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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqIjXzrZIA
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjh1ZPY9Pmw
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM9OfDXQCh
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK0fiSfjYI
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YE4iA55GQ
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNCv3DHpfb
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfclykcQR3F
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMCaa8MFCS
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MyRjQiGng
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnZHZrTidb
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApBBpJxuC8
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEbBcln1ny
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4WsH1ZHfo
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoLu1gc0uX
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnO6kQfIyi
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC3ozyIqhS
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA037Hcwc5t
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MW3R5O0nj
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl8RAuhf7h
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzJQHOZosu
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYSziktFA4
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQqVXlryHL
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"That isn't necessarily true," I said.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLSdvpLtFx
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"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBYzlcMmpX
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdZPZqt4eD
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgFv0kUyPW
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSTmLoptJy
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoedGSEsNQ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEwAOhFOYy
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQf9ma6y7N
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmfTK5zMXi
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAgFGE7OUV
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ORARx2WeL
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHngpxxEQp
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47jGx6crDC
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvp7qmXuED
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRynTf5DJY0
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR7O5Rqu7W
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYXiQ3UjHU
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyS8lqeRAh
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42YzPdyA6T
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghruTqKGuU
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpFDFS7Edw
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkFUwAXaaA
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–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktOP4HqqAi
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"What's the matter?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXvsuPQ9Aw
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Bbxo4fAjN
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gJ1wE0o29
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfKz58S4GI
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hh19NPn49
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"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15q2t5NbCO
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdFKuOZsvx
"Of course."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qRkidYtOO
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi6a64yZNn
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzWkZ07wZy
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJlp0d2aTD
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KfHynzPcB
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"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvzBCtDvrU
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqzScWNeOG
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6uIzZmmfW
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0olFqpnCAj
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2uLtW6nmf
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Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohE4cEqewA
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0aSv4Vwe7
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFK5QnmeeV
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJLfHbGvcF
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqR1oTMRSc
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMw4D1xGxU
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ742vWgAXdC
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9P1ZOCasj
"...Probably?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3yVqRzCvv
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"Sorry, definitely."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXssLLOxXVo
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She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ocaa7tiNP
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"Food's ready!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V51oAWJif
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3VxHUBFju
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSGoQ7pNIA
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnjtTwLdzT
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXcM8zj6JZ
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9YoZ0z8QM
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbCbARNqY9
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4gzTyjNwL
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeJ888CWcU
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkyimbhAuB
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"Are you asking me?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe07S6Qitt1
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She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFc8x9Q9MI
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaJew8Qwx7
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9zRWt2SmH
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–
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–
Eight'o'clock.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR2VEKY3El
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20hqs7Glwx
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gVPZMUw8A
It felt heavenly.
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Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL60dw1Aby
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"What are you reading?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVbQwUxOsR
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"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKOHaSwDFp
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0gh7Lic3e
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5ZYVGnz9H
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BEqRM9n1K
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oOnNeJMRa
"...It's a book about magic."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4b9vLbqFd
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzPf203K4u
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvN22lXfRE
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5lHhQ3p3u
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIYOpJfYpI
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"Y-Yeah, of course."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCFEMHTEiv
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She didn't sound very excited.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHORdJDSCJ
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"Do you want to practice right now?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fyfCoSmeg
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuar4bwaJwB
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGtjbhwZix
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"If you say so."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YENA7WHAj
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OYdrmmh6o
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6BEKLeGxv
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjntdguRsA
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSypFSDdmiR
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlHoNgqkXa
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmNS4EOr61
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6vneAbH4B
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWcFJXKML5
"...Did he decline?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKNPZILC36
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTidTWC4T7
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XNSl15b8e
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1K2wFIAIe
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhwchwnUGH
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She paused and stared at the sheets.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKbs3mrNww
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFgTD06avo
"Today was the first time I made a spell."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovsb2Lhjmn
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7uV9X3zxN
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmZh5ZLSyf
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfL4ln2Cip
"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJTR1nqzYM
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFGFj0hM8A
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn6Uj0FkE2
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksgfJnWMsS
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyY8v1V7fQ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcRVHBoFzb
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9AOtZObkC
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn407baHLW
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK7v8VlDV3
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We sat in silence for a few minutes.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIzuio1FmH
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"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."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTZXzz1JRQ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLQqbxX4gh
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA9CPwoSEk
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRv8VC1n0v
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRgBQsvvyJ
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"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo5wPx05mS
