Sleep wasn't brought by my collapse. I was plagued by a lingering restlessness, a prickling bit of caution that blocked my eyes from fully closing. Instead, I used my granted time to keep watch of the door whilst against a desk, an arm slung over my knee.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOrOjjSozW
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“Ya look like a sorry sort. More like a midget than a kid.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFho1c57pi
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFTQISjsW9
Juke joined me in my resting. The both of us eyed the door, keeping careful watch for any sudden enemies. It probably wasn’t the best course of action, I realized, as that dean was likely to get in trouble. But he was out of sight, and thus, for the time being, out of mind.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNLgRfLH3u
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNcNmhY1yv
Besides, I had a verbal jab I needed to address.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgwnq7uVFm
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“There are thousands of better ways to say I have a sullen or exhausted face. Take your helmet off; I’m certain you aren’t faring any better.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaadrgRdUO
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVQLXhHHZp
“Y’know, that ain’t a bad idea.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2t4dzxPtr
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfZPYeGSUW
He did just as I suggested, laboriously lifting his laden helmet and setting it aside. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomaXG9c4uV
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“Well?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJG97pguRB
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmksfAD5Wd
“...It’s about what I expected. At least your facial hair looks clean.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbvuTb6eGi
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsSbBh6urA
“Really? That thing’s messy all the time.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQhka5MoWb
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BMQFjj36Q
“Maybe exertion has a reverse effect. I’ve heard of things like that happening.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr51R18dap
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm7jPA33La
He stroked his lengthy stubble in contemplation. I let him do that and continued glaring at the entrance, waiting but hoping not for something to pop out.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGxphxccUx
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdDlPaAzCU
“I’m surprised either of us are still standing here. I didn’t even bleed from that fight.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxmLfjX65c
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax6daNJyrh
“I ain't bleedin’ either. But that bastard scratched my helmet. ‘Least he didn’t dent it.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsqqJSBPPZ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklay0sbtpe
He grabbed it and rotated it to spot the marks left by the Bringer’s blade. They were very obvious once he pointed them out, making me feel dumb for not noticing them.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMabQbQIPKm
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“I’m glad, cuz it means I ain’t gotta get a new one. And if I had ta, I can’t, since I’m stuck in this crazy place. And ta think I still got another tower to fight…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLiwukexN4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwD5h8AhMR
I tried to empathize with him, but my state inclined me to be backhanded.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09RBnUGCyj
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpUz39h1AY
“You only have yourself to blame. You and I could’ve left if we stopped caring about the letter.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpixZZg71Zs
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVCAEFat1O
He sighed and shrugged. That gesture indicated that he heard my point, but he still had a retort.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedNEVpbmIk
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XpLgz3ROF
“C’mon, kid. We agreed on somethin’ back in that alleyway. ‘Specially in times like these, ya gotta keep yer word.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AjPbhcHKc
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUlbbLh1gT
“...Yeah.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XijVisKJo
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Though I had my frustrations, he was right. I was convinced, not just by Juke, but by my own distorted feelings to go back and fight. I was as to blame as he was. Still–225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdNEFORxrb
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0IIwSFen4
“It’s so stupid. I don’t like any of it”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEIjQDAXDS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcWG11Brno
“I ain’t liking any of this either.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSCtUlzpu5
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrzoVOyAUB
“I know! I know you aren’t; you’d be a maniac if you did. But still”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4DAaTaVb3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfW6ORUgjc
Juke chuckled a little. I rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue. Little gestures like that dulled my festering feelings. He returned to his resting face. But when I looked at it closer, it was more rigid and fierce than the face of a resting man.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAMD9vuKhp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2TmL1n7Tl
“I’ll tell ya what, though. I wanted no part of fighting for this damn Pillar.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwDHOepGgP
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“Y-Yeah. That I agree with.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML2MhNOWZE
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“It ain’t amountin’ to anything either, is it?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY2c3X0K9L
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“...?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuY8DwXhFy
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At that, I had to tilt my head.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ssd8WETP6
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“It’s a detour, certainly, but this furthers our goals, doesn’t it? The Retaliation Crowd are going to help us with our goal after this.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7fKV1zKBm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTzHGFVRrr
“...I guess yer right. But it doesn’t feel like it.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7uieJAeos
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He adjusted his posture a little, rolling his shoulders and releasing a lengthy sigh.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpNQsgW8ht
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“Dennis still ain’t here.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79PeigL4yB
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“...”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05bWnfVYX8
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeLLwwfdWQ
The bubbling fumes within me died down immediately. It was difficult to stay mad when I saw Juke’s forlorn face. But at the same time, I struggled to see it justified.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPQWoKsqHh
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“I don’t really get it. I mean, I understand wanting to help an acquaintance, but you make it out as if he’s a lifelong friend–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCzY4JVmkZ
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“I get what yer sayin’ kid. Ya ain’t entirely wrong, but it’s more complicated than that. I know ya well enough to make it click. Gimme a second.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcQXLvSQOd
