Sleep wasn't brought by my collapse. I was plagued by a lingering restlessness, a prickling bit of caution that blocked my eyes from fully closing. Instead, I used my granted time to keep watch of the door whilst against a desk, an arm slung over my knee.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WNtbTlbBo
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAsheO6wIJ
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCEkFS861r
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMfwQTZmhu
Juke joined me in my resting. The both of us eyed the door, keeping careful watch for any sudden enemies. It probably wasn’t the best course of action, I realized, as that dean was likely to get in trouble. But he was out of sight, and thus, for the time being, out of mind.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2tFVklyyf
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqj2fvzrIe
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8ACWR174M
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wqbGMpHBc
“There are thousands of better ways to say I have a sullen or exhausted face. Take your helmet off; I’m certain you aren’t faring any better.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcURf5h5j7X
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE3szD8ez5
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqDKbHfRU3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz97pZNtg4M
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aukE1grBo
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOB2ewzCQ8
“Well?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98NtvboWnI
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaaHJUPaiA
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmlmTb1TS8
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM938iz8hDP
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtiN7bqjY5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelQyZ5r2tH
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlVHr5lknx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yWTM2LuE1
He stroked his lengthy stubble in contemplation. I let him do that and continued glaring at the entrance, waiting but hoping not for something to pop out.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNaWzSMivy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qNCFZzO99
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFo8cRCqT0
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmaxhyrrcF
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iKmcNrNVS
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakg799WWhX
He grabbed it and rotated it to spot the marks left by the Bringer’s blade. They were very obvious once he pointed them out, making me feel dumb for not noticing them.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQZspOP7pz
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQRXNanxy1
“I’m glad, cuz it means I ain’t gotta get a new one. And if I had ta, I can’t, since I’m stuck in this crazy place. And ta think I still got another tower to fight…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b8Q2FZdLQ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqFoeLkKu
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A2ynBAIKB
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1EYZlpFQJ
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxNVhYDf1Z
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8IEGTPphe
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPIPYmL3PK
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtOQ78peby
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYENdResyp
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgFIIC48D5
“...Yeah.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUaVfogUrl
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReBe7nAuun
Though I had my frustrations, he was right. I was convinced, not just by Juke, but by my own distorted feelings to go back and fight. I was as to blame as he was. Still–132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pHkq7kTz9
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9umMclDR3
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHkEhYCCQF
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0bXjy8CKg
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7uqfleaH0
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OKGAO899G
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqHwkw2ULW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfWZ8gaJlP
Juke chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue. Little gestures like that dulled my festering feelings. He returned to his resting face. But when I looked at it closer, it was more rigid and fierce than the face of a resting man.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTxHCrnbYI
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Uvw4F9BO
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaKveH8OWa
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTnNQUEihu
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt32ujUMI6H
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D0sSJ7UoB
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywj3fFPyav
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNcSkQRntE
“...?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVxWbI52y7
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At that, I had to tilt my head.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmCu062OLy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkd9gqptWT
“It’s a detour, certainly, but this furthers our goals, doesn’t it? The Retaliation Crowd are going to help us with our goal after this.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7qbCLdGCr
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwclfygt5bV
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeapCce5iLO
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJd3YlYqjf
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zspUW5ZR6
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpmdG5g6Je
“Dennis still ain’t here.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BrfDmhy4j
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZjz833xDJ
“...”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdw5pwYLkd
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILPA3DMou0
The bubbling fumes within me died down immediately. It was difficult to stay mad when I saw Juke’s forlorn face. But at the same time, I struggled to see it justified.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNdxWqLvAD
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEODrEXGKRn
“I don’t really get it. I mean, I understand wanting to help an acquaintance, but you make it out as if he’s a lifelong friend–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq7iaWUvii
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaNwIdVmXe
“I get what yer sayin’ kid. Ya ain’t entirely wrong, but it’s more complicated than that. I know ya well enough to make it click. Gimme a second.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL1drQGFj7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrftayBTRb
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmACZJQqMRt
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gAUdFSPEZ
“Think of it this way, kid: let’s say I got an apple, and that I need to eat it within twenny minutes, and if I don’t eat the apple in twenny minutes then I should jump off a buildin’.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0F8OpQc68
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4ga68PgEv
“--!? W-What!?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGjJMvZkXx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvVzaJB3rU
