The meeting commenced. I was standing behind Linda. Victoria was to my left. We were on top of the rock, and before us was a gigantic group of people.21Please respect copyright.PENANAKhqjQH4CoQ
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4R0AwuuGAB
I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous. I wasn't the center of attention, sure, but there were still so many people. I gulped and tried my hardest not to move. Linda began talking.21Please respect copyright.PENANA9MBJnUq4xl
21Please respect copyright.PENANAuR6ATiMVuw
"I've called all of you today for the sake of the safety of the Green Zone. Since last week, a monster from the forest has been periodically appearing and ravaging my crops. As of right now, I believe that one of us may be responsible for this incident. If one of you is, then I'd like to offer a proposal."21Please respect copyright.PENANAlEktRb64qU
21Please respect copyright.PENANAsFiho4OXlu
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvLcSDG5IE4
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkue1Vo3Om0
"I implore the perpetrator, should they be here, to confess right here and now. I understand very well that it might've been an accident, so if it was, please stand before me and confess. If done, no charges will be held, we will call it bridge under the water, and this boy here will handle the beast without fail."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFKgXwR1kai
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0nVmUCOB7
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!21Please respect copyright.PENANA83glJEl9uE
21Please respect copyright.PENANAIOW544l9px
I tried calming myself down, remembering not to move rashly. Time passed by painfully and slowly. I felt sweat drip down my back and chest. I never knew I even had this much stage fright.21Please respect copyright.PENANAhmYtYze7HR
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKQuMJiK31c
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."21Please respect copyright.PENANAWvEnEUZFrz
21Please respect copyright.PENANAP6u0GxFl4B
Linda suddenly announced the ending of the gathering and bowed. I was thankful. I put a hand on my chest and exhaled. The residents were returning to the barracks. I looked over to my left. Victoria had her head down.21Please respect copyright.PENANAQOAo74wMGi
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7ceka40X0W
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."21Please respect copyright.PENANABoUH2XQw8g
21Please respect copyright.PENANASwusuVLabp
We did just that. Flinty ran to us once the crowd cleared. Before anything else, she told us that nobody in the crowd looked suspicious.21Please respect copyright.PENANAMSNEKFRVtB
21Please respect copyright.PENANA5SLvkrAtZo
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."21Please respect copyright.PENANAt4WEqeyuch
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJbqeToJjsL
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.21Please respect copyright.PENANACBHJWicX6A
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1VU3TOTZ2K
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"21Please respect copyright.PENANATsWQptzI7T
21Please respect copyright.PENANAPeQQDAQBrm
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.21Please respect copyright.PENANAsTw4ImNUEN
21Please respect copyright.PENANAxQqHYCHOGp
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."21Please respect copyright.PENANASvDxalGptM
21Please respect copyright.PENANAVPyM12ICbu
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFTBL859Vsq
21Please respect copyright.PENANAh7G8xJNRAq
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.21Please respect copyright.PENANAjWN6ADJus8
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mvs9letZu
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."21Please respect copyright.PENANA18t9GQ66hb
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnbfsPBwV14
"That's a sound plan, but with how big our crop field is, it would be difficult to spot him. And y'know, the beast only appears during the night."21Please respect copyright.PENANACv5MD7oftP
21Please respect copyright.PENANARu19ScQV8T
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."21Please respect copyright.PENANAMVgv0hSJMB
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8S08rNfFrE
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.21Please respect copyright.PENANAatm1NhNmXl
21Please respect copyright.PENANACgH9MGSAQs
"Very well. Then we will wait until the sun sets. Flinty, Kenny, how about you join us for dinner? I'll write a letter to your mother in the meantime, Flinty."21Please respect copyright.PENANAGkc7ShdPf4
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8AkDea1TOf
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.21Please respect copyright.PENANAXHoAjvnv1F
21Please respect copyright.PENANAR95haSoy2y
