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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAS1kjPMeZCJ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbwcX9Ws6Ym
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.29Please respect copyright.PENANA0SrwoYerV5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbosuX2L7ZI
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8qNPgy0V9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbVd1E4Q8aG
"Dad!?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA7iSmiXrWLs
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJQMyHFeUf2
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.29Please respect copyright.PENANApHG8mMITWp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaPhdnoNiip
"Flinty! There you are!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAAuLDwrZ3qW
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0RBZ1AHtRA
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.29Please respect copyright.PENANA7Y4igvYth1
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2KWNpTtrjS
"And you must be Kenny?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAwkY0XFvIH0
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnfVNZaDPxF
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."29Please respect copyright.PENANAxTesR094Q5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaNf202ys1G
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.29Please respect copyright.PENANAkV42BPD6Jg
29Please respect copyright.PENANAENXPl1P81B
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."29Please respect copyright.PENANAr1yBfmY8H9
29Please respect copyright.PENANADQ74BCoEux
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 here29Please respect copyright.PENANAyKXTAxJQwl
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0pvCIcIbKE
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAtklM71aTKV
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlXcsgLBZ4R
Dear Mister Chambers.29Please respect copyright.PENANA7EmJ0XqZS0
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZvqsxNBbiZ
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANATAgDO5aKuw
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1h1vFuLLQ1
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.29Please respect copyright.PENANAUVP9gtuvnu
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPHOQ4TZa2C
"...I don't remember promising anything."29Please respect copyright.PENANAPSZ4T5LXgX
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKS2Rtul2Wj
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2dCiav8lvd
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFAr7613lYz
"I'll make sure to thank him later."29Please respect copyright.PENANA4dRHxeGaJj
29Please respect copyright.PENANARljyIoRCHY
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAe2GoJ9tMCC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnttBGnwUuC
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANANon1l3iESd
29Please respect copyright.PENANAuhIhN8qsyM
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAfp22jKpzMi
29Please respect copyright.PENANA68oVfjmRS5
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"29Please respect copyright.PENANATlzI1B6oye
29Please respect copyright.PENANAUtUF834Vc4
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA1RkCDiYgXB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAOI643o5ecA
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.29Please respect copyright.PENANAElLRbN7qAs
29Please respect copyright.PENANAB6zr80f74K
"Kenny!"29Please respect copyright.PENANArRnhbfxzku
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8M8jIHH6fr
"Ah, Flinty, hello."29Please respect copyright.PENANAaan3xxTFty
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4Xar1FSWmW
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.29Please respect copyright.PENANA4byBFtj6PD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAk7pIoQdcRW
"Is that the plant you asked for?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA6xO0FIUmoe
29Please respect copyright.PENANArlMrLTkhOH
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."29Please respect copyright.PENANAZxPW5Cg2jT
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHL9Nmy5nTA
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2Bv0TR9ACr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAAvwV71vS3b
"Hello, you two."29Please respect copyright.PENANAgnLhAhuqiG
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmzPxzKosvq
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.29Please respect copyright.PENANAZEc80WHinN
29Please respect copyright.PENANA6BQ6lVYnIV
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."29Please respect copyright.PENANAkc9VYN9WpC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIxTYBB1T5u
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."29Please respect copyright.PENANAglKW8JAdze
29Please respect copyright.PENANAVpmklu9wmj
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.29Please respect copyright.PENANABvdhpEh1VO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAAVomPGW2rZ
"Please don't drop it or something."29Please respect copyright.PENANAyNJWu82N8h
29Please respect copyright.PENANAQP0mUoLpwC
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."29Please respect copyright.PENANAqtfWh5dcdO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlDeiidC9D9
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.29Please respect copyright.PENANAd3TtVWanp1
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJ71LrD6fDv
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA23r6QNWbq4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAA8LvgTUVs3
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAJkiOrPhFF7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAOqf2BTR7cH
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."29Please respect copyright.PENANAUlgaQD0bUe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbgR5PzOoMi
"And you asked for... a flower?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAIy5y5ceR5D
29Please respect copyright.PENANA38uYjTojr8
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAZPwTsrorhC
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0ki9jiqU5V
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.29Please respect copyright.PENANAP42hlFNL3y
29Please respect copyright.PENANA89hb2F06Dg
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."29Please respect copyright.PENANABGVJ2Q8PDU
29Please respect copyright.PENANAM3mnVoisJ7
"Arg! You...!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAdMFDmKak48
29Please respect copyright.PENANApHpg5hR2OA
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3PVfMLccw
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEVNrvPmPSb
