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.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezUQ0JUIxg
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmrvovY0mz
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjRd0HGMV3
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ6PK4p5s4
Nao: “What happens now?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcmvnsliqS
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlRMS8vqzH
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sJg89Eina
!451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrKOnr2oEo
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimLjBdXKp4
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmtUwwancU
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyJKM6UHse
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmLPOfnakq
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSnHRp6JtX
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGYM0djZYF
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTgTHKgEHV
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87S89vaQND
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvcQUKOj53
Alyson: “…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmWIxBF9qn
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi1n30mT4N
Nao: “…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5zeWPvzlM
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxv00wVOHF
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcF6GVgZIm
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVELH6kMkn2
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHmsg6lznV
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmX1POCYzM
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XfyLgQX4h
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAMCEwvfm7
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTgYtRU9Xb
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLgaYbrcaJ
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZFx1G99SJ
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAwxogQvGK
Nao: “…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq9ImYcB9x
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmhcmZjAvW
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-”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAxTrJUVmo
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjO8Ut1FuP
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5xA6KTE9F
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERDTx71yiS
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CCIKlfCMV
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAxXSNW9pi
Nao: “What’s with you?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsm2FgW0es
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5HatTSt7I
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL5garKm1H
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PEvCO95Dm
Nao: “!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sf2z5in5P
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKN8GYILIa
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZJymLl17F
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ctX3sTzNj
Nao: “…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RqkxvpJfz
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yyJHAaq2I
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtrzjm7m5h
Tch.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx1k9NWoiw
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVrXWSxZFD
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxPiY9qAAg
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGagYV4AXt
Alyson: “!!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAPTcvTQM8
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51AfkcAP34
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.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpDQKF9oMT
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1HNaQWoMz
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6uVXlwJ3b
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEUYfZZ5qf
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW2lJPBLD7
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIt0ivYgge
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs9HFdclnz
*Sigh*
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mSrtT7GFd
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXQVPBm82b
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w0xqt3tJh
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1V0FFae9t
Arc?451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad69IUQNNw
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjXiSh6lko
Arc: “Yes?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnkrvVl29a
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPUPy10n8L
How’s my body?
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jlfvDgDs7
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcxmGR35gU
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEZ5wX7rOz
*Ding*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxLd4RJHaF
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5xV4XKK3
Points: 6451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvspjPa107
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTLGuA5UY3
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoAPpcyZsS
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb5zf6WiDX
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEPjYVETzO
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLtzKAbgmb
*Door open*
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnbPWeW7ro
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJjWOK7g1Y
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?
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfmQdHKzYX
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerWNiwiqZP
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiRVevJCM8
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhTk15wwXj
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocHOiUhCJo
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurRMPH4Y82
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0CGwPg9pf
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRsX9JPzVY
Nell: “You promised…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wPZGW0Et2
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QBfcnxxiQ
Nao: “Mom I-”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf2XjDeWrK
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS1ObKSkGb
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhM8cqTMOI
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBGaTkaiG9
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC0nIIM7jw
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpKlpDAJl1
Nao: “But-”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i3TVhcbTn
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9X4UnEO2x
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeajinTHAy
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkEiND3bIb
Nao: “!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6DpY7P9e4
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBb5USKKgP
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FaIWQ9kIw
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi6Wic6mej
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSul4otI5kT
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrawmPMpTZ
Nao: “!!”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi2ySpa95v
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvvCAMSulp
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.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJskKhSioB
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurlR9Z6Z1J
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0IBusVZul
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtqnQabjE7
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Dr0G8E1D5
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GZkOZwHxZ
What am I becoming?
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07lx76uXGY
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsgG0JXYmw
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtogCfsFzlK
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0sXOoKl1W
W-What?
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjh8XTDKWz
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BkS5tsfHL
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfg81Xq9aG
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qFiPiR6O2
Nao: “R-Really?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl609KzSy1U
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB8Of8HNia
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs0P5EhriS
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITmdeAjgCL
Nao: “What do you mean?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq4c0FRvW5
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH93VjAXBUm
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.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ656e09ajKX
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVRRYK5jtc
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.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjxwNTmUAE
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ2KCMLLcq
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguSEkgPiUt
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjNvn6kvnS
Nao: “*Nod*”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeetK2yEpv5
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12qBMMdbkG
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0titvWx5Dh
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHh4N5WzkG
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUyWoJ3xn0
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQfnz2iEMe
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eaRqpmdGM
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdBi4uv6HB
Nao: “Mom I…”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTYw5AwB61
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxYf7RWXwW
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeFDvVrhCi
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza5fj0D38M
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunExxr3elb
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQsqueitGI
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwXcPcGfWv
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hFNQGnXVC
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMpB6ctRUN
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKVvZvtIEc
Nao: “I-”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEiAWcrRdn
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uD82627AK
Nell: “Promise me.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas8WPLHchn
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoT35ROvZY
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoyRhl3fMK
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlZZxfrrY0
Arc: “What are you doing?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSToE4huKQ
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeYq04soo8
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYnCKxQBrp
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIb5Nbuwki
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuosNXLZz04
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mVkjHBzMw
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvGENNRw1k
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0FIzB5i5b
Nell: “O-Okay.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBkaUvH4dm
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza7J93MwHt
*Curtains close*
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3fvKQKTlB
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCknenz4KCJ
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrBdZMQmHH
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94S22a9xxu
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKrlPEENGN
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhqA9P3KyV
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Koueiyfx
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpL1dfHWoT
Nell: “I…need some time.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRwsJSFZD1
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuECb0K1FV6
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOexVXEagcy
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTmO7xZSjb
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LsyOtUToN
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm4XnUJoDf
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsYZe8bltW
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcrpkS5GJM
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIoeCx9MC5
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzrcpcshtW
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeExIdrQIDE
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuQS4qOPN8
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyaSIVLQZY
*Ring*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uc5D5v7ud
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6a3jzCnFR
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.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSRqCGSJtn
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yYTTbf6mc
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjHJ9iIQJ2
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQypNVO52aZ
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtcwTmhKR6
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6H3oLwBFM
…Are you serious?
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQsOBZEhX6
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlhhn6uR3M
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bIrgmgZ2x
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhEFlpXoji
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEZt8u6Vfd
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbugerLsES
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8DAp2m55t
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTcxoJTPRo
Nao: “Happy to help
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUskJqRHeQ
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqv7C7uhIs
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHPsnjg4mQ
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKvCzF1LwH
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhqG65uE7e
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqAsbZBDmJ
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJWN9lnlET
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yLI8mSBjb
Nao: “…Same.”
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWV5BuHVJW
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkakMCbHN7
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp7bM8eJc2
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCnLEqzv8l
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9UFyKLQkX
