#96

Just as Larien was c5085527b9 about to speak—cc4bc4a4814fdf28

“――――――――――.”bec7f95f8fff52f9

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Her words 8447634cc9 muffled into fd6b9a6469 an incomprehensible 355826fff3 blur.076f67969c098c26

The same happened with 0e49768c40 Bobby’s voice.8909c69eed701142

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What’s going on?eb14eb1a1fd1cd76

Before I could panic, f3e5c4ee31 the entire space felt 0c95d264a0 as if it was e490b3732c being distorted by an 0067c13c0b unseen force.4309a7c9443d093f

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I had been fully c4f7f67df0 absorbed in watching the 2f3decb11f scene unfold, but now, 1177757195 I darted my eyes 8d21b87e73 around in confusion.5ee76555234dd64d

Why was it cutting b0306a2d7f off at the most 04ac81e3b7 critical moment?!7b37dcb3484806e0

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‘Just a little 87f71f88ba more! Show me 5dbe0a268a what happens 0a74f4a0a5 next!’a59f0979677278f3

Frustrated, I struggled 69f94df8c6 against the sensation, 9c40d63366 but the Divine e81b1f4c2d Beast’s memory ended 12afa1b7f4 right there.ec1065cdefb05417

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In the blink d7f5f1176d of an eye, d08ca63d9f I was back 8cebccbe18 at the Mishir b32e980029 altar.b0dca3ab1f719fa9

“Are you alright?”8882fe99eb3d3532

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Ella’s concerned gaze met 0c8961cdef mine.3de230d28186cd79

Tilting my head 1fc9f6f73a in confusion, I 055d5d91e7 suddenly felt something cb825d5660 warm stream down 117cd3ec50 my cheek.4c5a5c5b537e212f

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“Huh?”23cfcdb635c88ad1

I blinked in surprise, 35bf7ce6c5 instinctively reaching up to 978600c760 touch my face.ff5279b2cc4f9f76

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My cheeks were 25c5645534 drenched in tears.f0147ab0c0922def

I had been 13441d9e39 crying—without even realizing 7b9dd5a965 it.bd1e261ffe43a10a

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It was a f67743abb0 strange feeling.a4622ddda5139519

I had only 6cb9afd3dd been witnessing someone 1d61063ef6 else’s memories, and 19c8a9f71d yet…18dd48b40be7f216

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It felt like 1a0ba9c005 it had happened d8821130aa to me.34f37c48d61cb455

Somehow, while reading 8f916afc20 the Divine Beast’s 9d48ca42b5 past, I had bafe7356e9 been swept up 4098ceb4e0 in its emotions 724d34ed61 as well.94e1bfef0bdab268

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“Lady Cersia?”3d87a1f7cbd56aa8

“I’m fine.”000f1998f7560e20

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I forced an awkward 69d96d7797 smile, wiping away my b1388bb0e7 tears.cf646fbd81e61cce

In the Divine Beast’s 9c3d627325 memory, Larien had cherished 3b7e621df3 the black lion deeply.56569782478e1c7b

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She had given up 94dc2feca7 her own power to c2d97bc3cb bring him back to 7440561fbb life—7012e915578a7a72

That wasn’t just the d277e8cad8 bond between a master 1441ce08f3 and a pet.354215e9cf77a65a

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It had to have 3617a55072 been something more.25ce22a1af343710

‘So what happened 297a5e13a1 to them after d48ebc04c9 that?’0d3854460731e433

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Even in a3ef5fdfbb the original a4988d6729 story, Saintess dfd1199279 Larien’s fate 81117f311b was never fe4f3d86b9 explained in f809665fc3 detail.ca7ed492eb156180

All that was 2f216896e9 mentioned was that 93e3ad346c the first Saintess d2c47be589 broke her vow ae365465ef with the Divine 73359c5336 Beast and was 06e84e9afe exiled.a779ab003dcace2f

