──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIETvRa48d
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8GDU5GAad
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgqUcn4lQN
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPSYpzRKaM
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHJGCAnL6v
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPvu4KfuRw
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──
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk51RWQc7R0
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntCgfWLixz
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdstN9pPtF
「紫苑──！」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMqdZmdysg
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGGpQWJoha
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4h2DGPrH6
她沒有喊救命。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlID82JFNjt
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWof370SQy
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFlObiNkpM
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloFvfNBP2Y
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDONaWfWU8I
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XZ9ymDHs8
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mXOmx4ECR
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUzoVOBeDp
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsUst1wmUM
「……你受傷了。」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEP29jsRL7
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUIMHdYTOV
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhiSAkzh5U
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81B9XTHCBs
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23ee304uXr
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs5o9NJX9A
紫苑怔住。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj5N7sj3Ew
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEvrWhG5Le
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQsOyNwXSH
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjL9Vzwjo7
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eGOap3DXJ
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6RicnAdga
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。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK9QzseKkD
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」。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaqDxrJ6hO
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65ec9qryiu
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhmI9cYmcS
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKvlD9iErx
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17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlYVhcvNyW
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9jSGJYA98
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AZQkwbdTb
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4ClcoDB8b
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH0cuaBeyD
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkAB1cTZcY
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVibUV4Tag0
夜幕低垂。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGP2UgnqtL
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Je64Atb3R
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3KtQcDb0z
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyepAvNQxTZ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmnH7XsB6L
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：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrAR2zopST
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKcHq8bM1Q
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdVQyirJEh
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQj2TICUgI
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4WNqzHuz0
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2BWRtFKcn
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSDwoQid7W
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pHoqmn94q
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhYqrfGiRU
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3V2uSrr0C
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：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BSZzoeVZp
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pFNR2N5BG
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLWX3HpTXx
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAF5xGwjnl
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC6w6NVjqF
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU3tABvmNY
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmS1W4sHXS
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVpf7PvD5j
「……我吃。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD3LTFu7r7
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05dPwBbM3r
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC4MuXmjC0
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx0bMCTV93
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7EM1ThVoz
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLVTj71CWc
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1lB7wJwR3
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wv6roffvD
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXzQJAEVd7
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kl1xfRFzx
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dqBtPJkM2
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34PYWnJgfL
「……她在改變。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn9iOzMZnH
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JUd5wALMi
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzX8Cef6n6
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH9a0f2zRs
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM8nTziCDd
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NHcdTocdS
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggWTla3p6O
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHk9KN3vHT
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8frTK9zOMy
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N6g7JufGV
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer9g1xd0eJ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u4OOYCin5
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQKsSN4P8p
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniqPctNE9v
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mmUkgxI24
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx6LVvVX5Y
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GHCMDbbFQ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqELrdcbEMX
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5FfTPXZO2
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BQqhjWoIt
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU98CkB5Bo
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBswKUb1Rci
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2Zuvxa5bK
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBvC8DRxmE
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPgz2DaCZS
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLDk5XBgeb
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTdmxHQczC
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj2xjhgykp
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLj6yeo4sW
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKaY7I4DvO
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hPK0ZjPxt
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61ujnAv8Uu
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrk8hyUqR7
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUa9m7tYnL
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAnMnSFNU9
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17omyLnzi0
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB4KSVOI9m
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AUNgZf5t1
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4NcioG5Gj
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVSQVOxTT9
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UFRkvVixl
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsuweDQwaM
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubCviYtHqZ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxoJtDVbgy
他並未出聲。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukvb1CQuXf
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohUohMFPFd
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKALcxM1bw
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPhpMyCqD2
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqCkBoH6yX
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmzls2rtIL
—17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfWU11Fzsc
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehcaQFwyly
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYWgfDS1og
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFMi3gFmJQ
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VC3zsED2w
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKcXeCAmsQ
魔族的影子，即將現身。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYOavERJsr
