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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4MHrXYoaD
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM1XXE3dkX
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRpWWx2wO6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftAvfba6o4
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtuFNh5CYS
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb08ubZtJG
"Dad!?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF3b4XKG9F
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT15w4PnYZ
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDxlq4tfWY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHQv8M0uKp
"Flinty! There you are!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnkbaMDfwQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqCjlT9bwv
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLicVSmrku
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI98hTrbkZa
"And you must be Kenny?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhxTw0G1Cq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdatjOFU9e6
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8r9dv7CLY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneXWDDL4sJ
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8Pof0zULb
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAfBhD8MkW
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0I6AgihhO
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYNhZYaEB4
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 here240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvShFvjFrvG
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU2qyWOWkw
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWhpSnci9E
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL4MMRP56q
Dear Mister Chambers.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoZmhv2CCw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKVjpWwmY5
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC6wxAaosI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewlMqCqbKX
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hjdwnqIet
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4UAzK8Mnn
"...I don't remember promising anything."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHTd9E06l3
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ71KpEYTkN
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhny7vVqZU5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OmTIpHKxI
"I'll make sure to thank him later."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIz6S8bxTT
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOidcBdZOB
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVY68AcnPX
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtneBeCeZgt
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZFJApzX06
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FqJBkOeTI
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxGPh4Yr5J
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwrehh0ymz
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6ClHktTX7
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r4Tvnygv2
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcSONKaVx1
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqkHJnvGXR
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyByx3W18Kj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xWqf8S8SW
"Kenny!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIShFUYB6wx
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD63O7t9cs
"Ah, Flinty, hello."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn0i88WE1z
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoeWBr5btJ
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpQhgmExRV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6vmy1dO1o
"Is that the plant you asked for?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ptpOAqSF6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfrdD98N9U
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ydbUTI3T3
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uFn3bWJjG
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctsJOwkYVb
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwwtuSSTwe
"Hello, you two."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNqdzk3MgF
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYyXMxNt6z
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnswDhOZ3ir
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHB5YR1tD7
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyUWnXt0vt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoQwouzBzb
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbsT2LnoIQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHzFElr7oE
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFgWdghnbI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxB1UpfgJz
"Please don't drop it or something."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExqbnSHB9z
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWc9VBnOyU
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf2C346LnG
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtC4TAiZYv
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x8vMkQOWI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ5c6VOeml
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TGWbYJ1fl
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj4QLh6n8Q
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qc2wrSa16
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kjIk09Nw2
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAYzc2RX4s
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9wEvVyACf
"And you asked for... a flower?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdkODSGxpj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0IUNGSv9d
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJXrMC5ivt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkufIBFfkV
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jra79ePUh
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNQPDy3Swt
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD4ylPaNq9
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe88p66zxd6
"Arg! You...!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Xokh7pac
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvlawFw0Tv
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VoQAJWv9L
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmtR6uH08F
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49DQ2pTA0J
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYMiAI7gOn
"Whatever."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq0WMMzXaR
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9mCBZugn8
We sat in silence for a minute.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDbeT8gMBN
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAPaSqcain
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ESbIE8TW
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa3FVKih3z
"Yes! Please tell me!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57eUuklUhN
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe06Ze5xrwV
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOyr7ta8ky
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEmpVDNM3b
"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–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6m372du6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUSiPnx45A
"Wait, Eastern country?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0VnWBgn0p
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0Upbepver
I faced the old man.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOcsR2Xtuj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtmCvCThQO
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmDNZ2Kgt1
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ft3dQoMp5
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtwr2Dw3Oq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaVSkPgw6Y
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapbg1P9nIb
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEsYphNdUp
"...Buffalo village."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWsuCcOVij
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaClNQySfh
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaopJpnHNwW
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3RQ8R3ZPx
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W7AmjqaU3
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwgJiB2p6e
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9deRdmpvV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozJF0DBmmK
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWpRizH6Dn
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxNJ1vLgDe
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJFX5jgKkg
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SDZTEL3YO
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzhyCDiQCl
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hJNGShLv4
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg5ZvEQ7BK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUWvVJ8G2p
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J9nnUBjvV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQctHDZwIl
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPba8wKUTI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9uGdzwj45
I nodded along.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Rs6Rp8E2
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcYiIugrAr
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9u4AdPHz3
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnun4Ta8y6
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvEo3pS3tI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSK6KdK0vB
"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!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMwDmquxCw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAdFFZ4fSi
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD2LDxdY1Z
