The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54lXLpm54j
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ77hPvveM1
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs7jnSkkdf
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBvfsLUpme
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5487sIIqJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTPzQZcJda
"Dad!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LKI3WeWZP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfrd3XbICg
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezROOWfpy6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uF6VHRIHF
"Flinty! There you are!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCZAWQUJll
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aqIx8XYXK
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyS7BSfZs6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYEsFU0B6W
"And you must be Kenny?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMnqW77vGF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH8pefMurU
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIYDnvgJa4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93HbFGaGi
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNUjCu5taX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlnFdaGutV
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4n2Ts2QdD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaQjsvw5qp
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU17JAoIXTE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBtdG2k4yR
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeMc4MhQ2q
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVg54Lyxo3
Dear Mister Chambers.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TwDyszFIP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ32YIGlPqs
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQiVBvoF1B
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KjwV2pOiI
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKqfBRFNrR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfR882R4gK
"...I don't remember promising anything."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuJLD7jd1e
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrCtOxI6zQ
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG8btUB1Mi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGkDjLj3ss
"I'll make sure to thank him later."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtJmFit3g2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA8KGsH0Jw
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9i4nRY3Gv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpqBEjIhYu
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDfGmzzirh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ1l12CU5N
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP9bx7Cv9D
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyup6tyd0U
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXTgh0wcJC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGXJhZ1QGr
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpm96HaVDl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFYxHwwHLi
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC9Y9Ypueu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnHKCaF7cG
"Kenny!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvInS19u90
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbq9ZirzTA
"Ah, Flinty, hello."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7S20PPMyV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vfZzkIFnD
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUvynfE1ef
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzT19L91bO
"Is that the plant you asked for?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6OfJqRLkW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGAZJYlUxS
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPbETxCdbq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJftdBLmH8K
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhTb1nUXlZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0YtAsNpTF
"Hello, you two."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMPDwLR1ha
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAzjYs5Ze0
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM0FMHtBUu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0EX8MB7ny
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6r95dlAAU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vQ2IdVcC1
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwceJVAzOW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdbHX4diT9
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmQYWrR7VY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡandSoi4No0
"Please don't drop it or something."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKoeenwTYo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHds6V6iih
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQLXEdiIga
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl64smjIpY
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gxko1mLoe
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ0XrgxHsj
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUHu0htUPr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn86CF4nLqy
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedI9CDS1XW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FBCb69BPQ
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQZ0WANEDg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMGgpAU5Z7
"And you asked for... a flower?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF03J7JNLvA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMSa4qBIl8
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGijCYuz7h
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIpIvQEMGd
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMS1c4ufoO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EFLzjTZeX
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXDtxuOlDd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq6b5yb71u
"Arg! You...!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFrNKzsqcs
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVG4Y54odf
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddOLeg7TuK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ202MA4uK0e
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5tb9ytu1c
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOiz4ANl8A
"Whatever."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggPjudlJVz
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We sat in silence for a minute.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03Xfi78rtY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZsdegO1o6
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRx8P1ZnGu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwkp9KH3XT
"Yes! Please tell me!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaYvpxihza
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3TjaPw0Ka
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzze0ZntUPl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bzKggTxgs
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTqxtXVESd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2vi9aIHYd
"Wait, Eastern country?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCMWunPI7l
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg8ksbGy6h
I faced the old man.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEI36zVHYf
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVVHucjQAj
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ20s8DB1qE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofLh7KnIqb
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsWAx3QaxD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprb7AncN6R
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC2ewJ6EgC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEW5LEh3Hh
"...Buffalo village."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1mvlR44KF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx26XauKcyh
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJHZEnclGw
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhvZ7BOoKl
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNCYyoFznK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡato2sQQpJc
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquFewsFeFe
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDkNl5xheP
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpzHMSAoyD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjyQgKhQwa
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYelw8foKb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8BZRkd6Jy
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozhEeDl1ko
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXTcIPCvDz
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmRteBaU0U
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bDbY5bsm5
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7YlVHuRWN
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdxeMu2Wc5
"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vw2XOxRXO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrwYNKuhNK
I nodded along.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFkOTIKxrU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd5OwjrjgX
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wW6OX99AJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB65sq7Nwjc
