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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuYnplxLYF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHD5igkjg6
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpSbXb3t1g
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Msgwa7eye
Nao: “What happens now?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMJAQv57EE
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiaSFZ4vBW
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqsU9WAcMn
!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGRnkZUX8g
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse0g8VBvif
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0xAtGgb2p
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgQO7pfj44
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvZcu3JQLG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3KANa1lfQ
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpiJHsjLEK
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0w9PlYp3f
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVSjFghdgS
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJAwS9oPg8
Alyson: “…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYkBgYrKqn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhGbUoblJW
Nao: “…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD2GQDOumo
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjAwab8fNe
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2keZW6bP83
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxxglGYZTE
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxTuCQ5lvM
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMKV10Mtl7
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq112PKHne3
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL9kewslq5
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVP37N64EF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUsOHpWuEX
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTHySdsYqG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70SE6LbLKz
Nao: “…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF9Xtw6IKz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBilcF60rH1
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-”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNV6QZpfGe
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO0rvyamKm
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgFw32oEfK
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejVc8L00SY
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerxGyv20O6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcxuyX54jj
Nao: “What’s with you?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYpRORIdac
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6Kk5VMjhw
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10hbr7dcTf
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiwmyqJ1vy
Nao: “!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlKy0EvzAQ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NOVnRFGMt
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9KuD1Sasz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLL5uxsgIK
Nao: “…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2eV07wBZP
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35SVfdg4kZ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkvaIa4k0i
Tch.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCpnlbsZ5H
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5UPalJ5A3
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOzVhjuART
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1XmbCNyPF
Alyson: “!!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqfr7RmTxw
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSrHiRJjub
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.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJIWv9XnJj
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX4s0xF2Gc
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd9iw8iNCq
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFMdHKOmPM
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1qWhShayD
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7mvPNPh5N
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcJTCi1Dtn
*Sigh*
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQigrFgROi
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5o0Xenh5w
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqjRFXsKqq
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC0TbLSsOp
Arc?369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCzVyvbuQe
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMwXkpAX1h
Arc: “Yes?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLHfIVuSFh
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7So1IW633g
How’s my body?
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdsbJrCr9a
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMh7qvyDqP
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSpNYZlPDi
*Ding*369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSX2iJBHPp
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5yOKUTNI5
Points: 6369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHKPtT6rct
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmikr3uCGz
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoMIjYCK4x
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgAjwQROKk
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTFAlZ78Kz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYKRl1hayd
*Door open*
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsN0iuNvxX
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7BiayVpbz
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?
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNwg5Hmznn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVPhcRusef
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eRv8YOSsA
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ474J1vWwat
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqPAWYeLNz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgrKlbWt5K
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbjeQjKR4y
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNpQ5j7rsx
Nell: “You promised…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTtEm6SQh2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw33DrXxYX
Nao: “Mom I-”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPE1psMvtQ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ227DdnWfwW
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR232l056FW
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvAHdW1YKu
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn2l55iLvy
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9xJlddRZX
Nao: “But-”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnvqIZKxA2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVfMUS00dN
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZeJ93Kvgl
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8XSRxOIGt
Nao: “!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJjwVzULLH
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUSsGASvTw
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsd92el8H8
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgeGwwMw0j
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IQlsBP1Di
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3PGyt6TMD
Nao: “!!”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6YNghElw1
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubSFjt5BCX
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.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITw0je2Y8T
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCAWbgjJAU
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspyPbslj2Q
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrsSIrXXco
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsgAb6jget
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMi2vSa6uv
What am I becoming?
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOBbJRHxVD
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFNQbuugsF
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNOPbSEpLl
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoRRRa6OMc
W-What?
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYxr3kr67M
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur1hnMVFeP
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hWBKlTn8P
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt5nk8zVMg
Nao: “R-Really?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZhVZt9QZ4
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaI1BCxE3A
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHKLX85Hky
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dfwwfPhS8
Nao: “What do you mean?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErrApjvMIy
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7781EKp5u0
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.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk97rVKjTX6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD2vpkIMjn
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.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq1L6Ag2KN
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWskBUWFTA
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tZMT0hIaa
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KedWwnp5p
Nao: “*Nod*”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXEhQU2KFo
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoP4bfb2XA
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hLgHTXM7s
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEhQGvSW5v
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1UrrhWvzC
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqGxHCMatO
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji54IqzPwp
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw2jdu3jzC
Nao: “Mom I…”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB3x7EC2pd
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bSUfOuF5G
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroi0haPA0p
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqlo5BHsZt
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tq3SQSkqm
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO9hHNQTIm
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGDwmsFg67
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosUvSWHoBL
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuJ0Ser8dw
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUu2L6F31t
Nao: “I-”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTQnjyz06I
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDUyDSRP8N
Nell: “Promise me.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaHtMrvVve
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTfsSUPfbX
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk1sCNQRuU
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ391eh5v9p4
Arc: “What are you doing?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrDVnu7TM2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvJVtyvX9n
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTStaHvaG6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbviEfyT92c
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgAHe3TSdx
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYBoRNVLEt
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhpxRUyijY
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUdmpU16tR
Nell: “O-Okay.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NX761fPZq
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN6EJwicxT
*Curtains close*
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT5RiLCuH4
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rlsd5Tqnf
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27NmY4DCct
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vwFw0PdiP
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn21NJra4mo
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0i436Caft
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5axFzk792E
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDiYWWQyl2
Nell: “I…need some time.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9mt8FBI1W
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot9L3LwsKf
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenqSdS2SxF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqE071tMNP
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf1j9bQLL3
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZRk1OYNuC
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudjwJBeHJh
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKOioBsOit
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaoJbZY59u
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8rlPTwb6W
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ROu6pcad6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguXhVJY6Sf
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjYbzl6V3V
*Ring*369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq4YvBgatt
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWnZPdqRc1
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.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX6Owx9uf8
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhlT12EEhU
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbWERc6xqn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbCID7RMep
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8Vxh4pdAE
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEVvhKkzMy
…Are you serious?
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn4ZggYLQJ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4z0XPidko
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCAkkxGM0N
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rMmlkvvU5
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKXum5Puax
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlK23EVyev
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhHoNPBdFk
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrdkmzgZII
Nao: “Happy to help
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmANKCCg26J
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkOnV1lO0i
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJkV9iMsqY
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08mXiIwfav
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG2Ph75yVe
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzifVYh8MS
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSaJAb7GGj
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhlrsigyPz
Nao: “…Same.”
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQIkCaWTT2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y30KTAl1y
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyE2w2QPOQ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMKJBmnv2K
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYskZfzx46l