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaJNBZlsmj
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj7H8X4O9w
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzXFvoXg5A
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L6BxaOsuM
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzhU1EPDRB
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnFZhSLKJE
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSlzUB2d0c
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4vgjZ0CzD
Though I still had my eyebrows raised, I did what was told of me. I pinched my chin and stared at the ceiling, wracking my brain and hoping an answer would fall for me to grab. It didn’t come to me very easily, and I looked at Juke with a slight plea in my eyes. He read it immediately and urged me to keep thinking. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWRlzKCBcC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LlXb9Fl8S
I sighed. At the same time though, I figured it was a good use of time, and I knew that playing by his rules would make me understand him better. So I ruminated away. I thought of it from Juke’s perspective at first and realized that wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Then I thought about it regarding recent events– aside from the fighting, that argument we had came up, and a shudder from my shoulders urged me to stop that train of thought. Then, taking how he said it would click for me into account, I thought about it as if I was the Kenneth Juke knew.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sykk3IT7R
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44qM5dj2ZW
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA5Yn6ADGz
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hAZypXRoi
“If you’d kill yourself over an apple… that must mean it has a lot of sentimental value. But it isn’t just a sentiment that makes it that way.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWenqlEtLC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzpROFXPZ0
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloKGo2wOcQ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ZftsCuHO
“It’s like the shape of a grant. Because you said that the apple meant something, that apple became a symbol. Because you made the terms that this apple’s consumption is correlated with your life, you’re putting stock into it. You’re giving it something greater than sentimental value; you’re making it a wager. Either I’m good enough to eat this apple, or I’m not good enough to live.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0lGZtaG2F
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4YBM8BGRE
“...”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95jc9Z9h0J
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa1ifoxEHD
I looked at Juke for a response, but what I thought would be a satisfied face just looked a little lost. My face must’ve looked really surprised.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6qYnPRrWR
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJg9CncXUI
“Ya ain’t wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a wager. It’s more like a checklist. One that ya just have to fill.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQP6tiNfcR
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGN1gzRdR9
“I-I see…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3I6vjvoCO
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUiN1qGV45
My analogy must have gone too off the rails. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking like Juke enough. Either way, the side effect of going on such a thought train made itself prominent. The sparks of my earlier declaration rekindled, and I grew proud– but only slightly –for making it to this top floor.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppr0eMisOz
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRuA5kdogl
“Seein’ Dennis safe n’ sound is one of those checks. I got a few other ones, but they’re too private to tell ya. And others, I don’t really get.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPoz4SqtlX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4bHG0uvAJ
“You don’t, ‘get?’”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEnJb9u0J8
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd09AqrY4mB
“Y’know, when–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj04v4DYn70
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoZpj3yiOu
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9KIzzgTMQ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpbH9g99l3
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwurqVnlKA
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xQhcRd2uz
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIjbnCQaTW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTjZdisBWE
**SLAM**132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p0Dz2cUQb
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0f6Rb5rBD
A loud, thundering sound rang through the dusty room, startling Juke and me and putting our senses on high alert. Juke put one hand on his handle, and I already called the tendril forth and aimed it at the sound. It came from the door; now it was opened all the way, but the figure responsible wasn’t behind the other side.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGpG144tXM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrkEBynq5W
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQsoHjMk8y
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pbnPn3ws7
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuzMAcHWCs
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs0sEi2Vlg
The head belonged to the dean of the Pillar. He waltzed in haphazardly taking little steps and checking every inch of the room. When his eyes landed on the Bringer, he squeled for a moment, but quieted down once he noticed all the blood.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjiV5vl7q2
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2DclhEfYY
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bm0csoEv7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqapEaiZsiW
“M-Mister Dean.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBnaNOtAdW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQTEmsS304
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTo9DIpX9j
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFozRMThv5
“Yes, child?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2VqgMN4NL
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpEVkfWAEI
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1ttalYP4M
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHg1Bi4JBZ
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCtkrCGfnj
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztmDEDlniz
“R-Right.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVJhEzd8Fx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54bveAXzhC
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnOmyUXDwU
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjz40A60Th
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt0Gedri2n
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE8llpwaIG
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4VXrfsin7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07usNOMtVu
From behind the Dean came a soft voice. A voice of confidence and care, a voice I’ve grown fond of over the past day. And seeing the holder of that voice cross the threshold made me retract my tendril, and put a hand on my chest in relief.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYZWZLZmAx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FlI8FQrlt
