Sleep wasn't brought by my collapse. I was plagued by a lingering restlessness, a prickling bit of caution that blocked my eyes from fully closing. Instead, I used my granted time to keep watch of the door whilst against a desk, an arm slung over my knee.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJtOHsNXZ3
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT84cqhWsqe
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX1a96CTpc
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxf0G0q46h
Juke joined me in my resting. The both of us eyed the door, keeping careful watch for any sudden enemies. It probably wasn’t the best course of action, I realized, as that dean was likely to get in trouble. But he was out of sight, and thus, for the time being, out of mind.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzZ07PmDIL
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQlioY0n3i
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3zz9tLv7M
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFrMBxIm6t
“There are thousands of better ways to say I have a sullen or exhausted face. Take your helmet off; I’m certain you aren’t faring any better.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCilh4x7bO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJI01eMwpZ
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5eyXlMsV4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5GT81VUBe
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY4BBbur05
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxaIh3MtJo
“Well?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiW22Bp0tD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaS6vOfs7y
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBnPH4NzLT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEo9COekip
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqle21OYFmP
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpn1Vyz21b
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28AvD4oIhz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw0a5gtQNM
He stroked his lengthy stubble in contemplation. I let him do that and continued glaring at the entrance, waiting but hoping not for something to pop out.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZiIRy62zf
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pmTHDct50
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzG19hV3tn
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUNk18GJ4u
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT1w9KOOcg
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD4qsRt2GG
He grabbed it and rotated it to spot the marks left by the Bringer’s blade. They were very obvious once he pointed them out, making me feel dumb for not noticing them.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VTlt6aXel
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzVS2Kb6ao
“I’m glad, cuz it means I ain’t gotta get a new one. And if I had ta, I can’t, since I’m stuck in this crazy place. And ta think I still got another tower to fight…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb7893UTec
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8sFPdvU9h
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn4arGVHS4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelAfUOOVK1
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY6SdRRX0G
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIu7Hsu6qS
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1FKMkmXn8
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cfrDGsQ1T
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GpM1aO645
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknrNTGQxjv
“...Yeah.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUQGUSN5KN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOz3JOm9cn
Though I had my frustrations, he was right. I was convinced, not just by Juke, but by my own distorted feelings to go back and fight. I was as to blame as he was. Still–424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3ao7UwBTL
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuWNMkf5zp
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA3wH3zRXH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhQ7905yma
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlTUtx0huF
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V9yqNfWMo
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdd71AEdo5
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoyABbqlg3
Juke chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue. Little gestures like that dulled my festering feelings. He returned to his resting face. But when I looked at it closer, it was more rigid and fierce than the face of a resting man.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEVbZ4elev
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6P9zoT4cb
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY2tyWnBpC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QDSCec82S
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdriu9ZqUMA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KQsHP7djf
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFNGo7FZpf
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSIwde1R5C
“...?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q0TWvAPCZ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEvLqEST7g
At that, I had to tilt my head.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKtYDyVW59
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnEXggI2Ak
“It’s a detour, certainly, but this furthers our goals, doesn’t it? The Retaliation Crowd are going to help us with our goal after this.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUPph2wcEE
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4aQPpcs6v
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLZo5Chfse
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLSKPEJavx
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi7gpM8FK1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3mHeuaz0L
“Dennis still ain’t here.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC91WKmBv9k
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtA3TtPntn
“...”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTtn9W0Nza
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox2GFsAlEf
The bubbling fumes within me died down immediately. It was difficult to stay mad when I saw Juke’s forlorn face. But at the same time, I struggled to see it justified.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpcvabvGME
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoHeBlN0hc
“I don’t really get it. I mean, I understand wanting to help an acquaintance, but you make it out as if he’s a lifelong friend–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn0uGlLC0i
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx1tnGrYRV
“I get what yer sayin’ kid. Ya ain’t entirely wrong, but it’s more complicated than that. I know ya well enough to make it click. Gimme a second.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAmWgphVU3
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwPyCCct8K
