I couldn't even grant the thing the credit for being inconspicuous. At the very least, one of the dozen kindred houses lining the city streets would deter suspicion. But a flower shop?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6o3nTYChf
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"It may look silly," Dave started, "But don't let its exterior deceive you. This is likely the safest building in the city."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynH8eKhjn2
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhHI30TqVu
"How?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2buq1CYHm5
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I asked the natural question. Dave didn't turn to reply, nor did he reply at all. He lowered his stance and scanned the street before bolting with Pars to the shop's doors. They made it halfway across before I even thought to follow them.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiNpJ8fred
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo1dyqf4C9
I did a quick inspection of my own, and when I found the streets to be clear I ran across the road as well. The two entered the shop immediately. Pars motioned Juke and I to hurry on in, and so we did.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1AIDw85zV
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"Are ya sure we ain't gonna get caught in here?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHcT9RlJnd
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGlCoGFqoo
Pars turned to answer Juke.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgZmcdihP9
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"Honestly, with how little numbers Hard-Bringer seems to have brought here, we could be in broad daylight without being found out. But we aren't so stupid, of course. There's a reason why we picked this shop in particular."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2LpzPfrat
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNGGDrKwsF
"That so, eh?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaCFVZebi1
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrJ1JQzsYo
Pars nodded with a strangely satisfied smile before shutting the door and venturing deeper into the shop. I followed him, watching my steps and arms to not topple any products over, quietly observing the shop.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNcfIS78zO
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThAJ7rtLHx
The nature of the store reminded me of myself. It was a flower shop, so of course, there were several flowers, potted and not, set for display on shelves, tables, and vases. I could tell that none of the plants were magical, but it wasn't too disappointing. The colors of the flowers made me uneasy. They were darkened shades of blue, green, and red, and a few of them were flecked shades of brown. It seemed like even the flora in this city was despondent.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mTqBJp4Al
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwabU6eZmlG
My browsing was cut short by our lead coming to a stop. Pars stood before the register, and I peeked around him to see a creature with a scowl so foul I could smell it. I nearly flinched in surprise but collected myself when I realized that I was looking at a human being. Pars leaned on the countertop and began to speak.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ge1e0dlW
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"Hey Becker, how's the–"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HgLjKSeK6
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MKk7dPcVg
"Go and hole up with all the other pissy prairie dogs."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gd7TKFALf
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OoeORnNi8
Pars remained silent for a moment before straightening himself and simply nodding. Perplexed, I didn't follow him, and my fixed gaze gave way to direct eye contact with the grouchy man. My attention shifted to the dozens of protruding blackheads on his face. His scowl became more scrunched, yet I didn't have the will to look away.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtpY2a07VB
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"Are you a kid?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8km2PNbMRk
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"H-Huh!?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaIAvSnu0m
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An innocent question like that was the last thing I expected to leave from his mouth.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVk3v8Twex
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOUqRchuOs
"I said, are you a kid?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4Up93k2Yl
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"I-I, yes, I am."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqCoPpb829
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He scoffed and scratched his chubby chin.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xMHbt9viY
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50GSu2LvGw
"But you're standing here with all these adults. You're pretending like you're not a kid."
He turned his eyes away from me and narrowed them. I didn't say anything. I couldn't begin thinking of a response.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0fIQFUPsY
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xmVItspop
"Go on, follow that idiot, he'll lead you to the others."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1WvzZpJ6I
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4C9Dj1jMC
The man raised his hand to brush me away, then returned to reading a paper. Though I was still shell-shocked, I followed his orders as if it was the only thing I knew how to do. When I arrived by Pars, Juke was already with him, and Pars gave me a concerned look.
"Did he give you a hard time?"
"I'm, not sure. He said something that stumped me."
Pars' eyes widened a little.
"I'm surprised he didn't chew you out. It's that rotten attitude of his that makes him such a good deterrent for unwelcome visitors."
"Is that so?"
He nodded and put his hand on the door.
"Down here, you'll find the basement. That's where everyone else is."
Pars went downstairs, and Juke followed him down. He looked at me before he committed to descending.
"The hell did that old fart tell ya?"
I blankly stared at him and pondered. It hurt to think about his words. I decided to set it aside and worry about it later.
I've been doing that a lot as of late.
