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.324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGG2DOSow2
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuiqrYEmUX
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtc5p9Ps52
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmchSUxx4N3
Nao: “What happens now?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCAYTGAkEs
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjreXtUPYL
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxsWRjrrfA
!324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NcKUEERms
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I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDebB76rqAR
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvInnzPTL83
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvNI7ZriSj
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMGCFSHtqY
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIkTaRyStV
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjpsx8E99E
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyI0bdLiZO
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Alyson: “…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfK1Zto9UA
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Nao: “…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnSg1ss1Z5
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QsW0uJ04h
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9vn2lsJuj
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBzZ4YrKGT
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5BGAStzYk
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJFfy804nR
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aPav12zfT
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2hw8WfaXN
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF61bl44yc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n2K9SQFpk
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlSOeVmPOD
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5xWRnDKTx
Nao: “…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCcMBDtPjl
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2V9NwaTLh
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-”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJZUGekEwf
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX03MWlrx8
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6QTwj7Tyt
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMbkyafwu9
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwuGT8lluX
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQucHBp9Ps
Nao: “What’s with you?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Bm3Cm2YI
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Alyson: “That’s my question!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OxOZYAmlG
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9klTfwxCnI
Nao: “!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXPpMzCG9e
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo3LIX0FQl
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWbiCQaxIJ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB4MTgKUOY
Nao: “…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpvOkgeNyE
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNps3k8iXjA
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeshXibjBho
Tch.324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8gIbdSvnk
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYSVsULK1W
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNSpqB72Yc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlmY5diC7p
Alyson: “!!”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7nbUOjOkX
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.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv8hwYUjZV
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1hqTCSvUG
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPHAGaSbvT
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3W6KDncNW
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2G5TDvanj
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqVM9nwmAu
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyFF4KCo9l
*Sigh*
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61Srb8J7lf
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW72bu5tqN5
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6NCww5got
Arc?324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89cztCguwS
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Arc: “Yes?”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxYBoWi143
How’s my body?
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHZCrFDVnM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7QSR3fClh
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPCimkp8Mq
*Ding*324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNvLk7E4KZ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxpY3EP25g
Points: 6324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlip8OCAVWX
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITve0uWf6Z
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3Q6pL2Sze
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN02LETWvpF
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHT8oH2xRo
*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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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGYdoyiYHz
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkw6TWFX9M
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWadtXBeeX
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio2BY7Cf8V
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp75Fygz17h
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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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxbIKQI1rF
Nell: “You promised…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk23t8LNPNe
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds2TfLhkvJ
Nao: “Mom I-”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBX0cilV9b
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBcG46yJ7R
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIplHPC74Q
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZaH43Sw5w
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR2Z4BVnZI
Nao: “But-”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL2NzRm66L
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG1XDXgdBP
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0J5dV9khH
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk5VUHH9yP
Nao: “!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTywVnd1zf
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iHI1LOfXH
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg6xEdTr9c
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51SreQlZZ2
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vCeNsOnIA
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRwXTSVKv8
Nao: “!!”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqCADZcHSl
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgibohCSox9
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.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH55m0ksRje
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4F4qMhbXF
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uHnlDH1dz
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6svgh2xky
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYy6YKQBfk
What am I becoming?
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNiY7vI2us
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAthi434w8J
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QG3u4rdQ5
W-What?
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVeHMHDZ8j
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl0ZQjNv9B
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP8l9thCVG
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuCJxWn5uo
Nao: “R-Really?”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6xJorsTH9
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e422FISzp
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5l3nw2u1B
Nao: “What do you mean?”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYQn4JZWux
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.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FlcanA0pW
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyWFP2WsSD
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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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbBibR8rCg
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltg4sTnWEk
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwNjrcv9o0
Nao: “*Nod*”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmAorI3LNv
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvWC1bRtnK
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbCM3tFZ2B
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxG3jugaK9
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y6hdLo7Qx
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkOy0kILRF
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYLI45zbCE
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreRRDHl36T
Nao: “Mom I…”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP9j6CsGQb
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPS6eYaTTF
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF74nGoDyT2
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Nirb6jp7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUywwN7SNo
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VclXpCKQj
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSQbJEqmfR
Nao: “I-”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkskjErdI2
Nell: “Promise me.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5JETquBx2
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ3xyI40BV
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wlleSiPQb
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOQt1jNa61
Arc: “What are you doing?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr3GPTxjvb
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkPKGmX7QR
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12ZNCF4mt9
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZXOAD8v7h
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSHN0O1Y52
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfYA60JaSQ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyHI7lGIIu
Nell: “O-Okay.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs1lLRgCf1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihpUfnz9AN
*Curtains close*
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA893YQPMnA
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdMzYR5xCO
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbPSW4LUT2
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oNJ0TnUZt
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDfooFStIj
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCqVzkn59q
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwPlJugPEC
Nell: “I…need some time.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QC7Qveqr3
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNg6PAP9mK
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamhLcCO3I1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEFMAHx2VO
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXhRrnMtxP
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaNYyefQwx
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHMW7BOYUB
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe50aSvbCUc
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTgBbRkOlR
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAdv9crQvk
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgyOEX9NlS
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku6G26IDgC
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjDGMwy9bs
*Ring*324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8caICPKvEc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5JttWDhN7
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.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ff3Xdjeoc
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbprIEoVms
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFIvLRot67
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vIXhmYaaZ
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN2fSDaFlS
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYVMs3iu6u
…Are you serious?
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ebqDoTlUJ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQS74nLwMe
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
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324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkjVD7ExSX
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlIqpnShl4
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7cx4yfvGy
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8biMrxn9Y
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wq4o15uDh
Nao: “Happy to help
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTVloDtzD9
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5itFivpxkE
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIFgpxf6YM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU6I7TFpJT
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXkJxI3zmY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4rLT0cUqI
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5fuqkBekW
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrFaVC9f3i
Nao: “…Same.”
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxreVGGkrn
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUMjDwztmK
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvwfQNp6XM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Z3hJHtOS
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTgwNRSQog
