The fire cracked and popped. It was already dark out. Four hours had passed since the infiltration. Flinty, Ng, and Kenny were sitting beside the fire. Victoria just returned with more firewood. Kenny took a tiny bite out of an apple
Victoria sat down. Everyone was staring at the fire. The silence was oppressive, but Kenny didn't have the power nor gall to interrupt it.
"...I apologize for what has happened. My cowardice, my fear, it all led to this," Ng said.
"It isn't your fault," Victoria said, "as much as I'd like to say that it was nobody's fault, I think all of us messed up, hehe."
"Perhaps it was. But still, I feel as if I'm mostly to blame."
And thus, a needless back-and-forth started. Kenny didn't interject.
"Seriously, it's fine, you don't need to take all the blame."
"But–"
"Guys!"
Flinty suddenly raised her voice.
"M-Maybe it's Ng's fault, or Victoria's, but at the end of the day, Kim is still in trouble!"
"Right. Of course."
"You're right, Flinty."
"So... what do we do? We need a plan."
"Well," Ng started, "Jeremiah is formidable, but one of Panz's beasts has already been exterminated. Panz himself is also injured. Once we regain our strength, an upfront assault may be the best course of action.
"Right," Flinty replied, "Kenny can take the blob on by himself. Do you think you can do it, Kenny?"
Kenny didn't respond. He lifted his head and gazed at Flinty with beady eyes.
"...I'm not going back in there," he muttered, and their eyes widened.
"W-What, why not!?" Flinty cried. Shock permeated Victoria's expression. Kenny put a hand on his knee.
"It's best if we leave. Everyone will be in danger if we go back."
"But Kenny, what about Kim? We need to help her!"
"..."
Kenny turned his head away. Flinty's words didn't reach him. Frustrated, confused, surprised, and worried, Flinty didn't know what to do or say under such pressure. So, she didn't.
"F-Fine, but if you won't do it, then I will!"
"Don't! You're just asking to die!"
Kenny spat his rebuttal, Flinty flinched, and Kenny returned to gazing at the ground.
"Let's just... get out. At least, I can guarantee that you'll be fine if we do."
It hit her then. Flinty understood what was wrong with him. But still, she didn't have the words. Still, she didn't know how to convince his friend. Still, she couldn't help him. Flinty was dejected, upset that she didn't have the words.
She looked at Victoria. She was at a loss well, Flinty could tell. But, Victoria was older, and Victoria was smarter. Flinty was sure that she would think of something.
"Why don't we sleep on it?" She suggested, "We'll think of something in the morning."
"Yes! That sounds like a good idea!"
Flinty peered at Kenny, waiting for anything from him.
"...Fine."
Flinty felt relieved. Still angry, still worried, but at least she had time to think of something. And thus, the group readied for bed. None of them had any blankets or pillows, so they had to be content with sleeping on the ground. It wasn't comfortable, but before long they all fell asleep.
All, except for Kenny.
–
–
–
I couldn't get that thought out of my mind. This situation, this incident, none of this was like the one with my parents.
This was my fault. This was undeniably my fault. From the beginning, it was my fault.
That bullet. Why did I miss it? Why? Why? None of this would've happened if I just hit that bullet. That damn, tiny bullet made of stone.
I should've made it bigger. I should've been more patient. I should've gotten closer. I should've just used my tendril, or used fire magic. Who would've cared if I killed him? That alternative was so much better than this. Kim has been captured. The wolf is still out.
These thoughts, they kept me awake. I couldn't even close my eyes without that scene playing back in my mind; the bullet. If I just didn't miss that bullet.
"..."
I needed to take a piss.
I stood up. I tried not to wake up the group. I walked for a few minutes until I found a passable tree, then I took care of my business.
"...Crap."
I was already feeling groggy. I washed my hands with water magic and walked back, but stopped. Somebody was walking up to me. It was Ng. He stopped before me, carrying a makeshift torch.
"What do you want?"
"Kenny, do you mind us having a chat?"
I didn't even have any suspicions. It was ridiculous. But, really, talking was the last thing I wanted to do, so I walked around him.
"Kenny, what has you acting this way? Is it truly today's failure?"
"That's none of your business."
Ng followed me.
"I'll be blunt, this is abnormal."
"Shut up."
"Whether we escape the forest or not, you are the only one who can do anything about it."
"Shut up."
"Are you upset at me?"
I turned around.
"Huh? Why the hell would I be?"
"I see. Then, Kenny, let me ask you this; is this truly the best way to go about it?"
I didn't say anything, just tilted my head.
"You clearly feel at fault. I know, I've been in such a situation before."
"--!"
I couldn't say anything more. I couldn't even pretend to be mad anymore. I just sighed.
"Kenny, as an adult, allow me to grant you a piece of advice."
I didn't respond.
"I don't believe today's incident was your fault, but that is irrelevant. No, what I want to tell you is that, if you truly feel like you're at fault, then atone."
"...Atone?"
"Of course. It's simple, isn't it? You apologize for your mistake, and then you make up for it."
"...That is too simple."
"But it holds true, doesn't it?"
I turned my head away.
"It's..."
Ng walked up to me.
"You have a lot of power, Kenny. So much so, I'm envious of you. Perhaps you think you can't use it, but at the end of the day, who else can rescue Kim and fight Jeremiah but you?"
I turned around. I couldn't deny his words. He was right. And yet...
"That isn't it. That isn't it at all."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv31WjaWWh
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSk1il6JM9
Ng tilted his head. He started to look a little nervous, and also slightly annoyed. I wasn't talking much sense, was I?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioY6XYc13h
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GScaf9KcQ
"Then what is it?" He asked. I had to take a moment to put it into words.
"...If I go back in there, then all of it will hinge on me again. Your lives, your well-being, all of it. If I go back there, then all of it will be up to me. If one of you die, then that's my fault. If one of you get hurt, then that's my fault."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsSWSyec9k
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1wXvmkwdb
"That's not true at all–"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53rFB1DuMb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZIpsotKxx
"Let me finish! You, have you ever had a feeling like that before? You said you know, you said you've been there, but you haven't! I can't stomach it; I can't stomach that feeling that, it's all up to me, that I'm the one who has to be the shoulder for all of you to lean on! I can't, I just... I just can't..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q2nQhaFUL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu6jutMUTw
I was slurring my words. Tears were running down my cheeks.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHAzdL99Bq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99tcqqvDPs
"All of you say I'm a genius, but I'm not a genius. A genius wouldn't have gotten us into this mess in the first place. And now, now that I at least have Flinty, and at least Victoria is here– and hell, at least now that you're here, you're telling me to go back in there, and then just, risk it all again? What if I mess up or, God, what if I cause Kim to die? I-I'm not– I can't do it! I can't! I can't do it alone! Kim is already gone, I don't have her to help me anymore, so if something goes wrong then it's going to go terribly wrong! D-Don't you get it? Don't you get it, Ng!? How am I supposed to do anything, absolutely anything, knowing that if it all goes to shit then I'm the one who's responsible!?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu346HAQTYc
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqRE2a5rqu
I fell to my knees.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fk2GzT1k8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4YkpqHsqe
"K-Kim said it herself... all of it, all of it hinges on me... but I'm not someone to make that bet on, I'm not... I'm not..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dLgMkp0OH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zXjpvoQoV
I fell. I was in a fetal position and the top of my head was glued to the ground. I couldn't hear anything over my crying. I couldn't even move. I felt something touch my shoulder. I looked up to see Ng's face.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs3grXoIF4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQHFMN4ewk
"...Kenny."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXSzYM8DU6
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V5fnbF2NZ
"What!?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe9aOqd5H5
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CfJeoT9R9
He tilted his head at me, narrowing his eyes.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqtYvuKzS3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAzEKeYXUq
"You're not lying to me, are you?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLZjahq3D3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCKyjQciq7
The environs vanished. All I saw was his face. His condescending face.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUhkdqtpNL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGWGXR5IDu
"That was quite a performance, but all I'm hearing is that you're just going to leave your friend to die."
...74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWIBb5G4D3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCt3Qsbg2m
I'm lying? I'm leaving her, to die? To, die?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs5w7bK66T
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0TNRFbSlA
I'm not... I'm not doing that, am I? What I'm doing, it's just to preserve what I have, right?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW9Z2tF1fM
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30I2dVviA1
"N-No..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9YB4SJxw9
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu4WOu7eqE
Oh, God.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSJTFg1tg6
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxUhcZDasF
Oh, God.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Skyrs4SB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaHqpT4T2I
"I apologize, that must've been a bit too harsh–"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMfvElkHLR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDksZvvinz
Ng leaned down to pat me again. I slapped his hand away. I scurried backward on the ground, panting, tears still rolling down my face. Ng didn't look like a man to me anymore. I couldn't identify what he was. All I saw was something I didn't like. I kept scurrying back and I hit a tree, then I stood up, and then I ran away. I didn't know where it was that I was going but the light from his torch was fading and that's all that mattered. I kept looking back and eventually, I stumbled. Right, the roots here, they were massive. I got up and five steps later I tripped again. The exhaustion from before still hadn't subsided. I could barely move. But, at the very least, Ng wasn't here. At least Ng wasn't there.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04fiHpVGqQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IVlPzmVmy
But now I was alone, with my mind. It might've been worse.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwXk2LO4Hx
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1uCjg2XLf
"To die...? I'm not doing that. I'm not, leaving her to die."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalvZpAKbia
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU0EHTsrHI
It wasn't the way I thought about it. So, here I was on the ground, affirming myself. Of course, I wasn't leaving her to die. Of course, I was just trying to make sure Flinty and the others were safe. Of course, Ng was right. Ng was totally right. He saw through me, but worst of all, I knew Ng was right, I knew completely but that didn't change a thing. I still couldn't even grasp the idea of going back there and fighting and– and maybe Kim really was killed because of me, because I couldn't do it. But Ng was right. I needed to go back.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKdWjzGJgC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamg21vaGET
But if I went back then what if it goes wrong? What if I go back and I see that I've truly failed? What if I go back and I see her– her–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0NiiugvdE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEo3xIakG8
"--Hrk!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXARmStWd40
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCkHMtB8JB
I managed to hold back my vomit. Somehow that cleared the haze in my mind. I leaned against a nearby tree. I didn't think. If I thought, then I would've heard Ng's words again, and if I thought, my anxieties would've crawled back, and then I would be endlessly running. So I sat there instead.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM0vRNwWHn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jKAWOGRvH
One thought did end up crossing my mind eventually: I'm glad Flinty isn't here to see this.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88NwuOCUzN
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10ARVH5Tgu
"There you are."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9BKzOtEMi
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC77oV8RNxb
Ng already found me, huh?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnTvBYrVEj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhk7JErASf
