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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AdCzqSAZH
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotqwgpV6Je
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILq3ARfLE3
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"Dad!?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaHezXad9u
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uJDHpgKeW
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"Flinty! There you are!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4cXoXgiYp
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Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UUX4xX8FC
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"And you must be Kenny?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprNsSzTKVh
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"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSUIhCtySw
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I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oPtz2g4lq
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bN9UcKs2q
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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 here403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzDHxKr7wT
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrfMqgyEHQ
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Dear Mister Chambers.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pnFOiMOv5
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a3ek7eDEn
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Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBTFf1ilto
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"...I don't remember promising anything."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVbU1Rb8rx
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1vYb6i5J5
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W2jZfAcOk
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4W6M5wh2Q
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Lhl5LLkH
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn8Q3pWODc
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"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFEwltdrdI
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPEe77iUp0
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I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaborUsfsAM
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"Kenny!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIg5qzSSvE
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16eAWrhkKy
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She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGdXZBTBGl
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"Is that the plant you asked for?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xVnefWRGK
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"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccQo0c7bgO
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFW9UT9kvP
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"Hello, you two."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwmjvtDrTT
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Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsuoxMrGbM
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQYFzxE846
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"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgYfvD1VLk
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He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D5XHOnVRj
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"Please don't drop it or something."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg1agsFwhl
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGxDprPEW8
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Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp6OchEaBF
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48KrgFVfJj
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBgS4CnehZ
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"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvRJ1ihaki
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"And you asked for... a flower?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09BiHdenbv
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"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsW8KTk5Ua
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Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLaBWPIHDJ
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"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN00zfgxQB
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"Arg! You...!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo4ULK2Inw
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJf97ZJZ6v
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"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgNl8DNPba
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"Whatever."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqdhVCDcEU
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We sat in silence for a minute.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCYjEaAd8M
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSZ2ZG1Hq3
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"Yes! Please tell me!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq8GkCdUid
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTzQNwlCgL
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"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–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprCzcpQwtR
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"Wait, Eastern country?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz7i2sLBoK
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I faced the old man.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufrEr2URc3
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ax13Xh7Hw
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmrVQYmNu3
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMflvBC01T
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"...Buffalo village."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqSKiG6s8r
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXWFP8ZB0w
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunLuldC4j8
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1Gt4egxo5
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw5a3xR8j5
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYbE667I3Z
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6bJQvCvqZ
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5j6rMSwrJ
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYWGSTu0RY
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xbeywzkYA
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I nodded along.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWGTMTq86S
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWc3yLniTt
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO1bGdwEKk
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"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!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbVpsg6VgT
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"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxuz2X64oD
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She blinked blankly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQdq7ujNvG
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"Wait, is it?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vpzif2WhZ
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3Q7gO6rHJ
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"No, maybe it is true."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHIqamLHvZ
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"O-Oh, okay."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXF4ADNony
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"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmapRudZRv
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"How was your guys' day?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKFdeKXuZC
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"Mom, you should've been there!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ClXDW7mve
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydEmQQJnJK
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWyqC3dIr0
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUSJcAv964
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdndq13VoX
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpag9rQher
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"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhnHcqcUAE
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"O-Okay."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjHPm1jnlP
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLwrvPPh8B
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Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF00O4kFEq
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFthHeLMzx
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He sat me right back down in my chair.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60qYg2ZJlE
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPefDLadd4
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nUugZ3bdo
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd15fgYCMvy
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzJw6FkRtC
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA3jqvHSem
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"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ybNHTBFJD
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0ubuvgfCo
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Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KEeylt6fD
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uOMeiva9E
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Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCszN0ZLYP
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"TALBOT!?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmyGWiPXqB
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"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoejipjFVDU
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"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16YmZs0Oxg
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xrWBNjTCs
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97b3IVXMtG
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4A6Ovz81v
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMetJCNiX67
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQpfvC9q3D
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvTo8nHOic
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgsZfi4qAq
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1F6Hxu9dg
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67whpKXeDb
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFRQxNDFZf
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavQ0U3i47b
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mUSgOwYvc
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34UR0gT95j
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg6lj05jGr
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7MtlFG80w
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBd4BAlCja
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"Flinty."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXmrjXERL8
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"Y-Yeah?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3F1UYDBvl
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTypuLrNCA0
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvIoxybjD5
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"Okay! Let's do it!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXBqlcjJmO
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuet6OZGch
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"...My tome is in the other room."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W3wsQpWSb
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR713KdNPdh
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–
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–403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIA6icSPJL
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgiJM3l13n
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iqYn2BlZH
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsG03LcMYo
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"Good morning."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiL9j68dgH
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPVjieERdj
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"I woke up early."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrpAobXf8c
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CwuiugpLX
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTy2w6oiYv
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKAy3DQeyn
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"Right."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRH0MgMpNI
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKd8uNZmVZ
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzoDxM6U4h
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXTXJkdIUO
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"I sure did, honey."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSt3SFaztj
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"Oh."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGT5UvhVfy
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N0Ng5RL2S
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"Is something wrong?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmV99MXWMa
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRrlIuIdDn
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtP8lx9maC
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Strange. Strange people.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgyoXRVs64
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw8CCxK5zg
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"...I uh."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FQtLgzMFy
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJha1kK2jH
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFbCgl7ole
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdO2Hd4o5I
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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?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreaaBh9UhY
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"Water under the bridge?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO94lI6I3Ww
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"Mhm."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqAx8XiVh0
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqIvUOjGGw
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8om2PLcg3
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They were really good.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDoqTuHevs
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGplwXNt3mX
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"That's a nice outfit"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDMqFQH9ZJ
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDLsIolDLc
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyDMCPIm13
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmgBIBy3UD
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw3dsjWrGM
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"Ah, my apologies."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZmeCUCCNC
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"No no, I like being around you too."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQAODPBcNC
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2TI82C11Y
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mmZA1ZYlC
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"R-Right."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxchgmWlNN
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCIPwJjjbA
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg27Fdzifg7
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"Hello, Freed!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD6y2RTmNl
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV0C3XT7Un
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4s3X4TLFs
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"So what business do you kids have today?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCGM5vi6aX
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1glXLBp1oM
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqmfp7BLL8
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0lxSOo6mL
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwcGBw63gi
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxWchrnuXd
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"I see."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVR3MnF5Kd
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLloSBorRVN
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"I refuse."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobROFAGMEA
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"Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCYOzRD50v
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"WHAT!?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv61aw0GYY5
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R6eCvlhXA
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW2vnmq1FH
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT1eWibnNL
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"...No?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AQdFKIn0t
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaUvmCd4c5
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtK6i19jib
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpASAFM4YNZ
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFwk440ZXu
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbswl0idvNY
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFP6oXAb7t
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"Down here."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXucJyjVWED
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d1Urgjp3Y
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1tbK6exLK
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS48kXVZlCX
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbLaQ0J1XW
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIJpGnDsjD
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5epmB8J7i
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"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKaGEeVSI4
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I shrugged.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiUo6ObZ9i
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykxu7iQshQ
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWs5QzU1W0
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"Am I doing it right?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJCpHlZMGR
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"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81Vyf6BqXE
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A7cMWX0xL
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"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGtcLzIzXo
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFncvT3txHo
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"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH7HZPyHlL
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufo6QoNzh1
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"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPC1pQH9KF
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZY31TxxZQ
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"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Wpi0Frse
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"O-Okay."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik3pjTe3BT
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAzrHOXRAr
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPmZSyvuG7
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"W-Wait, how do I–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kZu3fCIiS
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"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?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSzDZG96m1
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"But what if I can't let it out?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnknN5gkpJ
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"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu552LccYnU
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nlAStkQKr
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"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVI2kI8Bcy
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"Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRV9k4UddR
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9qxdrEZo8
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nTkyVYP2o
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I messed up, getting all excited.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFUkQRT0Wx
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9SBoEg6n0
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I couldn't do it in time.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q7VM3Mw4p
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**BOOM**403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomI6pwZfF5
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The world around me faded.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0R7NXdHte
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jJlXTOR0g
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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?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogNE1fguQW
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yZfD0gijo
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Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqB45RWGp6
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"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l9RJTXjpS
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I was in the greenhouse.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikt996bjHc
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F9Q5T1xvL
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I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetVs5RgwO4
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Thank God, they were okay.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOdY7MlopW
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"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67Cr6Aom6c
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"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWRQkM7wbc
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"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtdWJ46PCQ
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8NRff3OaB
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"This is... my coat?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3haZtTDY34
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lA9JXqMR4
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Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8qHldJSqF
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGBlFYHUoL
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"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBSS8AAM19
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiByKwGpch
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"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yTsy2Gq9M
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"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWG8c5Zvvw
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVC0b9uJr5
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pZH4aHQXN
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"H-Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgkmnHu1Hc
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"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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1SYziSpnN
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"T-That's terrible!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8cJbhryGR
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Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfUppgh6TN
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTy19iWAIJ
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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".403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvgs3OJjXX
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It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYvcmL74ZV
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–
–
–
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83Vdz4KZNa
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DmgopDp02
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYafHa3PVUj
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYy59WnbN5
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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?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwhG9jbja4
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"...Ah!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvtTAEWe0v
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOFQKqrZJc
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"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T8S5pZRYM
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"...Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaeXJO6wVI
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She meekly turned her head to me.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniYifbSTKN
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0a8rwikql
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She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrSeKpae9a
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"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg6VyS3byY
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"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiH0Efbl6n
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIp8XsykKi
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"Okay, let's go then!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVIxZqA6X3
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She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5y1j2SVxk
