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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lQo432Nkm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTzKkQ4SFR
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8vpT1U8Eg
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvwHyKK0u7
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxECRu9g09
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHtqOyc9OP
"Dad!?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAYaUIkFhe
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPUZRMktD5
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkfqxiZTYS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90rAdOewTm
"Flinty! There you are!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqTBaT4fxQ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVFPLV7lJe
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcZ5qKcxoJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNEtJACEPe
"And you must be Kenny?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvGmKE5tFN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAIeXw5jtj
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfRWoGTWZt
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwWmZzTJfg
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57spGfVRyN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe1j90VbId
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k7jbms4Dw
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGWVtGiwaC
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 here196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP9CVfz5yY
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilQKRInGCU
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziuFHZeTXl
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm41jnCFz32
Dear Mister Chambers.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Whz6jj0D
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY4h9ltF24
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nkuEYl3xh
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kYfa8UxJq
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsYcj76juo
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrZ2QXWm1J
"...I don't remember promising anything."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9u8bD8vWX
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvzWKpIJix
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdHsMxTLoM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm8Ai07lWN
"I'll make sure to thank him later."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzfFIWW6r6
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5wYWJCsCN
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEZ7WCfFtl
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX1XUPGwDo
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboXcFs16cN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sGyly1JXe
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZTgqEvx7l
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4gzYuFK8c
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAg3lYyjwp
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzMy2nOs4y
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2cExiUtrP
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6AQggxgyv
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGoPDdf6VQ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6xP6qtDaF
"Kenny!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbbG1G6cs3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIaIV7yIBB
"Ah, Flinty, hello."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBH6Pr3QUT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkZ24IFGWV
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkil1bpHGo
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV2ssIH6Kg
"Is that the plant you asked for?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubYiLSIoPC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SgZDWh1BH
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2D4ex5m8v
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtHI6xiids
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MepIGPEsK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZSqw2LpdI
"Hello, you two."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoxybTIimK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3s2Rgn7oQ
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57fre8lm4F
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOn4NHD0lM
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SmggOdZuy
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrlqqTpvyR
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF9W3dml9y
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7cr0LMnBd
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfPUmFB3TC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIPWFjkWN8
"Please don't drop it or something."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡComakaHYOJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumK7DBjZzt
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw6rNj1Wbi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm615HupDyJ
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHEfXum46m
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK69qbPkIt
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zqvHYNJPJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRTE8P6Fsq
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0rMRaZYcZ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXj5WB3Jve
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rrbAt5ABk
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUKcbuUK8X
"And you asked for... a flower?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30heLAU0R2
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyIR5JNoCW
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZNJprcX57
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCko5TjKhX
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC1ebi2uBS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsM1tNLyP2
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PEheURkiw
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR52L6akyt
"Arg! You...!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsuTU73F9k
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS5FSauk7v
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvtk77Yqn0
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOspbiKH3J
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDAQ5QYB1E
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfWrYchR9Z
"Whatever."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvsqwP3RnI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBW7dQMKdG
We sat in silence for a minute.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaXYac0UUA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6msajdb11Y
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ9d9aLLEV
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR8zvuraSi
"Yes! Please tell me!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtLlQO6oFc
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXjiXVczCm
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92sHqqPzKm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIuLkOwCRb
"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–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvjqy9DVlC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLcjFq1w8S
"Wait, Eastern country?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDBTDhxaWX
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad9l0Kyajt
I faced the old man.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmssWMiMBut
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gc9Ujgai7
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr16UaAZMs
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOp1iLEqfq
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtkVDuIvt2
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpxLHEnKsE
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fmhAsYLqB
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJDEH4VqDN
"...Buffalo village."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFgQMNluum
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP1fg9xbfm
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ri9F7MmT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZwI522q1i
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6TRxkaeAG
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEimkDMYkd
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaQqTE0oZY
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR4jIsg5ly
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnE1crvDjV
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uI4u45ZXO
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvtlGjS5Df
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExlYxM64w9
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPwdyncm1S
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs8CZ60NlY
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHE4DIOVqx
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbvjn2r7fY
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudNNP6PnRK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLTye3n4le
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdNub17geL
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzoag0lNge
I nodded along.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEW9M4Dq9g
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ZvVUTYkY
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkOqoy2sEr
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT95D8Umn5V
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiCKc9On6u
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqVLUp8YOm
"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!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1uetKhU01
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6tDUOSnSr
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hHCBIN91I
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT98REcmXpm
She blinked blankly.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwueHcYlZC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ5sCHuofb
"Wait, is it?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfwPmIlzaF
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOt3xEkJqh
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMbKnjl37K
