A buried memory resurfaced. At least, I thought it was a memory. It might have been a part of my dream, of which I remembered very little, but I was leaning towards the former. It was a memory of my father. It was a rare moment when I was out of my room and speaking with him. He sat me down by the table and went on a tangent, as "men his age do," speaking of a phenomenon known as restless sleep. It sounded like nonsense to me, and I told him that I thought it sounded like nonsense, but he dismissed my remarks. He said that I would understand when I grew older.25Please respect copyright.PENANAZRq97uy4qQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANA8z7DWbtBd8
He wouldn't have known it, but he was a liar. Because here I was, my eyelids turned to stone, gazing at the ceiling as if I hadn't slept at all.25Please respect copyright.PENANAayOZGMXhxZ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJMjgoPVFxK
"At least... I'm on my back now."25Please respect copyright.PENANAWu7xpd2ZxQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJjW8KhpWh6
I tested the waters. My arm rotated just fine, and I could roll from side to side. I lifted my legs one by one, then both at the same time. I wasn't sore, I wasn't in pain. I crooked my head; all the perturbing sears and tears had vanished. I heaved myself off the mattress. I tested my leg strength, and I could keep myself upright without issue. I have undeniably made a full recovery, despite how groggy I was. I didn't know how much time passed, but it couldn't have been long. I walked to the window and pulled on the blinds. It was bright out.25Please respect copyright.PENANAxh6j7lcJby
25Please respect copyright.PENANASicpaMAh6P
I closed the blinds and scanned the room. I spotted a cup on the nightstand and reached for it, taking a sip. I sat on the bed with the cup in hand, periodically sipping from it as I stared across the room. I had an urge to stick my finger between my teeth and gnaw. I resisted it, though. I found enough solace in the way I sat.25Please respect copyright.PENANAJku0qzM7dQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAjyGaXAYLhk
It was quiet. Inevitably, I indulged myself in rumination. I was nervous, I knew that much without even thinking. I was also relieved. I was glad that, at the current moment, I was sitting here and not outside the city walls. It freed my thoughts. It let me sip the water with a motionless cup.25Please respect copyright.PENANAiZcSexIc0P
25Please respect copyright.PENANACBnyCfayGU
"..."25Please respect copyright.PENANArJoIBNIxeq
25Please respect copyright.PENANARWubqCW4Px
But, I was nervous. I set the cup aside, rubbed my face, and stood up. Staring at a wall would do me no good. If I talked to someone, my stress would surely subside. It would help me stay awake, too. I stood up and ambled to the door, opening it.25Please respect copyright.PENANASstjqnsvCv
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHNlcrGea7c
I was immediately startled.25Please respect copyright.PENANAi755J9KwkB
25Please respect copyright.PENANAu5H5mh2Yca
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAouOBD9Io7y
25Please respect copyright.PENANAGD6S0qowgj
I jumped silently, grasping my chest and taking a deep breath through my nose. I stepped away and looked at the man conveniently before my door.25Please respect copyright.PENANAxP5mGyjPuv
25Please respect copyright.PENANA7yfzxupalF
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA0n1JSMqRS5
25Please respect copyright.PENANAZveA0MVemj
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"25Please respect copyright.PENANApAbbo7yGuq
25Please respect copyright.PENANAdEFcByufMX
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."25Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ1Mu2rZAf
25Please respect copyright.PENANADPSPChqFdU
I let him enter the room. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms like before while I sat on a nearby chair, turning it so it faced him.25Please respect copyright.PENANAL4GOtKOkin
25Please respect copyright.PENANAY9uGuMyZNB
"Do you feel any better?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAL12zodOQVF
25Please respect copyright.PENANAgPKTXigGEK
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."25Please respect copyright.PENANAAFvImPhC8Q
25Please respect copyright.PENANAO3R7kzsPdi
"That's good, that's good..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAtVC4BOtR9M
25Please respect copyright.PENANAnwG4Kc2laT
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.25Please respect copyright.PENANAmXqovEZfRd
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUbfTnTMtc5
"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAMkclJWGG9v
25Please respect copyright.PENANAaD8KheHDnD
"..."25Please respect copyright.PENANArHus8Qsxf2
25Please respect copyright.PENANAsQwNirAdd6
To my surprise, I didn't react to his inquiry. My body didn't jolt in shock, nor did my eyes widen. I just sighed, because truthfully, I was expecting a question like this.25Please respect copyright.PENANA5LCKBAtx8b
25Please respect copyright.PENANAeAP4JIDoli
But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.25Please respect copyright.PENANAOTZYvXPsE1
25Please respect copyright.PENANAGAzDyYUc1B
"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."25Please respect copyright.PENANAGGKbhUUCGx
25Please respect copyright.PENANAuCQiUAQcjd
"H-How'd you know?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAUAsvV25BFg
25Please respect copyright.PENANANN5neWoivW
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."25Please respect copyright.PENANAc3Og33EV6l
25Please respect copyright.PENANAC2cIwUPG3k
I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.25Please respect copyright.PENANAlHDXtLtA4F
25Please respect copyright.PENANAawce0T2xP0
"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."25Please respect copyright.PENANAzP2qnnzTRE
25Please respect copyright.PENANA9CX175wOVQ
I leaned back and firmly rubbed my face before returning my gaze to Pars.