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGLJD2ybRn
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4qRlip28g
–
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–
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–
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With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8htbvDnWQ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwWa8zd23F
Though it wasn’t without casualties, the foreign pillar was rid of pesky Bringers. Its control was seized by the Retaliation crowd, and the Dean still being alive was a great relief.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIimccbtIVn
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLFhOksmSG
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGD64KzyuE
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrniZivL9V3
Either way, we had what I was assured was an invaluable asset. I didn’t see how in the moment, but as I was taken to the answer, Lola elucidated me about the status.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDGjZ7jhjO
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrouM6BB5b
A majority of the crowd hunkered town at the top. One floor with wide windows served as an excellent watch tower, and ranged specialists were tasked with observing the parameters. The floors above were converted into restrooms or hospital rooms. A few crowd members ventured to the lower floors to gather all the food and water available, of which there was a grand amount. It made sense, as all of those supplies belonged to the Bringers beforehand. Half a dozen of the healthiest and uninjured watched the first floor and the surrounding city, both defending from infiltrators and–132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmvBoPc6fb
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQDzp3HPyX
“They’re looking for recruits. If fighters see that we have the most important building under control, they’re more likely to join the effort.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvsgpf6jDX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57KYRnphjh
“Haven’t you explained that already?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ9QflYIKz
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzJzVMxfyJ
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbKsaml4K7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPbkCwUa9L
“What’s that?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeovhXyWI81
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuRFgTlbhV
Lola turned around and crossed her arms. She nudged her head to Dave who was beside her, and with a sigh, he stepped forth and spoke.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtstxNooKtx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE9EXmnI4F
“Everything is done in two ways here. Either letters or signals. Old man Jackson was always responsible for the latter. We do not have Jackson anymore, so unless we make a lot of noise, we can only commune with letters.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmrp12pTsX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccGzXAdoYI
I realized the implications immediately. Even if fighters were available, everyone was in hiding. Nobody knew the state of the central Pillar, and I doubted that the crowd’s existence was well-known either. But then I remembered the prowling Pars and Dave from yesterday and asked:132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL049klqON2
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMVVhKZu1M
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQBgvEHWNv
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2pY5PLGSE
“We thought so too. But we don’t want mages to waste their mana on mere fireworks, so we thought of something better. Since Hard-Bringer miraculously hasn’t set the city ablaze, it’s very quiet out.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKnHKCPrW4
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsVknaOEkn
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30qvcLb2Jy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpevmbcsktk
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrU464COeg
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOol8gAdN2
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvotYe8X2oM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h4Z2kTZ6X
I followed them further, in a location past the Dean’s office. Hidden by a camouflaging door, the room I entered was lit and energetic but smelled foul.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaTynVMY9H
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2j4QaBhy7
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS96rg5yOPv
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GM8aK2qiX
The room itself was decently spacious, but that detail didn’t attract me. Rather, it was the presence of wooden walls and fences, the hallmark infrastructure of a city stable. Only, it was far tidier and metallic than most.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoaPa2soWA
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“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb9PlwzN6E
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“GAH! W-Why is this here?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf04iI9IiZB
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuZ5o6PFQy
A creature resided within the stall. One with reins around its beak, and one with a stature I’ve seen deceased more often than alive. The Communication City’s signature raptor.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4azpKd9STC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDCQN2OiCc
“It’s the Dean’s private delivery bird. It’s specially trained to traverse the city walls, as its tight curves and winding streets are difficult for the average one.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQuEiMteRT
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGYm9w3y2t
“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J6t21kiBn
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCAnWS9tPa
The raptor leaned its head over the gated fence, staring at me with wide, occasionally blinking eyes. I didn’t know what to do. I was never in close proximity to one, and I never had one look at me like I was some kind of puzzle.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIiL3RGgjQ
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“I think it likes you, child.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8z3H651XM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwDlpR23cE
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyGRNtaiBC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxiyZ54G5i
The Raptor’s gaze grew more intense. It appeared that he was trying to see into my soul, and I felt like an ant under its wide eyes.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrB1YiH14f
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2GufsxXLP
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpLTkfP1Kp
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“Hah?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXFI4gGiLt
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“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjurSTNaL4
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9tTkzSAUn
“I… smell like flowers?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcCYfdDeGd
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I looked around the room for an answer, and everybody present nodded simultaneously. I was completely taken aback, more because of the shock than anything else.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDbCv2J7XM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mits98z1b
