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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4o5VXYVW6
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHYFzCyQq1
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlF577DbcL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdonFD9s15
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZEYBitpAk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pmz33Zwmn
"Dad!?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kg1iyqaIm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eEb2Q7ZdT
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGwJu3XISJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf4Rh2kdYi
"Flinty! There you are!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vPZ0ztXy6
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJbhIQDveo
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLAAlDbYSE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tHMAK9cOu
"And you must be Kenny?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmFN7zlawk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr5j2MJW0q
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdwxDQZQ3F
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczsjfr2uGQ
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMp32F7MTTh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZviwkrGRi2
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7bNE0DE4m
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT23dfky0U
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 here242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3kp0Gt7Hv
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhOznnZZ6h
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvEj2EJ8ie
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOPWQieME3
Dear Mister Chambers.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqyA1LyXSV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3TgVU89kd
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrV4MKhZPW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PFDUYwZ7r
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY378MiLaS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb4u4E4MSc
"...I don't remember promising anything."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx9T5mVnrN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2AxqloPAA
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPjzCg9Zam
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOEJdWgLMi
"I'll make sure to thank him later."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPecgX6Nam
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9yC6FKQDg
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmLXd6ap9P
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi6BaiMouq
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM0lCoK1SZ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMwB90yzIL
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNniVpjHwE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCVdmGt6ui
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT1NbS4bZD
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTecJCRV8Zc
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLdsHbR8GY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE1KvRXKQo
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUkEkfg3ht
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaXNtN6BJP
"Kenny!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw0WwwzLbC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKQ2xEN2Xi
"Ah, Flinty, hello."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF76AKLw916
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ608RzYPtdS
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQase72LYy
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUoDyuymZr
"Is that the plant you asked for?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAFpk0Jy6z
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCsdv2zMD6
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT9xPWn3B5
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95qKZuETsf
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKXdUdAsIx
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIPnH1Cz5d
"Hello, you two."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbIlRhHIV0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIWwGbjJAE
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKwAkhUMRq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88wzRdhU3K
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnPZmh0ASx
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCqgn7mwrV
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9OKrHGMg4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u5LqBtXrM
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTSLScs7ur
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWI8StrxIG
"Please don't drop it or something."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88BgNzsEgn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XdnMIdOq9
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePv1TweY6O
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn51memPhx
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpuBRhNwrN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfVdHMgW3q
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwtFVgYTUg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDOsZMyDIV
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNfFPiLITl
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHXAukyG19
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloLScV0MAZ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPHvduxmNX
"And you asked for... a flower?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBNjnhmjZj
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhWCTwoJYV
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmodT5MC9E
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSECdV3QJJ
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVP40xVKHY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahAq2H5gy5
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQa8zqmDGs
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4th1Ylgt2
"Arg! You...!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1BoeNCvIG
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJouj0sLP8
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLdb9n4ytJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUubeSAO08
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLefWYid8v
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbE2MqLga8
"Whatever."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjkamGPpjs
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ThzRA79x
We sat in silence for a minute.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ww81L26aK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxmwdgPvZn
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjXDbWKNsN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUsQK68Oo8
"Yes! Please tell me!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vqEDwbx9Q
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq9VEu412Y
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cuafeDkhp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIczdTkcRcJ
"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–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIoLJDGO4l
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNYbPmaBM0
"Wait, Eastern country?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rLkCq7L9b
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkZnxurhFJ
I faced the old man.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY5ZyPiXVD
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsQ3Y0UVlV
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiUrSb9HY0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDfeJ8oKpD
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag9Ut0gcTE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFym3TWQm0
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgbDGqEQHi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRZKSkUQlf
"...Buffalo village."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0X6UC9LMg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw96EvDylxI
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPCpiKcHds
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5SiBBsAi6
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1nZI6qBZO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WcaH0Vn9F
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CR9h11s9W
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YHFIy37Hk
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzARhrwpncE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yMqnUVZIA
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H8Tt03lyi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hUKDWCUOc
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZxLeP6sva