"It's funny– I was just about to ask you if you happened to have seen Rover around. Is she with you guys?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAMG3kCMBuP4
25Please respect copyright.PENANATWd3D3Ti74
Pars nodded.25Please respect copyright.PENANAiS3dTaFyIn
25Please respect copyright.PENANAiMqjaKSapJ
"Yeah, she's in one of the split buildings. Unfortunately for you, she's in the one where we're going, since Lola's there as well."25Please respect copyright.PENANAwhJQZM0Sd4
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJa6fwAUWhb
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.25Please respect copyright.PENANA73ndSsEYz8
25Please respect copyright.PENANAfttf4EgI8t
"But I'm still lost. I don't get why you two separated at all. Last time I checked, you weren't the best of buds, but there was a bond formed there as mutual battle partners."25Please respect copyright.PENANA6bIRQjT0lH
25Please respect copyright.PENANAOnhK0LhECC
"Mutual what?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA5IY47Ni9pa
25Please respect copyright.PENANAi0ul4wFvkz
"It's something you notice the longer you're in the combatant business. You can make lifelong friends in one day just by battling alongside them."25Please respect copyright.PENANAGhT3HDOfnj
25Please respect copyright.PENANACa2SsHDEAR
"Is that a studied phenomenon?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAsBKZ6Hzhxj
25Please respect copyright.PENANAc8Dog0RnuM
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."25Please respect copyright.PENANAHcDGdvKmQL
25Please respect copyright.PENANAF0nGTo0Gwp
"Really now..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAwqEj7Wcl3o
25Please respect copyright.PENANAKcIZP31VVi
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.25Please respect copyright.PENANASsLyWkBpXT
25Please respect copyright.PENANA6AtsuTlYxL
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."25Please respect copyright.PENANAMkkca6EQM6
25Please respect copyright.PENANAyk4kP8QeuY
"..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAHYEeQimS0I
25Please respect copyright.PENANAcQu5YhQyCt
I fiddled with my fingers. I thought back to yesterday and viewed my memories with warped eyes. Even though it was recent, the magnitude of the event made it remote, detached from my mind as if I were reading a stranger's book. I remembered the outcome but all else I could recall were caustic words, drastic actions, and weighty, suffocating feelings. My amazement rivaled the strength of my jitter; only one day had passed and I had tucked it away. Yet, I let a little piece of the memory stick out of the wardrobe that harbored it.25Please respect copyright.PENANAqTUICiAPkr
25Please respect copyright.PENANAYoh5RyAhAd
"Wow... it must've been bad."25Please respect copyright.PENANA59Zz5pRTfF
25Please respect copyright.PENANAAXcusXsjcM
"You're almost as flippant as I am."25Please respect copyright.PENANAmHTi484cYV
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqZGHGmqKwn
He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.25Please respect copyright.PENANA9vyaqmkK3j
25Please respect copyright.PENANAPpFpZGQjo9
"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."25Please respect copyright.PENANAHqSJkmCYCh
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxGAjDtQUOO
"Yeah yeah. She and I disagreed on what to do. She wanted to stay in the city, Juke and I wanted to leave. After learning of what you and Dave told us, the situation is different now, which is why we're still here. But..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAUN50sQjZcH
25Please respect copyright.PENANATJJ9RLz1Dx
"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAEM1qCJk5XC
25Please respect copyright.PENANAEGEOaGXDbN
I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.25Please respect copyright.PENANAYS8j2jFxyC
25Please respect copyright.PENANAD39vhO9ZDw
"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."25Please respect copyright.PENANAdXLQrKpyop
25Please respect copyright.PENANATuiAR0jqqx
My gaze turned into a meek look. It wasn't a plea exactly, but I made sure my face invited advice. I had too much shame to ask what to do with my words.25Please respect copyright.PENANACdy7gjj0JE
25Please respect copyright.PENANAlwJljpyTXW
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.25Please respect copyright.PENANA9qe6rge1FS
25Please respect copyright.PENANAMetO2A0y2e