“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSfJ0SQUZW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdBrvUNmwG
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSejsU88Zln
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpGT3Tce5f
“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3eHH6dGyo
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“Really? I didn’t know that…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Sl234stx
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“Ahem, moving on–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gHFU5xRmC
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Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEDHIOaHm7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ670SBfdmoA
“The plan of action is quite simple. We’ll have someone riding this beast, sprinting around the town, and yelling about our victory. The Raptor’s speed can be easily modulated, so escape from any roaming bringers is easy.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsz4AIxPA6
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZY1Kdt8GK
I understood what he was saying. I even agreed with it. Though shaky, it was a great and efficient plan with the resources we had. What clogged my throat, however, wasn’t the plan itself, but the subtle insinuation of telling me this plan. So, I had to ask:132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodhIp29vJJ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5XjnWtaaw
“May I know why I’m being told this?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCPZqasKfL
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“If you think it’s because we’ll make you do that, don’t you even worry. We’re not so cruel to put a child in such danger, are we, Dave?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0kW6nj3U0
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JYcCnwcVd
Lola seized all my worries immediately, causing me to let out a happy sigh. I wasn’t even bothered by her mentioning of me being a child, as I welcomed this discrimination just this once.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNq3mF8BTg
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“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dc6wsDOhf
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“My help, you say…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXNQXudicH
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It wasn’t such a terrible request, though I had no idea how I could. I waited for elaboration, since they looked eager to hand it.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGdHvBuzOx
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“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwtECRzzK2
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“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vyShD2Lcj
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“--Anyhow, your skills are most needed. A single raptor can’t traverse every corner of this city without some help, so I was wondering: do you happen to know how to make energizing potions?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XhC0sRckT
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“...Energizing potions?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgicc3DXIb
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I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU010WuuFQZ
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“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSt3YTx9YW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMESSKq0CqW
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHfXPhBmBP
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“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXpYsRR6W9
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“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrGHFA4Cna
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCgnKJd0Rr
I turned my head at Juke and stoutly narrowed my eyes. He didn’t notice until a few seconds passed, and he jolted when he saw me.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpPChu4SUM
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“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzTivT18Bi
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“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wkif2Maeg
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I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXazWulYqVx
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“Is something wrong?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4U1R1MmeR
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Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikuS0VR3gD
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“Well, kid–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfthLRh5kS
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Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOquw827Zur
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“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZafsxoLSw
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After a moment of droning silence, Lola and Dave looked at me, nodding in agreement with Juke. I didn’t know what to say, but I had complete composure to react. Nothing within me flared up, only a single sentence popped into my mind.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciOMO2bIV5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmdzofwPAu
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mzi2BD3Fy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITJTfcyeGB
Whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I had a special duty to perform, and that duty took prescedence. Before leaving the room, I asked Lola where supplies were stored, and once I was told I began moseying through the Dean’s room.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5Tbnv8z6V
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4hGUi2kIK
Their perplexed looks didn’t slip by me. I had never seen such a face before, but I knew what it was. I knew it because I’ve made it, albeit a much harsher version. It was the face of a witness to the breaking of boundaries, the erasure of an image of the person one knows. I wasn’t bothered by it– If anything, being looked at that in that way was oddly relieving. But I still couldn’t stand it.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctWa02nsOo
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“...Comfortable.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1eNx9Umk4
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I mouthed that word a couple of times. Juke always had a fascinating way of phrasing things. Comfortable. I spoke it, I whispered it, I thought it and I chewed it. Comfortable.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtCipQngB
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte8NCml1w7
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This process… wasn’t quite nostalgic. I didn’t know what nostalgia even felt like, but I knew that if I was just five years older, I would be sorely missing performing this.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu2kkdsXMk
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Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTK00Sp7Rx
