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.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGObBhBfNph
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAStoba8kLb
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQSVRbT3aO
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN657VwUs1I
Nao: “What happens now?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIoOqY7EBX
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxAVVqMXLW
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wk1r3r8mD
!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVgreTvhyV
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxretRvQeY2
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9efRym5f6a
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTxnhLs0Yp
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkdHICSENT
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a0OWdMmnp
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDt5zzlf7s
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamBlgYMKwk
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK4fVyW5Ui
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Alyson: “…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Yr8atCwB
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiajpqy9egN
Nao: “…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxnfcb8i4l
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH1g5CaDBW
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpOCp7PAU8
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHTGyDiWWT
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrXGkzVw9n
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFe1rljyxU
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpB3OUfKk1
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHhGtoVPTH
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZCqS6UG09
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmtEJ211wu
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76kpn5Pgl2
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqQrayQsIG
Nao: “…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVmrgMtidp
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86rUtybYrx
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-”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIzcXckvFH
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCTxcL7M5v
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPChcUf2jg
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmHYpWVycX
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY4mBeYxPQ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsSxNbuXKg
Nao: “What’s with you?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5v3c0wdnI
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DiDLh9I71
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PsMR8NCih
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQxGL8GPlc
Nao: “!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9exx80eqPW
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7V1nL4Mfn
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE8lDthQ1C
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO7DZkgY5Z
Nao: “…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrgYS8jpdu
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEB5kJIAC0
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hlrHujsx8
Tch.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7T3uwOGN1
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpGGQAQEYp
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb70gxKsajm
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFkGXepW1c
Alyson: “!!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWflYJoSSM5
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSywu93dUp
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.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt93SpH5eHi
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr49METiAZ
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W6rIgbebL
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQr9fs39Ul
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcatgxKWtg
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AApfipeya
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D8oPRvnhr
*Sigh*
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSKlmZufpJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO7I7NWyWO
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAoAKhqnGe
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65islQoDbL
Arc?298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOzj2Z58Hz
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXRI0PuUm2
Arc: “Yes?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0TSVtteeJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHKNVKZH6v
How’s my body?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb5jbWmIkD
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt64Dts3RL
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWRLjOOiI2
*Ding*298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlWC7gZtDb
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBANRUDYbhm
Points: 6298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LSKEWqLbw
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSlzUfa2hg
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0PO4HNrXj
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e1npKZ3An
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnfnZVgE0e
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuainMgtSJ
*Door open*
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPndWkFNQZy
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlCmF3j2R4
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?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fNSz5f0VG
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIphh2hzhDj
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vsr9Xbw7e
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynEq8PFyz7
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjpRlsUR1M
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zRmRMkeus
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHPtqq04RB
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzUJsKl84b
Nell: “You promised…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSwZVstBaR
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjYZsfIfIc
Nao: “Mom I-”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoycjKyNwTc
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSURJgPZS1E
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy0bif0uNd
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgeUXvcJ5f
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipDpHdWuq0
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Q9zMVE9x
Nao: “But-”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSSsVrhj5R
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJpeaO5OMl
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7H8p4tydO
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaZDQaGTJn
Nao: “!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg12HGHh2Q
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzpaeEdkpg
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfyqQuIl6J
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcjrfcJsLB
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXdvcqvSgP
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1JOlcdyHi
Nao: “!!”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz4DPp7AD1
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC7nTYfAEZ
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.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtLJRxB1Is
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YKGu9Av2y
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBznE2KUdDh
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMGVrKS9pm
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW34WeBUEGB
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR0Is5hObt
What am I becoming?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy14klhcbj
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQovkhnKMUH
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS7lb37fH0
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWIh8MTxUK
W-What?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODWapmXu3y
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGm4EmCZZD
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0naAzbP61q
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPpaOlQ1Ct
Nao: “R-Really?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrBPJ4iauC
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouK8eqRGih
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauQ3U6BqLW
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JGrvNmstK
Nao: “What do you mean?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqowsgBLei
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxrnPZYN5P
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.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuxZl2MNA2
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2dZqaRXfK
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.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgY62ZCApA
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPt1wsDCFY
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1AxRrgbXp
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtFUh07MKj
Nao: “*Nod*”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikvvdpMPQC
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikhMWE8w8B
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9soHWUTHc2
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIWpEm8pVm
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsRBWW1GfD
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGMPBIxizt
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK4Hr7qWIm
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngv9WIqran
Nao: “Mom I…”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNED0T8ZzM
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Rv6ztD1e
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerXkubdeSA
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmiA4xTpvY
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUgQ4cpdTg
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9AZ6yNGAz
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6LS6XT6fJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs32M6uqX1
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyiDcpLAPz
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37jB3CoEfr
Nao: “I-”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72SLgp1qAL
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwJOrPdgiB
Nell: “Promise me.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPYa4graEF
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ke07fQoJ1
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTu4KrqnCu
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZobnRc5def
Arc: “What are you doing?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9SRMMuAUV
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyCgpY3HEU
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13E3gqqudr
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1sI82ACB5
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8tdFWy0w9
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mF1nBwRB0
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXfEjqfzUz
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7MbvNjqz4
Nell: “O-Okay.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChwGkPuZFy
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM1hgugwSb
*Curtains close*
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMGqyHt9KF
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknSR4pchae
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE79GKjtMGi
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FqVHF2BN8
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTX4Xy9v6x
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HIfC0tcwn
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21v2LllTV3
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu877Gkn0QM
Nell: “I…need some time.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIiu0eahcJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU5ZQMpjWD
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPYGGRPPvo
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qQT4F9vaW
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Am9a2Rqos
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Se2y22TqH
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalgjVE2SJl
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYfSMBqZM9
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7yBvY7Qs8
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoNYkQWPcz
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWfjDoUpDB
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN4NVoGKkS
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRws5OvNly
*Ring*298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWE30BDv01
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIaKrYUhRA
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.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbhcHxbppn
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs5S155g3K
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAUWpqcTNF
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bfPK4ZD96
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwQHRILPfk
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1l9IG77pg
…Are you serious?
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCHDsV0gvL
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwJIwBgi6M
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo7tUhaLXX
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2L7AKzE7E
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1ZhmkK5Jf
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1jKqxnaWr
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lVStpGlfN
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm5VJd8GrV
Nao: “Happy to help
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFMtGrVPkr
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvBmHavXjp
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB39cMz1EJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY2nQ3nNBX
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgQ80dRo3p
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjrG0ew6Fj
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ3aJwXBKg
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAEm7XJNww
Nao: “…Same.”
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsH3mJZ1n5
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjuPGM5m7m
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHMx4jA3TI
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBiySFKVq7
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11j7vWrxFA