"I'm sorry for what I said. Let's just go back to the camp and rest, okay?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z0D1ggd7g
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI2sazLkVR
I casted a gaze his way. An indescribable tug on my stomach was telling me to forgive him. It felt terribly unnatural, but I couldn't help but give into it. I didn't accept his apology, but–74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYEkv3MGX1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0FZbanS27
"...Fine."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyecJLuJP5
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbdbTLg6XJ
He offered me a hand but I stood up by myself. I followed him through the woods. I was staring at his heels. Sometimes he turned his body to me, likely to say something, but he didn't speak it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL12LkH9tJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRHoy1eGNi
"Kenny, do you happen to have any parents?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVru3T3ILY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZVOBFMHoO
Nevermind. What a strange question.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pnOX6LKXH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzHduJfgzT
"No. They died a long time ago."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC6xzTAwar
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ulQenx7B
"I see. You have my condolences."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMhVLwSsEQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHvXTuHpY9
"I don't need them."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82SNWM4V48
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHeTlh8p02
A pause.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZeulykqeQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8owFbdTRn
"I imagine that, when they died, you didn't take it very well, did you?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlK9oNlOgO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiusenE8Qb
"..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXo1RupD8K
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9u7DejMfj
I stopped walking. Ng stopped shortly after. I don't know what it is that just happened, but a button of mine was pressed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk10XtSoNq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtsTvj6wXz
And then the memories came flooding back. Those months where I refused to walk outside, being taken in by Anabelle, and lastly the talk. That vital conversation I had with Anabelle and Jackson. I started biting my nails.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn3jB7KT14
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4tPWxoLQZ
Despite it, nothing changed. My mind was still at odds with itself. But I calmed down. I calmed down a lot. At that moment, a bundle of warmth spread throughout my body. I was feeling fine.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz45kRMY89
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY50CmjfhhN
"Did I–"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hZP92hZYk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGTqWP7KpG
"I'm sorry Ng. I still don't think I can do it. At least, not now, not by myself. Even thinking about it is making me shudder. I can't go in there."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2jxVIM6S0
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz1AhdiPOu
"I understand. Then, do you want me to create magical beast assistants?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnsyY00pbi
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI1eojc52I
I had to make sure I heard him.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE462UkDX8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLXFRgeCgL
"Assistants?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8238silIZ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8Rr2TAdRT
"Of course. I can still use the mana here to make some. It doesn't have to be anything powerful, just enough to grab Kim while you're fighting Jeremiah."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZIJCdPpRJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBluRj0W0Cp
"Ng, you... you might not be such a bad guy."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAEDUKM5o4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP3LyAzawE
"O-Oh no, I'm not at all, hehe."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF95poUemQ8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmWThf0J6z
"...Maybe it'll work. Maybe, just maybe."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHilvMiBBv
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz5cVwXmcX
We kept walking. We didn't exchange another word but I could feel the air around us lighten. Thanks to the campfire, we made it back to the others.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sZ50zfTWR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg1YGYgiWP
Except, everyone was awake. And it wasn't just Flinty and Victoria, someone else was here. Somebody that I recognized.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7iK8vCMBu
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl2RjxecZY
"Ah! Kenny, Ng, me, and Victoria were just about to go looking for you two!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8itTETBfxJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Uw0Sfm4u
Flinty ran up to me and gently hugged me, patting me on the back a few times. I would've been embarrassed if I wasn't so bewitched by the presence of the third person.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl4Yesd2o1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mznoNdfti
Right there, beside the fire, sat the first person I saw when I entered the city: Skylark, the commander knight.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORVkhf7hTV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRuyMhNCHj
–
–
–
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9233mbTKX
We were all sitting by the campfire. Though I was sleepy, the knight's presence alone made me unable to sleep. I had too many questions to ask, and it looks like I wasn't alone.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunbhPX874I
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtit4xD3Ix
"Hello, Kenny. You remember me from earlier, don't you?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh8TQW4xxo
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl2K7psXdQ
"Yes. You're the one who got the prince off my tail. Thank you for that."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXsHFsPDJe
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunbGsCEJmh
"Of course."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDGYYgKxsm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWFrBA66hw
"So, to address the elephant in the room, why are you here?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3o8IL9ApM
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6XIeN31CM
"Ah, of course. I am here because I've been tasked with tailing Kim. My reasons are secret, but I assure you it isn't anything malicious, not from either party."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv6APNA9pj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k96w186sj
Tailing her? Well, if that was the case, he must not have been very good at it. But when your target is as disguised and inconspicuous as Kim, then even a knight would have difficulty pursuing you.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfVYVDsbwx
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwAUd1vUil
But, no, something else was bugging me.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthJzX1QBbl
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWCTSzoLLq
"How did you know where to find us here?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlToqnLVY9
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrE1tNuaGK
"I simply spent the day searching."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9Klruiitb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6g3qShF5u
"The whole day?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1drlmzICV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI32Di2sPxU
He didn't respond to that. "Victoria's mother informed me of your whereabouts. This forest may be small, but it sure is dense."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe1clQuXJQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcPmoS1Yhn
Knight's were some dedicated workers, weren't they?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KwtRqhn1y
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfNaWhKYox
"But, Mister Knight," Victoria started, "Kim is currently... well."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgssooPndL8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9RtC8A32Q
He sighed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtIJlbsyA7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4QJaB8MlC
"So I figured. She isn't dead is she?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzlfPMploE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAuwfBTCR2
"No no, not that we're aware of– Ng. Ng!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkPG7MTsfh
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfWEVGf9k8
"Oh! Yes! Kim is being held captive by a magical beast my ex-colleague has created. He is formidable, and occasionally reckless, but not a creature who would intentionally kill. He wasn't programmed that way."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH9CBLglJz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk0y72GEOw
"I see. Is there anything about this creature I should be aware of?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQJYHUzB1K
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1YZz51POx
"...Why do you ask?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK0ERvB4Ea
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj4wh7hBeW
"Why, because I will be slaying it, of course."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCp0LHip6q
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaDeRm6e8C
Those words made me perk up. They had two meanings to me. Ng went on to explain the blob's ability to contort its body and produce a hypnagogic haze when injured. Skylark didn't look intimidated at all. I didn't see him in action yet, but I imagined that such confidence didn't come from foolishness. Skylark's presence was still strange, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have any suspicions about his relation to Kim, but– frankly, it didn't matter. Frankly, I was just glad that I was able to pass the baton onto somebody far more capable than me. A short while later we all returned to sleep; aside from me, of course. And, apparently, aside from Skylark. I lifted my body and stared at him. As we stared at each other, I tried to unbridle certain words from my throat, but he talked first before I could.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDaMqnfEv8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2KPLv0hrn
"What is it?" He asked me, "Shouldn't you be getting rest?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMnqWt3fl7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFYAaJoAAV
"Sometimes, you're too tired to sleep. Do you know that feeling?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJo7TgZCXj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yri38gr58
"I can't say I'm very familiar with it."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG4Pg4Z1cn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFDeadT86W
"I see. I'll get sleepy eventually, it's just a matter of time. But since you're awake, I might as well talk with you. Talking with people is especially exhausting."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71RUn1x58C
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMgAUJymz2
"Alright. Is there anything you had in mind?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxvxG1RXJy
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MOuQS3RR5
"Of course. Can I ask you what your relation to Kim is?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbArN2PZdrB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL4gHkdTMW
He put a hand to his chin.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9Qnwr4TxI
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3px4chzdP3
"...Well, I'm sure you in particular will find out soon. For now, let's just say that I was sent to defend her, in case anything goes awry."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnXQPcYxBv
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIHtivTRgL
"Well, duh, that much was obvious. Is there nothing else you can tell me?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcvW44W9hS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW4AqoSaHG
"No."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx6oC1KUcM
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF8WHL92R8
"Fine. Then, one more question, when did you get here?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoEAhKGD2v
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGA25hStI2
"Do you mean in the woods?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz6Hw2M3Op
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAhImlSXut
"Yes. I'm just curious."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIIuU4SxuH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBgWIsaFa7
"I entered the woods two hours ago. I was told by Linda to wait until it became dark. Honestly, these woods are a bit of a nightmare to navigate."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN8dbNhmqq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKXE2jDdje
I nodded. It was about time I just got to the point.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jnvTjSN4T
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZbm4sqqt4
"Skylark... I want to thank you, earnestly. You were needed here badly."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf8QUxIQTW
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfweLma09f
"Ah, well, as a knight, I'm glad I was able to fulfill my duty."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI01uToOkA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuZlIogLQ7
"Me too."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xqxbLqyrx
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF7va9veLr
I realized how strange it was that he called it knightly duty, since he met us by coincidence, but didn't press him on that matter.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ16IUiOThc
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rHucbJbg8
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz73iYRG7Vq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w4Lu6pmTi
"Yes. For now, at least."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmohYNFiYVz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkeCkIwqkw
"Are you sure? I may not be able to answer all questions related to Kim, but I have a lot of knowledge of other things."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgQV3UpBhY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07DsTp0rps
"..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcCMT5ylUj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc93M1Qiyvu
It might not have been appropriate, but he did offer, didn't he? I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1mINDyJcO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FgxiUoKP0
"How many unique magical plants do you have in the royal palace?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnZohyn4TT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX5o7GY8NK
"...Huh?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAfLycsWQR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbMdbDvEDY
–
–
–
There was a gap in the trees perfectly positioned to where the sun hit my face. I woke up with an uneasy feeling in my chest and had difficulty keeping my eyes open. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well. Despite that, I was feeling fine. Everyone else was still sleeping. Everyone, aside from Flinty, who was not present.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIMlqmlQJf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunSOLmzfP4
I thought of the worst immediately. I calmed down once I heard a sound nearby. I walked towards it and saw Flinty standing with her arm out, creating water balls and... firing them.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9NtHvLp3T
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihgHlb8qN0