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr6RAGU1fi
She blinked blankly.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvNh0QJY4x
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zV3toqugj
"Wait, is it?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG0boF3kzd
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0RRDqpLBY
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3QjoLJGyY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4VaOenSN3
"No, maybe it is true."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5toys9O41
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7CgnHvJ3k
"O-Oh, okay."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjgpAA3X5O
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE0qf5onjZ
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vVFAYOqe4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyLKKkBeiY
"How was your guys' day?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ748XLLhwcv
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtguYdLJS3
"Mom, you should've been there!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY8h1klas6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb69QPvVuUK
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeAV2VslT2
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6TkVuTbYV
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6JXXmCjEF
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bX2TVONLk
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEknz8erNa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpUer0Kbuy
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCVk7Nd6BN
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpHi78Jd8L
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPidln18Pt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZauQVMobf
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzVme2FWTm
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1QrKSHI4W
"O-Okay."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfliV1qZQMB
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Y0UfLWUH
"Hold on chum, you come back here."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI6b4ir43E
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjiCEeI3IU
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABt6ZTfo9e
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMtl34LfJ3
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUh28cY07g
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSKX4PfSIQ
He sat me right back down in my chair.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrmhVNFyqi
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllceNVYK9K
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMXFcwu2jR
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQnAakZHrW
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoMSMFVJ37
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyMnxrr1tb
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ7wub8JfD
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo2LTaZ9o1
Nobody even heard my "laugh."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDKZSfush0
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWB17TT0bY
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKjjiYVTcO
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgX4xRYi5K
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfBQO6HlUc
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRtopa2lxb
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtMV3ZwsvY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ030PzhB3s3
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPkWGdzFS1
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEDdNJLcbR
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49VTrD7V4E
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDb6ke7bN7
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBIWtM1P0z
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6i8NJHY33
"TALBOT!?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYK41oVkFB
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSak6ApyVO
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklMYom44EV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxx7NgUoSa
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gxfaokHHL
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQAlz09MEm
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHIqqwxw8S
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYLEwlbTXg
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga85myca7X
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOIK6zxmN2
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROXhstERnV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2zxRqAVab
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UpQQ3OPoU
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6aJyhPBGC
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QrAVWPaC8
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZxDvTQmt3
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lp2U9TXHD
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAGfdI6FcH
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfrmGify2l
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqxJ4cINK1
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"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1OG8pGjNI
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrLcfVBuHo
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjpufzElYQ
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgAMA2KfgR
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbU0rBF3yc
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCJBTlkOOQ
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"Flinty."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSw8xCIClR
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"Y-Yeah?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0su12YRRWW
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4MC5QBeXw
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDeqbrqrmr
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"Okay! Let's do it!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0WQnMnaFV
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju32AENShM
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"...My tome is in the other room."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OtjBCc1HB
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl2KjXGrKy
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–
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–240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLfKqCJcfU
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNPVdnA1Yl
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWq3AKQnnA
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMA4qKpePP
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"Good morning."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWlvtWZDtU
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qsEvIqlX5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyyAHUm6OC
"I woke up early."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFM2K9KfAl
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2qE5SfGQJ
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kUA9U0q6c
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46VB6au3Ax
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTQKJVUy0D
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"Right."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTSyQoe2gJ
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sXxQgFaoM
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35ptKTH4ur
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKzPPwi2vo
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciLAb1Bz6X
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"I sure did, honey."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuobCYytk0
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"Oh."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsMDHqtsbY
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CFO6SHtAP
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"Is something wrong?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYjAeSJi4H
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjjcYleAFg
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeCgTndsm8
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Strange. Strange people.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvczyENUUA
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEKiCyK3kH
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"...I uh."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO6MwWyATG
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCYyrrYKwq
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiVKEvxsx7
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlaXlkQY5W
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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?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMyfMwZaqx
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"Water under the bridge?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XGvhx9pWs
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"Mhm."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4C9XiwWrX
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxEWkvHaHw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7tcv6Lr7e
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV3mb4My31
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They were really good.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzInlYCnIC
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Uixqys6WX
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"That's a nice outfit"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMaunMwgpB
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xQIBv8FlE
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxCcyRVFnI
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk8yWuS0EO
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkjWMy4um4
