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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZIKiy7hd5
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwMcL4eEzo
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kxtXqS6Hd
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTnrLe5zOP
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTsveyp4yU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IPrMd9wmZ
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8EJRVF75I
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8vhnYPCAL
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2N7Z71yK0
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyFwoCLAA7
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQeJCiakyN
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtMg1nIKWq
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz97OhnXFUb
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSMOl2gej7
“Well?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpQplu1oGw
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Uy5lw31iA
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8lKtmWjLV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXBFZZa3zv
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCbgWiopEf
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuTQqpi0PA
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z7IQ759A1
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRJ3DXIHqP
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3ZGXpiqEa
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPv0uWwzax
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPqNF4EXWJ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtb9m5Cpz3
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT7Vcq9mcd
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfXat5A0ki
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiP1BSCgr7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMaoMKI1eE
“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…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjfXg57mfh
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngy2NkBxa6
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XqvCTLTAZ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlnRJOB90w
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVApGUAHMpd
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS3PG6hswb
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxsRggJITk
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnYYstnKO8
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lkMBqqua0
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxNV9wgdz9
“...Yeah.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqBZ2LCtKi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe32babv9o8
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–169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOKwwrpDRU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsAn6UNi1e
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2zcDyoa22
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWCw9ZWoeP
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKCHmRQlQ7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rcgKpQzUX
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYmmy6pkjY
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAxyuOozji
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dyCMjk85g
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAlc3jmgPc
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqhIauvYe7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EBKBJKegQ
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GC6H9hJC3
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEu3YSKWCM
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRCo0YiMs1
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw1VA6PqYJ
“...?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag6BRGIUE5
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuT2WjWeqH
At that, I had to tilt my head.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKS2I9NIYo
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuGp8GD960
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBk2n3rHKL
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEBJuHCj3g
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfdva9cvkF
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb1mE5YNXo
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanG42M6C2a
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg42Kdid9Mh
“Dennis still ain’t here.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb9YJRk2yB
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhSGAZADoR
“...”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatfNhcALr1
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDYg4i9Ve8
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpZPHAAUhI
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBQpDUgijf
“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–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1iRkXYfFN
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqa6ome7uQ
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcok8U6ZSD
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHbu4yBpzg
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiSu3uuX5M
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixmMv2hn7F
“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’.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgR9ahfGVX
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCCMDOVR6i
“--!? W-What!?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8NAOsPKKh
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN9vXulYty
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxbHjtrKz3
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohYtFaiipr
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZd6mwUx1C
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O3hdrFuDv
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2qddekpW0
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mpXUuxH6b
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVturMLmVyM
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTiTx30Mp6
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. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkMlBWzPOV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a00eSkQLj
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZQRsrg6HU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73yoVAbBrb
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbqEnErhJE
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JBZj26F1U
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsSemU553J
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6UBaDqta9
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uIX8Hm2Mi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe4LzHjoau
“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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bXxakREbO
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHEAppxP3g
“...”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusw2GgtQ8j
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSU8EDmJ4F
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz87SP9MTFF
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUhEx5dttM
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpIANruoTN
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpdivwVFRx
“I-I see…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNiSJts2hi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnuNF3aq9C
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb024U426KJ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNIDuN9Fbu
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypcXo7tMxA
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDiMdsaHMK
“You don’t, ‘get?’”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4oVZwegrn
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfzAUTjrWU
“Y’know, when–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SI0ShjHbx
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMkDm6OBCY
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYr4gBYnbw
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3VlDLP6MU
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7qURWrO7E
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3dxEPBzrp
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Iarzp7Fiu
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8wrUTHHqr
**SLAM**169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGE9lgTSnx
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmZBQSZS7q
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0jXPRHH5O
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hgsPBk1ZJ
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4mw3CELyC
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFt9Rqk578
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTrDe2O0fJ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx9cqz3iyq
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP68Wx86hRa
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42M8VnRjDm
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKT2YMg1yB
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHbx32irx8
“M-Mister Dean.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8GEh0PARs
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3l0IkgvRn
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxUawjeVEE
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzCrK1KdWj
“Yes, child?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcK0oFLLaU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVLLD4FMY0