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0MdkCOULL
She shook her head no.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfYqIVqhlu
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"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhfqDy1pkR
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5LRnas8EB
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xYLp5lVIH
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIiqztNZo2
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx0tDnYerX
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8mRUIIIhm
I felt like I made a mistake just now.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqKDtFZ67o
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMTTGCoVbr
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpC9nWs45V
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"What is it?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFna4OcO2K
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She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3YNo1UcmS
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"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aINjLyTUv
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y7IaFHB8o
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylU1nbSgJd
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSytJxYlDG
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJesks52Qx
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD053yuTOiA
"I know I can do that! But, well..."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgudArmrAs1
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32BSi1gWLa
She had her fingertips conjoined.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGoYxflZKt
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVAJdIi4PJ
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPfqWzNKFZ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnObI2K36c
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rmAOxcBWY
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"Alright, I'll show you."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KxD5P1131
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"Yay!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6nxCZMM6a
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Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h41CiIJUv
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"I think it's best if we do this outside."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXXecLuKG3
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"Okay, then let's go!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeVbHIVJJh
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMOyXTm3EN
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"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmKBt062VD
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"Earth?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPGghBfcaY
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"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6WuJPv0hB
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMqFYVQvJ5
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Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUoNvj20BK
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"It's really not that impressive."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmOjJgECbE
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"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsIRmD6ZVy
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaDbTlMVFj
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Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh04G2HR2FX
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"W-Woah, it's a ball now."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pIzJf8LPr
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"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwNtYxit4t
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FLDNg1BgG
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"How'd you do that!?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsH9sWy1SL
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"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AI5Ad9lzg
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I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10n0lCuun4
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"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvKOegYWRY
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"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpLTDP5ToA
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d64B7kAoT
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But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7D9n1tpqY
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"What's wrong, Flinty?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqTRs9Xr3I
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She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDcvCq6mnM
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHYpNa75sh
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...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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwRpYRFC81
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"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKVtK3nhy6
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25kyrFKr04
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXmEyVgQGw
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Oh.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPGuJVtXrZ
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Oh.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4fvJHUsHM
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVebysv330
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy77gNeyj8r
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJUYXIaenC
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatPW4XlqRX
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As for me?150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZH4HG4w9N
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Well...150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThkRA97Xjk
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"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wxWc2P1fU
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDEIpVLAsU
**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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DPiiv0HyL
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS0bYqgsC5
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMntT5qNJp
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea6gnleIOU
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t6gRZlfkR
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo1P1OKYA2
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwyF4tzBWS
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTwU9k1AZq
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbY7B6mnWy
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CuxA4W6YF
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I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlBxCRkVsz
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeindxWAxCW
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tkBUIR48J
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9NS2CcYcZ
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWZmUVmg4f
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChFFncUkvp
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmQjwBK54A
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPeLU0tU2y
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp6T0VOi44
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81larl4HqZ
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJESd1rZuTf
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV9rtXtNzJ
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZVmFvQygP
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"Of course. What is it?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIAJ3MBsKw
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMXuMFdShA
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVGLvpgUJj
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Jm3nSbP4M
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKUsHvy8N2
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnOepCgce8
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGgjTYIrfa
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ij1Ya8h6
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We all looked at her.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMpbfag2XZ
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DYaCE5RZ
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"Kenny."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w4o59ktAz
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"Yes?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSYSj1u0Hf
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFAkVWxw1W
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LFnvIuT9t
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYehuXEDXdc
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"Okay. Kenny?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwolLpGWnj
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"Yes?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDh6nn2s6B
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQaj1DsXvR
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"Huh?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeaGTRhtE7
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I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNalz0rQSF
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"Why do you want to go?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFsMC89rIU
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"I... think I need to."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtpca4KTnf
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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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Qw8Wpng1y
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofnjgK9hwN
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde0kwWUPJG
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zLzEr3S8O
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ciQFKRctt
150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UOhglccv5
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.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSk4pXnBOK
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My heart sank.150Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwenPFBahn
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
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