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPc85DGafK
"No, maybe it is true."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadXaVgCTlO
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZluWJvegWp
"O-Oh, okay."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPURzQmVoX
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrdwJMZ5iq
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR51IQ4XiB
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7kqxj7TS4
"How was your guys' day?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8ZAjrxaQt
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlDSqzkE0J
"Mom, you should've been there!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmnVGe5GZI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0pnsJw89x
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTMbclsSr6
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZgv7DCYyQ
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKfirj2pAa
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUxclZraA7
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuonJ0u8Dv
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFmyE3FDib
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GHNk9NWlU
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajImZkaQ7O
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCPx9dDM2E
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM2lo1nmqj
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WWSVH6crA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvd4Fm5Ukq
"O-Okay."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM6WaWkgjK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UiTu9FC97
"Hold on chum, you come back here."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fYYd5lxTh
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2Dhzhijyo
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNXxBsp6MW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp08uhyegxc
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJlWRT1LOG
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06l4hFZycv
He sat me right back down in my chair.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MBOHCLFWH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR7WAyW0X2
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfs24CAIZT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IvEiZ4UfP
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhfc6bcUso
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYxe0WlduR
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq80eBFLas
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBx7IxfVTf
Nobody even heard my "laugh."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GUvT5sGY0
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIqXzbAR3m
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC89zbYd1l
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCC3KOKUha
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K9rdwmmIN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1uAthcdNB
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6QUc88IzI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD1iGy468T
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQT9RAqwc0
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HjtXmG2rB
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdXPpiAooJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bWs0tG98L
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKYQIB28fN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP31fIFlUrV
"TALBOT!?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITfAjSZQ9s
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkO7mVDiqn
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqdibRveUC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3GZEAePbC
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOZXMS6Des
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttyFSJa0S5
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4DDkoexjz
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgSEY3PwFN
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OdvQy1vJi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfD5mdTCZG
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDquvS0z9R
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuuOZy6Uwy
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRrItT59S3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAugoKIBOt
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdAS6RsDEx
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHpCifoTa8
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvzTOmRyUS
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZqQH7UjoM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQi2cgTVkB
"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPrmF3nlEr
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVoIOlz4eo
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5GSxBV67W
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkZK3ZWDo9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOotJXGnyHL
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OF1dyjevl
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ673Y6O3esy
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIG94hEsuc
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4jrcd8aAq
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt3o17OmDP
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYvzA5FIbo
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUuEia6WcH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe84azgDB9
"Flinty."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0guyzBvnDL
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOpFbf74rl
"Y-Yeah?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7HaA4L3Ym
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOONI0QMLg
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mzs58n8i2
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetZv6Vy1cu
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"Okay! Let's do it!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6xMP3FC3B
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcm2e947gq
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTC6mQyYE9
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"...My tome is in the other room."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab1BNiSPCE
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdYgQU0lg9
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjzCrb5xHC
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–
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–196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScLgyHFKGp
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZREtxItWT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTvCbU1pRP
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aTLM01G7w
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1gHb70QtS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTI0j5T7my
"Good morning."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnscFJxnis
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XuyUvpM0H
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmkj3zOfga
"I woke up early."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvvLciH7Ps
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKVP2n4nKC
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQFGTprw0D
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjPlXzO6rY
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUoCc2ePKL
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr1ZDIYlLv
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq9jimLxDh
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYmk8cklCE
"Right."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5L9niH27F
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xSHJwDy0o
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRlpdpBS95
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIPmuOWNHw
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2EKT3FEyv
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1VtIi2PwR
"I sure did, honey."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4ockRZfh1
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"Oh."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvuwxQRgTo
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwsWzYamAX
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"Is something wrong?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsqFZAAH57
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXMj9T6tBH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXakMaF8U3D
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EqGfwdlZY
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Strange. Strange people.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOC0ybpJ0p
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP4kCmFGzG
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"...I uh."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokxNHuEsDX
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtalem42BeI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcE0zguAos
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbVsEyYsn5
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ38fzOR1Xn
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1ACM1kNYm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONkjNkkK2E
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aaeLmzb4h
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmddp2RRegj
"Water under the bridge?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18ZKDRfQZz
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"Mhm."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBOW5kjHcj
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcUCPDv5Z3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktRzwdi34z
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYdiTWU6af
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They were really good.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEp18fDd8q
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBsEEn4NrZ
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"That's a nice outfit"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRjjzH09YF
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0HYnaUmwf
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtXeLkGvhn
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawfAS32IUe