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He scooched across the floor and sat with his front facing me, holding both his hands out to help himself explain.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW54DK6UK3
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“Think of it this way, kid: let’s say I got an apple, and that I need to eat it within twenny minutes, and if I don’t eat the apple in twenny minutes then I should jump off a buildin’.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3ZaZ9sUEy
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“--!? W-What!?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZROcVCCcfw
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsDaTIxZFf
Such an analogy was one thing, but that extreme turn made it seem like a joke.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwZBDQVQEr
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMyp9HQL7W
“Hold on, Kenny. Ya gotta think about it more. Why would any sound man kill themselves cuz they didn’t eat an apple?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDYQUVZykG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vT0Owp4kL
“...You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxR0P7FnpS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjQ4QHgWSB
“Do ya see my hands on ya? Nah, I’m serious, kid.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarQoHyxlKo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjazV7nu9F0
Though I still had my eyebrows raised, I did what was told of me. I pinched my chin and stared at the ceiling, wracking my brain and hoping an answer would fall for me to grab. It didn’t come to me very easily, and I looked at Juke with a slight plea in my eyes. He read it immediately and urged me to keep thinking. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwLmLTQzfc
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE5RyE5oyU
I sighed. At the same time though, I figured it was a good use of time, and I knew that playing by his rules would make me understand him better. So I ruminated away. I thought of it from Juke’s perspective at first and realized that wouldn’t lead me anywhere. Then I thought about it regarding recent events– aside from the fighting, that argument we had came up, and a shudder from my shoulders urged me to stop that train of thought. Then, taking how he said it would click for me into account, I thought about it as if I was the Kenneth Juke knew.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPmWGEhkDn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqVXI5eKxj
That didn’t really work either, but the idea of a different Kenneth gave me what I was looking for.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pvukZdUfV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZEpjtWbSt
“If you’d kill yourself over an apple… that must mean it has a lot of sentimental value. But it isn’t just a sentiment that makes it that way.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJQ4GyVqVS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9pJlem46s
Juke nodded along, and I took it as an okay to continue.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlzf9vKaa1
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojsGNYsapx
“It’s like the shape of a grant. Because you said that the apple meant something, that apple became a symbol. Because you made the terms that this apple’s consumption is correlated with your life, you’re putting stock into it. You’re giving it something greater than sentimental value; you’re making it a wager. Either I’m good enough to eat this apple, or I’m not good enough to live.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI25iB4YX9I
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“...”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQxFVHrj6e
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I looked at Juke for a response, but what I thought would be a satisfied face just looked a little lost. My face must’ve looked really surprised.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMSMTqk4hp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXiIduSnJz
“Ya ain’t wrong, but I wouldn’t call it a wager. It’s more like a checklist. One that ya just have to fill.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsz5GCcUj4
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“I-I see…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY2rqHu5Yw
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbP3QtTGFv
My analogy must have gone too off the rails. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking like Juke enough. Either way, the side effect of going on such a thought train made itself prominent. The sparks of my earlier declaration rekindled, and I grew proud– but only slightly –for making it to this top floor.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPMrSucGEv
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeij3fxWVJ
“Seein’ Dennis safe n’ sound is one of those checks. I got a few other ones, but they’re too private to tell ya. And others, I don’t really get.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49VBImpCKH
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejjVktSOuw
“You don’t, ‘get?’”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlDSmbgJWj
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“Y’know, when–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lYQRQqYym
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“No no no, I understand you. I do.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUIJgFCart
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My muscles loosened a little. I felt awfully warm about the words I would spit.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYWl9gg7xY
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUwbLBqExJ
“I just know that feeling a little too well sometimes–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AViit5WqX
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lP71ZoJFL
**SLAM**225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH9pyJUrk0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqigj27g32
A loud, thundering sound rang through the dusty room, startling Juke and me and putting our senses on high alert. Juke put one hand on his handle, and I already called the tendril forth and aimed it at the sound. It came from the door; now it was opened all the way, but the figure responsible wasn’t behind the other side.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkGyA8c4Xz
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That is until I saw a head peer from the frame.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3etKELqqzz
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“Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabzUShPAcY
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The head belonged to the dean of the Pillar. He waltzed in haphazardly taking little steps and checking every inch of the room. When his eyes landed on the Bringer, he squeled for a moment, but quieted down once he noticed all the blood.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczZqV7KLtr
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“Phew. For a moment I thought I came at a bad time.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSSpC2oK6m
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“M-Mister Dean.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2EuDGRj59
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I decided to speak up, as the present situation was too absurd for silence.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UXsjU5aha
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“Yes, child?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D1HLrmAK7
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“Uh– well, first of all, are you alright?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpRPnBYeIx
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwPMkknB9q
“Yes, quite alright. My shoulder is still in pain, but the bleeding stopped long ago. And again, I must thank you for releasing me.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVodlBCUUU
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“R-Right.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX5ssR3aiB
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I couldn’t think of anything else to say, and looking at Juke revealed he was in a similar boat.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq7SqFr6fV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKze3KNUGTE
“But, enough about me. I came here bringing good news, and a friendly face.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8qiVU8tKZ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqatoqi2OC
“--Please worry not about explaining it, Sir Dean. I wouldn’t want my duty as a leader stolen as such.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEjvwEnLC0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwFaW2oCO8
From behind the Dean came a soft voice. A voice of confidence and care, a voice I’ve grown fond of over the past day. And seeing the holder of that voice cross the threshold made me retract my tendril, and put a hand on my chest in relief.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdAjum8fW4
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“Hello, you two,” said Lola, “by the looks of things, your side was a complete success.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAiuFUw3mN
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LBhl2tWUp
–
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–
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–
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With the arrival of Lola came the confirmation I was desperately needing. We had won.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9Md2RpuxY
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Though it wasn’t without casualties, the foreign pillar was rid of pesky Bringers. Its control was seized by the Retaliation crowd, and the Dean still being alive was a great relief.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPGYNU9hWn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduwozvkNph
“I was afraid of something like this,” the Dean explained, “but I couldn’t halt the mechanisms of this city because of premonition…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41a1lxkzbV
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Either way, we had what I was assured was an invaluable asset. I didn’t see how in the moment, but as I was taken to the answer, Lola elucidated me about the status.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCJqrpmD0p
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A majority of the crowd hunkered town at the top. One floor with wide windows served as an excellent watch tower, and ranged specialists were tasked with observing the parameters. The floors above were converted into restrooms or hospital rooms. A few crowd members ventured to the lower floors to gather all the food and water available, of which there was a grand amount. It made sense, as all of those supplies belonged to the Bringers beforehand. Half a dozen of the healthiest and uninjured watched the first floor and the surrounding city, both defending from infiltrators and–225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9uvGl4IOe
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“They’re looking for recruits. If fighters see that we have the most important building under control, they’re more likely to join the effort.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXh0n0DL9B
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“Haven’t you explained that already?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYeiDFG2Jo
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“Yes, but… there is a slight problem we’ve run into.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCoY4nZi52
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“What’s that?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFY74LgpZp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmZ6MguGZI
Lola turned around and crossed her arms. She nudged her head to Dave who was beside her, and with a sigh, he stepped forth and spoke.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bvAZRfDiR
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“Everything is done in two ways here. Either letters or signals. Old man Jackson was always responsible for the latter. We do not have Jackson anymore, so unless we make a lot of noise, we can only commune with letters.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10tMDEzJIg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0z29kpXu9
I realized the implications immediately. Even if fighters were available, everyone was in hiding. Nobody knew the state of the central Pillar, and I doubted that the crowd’s existence was well-known either. But then I remembered the prowling Pars and Dave from yesterday and asked:225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGzQWDQllW
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdLjqyCCyW
“I know I wasn’t asked, but I think making a signal would be effective.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP0ebfn2hK
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvtVezr89T
“We thought so too. But we don’t want mages to waste their mana on mere fireworks, so we thought of something better. Since Hard-Bringer miraculously hasn’t set the city ablaze, it’s very quiet out.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0zk2Hu3m3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3TVJbOT5t
“...Ah, so that’s where you’re heading. But how will it be done?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTuVcBuV85
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKingCxudKd
A smirk found itself on his face. He turned around and continued leading me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf3qtAAWSV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxbD5UH43Y
“We have our methods. This place has been around too long for it not to.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ59lsRKci
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuDvTBIa0n
I followed them further, in a location past the Dean’s office. Hidden by a camouflaging door, the room I entered was lit and energetic but smelled foul.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYfnaaqXEv
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uKpWdcd9q
“Oh, goodness. And I was wondering why the office was so small.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjqR1tyZSn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjPVdgAWYM
The room itself was decently spacious, but that detail didn’t attract me. Rather, it was the presence of wooden walls and fences, the hallmark infrastructure of a city stable. Only, it was far tidier and metallic than most.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKqv5hSqMQ
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“Here is your answer, Kenny,” Lola said, standing beside a stall. I peeped inside and–225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mQ1iBLQmU
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“GAH! W-Why is this here?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvuChgBpPD
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A creature resided within the stall. One with reins around its beak, and one with a stature I’ve seen deceased more often than alive. The Communication City’s signature raptor.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBpjGiWOd9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyk5PJ16C2
“It’s the Dean’s private delivery bird. It’s specially trained to traverse the city walls, as its tight curves and winding streets are difficult for the average one.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JHRLGZFOC
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“I wouldn’t call any curves ‘tight,’ but I guess when you’re as fast as these things, then they can be.” 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EDEvxhBRo
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The raptor leaned its head over the gated fence, staring at me with wide, occasionally blinking eyes. I didn’t know what to do. I was never in close proximity to one, and I never had one look at me like I was some kind of puzzle.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZQmCxo83C
