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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ioggddkkz
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdJXkejbIn
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauMtRtMGoP
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Nao: “What happens now?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ADAFCrp8c
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgYQgS4Wr5
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVDeDkTIMJ
!361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDiUYOljlM
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0nJ7WWcCG
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmNn3WUs27
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDccQCncSYh
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIdxhD2PSX
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdip3PWbRX
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1IsVXybBa
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rfkksis0O
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdDXGhLe8x
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawR4GOMMLb
Alyson: “…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQZFecw4DG
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDBD3Yfmbi
Nao: “…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZZZGDD2f
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzef7gTWm7
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWa9j4LlTq
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlFqLqllyK
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu3ufmON88
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN5FfwRAaF
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXcIfRqWJS
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve3O53PkZI
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRdjXqY0vM
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTFqdtGve5
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mwJ0A8cUi
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw5zlSLeBR
Nao: “…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgixRam2wf
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9EUq1mZAE
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-”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2NRnoppUB
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxKeEcaRJe
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB2QeHUc06
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibkjfaTBHw
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QeaFdRiL6
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Nao: “What’s with you?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJvy5bLIOP
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMdgHwdzJV
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmLHEVRjxt
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Am2ns5LrN
Nao: “!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKOmU15aL2
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe3pNIhFRy
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkPiH4LUif
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUqrSgdrQa
Nao: “…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWNRDTQm3C
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU1tYuTsPg
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqHCqT9h1l
Tch.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbFBVzueQ
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL59Y0rcct
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl2XTW8Io7
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzTYhbTMNu
Alyson: “!!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpJDvTIG1o
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrJ3L9Wth6
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.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5969qrCwG
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRacoCQm3uu
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sl4DVYh78
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.
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361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7oRtSrAw0
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOsCzVtsGU
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47ZHTbFHCK
*Sigh*
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361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHPR1Ln9RX
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwfc9UpxL6
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJFVOmBB3C
Arc?361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmddLXYmKiB
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xVGinGQsJ
Arc: “Yes?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYr3GgxEfn
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ5DyXMQMN
How’s my body?
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYdEDmVep
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd0QXO58qv
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6zkbd6w1G
*Ding*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vu0Lt0ZSH
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUjrqy3rSc
Points: 6361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJSCHFwNYm
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2ghfDGGKg
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MsjObrBZA
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UOeOz7PAA
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHrGtPX47T
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI4TpHRlWR
*Door open*
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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?
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdgublz1NH
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlREkbFUfy
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw4a1TvGL7
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo3mz3Mh9L
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLzUN5dxWK
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetJ2yQ84av
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc59lwu9YdO
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGqkGjYQ3o
Nell: “You promised…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlTH1bt5an
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2K9bdZKYa
Nao: “Mom I-”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dO9Dw1UCw
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4uJxv9i0r
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MLmixvRar
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpIFVC9zZI
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8qwCT3gna
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMF7DjDh6N
Nao: “But-”
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361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBRTSGAPaz
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfy85sTUkx
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GDXT0SCzj
Nao: “!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3deJatZmIS
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTS4sY1M2C
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjAc2YENnn
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57a2zXFZmq
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA7LFCyHok
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF9XjdXYK6
Nao: “!!”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFcxOJiFMp
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd4OUgSOFC
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.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfrjb0ko1u
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzwceGdOos
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTgFVHKqGB
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hEFtcJ6jV
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapxDzDN07Z
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fQnCJYdFW
What am I becoming?
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2milbYdSb
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF21yLFBQf
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ks9uzLxW
W-What?
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU8cXtykLN
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fpUnGrSza
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OKzKnWhxd
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfYaWMcvdm
Nao: “R-Really?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlTcunoAyB
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBR4ufeVPN
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlnSLQuRzi
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1fH9C8Dhz
Nao: “What do you mean?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr8ANiBsIP
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWjsId07yY
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.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UyPNGlL9B
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5p5xkFoEW
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.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUFjZVpJ2H
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuPcjIOdct
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjvcNh1Iu8
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9czNWN74R2
Nao: “*Nod*”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J4Hiy0oUl
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze9X8pEYMQ
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzViF0uZXZ
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsX8eeEVxC
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxju0pqAL6
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlsVJ0eM9r
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68VGrQXzQk
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PbsCnwb1H
Nao: “Mom I…”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVxeMnJDJQ
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L9Isr0PzN
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKsp0GvM2A
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhoJEnyB0t
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOA6egnmSD
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8uCfqomCQ
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgjTAdF3Qp
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQxX5DXJpu
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lx4nu72sz
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZvd7QjKj4
Nao: “I-”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UUDfZynnZ
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShKNexgpOU
Nell: “Promise me.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsULZgoOG0
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWho1mv7bi
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo5z2XTW8n
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX9xbMMwGw
Arc: “What are you doing?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhYXbJN21G
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmDsmA5f9B
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8rvfWebJY
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx65RlvM7A
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIuMQN1g0z
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStLsbixJ09
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjv1owOYru
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU24yDiVpQ
Nell: “O-Okay.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ1ETqsm8u
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kki0UBfPG
*Curtains close*
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJENaf4PEPk
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VEZp1zaRT
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUYYICmxxf
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdpuaizhvm
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphc8Uz1r0P
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiscTj6Z2Zb
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI3BNsxYNa
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2dymATg3E
Nell: “I…need some time.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9EYovmVlR
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jfcZZeVJ3
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy69OCmbRVu
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVZh2EaorP
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZZLGos7J1
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERmBzwq2XY
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUkIiebYP2
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZQ11Qfd1c
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjhHRk80mC
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAJTFCp6Qs
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IEERzr2Jz
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgF5IHMroy
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEegG5O0vn
*Ring*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfsaQHoT1J
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoqoCPxkTH
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.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJTOVKcDGr
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx02ORVXOQ0
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rCQDG34us
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ2jjlt5Ss
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhEYDx7LrP
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALWxuZjrOC
…Are you serious?
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBDv4GbUXC
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWf01VBixX
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVgahSTMHH
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTSWAjAMeh
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
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361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAR3NgbjWh
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhy6SipT2t
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2jxnVSbBb
Nao: “Happy to help
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOgl2Pty9d
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEnpCjNq0U
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv29MQ3FfyH
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqFrMYbHOt
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXjqwfbYcC
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gStoiMwnV
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn0J8eWxIY
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7gIqJ14Da
Nao: “…Same.”
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHgDDxOLBr
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bc6okVzOs
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx2eebWvKl
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdylfzjHHM
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1vv3wBcdN
