The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCwJ6fWCio
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEL2tpvBPL
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUToCNYH19K
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgvd3JjM84
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJlJSVmgQX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHSVMuKSxQ
"Dad!?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuVT2ZNdDV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdPodVfdat
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtec8K8hDk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsrAFvQgwT
"Flinty! There you are!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIThxlnzQxR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mAh78Gf30
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9gvoWRATb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOptkkzwVWK
"And you must be Kenny?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm7hSJKV8k
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgJ9cwmFyJ
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwxPSKqfs9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEHgzh3hds
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLzTmcSsJQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneYtrduii9
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq0zT7FbGo
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHPJNd93c8
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiIJ4Wr2H2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbLAAnLLHw
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lHONxDdok
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4erhY0Rmy
Dear Mister Chambers.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn9ARFR61m
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx3ESuFA17
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBl6jcdxwC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrFswjuDbu
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8fE6FKH6B
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6y4duwOEn
"...I don't remember promising anything."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9LcTrNwrr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8I6UOi0vA
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGxi8C9JOq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8UwF96zx1
"I'll make sure to thank him later."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnLbWL7JmH
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2v4GYxMUV
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x6ALP50UM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK109eut7G7
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiNzTbvriJ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnZD946u2U
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyUImpSdEa
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BRhiNV5IR
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMENWVo79L
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY0JGoz4kM
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtexOub4H3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbaUbZvTid
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN0L5VU4ob
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj1bTPMF2O
"Kenny!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWV4UlGJXz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmSxfuCGLw
"Ah, Flinty, hello."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2644frbH2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRlofcRABH
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6YLx1WAMS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKhEZYIgPE
"Is that the plant you asked for?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHHv0ebFiI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhORiYN86jA
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavNmtJvpYF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jGYUjIuX6
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0Rtt5ljKN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjcWI7TCWS
"Hello, you two."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgSNiDoT6U
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d6G3ld35d
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM0xsY6L0M
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNnRrhDAFR
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYNeStLWT9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsbIV2cBUI
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4g776zEv3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZeev1MX12
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ezV6hNopx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDmF96xD0d
"Please don't drop it or something."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hMcEPGEFm
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWkjLGyidS
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMGhhSpyvJ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45qHy7mgCC
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN4SmdJcQf
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtRGEYFysD
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqJgbm9CYt
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvB1nqdivo
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHmQSSzuIN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9R3UGNts0
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4qk9lX09w
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWknhgEvjhB
"And you asked for... a flower?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcPZiwxSep
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PlZ2vUVPn
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82UXfxU4xR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L0Paa0teI
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA2gZUKsVO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtvUlrsrdK
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gqKB4CgPr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8weXtw4k8J
"Arg! You...!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6YEOkDfbI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgWSjP2HYc
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2oIBgtQk5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx36qKL5Tn
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sIaWKjy0V
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dazfO9THS
"Whatever."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqVEHdEar1
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ynsB8eBOq
We sat in silence for a minute.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLmoGP3u07
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I2ZuOaJBi
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiZaxCy7VG
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNdWZzA5Lr
"Yes! Please tell me!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFKn5PdNcc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcgmgSuhUG
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjlxB0AKRW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjcr60rQyU
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte70tcBgJj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFA7giLAav
"Wait, Eastern country?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkGtqEEtin
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaGV9Ufba4
I faced the old man.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fnWSTt6LW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCbPRJSTdP
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUfjJLZSUf
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg4WfW76x8
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt9e27dkqQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr5K83GaNc
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP1lhiGa2s
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmyezhbniA
"...Buffalo village."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9uwZKNRWh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJQ1PO4aAc
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbpMiR2HWw
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHxqn0EBwQ
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR2MwJWXmR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbVysJ2m5F
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dkZAIu49Z
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK5CDW9gpD
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp90trCH6Gl
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54D8OzumvW
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2skdXzht60
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYPBrWgEDk
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ4QDMWEno
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPznsKFYNQr
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMcilJDVRj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUSNoOZ6H7
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhTGXPxxOc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhknYM2S1aZ
"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYzwb3CgQd
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ434JEXQeFy
I nodded along.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6vuxnDzA7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfoI6QFpsS
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDBcG3F6IS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72qfLCi4KK
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3yvYn7xOv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRAOROIPUn
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs8MJujno0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxaEXd89iz
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUUWulcUao
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDQa9HjNBq
She blinked blankly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqJfg6qBaZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthAlOjuKub
"Wait, is it?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y71fXcf6N
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AUxNgYVnl
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUNJVIRj0V
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBaILBdaUY
"No, maybe it is true."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ755dIcrnMC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4CCZcPB3q
