The stone bridge was suspended dozens of meters above the lake. I spent my time gazing at the deep blue water, admiring it. It was my first time seeing natural liquid so dark. It was sublime.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4p3JPKOFD
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"Hey, move aside, I wanna see the water!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe41it4ttmL
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Rover nudged her head out the window beside mine, to my immediate irritation.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE3ZsaSRQa
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"There are other windows! Why don't you use them?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQerxUEL1P
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"Oh, that's a good point."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvArxn1knV
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Once she left, I returned my attention to the bridge and lakes. I could roughly make out moving shapes on the other bridges, but the sun forced me to squint my eyes, so I couldn't tell what exactly they were–208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3BcVEctuY
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhXP74FaXU
**SWOOSH**208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamUsRKs0LQ
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"W-Woah!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNn4ExFN1Y
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And then something flashed by me, leaving behind a gust of wind that pushed me back inside the carriage. It was already gone by the time I stuck my head out again, a mere blur in the distance.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET6eyE2Uvd
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"What was that? That thing's too fast for it to be a carriage..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw58PpBbUB
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No one heeded the call and answered me, so I was left hopelessly curious. I stuck my head back in the carriage so that I could theorize, and also so I didn't accidentally lose my head if another one came along.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZvPDncvfN
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"It's a city with communication as its vocal point... maybe a bird? But what kind of bird runs across distances?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe93zliCL7T
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"What're ya mumbling about, kid?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKPq3Ac4Rd
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"Oh, Juke."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcyEwfqGD9
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Juke suddenly called to me, breaking me out of my rumination. His voice held a bored tinge to it.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjDVKSu33K
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"Do you know anything that can travel across land faster than a horse?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaycTCyGALK
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Juke tilted his head.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUQtOZO7iJ
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"That's a weird question. Why're ya asking?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzu896mkRX
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"I saw something blur past us just now, and judging by its speeds, it couldn't have been any ordinary animal."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwYvqpLJzX
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"Ah... well, I don't have a clue. Ask Dennis, he's probably been here before."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzEwMkrn8u
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"That's a good idea."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVLjMxja49
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I turned around and slid the tiny hatch open. There, Dennis was holding two reins in each of his hands, humming a gentle tune. He must've heard me open the hatch as his head leaned back ever so slightly.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxOrtmNVAG
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"What's the matter, Kenny?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdXmEwWrBh
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"Have you visited this city before, Dennis?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm2Xn5cQIj
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"Of course! I wouldn't be taking you all if I was unacquainted."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfLEQff9AD
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"I see. Well, do you know what thing is traveling so–"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncQMChoc1J
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**SWOOSH**208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf46E0mSLZ
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Just like before, a creature blurred past us, leaving behind a wind so tempest it nearly knocked the coachman off his seat. He picked up his hat, which was miraculously caught by a garnishing piece of excess wood.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQpIuVpGYt
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"That! Do you have any idea what that is?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbiZmkIABX
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"Oh, those. Those are Velocibas. A peculiar avian, dare I say."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPJ9sfoNk1
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"That's a bird!?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnkLwiQftq
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He nodded his head. I saw the edges of his face curve upward.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1NzHa2a19
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"Indeed. They're quite rare in the wild, so Kommunikatsya has cultivated them inside city walls. Considering their speed, they're quite handy for transporting messages, aren't they?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Jn7Dm8FDY
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"...I would hate to be the one who has to feed them."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGKA1VrliR
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"Haha, indeed, but I'd love to be the one who sells the food they eat!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBItKzWDCG
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He boisterously laughed, adding levity to the disaster we narrowly avoided, and also putting a slight smile on my face.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp8yPRMP9n
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"That's a quaint way of looking at things. What do they look like?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2NEv6TOt4
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"Hmm? One just passed by. Didn't you see it?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifq2VewanJ
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He asked me this as if it was abnormal for one to not see it. With that thought in mind, I became slightly embarrassed, but I, fortunately, had a logical reason behind any inability I had to see them.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPlf80b2jy
