The earliest thing he could remember was the book. No, that wasn't quite it, but Kenneth had difficulty recalling. He gave himself a minute, and then it came to him clearly.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXIgaUOKEs
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5bXEzuYKB
Kenneth remembered a building, a grand one in the middle of his home village. It was a church, the Church of the Buffalo. It was on an elevation of two-hundred feet and was five miles from the shore– hardly anything, he's come to realize. He remembered the town having abundant greenery and a gorgeous forest nearby. Of course, how could he forget the forest?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL86hyDR0jU
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qiXOcKU2O
Kenneth was getting distracted. He sat by a boulder and took a breath.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARtlBcSeYd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUnj14OxPf
He had just turned three years old. Kenneth was about thirty-two inches tall, which was considerably short for his age. Kenneth was wearing a black robe, akin to that of the priest's. He was standing next to said priest, who was giving a speech Kenneth couldn't remember. After the speech, his head was doused in warm, relaxing water, and then the attendees of the ceremony clapped. Kenneth was just officially declared a toddler. It may seem silly, but his village was small, so ceremonies for the young were held like this quite often. It was Kenneth's third birthday, he remembered. He ran over to his father and mother, and that was the first memory Kenneth could retain of them. His father looked sick, his mother looked guilty.
From this point on, Kenneth could recall it effortlessly.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEecx8k1h7
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPPk1KIEZV
When Kenneth returned home, he was treated to a dish of kind words and a refreshing meal. He was only three, but he had such a big appetite already. His father was away from the table. Kenneth just sat with his mom.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSEQZsZVUF
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5r8mEAspo
"Happy birthday, Kenny."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zIW9Oc7Pm
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykXiQaPEeY
"Mm?" Kenny hummed with a slice of bread stuffed into his mouth. "Mm! Thank you!" Though it was hard to hear, her mother smiled. She was a nice lady, brown hair and green eyes. Kenneth loved her. He loved how her mother made great food. But Kenneth always thought that she looked too old to be his mom, maybe his grandmother.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajfH7pg63I
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPPHjGboqR
Dad came back to them. He had a glass bottle in his hand. He looked tired, but Kenneth was smiling vigorously at him. He still didn't change out of his church robes. He sat at the table, slamming his empty bottle on it. He stared at Kenneth's mother, and then at Kenneth. He burped and said, "Happy birthday boy," and passed out on the spot.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLybmqREVHy
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPHurW8olR
Those words were a lot coming from his father. Kenneth was told to rush to bed, and he did so cheerily. He did it so.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM5A3NxiFU
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6A5jXCY6w
That was his first big day, his graduation from babyhood. Kenneth remembers it fondly.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzvD1MRoHO
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWfYrWHRzA
Then there was the other big day, maybe six, no, seven months later.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBbzIibmCc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXbh8eZNUv
Customary to the tradition, Kenneth learned how to read and write now that he was a toddler. And he was quite good at it, he soon found. By this time, he was already writing cohesive sentences, and he read every bedtime story in the big folklore book in just a day. Kenneth loved to read, but he loved another thing more: the forest.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FnR14rREy
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFfacAy0W9
Kenneth's house was closest to the Blooming Biomes, a gorgeous forest near the village. Kenneth's room had a window placed perfectly for him to gawk at the forest. It wasn't a dense forest either, so he could see the magical plant life there too. Some of it moved, and some of it released spores, but Kenny marveled at it all the same. Kenneth loved looking at that forest so much that his dad forbade him from going to his room throughout the day. So Kenneth, the smart child that he was, went to the forest.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVpftlzeDm
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH6xWZIUq1
His mother stopped him immediately during his first attempt. He couldn't even make it ten feet out the door. Kenneth protested, but his mother explained that the forest was "dangerous and filled with wild beasts." Kenneth didn't believe her, of course. Kenneth spent all day looking at that forest, and he knew wild beasts weren't there.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ381WDaP3iw
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHhX5XxIpF
On his second attempt, Kenneth made it past the rickety fence surrounding the house. His dad picked him up this time, and he fiercely slapped Kenneth. That was the first time that Kenneth could remember himself crying. His mother was furious, but his father apologized and hugged Kenny. Of course, Kenny was satisfied with that, but he was a smart child, and he knew he could get more out of it. So Kenneth tried to pressure his father to let him into the forest. His father almost slapped him again. Kenneth thought of it as progress.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN7vJpASM0
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQ2iQ4IaYw
Kenneth's third attempt was much more successful. His father caught him trying to jump out the window. Kenneth didn't account for the fall, and he plummeted with teary eyes, but his father was right there, frowning.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVhXTuxuiY
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO3kp1CvLT
"What are you doing, you dumb brat?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHmLfuYVtm
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7UMi7F3G1
Kenneth began to tear up again. His father sighed. "Don't try this again, Kenneth," he simply said. And Kenneth obliged. For a week.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1KMqmCVuo
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cUrG4AytV
Kenneth's fourth attempt wasn't interrupted by anybody. He managed to do it, to finally do it; he was in the woods. Kenneth frolicked around and gazed at the scenery like a dumb drooling moron. He hugged the trees, tickled the flowers, and even pulled one out of its stock before he was hit with a spore that made him cough and wheeze. Kenneth decided against randomly pulling on plants. Kenneth ventured further into the forest, and he swore that it grew more and more beautiful with each step. Even the grass had a sparkly tint to it. Kenneth loved it. But something went awry.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WDwJXXMpq
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ5kAkF5CY
Kenneth tripped on a large root he didn't see. He scraped his knee, but Kenneth managed to suppress his tears. His father's given him worse after all. He rested against the nearby tree. Though it hurt, once he raised his head from the wound, his joy washed the pain away. The forest was that majestic.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNcMv3pX8C
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVayZz4ICve
Then out came an animal. It wasn't very big. In fact, Kenneth thought it looked familiar. It was like one of the farm animals his neighbor kept around, but it had long curvy teeth coming from its mouth that pointed to the sky, and it had a lot of brown furs. It looked at Kenneth, and Kenneth smiled. And then Kenneth was forced to roll away.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda49yB8txd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomW9SvLFwR
The boar hit his snout on the tree, dazing the beast for just long enough for Kenneth to get on his feet and haul ass. But he tripped again on a different root. This time, Kenneth cried. The beast inched nearer and nearer and Kenneth's scratch grew to a disgusting flow of blood. Kenneth crawled away screaming but the beast kept approaching. Kenneth's pants became damp. But a miracle happened. The boar stepped forward and forward, and after hearing a snap of a branch, a great purple something emerged from the ground. It resembled the maw of a great dragon, but its eyes were missing and it was roughly the size of Kenneth himself. The boar stepped back in shock, but before it could make any distance, the boar's head had been bitten off. The maw retracted into the ground. Kenneth couldn't move. Ten minutes later he slowly crawled to the hole that was made. It wasn't a hole, he realized. It was a set of four large leaves, parallel and perpendicular to one another, and in the middle of these leaves were blue sparkles. Kenneth knew better than not to touch it. Kenneth smiled with glee, got up, and ran home.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gsjQBVHjQ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ri7XIVv0
Two things happened that day. Kenneth discovered mana, and Kenneth discovered magical plants. He was running back home excited, but a loud ruckus coming from the home prevented him from entering the front door. It was his mother and father. They were screaming and crying. Kenneth waited until they stopped, and it did when he heard a slap. He didn't know who it was from.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnj3ReGZ0w
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM8NmCSBPK
The next instance Kenneth cared to remember was when he turned four. Kenneth somehow hadn't been caught sneaking out into the woods, but something of his had been found. His mother was in his room, holding a notebook in her hand that Kenneth was all too familiar with. He turned to run away but was grabbed by the back of his shirt before he could.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZeGWJt05r
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzb8lhvVeD
"What is this, Kenny?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpL7jkQGXL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfvfdBqi1U
"Umm... it's a journal. I draw the plants I see outside in it."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7vtFpFR9c
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S9gwZBM1t
Kenneth decided to tell his mom a half-truth. Maybe he could escape a beating that way, he thought. His mother opened the book and flipped straight to the crummy illustration of the purple plant that killed the boar.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5OKxpBV8N
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvwUwdij2E
"What is this? Magical plant? Killed big bad boar? Kenneth, what have you been doing in your free time!?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0zBFHPkMY
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKJyz4Cv6s
It was no use avoiding it now. Kenneth told his mother that, for the past six months, he has been going into the Blooming Biome and studying the magical plant life there. As well as a kid his age could, anyway. Though Kenny expected to be slapped, that didn't happen.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3niAWHwuEL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP2yVRR34l
"Christina, do you know what this means?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ftbgd1yGZ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvgihk6IXD
His father was at the door, crossing his arms. Kenneth was even more afraid now.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbxmFj1y9w
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx6RMBrzYU
"Magical plants, the brat loves this stuff."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LWyPK1R9k
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6fCav7G8n
Kenneth's mom nodded. Kenneth didn't understand what was going on, but the two of them were smiling and that had to be good.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB3N1D00Ha
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgjp5gkeAt
It was.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgvUJGuRKh
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzoJUlgXS2
A week later, Kenneth's father presented him with what could best be described as a tome. Kenneth didn't ask where they got it, because he was having a hard time even lifting the thing. His father explained to him that it was a book of magical plants and alchemy. Kenneth had no idea what the second word meant but he didn't care. He just received a big new book to read.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyAEJtufKS
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y7mhNSdMx
It took Kenneth a month to read the book. Another month was spent reading it again. Kenneth tried to sneak out again but his parents had been keeping an exceptionally watchful eye, so it was impossible. Kenneth didn't mind though, because this book was the greatest thing that has ever happened to him. He didn't know any of this 'alchemy' stuff, but the plants, oh the plants. He recognized the few he's seen in the woods, like the spore one, or the purple one, or the one that occasionally shoots out blazing beams of light, or the ones that make him vomit. But there were so, so many that Kenneth didn't know about, or could've even dreamt about. Most of them were at much higher elevations, but that was fine because King's Peak was easy to traverse anyway. He saw gorgeous illustrations resembling beasts more than plants, and each picture carried an ungodly amount of information. Uses, known habitats, behaviors if they had any, risks, stories of their discovery. Kenny spent all day in his room, just reading about this stuff, over and over. His parents had to take away the book for a week.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRvH1UOvLG
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwldQC42PM
During that week though Kenny managed to sneak out of the house. It seemed that all the time he spent in his room reading made his parent's security lax. He ventured into the forest with his journal, now filled with plagiarisation from the book both text and picture, and attempted to connect each plant he saw with an illustration. Now that he was older traveling the forest was much easier, and Kenneth learned to bring a weapon with him this time. He had a small hunting knife in a sheath in his pocket. He discovered that he could also use the knife to take some of the plants he saw with him, but he made sure they didn't shoot out any spores before he did. He kept the retrieved plants in his other pocket. It was fine for a while until his pants became wet. Not from himself this time, but from the plants. He took them out and they were all leaking a clear fluid. It was clear but it was sparkly, much like the rest of the forest. Kenneth didn't have any cup with him, so he improvised and took the knife out of its sheath and used that to store the liquid. He ran home, forsaking the plants and the knife, and snuck in.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lSQpvXsdd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWRLiXHwcy
His parents still weren't home though. Kenneth usually wouldn't pay that any heed, but there was broken glass in the kitchen and small red liquid on the floor.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2jIlG9B0j
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilpXVSZj3i
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUQ2c1bhcd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNojNDiDwC
Kenneth ran upstairs.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFA9WZAB8A
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGxBwnrgr1
Kenneth spent the next week experimenting with the liquid. He relocated it to a small glass cup and tested it out. He didn't want to taste it quite yet since he knew that was dangerous, but he did touch it. It felt cold, even after being in his room for so long. It amazed Kenneth. Kenneth then spent time putting different things into the cup. Grass, food, a few of his clothes, sometimes his own urine, metal, and by some miracle, fire. Nothing ever came of it though. It satisfied Kenneth for a while, but ultimately, he thought it was a dud. He kept the glass around. It made him feel nice.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGKX6RvAw5
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgpQF9dBq1
In a month's time, something exciting happened to Kenneth. His birthday was just a few days away but before any celebration or presents, his father sat him down outside. This had never happened before, so it made Kenny die with anticipation.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKrLNAkqWR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6blkaLVQeH
"So son, I hear you're really liking those magical plants, right?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPPYzyqufg
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrXjT0306y
Kenneth nodded his head rapidly.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0H14lZx2I
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYpBm2S6Eu
"But you don't know anything about alchemy yet."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UC9zZaa9M
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GNxvarr25
Kenneth still didn't know what that word meant. His father puffed out his chest.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS12bao8UM
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03xElJfh96
"Luckily for you, brat, I know exactly what alchemy is. But before that, I need to teach you what mana is."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzDi1kU3PN
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdGdoV1lzG
That was when Kenneth's life began.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5OrscIGAL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor8LMpKDOb
His father taught him the basics: how mana was the essence creatures manipulated to conjure objects and tinker with the world. Fire, water, earth, and wind would all be conjured, and in the right circumstances, they could be manipulated as well. His father also explained how combinations could occur but he glossed over it. His father told him alchemy was the mana manipulation of chemicals, magical or not, and that it took a very skilled user of mana to achieve success in alchemy.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VyQqs0htX
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMJhRiJtnK
