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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRs3SIhbzJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOi0SflrBS
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlDZuBekGj
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0FmYcfQmC
Nao: “What happens now?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBl2U3wL4s
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rCkKJmRBV
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOYwWHeqVx
!362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlLPBYdPYw
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07ShABy5Iq
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxh7YK8DGV
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn3j0mR49u
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHWhfbP0m2
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD20YDbnCWa
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm0c2mmSi3
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3VSFCSRjH
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjQsupAIzc
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo5gYQK1MI
Alyson: “…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMty4mqRcP
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3glvcPXxNF
Nao: “…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1lge1bOUb
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT0fnWOsCa
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbBvPN50DI
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gguUK53wY
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVk8eiZWsW
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdcMCgjRVF
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rsDaUB1D3
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzflYTTS5W
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrQHlLdq8w
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTf8OPZSwa
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rr264Iuig
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQI4tuve9U
Nao: “…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELqzfpGzus
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdrte7RGsz
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-”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxHw7chozh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFnANEhEsd
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjFi4Ea1KH
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SOzQKEXwl
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXjgkfRyEM
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJAiHZUZV5
Nao: “What’s with you?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj2jCJ77Sp
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dorRbFnfa
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaHBebXhKP
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2zDQsdUto
Nao: “!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLQZQfrWw9
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpOfE48i3z
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6nvrdn4Vu
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6PETH37c
Nao: “…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvTul5Z8GX
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9MXUcBr0l
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnwhqjyXBk
Tch.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQxsraagsa
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGxW795Pwg
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht1Moeygsf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv3QS8pweE
Alyson: “!!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdhTonqbmP
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5vxcB9uOc
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.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRKPQsYenO
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBCD73s34A
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrkGP2dmqV
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1tqsXyQD4
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkonWcLtdmm
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt8vU22nF2
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEhEh7vQqp
*Sigh*
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEbjl1fnMP
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZKa460oAC
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cFAxOOHmm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7XlxDAtlB
Arc?362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xk6Ytlc6w
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAXUQBlQFe
Arc: “Yes?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4ZycSXDF
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdW7Vr2GvM
How’s my body?
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFxACpnTWL
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYM2SZdGDp
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ709buND2MS
*Ding*362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Y60mntwX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwsQDxaoPL
Points: 6362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcBeuCgAiE
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpGZxXjjLu
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMSBU7smpB
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxUkDTQzDS
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWfNQmCB7b
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnxhumM7ka
*Door open*
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjiYVM21Nh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzp4ORnusl
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?
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjEfByl0Ak
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4neih5WVhC
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYXc3V1v7f
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nP4prTxxD
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAffAMlmEh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbeheMTcwb
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOj9IBHDFR
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTJjmCKfUZ
Nell: “You promised…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYoYXHb4db
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznv2HeB2NB
Nao: “Mom I-”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxI7JTxgYS
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iknQ7BrFz
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa4p8t7iGG
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xrQqGF19e
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv2ZwfnvDf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKyNz0m8l3
Nao: “But-”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyACCG64lUc
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7ChijOn1J
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG8fMTUiGV
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGYZpL9tM6
Nao: “!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGV31p1bJR
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThn763Hj4d
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxVP3DXtrO
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtVWxkP6vx
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN6bZJEe2E
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6qpo0ogi8
Nao: “!!”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgymkFO1BiF
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEftyi4Naz
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.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLFHMwQ90g
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUt19R4lg8
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpDqmXIa8W
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2essppmOEW
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1MLfiuTKV
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC09bgDHBu8
What am I becoming?
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IVdRfhf3q
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT29Vb8szi
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOytQK2I8py
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxtBtrH8Tr
W-What?
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKYiseS1L0
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhMbwf217O
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLwD97joxi
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf3x7sLcWz
Nao: “R-Really?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mbasqU9Gk
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡparcMMJBfa
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpuD6syhpQ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeixyXR52w
Nao: “What do you mean?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99HdKBUfSE
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Srn2RTW35
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.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai4Dw18GIr
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfksTDeMBWy
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.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzyJ0xLw5w
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhzvM5j3ny
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE3MLqAr7h
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJInRnpeRaJ
Nao: “*Nod*”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYbDWQofnj
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVHfou0bwJ
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo8m142LS2
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMbjshaIcN
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNu9j9cvdg
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflVJ1dyBBP
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RPPyPn3KV
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaMRD8KDwT
Nao: “Mom I…”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUucZk3PadN
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin6E02Olf3
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMbRoFKwLm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSDlppcK8y
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtESDgT5B6S
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFsxEpR5ma
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ2YZRaUzl
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhQg2FKVMe
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkhJjLauNp
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobboudQkDD
Nao: “I-”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTb8RrR5Ps
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHL5FewtxZ
Nell: “Promise me.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0HhzZ8fUu
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcqooBLaIP
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQwzttbw46
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJkI5iQUhO
Arc: “What are you doing?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsT3GpVoaC
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcEjGJFI67
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlSrNnHilK
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzOEFtPOdB
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypdEYfTquK
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvhvqoaHIa
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga1T6XLYSf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojF4hFCVCD
Nell: “O-Okay.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvLoUKXzs5
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakdxwWXjql
*Curtains close*
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1riL5EePN3
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYc0vPPs8d
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeyQHDBHJt
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MymiA2iR6
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcZxzfVMbU
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HbXBLNvBc
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELzJA35rq9
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQUnJkTYF2
Nell: “I…need some time.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT7Yd4MqFa
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoxOc7fzlu
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTRYwuD9Ib
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7DwdkR35w
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEppes950Ft
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4djbdiOn8
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27lOFDV1lQ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoeOBQL098
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm8mr8mvrO
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Os6NQr1tM
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVLlnXNn9L
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yfh2IE6PJ
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7MvDiJ6ah
*Ring*362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJij4IFIcn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThMDnVjc34
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.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRquuu39Lg
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YqlQTfHtW
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05h81EQMxD
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkefTmzbB0
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmx5AaYfVi
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXK1dDDSMc
…Are you serious?
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rnfDZwCcN
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KQc8NMetd
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbrHtNcYFy
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D01ZvtF80
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ8GZP6mEw
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyO9jJrvvY
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQez2nRLXS3
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIKPyRXjhQ
Nao: “Happy to help
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLKWCnWZVn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1vXmnn1TJ
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr1qFhBGy8
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCtpJgjBSw
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpC8WkyVVT
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLfCKDXSM7
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40eXWwTSLB
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l59boBQ7N
Nao: “…Same.”
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiKuMk3i0h
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexoOB3bBes
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhJZSiB21w
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKECIqi05rz
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNczfrJiNHf
