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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqDZEBfg04
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39PkTqltzZ
“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAhuM3nTxD
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwpBSnuvTA
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51iVynT0w2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpjM8FzJ31
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjlbvxGe0Z
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8proJWTXA
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakIZjGZzCw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi38rzAXdd8
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3fQNmv7ig
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXF3jzTUK1
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMFrDWLKDb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BtYiuwQgA
“Well?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORL7MaicHl
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwEyeXnhhz
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ297OZF0hAZ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGon1LhZwAC
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrAwtQ0m8G
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj7SWg2xbK
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xB5dhP2kw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsVhvdriij
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDNlC5pOZO
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlgpTyLcDP
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg3AZ9kMfR
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTpQmhsG8w
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBotwhPh20P
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdVuqAlT42
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaLkIN9eot
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5jV9Em52K
“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…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPlSeiR9la
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDmC06LMf6
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWG652E17y
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujfxUIZ8rK
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PMg10arW4
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX7ZtEpN11
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10wu3ImMFK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvCir7CmO9
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CD3dLk3Pm
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTVuJxJlAS
“...Yeah.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSFQrrNdpo
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCANfrOztE7
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–246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYEZwq5Jne
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgt5GVTdoR
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdT2SaAqpP
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHTkOucgip
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHkBq247hT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxo1oeyZxu
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S0TkFnHnu
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dhKYZBWPt
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSMertqrp2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmGnbAlGCF
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIvpPDR8ih
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7wFy6ht2I
“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF2kofOgKz
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL7GKXLz4e
“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCAXoAZoTO
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7jlAkyqD2
“...?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsaJhEWXXB
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nTTCBA8kL
At that, I had to tilt my head.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ptNhppusT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7fnIcd8Cz
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuMNVapWM8
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dprG48qFb
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DC8zk2qu0
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLADZ5UpC5R
He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aZOiaVPiS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbB3zFRrKL
“Dennis still ain’t here.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBVxTO3wTH
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwesn27WxE
“...”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSvDHlDBI4
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTVm26Mcjq
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZijzHZx69
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbOeyVlkhQ
“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–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWwPpcMYdx
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbnSKl2TAS
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXOYAGiSIQ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Re7pvPvws
He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnnfY3UnEK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCtevpiygc
“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’.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tMskyxTP0
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEtMnjsBo3
“--!? W-What!?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d9lJcdxFt
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UTMjxuIlM
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d93ZmVicc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59OGRUfobT
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwBGF3lL7f
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09ARk03vL9
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3VKDUtNRB
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSYPM0N8ZG
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafOZwdlPxk
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHJvFZLtgR
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. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LFqTUZDAW
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEMzr5KlOE
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6objTN4euT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEOMgGLD7A
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzNfuJJubi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J5bZHpaCC
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Dp8feHYW
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIPHH5CXPX
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziW4JZiL4w
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrAQTDVw3U
“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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqsTL7pFr
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd3wgDXIYu
“...”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AasVw3NDT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccMRKgGU3j
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoMs6oFOag
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRQYuZTcZ9
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21ouIhAoz4
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajfyPDDvyz
“I-I see…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnMuNlouKD
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZLbdnm17D
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS3vsIKKOy
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RQVAEMJgH
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsZhCoAyEF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONZZKlqsYJ
“You don’t, ‘get?’”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTSiLkkc1i
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVWmT0Zn9m
“Y’know, when–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DN2IAdQ9d
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJl1w51Ctj
“No no no, I understand you. I do.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdynaXuHnY0
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80IhQz8pXj
My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6wCaCcHVj
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVFxzGX1yr
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXVvP2nH9e
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcObQP9ReLd
**SLAM**246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dlKQvIPj5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F9ftniIJX
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTHDPxCcMi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneQEaFqkZD
That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1GmztF9Td
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa1B6ESaqP
“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtx6Q1YbtC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX76lhXrHw4
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIInqvTnuF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl6WHdmUhn
“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBKX5pFBsd
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoaGrf3Q5u
“M-Mister Dean.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVVNWPsamJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLKe6pyAws
I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89sU5X6hKC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTW2rGvCyQ
“Yes, child?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1dzVsM2OG
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvXt5bpoCA
“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemMvb6cwEF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUPT0PkSmW
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ912Sf6jJ0t
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFeONtCh5x