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbpzQKpL1U
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2kxdqIQr5
“Think of it this way, kid: let’s say I got an apple, and that I need to eat it within twenny minutes, and if I don’t eat the apple in twenny minutes then I should jump off a buildin’.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvClJos87T3
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPawoJeyrUq
“--!? W-What!?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YkrCgadk6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUs1VPq6vc
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiG1u33J9I
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOAHgJmdyI
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvZptaWRSB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86R5L44t6z
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HjcAznJA4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyt9PVTFx2
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRI4AWP6dz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUZTp7kOnO
Though I still had my eyebrows raised, I did what was told of me. I pinched my chin and stared at the ceiling, wracking my brain and hoping an answer would fall for me to grab. It didn’t come to me very easily, and I looked at Juke with a slight plea in my eyes. He read it immediately and urged me to keep thinking. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdzHVes627
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nocC043KH
I sighed. At the same time though, I figured it was a good use of time, and I knew that playing by his rules would make me understand him better. So I ruminated away. I thought of it from Juke’s perspective at first and realized that wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Then I thought about it regarding recent events– aside from the fighting, that argument we had came up, and a shudder from my shoulders urged me to stop that train of thought. Then, taking how he said it would click for me into account, I thought about it as if I was the Kenneth Juke knew.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAThYWJuGhN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwJoEemwU5
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGGLzUEYWW
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PzCD2TCch
“If you’d kill yourself over an apple… that must mean it has a lot of sentimental value. But it isn’t just a sentiment that makes it that way.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPy8y8gpfF
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tMyOQI3zp
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAneG3WZAyM
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N1yiA5sGf
“It’s like the shape of a grant. Because you said that the apple meant something, that apple became a symbol. Because you made the terms that this apple’s consumption is correlated with your life, you’re putting stock into it. You’re giving it something greater than sentimental value; you’re making it a wager. Either I’m good enough to eat this apple, or I’m not good enough to live.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdUnYVZibA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uvv6tgY13
“...”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmEea5NWsH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk268U0brh
I looked at Juke for a response, but what I thought would be a satisfied face just looked a little lost. My face must’ve looked really surprised.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgrriQ4GcB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4QsA9Rtz4
“Ya ain’t wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a wager. It’s more like a checklist. One that ya just have to fill.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXkPHJLrfi
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv2fWS7O7R
“I-I see…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaidcEZoq2
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRMqRbCbaF
My analogy must have gone too off the rails. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking like Juke enough. Either way, the side effect of going on such a thought train made itself prominent. The sparks of my earlier declaration rekindled, and I grew proud– but only slightly –for making it to this top floor.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzVw0D9xnV
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCoFuTx7kc
“Seein’ Dennis safe n’ sound is one of those checks. I got a few other ones, but they’re too private to tell ya. And others, I don’t really get.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0WezEj9CD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs90Bpci4ih
“You don’t, ‘get?’”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTttCm4QbA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7zTu0c3i4
“Y’know, when–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJR0prEvLJ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoBIVBeQqV
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSqtFP87vM
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk26GqWE9m
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXjGnXqOhc
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOJnyzOArh
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5lpqlIA8S
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ATSvY4pYw
**SLAM**424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Zcd36dII
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHixDPeVXJw
A loud, thundering sound rang through the dusty room, startling Juke and me and putting our senses on high alert. Juke put one hand on his handle, and I already called the tendril forth and aimed it at the sound. It came from the door; now it was opened all the way, but the figure responsible wasn’t behind the other side.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOU5iOGPIK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVKWhGhlrh
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuIiiAMPyq
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj45HUZcdqN
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWoN4F5Map
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvn5OSTrVp
The head belonged to the dean of the Pillar. He waltzed in haphazardly taking little steps and checking every inch of the room. When his eyes landed on the Bringer, he squeled for a moment, but quieted down once he noticed all the blood.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyAtskUjJ1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI64GDehgdG
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN0lZvbjgz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrf1OSJSCoX
“M-Mister Dean.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePwnfchPaR
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdgOybO1JS
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHWXJZxqg3
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93OYKsW5n4
“Yes, child?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPFqyIoSRd
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAXxdfg1Ej
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqQzaVYsIV
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOrsxB2vbR
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3tR4j1E07
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrsfmNsLB0
“R-Right.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR26p4rjgcY
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGZQ74YJj4
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ekuYBKO0
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeyH4VrosD
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkUi589o5o
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaBExvIRXy
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfn6l7vpUB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwAvwuZQUq
From behind the Dean came a soft voice. A voice of confidence and care, a voice I’ve grown fond of over the past day. And seeing the holder of that voice cross the threshold made me retract my tendril, and put a hand on my chest in relief.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4YqUU9JCu
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXstTEFtpHi
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AAYdRamYo
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Q9fPuXTZ
–
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAafoqnxqF
–
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–
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55RZF29O8r
With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjiSp4xt13
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEyuqHnNtz
Though it wasn’t without casualties, the foreign pillar was rid of pesky Bringers. Its control was seized by the Retaliation crowd, and the Dean still being alive was a great relief.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhu8J50pUq
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaO4F3TDRH
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YbO1j8vDP
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxqIE0Iryf
Either way, we had what I was assured was an invaluable asset. I didn’t see how in the moment, but as I was taken to the answer, Lola elucidated me about the status.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpksFTl0dDa
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXHXsz6KqI
A majority of the crowd hunkered town at the top. One floor with wide windows served as an excellent watch tower, and ranged specialists were tasked with observing the parameters. The floors above were converted into restrooms or hospital rooms. A few crowd members ventured to the lower floors to gather all the food and water available, of which there was a grand amount. It made sense, as all of those supplies belonged to the Bringers beforehand. Half a dozen of the healthiest and uninjured watched the first floor and the surrounding city, both defending from infiltrators and–424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A8GGGaDe5
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErraS6Mq17
“They’re looking for recruits. If fighters see that we have the most important building under control, they’re more likely to join the effort.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7L4xrEY3Q
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL5ejqoCq8
“Haven’t you explained that already?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP37VgIEUUu
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Cxp752Jv
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjzlburVDB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Bjx8aMR2
“What’s that?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDfulPy0Xs
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8EuQeVpSM
Lola turned around and crossed her arms. She nudged her head to Dave who was beside her, and with a sigh, he stepped forth and spoke.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73M29x2uwH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY3yFhMhXl
“Everything is done in two ways here. Either letters or signals. Old man Jackson was always responsible for the latter. We do not have Jackson anymore, so unless we make a lot of noise, we can only commune with letters.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbmu7RohwC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc4xobFt4I
I realized the implications immediately. Even if fighters were available, everyone was in hiding. Nobody knew the state of the central Pillar, and I doubted that the crowd’s existence was well-known either. But then I remembered the prowling Pars and Dave from yesterday and asked:424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaDCDfyv2W
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT4nQvc2MQ
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm4ecxpPfA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdMugHHn5l
“We thought so too. But we don’t want mages to waste their mana on mere fireworks, so we thought of something better. Since Hard-Bringer miraculously hasn’t set the city ablaze, it’s very quiet out.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBjG7SR1rT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAupZS42d2
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhSPyC99bK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQrhJQ7jYw
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVue12gUgwn
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibnQYik246
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2ZcxPmUEG
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS3KS6PpZg
I followed them further, in a location past the Dean’s office. Hidden by a camouflaging door, the room I entered was lit and energetic but smelled foul.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfUkTCHZRU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZLFRmqaO1
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKXispOlKF
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRrXB5GDYa
The room itself was decently spacious, but that detail didn’t attract me. Rather, it was the presence of wooden walls and fences, the hallmark infrastructure of a city stable. Only, it was far tidier and metallic than most.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr7Qlzr092
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUME715BMz
“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngfI4HxLnJ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqaQZRbDHh
“GAH! W-Why is this here?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE5EvfZ4hw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOLmaRE3xC
A creature resided within the stall. One with reins around its beak, and one with a stature I’ve seen deceased more often than alive. The Communication City’s signature raptor.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuLKKEr8x6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNeIyvG2pT
“It’s the Dean’s private delivery bird. It’s specially trained to traverse the city walls, as its tight curves and winding streets are difficult for the average one.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxshPNVLkX
