──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuljYIu9h5
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMmw4yvzsL
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UcYOkOvIE
霧氣以不自然的速度再度湧起，彷彿整座林地被封閉於一場靈壓共振的封層中。地面震動，靈藤開始活化，宛如有意識般地朝三人腳邊迅速蔓延。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrZDZeX32x
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKzupacb91
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGakQMsuSB
紅蓮迅速衝到紫苑身旁，準備將她拉離中心位置，但一股強勁的靈流從地底竄出，將他們分離，紫苑瞬間失去重心──
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC1mdfwjfz
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwpaQvYtlq
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh74egYS3vr
「紫苑──！」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5GN1d9wj3
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpzERdjNsf
他幾乎是以本能反應，魔力爆發，身形瞬移般追上她的墜落路線。那一刻，他看見她張開眼，瞳孔中閃爍著驚惶與慣性的麻木。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0kOHDSase
她沒有喊救命。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYnjCCrX6q
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2Ygljc1ki
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PCondnJOH
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN18AaxJop
他追上她，強行用靈力凝結一片浮空藤網，將兩人撞入其中。藤蔓劇烈扭動，劃傷他的背與肩，但他緊緊護住她的頭與脊椎。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLJS06WNJC
兩人一同翻滾著跌進藤網深處，落地時，紅蓮幾乎是跪地的姿態將她擋在自己懷裡。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHhhtoNpUd
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n9kyGiAdB
紫苑呆了幾秒，才發現自己沒有摔痛，反而被穩穩地擁在懷中。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvVF6ayyfW
紅蓮的氣息很近，他額頭抵著她的髮頂，呼吸急促，肩膀還在顫抖。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMXANpkAmT
「……你受傷了。」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgQWRT34HL
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS01ym9oL3v
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUEOB0qCXb
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcNUYdvYc7
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOdtFRdPQ8
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW11UN3mC2
紫苑怔住。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0eUNP1ei9
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewXU0a1Vrt
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNZdzzvDyg
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh7ycZTijA
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtYkiTqt3T
外頭的伊萊斯則已穩住靈陣，迅速分析地形變化，透過植物脈網找出通道，釋放出一片柔和的光藤導引結界，引領兩人自裂谷脫困。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSoTs2OAk5
他看見紅蓮護著紫苑踏出藤霧，臉色蒼白，手仍扣在她的肩上，彷彿還未從驚懼中走出來。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEBQo5tWSg
紫苑則低頭沉默，眼裡映出那護她而傷的傷痕，與那一句聲聲入骨的──「我在這裡」。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LsYG9oE9o
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdyJLg54jw
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
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她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22BIEIO26L
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40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o3C3IaUtb
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORQPM8iU28
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaUkWEErRM
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7Qank4Zbu
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnAZCoAhZd
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夜幕低垂。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkuDJ8Gxjv
林中暫駐的營地重新聚合了所有人。火堆升起，將一整片潮濕與冷意驅逐出小小的圓心。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kmvAvMKuz
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi4twsmsH3
紫苑靜靜坐在一棵倒木邊，身上披著雷瑟遞來的獸皮披風，雖然沒說話，但比以往更安定。她身側的傷痕已被凱希爾處理過，細細綁上銀色水絲繃帶──那是深海族靈醫用於修復細微靈壓裂痕的專屬織線。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD4y0w4ShM
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6R2GJfRu2
凱希爾替她收拾最後一處傷口，語氣仍溫和卻明顯比往常低了一階：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlraKMY19T
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGEuTwqV2b
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBDlzVN373
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XgpZ1OTJf
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q4hiW81gv
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjRcTMXucI
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCkcFdfeOD
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpccEpNwlKl
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdSZiiVJd0
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雷瑟從營地外拖來獵物，熟練地處理獸皮與肉塊。他一邊烤肉，一邊望向紫苑的方向，忽然笑道：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9Q1q5yxfb
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltMCwscEyi
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfq24NZCky
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjziUtqJtnd
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5fNpCSds6
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9lFOfoHd7
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCQ9NBjgVe
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRrtW2s8H0
「……我吃。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeerbXT4mO0
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6YcbBfT3j
那一刻，雷瑟眼中閃過一絲訝異，但他沒多說，嘴角卻彎得極高。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWs4tNR6am
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKgyEv8Lpv
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3KleNyfZ
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紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7Xq7v0Sh1
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD4aWSImxE
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkq9YGFUK1
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ868QBspIEz
蒼芷與米雅坐在火堆另一邊，交換地圖與即將前往邊境的路徑情報。說到後來，蒼芷忽然停頓片刻，將視線落回那道細緻的身影。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg8bnHxsu2
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHojcAVIT8
「……她在改變。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDiWYyTS3h
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo9pKgtBks
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwzTaZT49R
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuozTquLdlU
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqyZiutlgH
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwmOG1gesh
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjCne7wJjq
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd9UHStlcU
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlidavuJCRM
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Ti42YRIO
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMko7DdRhq
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh6p1Me2UG
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tU9s8jooa
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2FrSutBkk
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphOr61goKG
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TK34stkUj
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGKoFNpxJo
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVvRlRIB5Z
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0cSC0wNaw
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39mPZsJJXt
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H9l9ske1J
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvhnvzvWZm
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH42qbqEuYz
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTSBLfWOuo
紫苑聽不太懂這句話，但她沒反駁──她只是緊緊握著手中的湯盞，那是凱希爾替她準備的熱藥湯，藥味苦，但她喝得很慢，卻沒有皺眉。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJZ8527Myr
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H9co55Cwe
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCtPGcPfeR
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngCkJyBGng
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScQVoHCJ6t
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq136YDYc11
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAYn8XgXIG
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdFHgdnnwL
他像是察覺什麼，眉頭微微一皺，伸手輕撫身側植物──那瞬間，他感受到靈氣中的某一個方向，被強行割裂。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4jG5ZEa0y
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG0OnlXLoO
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuW4NtFiUu
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhGw9R6pBO
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C9i6I30mR
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39kQl2cvHk
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXclPr9X0Rw
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFr35eNKdB
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6sisHiMaC
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TUzL0d1yU
他轉身望向營火──那群人，那個女孩，仍沉浸在這得來不易的寧靜之夜中。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl6r3DXtaB
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHlHv6HNyk
他並未出聲。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnnJBkqFz4
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7U6JeD8I7
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTWZry9cfN
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLXhQMJGBQ
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbTXkhebyx
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rFrBBJXyw
—40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeyGuXLJRU
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但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlcM4nMjvu
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyoIWUOlmN
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiTzbJV3rB
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaJlV7Hgfv
魔族的影子，即將現身。40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUJpF1PjiH