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“I think it likes you, child.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C2dFO59Gi
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFAJ5ZF324
“Please, call me Kenneth or Kenny, Mister Dean. And, uh, are you sure– certain?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNiLZdcdFd
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4KiVrdRlR
The Raptor’s gaze grew more intense. It appeared that he was trying to see into my soul, and I felt like an ant under its wide eyes.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkgkJS3Hzv
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And then, it leaned its head down even further and… sniffed my hair.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoF4x0xF1k
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“Hah?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00xXsTAxOp
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“I hear these animals love ta smell flowers. Ya do have that kind of aroma, so thats why it likes ya.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIFgKP6lRt
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“I… smell like flowers?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO3voeYfp9
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I looked around the room for an answer, and everybody present nodded simultaneously. I was completely taken aback, more because of the shock than anything else.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdoFEKE7ks
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“Why am I just figuring this out !? I don’t smell– well, I don’t think I smell like flowers?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fw3qeHCUf
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I even sniffed my hands and arms to make sure, and nothing of the scent reminded me of flowers.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p42Nmef96
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“Well, ya get used to the way ya smell to the point ya can’t tell. That’s just how yer nose works.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdStodOvgh
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“Really? I didn’t know that…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrzSMWmDmf
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“Ahem, moving on–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDQ52IlXCX
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Dave interjected with a cough. I turned my attention back to him, anticipating his oncoming words.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vEzLpoOLs
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“The plan of action is quite simple. We’ll have someone riding this beast, sprinting around the town, and yelling about our victory. The Raptor’s speed can be easily modulated, so escape from any roaming bringers is easy.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgLtfr4OfV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRyqihiVua
I understood what he was saying. I even agreed with it. Though shaky, it was a great and efficient plan with the resources we had. What clogged my throat, however, wasn’t the plan itself, but the subtle insinuation of telling me this plan. So, I had to ask:225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uh6V1U61n
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“May I know why I’m being told this?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLJLVSFWGB
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“If you think it’s because we’ll make you do that, don’t you even worry. We’re not so cruel to put a child in such danger, are we, Dave?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GEc0qAfF8
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Lola seized all my worries immediately, causing me to let out a happy sigh. I wasn’t even bothered by her mentioning of me being a child, as I welcomed this discrimination just this once.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH13RWpLo3
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“But if you need to know why,” she continued, “it’s because we need your help in facilitating it.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe56ofOXA6z
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“My help, you say…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjABnwLbrk
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It wasn’t such a terrible request, though I had no idea how I could. I waited for elaboration, since they looked eager to hand it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJgBiUZ9ab
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“I’ve heard that you’re a prolific, experienced alchemist. At such a young age too no less–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQXjhU6PPr
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“Please, don’t mention it. I don’t want my achievements embellished, especially because of something like age.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtknvgSKeXs
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“--Anyhow, your skills are most needed. A single raptor can’t traverse every corner of this city without some help, so I was wondering: do you happen to know how to make energizing potions?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrMHSKC7TW
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“...Energizing potions?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzw6sThDcE
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I knew how to do that, naturally, but Lola was off the mark somewhat.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9aU9BBti9
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“Wouldn’t endurance be more useful? When you’re running both a marathon and a race, just finishing it is most important.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa6y1BSLiZ
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Lola had her eyes wide and her head slowly nodding.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt3FRwkuih
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“You’re correct. Do you think you can do it?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf6F8diaKL
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“I definitely can. I can use some of the empty flasks in my bag. That is, if they aren’t broken.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzavAjDzFBg
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I turned my head at Juke and stoutly narrowed my eyes. He didn’t notice until a few seconds passed, and he jolted when he saw me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvIBfDHlhK
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“T-There’re few good ones. One’s unopen, so ya can juts pour it out if ya hafta.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPsKOTozW1
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“Phew. That’s good. The potency wouldn’t be right if I was just using random cups.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zCJIlCx7b
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I turned around and marched to the exit of the room. I stopped myself before leaving, because I noticed only my footsteps were echoing.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZDCAMqkAk
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“Is something wrong?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY2WH4qgqb
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Lola and Dave looked at eachother. For being such well-spoken people, it was strange for them to fail finding the words. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EbCaYrJau
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“Well, kid–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZrnV34EaZ
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Then Juke suddenly spoke out, and I diverted my attention to him.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAgIQYrCmu
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“Ya just look a lot more comfortable than I’m used ta.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyWos3AYtR