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQglCusbGx9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbBzHnMbQh
"You know this town very well, Flinty."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIU7ziIRQA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk3LF1GyBg
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRQGuG6bhK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwwzo0SAWm
"Ah, my apologies."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkGqxaQLxk
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBkfxc2Zwu
"No no, I like being around you too."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpntFoEBU4U
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfWzYssrWm
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphKi6Azr6Z
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZhHIZKEMT
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJbHXZ1ket
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"R-Right."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDBHnD1gtQ
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5UCLVj86D
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZIzUbkr12
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmptHmDCcR9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsL34rxUyg
"Hello, Freed!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5MIAhonj3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6pzWWLFpy
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZrmKugVt8
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP941CyLhwq
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiyGrv23tu
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnvlDxn9ez
"So what business do you kids have today?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg3ZBZxl62
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9OklQ5haR
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7WoCvfYuU
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwJjaKzaFw
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡschHZxIJbi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sf6AxKM7q
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYizrrtFwW6
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYgFhPWVew
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdBzIgWUWL
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeQgjtDmQX
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"I see."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEah9aQazBw
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEELgy0ZzI
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"I refuse."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezHEamCwUR
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"Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W7pDNGB1Q
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"WHAT!?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOg7jdynXw
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4piESmwX6k
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQBuc7xIBU
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBFPOtOWNc
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqbCwB4Ja5
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sBo8E01qJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbvJOU0mES
"...No?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yMT2TkXWm
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRagIet6X7g
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uaS68b9lh
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vvxylq09i
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB2nUMWVLI
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstugbIcWOy
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoru3wRddPo
"Hold on, follow me, you two."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJLLXwuOO2
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWtNl4U7X0
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyfr7fYBtT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBwIrQfb4K
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4unqnVjdMO
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"Down here."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bilu0WC26
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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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGFiDtiEwZ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp0Y2Nq92K
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkedv6JbvtJ
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA3GEIAwzC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjEmOFrozu
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLxN7jVE7B
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP1SCeNDzd
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4efyQ7BVjp
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNx40mXmbs
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7JxkjNtfy
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZlcgSnsr2
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4VSeffQ0x
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIyl9zx4ZM
I shrugged.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv987YRvCS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJgYLy61eL
"Well alright, go ahead and try."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TLqo9Cs2O
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB78zISikj
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGUPx5xrRW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH94SXY1K1
"Am I doing it right?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs6YKMxpRS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu2Cw7Zogs
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXumo7cBBi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbmKrg0OCW
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uEp2LIrJJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwPehUyZe9
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IVgANaTpl
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfKVHr7JcZ
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnOH5oDuEM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKR2plnxyS
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GxjWw8o9a
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L9T8s71Jz
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFgy9U8vqR
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFpSt5leFO
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp9tWyDqRI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr278Jv0dT
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS5P2XjCZH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3tpRM457E
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm5pSOaQue
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfSMqpiFU2
"O-Okay."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvNHQ1jxF4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98sNuPKxg0
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn09vS2WxF
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqwQ4M67fg
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4NDDZaReW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgluVKQhE9n
"W-Wait, how do I–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMPx9flcJs
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQXDq5ycP8
"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?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjaHl3iUv7
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yKMGGyGyF
"But what if I can't let it out?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvaeav1Ke6
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu7RVtwv8v
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCzT316qHP
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMPldUXSnY
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0lNkcpwsn
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OnmKydUNh
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfsmP0xh7f
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzR3o46odM
"Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSC56Cnwp8
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZxTY7xSaf
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaydKhvJrgh
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PdopfkUMn
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcizXfm2Kz
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNT4JrlUvs
I messed up, getting all excited.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe2GtPaPex
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPe1J56i5P
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTcPSdlGLk
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukGos1YQIo
I couldn't do it in time.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0A5584OHk
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJejGO5584l
**BOOM**196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywKBpbKe3D
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rZIRCU2mk
The world around me faded.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKranniKiU4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOYlg3YymV
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8jSkr8UNI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKCRHA47pW
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?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX1kex3peA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TvMM9M1qx
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AUfGliFkp
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4peseo5ia
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeAaRqlsUJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA7VAIdJMc
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dm85hgSOV
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TV7drQci0
I was in the greenhouse.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosWMHQm8dj
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf9Vi7Yndn
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaxGrZPn8u
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoS4EMKtPM
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW6uwqTedH
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sAvk64Veo
Thank God, they were okay.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MwpzTi8xb
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciTdCahLR4
