I couldn't even grant the thing the credit for being inconspicuous. At the very least, one of the dozen kindred houses lining the city streets would deter suspicion. But a flower shop?28Please respect copyright.PENANAyCPNNCaByX
28Please respect copyright.PENANA1BhzFBEG0c
"It may look silly," Dave started, "But don't let its exterior deceive you. This is likely the safest building in the city."28Please respect copyright.PENANAp3TS3WWlJ7
28Please respect copyright.PENANA9LwCsC13qb
"How?"28Please respect copyright.PENANA7YNYNmcTFS
28Please respect copyright.PENANAJcpW3WIPwz
I asked the natural question. Dave didn't turn to reply, nor did he reply at all. He lowered his stance and scanned the street before bolting with Pars to the shop's doors. They made it halfway across before I even thought to follow them.28Please respect copyright.PENANACeh5j78Gxk
28Please respect copyright.PENANA4N6kmB8NCs
I did a quick inspection of my own, and when I found the streets to be clear I ran across the road as well. The two entered the shop immediately. Pars motioned Juke and I to hurry on in, and so we did.28Please respect copyright.PENANA711aTjcQUI
28Please respect copyright.PENANABs0EpnUlnU
"Are ya sure we ain't gonna get caught in here?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAvBi1V4m5Bv
28Please respect copyright.PENANAra7VdFx2vF
Pars turned to answer Juke.28Please respect copyright.PENANAiE6mjMNC2g
28Please respect copyright.PENANAMGsqAHLRgl
"Honestly, with how little numbers Hard-Bringer seems to have brought here, we could be in broad daylight without being found out. But we aren't so stupid, of course. There's a reason why we picked this shop in particular."28Please respect copyright.PENANAa3WQQYV7O4
28Please respect copyright.PENANABaZczjdWvs
"That so, eh?"28Please respect copyright.PENANA7PnynLNhUM
28Please respect copyright.PENANAqPF3V0PrXg
Pars nodded with a strangely satisfied smile before shutting the door and venturing deeper into the shop. I followed him, watching my steps and arms to not topple any products over, quietly observing the shop.28Please respect copyright.PENANAq8tSrIENOR
28Please respect copyright.PENANAxjXavmn2wo
The nature of the store reminded me of myself. It was a flower shop, so of course, there were several flowers, potted and not, set for display on shelves, tables, and vases. I could tell that none of the plants were magical, but it wasn't too disappointing. The colors of the flowers made me uneasy. They were darkened shades of blue, green, and red, and a few of them were flecked shades of brown. It seemed like even the flora in this city was despondent.28Please respect copyright.PENANAB1NMAD7ox8
28Please respect copyright.PENANA2JXpuswV0m
My browsing was cut short by our lead coming to a stop. Pars stood before the register, and I peeked around him to see a creature with a scowl so foul I could smell it. I nearly flinched in surprise but collected myself when I realized that I was looking at a human being. Pars leaned on the countertop and began to speak.28Please respect copyright.PENANAwLnxe0AVDf
28Please respect copyright.PENANANn0Q1gwKEi
"Hey Becker, how's the–"28Please respect copyright.PENANAWWAAfg3k6G
28Please respect copyright.PENANACdUxR6UAnS
"Go and hole up with all the other pissy prairie dogs."28Please respect copyright.PENANAdz6rXP4UvV
28Please respect copyright.PENANALWxXFKlMNQ
Pars remained silent for a moment before straightening himself and simply nodding. Perplexed, I didn't follow him, and my fixed gaze gave way to direct eye contact with the grouchy man. My attention shifted to the dozens of protruding blackheads on his face. His scowl became more scrunched, yet I didn't have the will to look away.28Please respect copyright.PENANAD0CPl61rRu
28Please respect copyright.PENANAaMjlN3bHm2
"Are you a kid?"28Please respect copyright.PENANATrkpfomv68
28Please respect copyright.PENANALNONxAXMB5
"H-Huh!?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAWl0WZrniyq
28Please respect copyright.PENANAEnswFkLLTH
An innocent question like that was the last thing I expected to leave from his mouth.28Please respect copyright.PENANA8TkRvFdxwv
28Please respect copyright.PENANAf03iJ0F1LH
"I said, are you a kid?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAvCxFMo97Ra
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPaCUx5Wawa
"I-I, yes, I am."28Please respect copyright.PENANAXw8p4je3FL
28Please respect copyright.PENANAKWnXhO66dd
He scoffed and scratched his chubby chin.28Please respect copyright.PENANAXkAAQlRlYy
28Please respect copyright.PENANAsRYxt3xuTS
"But you're standing here with all these adults. You're pretending like you're not a kid."