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After a moment of droning silence, Lola and Dave looked at me, nodding in agreement with Juke. I didn’t know what to say, but I had complete composure to react. Nothing within me flared up, only a single sentence popped into my mind.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqg6uK4wDC
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“Comfortable? I haven’t heard that one before.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnpyn9AnqM
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Whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I had a special duty to perform, and that duty took prescedence. Before leaving the room, I asked Lola where supplies were stored, and once I was told I began moseying through the Dean’s room.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOdliBKXqb
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM2oE9dU8p
Their perplexed looks didn’t slip by me. I had never seen such a face before, but I knew what it was. I knew it because I’ve made it, albeit a much harsher version. It was the face of a witness to the breaking of boundaries, the erasure of an image of the person one knows. I wasn’t bothered by it– If anything, being looked at that in that way was oddly relieving. But I still couldn’t stand it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1eLGUhraP
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“...Comfortable.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Aan4SxZam
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I mouthed that word a couple of times. Juke always had a fascinating way of phrasing things. Comfortable. I spoke it, I whispered it, I thought it and I chewed it. Comfortable.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnKvPqPSay
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Yeah. When it came to alchemy, comfortable was just right.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMVHsh8STR
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This process… wasn’t quite nostalgic. I didn’t know what nostalgia even felt like, but I knew that if I was just five years older, I would be sorely missing performing this.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYB3liLxwb
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Scratch that, I missed it even as I did it. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S3WGg8GLH
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Even with all my experience, I wasn’t afforded time to let my thoughts stray and frolic into useless concepts. All my focus was directedto the task at hand, the busy method of making an endurance potion. Oh, how I missed it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zUsInXnor
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“...A little bit here.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcCFMXbASA
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It took a moment for me to shake of my rust, but as it was only a little over a week since I last did this, I felt good as new afterward. I was performing mana suspension with utmost precision. I’ve made this particular potion so many times, I could just let my hands take it away. Still, as I was going through the process and remembering the materials, there was a nagging feeling in the back of my throat that told me something was off. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI8slojmue
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And it wasn’t until near completion that I realized what it was.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6ImnWULRD
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“Of course. Goodness, how could I forget the most important part?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKUAUMil4F
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As I stood in a little booth, there was one natural ingredient from the heap of materials that I was missing: fat. There wasn’t an ounce of raw fat anywhere.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfZRTA3h2X
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I sighed and rubbed my head. I knew that I didn’t look hard enough, but having to descend to another floor to pick up something I already should have was a complete hassle.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5wngepHyw
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“No time to waste, though.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iEtagyKI6
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So I stood up and exited. The booth was one of several in a particular room. Every booth was an office space repurposed into whatever the circumstances demanded, and I was lucky enough to get one for myself. There were a couple of crowd members up here chatting, and I made sure to wave and grant small greetings as I passed by.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Kt2ribhJ
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I reached the stairs shortly after, and while descending them, I thought of how exactly I was going to acquire any fat. I’m sure there was meat as part of the rations, but from the few sparing glances I took, they all seemed dry. The only wild animal in here had a mission to complete, and I didn’t fancy the idea of killing an animal just for a potion. I reached the floor amidst my thinking and figured that I would figure it all out once I got there.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiykbIaAjaQ
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I walked through, waved at those who waved at me, waltzed to the mock-up kitchen organized by a couple of members, and inspected. Indeed, I found out that I did not figure it out once I got there.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqQgioG7vi
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“...Crap.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpG3SrKBtP
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My index and thumb were on my chin, and the arm that held them rested on my other. But looking like a philosopher didn’t manifest what I needed, and I eventually dropped the pose and sighed.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6tsmInhMQ
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“Is there something you’re lookin’ for?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI6z9Vs6Ix
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Who was essentially the lunch lady noticed my plight.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCWoh5tTDP
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“Yes. Um, do you happen to have anything with fat on it? And I mean raw fat.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU8actnpnz
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“Fat? Fat, hmm… well, there might be some in the trash.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4sbAY3PcI
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“Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Can I ask where the trash is?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdOb2lxtmq
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“You sure can. It’s in one of those buckets right there.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTRIpV0e3z
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She pointed with a spoon to the corner of the floor. In that corner, small, lidded buckets were clustered together. They looked to be made of wood. But, those details aside, what I noticed was how nobody was within ten meters of them.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC17BhhOx9
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“M-May I ask, what kind of fat is in those?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj7CXUETxN
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And she responded with confirmation of my immediate fears.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0Ep8Ud04b
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“It’s from spoiled meat. We didn’t have salt or ice or nothing to keep it preserved, so it’s already home to the bugs. Crazy how it turns to junk so quick, isn’t it?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7kVX493cZ