"O-Oh, okay."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0M88TF6Yj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbCsKP6TOf
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFETrM01g8
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZtbjWHOmg
"How was your guys' day?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHN0xyBpst
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo78Z5RiHpO
"Mom, you should've been there!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYifKcYz3z
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsNVkPnfZw
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL492SI8yl
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrfIneOtxi
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ii1eqPtzS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1StDL5ekp
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulFUCOxwPn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUb5XWg6Xz
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL4m1CGYu4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPgHxir7Nk
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaYUusmnGD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKjWn0k6f4
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1mDGLYJjo
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLkvEAQM0U
"O-Okay."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHE5sqcbBM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8qTcPsMh9
"Hold on chum, you come back here."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ4K2C8zB7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5AclYhJ8M
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVWEDNwkUS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeuWzrY8yS
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF77NTEJEiC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAH0XvEYsm
He sat me right back down in my chair.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OUw9YqSJ2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5h5nzlAct
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cvGdSQJWw
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOTUwdrYsF
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBZNjF950m
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SSIW0hYf7
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUJGnF34dZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bgl5bM95M
Nobody even heard my "laugh."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK2zW84KRT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVbcFcTDTd
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3rY40sIaj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkf2IfKife
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4YoKTxJva
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRMXIo7X6x
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDPr1FoaX0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8weLVoIviJ
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyWmYKxztn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8TKi6304b
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNTW7ZdeYJ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxJlQjMrfQ
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVszA4tHOLE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhnJv8i9na
"TALBOT!?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oSePLTC1C
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnwpaC5Zfa
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GjwvJxH5l
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcfh3T51wE
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMs6ArNDuM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl92ygC0g5
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu7j0xH1Sd
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7WgIeE143
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JEmKAURDp
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Aiy3amECN
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGATdVEFmtB
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoEboBVumH
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMxpPl0ZLV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQaeDbql4t
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx7NhYXrQp
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEp1G5elaY
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPHb7tcjUs
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbeFPffquZ
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXqGMLBUzz
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclQDVfed7n
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyY5qPatSU
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW6BmY2bV0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ADePCaskX
"Yep... sorry, Chum."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0mwpi4aW0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFYqtmPoHB
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rBB8c9QDR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzrcCFCBDr
For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg6LgKrPce
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFrfk7o1kr
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv54451FqWt
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzju18rwgC
Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RORqlw5PU
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL1KPmGUoU
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjnqhxmu3H
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"Flinty."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HDvwYJSPe
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"Y-Yeah?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0dY7PEYwX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qs3w2DHRZ
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXhpw5giWR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPIdW6Km2b
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniTNntjEZj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA91Ubhtwu
"Okay! Let's do it!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscSnwzEU43
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92qg2DSGXf
There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ueI5pw8a7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxRzLvktot
"...My tome is in the other room."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrya6e7OwJa
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnwlBhJUov
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi3lAJOR8h
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–
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–148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkxyqbpm1O
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhljMdzzKv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUfRxVJF2p
I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3c5Nc8uA6
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy9PrwVCDR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcDm58LRTT
"Good morning."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBw8KG4oQ0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ls13AeApG
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mEqKPo0g2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraTDFP1IEO
"I woke up early."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjtLIEM9TN
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJz3gpyTh9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wYRPtQkTA
I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQts0BVNoE
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqQSySho94
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"Right."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAr4NOyubp
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTDem6ndhv
Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofhX4xCN6m
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCk2kevYde
Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOMfcsTVr0
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5AiUe0pGE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOfIzwoyMq
"I sure did, honey."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpMSt3Ryki
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBl9RpedgQ
"Oh."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XWRWT2yZS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDox8Jjabz
Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK6MChRagH
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXmOPsFU2Z
"Is something wrong?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLa9bHo0Pf
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1gXwmgyf7
"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kPMwuXKbG
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAFc3N5L4v
She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqm23y8IGy
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Strange. Strange people.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVYhgd6bT1
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMHKk0b2VS
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"...I uh."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOkUPderiR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMn5Mct2N0
Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6unrXpkHD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXcNe1I0HG
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lBYiPHTtD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjyFEkiHie
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSa9Cwyyud
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aztBdwx1b
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTm2Gq1R8D
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wDUhLCxNc
"Water under the bridge?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmJzsG7BUJ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOQFVfDKwd
"Mhm."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHtRKnOUNq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsH2wQyIDD
Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eEGHtwoE1
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXXxGzXWwJ
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4dmY081l9
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They were really good.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklnRtXrRgE
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvLpfu1TXt
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"That's a nice outfit"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdYIF2OpfT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU75WyIM8F
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwxdlWZklv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc9iOufYzP
Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI2iPfRHpN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE7KlTRNGA
"You know this town very well, Flinty."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSS1jhxeQv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9QCyswnFn
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoYzl3ZxbI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfNki9yOW4
"Ah, my apologies."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyyHJi6IL4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr9c7aH6yF
"No no, I like being around you too."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPnJlhPUQS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEptQhq1dT
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvXCs836D2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXsslF1rUz
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHMVSnkz9W
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32rCqqP0aT
"R-Right."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzA6rbDLNy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhMdy2gZ7r
She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpaXdVlng2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVeqVAdjfg
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF5vcRzJS9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl1fV3L9we
"Hello, Freed!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXMQuVyDpS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHEXBKAPJ7
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVsVLvOfBL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C1xMA7qID
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EK1y2HttO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyptlyu0N90
"So what business do you kids have today?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBzIExqQFb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EROiF3DHe
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMM8KLLZqL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdz5DJE0pz
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jiun22LAR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxq0peUJ7E
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GWa0uAvKr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiimYuYrUyt
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNvy0KECpz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqb7CBpj4p
"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYCI24Twuv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNw1ln1sVk
"I see."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJJsJook8N
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pfkpLtsbS
The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N4ZkfuKKs
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"I refuse."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwt1kQdonw
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"Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLLUQUUefM
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"WHAT!?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvJnOL6qxl
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx17eUhEc0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd380lKLm6p
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspSa92l0cr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaerpVNFBOD
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Gmf05M2g
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXxSIROpCz
"...No?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnheNcPKZdW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctzPkUo4LU
"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDw95UjWSD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vfg7R9QWi
His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdWSe9aiHX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U1BdJEdfh
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRP1AAj18
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5azmS7CxA2
"Hold on, follow me, you two."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdch1aSZ7Xk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yJgGQUSxI
The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoq2oVN4j6
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy6yYik7gZ
It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ0QwH6P0h
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"Down here."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsRtNjd6la
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmdY2NYveQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUfmH6q6Xq
It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1SqwLckdb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kGtQ1UXCx
"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8froSkGz4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p8WwG9sTk
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiTlW6bEtk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF27XE1hK4a
Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcPvFHqq4w
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMGqRYdriS
"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kDhmi3pVL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vfTs2Vony
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYU0HWTlfN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdIx91vzv7
I shrugged.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhibnoM8aEW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt1CZc1byw
"Well alright, go ahead and try."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8XGQ7lTAA
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RN1vGWIOz
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEs6QFQpSx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOZv0mNQrU
"Am I doing it right?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWoYzoSbkZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7z0asMjly
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWTB9Ctl37
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V1Kivuz9l
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVfyDoQjjx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5NMFTfbaL
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDiMLZ5tfU
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SdNqdP6OC
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJp5ogScqa
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mVUrzna9I
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauAnftM4OJ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJABBwr12qD
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58HSRLOP3c
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT0bbje9Y1
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTogQQtBnMg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm52BI4CWfj
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHo6BCgy0K
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxr86lN7qm
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGQMw8cS6N
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm617zDcL7N
"O-Okay."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9g1LJEEwA
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMXjecSJ4A
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qGIJ1lyGM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIcPvJ0I05
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAXEdRK7gC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc6QHBn5C0
"W-Wait, how do I–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfuPB7Aw6d
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nmGXI4cs7
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFH5ztIhWe
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAegz4p8E3s
"But what if I can't let it out?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp14zUBwM0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qhWDa2aOQ
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCl6YNeq6v
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuQkfSWS1L
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlo9juboD0h
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88BgvMzPC1
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZUABcR6HR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9tMz6IEKy
"Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7UbXoRm6M
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5jIq8Vmf8
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x0BW3Dfj5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x7fwbGmE2
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6ceXPshKj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUH98TzNW9
I messed up, getting all excited.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn3GVKn9HY
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMNC2EzADY
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLJSvFhcgf
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2K2mPfyjk
I couldn't do it in time.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZjl8fVgES
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqC4Mmwgfj
**BOOM**148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmipsFHfp0l
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat4aOWip7G
The world around me faded.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRjzZeOM2T
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aLxZqyX3W
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAge1Ocfu4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSm5so8G2r
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrll92HS1MD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAlPfHxAd5
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJW4F8SeCz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EqgvQ38Hm
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcuT4zMgzh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fXIGgrd0y
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltSAUWZgBC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu7JToqzvi
I was in the greenhouse.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo0T5OMzfo