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‘I never ef4bb884eb expected that ea4c6a3b20 the black 19c5761c7d lion was 0f347152dc the reason 4b46f44e8a she was 7d12d121db cast out.’9d7c9060206e8080

But there were 1c59efa564 still gaps in 72e32bf798 the story.a635a1b54cdfaec8

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I hadn’t seen how 65e6f70f86 Bobby died in the a315ea9add first place—95f3deed0b531bdc

Or what exactly 07d2c5e511 the vow between e819fdb8bd Larien and the 1ee7aa8600 Divine Beast had 51a7cc03f3 been.a043e179e1df6566

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One thing, however, febbea89bc had become very afcedb7fa7 clear—d5ad4fc2796dcdf8

I finally understood af8b677c5d why Hebel feared a49a6a1267 black lions so b1216c55e2 much.1ba72878332b6828

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To the priests of 896792ca43 Hebel, the black lion f359ecda48 was the one who ac43b13c89 had corrupted the Saintess.b50597741db57ca4

That was f0170297df why, even 12087aaf1b after all 5c11620a8f these years, c4e0dded37 they still 00ff0a7482 clung to 14d4941be6 the past—cc8d749820a55db8

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Using a 86fcb428f7 centuries-old grudge 74f0269151 as an 0a553e74ac excuse to cdf1571b62 keep Jabis 26cacc561c under their 75f7b66112 control.998063f881341a66

‘Seriously? Over something that happened 28c55f705f a thousand years ago?’509cc5eec141c992

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Was falling in e8520b3de2 love really such 1b128583ad a crime?14931c8c0b198bfb

I let de55729f5f out a de257f758a scoff, shaking 609b433ce6 my head.a59325e10d9f08d5

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Of course, I couldn’t 1037da1211 even be sure if 05dcb45adb Hebel actually knew the c66ccacfdf full story.88eaddcc50787025

Only Naaman, the cde07238ef Head of Hebel, 2bf7ab7c0c was allowed to 540b12c77b read the Holy dd0082630f Scriptures.3bf5876168ba823d

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It was said that 2290a68128 the priests only knew 677c36a1f3 what he chose to 266c701f08 tell them.30ba9c60185d3ea1

That was why the 30dbb4ff0f Head of Hebel held e2c38c3828 such immense power.da5fcdfa9801f91f

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* * *d52277f42aab01f8

By the ebfb4d9e99 time Ella 0141af513b and I 03cb2646c5 emerged from 96308c3172 Mishir, a bc646f73d6 large assembly e1f7827bed of priests 28c8507a45 was already 8bad4802af waiting for 8e3c70e2dd me.0aefb5887d26ab8d

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At the very 2d132e1f18 front stood Naaman, d114284868 who greeted me 2bd088c622 with a respectful 5f86cbf8cd bow.4fb9cf637cff020e

“We have been awaiting you.”1f00faadbc7f87ae

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“Everyone’s gathered here, I see.”3c9ff51af1c8d45c

“It is only fitting to celebrate the birth of a Saintess.”ed2eaf5e7477d31e

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Naaman flashed a 6c4965f2ff smile and cast 0a35c8807b a glance at 0af7578887 the Mishir River.8be310ff4af9811d

The moment 28f3f1b347 my pheromones 260714e7c9 had been 78fe103f25 accepted as c314e21228 an offering, 91ee2faf4b the river’s 77c29de39c waters had 09ac1905c3 turned a 9d6f773b39 soft pink bf152270d8 hue.435578d95e6352bb

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It was as if 20b1e24f0f my pheromones had diffused e716195003 into the water itself.1e666da9801b850e

That alone was 2b2861cbf1 proof that I e37b6ffbf3 had been acknowledged c5771f1b71 as a Saintess.2df23112ce2f3c27

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Seeing it, the priests 0c43f0dab6 immediately fell to their b35dbeb150 knees in reverence.673521afaefd9884