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl5w4JBz73
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"Ah, my apologies."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsEaLzQVjG
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"No no, I like being around you too."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsoRplvvlV
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jwCINrKSA
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZaLExj691
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsWkcHr2Ik
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"R-Right."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ5Fko5T4o
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23tqLEXvVp
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO8s91mYoW
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ko0G9Mi8J
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJhXIKq7VS
"Hello, Freed!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wxVv7jbxj
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLLkq3c3Gm
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6BKSJbnMm
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"So what business do you kids have today?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrTD9LVqJx
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroPCuzfGYH
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCBegfPK3f
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdJPS62FqX
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKSe5pn5TD
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB0RM4WjSV
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeqTDvz3l9
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"I see."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmaYs2agXi
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrO6WTq2Hn
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"I refuse."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaSv4PgWyB
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"Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEFxA7XyQI
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"WHAT!?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYneqzx7RF
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUMpWnRYpC
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4BlP7tuGz
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjah4G2CwrH
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"...No?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZwEMB8NMc
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkWBo4lh8c
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrncMxMt8y
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPZtMScJ84
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEZfmkSi3l
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIp8I8dQcb
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4DG55dtCB
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"Down here."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04McU7J4CQ
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzOC3nUMuB
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8ho1BqRIx
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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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtaXzdDSY4
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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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE16Ko3Bbg
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjHZSnAylP
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxri4xdzJQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlmclU9KrG
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNFOmIH6gi
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNekUb8ABC3
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNxvt3XhSY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8wcVvgEDd
I shrugged.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQYlwissbV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjl7SV6zlC
"Well alright, go ahead and try."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHwHBW2YHg
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuhFMG0hhE
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOieKAa7wbd
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBlonKm7uS
"Am I doing it right?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPLrEYwR0h
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37c7mzcqhV
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Rv1561tz
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdoFm9PjKB
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugSeWhSNe3
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SPrsQBfdk
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHmYS0KzIr
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuoMSMc6F0
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikSLW3JAsJ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFClzbxugN
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6qoyAyrck
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hTYTSQAPD
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLLGvcoEyi
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAbvNcSjov
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOEGURpOO0
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenLrOagNIG
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESK3XCa3xP
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58G5Kya9Iz
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKCH369qJv
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8azorcBsRi
"O-Okay."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciumN7D7Qa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFaLjKT4Cq
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMYJUkuyK0
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlArudkgElO
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGKL3erZGJ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wUyuFCMQs
"W-Wait, how do I–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI7ApVEAhA
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZydcRA2P5x
"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?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gHEb6QolT
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6ReGaSEYj
"But what if I can't let it out?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbbdwfAOFH
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV78gggVlz
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt47T01Arkk
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefym60sG7E
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquIThLpY3M
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UJpGtwX0v
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL64Xo8O1K
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7pMR1N9D4
"Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCunviuOjo
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEm76Bvway
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRLm0Tew9X
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3fvswenzZ
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnN2eWALsK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07QpxtEZdu
I messed up, getting all excited.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk3UMEfJbE
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3nBlFrXA3
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5FqUaeit6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmxcpvzhWK
I couldn't do it in time.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhGa2IO9u2
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHxKfMZYDc
**BOOM**240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLBwvW82d5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuojGTRZmhh
The world around me faded.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aPKrCy1Mq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6GwjiLvx8
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NF0caAz0
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm4DfH8MuY
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?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOplyh76MtZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJiQ7UGyhJ
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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVhjOEuAlF
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuOghpULI4
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhNKmgTEFE
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyrLylxaiY
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoZSTxnhnq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3nDIoPmnA
I was in the greenhouse.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLMuM3S6r8
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rFqm1IFRM
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Agta42b7r
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrUYkGvd63
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9X1eLm6Ot
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVzq7aDs1D
Thank God, they were okay.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vhramm2D5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVAPJpKewi
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1B2RyXrEV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxS7TgdRrS
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hcwYxvhP1
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Utig7k15R
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xwr6AVfWW
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy0tgb8wxR
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHaa0jt02X
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYfre2uMwn
"This is... my coat?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SRl0fzUp5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXSI4ehoaZ
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj0AsTIQZB
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxbfNT5upD