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."29Please respect copyright.PENANAeyp1C91aiy
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5xrR6s6FuK
"Whatever."29Please respect copyright.PENANAj96TQIapzp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ5VdB6Ptb
We sat in silence for a minute.29Please respect copyright.PENANALABLsxxQkb
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvfMMIetFCx
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAwEHpWpK9Bo
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWMgOzHXNmR
"Yes! Please tell me!"29Please respect copyright.PENANALZvRPs4bQL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxcKfC9kmA8
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.29Please respect copyright.PENANAYr9kUk5rS5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAI8X6Jivk8M
"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–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAT9GGQPb4wY
29Please respect copyright.PENANA7FaqGWRWSl
"Wait, Eastern country?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAW1JHEuRldB
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4oQVzBThwd
I faced the old man.29Please respect copyright.PENANAfm1smzyZO2
29Please respect copyright.PENANAe3eRpVWU3P
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAcTmiGrb5jo
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1jaLLHsWJy
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAptzvyKwV32
29Please respect copyright.PENANAr8iexKrJyx
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA6oPqYJk8ub
29Please respect copyright.PENANA7VWFwOnw6n
"...Buffalo village."29Please respect copyright.PENANApapiQQLX83
29Please respect copyright.PENANAfXWg4zF6Po
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."29Please respect copyright.PENANAYSf9yWt7Nk
29Please respect copyright.PENANAE1Lik7ssUO
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.29Please respect copyright.PENANABrzlupL0D2
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtg0gz454gv
"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"29Please respect copyright.PENANANUNUB16kuq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxnKe5Rbr9Z
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."29Please respect copyright.PENANA9wLzlFWF6s
29Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8EHO3ln8p
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2XaRy8fVWH
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMh2plpaWm0
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAXZ5r7qgVrc
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJHS33uPMQM
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."29Please respect copyright.PENANAFgd79TBpLx
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMadP7ALYwu
Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.29Please respect copyright.PENANAZJReLpBsJm
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKpillcckuK
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAz6mCGJNn18
29Please respect copyright.PENANAcEoTZQjHHw
I nodded along.29Please respect copyright.PENANA9IEYWJSehC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlxyJFI2qDd
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."29Please respect copyright.PENANAlOnVNdoU2w
29Please respect copyright.PENANAyK39mxb0JR
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANARo6JLJ7no7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAi9nQcu6389
"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!"29Please respect copyright.PENANACyufR0BCsv
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtZ4FUeZ2Kz
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."29Please respect copyright.PENANARmNwRkKOVI
29Please respect copyright.PENANALpAbhTzggv
She blinked blankly.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsp60NKPn5a
29Please respect copyright.PENANANUtM8ZCOKe
"Wait, is it?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7wLFZpusL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAS5nijIRmDi
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.29Please respect copyright.PENANANVOesLyHjb
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKcVbiyferd
"No, maybe it is true."29Please respect copyright.PENANAny1lGSd6CE
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxsKNo14ofo
"O-Oh, okay."29Please respect copyright.PENANAyG102aHUV1
29Please respect copyright.PENANAS2E7ibhkZM
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.29Please respect copyright.PENANAQO9gD54ytp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWtVKRgr3S1
"How was your guys' day?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAVEgzMgctOI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAD7uiljwSaj
"Mom, you should've been there!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAvPq6OBn9vW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhcUQ4oFKzX
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAq6C79zsHRb
29Please respect copyright.PENANAev1E9opujl
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANApFZZGAePxV
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJgXaJyXlD1
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAkRbwJTBTYn
29Please respect copyright.PENANAv5TLqYm4pX
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.29Please respect copyright.PENANAwXZc5UtwCX
29Please respect copyright.PENANANa9YQRosAM
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.29Please respect copyright.PENANAqpFSzha7ai
29Please respect copyright.PENANADMJBXAk0TZ
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."29Please respect copyright.PENANAUb0JgPo9IL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAml950Y9mXI
"O-Okay."29Please respect copyright.PENANAn63MQJIGBo
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPextWFwRxz
"Hold on chum, you come back here."29Please respect copyright.PENANAZrWR5ntyIa
29Please respect copyright.PENANAoaAOQq4PcT
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjAhCr0cQXX
29Please respect copyright.PENANAu2QrZEkXyd
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAhqTuiUXEWW
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4E0nalA8me
He sat me right back down in my chair.29Please respect copyright.PENANAhXKNvjsVuW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAP27LNVS2Nb
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAmeSh9lEpy7
29Please respect copyright.PENANASFfQneMHuV
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?29Please respect copyright.PENANA32Y4Y5YCR7
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2adBPZ9diJ
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAFSSGOS37Er
29Please respect copyright.PENANAE7YhPibWNK
Nobody even heard my "laugh."29Please respect copyright.PENANAeQcjYOlCM7
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8SBOPEApes
