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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZCjU1S9x4
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQb7Fq5Lbd
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc5UFzwDPO
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gIQUyWDuy
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QvSt8rop6
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrWA9CZDJS
Linda paused. Chattering came from the crowd. About a minute later, Linda resumed.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpcKtD3waN
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m9eeqgjRG
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSiBUOYHEF
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BHwpYuWUY
She was pointing at me. Gah, why'd you do that? Now all their eyes were meeting mine!431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3aVcBMgaw
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR02nU5g8f3
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuxGvVgzTb
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9CjRp3z04
"...Very well. Then, I apologize for wasting all of your time."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH3KeVJXFw
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXsLPfTRMa
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cXTWGbWJr
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9q0qyOG1f
"It looks like plan A failed," said Linda, who was now facing us. "Let's get off this dumb boulder and discuss."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBcSYR8Qvb
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAeyxKImsh
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcV84wcy8I
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rVRlkXnEr
"I see," started Victoria, "then the person responsible is likely an outsider."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ0rnxMF6z
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNWJe8WevW
"That isn't necessarily true," I said.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryvyIoAvKN
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxKanAdnau
"But it's likely. We don't have much to work with here, Kenny, so why don't you give me a break?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jD4uJZNG3
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNdGFXWZup
I shut my mouth and nodded. Victoria quietly apologized to me.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1Pu68xBMF
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HjeB4slw0
"Well, it isn't all bad," Flinty said, "we can wait for the lady from earlier to get help and keep going from there."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XPFFilMGu
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn3a9HupNL
Linda nodded. "For the time being though, let's take care of the monster."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdYHipgODL
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzcJBnON2F
"How are we going to do that?" Flinty asked. I butted in.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDgbqQONbS
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4eqlQmOEA
"We can lure it in, and then I can quickly kill it."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0P9rV2fy1
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrBH8vxJjz
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVevHbA6kQ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U7bQYcOc6
"That's not much of an issue. I happen to possess something that could catch his attention."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcinhDDLn2
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8n1dys1X2
Linda raised an eyebrow but didn't ask me anything.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKpfuE5Tc4
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdINVeJROc
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk2ABVTL8J
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEQz5ND4Ed
"O-Okay," Flinty responded. I nodded. The four of us returned to the farmhouse.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsTG5Ufysy
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrFW2fbL1c
–
–
–
It was about six o'clock. In three hours, it would become dark enough for the monster to come out.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbn9nae4fy
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCi5e3AgTW
"What's the matter?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEWxv86WjC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoqugWku7u
"Just thinking, Flinty. Just thinking."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK7l5FeABp
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDztvShi7zn
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8XqpMr6r2
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypg2HWKW29
"Hey, Flinty, can I speak with you?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT5NN2tXAa
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYH4G0oo8N
"Of course."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEPyRIubyX
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ch4T18fK
"Flinty, if the situation ever gets so dangerous that I cannot protect you people, then run and forget about me."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvskOZZZ2K
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJaCPrVhBx
Her face froze. Crap. I probably should've worded that better.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81juiA95GK
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3xyMUi1Xp
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFBJgOGk3z
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeuBMtBiSG
"B-But, you're asking me to just leave you!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEJ8DdcAlz
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDsAS2iAc7
"No. I'm asking you to save yourself if I can't save you."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxmCiTC2O5
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmTREKEtSh
Heh, a bit of a cheeky sentence from me. Flinty didn't see it that way, though.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPHCHOdVZr
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5LhropgZQ
"I can't do that, Kenny. I just... I just can't–"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6VwJ9uGhs
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedzym8K59e
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVdvr5NJfO
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpGx948yGk
"Flinty, it's just as a last resort, okay? It probably won't get so bad anyway."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5WFaIlc1p
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFlJ7Byy8l
"...Probably?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbat3p1tLY1
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ErP9bzydS
"Sorry, definitely."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2vFB5EChu
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcvsC2sCwn
She meekly nodded. I returned to staring into space. I think of asking the Tea Mage to teach me how to articulate myself better.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjWPMuNknt
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiPdWNxRpW
"Food's ready!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcMyyFAPBG
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AdQxkauGF
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgt9sU3DTD
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB6LetgYUL
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPHaBedX33
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEtOYNcRIP
It was incredible. Looking at Flinty, her face expressed similar remarks. Victoria had a satisfied smile on her face.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ue0tqzmuf
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff8n6BzFfs
"I cooked this, y'know. Don't you think I'd make a pretty good wife?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVVV3ZAAhZ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsvJvm5brg
I kept eating my food, then noticed that Victoria's eyes were on me.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlfBSooBES
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQxXf7KT9U
"Are you asking me?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4PvsJJmHe
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfqk4KUC6t
She sighed, "Nevermind. You wouldn't know anything anyway."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBKo3xnniX
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmmBl0HEov
I shrugged. I wasn't in the mood to talk over food anyway.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWYnKFqXvr
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1MReQ8FaK
–
–
–
Eight'o'clock.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60yvsC5iD5
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo0HRZK9O7
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLBWwdDKjH
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEG5ylEPzz
It felt heavenly.
