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.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKfvyXECXc
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6icoQBVXFl
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6dY67NSsY
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJgjcFYqIm
Nao: “What happens now?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnqxucybTm
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO6uavdYns
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA4aapMfUI
!392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYrYXuFGcS
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmuJmzfljW
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CHDsn5o2Z
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOC9OEkE8X
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5kT2IsAFB
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dmlNBblXi
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCJH3duqQa
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxCjJAyEpf
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYEZ4c2p2B
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa2RkQTpjM
Alyson: “…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr20XHJ5Zc
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NxfJqJMEs
Nao: “…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww679iojSU
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN58YWT8Km
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ4m9DmG3T
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOe4YI6JWE
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITKGr3TYgj
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4n5ZWtvgN
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKimMyVd7u
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSXMxEzuh0
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpld8FwkvuD
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq2DcIKGed
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94fJxhuFpi
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBeMhR6y8M
Nao: “…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6hgvIJcbG
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ijPdNTq4F
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-”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0b5LHLqnw
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWeUueyN01
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuiq1weuLG
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XaBg1BzNK
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKqW2iHwa9
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLYa7VNGqm
Nao: “What’s with you?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnZ7vylqzX
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCSY5a0P1g
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzNotHXpsb
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gvyT6vt6v
Nao: “!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab2z6AB1hs
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdSLeWSaRl
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUfYqsNUEv
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94QEWVL17P
Nao: “…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5TCS53KJN
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqRMJTEJ4R
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaNkXyXOP7
Tch.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICBXozH323
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGgyu1FRJv
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9WL2sk2FX
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcAQwGUrVU
Alyson: “!!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmSSk229oK
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sKdBsIlV4
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.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrKNxXc1TB
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi0QyVGFJN
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM47xWrCVeM
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP2cYBY6QV
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6lDXXBFVs
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLzeXEZMhk
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX5xNDrsIf
*Sigh*
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy74dNyNfI
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKt7ytWzVa
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPnkFk0hd8
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwRJ2c2cIq
Arc?392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxycJKpcHq
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhideQl0VHg
Arc: “Yes?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtAgfUgd00
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpaXx4hCw9
How’s my body?
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYm8r1z1BD
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i0roi7AOX
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXUKAgxhsM
*Ding*392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7zPzma4Oo
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt9F2xM8Qh
Points: 6392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wjVMT8ZEB
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOjz47CcDA
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvdih6Crd7
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDFKikkvC1
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14rCS3mMtj
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLwVLvoTuT
*Door open*
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAwM6gAyLm
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbK5H3PtiG
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?
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyULbHDGyY
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6QwSu09ZL
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndJtif5axI
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0RfRub41U
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cDlZ4Dle0
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MBdv3dJNG
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCqbHg1ZZr
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpoIeLqAFk
Nell: “You promised…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmVofW6A7K
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0dlHfQUQh
Nao: “Mom I-”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpW22Zs8X7
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiZOxS7tSs
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcibEyBxIP
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1JMueKQmu
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxRPR0qOuL
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gmunHrjOr
Nao: “But-”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFXyocNz3z
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJtx7xEytl
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2QR5fIDTZ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqj5kjyXKY
Nao: “!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuChGzFkql
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9218m4MKCJ
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeouiWtl1Pi
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYOcgZg5pU
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx8HVQjazA
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ej7wEY3ZA
Nao: “!!”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ac2Kj75LO
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bEM2jvFtQ
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.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgflJpIah2z
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoaTjsQvMq
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnPumx7gEY
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJg04Movh7
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XlUZvsUYO
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF37S27Ub1T
What am I becoming?
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgSVyFSnqx
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwlGH9SaW6
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY4Pd9rDBZ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUplilTx3Nc
W-What?
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvUnGGPoFg
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW904wRKR7P
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdx7i2G9ur
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp23NZSZaT
Nao: “R-Really?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo1tSs1xZ6
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Hhx6n2Mn
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1VflvaSHd
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnrAgKy0zM
Nao: “What do you mean?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ033d1iSSkI
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFteWrD5n4
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.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe1AyvfwQH
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nyw07qmh3
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.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd1LLGyWNZ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz6crN07eU
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoecSsWtdup
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOPNeWzwWN
Nao: “*Nod*”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIeKnOuEwT
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsT1ZaJzEH
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki5ImHRr1t
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZVgVyOufI
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UMJGbmFI2
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2JEH89bXf
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo3AfIPnF9
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb6963oUjK
Nao: “Mom I…”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu95UUZqyn
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGURfBJ7JXh
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73tBRjZVXM
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKtv2HEnmB
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mQqaY6AYu
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBLnrxetNq
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nSHfzG6T2
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvc2pxeoQqG
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrcKdCJiFD
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgG9Euf80
Nao: “I-”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjMgLp1LsS
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZXaSL6nch
Nell: “Promise me.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqwbLeIo47
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6TZycdqNS
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc3g9cACLw
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6iLGmt1iK
Arc: “What are you doing?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA18pBspbm
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqen6SXATB
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56g85ZLQYy
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6glXKFvtFx
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT2hyVDoP4
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0bxthe5cC
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrUnTvT7H
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZqRDyrAco
Nell: “O-Okay.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX7ZeGWZ2E
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTBeKAuJND
*Curtains close*
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoEf8oMP3o
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5bLksJOaW
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfeoh29xKf
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLgd4BVGCp
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP17GJy45O
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uqZUE2WxJ
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvbzsFtLqV
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStHoRN1hB1
Nell: “I…need some time.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijfG8lPATs
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmroHWWeiQ5
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWQreKGyo0
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkLE7f1Wir
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6GwrfE5NO
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB2ZJoWmmS
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUOIvdzV9g
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9gPSGLPBF
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSaLwCAV5Y
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92RZKsHpc7
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtOZY0ujd4
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaU9JEhvzu
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVVNwRPpNv
*Ring*392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvB2GTf9HQ
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2DCIHad2e
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.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRUfd7koYf
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXqP5SFVYN
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7LXVu4qNF
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVNT8ghFxx
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE510EIA9J
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXtAJOQvzv
…Are you serious?
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqmbETm4tj
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswtRIJrhTL
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfUhLejyg2
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNVlOT88Rl
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYgkVcYm84
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5zlAIKToE
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDbkJEni2C
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi1kSX6WPA
Nao: “Happy to help
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlLxP2nWv2
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiwyb0gix7
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWyhycHZyw
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9CGFIyWx3
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO4cNDkSjF
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmkf8iyvfx
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrtbIWsdi9
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIbb55hOT0
Nao: “…Same.”
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2cFTjTyC1
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQtc9AE9Xu
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGoAszHg1p
392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WJpy314UY
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0JLydRcUM
