The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.26Please respect copyright.PENANA3BGcLwZQG4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJtnU4QhGPZ
I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.26Please respect copyright.PENANAQwioLRRsYU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAqq4y17rusW
Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.26Please respect copyright.PENANAAsZ7HSwjyM
26Please respect copyright.PENANAOF6b4vpEqq
"Dad!?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAIVmwPSH7oo
26Please respect copyright.PENANAte240RN0Up
Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.26Please respect copyright.PENANA9BoDElTdAY
26Please respect copyright.PENANAkVVeFDrH5O
"Flinty! There you are!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAEeSnuvxiXf
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4GJqf80xNl
Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAZKcMFYiLTH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJjI2pyDFTg
"And you must be Kenny?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAK30a67HNMZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAW4UBj1iPXF
"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."26Please respect copyright.PENANADRx7xDhaVC
26Please respect copyright.PENANA18rhBTvXzk
I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.26Please respect copyright.PENANAfKXzUoUtij
26Please respect copyright.PENANAjWdbHfKsWB
"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."26Please respect copyright.PENANAgbjcvF4FNS
26Please respect copyright.PENANAkfT3BTxeOV
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here26Please respect copyright.PENANAUYrUrggOGW
26Please respect copyright.PENANARIISFVIWJV
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.26Please respect copyright.PENANAbkhEwhLTJD
26Please respect copyright.PENANAk5zA7VZ2fu
Dear Mister Chambers.26Please respect copyright.PENANAGrab3FRLm7
26Please respect copyright.PENANANPoryQN6Aq
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.26Please respect copyright.PENANAmKcYE0J3w6
26Please respect copyright.PENANAU3IvS6Axyt
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.26Please respect copyright.PENANAuz5sAhkk57
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnF4Aey2QfH
"...I don't remember promising anything."26Please respect copyright.PENANAnhrU5SDYhs
26Please respect copyright.PENANAeVDyzub7kt
That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.26Please respect copyright.PENANATKU2YXd1hW
26Please respect copyright.PENANAVka5fqxXGC
"I'll make sure to thank him later."26Please respect copyright.PENANAdZdjeBY6Wa
26Please respect copyright.PENANAKcg7wcT6LG
And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.26Please respect copyright.PENANA3vZiJc98tq
26Please respect copyright.PENANAr36TIaw839
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.26Please respect copyright.PENANAaivNEFzWKc
26Please respect copyright.PENANAo4Ksg6ct7X
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.26Please respect copyright.PENANAFRuAF17vJU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnVRGyP7lAG
"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAoxOuX3Qmla
26Please respect copyright.PENANAXbKCaDXlxz
It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.26Please respect copyright.PENANAvwsLTXifaU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAGsk41gxB38
I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAGZXKkMtcNa
26Please respect copyright.PENANAL65pwL5DgC
"Kenny!"26Please respect copyright.PENANA8rZ4IcOQA4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAudesaw0BUd
"Ah, Flinty, hello."26Please respect copyright.PENANAKxzBtatUmR
26Please respect copyright.PENANAbgzjadWW9f
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAKiXOGQ4fSf
26Please respect copyright.PENANACGDCN7y4LX
"Is that the plant you asked for?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA6lD7DduUmW
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUi43T4xsU3
"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."26Please respect copyright.PENANAj8TFIf0zJ3
26Please respect copyright.PENANAfaWpFP4oty
I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.26Please respect copyright.PENANAdnJHxOQ51x
26Please respect copyright.PENANAtWxMy7K7OO
"Hello, you two."26Please respect copyright.PENANAFjzZYhAnGb
26Please respect copyright.PENANAfQppyuAzLP
Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.26Please respect copyright.PENANAmNFA8sk2gH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAKLAJb5lLVM
"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."26Please respect copyright.PENANAK5h1gaTrB8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoKYcBZsJeT
"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."26Please respect copyright.PENANA06M6VFNKAq
26Please respect copyright.PENANAOc0576ALcg
He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.26Please respect copyright.PENANAlEVrfDaAFM
26Please respect copyright.PENANATYRdGxyRt7
"Please don't drop it or something."26Please respect copyright.PENANAXHHzrEhfHE
26Please respect copyright.PENANApbrcQckSZp
"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."26Please respect copyright.PENANAG01dEGfH98
26Please respect copyright.PENANALLYb43E8Db
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.26Please respect copyright.PENANA99NxqRDJFk
26Please respect copyright.PENANAmRAAJRqKlA
"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAPDF1uOaK82
26Please respect copyright.PENANARQ6YLcGit2
"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."26Please respect copyright.PENANA2F9VsNYLuA
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJGVqESUAI1
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."26Please respect copyright.PENANAqTHRpTfgX0
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlu9NQ3zpyg
"And you asked for... a flower?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAPHRrN59mhf
26Please respect copyright.PENANAtUjmM1xcZC
"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAHxM0nNHird
26Please respect copyright.PENANADVPUbeW0pS
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.26Please respect copyright.PENANAQDwxvdnu8G
26Please respect copyright.PENANAFrXIldScqB
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."26Please respect copyright.PENANAdNO6rEvaiP
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJczWBstVFw
"Arg! You...!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAeI8zPvrzDK