“R-Right.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UsdN7f2g3
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbIPmAyRk1
I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ583bMmKCfg
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2YDQCeNgb
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu9ZhB24J4
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE7O33BuK7
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KvbHof7Tb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumW1E0bUX3
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjbuAxQVLJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHI1LsJsGo
“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TNErw4TOi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9w6jgwcqn
–
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ0nzWaBGQ
–
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–
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzC4JcHvDN
With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeRveXX7dS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt81Rc8dCcj
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo462Wzuont
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtCbdT0I8u
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7RKSSt4hf
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOqt0MPI9c
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w4QxpqUoc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtZcQpUwd1
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–246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPMOk7wNwc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivXudUkr2Q
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjdbwg7feD
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fK16xF7e5
“Haven’t you explained that already?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxSMoinS1R
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vRRXwDqiG
“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk0aK5y4Yn
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS82Kbp8S4t
“What’s that?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG8dqbWTj2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70P7OaxAme
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1Xoduh4n8
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl70yegbgD
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjstLjvi6Hb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yCaBFXlm5
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:246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzkmdYxZMk
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZOwRdjvuQ
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63XG76ZsYj
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4HnK5ojux
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV0RunXA1j
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtda7Sh1Db
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD4GTvmL2Y
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxcKAa0MPZ
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rqD8Yg1dQ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxutrwbH1V
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7SQB5e8ST
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TPkSY2t2q
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj31rJ8w8Hs
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0q8bVVr8k
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3qMydxwUu
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUeDkF3bnR
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlptPNIZkZ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLsGYNJKff
“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H1FZnFNX7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPVduHYLab
“GAH! W-Why is this here?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mESblWne2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJqi1tvXiv
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCZEQdccBU
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP3oxHNoes
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrxPGi7qny
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG46SZCcxU
“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8TStmCKiS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQSqfcfrlm
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w3CgYuHDl
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ARhOKagm
“I think it likes you, child.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEg7Kkn4cK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuwrpAQz3d
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJIJzlXWYt
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ashcIhOo0
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdErWitYxEs
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U1nMv6q8w
And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi4LKGO5kF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVneYARVSd
“Hah?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFnoxtSfu6
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg7ckuTWrg
“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxRQGCuIpk
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT5k2QKclM
“I… smell like flowers?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpLoAgZiyJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ68RZecs9
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvsTWgfWs4
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzLWeE0iaC
“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIseIKFAom
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSXhqvXtwj
I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamWWnu4vah
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMkjyeKNLI
“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbCDMbB68Z
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr9OcwkZ5l
“Really? I didn’t know that…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyg81tTVpc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3an0yKQdo
“Ahem, moving on–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWUt5c03VE
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KnAJGeWBs
Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4M2Fl2Det
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVV3qzJFH3
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWACEntBoK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfIfP8lq5d
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:246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLKQvvvzNH
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIzTHN4ugb
“May I know why I’m being told this?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2rckV9PaV
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8nCD15Obn
“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?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKpaNOsxZT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16i8OxTRGy
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KXoFC7Qzo
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GGoG9IBHh
“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRwdRvWdRP
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMeB77pgc9
“My help, you say…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3U8tLezwQ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGLi2a1FdT
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWan6fQqsc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5u345OBiF
“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAXSpB2wT5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgDJaGeOYE
“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d3muf6QLb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiISv6GYzx2
“--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?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJneTtOQ87
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP2TxJiqu3
“...Energizing potions?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG6hwFu7rn
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNVW6q9Zio
I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq1c9RNlTA
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaYPsVi4Pf
“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZHCH5Wsbb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpZu5BJvYm
Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYX1IMh5oY
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQAyomRj53
“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkQJ0cFmfi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaykj81J32d
“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZymMAK4Fjm
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fztB2bHDJ
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfugWHyFszx
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljTB3K46Lq
“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5nyovF3Ae
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbRlOJhCcj
“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCwEuL2MU7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7zJ3dCIxi
I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0RKDYAp0R
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wSPjJCgHp
“Is something wrong?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00hBRt3sI5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD2pot6sD4
Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eYpiEe6gH
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos8QsTKa6l
“Well, kid–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnJOIRSy1S
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEpCl4sZxr
Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThE2XaRlCd
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOE98PWhiL
“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFtXchFsgH
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xvGlIeOqw