"It was nothing. Just drivel."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasTMVnEHsd
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFzFaJcrzu
He took my answer at face value and walked down the steps. I followed. The lighting was poor; dim, arranged lanterns were keeping the place illuminated. The basement walls were coated in a dark beige color. They looked intimidating from my peripheral vision.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhvLfP0Dy6
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30GcmFPGqp
"This is the entrance room," Pars started, "The basement here is confusing since all the rooms are identical in their features, but the important ones have more lighting than others."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO7ne2aGqu
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhDKMXF1vE
"Where's the place to sleep?" Juke asked.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoMtBC2NRE
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"You get right to the point. The living quarters are through this door and in the room to the right."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0U2EFQumn
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xr1BHkUT8
Pars pointed at the door in question. Juke wasted no time waltzing through the door. From what I heard through the wall, he went into the living quarters right after, but I didn't have to hear it to know what would happen.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmX5Cz7DsG
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"These walls are remarkably thin," I commented.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAn0slEiNz
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"That they are. Well, if you want to go and meet everyone, I'm sure they're in the living quarters."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiwtDEPN6h
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUWWoP7uy1
"They're in the living quarters... so Rover is there?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgCpoWS96Z
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpBWGkynW9
"She likely is. Well, will you go say hi?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7dbQlu8xn
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A spark of utter contempt for Pars rose for a moment. Simultaneously, I felt my chest grow heavy, like a bucket of gravel was being dumped into my soul.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcgqG4mrqG
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"I need more time. I'll spend my time elsewhere. What other rooms does this place have?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiKhftapzj
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6PG23ML6x
I looked at him inquisitively, but all I received was a grumpy frown.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGNTofZRTW
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjFbeWouY2
"W-What?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEwMG5HKR8
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"Come on, head over to the living quarters. There's no use in–"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kLJ8DRUTB
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT09B5V9r3h
"I am absolutely not doing that. It's unnegotiable"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSwI2YL36e
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx7INh3CKx
Pars' shoulders drooped but he quickly shrugged them and turned the other way.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgJ02seRny
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"Suit yourself. But I'll tell her that you're here."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPDIjhDXer
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy21s5jv8D
For a second, I was about to reproach him, but considering how brazenly Juke entered the room, all I had to say way–210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyZ9NevcBt
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"That's fine. Just don't tell her any lies about me. You know the kind."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3f3TCyTOe
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFfOTlbdf7
"I'd never."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVSBBjGfdq
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He walked through the door, leaving me to my own devices. Whether he was honest about never telling her was entirely up to his whims, and I was too agitated to confront him. With nothing else to do, I walked through the door and found myself in a much more bright room, lit up by a ceiling lamp. The lights made the homogenous design of the basement swell. I grew sick of it quickly, so I wanted to leave the area immediately. I had the choice between going forward or left. I didn't think much before choosing to go left.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1ZLtE3OZi
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I opened the door to a dusty room as poorly lit as the first one. There was a table in the center with a plethora of lanterns beside what looked like a map, but most of them weren't lit. I stepped forward but struggled to see the contents of the map. It wasn't just because the room was dark, but because the table was abnormally tall.
"Is there a stool here?"
I asked the question to nobody in particular before scanning the room. My surprise when I heard a response almost burst my heart.
"Who's there?"
I felt like I had just been caught committing a heinous crime. It was silly, and I realized that, but my body froze all the same. I struggled to collect myself, and I only fared worse once I heard them speak again.
"Seriously, who's there?"
It was the voice of a woman. No, a woman wasn't right, more like a girl who sounded particularly mature. Her second question had a harsher tone, and yet, I felt no pressure to answer. At that moment, I wanted nothing more but to leave the room. I had to act quickly.
"Don't mind me," I answered in an embarrassingly deep voice, "I was only idly walking by. I'll leave you alone for now–"
"I don't recognize that voice. Who are you?"
I heard footsteps from the shadows. I quickly stepped away from the lantern and hugged the wall as Rover's visage came into view. Her hand was on the hilt of her rapier. That was the extent to which I could see her.
"I can see you. You're freaking tiny! There's no way you're a Bringer. Did Pars and David bring in a midget or something?"
"..."
At the very least, Rover was unabashedly herself. That was terrible news for me. I kept hugging the wall, stock still as I thought of what actions to take.
"Heh, did I scare ya? Well, I may be strong, but we're on the same side here. My name's Rover! I'm trying to get along with everyone, so let's be friendly!"
I considered taking my tendril and producing a spore-bloom, but Rover would instantly recognize me if I did that. I had to think outside the box– produce an unorthodox solution. Running to the door would do me no good.
And so, I ran my mouth, leaving it to my improvisational skills.
"I apologize, but I can't... I can't give you my name."