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4JM5YcAEc
Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.26Please respect copyright.PENANAREWRyTrs22
26Please respect copyright.PENANAgMCB6Qh0mn
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."26Please respect copyright.PENANAKNngM1FRGj
26Please respect copyright.PENANANqcZ5I2YrW
"Whatever."26Please respect copyright.PENANAjXOopCakEZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAeWzVniCqqm
We sat in silence for a minute.26Please respect copyright.PENANAhjGe4pSQ62
26Please respect copyright.PENANAXkqGj1uqQk
"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"26Please respect copyright.PENANARtKgXLIdH2
26Please respect copyright.PENANAMRUqdOX3sJ
"Yes! Please tell me!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAbBSoQi6XPj
26Please respect copyright.PENANACKMIKsVc9O
Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.26Please respect copyright.PENANAY2JlFlIbyN
26Please respect copyright.PENANAl9cMzEPf46
"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAIEDN4jPAVe
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0Zbj8gnbKM
"Wait, Eastern country?"26Please respect copyright.PENANANzqYnTzqJT
26Please respect copyright.PENANAweSnk18xLW
I faced the old man.26Please respect copyright.PENANAls2y9iSbPZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANASxvkKVaxN5
"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAAbyQA8CBXW
26Please respect copyright.PENANABQIPtjbAo6
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAukwhCsdAy9
26Please respect copyright.PENANAdGRdF8GuNY
"Yikes, where did you grow up?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA14hcTp2tga
26Please respect copyright.PENANACFJkMP3YvS
"...Buffalo village."26Please respect copyright.PENANANxJdsfsrRI
26Please respect copyright.PENANAFiQIdwEj1I
"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."26Please respect copyright.PENANANOodSfVWL7
26Please respect copyright.PENANAVyzF45TeTE
I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.26Please respect copyright.PENANAx6U8R1NONI
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAiaovlXPbaG
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0j86RffwZv
"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."26Please respect copyright.PENANAfExabIe6L0
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0RuzMXKdQZ
Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.26Please respect copyright.PENANACjrEgsT9D3
26Please respect copyright.PENANAjuF6ZFvKqK
"Can I explain this one, Dad?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAPhLPsZxUna
26Please respect copyright.PENANACiI2ekK5FI
"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."26Please respect copyright.PENANApeKlbq2hqL
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6SzP0OXsM
26Please respect copyright.PENANAg0Xm9Z4QmX
"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."26Please respect copyright.PENANAqFRRFQhIzB
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZDjFdVBUkY
I nodded along.26Please respect copyright.PENANAeyEtyxAjvw
26Please respect copyright.PENANADgGtd4TDF9
"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."26Please respect copyright.PENANA83AiF6fky6
26Please respect copyright.PENANAxK2HItMlFp
I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.26Please respect copyright.PENANAt66W0KTN5g
26Please respect copyright.PENANAWxt5vAbwiM
"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAmH4hkzVs65
26Please respect copyright.PENANAdHir6dH5UV
"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."26Please respect copyright.PENANASUS9ubZOoJ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAQdahOJkv22
She blinked blankly.26Please respect copyright.PENANAzUm3HIxgIh
26Please respect copyright.PENANAY2d7RW9uLk
"Wait, is it?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA3k2STvaNsj
26Please respect copyright.PENANAc9fFwsgxys
I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.26Please respect copyright.PENANAd1LsuUjGvk
26Please respect copyright.PENANA16ybc5Ql3O
"No, maybe it is true."26Please respect copyright.PENANABLO3QSbq0e
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoDBPck7GPb
"O-Oh, okay."26Please respect copyright.PENANAxDlM5wC9tB
26Please respect copyright.PENANADTnwTFwn0h
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.26Please respect copyright.PENANAtkk2STFvTw
26Please respect copyright.PENANApwWEFA0lRU
"How was your guys' day?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAX8uwhauENg
26Please respect copyright.PENANAsw1rUpYCrR
"Mom, you should've been there!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAdj6peN9oSu
26Please respect copyright.PENANASTdLAEgmLQ
And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.26Please respect copyright.PENANAfDykmtSmWw
26Please respect copyright.PENANAWu1jWm9z3m
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.26Please respect copyright.PENANAwbnh0IKV03
26Please respect copyright.PENANArMF6QQtJh6
It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.26Please respect copyright.PENANA4JfG9Mfvlb
26Please respect copyright.PENANA1NQIzE5c9i
I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.26Please respect copyright.PENANAYndLodnGKZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4sXDsa5Vja
"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.26Please respect copyright.PENANA6HgGcJusDU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAf1CWhoZ3Tq
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."26Please respect copyright.PENANACGv8e78MSO
26Please respect copyright.PENANAw1hnZgoowg
"O-Okay."26Please respect copyright.PENANAz7BJDvwyc9
26Please respect copyright.PENANAAp5K0C8Qh3
"Hold on chum, you come back here."26Please respect copyright.PENANAdoU7PLAufs
26Please respect copyright.PENANA1urzGz6rEf
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAYy61ppFsM4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAIjnh6J3rWG
"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAqYLPwzX9OO
26Please respect copyright.PENANAPUZ64Kfvea
He sat me right back down in my chair.26Please respect copyright.PENANAbzpDaRD4qv
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnisKyt5SNm
"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAiLKKiMOyVV
26Please respect copyright.PENANAiAxtJtu5FF
The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?26Please respect copyright.PENANAYET5vsbR8i
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJ839TymQbt
