"Hey, wake up."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWNqOfLeyS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrIwXr6inO
"H-Huh!?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7nwL7y21X
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8haQcHoQjS
I was rashly wrung out of sleep, jumping at the sudden touch on my shoulder. I fell pathetically to the floor, groaning and rubbing my chin as I got on my feet.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk0r4r4tRS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLchj5MQ9tE
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr3gRgPUmO
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DTMV4Z7lD
"No no, it's fine."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9FgR7iR18
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkteZg6CQD2
Once the pain subsided, I let out a lengthy yawn and rubbed my eyes. I had difficulty keeping them open. I rubbed my face and took a seat on the couch, hoping to wipe away the grogginess.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph83WPIgFM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI32RcWMutR
"Goodness kid, did ya sleep at all?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32pRg7BFxt
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZfnmatuHQ
"Huh? Yeah, sure I did."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDi1vSdRgE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aCozWJAAD
I let out another yawn. After a dozen firm blinks, I was able to keep my eyes open for longer than two seconds.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rccMurG8n
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAONi0KbKH
"Are ya sure–"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl20EwvKgE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7V64B6Ubw
"Listen, Juke, I'm fine. I'm, perfectly fine. My neck is just a little sore, that's all."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0yvG4WhLA
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkAVwStPJ0
It must've been because of my sleeping position. Perhaps that was also the reason behind my shakiness. It had to be. Using mana expulsion, I produced a bit of water and gulped it all down, then began stretching my limbs.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYf7A3Q6bR
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhpYTwskN6
"Well, if ya say so. When yer ready, come meet me outside."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0d5IK3IAR
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mrFNiPwFL
Juke exited the living room, leaving me alone. I wasted no time going through my morning routine in the bathroom. Once I finished, I returned to the living room. Outside the bathroom door, idling, gazing at the couch where I slept.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME2HDdVOJ8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8HwcMg15R
"..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D3kjcE0vw
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Now that the grogginess had left me, my mind worked at total capacity. It came with unwanted by-products.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzjs0BbK4E
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdcmhVVJa1
It had barely been ten minutes. Since I wasn't counting, likely less than that. So little time since I woke up, yet the flow of time had already become contorted. I clutched my head and looked at the floor.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5ywuplH38
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyBJ7cpcp0
It was no use mulling over it now. Besides, I was hungry. So I left the living room. Juke and the man were sitting at a nearby table, eating their food with a third plate unattended. I tottered to their table and took a seat.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gKBkVNIKW
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp9BGEqEy9
The plate was full of fish. It wasn't a food I'd associate with breakfast.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsH7FcJd1i
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"Hi young man, how did you sleep?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7upgoF2e1D
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BXfEeOH2V
His tone was cheery and amiable. He sounded like a pleasant person to speak to.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0hYyES5q3
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpkQiBkM6M
"Hmm. Huh? Oh, were you talking to me?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAozyDoqcpS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pNiPXAL1Y
The man nodded. Now that I thought about it–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrxMxqynJJ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoFCiFiYeI
"What's your name anyway? I don't believe you've ever told us."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6T6pKAJxY
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSKIKMwrtM
"...You must be right. My name is Hank, it's a pleasure."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkANDTIYyv
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97bUSRMTrP
"Hank... did you cook this breakfast?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfWGoTSEwF
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdwCymgwaT
"I certainly did. Well, go on now, try it."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKJGFyWDyR
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjaeuJha2L
I turned my face away from him and looked at the fish. At first glance, even a toddler could discern that it was undeniably well-cooked. The fish was coated in spice and–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOppy0pbuLt
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKM9raI0uB
"Don't gotta waste yer time ogling at it, kid."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF3SMVROh4
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uTebTqCnK
Juke's statement interrupted my necessary analyses.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4byREVj7u
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7lAKs6kkS
"I guess you're right. Is good, Juke?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiM8iZD4Sp
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSrbYEKqkG
"Yeah, it is. If ya don't eat it now though, some bird might poop on it and ruin the taste."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62IbvavREY
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy61xIutn8Z
"What?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb8fD1zxLZ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCpobWeZFM
He sighed and flicked his head.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QxLGoN91L
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7QVGVLV2Q
"Come on, let's enjoy our last breakfast here, why don't we?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB26lu0ytd
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYcJEAzx2Z
"Last... yeah, let's."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKF8W4Th1W
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BgN5QiYes
I took the fork and began to eat the fish. It had a kick to it that I didn't expect, but otherwise–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9Qo4jDhK7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYR3Ojyyvy
"This is good. This is really good."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXXNk4Q3fg
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvASNw1wQyn
"I told ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lgFnJyttj
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Jjmnspwn
I kept eating. It was pleasant and satisfying. The dish brightened my mood. Marginally so, but it was still something, so I was grateful for that.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNS82w4E5B
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExMIrJP7uT
"Wait a minute, Juke," Hank started, "how are you eating with your helmet on?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMaYhZfCXf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu2R2QI2z0
His question caused me to look away from my fish and at his own. Indeed, half of it had already been eaten, but Juke never once removed his helmet to do so.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMWHjxxCkN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgmd1uYzlu
"Trade secret, don't worry 'bout it. Just keep eating."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6LpdlIVp6
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74WubrjgtZ
The man backed down. I kept looking at Juke, but he wouldn't eat the fish in front of me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8IPsJVwZL
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ogXDSfA9I
In the face of that obstinance, I smiled. I knew it wouldn't last, but at least I would be able to eat my food without any daunting thoughts.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRK0ZpzVF7
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–
–
–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB46uTBpBx
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Once we put our tableware aside, Hank corralled us back to the table. Juke and I sat by each other. Hank had a pensive and nervous look, giving me a sense of foreboding for what was to come out of his mouth.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB72hu2t7B5
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHvz67q5Pd
"So, you two want to leave the city, correct?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRisoJspx5I
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqSrJefGPY
"That's right," Juke responded.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh5z1sW0Mn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIIvPmsXXv
"I see..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjS1eStHda
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiFW8rGXKw
He pinched his chin and gazed at the table.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsoK1MZZPP
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRDoVCWbop
"Well, I won't try to stop you, but I'd like to give you two a word of warning: the streets aren't empty. Those folks at Hard-Bringer are surveilling the area quite compellingly."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7ZGYHlIcK
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7g3mkSHLd
Juke let out a sigh and I rested my head on my hand. Honestly, this was in my expectations, but hearing it be confirmed was a blow to my psyche all the same.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutukIlDKdS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19IFNFt1Ay
