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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAztQLwEhCPd
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAR4qqZfP7nL
21Please respect copyright.PENANASGIR1xsvlJ
"At least... I'm on my back now."21Please respect copyright.PENANAuywTeiBJut
21Please respect copyright.PENANAurotbgGTS9
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAj4uB7dXC4R
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3JzvMsv73K
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAqonsratIIU
21Please respect copyright.PENANACbwLgjp3w4
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA5kCjlaFVt5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAiehLBr4WkD
"..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAVD71KanCQj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKcetI10Gp8
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAJWMtkYtmT1
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I was immediately startled.21Please respect copyright.PENANAgSumT3qBQ5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAolHTQ5kyyw
"Oh, Kenny. That's funny timing; did you just wake up?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA6GDEvvUtKH
21Please respect copyright.PENANAfqmk67lQRs
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVjVequn44b
21Please respect copyright.PENANAIoaa0TI5f6
"I did just wake up Pars, yes. Did you need anything?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAIua2YQvKe1
21Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ3PRpGYrU
"I was looking to chat. Mind if I enter?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA93rtXXrixy
21Please respect copyright.PENANAqoI5hzHVIW
"Of course. I was just meaning to talk to someone myself."21Please respect copyright.PENANArCGlYv8cNL
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1ouo1zGVUm
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANABoyhk1eRIa
21Please respect copyright.PENANAEZfwBdO5NK
"Do you feel any better?"21Please respect copyright.PENANABFqmkvkItj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAaBNa3p7dVl
"Oh, yes, much better. I'm still tired, but I can move just fine."21Please respect copyright.PENANAUP2h9zfFzB
21Please respect copyright.PENANAROlR2BAkZM
"That's good, that's good..."21Please respect copyright.PENANA6SGJiLJunB
21Please respect copyright.PENANA68wsAcRin5
He tapped on his arms with his fingers, not uttering a word and filling the room with an unpleasant silence.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEjrNeEdFeg
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"I'll just cut to the chase here, alright? Why aren't you with that red-haired girl?"21Please respect copyright.PENANASkwGmXoyq9
21Please respect copyright.PENANAh712gDlLT0
"..."21Please respect copyright.PENANArvlEVG0l0g
21Please respect copyright.PENANAvgjz1lVXrv
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAZMA8iSzhWT
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But it didn't mean it was easy to answer.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVnTs4bX5HW
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"Judging by your reaction... It must've been a fight."21Please respect copyright.PENANAxPfk8Yt2PI
21Please respect copyright.PENANAxaiUkBOZsd
"H-How'd you know?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA25gbm5ylkF
21Please respect copyright.PENANArLKlYOA4a7
"I have a lot of experience with quarrels. I get into them all the time."21Please respect copyright.PENANAt5PTVorUyj
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I smirked at his statement. His esoteric wit didn't irritate this time. I was grateful for that.21Please respect copyright.PENANAiMP0GqSax9
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"It's good that you said it out loud. I don't think I would've been able to answer so openly."21Please respect copyright.PENANAiAl3DqW92t
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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?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAKJETKdOPmC
21Please respect copyright.PENANALji8QcQEFm
Pars nodded.21Please respect copyright.PENANAsNc9YvrGcx
21Please respect copyright.PENANAsnYScm4lbc
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAikMRHxxB9L
21Please respect copyright.PENANAbMxuW19EIp
"That's great," I replied, unsure if I said it earnestly or not.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvCG5jxN6Sz
21Please respect copyright.PENANAGMFZYoWV7A
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAT1ZUxmQb4w
21Please respect copyright.PENANAk7CCNQMzja
"Mutual what?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA4fCHmeg2sH
21Please respect copyright.PENANADJOpu6nrf9
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAh4bIpbJ7ES
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"Is that a studied phenomenon?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAqS4QSVZWWg
21Please respect copyright.PENANASiRvZckmBo
"No! But if you ask anyone with as much experience as I have, they'll tell you the same thing."21Please respect copyright.PENANAd0GuGBCrYF
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"Really now..."21Please respect copyright.PENANACzCLM1aGIr
21Please respect copyright.PENANA89qZNtDeOK
I felt like we got sidetracked, but the way Pars spoke ensnared me. Fortunately, he was a man not easily taken off-task.21Please respect copyright.PENANA8lYzuhnQFr
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcB8lZi7j9W
"That's beside the point. You must've had a pretty bad fight if you two separated."21Please respect copyright.PENANAAGoLWgV4oe
21Please respect copyright.PENANAH3vyAsqxid
"..."21Please respect copyright.PENANA0vnqy79rmD
21Please respect copyright.PENANAmiH4fkbvHi
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAxSDVbYqFfY
21Please respect copyright.PENANAsfD28pV8ny
"Wow... it must've been bad."21Please respect copyright.PENANA82twfvwfu7
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"You're almost as flippant as I am."21Please respect copyright.PENANA2jU6QDqtcW
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He uncrossed his arms and held his palms out, pushing them to and fro with a nervous gaze.21Please respect copyright.PENANAzRarpyISZz
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"I didn't mean anything mean, you know."21Please respect copyright.PENANAxfHQVx50Z2
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"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..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAG8LauHjD7q
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"It won't be easy talking to her again, will it?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAD89CN2kul6
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I shook my head no and kept fiddling with my fingers.21Please respect copyright.PENANAYkjRPEcOgi
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"I'm not sure if I can do it at all. Or, if I even want to."21Please respect copyright.PENANAU8XCaVIq3x
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEGB5xSJJcY
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlDXslvgMxU
Pars stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms again and nodding his head.21Please respect copyright.PENANAf6ebt20F13
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"Baby's got his first fight on his hands, huh?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAZN9gJ3QkJj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAudx91mnIbH
"W-Whaa? Did you just call me a baby!?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAYqrQYr3NUk
21Please respect copyright.PENANAmYrTHTURMj
"You're right, that was incorrect. You were a baby, but from here on, you're taking your first steps into maturity."21Please respect copyright.PENANANsJqExI215
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANASih9OwVGqJ
21Please respect copyright.PENANADj3MlT8Rwh
"I don't want you to liken me to a baby, though. That's frankly rude."21Please respect copyright.PENANAqL48yKEJBo
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"I know."21Please respect copyright.PENANAjQxlFg6xk9
21Please respect copyright.PENANAYkojZJ6Y32
He took a few steps towards me and sat on the floor.21Please respect copyright.PENANAkcWpKifIJv
21Please respect copyright.PENANA99P4jFpzRr
"Tell you what; I can't help you."21Please respect copyright.PENANApBtGD431x8
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7FYrTetb6G
"...Are you serious?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAH1H8a9Tat2
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZSKp9kX7IQ
"Don't be disappointed just yet," he exclaimed while thrusting his palm forward, "Because I know what can help you."21Please respect copyright.PENANANFO8zEY93V
21Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZcdYGRxs0
"What? What can?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAFFmUBx1qKW
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkHdWACqPwh
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAW9J8XMimdw
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnRpSer7y2u
"..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAgDZ0CG1fXs
21Please respect copyright.PENANAoDdYojdWxE
A little explosion happened in my brain. Clarity washed over me; all the haze blew away.21Please respect copyright.PENANA8mWH4fHtm7
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His words, I mulled over them. It was really that simple, wasn't it?21Please respect copyright.PENANAe7lOoKk3zO
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAiPiVwJv0Jz
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"Give it a try."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFbeZOaIGHq
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He stood up and patted my shoulder.21Please respect copyright.PENANAsfL1LHSGli
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"Come on now. I think it's high time we start going."21Please respect copyright.PENANAAw5HoFAYhy
21Please respect copyright.PENANAdJCjqZZ0P3
"H-Huh? Right now?"21Please respect copyright.PENANACARGJrPwLJ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMMwQSYLPFN
"Yes, right now. I'll go wake Juke up. Get ready to head out."21Please respect copyright.PENANADgmsMdtcSO
21Please respect copyright.PENANAEMyI2Y3vTy
Our conversation ended. Pars exited the room and shut the door, leaving me unsure if he helped or only made it worse.21Please respect copyright.PENANA0OWOGKX0c4
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–
–
–21Please respect copyright.PENANA0v7Xe0m2Dc
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"Are ya all packed up?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAH2tfmkRHSx
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEGannVx9i2
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkD4HP5aAUX
"You're the only one who's carrying anything"21Please respect copyright.PENANAr2KIOY3riL
