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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTWIFIUVyg
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvX665D0tG
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOtzT0QFJk
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"Dad!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSs87k6QWi
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssA6kM5RNT
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"Flinty! There you are!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bdVMwl9LO
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspwkQiKG8s
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"And you must be Kenny?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xrHwd8B6S
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"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5IZbZNNVH
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I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCKZtSZ2g8
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVvDdPfDA4
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj4K6nRvMC
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 here229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKttz1T5wdU
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4Spv6JObE
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKa41ztcHX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELuVw5pgeb
Dear Mister Chambers.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYcoUMl0Jx
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR9Ah7zR1k
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxpioaj4ht
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Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8G7trw3BR
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"...I don't remember promising anything."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2nir1lFBI
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4KXmgQJPY
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDoSX1TyXm
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUPa8kEdVn
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAon4FOLmQd
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FOzHhq6Cm
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yoUodfqOr
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"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HbFPU8QJQ
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi97bKVxKg
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I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYmOHj6zu1
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"Kenny!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlKVDxUHHw
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"Ah, Flinty, hello."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaOEOT5gex
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She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU0FCviAK4
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"Is that the plant you asked for?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiZ1eOdWaT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlbuhVOJo1
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkAlJR93kg
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7qm6RuRq2
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"Hello, you two."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTX0bjxhQ6
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Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mKyXzGOoV
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgYzUgOBiS
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"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesH5IGScq7
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7wbmDEFk1
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"Please don't drop it or something."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSr8jm5tXl
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1JddsJN5O
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Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32zVhq22tk
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu5vLODsHx
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcwlB7BVdT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV7Wow4uVO
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGbVYc0ujM
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"And you asked for... a flower?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrh1nTAa4k
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"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zyReB1IpX
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Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgD54SB0zl
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"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMFMvOyY2J
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"Arg! You...!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxBqvpz0at
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeRBs9L3x0
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"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX3izCtiFA
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"Whatever."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9LqmhDUDW
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We sat in silence for a minute.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMnGnOI8EI
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZZy1kPrET
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"Yes! Please tell me!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUJzwcLafD
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPRYCNPO30
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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–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYwIhBlvrd
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"Wait, Eastern country?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIhwPt7dbX
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I faced the old man.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIk79cqdZS
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqq52skyi7
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcB4GDdlFX
"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg0jwsq3kp
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIAbwW6Zn7
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"...Buffalo village."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS0eB4mkpx
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4HPlbxTL4
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsXMEpXpOe
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRSyTZLOr5
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwKzT5F10I
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8usY5avDW
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ39G08ZmHl
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtGOSAyu5K
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra23OWc0hD
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQhD0dvOnD
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I nodded along.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkqnxBjTcQ
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu76r5hTRlQ
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQs51AaR9O
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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!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AJ6yvfSIZ
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"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGPJ95Ctt3
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She blinked blankly.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS0WpBf5MY
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"Wait, is it?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg7g7wHoEa
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCK20Blbit
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"No, maybe it is true."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE8SeHhdKn
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"O-Oh, okay."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2AnN8XwCf
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"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4a2E2FPM
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"How was your guys' day?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZoSESEZ3s
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"Mom, you should've been there!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO8HVCWFzr
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70FPMR9FAX
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMkTyahyTt
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQza7ztwOGt
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSlgzh6FLA
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyj3OdZkDP
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"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfbgeWEiDK
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"O-Okay."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh5tDyQy9z
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"Hold on chum, you come back here."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucMFYZvVRY
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchE6e0EkBS
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhye75MuS8
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He sat me right back down in my chair.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMEzX1BSSI
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb8gpRZQAF
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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?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSlCKKDa3N
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe3djGWTjq
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FewnPZX4g
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dQztmc3cV
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"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzwd00GHUo
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"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSbCuyh9Sf
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Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJR1TEbbi8
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUiFUBpXg7
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Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhu0t7lw6u
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"TALBOT!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatDlSAlWMO
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnJ7FlYn80
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"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDjflEhjLT
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX8YrhsC7x
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokyWNyW3ov
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGQP49V4hb
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRjs1hrEpf
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGrkD3SU6Y
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA69hL1656
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"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI9Bqg4Raf
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8KAl5JyMg
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68uGEDVKXQ
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAWTQqSqYA
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"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXLcNOywyS
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjFSTuuaBy
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NsTKoRTvJ
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtbSJq3F4E
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ABaQazBRt
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYEurGISts
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"Flinty."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eG3bKFDeX
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"Y-Yeah?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRX4dezb3u
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGxPMmmM7T
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UK87o4XES
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"Okay! Let's do it!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUCOjHDi14
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n4sTCuokr
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"...My tome is in the other room."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x6CsYpvPF
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRtA4uOZQv
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–
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwq2vehSTg
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KJps3Uc4y
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XQrSLiM5H
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvF9145BUv
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"Good morning."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQT42sr9AD
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOHYvuTGPK
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"I woke up early."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TPY5PzwaQ
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRgyTxuW2Y
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpv2cF4bTE
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJbUgdKfQ5
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"Right."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFFJGcSckI
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMFXRBdpjk
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q34OFIMWB
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwaWy1qoOr
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"I sure did, honey."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG28kJW8X6V
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"Oh."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavMMFTgHN3
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HeBrO5EQZ
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"Is something wrong?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUC9vAwNLg
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aksaFtZXI
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVIWZ3mHls
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Strange. Strange people.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTxLpvgHu1
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDPb58TcLy
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"...I uh."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJHyFsygkK
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hRiI7NJBW
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDgUSFA6TT
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiD7u3yHJN
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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?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfKSQLhdMI
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"Water under the bridge?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYQHHCETFR
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"Mhm."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lbXfX27YT
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXaE7dFGMJ
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL8n2Of5mL
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They were really good.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9XLq9Ta1e
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQApOQSCdcS
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"That's a nice outfit"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtePBYUd0G
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrmA2cmlpS
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TDG3teyJv
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpOX4kjva5
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnwk8vNeA0
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"Ah, my apologies."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEPjaXeh9v
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"No no, I like being around you too."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc2ugAaSxf
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOA8R88ejY
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEttLPhpLAN
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"R-Right."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt1vTyfO85
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLYuoNTNtV
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzblyNlCOpV
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"Hello, Freed!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyfcCgMTpQ
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcdHi7yjuS
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OWScorJsP
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"So what business do you kids have today?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO0x4DM5X4
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjjrv7e3TN
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRkeuBK6zh
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInKklsJFMJ
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRexS0piab
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItTSblj7Zg
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"I see."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnELSlYE12B
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmQq1Ddva1
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"I refuse."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfe8EJzMkQ
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"Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7oKmoQ2VK
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"WHAT!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23hs6KS0BQ
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jC1ai9SaY
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Yj9PHksET
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjUHvLwxVj
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"...No?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4gjco58hV
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrWbMpD5L6
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNKIvcvRTo
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TISkPdnuy
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJa7X6WcQt
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZW4FtTxmi
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzO5uUcETX
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"Down here."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwHh6rpQ1a
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRJcq3leU4
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgByxOwCf8L
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKfGM63V7W
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WkT2bK5fh
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcT7NaJGBs
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeBXW77FKM
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"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkR75iy9Zo
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I shrugged.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsL5Noj5lh
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSPDuyfivz
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBAIiZa0MF
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"Am I doing it right?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qNJgPXq7t
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bZBAxwP4E
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSzz5h9OaB
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yZvukm1o5
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrkkok9QEb
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55eVbYLIn3
"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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7tgnQD7df
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"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFswFniPuM
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcrqwFWA44
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"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSofrCbDXvs
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxsYAVpUsO
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"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHsTwX0xTh
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"O-Okay."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDYEcEv0BS
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0G4LrE8sY
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3Yn7fg0IU
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"W-Wait, how do I–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOUscy2rbU
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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?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYLiSyZQ8B
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"But what if I can't let it out?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGguE6CfLFB
