I felt my stomach twist into knots.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA19W6oWvtmr
"It's...get...ting worse.." Alena said somberly.
136Please respect copyright.PENANApE0eb8TFjn
In replace of her normal face, a dark mask was covering half of her face. Curled horns poked from her head.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA62doeZ8Gis
She had turned. In the time I had wasted..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAofgYWcR765
I slowly approached her. "Iris...it's me. You don't have to worry."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAQa1wHBKQRM
Alena also tried to comfort her, wrapping her arms around Iris's sides. Iris initially accepted her comfort, sitting down and heavily breathing.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAMUIx8hWVC2
"Arelin is here...to help...you.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA2GndbDNi0y
Iris looks up at me, not saying a word.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAqaojHl3Prr
I look at Ecluna, who was cowering in the corner and hyperventilating.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWq9lX5zksw
"Ecluna, you have to come over here where it's safer."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAaY4lF9amJl
"I can't.." she muttered. "If I move, she'll kill me..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAM6xQp9P18W
She wasn't mad at anyone when I left...but it was the darkness accelerated her anger only towards Ecluna. She was the one who injected more Dark magic into her body.
136Please respect copyright.PENANADLiMGSICMf
"Don't worry.. we're going to get you out of here..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuAe05PZd00
I slowly approached Iris once again, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Iris...please calm down...we can fix this...you just have to give me a chance.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAEbQQpdQvCQ
I could see a flash on realization on her face, but she simply stared at me. She didn't make a single word.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAVG7f6YWCLf
"Ecluna...hand me some of your magic.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAz8jHz4SsC2
"What if I make her worse?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAmRbwV2kRGS
"I'll see if I can split the two magics apart. I'll use the Light magic on her and absorb the Dark magic."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuTnUajJyY6
Quivering, Ecluna floats an orb of her ecliptic magic towards me. I ripped the two magics apart and gave the Light half to Iris.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAJtduaZMQQj
She screeches horribly for a couple seconds, then...she snaps back to her original self.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAaInB6JirPo
"...Arelin? What's happening to me?" She looks at herself with fear and confusion.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAjnR2Jl20Uq
"You're lucky I could split her magic in half. You could've killed Ecluna.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAHnWfvQkY93
"E-Ecluna?" She looks behind her, and realizes what she had done.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAdKIsJwQtqi
"Oh my God, Ecluna! I'm so sorry!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAeihTf9L4zT
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just a bit shaken up. I'll be fine. At least you're back to normal.. somewhat..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAfxi3VCq46T
"Somewhat?" she runs to the nearest mirror before shrieking at the sight of her own face. I noticed her height had increased significantly, her head almost touching the ceiling.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAeypNzAFsj7
Alena slowly tugs on her sleeves. "It's ok...ay...you're safe and...that's all that...mat...ters,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWJgfj5gYtF
"W-What's Mom gonna think? She's gonna kill you!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANApMN4pquEPr
"I'll have to talk it out with her...and maybe I should take you with me. You do miss your parents, don't you?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAXnL8SraVQ0
She nods. "If you don't mind, I don't..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAPBoKozYQLN
"Alright then, you must be really really happy to see them again.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWej2o7rv3K
I take her darkened hand and lead her out. "Watch your head.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAb2WKgxtkm5
I hear a loud noise on the wall. "Too late..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAcR6DTFWotz
I sigh and let her through the doorframes. As soon as we made it to Emburaria, we quickly found more places to hide Iris. Espero was the first one to notice her, of course.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ2r2glY11
"Iris?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAKq8ar2NBIy
"Esp!" she took him from the ground and hugged him tight. He then realized was being lifted off of the ground.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAATTrjo3cmh
"Wait a minute... where'd you get a growth spurt? You're taller than I am,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANArEpuUgtOwR
"The weirdo curse is affecting my body somehow, but I wanted to come out and see everyone again!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3Z6mKzMRu7
"I noticed. Why don't we take you somewhere so you don't scare the people here?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3SYI0zT8zV
"Oh...okay then.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5Iqo3HZKKX
Espero quietly leads her inside. I follow them. Queen Violet sat quietly in her chair. All three of us show respect to her majesty's presence.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAfhrEKjtoTj
"Your majesty, I'm sorry for bothering you, but this is..Iris, daughter of Irene."
