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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYppkpdULof
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeKhnYnXjP
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZXHpqoTI1
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ519JSlma1A
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarRwrzuFrv
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9CJPaDe3P
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzDosJGjku
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQsVwAQzQI
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAMyP2ucyb
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRPMriK11V
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sXhMv8H5Z
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRawsaMRsyX
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWasub9o8U
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPgxprfqIT
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM1N3G48dc
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdH6SKgqy6
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0kKHj19lK
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlP9oFHvqI
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmHvvvjvUC
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwMV2elA5z
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0EMuCfsMM
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c5vpAS3cC
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqvbtVnGJr
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EVY4DU3PQ
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVguxrgA1dT
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh8VzOpF5a
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ470uvEn0tf
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcy9c0BI95
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn08sZTvJY
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZwck8NjSc
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNQJt5ooEH
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSbbCbZ22O
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jmSeG2xti
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNclS9shijY
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDdZBEfROM
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk94felxJQv
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA04Z1FwR3
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfVIjTqMs3
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzR8Z0JaMj
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZYmUo8oUO
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XN0kjJMe1
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrla0oAHjkI
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3db1dQ2rg6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaB0bH5GzU
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyeDoPmTex
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GNKwYl9Jy
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IO4zIbbwU
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ouTJ3uxH7
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRgvUChBWQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEzYkF8Vkk
"What's the matter?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VXRcVsRG3
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXlL24mkTk
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P55BvZfoG
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlfdUJUaUk
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfdjVTyoxi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUxzLAOO6Q
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGpSsParwt
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEDt1oUTYh
"Of course."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW9Mk8nc19
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEGfEFMW3D
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrW0C3SPvZ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLsZIIchRp
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVCFCuIgmi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX1pMFU3fh
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhzprZL5YX
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO8Q7hqiKA
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1WmqvWK9P
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXHLIj8jlX
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN9qjwLGWV
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx4E5W78WU
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkut7PrlIUP
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzImI8maiFN
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ309qkGDrdR
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx0V0cSxQj
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVNzfNurav
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAJHRy2cyS
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN8LiYlz8F
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl3RvdQWB8
"...Probably?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnKS3rtQM0
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoXpCv9IyX
"Sorry, definitely."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rNyhDLKwk
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QXDeRxyWS
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooDlq1e9lv
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7LgN7CSin
"Food's ready!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkUaTrDnbG
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu410PUvsi9
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLgpZ26xQ1
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJkIFforvS
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gXU2uMUYF
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDcx4JI6Rp
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtoyBalIAy
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9g0KrJWND
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHqiMIsqtR
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MoBbXJ6Gq
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBC4BLbXed
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY4HH3yyHx
"Are you asking me?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb8aI8jt4L
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINtkVWCTNk
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nWwLmbMBT
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrI7hcCkBcu
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJG3JO9hqd
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM936bzDW4M
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4gVNhPCWU
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEVkjCXOEF
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6e3GjwYoI
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeHBEAdpEb
It felt heavenly.
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtYU2f199n
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E2RVhmRqD
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuluxwOPKty
"What are you reading?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VC5CRqgMp
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORiTiGv9hP
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKCyebQgcd
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqDuhnGq14
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJODZ96wJZi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv0JpOOU7D
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhekcc1Hntx
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JYCAn6Ggs
"...It's a book about magic."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUD8bnuBq5
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Lesrtc3KK
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtgrv9gFt5
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecjr8tcb8z
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2YjNyUSYU
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs93uXzip4V
"Y-Yeah, of course."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8g5Q6v7Jx
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf6fziohzI
She didn't sound very excited.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0O78k8Y8s
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUIKRvSwqY
"Do you want to practice right now?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDqzZIlIg6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RaQPc0UEO
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN3WFPyjKL
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohrhBTc9eg
"If you say so."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboycXbRxNc
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnYKW0RIc7
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSd7PD5DOt
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw67hQ9lIj
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPvT43gmUQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIAy3h4mAd
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS00xzDVfk
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlVyg1luzh
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2z9DXb44s
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN7AyXjfdj
"...Did he decline?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ppDVgaR31
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NAROCLwmb
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuGYU5gZdV
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxpGiPb64H
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgngOjtYzj
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSdtHUtcPi
She paused and stared at the sheets.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaX6Enx0di
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06sThf8Q0f
"Today was the first time I made a spell."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF23ba27YoA
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoJxyUoSH0
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsVFOY950b
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogZlqzInUN
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33UcGgPHDq
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4zwE0lvg4
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6ER04u8VX
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX9HhzGMfg
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA19Z910hfK
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpwLvFspYT
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0uHjyyNky
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mNSjEW3ld
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiIvIViACL
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhBBtxKvVq
We sat in silence for a few minutes.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVGWGaT4rU
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA18vVNf5t
"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."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjvkSDP7kI
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIej4mPHmGz
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtApLdemdAe
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDg9J0I6x4
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7Ljy6trXG
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HZvVJZZD9
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8Le0sS2rB
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KFvw7a6h9
She shook her head no.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIP11JWPKe
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCVTAbsaHW
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzNUN5o5VB
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsQCoVWUNh
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeCBIOQGVT
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELRELX9Ngp
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfxcwphRPL
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeMvXSXX2k
I felt like I made a mistake just now.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7KHGCkNcy
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHAB0x2HvZ
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBFEAJtJGj
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfNNUFyuxq
"What is it?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUtX3YowrB
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6658pFLtLW