It was all Kenneth needed to hear before constantly nagging his dad about lessons. His fifth birthday rolled around and his father had bought him a basic alchemy kit, consisting of flasks, cylinders, syringes, and dropper bottles. Kenneth was unbelievably grateful that he practically ignored the new clothes his mother had bought for him. It was a white shirt with a grayish-blue vest, and a nice pair of gloves to go with it. It was meant for his alchemy, his mother explained. Kenneth loved his parents dearly that day.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38P7jnrGh4
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdB3KCcYvP
His lessons on mana manipulation were coming along steadily. Sometimes he would be beaten for failure, but Kenneth didn't care if it meant getting better. Three months passed, and after numerous bruises and fights between his parents later did Kenneth "graduate" from his father's lessons. The whole time though, Kenneth messed with alchemy, and really, he only needed his lessons for a few weeks. It mattered not though.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXWXUhNSeZ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55z3aJPVow
Kenneth was an auspicious child. He mastered basic alchemy like matter state manipulation and chemical changing, but to him, that was all just chemistry. No, what Kenneth really, really wanted to mess around with were the plants in the forest. His parents didn't care if he was out and about anymore, so Kenneth took advantage of it. What was probably his hundredth trip was taken with new knowledge, his new clothes, and a new passion.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWzH1ZVKwT
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SqBq4X5WC
Kenneth brought bags with him, as well as a flask and a syringe. He had a belt where he could hook the flask and syringe and a cork lid to make sure the flask was shut. He put plants in the bag and any leak was put straight into the flask. He regretted only bringing one. He wanted the purest sample possible, after all. He still did have that syringe though, and since it was going to be such a small sample, he knew it had to come from a special plant.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGy9ZZKMdw
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTZ2p0oD1R
Kenneth smiled. He knew that there was a special plant here, alright. He ventured further into the forest until he found four familiar leaves. The sparkles from all that time ago were gone now, but that didn't deter him. He crouched down and stuck his syringe into the middle. And all of a sudden, out popped the purple plant.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGzV0Wj2LL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18EvoNHjdq
But Kenneth was ready for it. He reached for his knife holstered on his belt and cut the stem effortlessly. The maw fell to the ground, motionless, and Kenneth stuck its syringe into it. He also decided to take the head and one leaf for good measure.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLNKi3S85M
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1cL6ScMxJ
It was a haul, and Kenneth couldn't be happier. He returned home ready to tell his parents of his discoveries. That didn't happen quite like how it should've. His mom stepped outside as he was five feet away. Kenneth opened his mouth to say hi, but she looked at him with ferocity. It was a face Kenneth never knew her mother could make.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOGKbSV0Mp
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyTJ4QKmZd
"S-Sorry, Kenneth. I'm sorry, your dad is just..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwaMbnjY04
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS1If0LuUy
Kenneth nodded and entered the home. His father was sitting at the table. His forehead was bleeding a little and his knuckles were bruised.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1rRn4cCcz
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU28wwTGOoh
"Hey brat, what do you have over there?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5bI20gPdi
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruNlvKHSK3
"J-Just some plants, Dad..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1ckK0nbgt
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLlAYpehMV
"That's my boy. Hey, come over here."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuENwF7xjnZ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl8oeg8xkX
Kenneth gulped. He let go of the bag and waddled towards his father. What he got was a soft pat on his head. Kenneth blushed in surprise.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCsUjduxDi
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMefHc9DfX
"Keep doing that stuff, kid. I'm amazed by how much you love it. Don't worry about me and your mother, alright?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfZ7ngjTaH
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KTqy6CbC0
Kenneth's eyes sparkled, and he nodded with a smile. His love for his parents, though still burning, felt like it had been reignited.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIkMMD2pCQ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIMJPypQVz
Kenneth went upstairs. His room was converted into a sort of miniature laboratory.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lmW4HbScJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfKjX4Ii8S
It was in that laboratory where Kenny would enhance his skills for the next two years. The time flew by fast. Astonishingly fast, but Kenneth's growth showed it. According to his father, Kenneth had already become a grade-four alchemist. Kenneth had no idea what that meant but it made him happy, and it drove him to keep improving.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUlNCfQVg2
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4nIMByY3l
Usually, Kenneth would follow the book. He learned the mixtures and followed the instructions listed there, and after hours of practice, the results he received were even better than what the book described. He managed to make a fertility potion to grow the newly planted tree in an instant. He managed to create a healing potion which, according to his mother, healed a boy's broken arm instantly. He managed to even reconnect one of the cut plants he brought back to the soil, and now a spore-bloom was in his backyard. His father punched him for it and removed it, since it was making him sneeze.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHo6DT0KHG
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWF4UaowJe
But, after a while, Kenneth ran out of instructions to follow in the book, and he already perfected each and every recipe. He asked his parents for a new one but they claimed the books were "too expensive these days". Kenneth was upset but he didn't protest, he just thought of new things to do. A night in his laboratory made him realize just how potent his mana manipulation had become, so much so that he could do it without thinking. He thought maybe to learn proper spells, such as those related to the four core elements but decided against it. He decided on something new entirely.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6IxRh1Hdb
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDmOy1uYxh
What if, Kenny thought, he could manipulate the plants?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNCjG5DDq8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9tw64Jsrl
The next year Kenneth would learn to do just that. He mixed his alchemy and mana manipulation with the plants he would find in the wild. He made roots grow and shrivel just with mana, and he could even accelerate the growth and decay of plants. He soon learned to amplify the effects of the plants, such as how potent the spores were, or just how large and hot the light beams from the Light-Beam-Blossoms became. Ultimately though, he returned to alchemy, and that was because of one thing: the purple dragon-maw plant. He planted it back using one of his plant-revival potions but did it in a more remote location. The maw, for whatever reason, didn't react negatively to Kenneth. In fact, the maw begged for his attention. It would lick Kenneth from time to time, much like a dog did. Kenneth grew to cherish it.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZYp6gQipQ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD0PKvvUdc
The plant itself seemed to be rare, as, according to the textbook, it was an "ancient species likely to be extinct." Obviously that wasn't the case, but Kenny didn't mind. That was because there were no alchemical procedures listed with the plant. All of it was free reign, like a sandbox, and Kenny took advantage of it. He mixed and matched substances and potions with the essence of the dragon-maw plant, all to varying degrees of effects. Sadly, Kenny burned through possible combinations too quickly. He had to leave the maw for the time being; he said his goodbyes.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkicRORDmg
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwWzZKd9UX
Kenny returned to the forest again to gather more plants. This time he ventured deeper than ever, hoping to find a species he hadn't encountered yet. It didn't happen. Instead, Kenny found another boar, but it was smaller than last time, most likely a child. Kenny left it alone, afraid that it might hurt him, and continued to go deeper into the woods. He turned back once the sun began to set. On his way back though, Kenny found an interesting sight.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC82ipHt0m
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARsTpeOHPu
"...It's dead."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs13puVzG8p
