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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCZeFlAlij
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJby35JF0Z
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufnpwQgsXY
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8i1qnyeqn
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"Dad!?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGkC8oCIL7
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL4jV4HCDl
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqzpkjxoy4
"Flinty! There you are!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7cGE4AdAi
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uROePso2K
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR1OROD68Y
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3NGPzDnhD
"And you must be Kenny?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqRRRvyQAS
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6tlTm0KdO
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGVEtcazvQ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGa1LCxaVm
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJorMUyQVG
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkdPqTiBBQ
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7POSgwVQJ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJoZlNvxm1
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 here147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFMCfO5nrk
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKlXHRRzfy
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxvs3SOzYo
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iaMY7j3I2
Dear Mister Chambers.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRgWdKkAlE
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALB6KUwaJi
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUWTfpbhnb
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqmVKxo6Aj
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS8patl9Aj
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T1qH0lpB6
"...I don't remember promising anything."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsBpFV81j8
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGXk7P7Bdb
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5HNfWtiLJ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzICAh2bVIF
"I'll make sure to thank him later."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBG99vmNk6
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwejOQFIuS
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB8uDvl2vr
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1CZ67Jy7E
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vj55T2sPp
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFOduDApOg
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr4ljEttNh
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6AUJbGPjc
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycuEFGEsnE
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN5tA2ia6V
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3bd2BrdLX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjG7Wj8qqb
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaM0HAS2ho
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a9USZOxvp
"Kenny!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvewf4Yu4Ly
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgR3lzEWak
"Ah, Flinty, hello."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhOralxkj8
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgVZkWeBna
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y5Mu5JN6h
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP322TY4Max
"Is that the plant you asked for?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjNyMkhrnZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet4YaAYUzB
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefuukc38Ig
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YOE2oJfWw
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvULob9Xnq
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN12mkpO5Z
"Hello, you two."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr3VubDgjZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YuAJrCRmU
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RtkOQpDwQ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6smVimCVdr
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgWrUXjVQA
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst5GAK4aRU
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDUWy9dDgf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0fblvalNL
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTU96B9hmG
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrd5jWFLSP
"Please don't drop it or something."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L5Mx63b9b
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aWQGhx72Y
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBENp1ITYo
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgavqhgNFdj
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4sVmnjwFn
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq8faYLSiS
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGEG0VPS2u
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TgIiqHwVg
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIpUGvPvBN
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRnl2RPSI2
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJAQlICSoL
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBLnxlKOqQ
"And you asked for... a flower?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi0wzCJp4S
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3MWjqjTj2
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70fc1xUZQm
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy7LnSVPlc
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggs4cTKSc6
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLAoV7a8zd
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrlv0Ey4H7
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb17yoz14I
"Arg! You...!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LgIEkf4mK
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wHXBoJucE
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajjjfQ2sjf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQonMgD64dR
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU6qF52qQm
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"Whatever."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OCBdlvnhp
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We sat in silence for a minute.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0iDojeFYU
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcmVLguzHE
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"Yes! Please tell me!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a6Rpct4aq
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63vakp1I28
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC3XyYzK6Z
"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–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaZqAnKnwT
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"Wait, Eastern country?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnJKGstff3
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I faced the old man.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0OFEMDKyF
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuksOXDR8HQ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnGBTTeNeU
"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1myBZJCiNU
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3cz2jOFjX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbMk2Xbb1n
"...Buffalo village."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmduQoeYJg
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy73UDE2B5
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsxuu3x0UL
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNvDJVmVXm
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk2VKds9gl
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRp1T2fCvE
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt4VPQO3DP
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcvuMSOua0
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9rCLcVC9o
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2axijIDLsE
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4S2YOyqwR
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqhbDxiIgb
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinVGNRyRk4
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PSRtKyQHK
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGxRSNPDxe
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I nodded along.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW2SmEhB6Y
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLszIIzUYOJ
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bdmDlxR56
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIc6stxmmq
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyung7E2gO
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoB4JS11Rf
"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!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qj4TTgeZR
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKGUh3YpkS
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0r6dtaIAo
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqHde9Za8B
She blinked blankly.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X3EZRq4mJ