136Please respect copyright.PENANALzcODaHiGF
"...You are the individual Aurelia and the children have been talking about."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAIanu133zlM
"I...think so.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAkrgLVwdXNA
"Iris...your abilities, the abilities that have gotten you this far...it could harm more than help. You have both Dark and Light magic in your body, two of the most strong types of magic this world can contain."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAhlW69VUlSV
Iris looked a bit enamored by the thought..but then realized she was more of a danger to others, which made her rub her arms in shame..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuZBdJj182a
"However, you are not the monster you make yourself out to be. You are still human. Don't forget that."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAFk1jjPIxJ4
Iris silently thanked her with a light nod.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAKzAPHWJDKv
Queen Violet looks at me. "Arelin.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA947xwwqtXG
"Yes, your majesty?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAUKI171rSQW
"Take care of Iris. Make sure she fully recovers from the curse that has been inflicted on her."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAV6v6ZaoLsy
"I will."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA2DxiDLLLzB
"Well, maybe we should get going. We still need to see Aunt Irene.." Espero says, taking Iris's hand and dragging her away.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3QLy48TFYY
I decided to go home for the day. I had a lot of studying to do. I read until my eyes started to give up, as if weights themselves pulled them down..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAot6lYm9oWW
***
It was terrifying when I first heard it. The screams of the innocent, magic swirling around the air. It made me jump out of my seat.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAyuGjiDzggn
"Nocturne...did this..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAj0HImg3U9Q
I somberly look at my sister. "Are you okay?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAEsZycNuSVD
"I'm worried... about Iris..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAr7AHH2rK3Y
I had totally forgotten about leaving Iris with Espero. I quickly put on my coat and slipped on my shoes.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuvCrc4kN0j
"Don't..Mother will be sad...if you leave.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAc1jGttKw3s
I look out the window. The world around us is in chaos...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAVeLviNlRST
"...I have to. For my people. For Iris. I'll be back, okay?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANArmJoXmounm
"...Hurry..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAh3QNO2sblT
I jump out of the window and painfully drop down to the ground. I carefully sneak around the area.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA0TAaxXXzjd
I run into someone. Their features...were undescribable. The mask that covered their face...it...covered their eyes too..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAzHKTEfGuFq
That's when the Darken slammed it's abnormally long and clawed hands in my direction. I stop carefully, and throw a rock in another direction. They noticed the noise and ran.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAsTAboyP8OV
"So they're blind..." I whispered. "Good to know.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAhsMBuS1tHE
I continue sneaking, sliding by any Darken I saw while looking for Iris in the process. She couldn't be far..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAvbMGtU8g3k
***
Iris POV
136Please respect copyright.PENANAMLUhtL7P74
Despite my pain, I had to keep going... before anyone else got hurt.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAlJzpeyKrCS
I could feel her aura. Nocturne was the reason all of this was happening. I had to stop her. Darkens scattered around the area, blindly feeling their way around.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuTy9iFgqYO
I felt my own face, the ragged teeth of the ends of the...thing that covered my face. I don't want to become...that. I didn't want them to feel the same pain as me either. That was another reason I wanted to stop her...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAZG5ZecI75N
I didn't have time to think before someone snatched me from the middle of the street.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAMNZ5BC4yC8
"Iris?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA1zhK2CIhjQ
"Jake?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAHadgjzIY7T
"Jesus Christ, I was about to knock you out,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAETMtZpw8rC
"What's going on?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAaZOCNw241E
"Nocturne... she's back,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5W7qHVGWm1
"What are we gonna do?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAS9U1NxaomN
"What we're supposed to. Take her and her snarky little brat down.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAiaeUEB5Owc
"B-but...I can't..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANALnRdnbMElB
He grabs my hands, squeezing them tight.
"Iris. You're probably the strongest person I know. All of us can do this. We're stronger than we were back then..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAcpcP3qO41f
"But...if she gets ahold of me, she might use you against me...I can't be there..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA9i5Vm05C2l
"Don't worry about that,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANARmHpQECR0O
"...Okay. I have to...get Arelin..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANArXmxDfZh7k
"No time. We have to go. Now,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAVu5p628nXG
Jake grabs my arm and drags me around. That's when another one of my jolts of pain hit me..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAh6Fg47Zi9Z
"W-wait...hold on..." I suck the air through my teeth.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAT9JUz4vTxO
"Did I do something?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAoy1QFu3xAP
"N-no no, it's just something that happens sometimes... I'll be fine. Let's keep moving.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAVdNGi4WSV1
I slowly limp my way towards Nocturne's piercing aura. As time passes on, I start moving a little faster. But the shockwaves of pain became more frequent. I could care less.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAeJllZhkSDu
Jake, at some point had to carry me. "You're gonna be okay. Just breathe. We're gonna fix this.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAJOnHcKjjle
I did as he recommended. It did feel a little better..
136Please respect copyright.PENANA98b9Nbpg1P
"Ah..there you are, Iris.." Nocturne says as she noticed me. "Thank you, my child."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAH6XGk80ncR
"You're welcome... mother.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5E47e6wnza
I realized that wasn't Jake at that exact moment. Ciaran had shapeshifted...no...he made the illusion of Jake. In order to lower my guard. Nocturne immediately used her magic to snatch me into her hands.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAYVna2bSaLE
"Now that our prize has arrived, why don't we get started?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAMgfdjgWFGS
"Nocturne! Let her go!" I hear my mother order.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAEbVAqdfBSZ
"Whether I let her go is up to your actions. Leave, and I'll command her myself to kill you. Stay, and risk your life to save the unsalvageable.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAbIyo1dj9Ka
"Don't worry, Iris, you'll be safe...for now." Nocturne lets me go, but immediately enveloped my body in an orb of darkness. I was forced to watch my family and friends fight for my sake.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5YluVtmdnV
Ciaran floats next to me, pretending to sit. "This will be very very interesting, wouldn't you agree?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAkLnQBP9Uw5
I slam against the wall of the bubble. "Let me go, Ciaran!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAoZMUTE4qWy
"I cannot let you leave, Iris. Not when we have so many things to look forward to after this.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAvNpuxsE31P
"Like what?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAbr1alddv3L
"You'll see..." he smiled with that stupid toothy grin.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAqgXD8rFQN5
I noticed how well they were doing. Nocturne was looking a little angry at the fact.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA4nIXCTngP8
"Alright Nocturne...you should've surrendered when you had the chance." Espero looks at a pile of boulders, the rocks slowly float above Nocturne and piles on top of her.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAbLsTY0dKPL
"I'll give you another chance though..." Espero pulls out a knife from his pocket and swung it around her face. "Surrender now, and I won't cut into your face."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAloFQYs4XDh
She cackled at him...she was cornered but...she laughed at him...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAULAMLRncME
I slam against the bubble again. "What's so funny? What are you planning, Nocturne?!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANATiU5OghvUA
"Quiet, child. This is what happens when you attempt to threaten me..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAEPwGkdto0l
Just before I could think about what that meant, an arm of darkness creeped up behind Espero...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAXYHwtOGoF3
I didn't forget the sound it made. The arm sharpened it's end and...pierced him right through the chest..when it ripped itself out, he slowly fell to the ground, with a pool of blood forming underneath him.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWS8H61nRzF
"ESP!" I screamed. Others did the same.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAxxnAqpZh1W
I had to see if he was okay. I used the little bit of Light energy I had left to break free from my floaty prison and crawled over to Espero.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAinZk70hvjO
"Espero! Esp! Get up!" I shake him vigorously. He faintly placed his hand on my shoulder.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAUtW8Buuten
"I-I'm sorry for...n-not h-helping you with y-your c-curse, Iris.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3vnsJGN6n5
"I don't care about that right now, I'm worried about you!" I feel the tears roll down my cheeks like rivers.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWgKqR6RTjT
He chuckles, coughing up a bit of blood along with it.. "...I d-did m-my job...I d-died p-protecting you.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAzFp8gWhGe3
"Don't say that! You've got to stay alive, Esp! You can't just leave me!"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAuGs7a9hC7E
He wipes my tears. "I-It's o-okay...y-you don't h-have to cry...n-not for me.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3AmCBwvZQT
"Esp..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAXeYaiDsCAn
"...I-I'm gonna miss you, Iris.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAk6emp8xj26
His body goes limp after that...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAKLCxhcUxhK
"Esp? Esp?!" I continuously shake him. That's when Jake puts his hand on my shoulder.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA9fc4KrXmDS
"It's no use Iris...he's gone.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAgqt90wd7dJ
I saw the memories of me and Espero flash within my eyes as I saw his lifeless face, a small smile formed in his final moments of life..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAJYtsEdCQAe
Those moments is what made me cry even harder. I had lost him. The one who'd promised to be there for me until the very end. Espero was gone, laying lifeless in my arms.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3nqWtQZUUw
"Don't worry Iris," Nocturne rips me away once again... "You'll forget about him soon enough..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAFzGCuaEXoF
"You've taken one of them from us...how many more souls must you torture before you're finally satisfied, Nocturne?" Mom asked her, stifling tears.