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"They come and go so quickly, by the time my surprise is gone, I can't make out their features."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBg6tKbSNR
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"I see. Well, we're almost in the city anyhow. You'll be seeing them often, don't you worry."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZReza7LQO
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"...They don't move that fast inside, right?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RwsbvRrgb
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"Hahaha!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjybwukJrU
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"Why aren't you answering me?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlTHLpze5n
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He kept laughing, leaving my question unanswered and my body tense. I gulped and returned my head inside the carriage, silently praying for the best.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEphoMolqu
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"What's that look on your face for?" Rover asked me.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RI2L213iY
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"It's nothing... let's avoid the main streets once we're inside."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVT5RbkmQB
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"Huh? Why?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqbqjVksoM
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"Purely for the sake of the mission."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOFLl4WObh
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"Oh, alright!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJMzn3jtfW
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Telling Rover a half-truth, she threw me a thumbs-up with a toothy grin. Unfortunately, she began thinking about why it was for the sake of the mission; the way her eyes drifted to the ceiling gave it away. By the time she prepared to raise a question, I stood up and held my palm out at her, shaking my head no and pleading for her cooperation with my eyes.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSThktJy0wn
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She merely shrugged. It wasn't assuring at all.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwVxCOH5hY
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"Looking at it now, this city is a lot smaller than I thought at first."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzAPrz1nrZ
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Juke's voice suddenly hit my ears. I turned my head towards it and saw him beside one of the windows.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kbVyhBIBW
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"Eh? The city isn't small at all!" Rover cried.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz2lupfb5x
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"I think the lake's doing a doozy on yer eyes. The bridges, too. I've been to a lot of cities, so as the expert, I can tell ya that this one's tiny."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5sC9eT3yH
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"Hold on–"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt8E8Q4rVs
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Rover moved towards Juke, peering her head out the same window Juke just had, seemingly forgetting the advice I gave her two minutes ago. I moved closer to the two.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E90GbOn4D
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"...You know what? Compared to the capitol, this place is pretty tiny."
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"See what I mean?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ2pgymDtN
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"I think that's because the city specializes in something," I interjected, "Since it's primarily for communication, you don't need much space for living quarters and the like. I remember the Tea Mage talked about something like that in one of his economic ramblings."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHARCBvQkx
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"The Tea Mage?" Juke asked, which made me realize I neglected to mention him at the campfire last night.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCVtWH9KD2
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I hoped that the Tea Mage wouldn't somehow find out and hold it against me.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tnzAHKFkt
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"He's my mentor, though calling him that is a bit of a lie. Anyway, you should visit his shop sometime."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlfewFGKZh
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"I don't have tea money, I'm afraid. I ain't rich."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloRmvGPJxc
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"Aren't you a combatant...? Well, never mind, I could always get you a bag or two, free of charge."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98uujKoI1S
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"What about me?" Rover asked, "I never had tea before, so I'd like to try some."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKClHatzKYA
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"...Maybe."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOunwBx4HO
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"Why only maybe!?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nk1NPBZzQ
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"It depends on my mood."
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, leaving me with a satisfied smirk on my face. My face quickly turned neutral once I noticed that the carriage was slowing down.
"We're here? Finally."
Juke stood up. I expected him to exit the carriage, as his short self-spoken sentence would imply, but the carriage began moving again. We likely hit a stop where a guard had to ID the driver. I was surprised that the carriage wasn't searched, but Dennis might've known the man who checked him personally.
Juke didn't stop moving, though. Instead of leaving the carriage, he pushed aside the cushioned seat and waltzed into the storage room, closing the door behind him. I didn't call out to him; I was too engaged in perplexity to do so. I looked at Rover, she clearly didn't have any answers so I decided to follow him in.
Except, right as I was about to grab the doorknob, the door flung open, and out came a man who wore the same sweatpants as Juke, but who also had a light black shirt instead of his bare chest. Additionally, his iconic bucket helmet was missing, and nothing was there to compensate for it.
Indeed, Juke was currently showing his face to us.
"...Why are ya two looking at me like that? I know I ain't half bad, but I ain't good enough to leave yer faces starstruck."
"Well, at least you talk the same," I muttered.
His face betrayed the impression I had of him, which left me both disappointed and mystified. His face was stern and his chin was defined, but he didn't have any facial hair or scars to speak of. Indeed, he simply looked to be a man in his thirties. Though, the way his dark brown hair was tied into a miniature ponytail was unusual.
"Ah, that's right, it's my first time showing my real face to ya."
