This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExhITI11jR
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEXLXw1HH6
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG14ovGpvyA
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRmU5tY3sV
Nao: “What happens now?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIvGlDD84U
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGYhNvRQW9
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPByCkrz6U
!501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bYCuH8ouT
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XR0JSQ0MH
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl91z5fjDnZ
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHwotRY8j5
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r8yAs1az2
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMbyuWos1e
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoLu8SeDkD
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HnT7VEsXm
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBn6G1cpBf
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo7CYKfBYL
Alyson: “…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8q0aSAPOy
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQW8aWDPvp
Nao: “…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrHpdlJgyj
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBmIclKCe7
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0qGxOOLlZ
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIVWH8JZKT
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdJ47accnP
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2KdF6W4cR
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIOIbFwVIj
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvPx1JfEiA
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdBWltM7lP
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PhWpGt3ff
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDDwVBLSx7
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX4ao989Ur
Nao: “…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyOnZqdtZA
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mKS3FsnFE
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXQndWgAPf
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkt4UWrasI
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4bVaSFQXG
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7JNrfc3QC
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqZFmARTLn
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClPq8yjMo1
Nao: “What’s with you?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROffavpIpc
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyQsv3A366
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSkNKQPDNm
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpAWsdZPG0
Nao: “!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0LgMNdJET
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5tRqy2mKJ
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yH1w69bRO
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVF3NqxRdE
Nao: “…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7yeUJjZLW
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡka33Zydv3L
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48KN6jijiv
Tch.501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mMpWbS826
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOntCpP4LBq
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp0EjltAPP
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbwrXvGtqK
Alyson: “!!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74zotclBhO
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgwkikwYKm
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfnVFlLyQB
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWCR2X3uEz
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEmqUcjcRk
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf7KqU4fQE
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu68WLYraly
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHnkwYwLP2
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDVdJHVHOB
*Sigh*
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB6Egp7XId
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhGaVzoDWx
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdtMfVL5ld
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVZbdKAbXV
Arc?501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaxvUuDzCv
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfMnMmhBeP
Arc: “Yes?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvrlr52Gaf
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbsWMKztGX
How’s my body?
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi2i3UjKFw
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WXECXDC9x
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCPBdERBvP
*Ding*501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEhKyvWfOY
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpHJsXobtJ
Points: 6501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4snauXEb77
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2kcZF1dV5
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYppvw99ue
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS4zdMVSFI
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpNkR26ckq
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhzB0THHPy
*Door open*
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKViJVy7wS
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEDMMPH7ut
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlORErXgU28
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBKqEhvHN4
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjWdNkDft8
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnRP5hOiFu
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbVEdfSOVy
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ8tbZ1AnS
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y6Z05VeHq
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuwRCH1EdR
Nell: “You promised…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzZy00iBNl
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmv7kkAZ3j
Nao: “Mom I-”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X71g8DJbn
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL56LfVFPw
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYozXalpCvO
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDqVTb2h1g
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVzMYnZCru
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfNlKbdmV9
Nao: “But-”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmmZ8DHjPh
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hARxamceT
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY1qeUWeYq
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1ICBZgwok
Nao: “!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCU8T1gH5D
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYDUMZLzmi
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lkb9XCcTi
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiq4KbUigy
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxW7rg3dE6
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftJwY2kdkG
Nao: “!!”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1maY7xFNK
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgkOXKDFWd
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWSeh7mwUi
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsWcPPKnWq
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5Z19GNvvN
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF1NxPmKYE
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVeM1Tn7hh
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU1ckwA49w
What am I becoming?
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgD6exA40C
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvZpmt0uwL
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklWLPvpoBs
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtBWlW7Vr5
W-What?
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmXvk44Aao
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoqQPJ3EnL
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKJpTRN6zR
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIU8EJZuRo
Nao: “R-Really?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDFSZj1coU
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiXN6V3r9K
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrK5nfZuAS
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM3plhraEk
Nao: “What do you mean?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8hdsPkhYK
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6z4Xa3oRx
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO0s0vXnF1
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oogfhFqtF
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucnn02kvnI
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc9fYy44dW
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMLZoM4bye
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1yh5ILpHT
Nao: “*Nod*”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoLtJD0j2b
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJBNESv9Er
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTnBSZZqpi
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ990hlcVuMB
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqus30jJ5w
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIqRloKt81
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBLxVuyXLj
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZREW5HFMB
Nao: “Mom I…”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9xn9cEQV5
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6Smhfakhu
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGFzsYvYa1
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBY467GNti
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DzZYpHydW
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJO1bxf3Ha
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmhJgBx8Dx
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqkFTANzsM
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUu7DoCSpn
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu3c5GenP1
Nao: “I-”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AQnKwqAja
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok8JbGZwsZ
Nell: “Promise me.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61ueuzXqFw
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu29SH8hlIu
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQGE4pRn9A
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3lgvB43Rt
Arc: “What are you doing?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQEKLWqvmn
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwPdGVOMU9
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOygiAKyE0
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkqoRuwthb
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw1zMa2aHo
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArez4O1huq
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjh5eqbl9y
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhRb55GwyK
Nell: “O-Okay.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MU4knOvrA
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6sfrcInqb
*Curtains close*
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug0Wr0c6KY
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A4qhD9LNl
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhU3SP6Gpi
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf05RJbB7Jd
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcXRe2mWm1
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd2VPOBD16
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0OUze0Hpj
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOx3LBdINI
Nell: “I…need some time.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzBbMduovH
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WfgTTiTgb
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBc4nxORdd
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUYKQCYVl5
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20NNG9Mlqo
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbjw2kiCPB
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24nNOVLIHm
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbhSShoNGc
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyrywjTsHz
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTykymVpkdN
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWko48rzaY
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW0TagArYD
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzX9MPMbGk
*Ring*501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuIR2eldeL
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0L2BHvWME
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEE60O8DZB
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW4zqwVWLW
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkdnQqWLev
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcsS1RUKLj
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5j8XyAZmg
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0rNJX86Dt
…Are you serious?
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KLuUxbGsq
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGk90IubN6
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnD4Rl2HIa
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDZ9l7JOr3
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV42P0wr48P
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL9BwekYOd
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ufN3sRVIJ
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJWNUY99zQ
Nao: “Happy to help
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3ElMc9ARx
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZgS6xMvum
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bmhwQ8tqT
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWyunu1tRZ
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup7lNBm6C2
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwlUEbn6Vf
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM8xMeOZ6E
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlotLxqDwQ
Nao: “…Same.”
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXnswMRXYt
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWG6Xkvglw
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdFHEzyYVg
501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2x7dRCuB2
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.501Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGnGyDIYtg
然後按「加至主畫面」