──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHPHQMGhTx
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4Pue1IZZ5
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAWF0Zm3uu
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1KZzh6LYs
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXDoMHWBMJ
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn49hLaU5m
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──
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugOIfcFo0a
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiATevXUQo
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDeGliuvGv
「紫苑──！」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoTKHPr2yM
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrjStdn1TY
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvSU2SaNqX
她沒有喊救命。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbehjBFLhcZ
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRIMFBmgdj
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA45B60bIpV
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDVP9pMKbQ
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWfDnnoL1g
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1aZfnz5iP
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4LhYftrpz
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAaUiODhi4
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwlyPKjxT0
「……你受傷了。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuBQOWUQEH
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7XpHJG8iK
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD667LQ517c
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkNsot8qkN
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAt2iuDZvI
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcPzMINTB4
紫苑怔住。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYAxJktpcW
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdfEiY1jzL
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5mC4HPoCI
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqM7zAA53m
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxFNwSsmVD
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjox6vAxIDP
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjRMdWU9c9
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」。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZMwxxJEFR
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgr7eAdgDr
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6L1eTrWMX
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPOwwCoSnS
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUuK0kaBOh
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76WUbFke72
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjZAOg1qN5
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0rLUtH7Kw
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFbfe9qNMV
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eHzgP7BGR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOuXxHd1Eg
夜幕低垂。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qm1nHCsVt
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt4EIoWCu8
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibgk65J01E
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp95NVP9uZe
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLUIHMgtg3
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：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO8RbVPwUs
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQrrC8eDtn
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzixcITOOP
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsmXHChPZG
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfuxeJ9eae
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71wpLxqrMf
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7WDj2ckcX
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3NPQtKmGa
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufGr5UuJ8U
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjOfeT2ou4
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：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU1lE11xff
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SteCRmWrE
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBAxefDWfD
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cS508YHu3
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOuT3rn8Se
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx2AWnT6e6
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt14UQInaKL
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1GbDSO3tD
「……我吃。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qg5xkLEjn
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMAnVaMjqX
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BzT3aceQy
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBWm50n03s
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprTMigCbqI
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVtxyxAXJX
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljyTnl26ky
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU3Haee4Ru
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzRuWNJXVR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEhYEBsPOS
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y3L4pANvB
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJAB89xVow
「……她在改變。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyvXy5WBNC
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUgrhpBhhP
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDKXDbAS8R
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13tY7fyjM2
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWvgk0rE4X
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlrnKF71ip
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkdWRwwLOz
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOBIFgp56d
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXGck2ViTH
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxidNN1zNXV
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrmV1alHTE
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF6v943TLs
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBkkoitOmA
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC1c5hib8I
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInZvk5PhWF
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdioPcyyUB
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3vRt28KOp
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv2JxPKyAj
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxFKLmxH77
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn2TSDkyrX
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cEXUb1erQ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdYwnCgX32
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73yVXWayuB
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yGsSxVAQc
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSVomMnoan
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHa0ucfVVn
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttK8hLIAmv
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0r5IzdTKn
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4KtcNjqrB
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVXpKXX32a
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu7L1TgYCA
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRvnbW3HAR
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrASUYzec9U
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvS9TTq8UN
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5Kdyidpux
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSIly4lfsh
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhInZC7RZW
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYZrtTFG9O
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAxC9iuAVg
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIidiubdOD
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPMMIov7hR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD0jEs9OGB
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4siO2PCfNe
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjIqJaKdhp
他並未出聲。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXMArGj0R0
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnDY7XOG9e
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtQIiErJsI
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRxdAQtWt0
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2atmrzBbk
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WnkfeRY2Z
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcdq8JVMVf
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7JCNw5wFS
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUNbqd6LeO
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wuJox9yv9
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JsSwSUpYe
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLvqGabcSa
魔族的影子，即將現身。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW6DlObPC9
