I couldn't even grant the thing the credit for being inconspicuous. At the very least, one of the dozen kindred houses lining the city streets would deter suspicion. But a flower shop?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocOC0r3MVF
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lPBsfByUc
"It may look silly," Dave started, "But don't let its exterior deceive you. This is likely the safest building in the city."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKFAc5EvIl
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"How?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0c8Ptk2Lo
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I asked the natural question. Dave didn't turn to reply, nor did he reply at all. He lowered his stance and scanned the street before bolting with Pars to the shop's doors. They made it halfway across before I even thought to follow them.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNMQnP6u7i
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO3cwJ54cV
I did a quick inspection of my own, and when I found the streets to be clear I ran across the road as well. The two entered the shop immediately. Pars motioned Juke and I to hurry on in, and so we did.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZc94X5qmX
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvl3KwHbaC
"Are ya sure we ain't gonna get caught in here?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uUNpWHeBB
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdlr3zGIFQ
Pars turned to answer Juke.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLp69YVBfR
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"Honestly, with how little numbers Hard-Bringer seems to have brought here, we could be in broad daylight without being found out. But we aren't so stupid, of course. There's a reason why we picked this shop in particular."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvqiA63WKi
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yiQNTRQpO
"That so, eh?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r06Hs4L7c
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gHqLO8OTe
Pars nodded with a strangely satisfied smile before shutting the door and venturing deeper into the shop. I followed him, watching my steps and arms to not topple any products over, quietly observing the shop.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunWFg3zMPs
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL63yuki7Pj
The nature of the store reminded me of myself. It was a flower shop, so of course, there were several flowers, potted and not, set for display on shelves, tables, and vases. I could tell that none of the plants were magical, but it wasn't too disappointing. The colors of the flowers made me uneasy. They were darkened shades of blue, green, and red, and a few of them were flecked shades of brown. It seemed like even the flora in this city was despondent.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1jukTqFZn
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32CNmwwUoH
My browsing was cut short by our lead coming to a stop. Pars stood before the register, and I peeked around him to see a creature with a scowl so foul I could smell it. I nearly flinched in surprise but collected myself when I realized that I was looking at a human being. Pars leaned on the countertop and began to speak.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEJuGhqtNw
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTE0EliMGS
"Hey Becker, how's the–"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTkbvLGibG
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvDbelu99C
"Go and hole up with all the other pissy prairie dogs."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyotkPb1ifW
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPOqt20HE3
Pars remained silent for a moment before straightening himself and simply nodding. Perplexed, I didn't follow him, and my fixed gaze gave way to direct eye contact with the grouchy man. My attention shifted to the dozens of protruding blackheads on his face. His scowl became more scrunched, yet I didn't have the will to look away.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQhVQsi2Ve
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"Are you a kid?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTXSPxk8Zw
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"H-Huh!?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZLyMEX7Ww
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An innocent question like that was the last thing I expected to leave from his mouth.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6JC5ECqZi
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2Xy0n7mv9
"I said, are you a kid?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHkbRpS4uf
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"I-I, yes, I am."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cAwRxSqCb
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He scoffed and scratched his chubby chin.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspPXJSJLIZ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFu9SdwxBj
"But you're standing here with all these adults. You're pretending like you're not a kid."
He turned his eyes away from me and narrowed them. I didn't say anything. I couldn't begin thinking of a response.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVc0sR8EvM
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9TZ73pnfW
"Go on, follow that idiot, he'll lead you to the others."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVGB1REjQR
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUkIqCqoqO
The man raised his hand to brush me away, then returned to reading a paper. Though I was still shell-shocked, I followed his orders as if it was the only thing I knew how to do. When I arrived by Pars, Juke was already with him, and Pars gave me a concerned look.
"Did he give you a hard time?"
"I'm, not sure. He said something that stumped me."
Pars' eyes widened a little.
"I'm surprised he didn't chew you out. It's that rotten attitude of his that makes him such a good deterrent for unwelcome visitors."
"Is that so?"
He nodded and put his hand on the door.
"Down here, you'll find the basement. That's where everyone else is."
Pars went downstairs, and Juke followed him down. He looked at me before he committed to descending.
"The hell did that old fart tell ya?"
I blankly stared at him and pondered. It hurt to think about his words. I decided to set it aside and worry about it later.
I've been doing that a lot as of late.