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"Wait, is it?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzcw07qT2N
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh6qwsdjqq
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavY36DACQ1
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3V1Ao3p3K
"No, maybe it is true."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSZQ6csgIu
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"O-Oh, okay."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgijP5Juuac
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeUyxy1UAq
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QTP5Ss0Wn
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGdAr9JXir
"How was your guys' day?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml5sGOW6q4
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy8mvD6WuS
"Mom, you should've been there!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOyxl5aTig
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL5wmCzTNe
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1zivDRWgM
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01cizW4fuE
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfWLAMtYmI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBwEMbeROn
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy0IeHJpsL
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhD2TNhiw9
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSH0bHgoyC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaWYWqQ21d
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVZvUDojsP
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTS2GpGhCl
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfo97BAWrV
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoWMRztEup
"O-Okay."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi2jChPsuz
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoK8n2eICf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW1ItD50nU
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog7xXyt0mq
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaExfrQgIhb
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6dNj56op2
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He sat me right back down in my chair.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7YK1dgblB
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimS3FbBGHx
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxlckWSRmH
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CWooWEvta
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGTigig0g7
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU5NjKilWt
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbcNTI894H
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1gWYIKUzt
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUufzbhVy09
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAgFpjRJs9
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR28ED8I3Ml
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI71zTXvuG4
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03xcXVFKpv
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulKLpYUMq8
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieTvxlmtOE
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr8BAT1A7m
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlWa2quxUZ
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIfZ5yZ93H
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE31uJyId20
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbYuF6HiZa
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWgm1Tm1v
"TALBOT!?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74mpIzWu4p
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhd8bgy8ju
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhiHGnS52A
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrIluwpKeo
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlkCejtGEw
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8tGGHPDqQ
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI6zzAht82
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1SEid5s8U
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEivT8LRBK
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck2hkv4Er0
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt6FUaDIDA
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxgzviX8ME
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdCOSGByJO
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEQLLYXKuj
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6waFFRcxM
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzoYThrWBH
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEsBueJ6qC
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPA67tUxiO
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"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS1pTEnyVM
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg3cgVErg2
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPfAHus8Z3
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnPUfCupP1
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnlCXLlSCH
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OpEPJ3uvk
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"Flinty."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEkqnZEShy
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"Y-Yeah?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS4I9ANhWo
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZaAKR66WW
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJF3hyobHZ
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"Okay! Let's do it!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79yMDitZpv
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqoI06FnVb
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"...My tome is in the other room."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9TAQuANtg
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavR8NHD0Jr
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–
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–147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gNKWyI0Nq
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNBYLmAos4
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqbLw8tPC2
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS02rYyKa1y
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"Good morning."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiydH9DoOBK
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9q0geYthw
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"I woke up early."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczHelau4jf
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZF7RLbj8k
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpzf3d7Gr4
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhgntMrZmN
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"Right."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2hV4ArpP8
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1HCBJLA6p
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vR6bQA5u3
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0j3VahGYv
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"I sure did, honey."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJRtmKY5Sz
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"Oh."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhlo9XEOwl
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9EYeMISfH
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"Is something wrong?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnjCWH4K1l
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMff1RHHfVx
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3LYY1xj8t
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Strange. Strange people.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7Me6L6pi8
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw30GfN9XZJ
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"...I uh."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qCfYGIvVU
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaC4OAz9fE
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LHCj3E1if
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DDzNygAlM
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2pD0uoVks
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"Water under the bridge?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLKII2Gv0Z
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"Mhm."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvHBNTd949
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgLejqxMOh
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRIjbzE0f7
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They were really good.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR8kFupYz6
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMZt2Llemv
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"That's a nice outfit"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi07B5qe5B7
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRdyARnnk0
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2aiG6MMyu
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ553V2Fsw27
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ27nmc5lyD
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"Ah, my apologies."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTuMUHmV6V
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"No no, I like being around you too."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDDZdUqj8s