He turned his eyes away from me and narrowed them. I didn't say anything. I couldn't begin thinking of a response.28Please respect copyright.PENANAokROF0vZ0B
28Please respect copyright.PENANAWobi9S7qRf
"Go on, follow that idiot, he'll lead you to the others."28Please respect copyright.PENANArBcmPFp3Xn
28Please respect copyright.PENANAoZBC75a6CQ
The man raised his hand to brush me away, then returned to reading a paper. Though I was still shell-shocked, I followed his orders as if it was the only thing I knew how to do. When I arrived by Pars, Juke was already with him, and Pars gave me a concerned look.
"Did he give you a hard time?"
"I'm, not sure. He said something that stumped me."
Pars' eyes widened a little.
"I'm surprised he didn't chew you out. It's that rotten attitude of his that makes him such a good deterrent for unwelcome visitors."
"Is that so?"
He nodded and put his hand on the door.
"Down here, you'll find the basement. That's where everyone else is."
Pars went downstairs, and Juke followed him down. He looked at me before he committed to descending.
"The hell did that old fart tell ya?"
I blankly stared at him and pondered. It hurt to think about his words. I decided to set it aside and worry about it later.
I've been doing that a lot as of late.
"It was nothing. Just drivel."28Please respect copyright.PENANAmFXUfi61Rs
28Please respect copyright.PENANANUVwDoDmg3
He took my answer at face value and walked down the steps. I followed. The lighting was poor; dim, arranged lanterns were keeping the place illuminated. The basement walls were coated in a dark beige color. They looked intimidating from my peripheral vision.28Please respect copyright.PENANAOPdPORVh71
28Please respect copyright.PENANAhAKSiNDgKI
"This is the entrance room," Pars started, "The basement here is confusing since all the rooms are identical in their features, but the important ones have more lighting than others."28Please respect copyright.PENANAwEqRREm20T
28Please respect copyright.PENANALcfFEzEGIA
"Where's the place to sleep?" Juke asked.28Please respect copyright.PENANAC3Ezbvpqeb
28Please respect copyright.PENANAKGenUh00cD
"You get right to the point. The living quarters are through this door and in the room to the right."28Please respect copyright.PENANAHgOmYMK3Gu
28Please respect copyright.PENANAtMHNNcPUj2
Pars pointed at the door in question. Juke wasted no time waltzing through the door. From what I heard through the wall, he went into the living quarters right after, but I didn't have to hear it to know what would happen.28Please respect copyright.PENANApP9ApA4C7D
28Please respect copyright.PENANAaIHCUCFx3Z
"These walls are remarkably thin," I commented.28Please respect copyright.PENANAFmh0W4D5Tv
28Please respect copyright.PENANA8d5JKEyhcy
"That they are. Well, if you want to go and meet everyone, I'm sure they're in the living quarters."28Please respect copyright.PENANALIxDmnuOGD
28Please respect copyright.PENANAhriIzwyDm3
"They're in the living quarters... so Rover is there?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAvw7SsphHM8
28Please respect copyright.PENANApQseZh1EpT
"She likely is. Well, will you go say hi?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAQJnHJJVfEd
28Please respect copyright.PENANAq69oj2D9BS
A spark of utter contempt for Pars rose for a moment. Simultaneously, I felt my chest grow heavy, like a bucket of gravel was being dumped into my soul.28Please respect copyright.PENANA8vtM7w2lhn
28Please respect copyright.PENANAJqwcJqkt72
"I need more time. I'll spend my time elsewhere. What other rooms does this place have?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAIlYgTs896X
28Please respect copyright.PENANAmZx5iGr6P2
I looked at him inquisitively, but all I received was a grumpy frown.28Please respect copyright.PENANAEPWImJe22p
28Please respect copyright.PENANAHl8Q7O1WzG
"W-What?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAEOAuwSc99q
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPY9tIhQiE1
"Come on, head over to the living quarters. There's no use in–"28Please respect copyright.PENANASIS0nkzke7
28Please respect copyright.PENANAFHv5Cmdb29
"I am absolutely not doing that. It's unnegotiable"28Please respect copyright.PENANAyi2Df8gxV9