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrWvmfwDAO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQNG1P1ucG
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpi4XXn85p
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60fkSDhTxn
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngAGybbql7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT9Skefgae
She blinked blankly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYNBNstbtq
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"Wait, is it?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU6pJBqmNP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpNQnWT5Fv
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzIDS0TWrl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgYvXIfiWq
"No, maybe it is true."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQoYJ3relk
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbhmRyIqUR
"O-Oh, okay."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuucBMrAdDj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlfDJcTXud
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nnf6XMO4b
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpROyMLpjy
"How was your guys' day?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBPfffwdxi
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"Mom, you should've been there!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5fU3v0CGF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkVxwdrM7G
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRHYuF3LZg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXGMLL15A8
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g1iZDLxFA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ7eNDCN30
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIp4touoIb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UTVV6le81
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyubFtBFCK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqqcl4w7jS
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEiDUBNGMJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KQk5I6nLp
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYy26IPyzK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13L13uZLtg
"O-Okay."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJf45krDrl
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRCmOCIIDb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ705fR6gO8M
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw8bo26JxR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJFJUXu2ie
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgtLE4teQc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT0JuQX6I3
He sat me right back down in my chair.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbubIzqgUue
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBgSwwTIZa
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7gjZ8mGjH
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17O9qGc9jJ
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpLfaL68j5
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1FC76Mf7y
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hluvFSaSP
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7kMcjJbSD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n87LedVM0
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdwVoeSBi6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sgtwJ5Ca0
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xWAqZvh7r
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsG0KnLMeg
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6YayFqZdE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvpHYG3eHA
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbkJtXC5Pb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0fyJseWRp
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtkedM8J5X
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lM4RzMjYJ
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyXD9hWdv8
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCWJ3RXESU
"TALBOT!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT8sxm1JFQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO30xRgc9r
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiNNZRbkTI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vylYgyAy6
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg3SwouKBD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zw4r6zzfM
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGR8BY5tNP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DR5SECl90
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8MbiTx0pd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pz2EGPr8N
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnX3qmDJ2u
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqT0gPJVIg
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlK6OQydeZ
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mrRURBDV1
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFnouQqxNr
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKUQNKxge7
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK2kmDd3Sp
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriORNo0abi
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"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZzDKO8JMv
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4mT2Sp0Tj
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU9H7TCMGo
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzhx643nbX
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimMNOjszfI
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAPwSKJdgn
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"Flinty."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxvbTA0QzS
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"Y-Yeah?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOnROBaStQ
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8fv7CQUsM
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi4PUOSEG5
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"Okay! Let's do it!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CBQ3Td1vT
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvQpYARKIK
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"...My tome is in the other room."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FDV7XVRcm
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzh3vOsOXn
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–
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRRmp1meDT
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcihsRYXmJ
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rrfj17sSn
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLDCBccvb6
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"Good morning."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe9cDd1gWJ
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJwG45RkbR
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"I woke up early."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd5NJbG7Cx
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgFZUFbhiD
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAXA1zvxjA
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIIQOgrSrZ
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"Right."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumbqRNw4ob
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s7pkjKCq2
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Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfseUfrI1BX
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC6hkc2ka8
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"I sure did, honey."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpssRqn1Ph
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"Oh."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwnBPnFny3
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PGPoUtEEU
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"Is something wrong?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9CnFdIuxg
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3wyHMBEhD
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I2EKEojPr
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Strange. Strange people.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdVbDV0rHq
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJlIhfXIXA
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"...I uh."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oAiIiNpkc
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz9FhR5G6U
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IZx5JQd4T
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRKRzrlvDb
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSXXJksMXq
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"Water under the bridge?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRw2LKP07A
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"Mhm."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG31LBmwg8m
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NNu9M5KIe
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYObKhEC3C
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They were really good.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYG12MQ1Y9
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmJwnwCFWt
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"That's a nice outfit"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQCIXb0pNk