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JynZUk5sx
“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkJq2cBoyo
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfocknH8VJ
The raptor leaned its head over the gated fence, staring at me with wide, occasionally blinking eyes. I didn’t know what to do. I was never in close proximity to one, and I never had one look at me like I was some kind of puzzle.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbjnUIrX7G
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNRIyg7NDL
“I think it likes you, child.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyEIznRfVh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tm3bb2YGz
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jpR4uvnuK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAzeAWXDT5
The Raptor’s gaze grew more intense. It appeared that he was trying to see into my soul, and I felt like an ant under its wide eyes.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky4hB4ELXQ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgb7ZrRdT1
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7eHcOJGAK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTqQQJAkyY
“Hah?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Eh3Mz5Yq
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kpvzP5kH9
“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgdPKLZQHQ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EyeYEs61H
“I… smell like flowers?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gaDldRaLO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ftG5pXYuj
I looked around the room for an answer, and everybody present nodded simultaneously. I was completely taken aback, more because of the shock than anything else.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivf7jsRNwU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuoAHVi57S
“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZKoask5ca
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡievqYbjuag
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTvxPVSHNG
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhvvIjBI39
“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd5nXAzuKO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aYNTPgtwo
“Really? I didn’t know that…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzM3BeI3gQ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxeBj3BeNj
“Ahem, moving on–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIW2yADEWh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ej2l7RVYq
Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQkwXgrIzb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsgDWxQimW
“The plan of action is quite simple. We’ll have someone riding this beast, sprinting around the town, and yelling about our victory. The Raptor’s speed can be easily modulated, so escape from any roaming bringers is easy.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC8KJABb9a
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aKIDvRqHV
I understood what he was saying. I even agreed with it. Though shaky, it was a great and efficient plan with the resources we had. What clogged my throat, however, wasn’t the plan itself, but the subtle insinuation of telling me this plan. So, I had to ask:424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlxFAbgZgD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg30JML9LNL
“May I know why I’m being told this?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2xhGIt8N1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FrxlQQiyH
“If you think it’s because we’ll make you do that, don’t you even worry. We’re not so cruel to put a child in such danger, are we, Dave?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5K0fMfa2g
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3cnZitshu
Lola seized all my worries immediately, causing me to let out a happy sigh. I wasn’t even bothered by her mentioning of me being a child, as I welcomed this discrimination just this once.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr7qDXeIXl
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzSdd9ZNgi
“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU4ZpeTMHb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaXMsDRAbG
“My help, you say…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZZlG27Aky
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70Wtlv1UM9
It wasn’t such a terrible request, though I had no idea how I could. I waited for elaboration, since they looked eager to hand it.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUIlZN2M1N
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDftTyov81G
“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BXSPpaT1P
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7xflc9ZjO
“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZPRjYdtvC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSvCK0H8Kx
“--Anyhow, your skills are most needed. A single raptor can’t traverse every corner of this city without some help, so I was wondering: do you happen to know how to make energizing potions?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1nJI8uLXf
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yN1whFg6s
“...Energizing potions?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZPKTDVz0Q
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqdL62E7dP
I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZDOcWUsaC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDP67VhguQ
“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAkqYf9ccV
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcxCsFZ9aW
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5M9L57xwl
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhOOZ0dapk
“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG6xq6KOX2
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZunkpCpRp
“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrvyIID012
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyaQGAtYuY
I turned my head at Juke and stoutly narrowed my eyes. He didn’t notice until a few seconds passed, and he jolted when he saw me.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0OesB1gB8
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcMrbxRIif
“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1BEry9zXw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoXwm7b7zV
“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeYc035cBs
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZBdwqW8Mz
I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCSWvJRv1R
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqOFXVZYnv
“Is something wrong?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4FyyJ6dSw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFKbivl53e
Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pt3kNsu6Y
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38J2m3e7PJ
“Well, kid–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq6OIJYzKG
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzlu7iIH9e
Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaRni3rWMU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgMIfYjLpL
“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHu55uzXQO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYbvskHQjZ
After a moment of droning silence, Lola and Dave looked at me, nodding in agreement with Juke. I didn’t know what to say, but I had complete composure to react. Nothing within me flared up, only a single sentence popped into my mind.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC7Rp2JPkD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZXEjAvXOM
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksMIDoSXLP
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7nHsR96gm
Whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I had a special duty to perform, and that duty took prescedence. Before leaving the room, I asked Lola where supplies were stored, and once I was told I began moseying through the Dean’s room.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq5HLq94Nn
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkboGyt2YBA
Their perplexed looks didn’t slip by me. I had never seen such a face before, but I knew what it was. I knew it because I’ve made it, albeit a much harsher version. It was the face of a witness to the breaking of boundaries, the erasure of an image of the person one knows. I wasn’t bothered by it– If anything, being looked at that in that way was oddly relieving. But I still couldn’t stand it.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3APYRNyFHt
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QgAQqIcKC
“...Comfortable.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMKgM4W7rP
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YnHuEdeNA
I mouthed that word a couple of times. Juke always had a fascinating way of phrasing things. Comfortable. I spoke it, I whispered it, I thought it and I chewed it. Comfortable.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXQre2CYTC
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6oWmCHw5u
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–
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This process… wasn’t quite nostalgic. I didn’t know what nostalgia even felt like, but I knew that if I was just five years older, I would be sorely missing performing this.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAvLVRnfyC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEYyUL6GnZ
Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorAhCoWXwY
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75mLYPPFgc
Even with all my experience, I wasn’t afforded time to let my thoughts stray and frolic into useless concepts. All my focus was directedto the task at hand, the busy method of making an endurance potion. Oh, how I missed it.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVdEpq6IZa
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60Pn2YmL8a
“...A little bit here.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFNvj60rCx
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtIT1WqxVL
It took a moment for me to shake of my rust, but as it was only a little over a week since I last did this, I felt good as new afterward. I was performing mana suspension with utmost precision. I’ve made this particular potion so many times, I could just let my hands take it away. Still, as I was going through the process and remembering the materials, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my throat that told me something was off. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1DWWJLufK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHsLk7cW2o
And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF6uDWt1rz
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzARO0t7O2i
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiDBd9qaBa
As I stood in a little booth, there was one natural ingredient from the heap of materials that I was missing: fat. There wasn’t an ounce of raw fat anywhere.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCNF1VtTqG
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBF5nJRdZ9
I sighed and rubbed my head. I knew that I didn’t look hard enough, but having to descend to another floor to pick up something I already should have was a complete hassle.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluiBOnMona
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dhvnAEI7c
“No time to waste, though.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik6hmRtGkh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTP63mLvGy
So I stood up and exited. The booth was one of several in a particular room. Every booth was an office space repurposed into whatever the circumstances demanded, and I was lucky enough to get one for myself. There were a couple of crowd members up here chatting, and I made sure to wave and grant small greetings as I passed by.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4dmTA8dzf
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA5Sk6reQN
I reached the stairs shortly after, and while descending them, I thought of how exactly I was going to acquire any fat. I’m sure there was meat as part of the rations, but from the few sparing glances I took, they all seemed dry. The only wild animal in here had a mission to complete, and I didn’t fancy the idea of killing an animal just for a potion. I reached the floor amidst my thinking and figured that I would figure it all out once I got there.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcp988me3j
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprGQ31WdPQ
I walked through, waved at those who waved at me, waltzed to the mock-up kitchen organized by a couple of members, and inspected. Indeed, I found out that I did not figure it out once I got there.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo16JSzjFzq
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“...Crap.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGprdE9Ix1
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My index and thumb were on my chin, and the arm that held them rested on my other. But looking like a philosopher didn’t manifest what I needed, and I eventually dropped the pose and sighed.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3LXdKGJ5Q
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GeJR78qKV
“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8U4qBG7NG
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zqi1qyM25
Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRI6K4khQM1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK8gAAPMM3
“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERLwY5swys
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnVIj9C7eL
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuprJAP3Iz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ5C0ORiU0
“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRjlgESy0n
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9Fcnu1XHt
“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLurH80xjB9
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVulb5IIkv
