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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzttnKiP4Lq
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxAfhctk5v
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo01sf2zMVW
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKNfVAJ59T
Nao: “What happens now?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFkjyum4IF
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZSpBEMSYy
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe1pVIgSoz
!456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rJZA4Fjp1
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwOSGHmz4r
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRkUMjaby9
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwqKXuiLRD
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv4teh8RxX
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ2D2NSVsK
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP5KXvasgy
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62M9ODu338
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1Y2lcBDBE
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd6HqlGXiK
Alyson: “…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwy2NpJbes
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPYAEDlUg7
Nao: “…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkQYPs3TaV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPD916Evml
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iu9O7Ren4
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdAUhyDRn4
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KYfynFw6w
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSm4EGbW4k
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QHMzS4MLx
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUGJcQF6fz
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqGAsppoQZ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAB2Yajn3l
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD4jTARcFu
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9RpDvTa37
Nao: “…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHfTtLpaJr
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2DZ0U31ql
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-”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiWGIedN2l
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriM5P9EDrD
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8Gku2eavC
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxNuuwpAsy
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3ufsy1o7c
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yrSkG2Ke6
Nao: “What’s with you?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypIXXCiocp
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13wSwlABVM
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmNiMFH2Jf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1FYEQonoq
Nao: “!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU753x3YyoH
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYCl0wa4nb
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz47RZbDWzR
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt0omTgNCh
Nao: “…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7NorwkvDN
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovo7BtURXn
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1wjGVcfsp
Tch.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJazoYSGYbI
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaE5V1rXYr
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx3uK1N9ax
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vgkmCJgRU
Alyson: “!!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3teNKdjCQ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x1SQwUkj9
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.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLu1QMmGbC
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8XiEW1Myn
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXxHFlu6cm
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzyLozYXI8
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0ae1XuRtE
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpKQ43B7v2
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrSUXd3koQ
*Sigh*
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpd5lmZjTf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWU6xldxwj
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzF967BD9m
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8mMQog2DQ
Arc?456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdDo0coKoA
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW7AE2iTFV
Arc: “Yes?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfcG3JGEVf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMMg7N4JlP
How’s my body?
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLGIihSnWr
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vgItr5ctM
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfsyc3fuvU
*Ding*456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQlWoVjZQ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0fRQaRXMm
Points: 6456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBdRazIAST
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Pm8I9VC8
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiNPLn7iYo
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTqMdHVQuD
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzonlseKle
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupWbzYGYlV
*Door open*
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlbU1WW24P
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCQtibgL5n
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?
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjG7CvabDV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk6zfB0yxr
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZfriTPTXr
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStSvpnPzAH
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvtSjD8phv
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5nyu9wdwF
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYlbdVQOB9
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3CB4KW1hf
Nell: “You promised…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99JtQqMWUR
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHoobHhr7i
Nao: “Mom I-”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ713FMbDeSt
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ7G5mmPwY
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pKKAJhABX
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAEhBS1wZA
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKevMm0YDP3
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVkDPIwc1b
Nao: “But-”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOZ7kYpDgF
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9vxN1UrRj
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr2td1b4as
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno2jKk51sn
Nao: “!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy7dgbhAhO
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw3K4e8FA4
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjWyGb664W
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVJaUdsKtM
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE97hJpg83u
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bTTpQMPAy
Nao: “!!”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SlqSfElZr
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvwivu65cX
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.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4GXeAMVa8
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhpRbZsscF
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG3kNhPN9u
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKdY6Jow43
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcgNdbxPl7
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY6I64byyx
What am I becoming?
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYdnNVarpX
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvrAU9Ut0m
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaVN3RCLPn
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpWOy4F6Gl
W-What?
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzTW9WhcLA
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr1urRLdRB
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cs8WrjOdg
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlHfGprEhF
Nao: “R-Really?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AVjqzq82x
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWXghDzJRP
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Wfv4VWwf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnu8N1DklA
Nao: “What do you mean?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJNAjA26TB
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbDoSK5IGG
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.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D7Y7cO8dk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvdfesZ6XV
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.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYvEJIvTjG
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKqWdQjpey
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04gamBwY30
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwMxCg0PBq
Nao: “*Nod*”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaUnM5CzgM
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXsZrq9h1E
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXoqfH6a72
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aXARfk1gH
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKliWQsW6k
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9V9gAIRxM
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvjdlP24sI
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVRxjvpHsf
Nao: “Mom I…”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy1ZmeXjC1
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC8lIkK8Au
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGwJS6o0so
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm9vGT6ZGl
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vx2FAQqqU
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cPrqBtLcF
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaY1IQCx0P
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV5DeMNCnM
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg9Xa4Pbvu
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b4raL0LEc
Nao: “I-”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mVlSHWLcU
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJejAE1MGv5
Nell: “Promise me.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLehDd9Xf3G
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn09A3psSoh
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5vwpNYWk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM6UxYFkcS
Arc: “What are you doing?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rohq09wkc
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7HzpZVo5p
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYaEdPx2xX
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2gWn8j6rU
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jwxFeXzr2
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW9yzWorLZ
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgnj3lBm1S
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DKPjvnxWV
Nell: “O-Okay.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOqzfGq2mB
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJijsfrhXH
*Curtains close*
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7pA79Iyet
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXzoHe5ZdA
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1nlenuf4n
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNztA7pQLM
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb6fLe9N6z
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch9ZKtNYIH
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq4uZjUVOk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwCi0I3Ou0
Nell: “I…need some time.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzGPRAj7rf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp5bmeu3ek
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTOW2ZYRhf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZtqQ7TSiK
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX58PQMZ4J9
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIbKNRykE3
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIwgNVJ8Zv
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5xC87336M
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeHhc7JAhE
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKahpIdTfif
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvb4oTKCBt
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjeTqPGfiP
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBSAzfRXDa
*Ring*456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj1w9gZwaB
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3sTvgTXie
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.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvc051z515
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP5YHkSB8j
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpmoa7TFnW
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI534JeP73e
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAel0NRbUm
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zgzyrKqUv
…Are you serious?
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlm60lKtFo
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLSrjKQ6Su
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe1VCbwpwk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKQwBkuYw1
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmLzAV7RmV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw4zDOdvqE
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZHTDedcqq
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcTIB9G5za
Nao: “Happy to help
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qq3LXK0wu
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWDYbeXvh4
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbJ0eJXHMC
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9VEQ3UbEO
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVx6oSiepn
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBo9lXifph
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe6MCllsH6
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrmMLgS97V
Nao: “…Same.”
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cvvM4nIwy
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jh6WLwlh1
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlT09Gxfu5
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuAKgYwcXp
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjscMFQDFUT