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdUnwx9kmq
Flinty was on the bed beside me, reading a book that Linda let her borrow. I couldn't read the title from this angle.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXLJroMk0Z
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdjRN9xj1J
"What are you reading?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiuzF1azmp
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8XOxQy6ZY
"Oh! Uhm, nothing important..."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjX6t9bgJ0
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHbOv6r5HM
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡritgAOJHCO
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctuftKhZOu
"Hey, seriously, what are you reading?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiAQjUS9lb
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYeraRsD1n
"...It's a book about magic."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5M5NniNPl
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8BNCdDLd5
Ah, magic, that makes sense. Considering its size and width, it was probably a very informative book, in the same vein as my tome.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY563QAyve
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDN7lA5SWb
"Are you that excited to get back to studying?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzXz09UdIf
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12dHufcJb5
"Y-Yeah, of course."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ5WsfBPqG
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h1pqxFQnS
She didn't sound very excited.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BypvMT114
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ayE23dYFx
"Do you want to practice right now?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAEFWK1mOX
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbqIQF7ilx
"I'm okay, Kenny. I'll pass."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8erFXUnxqf
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ0g77mCSq
"If you say so."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTFDLUniLf
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHeTSoFDyk
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxBUuGdKuW
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiLSv1Nm2s
"...You don't know this Kenny, so I think I should tell you."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYdMOpP2BS
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOluoKvDqh
I opened one of my eyes and leaned my head to the right.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoyzydYE1T
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyjskDnMkV
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYPcUtssVf
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtqpCYILg2
"...Did he decline?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpIeFlsqF5
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetf4wYwKPq
Flinty shook her head no. She put the book down on her lap and stared at it.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOyOGbp2wU
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzJn6FvLnN
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bwP2bb4gU
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucIWLO8qZr
She paused and stared at the sheets.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x7wQMCXaW
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEUNySveTJ
"Today was the first time I made a spell."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1KqCZfMKd
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedJnhyrEG3
"Huh? What about when the Tea Mage taught you?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR8TCEXcLZ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX8hyyjmhT
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h6IORsrb7
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWGrPjUCs7
Oh, so that's what that book is, huh?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE7LdvEtTY
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEboZJN3nd
"I was too lazy to learn magic. You might not think it, but I'm actually very lazy, Kenny."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVL8cDo3RC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53rPqpiPgt
"You? You're joking, right? You're always trying to help people. You're going through a lot more trouble than I ever would."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXtofLH13G
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTod6bkqYo
"Maybe... Maybe you're right."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xJKhtIRnD
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzYlbMmRtw
We sat in silence for a few minutes.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvahrLCJwVT
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1TJe7LEOG
"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."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LwQ4o4rR0
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVncp4UwFro
"W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbuJJ8Dho6
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8uHi2vqto
"Sorry, that was abrupt. I just always felt that way."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqf2sdpOeS
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFskoHhsBDn
"Alright, but, It would probably be better if the Tea Mage taught you, though..."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2tuUgIBiK
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwiII3U2Ww
She shook her head no.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYySF8jZrD6
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7wtHrMWaU
"No, I want Kenny to teach me. I think it'll be best that way."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTX68eX5I3W
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXurKPQWPJw
"A-Are you sure? I'm only a year older than you, you know, and my normal spells aren't that good..."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEiZnatc1w
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb5V9hOJ4s
"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking me if I'm sure, I know I'm sure."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCp4hwOWCr
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiH6ix8mbd
I felt like I made a mistake just now.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jpj6auSg1
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc1Z52x2kp
"But, Kenny, I have to admit something first."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ3eFZiHWc
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYph4CclQN
"What is it?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNJhgbJA2G
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShwkq2Cdn2
She scratched her chin whilst nervously smiling.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbCnBzMObC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ78qd935u
"I'm a bit scared to make a spell again."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW1dWom7lq
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9KA30AJoK
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQBUAVYzrc
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhHuBwoqph
"You can always just practice with water magic. It's what I did."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TAojHiO43
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEx0DK2Rsl
"I know I can do that! But, well..."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQepYBSF3f7