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnl5IVTkOx
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBtLc06U2v
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQhydU4xx1
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMJiBGJf7V
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwB9tqgeSG
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWMhMggw0c
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACgJ6SDc2k
I nodded along.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l9HvyKkDK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdvxnP1RLC
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwrJH8Kenf
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyFj3pFMUh
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTrG4QtH6u
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWEvxRinzw
"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!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq8lwLR9SF
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30sphKt0vt
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrghEtMYPj5
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5uudHODHY
She blinked blankly.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKC9caWKhl
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kPxYBA7r1
"Wait, is it?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLWN4aVrzv
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmJ9ewbf7c
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHVZySp0lc
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hcQEJhtWL
"No, maybe it is true."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35C2q3DI4L
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX2F8xdz9S
"O-Oh, okay."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwzv8tIx5T
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrlSQ1zu0L
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv65ZH9y6m
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeyRO8D9XT
"How was your guys' day?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2As2m6H64
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jgwFvyOij
"Mom, you should've been there!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnzHbwnQjU
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BvemOAxAL
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKzHlNokbF
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p9Kh9rIsN
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMnB2VCssh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedMCsiGGal
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAbhZuPwh3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiFI3J7w2J
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz4bVtQ1D3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3NkU7ve06
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmwX482MUG
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedc70FybX1
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUobhM3KP4g
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMJqQvV07p
"O-Okay."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyjjBv1A4S
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlSoPO1R6a
"Hold on chum, you come back here."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup2KotKoZS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yDs6fc9G5
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7GpKpB3e2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZC3T9wSTe
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UQnFpFkgu
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuzCOPmcyR
He sat me right back down in my chair.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqUjzYDLjK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiodx84OBiL
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjtSw7qBrL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANZdl9GX1u
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOp0LCVtRQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOG1kkyIy5
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCWyYW0O3e
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ko2b2I1yT
Nobody even heard my "laugh."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoF4QMoxnf
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTKqQjvw8O
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhNlmhAaWp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp26Vg0Bnt4
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zff5M8ueK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YMk9zEFCE
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfxzuEZaF2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWxhkd2zyJ
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNqq0LqQZb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C9iWpXJUM
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw2AUPXkoL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SBosWcKKU
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUY35imeSq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8aLlrppeE
"TALBOT!?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAI5j4F6nW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMtNwJ3zPO
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAZmu5dXmS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OBZ3Ha8V4
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKAil9s520
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CDPJw077G
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm74p66PZsi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1jp2RJFCh
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66uDEuU3SL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D6XkhD1ZA
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY7lkT2dVj
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzBt0JgMvA
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliq58Qj4CN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8zKL1souX
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtogMqf3VP5
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoBCTN3HD7
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgbTPnWQn9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aG9itaBoc
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN2Ir08WmV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUCVNbzvBe
"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusq3mOMQBV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJbbEz8N7E
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT05SvK1sg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDdsPb8IkL
"Yep... sorry, Chum."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI4gxLE6QI
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DvfZbgsV2
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mWjD13q1O
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRTN7eERBR
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYr3wUqbv
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrkt8B9wBR
"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcZmVxVdpb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4rSTkHkuG
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Gj5pzJhr
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltCb6gmGuU
Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHaCNngFN1
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGPllH4biK
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgz2b9HXgr
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqSVp1aJ4m
"Flinty."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IQ30XIoSH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvlMarAgPg
"Y-Yeah?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrLY1SGsde
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzJiqW5b45
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuAepfwauh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTE0rnJbEj
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyIG3Ezq3s
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboXbQGP8Cu
"Okay! Let's do it!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3yjAVIXUq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAipBtf4J0F
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIfTc8N8gP
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAWrFfDjbK
"...My tome is in the other room."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE8aC3Z1UT
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFcnM2vHjA
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKLuqSkplQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaEQGj9dX8
–
–
–242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX6KvVYUMp
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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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxJIvIO0Mi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz34sKFkmp
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Taun2tHeO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLorpCpvqP
"Ah, mornin' Chum."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLluU3iINls
