The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12p0lxMESC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWLKtvfhf8
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1VSTVlXvo
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67u10U31tj
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKOxHy7N4k
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq58D7rTRas
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CfYNpB2rb
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mWXYaN9pP
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkitX6KzIUq
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnRSYx8r5v
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhe4dzTBO4
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxKWjmT6mt
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56izoqZHQl
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡams9gt8ZZP
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB36wBxPN1
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSdArjfQAl
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0f0kqsyVt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmsoSBfyho
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCN2gQtHij
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC2iDUK4Dz
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYB4hW132d
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvp3ig3Prk
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pMA2hmE25
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPdqi8IwrS
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulxhM217EI
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuhJyZEbQI
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiaXpll6y5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyzF6vD6oX
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxkDtH4Fx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdI8UHXWED
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8piVR2ug4B
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhYzagXu2v
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNKq65eKLu
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12I6E1dR9n
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6FXK1QFD9
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IwVJzN9Yd
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJIIwV6vf2
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsGRPTst7n
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I9atp2pBq
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddNam73e4J
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRwzjdVRIQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN9xGKrs7h
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqb9Q2VHuQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1MuPxg1qJ
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYVDRLM9Jd
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qlarjtV1a
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeVk2UmxTi
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17lsBIASpY
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LElsEo14X
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tGdwsEJtB
"What's the matter?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VSzmNOFt8
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VJJSIEpk7
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMiQkPDkPc
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CXTlIpRdG
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgbNyOOWaJ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkIYQjhJfC
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBddoOxGlR
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FbRnHzAJ6
"Of course."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYSkCnSRQN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdgLpctXkY
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMAsiMaj4b
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxlS5JqLKL
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwTEJVhGbL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpR8MkZ22G
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeN68QhvWN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTa3WXVF6T
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTEkThE90t
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCzFh0G0C3
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvN91ticFD
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUK2JAqZAp
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7bAl9ue8Q
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HEyuFmUGc
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDsCYoss7J
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZwkG1UWEV
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AR4Td5B0D
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3ONe134sT
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8gUufp8pd
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8s6e5iZ0Y
"...Probably?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBOtmU0SJx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga08FnFK9y
"Sorry, definitely."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWYMClyLTH
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKiTArn7wJ
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH7cAbdGvq
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNlZsjpJIT
"Food's ready!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7lnQco4af
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLvITaVTtJ
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZvZMdRIh3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJWDcMm4Jv
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX07ZY51Ght
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2dJDwCxS5
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yoFbVaBOx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrxUJENyXn
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzBhEFe6vV
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon6GrUNkZk
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeGKrBVF4Z
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy6ir52wIu
"Are you asking me?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlsncoi4GL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxiMw9VHmQ
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJq1nh4wYp
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfQzr8Oi1V
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxURlV0Kl05
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvlPXNuaRH
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH4OkUQbHB
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBHNGNHiyA
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDkCa62gCt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXnCxENYmU
It felt heavenly.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ3pAS0Aeu
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg481uxSMw0
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pKHHMyrAp
"What are you reading?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoD89ESOnH
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheop8MypIO
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfTG2XPt8V
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgP2Ba2J08
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ1lsdoydR
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uxZKaDt8i
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnHgHsFDGh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkcvqBzghV
"...It's a book about magic."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKGQDGh3Sb
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyR6B6xYOX
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtvQElDHZq
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUju75xJMrM
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyr2phsxmg
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRurMI7RmG
"Y-Yeah, of course."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXQWYV9EMS
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk233nPUUJ
She didn't sound very excited.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA17sXZAnGC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX6pqVSyrg
"Do you want to practice right now?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmoXukBUPZ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FnvJmIkEM
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7k1vu3K66
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJalJEtxPAV
"If you say so."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriBxk8Pe28
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ682WPs6U
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp2eHnkkGQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMK6YWOvY3
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxi6JfRpIt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsJPUXNCDf
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPYKOMpvvf
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66aVzT3m6w
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVfE0qQDSO
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIH7F1oywO
"...Did he decline?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGVk8bsFyw
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCImKwjGkG
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTyTAQS6zC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9uXNLXEyv
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB3teCgLBN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrme1YkoyWK
She paused and stared at the sheets.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloaIUq94G3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvFi9GLCrw
"Today was the first time I made a spell."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluYfhloLJ8
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSME08iYFN
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTu1rVzH8R
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB7csUc7bx
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl8anhJxTM
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLpgSCckVn
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxRRvoaiSe
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9DBaWUoku
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppNjnJOGxa
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL6AurQpZX
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg3Tv5S5WL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesXePkrn23
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv8eNmSs5s
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKVbWUHzVo
We sat in silence for a few minutes.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBV3gSgPq5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxURqIBXU0p
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEndYRaCh4
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3eMZAgqQM
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx66hBcUJe
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wjUZ0OC3H
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZDbnzHpP1
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynT8kt6cAr
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDLh9dF6tB
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IIHcnuQeK
She shook her head no.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ6Gp8AS73
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6Yv0XEQCZ
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBdcl9Z6Fd
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ877rpHZ2Ya
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXKIjhrpi5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWodmyBG0EE
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx88ZnOWJoC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiqq8dbimd