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiGskNmUoH
She had her fingertips conjoined.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ4UpoKAke
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfguNXPkwtM
"Can you show me your spell? I think if I see it, I'll get a better understanding."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuSqBBy8Sr
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6p06NWu6N
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUj9lyy6Rm
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNzTTUeOzf
"Alright, I'll show you."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDlRtafWbs
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslmujFUsE5
"Yay!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp0mEQzQhk
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalin2F4Ywz
Flinty started clapping and got off the bed. She sat beside the round table. I got off my bed and sat across from her.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdLnjo7hoi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoyBFZCNYf
"I think it's best if we do this outside."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gW9iixlwk
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqLCMwykhp
"Okay, then let's go!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzFCzYOZwd
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBcy3Zghjh
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcykGmsxekK
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMAMIRXtDR
"Alright, I think I'll do an earth spell."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqGLyLlEWZ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6rY0DpinX
"Earth?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VRgpbaH7U
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZzHn3hDZp
"Yes. I practiced earth the most since it makes usable soil readily available."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNGuGsFc7I
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74WEhsA5kV
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHYsPBHjar
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnlImkvafh
Not too big, not too dense, and since it was small it didn't take much control. Flinty's eyes opened wide.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBD0eWZLZi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuEduew1dT
"It's really not that impressive."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYbLZUjKPJ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg3eP1M6d0
"O-Of course it is! It hasn't blown up, so it's way better than I could ever do."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34dCCWaLzC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oaRo9KjpJ
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ee3MUICRa
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eG2r66I8Y
Actually, this was a lot like just using my tendril. It wasn't very hard to do at all.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT4Tz2IiiF
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tVkhKjQcp
"W-Woah, it's a ball now."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegWvCNIb6i
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZneqaQdE0
"If it was lighter, we could play catch with it."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXq3UdSOON
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQfmwnNpyu
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw9ocOskMu
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODb760E2kl
"How'd you do that!?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd40SmWeiz
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLFhvxfI1M
"That's mana suspension in its most basic form. I just left a bit of extra mana to let it stay. Watch this."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡworoNAnKWT
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk6SWIXN6i
I raised my hand against the ball again and raised it higher. The ball followed it as it kept spinning.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5jqwZc0oh
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRUZRzBNAl
"Wow. Did you get control of it again?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NemnXmsnv
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKil98iCWw
"Yes. What I specifically did was, when I suspended it, I canceled mana expulsion and then did it again to regain control."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfKVY4t72U
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpxxHHvFtd
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk9SpGJbXv
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldJSYfFVvx
But, all of a sudden, she stopped making excited faces.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq56RUfGzNi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7FArVjKpx
"What's wrong, Flinty?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdLvZkJR1X
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzws6Rax7b
She began to shudder. She pointed behind me. That's where the crops were.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuagaaNKb0
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv8C7Pjcfw
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfKmq55M3Q
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK9eBCc4xa
...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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlM3oIWRQs
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhEBXNp3R5
"Wait, Flinty, isn't this just one of Victoria's dogs?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pi4enN0zC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6HCMmNxx1
"V-Vikky doesn't have a dog that looks like that!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayDq7JB6qb
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92SuOV6PH4
Oh.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QZ4MGbIyY
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHze1QiTwy7
Oh.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlNpUSCkwi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu08uIqkfmS
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw0pGlEUg2
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhEFLqGOfl
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA7Vur6phd
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCLZ6GBUg7
The dog barked. Flinty didn't make a noise, but I heard her fall onto the ground.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKzZvHjAYs
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yvlvBUhVF
As for me?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroq26N8u8y
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA3SfBaEqr
Well...431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMjcQtdhEi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmich1z1Hx
"AHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ4egngXiB
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxskHaQCaSs
**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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OSc4CbLgp
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7BbdCgX7V
Oh, and the monster limply fell to the ground.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnvKnZochI
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vB56BIIw7
"Flinty, Kenny, what's wrong?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDLImz7agU
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tZ3A3agHM