"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAgNPhOsWhE6
25Please respect copyright.PENANAx2VZ7wiljW
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA237q0aLNiR
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxdaCVqrmcl
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."25Please respect copyright.PENANA8qwKthyafs
25Please respect copyright.PENANAwBXMuaYGxU
I wanted to correct him. After all, this wasn't my first fight. But when I looked back on the other few I had, this one was much more severe, so I kept shut.25Please respect copyright.PENANAdCweLUBdCD
25Please respect copyright.PENANAai5Rc0rlPn
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."25Please respect copyright.PENANAhhabbWMPCO
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqXlspE7wVj
"I know."25Please respect copyright.PENANAyKhQCBXByl
25Please respect copyright.PENANANJrM9BxmZ1
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.25Please respect copyright.PENANA85Ij0rXMQX
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqeO6zTDJuL
"Tell you what; I can't help you."25Please respect copyright.PENANAOSqJbm7Jmb
25Please respect copyright.PENANAyXah0lttf3
"...Are you serious?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAFMKocR0rUu
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHQbAxyZEWQ
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."25Please respect copyright.PENANANQYTLwwd33
25Please respect copyright.PENANA0xrsJgxvdO
"What? What can?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAO61Vg9DDCV
25Please respect copyright.PENANA6fprjyOG3m
"Well, I'm sure you've been told this before, but I do this with Lola a lot, so I have a bunch of experience. I just make up with her."25Please respect copyright.PENANAp0RKMylm9n
25Please respect copyright.PENANAyDVQPf39bo
"..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAMXoLy9COrt
25Please respect copyright.PENANA3uDJpTDcIq
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.25Please respect copyright.PENANARcDRpCwiKN
25Please respect copyright.PENANAG8Owk2KFEl
His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?25Please respect copyright.PENANAfvV4iZLlOu
25Please respect copyright.PENANAYUjGOMskf4
When I asked myself that, the haze immediately returned, and as I skimmed through possible outcomes of speaking with Rover, I was filled with more and more apprehension.25Please respect copyright.PENANAu7YHxQHtHC
25Please respect copyright.PENANA85OATcpw4Q
"Give it a try."25Please respect copyright.PENANAGrqJ5oN9NY
25Please respect copyright.PENANAvsZuCNAxlG
He stood up and patted my shoulder.25Please respect copyright.PENANAkaGm42RGaf
25Please respect copyright.PENANAFwymJQXUYx
"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."25Please respect copyright.PENANA26Uwc0NVSv
25Please respect copyright.PENANA0EZ1xAs5f5
"H-Huh? Right now?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAEgIHuLdI5Y
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHDVMpnl9bT
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."25Please respect copyright.PENANAoMpmco7UU5
25Please respect copyright.PENANAsWXn22rS1j
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.25Please respect copyright.PENANAjdQOOZQv5f
25Please respect copyright.PENANA65bQErB1B0
–
–
–25Please respect copyright.PENANAQOz0xrUrNz
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"Are ya all packed up?"25Please respect copyright.PENANANWymC5BtkQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAhN9o49BaFy
As I made my way downstairs, I saw Juke at the bottom, his hands gripping the bag's shoulder straps. I gave him a bemused look and responded to his question.25Please respect copyright.PENANAfan9xVjFhA
25Please respect copyright.PENANAR3eYO3ycnv
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"25Please respect copyright.PENANAfREaHTpBJ0
25Please respect copyright.PENANArnyiOZUlHx
"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."25Please respect copyright.PENANAlbP3jamcyV
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqjOEx0KNf7
I made it downstairs and scanned the room. It looked the same as when I left, only Dave and Pars were engaged in conversation. Dave was rubbing his head; it was clear something troubled him.25Please respect copyright.PENANAROgS0o9ReK
25Please respect copyright.PENANA4IXlD7kzKp
"Did Pars relay our discussion?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAH7ozolhrDI
25Please respect copyright.PENANA25uxJq6mRG
"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."25Please respect copyright.PENANA4hxaHhdxAU
25Please respect copyright.PENANA2UJH9zijpV
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAmiaUHOXuwy
25Please respect copyright.PENANAGiRAf7SX9N
He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.25Please respect copyright.PENANAaZyEYjhOem
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"I ain't nervous. I'm just thinking about the whole operation. I ain't gonna fight Hard-Bringer without a plan."25Please respect copyright.PENANAN8KFqy22BB
25Please respect copyright.PENANAB61fCxHjXF
"I suppose that makes sense."25Please respect copyright.PENANAf1JdpkmktA
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHBVzZEMkZ3
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAT29FbPFTwp
25Please respect copyright.PENANA7FsSxji5YZ
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAp6a6cWtNzH
25Please respect copyright.PENANA1ib28qo5Tn
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."25Please respect copyright.PENANAFoO1Z8kfgX
25Please respect copyright.PENANAh4qHy9j9l2
I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.25Please respect copyright.PENANAtUaFUf8XGA
25Please respect copyright.PENANAZWWjlxRGnY
"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAtBe9H2HCkI
25Please respect copyright.PENANAbOz3RWzXzh
"What do I think...?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA5IyXn9mWmN
25Please respect copyright.PENANA4rlsgEuZhP
I raised my hand and pinched my chin, gazing pensively at a random vase in the shop. Though the craze of the event made it difficult to remember the details, there were two oddities I couldn't forget: the Harbinger could strike Juke from a distance, but somehow didn't always do so, and the Harbinger dodged and blocked my attacks as if she could tell they were coming.25Please respect copyright.PENANAsQxCh6UARj
25Please respect copyright.PENANAL3TfbOI2jX
"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."25Please respect copyright.PENANA4X1sRin8An
25Please respect copyright.PENANAA4g71ML3lo
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."25Please respect copyright.PENANAeFroiEdwVj
25Please respect copyright.PENANA6dgSil9Y2I
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAMpt3rh3TeS
25Please respect copyright.PENANAKm5N7e2P7Z
"I'm asking ya, kid."25Please respect copyright.PENANAuWTYqpiRDF
25Please respect copyright.PENANAK7vmxdIda3
I rolled my eyes and continued rumination. Since there was nothing rational about her power, I threw ideas into the world and saw how my better conscious would react. Was it wind magic? If so, Juke would know. Was it an illusion? Illusionary magic has been stated to exist, but no corresponding mana exists in this area. Was it an Endowment? Likely. In fact–25Please respect copyright.PENANAxHny0ejNIS
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxDM0IZJY0X
"It had to be an Endowment."25Please respect copyright.PENANAJMOcEH3Zq6
25Please respect copyright.PENANAcLGiMOKu9x
"..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAZBFMAPBaqM
25Please respect copyright.PENANA5PP534AINY
Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.25Please respect copyright.PENANAXMnXmjGTQe
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUCtIrcl68a
"It would explain the inconsistency. Endowments can have downsides, so maybe she could only strike from a distance under special conditions. I don't know what those conditions are, of course."25Please respect copyright.PENANAoI2KtQ2P2M
25Please respect copyright.PENANAPWDdMhKMzW
"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."25Please respect copyright.PENANAc55h82Efwl
25Please respect copyright.PENANADzhkwMBuxi
I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.25Please respect copyright.PENANAjos8nG1hy2
25Please respect copyright.PENANAh5CBYH8hT4
"Why not?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA5un54EFmBg
25Please respect copyright.PENANA91i0Ogrsk7
"It's just a gut feeling. I ain't sure. But yer probably right. It's a pain in the ass not to know what's goin' on behind her bullshit."25Please respect copyright.PENANATxPH5NNVJg
25Please respect copyright.PENANAq3JChatMOi
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA00RXZgPrud
25Please respect copyright.PENANA6ASp4o1SVO