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJyArh2zcR
The boar was lying on the ground, not in one piece, but in several. Its insides, few in quantity, were sprawled around the grass. The boar was practically hollow. All that was inside of its skin were bones. But for whatever reason, a single part of the boar was left out completely untouched: its heart.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUchiPR04Z7
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk9NFgEgXm
Kenny didn't know what overcame him, but he reached for that heart and put it in the bag. He ran straight to his room and took out the syringe containing the essence of the dragon-maw plant. He stuck it into the heart. Nothing happened until he used mana manipulation.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxUTSAifYR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcJ30JUEvz
What he saw made Kenneth jump in ecstasy. The heart began to ooze the liquid, and beat.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzVsCVoFr1
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFKGB0Nqu7
A month passed and Kenneth continued to mess with the dragon-maw's substances. He inject it into other plants, even into a live pig at one point, and used varying levels of mana manipulation just to see what would happen. The pig oozed out the liquid, but was fine. As for the plants though, nothing happened. Kenneth came to the conclusion that only flesh and bone were affected by the ooze.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1ss99dQ8P
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ISuQ10t4S
Though that month was a blur, one day did really stick out to him. It was the day his mother entered his room.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw2iYMHeFg
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9XZ8NjZ1X
"Huh? Hello, mother! Is something the matter?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ5t29Sg8f
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkhG1kR7vZ
"Oh? Not at all honey, not at all. I was just wondering what you were up to."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVOJnpXHaJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5tAzKsXzc
That was the first time she ever said that. It made Kenneth happy, so he explained his process and findings, how he used the ooze and injected it into organisms. He told her of the pig, and how–594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmyoQ2Twco
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4UhU8dJ6c
**THUD**594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoK5RZi6Ly
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ483dO2KMGD
A fist flew right into Kenneth's stomach. He was launched to the wall and slowly slid down. He looked up at his mother, who was making a face of pure terror.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzPiuPpNMo
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0dsd7qdCN
"You, Kenny. Don't you ever, ever defile flesh with your crazy, stupid alchemy bullshit!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKzRWdDaMI
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurh4FllWsC
And from there on, Kenny was disallowed to use living things.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZbqArODtq
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9smqY44K7p
Three months passed. Kenneth's focus returned to manipulating plants with mana. He quickly grew more and more efficient, to the point where hardly any nutrients from the soil were used to manipulate plants. His raw skill in mana manipulation grew, too. His father told him how splendid of a mage Kenneth could become, but Kenneth didn't care for that. Kenneth's greatest achievement was growing an entire tree in his backyard, just using his mana. The tree was nearly twice the size of any tree in the Blooming Biome, so it attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors, and Kenny got a good beating because of it. Kenny didn't care though, he was improving, he was growing better and better. But it didn't feel as fulfilling. He returned to alchemy and improved his potion-making abilities, and through connections with his father, he even managed to sell them to outsiders of the village. Having a sudden income was pleasant, but the process of making potions became repetitive.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H0fPTS80u
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqk3KN4wKC
Kenny had the itch to return to the dragon-maw. But it wouldn't amount to anything. After all, he had no flesh he could use.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Cqmokvvl
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5gyzOxKwm
That was until Kenny looked in the bathroom mirror.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G2SwdlHUF
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQcSkW9ODa
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5l1q7AyLr
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh5NXiVFDs
He almost couldn't believe it. Here in the present, recollecting, he couldn't believe he actually went through with it. He continued reminiscing.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3acciB9em
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL5MCBUEEW
He used his body to test the effects. He started small of course, just a quarter of a syringe's worth of essence, and the effects were immediate. Kenny received a deal of discomfort, and his face scrunched terribly. But something worried him. Unlike the pig, the ooze never left his body.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBoiL3D02h
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9Z1WLA3gQ
His curiosity grew. He returned home that day, hoping to continue his fiddling in his room, but when he walked through that front door, he was met with a thrashed kitchen.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfaWVhkSp9
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zUBTPzV78
His mother was on the floor, sobbing. It was so distinct to him, that sobbing. The house had disappeared. The hallway, the broken kitchen, everything was gone. All he could see was his sobbing mother.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkruHGxoX4
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0jRJSWVFE
Kenny had no idea what to do, because now he wasn't playing with his plants. Now, he was in his home, and his mother was sobbing on the floor, and his mother was sobbing on the floor and Kenny had no idea why.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ2WHonZ5N
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz1sYRsoS5
He scuttled upstairs and burst into his room. He rummaged frantically, glancing at potions and doing double-takes, making sure he would grab the right one. He eventually found a healing potion. Keny ran back down and offered it to her, wordlessly. His mother slapped it away, claiming that "she was fine" but Kenny knew it was a lie.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOhYErF8II
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHz3adBZNF
And yet, Kenny believed it. He nodded at her assertation and simply walked back to his room. He lied down on his bed, and with a little trouble, fell asleep. Why did he do that?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5x1cRbaVO
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHtrnLO2Jf
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EsOzn2l76
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrmQKKEIYB
He returned to his experiments the next day. Kenneth had no interest experiencing such discomfort for results, so he changed his strategy. He drank some of the essence. It tasted like crap, so he spat it out. He tried mixing the essence with fruit and bread, but it tasted like crap so he spat it out. He was nearly out of options until his father brought home a bag of seeds. It was for the garden they were going to supposedly make. Kenneth found a new food item to try, so he injected the tiny seed with the essence– only a fraction of the syringe went in –and ate it.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHViHuGqpB
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkQX2xtYmF
It tasted like nothing. He tried a few more, still, nothing. The dosage must've been too small he thought, but then he realized that didn't make sense. It didn't matter how small the dosage was, it was always going to taste the same. But he didn't taste anything, just the grimy seed.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf88SEgY6p
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uXOoZOeD6
Kenny thought he made progress. He ate a few more for good measure, and waited.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ewBkjXhNL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFNw36iqRN
He concluded that nothing would happen once his ninth birthday rolled around, since it was four months later. His parents didn't bring him any gifts for this one. In fact, they weren't even at the house.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3mwKFcRkV
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3CgjJROjv
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcYL801ZrH
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcyeGaIgJ1
Kenny didn't mind. He went back to the dragon-maw plant. The plant was excited to see him and repeated the same licking routine it had been doing for a long time. Kenneth was excited to see it too, of course. It became a great close friend of his.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHQfEQnP5e
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YwoezdK6c