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EyWnTfqRi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZi0LYsDnc
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDHeHmJcwf
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue15y22S4R
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe08jvyqc9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi3jsdGJJS
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j4GnWJXTp
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8vGek5ARI
"I know I can do that! But, well..."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzsI6FKqZ4
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIQaVvyHDj
She had her fingertips conjoined.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg9nWpH3h6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhxmbDiorn
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS5MSSq1n6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJI38qYIXd
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMNZTJqLbw
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2Ugqxy6eh
"Alright, I'll show you."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb9JsshsvS
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFSN06cxe6
"Yay!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWCyIB7kIh
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGwsPe0YuA
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z26yjXgVh
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEc4zKAOaQ
"I think it's best if we do this outside."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGWaSXrhNq
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNygDjIaNK
"Okay, then let's go!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvFBKkIsqk
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd2xOFjRkx
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXkublhbmg
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5QmMHRFWO
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDv7gv1QEi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGHQoq81bP
"Earth?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6GZieLzVl
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksFusXbsP4
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKUYiT96Wj
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxCo1SsH0Y
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiNzrfXMqW
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGv5DffxZu
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGjhcSO3W0
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1taBM7xdlQ
"It's really not that impressive."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnwgLFGINA
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDcqYnbUvV
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Pri3kih6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga3RBPUN7o
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IMwG0awzQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HfeZ14ZVG
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb6c3zu7Gp
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrInzhYrXiN
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS7EinIvkS
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGJMolrQbO
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbASpifT6nw
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4Ol3MtdcL
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemgMdBDUFP
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5P2HayrBK
"How'd you do that!?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGESPaHoYs
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBdgGD7Lg8
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoODKMH3VB
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qoarAwbLc
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT79wqtA7e
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoOYgpaftO
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4acyXL3YY8
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0cRKSimab
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDejvgXTwQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyW1ahM9pR
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8vp7zsqlW
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0srIbigPdt
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalYo6qf1y6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJcVMeSQIE
"What's wrong, Flinty?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCtGztvTPK
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qFQzw3UeI
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJtltief2c
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqcvbhD8lc
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj29mHIBCmB
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqFTGzowCC
...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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4879fNkjOa
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5DA8wlBwh
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK4TNSedb4
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTBBR6bCbj
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQBJjUWGVM
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O5I3gdAXk
Oh.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3moccZxiWM
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Oh.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfEvaiKjrM
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyNjI6AjQ9
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgawJXsPM4z
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPyoX2BXlt
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHRoO2UbYI
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwkcDWCpXe
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8tliwskD1
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSODRYLUNbm
As for me?193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILiPn95ntM
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UTdrXsnnb
Well...193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLorJD2hzf
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9kRscjuQl
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVuoAPGnhm
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw8fW9eb1Y
**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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hlY62B1Np
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmqdjOvIPg
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqPUPI4Yoc
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7CKinYVlS
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d3gBWKoAX
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqY60e7JFZ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIhWadZlB1
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIgtGIE87s
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jRZcKGlnj
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU69EAV1jL
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TEI9EgOdh
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk7X3vet5g
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNIs92S5Zb
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXODSUOxb1
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgqfxDyei9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5U11lPK8n
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jTRVht5PY
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjsBGRSn5A
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKxYAgl1QO
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U8TwN5yOf
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw11xkp93N9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnjgwRun64
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9hfoaIa5W
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3k63YIZe4
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG5wBl1O73
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKsSJVe7f2
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaNwjAoew5
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pWrKg8Dgs
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3SRHJx6pp
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycXuYgfOz7
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiAr5vwwYy
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm5bYst909
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0kkbiKHvC
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSylS0svLS
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hTpeOJrfi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvflQvqHE19
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW8bLJM1tL
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY09Jl2n0Qi
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKZBWQCOgl
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgVegBFs0l
"Of course. What is it?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jf5PlTznp
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XdH7gopAR
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEmW7UMmFC
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSHnkTjZ9T
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tWrBIqooL
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS42JtnE6xQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjoPTV0NiA
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndlsn81rwi
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwRZQlScLe
"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekde7ZHH7A
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6QRkIgRb8
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWLbacZUND
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhViMQZRgw9
We all looked at her.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrQJsPYNPK
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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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpOEMInnYj
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qvr7VG7m8
"Kenny."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxZtzj33lQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBywUaPQA22
"Yes?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy4MmWR7yC
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtjygsEGEQ
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkQzmjfyfJ
I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rEs388cu5
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaeL6NqssW
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkeUk3qsmC
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Oj8tB91Y
"Okay. Kenny?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBvjDvi8dp
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"Yes?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP6MmQd2c7
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J9VQQ8Epj
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDoGNhCidc
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yA9343llK
"Huh?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPg2veIbci
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20RNoZUq4u
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyk9RyGGSG
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHzLRJA0Bj
"Why do you want to go?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnBYJU6FL3
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliICcCzY3T
"I... think I need to."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr4aPfsSx9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiI37pvgio
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy4inoSqfq
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd79o1dhoXM
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWjzuvXHbN
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu6p0K82YM
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz07zpjrOg9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMQT5kp85n
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC4Szju8H6
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBBOnwiDNi
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.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrioZfNU9L1
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1mXvIVk9O
My heart sank.193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GW9Io8pw9
193Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqd6ow1JQh
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
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