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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvXxO5xzUk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn837Ax7ka
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLqTr6TQA8
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJECNkZTJXm
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm7NQi4Tin
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J3JK5hqOX
"Dad!?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfCOTW9YFM
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLqL8GrMr6
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I4rqU0vtZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX2JKNRIHQ
"Flinty! There you are!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUTLLKBk53
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IXZxoMGdG
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMKC4syiz0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGYj0ZTQZO
"And you must be Kenny?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfDWR0nmNT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahzTS29c1x
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EUsPpUl9u
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQgR8kU5DV
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTpmRZEK5X
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDLcHXViOp
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UHXoIEoOT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi1LPZ2FuS
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 here421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gGGiRe2qB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5e70zxpz7
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE9tFZhtwK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87BlRmCrRA
Dear Mister Chambers.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvE7x8nA0u
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxG0u0HTXn
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusAGoAOON1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqu5DR6qbV
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40EbJ0RvVW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwgWGjskll
"...I don't remember promising anything."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ll52oQoS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqHev1xXk2
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBHTCszg8z
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9RkzpfTC4
"I'll make sure to thank him later."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLvcJqamQw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEYBgWaBKM
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwovV5p8LWz
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUiwohmNnZ
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1fM85kd8B
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDIyauUxK8
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUrGwY0dWS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oP7297Rww
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ02IDFMVFw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW10TGunYGm
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCPOOewmUV
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XqWgjWBig
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy9xWGXX3i
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJkjw8Mbwr
"Kenny!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkekUWfEBvC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1Uyf1cEuv
"Ah, Flinty, hello."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtva15OhgnG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmQVrkb9UJ
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKo38kCWbU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivOndIJmu4
"Is that the plant you asked for?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEOfpVY8hK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b3mXABY1Y
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ5zc2Dhvu
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8jktMPdGD
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68FOLxoVge
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ2WwJb0s1
"Hello, you two."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPDe3njgBH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRdgz1ie87
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF7qVLFpLl
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TBxuXOtSt
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFlNOOWwRy
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlaxyqsA39
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkYuFpYcwj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqZOOT5N8O
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcLZjMhBYX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcVXyt2ETd
"Please don't drop it or something."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fsByCkgaf
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZBtmSPU93
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlq05ykHng
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W8r6BHh2W
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtWc5eH5I5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxIxRGeofA
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGwH6NB7mN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnncDu1Bqyi
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB47xTHQrUN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFV8P6pIct
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaLv23ysxp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1WCb6ol67
"And you asked for... a flower?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajgiIhntKD
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ijXpY08Fw
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZDCHQEIOH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdfFQzg6pO
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25gLGZXRaO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIEQrib3QE
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9xJuTlwgS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdRVeXjmD9
"Arg! You...!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc0WbAxAGo
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFrOnd8a3x
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUsjBHf628
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhDaWP11jR
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ECLE4FRkT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA72TihJ2c0
"Whatever."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnw4n6EgoR
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNYNNeu2JI
We sat in silence for a minute.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs66n2nzLF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XbMiukjFU
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5uPPhvir7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUauCszlyd6
"Yes! Please tell me!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5y5u1Km8I
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzuEk0NMV3
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrhdDKLYqU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6YaQOpybr
"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–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQCaKOXMtq
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eBPXQQGM2
"Wait, Eastern country?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQguJCLJZSQ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTWjkKaWlY
I faced the old man.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjmrGKLxPI
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6ZszBy0WH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG21fMuK6R
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy81LKiFqoa
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQy8bPpXhX
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQGZ2rxWtq
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4ng3iMpH5
"...Buffalo village."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZH0hZERms
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOxSJwhAcK
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iunqY08fN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLJ4agSkcX
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWNdq9uK5S
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KIeLNOYYI
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXqPayz6eN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6stxwcSuT
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLaZltppjn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97PtAffIV1
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJSCvM4W0v
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGQnYgOAQQ
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxnKvHLIV3
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ph1pcTaRQ
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSsmHASKVw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ImjHR30dL
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQzNHAIRDM
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHrQiiG0F8
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfTZaFsNEw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexWqF9G8aO
I nodded along.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfmJ1KjNaW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL33cdJues
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLepD8qHci
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMuUYn3vpm
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36KL1XLGuS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5BZ7Bmr7c
"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!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2Rxvsx0ZR
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuVKbMOcua
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixA6G0dCOS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzB1sktDZT