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQmUWhyCvK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B5lZAiBYV
I love you. I really do. Thank you.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmu6GTeuZx
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC7lipIyk0
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI4MhURLA8
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaaUUOFbhb
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEvEGbVQQt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7r2gvJlCG
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5MzoxiiIz
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhex56qh03q
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUEyEBjuA4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3P7FSlFgg
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp5IEOHmDZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIFeswLVi0
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZcOLJPn3U
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4DUiMtY9b
"H-Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtuegZazdI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhnnYG9Fx2
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkiZIcZCrw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTJSIpedFC
"T-That's terrible!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8bP3n3dg9
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBiRLPz7Lq
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCwEQNJMpl
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL31FRSTLv
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xK294cj3Q
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUgcdnxLLL
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".240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlbS3Px7sx
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gSAbmQWJm
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz99pocW1uV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZRcaTqJxZ
–
–
–
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK2rqV6SVF
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuEK6hasxY
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMSy1K6geE
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDxVfnNwqZ
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb3TZOINkp
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR2verMm60
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO2qx1VqSr
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPgtlEA143
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?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFYFuQqxVX
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHB8D8FV13
"...Ah!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyjKrdpKsu
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Q4JpaFKE
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xN8cFFRw5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLX2Vl7t2f
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yWrTxt0R4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz8Wr3JcO0
"...Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ2QyTcOxV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGy26GA2ya
She meekly turned her head to me.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuhaLlLCzZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRmsvpMmEe
"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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhj0uSrtzn
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiH2Chuidu
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyCOelJ400
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMlFzXCNUz
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcbiSjkbkN
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsdaVCEBsz
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlZG504RJg
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBzeP7l5kL
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQjFZ7ajco
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5pMnHLCDw
"Okay, let's go then!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26zlbuBgfY
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg6RjqbQs8
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60hQVILJWi
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DrFWbErZt
"W-Where are we going to go first?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeHdtMYuy7
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMJRZ6IQjS
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ38luFhFYn
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjWa80DwuI
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtdsavxTVs
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbufYbFWzJ
Yeah, let's.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFysL74sPS3
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–
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–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05rwb1fspU
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAddhgRBKU
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2U9KXILh4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6S0N60qSL
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf80wSA2Xy
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAkqPUvdGI
"This is the combatant's guild!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiIaKv1c7q
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrzWiENH8C
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQXBeeY35T
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNbZVAOzuA
"This place needs a renovation."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6HBDGZJkw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH5HXhpLzD
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbuPZ6IfoB
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1UHn6DjvU
I shook my head.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUsHDwnxvM
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgmCfoF2sD
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfzrYBugw7
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiFCibPrCh
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DTCWtkofK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMLweFFC5G
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0NOqOdQqw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9NOHF2dje
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMY8idwD0f
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxvm0vDYwX
"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–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE6gHwajVM
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN3OTefQbQ
"Do not even suggest it."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr5G7utmdP
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1iyhaWRei
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hupMDG9IP
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRQy00nMs3
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVExpLgKGk4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KJ1BOhIKq
"...Well alright."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog4h6NkaqQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEN62NWGBO
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9vrF8pXiO
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhQQioWzo2
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LKG7heFdf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgHQd4duEL
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVB210bVXs
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTIA8KQ95k
She pouted.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBaRopTczh
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUdZnsutLZ
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyI1dMGefV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo9BlDyCMk
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRibh7D29VQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyhladZDHY
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH1BGX971i
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkukcnCdlov
"Huh? Flinty?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenTfyhCoHy
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzB8Ku69Hj
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLYFQfNHld
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JH2vdofI0
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0DWTlmN2N
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHACTpp7hvT
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqzpJmXje8
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53O38QMInc
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYIB4QZCI4
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7U7QWwEZZ
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrT8kWf2oj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt5ZRa2OnO
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfNaUY5pCJ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rIfrEItlL
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd7H7Ziifc
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImmgOQb7aS
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7AJnJ3jEP
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwVbf2XDmh
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!240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SpqhmcaNd
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sEYrE1QoS
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP0R8h9VYe
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSJ5HmcKTH
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauwWlFVxRj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw8awoSWT1
"Huh?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWVWK4MWOo
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Ak20gZt0
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfz74EXOqg
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfHa7F0hv8
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsowbp9vC2H
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoyRuHLavD
"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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9pEPyj3Q8
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiF7nzClhd
"You're right. Wait–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EhCmzZCEy
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZqn2AR0tK
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1lPVirSLh
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxm0mSU9nu
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sS00pnm2b
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHDX0TvLbt
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYJihRzoK7
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwTWTTyRFE
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTDvhYfjYm
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43yDVhco0s
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwtx03LN38
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0Zv9PYAbh
"No. I'm here for another reason."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtq0l4Vbsa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdK1O2PQWI
"And what may that be?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS5iuA0fiL
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrBfORQ2T5
"None of your business."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDcuZCbnvd
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8RKhkaDCG
"O-Okay..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB7Y01w2rt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYTZmvKGiw
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPMtnFXLjV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk5Vw7miKa
"She is super shady."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YkL6FJvgf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q1bbYHU6q
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8NMoldEtH
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs8ev9leC9
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuwlR6fnjj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC0OpE2Ws9
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQySNBAyTz
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwLYLwNPpk
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSBdj5lAFJ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr6eTeydtY
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6MHMXAtMV
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14GuKvZpAg
"T-Then let's get his attention!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmiCzwH31T
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS0u7LlQwV
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oxWqvMKxB
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqYAWRmXAy
"Let me handle this."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDOKRW7Q6Z
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBOM0hvfH1
"W-What, why?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlZjmdReCu
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN98wuoGKc7
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGVsGVEwfn
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFwRorhuki
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk4IQGUoDt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWq5aWT6Ji
"S-Sorry, Kenny."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkomwBhrMe
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGTJIl9F4w
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUaFrBXBXC
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiapKwdJXmv
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOOXgCHaZK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh8zCbxD7A
"Hey, you guys!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgn1UQ1C09
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsanz44eo3
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB26shnNDDv
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CGQZtD8Jl
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5cJ7JCrKR
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibBtPgxWW0
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEEPcAVaJt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYWnr9LAi9
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2CW3oNFLW
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqXBIfI68R
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ409NZI337A
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V5ji1nBPA
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOFYRpzuZI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFCGkZDWv3
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxZbswg2yh
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfLt8u1zMc
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qzk3nz2sa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28sv2DbsaE
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GBaMmty3T
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIFjHUpWIe
"Here's your bill, miss."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziFJLjOiKQ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKvwCbzWO9
"...I..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRPp0PDSfZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Qoiw7LUL
She was having a difficult time speaking.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnf7myZbJZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWkfoPlOsT
"I forgot to bring money."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK8Roxr7xC
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OnSSUEsQW
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVJ1LRwsrS
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKrZ1LISQG
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDpLyNMlqL
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmC8NFXIjo
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulwb7qsDOp
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvoCEkkIo9
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtAlpCGmrw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSOaGL0qCP
Ha. What a moron.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvt6vS0EUq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHfaOnEy5y
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqjUSiQrFL
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipUNnhCWFh
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQNYht5Bn
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20cXAZ34Vc
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWAHmo58if
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwFsxTlwRk
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzICnKBQyI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQj4f8sLZJ
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."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUxk0CwPOo
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uhTAta7Z7
"..."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAbfYyrWPa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4C9Uclf3R
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv7pgEpHwK
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rJE68VqvS
"Hey, cloaked woman."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO49RVkAUDT
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnMYwr2HrK
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE26nB9yt6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy9qpNYIHH
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2OHTreSeC
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uGuYz68SH
"Yes, of course. Thank you."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CM9dTYiMw
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGVcs5vkGS
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgZdqoD5jl
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KUC7qFpaz
"Alright Flinty, let's go."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqTUDJ7NMj
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD0jrNakWl
"Yes!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1eWIwLWBZ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mrkc4UFah
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6BnnNxarO
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESt9yfkYyO
"What?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7KE9vICAH
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOsmYgRZ0b
"Kenny, you're awesome."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWbfoHKlM2
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5Qz8JosoM
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSZO161sqt
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdoT1vaCWK
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xRQcxLKd5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q8miY2KJN
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25LT4n9ZVD
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdko9prlnB
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsoBMGIbry
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YWxlGzgcC
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoIA9Gcxv5
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35AjdNy2zF
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.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgRjH89dXJ
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSm8C5AFWZ
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnr2CFCnQq
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkRE3euzl5
"...Is something wrong?"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysZMAs7knO
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErbTAf1Jkg
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYORhKyo0O6
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yWFuxGtKb
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUPBKQlnQf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNYZYlDH2o
"R-Right."240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXjoy81MI
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi6KNATczp
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