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.21Please respect copyright.PENANA26WUZ6aMpe
21Please respect copyright.PENANAr1xgXbNu5c
"What's the matter?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA8c98maRWal
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkCAdyLRT0Q
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."21Please respect copyright.PENANAIJgx6t7Y1Q
21Please respect copyright.PENANA6YDyuyTT3T
Flinty and I were seated at a rectangular table. We were in a different room from before, likely the kitchen since Victoria and Linda were preparing food a few feet away from us. I was staring into nothingness. Flinty looked bashful. Seeing her in that state reminded me of a concern I had since the first phase of the plan failed.21Please respect copyright.PENANAuLpScCwKHK
21Please respect copyright.PENANAONoH0wR4Wg
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA9thkT2bYTK
21Please respect copyright.PENANASrjFffdoRo
"Of course."21Please respect copyright.PENANAFKXcTcQiri
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMrkCbsi39z
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."21Please respect copyright.PENANAnaySDZGDPk
21Please respect copyright.PENANAvGrtMT5BZy
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwzJPkoriFL
21Please respect copyright.PENANA31OyI3ktZ0
"N-Not to say that it will get that bad, but, as a safety measure. You don't have much combat power, and I don't think the other two do either."21Please respect copyright.PENANAF7MkvvJPTt
21Please respect copyright.PENANAtUsTZN3eQv
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"21Please respect copyright.PENANApjwb3csYrL
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgcu0uc8MI2
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."21Please respect copyright.PENANAGemu4mVVTV
21Please respect copyright.PENANADU62DuPIPL
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.21Please respect copyright.PENANAPXkrdWuZBp
21Please respect copyright.PENANArnGrXhingn
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"21Please respect copyright.PENANADUiRouNg1L
21Please respect copyright.PENANAGQs40Uyxhj
She started tearing up. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how terrible I was at these things. I put my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes.21Please respect copyright.PENANAYFkrl5EyxX
21Please respect copyright.PENANAM5uSi8Eimd
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."21Please respect copyright.PENANAbk3wQmBWqc
21Please respect copyright.PENANAD3ulC1CbxC
"...Probably?"21Please respect copyright.PENANACOVFFsO9h1
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9TqtG510FJ
"Sorry, definitely."21Please respect copyright.PENANAa2FQGrPoXK
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhBA8YNgQjF
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.21Please respect copyright.PENANAw2oxqUTa9I
21Please respect copyright.PENANAbYId3W9VGK
"Food's ready!"21Please respect copyright.PENANAGG7yHcinK2
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcQMftF63ni
Linda and Victoria, each carrying two plates worth of food, served the whole table dinner. It was scrambled egg. Linda later brought a whole plate worth of corn, and another with bread.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVMAlxVW97H
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgtXumqnQBO
I stared in awe at the meal. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I'd never seen this much food on top of a table before. I grabbed a fork and took a nibble out of the egg, just to test the waters.21Please respect copyright.PENANAAdgz0PfgWA
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It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.21Please respect copyright.PENANAGbqw4m7GGU
21Please respect copyright.PENANA56H2pX0JnU
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAA9WnpNjhrR
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3puiU73Zep
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.21Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3t9xJYPmL
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9lUJFGsL34
"Are you asking me?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAWxFZPyGKOr
21Please respect copyright.PENANAQVbZFfSjJ7
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."21Please respect copyright.PENANAp8NXDMtC3o
21Please respect copyright.PENANAjnu2xKS5o1
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.21Please respect copyright.PENANAdMNxANTZ6O
21Please respect copyright.PENANAv69DONAefi
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.21Please respect copyright.PENANAk2VJ3LAtMJ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAIhxFJWFDZw
I could still feel the food in my system. I was lying on one of the beds in the living quarters. I could hardly even move.21Please respect copyright.PENANAboX5ZJzHiH
21Please respect copyright.PENANAL3UiSAO9rh
It felt heavenly.