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Even with all my experience, I wasn’t afforded time to let my thoughts stray and frolic into useless concepts. All my focus was directedto the task at hand, the busy method of making an endurance potion. Oh, how I missed it.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA0Y5QyyuK
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“...A little bit here.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lj8PFptAc
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It took a moment for me to shake of my rust, but as it was only a little over a week since I last did this, I felt good as new afterward. I was performing mana suspension with utmost precision. I’ve made this particular potion so many times, I could just let my hands take it away. Still, as I was going through the process and remembering the materials, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my throat that told me something was off. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB37FIl5tF
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And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzpH2Q7U6H
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0LpSGSX38
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As I stood in a little booth, there was one natural ingredient from the heap of materials that I was missing: fat. There wasn’t an ounce of raw fat anywhere.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHNVaN6WyT
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I sighed and rubbed my head. I knew that I didn’t look hard enough, but having to descend to another floor to pick up something I already should have was a complete hassle.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGDnbnW9g
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“No time to waste, though.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYwE7UpJlS
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So I stood up and exited. The booth was one of several in a particular room. Every booth was an office space repurposed into whatever the circumstances demanded, and I was lucky enough to get one for myself. There were a couple of crowd members up here chatting, and I made sure to wave and grant small greetings as I passed by.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCEj2CUa43
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I reached the stairs shortly after, and while descending them, I thought of how exactly I was going to acquire any fat. I’m sure there was meat as part of the rations, but from the few sparing glances I took, they all seemed dry. The only wild animal in here had a mission to complete, and I didn’t fancy the idea of killing an animal just for a potion. I reached the floor amidst my thinking and figured that I would figure it all out once I got there.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoliLqXG5mJ
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I walked through, waved at those who waved at me, waltzed to the mock-up kitchen organized by a couple of members, and inspected. Indeed, I found out that I did not figure it out once I got there.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmP9fbiToA
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“...Crap.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw8rSBBSRy
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My index and thumb were on my chin, and the arm that held them rested on my other. But looking like a philosopher didn’t manifest what I needed, and I eventually dropped the pose and sighed.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImFr4LSF8Y
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“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KG6Lx8Eya
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Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjzz4DxBwa
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“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEiCjbsp0T
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJWOQ3eBan
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ602qAhbMtB
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“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oK3M9yHJ0
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“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mHKmH0WsW
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She pointed with a spoon to the corner of the floor. In that corner, small, lidded buckets were clustered together. They looked to be made of wood. But, those details aside, what I noticed was how nobody was within ten meters of them.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQS6teUuyS
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“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83PxW4wnk5
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And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7zoEQY5N1
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“It’s from spoiled meat. We didn’t have salt or ice or nothing to keep it preserved, so it’s already home to the bugs. Crazy how it turns to junk so quick, isn’t it?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8UYdJU39b
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“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSePyklKqn9
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With my back slumped over, I hobbled to the corner with a profound frown. I thought of maybe taking my tendril and producing some kind of flower, but none of their aromas were strong enough to suppress that stench.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tSIqjaC77
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“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCgb8dePIc
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“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt0gA1J8d1
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjlC02UlHD
I cut my sentence short because, unlike the feminine voice of the lunch lady, the one I heard had the sound of a gentleman. What’s more, I recognized its timbre.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tfexnl3Nv
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“N-Nigel!?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAVnzFKvar
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“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vAkXsf8T3
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“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYOEuCIN83
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He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4eFYJia1m
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“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSFsM78tLa
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“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopYF2em5x5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygrnkOVnPh
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejs982Gty
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“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayenvOOXVT
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He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZw9mj9mzF
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“Is this… a clamper?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneUyzvNqJn
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“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WxuBFPrGZ
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Nigel’s presence was a lucky blessing. Another pair of hands was one thing, the knife was another, and the clamper was nice, but what I was truly thankful for, was having someone to talk to while I groped and tore stale, smelly, stonymeat.