"It was nothing. Just drivel."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWkj9py2cC
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOspmaqPig
He took my answer at face value and walked down the steps. I followed. The lighting was poor; dim, arranged lanterns were keeping the place illuminated. The basement walls were coated in a dark beige color. They looked intimidating from my peripheral vision.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WDDx0DNMg
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"This is the entrance room," Pars started, "The basement here is confusing since all the rooms are identical in their features, but the important ones have more lighting than others."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMtKO08rES
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8jEEZHgMo
"Where's the place to sleep?" Juke asked.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLvPNfJhRi
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"You get right to the point. The living quarters are through this door and in the room to the right."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtj828YNGv
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSosRN4RSF9
Pars pointed at the door in question. Juke wasted no time waltzing through the door. From what I heard through the wall, he went into the living quarters right after, but I didn't have to hear it to know what would happen.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNAF3vmMC5
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"These walls are remarkably thin," I commented.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2nNVUN472
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"That they are. Well, if you want to go and meet everyone, I'm sure they're in the living quarters."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7iyUWdWZe
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBCxp40kWo
"They're in the living quarters... so Rover is there?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC94WhEXjPd
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbotTGx8Nbm
"She likely is. Well, will you go say hi?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY55a9SmTJ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdVksYiOtE
A spark of utter contempt for Pars rose for a moment. Simultaneously, I felt my chest grow heavy, like a bucket of gravel was being dumped into my soul.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByFa79cC0K
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahOEPigJAY
"I need more time. I'll spend my time elsewhere. What other rooms does this place have?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAuNIPDa1j
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dnvo9la3Q
I looked at him inquisitively, but all I received was a grumpy frown.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsyyUG6n5D
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"W-What?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGSIzI3GQB
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"Come on, head over to the living quarters. There's no use in–"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0U3gPVQBu
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr30q5KNOBm
"I am absolutely not doing that. It's unnegotiable"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKS1bjXoDo
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmBAeUOBJF
Pars' shoulders drooped but he quickly shrugged them and turned the other way.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSnkZvIDIb
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb3QzY6AR9
"Suit yourself. But I'll tell her that you're here."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEk0KwBuiU
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqlpv2SUKE
For a second, I was about to reproach him, but considering how brazenly Juke entered the room, all I had to say way–143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJLhrYRnPu
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInvsmsoTp1
"That's fine. Just don't tell her any lies about me. You know the kind."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjReyOmDsj
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m3ez194J8
"I'd never."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRvnWK6sLp
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4witiM0Vn9
He walked through the door, leaving me to my own devices. Whether he was honest about never telling her was entirely up to his whims, and I was too agitated to confront him. With nothing else to do, I walked through the door and found myself in a much more bright room, lit up by a ceiling lamp. The lights made the homogenous design of the basement swell. I grew sick of it quickly, so I wanted to leave the area immediately. I had the choice between going forward or left. I didn't think much before choosing to go left.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgKLVcR9z8
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I opened the door to a dusty room as poorly lit as the first one. There was a table in the center with a plethora of lanterns beside what looked like a map, but most of them weren't lit. I stepped forward but struggled to see the contents of the map. It wasn't just because the room was dark, but because the table was abnormally tall.
"Is there a stool here?"
I asked the question to nobody in particular before scanning the room. My surprise when I heard a response almost burst my heart.
"Who's there?"
I felt like I had just been caught committing a heinous crime. It was silly, and I realized that, but my body froze all the same. I struggled to collect myself, and I only fared worse once I heard them speak again.
"Seriously, who's there?"
It was the voice of a woman. No, a woman wasn't right, more like a girl who sounded particularly mature. Her second question had a harsher tone, and yet, I felt no pressure to answer. At that moment, I wanted nothing more but to leave the room. I had to act quickly.
"Don't mind me," I answered in an embarrassingly deep voice, "I was only idly walking by. I'll leave you alone for now–"
"I don't recognize that voice. Who are you?"
I heard footsteps from the shadows. I quickly stepped away from the lantern and hugged the wall as Rover's visage came into view. Her hand was on the hilt of her rapier. That was the extent to which I could see her.
"I can see you. You're freaking tiny! There's no way you're a Bringer. Did Pars and David bring in a midget or something?"
"..."
At the very least, Rover was unabashedly herself. That was terrible news for me. I kept hugging the wall, stock still as I thought of what actions to take.
"Heh, did I scare ya? Well, I may be strong, but we're on the same side here. My name's Rover! I'm trying to get along with everyone, so let's be friendly!"
I considered taking my tendril and producing a spore-bloom, but Rover would instantly recognize me if I did that. I had to think outside the box– produce an unorthodox solution. Running to the door would do me no good.