Juke nodded solemnly. From the tone of his voice, it looked like we both knew what that entailed. I sighed and pinched my nose, then spoke again.25Please respect copyright.PENANAFhBvEpJAWZ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUUCNiwHEmK
"Surely, there's a better option."25Please respect copyright.PENANAQSVSwhKiQB
25Please respect copyright.PENANABEufmBUBr9
"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."25Please respect copyright.PENANA7VFxQTq7c3
25Please respect copyright.PENANAdq0YyVmCuP
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.25Please respect copyright.PENANA55akJ6B3W0
25Please respect copyright.PENANAbIscutJb7C
"What if we spy from a distance?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAEvJyWouyUC
25Please respect copyright.PENANAMnMGrZPMEv
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAJrwIiVuYDs
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxbBxYt75yN
"...Point taken."25Please respect copyright.PENANAJRFTYghNZi
25Please respect copyright.PENANAO7B5y9rDUM
As I thought about it more, the idea of leaving people to fight the Harbinger while we sat by the sidelines was sickening. I discarded it immediately, thought the reality it meant I had to face was frightening.25Please respect copyright.PENANAlKmhlcuq9G
25Please respect copyright.PENANAE9HXSgWNoI
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."25Please respect copyright.PENANAMOaHd4la6q
25Please respect copyright.PENANAgxRpNalqGJ
"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."25Please respect copyright.PENANADk9F3JdkAL
25Please respect copyright.PENANADBnlSrIe4b
"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."25Please respect copyright.PENANAL9oVLQpiiz
25Please respect copyright.PENANAyuWhuFVqDX
I smiled weakly. I took comfort in our shared reluctance to do this. In truth, what Juke said about others finishing her off would be nice. If I could, of course I wouldn't want to fight her. But, that wasn't for us to decide; that was up to our luck. As I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best, Dave approached us with Pars in tow.25Please respect copyright.PENANASyPDPZ9j0j
25Please respect copyright.PENANAvY92fljZcQ
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAKxTYE1wB1h
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUcwoLkg5yX
We nodded in unison.25Please respect copyright.PENANAzijoxZn7pT
25Please respect copyright.PENANAmUstaBTzbF
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."25Please respect copyright.PENANA0LqZilvE5A
25Please respect copyright.PENANAufpXbN2GxQ
–
–
–
Out on the street, the sky turned ever dimmer. We went through the same motions as before, scuttling in and out of alleyways as we watched for oncoming Bringers. I no longer felt like I was always on my toes, dreading even the slightest error. It just became tedious.25Please respect copyright.PENANAEnjLYl6vQJ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAR6BxxaRhcx
At some point, we became comfortable enough to chat. We spoke in whispers, of course, but exchanging words at all made me think we were getting careless. I didn't voice my concerns, only chewed on my finger as I darted my eyes around.25Please respect copyright.PENANAe8iszhW8T0
25Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6lE2ZR0JT
"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"25Please respect copyright.PENANAhYqriHmwhw
25Please respect copyright.PENANADg1o5Lq0dQ
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.25Please respect copyright.PENANAbxCfwJBOdL
25Please respect copyright.PENANAIrAcS9nW7B
"I feel like that's all you've been asking me today. Of course I'm nervous. Of course I'm not fine. What part about this is fine?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA7zNRQZHjXk
25Please respect copyright.PENANAT577FmlG9X
Silence came for a few seconds, and I realized that I might've spoken too rashly. I didn't apologize, though. I felt no inclination to.25Please respect copyright.PENANAkjfgLA0TNv
25Please respect copyright.PENANACsk00iFzh3
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."25Please respect copyright.PENANAsF7wupsNg6
25Please respect copyright.PENANATZmEJBW5rw
"Well... I won't deny that."25Please respect copyright.PENANA9oDEL7YpiV
25Please respect copyright.PENANAIZx8oHu1Pt
I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.25Please respect copyright.PENANAKK4VnsKCcj
25Please respect copyright.PENANA2bVcNWW940