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPdlNXaD8Dv
Pars' shoulders drooped but he quickly shrugged them and turned the other way.28Please respect copyright.PENANA1zJSqv7j38
28Please respect copyright.PENANAaSgBwFrXjs
"Suit yourself. But I'll tell her that you're here."28Please respect copyright.PENANAzP8eZYFlFF
28Please respect copyright.PENANAfIbsyRF1Cy
For a second, I was about to reproach him, but considering how brazenly Juke entered the room, all I had to say way–28Please respect copyright.PENANAuG1FaHHdiV
28Please respect copyright.PENANAUklwN8hHnE
"That's fine. Just don't tell her any lies about me. You know the kind."28Please respect copyright.PENANAUWQNxaPmsT
28Please respect copyright.PENANAFkiuAA9T6a
"I'd never."28Please respect copyright.PENANAn8ZpxsbQoz
28Please respect copyright.PENANAkSJ3IZYL1A
He walked through the door, leaving me to my own devices. Whether he was honest about never telling her was entirely up to his whims, and I was too agitated to confront him. With nothing else to do, I walked through the door and found myself in a much more bright room, lit up by a ceiling lamp. The lights made the homogenous design of the basement swell. I grew sick of it quickly, so I wanted to leave the area immediately. I had the choice between going forward or left. I didn't think much before choosing to go left.28Please respect copyright.PENANADbmQJodmdS
28Please respect copyright.PENANAEqD4A2tY1h
28Please respect copyright.PENANA0qFvhzpXHK
I opened the door to a dusty room as poorly lit as the first one. There was a table in the center with a plethora of lanterns beside what looked like a map, but most of them weren't lit. I stepped forward but struggled to see the contents of the map. It wasn't just because the room was dark, but because the table was abnormally tall.
"Is there a stool here?"
I asked the question to nobody in particular before scanning the room. My surprise when I heard a response almost burst my heart.
"Who's there?"
I felt like I had just been caught committing a heinous crime. It was silly, and I realized that, but my body froze all the same. I struggled to collect myself, and I only fared worse once I heard them speak again.
"Seriously, who's there?"
It was the voice of a woman. No, a woman wasn't right, more like a girl who sounded particularly mature. Her second question had a harsher tone, and yet, I felt no pressure to answer. At that moment, I wanted nothing more but to leave the room. I had to act quickly.
"Don't mind me," I answered in an embarrassingly deep voice, "I was only idly walking by. I'll leave you alone for now–"
"I don't recognize that voice. Who are you?"
I heard footsteps from the shadows. I quickly stepped away from the lantern and hugged the wall as Rover's visage came into view. Her hand was on the hilt of her rapier. That was the extent to which I could see her.
"I can see you. You're freaking tiny! There's no way you're a Bringer. Did Pars and David bring in a midget or something?"
"..."
At the very least, Rover was unabashedly herself. That was terrible news for me. I kept hugging the wall, stock still as I thought of what actions to take.
"Heh, did I scare ya? Well, I may be strong, but we're on the same side here. My name's Rover! I'm trying to get along with everyone, so let's be friendly!"
I considered taking my tendril and producing a spore-bloom, but Rover would instantly recognize me if I did that. I had to think outside the box– produce an unorthodox solution. Running to the door would do me no good.
And so, I ran my mouth, leaving it to my improvisational skills.
"I apologize, but I can't... I can't give you my name."
"Eh? Why not?"
"It is because I am terribly afraid of women. If you would excuse me, then– what's that look for?"
Even through the darkness, I could see Rover's expression alter. Whatever face she was making, I knew I was worse off than before.
"Hold on, I recognize that way of talking..."
It was do or die. I sighed and brandished my right arm. But for the minute that it lingered there, the tendril never came.
"K-Kenny!?"
My arm was shaking. It wasn't out of fear, but restraint. Restraint I didn't even know I had, but now that it showed itself, it was obviously always there.