"...Uh, hehehe... he?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA04ezR7svSi
26Please respect copyright.PENANAdVcrxIEglO
Nobody even heard my "laugh."26Please respect copyright.PENANASvelTA5Hnm
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJQE2lheKu9
"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAX02YSdtcAi
26Please respect copyright.PENANAtq5UE9fvc7
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAabLLjmNAdW
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8hQhJyAesf
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."26Please respect copyright.PENANADqeWxxrfu4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAaCzXQDU7B3
Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.26Please respect copyright.PENANAw8hwcY3SNj
26Please respect copyright.PENANAgZUflCOS8s
"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"26Please respect copyright.PENANA5f9ragjjen
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8yAyHOLFzI
Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.26Please respect copyright.PENANAG7g6evusKL
26Please respect copyright.PENANAInQQr6bkDR
"TALBOT!?"26Please respect copyright.PENANALbEkaLFbgG
26Please respect copyright.PENANAXHFkAcerZd
"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."26Please respect copyright.PENANA2Cf1zGRW0w
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJEVpXAg1EI
"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAOjd0HrREU4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoqrf6T70jb
I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.26Please respect copyright.PENANAGgMRPTG5Q8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAko2Z2qIvqb
"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."26Please respect copyright.PENANAihnHzLlAa2
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0lER4LjmHE
I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.26Please respect copyright.PENANAl6AN3aYrxw
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcS9F5CU7rp
"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"26Please respect copyright.PENANASjUrJqMzOm
26Please respect copyright.PENANA5rSxeqfEpT
"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."26Please respect copyright.PENANAlMLYGNDRtU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAEFq1GQYT9I
"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.26Please respect copyright.PENANA5yZNXoLep8
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8SmfRBKStm
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."26Please respect copyright.PENANARZlcPmlD0R
26Please respect copyright.PENANApWtKQ22WF3
"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."26Please respect copyright.PENANAqp4K45LBqH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAQzFwxqNIJ1
I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJNLoeI3IEx
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoMBTKJf6UI
"Yep... sorry, Chum."26Please respect copyright.PENANA563zekR9no
26Please respect copyright.PENANAghS7bWIaSG
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAQ991Rd1vpv
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7NYzUzt1tX
For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.26Please respect copyright.PENANAg6U6T3RzPb
26Please respect copyright.PENANAKGFYKPWMOF
"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAIacnEpxmBW
26Please respect copyright.PENANAc2uoG63S0o
Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.26Please respect copyright.PENANAypfNwfpEKc
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoiIs4LeGV5
Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?26Please respect copyright.PENANAEVQq7arCa6
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.26Please respect copyright.PENANAfDjorZnS9m
26Please respect copyright.PENANA9tIReik6x7
"Flinty."26Please respect copyright.PENANAlHe4g8FvSt
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8dNUs99iJV
"Y-Yeah?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAkV2WNUUFL4
26Please respect copyright.PENANA5CuB1iug2r
"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."26Please respect copyright.PENANA6Tw6sd8xoT
26Please respect copyright.PENANA94h5Dmrbr8
Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.26Please respect copyright.PENANACt5y52mSj1
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7Pn8wFQfvA
"Okay! Let's do it!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAceIEP5YgBX
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcFBtT2RqDY
There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.26Please respect copyright.PENANAHzXHmyeTSp
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZk7MHjvUqA
"...My tome is in the other room."26Please respect copyright.PENANAzEtJQK1EoQ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAKWMQAlTqO4
Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.26Please respect copyright.PENANAQgyTmPpY0h
26Please respect copyright.PENANAENT9u4B6CH
–
–
–26Please respect copyright.PENANAKGUMAeeX7a
26Please respect copyright.PENANAexhJxcmLwe
Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.26Please respect copyright.PENANAVuSYEboR1m
26Please respect copyright.PENANADoywLHWu6i
I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.26Please respect copyright.PENANAKuab7xBYXZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlhDRxHPIyC
"Ah, mornin' Chum."26Please respect copyright.PENANAh4kplXaHwf
26Please respect copyright.PENANAftxR1fKBl2
"Good morning."26Please respect copyright.PENANAY45FT2rqfA
26Please respect copyright.PENANARbdNjeFkcq
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAxXCNUL0RLm
26Please respect copyright.PENANAt5fGlolNWo
"I woke up early."26Please respect copyright.PENANARNzaTlZBjT
26Please respect copyright.PENANAwHfiXWWPV3
"Alright. Let me make you some food. "26Please respect copyright.PENANAMEMCu1ZaNc
26Please respect copyright.PENANARVVJsIXMkP
I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.26Please respect copyright.PENANAAntmUoau8P
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnxYiOXxKZp
"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."26Please respect copyright.PENANA63PZ6N4aVs
26Please respect copyright.PENANAxxrhUzJinn
"Right."26Please respect copyright.PENANAYGwkOMpdfH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAn69k6kS9za
Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.26Please respect copyright.PENANANTC4nJz0Bn
26Please respect copyright.PENANAGS8tXssonh
Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.26Please respect copyright.PENANA6QiskkCMHI