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"Ah, well look at ya, yer right."21Please respect copyright.PENANA6rp7uEYdqz
21Please respect copyright.PENANAjT9LSUB9t3
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAgyCKBoj03X
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"Did Pars relay our discussion?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAT0PWYNTQoj
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"I dunno. I ain't listening to what they're sayin'. I'm too busy thinking."21Please respect copyright.PENANAMYuBZmxfKY
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7ozE6EXyLf
"Thinking...? If you don't mind me asking, are you also nervous?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAqkVz2DZxHD
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He huffed through his nose, like what I said was ridiculous.21Please respect copyright.PENANAkS6Ffk1nF1
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAQQYelqwpZi
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"I suppose that makes sense."21Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6zzIEJi90
21Please respect copyright.PENANAQh57OvlvjS
"Ya remember that crazy lady we fought, right?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAcM2JGUsCGv
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mz9ApqzqA
"Yeah. You said you figured out her power before, didn't you?"21Please respect copyright.PENANARPnKV9D56g
21Please respect copyright.PENANALob9RlEn5f
"Good thing that explosion didn't hurt yer memory. But I'm afraid I lied to ya."21Please respect copyright.PENANAOsDUIlmpPR
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I blankly stared at him. I wasn't surprised to hear that, but it still was a blow.21Please respect copyright.PENANAPw34Ty3Q8l
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"I have a theory, but I wanna ask ya first. What do ya think her tricks are?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAx4lhby1QlR
21Please respect copyright.PENANACOh8FJWwWP
"What do I think...?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAHhs4Bpl0OR
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMo4IkN4Eaj
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA0RTpPd7urv
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"You suggested foresight. It's a part of it. I don't think she can see too far into the future."21Please respect copyright.PENANAVuf1apWBin
21Please respect copyright.PENANANpWq0ZyCvq
"I don't either. I'm thinkin', just a few seconds."21Please respect copyright.PENANAnPB85Qb4Kp
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnB6GJXteCk
"That seems right. But then, what about the kick? How did she pull that off?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA1JFUAVA7P4
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"I'm asking ya, kid."21Please respect copyright.PENANAgxGNe6GaoH
21Please respect copyright.PENANAq1Mlx1qtAM
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–21Please respect copyright.PENANAISObhDA6by
21Please respect copyright.PENANA6NkESdbtUo
"It had to be an Endowment."21Please respect copyright.PENANAE46CkOyS91
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"..."21Please respect copyright.PENANApU4ZT4Sfzm
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Juke was silent. I took it as a signal to elaborate.21Please respect copyright.PENANApN1XhrTJex
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"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANASKVmctaVxu
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"That's a sound explanation. I just don't think she's got an Endowment."21Please respect copyright.PENANArm0jmv1reb
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I looked at Juke. Though I couldn't see his face, he looked rueful.21Please respect copyright.PENANAboi0WENowD
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"Why not?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAK4hC27BpT3
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlMwXSbHsuJ
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANArMxCh9Mt2a
21Please respect copyright.PENANAtzxmRE353K
"The task at hand is to figure that out, isn't it?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAqHRtbumQQk
21Please respect copyright.PENANAepv2RZtX7W
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANACbdgLVzmx6
21Please respect copyright.PENANAuYvtebbr8u
"Surely, there's a better option."21Please respect copyright.PENANAmKWREEuZrN
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"I don't wanna fight the bitch either, but all the roads are pointin' that way."21Please respect copyright.PENANASwXeVoDfWV
21Please respect copyright.PENANALhUjePDLpO
I wanted to refute him, but all the other ideas I came up with were ineffective. Still, I decided to give them a shot.21Please respect copyright.PENANA1uWbxaL2MA
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"What if we spy from a distance?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAkI3xNttuMU
21Please respect copyright.PENANATz2M6a1TQW
"Yer crazy, kid. Did ya just get possessed to say that?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAxP0BKkunp3
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4dSLKnkJrG
"...Point taken."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFkMvV72OYJ
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA4ua0eCJv9W
21Please respect copyright.PENANAy1OqErdE3X