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAKqnA1meHOm
29Please respect copyright.PENANA038rBELERh
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAFa0zFcOlhp
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0N3fK8g18i
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."29Please respect copyright.PENANAlBPCQTJgn2
29Please respect copyright.PENANACzfRVAMIxe
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.29Please respect copyright.PENANAUsIBSNbdRk
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEXudgbtJFC
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAUBSPbU8AVj
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzkqdGRcMPP
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2u2Ri4wawA
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXI3TUZoHZD
"TALBOT!?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAcnO7svqFB0
29Please respect copyright.PENANASgr8L4nckb
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."29Please respect copyright.PENANARZiEHHQcFd
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPhELJwE5yZ
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAzDP6IpBueO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbAHPGMFbb8
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.29Please respect copyright.PENANA0nBMoZWc9s
29Please respect copyright.PENANAYEncF6PA7D
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."29Please respect copyright.PENANA7vGhDU0Ibj
29Please respect copyright.PENANAAh4iK9jPGK
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.29Please respect copyright.PENANAOj2mkLtwJL
29Please respect copyright.PENANA0eTykUzX2n
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA2bkpRVBJrI
29Please respect copyright.PENANApgBHzAVyHx
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."29Please respect copyright.PENANAefMC4jpz8q
29Please respect copyright.PENANAQGAGNNlAsg
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.29Please respect copyright.PENANAazXq2ntFW7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAanu4JnFZy0
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."29Please respect copyright.PENANAdug0k6NCwV
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1b0eJ4zn7y
"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."29Please respect copyright.PENANAY793hCCWHa
29Please respect copyright.PENANABluDNkLs5K
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.29Please respect copyright.PENANAZMmEl2G5gf
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWTfM6mc5Ss
"Yep... sorry, Chum."29Please respect copyright.PENANADXEx0t61tN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmoDCrsOdpX
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANApaQw3V33Mr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAN9JY4kv4sJ
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA83xBe7v9uT
29Please respect copyright.PENANACYtDjY8Jgw
"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."29Please respect copyright.PENANARi3FaAr5Hr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAm75JcBGyc7
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.29Please respect copyright.PENANAXAA18bmIw6
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlBt8Yc1Ygk
Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?29Please respect copyright.PENANA0SVnQMoGDQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAdrhjeRD8vI
I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.29Please respect copyright.PENANAbhu8zQOrzq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAYS3tL39QKG
"Flinty."29Please respect copyright.PENANAlo6M67xucy
29Please respect copyright.PENANAothSPlBnIh
"Y-Yeah?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAHUbsr5fGjf
29Please respect copyright.PENANATnxlVRdxAI
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."29Please respect copyright.PENANAUOa8emcfYj
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtfuw4wDB9N
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsPeHgwSf5i
29Please respect copyright.PENANAB3I9LgCKfd
"Okay! Let's do it!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAsVC9es0RDC
29Please respect copyright.PENANAgxgILqXFhT
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAtUYXv05Som
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhNPXRKERO4
"...My tome is in the other room."29Please respect copyright.PENANAvcp2hjUarw
29Please respect copyright.PENANAl4pHcpyw6Q
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2F34JlC0tv
29Please respect copyright.PENANAl6wSVc1tXC
–
–
–29Please respect copyright.PENANAhtW2TdjeAm
29Please respect copyright.PENANALakGNYRxdc
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAoREnrpjFMN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAj47tfmtLPo
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANApwFSipgpEn
29Please respect copyright.PENANAk3YXheip7R
"Ah, mornin' Chum."29Please respect copyright.PENANApBxhRlxcnL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkluKJIhQz8
"Good morning."29Please respect copyright.PENANAKFARx3YJIT
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzRc7e74YOf
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA5nUz1O5t5B
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjRO0UiD8jv
"I woke up early."29Please respect copyright.PENANA7RR223naG9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAsHnFAjWfba
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "29Please respect copyright.PENANAcQjsByZVb1
29Please respect copyright.PENANALV231eC7By
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAGsLuqLeDNm
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4ifVGNsDNX
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."29Please respect copyright.PENANAohmOkxoESt
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqdFQmyWqWb
"Right."29Please respect copyright.PENANA6QCxEp11aI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAj0lX7xFH8g
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZCcO34lU9
29Please respect copyright.PENANASUBVxyWY2C
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2434C2kZDa
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ8QC5Gnaa
"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAIxmVEnnHKr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFDlJ2HjCn9
"I sure did, honey."29Please respect copyright.PENANAMcAyc1lCWn
29Please respect copyright.PENANArXOAv7xFjW
"Oh."29Please respect copyright.PENANAIE3r4Pgcoh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAod8U4h0D9j
Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjo52Utp1JM
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbJbhIiYoed
"Is something wrong?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAEMhTKrQrqV
29Please respect copyright.PENANAg2AnH7TldU
"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."29Please respect copyright.PENANAb5TirWSbP8
29Please respect copyright.PENANACArjfmf3B0
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAu5tjtjAYrl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGNHC2koLKL
Strange. Strange people.29Please respect copyright.PENANAtisGNo6cxU
29Please respect copyright.PENANAviFenuwIOS
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAoxicJA0KBW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjkLO6lucTG
"...I uh."29Please respect copyright.PENANAnIRTOWzWRn
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2bzkLYDzbd
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANADukJqPHTAf
29Please respect copyright.PENANArRf4vUfwMr
"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."29Please respect copyright.PENANAVhjsmG5lmj
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjRIYVlS0Ey
I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWRosbYJecT
29Please respect copyright.PENANABHGCWoMkSU
"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAh5PAtCCRuX
29Please respect copyright.PENANAily0WS8OLB
"Water under the bridge?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA48SCrhDQEh
29Please respect copyright.PENANATFkuJicQTS
"Mhm."29Please respect copyright.PENANAlqdlP6sZWE
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzd3D4ZD5hg
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA82x8TadCbt
29Please respect copyright.PENANAF9p15Wp0LB
Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.29Please respect copyright.PENANA8DApU4QqIY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkCl3rvZ0LT
They were really good.29Please respect copyright.PENANA5nnRErGaEi
29Please respect copyright.PENANAD2bWH7bNgb
–
–
–
29Please respect copyright.PENANAdtgRPOiGXy
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAPqLR8CIQ4j
29Please respect copyright.PENANAD05fWUtvH3
"That's a nice outfit"29Please respect copyright.PENANAFvVjJev8EA
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPU3rlbPhcK
"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."29Please respect copyright.PENANAjDQuVNyQs6
29Please respect copyright.PENANAX6bMNrLJdV
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAQIc3mtHADG
29Please respect copyright.PENANAP6xcJmPvun
"You know this town very well, Flinty."29Please respect copyright.PENANAFIS0Dsp4UD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwv5p7S2oql
"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."29Please respect copyright.PENANAiYADtM92GN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAroNZPJpE5d
"Ah, my apologies."29Please respect copyright.PENANAGG1fkh165b
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ci1eUYxVa
"No no, I like being around you too."29Please respect copyright.PENANA3JosSg3IQi
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2yTxMcywj7
Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?29Please respect copyright.PENANAHTsbyroWC1
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3dsvM7TdUm
"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAGE1ruE1UGP
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwLBEqV9oeo
"R-Right."29Please respect copyright.PENANAnnYwxvKIIr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGn7oA1zSGv
She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.29Please respect copyright.PENANAOHiaOX4d61
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2XOVr5O4tF
"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAmYtwHkma8z
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtszSM9ijA3
"Hello, Freed!"29Please respect copyright.PENANA3oK2Lvhf9z
29Please respect copyright.PENANAFqibsmn5D7
"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."29Please respect copyright.PENANAt1umsaI44j
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhDjWauisQu
When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.29Please respect copyright.PENANAeVite6T60m
29Please respect copyright.PENANAt3AIwe8w6I
"So what business do you kids have today?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAKrtPDkaEBQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAI63TtOlaqV
"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAzwXpoxQv9r
29Please respect copyright.PENANAItIFpiyl6H
"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."29Please respect copyright.PENANAfKoMRnFSoK
29Please respect copyright.PENANA53epGelLBQ
The Tea Mage slowly nodded.29Please respect copyright.PENANAOVoJb5D8B4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAM0rkd5uwVL
"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAtVXBIsk5Qh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAfh37zB2PCn
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAFBHtbPQjlO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHwiG1QopfN
"I see."29Please respect copyright.PENANAjwW08klWGY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAoQJUZS5Qxh
The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.29Please respect copyright.PENANAFXnE5UmNBn
29Please respect copyright.PENANANY1qsBXek6
"I refuse."29Please respect copyright.PENANAbqSXmUNj9j
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtSYNSUUlfU
"Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA1uq0ICJPjD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmZcbXAKagJ
"WHAT!?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA7df4sXvXdL
29Please respect copyright.PENANAukTCOd1cuY
Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.29Please respect copyright.PENANAdo5MDESmTT
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4fvIt7q9cw
"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAL9xO1oMpO7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKlHokYBlbG
"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAlb84vHm8oZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANATvzst6A19A
"...No?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAZzktS3Oei2
29Please respect copyright.PENANA7DK16CdXPD
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAnTX9VLoXuo
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4q8RXBUMWa
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsud8UOflNi
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZcwQF04WR
"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAO9EntaTFNs
29Please respect copyright.PENANAe0rAQIiZbD
"Hold on, follow me, you two."29Please respect copyright.PENANABcibjFzESo
29Please respect copyright.PENANASdRPdAYI2Y
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAaQmRjXXRuy
29Please respect copyright.PENANAN7O400JdH9
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAC5K7fBViTo
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXAN1nmMFjS
"Down here."29Please respect copyright.PENANArOWUou1BPe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwjqkrS2Z0p