She pointed with a spoon to the corner of the floor. In that corner, small, lidded buckets were clustered together. They looked to be made of wood. But, those details aside, what I noticed was how nobody was within ten meters of them.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZrljWzpWY
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIqHJEdWJk
“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb0WVm5R4G
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdD4LLy8Gf
And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVusxh76zy
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“It’s from spoiled meat. We didn’t have salt or ice or nothing to keep it preserved, so it’s already home to the bugs. Crazy how it turns to junk so quick, isn’t it?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhRQFPwFd5
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhxAD44i35
“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMkGcKTjca
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW97g8gWjMw
With my back slumped over, I hobbled to the corner with a profound frown. I thought of maybe taking my tendril and producing some kind of flower, but none of their aromas were strong enough to suppress that stench.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc52cGuQpAN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdF65QYYKp
“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq8p82xh6p
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFcxPTvoY5
“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym5w27DsDB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPMPOpD7iQ
I cut my sentence short because, unlike the feminine voice of the lunch lady, the one I heard had the sound of a gentleman. What’s more, I recognized its timbre.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qCrd5tJet
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRCMfQ3yz5
“N-Nigel!?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hxCgcPmKo
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkcKbJ6AvG
“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPql8CR8vKC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wyyBQaS1A
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgK3v2anwR
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq1bXEHO4G
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rnLw246S6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33dRzLgnHm
“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5CMenNC64
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrehMdgIka9
“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiy39gRD67
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4CBRBuOGJ
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAC1OzwHjI
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUI2HYGKRk
“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93pZ3Zf3Us
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwER01gazhw
He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGQNXJbWDK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHyobyX4Ul
“Is this… a clamper?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonVRjp383l
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjd6AWCQAk
“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lbhu37Paa
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–
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Nigel’s presence was a lucky blessing. Another pair of hands was one thing, the knife was another, and the clamper was nice, but what I was truly thankful for, was having someone to talk to while I groped and tore stale, smelly, stonymeat.
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLxpyXotzT
“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4KmPj8i7K
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“That I asked you?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPQYJdsIMr
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I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KFQwoUKLz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONWJqSs6qv
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6e30mnq9T
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm31muMEe1
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww7ABNZMT9
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yfiN0341g
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sVDGjaDrB
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlBKRXCxqN
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07mT0BfHIL
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSTT9CxTQj
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSGbpK8HhW
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECyNmgGyin
“How did you–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlaQBSFeGw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYhBN5e1e1
“I was behind the crowd the whole time. I had everyone’s backs in front of me, so I started keeping track of the members, seeing who was there and who left by the kind of hair or weapons you all had. And, well… at some point, I noticed the head you were with changed at some point.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcWu1gnrTY
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCGDvgNZcH
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2v4Yv8hNK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiWy9xN1oE
He continued cutting as he spoke.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdrgpf9KZY
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL9elZE9WJ
“Yeah. Damon died during the big ambush. One of the six casualties we suffered. I was left without a partner for the rest of the raid.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAicdfCX5t6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjHNoUtGJ8
He looked at his hand. I stopped my own cutting, and my limbs twitched, urging me to reach out and do something. But the only thing I could muster was a few consoling words.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDhFR6yLaa
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz1BsfVVuR
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KO9A9ie2g
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFyPSq0LaZ
“...Do you think so? He and I fought a lot, I wouldn’t call him a good friend. Just a colleague. Besides, things like these happen in the field.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT58pqq9xM
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBLeqUvCWZ
He said those words. He said those words coolly, without wavering hands or trembling lips. His cutting paused, and his eyes seemed to stare off into nowhere, but I couldn’t read anything from his profile. A part of it relieved me, and another made me want to scamper away.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1NFmu1ZWh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqbNLn2TtR
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwOdi3BXtD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU8wsMiu6n
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ664FuAIe7K
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5MW1cmwSg