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3quBnydhL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmftzirfbl
Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlilUgDnEs
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe8sYJ2FRC
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBzMajgfhg
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"Ah, my apologies."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTgWIoNTnH
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"No no, I like being around you too."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoejnGdcBD
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaJCGM7R0Q
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQoaaihh1z
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"R-Right."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGazTHMwHFs
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkWcLHJCZH
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliu0hShplV
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"Hello, Freed!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIaOT80VuQ
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWcQaxIN9n
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwlSAvZTNe
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"So what business do you kids have today?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjB6YtRnYi
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowtkXrJiPK
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEZZYweUxd
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG63UWa0cxq
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL454GzKuX
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSPGFu4ZyQ
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"I see."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSkjfA6UOn
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSgkfUWbie
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"I refuse."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m2FRKC6PJ
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"Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7uBYms0xi
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"WHAT!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG59G0yCoh
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfqJ2y1S8n
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTErLGsvYfm
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI87ZtLQkin
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"...No?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmZ8tunI8j
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPAjA1EqJp
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNxXM3aKta
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkaa0p0Fdh
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6DKTjpJND
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymDIurPfVz
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi8DHZ4Aby
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"Down here."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYyAH0PEBO
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FpIy6zt3T
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK2uqBstRj
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOCZCxZnNh
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXMMThsJOK
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgwOgfJ5tC
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvHm6Gzt80
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7pW0KTalF
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNYbqNnHK8
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I shrugged.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AaFCQExHg
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoj8013OOt
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplCIhjn9ss
With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0USO9jxxE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhOboMU8Jr
"Am I doing it right?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwfBMoQCRa
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM143IQC7p
"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIZJYxl0Lj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7OCU9WwZi
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt55y6DEs7C
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls7ao0FQ8k
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ2uJwBKBV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ur3RjYaXZ
"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mEW4CA373
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL7xa3RoE8
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGHaOckdBY
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I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NbYUfmPGr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lEyKAl0CB
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoslw8JpAg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CVVi0NUtx
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTvchl65E4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsuNHRP3m9
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUVr7V9Hna
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zTyQgM6IK
"O-Okay."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjboAEFogP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxBtGfXBio
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADnJfMFdSU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWeqGqtD3L
"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWDvdBcfwV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg5GdvqBKX
"W-Wait, how do I–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1O0DVaofh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlPT55uBO2
"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuh6uHZ9it
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkk6ITYNcT
"But what if I can't let it out?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVYyuzAEM1
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WyAMrghUO
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVAuYMU4TT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNtIAYPS09
That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwaISW7mho
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxahzTUed4k
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmfx3FHK5P
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"Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdG54MgSUh
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5NSj2FvOB
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w5Jegz28X
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamPRj3Mz6G
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q1s2F1IVE
I messed up, getting all excited.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SL2a1Lqwz
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgiFYxfxFu
I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQbvYNZ4bu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJMkOGnlQc
I couldn't do it in time.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDDxo68FZY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiLrkLF8Du
**BOOM**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphflSk3rxR
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The world around me faded.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3X1govcT5
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IZdcRbKGA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWlwKliRAa
I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpwSIqUbQO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RELa0w6Cl
Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9GctGTVOL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneVYrdN11G
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJPjoO3eKy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXlOWIoEhk
"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0JtG843Zw
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I was in the greenhouse.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU1wrdDp8P
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGYEl8lheH
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStUavjpHH1
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0353LjbmR
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqciyxzjor
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Thank God, they were okay.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf4GzrofwQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGEERjtA8c
"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx39vNDQET3
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD85Hna0jM
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojSSJSzoXX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyM1MYU9H1
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdS5jJRecn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9LneL5f8W
She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTXPhgx9Ct
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd5UYsEot5
"This is... my coat?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWGSWrSzml
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuoce8QXQH
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBc9TIy2Rd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquohnfvOY1
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsGPyxUzzR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewqymbQshX