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7AZUFX5GOm
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.21Please respect copyright.PENANAOfsvepp1kc
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKGsekcSYdU
"What are you reading?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAkdZhqGkFqs
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkVOmOloNK1
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAeuEPthdctW
21Please respect copyright.PENANASy8RJOhZJb
It was obviously something important. I lifted my upper body to a seating position and tried to get a peek at the pages. Flinty just moved the book away. I got a better look at the cover, but the lighting was too poor to make out the words.21Please respect copyright.PENANAPf3qbkohHf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAGnzM81t8wN
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAqtC5H0tbz5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAOT8KADssSg
"...It's a book about magic."21Please respect copyright.PENANAXgl13ZZGuv
21Please respect copyright.PENANAAK5TFBWPK6
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.21Please respect copyright.PENANAmNDZdGQBw4
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKCErpjc1TN
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"21Please respect copyright.PENANArldFf4E0Fk
21Please respect copyright.PENANAzcpMxaArlk
"Y-Yeah, of course."21Please respect copyright.PENANABTfYMP272D
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJNwYyPnNyE
She didn't sound very excited.21Please respect copyright.PENANAg6jOUwKXKx
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgPcXWtO3lc
"Do you want to practice right now?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAuZwXj8f1en
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4sRAoiyPwC
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."21Please respect copyright.PENANA3SvuvcpfiD
21Please respect copyright.PENANAllxci7gqfo
"If you say so."21Please respect copyright.PENANAgii0aWZPsa
21Please respect copyright.PENANA2NbjOdIEz7
I laid back down. The pillow was very comfortable. Since it was only eight, I could probably take a quick nap before the big encounter. So, I shut my eyes and was lulled away.21Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZixTrVE70
21Please respect copyright.PENANARaojrBlgUL
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."21Please respect copyright.PENANAJZsYGUXSIN
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3hssSAAI81
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.21Please respect copyright.PENANA6KlsW6z8Eo
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcI3t24EB50
"You weren't the first person to try and teach me. Or the second, or the third. The first was my father, but since he was always outside of the house, he couldn't properly teach me. Mother tried next. She wasn't very good at magic, and she was a pretty bad teacher, hehe. After those two, I asked Mister Freed to teach me."21Please respect copyright.PENANA0aU5ywH6tO
21Please respect copyright.PENANANyuBx8wbDF
"...Did he decline?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2nh0fQChL
21Please respect copyright.PENANABgQqTZlFT9
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.21Please respect copyright.PENANAFgwIPgFPjR
21Please respect copyright.PENANAs4udn8qlqF
"He tried teaching me. He really did. And, I learned quite a lot from him. Everything you told me earlier today, he taught me as well. I forgot it though, so don't think it was a waste, telling me all of that."21Please respect copyright.PENANAc5Grq8jgGl
21Please respect copyright.PENANA89XmANv5Sq
She paused and stared at the sheets.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvRBTEEBSGg
21Please respect copyright.PENANAHkpYQcOsre
"Today was the first time I made a spell."21Please respect copyright.PENANAis9GCmYZG5
21Please respect copyright.PENANACCWcbQY2Q1
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAfJHarXq2j1
21Please respect copyright.PENANALl7Bk25ir2
"It wasn't for very long. He gave me a book, but I was too lazy to read it, so I gave it to Vikky after a week."21Please respect copyright.PENANAd8ItXIMQGw
21Please respect copyright.PENANA51Ya83885q
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?21Please respect copyright.PENANAU4KJ8E1fTf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAh2oj8anCeS
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."21Please respect copyright.PENANAfmTZ48oMgE
21Please respect copyright.PENANABVbFLk57A9
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."21Please respect copyright.PENANAJUgVHzUgar
21Please respect copyright.PENANAQcc2ikf7vb
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."21Please respect copyright.PENANAaaRPD6NEFO
21Please respect copyright.PENANALKUYY9Cmbr
We sat in silence for a few minutes.21Please respect copyright.PENANAXwF5brMBkJ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0PZsuDQu8
"Thank you, Kenny. I really want to thank you. Even though my first lesson was a disaster, I think that, as long as you keep teaching me, I can really do it this time, learn how to use magic."21Please respect copyright.PENANAB5HbaOArpL
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlcQi3ZvRZw
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAQTTtn35OzB
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8ipZRo5HBN
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."21Please respect copyright.PENANAhzJFLoHpO7
21Please respect copyright.PENANAb4qSL2ckGt
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAcXzzZN7umJ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAHSxQqNoV8n
She shook her head no.21Please respect copyright.PENANAW4pw7RdKtx