"Eh? Why not?"
"It is because I am terribly afraid of women. If you would excuse me, then– what's that look for?"
Even through the darkness, I could see Rover's expression alter. Whatever face she was making, I knew I was worse off than before.
"Hold on, I recognize that way of talking..."
It was do or die. I sighed and brandished my right arm. But for the minute that it lingered there, the tendril never came.
"K-Kenny!?"
My arm was shaking. It wasn't out of fear, but restraint. Restraint I didn't even know I had, but now that it showed itself, it was obviously always there.
I couldn't release my tendril on her. I simply couldn't. But I couldn't answer her question, nor could I speak, nor could I do anything that I wanted to at the moment. I had to leave; it wasn't a desire at that point, I simply had to. I had to.
And so, I turned tail and bolted to the door, nearly breaking the knob as I opened it and fell to the other side. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, but to my surprise, I didn't hear any banging. To my surprise, I didn't even hear a word from her.
To my surprise, I didn't see her even reach for me as I ran away.
I had no idea what to make of it, nor were these matters particularly important to me. All that mattered was that she'd stay on that side of the door, that I wouldn't have to speak to her. Because if I did, I'd be–
"..."
I was shaking. I was reminded of the woods. This old feeling that I was battling with not even a day ago.
I couldn't see her. It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't.
It was frightening.
–
–
–
I didn't know how much time had passed since I sat by the door, but I knew it couldn't have been for long. I grew tired of having my legs sandwiched between my knees quickly. I raised my head and faced the mono-colored walls of the room. The lamp's buzzing was cacophonous. I didn't jive with this place, so I stood up and stretched a little. Somehow, I was unbothered by leaving the door unattended. I just knew Rover wouldn't try to open it.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFm1sS1xrXU
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"..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkb0ndyXNq
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoqcjlLC4d
That sucked, I wanted to say, but if I let out a thought right now I'd have people unintentionally hearing me. I was still jittery from my encounter; I didn't want to be bothered at the moment. Though, that did raise an obvious question: where would I go from here?210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH4OODdnYK
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X6vAFJX4d
My memory stated the room across from me was the living quarters. I didn't want to go there at the moment, so the only way I could go was to my left. I walked to the door and opened it.
The room on the other side had a jarring shift of architecture. The walls were no longer colored beige– there weren't any walls at all. Wood engulfed everything in my view. Seeing the framework of the basement made me hesitant to step in, but as I saw two people in the room already, I crossed the threshold. Funnily enough, one of the people was Dave, while the other was a woman in a uniform of sorts. I didn't recognize her until I noticed her distinct silver hair.
"Kenny. How are you faring?"
"I'm... fine. What about her?"
I walked closer to Lola. She was in a chair and leaning on the table. If it weren't for her bilious groans, I would've assumed that she was asleep.
"She's drunk," Dave replied while holding up a bottle, "It's a shame. I wanted to break the news to her, but she can hardly keep her head up."
"The news? Do you mean what I told Pars about the raptors?"
Dave nodded in reply. I brought my finger to my mouth and chomped on it. We stared at her intoxicated self for a while, and I was starting to get sheepish. I decided to start a conversation.
"What should we do?"
"Don't use language like that, my business with her isn't any of your concern. But, unless you know External Mana Spinning, we'll just wait until she detoxes herself."
"External Mana Spinning... well, maybe if she was a plant..."
I spoke under my breath then let out a sigh. If I knew I'd be dealing with a drunkard, then I would've brought a potion for the occasion. Alas, hindsight is prime sight. With nothing else to do, I moseyed to the table and took a seat, fiddling with my fingers.
And then, something terrifying happened.
"--hurr?"
A noise, far louder and less gravely than the perpetual groans, erupted from Lola. She suddenly jerked her head up. One of her eyes was drooping, while the other was struggling to focus. I exchanged mock eye contact with her. She rubbed her eyes; it achieved nothing but she looked over at Dave and then at me.
"D-Dave... that short guy... Kenny?"
"Yes, madam."
Her eyes widened profusely. The moment Dave uttered his confirmation, she scrambled to collect herself, placing a hand on her chest to start mana spinning and throwing the bottle she wasn't holding at a nearby trash can. Dave walked to the trashcan and gently disposed of it in her stead. A few minutes passed by until Lola finished mana spinning. She gave me a gentle smile, a far cry from the mumbling, bumbling mess I saw a moment ago.
"H-Hi, Kenny! You came at a bad time, I'm sorry you had to see me that way. So, what brings you–"
Her speech was interrupted by a sudden gag. She held her hand to her mouth and then jolted to her feet.