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe57fG7j0T
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmTpMgxma0
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YPw40aJ68
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ISoHELULd
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vHqjFE1qM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP2wo7y21O
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqpcRyx3W5
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkssM8aE1ol
"This is... my coat?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd25HTEeJV
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBTBjeA41n
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGHEIVDrtp
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilQL4xIj0L
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNcmqZp1R6
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstf9UuuzQY
I love you. I really do. Thank you.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIPrvcPpXA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4tGtN61wn
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjEN88G9Lq
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8gNF5xd5Q
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnBspAHyfS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPTy5fa4Hy
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5zU8kHeGA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnVF2RM8P8
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxHwWrxdiR
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFahXi5j73
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nWR7zztDz
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb91O6RGZoM
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCA6HC7hn1
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHZmsTtTcI
"H-Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVca5Js8X7
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyfUPikNA5
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHABYE85C7H
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnRTtSYfDM
"T-That's terrible!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBZ5iVWSgC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4q7Ehv5EK
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49PMr4UoIo
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVfJG1GJSj
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6amb3kmQT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KCGgs1xYE
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".196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6CKiT1O6W
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbDhLgI6qH
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTOkwEWXIf
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyimnbMtR7
–
–
–
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4IO01duiB
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptFrvGUsfS
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7yxGG7rcL
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmv7hxWCfd
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuoOQREjT4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6UDBjnctH
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrGVxuOLrQ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUrGIyNX4k
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?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFyYpzbJtR
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqunm59LdX
"...Ah!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDGyJXh2c9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0GUyv8ow8
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6klM5JQMt
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb7iaZt8sn
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJosSAkP7Ss
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PC5J3xawj
"...Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3J74b5nYA
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCsJMdMqP6
She meekly turned her head to me.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs60F75pAQ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHJhhLof1h
"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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86GueQkbkt
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZZOUKgkVb
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnsp2adBNT
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCzJnjdt4V
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAz8qjkH0S
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OtMGeLWYv
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fKWyFi1DS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoJV9ZybNK
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRb1gQKh1U
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRp9frXP5I
"Okay, let's go then!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnAGJSAimc
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGtMKIqaue
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyESgUB9u0
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6RKaIWocd
"W-Where are we going to go first?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdBIp1dj9l
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cRNN5z6bs
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyjprQC00d
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkygdW4QfjQ
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBG0tV4KPy
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck5BcvyOCR
Yeah, let's.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJjGCH9HRJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ3Eoj4YeY
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStTalCz9na
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8azndjDgRZ
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XY3raWnyb
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lAhnoxhQh
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nL171PkRs
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrP2Hctrb1
"This is the combatant's guild!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY152DNI058
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L0Zl27AKM
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKgPHMlHU4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDHDQxtYDD
"This place needs a renovation."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bW24di7td
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzca7wulBW
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSLR1Wgm07
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa2uRz0XJx
I shook my head.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuMrM5cnBK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTplSULopr
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbYiLSkm8Q
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmgppc2sZY
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpozMUre92V
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eZY8SaXuE
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbkh4gcpak
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB5iymriSQ
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZGc5X8uK6
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71n8blSStx
"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–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvkpnTiJMg
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNjhxjI89z
"Do not even suggest it."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMzbaFKrz8
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gR9kQBvY0
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fMWpDBs7q
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMuUdEdXhq
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9is6gXyt3t
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbFGZiDaDF
"...Well alright."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6X1BTfU9I
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhq5LUDgmW
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO7hhpCBrF
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRdGOnRGRh
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzy4fiCR3U
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B7EExAGI2
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDICO9CqZvn
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvLGwcVu1v
She pouted.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvWOCXYiV4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PY3pyT3Hv
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA35iZGMEO
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9rDpT4pWn
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacKkKCTVfI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXq05zi9dU
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwFuS7bFos
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmaGS4fVjp
"Huh? Flinty?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wJreL3S4r
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TrG6kybko
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dgfRbOIZl
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ovR1MkZX9
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryckeV8omD
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SfrxCOHtN
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFBBGmQ39r
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAXp07cxru
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ907ZqNj6RS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY2SmdsVeB
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTNOOGPY5h
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTWol4uhVo
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT2IL0WIYi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVwdF3N7HV
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd92VqYgxWI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTkSCmLaop
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiNFJamvN8
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3VESk5Y1e
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!196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sV1uxW7NE
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGUfV59baZ
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNPoHsNQys
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqLqo0dheM
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKml412enjf
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvihwT5ZJF