"You... I don't get why, but I thought you'd be wearing your helmet forever," Rover said, and though I didn't voice it, I couldn't help but agree.
"If the folk here saw a shirtless man with a bucket on his head, then we wouldn't be very inconspicuous, would we? It's alright though."
He stuck a thumb into his chest.
"I'm willing to lose my Endowment for the time being. It ain't like we're looking for a fight, yeah?"
I absentmindedly nodded along to his comment, too busy scanning his new outfit to properly listen. I noticed something and snapped my fingers.
"That's what was confusing me! Where is your shirt cape?"
"My shirt cape?"
"Yeah, this shirt isn't what you normally wear; what's up with that?"
"It was sweaty, so I tossed it aside."
My face took on an exaggerated frown. It was not one of sadness, but one of simple understanding, enhanced by my sluggish nodding and crossed arms.
"Are the passengers ready?" A new voice asked. It was Dennis, who was peering into the carriage from the front seat. "We've arrived at a stable. I believe it's about time I take you all to your abode, no?"
–
–
–
Though it might've been silly to expect otherwise, to my dismay, the infrastructure of the Communication City was very similar to Zariel's. Indeed, each building held a different purpose, had noticeable cosmetic differences, was even made of different materials, and most weren't even made for civilian harboring, but the atmosphere still reeked the same.
–That is if it weren't for the unusual hustle and bustle of the streets.
I have only visited two cities in my life, so my perspective is nescient, but I have never seen every entity in the street wander with purpose. Whether it be a person, an animal, or a person with an animal, they all moved systematically, carrying freights of various sorts or simply trying to move from one destination to another. Nobody was loitering around, not even in the occasional alleyway I stopped to glance in.
The atmosphere of this city was indeed different, but I had difficulty discerning if it was to its benefit.
"...Those three buildings..."
I did fail to mention one major infrastructural difference this city had over Zariel: the three towers.
I didn't know their names, nor did I understand why they towered over everything, but their size and unique shapes signified importance. That much was evident to anybody.
"Do you think we'll go to them?" Rover asked giddily, seemingly overhearing my self-mumbling.
"Well, we are in a city of communication, carrying something highly important. Those buildings also look very sturdy, and if I had to guess, the leaders of this city are housed them–"
"Blah blah blah, I didn't ask you for a run-down! Yes or no?"
I sighed. I deserved to be chided for using her question as an opportunity to think out loud, but my eyes twitched nevertheless.
"Yes, probably."
"Woah... that's gonna be awesome."
Rover tightened her fist. Her resolve looked to be at an all-time high, which was assuring. I couldn't say the same for myself, however.
"Being in this foreign area, for whatever reason, is putting a sinking feeling in my stomach."
"Huh? You're homesick already?"
"H-Homesick? I'm not homesick!"
"You're totally homesick."
"Shut up!"
Rover surprisingly complied, but her smirk still left me frustrated. I distracted myself by gnawing on my finger and looking at the streets yet again.
In doing so, I noticed something that widened my eyes.
"That's... is that the Velociba?'
Amongst the myriad of horses, humans, and dogs was a mountainous creature with a bulb-like head. It stood still, and because of that, I could make out its feathery exterior.
"That sure is," Dennis exclaimed, "they're a beauty, aren't they?"
Narrowing my eyes at the creature, I uttered a noise of uncertainty.
"They're imposing, sure, but they don't look like anything special. They're quite average."
"But wouldn't their height be a factor of their unique splendor?"
"I suppose... wait, what does 'splendor' mean?"
Leaving my question in the air, we continued traversing the city.
"Oh, I also heard you two discussing the Communication Pillars," Dennis said.
"Do you know anything about them!?" Rover asked, making her infatuation with their scale clear.
"All I know is that those three buildings are where information goes in and comes out. They look so intimidating for a reason. For one, their security and speed of delivery are incomparable. Their outer layering is also magic-proof."
"Magic proof?" I asked, "Who was the one who made them that way?"
"I'm unsure, but it must've been a great mage, no?"
I pinched my chin and looked at the ground. My mind went to those 'twelve founders' people, but I quickly dismissed it, since it would likely be common knowledge if one of them made it that way.
"I wonder... if it's one of them..."