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDePiOjTC9
"Good morning."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3TE7wnmyn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ0nm0ECqI
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL51c30Q07
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi2tzII3gA
"I woke up early."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVezqT4lFQy
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeczwjVDkQv
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeenfFbGMJC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0jZRIsXAa
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmNMOXLVRa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuk8jKw2XN
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2z3ANjZbJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhKTWsdnSI
"Right."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcO2x2BLvB
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBToJemN48z
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUYLutowq0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaVnKD7br8
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLvraAmw4q
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMnYFF3zb5
"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J0aoohcDF
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxHkHVBeRh
"I sure did, honey."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GAkQRirY9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS1xG1RUcv
"Oh."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ4Dz2dk7I
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGPuduzPoM
Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDYD9Ivs43
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeICjew4Gw
"Is something wrong?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z50Boeshn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyFQhxrw8E
"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN4jNx7Ole
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJV4eZGdNP
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFxbbvecat
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOViaw3aJj
Strange. Strange people.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQHfrfumj9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXEbAGIsQE
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKCmdMN1jo
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPK4Qd8Bbg
"...I uh."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WRCDjpyTP
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44HgRvBsyx
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUkbpdyuwe
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCphI7pt9QG
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUM5I2NQSI
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11CW6BJK9i
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEhcrVcxY8
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNuucKADXJ
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEtOsBKa5y
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR2F4piBvt
"Water under the bridge?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xywbvPHSD
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCEUHg7byX
"Mhm."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmztFeje33J
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYAqWUTIEq
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hwNUg7wpw
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2dVpRIpTe
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TDwa3Se7h
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTzw6uuRAy
They were really good.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlxCCNJrSQ
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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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKVvem74d2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmX26gHSCF
"That's a nice outfit"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGP51vqFFA
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDS4NXFkCK
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbnPGSh8x5
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9DKMYE0mh
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeFeYUORtQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NVXl52QfB
"You know this town very well, Flinty."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIWsqpN5Ry
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZGwOk8dGs
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1aKnJWVc7
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh9PWq46HL
"Ah, my apologies."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBuDZR4fpl
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JJIqG6CJk
"No no, I like being around you too."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4T9SQR89c
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSATosIISiZ
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhLwuUsnkU
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTOuwLQI3Q
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZD1JjO1NS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb842Sey7Fd
"R-Right."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2w286PElm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SHvJHbYpN
She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL2FDphezw
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNQl5jZpY3
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvuDyS1uED
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoZyshj4VF
"Hello, Freed!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTtHZrs1f0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu37M0bErG
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI922KIhtJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0N6txePqo
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hieHCtSDz
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7oe6Khddh
"So what business do you kids have today?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB73mZLvdV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KelP8S6Cd
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFyHInnez9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02F1w0Q4Ec
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJrGt7shfd
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpUZ3k0uv5
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhUngttRYL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5uaW9pa3s
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon3Y2xpRHI
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTkI4ds16e
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGKWbXt4wC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPQ5d09SwP
"I see."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQflWsLiN23
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQxWKSKLik
The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIkmaYQAX2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyF4zpmIPr
"I refuse."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAejcKyjLr
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg4VRO4s0u
"Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS0aMVIxpK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrArPbwiw
"WHAT!?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwYoqAaRTm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwcAbOjPd8
Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ra9hXpPRj
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeT9lP0uzR
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiyR2wGVYh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzBBewLfJH
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8JMNFaMua
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElbMo7MNde
"...No?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSePwvLVvrM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIijuR7kFl
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFiEWuerZp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMupQeZ7ws
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2jVEgLJO9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM1hVPzTQD
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxPswGNHea
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp3snuRzRU
"Hold on, follow me, you two."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFskvDIbFm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M4XjZ2TN8
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf4d59cfkr
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY0LGraaNQ
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN1Zv0rkKm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXQ9lbquOK
"Down here."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72cMxWwJ49
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczTTyZ0EGo
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3qWDP9DQO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX24CUEll5