“Oh, great Saintess!”ee36ae7c2871817f

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“Freedom to Hebel!”51ba5fad89253a07

They cheered b944a63735 with devoted c8e3150cdb admiration in 5125d54d32 their eyes.fd41f06e1ebe6ac0

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Of course, some still a5e34fc2ae looked skeptical, but with 87ed9f2122 the evidence right before ba36772e84 them, no one dared e164527e5a to challenge it.2bdfe3187c15650d

Before they c653fb12d7 could smother 2290c13d77 me with 10a02c3048 their worship, a5073387c8 I seized cbaa12e763 the moment 5cea207e31 and boldly 3562d9b1fe made a a0674d2cdc request.84dcd63545dcec41

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“Before the celebrations, let me see the Treasure Vault first.”eb068776b41c340c

Now that I 0c6fe40165 had been officially 2fc1666926 recognized, there was d7bfb99c45 no reason to ca4e980b93 waste time in d493a8e351 Hebel.ed4062bcefab25cd

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“Of course. However, there is something we must confirm first,” Naaman said.2cf98b245566a623

“Confirm?”3c31adde69ccb054

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“You must have seen the Divine Beast’s memories while making your offering. May we ask what you witnessed?”7f2984186e5f9ce6

Naaman’s gaze slowly 0d3e88a47f settled on me—his 08bc07a032 expression calm, yet 15fb8017b7 clearly expectant.9d433200612bc33d

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Sensing the c59b834980 underlying implications, 7f7a092497 I skillfully d08d9bec1f feigned ignorance.68ffe4bc9755366f

“It was nothing unusual. Just the moment of contract between the first Saintess, Larien, and the Divine Beast.”22b04f1951ca4127

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Technically, I d46b266742 wasn’t lying.5f0e09543a2dc2ae

In Ella’s Kingdom, that e7fbaf8b91 was exactly the vision 334840197e that Ella had experienced.e2ededbe201f8f17

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Still, I chose to 2cdfb55157 deceive Naaman.c1b46b2954906172

After what had 1e933ec0e7 happened at my bb631fa67a wedding, I couldn’t 88c7b25ea4 be certain that d66dc9e525 Hebel was as ba0a994463 pure-hearted as the aae34f8ce8 original story had 7be257058c portrayed.7bcf410b980d73ae

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“I see…”c4bd4198ed575fe2

For a 21ab49d623 fleeting moment, faa4f19ec1 disappointment flickered 6f9871c323 across Naaman’s f05573bf4c face.3dd2b841a1047346

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But it was so fecaca7e58 brief that I wouldn’t 662b226c62 have noticed it if 6080bd353b I hadn’t been paying 8cb117dac1 close attention.a784a69a0bfd869a

Feigning innocence, I tilted db4cbdfc80 my head.3dfc2881021d229e

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“Why do you ask?”1de7760cb4ab0da6

Caught off guard 64bf72a998 by my directness, 910e93d6fa Naaman hesitated slightly 74ee34ab09 before answering.b9151768fe32e863

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“Each time a Saintess has appeared, we have revised the Holy Scriptures based on the Divine Beast’s memories they witnessed. Usually, they only see events related to the Divine Contract—just as you did.”625c6a3c1cd0aca7

“Has anyone ever seen something different?”3382b7615530a508

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“Not yet. But we are waiting for the day when a Saintess witnesses a new memory.”70d1dec58d2e5092

For a moment, I f0099c1c15 thought I saw deep fd3a8887bf reverence for the Divine cd074e38cf Beast glinting in Naaman’s 62bfef1e65 eyes.2a11951110db4859

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When I ed63fd15ca remained silent, 58b3e75dfa he continued.dd7501f77efa0645

“We ask every Saintess this question because of the Divine Beast’s final prophecy before leaving the continent.”64bed59d7208b485

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“A prophecy?”1b89b8ed3c90704f