I wouldn't repeat the same mistake as before, so I stood by the sidelines and watched. She didn't even have her eyes closed, yet she was able to create a water ball and maintain it for twenty seconds. And then, she fired it. It was a very weak spell; it hit a tree and merely splashed it. If it was another element, it likely would've only scratched the bark off. I was still impressed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCfXVv4XjP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu1OOjhl3k
I walked to her clapping my hands. She was a little embarrassed, but she smiled when she saw me.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrNXRoFlme
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjb82xWvMF
"Good morning, Kenny."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uigHfq3cr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxaFW8iL3u
"Good morning. When did you learn to do that?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFF9HCKwX1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ZR1TwmyT
"Oh, well, when you were infiltrating, and while you were sitting at the camp, I spent a lot of time practicing."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT2AbLNA3w
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0LR7VumGP
When I was at the camp? It must've been during my slump. Crap. My mood was a little soiled.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfsllVUsuj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNdTlbL2qH
"W-What do you think?" She asked. She had her fists to her face in anticipation.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0rKFeMH2s
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dCjIAXabb
"I think it's impressive. You've been hard at work, haven't you?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1k9MfFGo7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaUOK6Sh6w
"Yes! I have, ha!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv03Oqi1NLs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsut0rmLLtD
She puffed her chest out. I felt happy for her. I was also impressed by how well she allocated her time.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm2b1rpC4r
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G3yCnJHEP
"You passed my preliminary test, Flitny. Congratulations."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrliSTkH6Rs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZEqMgncFn
I stretched out my hand. She looked at it in disbelief at first but sternly shook it after.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG49gIUer2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TBdHBu9RK
"Thank you, teacher."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNszr7uKCTP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ncLLAQrGp
"Yeah. Don't call me that."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSPTidOJFn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ENiHXkE6d
"Okay."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybc3Y8H24N
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF2Skeq5jQ
My spirits were lifted. I turned around and began walking to the campsite, but Flinty put a hand on my shoulder.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFvZ8mxnOw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4TshP56l2
"Hm? What's wrong?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaNQEkeSba
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucevJTjUzd
"Um..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU6D5U7FBk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJDckCyu2S
She let go of me and began taking off the coat.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6qA1TQMXG
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqVZ6lJYKB
"Here. Have it back."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPriCYNNAB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN7UV6s9Iz
"Huh? Y-You can still keep it, at least until we get out of these woods."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSULpybcxoL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oXFQS8WUT
She shook her head no.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7w2dohsoZ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03qnAMaqG1
"I think you need it. You like it a lot, right? I think you need something that you like."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgsDSSSQoS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnx61MZYbX
She had a pensive expression. I felt like refusing again was a bad idea.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG6xx9oTo8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXTrcjV8l7
"Thank you, Flinty."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq78Yllp0Q2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo0jmH7Qvp
I grabbed the coat and put it back on.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByWvalrPNF
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdmoHaOkiv
"Kenny, do you feel better?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uN13opLxT
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEcsiGi24A
Ah, so that's what it was about. I suppose she couldn't tell from my face, I must've looked like a corpse.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89RcOfJDyU
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0N9XRVF4V
"I feel much better. Thank you for looking out for me. And, sorry for being like that yesterday."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO0D6vC2Pk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGshtOcp4L6
"It's okay. I'm glad you're fine."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtKDv7gOAC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfCNml0Pe4
Flinty and I returned to the campsite. Skylark was up and raring while Victoria and Ng were half asleep.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqAPI3VBWL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlYLC2W8kk
"Good morning, Kenny."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u6Tqq1jAf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoskj0Qz4qW
"Good morning. Let's wait for the others before we discuss a plan."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiejxebvcQH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDamY0pT7jE
He nodded. When Victoria and Ng got on their feet our strategy meeting began. It was simple; Skylark would enter the compound and battle Jeremiah while Victoria, Ng, and I would surround the building to capture any escapees. With that set, we began our breakfast. It was just simple rations, but they tasted especially fresh. Flinty and Victoria were engaged in conversation while Skylark vigilantly watched our surroundings. I looked at Ng and was suddenly reminded of last night.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQoMSqq8V7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Sd7pwIPZ
"Hey Ng, can I talk with you for a minute?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ofSBZlKQS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFby1VPXtQh
I scooted closer to him.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLylcY1WTLR
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfxfUL3Uuw
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPitxDQHwPs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BMcr9hcw4
"I just wanted to thank you for trying to cheer me up, and apologize for being so suspicious of you."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa4jlZm5wu
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcdoHYPt8l
"O-Oh, don't be sorry. I completely understand why you'd be wary of me. Besides, I wasn't very successful, was I?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFmQ6PUImp
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAycKfOXPm
"...Maybe you're right. I renounce my statement entirely."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF02aQwAvI
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW1CPzlHD7
He didn't laugh. Crap. He didn't look mad either, so at least I didn't say anything offensive.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWRZu1bCbD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtmqZUQH4p
"You know Kenny, when I saw you last night..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5pyFHZm2p
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb1c0V6THG
"What?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VZSAm66OQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj7NkvBm5L
"Somehow, it reminded me of myself."