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcCLrncjFv1
"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAoSNyyfr6hh
26Please respect copyright.PENANAB4YfgGj7vi
"I sure did, honey."26Please respect copyright.PENANAVMAOT7oIqs
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"Oh."26Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ6FJFLhGE
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.26Please respect copyright.PENANAq3XEYJcVg3
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"Is something wrong?"26Please respect copyright.PENANADWwaQnVefB
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."26Please respect copyright.PENANAngApK52CJq
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.26Please respect copyright.PENANAfGMbbqGzyx
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Strange. Strange people.26Please respect copyright.PENANATWpE8MqIKJ
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJpehaQadX0
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"...I uh."26Please respect copyright.PENANAc1U0mINues
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.26Please respect copyright.PENANAbHHSk0JXs0
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."26Please respect copyright.PENANAP0OBpoqnRO
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.26Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ7G7ogOZu
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAXtiektMnQ2
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"Water under the bridge?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAurpjANgQ0t
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"Mhm."26Please respect copyright.PENANAlzr3RRgQEI
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.26Please respect copyright.PENANAlMPSI1T7Nn
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.26Please respect copyright.PENANAgeRVxVezyk
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They were really good.26Please respect copyright.PENANAPOcX8b9lOS
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–
–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.26Please respect copyright.PENANAw6pckDrkWp
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"That's a nice outfit"26Please respect copyright.PENANARmoKR5Zmki
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."26Please respect copyright.PENANAj3onU0f975
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.26Please respect copyright.PENANAwZRO6FnrTS
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."26Please respect copyright.PENANAcdDu8jpxaM
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."26Please respect copyright.PENANAucJM0Nb1eH
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"Ah, my apologies."26Please respect copyright.PENANAwKyuiRsegv
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"No no, I like being around you too."26Please respect copyright.PENANAk04Afz0SYT
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?26Please respect copyright.PENANACCIei77uF7
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAkoHJfNVAv1
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"R-Right."26Please respect copyright.PENANAwV6fk4t0tv
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.26Please respect copyright.PENANAKSznSmu5Hd
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAhGsyfT0x07
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"Hello, Freed!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAK3d0eP9M1D
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."26Please respect copyright.PENANAYZ89X78Wcv
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.26Please respect copyright.PENANAdmNs9lJtHt
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"So what business do you kids have today?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAt3ELeKyzo9
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAyhu5tmu87n
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."26Please respect copyright.PENANAQyoloW8WIh
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.26Please respect copyright.PENANA7FIcxKvaNk
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAMvugLVtmzR
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."26Please respect copyright.PENANAXhvMW1c2l4
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"I see."26Please respect copyright.PENANAlk6GumRT1e
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.26Please respect copyright.PENANAC3sTDz0edE
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"I refuse."26Please respect copyright.PENANAYS5azYO5Xz
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"Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAo4lrdp644r
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"WHAT!?"26Please respect copyright.PENANATZrC5SGbb9
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.26Please respect copyright.PENANAIJA5fOxhGv
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAP3JSSCFjdO
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAbn87MbjCQN
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"...No?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA8bTJUtBHss
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."26Please respect copyright.PENANAYr86oj5IIZ
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.26Please respect copyright.PENANATdZswBosrz
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAjzZYpN9Urg
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."26Please respect copyright.PENANADC6BRqzAcx
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.26Please respect copyright.PENANAUco0TOdklk
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.26Please respect copyright.PENANAkSf328wqaB
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"Down here."26Please respect copyright.PENANAPjTl7hvQAj
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.26Please respect copyright.PENANAeV8WuiZKY0
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.26Please respect copyright.PENANAkwgI8B8ltx
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."26Please respect copyright.PENANAHfeGKpIXdg
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.26Please respect copyright.PENANA45XoFP1ijW
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.26Please respect copyright.PENANAc1LzcEQ3nG
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."26Please respect copyright.PENANAGbxmJAdJGI