It was while caressing the plant that Kenneth noticed something strange about himself. For whatever reason, his shirt was bulging at his chest, and he felt something cold and hard rub against his right arm. He pulled back and stared at it. He couldn't believe his eyes. He pulled back his sleeve. Still, he was shocked. He took off his shirt and now Kenneth became worried.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl37moxTlc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLKTTcojq1
A bundle of roots about as thick as his father's arm was protruding from the left side of his chest. It wrapped around Kenny's right arm and stopped right above his hand.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSucVKkALcI
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5lcoq8WYB
Kenny fainted.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvYG0YMAzQ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPiUFsSiz3
Kenny woke up an hour later and the bundle of roots was still there. Kenny tried to move it with his other hand but it wouldn't budge. He tried ripping and tearing at it, but it just grew back. This tendril of wood was seemingly stuck with him now. Kenneth panicked and asked himself, "What could've caused this?" He kept asking this question to himself while flailing his arms, trying desperately to shake the wood off.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaDNR0DBYt
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF82PUeS173
He thought of all the plants he'd been tinkering with until this day. Was this revenge? Was this way of getting back at him? He knew it was silly but he couldn't think of anything else. He almost fainted again until the striking image of the spore plant came to his mind, and all of a sudden, the tip of the tendril blossomed that very plant.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpGG7VaX9b
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8JraQkibp
"...What in the world?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqnQBd38ZS
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpZ9oA9pNR
It was much smaller than the normal plant. Half the size, just about. Kenneth didn't understand how this was possible, but he kept messing with it. Next was the light beam plant, and it blossomed at half the size. Next was the dragon maw plant, then the poison one, then the one with the sparkly liquid, and all of them came out perfectly. Just at half the normal size.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDd3wGTtkS
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoYeR98ayD
"But how do I get rid of this tendril?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fhmWER3kE
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxL9EhjWgc
The utterance of the sentence made the tendril swiftly retract back into his chest. Somehow he didn't get any splinters.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5sXQ2kANm
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjyUYdmZe1
"Is that it? Do I just need to say tendril?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l2GAWtDue
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK5wFRCWZB
That didn't work, so Kenneth thought about bringing the tendril forth. It came out and wrapped around his right arm without him even uttering anything.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NU3alVCt4
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezuvdTLlHE
"So that's what it is..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1turHrKye
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfJuJ3TeN9
Though Kenneth was skeptical, and frankly, disturbed, something about this was incredible. He jumped for joy and ran back home. He couldn't wait until he showed his parents.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoQNDAo88C
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf5DZqdQVi
Sure, they might've been out when he awoke, but they had to be back by now. Kenny did pass out after all, didn't he? He ran to the front door and slammed it open. He was so excited he could barely see in front of him. He suddenly stopped, because he realized that if he showed a wooden tendril the size of his father's arm coming out of his chest, he was sure to see the priest or something. So he tiptoed in instead.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hAj0oltaW
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb4a4Vo8qM
He heard some noise coming from the kitchen. How exciting! Even if he wasn't going to show them his tendril, he was sure that at the very least, he would receive a present. Kenneth turned the corner and entered the kitchen.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk04s5IViPb
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3NrntOr03
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7dK4YReo2
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdbR1bFDES
"Haaa... How do you like that? Can't give me shit and hell looking like that now, can you?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd75KyNKuK
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsD0cqKYPw
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxGCZIu4Ak
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqymDBtHIo
Kenny was sure, for a moment, that he was still passed out, because this made no sense. Of course, that had to be it. A tendril from his chest should've been a good enough indicator, but this practically confirmed it.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfclV5H7ByZ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKqQNO7bgI
His mother was standing there with a knife in her hand. It was wet, and the liquid was dripping onto the floor, making a great big red puddle. Kenneth looked aside, and saw his father with his head laid down, and covered in that same red liquid.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSOMVe8JUR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1Vc5xkqVk
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazlskWfP0W
"...Dad–"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz2b5Tyzvd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lDkboIwjB
"Huh?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiWU5WP5W6
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQ4jrX7IU
His mother turned around. When she saw Kenneth, she looked terrified. It made no sense. If she was terrified, then what was Kenneth supposed to feel?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpVAPNnKQw
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnu4mBC7Zu
His mother fell to the floor. She dropped the knife. She scurried away from the boy as if he was the one who killed the man she loved.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ187871VtNE
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENiDsuXuhC
"K-Kenny! It isn't– it's not–"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbzbGbDXFa
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2REYs91O9X
"...W-Why? Mom, why?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74pwIUwFM9
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOpJtaUxFD
But her mother didn't respond. She began to cry, to wail. Kenny didn't understand why.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvptBUAEJ1
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCF7RqqBsT
Kenny just didn't understand why.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm20J4Oe07r
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJivL9j5bXv
Kenny yelled. He didn't know what was happening but the tendril stretched and pushed his mother against the wall. Kenny kept screaming and screaming, and then he too began to cry, and he kept crying all while the tendril held up his mother. Soon, a neighbor came by. Then another.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZTayPRIl
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf1cy9ulS3
Mother was arrested that day.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82DYkGRgKi
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXqhpyId5R
–
–
–
Nobody questioned Kenny's strange new limb. Nobody had the heart to. "What kind of soulless bastard would ask him that now?" Stuff like that. It made sense.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8oVUcemZs
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOeMUSP5HP
He was back in the church. He sat alone, wearing his church garbs. It was the first time he wore something other than his mother's gift. He couldn't possibly imagine doing it now.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzyDYfJw5U
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZTZqflKaC
Kenny's mother was under trial. The whole town and the priest served as the jury. At one point Kenny was asked to testify but he couldn't move a muscle. He just couldn't.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsQlDJkhrE
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdgbnJzurf
It was a pitiful trial. Kenny's mother didn't utter anything, and in the end, she was sentenced to death. Kenny was forbidden to watch the execution, but he somehow weaseled his way in as he tends to.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTDg4SJP74
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCklAS1h5aD
His mother was hung with a rope around her neck. Kenny didn't know what to feel.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoQUc13ic3
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoAauWTeGC
Kenneth didn't know if he could anymore.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqSTSGYQTj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRXvSX5tPd
The trial didn't even last half the day. Her guilt was just that easy to tell. "But what did that mean for Kenny?" everyone asked. Of course, he was famous in the village. He served excellent potions and has made spectacles for the entire town to see. But nobody knew the type of person Kenny was.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OifaK1RbX
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkk26p03bQ
All the while, Kenny could do nothing but stare at the ground.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8aXKJhP58
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBbN8R7wtJ
A decision was eventually reached. A family with the surname "Somber" would take custody of the boy. Kenny was asked if he would've liked to keep his old surname but he didn't say anything.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEVKhX7mBJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHtEP4Mj4B
Kenny was taken to their home. Kenny didn't know what became of his old residence. He was fed at his new home, and he even had a little brother now.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzYm6ea1b7
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRgdxi9FbK
For the first month Kenny didn't leave the house. It was excused at the time but eventually, his talents were needed too much. So Kenny, who got his equipment back, returned to alchemy, potion brewing, and the selling of his potions. He did it as well as he ever did, but it was different this time. It was wrong. Sometimes now, Kenny would slip up and make faulty products, and those times he didn't receive a beating, just a scolding. Some part of him wished he did receive a beating though.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBAWsFiRaE
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGA3xtvYnJv
It went on for another month.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy0AnoUhhR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyHf5qMgKp
Then another.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf7ilZ9iN8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ1iSwTQ9w
Then another.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XMqnas6g5
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡounOIhv6a8
Kenneth couldn't get the picture out of his head.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3XBxd1WlA
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGFm1KHPkS
The blood. It was slathered on the knife as if she was going to apply it to bread. And she was just standing there. Kenny didn't see her face but he knew she was smiling. And then her face after. Why was she so scared? Why? Why?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl36HOhvXy8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOLCd6AIVk
Kenny couldn't get that image out of his mind.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7wlJdIVdJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2y2Gqvj58
The image of his mother, of her horrified face.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2vih36MAF
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijlgIFdzjQ
Kenny didn't understand what compelled her. Why did she have to kill his father? Kenny didn't understand. He asked himself and he didn't have an answer.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBDoo2kZbf
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOsBlreNvT
But of course he did. Kenny was a smart kid, he knew what it was all along.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1KT3ERcFX
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrvp8hJ3hm
They hated each other, didn't they? The "why" didn't matter, because look at what it amounted to. And all the while, Kenny was out of the house or in his room, playing with his plants like they were toys. He was at peace. They were not.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfse43euXQ3
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUGMqUoish
And Kenny reminded himself of this.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fB496UDlZ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeLVPLJBLh
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMmz5aN4UH
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUnIv6Cwc9
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9Y7s5pWJK
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vmz4NItG
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodIQj3Iw4a
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSE1ZQtisS
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNThJVPD4v9
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2vCRQDbiB
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qqNHWOKT7
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXbaeXCeIx
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo4fg2stsG
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD0oZg5jFr
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINmd7SzmQc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo8jeDKJN3
Over and over.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71GlpTNoqX
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhocc4WkhcG
He left the house. He turned ten already, somehow, he couldn't fathom how but he didn't care. He returned to the dragon-maw. It was called a Viscous plant, he recalled. But he hated that name. It was Dragon-Maw and that was final.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkDZsRzXRc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGOI1J7qYi
Dragon-maw was excited to see him. He licked Kenny's face and even ticked him with his snout. Kenny appreciated it but wasn't here for that. He took out his syringe and took a sample of Dragon-maw's essence.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLaWXGxwJP
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUr39AN62G
–
–
–
Kenny received a present for his eleventh birthday. It was like a coat. A large puffy white one with brown outlining. But it also came with a stylish shirt and a pair of brown, skinny pants.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17d25n75T8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqxvB5gFZb
His new mother, Anabelle, said that the coat was there to compensate for the bulge whenever his tendril came out. Kenny smiled and thanked her. It had been a while since he'd done such a thing.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3cBATK58e
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FETUHY8Er
After the pleasant event, Kenny returned to alchemy and mana manipulation. He hardly improved though. Kenny lost a lot more than his family during the incident. Kenny tried to stay in good touch with the whole village. He tried to put on smiles and talk politely, but all the words he and other spewed never sat right with Kenny. Nothing ever sat right.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheGCyyGmBj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiYChP4jIy
Then there was Dragon-Maw. Kenny saw him every day. Kenny used to love the greeting he received from the plant but he's stopped being licked altogether. Today in particular, Kenny received a face akin to disgust, though it was hard to tell because the plant lacked eyes.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3apY0NpXm8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqLDvSWz5z
"What's the matter, Dragon-Maw?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdvYZRzhDm
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t2KDFzqsv
The plant shook its head no. Kenny didn't really understand.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0j31KezsN
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p3hCTZN47
"Come on, I know it hurts but it's only for a little bit. Just let me–"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79BhJKLDnu
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPmWBnBGC9
Dragon-Maw opened his face and yelled at him. Kenny fell on his butt.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAZHtVDgBj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv56oj0CfHK
"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC74Zu0mYA
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIVEYKGjoH
He was getting agitated. Still, the plant continued to flail and yell. Kenny rushed in and tried to pin it down but he was knocked away. Kenny grew annoyed and used his tendril. He wrapped it around the maw and shut it tight.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZcu2dhB4V
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKbxasrnWV
"If you keep resisting, I'll just knock you out."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCe4my96Me
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HqUXuz2xx
The plant resisted anyway, and thus, Kenny did good on his words. He took a quick sample and returned home.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHfKVwbD08
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHZnQPaLvn
It seemed like Dragon-Maw's behavior wasn't the only strange thing today.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4eGTHrqi4
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmQVzT1Jp7
Anabelle approached Kenny before he entered the house. She carried him inside hurriedly. She asked Kenny to sit down and he did. He waited for a few minutes before she returned with a letter. Kenny was handed it and he began to read.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFnVUcgX4F
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz2Ipp1L68
It was an invitation.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhQbmQKDkY
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvfU1B1U0E
Somehow, a scout from a prestigious school of alchemists saw the things Kenny had been doing, and considering his incredibly young age, thought it fit to enroll him there. Apparently, tuition was free, but the school was an extensive journey away. It would take four months on a carriage.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVauQrAMxqf
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCeI5dTXbO
Kenny did not know how to react, nor did he know what to say. He politely told Anabelle that he'd consider it and returned to his room. He continued doing his regular alchemy business but the invitation continued to nag him. He sighed and put down the flask.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSunT5sLkd7
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxlFFXdOKN
"What am I supposed to do?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yvg61hXUe
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIfFlE51VL
It was a tempting offer. Kenny did love his plants, after all. Alchemy was profitable and enjoyable, and he was very skilled at mana manipulation. The selling of his potions probably caught the eye of the university. But why should he go? He was already exceptional in his field. He was fine here, wasn't he?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDasGVy9oN
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b2ITPrAP0
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2foVHB1kj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiKhmlAIMO
How long had it been since he did any experimenting? How long had it been since he went back to the Blooming Biome?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SFBGCViR8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJslEibePnc
All of a sudden, Kenny's mind began to hurt. This is something he'd typically avoid thinking about. He sighed, thinking it was time to clear the haze in his mind.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nJxNzczm3
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhu21HEAxl
–
–
–
Dragon-Maw went missing.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmgVxFOTGV
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbqklIQKKw
The stationary plant went missing.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY5LsviZbI
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AJoeTbuic
He had no way of making a new one. The one in his tendril would simply produce blood– it was something he discovered months ago.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlefKSYayrD
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuc2bgXGWN
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5VXazhcUf
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3yonoS8oA
Dragon-Maw went missing.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K3ObYiVp4
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dNds3ToNg
Kenny asked, though he already knew. He fell to his knees.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLZglZNYpv
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMvO1RMkfR
"...Why?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlDBNMKmU8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgBrLOiNoB
Didn't he see his face? That terrified face of disgust?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrAOgN0aWR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaII6ditFK5
And still, Kenny took his essence.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5kG6xJkmf
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr0aEcp2xP
Of course he would leave.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoJlDP0MQf
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKrCegSphU
And Kenny wouldn't let himself forget that.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjgU6dxSQz
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfaeM1uBYh
–
–
–
Seven months passed since Dragon-Maw went missing. Kenny didn't move much since then. He grew a little bit of belly fat. It relieved him.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxZqSgFrGA
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuYmpYICni
Kenny was still doing what he did best, brewing potions for the village. That's all he ever did, people say, just stay holed up in his room and do alchemy. It wasn't a lie, but sometimes, Kenny felt like he wasn't even doing that–594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcf7zuIoIj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzybFPTL9rL
**Knock knock**
A sudden noise. It was likely Anabelle. She usually visited to bring him food.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJNoC8P7L8
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSm1t18waA
"Kenny. Come out here."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz80RXy8rUS
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6cnLXJNCk
But that was a man's voice who just spoke. He stood up and begrudgingly opened the door. His wrist was taken and he was pulled.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEj2xNxqYM
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg906VPnt4L
"W-Woah!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0XEHIEiRR
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4CF2JJ3Ro
"Come on, this is no way for an eleven-year-old to behave!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHcCYsOW3x
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGc5IrMrSy
Kenny couldn't resist. The pull jangled his body to the point of nearly fainting.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIjOk6m2gl
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AEGzE9g4x
"Just look at you. Sheesh, I'm surprised you at least have your normal haircut."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1Sc6atiEO
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFkj7KPLzw
Shortcut red hair. And yellow eyes. Kenny remembered how distinct it was from his mother.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvpXkMQ3Os
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPcquF2KiZ
"Now go out, you dumb kid!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf6euNy5fg
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt3siJYGNF
And then Kenny was shoved out of the house. He slowly rubbed his head and got up.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jtGUHIIAj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwYYLRtmrp
The sun was bright outside. Kenny had a hard time seeing so he covered his eyes. He tried to re-enter the building but his turning of the doorknob was met with a kick at the door. He'd rather not get hurt, so he decided to just roam the village.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjRFO85PWD
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF287oZv4jR
It was... strange though. Not because something truly strange was happening, but because the mood was different. People were out and about, doing their work, and children were playing and having fun.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfwC1fHb8m
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4SogTROeD
Kenny didn't get it.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58TPaNngv1
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDw0fHc68d
Don't they understand that it had only been a year since an incident? Why were they all so cheery?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXMvSVCLEt
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjMxHxQFdG
"Ah, Kenny! Look at you!" A random woman said with a gleeful smile on her face, "You're finally outside, about damn time you recluse! Hahaha!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cpjZgQ0Ur
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRrWbnwhBz
"I... whaa?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjG0WtOxlF
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4QA8nfGT9
Kenny couldn't formulate a sentence. The woman just waved at him and went away. Kenny didn't understand. Why was she so... rude to him? Didn't she understand that his parents died? That his plant was gone and that he was all alone?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIRrybNOED
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM95tKRtEev
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWcfWh2qIx
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM44zEEtcou
Something truly was strange. In the seven months that he stayed indoors, this town had changed.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRcmTJBmLz
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFg97XGalG
He didn't like that. But still he kept wandering. He didn't know what else to do. He watched as the kids played and as the adults chattered about this and that. Kenny was confused. He didn't understand it at all.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8ZdYc9GgJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFdGGBiSba
"Ah, it's Uncle Kenny!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuAjfDOTce
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhXAEBIvCf
Uncle? Kenny turned around and a little girl was there grinning ear to ear. Kenny was much taller than her, she was probably something like six–594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC8xslWpeI
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tzg2mmbOg
"Huh?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae6ErF4j9f
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9SQXVgTSh
Kenny suddenly felt her arms wrap around his back. Her cheeks were against Kenny's belly.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy7ZSM5PUM
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfOUwiAWqE
"I'm so glad you're finally out. We all missed you."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcpk978X03