"Huh? You're crazy."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ7vg01NGw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7la5xwswV
But then I thought about his behavior back in the cellar, and during the initial stage of the infiltration. He lightly punched me in the shoulder.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgjHQxJUXP
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNN2kT7lU1
"You and I are alike, I've realized. But unlike me, you are powerful and gifted. I know you can liberate yourself from the fungus in your brain. You are still young, after all."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcLFwXujHz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ745EXTUCow
"R-Right."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznM2fG3E0c
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoqZXep72A
"Well then, shall we go?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2P8tzWBVm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiIRQ1k2S0
Ng reached into his robe and took out a miniature wand. I looked at the others. They were up and ready.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZegP4pIZO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC0LJU26gQ
"Alright."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLZffjpb8c
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96Dpah6nAv
We grabbed our bags and left the campsite. With Ng leading us, we arrived at the compound thirty minutes later. Flinty and Ng stood nearby in the woods guarding our things, and more importantly, away from any attention. Skylark, Victoria, and I stood before the broken gates of what was essentially the compound's front yard. Skylark took a step forward. He had a rag covering his mouth.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaloOTTZjf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjOjia5j3b
"I'll be sure to be quick. Don't worry."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngy624E1sI
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv0gn6D1FO
And then he walked across the field and into the building. Now Victoria and I stood there alone. I felt a hand on my shoulder.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5jdMwn4hv
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh9oJ9exQU
"What?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXVbJjjDRL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7Lrozq6Pu
"Don't worry, Kenny. The knights here are serious business, y'know? He'll rescue Kim for sure."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYP6USAQw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4alUYp1Qn
"I know he will."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOA6YqEtWg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzJvrpErOQ
"Then why are you shaking?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n1qoVEhS0
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0YcEGelJj
"...I just can't help myself."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrDFn8dnW8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOUWIpbv2Y
I walked to the walls and sat against it. Victoria joined me. We sat and waited. Five minutes passed without anything happening. Ten minutes passed without anything happening. Victoria was jittering a little.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvq8YcC2Sz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqXdZo4pXa
"It's a little quiet here," she said, "why don't we talk?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPwYztvtjs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwwxVhi042
"What do you want to talk about?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoQEUG6WXS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapsrUbhFo9
"Uh, how about... well, is there anything you want to talk about?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfxQ38ZAVD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3RO74wC8K
"Not really. I just want to get this over with."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNKeuWjWLt
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nHJXyefGM
"Yeah, tell me about it. At the very least, it doesn't look like we'll be getting our hands dirty."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjleGTFTcVj
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5WNOAX3cr
"Now that you mention it, how did you get so good at fighting, Victoria?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cJSr5W9sz
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWg8hmIu0r
"Ha!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmZuEekusG
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyNpd97vJC
She pulled back on her sleeve and slapped her biceps.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTGJF3q4Kq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqsadfSj3h
"These muscles came from all the work at the farmhouse, and fighting is something Mom taught me. Y'know, she used to be a combatant! An extraordinary one, too!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yxiwbocd7
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABYv2qxCae
"Good for her. Was she a martial artist?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUVixba2LV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb5gnCdn35
"Hehe, something like that."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsY2glSpSD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBcybbU0R6
She didn't sound confident.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKAJKvWPiM
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqyCLZ7ORI
"Mom taught me a thing or two about fighting people, but what she specialized in was hand-to-hand fights with monsters."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s7xGCR6g5
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboWHZ8tnX6
"Ah. That makes sense."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDxt2u0siB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOro1YJUuRO
I was very close to saying something insensitive.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerjfGgicmY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohidWx729S
"That blob thing was a bit too much for me to handle. I think though, if we were to fight that wolf, I would be fine."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllJscUqdza
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbhoz4pegp
"...Wolf?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgzbErV5WJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJdtaVJbU3
All the air suddenly left my lungs. I looked to my left. The broken gate. Its mauled doors were sprawled on the grass, and chunks of stone accompanied them.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPiFIZbKIy
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pktTzt2VE
Of course, the wolf. He was in the woods earlier, wasn't he? How did I forget?74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nGA5brM6n
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6VbzQx5We
"Kenny?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudQNvHfZRQ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ6rs7Dxgc
With how quiet it was in the compound, I naturally began to theorize. I did not doubt that Skylark was alright, but we should've heard something, anything by now. Because we weren't, then Panz must've been hiding. And I already knew from Ng that Panz had the ability to summon his creations.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsPI9GeAwE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WC3xEDxYD
I stood up and walked forward.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLrphSbiZd
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SOG4P6UPc
"Kenny? What's wrong?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tr8ts43CV
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO5Xl0O3WG
"Victoria, brace yourself. I think that thing is coming."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA0jZHrK90
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk7dmZEv8a
I took my tendril out and grew a Sunlight-Blossom. I snatched a seed and stuck it in the ground, then grew it to full size. I clasped the flower by its stem and aimed it at the woods.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiZuyb7kt3
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmzYFLugc7
Victoria stood beside me with her hands raised. She caught on fast. I keenly eyed the woods, almost like a hawk, waiting for anything to flutter.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEWs9fF2dc
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4QXgetTah
And then, I saw it. I began mana spinning.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xWkWwc1Qg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZrfbDPQiN
**BANG**74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwQmACGubs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrc5QAxoQ6
The Sunlight-Blossom's seed rend the wind and trees. It left my line of sight in a second. I didn't catch the beast, but that wasn't an issue. A resounding wail echoed throughout the woods. I saw the bushes fly in the distance.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl77fstwTb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPfcDyZKaL
"Victoria."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThulvuuuNf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxrmrj5XmV