I couldn't release my tendril on her. I simply couldn't. But I couldn't answer her question, nor could I speak, nor could I do anything that I wanted to at the moment. I had to leave; it wasn't a desire at that point, I simply had to. I had to.
And so, I turned tail and bolted to the door, nearly breaking the knob as I opened it and fell to the other side. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, but to my surprise, I didn't hear any banging. To my surprise, I didn't even hear a word from her.
To my surprise, I didn't see her even reach for me as I ran away.
I had no idea what to make of it, nor were these matters particularly important to me. All that mattered was that she'd stay on that side of the door, that I wouldn't have to speak to her. Because if I did, I'd be–
"..."
I was shaking. I was reminded of the woods. This old feeling that I was battling with not even a day ago.
I couldn't see her. It wasn't because I didn't want to, I just couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't.
It was frightening.
–
–
–
I didn't know how much time had passed since I sat by the door, but I knew it couldn't have been for long. I grew tired of having my legs sandwiched between my knees quickly. I raised my head and faced the mono-colored walls of the room. The lamp's buzzing was cacophonous. I didn't jive with this place, so I stood up and stretched a little. Somehow, I was unbothered by leaving the door unattended. I just knew Rover wouldn't try to open it.28Please respect copyright.PENANADVhkCewpE9
28Please respect copyright.PENANAgAHLCLt4SH
"..."28Please respect copyright.PENANAeKsxxU0Yms
28Please respect copyright.PENANACyQUTXBTFB
That sucked, I wanted to say, but if I let out a thought right now I'd have people unintentionally hearing me. I was still jittery from my encounter; I didn't want to be bothered at the moment. Though, that did raise an obvious question: where would I go from here?28Please respect copyright.PENANAqhpy6lEGQb
28Please respect copyright.PENANAokSWGVBy6x
My memory stated the room across from me was the living quarters. I didn't want to go there at the moment, so the only way I could go was to my left. I walked to the door and opened it.
The room on the other side had a jarring shift of architecture. The walls were no longer colored beige– there weren't any walls at all. Wood engulfed everything in my view. Seeing the framework of the basement made me hesitant to step in, but as I saw two people in the room already, I crossed the threshold. Funnily enough, one of the people was Dave, while the other was a woman in a uniform of sorts. I didn't recognize her until I noticed her distinct silver hair.
"Kenny. How are you faring?"
"I'm... fine. What about her?"
I walked closer to Lola. She was in a chair and leaning on the table. If it weren't for her bilious groans, I would've assumed that she was asleep.
"She's drunk," Dave replied while holding up a bottle, "It's a shame. I wanted to break the news to her, but she can hardly keep her head up."
"The news? Do you mean what I told Pars about the raptors?"
Dave nodded in reply. I brought my finger to my mouth and chomped on it. We stared at her intoxicated self for a while, and I was starting to get sheepish. I decided to start a conversation.
"What should we do?"
"Don't use language like that, my business with her isn't any of your concern. But, unless you know External Mana Spinning, we'll just wait until she detoxes herself."
"External Mana Spinning... well, maybe if she was a plant..."
I spoke under my breath then let out a sigh. If I knew I'd be dealing with a drunkard, then I would've brought a potion for the occasion. Alas, hindsight is prime sight. With nothing else to do, I moseyed to the table and took a seat, fiddling with my fingers.
And then, something terrifying happened.
"--hurr?"
A noise, far louder and less gravely than the perpetual groans, erupted from Lola. She suddenly jerked her head up. One of her eyes was drooping, while the other was struggling to focus. I exchanged mock eye contact with her. She rubbed her eyes; it achieved nothing but she looked over at Dave and then at me.
"D-Dave... that short guy... Kenny?"
"Yes, madam."
Her eyes widened profusely. The moment Dave uttered his confirmation, she scrambled to collect herself, placing a hand on her chest to start mana spinning and throwing the bottle she wasn't holding at a nearby trash can. Dave walked to the trashcan and gently disposed of it in her stead. A few minutes passed by until Lola finished mana spinning. She gave me a gentle smile, a far cry from the mumbling, bumbling mess I saw a moment ago.