"However, I do believe you two can get out fine."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrokUwNC3gJ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Dy3zgr7j
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I doubt those Hard-Bringer bastards got the staff to keep an eye on every part of the city."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuU7aAAfv1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TYGFCtchF
I nodded along to Juke's reasoning. Hank did too, less tense than twenty seconds ago.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6GCdROWgT
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3poEJlpHUz
"Do you two have a plan in mind?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJIvFKFMiS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTT9LOs8vO
Juke turned his head to me, confusing me more than pressuring me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fpxKUPEVW
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7cinoL8jw
"What are you looking at me for?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV6UL3hABH
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipBOVTsiBA
"Ya got any ideas?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbICDGBHvr
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"Why do you think I do, anyway?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs9KM1IJca
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He shrugged at my inquiry. I just sighed and rubbed my temple, racking my brain for anything.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdEaL4xM0T
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjmb52wAD
"I suppose we'll have to gauge just how heavily the streets are being supervised. If they aren't in every nook and cranny of the area, we can probably weave in-between alleyways and whatnot just fine."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OQDp0jTKc
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfNFsyhj4g
Juke and Hank nodded at my statement. As concrete as the idea was, it hinged on a factor too risky for either me or Juke to confirm.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ga4ZMNRA
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFje5vMi3L
"Hank, can you go outside and check the surroundings?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5XyYOTtWq
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6c5DYZaFi
"U-Uh, I very well may, however..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnve5Qt86L
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I raised my brow, then realized that just because Hank wasn't me or Juke didn't mean that he was entirely safe.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GSTk9JpyV
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKzkIrp9sz
Rover's visage flashed in my mind. I brushed it aside for the moment, barely.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOPabARJhK
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzw5X9jZS
"I'd rather not run too far away. Otherwise, I'd get apprehended and questioned, and then it would be evening by the time I come back."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBQmDuDPO5
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6o5tWojpe
"I see. I apologize for asking so much from you."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOqQvhJ8HH
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvqauo2TWd
He shook his hands frantically and.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4zQaYRKut
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"Oh no no, I'll do it. I just don't think I'll be able to scout very far ahead."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y6rOcX3Bz
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTln6DBj92C
"That ain't an issue. Just the first block should be alright."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh4Zob11KP
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ104u5LPIc
Hank's gaze turned abnormally stern. He stood up and did a few gesticulations to assure himself.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfK62vfjGa
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnUzczaJtf
"Pray for me."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwojH5HtJM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iqxbYQZOD
"Don't worry. We'll arrange yer funeral for ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWHgtLq0sZ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv5bicDefM
"Juke!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0PzKSQnYJ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehfHNBmqRI
Juke's comment vanquished all of Hank's efforts to pump himself up. Still, though, he rambled to the door, taking a deep breath before opening and exiting the building. Juke and I were alone, now. An awkward and elongated silence permeated through the room.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHc8teHTVr
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGySUED9wTH
"Thanks for trying to lighten the mood, Juke."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRtNY8YEt9
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxfQwxsEK5
He turned his head to me, stuttering his words before taking a breath and speaking them coherently.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvEK17XqMf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEPCi27UEd
"No need to thank me. The atmosphere's tense, I just don't want it to stay that way."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDplEyJJM3
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwlTUbZKQf
"Still, I appreciate it."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lDEovo0H0
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I sat with my legs spread out, lowering my head and leaning over to stare at the ground.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5qJgyujP7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF9xvu4Dnc
"I can tell that my wisecracks ain't all that effective, though."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziIrKUVsR8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6Rm2kEnYM
I wanted to rebuke that statement, to tell him that he was wrong and that I was feeling much better. I would be lying to him, but that wasn't why I stopped myself. That was because of the tinge of melancholy I caught in his voice, so faint that I was unsure if I was just hearing things.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4yuRahxmA
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwisGMbo1N
I wanted to press him on that. But I was in no state of mind to do so. So, we continued to wait in silence.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCMW2LgMIO
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSjbnLYxoe
Hank came shortly after. His face was drenched in sweat and anxiety. He let out an arduous sigh when he closed the door and sank to the floor.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZBFkUABFM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXpAUA3pcL
I was expecting the worst, but he shot us a thumbs-up with a wink. A smile found its way on my face. I looked at Juke and we nodded at each other. We stood up and stretched our muscles, helping Hank get to his feet and standing before the door.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdskFgGmBVO
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIbCoKtjON
"Thank you for your help, Hank."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wDNoM2OKD
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PAFajPKkh
"Yeah, we really of ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd2HMnEQ8I
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q3WC7Oa5f
He gave us a light smile and waved.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal5cbFUdmb
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUpN8NrlS3
"No no, it's fine. It's what Dennis would have wanted, I'm sure."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgr7ixMXpI
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRRUcLKvRk
"...Y-Yeah."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaweVpGAcZ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YysgQ75TC
A morbid parasite was planted in me before we left. It began to eat at me instantly, but I did nothing to address it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hrgz5vdnJ
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–
–
–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbG2wp2oTA
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The streets were void of any busy citizens traveling from one place to another. All inhabitants were inimical people in robes. The only remedy was the relative lack of them.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zKME2uEuz
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyyIflYYQg
Weaving in and out of alleyways was a surprisingly easy task, as the Hard-Bringer members couldn't stay in one place even if they were paid to. Though it made moving in the streets nerve-wracking with the unpredictability of these people, it was better than having to wait for them to fall asleep or find a detour as they obstinately remained in one spot.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9gbyHCoH1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFkmmSATtO
With all the pauses in between movements and focus on not getting caught, I stopped paying attention to our routing quickly. I was anxious that Juke did too.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtLDn4RdVJ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljGH7wGT6C
"Hey, are you sure we're going the right way?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RSbyw2rF6
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHnl0DFAjy
"Yeah, I'm sure. I remember that chipped building when I visited the stables earlier."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoFduL81bi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9GqW68fs7
He pointed at a building opposite us. Indeed, it was chipped, but somehow I didn't find his memory reliable.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtspsZFw7Y
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdqCXfLXXn
Still, I had no better way to make it to the stables myself, so I kept following Juke as we skittered diagonally across the street.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8oMvu0F0t
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0XhzCShUx