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p6kOfT5VS
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KNv8xu9x3
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIIQLrlQND
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn3M9vHHHv
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0kdDaiAmR
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWImhDNohU
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcnG8Aiv3p
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHfv1zCS5C
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5gFozEDop
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4i56rhDVN
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eF6YEfLMd
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTwmRlpdN2
I shrugged.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpPp2Wv2mm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ74mHmn0dL
"Well alright, go ahead and try."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZPXV7VuGd
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCqU3YZ37q
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTwYXH5M8t
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JzLj2VI0w
"Am I doing it right?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvJpxMAkr2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG00kbW5Lzy
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7ZPU5kBt9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3HKWWKjjj
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ736qoInMzd
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sLVaMRX5o
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9dVJ2dDcD
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvbGBL5NjO
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdSDoh4J8o
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUomvERdZG4
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZncncBYzh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0Ab4YkZCX
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4Jf6woRHo
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9X9OHgTEF
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBlBdrhEFQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdBAmIRTN9
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWVdm90djw
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YXsyABc5E
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGhxesDSmu
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKY6oTXvSM
"O-Okay."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCx1B5YQOX
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFqSCfIbyV
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrmaIGWds0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Y2cYeVuk
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyf86PgDWP
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AAb49dXCM
"W-Wait, how do I–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaCG0jClBQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBkj9r6WNn
"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?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDSucM8cex
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh1g2Wl4rA
"But what if I can't let it out?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjs2vrHeMO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEfcoJS0pI
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykbLgli8Nt
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKGV2d7zx9
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GJeHiohKI
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR9RWnaD77
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAXRB4HJT1
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLXSJSq38a
"Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ794YSfrVEp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMD06NXii4
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7BfJlULZL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXUBGR1MIg
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIezHvWNhO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPckfGJSc9
I messed up, getting all excited.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdNDPQSsVb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlxPCKUyQ2
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f85xtkvP1
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwGffHjZuX
I couldn't do it in time.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9UxPOZeJO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcx0Iacb4m
**BOOM**242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSm4CjADNC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfmJJMheSQ
The world around me faded.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwuh8IUMOv
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciWlvDuGqF
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtLHBuW8ag
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzFBrvCT8b
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?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisKQ6a53aO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cn2U4Bnka
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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtomtpqsl7
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17MNft5fek
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjr7bW9PG3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U89GvIpGA
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bGc96LMNX
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtrhFa8gzN
I was in the greenhouse.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2xx24uMZa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbeffHrI3z
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfMLzl79gn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwApiChCPJ
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtVSr3Ytm4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7QHkjOBR9
Thank God, they were okay.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdOYqZFxTO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNIBD3rGrS
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVK07yDiA2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fqhzbm0rc
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV3rE1qglT
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVSqGFSsCn
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWItNQJgTY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPKOjSoY9c
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLKriQlGED
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry0poLdbG6
"This is... my coat?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x3QE0s2TT
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtObUq52X7z
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01hQ3zBivW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjzALGh5Yg
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrgrLQg5b9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMCOfi3aJs
I love you. I really do. Thank you.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r9WmKSkog
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSXzEBugBy
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl27QYf01N
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xrQaPtGaf
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsctm1mDcv
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3KggLrbgF
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMDrUXqdfi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkTId0kwks
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4652RPrjW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcco7b6O8jE
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKNtezG3Qz
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIznTNA8uV
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxOg6d0OvW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUXaSrGe9U
"H-Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VS54ttpar
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo18qjxSIBT
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1izypMAptz
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UjoYPayg8
"T-That's terrible!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRRQdu6rr0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh9W4nEOUO
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKshQFkxaLb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4CNupATHA
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sEBtvIWLH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdydcdv0Sq
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".242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXHcyRZ2Tx
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibXNAZB91z
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOdU2qaTuO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJytbPBUNu
–
–
–
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmhxblqAaa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGkRBo4CHO
