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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvMuFs1gTd
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I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaKl6NCTSj
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Nao: “What happens now?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHCCU0lY1z
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Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
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!419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lMFr4M5H8
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I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z2huaLigT
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Nao: “What are you doing here.”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsQwk2dDty
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ37CwtqK3S
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfXiVYSrJW
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFCsL4wb3Y
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Alyson: “…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EnhCc5mYl
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfC436iuaU
Nao: “…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZQHG5RLcU
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp92eg0W7b
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPapEt69rjd
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x34JgzM5a
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn4YOnxAqs
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSRHJWifBh
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZFd5jhGkz
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUaqRLcUcb
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8iEYYvoE3
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyqJoTm4lk
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpcC6BbvcF
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsOkSPJxd1
Nao: “…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK306OrrJby
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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-”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXqZwi4sOJ
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuKO0Y6psI
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumaT8WrcEQ
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU20UkMqE1
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
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Nao: “What’s with you?”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkkuwyzcyS
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiDa6GtGCc
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Nao: “!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NtCVGRo3D
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63wSL1urHu
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Rqeqi20f
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgFhS4exuB
Nao: “…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsQjTmMqvc
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIvqFaQJWY
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUbwVbq9JT
Tch.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiINXMl0dG
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMKeyvTuR7
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm0L2j6NQD
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOvDQpWFij
Alyson: “!!”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1mQbH6Dm3
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.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRASzcpXLD
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FlyAHm1jW
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmeyiL2vDp
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW9vfSBWP2
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7lIuh5vzY
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJpyn2dt58
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZHraks6kG
*Sigh*
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPizhaAfLG
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Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPbKGF5u3Y
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfmSQbXmbM
Arc?419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDDG7FsHIQ
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Arc: “Yes?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hi9t8DIA2
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyjpbNqZbl
How’s my body?
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz79yGASJq0
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ72WMIJyzM
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
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*Ding*419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wmA9Xj7Hk
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqIQ01PR7B
Points: 6419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHui5DeRAgE
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Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75wkqokVce
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkQMLCqWEZ
*Door open*
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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?
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg9ZnLTfjE
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpASVf3Ghg4
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qz78loTnD
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoOGvyYfSx
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqNioWlOfo
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuGAM2Mb1c
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUgQdmuZM4
Nell: “You promised…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F94YPc676
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxPYAKxGhk
Nao: “Mom I-”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3nXjev9qX
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1704b9RAz
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFckBJAGY84
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2OLbbzYor
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h78U4JOc6
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dPWKenAII
Nao: “But-”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IRE2T3E9j
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8brW7Kvh9
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlbPDQQMgZ
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKBaFiMql1
Nao: “!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzalcvsGFO
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P7Hkl5F3u
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4xVpovtR1
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5DTu0n0ML
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHoiiGruFC
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3cZCdMkbP
Nao: “!!”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYdnoIzBb1
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPgZXB3L9O
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.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG6i7F3XHr
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw91p9kU1rs
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4DcyjssdZ
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq6ZPxA6Ty
What am I becoming?
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Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IHihTDksM
W-What?
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDUgclcEKy
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCq6StrNli
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuceq3eKtk
Nao: “R-Really?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bDdAwQQFj
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxt1v1YRIj
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kGdPrtrDR
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo9TJcPPmS
Nao: “What do you mean?”
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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.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5PXOnhLG0
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YkPcK1f1M
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.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI8QA2xwYN
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZHA7TafbM
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7amA9rbwT
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GWwQEGInq
Nao: “*Nod*”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSNQqnCEdR
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMER680TRdo
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uXasJdmCM
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqMtP978lE
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcjMcajQL7
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycTjqrOYy9
Nao: “Mom I…”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb3jSRZK0T
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I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHeJOnuwBm
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntlykYMk2p
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEqR5Fhphu
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCLUqu1N5W
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPci6mRqg7
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy0eh7exLQ
Nao: “I-”
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgfeRydm7d
Nell: “Promise me.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq5m0deyPX
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaWHJpbCQG
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7AC2gYThT
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXdoUDKEux
Arc: “What are you doing?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp43sU7l32
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39D8pXw5e0
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.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpvWDNHPtP
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OxFTLYfhl
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunS4H9n7rr
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9mGZQ12pZ
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPKPlkK4iI
Nell: “O-Okay.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJob9qhJRnW
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpwmhrkrh8
*Curtains close*
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkUG29Pqdo
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbyCfrOJ6h
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.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLW4amVWIV
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaURJ9oazJH
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEHMZUMlUH
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6dUPUYUx5
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VEdz4WseA
Nell: “I…need some time.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyU8eONoNf
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr2DPeprOt
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9Fwp7trcA
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJIoiF0u0q
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VlURYeTVO
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qFXfXMnYb
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGtdC4Wijz
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr3av3kadP
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtQo8NbFoZ
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0wLSmhC8I
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.
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1PCg6q65i
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
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*Ring*419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNrGvQwnur
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE1p2jCxiA
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.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlEANDz6t2
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0KBJ6tu0l
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwNwVD53wM
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCExwwlFCS
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW90qurDPjw
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGnxKIrKo2
…Are you serious?
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419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM3yJj8TSC
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c7VVfbVfh
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8iv0zdjzr
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX1n6gjvMT
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE1ODcSNzU
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLYMJXUJDE
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQLpZbBBFf
Nao: “Happy to help
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CEOH0KNGn
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ66wcD0Fgr
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCgaM6uk60
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zJu8JuTWL
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWqRxqf7ET
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzwkK6rDhh
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCokcY89xWg
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3PYrpki3f
Nao: “…Same.”
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mv19vaoVw
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR404YHx7so
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDxd78wmuG
419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiBcZxq1rv
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzO8YdrR6O
然後按「加至主畫面」