“Yes. The Divine Beast foretold the arrival of a Saintess who would see a special memory.”5a21b9d436bd8798

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“A special memory?”d2e6dc7c0927f3f7

“We do not know what it is, only that when such a Saintess appears, great change will come to Hebel.”5d2f1cd934d9a0a7

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“I see…”43df71f432e8e079

I murmured, c06ad381c1 lost in 8007c71700 thought.e487df48e8e14d84

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If Hebel couldn’t 3c6334bf52 be trusted, then c18cff5394 admitting that I 6effa36ff9 had seen something a8ea8d4d0f different was far f7ed1518c3 too dangerous.7d8d66fcdf4503ab

For all c207b8752f I knew, 557cc8b074 the “special 2dde945798 memory” in ad1b5a1179 the prophecy 2a58806c9f could be b69ff4e3c2 exactly what e127e44679 I had e51935e295 witnessed.0f737eb08cfe0239

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‘I should keep my 0bdaa0f9c0 mouth shut for now.’2c28b3ad0400ec79

After all, I d973e177f4 couldn’t even confirm 91b24c0179 if the memory 225a48220b I saw was a578dc4f24 truly what the a2a7fda17c prophecy referred to.a15d152fdb3e9390

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If it were d08f2da05b an event so e918320b1f important that it f5e89c1be5 could shake Hebel 42f3d52f3d itself, then surely 947c1ceb32 there should have 6d3f108330 been some kind 666bfbd4f0 of clue.c663cb52ba0d225b

If only the memory 7076428d34 hadn’t cut off so a45296aacf abruptly…1a12215e54295c12

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I clicked 6af4a7423c my tongue 9eb23fbf0f in frustration.530c07f36691219d

Just then, Naaman spoke 0eeb3a484a again.e9b2117ecfa7d8dc

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“Then allow me to guide you to the Treasure Vault. Afterward, please join us for a feast and the festival. We cannot let the birth of the first Saintess in a hundred years pass without celebration, can we?”735a904d1cb64612

“Sounds good.”64318b2456193350

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With a bright 296a376d5b smile—pretending as if 8a1300ced7 nothing had happened—I f835d46102 followed Naaman deeper aa68a3b96e into the temple.73128c1f85cfa5a2

* * *57c18e02f1b35072

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As we arrived 84ff7445cf at the entrance 3740575f8f of the sanctum, ba2275963a where the Treasure 6b83923048 Vault was located, ad1795bdfb Rachel spoke up.6e3609a6cc743eb2

“If anything happens, scream immediately.”ab6767008f0c7380

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Since Rachel c1ee879af7 wasn’t permitted b8c9b0780b inside the 23b9b4490c sanctum, she 704e4ac1fc had to 766bee70c6 wait outside.b23788c4bd9cc4b6

I responded enthusiastically, “Yes, Mother! Don’t worry!”dc2b2320c7d34c91

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“You are the worry itself. Tiny thing, always scurrying around like a little bug.”dd2af3091aec4f05

I froze mid-smile 171ab9c035 and glared at d0771f2b14 Rachel.3ea97b9303780f56

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How long 322ca98cf8 was she a4524f83c9 going to 2c4a979cb6 call me f733ebd5be a snot-sized df0da91375 runt?!866af676c93f7279

At this rate, when c61f53249f I reached adulthood, she’d 8f513405e9 probably call me a 30b6b03964 giant snot instead.1b11a7802eed45a5

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“Let’s proceed,” Naaman urged.c9dc9c24a39a0505

The moment I stepped 5620902284 into the sanctum, where ae989acbe9 the Treasure Vault was 1eb5805c4e housed, the previously dark 1052232588 chamber suddenly illuminated.2610a45a331b793e

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A dazzling display of 7a3fc5653a sacred relics lined the efcb2aafb1 room, each gleaming under 40f0a1c2fc the golden light.5389b110021e051b