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2IRArdm015
29Please respect copyright.PENANAiSV07ZsZXP
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAszytrFzHCc
29Please respect copyright.PENANABs97NKXAHG
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAP13na9jWCD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHgsRQMe9VS
Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.29Please respect copyright.PENANAwiRWopUVlN
29Please respect copyright.PENANArzdNKmF6L2
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA01XtBlFsRt
29Please respect copyright.PENANASlEWcQ0SiD
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAougq3QAG90
29Please respect copyright.PENANAitlpJ21HtC
"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAC6ERcPw9aw
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2HIXm6OouF
I shrugged.29Please respect copyright.PENANAe7bTgvcv8l
29Please respect copyright.PENANAU7GRHhNopW
"Well alright, go ahead and try."29Please respect copyright.PENANAKMOoGWPXLj
29Please respect copyright.PENANATbyAFQysm2
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWzr9iypXTR
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3cjyXYchtg
"Am I doing it right?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAwwfyWz3wY9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAW8Cx4pcJEW
"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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA12Pj2sQmD7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAYdbYkv9X1Z
"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.29Please respect copyright.PENANAproo0psh1z
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhIzY2IPjMO
"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAlYsVApCTMW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWXhC5Scvme
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANA5jTedyhp6g
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8DrZjd7VXR
"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAbYaAdRFgl9
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkwD6C0V0wv
I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.29Please respect copyright.PENANA9YcXUYKNb6
29Please respect copyright.PENANA26mHZ0sN1j
"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."29Please respect copyright.PENANAyUUp9PjMHx
29Please respect copyright.PENANAd2nbUJMX4G
Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.29Please respect copyright.PENANAH9vByDddN4
29Please respect copyright.PENANADgPlFUofhF
"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."29Please respect copyright.PENANAVz81VRsO2B
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxGaBfPB2Gu
"O-Okay."29Please respect copyright.PENANAZBG2KYiLCZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMAS4LXdk6P
She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.29Please respect copyright.PENANAn4N1MyznrX
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5RiBPSavWZ
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAkMpIHmuoPI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPjwddPjLTl
"W-Wait, how do I–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAog4ApWvp2h
29Please respect copyright.PENANAp4JSM93icS
"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?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAp1aTIsJeZR
29Please respect copyright.PENANA54gDtL8Hzq
"But what if I can't let it out?"29Please respect copyright.PENANATCw4Xfpk3F
29Please respect copyright.PENANA9WkZ0kufYd
"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."29Please respect copyright.PENANAhKl1g93Ec2
29Please respect copyright.PENANAuUyGt3xoq6
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAfWJm8syKqc
29Please respect copyright.PENANAH1JMhtcvg5
"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAw3dTe2CIxu
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzLS59bcNX3
"Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAylkex7ScMb
29Please respect copyright.PENANAF0U1PbsiJ2
She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.29Please respect copyright.PENANAn2lB41D3OY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjjj2FInUdH
The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.29Please respect copyright.PENANAQT1pFegWVI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEhWjx6BrvJ
I messed up, getting all excited.29Please respect copyright.PENANAyVU1CHZ4hk
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPqcAGQJkOh
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Dzm3DFRj
29Please respect copyright.PENANAC3kZhdviOK
I couldn't do it in time.29Please respect copyright.PENANAgMTRyzZ50Q
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtvkywtUGRM
**BOOM**29Please respect copyright.PENANAC6J2IhJZyY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAorM6ACv9lB
The world around me faded.29Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hiq04jRko
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxWoJurEqTP
–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAWg9WX3I718
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxVN6flqgth
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?29Please respect copyright.PENANAYDiPVfb59m
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwzOEbh9XaP
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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAXePbdgRLJH
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXRlDpflHrt
Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.29Please respect copyright.PENANAbN79SvgPuh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKan9aruiLx
"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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAX5cRh7rgBr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJZutHI6Bxe
I was in the greenhouse.29Please respect copyright.PENANANoFet9MWyF
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEzK9DI7Np4
"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAcqcc74JPYQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAipPlhRsnOh
I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.29Please respect copyright.PENANAhPuvmMajuo
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2pmQRLJpZf
Thank God, they were okay.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjUN3HNRtzF
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlpMwE2vldZ
"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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAvx4vKmBZG0
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZmO7dQLbWV
"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"29Please respect copyright.PENANArepywgfeTz
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMrxezgAaUx
"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAJIq7wEjW7P
29Please respect copyright.PENANAROWSyjnign