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbybh0cRz7t
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4zVizFyRj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxAiUU9GxJ
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH1iU8M14R
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh3lvwadTh
Thank God, they were okay.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dMFoj9FDp
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHouokoTUhl
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WQTKmO23y
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LOubelkly
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSinJw84bEj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT29FcWWH1B
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUIpVSDWXt
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzWBc5cTh5
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGihou2EFE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE2FEYlSNF
"This is... my coat?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPiB2J4uFb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPdjpuBtsn
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCDJFQi4RI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEDio43N8N
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA9TwXcVlM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhldU8lvk3
I love you. I really do. Thank you.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDF8Sh8S9t
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv4T3HBGZ6
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsFk7faNJh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VqR6QUm6z
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuPW86EoLY
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ00coLOhZp
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgJkofG7aA
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbOOIhz2o9
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJztuii0Dx3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO53m9WCDlI
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih50lBFNqi
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlF5F8hbWU
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxhAPaarng
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GYtH9HBer
"H-Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gaX3Yj2KR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuiOutSUjd
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiLops5Wzq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0mRjIutD9
"T-That's terrible!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGmpwALuXX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ttv9tEqPS
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0owxX9I6jV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOobPsuAQl
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2jzA7h9pN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNAZghHzLv
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoBqUu0ohb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn5Y2x1Kl2
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSGumIDTuc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qOrf2N6xQ
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNlDH70Y2Q
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2r9D1fz5S
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaNsKaLZYz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U8cIbZhdi
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQetAmZe7eP
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAk1XhWopM
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5IMbgWH2U
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbMwgvoyul
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmGSvtCewR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcp7pXUgl3
"...Ah!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2EKhRf1oo
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BVfirLUEl
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L2Jez4qOO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqc8soUWae
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD2O2I960o
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH5iMsVYdk
"...Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatBn7g2uMC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA6pZja41B
She meekly turned her head to me.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleAaQqKjsi
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEXAym9ApY
"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSEaXiaUg0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFfv67anCK
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq82n0Og4dz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1u0COkRhW
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoRCwH5c2f
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt3mzUWlCk
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jWGUOZrGv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdcib0bpNs
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw27gQ6FkMw
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhR64bxsQV
"Okay, let's go then!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIcEtKgVvm
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7okC6iIh2
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFVKgliW2P
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsK0bzfL8x
"W-Where are we going to go first?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgI2UOmoe7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYza0OVeC2
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMDXVNKZSv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPSvCczjfU
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYTH2vRGTC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEif7g6GZpM
Yeah, let's.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalj1Lxcih9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9nbiukjhG
–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw70oBJJUel
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBHP65sdw4
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecnaOs7Q7e
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrNdyJW01W
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cJhQ6UIEX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QwYyEzuEG
"This is the combatant's guild!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeNuZlecVn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtOwi46nvT
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm44qFNtl5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoqiAEXZXE
"This place needs a renovation."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWOPVOkDW0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9ZE3D8sMx
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dUbKl4hwj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s5iY9BJL5
I shook my head.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Wbc0NxuLd
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU3rKY537T
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqiNOvp9Aq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPe5L8TQnJ
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFLJ7gdpgG
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmDrNUq7pH
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSf7CDRafc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK3TewHJKP
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEOuiHlugw
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY6XlisiLv
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgjvtqgtRB
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUmoodpY26
"Do not even suggest it."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeaNS9Sk1G
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWw4cAkr5o
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmhzc1zabL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AawhD2uTf
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBETuCMd4f
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASwwhiTWeT
"...Well alright."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7kVIKMGll
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmf44mtcm0
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDYp0EXzJK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WZnIDuCpt
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s0xI4lV7L
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcphQwrpdu
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUFO3rupUn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoemqjNwA69
She pouted.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe37bgsH9Fc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBIbF55AvR
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMZe2jJEim
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BKEEZpMpX
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z1YDuMxv2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAhrHNzX8k
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDAWXyD5cd
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxLTc37d3l
"Huh? Flinty?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ89cl5hzE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG62U0ouCZ
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6gBhwcyaW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLjbAttHKs
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7dvKb8izQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bRy7jt41r
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg3ORgTDju
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWSnb8WbKC
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxETdODInCQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm1ICSkae4
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIYbKj2YY7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEdR1m9aS4
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU4XLu8adS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetD1n8UenZ
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlhh5AQZJ9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bxVhyphbA
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiRKQFMa7B
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f1oK2tA2R
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgpCxkkMWQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGfVddwe49
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0FDM58B0B