Rover muttered to herself. Judging by her tone, she was thinking the same thing as I.
"For a building that size, it would take even an expert decades to coat that in anti-magic matter, and there are three of them."
"Maybe it was one of them."
She had a pensive look on her face, which brought upon a question I had in the back of my mind.
"Say, Rover, why are you so enthralled by the founder people?"
She flinched, a sweat immediately forming on her brow. She fumbled her words terribly before squeezing an answer out.
"W-Why aren't you, huh?"
"Why are you answering my question with a question?"
"If-If you answer my question... then, maybe I'll answer yours."
"You're going to make a lot of enemies like that, Rover. You know, Flinty always tells me that kindness and fairness are the building blocks of any friendship–"
"Shut up! Answer the question!"
I shrugged, deciding to comply for the time being.
"If you're asking me why... I guess all my fascination is spent on magic plants."
"...Huh?"
She gave me a look of abject bafflement. I didn't know how to react to it.
"W-What?"
"Plants? I know you told me you study them, but I thought it was just a throwaway hobby or something."
"That's offensive! Take that back!"
She rolled her eyes and looked away from me. Naturally, it only irritated me further.
"You're making a big mistake, I hope you realize."
"You really are a kid."
"Shut up! I don't wanna hear that from you!"
"--It looks like we made it, no?"
Dennis' voice returned and our merry band came to a halt. He was standing before a building as tall but designed differently from the rest. However, judging from what I've seen at Zariel, I would hesitate to call it an inn or apartment.
"The hell is this place?" Juke asked, practically for me, too.
"It's our current abode. Rather, all of yours, since I'll be spending most of my time at the stable. Let's go inside, I'll introduce you."
Doing good on his words, Dennis opened the door and we entered without a hitch. My immediate impression was that this place smelled far too good for its appearance. The interior was primarily composed of wood, some segments in a noticeably better condition than others, and there were no windows to speak of. The only sources of light were lamps sprawled at the vacant tables.
"Sheesh, this place is gloomy. Are ya sure we didn't take a wrong turn?"
"Don't fret, I'm sure. In fact, it's good that it's empty right now."
Dennis walked up to a countertop and knocked on the surface in a peculiar rhythm. I expected it to be some kind of code for a person to come out, but then Dennis slammed a card he took out of his shirt pocket onto the table, and a door behind the counter magically opened.
"What the...?"
I immediately assumed that I was seeing things; after all, magic of this kind was unheard of, unless this was a form of mana suspension I somehow didn't know about. I was not alone in my shock, though, unlike pure stupefaction, Rover's mien held a degree of awe.
"Ah, is that you, Dennis?"
And then my bewilderment went away like it was carried by a flood once a man came out the doorway.
It wasn't an unknown, mystical form of magic at all–
"It was just some guy."
Dennis and the man exchanged a few words with each other, prompting him to motion us to follow him into the doorway. We all did and were taken to a miniature living enclosure with three doors.
"This will be your temporary place of residence," Dennis explained, "Two of the doors lead to a bedroom, and the other, a restroom. There is a kitchen and dining area as well, as I'm sure you can see."
The place was far more inviting than the room outside. Sure, the floors were still wood, but it was mostly covered in carpet, and even the parts that weren't had a better-kept surface.
There was also furniture sprawled around the room. I took the liberty of testing one piece for myself: one couch of many surrounding a round glass table. It wasn't as comfortable as those in the palace, naturally, but it was still more than suitable.
"This is quite nice," I blurted.
"I don't think I've ever seen a place this neat," Juke replied, "It's got couches, tables, and everything. What more could ya want?"
Juke sat at an adjacent couch, digging into it with his bottom and squishing the cushioned armrests intently. He closed his eyes and released a lengthy breath, sinking further into the couch.
"I see you two have taken a liking to it," Dennis said, "familiarize yourself further. I'll go visit the stables, and I'll be gone for a while. Before executing the mission, enjoy the pleasantries of the city. If you can find any, that is, haha!"
"Goodbye, Dennis."
Dennis bowed and left the room. That friend of his approached us. He was bald and chubby, but he had an amiable demeanor.
"Just so you all are aware, those two doors that are beside each other are the bedrooms, and the one across is the restroom. Feel free to make yourself at home. If you all need anything, just ask, alright?"
