The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CbLNbbGx7
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGTxWvMd04
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qHzZE1v5Q
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYOsQy5p6S
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYWriLld7s
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2XRyJCjfu
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoIZ1c7i8C
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnQlJgMTrS
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjbwnKUdlv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufZ58yxA8F
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CWLm0TcFL
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOIMymUvBv
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGszZoVx3bg
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTlp6CGUhq
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKlYIzvaKu
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8794lAe9s
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0ghemIPVT
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdEPNpA1A1
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadEuhBD49N
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhLNEvzpPY
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3j9xNctyr
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvlzd08JSQ
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOeWW5lmoo
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjbk7iCLGM
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBV2iwLgBO
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsmkUybOOY
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOmUOTgvNd
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdACDp5DCR
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2c3NsNZK6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sxLSPMFXo
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2jbLIoGqO
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zotzwHWGw
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVe7E9AwUv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbM0c8zPCb
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfcLmnTB0V
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62qGpK0afE
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GqJGJMH11
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKSLKX9ihu
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnppQBxxlhL
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhIeWY5gBP
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0Be157MBk
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8V5AFWcjX
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaCRY2uTdL
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ5kQ6Bgy5
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQuR8kC4aR
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba08FcN30d
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhRz3R02mg
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4uPLl0e8v
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH03IOkMJ4q
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcyqgOlWyb
"What's the matter?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp44N3yS25q
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68etp3ytDW
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte9LovHsTL
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZPL38xdl6
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSVQOldK1x
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshhop0ROcv
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcVf5h6Sur
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpttP798y7b
"Of course."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoLYWqUenA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwnrC1Sv9m
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNS1cc4xrx
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYfLnRPyHM
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc0CLiGCbw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPDCr21CIC
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkj7nKsSXD
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0C8NEFtus
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfiDHc74Ph
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBckgReY6J
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OlobKFCXm
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9ko4uHT1o
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1mDPlSD59
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6Z4J5Axpd
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvaNQ5f9zo
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNigGXwPj9q
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI41QLgu0zS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNXP1TcoSE
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnzAs5pZPG
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8wes8dW1Q
"...Probably?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDOCW4E19c
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wh1M9hHBY
"Sorry, definitely."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzuJYcRASE
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ZGHGY0sZ
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jz2CWK6QU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKGGvwtUHg
"Food's ready!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jPuZAmrDX
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBG4LiP05Y
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM0Gt7cAeN
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6wRULWdk0
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32rnZaw0gD
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrfySLKDhm
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5EGxIJsAH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP9gko2RXB
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfLE54io5s
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjafDVGUw1S
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGmw1H53PU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKCKQQLT9Y
"Are you asking me?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIbEzJKrxF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHM4ThHXHS
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNIOwL0KZU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7CcFk3mMN
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9sYUUJNHS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviLLzc3BX3
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaKwshnn2S
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkSL9BIZLH
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYndBxFiX6G
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYIORhk6Io
It felt heavenly.
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFJgr2c00J
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1YlSbcnTu
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpLxKj692g
"What are you reading?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwtnw0ehA9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXGpJdqQ4v
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpT2r1dLFi
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRKTZJiig7
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQmE1oCDy6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPuwM9YnfS
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYFf380GYx
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNmWcHMVpC
"...It's a book about magic."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ316jtJymAL
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCoOZ8xhDy
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7t85OEqL2
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1twuZMWUWa
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKvch8bMYN
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRFcnfCMKc
"Y-Yeah, of course."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ156ylaeYc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLE5I7eIkv
She didn't sound very excited.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO09daysQmA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOZyT4Xnu8
"Do you want to practice right now?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4c82pw1H1
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBklgTAv9kS
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nQ5xQE6KS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfYDMNycKG
"If you say so."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUm58w3PWl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1Bbibk776
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZT3EqbyEQ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvGt6F9i7z
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJIxcXpQXI
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIU59tM87R
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrYgwINyf3
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7uSnFhHVl
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtVszDVrW6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPYtGdxfEH
"...Did he decline?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyItGlao2al
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH0t5zyfGu
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPIzDZufip
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QFdU5FhW1
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdhS6ngopS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZDnzbNaHw
She paused and stared at the sheets.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxBLa9yuLP
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJRAlGiMp
"Today was the first time I made a spell."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oc4WdRsZq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLOAfteMIr
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbTdC9THLX
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYO7arbWvd
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg4oxVgN98
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMYc8YrnBW
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1664fcGxHS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUrIVBHVzv
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37ZVimDHHl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaRE9gyN6l
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAIGOtDSl9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xwVUT1LQZ
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAca0z9dHM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK8AmT1vsr
We sat in silence for a few minutes.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPrRGr8hTQ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZ2wdHOED
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65Y5aHOxOo
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWi73n2Yhm
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmplAXE1lAj
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1oOzfcURf
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6TaqWLn6o
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomRsjisndD
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEgmo56FlD
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsicXZ58KNZ
She shook her head no.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl3R09eqHh
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqxPdxvtJM
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9uZCwDEBv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZNSttmf6g
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKLIYijz4u
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx1Gm4dcQY
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSX835YR4P