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqeZK6rhT7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsESULUQZKe
“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5wnwmdYKs
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpETNfTw4Kr
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2mrHi1Esw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAiicpLvbo
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnmfBDjFR0
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1YCDMB2xw
“...Comfortable.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0czF7YRh8d
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0cHW7iBFb
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmUx6JzcGt
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7TBB24iNx
Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fiXw0zOal
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWHtgpfwia
–
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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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nfEBYqEVI
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V8jMreN7k
Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwU0ucj3L5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf0bjoTrH7
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl0I0ihjhf
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4hanRDSLx
“...A little bit here.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg7VuEN7A2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAF2Hw4A65
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. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUfnkkHcgR
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqKGQALoFG
And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5roANSM9h
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQxwkbegBx
“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR7atb8eoh
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQjluys8IR
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIwIhHTqdl
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7yq6VwpKU
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNoYFcpxtE
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kn06oc3Dv
“No time to waste, though.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQHrV6Pucy
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHignyF2mdM
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1716vpWaD
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIO0h0EfJv
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkAHbfUGRl
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEfxBmm6Jj
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBRrHQggjn
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHm5Y5M0Jo
“...Crap.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc6b921bzK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadueipo3i1
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IbnKmhhNz
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQuF9lkJJN
“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13IxnMySfw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4jwVHHoNs
Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzVisfUv1j
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8DhesPhGl
“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dr7ji0Hjg
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnWGExwmhp
“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8EcPmHvZK
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1f3V4S1uz
“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO2gyp1zeo
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11PIzUg3v5
“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ggrrZ4bhd
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G0CeJLame
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEBqQFxyKC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINxyBpQd2x
“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqFEhx7u4N
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoDSAmLIVi
And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2T7HbHyaJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl72mIjzBZJ
“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?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolAqQqlT5x
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx6vRo7Bc7
“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8uJOxkU4b
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXUVKI52W8
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lErH8hKEk
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60ZroOWif4
“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRETdHr2l1
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMQbgSwOUt
“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAC0Zrw62Z
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98wSPHYXGH
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87xlUToFtW
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdyMRzxf3i
“N-Nigel!?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98fvmsIgh8
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWZ07xkck8
“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcMQczCZ1S
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueEeX4ZuHr
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGkZHY1SAx
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dGqVlaQ2O
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZNj6wrhxw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY6ZNBw6iL
“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs0L7o2O1Y
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTfk9spdTu
“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQswlvQyLmS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBybMR0iv2
“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKiIIYvYjo
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJEW6QHUxw
“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH4B532qUj
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjiX2DPaMY
He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBKfNTtmdh
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJgas2ugTA
“Is this… a clamper?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK33atGT5qY
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgRhtsEYKz
“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxVr67hBQa
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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.
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCOUaNKjFY
“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1oiS82MXt
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBQRJEoU9H
“That I asked you?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoDENp6GS1
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I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzix6fXeRv
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24drK7CkfT
“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57sH4EcP7w
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPUJgq3QbN
“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUARghvzjF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BquP4xuPq
He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00mpe9xiNF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3THrNTqByU
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6d4Xr163N
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC9Jo1G28R
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxfWkYNIcI
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6cnTb4DKs
“How did you–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo7pigcOhX
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAdLuETFIJ
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdV95ehWCf
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsubx2vF73
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5tGIoLSAP
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpmsXzJWAo
He continued cutting as he spoke.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbUt53I0VF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS1yTnh1Rm
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEHJjTp1wN
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt96AMuXwA
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw3g2VtA0U
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvxjyQ301i
“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGhMgGILXZ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1TDITdf3O
“...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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIflyEkdLQF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTsOhETgJO
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUKXN0XjgN
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn7fScUzdu
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJPfy13zle
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27mTfzRAWu
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlQ9Ucvc0q
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLiGYdah1I
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNXIF8ufYa
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgsgvv5jgd
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:246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rzbklFskF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoy0wtH6or
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKLR0u5aXa
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcSTpfLV9y
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAguCYTxLw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsFPhveM4z
“I… darn it, you got me there.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCaN5yFf46
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCQyzXeXkR
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hUyTsjYmh
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1b6avSi9w
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vPoOXpEgx
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCj9pAWUhB