"Thanks, pal. Ya did a big favor for us."
"I'm being paid for this, don't worry."
"Ah, I gotcha."
The man smiled and waved as he left the room, leaving me and Juke alone.
"...Wait, he didn't give us his name."
"Yeah, yer right. Also, where did Rover go–"
**SLAM**
One of the doors to the bedroom flung open. Rover stood there, a hand on the door.
"Did you need me?"
Juke and I gazed at her with wide eyes. Confusion settled, as I was certain Rober was behind me not even thirty seconds ago; how did she worm her way into that room?
"...Well, kid, guess we know which room we're taking."
"I suppose so."
Rover shrugged and shut herself in her room. Juke and I stood up and entered our living quarters. Unfortunately, we faced an immediate issue.
"There's only one bed."
Not only was there only one bed, but the room was in a shaky state at best. I should've known that the main area of this building was a far more honest indicator than the living room. On the other hand, though, I wasn't particularly bothered.
After all, those couches made quite a good pitch.
"So, who's gonna take the bed?"
"Ya should take it, kid. Yer young, so sleeping all cramped up will stunt yer growth."
"You just made that up, didn't you? Well, if you don't want to sleep in it, that's fine, but I don't either."
He looked taken aback, but not in a bad way.
"What are ya saying?"
I leaned in, more so for the effect than fear of anyone overhearing me.
"I don't trust this room. You can sleep in it."
"Are... are ya serious?
I frantically nodded. A huge smile appeared on Juke's face, and he lightly chuckled.
"Ya strong folk are weird. Welp, I ain't complaining! Come to Papa, Mr. Bed!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JrbT2vcSZ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBMe34XV2Z
He spun his body to face the bed and leaped into it with a running start, letting out a lengthy and glad breath.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMqpE9yD1f
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx4EWXcuSP
"Ahhh... this is the life."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyrDreBTZN
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGWb0CJCX3
"You act like you've never slept in a bed before. Also, don't jump like that! You might break it, seriously."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfErIbwrFLJ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJPNWWORO9
"Eh? I ain't fat, kid, this thing can handle me just fine."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYy5FrepRt
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq13d5cJmVP
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBl2kW8fOu
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV35Amu6I4A
"I'm gonna stay here for a while; take a nap, maybe. I ain't had a good nap in a while."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAFTEUy8qO
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS4d49COE9
"Alright, sleep well. And if you break anything, you better be willing to pay."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkaT83hfcD
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4ffj82SJP
"Sure, sure, now scram."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztoCYri92w
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsyou00Ma4
I left the room, releasing an exhausted sigh when the door shut.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0lrcs18sk
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknJlEobcHh
"This place... it's bad for my psyche."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreP1MWMBkA
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtj5mXB806
I clenched my head in my hands. Truthfully, I felt as if I was walking on eggshells every second I was in this city. It wasn't just the fact that it was foreign, though that did contribute to my stressed nerves; it was, of course, the mission itself. It lingered in the back of my mind as injurious anxiety, popping into its forefront at moments of silence and ease, preventing me from keeping my breathing straight or taking a rest.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpW0v77pha
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XOpNWAxZ4
"...Maybe a nap wouldn't be so bad."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fkNMC8wDN
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ0IMwMMCg
I stood up and walked towards a couch, pressing my arms into the cushions a few times to test it out even though I knew it was soft. I took a proper seat after a minute of testing. I couldn't discard the notion that this experience was an inferior one, but I enjoyed the feeling of my body sinking into the cushions all the same.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIPfPkMX9K
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFIctvYhhe
"A nap... hmm..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc01YdKAHt
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSxMf7BMKA
The last nap I had was back in Buffalo Village.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v6s3YZizA
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYbSLNI9MJ
"Or, no, it was at the carriage, wasn't it? The one that broke down..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5ofh90CPn
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjUG9RWg2X
I shook my head violently. That event was ages ago, and I was in an enclosure with friends in the other room.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2OsV2Zq4o
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiueVkrLs6J
With warm thoughts, I closed my eyes and my heart rate relaxed, slowly, slowly, slowly–
–
–
–
It was a sudden and rude awakening. Yet, my eyes remained open for what felt like forever before my body registered my woken state. That was when I first moved. It wasn't a limb or my head, rather, it was my throat. I swallowed and found it dry. The discomfort didn't arise just from that area but from a place in my upper groin as well.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu0WtQhmhz
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylkTRcaIZZ
"Ack... this sucks."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9IT4o2rAH
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ897GwpJFRe
To be woken from a pleasant dream just to empty my bladder was annoying, but I should've expected it from the amount of toilets I kept seeing in my sleep.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWg5rzjK4Q
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3qqwJrzyl
As I stood up from the couch, I did a few stretches–208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUGg6aC832
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH9vsdrbHb
"Ah! Ack ack ack!"