"H-Hi, Kenny! You came at a bad time, I'm sorry you had to see me that way. So, what brings you–"
Her speech was interrupted by a sudden gag. She held her hand to her mouth and then jolted to her feet.
"Excuse me for a moment–!"
She stormed out of the room. I stared at the door for a good minute after she left. I was bemused, but not because of the sequence of events. Rather–
"Where is she going?"
"To the restroom."
"Where's that?"
"Upstairs. Where else?"
A slight shiver went down my spine. Not only would I be dirty, but I'd be gambling every time I needed to release waste.
"This place is unbelievable," I muttered as I sunk my face into my hands.
–
–
–
The door opened to Lola with her hand on her head. Her trip to the bathroom and back lasted no longer than five minutes, but from her face, I knew it felt like an eternity to her.
"Hi hi... sorry about that."
"It's fine," Dave said, "let's get straight to business."
"Can it wait a minute?"
"Huh? Why?"
Lola nudged her head in my direction. Dave rolled his eyes in response.
"It's fine. The information I'm relaying is what he told me anyway."
"Wow. Let me hear it from him, then."
Dave rolled his eyes again but didn't insist past that. Lola took a seat aside from me with her usual smile.
"Hello, Kenny. I assume you heard the news about the towers."
I nodded.
"Yes. That is why I'm still in this city."
Telling her a half-truth, Lola nodded with a solemn look on her face. She released a sigh and rubbed her temples.
"The news you have must be terrible. I changed my mind. Dave, let me hear it. It'd break me to hear a child's voice speak it."
Dave stopped tapping his foot on the ground and cleared his throat. I made no mention of my slight irritation at her wording.
"To put it bluntly, we have reason to believe Hard-Bringer killed all the Raptors in the city. Kenny and an ally of his came across the northern stables and found all of them dead. The rest of the stables likely shared a similar fate."
"I see, I see."
Though Lola said that, she looked to be troubling the information. Whether it was because of the information itself or something else, I couldn't tell.
"Oh, that is terrible, isn't it?"
Dave nodded. I felt compelled to do so as well. Lola grabbed her head with her hands and sighed again.
"I expected this, but... it's disheartening anyway."
"What do you propose we do," Dave asked. Lola stayed still, likely lost in thought.
"The immediate thing to do would be to call a meeting. As for what to do in light of this, would you mind letting me think?"
"Of course," Dave answered, "I'll leave you to it, then. Kenny, let's–"
"No, stay here for a minute, Kenny. There's something I want to say to you in private."28Please respect copyright.PENANAFM6ImSHaEA
28Please respect copyright.PENANALLSzdQplsW
I felt a sudden weight form in my chest, but I didn't rebuke her request, simply replied with a nod. Dave had a bemused look but didn't protest. I was left alone with Lola a moment later. Sweat beads began to form on my body. I felt nervous. Lola didn't have a contrastingly calm demeanor either, so I felt even more nervous. Somehow, I felt like I did something I shouldn't.28Please respect copyright.PENANAkO2cXlOEbW
28Please respect copyright.PENANAC3WZiVd30A
She didn't do anything that warranted my anxiety, though. Instead, she balled her hands together and rested her chin on them, fiddling her fingers as she gazed at the table.28Please respect copyright.PENANAxN1jewxhhP
28Please respect copyright.PENANATFHT2BwRMi
The silence was unbearable. I had to say something.28Please respect copyright.PENANATnRm8vizW3
28Please respect copyright.PENANAQDUGksNsWx
"What did you want to tell me?"28Please respect copyright.PENANA7YhSwOsmMo
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPKQRstsBp7
"...You'll have to forgive me, I'm about to sound ridiculous."28Please respect copyright.PENANAJKx88ihnLv
28Please respect copyright.PENANAIYrBvWSYCC
I tilted my head. She feebly shook hers.28Please respect copyright.PENANAcGqnKTXuJG
28Please respect copyright.PENANA4CdZjuldfy
"Can I ask you something, Kenny?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAG8dCrvwK0M