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSh37LjkuI
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qGcijsmMG
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueA7wFxMaG
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI4TU1jX4n
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjk84vjGYk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD17bh3Ck6j
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?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tG2GOM6G9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UbFDENUa2
"...Ah!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4USX47cxLe
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJooWzqgcq
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgR9xOzJsk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MjickRCz6
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwkFbeyfeu
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUFPY6nld9
"...Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX2tHJ5Zq1
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucHYn7tp4L
She meekly turned her head to me.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPLNefqKbu
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKFg98nzgl
"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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgp3NJFBI3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqDP9egzbO
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOuwFeDVJn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJKjFDNOHn
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VXIjGv2vo
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhyIyHfARa
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFkviMyD2B
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHExaIzpTu8
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUbPzFQ0y4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshl6nHwkJY
"Okay, let's go then!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJIjFhhQsU
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdygwZArMT
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJrxLvdlAH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP4BSWNjgX
"W-Where are we going to go first?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCiEOCRsu9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiWkddrKAv
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ajPKRGW9n
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXZlHrp2sT
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjDcfXczWY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE8j0ayTOc
Yeah, let's.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwq4tCyTAq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACmgQYGq9p
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU592U3XPH
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7aRGS8Izd
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrYWFYTbA0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9zVO8cBEe
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrqeajwIt4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9DPYPnjHU
"This is the combatant's guild!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFZdS4qbrY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVtroF4mnz
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lrrsaNoS5
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TGXn5L75L
"This place needs a renovation."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvz9Yas9JE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBaNmwxuZS
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wq0LJ6dFR
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm3d6lPM0K
I shook my head.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSFKTcaMfW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYnYZM7Lcx
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvZkr0umdE
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiNKDVpLqE
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrqNLp8t17
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmLK0ZdIGJ
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x19Wvpw2W
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcAup4vHgG
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87BLTxoWzb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DUBd0p0JD
"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–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqGNVYZ6F8
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL5IvAuDNf
"Do not even suggest it."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjiriOFdRC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcOiKhvnIz
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIhC845trA
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzITfNhrux7
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDuNmVBJY0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAhGmH89mG
"...Well alright."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxgRvwAJfV
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdGZkwpeCD
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsP4zVL3Gg
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshgUdUbBpA
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbS4dG8rss
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpcS8Vkzvh
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOPt279S5H
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVQy6003uZ
She pouted.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjIb9oxYDh
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVFNhqCmyr
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd0Qz8zooA
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhRf1R5L51
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKurvSsnnT
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2iWqIjQrr
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVJg6ecoMQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu08YVFBYSR
"Huh? Flinty?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xXzdjbQwN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSTi5UCsRD
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUWu8y494k
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgetHRHYqqi
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbcMFnHSN2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR7XqJZEOZ
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jwZ1sDThp
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1pzbQWMPQ
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw8sCJvq4k
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhwThiLmfp
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cKPdbKBTm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSw4DrAAmY
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w2vUlU4WZ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCuYA31MAx
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTrf5wbMLC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tORmTCQ6t
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyRgGEYo9c
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwoKuRQST9
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!242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyaOsPpk2U
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B0h10T8AT
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xewktstYK
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WeXWJ1tzu
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxddYvH0Z8e
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZix7EzwJHd
"Huh?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2Q5fUjWIT
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXM0eb9dez
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94JemyMSHP
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jrf7E2sCg
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z8wXSCATF
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aCbJ0I3Bv
"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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzauBkY2On8
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPzDlAqC6n
"You're right. Wait–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrWTD42DJ8
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0hnfK7nvL
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGo5t1hypa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn8F9CDI3l
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9OwmZC5CY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hxmYvhcN8
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81g67Z8GcJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvqPz7HhEX
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpmGoPzsIj
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsX9Ut7Jjq
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC2FMnqKCb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJAaMoAYlR
"No. I'm here for another reason."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13Ndq2SFQ1