21Please respect copyright.PENANAYVH0SdJ1c1
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."21Please respect copyright.PENANA5V4VKGy2n0
21Please respect copyright.PENANAs1kg0DmKTw
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAYfFskrf5zQ
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xgd61hYCG
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."21Please respect copyright.PENANAla21RmMUNR
21Please respect copyright.PENANAayGGGsbXoW
I felt like I made a mistake just now.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvlcPIzNKxg
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKPNa5p6nDG
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."21Please respect copyright.PENANA1R12kUYk4j
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhmuhunviB5
"What is it?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAjoFfge9fYq
21Please respect copyright.PENANAAQgzCvAjA1
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.21Please respect copyright.PENANAph1cfFwSxH
21Please respect copyright.PENANA76os6zvmnA
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."21Please respect copyright.PENANA5gSwHYRWfp
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4422IhSEmv
Ah, that made sense. After such a total disaster, being a bit shaken up made sense. With how strange she's been acting, I was glad she said something that made sense, so I did the same.21Please respect copyright.PENANAmOUCBmwx0J
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnr47iDgZHJ
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."21Please respect copyright.PENANA2NRkJyeGoj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhJojhS5PGs
"I know I can do that! But, well..."21Please respect copyright.PENANAhpBQM3OOe9
21Please respect copyright.PENANAfK8OnGKCCl
She had her fingertips conjoined.21Please respect copyright.PENANACJZcrVFTZ8
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4HGL5bhRUX
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."21Please respect copyright.PENANAjTQJLC2NAz
21Please respect copyright.PENANAWXCZ1YK4DR
She looked at me with pleading eyes. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, ruminating. The felt the lengths I'd go through for her expanded.21Please respect copyright.PENANAemGujd0QsR
21Please respect copyright.PENANAEjvzbqHDKN
"Alright, I'll show you."21Please respect copyright.PENANAMKgA3jCIsw
21Please respect copyright.PENANAHyflKdD3gn
"Yay!"21Please respect copyright.PENANA3b0XjTHGWd
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJyqd4Qln5x
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.21Please respect copyright.PENANAXaflEHUL5J
21Please respect copyright.PENANAepbY4OYnwO
"I think it's best if we do this outside."21Please respect copyright.PENANAzT9YiUNFDx
21Please respect copyright.PENANA5Oz52O0Wcy
"Okay, then let's go!"21Please respect copyright.PENANA1TeywJ4hTW
21Please respect copyright.PENANAiqogNoPnJq
She rushed out of the door and I followed her. We were at the field of crops now. We sat parallel to it. Flinty was next to me.21Please respect copyright.PENANAdApNeHmb1B
21Please respect copyright.PENANAVe15nhAK3Y
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."21Please respect copyright.PENANAIlsfGZxJMH
21Please respect copyright.PENANAbJAG0pfTJb
"Earth?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAcqHctsOCUf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZjRPR0b7jZ
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."21Please respect copyright.PENANAESki8ZdU8F
21Please respect copyright.PENANA0b9NtPpFbW
Flinty "ahhh"'d and nodded as if that was obvious. I lifted my arm up and thought of what spell to use. Much like all types of magic, the form my earth spell could take was nearly infinite. I didn't want to tamper with the actual ground since I'd have to clean it up if I did, so I decided on creating a little pebble.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEyeoEDS7S2
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1IiwDadrfq
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.21Please respect copyright.PENANAaB2ESc3Z8a
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3y7NxvnMVE
"It's really not that impressive."21Please respect copyright.PENANAksJEfZtgCh
21Please respect copyright.PENANAYeyn0FCARj
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."21Please respect copyright.PENANAhfdvNQ1v9F
21Please respect copyright.PENANAFaAHNcE0SD
I chuckled. I decided to make the rock bigger, so I let a little more mana out. Now, it was about the size of my palm. To show off a bit, I thinned it and made it oblong. Then, I turned it into a flat square. Flinty was giggling, and I was laughing a bit too. Next, I turned it into a perfect sphere. This one was a lot harder to do, but I practiced manipulating Earth a decent amount.21Please respect copyright.PENANA345TjYtlGj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAS0rGwKWQMv
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.21Please respect copyright.PENANAeEWfsAbrFm
21Please respect copyright.PENANAe7PVg0H24Q
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."21Please respect copyright.PENANA6J1xEkZgOf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAGAISrRt4WK
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."21Please respect copyright.PENANAMGa0p7qYv2
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkHIMbCLLzN
I let the ball hover for a bit. I dispelled more mana to smoothen the rind of the ball. It wasn't a citrus, but it was about the same size as a grapefruit. I lowered my hand and the ball stayed in place.21Please respect copyright.PENANAnQcm7khm3u
21Please respect copyright.PENANAyOzi03Ov1V
