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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQMpGdXzdS
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"Hey, move aside, I wanna see the water!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7QNu8klid
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Rover nudged her head out the window beside mine, to my immediate irritation.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrjsTWPrtZ
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"There are other windows! Why don't you use them?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJCooAE0Bf
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"Oh, that's a good point."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGT9VfRZF2
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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–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaYn2Vb3kJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj117WJrgcG
**SWOOSH**181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgYXCj5kIh
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUnCdwwMon
"W-Woah!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJRRJyNRhv
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIgNeEqvdI
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"What was that? That thing's too fast for it to be a carriage..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhmzlCbMly
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lqTp6RFoq
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX0NBD4N0r
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9wcwdc2aL
"What're ya mumbling about, kid?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6kXWg3TpX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYguBgDWyWs
"Oh, Juke."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gcfBTyN0E
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Juke suddenly called to me, breaking me out of my rumination. His voice held a bored tinge to it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QgJRmuCb2
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"Do you know anything that can travel across land faster than a horse?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6XQKUTWho
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Juke tilted his head.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXiIPeiM2i
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"That's a weird question. Why're ya asking?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eZoXO18Ln
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFQh3acOU4
"I saw something blur past us just now, and judging by its speeds, it couldn't have been any ordinary animal."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOauctMZ45
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"Ah... well, I don't have a clue. Ask Dennis, he's probably been here before."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oj4EiB3D0
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"That's a good idea."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt209g4AgLj
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvx3uAUikn
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"What's the matter, Kenny?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fo3EvXkEn
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"Have you visited this city before, Dennis?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XuCeVczig
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"Of course! I wouldn't be taking you all if I was unacquainted."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztqwCogKXa
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"I see. Well, do you know what thing is traveling so–"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oNmsYhFbW
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**SWOOSH**181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQaKEdDIjv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZadvmjBvxA
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhanjVR6FW
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"That! Do you have any idea what that is?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkU75uypvb
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"Oh, those. Those are Velocibas. A peculiar avian, dare I say."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT3LK5fxpD
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"That's a bird!?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeBDvVHDkL
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He nodded his head. I saw the edges of his face curve upward.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx3q4BnGlP
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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?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5GUI0QEPN
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"...I would hate to be the one who has to feed them."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZDMR3nFkP
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa07Ptma1i
"Haha, indeed, but I'd love to be the one who sells the food they eat!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZwSLyqo0F
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He boisterously laughed, adding levity to the disaster we narrowly avoided, and also putting a slight smile on my face.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuIwrWKzGn
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"That's a quaint way of looking at things. What do they look like?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyi43khAs6
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"Hmm? One just passed by. Didn't you see it?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6BYMUNRrJ
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9TpEc7UCO
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"They come and go so quickly, by the time my surprise is gone, I can't make out their features."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHPwPb0QOj
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"I see. Well, we're almost in the city anyhow. You'll be seeing them often, don't you worry."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPDPq4mNvL
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"...They don't move that fast inside, right?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6FZGGZxxe
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"Hahaha!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9ro0QYej2
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"Why aren't you answering me?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPRJaNFHxD
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgdxZhgRTw
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"What's that look on your face for?" Rover asked me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvGb1Jyqeq
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"It's nothing... let's avoid the main streets once we're inside."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJlpmlu7fR
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"Huh? Why?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jZ7J4deCz
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"Purely for the sake of the mission."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVqik9dfZU
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"Oh, alright!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l42MsAlJh
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVimegN1V5S
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She merely shrugged. It wasn't assuring at all.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye7MPD0fcB
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"Looking at it now, this city is a lot smaller than I thought at first."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmzQbUp7OJ
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdwzCsqAQW
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"Eh? The city isn't small at all!" Rover cried.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfFdwiLh4z
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHSCMLuGEt
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"Hold on–"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcDPwv35Ws
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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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGUsvUKAgc
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"...You know what? Compared to the capitol, this place is pretty tiny."