"Right."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDetQftYes
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc8Fw6WLeL
I had to think fast. I produced a Freeze-Dry and encased the ground in ice. Next, I brought out Dragon-Maw Jr. and raised the tendril over the ice.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlMngeZrLH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0oTYkhcWy
**SMASH**74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ3XWNGwvF
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVBFI5FOjU
There he was.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpdNu5dr5M
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FpNeBp4j5
The wolf crashed through a tree and landed on the ice field. He lost his footing quickly. I lowered the tendril and Dragon-Maw Jr. snapped his jaws immediately, nipping at the wolf's back. The wolf slid towards us with his maw agape, brandishing hundreds of sharp, unsightly teeth.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbfoJk1Top
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZptt42myy
Victoria crouched. The wolf jumped. I retracted the tendril and prepared to strike, but the size of the wolf surprised me. I hesitated. But that was fine. Victoria clenched the wolf's neck as it soared through the air. She slammed the beast to the ground, hardly able to keep it pinned, but she was able to punch its snout a few times. The wolf struggled and clawed Victoria in the chest. She winced, and the beast escaped from her grasp. He was bleeding, but so was Victoria. She reached for her pocket and doused herself in a healing potion, then threw the glass bottle at the wolf who stepped aside to avoid it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL10JgxDjBs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGfnSPRGE9
"That thing is strong," she said, "We can either wear it down or pin it again, but if I do, you need to kill it."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVWnGrcTSr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftpjo8fnj1
"Right."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOEMO7v7AE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaSUOywusA
With my other hand, I began mana expulsion and created a bundle of thin, elongated rocks. I threw them at the wolf one at a time. He avoided them all, but as I threw, Victoria inched closer. The wolf jumped at her with his jaws wide open. Victoria stepped to the side in the nick of time, but as the wolf landed he turned around and leaped again. I struck him with the tendril and he spun across the field.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoeOpMKVJ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGYpn5hWHS
"Thank you!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bv9mwDQJZ
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCZdDvdzz5
I nodded. The wolf was temporarily incapacitated. He was still bleeding from Dragon-Maw Jr's wound. Victoria and I were unharmed. We could do this.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx15fUMc6I
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgUu9NgHDJ
I began mana expulsion again, creating a stone and suspending it in the air. I covered it with fire magic. The wolf came back to his senses and sprinted at me. I stretched the tendril out; he avoided it but I struck him as I retracted it. I threw the fire-rock at it. The wolf caught it with his mouth.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUU1yeu4P4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDuNkn5EM
"Huh?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiuCF0xOco
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSH2kFhpng
Not just that, he clamped down on it, shattering it instantly. The fire was proven to be ineffective as smoke casually escaped his mouth.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gyZVAjjwC
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm8Oqul9CH
The wolf opened his maw. But he did not charge. His mouth grew brighter and brighter.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbjj0AKK4k
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDTORMuHZf
"Shit!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvK4bjhkjF
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhfVgvaIzG
I put my hand on the floor and created a small wall of earth before me. A stream of fire pummeled it. I wasn't harmed, but the heat made me feel woozy.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s2PUrmR1S
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2EgXX5kyd
"A beast made of mana, using fire magic?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65AygmY79
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRMNfYAyAr
I removed the wall and began mana expulsion again, this time, creating a ball of water. Victoria was beside me, her palms open and her fingers strained.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZdQhN3Z1h
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKDV0J9Lp6
"I can't keep up with that thing, Kenny."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIHoKRDoJS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrADdUdoHL
"I understand."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzF48KHByY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSacdOA13e
I retracted my tendril and began mana expulsion with my right hand, creating a bundle of pebbles. I shrunk the water ball down and clasped it with my left. A pure-white water geyser erupted from my palm. The wolf avoided it but found himself on the ice field again, and thus lost his footing. The geyser ran out before I could hit him, so I created another ball of water. The wolf blew fire on the field and melted the ice, and unfortunately, made the grass catch fire as well.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsLOyPRnJg
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoS3dsbxqJ
"Uh oh, Kenny."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBvnXFAjj8
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx33zmCdF6
Sweat beads were trickling down my forehead, and it wasn't just because of the heat.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjwPTPvCXB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0vrKCe1mN
"I-It'll be fine. Just focus on grabbing him."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEyffr3BYX
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84YAD5PlvB
I didn't clasp the ball this time but spread it out across the field. The fire was extinguished and the wolf was now wet, but seemingly unbothered. He started charging at us again. I scattered the pebbles in my right hand with intense force. They were small, but the wolf would undeniably be hit and staggered.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj8FxfLBAE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd7ikefQHE
But, though he was hit, his charge didn't halt even a little. I panicked and brought the tendril out, stretching it out yet again. He didn't avoid it. Instead, he snapped his jaws at it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuG5gxJWei
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKit3Im4cxj
"Hrk!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxXrg80zou
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyzw3ybZDn
Pain permeated my whole body. Maybe even my soul. It was terrible, but the situation wasn't irredeemable. The tendril was in between the wolf's jaws but was still intact. I quickly thought of a way to retaliate and produced a Flash-Bloom. I'd be lying if I said I expected it. I hurriedly held my hand over my eyes.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVNzVA80Cf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GpP1ZZR7E
"Victoria! Close your eyes!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnp1YXVNOY
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLijmGYMvg
Even with my eyes covered, all I saw was white. Pushing the Flash-Bloom beyond its limit was exhausting my mana supply but I didn't have to keep it out for long. A few seconds later I stopped it and opened my eyes. The wolf was still gripping my tendril but was nabbing at its own face as if the light was on him. I produced Dragon-Maw Jr. and he bit at the wolf's nape. The wolf let go of my tendril. I coughed out some purple goop.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQPDbED3EL
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hjeUiz4xi
"Victoria!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9yQFwwL4u
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp769PXrBP
"Right!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCrhzxOrN4
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSLjv0hQpJ
Victoria ran over to the wolf. She didn't pin him down, but instead, grabbed one of his oversized hind legs and bent it in an impossible direction. The wolf opened its mouth and wailed and readily spat fire. With all his squirming, Dragon-Maw Jr. could hardly keep him in place. I produced another water ball and flung it at the wolf. I managed to perfectly land it inside its maw, and the beast was forced to cough it all out.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q6r9P5HB2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBZcUJVqyn
Dragon-Maw Jr.'s teeth sunk deeper into its neck. The wolf was still desperately clawing at its eyes, but each succesive swipe made it obvious that the beast's strength was fading. Victoria broke its other hind leg. The wolf struggled, but he didn't attempt to spit out fire this time. The wolf simply howled, and howled, and its howls grew weaker by the second. Dragon-Maw Jr. kept clamping down. I noticed it myself, how the neck was being sluggishly pulled off the body. Victoria clasped the wolf's snout. She began pulling at it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphfWtgPe6R
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOQa9k7GRR
"GRAHHHH!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4vsXR5zC2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3XUPWOnq7
A warcry. She was a total barbarian.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEevzxjJCOS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6F6TNAjVt
With the help of Dragon-Maw Jr, Victoria tore off the wolf's neck and threw across the field. The head crashed and spallered against a tree. It immediately evaporated into the air, and the rest of the wolf's body followed suit. She grabbed her knees and began to pant.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9IjaTfFkB
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtmq7pUFMS
"..."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD7YTpU8M1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtQlKbQTFb
I retracted the tendril. My mana supply was relatively plentiful. Still, I plummeted to the ground, face-first. I stopped coughing up purple goop, and a minute later, it stopped oozing from my chest.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vdu2q9Txf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhVLeECIR9
I had questions about it, but those were for later. At the time being, I was happy. I relishing the moment. Even with grass pressing against my face, I was relishing.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoG9qjAAha
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBKBye3OA6
We did it. We really did it.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N0yH6NRon
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuaZz8AfxO
"Kenny!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fk93DgIth
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW8VhrTcri
Victoria ran up to me. I looked up at her.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwo1ecUNaO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKss2em8URh
"What's coming from your chin? Are you okay? Are you poisoned?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnGDYFhxFW
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfB7bQSc9N
"I-I'm fine, just a little... pained."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeawTAKi0Y
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDfAkFZAjg
She sighed. I only now noticed the blood splattered across her dress. The dress was torn, too. That wolf had some sharp claws.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgnOlmy6SX
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTvcnJQhjG
"I'm a little pained, too. The potion I used didn't have any pain suppression."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuc4Y6Kaub
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkTj79ceSZ
"No pain suppression? What kind of second-rate potion is that?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EKtYj8QhS
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC4gxIFxSR
She shrugged. She plummeted to the floor herself but comfortably landed on her butt, unlike me. We waited in silence for a bit.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbF0y0UeQk
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmz0YVZLCX
"We did it," I muttered.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Wx2kE9HU
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0plUYnCO7j
I struggled to believe it. Not just because the wolf was taken down without much hassle, but because of how I was feeling.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjeBfvAucX
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqe54hba7z
Right now, I was immensely satisfied. I glanced at Victoria, and she was fine, and I was fine, and the beast was dead, and I was satisfied.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdq1FcCc6S
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyrXfhnydG
I had trouble deciphering what that meant. But, I was satisfied. I couldn't help but smile.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTn7eziLbm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLy7QsQMu4
"Yeah. That wasn't so bad, was it?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleZLrY7xu9
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKplDcU8ug
"...It could've been a lot worse."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VS2wMtzMm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAXUfjLyhl
"Yeah. I'm lucky my dress is the only thing that got torn."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONRoZ7Ucar
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg7JdioFzW
Victoria looked at something above me.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcADBYxVF1
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSEHUYUWjc
"Hey, Kenny, are you unable to fight?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg5l4DGXBA
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHz0yn1Paw
Feeling a bit rushed, I answered anyway.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ekqcUIUNH
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMvvQHTxGH
"No. Why do you ask?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrc0umX3M2
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKMoGRzs4g
"I haven't heard a single thing coming from the building. Our fight was noisy, so I thought that maybe someone would come out. I'm starting to get worried."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQdIcqNj4m
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDu50a5bSO
"You... for someone who just tore off a living thing's head, you're awfully calm."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SAB8ZVDCr
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFo3F3QBGQ
"O-Oh, sorry."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD5kiDWg71
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVm74d1IU0
She scratched her cheek a little.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXA689OP1h5
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNNLMU4QOO
"Just what kind of fighter was your mom? What did she teach you?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX80jX1RVmh
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfyiRJNmX0
"That's just how you need to be with monsters. Equally brutal. It's something I got used to. I watched my mom fight a lot when I was a kid."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa72a7Gy4qb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpz3nIyGmO
"Well, I'm not used to it. Give me a second, please."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhtgsPUish
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJe9TPYumS
"Of course," she exclaimed with a thumbs-up and one of her eyes closed.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRUwuDvoGw
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYXVXxPKmV
I sighed. My face returned to the grass as I indulged in the silence. I could feel the fatigue worm its way into every nook and cranny of my body. I was surprised at the toll the fight had on me. Eventually, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my shirt. It was even more purple than before.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMiEwPwsTs
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28bFoM3zoh
I helped Victoria up. I limped to the busted gate and stared at the compound. A weight formed in my stomach. I almost began to pray, but the doors to the building slowly opened.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfJ9RemhAq
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhZHHTG1hv
Skylark was there. Kim was on one shoulder, and when he opened one door wide enough he grabbed Panz by the hood. He had a lot of dust on his body. When he caught up to us, he frowned.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgpAGCQEjD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPmw4w8YhL
"Victoria, your dress... what happened?"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb2HCdUrcb
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXyIu15AZD
"We fought something, Kenny and I."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM7sJatWVO
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjtOWV5aUW
She patted me on the back. The pain jolted across my body yet again, and I clicked my tongue.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPYplPo9XD
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHCMcr21sv
"I see. Well, I'm glad you two aren't hurt."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk3RiNqUnn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNhaOka26l
"How is Kim?" I asked.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ47HcAPlhf
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdd5jsXgUV
"She's fine, just unconscious."74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3uIJS956Q
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7sykPuqIT
I could only say one thing.74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoINVAsBvXm
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OGORPYBrz
"...Haaaa. Thank God."