"How'd you do that!?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAIJfef3kZ64
21Please respect copyright.PENANAAfCGtIGgzn
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."21Please respect copyright.PENANAI4VNjxQ4av
21Please respect copyright.PENANAWz5EU6wuHt
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.21Please respect copyright.PENANAzD3THXZX69
21Please respect copyright.PENANAGL9OsHbICE
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"21Please respect copyright.PENANANirLocPXif
21Please respect copyright.PENANASMJ8aLF5BF
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."21Please respect copyright.PENANAqAuD2kTYjr
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMxrbVhpkfY
I kept messing with the pall. I even spun it on my finger, though that was mana manipulation too. Flinty was looking at it like it was a Star Grant. I'm glad I could entertain her that well.21Please respect copyright.PENANALoHR9CYFxb
21Please respect copyright.PENANAIa5wsPkL41
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.21Please respect copyright.PENANAs64Z7iVcYV
21Please respect copyright.PENANAOrf3haXidC
"What's wrong, Flinty?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA8GzVZbaPby
21Please respect copyright.PENANABBa7C22acC
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.21Please respect copyright.PENANAkmEuVoqBSo
21Please respect copyright.PENANARLJwReocyx
My body began to shake too. Flinty started to slowly back away. I took a deep breath and swiftly turned around, aiming my earth ball at the monster.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtegCYiuO9W
21Please respect copyright.PENANAzIEgHKyLEt
...But there was no monster. All I saw was the face of a dog with blonde fur. His head was sticking out of the field of corn. He frankly looked adorable.21Please respect copyright.PENANA8RfW9E1gF3
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJKGmuiv08b
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAULvaVSjny7
21Please respect copyright.PENANAM3GUw4ke3r
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"21Please respect copyright.PENANAzp17h6kabs
21Please respect copyright.PENANAMeIX60VZRP
Oh.21Please respect copyright.PENANAP3mma7kxTv
21Please respect copyright.PENANAvwzg0kbhEg
Oh.21Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3NPIl9BWN
21Please respect copyright.PENANAOyKCPxk9xC
The dog's head suddenly elevated. He barked at us and continued panting. Something grabbed onto the face of the dog; two tiny hands that were black and purple. Then, the dog stepped out of the corn.21Please respect copyright.PENANA1tpFqu7CaZ
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ml9TP6qft
The dog's head was the same, but the dog's body was humanoid. Decrepit, thin, but the fur was thick and jagged and gray. Something was attached to the head of the dog– no, the monster. It looked like a goblin, but it obviously wasn't.21Please respect copyright.PENANAazUYoFGoTy
21Please respect copyright.PENANAbuYUyJ0tBS
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.21Please respect copyright.PENANAz3Lm2yRN7U
21Please respect copyright.PENANAtsrCeW112p
As for me?21Please respect copyright.PENANAlPLNPzwqpp
21Please respect copyright.PENANAucQUs0mkq6
Well...21Please respect copyright.PENANAk9IkSquYPj
21Please respect copyright.PENANAc0TwhslxCv
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAaTMWlYvqUi
21Please respect copyright.PENANAOf9ko1rJum
**CRUSH**
The dog's head vanished, along with the creature. In the distance, I heard the sound of my ball hitting the walls of the city. It was unbelievably loud. I think I pierced through it.21Please respect copyright.PENANAmx8Z5EThtE
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Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVO4Lv9gE01
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"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAFywmTXjvGK
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That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.21Please respect copyright.PENANAQG0Rvgh4Q9
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"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"21Please respect copyright.PENANADd1IBC5Gyf
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I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.21Please respect copyright.PENANAc5OYV2d1Fi
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–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA6bSS1741fi
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I woke up a minute later. I was passed out for such a small amount of time, I could just tell. I quickly got on my feet, but I just ended up hitting something.21Please respect copyright.PENANAhkYFmSRBSj
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"Ow! Gah, sorry!"21Please respect copyright.PENANAAFu9rHuM2H
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y6iq2qI9X
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.21Please respect copyright.PENANAAuSEqMZ6VO
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"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."21Please respect copyright.PENANAHyIypdp5pY
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I looked around. We were still outside. The body of the monster was still there. Linda was standing over it, carefully observing. Flinty was sitting down nearby, still shaking a little.21Please respect copyright.PENANAnAFrabJP0K
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"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAHF3Hxv9YAE
21Please respect copyright.PENANA2EDYiadDWd
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"21Please respect copyright.PENANAbbXW7ig2kA