She blinked blankly.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WQ5bmZ2wK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVO3g74tnu
"Wait, is it?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4HriEsGbp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfd36XNNky
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6afftCs6n
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWyC0EAWNy
"No, maybe it is true."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHN38sUlug
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"O-Oh, okay."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcfqgCsDCd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3kZIbW9K4
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkDHK0HLyu
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3ZPwGdo6n
"How was your guys' day?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF8qoH3ZJf
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuQ9GlKsUq
"Mom, you should've been there!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSeDae5vUr
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpziQpMQsKB
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSgrX3rKpp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QB1p7y4ID
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGhd4zzQTT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBJE7c2TP0
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCaRoYJbgt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zVCShkmZB
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrbSqUl6GF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrycJCX6Do1
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjQ8H8weQ7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR1PG0vvQU
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnvGijXMkS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrFkwjBC3v
"O-Okay."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0jGv8Rdun
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1NK1ZMHOP
"Hold on chum, you come back here."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58YaPtjfj0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSmrvZuaUX
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlya7NKn5EQ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9XVFfVkI1
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsE478uLLC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHK8wDrkxz
He sat me right back down in my chair.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgboNVWdYVl
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo9HuMc1n8
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnbybkwHID
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hJaHT2zUy
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5c8x8iXS2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aC2EAuNSa
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM20Aa5M4DK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmQS5IgBzB
Nobody even heard my "laugh."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz4Y0MDtfo
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGwdBdIqbr
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppkbi7hZEB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRvJto8EfN
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l4PgFhj2X
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPksYjJPXBM
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtpYVhjYEG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGcYfXKpWP
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUoUf2XTjO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHcaUhMvTZ
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKmA3RJBDt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBO8XZGTWh
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRMBh6nVLU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuAsnCO2pd
"TALBOT!?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vS21DeFcU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUtLRfm2Lg
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUktTzYBcD
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9S1DFfiEg
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWnTzPGon5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLkeGWpL4s
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqNwqpNrKI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQOGLpYwMn
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCvkrJ575t
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV6S464LpG
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GJduw9uN4
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCsaL9jKsW
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlc5eAEFM1
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYoIComVQy
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAOlwhPpyd
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzk6n4dhbB
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB7DIPqZbr
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3aEqIDrJR
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"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnK5Rq8Xqv
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9OAYZIDlz
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBWYQH6WLL
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d5wC9biUN
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeggs4Qa2d7
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oYyh9ntvY
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"Flinty."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jgL6zf1IV
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"Y-Yeah?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb4lnUJAxc
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIGZ0eL6pN
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pvn7rO0pt
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"Okay! Let's do it!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffIfwTe552
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq6j5grNnH
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"...My tome is in the other room."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2r5bMSLFj
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNN0uW6Ov6
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–
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–421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM4g4S6gjk
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCCcgtTHY3
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5steXIqhN4
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOUrJtotYB
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"Good morning."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdOV47PE0g
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjyxH84LKH
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"I woke up early."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr7qCzUi6R
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufbro9Js2V
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLejkPca3VU
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2CSyYUnUa
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"Right."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD7BcEytx1
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj5wIWCeLo
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1umYrsVazv
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rF80V2jjJ
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"I sure did, honey."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzyoCJvo4m
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"Oh."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA6bc2p0UP
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFCOgm0zAb
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"Is something wrong?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1pempxduY
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiJFQ2bzN0
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAoceVJmsR
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Strange. Strange people.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jVvCh99ML
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe61HISBwZo
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"...I uh."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLYvuj1Q8L
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDExkaBWXpw
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYnSbVS8Fz
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryhxr9hK5w
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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?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NRYtNYH2Z
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"Water under the bridge?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe85kOaS24
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"Mhm."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSZMd62ZGw
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8tMhtTaBT
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXbsDpXhf4
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They were really good.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhid1E5uEC
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHTIyI1WE5
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"That's a nice outfit"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Em4evbm7
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErpUz9b8n7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlN8cdgWSp
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAH3zTvbn3
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5Lv7JEgtC
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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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUjoRh5u3i
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"Ah, my apologies."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjO5vHP9En