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“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU9ctXBDWa
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“That I asked you?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoKevZbUCA
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I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoenUeRw6u
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEn6VI8Fsy
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK9J5C7lDG
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5g4vlkOvr
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sH4v6VzjC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMsduZVuGD
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5TWxfgFNg
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N9iVckZEn
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAbIqHSPiY
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Pw6wx6pD
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkulSjaUAxR
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvnjogyrQr
“How did you–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MyYGb68E8
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzhcF7p52c
“I was behind the crowd the whole time. I had everyone’s backs in front of me, so I started keeping track of the members, seeing who was there and who left by the kind of hair or weapons you all had. And, well… at some point, I noticed the head you were with changed at some point.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoqdsNtZF8
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vzdWoacTr
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlburkNdelE
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopNu2Rag9n
He continued cutting as he spoke.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPo4oQN8OI
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnPUjwuncl
“Yeah. Damon died during the big ambush. One of the six casualties we suffered. I was left without a partner for the rest of the raid.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8QyiOvC1m
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlz7MUW3S9
He looked at his hand. I stopped my own cutting, and my limbs twitched, urging me to reach out and do something. But the only thing I could muster was a few consoling words.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7UAlOEJs3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvySW9DnFld
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEewMEBxE5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp68sWk1arT
“...Do you think so? He and I fought a lot, I wouldn’t call him a good friend. Just a colleague. Besides, things like these happen in the field.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41W6B4rN6Y
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wTTSJ5Bwh
He said those words. He said those words coolly, without wavering hands or trembling lips. His cutting paused, and his eyes seemed to stare off into nowhere, but I couldn’t read anything from his profile. A part of it relieved me, and another made me want to scamper away.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9SAUs5Viu
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90EjSHyuka
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXgiOVZoyP
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AWy4k0PW6
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6QrpjWZd6
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWJuNg4Yhj
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcmc0XYrjs
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4LUNWgv80
His switching of the topic was decisive, so I decided to halt my scary thinking. I sighed and paused my motions, reaching for stored memories I preferred to forget. However, the deeper I dug, I had to wonder:132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WqyKrQ45B
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNgyUeYTau
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth2pIhD3Ue
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoknezf99rR
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3sVDksl9U
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlPKMbzkFt
“I… darn it, you got me there.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGynPDsK4bz
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqXinq1OnI
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmxDQhxLNU
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NwyQwbNRQ
“It was me and Juke. He and I were partnered, and for the most part, we just whizzed by the rooms. The one we had to tackle was that of the Dean’s, and for what it’s worth, our fight went smoothly. No major injuries, we weren’t too tired, nothing.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1VfmzYl4y
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ089pmpFz8
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnSngKeZgB
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPictlgpb8
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNQI85I4B7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQmKzCptzO
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk3Y7M1cWB
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlp2vhTvnI
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtgzidu1ym
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaPZtRcAKO
I looked at him with pursed lips.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9JGCnI62Y
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajrn43cMQA
“Why not?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygjsrTGdlC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIFX4sdnii
“Lady fortunate dictates only half the battle, and it's never the half that’ll be the coup de grace. She is the roof of the house, and man is the foundation; without you, she would simply collapse.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFENughT7Za
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHdaUjN0cK
“That’s… an interesting way of looking at it. But I’m not convinced. I mean, we even ran into an opponent we already beat.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrFLQ0axho
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ORcqD822M
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP39Q3ZU1C
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Wm1seuNW
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV8XbM2oEK
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWRbPKpNlO
“--!”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyLknv7y5U
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNDt57yhAa
Though my gut still told me something was awry, my mind was convinced by his words. I took it with a grain of salt, and taking it with such a sully still loosened my facial muscles. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW7LcwdXjY
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVI2pMuBSy
“Did anything else happen?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uPh0Ccy1V
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspWgw2FgXc
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZatZNhGZi
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk4dq1RdU4
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILYl8OFRD8
“I forgot to tell Lola and Dave about some information we learned. Juke might’ve already said it, but I still want to make sure.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtabdoCtQDI
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMTZQBIF6g
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6zqZDE76W
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwTe3ZFis6
“Uh…”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom4ADw3jAx
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0TmPSd4cL
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAytrs15ea
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclHvZ9HCDL
“I don’t see why not. The gist of it is that Hard-Bringer has a grade-zero mana spinner, so it’s prodigalto let enemies slip away.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXlEeqnHta
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOfJ71rK9t
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsReY9D00ol
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHfLI1puwq
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b39U3O0qJ
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPzJWm93IE
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo6TWQKq5l
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFGLxNufB1
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVIFTd8K6k
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqfzg1KOX1
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahPwpQhNHS
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QMmLeYDCe
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxLSaAc2vK