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"See what I mean?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3o72xVUgl
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrlyjR3BGn
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"The Tea Mage?" Juke asked, which made me realize I neglected to mention him at the campfire last night.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPExDV9F5bP
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I hoped that the Tea Mage wouldn't somehow find out and hold it against me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeGhWkMNZQ
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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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3oLynR7Bf
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"I don't have tea money, I'm afraid. I ain't rich."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRnSLMWEGv
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"Aren't you a combatant...? Well, never mind, I could always get you a bag or two, free of charge."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnc666KQvx
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"What about me?" Rover asked, "I never had tea before, so I'd like to try some."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtlPDR3LYO
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"...Maybe."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uWhtoddkL
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"Why only maybe!?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDsDKRFsQn
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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!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9lsgfttS1
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRpujirMl6
He spun his body to face the bed and leaped into it with a running start, letting out a lengthy and glad breath.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriHoZ5SpH7
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLeyF3ZI6O
"Ahhh... this is the life."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUC51oK7cV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYpcIv8Z6Y
"You act like you've never slept in a bed before. Also, don't jump like that! You might break it, seriously."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c0rTeBQyc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe69BUZPZJv
"Eh? I ain't fat, kid, this thing can handle me just fine."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLluU6wqKCn
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs4BqidtmX
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlFVUcbSoT
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Snix5x9GB
"I'm gonna stay here for a while; take a nap, maybe. I ain't had a good nap in a while."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06x0BgvA6n
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyemmGfLQMr
"Alright, sleep well. And if you break anything, you better be willing to pay."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb0sXAhlal
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdHoQK5iQ8
"Sure, sure, now scram."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ035RLYxIbv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKcyLuU6Q0
I left the room, releasing an exhausted sigh when the door shut.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcll5IWhIwz
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9sk5bU8gp
"This place... it's bad for my psyche."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE0StNTqBS
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1bJMoCWz7
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxwOu4QC5T
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtyfJuOrgP
"...Maybe a nap wouldn't be so bad."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75I5lSw6UK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytVDFzwgWt
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg02aG4TLsH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5APySMOph
"A nap... hmm..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJvyBNpPUJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf41OFM2III
The last nap I had was back in Buffalo Village.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOETcLpI2M
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRr6sgTu4v
"Or, no, it was at the carriage, wasn't it? The one that broke down..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2guRG3qXPg
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX6OTllv9m
I shook my head violently. That event was ages ago, and I was in an enclosure with friends in the other room.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBP1YjpICK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYayw3mQtu
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlv8x1GHCY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwTIOU0uEI
"Ack... this sucks."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC6Yup91kV
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFudyjz81S
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv22VAK81Nq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC4sK059Cg
As I stood up from the couch, I did a few stretches–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XuKdgm8SL
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8bHHLhg1W
"Ah! Ack ack ack!"
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozf4nk5vC2
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8B7bFtOdt
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZJkEsCpIu
"Where... are those potions when I need them?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAYLFu2G9O
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHZk6zsfuK
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.
"..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMKxd2WE4s
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmkA3rydDp
But, goodness, did it hurt. And the new pain didn't make my need to release waste any less dire.