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"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."26Please respect copyright.PENANA5H489kVpww
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I shrugged.26Please respect copyright.PENANAMlemrDcxO6
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."26Please respect copyright.PENANAss0MSlUrVp
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With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.26Please respect copyright.PENANAVxbrsaUWkh
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"Am I doing it right?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAesN8pNSq9s
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"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.26Please respect copyright.PENANAWVFDEw6bhj
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.26Please respect copyright.PENANAn7eAMsRCJo
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"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAe8IwOndZ40
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"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."26Please respect copyright.PENANA7GofETB1WY
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"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAKmRolYEfEn
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I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.26Please respect copyright.PENANATqSNcCu5Zs
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"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."26Please respect copyright.PENANAMUEmjNCNS7
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.26Please respect copyright.PENANArRFkwnZxtg
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"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."26Please respect copyright.PENANAR0iKUdwTsD
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"O-Okay."26Please respect copyright.PENANACzHfVR3Wwm
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.26Please respect copyright.PENANAEP6YKidJ1x
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"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."26Please respect copyright.PENANAuMCnAsIOeQ
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"W-Wait, how do I–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAGyU7PQDkma
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"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAujOWR9yeZX
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"But what if I can't let it out?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAQZvYb95uUf
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"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."26Please respect copyright.PENANAFa5WHXwhyj
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That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.26Please respect copyright.PENANAsV5BdCcW0h
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"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAOVaqKrpvSp
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"Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAk7qnTtyuoe
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.26Please respect copyright.PENANA4jGkFsRJay
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.26Please respect copyright.PENANAa84SBspl4e
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I messed up, getting all excited.26Please respect copyright.PENANAjZqltDpLEx
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I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.26Please respect copyright.PENANASMnuW2is3n
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I couldn't do it in time.26Please respect copyright.PENANAumBKE5yDe0
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**BOOM**26Please respect copyright.PENANA6SeY1N9w2u
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The world around me faded.26Please respect copyright.PENANAz3Za5PJgHq
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAcOK8baQ2Oi
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I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?26Please respect copyright.PENANAHK6l67vw9t
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Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."26Please respect copyright.PENANAtPKGRDQ1kH
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Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.26Please respect copyright.PENANAQYufRXZG86
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"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.26Please respect copyright.PENANA7wohbaOnEp
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I was in the greenhouse.26Please respect copyright.PENANA3ScHf0SmcG
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA1a9bNdZytA
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I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.26Please respect copyright.PENANAsS2U5irf3z
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Thank God, they were okay.26Please respect copyright.PENANAMXn2ZXwYJT
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"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.26Please respect copyright.PENANAjHfRDlCyk2
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"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA4C75CzRbXS
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"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAIDgWo12S09
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She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAnGEVZqnxID
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"This is... my coat?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAYQooJsMFfv
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAY2BXi3TAII
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Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?26Please respect copyright.PENANA2dJSOGUe9O
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.26Please respect copyright.PENANAXYAkHWEne8
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"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."26Please respect copyright.PENANAIqRDHF8DGl
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.26Please respect copyright.PENANAzmuAJufR3U
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"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAyiAOnlUdFV
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"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.26Please respect copyright.PENANAWpDFhFcXfe