I felt like I made a mistake just now.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8OzPSea3S
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2JLeqynPG
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6l1UOjHTr
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqemOeM5Qa
"What is it?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgjLJVCtCx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUmQ6tPjEp
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad0r1T3hHM
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqebUQsM76h
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xNTpR4L6F
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVpwrnYp21
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrdAByacJT
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoFVgyrOfn
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41XQVpVw7b
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6L7knPdrm
"I know I can do that! But, well..."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yZ4pz2R3g
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxDOf0CW8S
She had her fingertips conjoined.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbMSrXvlkO
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHcixt3l8p
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WSdOZHlJI
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXLlMGcaGQ
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbJCKLFRI5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48A4mleBd9
"Alright, I'll show you."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFq3e00xau
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm7aF91l03
"Yay!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI8iYjcip2
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETRnUKUyXV
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMHP5rPPMh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5jmnQYvVy
"I think it's best if we do this outside."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LeTUfKfrD
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlHpviSL92
"Okay, then let's go!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxb8D1oxxL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH0C9MAnN7
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dNIdiuVLH
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiMciBN0Li
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiVkomGx9g
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZPM4HUFyV
"Earth?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5aTMU0Hqj
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2re4XMSoT
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yn8GYQVPN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM1SQqCLlw
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcjpFCYVC8
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFfyVhXjnP
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2rbi1fFsE
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR73niTaCN5
"It's really not that impressive."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDvdrPvqXe
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57UnvkK20P
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneiSJKpTtY
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHIv4qSLE2
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU85LvOi74S
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tACPO58XZ
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1hj7g1xi6
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5ofAp5o6r
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbjyajWnYQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYlu9xfKS4
I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8qFDOWqjn
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"How'd you do that!?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRdse1QbgZ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4ttdXItqX
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EvRRPuot4
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMrNgiP2hJ
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdsvcHUd4F
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qWaRPINT3
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn10kJJBclh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsSaOF7qgy
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIi8hvd62Q
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3PjyDbqQU
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7k0clyMIv
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLDtcAmgir
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGMI5dmo40
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpRQhOK4OX
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoKFuDKDbS
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1tQizEN6r
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRjNTCHjz6
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGYFguEWah
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpayCwkumJS
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqUo7gBRGV
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMgqhnEoPt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqs8W1jKEY
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesELMyoPHF
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYlvjRE3Fv
Oh.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ9e5gyJGn
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Oh.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE9zcRlDga
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The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeM2tp4kpG
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX52sNBVbI
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv1JVEyLgp
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSCIxqVZX2
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ418zXXYSKa
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As for me?417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO31Ap8iIKU
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Well...417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTOu6xI6mJ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQpEA6aXZZ
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyOcCUkkUx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFZqmuR4Yg
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9UH2074ab
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMr7mmRP6z
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVnON0X6AO
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbqeE1Kgzu
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq49qSewSe
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBJmfv0Ky0
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtWBDxsPiC
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKKQ671utC
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECXmof7zi9
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNF7jnMKvA
I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ638cyw5h8I
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlLCUITepa
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cyZQgat6X
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYSwotXrq4
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VXKyaxpKS
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHOdNXM6Vm
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhRdXURsrG
I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctplC0eBo5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EFSqT3RXS
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK92nZwxkC0
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZuRDWHdMO
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX5xzwBzgH
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OSuYmQbYh
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ2SlKkyLC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIMgDUMUbU
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWkRWSdouU
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDtDjE3HxL
She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sXjnu5Lh3
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BgLxY94f2
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDu5rmOIdA
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm4hLieDS7
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRko8Pzb3vL
I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6fvLlDYvU
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEqcqBdFQT
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOsAbPd3f8
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U64Hmcfio
"Of course. What is it?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PJ2oLRMqu
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6Fw9sPjap
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnHogOYjqY
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTgmICCrAt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiHb8tGc6l
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS3TKz6tYC
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuVJJWkjvG
When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmKtnyo9pa
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch31RQ7Zvd
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nSGNA66S9
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr4tmNdQJD
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBphzhVe9w
We all looked at her.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0wJ7UQGZY
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT2nzcA9kQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mHWjQckTg
"Kenny."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrET6r4ey6
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvuKptVu6m
"Yes?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOlBqxVqIK
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MOA77b9oK
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5sliwJami
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5MxtUgwAh
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8Aob2712K
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"Okay. Kenny?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hcrVPhZTg
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"Yes?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCsYCbbWU9
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuVzIpJWny
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28isM0HTl7
"Huh?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsdYVlxBr7
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtEbbHoSAq
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfgolm6dDt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJfz1XLTud
"Why do you want to go?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o4bUtuHvp
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO1zELCo4D
"I... think I need to."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckeO1Mi1ia
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAFWTZQlA8
I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTokFG0rJlJ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjjjaKH9fn
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQneUso09gg
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXej4pBwN4
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg255y0WEs5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65wZrusSDB
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WxaziA60Z
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinulI6Zo1B
I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk16S2jWRz
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypIUw6E6QX
My heart sank.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dyIubSq54
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSK2mt4cLz
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
and then Add to home screen.