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAMWvkMDXjY4
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1dg0shO7jt
"This is... my coat?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAvbNALf2rC4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIfBxzY3uJB
"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."29Please respect copyright.PENANA1KGhZjI8cV
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8kyH051ElF
Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?29Please respect copyright.PENANA2WpfBoyvuZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAOpLBHJaDfv
I love you. I really do. Thank you.29Please respect copyright.PENANAIkh1yhvpb1
29Please respect copyright.PENANAQu7hrKJiin
"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."29Please respect copyright.PENANAoMZDYAmoPv
29Please respect copyright.PENANAGcf2VDF8Qp
She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.29Please respect copyright.PENANA10Zkuky3Xf
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3OtoNsozZQ
"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"29Please respect copyright.PENANARtT3SWHkQ4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtf0y5dwzq8
"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.29Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ2FXKSX2q
29Please respect copyright.PENANAJvh2cgjW34
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAIv3ZOakUZV
29Please respect copyright.PENANATveofZXMWP
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAi4vVcsfY4y
29Please respect copyright.PENANAz6lLBPhhu3
"H-Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANALBxqppJbh0
29Please respect copyright.PENANAeLU8zpkxg4
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAAI8VqaSlSm
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqCh9eTpbHy
"T-That's terrible!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAdApKs3TSkh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAe8JNInoqTD
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.29Please respect copyright.PENANAStPOfBw9D9
29Please respect copyright.PENANASwcNKFIVcK
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAnjhYWb2moU
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWB7Q62RZVN
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".29Please respect copyright.PENANAmlwEodtYYo
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnM96umc5rU
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.29Please respect copyright.PENANAqdjePmqwIH
29Please respect copyright.PENANAloQx3GKB7G
–
–
–
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAKjzQqit0RX
29Please respect copyright.PENANAVqskOxKxWF
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA3bzE5Iahom
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnS5sWTrGDZ
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAgbl4iAIBTW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAW59ECZUBXo
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAR725l2o3LJ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAE9tLS6LcMR
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?29Please respect copyright.PENANAhC6FYsXMf7
29Please respect copyright.PENANARE9diJQ2aK
"...Ah!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAwLQqMNGgIG
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqBbkAVSv0w
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.29Please respect copyright.PENANAk7CybJqT5r
29Please respect copyright.PENANA7YlxPOJCrK
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAw2gCJwY7H6
29Please respect copyright.PENANAG6fngRnb5R
"...Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANALuOs6fzBwV
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2pzQ3SxMDi
She meekly turned her head to me.29Please respect copyright.PENANAuiYGBdDQn6
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5hBug8PQKW
"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."29Please respect copyright.PENANA3mHGwv6cRW
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1aBboSzi5A
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.29Please respect copyright.PENANA2J6vDDDBN4
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3QzYubEEPp
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAht5vHLsbOT
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPKal6QBopp
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."29Please respect copyright.PENANAmmbshVRjmu
29Please respect copyright.PENANAclrAheKN1x
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.29Please respect copyright.PENANAKDaQLu9BlO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAAvI1aiQUlC
"Okay, let's go then!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAoVuMCJd39G
29Please respect copyright.PENANATXiHIdnB29
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.29Please respect copyright.PENANAudqjHa9dQV
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwWBUSVzlXL
"W-Where are we going to go first?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAgevpVcNW5i
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZcRPCgg9Wm
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.29Please respect copyright.PENANAQP4qB8IYfl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaDeZLDhvtD
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAcYGWgePD4b
29Please respect copyright.PENANAfbhQ7AYgj6
Yeah, let's.29Please respect copyright.PENANACAsSvQNYi4
29Please respect copyright.PENANARXegysqmtZ
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.29Please respect copyright.PENANAEZzk6Up5VA
29Please respect copyright.PENANAskVPQrFYzU
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAaT3N0lYZE1
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1UvAoz7UUD
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAgNDXRJTl1T
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzx5MIMMdPq
"This is the combatant's guild!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAO6O55aOlHq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtMklFAx5a5
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANATaiIcHAbXC
29Please respect copyright.PENANARlcBbKrztM
"This place needs a renovation."29Please respect copyright.PENANAwij8Yu9ZWf
29Please respect copyright.PENANARB8U4PApjb
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."29Please respect copyright.PENANAlUC4TpauzQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbszysJldjY
I shook my head.29Please respect copyright.PENANAPm9ijk1QXZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtLkPUzQML3
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."29Please respect copyright.PENANAdRgzA2R274
29Please respect copyright.PENANAiYmIWL6Brt
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."29Please respect copyright.PENANAXKDV8nK2nh