"--Crap!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbZyD1Nndw
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOfVI217gY
This alleyway was void of anything to hide behind, meaning that we had to leave it now or suffer an embarrassing and egregious discovery. I peered over the corner and saw a duo of robed people turning a corner and into our street.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzlfKVZvnI
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk1JDFwAfc
"Crap. Crap!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7LygGttyn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S0vOIkjLn
"Eh? What's the situation, kid?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSwRyfpQL0
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbXVbfzidi
"People are heading our way!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN43zgl5tpK
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPGWRcJuyd
With a hoarse whisper, I relayed the information to Juke, whose eyes I could see widen even through his helmet. He looked behind him and deeper into the alleyway, reaching the same conclusion that I did.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFZRaTnY8g
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuhSQJAE5G
"I guess we gotta jump 'em."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fOIJM0Pyf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBCBiKDAh6
"What!? That's a terrible idea!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6fEMN5ha1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiNVvJZ096
Despite the incorrect usage, I knew precisely what Juke meant by jumping the two people. I discarded the idea, as engaging in a fight would only draw more attention. But, as I sifted through my mind, I couldn't conjure up a course of action more tangible.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosjwaJ9iuA
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yRN59ZBnj
"Okay, maybe it isn't a terrible idea, but we need to knock them out quickly."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yenyC2Pyx
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiYeXF9Wmo
"Yeah, killin' 'em will just make a mess and draw attention, ya make a good point."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhai2iMwLa
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsk4FPURHR
"...Murder is the first thing you– nevermind, you gave me a good idea."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23X2E0RxtI
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTXUHgvUuQ
I produced my tendril and created a Valencia-Bloom at its tip. Then, I ran as far back into the alleyway as I could, signaling Juke to do the same. When we made it to the wall, I began mana spinning and produced a shield from the flower big enough to cover us both.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAlVZeHw0Q
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkeeq0HnzS
It was unexpectedly heavy. The weight of the shield brought me to the floor and strained my arm terribly21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmLXrjahUK
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUjL4LxGXX
"Ack!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXusQBduRE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9bLy9LtvW
"G-Goodness, kid. Are ya alright?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJWUi7WnCk
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRreOGtbiw
"I-I'm fine, just keep quiet!"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSecH0EiwHc
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehJ4eWZmYy
We waited out behind the shield until I heard two sets of footsteps pass by the alleyway. Once they vanished, I removed the shield, massaged my arm, and with Juke's help, we made it back onto the street.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecOnNaZB9N
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGl3g0acBK
"Ya strong folk really are crazy."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnegazg0m1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOFE5m8sZc
"Shut up. Now isn't the time for this."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl0BdeU8W0
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17JZPFco0L
We traveled the road a bit faster since we had to cross through an intersection. We made sure both sides were clear before continuing forward. The road curved at this point, so we kept close to the wall, using our ears instead of our eyes to sense any oncoming persons.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aW2h6sroE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSSoimWLJm
And, by doing so, I heard something that made my hair stand on its ends.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86Zg16gntX
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg8vj6qEg1
"--Yeah, we should find a place to hide, don't ya think?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNAlpIsn6s
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1yR1EC3vE
I hastily nodded with him and scanned the surroundings. I spotted an alleyway with a gigantic dumpster at the front. Juke already began running to it before I could point it out, so I followed him.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTeW2ZiDz7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHJjBFhWVz
We sat down behind the dumpster. I gnawed on my finger as I heard what I could only describe as an army of people walking down the street. I didn't see them, nor did I want to, but the footsteps never ended– it was as if the hustle and bustle of the streets had returned, but now, it only disturbed me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE9fwOZQtX
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuPnC7qq1i
It went on for far, far too long. I couldn't keep my cool. The gnawing turned into rampant chomping, and my breathing became labored and heavy. I rocked back and forth, back and forth back and–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmUeUUQTxN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVZjfDXK7z
"--Kenny, I don't know if that'll do ya any good."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaBRjPPkXx
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKZG43JRRm
"Huh?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTaF4bSOzg
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLJ4xezIn2
Juke's deep voice pierced through the thunderous train of footsteps.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzajxRAswAp
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34HTJeDbqY
"That whole biting thing, and that whole shaking thing. That shit freaks me out. I get why yer doing it, but seeing someone like ya do so just don't sit with me right."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejQ0HwD0e
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWpAdSLPUR
I knew he was trying to console me. But, I didn't feel as if he was. I felt as if it was a precursor to just another one of Juke's ramblings about his ideology.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuDsxke9o7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R2ivy6XH8
"Why? Is it because I'm strong?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUQn4g04hy
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1jSSICSpv
"Nah, it's cuz yer a kid."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q7bXPSKYl
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hUnzX5c5x
His response left me more stunned than I could've imagined.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8kcmZEHn7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmxeTQadhF
"I can tell ya got something plaguing ya. I ain't dense, so I can already guess what it is. Still, I think ya should spill it."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT66LFML4G
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOAjRCC2Xq
"..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA7ES3Vy5A
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ411JVKCrkO
I brought my knees up to my head, wrapping my arms around my legs. Usually, I'd be concerned about the crowd overhearing us, but the dumpster was far enough, and the thousands of footsteps would veil my voice.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYhkffF5aT
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiDhA9MB09
So, I let my mouth run amok.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglg2q6x9dd
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p5rT4T9Zl
"I'm sure you know, but what Rover told me has... affected me, I suppose."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqkawHiozn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6SoSdUIyH
"Yeah, I know."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKj6tMMa0p
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvBjvxm1Fo
A pause. I used it to formulate my following words more effectively.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVKu41tSQ2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq61ihu5zEb
"It left me confused. It was like I was asking myself questions with words I couldn't understand. I didn't even know how to begin to answer them. So, for the time being, I decided to ignore them."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6oZU1q3oD
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwi8q53c86
I darted my eyes to the side. He nodded along. He stared at the wall across. I did the same.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4DxRxGzaH
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUu3usoTgU
"When I was at the door last night," I continued, "right after Rover left, I suppose the prospect of going after her, of facing her, was too intimidating. I didn't get why, exactly. I just knew that I couldn't do it. I didn't think that doing so would be bad or something, quite the contrary. I just thought that, somehow, it was an impossible task. So, I didn't do it. Instead, I sat back on the couch and fell asleep."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12lnsmYc7Y
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS7rG7Q59U
"That sounds familiar..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0VXaBsH9F
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOry1sVbcNA
"Huh?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3qa4ivcme
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjFC0utV08
"Nevermind. Ya carry on."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnqKf7YrqX
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgglQbyxQdE
I felt a little let down, but did as I was told.