That must've been Victoria. I could hardly hear her over the sound of my breathing and beating heart.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cmjxKu3Db
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP7Y0p7fR1
"Kenny, what's– oh my God!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQytzjund8I
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGjGC6bHY7
I wasn't going to sleep tonight. But I did end up passing out.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFobXVy8Pry
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIYD8fdfi7
–
–
–
"Wuah? Huh?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNeHy2quEI
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SHDYmrRGr
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Od8TIRbEY
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBYTwfho4r
"Ow! Gah, sorry!"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqADogqKzmx
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifIXT4vmzh
I turned around. I struck Victoria square in the nose with my head. She was clenching her face with squinted eyes.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRahKrY85u
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qQ44KtKph
"I-It's okay. I'm glad you're fine... ow."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWJCKnfVlQ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3WvQIvlRW
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6BFSfIBUi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt53QIAg3Y7
"H-Hey, Flinty, are you alright?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTQHw6wC6G
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5pDmzm6CX
"...Yes. I'm fine. Sorry, Kenny. I froze up, I should've told you I–"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOcCHSwHY6
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn57LNUnDFY
"It's fine, we got the monster, didn't we?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8X8AObkDo
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGdmAqcJhJ
"You did. You got the monster, but I just froze... I couldn't move."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsggGL2rrZ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk82iTAoMEi
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP9rWotenj
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡligomS4uIo
"It's okay. I was scared of it too."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhUkkwnnq
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn3a4moPFK
"No, that's not it! I was useless! I thought that, should the time come, I could at least– I could–"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRaoglTrJk
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAA9nsMAl8
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjVq3ZTMT3
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0NOkrcxNl
"Kenny, can I ask you something?" Linda said.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVVtYqxbRC
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ErkH7LDOR
"Of course. What is it?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetMuVRHK2t
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5aeETH530
"When you killed the beast, was there more than one?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtjp0MNimk
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYshjDPs5S
"Yes. There was a tiny goblin-looking creature on his back. I got them both with one shot."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeEMQu02mY
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsibhuxAXZ6
"I see. So, there are two monsters, then."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIa6bwXK8C
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjJkwOEify
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L322y7ND1
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDERSFeBd0F
"That means that it's definitely one of the residents here, right?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaK8ZqKyWg
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkpAIh09gh
"I think so too. Kenny, Victoria, Flinty."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJHDDBRlmI
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63A0yDfA2c
We all looked at her.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiYhOSiA1w
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD84SOZ3Gk
"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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi68P4yVlT
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcqllReOc7
"Kenny."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZItWMmtQ7
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hZhuEBBIW
"Yes?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6MxXfFSud
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjO9ULou9C
"I'm sorry I freaked out."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYSgsQs9nw
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vKjo0HjDZ
I rubbed my head. I was clueless. What should I tell her? What!?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqVRtkugy1
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheXeqOOfTk
"D-Don't worry about it, really. I already said that it was fine."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q2UmKHkYH
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndAU0PoWvz
"Okay. Kenny?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnwrVtVlBD
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSMilvrEc2
"Yes?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj4UKzdiT9
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oZFuZbszS
"Please let me go to the forest tomorrow."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWduw48xwkw
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaLZBC0JRt
"Huh?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzFwP9z8qJ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66iG6ASxmL
I didn't mention anything about the forest. But, now that she brought it up, bringing Flinty along would put her in danger.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsAuWm3dYi
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGlHX8i8RS
"Why do you want to go?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J6VngyZ6o
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fbBosR5eu
"I... think I need to."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd1CCeS1oZ
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2POOSC8wH
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pbWUsYyrS
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pN2V5HTcV
"Kenny, Flinty, our assistant finally came."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuin0ZLSK3c
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrEyMbe82H
"Assitant? Like the one from the combatant's guild?"431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU64v9KyiJN
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DBwTIPshl
"Yes. After we meet her, we'll call it a night and resume tomorrow."431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpFz10DlI3
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLwUB1Me58
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.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLqLCupP4m
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugDug25EfZ
My heart sank.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg4xLwkfGq
431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7rYYfwBSc
There, right beside Linda, was the cloaked woman Flitny and I saw at the guild.
and then Add to home screen.