"Excuse me for a moment–!"
She stormed out of the room. I stared at the door for a good minute after she left. I was bemused, but not because of the sequence of events. Rather–
"Where is she going?"
"To the restroom."
"Where's that?"
"Upstairs. Where else?"
A slight shiver went down my spine. Not only would I be dirty, but I'd be gambling every time I needed to release waste.
"This place is unbelievable," I muttered as I sunk my face into my hands.
–
–
–
The door opened to Lola with her hand on her head. Her trip to the bathroom and back lasted no longer than five minutes, but from her face, I knew it felt like an eternity to her.
"Hi hi... sorry about that."
"It's fine," Dave said, "let's get straight to business."
"Can it wait a minute?"
"Huh? Why?"
Lola nudged her head in my direction. Dave rolled his eyes in response.
"It's fine. The information I'm relaying is what he told me anyway."
"Wow. Let me hear it from him, then."
Dave rolled his eyes again but didn't insist past that. Lola took a seat aside from me with her usual smile.
"Hello, Kenny. I assume you heard the news about the towers."
I nodded.
"Yes. That is why I'm still in this city."
Telling her a half-truth, Lola nodded with a solemn look on her face. She released a sigh and rubbed her temples.
"The news you have must be terrible. I changed my mind. Dave, let me hear it. It'd break me to hear a child's voice speak it."
Dave stopped tapping his foot on the ground and cleared his throat. I made no mention of my slight irritation at her wording.
"To put it bluntly, we have reason to believe Hard-Bringer killed all the Raptors in the city. Kenny and an ally of his came across the northern stables and found all of them dead. The rest of the stables likely shared a similar fate."
"I see, I see."
Though Lola said that, she looked to be troubling the information. Whether it was because of the information itself or something else, I couldn't tell.
"Oh, that is terrible, isn't it?"
Dave nodded. I felt compelled to do so as well. Lola grabbed her head with her hands and sighed again.
"I expected this, but... it's disheartening anyway."
"What do you propose we do," Dave asked. Lola stayed still, likely lost in thought.
"The immediate thing to do would be to call a meeting. As for what to do in light of this, would you mind letting me think?"
"Of course," Dave answered, "I'll leave you to it, then. Kenny, let's–"
"No, stay here for a minute, Kenny. There's something I want to say to you in private."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLNdM3rVlo
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I felt a sudden weight form in my chest, but I didn't rebuke her request, simply replied with a nod. Dave had a bemused look but didn't protest. I was left alone with Lola a moment later. Sweat beads began to form on my body. I felt nervous. Lola didn't have a contrastingly calm demeanor either, so I felt even more nervous. Somehow, I felt like I did something I shouldn't.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ovIZcDiJG
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She didn't do anything that warranted my anxiety, though. Instead, she balled her hands together and rested her chin on them, fiddling her fingers as she gazed at the table.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9tfLq97Mk
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The silence was unbearable. I had to say something.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymSbZww9CL
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"What did you want to tell me?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRmwCmUyU2
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"...You'll have to forgive me, I'm about to sound ridiculous."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u5Bcwoxkn
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I tilted my head. She feebly shook hers.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviSvlJD8wV
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"Can I ask you something, Kenny?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywUGzFKsEe
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"S-Sure. What is it?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWse9JOcYC
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"Do you like fighting?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFghKUjK0C
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAxc4owbGH
I gave her a series of mindless blinks before speaking again.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpL4EW8uJ2
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"Do I like fighting? Well, not particularly... no, scratch that, I don't like fighting at all."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MiYdw8LII
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"Then, why do you do it?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp0Pxr2lze
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"..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf45svmQTL
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Despite seeming like an interrogation, I treated her questions with tact. I pinched my chin and pondered my answer.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIB9u8eBOj
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"I suppose it's out of necessity. A means to an end."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7g9IilePE
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"...In that regard, I'm very like you."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xRXgMs4vv
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pZJulHGSU
Her tone was sinking. She sounded like a heavy smoker for a moment.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYqazjKrDE
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"I hate fighting. I loathe it. Every fiber of my being is repulsed by it. And yet– and yet, I have to fight."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVXlsL5L5j
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9htoB4Vhw
"..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafXBHO9tF0
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LdXKBxOOR
I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say, or if I should say anything.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOqn117Jyb
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RHBSDKsJc
"I know it's silly of me to say this to you, but I find solace and hope in you, Kenny. In some ways, I envy you. So young, so gifted, yet I'm here to steer you away from the wrong path."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG4y5jQaRR
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BsB2qxVaP
"...W-Whaa?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6ZsQpKFJ2
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxAun2WfBl
I uttered my words in sheer confusion. Lola's eyebrows twitched, and she rubbed them.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO4VLOc25j