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFBpvsTG2e
"I am just, very confused. I don't quite get how I feel, but I do understand that all the forces inside of me are fighting over the decision I made last night, to do this. And, I guess I say I'm unsure of it, but I do know what I really am."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBkuQMxCRS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsESYR4x5ZC
"Well?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD9VTHO2hq
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUqvHdAX2m
"...The thing is, if I voice it, I'll probably break apart here and now."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT9ICZyCED
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoM5opY19Y
"Ah."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8khdlxTKE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsG7l0Ljdg
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but articulating it in my brain was difficult.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjVe8ZTh9C
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOmypwvdXw
"Some part of it came from the distant past. I'm talking about what drove me to make this decision, I mean. Another part, I'm unsure. And the last one was more recent. It was only for a moment, but when I thought about going outside with Rover, that overgrown bug flashed in my mind."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m5bDJp8c6
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZPtYHCmRL
"Ah, the Lionant?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOvaHwTnd8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4E0peVZlH
"Yeah. The one you saved me from. Thank you for that, by the way."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFlm0x1sDG
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4UIYFZ6gq
"..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarrDQPArpa
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47loKjGiZu
Another pause. I felt like I had more to say, but I hung on to the thoughts left behind by my last sentence and formed a question out of it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGBELSicFb
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDFtSUzX4L
"This might be a dumb question, but why did you save me back then?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ141W9rkhvt
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVNowHrU5E
"...Yeah, why did I?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iAlxlVGrN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrufZNS6KNv
I didn't expect to be met with another question.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqxQesnxfT
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFwayAYyaY
"It doesn't make much sense, does it? After all, I'm weak, and yer strong. A weak guy like me shouldn't have to save strong folk like ya. But I did save ya. I really did save ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2TOPY7yMR
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JDivbgfUk
I turned my head to him. He had his eyes pointed at the sky, one arm slung over his knee.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl5GeVpQtO
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKa3b29BAE
"I don't know why I saved ya. It wasn't in my mind, I didn't think of doing it, but I did save ya."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl412pQYAH
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjnhSeMsJs
"..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfC5mTxsjv
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BlOGM2Qh0
I felt as if I should have said something, but I remained silent. Juke continued his gentle monologue.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5qZBYgCWZ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdBzTGcT8d
"Rover's got a brutal tongue. Usually, I just brush off what loud folk like her say, but she was blunt and rude about it, so it really stuck with me. I couldn't care less about that 'you should do and think this and that' shit, but, ya know what, Kenny?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhPUXi9gZi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbIsunkDKM
"What?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i4M11gZx8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxz6jZR5fo
"Before I went out to look for ya two, I talked with Dennis. I had a real good conversation with him 'bout politics, women, and a bunch of dumbshits we've met in our olden days."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7KbcNw4Yy
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5n9aD6wX6
"That sounds... boorish?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw1uT5zn3d
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXdsyRPaZA
"Pff, yer just too young."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuwOeZsoVg
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNBixnEose
He paused for a moment.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJgNQNpnHy
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkxHF6iKnE
"Why the hell am I saying this to a kid?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvNJHADixL
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8d1aXLX0Q
"D-Don't mind that, just keep talking."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTiohYkNAi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdgmbCva3S
"...The thing is, a weak guy like me shouldn't concern himself with Hard-Bringer. It makes sense, doesn't it? Leave the big problems to the big strong folk. Weak guys shouldn't have to fight for other weak guys. That's what I think."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA18g8LYbii
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjRq6BVd8Y
He took a second to readjust himself. I used that time to spill my own thoughts.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajatPsnlQ2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU0AICsd2B
"That's silly... O-Oh–"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpJm9p2dbS
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MfnnQWkD8
I realized I had just blurted out something insensitive yet again.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7NWWufkkR
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWhaljtxYy
"I didn't mean to be rude, but–"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfxNjfnpAu
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lhJgG1tFd
"Nah, I get why ya think it. To each their own, that's what the masses say, yeah?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR9sKSsJvP
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmooTxZHfQ
"I... yes, I suppose so."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxgIHEKiBX
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosBXfg6SAZ
Another pause. Juke directed his gaze to the floor this time.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0FzrhhJQx
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOvXwyglif
"I think the weak shouldn't have to deal with what the strong does."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrrPMun2E2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vl1WgHD8X
"Yes, I know."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkBt5g0nXW
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWZuUsaJSE
"But I wanna make sure Dennis is still kickin'."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB08NCpjM6u
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLmxOUDL5n
He said that with conviction I had never heard from him before.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0LkK2ldxt
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpbD2VQWzi
"I believe what I said yesterday. I think he's just fine. 'Sides, I got no interest in fighting Hard-Bringer. But that ain't changing the fact that I wanna make sure with my eyes."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ8nScQpJq
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlzgtvX9e2
"..."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtkszFm9Qh
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtclwVVUp2
I didn't say it outright, but I agreed with him. I wanted to make sure Dennis was fine as well. Yet, unlike Juke, I doubt I could muster the will to do so.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P7XiFLD5n
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDBkpXCjMJ
"Ya hear that?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiDXLRdnWm
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4KHIHOofL
"Huh?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhqu3P9vAn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmjCD0F0Uy
I perked my ears. I didn't hear anything. Then, I realized what Juke meant.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB5kGBAErX
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fyKfnlEAR
"They passed."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cEtH05UTw
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XJs7lNtMe