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIFuCwuVc3
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ2unYrZ83
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"R-Right."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkXmCsE9vS
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kiOpV6AbF
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPPhmW0Laj
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"Hello, Freed!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GQKeXrMEX
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXwymdZsgJ
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KyGjKeLe9
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"So what business do you kids have today?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7TIAajvEV
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCN7gO9X1o
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiISfMMPfs
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9niQaGVBwR
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNF9om0hhL
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"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbGGRAJNfG
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"I see."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzycp5NRcJ
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbiTXJOYoY
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"I refuse."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SQ5u2zBDv
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"Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjvrSes58O
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"WHAT!?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnJtV0T1dg
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAepDWAYEI4
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKukDPchhF6
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4QtPQPuOO
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"...No?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIxo0oo45u
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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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNePSGdwQt
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk5mazBGK2
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43UMiTyLqf
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6vN4H71nD
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNQdOu94x0
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIsCO7GmOo
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"Down here."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxbC5HnHPe
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjuYuJNVEp
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrbTMaknJg
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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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UTgh42Nvm
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSeWhn2ctk
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlkmHPvtvH
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"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU7GKCXUSA
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg96JAyA1LS
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlxOkZvUfH
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I shrugged.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFiwHVYroA
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDaiJIj6XQ
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRiBhirOTu
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCxoyY5dCn
"Am I doing it right?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqYXhgExGd
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi4NW6ZGJa
"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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk71ZtZc023
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRBLR57o6w
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfhxeUwclz
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dysUm1FGo
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bpbUxrCuq
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6vkl3aUV3
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiN6RsygXn
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv7eHlXaUO
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2xecAxCq0
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUxFvfrydY
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLvurQ9OLI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGKFgyJP1c
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9mrVW1inc
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQfbHSDaw5
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2f7XJ0tfJ
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRXT7YLuj3
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"O-Okay."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA30RhvSSJ
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceDvpPQnes
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa6gafCq0a
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoTgMgXnuC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp30XtAYlwg
"W-Wait, how do I–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWJqgjROCq
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"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?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPDL5t7pED
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"But what if I can't let it out?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZLLoKnklG
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO9DJDZwIr
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkwCpDCiOI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK6seaEjCK
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq1Ma2yrsS
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2BBsbPs2C
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d1Vi1iaTp
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"Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpQMAmqZpX
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjhgEl1azm
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfYOkc7GB1
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW6VFWwhdT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0tk9MbU9b
I messed up, getting all excited.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2ZCgj1NAC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQswZVK26wd
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pFEg5JOoA
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I couldn't do it in time.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhx3fVtwMU
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**BOOM**147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyO779YqVa
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The world around me faded.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiDRzFZ82M
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIJeLPyY3l
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kwHAyPy4l
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?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hUGoGdD0e
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlacMU7gCO
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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLksN2Ydvt
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMAFUYbc5a
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpJOcMFOnI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRktb7S6o4L
"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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpK8p7SVe9
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I was in the greenhouse.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUha8RI8BlK
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXd0o9biVg
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQKsjbjVCw
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuJme1LDNR
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Thank God, they were okay.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5QACor4iA
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kp7WOQEoy
"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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jQk24BYVA
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyXi7tgydq
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pBAwfoT6U
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9EFq6nvrT
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjB62cZWSX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1zpl7rYkj
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIOTu7NilW
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2erhVnQyED
"This is... my coat?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmXEv0cQpe
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhif3ypIwb8
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIayazCMHl
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUUrgt8Hmr
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwquFx1EQW
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVy35StLLh
I love you. I really do. Thank you.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABIBbxEUTZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTail9yElRr
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko2dUzWch9
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNoUNPllHv
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGPnFz3RLO
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"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIZf2dVy1S
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hw9xLhNFl
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NRfAavFM3
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9w3CmcHXi
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpXKtPtV4i
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN8aR6ctjA
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYEaFqiWuX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDS0wxvF3Y
"H-Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPzHS3XzHJ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLcYc2LPhw
"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHFOEQVFnT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoFDbK8BNx
"T-That's terrible!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhCAkx0Ksv
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRkt2DtCYW
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U73AXLFxp
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSi4BIRT6w
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAtcG3CBGA
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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".147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40hIoiJub4
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwlgaf9v5u
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkQTLZe9PZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyieKMnx8C
–
–
–
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuqnjwYVRo
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwQI9bJrSQ
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnuTJ8QdWI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY7pYcAGFK
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lFmQ7zsBD
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2arIlxLqQ
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgr8OysD7u
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6YF3P547w
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?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwnctkAO3C
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"...Ah!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXZOyXh8qw
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQyZKqfCvF
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeti0I5gBym
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge7cW043mq
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"...Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrvkIliyvw
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She meekly turned her head to me.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwxpkU18Fx
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"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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYcVQnGLuS
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhPPeIm8E9
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULZxVyinnC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W1wyNEmYA
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjbxfh0Fwu
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzSGgOExt6
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP6HGDw2ZI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1UfKRxB65
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHR9rf7Wen
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"Okay, let's go then!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf7AxL1lMB
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLY33VwzH
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRP9FPVw1o
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She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojl7MVr34a
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN3lyB1TNv
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Yeah, let's.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzpTvZUWIG
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–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5x8aIRynN
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP7hSd7thp
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSdya2sML9
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGCkGZGy51
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80qja2OS6p
"This is the combatant's guild!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcXndqzYPZ
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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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC7wdxWIe6
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"This place needs a renovation."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY76dY0Ufr
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvGytfgdON
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I shook my head.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrygEhrtmo
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4gLPv8E7v
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBijI2JxW1
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"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKmq7AOEQA
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4cgHsGv1v
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"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–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwK9IQveyP
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0x7OVMF2Y
"Do not even suggest it."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2wuaXPW7F
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QGSZPxYCQ
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sEM7X765j
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotE7hsRE2i
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmIJQ6kS01
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR34gvJ7Q9
"...Well alright."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt21K3ijmrg
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtVIDVk6jM
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8us5R5AuLo
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwuSjI23DU
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbmzAyUfp2
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19Rcaz006f
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhcQHtlKlT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum3aXoyldV
She pouted.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ySBKi3csL
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWzQjVlkgj
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBZSY1iyjs
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXgeANoigP
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNgzCkRLIO
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZASacxGyIb
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OQrL5ymFS
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0ML8G7aSE
"Huh? Flinty?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDMdYI1suY
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnXvhTmYoV
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRACvzJx3J
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoajgbhyUpe
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc2PKmzb1b
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2jo3Tz1Rx
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKFnaYt2e
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwOjmFgPZR
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvnP0p3mNt
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rEO5D8Q5J
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8Zk69j6pX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgM2cFzHXA
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpvbyR9rCv
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr6Ljfhs19
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QVBYYhRZd
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHX5IczIRm
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XnWL65RVN
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg9pk5WQIC
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!147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2SNKnEAaZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKmK91vkNo
"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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t2D4RAymf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh6KwRZuk2
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3FG5dnyW2
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNdmLrY43z
"Huh?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHn39noyCp
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORBsi1hjrV
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst8Q9u8HIE
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhfzpAuoUc
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqMqzzSGMb
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gNxaPVtYx
"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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEluoURjn0E
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsInyQuJDS9
"You're right. Wait–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJQpltZvkR
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAEt1UG2SH
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXhbKpEOq7
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCawLXUVxZ
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWSov7t8LH