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4IapYzpY9
"No, that's poor of me, I apologize. I think some of the alcohol is still in my system."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6U088ZJIq
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF7ChAuy3U
"It's... it's okay."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilExDdeLgs
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv4DuOV7NK
"You are powerful, but despite that, you don't have to fight. It isn't your duty. So why, why are you here? Is it truly because of necessity?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYsvAvZfNW
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKgCe3VhWI
"..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFlEopE8Oe
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcqXTI6E8Z
I couldn't answer her question, but I saw an opportunity to redirect it.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG7ZiNEMvA
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeLadM4csD
"It is my duty. It's my job to see this letter delivered."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mncGeYqWd
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jI7aZjPvb
"Is that... is that so? Even with Hard-Bringer here?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNLrdXwe7p
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb6JcWA7RS
"...Y-Yes."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj1CWJPAmk
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDgeEJ2lti
I bit my lip when answering. It was difficult to continue speaking while hiding so much from her. Fortunately, she accepted my answer.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gZFlYAsh1
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTqFwMRIc1
"I see. I see now."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR99yDZnAK
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtABOb1Wvp
She opened up her hands and let her chin rest on her palms. I was going to ask her if that was all, but she kept speaking.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcvsnlJziN
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyCtZRhFkf
"I don't loathe fighting because of fighting itself. If I was doing it for sport, then yes, gladly, I'd battle. It's the consequences that I can't stand."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlyV1HUiiT
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy6WxNyW5Q
"Like, um, like what?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW53nucSmQj
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRF1GxrG73
"...Bloodshed, tears, cries. Death. Though the last one is rare, it happens."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6nJUeuwtR
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ214O8nr6W3
The air in the room suddenly grew thicker.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUr4AIrRSX
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSkzBeLC7
"I desire peace, yet I'm a combatant. I want to help people, yet all I do is hurt and bring tears. It's all I can be. I despise it."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld4wvdpSJ8
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Sh9qUG6Vn
She paused to scratch her head.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WrY2pUzWW
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVEjUqAk8N
"This situation just makes it worse. It's cruel of this life, don't you think?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHohQWXsMAq
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vx7qknWmj
"I... I, I'm not–"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNX9eiY6cb
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi1n2kM24N
"Oh, I'm sorry. Why am I telling you this? This is so embarrassing of me. I apologize, sincerely, I do."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42db5SIIH8
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAwvTj78b4
She placed her hands on the table and got out of her chair.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAUtQIJ61e
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU41moi9ypQ
"I'll start the meeting soon. Get ready, it'll be in the room on the right."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsPzxfGlF3
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFthJ3m5ZJN
"On the right?"210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YH9HAq3tk
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgauqIYhkWD
If I remembered correctly, then that was the room Rover was in. I postponed being bothered by that, there was something more urgent on my mind. I spoke it as Lola went to leave the room.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7g1RZGkba
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkgHZoioyo
"You say that it's all you can do, but I don't know if that's true."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c1BqMVmlt
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwI1QxXCRe
"..."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0VwlUeID8
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZEygpygqA
She didn't turn around, only raised her head to let me know she was listening.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrK23wJyFk
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhz2V0wozo
"I'm sure there's something you can do to get out of being a combatant. I mean, look at me, I'll be studying plants when I'm older."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gGqUy1hgR
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jb3RyQyWE
"Yes, when you're older. You're young, and I'm pushing my thirties."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHFaab7pot
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtsXYr2Chh
She placed her hand on the knob and began to turn it. I blurted one last thing before she left.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS91YQLmQO
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CyK289vOl
"You're way better at mana manipulation than I am. There's definitely something you can do."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfaq4wFsrS
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwgY9aaYbv
"...Maybe."210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmROX4l5hu
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGSrgXTwin
With those final words, she parted from the room. I sat there for a minute, thinking about what just happened, and then sighed. If I was honest with myself, I didn't understand what had just transpired at all. What I did know was that I botched it. What 'it' was, I didn't know, but that was irrelevant.210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbAoBvTPzq
210Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqzg39GzyN
Dejected, I stood up from my seat and walked to the door. The meeting was starting soon. I figured I should attend it.
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