"Yeah. I can't hear them anymore."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh60qv8vGf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlDemMDHQN
Juke stood up first. He brushed the dirt off his pants and peered around the corner.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NOVgLmNGC
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zrFr0F2FC
"Looks like we're in the clear. Phew."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqfOaXY5Kj
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYzo1bbbjQ
I stood up and ambled to the front of the alleyway. Sure enough, Not one robed person was in sight. It was a clear indicator that I should have taken a step forward, but I didn't. No, I couldn't, not after what I had just said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhNvI5M5bl
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhQZoGbLGP
Juke had already taken his first steps, though. He looked back at me once he noticed I wasn't moving.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab7mAfd2S3
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4MjxRbfMH
"Shit... hey, kid, I know what yer thinking."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUKkE9AkXN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ddT6HBuui
"You've been saying that a lot."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcOpl5OXOV
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOgOeRzE18
"That's just cuz yer easy to read."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGNfKkdh5P
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA9bdL5k8O
We stood stock still in silence.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjvFkmBIUN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme6DraaL0F
"W-Well, what are you waiting for," I muttered, "Let's get going."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjHyumA6ie
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6gZdAUFyw
"Are ya sure?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dpp1Pow7a
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRhKSAjfws
I walked out of the alleyway, looking both ways before standing beside Juke.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnof2Valvq0
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv4TEvLkwC
"I should be asking you that."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKnYKbjMAI
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsForfPyOIq
"Hehe, I guess so. We've come this far, haven't we?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2w3Df1MHr
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6skQsMcOEG
"Yes. You get it."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyeFUAUy5x
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Ti4cVIFL
But before we continued, there was one last thing I wanted to mention.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQKsJ9Jvmd
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZEDHr4oFU
"If we see something that might change the accuracy of your hypothesis, then... I'm going to turn back, understand?"
Juke released a lethargic chuckle. I wasn't offended by it, instead, it caused me to think.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMC5hB2MZD
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGwigOLVBx
"Fine by me."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHgYFjYigi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5BZCzoN64
I wondered how seriously he took my word. I wouldn't blame him if he thought it duplicitous.
We kept going down the streets, running between the alleyways as we avoided being spotted.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGQ2QkpTvI
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkcUhW5Zmt
–
–
–
"Ya see that?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfj0Dto0W1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp6MIY44n4
"Yeah, we're almost there."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fuNQayTYU
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvITnWx7o0z
After hours of dodging lines of sight, taking tedious pauses in smelly alleyways, and having one too many heart-attack-inducing close calls, the stables were finally within our view. It was still a good distance away, but being able to see it was relieving. We were fortunate enough to find it unsupervised, too.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMCO5z8Rbg
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We approached it with a pep in our step, but not forgetting to employ prudence. I turned my head in every direction as we got closer and closer.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMkEOpHKIy
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And as we got closer and closer, a sudden stench assaulted my nostrils.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAZh3HJCIo
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"Blurg, what was that?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GoLheDmnb
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I skidded to a stop. I reluctantly sniffed the air again but didn't catch the same whiff. Juke looked back at me, confused.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMYb3lo4oq
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"What was what?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytxNbKcx4m
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"I caught a whiff of something."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnFywtF1cn
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"Ah, gotcha. I ain't stopping, just so ya know."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ810p0fUAd2
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Clicking my tongue, I continued following Juke to the stables, occasionally sniffing the air as we encroached it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfVEyHaby8
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And then, it came again. This time, more putrid than before.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFxNLxURkT
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"Ugh– ack, what in the world?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTojQFU4DFu
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Juke didn't stop to ask me what was wrong this time. He turned the final corner and already made it to the stables. I knew that I had visited this place before, but I didn't quite acknowledge the structure until that moment.
It was like an open barn house with only a meager roof over the parking spaces. Inside these parking spaces were carriages, and opposite them were miniature pens housing the animals responsible for heaving the carriages. These pens were fitted with roofs and thick gates to block the animals from wandering off. Of course, because of the structure of the stables, he barged in without having to bust open any doors. Naturally, I entered without issue myself.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97N5vMdRW6
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But never had I wished for a door to be present more than now.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSwcC3umMW
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"...This is fuckin' horrid."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDaeDVqprS
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The carriages were untouched, but the carriages were only there for me to distract myself with. It didn't last for long, of course. After all, the stench and overwhelming, blinding quantity of red permeating through every crevice of the area made it impossible to keep up the charade.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKxgRkNkOo
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The pens were broken, but the animals hadn't escaped. They were still in their pens, but as cadavers opposed to breathing beings.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLJuc6B8U3
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Bile rose to my throat, but I was able to suppress it. That disturbed me deeply.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gQ75c4EJG
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"Well, Kenny, I dunno if we'll be leaving by carriage any time soon."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMndZqkaVQ
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"You 'don't know', huh? Are you kidding me?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3wCGUENeL
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I glared at the scene. It was grotesque, but my eyes couldn't divert from it. Every animal in every pen– no exception was made, none were spared. They were unapologetically slaughtered. Juke spoke of the sight perfectly; It was horrid. it evoked such visceral repulsion even when closing the eyes and glancing at it through memory.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTnr4lOnhx
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But, as much as I hated it, as much as it made me want to turn the other way and run, seeing our way out be cut off like this relieved me of a subconscious weight.