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"No no, I like being around you too."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkOHSBQI2W
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HY4YsgTns
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZDhTkO6V4
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"R-Right."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBbq4vHEkj
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplnptbDt5b
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQYrezkfyy
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"Hello, Freed!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp43BT5xjd
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uq0F3cCbn
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6cho8QJn3
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"So what business do you kids have today?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHpt72hiay
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGlBVwr77j
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HtmWO05OO
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenqnhUMo5H
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqUDObKbll
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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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1e0MuqCRl
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"I see."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZq835CNTp
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAr7A3ktI2
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"I refuse."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADXaQk1Csq
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"Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DKXtOg4Jy
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"WHAT!?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34KWuM0SRm
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaorsuDNlq
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxkuYfsAom
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpbaivqFJg
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"...No?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCmwjC8ySj
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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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDliV3OTAkC
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw9T8ZOMHi
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHA9uSxDq8
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXPN5RXE9U
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmVZquPrpx
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9WX85QcEI
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"Down here."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEXRtQTCIj
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Dyix3DFn
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiUbUkyQmk
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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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW6mhmhgOi
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAdUTjkNX2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42bwSP8t0v
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpTrpLLXcj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb47LWGyg0
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDoyMCze7S
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ17jkNFG5
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9iWR7PulW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKEPIixK7U
I shrugged.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZaCu78DpT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxmzlNFwCx
"Well alright, go ahead and try."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQDuJweMO9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VfYFmaE00
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt3kUKM6Tx
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FR9SY9uNw
"Am I doing it right?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUq0qsONL9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENsGJW43R8
"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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YWJ5DeKEt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV1kNCy263
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LQik2AQf1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVatV7idgW
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CW4J4koqu
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Tr5hzhzqK
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zo6RVTfM4
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblmEF5N5TT
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kK8LHMOUp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WIpH5CsNF
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxFxe9ICLz
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJnNxTQsMz
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRcSI6XxKH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPTkf3XueV
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4rGh5cOuy
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS8ShXm1aL
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UjbBgQy9E
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLoPQJhn4z
"O-Okay."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCgU1EYHlc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMKgcJIdZ9
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRouGALsry
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuYx9AOUgd
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkboJiKA9G
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZlXvlSg0b
"W-Wait, how do I–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX1Ojyp44c
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4f1wJP3Pz
"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?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOK8ESSXH0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxnh5IvbvT
"But what if I can't let it out?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFtZKOJ5VK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl9whkfuq3
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIKCSCt0xt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbDKxwD1S1
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsWe8m8XsB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB3xTm1VO7
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViM2hgivzs
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdFPZ7xZUH
"Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48fgujwc2C
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs7lF5T9Si
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri5ggtUkpj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljFBKAGL97
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYkp3bdjDj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFpY2hzguc
I messed up, getting all excited.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaXvwvh4Ts
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJrCNmSok6
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZKeTxwidu
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZHrkfOHwZ
I couldn't do it in time.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPLTmFtVCR
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR62ekgDC1N
**BOOM**421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe40Xr6hOvT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7bANSpR2o
The world around me faded.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktRaCSdqG1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkI7v8Ebi8
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY22SSsvFT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInVeUInfTV
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?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yf4XZn4BS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeUpmDXPe2
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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw3eb3WC6u
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMRxGMKDdr
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3ruArx8k0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQjxvu2HIi
"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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXkkAisYsd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQLGHLm4cd
I was in the greenhouse.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WZBbkA9QA
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SR8dtQc74
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc4pWImHKK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw6qFBP4ie
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88fKtt49Pv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO1vJNZRaN
Thank God, they were okay.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1azZYZrUq
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrZEYJfGBC
"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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4v3nLIbtb
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4hWy6Xwo8
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQm5NITMa6
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbUSqcP7ZX
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSEHfJpgrX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm4RoCOynn
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VL8qyGr0C
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oEL3CaNek
"This is... my coat?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1ulg2XVQ1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjuv2FC61M
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBonhHJclRu
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRZBoLVuxy
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITD2kJNgUC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13akODrNcr
I love you. I really do. Thank you.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPA1mMa0Vf
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2k36t0Mb3
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU3pcpmS8V
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneLqpSyrAl
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HzaMStQg3
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ln619bDvT
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahIDOt6lrP
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNADxiZdivT
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa95xpSo5Xh
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv5zj9snGS
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn3TQvCJeJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ONRoeW63Y
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x3Tcc7LKO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6OyOugSn8
"H-Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrWmLYQGXd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuiKCkFg6G
"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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55ajGR5lTG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0NuYmh9CD
"T-That's terrible!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNqOUzPJVl
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgvrzwtfHp
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1og9XsZpnJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9CVUcPHsC
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxQ5lNdiCO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4GTAgqU6P
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".421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCsnwaeFDa
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vSNq7Oyo
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV691pmi18k
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL2GbO9s2h
–
–
–
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84MLhBgpSX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UTtM03Z7b
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7m8T7Vnnm
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqr83VayGi
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ65ENQ1ovY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKvceKdPYN
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a4gACjhNJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvHjEfkKX7
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?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BuJe3pjHa
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchFdZ7EOVn
"...Ah!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6DlURqKlx
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU4D1ikwnJ
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvncfzTZlT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1J0Eq93SV
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS7zncJz89
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoBqKsjgBM
"...Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi9fuEMiSp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbjhEBHRVT
She meekly turned her head to me.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF7lObwaOd
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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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO22s0Ly4lt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mNpoF9Oyv
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXRJaP0wOf
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgt7u5QasM
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWWTiX49VK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rvYwkIRi6
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGTb14R1N1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpfPglP9xF
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu25KHQG6Ul
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"Okay, let's go then!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzcKf1paPG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjXKBaGYji
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjomKZBStSo
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeB9KxoZN4
"W-Where are we going to go first?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgECJOaovN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg20XDhYh7
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5pmBuKlTp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugjPZCOHTZ
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZSisYPFop
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu486uggmh6
Yeah, let's.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCrBxUzlrM
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–
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–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1bc9lKyo0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz0gY5W2su
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff9TpXUosh
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOpKIXHdWi
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFEVeqUrd8
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ92118Lg2g
"This is the combatant's guild!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEURIIRj8sc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB1q33LOJo
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGlBAyzSU5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rfmsmUSTj
"This place needs a renovation."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrEGfC0hop
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ST7CwHgwL
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c293yw4J0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtkCn1wQnr
I shook my head.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOqfN230tM
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNMdUGHT4k
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rtsysREl1
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jM9CM5grO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn055LQ1DB
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10gV0yjZ2G
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80QJSBvZEI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmapw87dlaX
"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–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1d0WLJrl7
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"Do not even suggest it."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb4cKT7cYb
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppvOT8zp7N
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6ifNBtkkj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeex0HzeUoy
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoXlFlI7I9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIZWXKD7Bs
"...Well alright."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N9XbWvJoG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MRQG3osKv
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjXyeRqCcn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA69xSobzb8
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuanihMEsr
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1IsNQ34X1
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFlBLcJloe
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3tjevTK5w
She pouted.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjZCnCYNsH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fqpp7nyIK
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEHapf3Yb3
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99KtTlwQvM
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxociHqRH9p
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQK8feqvi9
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB1XgFxwe7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXm9UU4pXI
"Huh? Flinty?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfTKHK22ir
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3rj8TmgtJ
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSInBauYqia
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡursHskY5zC
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYCUw76u5l
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv9FcRozIx
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9aOQYkmXd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LOSMjZ5KY
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxWcnBb2Ow
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiHCe4F7zi
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpnzCTrPMe
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05y3kPcQ16
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wqHa79akz
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqzBqVdHkJ
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbScD7740U
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb8WxCV0yD
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjFMGzhcEP
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI2UCtTkF3
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!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXjyQRg6uI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8iogzPHvU
"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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENnnVAEhqL
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXhwLVRWv4
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatShKOhxBt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfITzoZjyu
"Huh?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiFX1CAUHb
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgEA6RazUK
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSRDt7sCir
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENujD9tVoH
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFczrbrIs6