28Please respect copyright.PENANAtk8avCGSIR
"S-Sure. What is it?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAMusSA8jg6w
28Please respect copyright.PENANAaNJ86lWPHs
"Do you like fighting?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAcyeDpkrPQK
28Please respect copyright.PENANABdITf9ISNN
I gave her a series of mindless blinks before speaking again.28Please respect copyright.PENANAvZIyhwWAvv
28Please respect copyright.PENANAIx2WG7QW9T
"Do I like fighting? Well, not particularly... no, scratch that, I don't like fighting at all."28Please respect copyright.PENANAlet93TtzuX
28Please respect copyright.PENANAScdGYqM2wI
"Then, why do you do it?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAbr0hXtQIcc
28Please respect copyright.PENANA7v8aJSr3Ln
"..."28Please respect copyright.PENANA2V3jrfWlMk
28Please respect copyright.PENANANUCGzWKnPf
Despite seeming like an interrogation, I treated her questions with tact. I pinched my chin and pondered my answer.28Please respect copyright.PENANAAe5VoPZWQS
28Please respect copyright.PENANA1v0jVls4VD
"I suppose it's out of necessity. A means to an end."28Please respect copyright.PENANAmyeRLHeYeC
28Please respect copyright.PENANAvcgma8XINo
"...In that regard, I'm very like you."28Please respect copyright.PENANATCIK8eAnTb
28Please respect copyright.PENANAIameNAkV1U
Her tone was sinking. She sounded like a heavy smoker for a moment.28Please respect copyright.PENANAhgQqn4HpNx
28Please respect copyright.PENANA1OynARq7BS
"I hate fighting. I loathe it. Every fiber of my being is repulsed by it. And yet– and yet, I have to fight."28Please respect copyright.PENANAxZzY1mDqhn
28Please respect copyright.PENANADDbuKqAIDk
"..."28Please respect copyright.PENANAEkY14Bzuu9
28Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ8fEkraew
I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say, or if I should say anything.28Please respect copyright.PENANAuP9pdeDm69
28Please respect copyright.PENANAGSICXVFvLx
"I know it's silly of me to say this to you, but I find solace and hope in you, Kenny. In some ways, I envy you. So young, so gifted, yet I'm here to steer you away from the wrong path."28Please respect copyright.PENANAgtqjkz6NYR
28Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6XJDNZcXa
"...W-Whaa?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAW0HN9hMWNP
28Please respect copyright.PENANAOHwHbLLRkw
I uttered my words in sheer confusion. Lola's eyebrows twitched, and she rubbed them.28Please respect copyright.PENANAkoezo49ejO
28Please respect copyright.PENANA5LSJgRL7XT
"No, that's poor of me, I apologize. I think some of the alcohol is still in my system."28Please respect copyright.PENANAy9EHbn1ipF
28Please respect copyright.PENANACzfUZaMhnT
"It's... it's okay."28Please respect copyright.PENANANENb7VurvZ
28Please respect copyright.PENANAiMnA4FCGD4
"You are powerful, but despite that, you don't have to fight. It isn't your duty. So why, why are you here? Is it truly because of necessity?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAKtFoJgxvlm
28Please respect copyright.PENANAFLKJ8yhAyM
"..."28Please respect copyright.PENANAX86Psq7MuL
28Please respect copyright.PENANA0oVTmJ0qSd
I couldn't answer her question, but I saw an opportunity to redirect it.28Please respect copyright.PENANAy0uosLxO2e
28Please respect copyright.PENANAlNvkrNRkWU
"It is my duty. It's my job to see this letter delivered."28Please respect copyright.PENANATikhFDvwPb
28Please respect copyright.PENANA8ezAn3lRbW
"Is that... is that so? Even with Hard-Bringer here?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAr5KKif5oVS
28Please respect copyright.PENANAlcOwfGJeP9
"...Y-Yes."28Please respect copyright.PENANAzV6dK9ucvS
28Please respect copyright.PENANAS3LGhJ6B94
I bit my lip when answering. It was difficult to continue speaking while hiding so much from her. Fortunately, she accepted my answer.28Please respect copyright.PENANAIne7P7MLqk
28Please respect copyright.PENANAfrH6JUvlUa
"I see. I see now."28Please respect copyright.PENANAeFGjSYMbip
28Please respect copyright.PENANAgo4raRVvq6