136Please respect copyright.PENANATqWe8fxDIM
"Enough to where you finally snap. Where you reach your limit. That's when the suffering can end. Now, make a decision. Leave now or suffer the loss of another child.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAhmTqTEL1tZ
Mom stepped back with visible tremble, picking up Espero. "...I'm so sorry, Iris. I... don't want anyone else to suffer..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWNugU3XQ4H
She slowly leaves the scene. The rest of the group follows behind.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWb5rL2IZfA
Nocturne wipes away my tears...
"Shh, you don't have to cry... we are going to take very good care of you.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAp9YuELrjGE
"Why? W-why did you kill him?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5sFi8PuNEd
"If I didn't, he would have killed me first. I was only protecting myself. And now, there's only one part left of our mission to complete.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAEo7FibOSWx
"Shall we leave then, Mother?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANA27rHx65dUZ
"Yes, we have a lot to do.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAqReF7cseRZ
What are they planning to do with me? Was I going to die? Those questions swirled around my head as they dragged me away.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAXgQG3xOXG5
***
Arelin's POV
136Please respect copyright.PENANAtxr35baRsQ
I was too late. Nocturne's aura was slipping away from my field of sense. What if she'd already had Iris and was making her escape?
136Please respect copyright.PENANAA7TjwGqcXY
"Arelin..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANArdHiSJ1Cpj
Alena was behind me. I almost jumped.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAwwRyfYdZFd
"Alena...you can't be here."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3V8BydxkXY
"Iris is...my friend too. I have to be there...for her.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAd4PAEybb8D
"...If you come with me, you have to promise to leave if it gets too dangerous, okay?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAZeRnuS9Zqv
She nods her head and grabs my hand.
136Please respect copyright.PENANACi00zH1jxA
I try to run as fast as I can to catch up. I have find Iris before something happens.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5dM4Oim4XO
"Arelin...something bad happened..." she points towards a dark puddle, soaked into the soil around it.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAfpaWB8TNDG
Alena goes up to it, and feels it. She shuffles away.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA098cw13dWO
"I-It's blood...still warm..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANA7WgY0dGrQR
Fresh spilled blood.. Alena was right. Something horrible happened here..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAyunvHQ3kPY
...I have a feeling I should go to that town...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAr0f2uk9q2f
I run in the opposite direction, gripping Alena's arms tightly as I do.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA5TloBPR9QZ
I was hardly breathing when I arrived...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7v6W3loaj
"Alena...you stay here.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAfm7HOpzrLq
She sits quietly. "Be careful.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANARr6gvxR2Pj
I nodded in understanding, and left her there.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAZnbhImW0uw
Using some of my knowledge, I seemingly teleported from one point to another..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAeDVwqLBa31
Right in front of the castle, I kicked my way through.
136Please respect copyright.PENANATcRhAPQUhZ
"Nocturne.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAm8TxK7mgH0
"Ah, hello again, Arelin..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAHPFZoyXdvp
"I'm not here for chit chat. I'm here for Iris."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAI1lAFWdCQs
"If you want her that badly..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAawFf3Dsl4F
Iris...she turned again.. She was no longer herself, an animalistic husk of who she once was..
136Please respect copyright.PENANA0TNspj5Ogf
I tried to get through to her again. "Iris..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAD2qTUWouZc
I step forward, only for her to swipe at me. Talking to her wasn't an option. Iris continued to angrily stare.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAq4Rhl4OecJ
She begins to fight with me. I was barely prepared to dodge most of those attacks, allowing her to land hits on me. No matter how many times she landed attacks, however, I wasn't going to hurt her.