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Juke ventured further into the stables, and I begrudgingly followed. I fixed my gaze to the right, passing by the open pens and observing the carrion they contained. I didn't try to immerse myself in the details; I would've truly thrown up if I did. But, from what I did see, I could judge the means used to kill them. From lacerations to burns, to pulverizations of their bodies, it was obvious that a mix of magic and weaponry was utilized.
I was lucky that the blood had dried long ago.
"Sly bastards. How'd they know we'd try to get out?"
"...They probably just did this preemptively. Did they have to murder all the animals, though? Why not damage the carriages?"
My question had not just reminded Juke, but also myself of our carriage. We steered directions and beelined towards it. From an outside view, it looked unharmed. As Juke pulled out a key and unlocked the doors, I could only hope that the same could be said for the inside.
"Nagging Dennis for this shit paid off."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu3fYvQnrS
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Juke muttered something under his breath before flinging the doors open and entering. I followed, releasing a heavy breath as I confirmed that the carriage was unharmed.
"'Fore we head back out, we oughta pack some supplies."
"I agree, but I hope you know I won't be able to carry much."
"That's alright. This big body of mine ain't just for show."
We entered the back. Juke took the bag of food and placed his arms through the straps, carrying it like an oversized backpack.
"Anything else ya think we oughta bring?"
"...I can't lift the big bags, but–"
I grabbed a smaller one and emptied its contents, stuffing it with the few potions I had left in the larger bags, leaving me with a pleasantly light load. Juke hummed in an amused, yet agitated tone.
"Ya had potions this whole time? Ya should'a told me!"
"Oh, sorry. I thought I had."
We exited the carriage and returned to the stables, Juke grumbling as he descended the steps. I didn't leave just yet. Before that, I spared one more glance at the animals, meagerly clenching my fists.
"Hey, Juke."
He turned around and faced me. Before I got my words out, I had to stop shaking.
"What do we do now?"
He looked at me intently, or was it blankly? Either way, I could tell that he was digesting my question. Then, he turned his gaze away.
"We can't get out with the carriage, that's for sure."
"I know that much. But, do we... do we try anyway?"
"...Nah, ya should know that yerself."
My facial muscles dropped, forming an ugly frown. He was right, and because he was right, I was upset.
If they took measures this drastic to make sure nobody escaped, then the gates were unquestionably, undoubtedly guarded.
That undeniable notion frightened me.
"Yeah, you're right. But, still, what do we–"
I couldn't finish my sentence. My speech was interrupted by a jerk movement from Juke. He leaned in– almost pouncing at me and pushing me to the ground as he haphazardly fell to it himself.
I hadn't the time to formulate any complaints and questions, but all that I could have formed were addressed by the soaring ball of fire narrowly avoiding my head.
"--Ack!"
I landed awkwardly on my shoulder. Whether it was dislocated, I didn't know, nor could I afford to find out. I scrambled to my feet and faced our assailant. My blood turned cold when I saw her.
"That man is a quick actor. What about you, child? Are you the brains of your clique?"
It was the woman at the plaza. She was not in her unequivocal robe that was the sigil of Hard-Bringer but in a slackened coat, plain shirt, skirt, pants, and boots.
"Well, answer me, won't you?"
"Don't humor 'er, kid, she's got a screw loose!"
"N-No need to tell me!"
Juke got up on his feet and brandished his sword. I took out the tendril. The woman grabbed a curvy, seemingly customized, serrated knife. She raised it as she began to speak.
"So you two won't speak? Fine by me. A mute roadblock is easier to handle."
With a slide of her back foot and a drop in her posture, she burst into a sprint heading in our direction. Then, she veered into me.
The sudden shift left me panicked. I instinctively took a step back and produced a Valencia-Bloom, but before I could utilize it, she slashed her knife at me. I narrowly avoided the swing, but she didn't let up, spinning the blade in her hand and thrusting it to jab me.
That's at least what it looked like she would've done.
She did thrust her knife, but she spun as she did it, clashing with Juke's broadsword so suddenly that even he was taken by surprise. The woman exploited his shock well by delivering a kick to his chest. Juke's body didn't budge from the kick at all, though. A metallic sound rang throughout the stables and his head jerked back.
"Ack! My neck!"
"--I see."
Realizing I wasn't doing anything, I extended my tendril, using it like a dull spear. The woman ducked my attack and slammed her fist into it. I recoiled from the strike, but not enough to paralyze me. Thus, I slammed the tendril on the ground. She rolled away, dodging it effortlessly.
My tendril still near her, I switched the Valencia-Bloom for a Freeze-Dry. But I couldn't use it; the woman leaped and stomped on the flower before any ice came out.
My eyes widened by themselves. I couldn't think of what to do next, but I was fortunate enough to not have to. Juke swung his sword at the woman. She dodged it, but Juke didn't let up with his assault. The woman took a series of backsteps too great for Juke to immediately catch up to. Almost instinctively, she kicked her leg up, and though Juke was a couple of meters away, his head jerked up and a sound rang out as if he was hit.
Though Juke was struck in the chin, and though he was partially airborne, he aimed his palm at the woman, firing a wind spell at her.
And, it connected.
"Hng!"
It was a weak spell, and she was able to block most of it with her arms, but the point was that it connected. Somehow, that fact alone was enough to shock me.
"Yer power's confusing. Is it an Endowment? I dunno, I've got one, and yers sure don't feel like it."
Juke rubbed his chin. I could tell that he felt it, meaning the hit wasn't deflected to his helmet.
"Shit. How'd ya know my weakness, huh?"
The woman narrowed her eyes at Juke. Using the downtime, I began mana expulsion with my right hand and produced a Sunlight-Blossom from the tendril.