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSHbnmNpwM
I felt like I made a mistake just now.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJai60Y6Nvl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WysAzM5tW
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLYq5pzPbt
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPvDNUm7cs
"What is it?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNXEItLSSi
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEyClzKPgo
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjsxOZGgY4
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaRoiRLmh2
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJiIfw6b9z
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhum4GvNCvq
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGksEeHXRU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz6qPeSYXr
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefJelVrmtq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM7EnDAecj
"I know I can do that! But, well..."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY0Zcl7mop
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb80uw9E8m
She had her fingertips conjoined.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzauhL42IB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyNwuQHaUs
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rpfYhU9QW
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHlIe5kSbq
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ735dPwvhXl
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3BjU8YpCv
"Alright, I'll show you."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8SWCwEfKH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bw5pevWg8
"Yay!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlhSrdssRw
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaNhuegO2l
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSTL5DigsY
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cKb5Qw4pq
"I think it's best if we do this outside."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtM3pLELyU
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn58hUvxty
"Okay, then let's go!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9G46us1fF
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TVTATO9Kn
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6hYcrbvFS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra2ECdcJfA
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNa4qvxMII
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjf5xLIeNi
"Earth?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRRqs9EhD6
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WRHSkMr2G
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCZRXMDxhZ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBlamz3C5O
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjl8WL6iNt
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Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0uFW1TZIW
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"It's really not that impressive."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uL3kMp0wn
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkINcODZtdu
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh7KmfT3nW
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20oe61Dovv
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxPA7MwZFj
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcNfpDBuSy
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXver0DVL64
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I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9yDDQ9B3g
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"How'd you do that!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ12KjefMpJ
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWaQ7T7eVM
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNwJ7owqfB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq1g3gmWoR
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9HZ09gDAn
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWyPWln2GO
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe7PQAsZ9g
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCgzTSwdBi
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL11fwRPEuc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMj4dHvK5E
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAKv0zQSnH
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk36rr8F0Vr
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVfaQGI6nh
"What's wrong, Flinty?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHF8BnHot3
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZYk3ZiOyt
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW5KLvucli
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ED0e9hZ8r
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONwlUrBgu9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBFujyVEkl
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW8zEpLRUH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHBhyIxXsU
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9awCVYwcYP
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxh5NMZi2o
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpunN3V2gIY
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu65p5oBRq
Oh.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOOAwrzbbH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhj2U6jFOJ
Oh.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF76jYowQo
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FI8EJRv4Y
The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7omxp035aa
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXmMPxSLkx
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxDTDBzD6p
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFjvrbo4UJ
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioJfIQIbuz
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RepjorUFl
As for me?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V4s809uwT
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAEqxMNlF8
Well...130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76A2gNThFe
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMbCTAvXqQ
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mfw2nJTD0
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntUjsUJAuR
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O8KVaMtpc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvYaX3Hzbr
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qTOOdHg7h
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0boTSWyvsL
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4qlTuz1iC
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhktTWxL5wi
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jrbx2e6Bq
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW42mh9Zzk
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8bx0tVo1s
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftHfig2CWX
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WEyKXx7AY
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspfZp0ToVm
I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZPuHswMGc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm57QJ6ultN
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBNNDaSkxH
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqSijF76va
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa7JwIrwy3
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQB8XAYqwD
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXbn8gcKL9
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBSzZ8cgxs
I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VqsRAiEMB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6xA0KXq3P
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD5nLGXdBY
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRR0Z0b0Ee
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5bP1sodWA
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlGiADLYYc
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfiG7k2RK7
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ1GPkTqXV
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqwLIpS4ZM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN1MWVptJw
She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYPcjNchDH
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuVFdTM0fi
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AQA3LMdj5
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFB2WGLnHE
I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJkI4TkoNw
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HMmuUyRva
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"Of course. What is it?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrf0nvtbGv
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMKh91xEQf
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVoB7qmPSL
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhgMtCoqBM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1ejYUXK4U
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY84OZse6y
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQvIZnqThR
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvxjEB0Atv
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrbLs3zSW5
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSGe1k9G7a
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaIrT34aX6
We all looked at her.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtQr2Ceo1f
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6LbAUL7cl
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"Kenny."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS8GAV3Cun
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvFdlSmO47
"Yes?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbVRIYhvLE
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0VbC8X0HO
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou7c4bq7dc
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8yAvOn1Vw
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMPcN8kFml
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfG81OWkPt
"Okay. Kenny?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtjKJkUldp
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"Yes?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZdwQo7Hwt
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rc8cOSiep
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIvjh1fGE5
"Huh?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgUmz4VhhM
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHgLEgkSz5
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtdKYxG3Qy
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IfUYrVtH1
"Why do you want to go?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7gJ7OrF4o
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"I... think I need to."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQDKIfc2En
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9twAXgohb
I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VfytFkxFS
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq9mAyjPGF
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XPhfqozdC
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5bpiQXW8P
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA9AA8u0Gi
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oGKWYxFYT
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWndAuCVqUB
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbEI8OKiwC
I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzXpNPDZf3
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My heart sank.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10XEAA756r
130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIokUVBwCW
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
