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.357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhjdLi6rnq
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I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
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Nao: “What happens now?”
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Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
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!357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dBpDltsc2
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I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
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Nao: “What are you doing here.”
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Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
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Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
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Alyson: “…”
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Nao: “…”
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Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
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Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
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Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
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Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
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Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
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Nao: “…”
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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-”
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Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
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I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
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Nao: “What’s with you?”
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Alyson: “That’s my question!”
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Nao: “!”
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Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
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Nao: “…”
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Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr3VNzuVzr
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Tch.357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6DCGA7Laz
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Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt1HTDZRPA
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Alyson: “!!”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9Gw3a8gDr
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.”
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Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
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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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Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
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*Sigh*
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Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqzifO98Gx
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Arc?357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOYkUff8Rr
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Arc: “Yes?”
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How’s my body?
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4cvRiOt6Z
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasus88m4wr
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
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*Ding*357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jTzMlunny
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Points: 6357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZF79QY644
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Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgE4mVhWuU
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
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*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?
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Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
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Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
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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.
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Nell: “You promised…”
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Nao: “Mom I-”
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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.
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Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
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Nao: “But-”
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Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TG928zzlr
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Nao: “!”
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Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
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Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
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Nao: “!!”
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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.”
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Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
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I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
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What am I becoming?
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Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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W-What?
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Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
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Nao: “R-Really?”
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Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
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Nao: “What do you mean?”
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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.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3TAUxKDuL
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.”
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Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoa1MBoXlB
Nao: “*Nod*”
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Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
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Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
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Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
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Nao: “Mom I…”
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I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
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Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXymrJuhyyU
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
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Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
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Nao: “I-”
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Nell: “Promise me.”
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Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLio6chFTKr
Arc: “What are you doing?”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxqR9NYkJl
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.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnoIevRsSj
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
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Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
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Nell: “O-Okay.”
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*Curtains close*
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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.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73FC3IOKWN
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4QSfMxWCL
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.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RiTbC4h0v
Nell: “I…need some time.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTs9wOBa2s
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
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Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbQpIXGIC3
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FHyIEFp0F
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.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXXpvCFqis
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.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8CsAYoDvQ
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
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*Ring*357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBLGbEt795
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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.
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I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf4tk8JIGb
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhuk5f4cTA
…Are you serious?
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Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
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Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMahcQal7B
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
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Nao: “Happy to help
357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG4gWK7YxO
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Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
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Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
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Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILwYV8627e
Nao: “…Same.”
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I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
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357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKEPakB9MN
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1NBFSstok