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf75EnjxaE2
Then I fiercely gripped my calf. A sharp, overwhelming pain suddenly arose. I tried to soothe it via massage, but my fingers were small and weak, and most of my efforts were already focused on gritting my teeth and heavily breathing.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbsqtRzEus
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUui8x9fx7e
"Where... are those potions when I need them?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREfAsNRbpt
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcSLZqIpD7
I knew where they were, of course: the carriage. But it was clear that I wasn't going to be making any round trips to it now, and I didn't have any desire to bother my teammates for something that I was sure would go away in ten or so minutes.
"..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0onWc2qWTP
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75A3ctltfW
But, goodness, did it hurt. And the new pain didn't make my need to release waste any less dire.
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidd9LjtFbq
I had to wait a minute until I could even stand on my right leg, and even then, walking was a challenge. However, I was able to arrive at the restroom. Surprise washed over me as I observed the state of the room. It was much like the one in my apartment. Though it was quaint, I didn't have the luxury to mull over it for long.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz6lww8LPQ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5dQ8ZkN1B
"---Alright, that takes care of that."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgU9X7CMvx
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFVn4feI6G
I washed my hands and exited the restroom using the wall as support. Returning to the couch required a similar effort, but I came up with a brilliant idea. I used mana expulsion to create a stick of stone, making sure to thin it out so it didn't weigh too much. Now I had a cane with me, which made traveling much easier.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AsIhV5qph
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgdFqUn91r
But of course, the fact that I needed a cane at all forced a nervous chuckle out of me. I prayed that whatever it is that I did to my calf wasn't irreparable. It couldn't be though.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarudOTM8jf
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXxtKmz37L
"...Right?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHxnIGAmp5
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZmjQUWepT
I figured that, most certainly, sleeping would help my situation, so I limped back to the couch and took a seat. I set the cane on the floor and closed my eyes, shaking my body a little bit and squeezing the armrests to numb the calf pain.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhNm07Sss2
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXmA6DxqQs
"..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5a2t5Xdgb
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzJMVuyFy4
Needless to say, sleep didn't come easy. I had my eyes closed the whole time, counting the seconds as I felt my mind slowly creep into a slumber.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKvw3MxgEm
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEz3GcnZJf
And then, a noise. It was an unordinary creak, one that came from a door. From the direction of the noise, I knew it was one from our living quarters. Judging by the quick and nervous whispering, the person who left their abode was Rover. I kept my eyes closed, praying that she wouldn't bother me, hearing her creep and tip-toe away from me and towards–208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOri0H0yTT7
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EYWVNDexW
Wait, where the hell is she going?208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHDtWIOG5b
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PwyoLleBw
I opened my eyes and turned my head towards her. She was hunched over, looking like an amateur bandit.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j3s7EzTJz
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfPNAneHxl
"Rover."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOhfM0plC1
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnlsQE7bcC
"GAH! Ah, Kenny, y-you're not asleep?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQocNby7y2K
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb18VaAFjZR
She jumped and quickly turned around. She was surprised at first, but her expression quickly morphed into a scowl.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv2qTJvxG0
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW2JeExltn
"Why'd you scare me like that? I almost hurt myself, geez..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXPXaQ3fe3
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtUEemAsVo
"Nevermind that, where are you going?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcvkRlIao4
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZBfwuurAn
She flinched and widened her eyes, averting her gaze as she tripped over her words. Thus, I raised my palm and shook my head no.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcBdZ7wFtB
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiGynqKVXW
"I can already see your guilty conscious, so just do me a favor and tell the truth."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzrfehIuAA
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87i37RO49u
"F-Fine. I was going to go out and check the city, that's it!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nHwPbZ1jf
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKKMuSqfAz
"...You were sneaking out for that? Isn't that what we should all be doing?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wf8osz5HA
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r01ad5DVa
She shrugged at me. A quick moment of silence passed between us, and at that moment, she noticed the stone cane on the floor.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGgr0HIbIc
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aTWguncu9
"What's that for?" She asked while pointing at it.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM3ciVqilx
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SkwW5gPCd