29Please respect copyright.PENANAWUSSnyuGEf
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAwmKJI2DdHz
29Please respect copyright.PENANAejfWzxqpia
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjl7blok3JH
29Please respect copyright.PENANAd1MKthrkxt
"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–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAV7G29X697s
29Please respect copyright.PENANAqOFHoEFcpC
"Do not even suggest it."29Please respect copyright.PENANAmxGrz9D8Vx
29Please respect copyright.PENANAfcj4FC2sK6
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.29Please respect copyright.PENANAXBDQ8sBWqG
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3SDY5iIvY1
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAlpxkxVv9E6
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2zvDRBREX7
"...Well alright."29Please respect copyright.PENANAzkDrT9RJ6F
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKCHJdnrwUB
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAWPyp98wx1d
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaU0VQy59vc
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA5XwDfWJZ03
29Please respect copyright.PENANAeetjzAebHx
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAwp7VkwuEzH
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjj45np7L68
She pouted.29Please respect copyright.PENANAkdvbrqcAZe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAaGwuWRcJWG
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."29Please respect copyright.PENANAjdgH0vMaIu
29Please respect copyright.PENANASPWd4NW2QQ
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."29Please respect copyright.PENANA3gtzoAM9lT
29Please respect copyright.PENANAPubmSdrBWf
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAeQiq9SVzqZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANALcvzvfJnaS
"Huh? Flinty?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAb2XHeZPj18
29Please respect copyright.PENANAszir6JdS5X
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."29Please respect copyright.PENANA3U1NBAxV5g
29Please respect copyright.PENANAR3YokpOOlC
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.29Please respect copyright.PENANAfhtZYRJDsr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAn1UKvqL6AE
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA6KqFbrreb4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKISr53nGx7
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."29Please respect copyright.PENANAZ39XhAYD7q
29Please respect copyright.PENANABtYQ4p4XXO
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAH7g5xNUXn7
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ozbl7SbR7
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjoQOeIrmpD
29Please respect copyright.PENANARKqVLmn2tN
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."29Please respect copyright.PENANA2UXeU29qdl
29Please respect copyright.PENANARoKOi3ld9X
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."29Please respect copyright.PENANAZts7uWuxZl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAcqpZfCN8gl
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!29Please respect copyright.PENANA3KuvdBzbMr
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHRM1M3CwjP
"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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAr2NesIl1vK
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvRKrxZcheq
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAdSew2Zgf5T
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMC0whNWxhh
"Huh?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAfgosrFiO8Y
29Please respect copyright.PENANArctcSWcbi0
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAK7P2XxWR4S
29Please respect copyright.PENANART8US4r8fW
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"29Please respect copyright.PENANARKpu9RpCTl
29Please respect copyright.PENANA6T8DCOSOC0
"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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAlo4O32IFUR
29Please respect copyright.PENANAA64KSrhLxD
"You're right. Wait–"29Please respect copyright.PENANA3jvDbi3php
29Please respect copyright.PENANAo4F9xCwREF
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.29Please respect copyright.PENANAFRoVbqdBhY
29Please respect copyright.PENANAzwPM8XiIsR
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"29Please respect copyright.PENANADI6LqRuqXO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmnuySwhwFl
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANATXSB2yfLKf
29Please respect copyright.PENANAe0xgtGzPD5
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!29Please respect copyright.PENANAhqbdTN1eay
29Please respect copyright.PENANA6kHGotg8YC
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAL7HhN8ym78
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1aMGabbIDT
"No. I'm here for another reason."29Please respect copyright.PENANAFkuu5ZSozP
29Please respect copyright.PENANAKSIaf1UOPp
"And what may that be?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAHm3WDhnkGB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAkcXKoPAdxr
"None of your business."29Please respect copyright.PENANAzaUJqg24O6
29Please respect copyright.PENANAhnuhFLzBOR
"O-Okay..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAMveQaLqF9o
29Please respect copyright.PENANA393XTWev6G
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.29Please respect copyright.PENANASymDb4txWA
29Please respect copyright.PENANARezQbbTgGO
"She is super shady."29Please respect copyright.PENANA0YD4giSi8q
29Please respect copyright.PENANALGWfOHb4sG
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."29Please respect copyright.PENANAMdNqiEdPpk
29Please respect copyright.PENANAm4s6YwgI8e
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAhoJLsALQbN
29Please respect copyright.PENANA3ib6ldzcCv
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.29Please respect copyright.PENANA1QknEVqwqV
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXoEOnZJTWv
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.29Please respect copyright.PENANAPkKTOyZbC2
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2J2NxUD1M0
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."29Please respect copyright.PENANAqqTKBxJVFW
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4V0rErjFgR
"T-Then let's get his attention!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAi3JqNmaZdI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAHYqJuDup2Z
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAoU8WmCQYQP
29Please respect copyright.PENANAsYbHXmi4Rk
"Let me handle this."29Please respect copyright.PENANAHAovcm1LNj
29Please respect copyright.PENANArmqTktONiI
"W-What, why?"29Please respect copyright.PENANAHHKJWUZnYb