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m26Azm8pD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz8apAJfh7
His switching of the topic was decisive, so I decided to halt my scary thinking. I sighed and paused my motions, reaching for stored memories I preferred to forget. However, the deeper I dug, I had to wonder:424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjiHJo5Nq2
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDsNZ6hstH
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjavUmM2sj
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb60z8EV09
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYGkWlpCwl
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0f4bfdKq5
“I… darn it, you got me there.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXIBPDHeP7
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnTOM4kYZo
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfdoV8D0Cr
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KZ5IXIa97
“It was me and Juke. He and I were partnered, and for the most part, we just whizzed by the rooms. The one we had to tackle was that of the Dean’s, and for what it’s worth, our fight went smoothly. No major injuries, we weren’t too tired, nothing.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf89cxgUZVE
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kUDLHKOhd
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp90G8N1cRj
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQbcti6rup
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof8qO6hsMH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NVFwFfVSh
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtSf59GmeL
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWYmNrk9GD
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CK5IFco0K
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y7GRwa0s9
I looked at him with pursed lips.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuqSdMAllx
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgcF93sbc2
“Why not?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSelzXNo5Wh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol0kAaBC58
“Lady fortunate dictates only half the battle, and it's never the half that’ll be the coup de grace. She is the roof of the house, and man is the foundation; without you, she would simply collapse.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O8SIE74nE
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfCOjYQ9YM
“That’s… an interesting way of looking at it. But I’m not convinced. I mean, we even ran into an opponent we already beat.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJskuRBxE1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2FmcMkJkZ
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE6VzGzVko
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehhc6v9MMa
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtKktN8dwF
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLHpBe2OcV
“--!”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0A4KWEr2z
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFbmUXQlyc
Though my gut still told me something was awry, my mind was convinced by his words. I took it with a grain of salt, and taking it with such a sully still loosened my facial muscles. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfrKVakVhQ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInG0FjNikL
“Did anything else happen?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0CSX0cVfd
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihSceKP6xr
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLBGlZAxoJ
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ227qLMF1RM
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsvryAqoLL
“I forgot to tell Lola and Dave about some information we learned. Juke might’ve already said it, but I still want to make sure.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pZ1yVyb3S
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnefLsq8FFU
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfBzYC7eDO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRL1YKLVK0
“Uh…”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQsPt8PJ43
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ARVj7hy8
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzMgwAw6mH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hc3LnUYPR
“I don’t see why not. The gist of it is that Hard-Bringer has a grade-zero mana spinner, so it’s prodigalto let enemies slip away.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlylplq7tvN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrdAhsiwbf
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzlApn2jwj
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUrnIob8xS
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3eDG07AIw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4VPdundn9
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU4ToCgBj6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQzERDG4tY
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO8Szwejns
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31r9Bw10yH
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfVTcLxicb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZmM4Ddn93
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CdcWyzztI
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe2n2FlrDX
“...O-Oh.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQn0oUiaNr
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bG7H4MoII
I realized then that there was a great misunderstanding. I didn’t quite know how to address it, but I decided to take a swing anyway.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKs5q1pHor
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93dCtIKgCv
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsYhMbBcFe
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9dQdvrVgi
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoyeqGt1sH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvvjFNvJLp
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLErAorPaBT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboLuNqks2l
“Make sense? How?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt1F4GhuhV
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPr6qE9klS
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ft0n39GuQ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmi0EhwZIa
“When Damon died, I had to make a quick adjustment. My intuition told me to stick to our agreed formation, and I was advised by a buddy there to group up with her. I did, and we spoke for a minute, but when–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsZFNVCUW4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gxHjmExNY
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVfEpHxDn2
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtOdle70j7
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG1xHHHMBe
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycPoxxw5W0
