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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i72o5uAKs
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxNR7y5pZd
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmp8koiq4z
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRM6paSk5a
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc5bXd9n9s
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfllDi9gpGx
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUIMrTXUgg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfmx7Y8FWc
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxvFEWfUcr
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBevHLCsHI
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyTNCftX6K
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkkPF4xpqI
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTqGzFbbi8
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CrjgXhdBT
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ODrpCu3ea
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKcmHfo57G
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWmw3sm2SH
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxZIYPsMlm
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGfH4s2QS6
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBPkLdJWpn
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAMi13zBVC
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPPZrRKwTe
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2vjJjbHIp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JJ7J11EQC
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFavrhsSG9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQwdS8JiqG
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFOPIshx26
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT0eS64YuF
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFO8C0s5mM
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2nSM0FaOJ
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt12llkf0LL
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5qyjUCGep
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdpo88ALZz
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tLIwzu5JO
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gLOtvVmJP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOO9jS6bgt
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1IY6WuCRo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3QdXaLx1O
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPJ5sUoqpE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH97aiDSMOR
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjj7mOJvuU
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibYG4IcANZ
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfY5EIsTIX
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddRtBYYAit
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLcCxvroyl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4mlTMpFwt
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeNbiwk6zE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HO6CphyBD
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiz7zROMDk
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6UjNFnxfE
"What's the matter?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NwOXS6Ttt
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxZAzwC3q9
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxhO1hkOM1
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLaUa7JGkg
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiURghjkqo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcBL1kZCOh
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcAqcQ2H5H
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7IdkVrZT8
"Of course."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEbVr3AB3d
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76iDhRqz6k
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNMbcF16zS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnevaTdN1rv
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcPuchKOY1
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffDcgYl8LE
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gwrrCnMsJ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSnJWxWpWK
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUphysGtkUr
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5j9JgqZ90
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxCMqwj07v
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCvfUuStBy
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNU3tQvxct
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntC3Kf9AVG
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3hgqnd8JB
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGD6dNa5yh
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgcfVGuFNf
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoTrXkiVz0
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblDauaq37w
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZeVql4QQL
"...Probably?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AOceYbM0z
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnbKcjJU9N
"Sorry, definitely."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvIPQwJ4QZ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgsHIJdr9F
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cIpv15VAI
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3jZ57lUBD
"Food's ready!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVEBeVAyHM
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXMHtRWWCS
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c83gqCztu
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRVjl5HWpx
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMV2mqjP73
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2IWKfotUQ
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4zxp1mOfE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xP7RoQfYF
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhROIRk1Jw1
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbQ4ipt3GM
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrJoK6U6Mp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyEgVGqOz8
"Are you asking me?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0rLMVM6dM
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BVzSNvT67
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo3E9TIUfY
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhHpKGi3dS
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1gtz48djS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0bGRcqiqN
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4yohVnyGE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQIXlAjbGl
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tl3ZlGwaF
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0GrH95hEQ
It felt heavenly.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkfq3oTcXO
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi8wkFYWuo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0x0UiAQ42
"What are you reading?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yvNM94Ran
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM8TX9Epwf
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1VMskv6pl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvmw8gREks
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnAlAeS176
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjBV0H76F1
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMqyxwXVAd
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPRZ0dfzuq
"...It's a book about magic."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif2p4Z9fZ7
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuTPp1u6Yu
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom0zl3vjXP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqTgcpzmSS
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHblaYMOauj
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl87iY4t1t5
"Y-Yeah, of course."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1GUsFIucm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2iuvvF118
She didn't sound very excited.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvblL00Quvf
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ50li2m76
"Do you want to practice right now?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZQzUWihNV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjZEGw4zBA
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX2hm0nqJk
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfC0zpOhne
"If you say so."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOON6xL62l
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f7uj5qjyh
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhWa7LvSgK
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNwbeJlket
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpyrqAlErz
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojToS215is
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRMEjwqyzP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG8JcxvEbE
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5nUkdUB4B
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzqDduRisg
"...Did he decline?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c1hLe2RoO
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkuv21Jr5O
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vT4mGeliQ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6HQSV8piv
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo689QaLv12
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2eyt8okKY
She paused and stared at the sheets.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8DhVpTZW4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfFjt6T78s
"Today was the first time I made a spell."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoOHiXfDYN
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KyGKkLGv7
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDjBsj68Ez
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EDn4IAIUd
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVL0b44dp4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wQPkJ80zT
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo2u935yJ8
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH907RQ0er
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRSj94lPQ2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxkvKgmLMO
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiqUNUpZKG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgILgrv5czC
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ468UKReay2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpHEUrd7Pp
We sat in silence for a few minutes.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmDG2wKGxp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG7YabZtEJ
"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."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiCKIT78u9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRhtJPf8lh
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb7VCGYhE2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QIollWeOP
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOeh2SCCV5
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznI6R2PZCv
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHrPNmGnWT
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvdptzRNlL
She shook her head no.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqKp5fItXj
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD4DFxgmj5
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTVchgJ3E9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGbQ5KRBQ3
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi57e9kDUxE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbize84x7h3
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTImpiHhgxC
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8dMceQ5p9
I felt like I made a mistake just now.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu82OknzRzR
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LNBoJODRN
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsumMxA6X12
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR27duA0clf
"What is it?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JP96cpYkl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL20gjVqG3
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNP0b3zFM9
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k8GNH00Px
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlRRdIX56s