I love you. I really do. Thank you.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIoCeGDxCy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rQHy9Tnyg
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9SBPCWdmB
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23s5tOPcap
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2uaWrUnFz
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg62ai1vbJu
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzBEWPaoAJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bAeDiK2KP
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzK7B5sabA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOFcIHgtIw
"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvJ7tHiEJb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAcPEp6R2W
I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY3LXaeyAf
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"H-Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC2VKYPlme
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELlIhhQWl8
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVOeBoIVBn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XF2K61nwI
"T-That's terrible!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy10yManbuO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WedGArZSc
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bwcyJZpYv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98gXCN1UCr
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwPl3zTDa6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQhix1uRVJ
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV6dIfubIi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55GwbrAcyU
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR5PQZRXE0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT24zIGcZWX
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccK2uu7ted
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUi1u9j5hO
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9NX0zAeQX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxZbtA3LyS
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiCNKjwnsi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oWoI6Xxbs
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1qssChULI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk0uGc4xag
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f9THYet8z
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"...Ah!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcTd3oJyqo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ATqlO7ZOj
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ3VAr184b
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaR0MqvxrQ
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnkpcztCKh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bTQBU4oWl
"...Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf7k0kZKDZ
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She meekly turned her head to me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O5j1lQIYW
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"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnmXnKFPkx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa3YJ32Vnr
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb5l2J8Lbh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37GhA6pWCj
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJEUM7g7lx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWqROcttJk
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5O9d2oMaF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy6L35kkut
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTy0we7qAl
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"Okay, let's go then!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUoAgVg8YB
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C7DTjS5l8
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vS82MFHa5
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxqJL66sVf
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She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65HpRBZjL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw8mtqC3D4
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7jyamu1SD
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Yeah, let's.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTHRTfDT0i
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–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm7v5oI1Im
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzTQqHQHeD
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXyYxtJmXa
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjwbV1ZLWG
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRYEiZ24gb
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"This is the combatant's guild!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0i0fTRTf9
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It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYQtj8ysdF
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"This place needs a renovation."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3rj7NDrQf
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxdj8Cdfy0
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykV6rupq29
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiYMLRugUF
I shook my head.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpFyXhfa9W
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNIhc5zOQF
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nt4PTDQys
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"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTjwEyei8V
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwum28za5P
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUsKJQYvvQ
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zhxauW8Kp
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"Do not even suggest it."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuCWe3TaRH
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH0wGyhOFn
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws7foxKXY3
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51Md6gdQeP
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuScLULrqBs
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8ZmuPpAbL
"...Well alright."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZLwkT96je
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94SPpbGcIM
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9qW4IpHSG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzI4OVKmXd
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyl4y7dcDj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQVIDfExmg
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGGkwGt2Lu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtFVZgG4MH
She pouted.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRgI8DToCb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoXsF8NMpl
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb4pYbOGKq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5QFtC4wOQ
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDuPUe0fir
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVS0AXoLKv
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrh2fdKjzJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo2Nsy9PxC
"Huh? Flinty?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUFRZsYH76
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1pGhNQOGY
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAve85z07uO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYFFmJGoiu
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv6AlkBGHA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL8BZFJaGb
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0bDIUqkEn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgImJPVZSb
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hdVGHHNSo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMJlaHqV6S
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrunLcyOclN
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuSxG7ZJyS
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu8jpebNPn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3inNAMCrHV
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUidR9zWmc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufh2ZcMrl7
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdl2wo0PwA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1e9HTiV1h
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zfOwgfITF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTFXE5ANH6
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJgFGZiZrk
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEZcOk2AJJ
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjTS4bLOPb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEDj1TkO2B
"Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrep20iKOp4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAg6l5qHvI
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp62VJ3wAkN
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6e9ndfRod
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzAIhnMerq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rMlpfvSn2
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84ExqGOrCH
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQoYSmIrpk
"You're right. Wait–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0isuoawQzh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjbfTB5pkS
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMvgrUk0Q2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9WPUSj66K