"Huh?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG68O8PFxyW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv657X4M0g
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApboGzcDKS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbkJY9Qddy
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4DqbMvwA3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7OQN9aJ9G
"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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC25BXsAYgU
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jrfuvuZW1
"You're right. Wait–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW6WIdVlRn
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RPs1tWWWr
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDpV1TtXmf
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKcFCERo61
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGS75d4ADx
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNkhp8QnuT
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2fiQQnqJd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1ukfGBHji
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDuq3JCqWj
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXrTL4Yk3Y
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV0jAIA7l3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeDWkBHMNs
"No. I'm here for another reason."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeek94KrgIZ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzmFPn82vO
"And what may that be?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCLGIuJntj
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD50h4AVVq
"None of your business."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmtbzfVPSS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcoGVQgEAm
"O-Okay..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzyJqObwcv
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Y1810g1x
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPFVLWeYOd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupAJWR2q2W
"She is super shady."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77uvcaoCGL
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjleybNIJb
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWhWv4cIEF
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6pU6LmreA
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOUsksbNeQ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFNk000Ndj
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARhbWjc8fi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2lY9y2XnX
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQYhlr7ySi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwE46g0OVx
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SJQoWyUGd
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KjKlQZu7J
"T-Then let's get his attention!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoOQksPTUS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitXpm5YUVU
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO8xlXrG9i
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wsdUFbZfX
"Let me handle this."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPPNe89L8H
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1LsJa2WWt
"W-What, why?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KBVBFmuAm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMJtwCPvu1
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjHG5LgRbP
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfapmF1BGOo
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVh7TkQdhN
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs2mMHM5WL
"S-Sorry, Kenny."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5TKOH0OGJ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve9BT7Yy3i
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeMJ5E5xbB
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLFVMfN1b7
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1BIXaq3M0
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlGj1c40wB
"Hey, you guys!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDMozGmJAR
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfBvip4EFL
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqfm2jLop9
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Fe5zZ0XZ
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXEpQmXA69
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgPk1v7pGj
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdjtaVUZnm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nAzaZoZix
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUw23pO9XS
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZCbXFT2RQ
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpVYqLufzi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkWvm21yXI
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd9FvgXnGi
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfP49ehu77
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFCsmCP3kI
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWn1Tkv8Ro
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0zJgtGvhM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKNRZBHnDd
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwDsJP0fjs
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouGrlqw6dX
"Here's your bill, miss."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRSyXuK1uh
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXvBnrIRor
"...I..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QVhj7f0rm
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemlbYNhjqs
She was having a difficult time speaking.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2xSdg5XaE
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsUSpBirgf
"I forgot to bring money."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumASPF9flW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPZFoZQHhp
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FibnKHt2r
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7Tx8y0KJU
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr0JJvpCWp
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiPSLhYr32
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9AX9MmSof
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGI5pGzGpZ
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrevDhfdpOW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DSRcpKjB4
Ha. What a moron.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN45l46DXwO
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX7icwV3lg
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBt18xigxK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlDCJQJkfU
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aKT0g6vTa
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6qoTGaooK
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQCOWMEkbc
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7XH3SaW0n
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiecoNErk8T
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vx5eKkKCq
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."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvk3t8F7ht
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXqUAqXmXn
"..."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Il5L5lnD
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpp6tol08N
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXmmdCdJ1j
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPNmmNZIQz
"Hey, cloaked woman."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypEw9IetG4
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkNQCwckrv
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xUCOLLq7Y
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUmtFEwznJ
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E6ZXPy0Na
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnULSOZjdH
"Yes, of course. Thank you."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfm6yTiqaM
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyrjGDGfaF
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY2aVN9pFx
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCy5cFuc4U
"Alright Flinty, let's go."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0rqsMly0m
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64pZPp4CSo
"Yes!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN8d2zqpD2
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNYaaJjVCK
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbtb28fcHK
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRiWo7eMsy
"What?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bgaIWIVef
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvwrpp2HkP
"Kenny, you're awesome."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ3765hhSg
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P6Iy0pGfB
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO8WIh5BWW
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvDGdoMVW9
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1KoE1ag2T
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eAnvRebVo
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaENJFloed
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl7vuWgOkL
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpjydkHysP
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt2wv8NBgy
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAm0qTuNG3
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf5RM3GioL
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.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzqGDfjscO
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VWEQHIQvR
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDWJbkrVzZ
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzovQay2RV
"...Is something wrong?"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbguZ9FnEe
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwsTuB00XL
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6pDKy7ve5
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUmguzlt6d
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvp2ZAZJWO
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZotNjHTp3L
"R-Right."196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyVlPsqTBC
196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTZPW8rs1h
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
