──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZDEB6Y2IV
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArL6NC7GMU
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcKqaowxDs
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbrVCPXhjt
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVTYCpycJ3
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3cdyTHOTm
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──
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtaUyjUAga
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOUiMFLANJ
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYvktcYX2z
「紫苑──！」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIM9YIADqK
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHJvJIgXtN
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcequntDPc
她沒有喊救命。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU52cYppgX
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSFVzqMEDI
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3EgTBhUkl
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk71MVlhQP4
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyabcUkWMH
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZYJYvWq2v
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiacn5qwuRW
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qJlIQg26q
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffevOG158k
「……你受傷了。」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJDxnWan5g
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0EQtGK6WK
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpxmmiDxsn
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTycxXnFcY
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrrXNDZkKQ
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtp5pTVlIh
紫苑怔住。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJAr5slsKD
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WsLL6LAOA
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMsh6CnTln
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyyesvLVLR
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYpQn2RPW6
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBYqlWtMfe
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。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPfTnAck9T
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」。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFs3YoRySk
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xVnONAsrp
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6uEoLZTPH
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArHQSSO8q1
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35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYsKwJ4hlQ
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNodi9qg0D
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskEEt7Jj9p
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIv5mdY5aB
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5sFFklx9p
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC5HJDTLca
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVazT0Lnb3z
夜幕低垂。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05PEq16vJ0
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRPl7NUyy3
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAKXX5MxW6
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0zOde0P4q
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBxcxrTW2L
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：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxyb67OY5A
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj8d2XDRaF
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D06UuxpmC
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwmbBtEuPT
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO6cznLsru
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVM4oudMWX
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwuO2qb1Ve
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7omg2tv2gB
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU96w1cipcp
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzBkNfGyU3
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：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyk4gwPZXz
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTuJFEQ22j
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIccUvZdgU
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg0GrA95g2
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4RRbab7IM
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLBkw0LFp1
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGPnaVT3hS
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAO0r7KXcP
「……我吃。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB9qzv1CPA
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ952HDGx1wo
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hihSbfIAq
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ317INsTvLM
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LlNIV88cM
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5unD4Eb4c
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWPzRX8MQx
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7ThAeDB4G
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxHE4Pwcuw
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6sUivshKe
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF22wbCJzX
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaEqxJojPm
「……她在改變。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf6YaFofEc
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17hnXXZ8gf
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4cJUCqWxn
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RMeBhhFZv
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdRPpfnv4I
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIlV1aoxdy
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX88P4c45fr
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRiQXaZTIq
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ivz4AcTza
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilMGIdZNf8
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RyW1ouYQH
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgLwUos8Os
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iiRqUjvwi
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8eMxCKmG0
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwTj8eOF3B
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUtEjkz4EW
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb5DY3nJx1
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E2EcZPhBW
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzjKFtMRJu
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7jFgAD6AS
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD3YTtbf7o
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzXTtFTw7l
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKuFm3BOGo
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyspQFfmmHG
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRmxcCSont
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu482x9Fby
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGCSjoSneG
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KrahK2u5p
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGntAeWEngu
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIfOLlgUx9
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPEtWe9Jvc
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAMK8W1oyB
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS6APGlAVR
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dV0ocOGws
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU8bCaOUIR
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV64GPA8HJ
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jLxfJbjbJ
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJwm6dofOf
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYCRvNypEZ
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx4UcKd985
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH7JbjONcV
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVe0RsmFk0
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。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPKUOybjoB
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjhYNZ3WTp
他並未出聲。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwZpJAsdD9
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSuaSzUoqD
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRid2izdvF
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeeqrBrX4v
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwyzByt5sI
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9mKjSCxHh
—35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ1bdRZJAV
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb8XmZcBIp
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtJOQoxS2y
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrlZVnPYqm
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVS8YYFUTb
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEBYhP82Hb
魔族的影子，即將現身。35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMw5DOGuCr