"Oh, that... uh..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEVNUeHa3g
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJuvOilgMg
I struggled to eke out my response. It was a little embarrassing, truthfully.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUy03dBqnK
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzQXFiaZv1
"I got a leg cramp. A really bad one."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx2ER1zhro
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOOSAvW63A
"...Pff."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0WzXMzRsz
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF06ueADIYe
"It's not funny!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6a2eYQez0
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXKro6BDj6
She didn't burst into full laughter, yet I wish she did. Somehow, her light chuckles were more insulting. I sighed and closed my eyes as she kept cackling until a genius idea came to my mind.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAByCU8CJWE
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwykbDd7jNP
"Hey, Rover, since you're going out, do you mind stopping by the carriage and picking up a potion? They should be in the bag to the left of the sleeping equipment."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExQzqvP9C5
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSMz9hyxzv
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, I'll get you some."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl0z1q7h4A
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqzSApH5Vp
She turned around and reached for the knob, but stopped moving before she turned it, rotating her head back at me.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrN9yLEuMU
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIvtfinoMe
"...Which bag is the sleeping things one?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLOZctOjvQ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX1sKXTTAs
"...I see."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNyfdhLI2f
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gJC1GlNIy
I sighed and leaned over, grabbing my cane and cursing at the heavens that Rover of all people was the one that would be helping me.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylk4pyWGKR
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1asYaNt1g
"..."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKCy45PpDP
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY37HpeBzr1
I felt guilty for thinking that. I shook my head and stood up.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsgIOCmrBS
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy8l9tvTKa
"What are you doing?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbYUKmLyRd
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwZ5TFAp2T
"I'll be going with you. Exploring the town should help ease my anxieties too, I hope."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GfnbVWAUY
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym6XYJSGx1
She looked surprised for a minute but had a confident smile show a moment after. She walked up to me with her chest puffed. A feeling of foreboding took over me and I instinctually took a step back. She snatched my cane away with one hand so quickly that I tripped and landed on the couch.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kQmvPLYOS
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw1KAV9GhC
"W-Whaa!?"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup30tL8yS2
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I4Kf7vygn
She was holding it with one hand, playing around with it, inspecting it like it was an unknown fruit. I didn't care so much about the fact that she so shamelessly stole my leg support, but more about the fact that she could lift and toy with it with such ease.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTFfEozTaK
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwwztrR4ji
"All this will do is slow us down. I'm not going to match the pace of a cripple, I'll have you know!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJcHiVtnvD
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhLuIJfs6l
"You could've worded that better... not just because I'm not a cripple."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n2moohwqZ
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzuMkfHGQl
"Whatever! Here, hop on!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKaKqswCDd
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0VyrdMFvJ
She crouched down and flaunted her back in my direction, motioning me with her arms to–208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlNzi9K6pf
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH145rrhUJ
"I am not going for a piggyback ride."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauvb9z23xs
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yCfdiVAFR
"Then I guess you aren't getting your potion!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT4KiiqnAz
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeRC3K7XAL
"I don't like you."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJeDZnPZ2I
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1bpFbBB4w
I put my hands on her shoulders and quickly hopped off the couch. Rover caught my legs in her arms instantly. She stood up, but paused. A few seconds passed, and before I could question her, she shook her head and walked to the door as if she wasn't carrying anything, which begged a certain statement to be made.208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZOVDkZK5e
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI7ETr0i13
"Rover, you are surprisingly strong."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKpfPytRM4
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf02W1piBWn
"Surprisingly? I didn't get selected for this job for nothing!"208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEIvSZqCoh
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbYspvnYlQ
"I... guess you're right."208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEsDONDBCP
208Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKsQ21QBDS
She opened the door and walked through. I had to duck my head several times, but aside from that, we left our abode without a hitch.
and then Add to home screen.