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"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."26Please respect copyright.PENANAgEOnJORsAC
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I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.26Please respect copyright.PENANA9gD2QETrTd
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"H-Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAMhzPD2XHej
26Please respect copyright.PENANAaB4JByHzRd
"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."26Please respect copyright.PENANATk09ori594
26Please respect copyright.PENANAsXpg5OGnA3
"T-That's terrible!"26Please respect copyright.PENANATDCVEexEAA
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlfSdxKGEWc
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.26Please respect copyright.PENANA3M8voyvzw5
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7u8o6ACP04
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAdYwMcoAXHv
26Please respect copyright.PENANAC7VMlR8yUI
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".26Please respect copyright.PENANAPPSl31qkME
26Please respect copyright.PENANA2jqyv87CF2
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.26Please respect copyright.PENANAXNl3ZZe0jJ
26Please respect copyright.PENANA2yp9kzqSOV
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.26Please respect copyright.PENANA1ztYHPEX2T
26Please respect copyright.PENANApaKN8z9nbe
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.26Please respect copyright.PENANAdZbH15lPWD
26Please respect copyright.PENANAEfZZ58oSBA
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.26Please respect copyright.PENANAtRhEbjaRsZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAalpZS6FwJA
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.26Please respect copyright.PENANAlhZ5FYPPnO
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnw4b1WRl73
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?26Please respect copyright.PENANAnuF140yQmL
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUFCrilDVST
"...Ah!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAz2lDxtnIRH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1Lu3kXVgV
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.26Please respect copyright.PENANAWCyZwxlYCb
26Please respect copyright.PENANATq5ASJEhOn
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAfT2oiKDifD
26Please respect copyright.PENANAOpd9Ha4SJJ
"...Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA8N74Uf8YRd
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4axZqNsqpP
She meekly turned her head to me.26Please respect copyright.PENANAD679uZH3SI
26Please respect copyright.PENANApNUqMyeHwI
"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."26Please respect copyright.PENANAgZmN17Rbgo
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4U0tpRHgzp
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.26Please respect copyright.PENANAqGqJEhef5O
26Please respect copyright.PENANAVXPsjFQhKU
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"26Please respect copyright.PENANASLI6e58xOA
26Please respect copyright.PENANANIbpf8puCP
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."26Please respect copyright.PENANApCKgFKY7ue
26Please respect copyright.PENANASApMbkBZuL
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.26Please respect copyright.PENANA2iyXNt1HcF
26Please respect copyright.PENANAvLtq413rmm
"Okay, let's go then!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAe6AltUtUH4
26Please respect copyright.PENANAYRGI5y7vms
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.26Please respect copyright.PENANADFl1MXsyUX
26Please respect copyright.PENANAppJ86lVe0P
"W-Where are we going to go first?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAvYKc06RbLs
26Please respect copyright.PENANAtQYKduvj5q
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.26Please respect copyright.PENANANEenMQPQN1
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZPgX4jPL3
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"26Please respect copyright.PENANA1oXft93YvY
26Please respect copyright.PENANAhSgIZ7Mhjl
Yeah, let's.26Please respect copyright.PENANAlvL1Q6VaMa
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlBqQATpTnq
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.26Please respect copyright.PENANARczS7HqQlY
26Please respect copyright.PENANAEhQmTHGuo9
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.26Please respect copyright.PENANAUxoVIzgdXk
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlbVRpKe632
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.26Please respect copyright.PENANAaZvyT1hJnt
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUwDhrqAGaU
"This is the combatant's guild!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAuN5fx5ojHv
26Please respect copyright.PENANA6hOyno48l9
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.26Please respect copyright.PENANAmiRZV3K0DK
26Please respect copyright.PENANA5lc36VouYx
"This place needs a renovation."26Please respect copyright.PENANAtJHnL3gUJN
26Please respect copyright.PENANAvhqvtwg8lk
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."26Please respect copyright.PENANAvLf8pMRwLg
26Please respect copyright.PENANAw7dBpqlRhL
I shook my head.26Please respect copyright.PENANAj4AykkqZzd
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z7U6fK2Nm
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."26Please respect copyright.PENANAhUvPU00xV8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUDDV6maGt7
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."26Please respect copyright.PENANAuH4pye1ub4
26Please respect copyright.PENANA2UmKedFa1a
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAW5Eiyi9fro
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcK1zFkcQHp
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.26Please respect copyright.PENANAekByG1UwwH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAHoMjfyjqiH
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAFSIRs0u8yV
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZfgREfhGps
"Do not even suggest it."26Please respect copyright.PENANAK20tc8qd61
26Please respect copyright.PENANA27wBvqhbMA
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.26Please respect copyright.PENANAW6Ol9VQj75
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcGdllRVRW3