136Please respect copyright.PENANASK7p0uOndx
"Why don't you show Arelin what you've just learned?" Ciaran asked of her. I couldn't begin to think of what he meant. When I looked up, Iris had disappeared, before I felt a hard push from behind me. Iris was on top of me, refraining me from moving.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAu9rABe6h0h
"Good. Now finish him,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAhzQZ7YDvaV
She stomps her foot against my temple, before charging an attack. At this point, I was ready to accept death. I was in too vulnerable of a position to save myself. Or so I thought. Just before she could finish attacking, I used the illusion of her cousin. A bit cruel to save myself, but it was a last resort.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3FT6HtsBrL
Fortunately it worked, however, Iris looked more.. upset about it...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAbkznW3eg0n
"E-Esp?" she whispered, as crystal tears fall from her eyes. What happened to Espero in the town square for her to tear up like this?
136Please respect copyright.PENANAdffaUwM6jp
"I-I'm sorry..I didn't want you to..." Iris hugs me, digging her crying face into my chest..
136Please respect copyright.PENANARoWl5bGKRh
I ended the illusion. She was obviously back to normal. I comfort her while staring daggers into the others' eyes.
136Please respect copyright.PENANA3FzTx5Es8M
"What...did you two do to Espero?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAenhRdVG5TM
"Are you really that empty skulled? Mother got rid of him. He's gone.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAYD6pSoYO7K
"...You...killed him?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAGOX8zvGBYH
"Hmm, yes, I guess you could put it that way,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAW2pfDfhHzY
I hug her even tighter. "Iris... I'm so sorry,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAFKgrap3TBD
She didn't reply, and just cried even harder..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWDEOi1myFA
"Now, if you would let her go, we can go our separate ways,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANASGhwkWu8V7
I pull her away. "I'm not letting you. You've tortured her for far too long,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANACkaL7pEYUG
"Then you shall suffer the same fate as Espe-"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAfWNUEJsYtj
"Mother, I will handle this. You should rest for the night,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAZN4WoOR3WQ
"... If you insist. I shall be on my way to bed,"
Nocturne, for once, left our sight..
136Please respect copyright.PENANAoSBYPjIVZR
"Now that Mother has left, you can leave now,"
136Please respect copyright.PENANArctmzacBHu
"...Can I tell you, Araginee, one last thing?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAU3KtbCeXzh
"What is it?" Iris replies.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAimD21sH6hV
I barely blinked before he had teleported right in front of us, snatched Iris from my arms, and...
136Please respect copyright.PENANAAAKbC7rtx8
"I... love you..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAK4anp3ZZCJ
He then kisses her, catching the both of us by surprise.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAoiYzq0woSH
"W-What?" Iris says in shock.
136Please respect copyright.PENANASIujrdiNul
He hands her back to me. "Did I scare you?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ5MI9nP8V
"W-we should go..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAKC9T2sxhcc
"Go ahead. Maybe you just need some time to think about it..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAzP2Y5vz36X
We follow his orders and leave. As we exit, I ask her. "...Are you okay?"
136Please respect copyright.PENANAxmBitDKgZe
"I...I don't know. It was all so sudden," she says, still visibly confused.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAaVYDcOAkNg
"I don't know if you should trust those words just yet. You know how much he likes to trick you.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAj4hr2nZWh1
"It felt genuine..."
136Please respect copyright.PENANATYSbunONzZ
".. We'll have to see how genuine he actually is.."
136Please respect copyright.PENANAJo5HvSHOlH
"...I brought...ev...ery..one else.." Alena says, approaching us.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAA29cH7AHuK
Mrs. Araginee was disheveled. She must not have slept since yesterday. She sleepily walks over to Iris and wraps her arms around her waist.
136Please respect copyright.PENANAvN2hQ8CNFf
"I'm...so sorry, Iris...I didn't want to leave you with them.."
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"It's okay, I knew you were only looking out for rest of them. If I weren't so weak in my regular magic, I'd take care of them myself.." Iris creeps down and hugs her mother back.
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"You are okay to come home, right?"
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"I can visit, but I can't stay. If I turn on you or Dad, you wouldn't be able to stop me.."
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"...Come tomorrow. I'm sure you're tired."
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"I have a lot to think about. But I promise, I'll be there!" Iris gives her mother a wide smile.
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Irene smirks back. "Okay, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
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Iris nods rapidly. "Okay!"
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Irene looks at me. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."
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"You're more than welcome, Mrs. Araginee. I'm just doing as I promised."
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Irene hugs Iris once more. Then Jake, then Ecluna. Suddenly, it had turned into a group hug. I joined in.
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I swear I could feel the wind wrapping around as well...I was convinced...Espero was also there.
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