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkGpRbxIxP
"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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSoOCzdHKs
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrbqvcqZnL
"You're right. Wait–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IoAWfv64P
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9A0pRPXB1
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBNajkddH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa14JPo91i
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZJBBRbJrY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodvqgKOgMw
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWxvJpFWxX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgUGNbddnQ
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM1umXQEaR
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzmHilnkz5
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI73859Mpr
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2L6J4ayoR
"No. I'm here for another reason."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuZy5dy0Rn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLIxmDKsyn
"And what may that be?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnoU5uM7Np
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Va4kzI7k
"None of your business."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObENC0gNgI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjmWgs356c
"O-Okay..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMXJGw9TrM
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFIXgcdmWC
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6SVFy8JZH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg8udjjnpG
"She is super shady."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY44Pb0DX0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeckEIOfVc
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARAik43dal
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiImmThGs0
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkJJtiGGVS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdRVzRklyT
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGZTxhC3sW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfi553avN3
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXl3ibXqFF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC1uSPONEu
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zpRfeJLpT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuu99hAgEj
"T-Then let's get his attention!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAp8LnFJrj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHqxb9PY0f
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4mpNCNnZ5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HLfoMoOCa
"Let me handle this."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxLAImmGTH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzNDYsqtu9
"W-What, why?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT9a2SuZKH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyZ7PC90kj
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEfaNah1SN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkL2KQmbTa
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDRKEJGRi6
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j87gbKotw
"S-Sorry, Kenny."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjlxfnWhij
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY1XWLHC9q
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfdAEsCO3a
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsWIWbebwV
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTPPszqsFc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOvESWWoPl
"Hey, you guys!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO3wf2vnC1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw9s30uVke
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG4a8hEbg0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGShYP9pjgt
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5krnzA7O5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVDQ0FD1D5
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7E1vGCJN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVMcVe77PK
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtEDW9jv26
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFPWMBZDiO
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgdX6vFxfX
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvcTidrtsD
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZbyY1VPF5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1pY45xZLy
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA3Y99UJPI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxRDrlG2TM
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXUjvU6NEk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjESllQzdD
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjSusjl2iY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoyiZ2wmD
"Here's your bill, miss."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVpMHxXIin
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmdPpuFvud
"...I..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUepVxr7XsB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmKNwuYE3g
She was having a difficult time speaking.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWaQCRRT4Q
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmmY3J7sLn
"I forgot to bring money."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MIj9jiGnv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb99UElaQOi
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUmpN8mvBJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK34EehWUaF
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37Cczg3FSE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tsWPYvVgH
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uiKXlHNmI
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KovxOypmP
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbuNa0QGan
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8WeTeBjGO
Ha. What a moron.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD8gf3bebW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0wsFldpvO
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK30sn1q5r
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTyGjHXPO9
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1MHPcKKKx
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfX4nWrZkD
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCxP2WDE81
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPJWkwyiJB
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFAPwh8Ys1
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYOhbRjQXX
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."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cPc0Nd316
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXIq5FwDYz
"..."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7YVnaRbDU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSIUDgVeID
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCQqe4YZ9h
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9NADxkRv3
"Hey, cloaked woman."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLP9Ght72Q
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn8OxE1GXv
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W9KnD3VkK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwprWg2HD6
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqyzZW4Emj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9X9eIUuZc
"Yes, of course. Thank you."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIrdubB7dJ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYtbJBmNzq
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JDoPKSOSe
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyIYrBnWLq
"Alright Flinty, let's go."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoZCoy2b0o
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqhvhNAG1e
"Yes!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmhUXETpUf
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4enfSiMpx
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHXWKvUet9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFlPiQ0FHb
"What?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ISkS3N8ii
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv51ZRfjhcG
"Kenny, you're awesome."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1g05fqg9j
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS6Wcp4TtD
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNBeC7gJVs
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlxPkzfmTm
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjYdZhsy7k
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vRIuKtAx6
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc1BFmnrUk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPsqwnjmaX
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtA6WJDt28
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1fiN4N8T9
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOO54GxnLz
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgexApvO56
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa6aR5VPKF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY4wOZfjxV
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxAs1FLzcn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19y8fxI8LU
"...Is something wrong?"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V7Gro6DXP
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7cNq3h175
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFNGuGa4ir
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18li1AFwFa
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27L6lqFgBL
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBGrpzZjYi
"R-Right."421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls9OMWflQZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtbfLFlY4S
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.