"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."25Please respect copyright.PENANA4lS9rA0UnV
25Please respect copyright.PENANApCW7KYmd0U
"Again? What do you–?"25Please respect copyright.PENANA3eSRAbkyL3
25Please respect copyright.PENANAO1FidhB2B6
As I formed my question, memories of my first mission with Juke surfaced. I kept quiet, but I could feel my cheeks curl into a smile.25Please respect copyright.PENANA4BCsxru0tR
25Please respect copyright.PENANAyCZ465vTCo
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."25Please respect copyright.PENANA3bmHWKgFRI
25Please respect copyright.PENANAiHqJQFAxjv
He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.25Please respect copyright.PENANAhZyU4Owgiy
25Please respect copyright.PENANAL5SGYeT88N
"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."25Please respect copyright.PENANA6u7EduZGz2
25Please respect copyright.PENANA6UOgMRxERB
"I didn't ask ya that."25Please respect copyright.PENANAbrx2XBZwkM
25Please respect copyright.PENANAVwtK8roeKe
"Pars came into my room yesterday. He asked why I wasn't with Rover, since I was with her when I met him. It was, well, a difficult conversation, but I learned that Rover ended up joining the Retaliation Crowd."25Please respect copyright.PENANAifMLZY1LCT
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"That ain't surprising."25Please respect copyright.PENANAnANgpo25j5
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."25Please respect copyright.PENANA7evw9fvCko
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.25Please respect copyright.PENANAtkWp1x7mWa
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"It's funny. The thing I'm most nervous about is meeting her again. I realized that quickly, and then it made me think about a lot of other things."25Please respect copyright.PENANAkZqSNCWgQC
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqES4T7a9Jn
"Yeah? Like what?"25Please respect copyright.PENANABA1S8Mum04
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"It made me think about home, and coming back to it. Not just Buffalo Village of course, but the Capitol too. I was so caught up in the state of affairs that I forgot I even had places I called home."25Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1krz1gUlG
25Please respect copyright.PENANAFdxuKmPSHe
"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."25Please respect copyright.PENANALP0cNmPt2F
25Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5UNzWt9PY
"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."25Please respect copyright.PENANAePpW8fsWpw
25Please respect copyright.PENANAW8m5lP3y45
I stopped myself and pinched my chin. The words got stuck in my throat. They required tuning before being released, yes, but there was another thing keeping them from leaving Before chaos broke loose and the three of us separated, it was the robes of that woman.25Please respect copyright.PENANAEsfNzAFzgm
25Please respect copyright.PENANAVy6URHp7GY
I had terrible thoughts in my head. An abundance of worries and I withered because of them, but nothing I could do would make them leave. All I could do was shut my eyes and look the other way.25Please respect copyright.PENANA82CjL5Thtf
25Please respect copyright.PENANAzTO0YIAHxa
"I hope they're doing okay, is all. Flinty, Annabelle, Jackson, and even the Tea Mage. I hope they're doing better than I am here."25Please respect copyright.PENANAftW88NAO19
25Please respect copyright.PENANA5lsKa4JpWC
I let out my thoughts in earnest. A minute passed without a reply, and it never came after. I thought I would've been agitated, but I was relieved. Dave and Pars continued their conversation, but we stayed quiet. It was a moment I'd be ashamed to spoil. With how easily my mind wandered back into contemplation, we arrived at our destination seemingly instantly.25Please respect copyright.PENANAOSWxXWDOGZ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxUsAvtcdHJ
"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."25Please respect copyright.PENANAh4ssbef48G
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I moved to his side, squinting my eyes to see through the darkening sky. The outline came to me quickly, and then I could make out the building's details. That of which were–25Please respect copyright.PENANApWTkvamAWe
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"25Please respect copyright.PENANATGGxmMd16W
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.