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbgphsHhsL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2wezfohky
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbDiKzigr2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YjZFHO0ZT
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYNEdEW0QQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN17D8Akqt
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpekAJ3Erv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5SehwwBy5
"No. I'm here for another reason."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecwmgEijDz
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZKf7uYiWt
"And what may that be?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyVBUbJPUx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswBUmrQa6r
"None of your business."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0ayGa3zyG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewhFJKlw0r
"O-Okay..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnltx5x1Lhg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4stkvkSze
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1gnVJwdqG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9I8EQQhRC
"She is super shady."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxXD0SOZTy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBwrhnfQaN
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62vOVX4Opv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO300xdmts
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0ev9LA3J0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB9QluDgjK
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y0xe8C2vy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7dc3jFiNs
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqinrYqgUK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2SWKF2Fc7
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AsvvbsIsJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Kt1NqVox5
"T-Then let's get his attention!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTox7fiUfc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplnMn58knZ
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ofp7vaedm
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICRhOQmICB
"Let me handle this."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLB41ss2Lg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd0FWv5WYq
"W-What, why?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFDQWo3BYL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfC05L5Yu9
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGMkTaKfLo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIJRqP0vDr
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmcao2T8Lb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaxrDozFyw
"S-Sorry, Kenny."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJolYjwwL9
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxt4Sqx2HN
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s11c9yEDP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOVtSq63Df
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfZDg4mmRX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlblWxjF4mW
"Hey, you guys!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rVLuepaeE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCu16dVnyZ
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3lNWBiPYg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04HA96GWpS
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4caR7dysA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaUObGhIfi
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqdRQJfrSq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZin9DCyYYK
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUhlDrasgl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm02aKu8ik
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufDsbga7jb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvYL6uajol
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmKZknnjrD
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoQImn7aqY
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8zkAZvEF3
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiVoNW2zi3
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl4sNHEvww
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHjmXtAgV8
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt3IRiKJNj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FMlgZFhxw
"Here's your bill, miss."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlInM6zuRB
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m4agYYEmi
"...I..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc2bycjt7F
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFN47MOcej
She was having a difficult time speaking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5COZ07fH4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sDMn266lW
"I forgot to bring money."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWRDJwkwfy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkazgBXfEPF
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhqna9eUv6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTLevVg9xY
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGkvd04y12
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1n3kvAPzo
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXmpmVJ34h
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWotLKXMrpM
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yW2XNi0iP
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYApWNmbSXJ
Ha. What a moron.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pPCIdkIMr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfdmJF8o1O
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmImPcI63s
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxKEM2fifz
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiUo4RslvW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn5SJF7TKj
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVayBcWcTVC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPWJq8Xzjr
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy1kVvI0lw
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI0U9Eb1gB
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVTfWKpK26
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fm63jNmJH
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1el9j4PD5p
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZTuLqPe6U
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XPYf7pS90
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QJtcErgVs
"Hey, cloaked woman."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv7wF2Nazq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd4K2GuE3I
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEUfho9iEI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHz7eYWKuT
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90TzLn7hlx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGj0Uor7Lf
"Yes, of course. Thank you."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxJ9ZkSMRh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PYAHumxrn
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9Y1cPUMVR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGFhoIIGRJ
"Alright Flinty, let's go."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmGTDvBzvK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokKfAwexmi
"Yes!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs7D5jWSeC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlQWwzBEh2
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF7dl2aquJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDqX595R3f
"What?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKZZx5lBD0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOXiDCiujU
"Kenny, you're awesome."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD9meT4ygy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrcBQQBC8f
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGuQwpPI3f
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vvgGCt9ZL
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9UXkF0kpX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM9AsAKF7J
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjGOdQOZDr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwmQzwGz2m
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT3fT4drAr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanWlWOerYj
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqjK5FwNv0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXMlsIsZt9
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDioUpqhcQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6qIVLaKGe
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AWXZpfQvi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgQhXcq3Hy
"...Is something wrong?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOpSKGU3iO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vYFpxDG2X
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlQcuGx1Wz
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7XrNWX3Oi
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpEuVkS32T
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbocq7M2g1V
"R-Right."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o4KyBL5hu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwEQt7Wpi2
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
and then Add to home screen.