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“Crazy indeed, ma’am.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI93J1PiUrz
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With my back slumped over, I hobbled to the corner with a profound frown. I thought of maybe taking my tendril and producing some kind of flower, but none of their aromas were strong enough to suppress that stench.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO63PYCj6w
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“Mind if I ask what you need fat for?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehvJmtqV3S
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“Oh, yes. It’s for a potion I’m making, you see–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6q8P2vD3x
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I cut my sentence short because, unlike the feminine voice of the lunch lady, the one I heard had the sound of a gentleman. What’s more, I recognized its timbre.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanpy6LIN87
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“N-Nigel!?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64lyKzHPRW
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“Correct! I’m honored that you remember me. It’s swell to see you in good health, Kenny.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpJsROkwb6
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbn4Ha43ww
“Y-You as well. Also, please, don’t sneak up on me like that.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR51F2BhC0W
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvctsirIrWP
He lightly shrugged in response. I clicked my tongue at his insouciant attitude but dropped my grudge quickly.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIaaSl91Vo
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“It’s good to see you healthy as well, Nigel. How was your time at the battle?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ioAv14jLw
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlopc4jkCP
“Ah… well, first, let me offer you a hand.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7dS8R8c6Y
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“A hand,” I asked, confused as to what he insinuated.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj4k2wt02O
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“You said you need fat for your potion, and I just so happen to have a knife.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Kiujqrt4
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He pulled the knife in question out of its sheath and headed towards the buckets, but not before tossing me something.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYe4NcJAd2
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“Is this… a clamper?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NczgDRzyn
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“It is. I’m sure you know to put it over your nose, right? Anyway, let’s chat while we work.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR2i8naEz7
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Nigel’s presence was a lucky blessing. Another pair of hands was one thing, the knife was another, and the clamper was nice, but what I was truly thankful for, was having someone to talk to while I groped and tore stale, smelly, stonymeat.
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“So,” Nigel started as he made his cuts, “what is it that you asked me?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZtsPysYbN
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“That I asked you?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhGI47jiDR
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I thought about it, and it seemed to have slipped even my mind, but I remembered my earlier inquiry quickly.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyYbEB4khJ
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“Right. It was about the battle. How was it? I mean, I know it was rough for everyone, but…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3nuhCl065
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“Yeah, I know what you mean. I might as well tell you.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXDb0tlo60
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He stopped rotating the meat on his knife and looked down at it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJrPssTN1C
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1v5A5D2pf
“...Was it, did you lose your friend?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd7Ie1PHuJ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapuCzLfYBV
He jolted when I asked, raising his head with widened eyes.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j9MmLctL7
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“How did you–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOs1QEjudo
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“I was behind the crowd the whole time. I had everyone’s backs in front of me, so I started keeping track of the members, seeing who was there and who left by the kind of hair or weapons you all had. And, well… at some point, I noticed the head you were with changed at some point.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQgeWwb1sf
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImLzOEnyf0
“...Hah. You’re a sharp boy with a keen eye.” 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroiE4RB6zd
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVgl0e05Z6
He continued cutting as he spoke.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMgJOEUp35
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“Yeah. Damon died during the big ambush. One of the six casualties we suffered. I was left without a partner for the rest of the raid.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRXbeyoio3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2BaP6Wk4V
He looked at his hand. I stopped my own cutting, and my limbs twitched, urging me to reach out and do something. But the only thing I could muster was a few consoling words.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHTzHcF1Y3
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“I’m, so sorry to hear that. He must’ve been a good friend.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C84FqCPmN
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPCdWBaE72
“...Do you think so? He and I fought a lot, I wouldn’t call him a good friend. Just a colleague. Besides, things like these happen in the field.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d7NUkPLn2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1DwaHiYBk
He said those words. He said those words coolly, without wavering hands or trembling lips. His cutting paused, and his eyes seemed to stare off into nowhere, but I couldn’t read anything from his profile. A part of it relieved me, and another made me want to scamper away.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1jLnGHm2y
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClLUIIPte2
“You saw me at a bad time, truly. Sorry, I’ll continue helping.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYNq7lMUSK
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn3UGkTrw8
“Don’t… don’t you worry about it.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDE2207df7
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ipOvpi4hD
“Enough about me. Tell me, how was it on your end?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ9VIlPP7X
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT7oKgxuZz
His switching of the topic was decisive, so I decided to halt my scary thinking. I sighed and paused my motions, reaching for stored memories I preferred to forget. However, the deeper I dug, I had to wonder:225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAytnvNj3iG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AtFAryebG
“Is that really something you want to hear? Are all crowd members like this, just talking about unpleasant fights?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5HfzJasJD
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WgMBHIZ4H
“That’s not fair of you. You asked first, right?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOeZkHphGe
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFj5Naj2fo
“I… darn it, you got me there.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v2lfISPaP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoFjRwCwZU
I continued peeling and let my mouth run.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerZ2GTRCTR
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCxqz0sEbK
“It was me and Juke. He and I were partnered, and for the most part, we just whizzed by the rooms. The one we had to tackle was that of the Dean’s, and for what it’s worth, our fight went smoothly. No major injuries, we weren’t too tired, nothing.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz61g7aarR
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY73ZiN0Nq
Though my right hand would be painfully sore in the morning.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV9NRPF9aA
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgK9NZNRZJ
“Excellent to hear. You must be a proficient fighter for it to have gone so well.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WOThizHf2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjHwEXn2dk
“Not really. I’m just somewhat competent with magic, and my partner had an incredibly useful endowment. We got lucky, that’s all.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIUQ69AeBD
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUykDvmi38c
“I don’t know about that, Kenny.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zvmVRoPve
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHnnFfPn9Q
I looked at him with pursed lips.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecZvYjkVsK
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXaFhLxvJG
“Why not?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IBKBVz64n
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWacQB8I01
“Lady fortunate dictates only half the battle, and it's never the half that’ll be the coup de grace. She is the roof of the house, and man is the foundation; without you, she would simply collapse.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqe7IragB7
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvrq4IZqhH
“That’s… an interesting way of looking at it. But I’m not convinced. I mean, we even ran into an opponent we already beat.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotV73TP8bd
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnTkreZHqY
He raised and wagged his finger, going “tsk tsk” with his lips.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPxZk9JGMn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWU2OxnT2E
“And who is it that managed to beat that enemy in the first place?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLePem3jP1k
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“--!”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRTGgt1CPN
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroZ4jVxzCX
Though my gut still told me something was awry, my mind was convinced by his words. I took it with a grain of salt, and taking it with such a sully still loosened my facial muscles. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvULZSkMrp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL5eBdnFA0
“Did anything else happen?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2L5q43MWX
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vKJ2eEBXQ
“Anything else? Well… Oh!”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjTnL9Rhgf
I perked up and yelled all a sudden, startling Nigel and making him ask “What?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD61kPpVnf
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3W9S3UkYrU
“I forgot to tell Lola and Dave about some information we learned. Juke might’ve already said it, but I still want to make sure.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlboKbHbjqU
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPqPl59ZQQ
“Some information? Would you like me to relay it while you make the potion?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28Q1t3BPla
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“Uh…”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFHjto8c1X
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I hesitated, but when I realized how silly that was, I spoke.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMMktay64V
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozqHYAvVCS
“I don’t see why not. The gist of it is that Hard-Bringer has a grade-zero mana spinner, so it’s prodigalto let enemies slip away.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmMHP23XrL
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v5xQey7tY
“...That is quite a concern. It means we need to confirm all our kills as well.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW7QSXtSEb
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ560JhekdsW
My face retracted and my eyes widened, shocked by our utter differences in derivatives from the information.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dgFHmkBP6
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AUaxFMq6R
“Being together with just Juke must’ve been irritating.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR33JnQY3N
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj50CnLu4w
“Hm? Why’s that? We were split into pairs, weren’t we?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuLt3TTjR9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMZ7BanZhY
He tilted his head and raised his brow, which made me inclined to do the same.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVqTBBP2up
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEZ7TkQhnN
“That’s precisely it. It was just you and Juke, meaning that you couldn’t work with your other partner, Rover, right?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk8gTjUAyA
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“...O-Oh.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfryfoiNTmq
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I realized then that there was a great misunderstanding. I didn’t quite know how to address it, but I decided to take a swing anyway.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwgLjOz1Qy
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“See, Rover and I– and Juke, I suppose –we had a falling out. She’s been evasivefor the most part, and we’re likewise.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPiwCYgRKI
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17SmPzAY7A
“I see… she’s been avoiding you? That makes a lot of sense.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroFkf9PPWP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf3GXUke5H
I tilted my head at his assessment, as I couldn’t imagine how such a conclusion could be drawn.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aeqTTx2Zh
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywkG5OgfAz
“Make sense? How?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca7yWHIvb4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WDsA3RiyY
He adjusted his sitting posture by slacking his muscles and raising his legs, holding his arms over his knees.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LrTXS5xwm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ25IZv2Ipa
“When Damon died, I had to make a quick adjustment. My intuition told me to stick to our agreed formation, and I was advised by a buddy there to group up with her. I did, and we spoke for a minute, but when–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPt5YDoA4V
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrAT4DIIRP
“Ah, so you were her partner? I figured.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqqzbQmGtl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5SNv8D6qj
Nigel looked surprised as I finished his retelling for him. I could tell he needed elaboration, so I handed it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb9uHeRzKc
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVBSxBDHc2
“I was the last to leave the room. You left right before me. I gave her a look, and I think she understood it. I’m very particular with my messaging faces.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Fk1UsVJZD