“I was the last to leave the room. You left right before me. I gave her a look, and I think she understood it. I’m very particular with my messaging faces.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKNrWQiGmd
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaYHqrwoPQ
“So she still fought alone, eh?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wv6oK405F
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAEtzaJXyQ
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8Cp45tj4M
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbhCbKgJQg
“Relieved? How come?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Vtxrjey6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnSzPVIRrm
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmZxLC4ZFK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraHRbzHO1u
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqVAPc2625
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7p7tq4xej
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQVtYzsKtm
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKl83LK8YV
“You’re probably good friends with her.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0PQw5V7Vt
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7knvIgSylW
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVQJWSEJEy
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrtPw4oHhe
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFFC3ivA2j
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUviG55pkKo
He continued his peeling without care while I sat still, shaking and stupified. An outrageous conclusion, an unbelievable string of words, worming its way into my ears and trapping the nerves that signaled my limbs, the engine that ran my thoughts.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEKNXMLa3K
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkiNJO50cV
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh4hzGfsnP
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj2ldDg6UN
“H-Hurt? What happened?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtdRa24G1c
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjw6TGRQCS
“I don’t know the details, but she couldn’t walk when I saw her. She was making one hell of an uproar though, so it’s nothing permanent.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliEk4abCp3
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhmIhNGWH8
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZyFdkc1tU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HGNjmnDAu
“I got a suggestion for you. I know your relationship is shaky with her, but believe me, what I’m about to advise is good for your health.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwAUgy2YYn
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgR95ShYqs
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4lX3cEtwa
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1iBLOeEY3
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0sYsDC905
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4ROGTZ11k
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC0Z7pwXEz
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIkRrVdLnZ
He shrugged.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraiwzK0sLW
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4YcfQcyLJ
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXymJwqlyK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9tL6nWpCR
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy89yexoaIb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrjjkAAniW
I stared at the blubbering mass. It was small enough to fit into my hand, and though it would feel gross, it would be light as a feather as I carried it back to my mock-up lab. But I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Because now that chunk was no longer an ingredient, a box to check for my task’s completion. It was a rope; a rigid line to drop me into the depths.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7YYON3R7R
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsELaBy5Rq
All those thoughts, all those tingles, all that premonition and ominous prospecting. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. So I had to.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHToSrXRxnJ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrif4Cev5E
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HuGOfDrXp
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAfEEUlZzI
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaCAMkQVmA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj1Tuvc5FV
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE4YeVHlUJ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQukqLDEFB
I picked up the fat, momentarily amazed at how he cut so much so quickly, and waved him goodbye, making my way to my lab and steeling every twitching fiber in me.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuGjUlgnRW
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozay5MrNeL
–
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3FXrbWUFe
–
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9fmYWDPU1
–
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXZT3ZgWIB
“...Role model.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gj8hgXGub
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIgTXnJG0i
Nigel’s hands were a complete mess, covered in gore that assaulted his nostrils. At least as a soldier, the flesh he bled wasn’t rotten. This was a new experience, and in some ways, he was glad about it. He was glad he didn’t run his mouth. He was glad the kid didn’t notice his hands.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR6GflJ8RZ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nl52HUG8y
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllVayW9t59
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVHGuWSjUT
He stood up and brushed his palms against one another, though all that grime would need more oomph to come off. He sighed and tucked his knives away since the kid let the other loiter on the ground.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1pf4zxiIg
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX5FE44S6p
“I’m not cut out to be a role model. But I’m glad that kid’s doing good. I’m glad you’re not here either, man.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP46T4caqvN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTeXpiFpak
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS2Suxfgs6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jEpQSxfYy
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK7dvo2JsE
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUqYr33wtk
His legs came to a sudden halt. They jerked to and fro, but they didn’t make one nudge of distance. Nigel scoffed and laughed, looking at his disobedient limbs with a hopeless smile.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd3fgu3EBm
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRXCYrg06W
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxqDpbO9wN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwOGlLzZaf
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
and then Add to home screen.