"You are right about one thing, oaf: my power is nothing like that absurd Endowment of yours."
"And yer calling my whole thing absurd? That's just–"
Juke's speech was cut short. I shot at the woman with a water spell. She dodged it, but I accounted for this and made the spell a powerful geyser, following her movements as it continuously sprayed. The woman clicked her tongue as she kept backing away, producing a ball of fire and firing it at the walls.
I gasped and processed her actions to make sure I understood what I saw. She threw a fireball at the walls, which were made of wood. She threw a quick wind spell at it right after and smashed through the weakened structure.
My geyser put the sudden fire out but had missed the woman entirely. It aligned with my expectations, though. She came back bursting through near the ashened hole. However, I had another attack prepared.
The seed was already loaded. I aimed the flower at her and fired, crossing my fingers in my head, praying that it would land.
It didn't. It didn't even come close. She ducked before the bullet had even been launched. I bit my lip in frustration.
"That's why I hate being aggressive. How cruel that I have to act against my nature."
She cracked her neck and swayed her lengthy hair in the air, glaring at us with her blue eyes. She looked ready to perform a deadly pounce at any moment.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPbIHrg4fB
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I stood beside Juke. We eyed the woman vigilantly. My prior assessment was overwritten as she didn't look like she would move at all, leaving me bemused.
But, then, a fireball formed in her hands. I expected her to throw it immediately, so I prepared to duck, but it continued to grow in size; it was far larger than her previous ones, almost as tall and wide as Juke was.
"Ah, shit."
Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. Frankly, I didn't expect her to be so adept in fire magic that she could make a spell of that size. It was stupid of me not to consider it. The woman reeled her arm back. I had to act fast.
I ducked, placing both my hands on the ground. I began mana expulsion with one hand and performed spinning with the other. A wall of stone sprung from the ground before me. Then, I produced a Valencia-Bloom from the tendril, expanding it as far as I could reasonably do so. Juke already took cover behind me. Now, all that was left was too–
**SLAM**
"--Ack!"
I didn't suffer any severe damage. In fact, my defenses were hardly penetrated. But the heat from the fire nipped at me through it all. The spell dissipated in no more than five seconds, but it felt like forever.
"How the hell are we breathin'!?"
"Is now really the time for–"
**THUD**
I felt a sudden force clash against my shield. Due to my already shaky balance, I fell to the ground, but I made sure to retract the Valencia-Bloom so my arm wouldn't be dislodged. When the shield vanished, the woman took its place, her leg raised. She continued her assault, raising her knife and, with her other hand on the top of the hilt, plunging it into me.
I shut my eyes and grit my teeth, expecting the sensation of a blade being lodged into my body. But that never came. Instead, a metallic clang reverberated through the stables.
I opened my eyes. Juke intercepted her with his sword. He was on the ground with both his hands on the blade's hilt. Judging by how he was lying on the ground, gripping the hilt with both his hands like a rope, he must've slid.
They remained that way for a moment, engaged in a struggle between their blades. When it became apparent that she couldn't win, she clicked her tongue.
"Irritating," the woman sighed before kicking his helmet and sending him flying. She returned her attention to me, but I had used my borrowed time to regain my composure and swing the tendril.
My tendril hit her. But it felt as if I was the one who was struck, and it wasn't by a blunt object, but by a steel blade. Purple liquid erupted from my chest.
Yes, she was flung away. Yes, my tendril had connected. But when it retracted by itself, I found the woman void of bruises and her knife slathered in a viscous purple.
"D-Damn it."
I rose to my feet with shaking legs. She hadn't just blocked my attack but hurt me back as well. I clutched my chest and coughed harshly.
"How are ya?"
Juke stood beside me, brandishing his sword. We eyed the woman who was flicking the liquid off her knife.
"This ain't looking like a winning fight."
As much as it frustrated me to agree with his notion, I was forced to. Every attack I launched had been avoided, and the one time either of us landed one on her, it was more of a fluke than anything.
"So what do we do?"
"'Till I get how she keeps seein' the future, I ain't got a clue."
"See the future...? Do you think that's what it is?"
"Can't think of anythin' else."
I narrowed my eyes at her, mulling over Juke's theory. When I thought about it, certainly, it would make sense that she could see the future. However–
"There has to be a limit, or some kind of restriction. Her behavior is too inconsistent."
"I agree with ya, and I still got no clue how she kicked me from across the damn room."
Indeed, she had too many unknown factors about her, and combined with her astonishing physical and magical prowess, it made this fight impossible to win. I was wounded, Juke's weakness had been discovered, and the woman didn't look like she even broke a sweat.
"Are you two plotting something? I ought to interfere."
She broke into another dash, but it wasn't an utter rush; her steps were laced with trepidation, and her knife was raised defensively. It was as if she was approaching expecting us to attack her back.
My moment of clarity subsided as the pain washed over my being. But Juke, pulling me by the collar, had fortunately noticed the same, and–
"Book it, kid!"
Helped me turn tail as we both broke into sprints of our own.
I ran. I ran like the wind. I ran to abuse my legs. I ran to survive. But I wasn't so naive; my legs were small and my stamina was pathetic. Whether it was my lack of endurance or my lack of speed, the woman would undoubtedly catch up to me. No thanks to his luggage, I couldn't hitch a ride on Juke's back.
I swiveled my head. She was catching up to me like a wolf in pursuit, and I was sure to be caught in her fangs at any moment. I didn't try to speed up; too many factors prevented me from doing so.
So, if I couldn't speed up, then there was only one thing left for me to do.
I began mana expulsion with both of my hands, creating a mass of earth in one and a mass of fire in the other, expanding it. The woman didn't show an expression of surprise. She was expecting me to do this– no, not expecting, she knew.
Something about that pissed me off. So, instead of throwing it–
"--You!"
Her eyes widened. She skidded to a stop and leaped away. Despite that, I had to see this through.
I discharged as much mana into the fire as I recklessly could, and naturally–
**BOOM**
A Flinty incident occurred.