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAOKmHtx2W
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweQIdv1Ddu
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PvYjCkC0L
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU21L9m09gh
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaVFFIagWN
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sxzrqfJmg
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrXFMaHVjj
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiQdnYVh3e
I looked at him with pursed lips.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pmhoAxKEM
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9In9OOg6g
“Why not?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBgzbsfYIS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWbp4ozPF1
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SWOBHc0oA
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskRLuEzgGb
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXMhZ6jST2
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDvR6x6F6b
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvMLHLVPaC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ejp7OqbrH
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE1tLy38UC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOD2uMo4J9
“--!”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hSQYtk4uq
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVZdKf12ko
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. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG4pJaQQSw
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3hBOqsNED
“Did anything else happen?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHaLV3TUVH
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MojG5g3Qm
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeec27QgSV9
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevwQGcCwSh
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3tvwtcGpO
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIBbBnk5b7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw0QAoaVlQ
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mviovAyO7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH0Jk32EIg
“Uh…”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8voT7kxqS
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvgEvSlzI6
I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzu3RzHg5G
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMAAUk9Rnz
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeqD1gj8DI
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmxLYzzL14
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNxCpui2iM
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViytUR3O6f
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9QlHixy1C
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIAa56GRtW
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwG4RFhr1L
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtZGNW8W4n
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqW8oo9ebm
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZlrTdR1eW
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz539u1cyef
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡassFbEHIUb
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V67fVc5Ev
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2bARnoLxP
“...O-Oh.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAY8eDszNc
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuLGe5qSsY
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWcj4f8BVj
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9fpIoTxcK
“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnO6UKEikZ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62tf1kQga
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwVgqwHzPb
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq7uZZoDhe
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoVGDOXy7s
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55IFzxdBne
“Make sense? How?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmnn9BV6jJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4A6aUR2Q2
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcetME13Do
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygDwpRxThE
“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–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RU5GZK35f
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqecYWWA0E
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ke12LMoZJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYwwIvR1NE
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz17le6eLw5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaqad0zh0J
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbg4N862j5
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEc1WIeu2v
“So she still fought alone, eh?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwFUNM0LwF
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQgHK1R3Bi
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGmehTpfRT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XSbQzGTTm
“Relieved? How come?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvOSulERxR
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjWIVRGJCt
I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjeQne2VUv
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHVgOxSSwu
“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXLw21nlbg
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5y1KetO1o
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl7NDIT03T
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ADO75XaFW
“You’re probably good friends with her.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPxN7Wje0a
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSfy5aQBUR
“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6so4RVH17
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdgWoMWVnH
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gz7hun24u
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2sqdsIcFF
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzwtXBR4Ap
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEPevuQLkv
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4xdnLLBPE
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl9A1hmwmW
“H-Hurt? What happened?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV3xlhAhWG
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFiH9ZsvB8
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJOpuVmRrD
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSBijkTMT4
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDrqpBIsBi
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t2wdsXZCe
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TrLMRNWxa
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJskeSGp2C
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCiPggnRPT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDvyBuKXtz
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMlH1t5ej8
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQpK3d3tlZ
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHTe6yetkG
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13k2LcuOGR
He shrugged.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQITXM8YnrL
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh8NdTgtor
“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuhJkxU0AJ
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngTsGQi5Uu
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEFQgrsJlC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzMbZ0fVei
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyXtGCoq1D
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfdBpYLQpE
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHZZUNYOEk
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBCsgdjtkH
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUc2gg5QUy
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu5CplyUln
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzGgFWXx23
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe438oqr1XO
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1811kUJzU
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IY6X3N4LK
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX53hMCu1dO
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxDb4ujVin
–
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbeRpDehnx
–
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPiaUhHWWj
–
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Xz3qzT6i
“...Role model.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19bPkQ5ZeT
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJcGmWZVEl
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRH6WO3CrC
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC50yBf4dCu
“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAM6n1HUBN
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ARsr6wQKP
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRMilrwWDN
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhAHlDz8WF
“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.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBYU8qU9a8
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQLsiOwKjE
He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2XaovUcoo
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptqQpOtTDm
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWiELqJCe7
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWpiErNcNQ
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.246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIaWr0FVgd
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw48tc1vAnv
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGJNiWssme
246Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMtpwSfdCF
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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