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrDUd0idfh
The girl let go. Kenny couldn't speak.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuFqESZRHs
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFxLRujy1X
"Oh, and um, thank you so much for making that one potion for Mommy! She's so much better now!"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM7jMZmbDs
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYOpAJLfgQ
"Uh... sure?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTKa9kLv27
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx3hwHfeUE
The girl bowed and ran away, and kept playing games with the other kids.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6SXVoOoJN
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq1j9hPRxL
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYsm9Xu30P
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ878Ls5uYr
No, Kenny couldn't still.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCmosG92wD
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma0sDHD2tG
He still didn't know what was going on.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3d9Dq3FEie
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9LxfdgTC8
So he kept wandering. The same sight as before, but this time, someone he knew stopped him.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnzK0ZkGsO
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gYqaHjN1q
"...Big Brother."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGYTgQg2Fc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSrBfUgGqG
It was the kid, Jackson. The kid that was supposed to be Kenny's new little brother.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjANqiv0xd
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb35XS53Jac
The kid looked upset. Of course, that's the look. That's the look that I should be getting, Kenny thought. They're still dead, and the plant is gone, and he's still alive, and nobody should ever forget that, Kenny thought.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYls7atBsx
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHkcdXe1qW
But then he smiled.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuv1VgVlD6
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKnd78CnPv
"Look at you. You finally moved on?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZp3nil3Fr
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1pOeH3fZC
Jackson reached out a hand. Kenny didn't understand at all. So he just swiped it away.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYHWOGLImW
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vY5nrXcE
"N-No, move on? Move on? What the hell are you talking about, 'move on?'"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM67ZzZowk
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6nvejRwH6
Jackson just sighed, but Kenny didn't stop.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoubbiL3mO
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlN6HRiFjD
"D-Don't you get it? Does nobody else get it? My parents died! I drove my plant away! Am I– am I the only one who cares? And– and its–"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIpaxqUHE9
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GpT2gwhKz
"Listen, Kenny, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it's been a long time now, hasn't it?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKSo0y4BM0
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtGvyHBD3G
A year and a half, right? Is that really long?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBw5Rer5Pn
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGKH98zUh0
"I get it, it hurts. And I'm not saying you should be all cheery. But for a whole seven months, you stayed indoors, and it was the plant that drove you that far?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfjjNKr8mL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bkPHoK52i
"W-What? Huh?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEisoC6oawg
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZE0llN8xG
Kenny didn't understand. No, this made no sense.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk9EcW0dcD
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqH7Tf8nGp
This was insulting.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5RoWOJHfK
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxeQIV6pwX
This was just insulting now.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsbidGm9H3
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl8LUml5ek
But Kenny didn't have a chance to accuse Jackson of that.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5q6Ts2r0U
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwUORCOkhX
"What in the world is going on inside your head to make you so hung up over it?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFkfSx4ZsN
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk45npFzLj
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5rbDsnhX9
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUYMf5cFdK
And then something shattered in him.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwMOocZfLo
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHJAZtZE96
What was making him so hung up?594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LOuiyon61
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiEbLk4qUS
Why, that's obvious, isn't it? It's so obvious that Kenny didn't feel the need to say it out loud. But Jackson was looking at him like he needed to say something. Kenny couldn't though, because Kenny knew that it was too obvious. Yet Jackon kept that gaze up, and kept pestering him with that look, and–
**SLAM!**594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxuGiGOHTj
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDK5Ve74ze
"...Huh?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdXmkHlnhF
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01CJD9nOTw
And then Kenny was smacked on the head. But it wasn't like the other times. This one was soft.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWn6D4MGfB
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTNNTLg2Zo
"L-Listen, Kenny..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fKhBkFMz2
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPFupTtPE7
He looked up. Jackson was looking sad.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhgFoYn2JU
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPRxneOQ1x
"Don't tell me that you think... you're to blame, right?"594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF4I2Ly7s1
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQmJNI5q8N
"..."594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrdN0xrFcT
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroqs9Xpfni
It was the first time Kenny cried since the incident.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f66oYOPrV
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q3c1wEM2y
–
–
–
He had a talk, to say the least. Kenny grew better. He had a difficult time talking to others, and despite the discussion, his feelings for the incident and himself didn't go away entirely.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2qjWvi2KL
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88E7UYqJa4
But Kenny was fine. He turned twelve, and he was about to board a carriage. Yes, he accepted that offer. Transportation wasn't free, and despite Kenny's insistence on paying for it himself, a carriage was in front of him while his coin sack was completely full.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK5wxoaZJJ
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqkI20XbqG
Kenny turned to those saying goodbye. It was practically the whole village, but Anabelle and Jackson were at the front. Kenny swore he was going to cry again, but he held himself back. He was wearing the clothes Anabelle gifted him. His snow white jacket with brown buttons and outlining, his complementary light-brown pants. It did make the environment a bit toasty though.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwpNXAKOfs
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CiCJqUYAU
None of that was important. What was important right now was that he was hugging Anabelle and Jackson. What was important right now was that he was boarding the carriage and waving goodbye to his village. His home.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKm9BZyfvc
594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJBr0AfIda
He was going to ascend King's Peak. It sounded a little crazy to him, but it was really happening. Kenny brought the tome and his equipment with him. He couldn't believe that a simple set of gifts got him this far.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCWJG8jC1S
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He wasn't perfect, no, but now he was ready. He was ready to go somewhere new and finally make some progress.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXQqVXoTK3
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Kenneth Buffalo Chambers. That's who he was.594Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKbf1nNRwN
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That's what he remembered. All of that. Not all of his questions were answered, but he was glad he remembered that much. He got up from the rock and scratched his head. He wished that he remembered how exactly it came to this, though. Kenny was in a rocky field. His carriage was totaled, the horses were missing, and his driver was dead on the ground.
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and then Add to home screen.