And so, I ran my mouth, leaving it to my improvisational skills.
"I apologize, but I can't... I can't give you my name."
"Eh? Why not?"
"It is because I am terribly afraid of women. If you would excuse me, then– what's that look for?"
Even through the darkness, I could see Rover's expression alter. Whatever face she was making, I knew I was worse off than before.
"Hold on, I recognize that way of talking..."
It was do or die. I sighed and brandished my right arm. But for the minute that it lingered there, the tendril never came.
"K-Kenny!?"
My arm was shaking. It wasn't out of fear, but restraint. Restraint I didn't even know I had, but now that it showed itself, it was obviously always there.
I couldn't release my tendril on her. I simply couldn't. But I couldn't answer her question, nor could I speak, nor could I do anything that I wanted to at the moment. I had to leave; it wasn't a desire at that point, I simply had to. I had to.
And so, I turned tail and bolted to the door, nearly breaking the knob as I opened it and fell to the other side. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, but to my surprise, I didn't hear any banging. To my surprise, I didn't even hear a word from her.
To my surprise, I didn't see her even reach for me as I ran away.
I had no idea what to make of it, nor were these matters particularly important to me. All that mattered was that she'd stay on that side of the door, that I wouldn't have to speak to her. Because if I did, I'd be–
"..."
I was shaking. I was reminded of the woods. This old feeling that I was battling with not even a day ago.
I couldn't see her. It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't.
It was frightening.
–
–
–
I didn't know how much time had passed since I sat by the door, but I knew it couldn't have been for long. I grew tired of having my legs sandwiched between my knees quickly. I raised my head and faced the mono-colored walls of the room. The lamp's buzzing was cacophonous. I didn't jive with this place, so I stood up and stretched a little. Somehow, I was unbothered by leaving the door unattended. I just knew Rover wouldn't try to open it.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U45IVPtpH
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"..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgwiKduc4Z
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That sucked, I wanted to say, but if I let out a thought right now I'd have people unintentionally hearing me. I was still jittery from my encounter; I didn't want to be bothered at the moment. Though, that did raise an obvious question: where would I go from here?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDmqegLf99
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrPUbglRRS
My memory stated the room across from me was the living quarters. I didn't want to go there at the moment, so the only way I could go was to my left. I walked to the door and opened it.
The room on the other side had a jarring shift of architecture. The walls were no longer colored beige– there weren't any walls at all. Wood engulfed everything in my view. Seeing the framework of the basement made me hesitant to step in, but as I saw two people in the room already, I crossed the threshold. Funnily enough, one of the people was Dave, while the other was a woman in a uniform of sorts. I didn't recognize her until I noticed her distinct silver hair.
"Kenny. How are you faring?"
"I'm... fine. What about her?"
I walked closer to Lola. She was in a chair and leaning on the table. If it weren't for her bilious groans, I would've assumed that she was asleep.
"She's drunk," Dave replied while holding up a bottle, "It's a shame. I wanted to break the news to her, but she can hardly keep her head up."
"The news? Do you mean what I told Pars about the raptors?"
Dave nodded in reply. I brought my finger to my mouth and chomped on it. We stared at her intoxicated self for a while, and I was starting to get sheepish. I decided to start a conversation.
"What should we do?"
"Don't use language like that, my business with her isn't any of your concern. But, unless you know External Mana Spinning, we'll just wait until she detoxes herself."
"External Mana Spinning... well, maybe if she was a plant..."
I spoke under my breath then let out a sigh. If I knew I'd be dealing with a drunkard, then I would've brought a potion for the occasion. Alas, hindsight is prime sight. With nothing else to do, I moseyed to the table and took a seat, fiddling with my fingers.
And then, something terrifying happened.
"--hurr?"
A noise, far louder and less gravely than the perpetual groans, erupted from Lola. She suddenly jerked her head up. One of her eyes was drooping, while the other was struggling to focus. I exchanged mock eye contact with her. She rubbed her eyes; it achieved nothing but she looked over at Dave and then at me.
"D-Dave... that short guy... Kenny?"
"Yes, madam."
Her eyes widened profusely. The moment Dave uttered his confirmation, she scrambled to collect herself, placing a hand on her chest to start mana spinning and throwing the bottle she wasn't holding at a nearby trash can. Dave walked to the trashcan and gently disposed of it in her stead. A few minutes passed by until Lola finished mana spinning. She gave me a gentle smile, a far cry from the mumbling, bumbling mess I saw a moment ago.