"'Course, we could always bank on others fightin' her and doin' all the dirty work."21Please respect copyright.PENANAOOcTcq08aI
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"That doesn't sound too different from what I just suggested."21Please respect copyright.PENANA8rDtdnrlYd
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"That's cuz ya ain't... nevermind."21Please respect copyright.PENANAWUEisHkFw2
21Please respect copyright.PENANA13KfvtDgTQ
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANABWmq7pOVwK
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJOJY5FHkbe
"We're ready to leave. How about you two?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAITp6Csw46a
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3zUZCcu8XJ
We nodded in unison.21Please respect copyright.PENANAHV87KP6aNc
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcelgxxhx0x
"Good, good. Then let's head on out. We have no time to lose."21Please respect copyright.PENANAvplAoFQGEi
21Please respect copyright.PENANApiSdwz2Xbh
–
–
–
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAKb2F2addJx
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2nzlPSFxt
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAOuJ89kPeKb
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"Ya look a little nervous, kid. Are ya fine?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAo1d3DGnSPx
21Please respect copyright.PENANAi1CuJ1wSZ8
Juke spoke up in a whisper-shout. I turned my head to him and replied at a similar volume.21Please respect copyright.PENANApLSBq4c5k5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlnPoPWbhIc
"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?"21Please respect copyright.PENANASuFhECfoIr
21Please respect copyright.PENANABm9mtBCCLt
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAMbsCUZXa5m
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3GPhq57H9O
"Yer right, I've been asking ya that a lot. I must be naggin' ya."21Please respect copyright.PENANAtoBCIw7ul5
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"Well... I won't deny that."21Please respect copyright.PENANAX3fQASrqMc
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I heard him chuckle under that bucket helmet.21Please respect copyright.PENANAQRZFnksxfF
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"I'm just keeping ya steady, kid. Just makin' sure ya don't grab yer head and curl into a ball again."21Please respect copyright.PENANAVKc8a7d0yk
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"Again? What do you–?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAjFDKigrhQ0
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAZm729HDZsz
21Please respect copyright.PENANAdMvFi2hEd1
"You're surprisingly kind, Juke."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFZcIKOa7mO
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He didn't respond verbally, simply nodding at my assertion.21Please respect copyright.PENANAT1BUhmhIfb
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"Since you asked, I'll tell you what's on my mind."21Please respect copyright.PENANAYzwF8hyJPZ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAiavpCjk5AH
"I didn't ask ya that."21Please respect copyright.PENANAalheMEInkN
21Please respect copyright.PENANAVWxJGG5qTa
"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAx5y2ennL6Y
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"That ain't surprising."21Please respect copyright.PENANAyuFnUfNodh
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"Yeah, it isn't. It really isn't."21Please respect copyright.PENANAiFDDSR7LEA
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Juke and I stopped talking for a moment. Pars' and Dave's quiet banter quickly filled my ears.21Please respect copyright.PENANAoIrUyYcjxc
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAbPzlyayha1
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"Yeah? Like what?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAOhtHBBu8bL
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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."21Please respect copyright.PENANANK2ejqEw9H
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8LWDjIGqC2
"I can't blame ya. All this is givin' me a headache, and I'd wanna head back home too if I had one."21Please respect copyright.PENANAexmXIqPMm7
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"No, that isn't what I'm getting at. It's just..."21Please respect copyright.PENANA97KNg5vTTC
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAFSS3qveWqh
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANASUDclzzMkJ
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"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."21Please respect copyright.PENANAR9K8m2Cl5c
21Please respect copyright.PENANAR14i4dhClL
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAMxiwj4750W
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"See that," Pars pointed as he stood by the alley wall, "That building is one of our bases."21Please respect copyright.PENANARbE0FZlHoV
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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–21Please respect copyright.PENANAT3JpEIHfG0
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"Is this seriously one of yer bases?"21Please respect copyright.PENANATlV4jD9UNK
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Juke voiced my thoughts perfectly. The building in question was a flower shop.