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"26Please respect copyright.PENANA6vrXyYIobX
26Please respect copyright.PENANAA0hSD6qDMC
"...Well alright."26Please respect copyright.PENANAMyXiaPcvmS
26Please respect copyright.PENANAf4JyuxLCY0
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.26Please respect copyright.PENANAieo6K7KDxn
26Please respect copyright.PENANA93q32UgpPp
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.26Please respect copyright.PENANAv4DOQ9C93H
26Please respect copyright.PENANAqDgpYL9e3i
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAp6NaRvw07t
26Please respect copyright.PENANAhDiKAWinth
She pouted.26Please respect copyright.PENANAEXSTplvV3a
26Please respect copyright.PENANAYqIVN8CsA0
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."26Please respect copyright.PENANAaS2rKNygz1
26Please respect copyright.PENANARNTyBpAy7M
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."26Please respect copyright.PENANADLTXmDso8D
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0Jej87uwYc
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.26Please respect copyright.PENANA9tCr053sX7
26Please respect copyright.PENANA6xM09b73ne
"Huh? Flinty?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAgLes8MALZD
26Please respect copyright.PENANAgbC3sUpbPp
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."26Please respect copyright.PENANASpY9xBLsWE
26Please respect copyright.PENANAzGz1oYbMZM
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.26Please respect copyright.PENANAMnt39vThUb
26Please respect copyright.PENANALBeF0kYbH4
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA3J7umeok3t
26Please respect copyright.PENANAjdqTJH9G2s
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."26Please respect copyright.PENANAeafFOLwp3H
26Please respect copyright.PENANAQ60UVG79lR
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAuT7AAdsDqU
26Please respect copyright.PENANAGs4fJ1JSac
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.26Please respect copyright.PENANA5TGWrQgKSB
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4F3GFT9Zg9
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."26Please respect copyright.PENANA0hEmBC3JlQ
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8z2Hful4gg
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."26Please respect copyright.PENANAg3A0SfZoOq
26Please respect copyright.PENANARfaZ09qToz
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!26Please respect copyright.PENANAUz1ifRzVC6
26Please respect copyright.PENANAW7eMmIAjOy
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJEKkzM3b4q
26Please respect copyright.PENANAkYYXMvc2el
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAjDpV47c22j
26Please respect copyright.PENANATUzGtldocb
"Huh?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAufZYi6vhyv
26Please respect copyright.PENANAbxATyHgIGX
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.26Please respect copyright.PENANAunOIEJu1KZ
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlzecQC31KE
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"26Please respect copyright.PENANA5eH4YeyJUt
26Please respect copyright.PENANAHpYfjRcoIv
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.26Please respect copyright.PENANAnZdEh7660v
26Please respect copyright.PENANAJV8i69PVp4
"You're right. Wait–"26Please respect copyright.PENANA5Q55l4oV3c
26Please respect copyright.PENANABj5xUMxliI
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJNSyAAe3rv
26Please respect copyright.PENANA0a2hft043r
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAqW6wGiKpGG
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnZCtdzsCuI
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.26Please respect copyright.PENANAdQs8s3X3gn
26Please respect copyright.PENANANnBEuGJs6I
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!26Please respect copyright.PENANAqRtr4Ppmav
26Please respect copyright.PENANA9z6fAyWKUV
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAfo9yuW633D
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlkeF5hm3ig
"No. I'm here for another reason."26Please respect copyright.PENANAIYokpnu6Se
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnauD1AbiiK
"And what may that be?"26Please respect copyright.PENANACf4aJlPdor
26Please respect copyright.PENANAb6MGBl9RsX
"None of your business."26Please respect copyright.PENANAbHS6VXLBNN
26Please respect copyright.PENANAAVQfT7cwcz
"O-Okay..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAdTJ7qIJSrT
26Please respect copyright.PENANA8FhSL516YH
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.26Please respect copyright.PENANAb1AS6wyWlc
26Please respect copyright.PENANA2oOjEgzktg
"She is super shady."26Please respect copyright.PENANAwtoszd6WOn
26Please respect copyright.PENANAoubFqhvhww
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."26Please respect copyright.PENANAQKu7K1fUIn
26Please respect copyright.PENANAnOnkrz2X5k
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAeUJjYJmGoK
26Please respect copyright.PENANArObVapY0E9
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.26Please respect copyright.PENANAweLMSNX9oe
26Please respect copyright.PENANAO7DUrRd6G4
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.26Please respect copyright.PENANA2W6iFKQ1Av
26Please respect copyright.PENANAXTO6yza9W7
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."26Please respect copyright.PENANA4JJoFbpalv
26Please respect copyright.PENANAxgSNJ6sRuP
"T-Then let's get his attention!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAEEb1dqHrOG
26Please respect copyright.PENANA1j5CcHx7nw
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.26Please respect copyright.PENANAyoMZeswEdr
26Please respect copyright.PENANAHg0PgMtyaM
"Let me handle this."26Please respect copyright.PENANAmHyav1c6zX
26Please respect copyright.PENANA1TEZW7DDjU
"W-What, why?"26Please respect copyright.PENANARNAo5eWAR8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAeHFZGJoDcu
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."26Please respect copyright.PENANA5N1ze6UB2B
26Please respect copyright.PENANAbYSi288ibW
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.26Please respect copyright.PENANAZ95oqUCd5g
26Please respect copyright.PENANABjTRUGYsmA
"S-Sorry, Kenny."26Please respect copyright.PENANAu1beQwl31X
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4hK3ojJLnv
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.26Please respect copyright.PENANAKBI913LMHE