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRAALcIaWB
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylzFwYexmM
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFdHLk0xCf
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Yeah, let's.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB1hGRXMkX
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–
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I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SZ3LURCPI
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYmQefSAHY
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfD9pIEsg0
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"This is the combatant's guild!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5GN8X0gT4
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA21OQHnYgA
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"This place needs a renovation."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyHsukpdcg
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNj3nnX3sW
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I shook my head.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb15vcOKAp
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ4JPhFXE9
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFoqMRH2u8
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5sfh7J1M8
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4USYyVATEH
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"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–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gnGBSc6CF
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"Do not even suggest it."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo0fZtR4sv
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She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe2bjS9JHf
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"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXyk3cl0hm
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"...Well alright."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglTUbyUxFv
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZrMtC8uTo
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIrT0C2VjC
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"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADBDVaQBjk
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She pouted.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCm1cpYTOR
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"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R0ZRva3f8
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"Oh. Please don't say them, though."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPpIVUpvwO
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs6oMG5Bcp
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"Huh? Flinty?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHZzIl6am8
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"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmmCSbNWpU
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She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUJF83X5Lo
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"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs82LNNt3G3
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"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FJKpdSPwo
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"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50LJrGqM2l
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She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlE2r0Wrec
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"See? They don't give a crap about this place."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3mJKxUV2x
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"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtcC6xk3SY
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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!403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR31xjZTM7
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR7zrw9wFk
"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDwm4tpkrh
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"Kenny, is this... a bar?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qi2tNEvog
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"Huh?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLBs9zigRy
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYN6VK1PjE
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"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX5Tc5p635
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"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnHBW7Guw4
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"You're right. Wait–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH2NCASfeK
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I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQFRaTJTxs
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"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4aaGEzprG
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIaAZD1GX8
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdjHpZVPTl
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Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgxRxRP4lo
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"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOYZGETNh6
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"No. I'm here for another reason."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcZdDVixfy
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"And what may that be?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULeVosjb4x
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"None of your business."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zdpf0UlID
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"O-Okay..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zMrBskkJ4
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Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFzWXLeAFC
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"She is super shady."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdUR5rq6Y9
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"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqKFLcWLu7
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"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b0JLbF5Tw
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Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo98hZn5IB4
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"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHYApd7FAu
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"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZuX6vdLdO
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"T-Then let's get his attention!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJewXSNYOqq
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOYFfNbkoc
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"Let me handle this."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1UYqxkcAZ
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"W-What, why?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBZtpo4uer
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"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbKeEROn4F
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Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcymUMJJuhD
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"S-Sorry, Kenny."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DweR6li2U
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I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqWIzXD2F7
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Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX0dS3vJEs
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"Hey, you guys!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5FwkxO5qn
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They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwOTZvhV4E
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"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxbM9jvucc
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"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5Yz5kNaQv
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdAGdi7pVX
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7smTKVos4J
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"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJwjXVS4t3
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"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gkS14xAEl
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSt3MxF4Tx
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She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LuZcle6lH
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"Here's your bill, miss."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRQnnZ2VVL
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"...I..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL89BXZnv0A
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She was having a difficult time speaking.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3OMGaHRNu
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"I forgot to bring money."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4Je9yHRMy
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAf13tdHPH
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtczVLyHGb3
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLIiq3PxyI
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOUPUighYW
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Ha. What a moron.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTof4mXxPa
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"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5uv9GGWdJ
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"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FAPYcPAkO
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"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrIDRgOoQZ
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsTPcTBIAU
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkvwc7s6mR
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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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhfZc1ivwp
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"..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6TEvN2hNx
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Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjOapc5OkL
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"Hey, cloaked woman."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7wq4N20XX
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPK6DKPXtG
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"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B6zpektyH
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"Yes, of course. Thank you."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVs4xskNjo
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She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyalSWEhcvO
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"Alright Flinty, let's go."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFoyngBtpU
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"Yes!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqlaTdkCC4
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCHmtfjzW4
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"What?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbce0ES7ZV
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"Kenny, you're awesome."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgqnbQvtmH
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I think I felt my face light up for the first time.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAlJ7Iaxwm
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"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD89XezwWY
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhbUURbWNY
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAoq5xnarm
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMSljvdB0N
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkncnIeaXoH
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She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVmq1Xdg2p
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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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K5Fek3KPI
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There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OxkoloQM6
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"...Is something wrong?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAODt3Hl3i
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"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOyBXEAjsa
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"Think later, I'm talking to you!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTPtW09m1E
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"R-Right."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyC8EjcVcX
403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiekhB2prOd
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.