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojGOtcsfP5
"And what may that be?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9JF9F4NW9
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe3LJECx6U
"None of your business."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv0aBy6ExY
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9m9lbaOZ5
"O-Okay..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRmrWWdK4p
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQQoOXaTeG
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJIVJm1h2U
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9sE0uAcHB
"She is super shady."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP83yvf52d
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0FwL1ezdP
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l2fNCre8T
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTnQqB72ek
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC0MKlSX8G
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYnn7NBLyv
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqwGRM3tLm
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssz9jLYtjP
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGkMMSVNj2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDuJHTY9uf
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu25isgGnQ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkCEsRnM83
"T-Then let's get his attention!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxic9SRJqL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4OmaTOZHK
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BDFxeQ2Ea
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C3bsT692h
"Let me handle this."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoUfqNHcC2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡela6yyabvy
"W-What, why?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf8931irux
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihLcUTVN6J
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxH247mFir
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFb3cPE6cn
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaLzVg8xfO
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrlvthQAuK
"S-Sorry, Kenny."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3tPLJhWDL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FRdXZyPX9
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5BabC0KK4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6Xa03Bhmn
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXdDAJejM0
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqmM5RbhG9
"Hey, you guys!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkUN29OACM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETBsQJ4oTN
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXqQk0Y6Rq
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbRCMiXY4m
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxkRfNnhzW
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql826vHmvE
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnRvv5Gibb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8bwyspqkH
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDaqnXOtJe
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrWlwZyc37
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LMbP9okXN
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem0P5Iu4SY
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq7AXXiMQ2
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAY8r4zMFq
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK4899WVij
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3XURS2Mvr
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYFt7dn6CB
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTWZcYp5NN
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBImaqOo21
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl9D3V2LxA
"Here's your bill, miss."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0CZ80Xu4B
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bzyLVniwA
"...I..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQCqUp2R8e
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZoROt9uOl
She was having a difficult time speaking.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw1rnBWO3K
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHgAFiAraE
"I forgot to bring money."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxsUPGZun3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKClUgebUis
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3REZDedCa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNPWRIpVjz
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfJ2fadFjd
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts0RCGVfec
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2o1mtqObM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAkUiPrB1c
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Uj2p32Ju
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkH9FoJelY
Ha. What a moron.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqonRW9UXC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJbnfhh1wj
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZIrXw18Og
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2l5zfdNtH
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGx7LbwqPs
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5q3HDnqMa
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz11JTUwIcn
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OgAZQECRd
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkeurvDqKL
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91eJYcXVrq
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."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXAhLEgqIs
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgiCWDwoRC
"..."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Eh4T8iYAJ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTpgtJzElt
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFxjKiitEb
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQUmdPeIU9
"Hey, cloaked woman."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbODywQJP6B
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu4VNme7k2
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF5Nl1nWGZ
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN0zcf1hVl
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnMLg2SOr8
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrRfgSzp3O
"Yes, of course. Thank you."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg6NTbFvgu
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZtnCEu41O
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznF3xUGG8o
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrrPp9Jv0J
"Alright Flinty, let's go."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1JHuLaYJB
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4YjPOwqWF
"Yes!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2pdh9i0av
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUjjy3qFKf
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5Uv3UEq0M
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2miBf6k98
"What?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwpsvAOzxe
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0nV6urOTN
"Kenny, you're awesome."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Giaky172l
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp1fUaAIiU
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l4msVI0Xk
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQOSWnIQZ7
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NYS84MCFC
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfjpafswYe
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K7klSbmLM
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmjuwx3IEA
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqpWpFiF22
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuIGxoL9vY
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPXOEg0thc
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyGTWqd1EL
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.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Bxjkvd4Oa
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFYwPGnZQJ
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P1rVg8hIi
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IgUSQNK0P
"...Is something wrong?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJSf4oUqHX
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6N4viUMhm
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx74qC7fLwP
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbB0Bc2zaP
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOEJEa3hH4
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdz4Us56cw
"R-Right."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHetteVVI3
242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIvTpJRlCi
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