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnRIDK8EGI
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKMAgkt9xj
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLYQuGq5cJ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hFaGDMvZ7
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzMEvVyjox
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"Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6j0Dv90k5
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjSP18Us6h
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxkHssCQ5n
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I messed up, getting all excited.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ACwJJjcR
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fCAu5N2Qi
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I couldn't do it in time.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz6RcTiKYs
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**BOOM**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBhQ0ezXjq
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The world around me faded.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnhmGTP9In
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImLswFmZHg
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk3wVl8Xaa
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?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL0m2XRq4n
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08qOE3EUyS
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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTMFOLewJ5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5NOLUQTtv
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzE6HPIO1r
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXbM9FMRXk
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3ysQPHJik
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I was in the greenhouse.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc12Dh6zVO
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKR0gFwKhd
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjAMmAwc7O
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Thank God, they were okay.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqJpegYiVn
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFDaOsMjW6
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdjM0H9916
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xt32d3ezC
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ur5Z1iDXc
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri1mETePtn
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZMCCNYLTu
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"This is... my coat?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSew8gQylz
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEoSoobgHy
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9OjB44fSr
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaKRsAkAKv
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue0j3qFDhq
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrNRp7eniB
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBdCr36plT
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQvyDA4vJa
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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–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrXLaTQTdc
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"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEvYEwuYq7
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZBFqtsY3V
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUo4AcyoZz
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwLPSYq0Rq
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"H-Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMftiBgYawJ
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXjjhpotkN
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"T-That's terrible!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fg4eiqrEx
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Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUl5vBemkz
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"Uhm, well, Flinty..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLwUHynk3j
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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".229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw1uPqnF5L
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It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUj60Kh3Ft
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO2iHkshco
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduvfaeJ6kT
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo26x6WIvU
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8zYZ3Ykwj
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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?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOGuupwdL7
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"...Ah!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV3WI18C7k
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I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vcGdmXX5L
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"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFAnqkXYiq
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"...Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsyjJeZRkx
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She meekly turned her head to me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyQbP81RFd
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTB7WpyvSQ
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She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG3G6sh6Rt
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"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE96JLBtmko
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"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0WOX4EpEO
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Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoM97Lhb7m
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"Okay, let's go then!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bQhikiX8A
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgdAanf11S
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"W-Where are we going to go first?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhbD2rK8WV
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pYjtVWxjF
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"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q0ropE1Lk
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Yeah, let's.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3vhOEV0mx
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–
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–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7UdbYWhO0
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ05BhS44tz
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycurG8jg6q
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"This is the combatant's guild!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjorRn8GBqK
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4cKJ8tT4J
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"This place needs a renovation."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEYnpqaL1C
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"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACzkKcoIWb
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I shook my head.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOWiy7Q8qs
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"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qNmzlDcEK
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"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGX3EV4Tv8
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"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCiMu3DC4d
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Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAMlESJD9x
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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–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsfx3kkQmK
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"Do not even suggest it."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6nKon8zu0
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyILQ1RTEuO
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwCY9Bb6bL
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eHHdyQPwn
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ9oF3Z2OI
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy7wZ6LvkY
"...Well alright."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoZvg5Kxul
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYANdISIPZ
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmu1JV3CF5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILaSh19z69
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0YgtrePIE
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUI9fvudxL
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPUNoviQ45
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She pouted.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZjcgwjHjL
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI36XGuf3Oo
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCU4IFh2lz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCptugScDvF
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHpDI3VSw5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFixBVu8dZ
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnQQjNSdno
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhhqrhSPbF
"Huh? Flinty?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FGpyIM5Yj
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz7mXTYswP
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfGYLyvvON
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZYFHpgbpL
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKRot6Xeur
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtTXkhpvmz
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTkTxRXbq5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUIsIkWCLI
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70NIFMSOn7
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ928Go7845n
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu62ro4W8ps
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5ppxxNX0p
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZciI0elmm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gU8wQQgNm