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYYvEj5N06
“...O-Oh.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6oRgeyxoe
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunqVpxKWP8
I realized then that there was a great misunderstanding. I didn’t quite know how to address it, but I decided to take a swing anyway.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQZd1zHW0f
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b3aDrpzOu
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnog0trkpuu
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57VXsQjMlI
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHzlaFzaZr
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0edVgZSEZ
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AZHBkr11F
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WWBtOREm4
“Make sense? How?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTuAG8wAMp
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxKvMnEPKO
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSRMdML8Kj
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTcmNkgA6U
“When Damon died, I had to make a quick adjustment. My intuition told me to stick to our agreed formation, and I was advised by a buddy there to group up with her. I did, and we spoke for a minute, but when–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOmahnWBPP
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkHfjxIIEC
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBXOzb6W5d
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNVCKpnfiy
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyzsjmQ0JL
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJf6MLuCiD
“I was the last to leave the room. You left right before me. I gave her a look, and I think she understood it. I’m very particular with my messaging faces.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTugsT2BPy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5rsuXoKBn
“So she still fought alone, eh?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkraP9tzFF2
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonbkeVHGwY
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Hok7YwHy
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKMPUooiEg
“Relieved? How come?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7smRjTDgj
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOHwL5tAjL
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHHvgRwsQ4
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ne9Z0uARu
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGuXIyS3rW
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD4K30E6o1
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIF1aIVJFV
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk9cICiXIW
“You’re probably good friends with her.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3XdCp00ia
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6FobMQOZc
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat3d8O23y3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09R31SoGdO
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm48AdOdcg
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCIFe6PgBi
He continued his peeling without care while I sat still, shaking and stupified. An outrageous conclusion, an unbelievable string of words, worming its way into my ears and trapping the nerves that signaled my limbs, the engine that ran my thoughts.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufwmOqAv3L
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV0XeVSR5X
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI3CgfnO3p
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSV93jdO6W
“H-Hurt? What happened?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCw24QXeud
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryIB79k6HY
“I don’t know the details, but she couldn’t walk when I saw her. She was making one hell of an uproar though, so it’s nothing permanent.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDQPzZkYHk
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMP29aLoXp
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcochSgTDf3
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1gCSxLuEb
“I got a suggestion for you. I know your relationship is shaky with her, but believe me, what I’m about to advise is good for your health.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKV8Cai5Qc
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNllsod7CQ
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXb7w5VKvk
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKmHNP4YyK
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLbuiiIBil
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJzXOv4qWO
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gBvMwrg3R
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJI5JWMd6q
He shrugged.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt4WtDcBV0
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8ECEzFVkX
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4Jn3foegs
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5vyIJcXvR
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKzIWQMr5y
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb3nOlc4an
I stared at the blubbering mass. It was small enough to fit into my hand, and though it would feel gross, it would be light as a feather as I carried it back to my mock-up lab. But I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Because now that chunk was no longer an ingredient, a box to check for my task’s completion. It was a rope; a rigid line to drop me into the depths.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5tVfANQ71
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WSDkgRUAl
All those thoughts, all those tingles, all that premonition and ominous prospecting. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. So I had to.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuTbIKkWtC
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS1scYFQ54
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPceE4hYoxA
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAllsxH9cZt
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAeyImOkU5
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqQlb9DokO
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGhzoEzyrS
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZSC2CffQ4
I picked up the fat, momentarily amazed at how he cut so much so quickly, and waved him goodbye, making my way to my lab and steeling every twitching fiber in me.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCZRSmERin
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6R1VtUF7W
–
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq4Mh3n4Pj
–
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzxDX8IsR2
–
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3NmEnnKPo
“...Role model.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAVtqEAyBM
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0LLeTM1Il
Nigel’s hands were a complete mess, covered in gore that assaulted his nostrils. At least as a soldier, the flesh he bled wasn’t rotten. This was a new experience, and in some ways, he was glad about it. He was glad he didn’t run his mouth. He was glad the kid didn’t notice his hands.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XOC1pAcUe
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c6rAjiMP3
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYPv8DWJPX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4QZqy2hjz
He stood up and brushed his palms against one another, though all that grime would need more oomph to come off. He sighed and tucked his knives away since the kid let the other loiter on the ground.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGJLTnOpt7
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuXohQi8nK
“I’m not cut out to be a role model. But I’m glad that kid’s doing good. I’m glad you’re not here either, man.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s6cR3vXnK
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAUkFcYZbQ
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnE5lUaqPU
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQLG0CbwkC
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO4RCxRJjg
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4INXyMxXm
His legs came to a sudden halt. They jerked to and fro, but they didn’t make one nudge of distance. Nigel scoffed and laughed, looking at his disobedient limbs with a hopeless smile.132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvTj8frmms
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOfSpgettl
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF1lfCzgJX
132Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CXW585IcN
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