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkEf96Tl8Q
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgZwfpMiNs
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4tT6Y3nTm
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfH9zKu7C0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS3IbJfgf8
"I know I can do that! But, well..."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaZgnMaVhA
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl9HpLQRNN
She had her fingertips conjoined.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsjGz2CtNs
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqrFsGZvnz
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjByN21URO
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNGNWLGnRY
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKutpyJEgEn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrfiYnPMvt
"Alright, I'll show you."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifgHUKiLCL
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSZdrK0ZQs
"Yay!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDaChxw13F
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuak8tgETAu
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3pxYu1s4g
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsePU4cMudC
"I think it's best if we do this outside."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO5DGuRNhm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxE3aQbN46
"Okay, then let's go!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF0Z7LGLB2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4DSNx2CMO
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z3vdjGXIT
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXzr7msS8
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i3H43qKsQ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2VkLakuFt
"Earth?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwW8qUPLNE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK1qsN890r
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbR45cNozl
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy0BunuYWo
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkZFNVXGfi
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzqckkYwRN
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5U5Y56x19
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YMj3ORiCT
"It's really not that impressive."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lYroauwng
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWHzAU3uhr
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBNPCSmT3E
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqmCiJo0os
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8DLPczIlV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcCvj4wYg8
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJszfmJmKUr
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qvSLx9uix
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF64JHYLf0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWmvsAPaxy
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAN7MP8tzS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO6CbFrJlG
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I7B3PjBW6
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoTnIQtmIK
"How'd you do that!?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73263hTcdo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOheFAZfad
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3YdqNu9tg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hKU5xuOUn
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l6IW8FUzD
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48eV4iO6hv
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdJ9ZChNe3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGDRy3Beir
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUHtLJxGi3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0Z5ZydD5C
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKO8WAJlqm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLjDShfBud
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefnuLEFq50
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvMGBoZXoY
"What's wrong, Flinty?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB5RJiJbz0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42d6bAT2DP
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOYvlilfDS
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroDFAXzGc5
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMLMojpdsA
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03woSE2rxj
...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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROwp8l06RK
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNfcYWBzYM
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ302VAxPrmW
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14CCnloK2n
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bn5peaMsL
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpbcUKj8zq
Oh.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9bcRK7D9B
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50OU2Ijbjp
Oh.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgMgPRpUJj
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXOw0B4Ors
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gQ7p4YgSh
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MSifber3x
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s1fkbH7dE
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBv2rvvggG
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzVnILGUTF
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjapQ0SBJu
As for me?225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgLAPN0Iea
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nMwWVx1OT
Well...225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF5wxquD32
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8R5QLw18b
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK5Lneu2g8
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusDuu7KYTF
**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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFE06mCOBn
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAxMVC8lQg
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxU36anPl0
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7FySG5L3g
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx9oLknvpB
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkAoGOQajk
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxBM8Uigqo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKowfixoOWB
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuySXdc2KeY
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrqmREM16F
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgf0cCt6OV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR73iRKMwa
–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfeIY0a3BF
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKlMaNPdks
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeWgMnR89M
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKzn9kZxVi
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qYVuIZi5x
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoduUxzLvq
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIWPQKA6Dk
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IwF5Ysled
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6FbPbtWxQ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLOwj0j5fK
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJsOV2O81g
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxmY4PMzHZ
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFe5KU3trP
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirscglLujl
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7rG3MlZqR
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyTMpgCbIi
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygZKmQimsp
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbZYpEIDSz
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9f8tIAgzG
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivbB2dfLmG
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiTsYYK3lW
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVs0E69loi
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE58MJp5ws
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVIjxfy5Vh
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN9fptN6f4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7UJiZKlDF
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGyCAUygW2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeORisxy2mv
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiAiGzhy4T
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"Of course. What is it?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AYBsT6UP4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLgoo9LMRl
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsSNLcBOdv
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WRROl0ikz
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDbtiSBWaU
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMGNla3cNg
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gzJtWfZDa
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTobxMkc1Y
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Dhwl4dsJ
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEUtKKwZl8
"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy97345D1ly
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXRbhU0mSp
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgQGZnaT3Z
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hHoCCFcZz
We all looked at her.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLGVYYrXNy
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY3QbZA02N
"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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWV066aVzg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGVxWermQm
"Kenny."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYCKqFq4tv
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFoOuIEohK
"Yes?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGdi3nj5jg
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfQvResCxm
"I'm sorry I freaked out."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ0wmKGj6u
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAYWRrsFha
I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPetAwN5Osf
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjpaeIeqbX
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWZnmGiDiT
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx28rvXFOt
"Okay. Kenny?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ061svHZMCH
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBlvaUsA8Z
"Yes?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTjRmJsSL
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8M7ZuRMKa
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme59xFAYCj
"Huh?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaPHdxBSMm
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0LjCzl6nw
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwOpqgeb7I
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DCXCzY9BN
"Why do you want to go?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd82cJWWCs
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSq1aOcPEm
"I... think I need to."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhb0PQcMQV
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6SHWTHv9q
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zGnF5ruNx
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBsAXFM1kx
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2uxZadC5Y
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXCJxuxFeE
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHhTfqysJL
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxcBloA3Ms
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrUn0fdRJo
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JknHweJAX
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.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREsJRJ5EQh
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsyEuz9Gms
My heart sank.225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUbEnsSLN2
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkE9jc7Xqi
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
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