I used the stone I conjured up to defend myself, but truthfully, it hardly did anything. The most I could do was defend my head, and sure, my eyes hadn't burst, and my face wasn't seared, but they were still rolling on the stone pavement along with the rest of my body, picking up spikey pebbles and other trash like they were seashells on the beach. I only stopped when I collided with, something. I didn't know what and the means to find out were stripped from me. My ears rang, my nose burned, and I had to clobber dozens of particles off my face before I could even think of opening my eyes. But, my arms were too heavy for me to even lift.
So, I remained there, waiting for all the internal chaos to subside before I moved. Then I felt something touch me, then shake me, and I groaned in response. I didn't know who it was. Since I was alive, it probably wasn't the woman. Was it a street dog, or maybe one of those robed men?
Was it Juke? I dismissed the thought. That was a ridiculous proposition.
I was lifted and tussled with. It wasn't done harshly, but goodness, was it irritating. At that point, my annoyance powered over my fatigue, and I rubbed my eyes before slackening my arms yet again.
I opened them and saw the ground. Whoever it was that was messing with me was behind me. I couldn't turn my head to see them, though, so I groaned and heaved my breaths.
"Good to know yer still kicking. Which bottle 'ere is gonna patch ya up?"
Hearing a familiar voice, I was struck with an inordinate amount of clarity.
"Green, one," I mustered.
"Yer lucky I caught that first try. Open wide."
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. He understood that too, so he grabbed my jaw and pulled it down, sticking the bottle inside my mouth. I was sure that I was going to drown; the amount of liquid entering my throat was overwhelming. But it passed as quickly as it came. I coughed vehemently, and Juke patted my back to help. I cursed my inability to voice my thanks.
"Take it easy, ya really did something crazy back then. Strong folk, I tell ya."
Now I just wanted to tell him to shut up. He lifted me and hung me over his shoulder, then he continued to run.
"Did ya get that crazy bitch? Err, tap once for yes, twice for no."
All I could exert myself to do was pinch, so I pinched his skin twice.
"Shit. Shit! Is she followin' us now!?"
I pointed my eyes up. I could only see a little bit of the ground, so I painstakingly raised my neck.
It devastated me to have to pinch once.
"Are ya kidding me!?"
Juke's running increased in tempo. Unlike me, he was able to at least keep the distance between him and the woman the same. Unfortunately for me, my head was bouncing up and down every step. I was sure that I'd vomit any minute, and then pathetically pass out a moment after.
But I couldn't afford to do so. I couldn't afford to be a burden when our lives were being threatened like this.
I tried to call it forth, but my tendril wouldn't appear. I tried mana expulsion– tried, but struggled. The explosion hadn't drained me of my mana, but my supply was so low I might as well have been shaking a bottle for droplets. I couldn't form anything grandiose or dangerous, meaning that I had to do something to just slow her down.
So, I formed a small mass of water. Supporting it with my other hand, I lifted my arm, aiming my open palm at her feet.
She didn't react preemptively at all. It gave me a surge of hope, and with that borrowed vigor, I fired the spell at her feet.
Except, I didn't fire it. It unceremoniously plummeted to the ground. She simply jumped over the puddle the spell created.
"Damn, it."
"--Ay kid, are ya seeing this!?"
"Seeing what", I wanted to ask, because I was still incapable of moving my body more than an inch at a time. But I didn't have to turn my head to see what he saw. As Juke kept running through the street, we passed by a myriad of bodies loitering about. My first assumption was that they were corpses– and, well, judging by all the red, it was likely correct.
But what really caught my eye was their attire: dark, hooded robes. All of these bodies were that of the people in Hard-Bringer.
Did a fight break out? Is that what happened? I looked up at the woman and she was entirely unperturbed. I was hoping to gauge a different reaction, but not only was hers uninformative, it was disturbing.
And then, my vision swerved.
"Huh?"
"I'm takin' a gamble."
"Gamble!?"
That was the loudest noise I had made that day. Juke didn't elaborate on what gamble he was taking. I thought of wiggling out his grasp right there, as obviously foolish as it was. But–21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCb9BXVZWX
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"Just trust me!"
He said it as a feverish plea. It shocked me into staying in place. With nothing else to do, I placed my faith in him. The sun-lightened streets disappeared and we ventured into a darkened alleyway. We came to a stop shortly after, leaving me confused and worried.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNyW2E4fvp
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Then, Juke began to talk, but it was clear that it wasn't to me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJvNa45tMI
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"Who are ya people?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWpJxyhPm5
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"Wow, he really followed us. Well, sir, we're here to help. My buddy will be doing the dirty work, though."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSU9rGMgz8
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"Buddy?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCElHZLWk0
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I froze– froze more than I already was frozen, anyway. The voice that Juke spoke with was familiar to me, though I struggled to put a name to it. But then a set of footsteps sounded through the alley, and a man in a trench coat brushed passed Juke and me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9u2jYc09g
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Of course, with an article of clothing that distinct, I'd be lying if I didn't recognize him. My recognition was only solidified when he drew his hands in it and pulled two crossbows out.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqZy6fCUue
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"Quiet now."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoohUxO7PV
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Pars gave a command to us all, aiming his crossbows at the entrance of the alleyway. I didn't understand why he was using two of them, but there was a tube of earth protruding from inside the coat and connected to the ends of the crossbows, so I knew there was some trick going on.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7LSE2kLZn
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Pars kept his aim steady, and steady, and kept it up for seconds, then minutes. I realized then that we had lost our pursuer, but Pars only tilted his head.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw6L86sHCS
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"Where did she go? Do I smell that bad?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpxqXHCJRj
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He pulled his crossbows back and sighed, rubbing his head as he turned around. His eyes met with mine, and he practically blenched.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqxFEqr5UC
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"K-Kenny? Where did you come from!?"21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFCGMtsKeC
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I sighed, and I smiled. There was something heartwarming about seeing this man act as usual, even if it pained me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIQEDwpZhb
and then Add to home screen.