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNYVvdWtk4
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Xg2XgbHn
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8250smQnz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyki37Lrh9
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!229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaPVPIKX4R
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXMR9x3GaM
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5KK5OoBaJ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY4kpEA9Dt
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPaliBrl9w
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHJDls6KdV
"Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDdRqasRK6
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27uVy7kZEi
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2XouEBiBq
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR23OqdbViA
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUhouiubBr
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBNayvE5ie
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncMB8vXgme
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"You're right. Wait–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ5Ad0z753
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPQuOjE6Kr
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNJBH1IZTT
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MvLyJiYY1
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBzycPZAA1
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC8iaB9ASL
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdfc8TyOo7
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKNOjMS4Wo
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF45WsSsZG
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbvB6ZEyZ0
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb23hT16Cc
"No. I'm here for another reason."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeTQ3SqxEp
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmPCzQKwJS
"And what may that be?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycPZwm41PO
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"None of your business."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ScSjGf9o6
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"O-Okay..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41KbLlMizj
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK5T8yQQJD
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMZgKqNbv4
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIhapN3HLK
"She is super shady."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO7iynwqHa
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXYOQT4Sph
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZQ6FEmxKX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LnbYlRHNr
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ4seVRK29
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDbnizCqOz
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCTaoD1JdR
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabzewcQvNe
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBny0vfe7rD
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqWphM28HI
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wd20a3n4o
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUinQwVITl
"T-Then let's get his attention!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZBT7a61dx
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh1FiUJXLC
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XZYepf5e1
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59gerEI3vt
"Let me handle this."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriO269Q1GP
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dFTypvTJc
"W-What, why?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2vjncJbcQ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZb6USq4pg
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4xdaOLGId
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH67naYvVs
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1CH6Sb81l
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwycpRuXxzb
"S-Sorry, Kenny."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiF6ZI4U8S
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo6H0pB9GA
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX2KFSougi
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGsEyN46YT
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXR9qBTlIO
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDYbcyqnUT
"Hey, you guys!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOrvlAQBmW
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacg2601DBF
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOEZEaIqBQ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ji2RTRV51
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVdQ4VzfR3
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcq2vyPXAf
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdekgGwRnkP
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvXF1vjtEj
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTP6R8wBo3
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmunaxeBjx
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVCDARI98W
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yzz9L7zZQ
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwF1IyM5fy
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdIpVmW8AM
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Vdl8area
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GVATQ0Gow
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjgK0BZPus
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfgQ03WVsT
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprxJcHUaQ7
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"Here's your bill, miss."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK7vaJpeue
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"...I..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N21mKdxZe
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She was having a difficult time speaking.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNeyyHW1Pz
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"I forgot to bring money."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8I8XJIChs
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiauaTZNAv
"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3gDx0PTia
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrwyTcX3J0
"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qkS85mXNy
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"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM3y4ttM0i
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdnreCtbY3
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Ha. What a moron.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mQ1JuPrdj
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"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HDRC0mxQk
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb49ZR0L1am
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkfBDHWg8B
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW3Mbfepi7
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm1re5CeTV
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOfVM49abs
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hg8hyqDZp
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfusiyOeVH
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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEtZ3U7irY
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBncp9wz9Dz
"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoQkwr33qd
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfoPC77suZ
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O4KxvaaXM
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHDAB0OTbp
"Hey, cloaked woman."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Tpzi9Hure
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEmPAlVCzS
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ymztiOU5k
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJD2x6OWYN
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNn781IvT2
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLFdGmypmN
"Yes, of course. Thank you."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNXNAhsz31
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzXPW8AUJN
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4aKT1A9k9
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KH2tm94LY
"Alright Flinty, let's go."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCLbrRP4vX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpyy49J72O
"Yes!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfgpXtojRO
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1zR2fLjkr
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa9GbnS4VD
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBGjSyY0jp
"What?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZuRYak6mv
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbZlh4ipap
"Kenny, you're awesome."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5o7GCrjgn
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAITBLqPwqG
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB8UVUR9KV
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjOk4ZqT0V
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45FhOGz1lt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGfqD5tPe4
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC008gJ6Xx
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoH75Hrtxh
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVf7zBs0JE
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She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJN6Kbn9gY
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7TB4MhElC
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZQxx6qDzd
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatKxswlEPw
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9nZVA3COT
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"...Is something wrong?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9yT2Ta41f
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnppStG9Jx
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHqq3KHuHA
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"Think later, I'm talking to you!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvBgRwOQB1
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"R-Right."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbOV6GhstL
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmXl0lUBn7
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.
然後按「加至主畫面」