29Please respect copyright.PENANABebdm2PIl4
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."29Please respect copyright.PENANA0hQ8UIgIfc
29Please respect copyright.PENANAiga5ANyxBY
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.29Please respect copyright.PENANAnHb4k2LoGc
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1nznNlsXS9
"S-Sorry, Kenny."29Please respect copyright.PENANARyYkwQGj9U
29Please respect copyright.PENANAz5A6bXJWl4
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.29Please respect copyright.PENANAbu0fE5sCyc
29Please respect copyright.PENANArgoogXT30z
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.29Please respect copyright.PENANAyaLF1GIgmI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEA7mSwE242
"Hey, you guys!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAX8Ol6zPLBl
29Please respect copyright.PENANAXu1IgmFJu8
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.29Please respect copyright.PENANAjkGOTyvbdz
29Please respect copyright.PENANAxIpD8f6kaV
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."29Please respect copyright.PENANAadzQloy5qf
29Please respect copyright.PENANAni7ntQ52NZ
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAiRE9HE3PiQ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAZsxXgMrzBe
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAq7i5x5zaxn
29Please respect copyright.PENANAz3NWApjfG2
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANA30QGvvtrIi
29Please respect copyright.PENANA5yUTBZXHwU
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.29Please respect copyright.PENANAj5MfBGd2jS
29Please respect copyright.PENANAtKKGr4SSpl
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."29Please respect copyright.PENANAzHTUUFYjxe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAnlzaxS2Cln
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANADgQLAjUMwp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAwyE04l5zC2
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.29Please respect copyright.PENANAg0UmxvoqOi
29Please respect copyright.PENANAcv1mVD4JPA
"Here's your bill, miss."29Please respect copyright.PENANAooLHX6yUEp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIaUYVLSg0S
"...I..."29Please respect copyright.PENANApRi0oT8HaT
29Please respect copyright.PENANA8WA5gxw0lD
She was having a difficult time speaking.29Please respect copyright.PENANAsuFjcgn6DP
29Please respect copyright.PENANA47M0mUFCRD
"I forgot to bring money."29Please respect copyright.PENANAmjUW0UqRVw
29Please respect copyright.PENANAEMdvT9Y6iT
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANA7yA9K4SZak
29Please respect copyright.PENANAu2RW5SDh6A
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAH8ZCT1rdbz
29Please respect copyright.PENANAYjlsOkcx0F
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAKIPStrGyUC
29Please respect copyright.PENANARXzJCrJ4qu
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAo00IUZ2EbD
29Please respect copyright.PENANA4YRHKUeVP2
Ha. What a moron.29Please respect copyright.PENANA5NfHxCZ2MT
29Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ1fqyHZZ6
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."29Please respect copyright.PENANANOmpHCamTy
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvA77aoxacI
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"29Please respect copyright.PENANAYPWlvK6feH
29Please respect copyright.PENANApBgijh5otk
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."29Please respect copyright.PENANALAZEzz7TTq
29Please respect copyright.PENANAT3xBw2JBU7
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?29Please respect copyright.PENANA5oaI3JExhA
29Please respect copyright.PENANA1RD8vP71Ju
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."29Please respect copyright.PENANAbx1M9lWspI
29Please respect copyright.PENANAgOscWFZmtP
"..."29Please respect copyright.PENANAjXZ2OazhQ0
29Please respect copyright.PENANALpYVsrnEpJ
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.29Please respect copyright.PENANAwVFBPx1Bo7
29Please respect copyright.PENANA2pUN70SWYz
"Hey, cloaked woman."29Please respect copyright.PENANAPVmrgJllNW
29Please respect copyright.PENANAbFJHU4FT6x
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAX3FHYWJU62
29Please respect copyright.PENANAS8xk50yMmX
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."29Please respect copyright.PENANADxcB6IjzVa
29Please respect copyright.PENANAa0qh2aaSOe
"Yes, of course. Thank you."29Please respect copyright.PENANAMN1WPF8i5D
29Please respect copyright.PENANArE8quGpilZ
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!29Please respect copyright.PENANA37PJn1Kyks
29Please respect copyright.PENANAfILFTHeWxK
"Alright Flinty, let's go."29Please respect copyright.PENANA5hoKELVxtO
29Please respect copyright.PENANAVoZYFNJAPC
"Yes!"29Please respect copyright.PENANA872O1FM19q
29Please respect copyright.PENANADRiz2q1oe0
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANArGe86qHWQp
29Please respect copyright.PENANAiydkBeyBvg
"What?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA9uHI7VBSVN
29Please respect copyright.PENANAjmnZEhhhPu
"Kenny, you're awesome."29Please respect copyright.PENANAh0VLxL3pw7
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmokjIkfa7O
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.29Please respect copyright.PENANAke4Rot1VzZ
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvIQONYru8z
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."29Please respect copyright.PENANAdkq1s1ZFqu
29Please respect copyright.PENANAE3Xq2OTDRe
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAhV4hsl9QbD
29Please respect copyright.PENANAuRC8mB4IqS
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAySKg7Q73xe
29Please respect copyright.PENANAa99fTP2VMX
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"29Please respect copyright.PENANAPe2WAKeLDB
29Please respect copyright.PENANAvjc6GuaWyv
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.29Please respect copyright.PENANAvGS9rsHaA4
29Please respect copyright.PENANAAkWobc0zws
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.29Please respect copyright.PENANAvCeE1edwPP
29Please respect copyright.PENANAdWOzDcBkM9
"...Is something wrong?"29Please respect copyright.PENANA4wM6GBSGJ5
29Please respect copyright.PENANAIqF8qYne8n
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."29Please respect copyright.PENANAgGSdAmEd3e
29Please respect copyright.PENANAR9Kh65pGEL
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"29Please respect copyright.PENANADyGJxllf3P
29Please respect copyright.PENANAMU3hTw5vDs
"R-Right."29Please respect copyright.PENANAzjeXASOkmm
29Please respect copyright.PENANAmi7FxR7XWX
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.