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLInFZxvNrf
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT84jJeHtg
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1nJ6rYVDt
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDlKwzrHmE
“R-Right.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dl3pkIQNp
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq5u2z0uCG
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSQNHNYX1r
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlTUWbZFhx
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iAcGof1D7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihgugRjXQq
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xWOUK1Nuj
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqizrh9ov5F
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p4tKjIZj4
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw7k4k2EUr
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sZzKVgjLi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13RvWV49Hh
–
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–
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–
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With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYAvHybBfb
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR9u7TilR8
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7BFOtCVeO
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZX2bZd1sv
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE0S1HN1Pq
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvtxzbmYEM
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zxyO8fkt6
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6LNy9DrqQ
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–169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD8B5uikjZ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpySe73fmAI
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DlsE1VU0G
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wqwtxb7oi
“Haven’t you explained that already?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUdll7zLcW
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt9utcdohy
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllQkvb5ZEp
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4qpjnzkG2
“What’s that?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaVQbCCN5Q
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaGRbYAyCU
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQACd1OG1Eh
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwheltyF1br
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBibyoTk2Yu
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0h2HDVLBg
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:169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeat8HKpOpi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6SbS8dnWN
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWfoBhqFGz
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9FmkleGsP
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcysjhtZZ4
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4GGPp2GlG
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcyKaLGAc8
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTcHxoydY9
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAFs68AkXO
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KGQ7b2ZCj
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkqOj1dFa7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCdw4nIuA0
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwFRLTqYLh
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZbHUdOIDq
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUHXNC1sYB
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKWoChRaoW
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ6LUQMu14
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSKP4UGPpt
“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9LQw9NGiO
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“GAH! W-Why is this here?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptHFCc7jra
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25tH5b7QDr
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16FWwWL9BK
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DKGszfXPV
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9diRGtKJy
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“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPcudAPeia
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6oACCK3dG
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2JANy1Z2T
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“I think it likes you, child.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJpsLeUkLM
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFFQwoZTj7
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf70c6KrT3m
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6mTlPWz40
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKktnIn7I3
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd08oplfpL
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sZ9MzzOBO
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“Hah?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8xbS4OqhV
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“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EYkdUpARu
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfRRlZ01yl
“I… smell like flowers?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn69uLG8GB
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ2p76qf2f
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“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXTLaABWFi
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4l2ShVEM2
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnSkSYWWSk
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“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLBSmSXPiq
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5aGHvUp2Y
“Really? I didn’t know that…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rhIKDhBce
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“Ahem, moving on–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sTPOxgWFN
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Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxqBQYWpbs
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“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjffA2JpE00
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg9Swkq0n1
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:169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSehSBQJdH
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh2rvlXAU7
“May I know why I’m being told this?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5dcVEsx0k
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“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?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOvWVnMfvd
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qOm3o7WTX
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy3Eju5miJ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgPaMK369R
“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VmK5i6R67
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“My help, you say…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP4NXEu5by
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSAb41QyRg
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm4yHUXCaN
“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR4Sg9A5O2
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“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3ePYE43za
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmAK9ElKRE
“--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?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkWEOT107K
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxUnbP9fsq
“...Energizing potions?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BO0GUqtyz
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I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwZxuXa67j
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“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VBRrPsGdc
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBWJuDtPil
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMmZzdUjl4
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXramUjHGE
“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7VNHsDDTR
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“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfv9KWtqdP
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWc7VWLcQK
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf61DsWmLfr
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkDzEdAp5U
“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJetQVwpg7R
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtJu4mlp4D
“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJecGo9KQo
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I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK1cwrqT9R
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“Is something wrong?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinJ8pY5iTS
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Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwscgh4hTB
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“Well, kid–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhZ8RrD9hl
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ij9nczLhQ
Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLgMwSHhuE