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"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"21Please respect copyright.PENANABByVRXUIF1
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"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."21Please respect copyright.PENANA1FgpTmOV2L
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She started to cry. Oh boy. I didn't know what to do, so I just pat her on the shoulder a few times. She jumped and hugged me. I didn't lose my footing this time.21Please respect copyright.PENANARHtveXD0oM
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"It's okay. I was scared of it too."21Please respect copyright.PENANABwr8rMlIMh
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"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"21Please respect copyright.PENANAp42O5EVEFN
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I couldn't make out her words under the sea of tears and blubbering. Oh boy. I pat her back a few times, then when she calmed down, separate from her hug. Victoria stared daggers at me. I didn't understand why.21Please respect copyright.PENANAXct1IkEmhl
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"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.21Please respect copyright.PENANABCwvLDSU2A
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"Of course. What is it?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA3MMEaAUW40
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"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAxA4t3beoZ8
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"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."21Please respect copyright.PENANAxk7w5TbA8H
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"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."21Please respect copyright.PENANAyMSJdu1Rpj
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When she put it that way, it suddenly made the situation look terrible. If there were two monsters, then that means the one responsible was still active. Wait, no, this was a good thing.21Please respect copyright.PENANAqeEwajOiGZ
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"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"21Please respect copyright.PENANApxV12We5HR
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"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."21Please respect copyright.PENANATm5cHgDZtI
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We all looked at her.21Please respect copyright.PENANAyZBhWWx9Q7
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"Tomorrow, we will, along with someone from the combatant's guild, go into the forest and investigate."
Linda and Victoria started disposing of the monster. I sat down next to Flinty. I didn't know what to say, but I definitely felt like I should say something.21Please respect copyright.PENANArooPgPpRX0
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"Kenny."21Please respect copyright.PENANAGRG7E6KwUu
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"Yes?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAc6rakCXvup
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"I'm sorry I freaked out."21Please respect copyright.PENANAk6FkKPMZU9
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I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?21Please respect copyright.PENANANZBJeN14Ve
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"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."21Please respect copyright.PENANAkhSd76C2cK
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"Okay. Kenny?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAwSsHgXsq6k
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"Yes?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA7YmjRtAwRE
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"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."21Please respect copyright.PENANA8cLxs0L76S
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"Huh?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAkDohq6GNnk
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I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.21Please respect copyright.PENANA2q57CBplVO
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"Why do you want to go?"21Please respect copyright.PENANA3kPRjnFGrv
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"I... think I need to."21Please respect copyright.PENANAXcoMWem36H
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I didn't understand. I didn't understand at all. But I didn't say anything. I just nodded. We waited like that for a few more minutes. Victoria came back.21Please respect copyright.PENANAltgheugFc9
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"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."21Please respect copyright.PENANA8y6CWP7Bpr
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"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"21Please respect copyright.PENANAKNfmSC84FU
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"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."21Please respect copyright.PENANA9bWAy1YKc9
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I got up and helped Flinty get on her feet. She was holding my hand tightly. We walked into the farmhouse. Victoria brought us to the living quarters and opened the door for us.21Please respect copyright.PENANA5i3HGX7ggS
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My heart sank.21Please respect copyright.PENANAKi5DIl6rhW
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There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.