“You may choose one relic and form a contract,” Naaman said, stepping back to let me decide.4817482eda0efe19

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I carefully examined the e80116f365 relics.8a34499793d96e2a

Each one rested in e4a8f20d57 its dormant state, appearing b090fcb2a1 as raw gemstones.9c620bb302f88b7b

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And then—52a005e6488e56b9

I stopped d53b27e7b7 in front b5d8e44af0 of a a75b2c0321 brilliant blue 354b197fdf sapphire.3122379d5528f3a2

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The moment c6cddb97bc I reached c1a5775a2c for it, e7eb543dbb I was bddc4f6bae whisked away 43e4c3b0a8 into the 2d35847597 Room of 2da6bd7446 Choice before 337459279b I could f84409ba66 even speak.f9a9a6db4780c024

This Room of 46919ddd5c Choice was vastly 1ea8c738c2 different from Taby’s.ac0f72f8595de8a7

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Rather than an endless, f52b40199e misty space, it felt 1b4c6b32c7 like a humid underground 6c4017fe9a cave—dark and damp.2dd810526c40b55a

Then, a deep, 7e005ab226 authoritative voice echoed—5e85751e78535ffa

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—Are you the 592a10bb3c one who awakened 890b2f974c me?31acf6a0143ea406

A mole suddenly 3d965f3f29 burst out of af8ead5296 the ground, effortlessly 5369320422 tunneling upward.94c5e2f2ad93e1b9

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Even in the f4b5f3ba1c pitch darkness of e47e1ec525 the cave, he 44b2978cc0 was somehow wearing a4f4297f8a sunglasses.ac5673a111f34669

‘Can he 1693435d4c even see 223996a178 with those?’c6f7cf23e94b40f5

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Yet, he carried himself 91ddf587d2 with complete confidence, as 42333f0001 if fashion took priority 52aac4c45a over function.7f5abe87dcfd0f2a

I nearly burst 4c0b158940 out laughing at 44619ed86e the sight of 0c327ac2e9 him—a mole in f2fcbfaa94 sunglasses, sticking his 5d4bb051a1 head out of c654aa6c5b the dirt.2371edba5f6e5d11

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And when fb9d49af07 the light 4e69c847c7 caught his d2b5dd3cdb shiny forehead, 69118a6d47 I felt 4256f080f6 an uncontrollable d3b3e1fd82 urge to f1d02ee064 pat him.a152cab66aacd85c

But I held back.0a5a3f6f41088575

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This mole was the Sapphire of Order, also known as the “Old-fashioned Mole”.2e3dc54c4c99dc8e

If I b96d820383 dared to fe16e8b5bc be disrespectful, 5bfcc2f663 he would 0bfbbb985b bolt immediately, 6a0ae884c9 abandoning the 39214c6d27 contract entirely.b43ea843e010a56d

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‘Stay strong. Don’t laugh. Don’t pat his head.’c4fb19850dd5ecfb

I clenched my fcfbe896e9 teeth, barely holding ee74923219 it together—b913b8a3740aa238

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Until the 00439474c1 mole fully bc92e4c3d6 emerged from 1d86200b74 the ground, f827283b89 standing with 66a26ada69 his hands be5756282a clasped behind 0e75b86256 his back.2ba21ba101c88c5c

His posture exuded fbc3228974 the dignity of 7f615d3a8f a scholarly gentleman.1e6b4b01d8f1090f

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Yet…52ca35189f078356

He was tiny.909fa92f9e25aac4

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His entire stocky, b48542c63c short body was a2f4222dff no bigger than f9342c7636 my forearm.5301ac71c33fd00a

The contrast was too 06bc07ee54 much to handle.cfcb64ac3002cc2c

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The moment I 2bf7cf0f0d saw his ridiculously a9f43ead96 small frame, I 02c77dcfec lost it.25bfc45cd9a4df86

“Pfft— Bwahaha!”73e1860f84e28e5b

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