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“So she still fought alone, eh?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ivv5krR76
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWIBZGnCi4
“...Yeah. She did. I heard she’s alive, though. I’m relieved.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ1sES5ohx
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzPMC3KQPX
“Relieved? How come?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hRdT1QTr0
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I jumped at his stupid question, contorting my face as if it offended me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG64EuH35E
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“You just said you fought. Ah, who am I kidding, I know what it is.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XkxBJeKqQ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y9cuzE0up
He pulled his arms closer to his chest and continued peeling.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH3g4XwoEv
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysvH9PADUx
“You’re probably good friends with her.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4XO8gv5wW
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“F-Friends? W-Well, I don’t know about–”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzTQux2mAH
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0zNdaRmVo
“You’re friends, man. Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t have given her that check if you weren’t.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzoCFxV75u
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkLOwrBTNd
He continued his peeling without care while I sat still, shaking and stupified. An outrageous conclusion, an unbelievable string of words, worming its way into my ears and trapping the nerves that signaled my limbs, the engine that ran my thoughts.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjunPgPukeg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrjrrKxQ0y
“I hear she’s hurt,” Nigel continued, snapping me out of my trance, “Hurt very badly.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvQo1OUbap
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“H-Hurt? What happened?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtOEIUd5h9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeODZePtSWE
“I don’t know the details, but she couldn’t walk when I saw her. She was making one hell of an uproar though, so it’s nothing permanent.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZQHt8bNsG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqWDOmPrlD
“That’s– that’s good to hear.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbgUPNuFvy
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw45uQWdwra
“I got a suggestion for you. I know your relationship is shaky with her, but believe me, what I’m about to advise is good for your health.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC17QCdTTiR
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjG3CQ3wBl
A moment later, he put down his knife and slapped a gelatinous mass of yellow onto the floor before me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6muqwPWaT7
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVwra63viP
“Here’s all the fat I could get. Take this and make your potion, then give her a patch-up.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUf2PNKHFy
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iEgep2gpd
“A patch-up… you mean, a healing potion?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11dfHL7ERL
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He shrugged.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vt2E9ZdCP
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“I’m not the alchemist, am I?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlHFj1pKNm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1baEMA7Ii
“...Yeah. Yeah, you aren’t.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbVT02lB3Q
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY27jTnqS0
I stared at the blubbering mass. It was small enough to fit into my hand, and though it would feel gross, it would be light as a feather as I carried it back to my mock-up lab. But I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Because now that chunk was no longer an ingredient, a box to check for my task’s completion. It was a rope; a rigid line to drop me into the depths.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w5hcXYxko
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PugN08k3m
All those thoughts, all those tingles, all that premonition and ominous prospecting. I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. So I had to.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VK6sUayir
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aXE320TqA
“Thank you, Nigel. Your help was invaluable.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AWtkT8Zfz
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRXL0clg1H
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s my pleasure to be a good role model.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo0tgioT1f
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZT2cxA41x
It was impossible to suppress my smile. His cocky optimism– somehow, it was exactly what I needed to fortify my duct-taped prospects. 225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB2ryfcW9h
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesbUKrYLwT
I picked up the fat, momentarily amazed at how he cut so much so quickly, and waved him goodbye, making my way to my lab and steeling every twitching fiber in me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjzQnscJXq
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–
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–
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“...Role model.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgiLgyyFnq
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5LNL2zfHk
Nigel’s hands were a complete mess, covered in gore that assaulted his nostrils. At least as a soldier, the flesh he bled wasn’t rotten. This was a new experience, and in some ways, he was glad about it. He was glad he didn’t run his mouth. He was glad the kid didn’t notice his hands.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9AUcpW8ed
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“Who am I kidding, of course he noticed.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RaLmNzO2z
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMggPKmdoR
He stood up and brushed his palms against one another, though all that grime would need more oomph to come off. He sighed and tucked his knives away since the kid let the other loiter on the ground.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSigAhqkoTw
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12NSlb9Lhk
“I’m not cut out to be a role model. But I’m glad that kid’s doing good. I’m glad you’re not here either, man.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5X0wgpRJ3
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He put the remaining meat back in the bin and closed the lid, moving his legs to the closest washer he knew.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nH1bDmykl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR48LU69Ks
“You would’ve been too much, Damon. I can’t handle all that empty praise. All that talk of being a moral guy.”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKgkC6nPod
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMPyXxpko3
His legs came to a sudden halt. They jerked to and fro, but they didn’t make one nudge of distance. Nigel scoffed and laughed, looking at his disobedient limbs with a hopeless smile.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvIaTydbk3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwASa0MkvE0
“...Not even my hands? Had to go straight for my legs?”225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafseUjcReF
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCmCWTax2k
He closed his eyes. It was all he could to stop the spill, the salty water that trickled for a mere colleague.
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