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcEnujmowIM
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.26Please respect copyright.PENANAmCwQVTXlcx
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7p0oSKggmN
"Hey, you guys!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAdBYQ8jF4Pt
26Please respect copyright.PENANAbccXPLBGvB
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.26Please respect copyright.PENANAmwX4USpAOi
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUn5DyWSRbs
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."26Please respect copyright.PENANANjWBCTWpU5
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZXBEyMWXcR
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"26Please respect copyright.PENANADYqn4VMceR
26Please respect copyright.PENANAqj3hTEs7r8
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.26Please respect copyright.PENANAU7OCUcnbe6
26Please respect copyright.PENANA30V6szpBaO
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.26Please respect copyright.PENANAAOcbrovrqy
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcWpLLdtXc6
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.26Please respect copyright.PENANAoYmGH7Qcuh
26Please respect copyright.PENANA4Gyzz5yqCN
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."26Please respect copyright.PENANAubhzqCEaVl
26Please respect copyright.PENANAjLzTuJASg8
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.26Please respect copyright.PENANAMHdAuLjssi
26Please respect copyright.PENANAK7N49lvt4F
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.26Please respect copyright.PENANAPZHzdYKYZB
26Please respect copyright.PENANAhNHpvo7hHC
"Here's your bill, miss."26Please respect copyright.PENANAcdu3zNPcn8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAgMb3WUI2ms
"...I..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAIxvFLfihAa
26Please respect copyright.PENANAyuHyPMKwL6
She was having a difficult time speaking.26Please respect copyright.PENANA1F5XTMTY9f
26Please respect copyright.PENANAVdnh9pUkx7
"I forgot to bring money."26Please respect copyright.PENANAeGSrIst0cy
26Please respect copyright.PENANAN7a5tMAOuR
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAkoTjD1QGhf
26Please respect copyright.PENANArXaMy9CSuD
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAhUmjmkaTmg
26Please respect copyright.PENANAA4U5vcOXYC
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAFpEfbUdip7
26Please respect copyright.PENANAzO5nfWZg5v
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.26Please respect copyright.PENANAOgm2sPL9nK
26Please respect copyright.PENANAT2DzPCCRwA
Ha. What a moron.26Please respect copyright.PENANAhMJ2JWZ87m
26Please respect copyright.PENANATBot9Xjbzy
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."26Please respect copyright.PENANAOcvlTziIsI
26Please respect copyright.PENANAheAsWrz5OI
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"26Please respect copyright.PENANAVjRlC6R5td
26Please respect copyright.PENANAmoqGhGVxRg
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."26Please respect copyright.PENANAXvgJY5rRBW
26Please respect copyright.PENANAdJGUB7aTNh
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?26Please respect copyright.PENANAifzHI5QsJA
26Please respect copyright.PENANAMDhBQBhf61
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."26Please respect copyright.PENANA4oelflNeb9
26Please respect copyright.PENANADyfQXzdzwh
"..."26Please respect copyright.PENANAQyNhPJkx5e
26Please respect copyright.PENANAaVOryxAUet
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.26Please respect copyright.PENANAGqWNP7NQ60
26Please respect copyright.PENANAz0O0j3vQ7D
"Hey, cloaked woman."26Please respect copyright.PENANAR9BFpEwt2R
26Please respect copyright.PENANAAdKq7lGLjV
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.26Please respect copyright.PENANAzSYUeIrMPR
26Please respect copyright.PENANAXyuoljzVZY
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."26Please respect copyright.PENANASJrqVkamF7
26Please respect copyright.PENANAcTvo0xH5l0
"Yes, of course. Thank you."26Please respect copyright.PENANAKCHFDerb6G
26Please respect copyright.PENANAMxbuMbbUCe
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!26Please respect copyright.PENANAvZXyXUSdK1
26Please respect copyright.PENANAQS3iayO7jL
"Alright Flinty, let's go."26Please respect copyright.PENANAzdbTMdwDWD
26Please respect copyright.PENANAR5ZcQgaiJG
"Yes!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAx0BHmvIOoy
26Please respect copyright.PENANAbLvrHYQhCn
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.26Please respect copyright.PENANAUGXXGYp4WV
26Please respect copyright.PENANAqbMsTdJLy0
"What?"26Please respect copyright.PENANATiFxGIIgCP
26Please respect copyright.PENANA7cYlyLZCIa
"Kenny, you're awesome."26Please respect copyright.PENANAmY3LVl3RgH
26Please respect copyright.PENANAUmDE8YizTw
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.26Please respect copyright.PENANAy5UUmIEIju
26Please respect copyright.PENANAOWEXkQr95Z
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."26Please respect copyright.PENANABuS5BrIwV8
26Please respect copyright.PENANAtRlsaSxw50
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"26Please respect copyright.PENANA2aiGPoZ9j1
26Please respect copyright.PENANAp65BQIhl7N
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.26Please respect copyright.PENANA7T9X2z6x9e
26Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4n8592Z8S
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"26Please respect copyright.PENANALAzD8VFa4G
26Please respect copyright.PENANAZZX2xz17Yi
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.26Please respect copyright.PENANAJukhOYJhJt
26Please respect copyright.PENANAalilJRTkVG
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.26Please respect copyright.PENANALs1VqSXJKm
26Please respect copyright.PENANA5LaGpASHrA
"...Is something wrong?"26Please respect copyright.PENANAJplfJcYlSe
26Please respect copyright.PENANAFJbiVvobyL
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."26Please respect copyright.PENANA5BUlT4tl12
26Please respect copyright.PENANAlYPT71r0T9
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"26Please respect copyright.PENANAn7R65zuLzy
26Please respect copyright.PENANASttNaytba7
"R-Right."26Please respect copyright.PENANAF2tJGRemwb
26Please respect copyright.PENANAKUsrqgTkfw
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.