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYJ1FS0xOm
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pnnls8nZs
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFws3Dv55Ac
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBxHBcottU
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrskoLmIbV
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAYIsbqEXv
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLIC8aC6zl
"No. I'm here for another reason."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfe4f9AqCc
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn4AFC1LrQ
"And what may that be?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRuuCppepg
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyI395hg3J
"None of your business."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMCEGsMRfR
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMP0CM8g7x
"O-Okay..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKBhb6o9Eq
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshEc8T8JE4
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84cRx2tSa5
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUtGj4P1l0
"She is super shady."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aD9xpPl2Q
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym05NXMnqM
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFS9lgQk2R
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyQPE8bkZW
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdJZ1KKPsN
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnthmQsEXBd
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi7yczLowy
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzHAQDKirP
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvtGS5NAvC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrECPUStSUf
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFc9AZKhiO
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0VK0IO08A
"T-Then let's get his attention!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbMm3y0tXg
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HX3OT7TvB
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc06LoaLBjN
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uQB74KULT
"Let me handle this."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqroZRLR78
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyxIx4R0C7
"W-What, why?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQWex1jbsH
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Ji8Aa8sJ
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOOy2H9HUQ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LUfrZHtYJ
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f9uiTezTN
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEAntC7MiH
"S-Sorry, Kenny."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05fRwjHYSi
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRECzIrX7ne
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHFcM6uoM0
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5yBySBh2p
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD6cZeSI5P
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3yK07Zj58
"Hey, you guys!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWLWaMJOMf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GzUXtEX6k
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiDSOqy8Gt
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf93XvtbISW
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWBhckEIsG
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7Kh2PrQaE
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqJvB70XJu
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuw7NFTZtE
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh4pjCIsiZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVe8EKH8ZF
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVBaqUMfaZ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XRGxGLTEF
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTQcxGTYqQ
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSexpdtzb4
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCjHZqMYIz
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCgRixKI6t
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxewjbC3Lw
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB7dwbPjVY
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrK5xfLQCu
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HLl4kJpeN
"Here's your bill, miss."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswfKI3j7Fs
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXBXxCJrNf
"...I..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP3wFjZEGP
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGMVv8OcV1
She was having a difficult time speaking.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriQ1EwIq4S
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvR6RyMXuB
"I forgot to bring money."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffEjSfle7q
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNSlSTDknf
"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifmt5VwzGm
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitBPyNiANi
"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW17fkEOIzX
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OPetaPJQW
"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqcmgiJ8Cf
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt4Py06tPI
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zQyZEFVM4
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkqtHXvTUe
Ha. What a moron.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPBFojPdnn
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclZ4DOwUoO
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRpaOmKsH5
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGzazX6v8T
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4yhbglibC
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBC0k6Iy9J
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2jKAPZTtr
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Ze5hge4E
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh82i0xxFPh
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxh4zCRyQK
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."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7GyPjXNtt
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJOWNU1c9J
"..."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvaY1rMiqU
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqg0NSl6dE
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBCuPU72vY
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9wlLcEG2Y
"Hey, cloaked woman."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLzk2lHrvK
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrC2cy0bCP
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo66L0JTeNO
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHpCnvwVG2
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVOCbFwXzb
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOqjnndONj
"Yes, of course. Thank you."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkNZhx5xOT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdctLbm824
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCJsKhESUH
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXtfPYHarG
"Alright Flinty, let's go."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfbQmTQnaw
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp86eVeWcI
"Yes!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSn7XnBEpl
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd9uwRFLvg
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS8eTpVEhp
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsx4RI31Dz
"What?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FAnhJURXM
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Py4lrdy1d
"Kenny, you're awesome."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQCnqPAIwV
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2run2jYoCF
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1NpzQg6OI
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NsARhUDiT
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwy1asBgVP
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lNmzujqQW
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVbZnL6oHL
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyINy3znce
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHUHuqtvDW
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb8SnSY70x
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6m1KQmE8X
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZuvbyQApL
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.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfWQaN9VIs
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHz9DUK0XD
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2Kwhrx45V
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkK5QmsDTZ
"...Is something wrong?"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKLgLRuId1
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQMG6lv6c2
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OHyiJ8Lqq
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNCkSfXvqY
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfA7knVLJT
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n7PBLOBDL
"R-Right."147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqUHbgAmj5
147Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr44X6FBVQ
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