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo78hAsBtb
“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YaXEhlJ9I
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpfBGnfhhT
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZCq9EPTQU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLh0Iog6wT
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOM4r3m5fG
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHA8p3X9sZ
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyiM1YfxBK
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOUYCrxA3o
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVGvvgDLo1
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“...Comfortable.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN2L8XnluG
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAMa0mbK3y
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH79fPToSZ1
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTpVeybjHc
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Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHxE3jSy7W
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dYxPpjlsT
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“...A little bit here.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWRcyaKplD
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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. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3rO3EFss5
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And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKZ9NFQ4yM
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tJMDCRufA
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwB3nLLVNA
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3cu79WXK7
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNrvDKqO4a
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“No time to waste, though.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN1mtzYXDg
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUKDEnzkJI
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId3RaHNi64
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDTdsbEtrE
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“...Crap.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0D4V8qdji
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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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiST7eR6RIo
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“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUQcruzUso
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Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXLRaNtL4Z
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“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc8ciUshF6
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOemxil4EL
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVWc0zzCuQ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU3I1YLpAl
“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXIOANLo6b
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb4KZepnIr
“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbN2R6OOph
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcWcBHw8On
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BxPAwnom8
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“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9bWdwK9xH
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And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1psFM4dUrt
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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?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhDscZtKcn
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDTg9cQVS9
“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbvEmQDUeQ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx1oXhq3Vj
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zKTEoXVZu
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C3wvLIZ1n
“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny6F8PUa7a
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWypPP8vhf8
“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlxPthoXWC
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPYy00WlUH
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkESbY58R2
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKnAQ0K6jt
“N-Nigel!?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18Ck1MnP0B
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ittbatpe
“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCKyqheGSE
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVDrTMlxmC
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrKsu4Bn5i
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOlCkYLYc8
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcu0XvMqw2
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySWztDXjKO
“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyxjjvNuGa
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“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL1fWj3qQ9
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng9KJDt5pa
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFysnmuPCUe
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPRfuh5hJL
“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXX0WigX25
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8z8SRFL74
He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGfaEMamAt
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“Is this… a clamper?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTsmgSnrtm
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“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwZbejq1BR
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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.
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“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI1Dg7KeXT
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“That I asked you?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLd6f9iavu
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFi2y7SRLR
I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8wwOqZfYS
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtNh1dYJlA
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbrku2a9S2
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL7pofMaxt
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy33ul8u30e
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh9mfwjifY
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJehqOpcrj
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4xQC6TiIU
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOignH6IU8Z
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV6o5X1N0Q
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bvxAfqj3A
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhT61CJWwF
“How did you–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmDWggqgGD
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunuvpmjAXP
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXNOR5J180
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSTuypMKxe
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8PodsgOpa
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycO59IBfrM
He continued cutting as he spoke.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv6PCJTH9C
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR3hopzYd2
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYmbcN9BEF
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZZX5taBYT
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEq6jngFQl
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6bqkEBcsx
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIFMo5PTVO
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqT2djV1vI
“...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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNRGVRCisT
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUdjXLLbfC
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkh8a8ii15
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mZiMBOYyn
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhIIU9boKV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqs0zxS15s
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzMnKJWVF5
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6hDFWtQPe
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xFYFBUdE0
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Ku4GkwjD
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:169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1PCnOLJeK
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ZgiNYR4e
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxah4nV4Hjx
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUmx5NePL7
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow69utMxvv
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPO4fNw1cx
“I… darn it, you got me there.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV61kmtO6E
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5DVLcFkjO
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSTV8T4vF8
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5wLOxICmI
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATNRzigFjP
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MdHS9U6FO
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ6GWYNsyU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EcUiyrThr
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5Ctgb9cAX
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghzeAeCTCY
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cHjwUYjE7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkiU4XDI7D
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER6KzvyOX4
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX8UCgHfzI
I looked at him with pursed lips.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h0G4S5HNd
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyxFs0XxkZ
“Why not?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMbxzauBp7
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW59oe4lPd
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPNEHuefzG
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtTSst2RFB
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreKkdOOh0d
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyWnwbrnd7
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XljepMwyA
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cz7QEFIwD
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjGRqTDync
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AVWG45ZnG
“--!”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfzUoO8HFm
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe3Rph8hgo
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. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgWqAv4Quk
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi4LEYa0fM
“Did anything else happen?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1ABmKqDka
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs4FzhvVox
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDKihH7NYX
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aKSKBBK6K
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WMwAsSp7s
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qqFgI5R9O
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjVqBHOYxR
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPtGwGWLS1
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZpBP9j7sN
“Uh…”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8TMjw6DGK
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrbOHagfOn
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmlzijVAAV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHn9Csuej8
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApibag9HZV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxceWwLtDc
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpuTeWlZ1W
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwDE8TRXJS
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuh7ETKyDV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rgTrMfMvu
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VcP1Vhzwg
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXaLZIeyzT
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSraQ7csYNa
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bx70aqCHW
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0K8w3JTfU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErSz7egQXg
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBorfSbICG8
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAs8EJHq7J
“...O-Oh.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vVztX5YZl
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2NZMX8xIx
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevynLuLL5a
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pI7Th1xGh
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm0ErXnMT3
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7vI1JpcJz
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmMPuV8zkn
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdWA8rgw1k
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6Gbzlhbub
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZZl2sR3Ko
“Make sense? How?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PzpCcDyyY
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpxIsVFZuh
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoOThN94DV
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4LzFxD3w6
“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–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1SsrQ8f1x
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOxRGIu2IV
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6THWHblyb0
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeO2Tj4Zfz
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto8KwaAVFe
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgfPj0mjin
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlzbEWF4ls
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPPtw53uoL
“So she still fought alone, eh?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5iHbJF32m
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm91xcW4qm
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vh2ovvE8s
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh0TGxLt8B
“Relieved? How come?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqpBdmL9qL
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD6dAB1uNG
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqLyvoB1TS
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypHISYDM55
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcURBFsLfZ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstryE8x2M0
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsIgNYnHgz
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMMwDVh7zG
“You’re probably good friends with her.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDnQs3XDQg
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIajSxIr9x
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhAZ61Fs8L
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yNNqwSOUF
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyraI0mhPf
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5UZjWOy5n
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaZOgS4J8W
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhnvmoiSR1
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kIqYZsLKr
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcFUmeJKwn
“H-Hurt? What happened?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Q2eqvL4I
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8Bc4Njw4n
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGH9CXEP7S
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3SMbOXxbk
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaxXyFb3JR
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd3TNCT3mx
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe4Xa6413k
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqhs1gm7uh
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIHIEzqTB2
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJssWTwVCt9
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0tvHv39dn
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09W43SmR7u
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFfzUvYjKN
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2GBVH6kmX
He shrugged.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjJqRSTofh
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJbU19uYNe
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08xhAXsmry
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd59QHhs3Ra
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YtOhs0mAg
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYOiiezV4t
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD085S93jpz
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJppcbZiLM4
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptugsvOLWN
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X2MRn2YrD
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDzDnxRGnU
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejdzDXkAEH
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AWQuaIkr5
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kg028QUzF
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwOGTkOMqp
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF09AzLA8z
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlZrr3e9aF
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVpWhWgaN9
–
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–
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8R657Gz4o
–
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy88NONWY5J
“...Role model.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaLS26eFuI
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJwqDc8nzY
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yPCH3ESGJ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWXMalFYbv
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKYCeKaw25
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8ey9zqiiO
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbruRv0URLZ
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoa0qjQgv6
“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.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2yvXe1GVv
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSU2eyp903
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDZ9bCx5c4
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrsFzQgP5o
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNgZGFVf1n
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf99PJ3l4lI
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.169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcHDjWomgb
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY2v8Fb2yB
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqVoeeY3OK
169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wnbgkPoOK
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
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