"H-Hi, Kenny! You came at a bad time, I'm sorry you had to see me that way. So, what brings you–"
Her speech was interrupted by a sudden gag. She held her hand to her mouth and then jolted to her feet.
"Excuse me for a moment–!"
She stormed out of the room. I stared at the door for a good minute after she left. I was bemused, but not because of the sequence of events. Rather–
"Where is she going?"
"To the restroom."
"Where's that?"
"Upstairs. Where else?"
A slight shiver went down my spine. Not only would I be dirty, but I'd be gambling every time I needed to release waste.
"This place is unbelievable," I muttered as I sunk my face into my hands.
–
–
–
The door opened to Lola with her hand on her head. Her trip to the bathroom and back lasted no longer than five minutes, but from her face, I knew it felt like an eternity to her.
"Hi hi... sorry about that."
"It's fine," Dave said, "let's get straight to business."
"Can it wait a minute?"
"Huh? Why?"
Lola nudged her head in my direction. Dave rolled his eyes in response.
"It's fine. The information I'm relaying is what he told me anyway."
"Wow. Let me hear it from him, then."
Dave rolled his eyes again but didn't insist past that. Lola took a seat aside from me with her usual smile.
"Hello, Kenny. I assume you heard the news about the towers."
I nodded.
"Yes. That is why I'm still in this city."
Telling her a half-truth, Lola nodded with a solemn look on her face. She released a sigh and rubbed her temples.
"The news you have must be terrible. I changed my mind. Dave, let me hear it. It'd break me to hear a child's voice speak it."
Dave stopped tapping his foot on the ground and cleared his throat. I made no mention of my slight irritation at her wording.
"To put it bluntly, we have reason to believe Hard-Bringer killed all the Raptors in the city. Kenny and an ally of his came across the northern stables and found all of them dead. The rest of the stables likely shared a similar fate."
"I see, I see."
Though Lola said that, she looked to be troubling the information. Whether it was because of the information itself or something else, I couldn't tell.
"Oh, that is terrible, isn't it?"
Dave nodded. I felt compelled to do so as well. Lola grabbed her head with her hands and sighed again.
"I expected this, but... it's disheartening anyway."
"What do you propose we do," Dave asked. Lola stayed still, likely lost in thought.
"The immediate thing to do would be to call a meeting. As for what to do in light of this, would you mind letting me think?"
"Of course," Dave answered, "I'll leave you to it, then. Kenny, let's–"
"No, stay here for a minute, Kenny. There's something I want to say to you in private."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGt7Wp3oET
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3GGBPsKeZ
I felt a sudden weight form in my chest, but I didn't rebuke her request, simply replied with a nod. Dave had a bemused look but didn't protest. I was left alone with Lola a moment later. Sweat beads began to form on my body. I felt nervous. Lola didn't have a contrastingly calm demeanor either, so I felt even more nervous. Somehow, I felt like I did something I shouldn't.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZzpwnc4jJ
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She didn't do anything that warranted my anxiety, though. Instead, she balled her hands together and rested her chin on them, fiddling her fingers as she gazed at the table.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUl850nfUmf
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The silence was unbearable. I had to say something.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrKehTDSBB
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"What did you want to tell me?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPopjKKSEKc
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"...You'll have to forgive me, I'm about to sound ridiculous."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh9gzgayaf
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I tilted my head. She feebly shook hers.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhork0Gu6SM
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"Can I ask you something, Kenny?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS9Btmyg9R
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"S-Sure. What is it?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvadecKqjd
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"Do you like fighting?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW5PMlAj4V
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I gave her a series of mindless blinks before speaking again.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dZ7qsRAr1
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaGUC3d83c
"Do I like fighting? Well, not particularly... no, scratch that, I don't like fighting at all."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI3kaX1Uw7
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20wDfkR93Z
"Then, why do you do it?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSiZv4BIkI
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVHholG4hT
"..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXpDkPW8Ok
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Despite seeming like an interrogation, I treated her questions with tact. I pinched my chin and pondered my answer.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFhKn09Jcb
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M02jbj02h
"I suppose it's out of necessity. A means to an end."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1836eqbPV0
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"...In that regard, I'm very like you."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliGRZYq1H3
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRicdRpwkfP
Her tone was sinking. She sounded like a heavy smoker for a moment.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qIGvldsUz
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"I hate fighting. I loathe it. Every fiber of my being is repulsed by it. And yet– and yet, I have to fight."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUjhmARzS8
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"..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK8WYpq09a
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I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say, or if I should say anything.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nn9OzvNK6
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS3jJVq8LA
"I know it's silly of me to say this to you, but I find solace and hope in you, Kenny. In some ways, I envy you. So young, so gifted, yet I'm here to steer you away from the wrong path."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdcexnbTfm
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu98syg0R7J
"...W-Whaa?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkCYuPxkjV
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1an8MXv5oB
I uttered my words in sheer confusion. Lola's eyebrows twitched, and she rubbed them.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Rdqg3ZaQ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaDAlgxYXH
"No, that's poor of me, I apologize. I think some of the alcohol is still in my system."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiaZhpEaWd
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO6sM9VBz7
"It's... it's okay."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC3p5GUo5w
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J7rTWF0Mj
"You are powerful, but despite that, you don't have to fight. It isn't your duty. So why, why are you here? Is it truly because of necessity?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHcwg6dcDC
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxCwVzdOwZ
"..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9DyjyuZDP
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFdMtiDID1
I couldn't answer her question, but I saw an opportunity to redirect it.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL5crfaBN4
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8w05IAUAL
"It is my duty. It's my job to see this letter delivered."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2cT1VJPiN
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF73HquBoS
"Is that... is that so? Even with Hard-Bringer here?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPADW9CGxO
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGJ3hFoZgY
"...Y-Yes."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowSGRIJS7K
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqXzKHpLPD
I bit my lip when answering. It was difficult to continue speaking while hiding so much from her. Fortunately, she accepted my answer.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O4paq3EBa
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbRYMOLHwS
"I see. I see now."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBbJ8mTlEL
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZ0b6OXvt
She opened up her hands and let her chin rest on her palms. I was going to ask her if that was all, but she kept speaking.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0tV5d5Amm
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCPCifpArH
"I don't loathe fighting because of fighting itself. If I was doing it for sport, then yes, gladly, I'd battle. It's the consequences that I can't stand."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2M5RpuTaf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0tDMiFwlt
"Like, um, like what?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKwfxeW5WB
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl7af9kMd0
"...Bloodshed, tears, cries. Death. Though the last one is rare, it happens."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWz9uL9g6U
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s3kahQ54p
The air in the room suddenly grew thicker.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTmC0FkJjt
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQEj6RrWPx
"I desire peace, yet I'm a combatant. I want to help people, yet all I do is hurt and bring tears. It's all I can be. I despise it."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIBdFSxEdo
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DoLx037Sa
She paused to scratch her head.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6InC6VmjHq
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafWNWWEWiD
"This situation just makes it worse. It's cruel of this life, don't you think?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTZYFEbEAi
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxgAQMg2cB
"I... I, I'm not–"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqs7zCqCId
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuQLWCzgyW
"Oh, I'm sorry. Why am I telling you this? This is so embarrassing of me. I apologize, sincerely, I do."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD82YAfPZp
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6JGfcilZ2
She placed her hands on the table and got out of her chair.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF4ER80znA
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOD5Z7rXkj
"I'll start the meeting soon. Get ready, it'll be in the room on the right."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6jDkIQxxb
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWDw0rWBxw
"On the right?"143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmqqK2m5T7
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfHbf64Mh1
If I remembered correctly, then that was the room Rover was in. I postponed being bothered by that, there was something more urgent on my mind. I spoke it as Lola went to leave the room.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJJ961u8X1
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf4s27MMEe
"You say that it's all you can do, but I don't know if that's true."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT5slGNXF3
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE2PQlEYc4
"..."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4LuO23Hs8
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She didn't turn around, only raised her head to let me know she was listening.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk3szV1wAL
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b8Yat4qlG
"I'm sure there's something you can do to get out of being a combatant. I mean, look at me, I'll be studying plants when I'm older."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3pGepwAy5
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYgLzavByV
"Yes, when you're older. You're young, and I'm pushing my thirties."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYOoOpfrro
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYemN8LbcZ
She placed her hand on the knob and began to turn it. I blurted one last thing before she left.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsjJbqHG7p
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllfoq927Tl
"You're way better at mana manipulation than I am. There's definitely something you can do."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMKTVL9tyC
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqdopAdXlM
"...Maybe."143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5sYIjZiVV
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9QAFnFd8m
With those final words, she parted from the room. I sat there for a minute, thinking about what just happened, and then sighed. If I was honest with myself, I didn't understand what had just transpired at all. What I did know was that I botched it. What 'it' was, I didn't know, but that was irrelevant.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixg1CIBvDH
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUVBZZtzXs
Dejected, I stood up from my seat and walked to the door. The meeting was starting soon. I figured I should attend it.