She opened up her hands and let her chin rest on her palms. I was going to ask her if that was all, but she kept speaking.28Please respect copyright.PENANAiRqfnvQJ16
28Please respect copyright.PENANAjL6x2fmVt0
"I don't loathe fighting because of fighting itself. If I was doing it for sport, then yes, gladly, I'd battle. It's the consequences that I can't stand."28Please respect copyright.PENANAUbETwxdnPT
28Please respect copyright.PENANA2c3AXE8F6c
"Like, um, like what?"28Please respect copyright.PENANApHuaCvMFEc
28Please respect copyright.PENANAty14k08997
"...Bloodshed, tears, cries. Death. Though the last one is rare, it happens."28Please respect copyright.PENANAFkCO8OuEtA
28Please respect copyright.PENANAucRoikJZjr
The air in the room suddenly grew thicker.28Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fw9kpLVyZ
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPJhH8d4nWB
"I desire peace, yet I'm a combatant. I want to help people, yet all I do is hurt and bring tears. It's all I can be. I despise it."28Please respect copyright.PENANAvOyx5Y1DoK
28Please respect copyright.PENANAsPLHQe1Paf
She paused to scratch her head.28Please respect copyright.PENANAcsT7V42b2H
28Please respect copyright.PENANAMv98aeLeZQ
"This situation just makes it worse. It's cruel of this life, don't you think?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAKR8278e4GK
28Please respect copyright.PENANAQB1BXR0S4L
"I... I, I'm not–"28Please respect copyright.PENANArqiheiHipF
28Please respect copyright.PENANA7vpFPArSgL
"Oh, I'm sorry. Why am I telling you this? This is so embarrassing of me. I apologize, sincerely, I do."28Please respect copyright.PENANAZL8XUQWfDD
28Please respect copyright.PENANApre8SDQAU3
She placed her hands on the table and got out of her chair.28Please respect copyright.PENANAWotvKuJSK3
28Please respect copyright.PENANAseq4AALuls
"I'll start the meeting soon. Get ready, it'll be in the room on the right."28Please respect copyright.PENANA86qqSF6a0n
28Please respect copyright.PENANA26jvOMRLMw
"On the right?"28Please respect copyright.PENANAsMHhh0kKMc
28Please respect copyright.PENANAOyGkDLxVCC
If I remembered correctly, then that was the room Rover was in. I postponed being bothered by that, there was something more urgent on my mind. I spoke it as Lola went to leave the room.28Please respect copyright.PENANAm8ejS5dETo
28Please respect copyright.PENANAH3bJzhWwb7
"You say that it's all you can do, but I don't know if that's true."28Please respect copyright.PENANAp4du6f9kUZ
28Please respect copyright.PENANAB6FXCJreQ1
"..."28Please respect copyright.PENANAyGW8KToGSQ
28Please respect copyright.PENANARqKGnaBHsb
She didn't turn around, only raised her head to let me know she was listening.28Please respect copyright.PENANALOqj88V0dq
28Please respect copyright.PENANADBbs53Ofi8
"I'm sure there's something you can do to get out of being a combatant. I mean, look at me, I'll be studying plants when I'm older."28Please respect copyright.PENANAbZbdXT250X
28Please respect copyright.PENANAxgNLUOKln4
"Yes, when you're older. You're young, and I'm pushing my thirties."28Please respect copyright.PENANAay9aC78dnh
28Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0OrxZhFqC
She placed her hand on the knob and began to turn it. I blurted one last thing before she left.28Please respect copyright.PENANAFma5tpIbch
28Please respect copyright.PENANA2uiZLWWo3l
"You're way better at mana manipulation than I am. There's definitely something you can do."28Please respect copyright.PENANAdktvZrsTaF
28Please respect copyright.PENANA2EXZ1hEVnV
"...Maybe."28Please respect copyright.PENANAK9mwepeFb0
28Please respect copyright.PENANAPhbHX4nOui
With those final words, she parted from the room. I sat there for a minute, thinking about what just happened, and then sighed. If I was honest with myself, I didn't understand what had just transpired at all. What I did know was that I botched it. What 'it' was, I didn't know, but that was irrelevant.28Please respect copyright.PENANA1LMosqqUJk
28Please respect copyright.PENANAVkvBw07721
Dejected, I stood up from my seat and walked to the door. The meeting was starting soon. I figured I should attend it.