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU9KQijMM0
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCHDlJnGzK
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOemR1frBr
"She is super shady."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4wwEKm2vr
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCPJbSBkdt
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgAyqFysHE
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGw1ZDSfaG
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA7APhMorU
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6VwejeOV8
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTViqh3aFt
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlovbJr2yHc
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54S6B9Fu8P
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuOD6QNQ2S
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoX9YoiwYJ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgcMjRUfr4
"T-Then let's get his attention!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYQcOg0QgK
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1plSC9MsNl
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDhAWyqG5y
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnDnPn2gXJ
"Let me handle this."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5lBDr4LSG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL3vT7eBNC
"W-What, why?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfIuUgDZlL
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e2njkIz4O
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVbIdx1Un5
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6t6XczeBE
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NGWoTDnLO
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcW4LAHDQW
"S-Sorry, Kenny."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFHDbFwTsd
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzQPVtmdLS
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxMbBIytG7
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdSjm7Fppr
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKxNrx8fhJ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3HL5waoVM
"Hey, you guys!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20XSq0P1Yg
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Srv7MzvOY
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EfFtl5AKP
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1bZF97xEL
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4jSk1YAe8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2ItX8jQGb
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ54qdVkgFD
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlO2vhVOT9
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzMjvIhlSV
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLv7cBMoOu
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6gqEAKvTz
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcUmXTUw8Y
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtENAXGhfB
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo9EsuRPBA
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CpL64SxvT
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dUJHfhHdg
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstbMY00qrA
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nYmfKmsnh
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT24qhf2nH
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53m0S5OZOr
"Here's your bill, miss."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnwCCnnO97
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRXhufuXm3
"...I..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnHhsg96Qp
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58CIT4m94F
She was having a difficult time speaking.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hIUoMEShs
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzriJ6KpEU
"I forgot to bring money."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwFSPnqRUV
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSpINvV8d8
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1uaxZIF0A
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAMDnW72E1
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqb3SFvfeh
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YD8dWzRaa
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy8KMY7Wy8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HUulKfRBy
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKEEWFDI4m
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4HzZGxDtO
Ha. What a moron.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHwV0vTCU8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5lJUKzyWg
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oY2J5VEJG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeacpv0SNnJ
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoRbNGRaij
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFuhBFK1pC
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL2aeYS5ko
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8F4Jp7aJc
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCmgVNpuDO
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTJC1q7yVa
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."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCWMboFzR7
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsreVRQ6ru8
"..."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJaGydPrmR
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpaPWGjZl2
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegc5gJRZl1
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u9bgCwsKX
"Hey, cloaked woman."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9g4HNXETx
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKv2eNkgFQ
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA9bcp5b3y
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrntD2wvMm9
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx0tNfEH3B
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMicEPURdd
"Yes, of course. Thank you."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBMOufqpKU
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoTdcAvjNm
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVVaqu1MvJ
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FmMakvJ7o
"Alright Flinty, let's go."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh5hOQsztt
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWRWia4YJY
"Yes!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0m681A6Z1
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q8xRNZKZs
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDUBPZQNIv
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFif5uMVc6
"What?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTVJwi6yZn
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoxvs74d62
"Kenny, you're awesome."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxt2Fck3Eh
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTANm8lMKP
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWWkkBMyFf
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKITPF49Dw1
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F5P09IqMW
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qk2NZYXis
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rlhXYmFBk
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQw5RhhBHD
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKrzkVPMIg
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T6642ADlz
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLxTzVcTSG
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqJwXFBiiS
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.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCFKr2o7TY
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVmJ0VQM9t
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGOJlmHt1R
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymw5IJGemo
"...Is something wrong?"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zkuSFklvI
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAVlNsEi1c
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyHv6OlZvR
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN5YbAQAdy
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy3XyQV1u8
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdqjvPFmFD
"R-Right."85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjJF0GEKxX
85Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuIlHAHHjg
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