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDaTnsGo55
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuDB1IC3Tm
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXfBYCbYTj
"---Alright, that takes care of that."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkffDti1DwC
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gD3LWP4pB
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zLWfNlQ4h
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd8wfz4B5P
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bFskcJSNX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dpay0jWHP
"...Right?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5EnjEuH5d
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkpqYgauSa
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iNWWrZEEU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWz6RjB9Vl
"..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLkP6kd4Gl
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H1dE0gzOc
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbGAh7Bzo8
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJt6whjYr2
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–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0zrrvVnp5
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLiIVwp4i3
Wait, where the hell is she going?181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsUtTjdAUU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToExqnterN
I opened my eyes and turned my head towards her. She was hunched over, looking like an amateur bandit.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvEMKDdI1w
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt5jWkYG7i
"Rover."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPOK0fM8R7
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhIkFhCRcM
"GAH! Ah, Kenny, y-you're not asleep?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmsDLxdCZS
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dv9cdd2PO
She jumped and quickly turned around. She was surprised at first, but her expression quickly morphed into a scowl.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBiO5omn8O
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq4jMB4UYW
"Why'd you scare me like that? I almost hurt myself, geez..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p9JH2lD1m
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42ESY9y7FD
"Nevermind that, where are you going?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmE7bhV78a
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQscv6G714
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbU7ENNBOU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q3MB3fl17
"I can already see your guilty conscious, so just do me a favor and tell the truth."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWYYnXz6R0
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNSQP2DTGf
"F-Fine. I was going to go out and check the city, that's it!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchGMp88jQR
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb4XbL4nTP
"...You were sneaking out for that? Isn't that what we should all be doing?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HVgE9M6P8
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUbGgiUPzU
She shrugged at me. A quick moment of silence passed between us, and at that moment, she noticed the stone cane on the floor.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPnekqHKo3
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TBnZH1pNR
"What's that for?" She asked while pointing at it.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD32EUA3Tmv
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJcIr3MEVG
"Oh, that... uh..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3R1R4KatO
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2H4ld2zDf
I struggled to eke out my response. It was a little embarrassing, truthfully.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGCU0qj5Ee
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Cw56zKRJ
"I got a leg cramp. A really bad one."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFKFBSS9bK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgigLeJo89A
"...Pff."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4rA4mPZxb
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgExcaXP3Y
"It's not funny!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhgQLOihGX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGpyh1KFpP
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE6T9Te5CA
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkil546T5uh
"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."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoivxpkTk4o
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwFFOFSdit
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, I'll get you some."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIABofLoUBf
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkySveW1Ug
She turned around and reached for the knob, but stopped moving before she turned it, rotating her head back at me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GCjeP6BqX
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEQnIGKGo7
"...Which bag is the sleeping things one?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQEIyusULy
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd454oF1lG
"...I see."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwQvZFeCKM
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6wlMEIgqP
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DIeXt8bqE
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMk1vgV5pu
"..."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH8Bjjffcq
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAc1XFOHn1
I felt guilty for thinking that. I shook my head and stood up.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7VuCJfNJa
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIGlzxMIv2
"What are you doing?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOXn835Osp
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrifQ1mlw91
"I'll be going with you. Exploring the town should help ease my anxieties too, I hope."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LOsP0O7lk
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqsdEImG0S
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7eOn1D2N4
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CDvqI1oz7
"W-Whaa!?"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtlSc3sIqU
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuTalh709V
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmlpRg4tr5
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxA4dLA0PW
"All this will do is slow us down. I'm not going to match the pace of a cripple, I'll have you know!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutnQV3D4oc
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNGy9Up2MK
"You could've worded that better... not just because I'm not a cripple."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPNyi8GMTd
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRobLH8stxk
"Whatever! Here, hop on!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7yjUZedfJ
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI6xP47llh
She crouched down and flaunted her back in my direction, motioning me with her arms to–181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYsxtpFDfk
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQUI4kwuWF
"I am not going for a piggyback ride."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaYA69Xlm4
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX99rJrQtXV
"Then I guess you aren't getting your potion!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdqtgRAkPY
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtvPgwISAJ
"I don't like you."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xH9A3avfH
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXW5OWGwAa
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.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rkPeOyo54
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqU13M86JQ
"Rover, you are surprisingly strong."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4p1qKlTPu
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq7uSP8nZp
"Surprisingly? I didn't get selected for this job for nothing!"181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tMVAoeNql
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp1HNy1shZ
"I... guess you're right."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd4DR5VAJK
181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaAoOKlaPq
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.
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