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhrz7ybbK4
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPO5em9c4e
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMFMoHGlLr
"Huh?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCChAHZoiqt
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty6KSqcwac
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlUeZetUjO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9QpF6GNJb
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHaC9L7tt3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D3WLc8zIG
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnjVjF5db9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60y5gMXyDg
"You're right. Wait–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto7nloZnv7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8OeV0CKtU
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LryqHoi0L
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfPllHdKiF
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvglWUzJPEL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j4g1o4uMy
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyljhy7sIV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeTR3yGMBG
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYuJjreiU3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RfIfP74Jn
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJixycr7OMx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCh9wAD1O4
"No. I'm here for another reason."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlXx9z1wJb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlXdcaEcXq
"And what may that be?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLVAdb0gc1
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWp6s55P1i
"None of your business."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1En9Lqtn5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATYo9a0EXu
"O-Okay..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm6R9pIXNF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGz3lnFhOc
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFWcqXi9T6
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbv2PK3Ox7
"She is super shady."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pr2sSdQTz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAUIHqFSEf
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9s5TL8EDz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp97D8mxRJG
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYGxqY5SbT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8jx9oW21H
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxQAP8FruV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAi3kY7P9E
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtCmac2J4f
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhXoHAfAyu
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ1c7qTd3U
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwvnyv7qRv
"T-Then let's get his attention!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqxUDkGhLF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1gPcXqFMi
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgrMSNV2l2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwBBD6UjDD
"Let me handle this."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOXQxUWDIV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD98RTnVa3D
"W-What, why?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXJ0ywNupP
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpV2CWZcRg
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGmYe8g5aO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKea42Hn8ee
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroeWf3SQdi
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux5X4x1PaC
"S-Sorry, Kenny."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCf9m9cImI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUNqrySoW0
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBWwzb2SsF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4taWNLWo3
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRQ9IJHeNW
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl97Oqzq71n
"Hey, you guys!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9QMJRQpNm
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnGHVDgZ8t
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOL56Nn7Yh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdlW2k5FYa
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM8zpE8m4p
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFBOLFS2y8
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4e3spoHWT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Jdn4ZS8M
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoPSxap9zz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDTMM069gO
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRT6fZu4QF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HgsMz87MK
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeWjn69KWy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6fHNEONAY
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnbloLxtbr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqOEKHghIx
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfTzp0KbAz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvoCvem6cA
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrpYqXnfSQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIzGtLLP8K
"Here's your bill, miss."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08UTdy6Ouf
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLwbcSyCnz
"...I..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIuw9m3lKK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LTK35STNq
She was having a difficult time speaking.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3hzCcORyY
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoH6LF707S
"I forgot to bring money."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCTdvgDkqT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagcMj8w2hZ
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu43ugdGFEO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZWRybMTQB
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk1IGzhMzz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9K85A1cCn
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2HTHElTNm
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiQNfv0FXo
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ffy5uSvIX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iaufiZESO
Ha. What a moron.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUUlHYsMcb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjOYWhWglm
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2esNVyrlRD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyskj3lJ57
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHcCE5v5ku
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxMrPZdwni
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma3nuBwxAx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJlFtxLCut
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WRXDMTPc8
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiUXcbfslZ
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kodf8qYjC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs19nbDETcv
"..."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIUZv00F6A
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc2wzSFtUF
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpHUNrvmZi
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8WFDpG2vH
"Hey, cloaked woman."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznA7l95y4p
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0alZTFUIm
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSp9VVybG7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4gMhJPnRj
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y8h5pDaP2
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3zleydtK0
"Yes, of course. Thank you."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IwAzgOoAu
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUSJaoncDf
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9EuS1vY8P
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOsuaTGhph
"Alright Flinty, let's go."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATQltAnvy9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lrzSYyh9O
"Yes!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqbrZSYVLc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY0VGLg3WR
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlLqyrMhuK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIU6d74MhV
"What?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWizf4MfCb4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzotudEjF3
"Kenny, you're awesome."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFMM8CAn4u
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTOFDedkIq
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceZSBt0px9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez4JGdGyan
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbrKkmYDhC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15lLffXxbu
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjdnbcSZzK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttUYA5tk1Y
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z39DC2afS
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi5P2dqKA1
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIkpo46ZCq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuhtnDNsCi
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBYNkVxueB
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF02uydtfz
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcVZXbgzBq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tiLK8e8rl
"...Is something wrong?"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gII12JIWD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgFpuCAJfc
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQV6o9FWG9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtguCHmmUOy
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKOsbNuD5q
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtAiAJmV9U
"R-Right."148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6SBAhXnSg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCybyYJPGlx
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
