──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq6TYG8YrM
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5Fd3ZZzJr
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1xZCZPbgI
霧氣以不自然的速度再度湧起，彷彿整座林地被封閉於一場靈壓共振的封層中。地面震動，靈藤開始活化，宛如有意識般地朝三人腳邊迅速蔓延。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nzO5IsVyI
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xrycoCtYJ
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdz4SPk7EG
紅蓮迅速衝到紫苑身旁，準備將她拉離中心位置，但一股強勁的靈流從地底竄出，將他們分離，紫苑瞬間失去重心──
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfS1QLAcsl
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnL2M2z1p0
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLdXUtHZsf
「紫苑──！」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpyUazjZdH
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbJcvErBVu
他幾乎是以本能反應，魔力爆發，身形瞬移般追上她的墜落路線。那一刻，他看見她張開眼，瞳孔中閃爍著驚惶與慣性的麻木。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxrU22D8AY
她沒有喊救命。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6IIHEapgZ
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0ObvKqfrl
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjX9yrqrQu
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdukF4UrcR
他追上她，強行用靈力凝結一片浮空藤網，將兩人撞入其中。藤蔓劇烈扭動，劃傷他的背與肩，但他緊緊護住她的頭與脊椎。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkgPPQNNXN
兩人一同翻滾著跌進藤網深處，落地時，紅蓮幾乎是跪地的姿態將她擋在自己懷裡。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7DNkOSmbB
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrtEdIjkvo
紫苑呆了幾秒，才發現自己沒有摔痛，反而被穩穩地擁在懷中。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyhcRsnBYO
紅蓮的氣息很近，他額頭抵著她的髮頂，呼吸急促，肩膀還在顫抖。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOV19xYmEz
「……你受傷了。」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiQ6ntn3ax
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD9f2aCKFz
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hm6obKA5S
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanc2WpX6dZ
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztwapRwJE4
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1rSr4AOBX
紫苑怔住。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7rbQxEYRL
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwN1YNDuMF
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U4PrdQaFv
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHNlAw2v51
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL2I4u0IPG
外頭的伊萊斯則已穩住靈陣，迅速分析地形變化，透過植物脈網找出通道，釋放出一片柔和的光藤導引結界，引領兩人自裂谷脫困。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjyK8RviWQ
他看見紅蓮護著紫苑踏出藤霧，臉色蒼白，手仍扣在她的肩上，彷彿還未從驚懼中走出來。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYGbWmchXc
紫苑則低頭沉默，眼裡映出那護她而傷的傷痕，與那一句聲聲入骨的──「我在這裡」。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82mKC0KR7C
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0AeoESdeI
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15fvVRNev7
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3Gu62J6CZ
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFom6AZ16BQ
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNonsRTLSR
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTaeb2OVp9
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpccFAt5XJl
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoZkk7cqcf
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddFrvXDczl
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvq4a0hZ4o
夜幕低垂。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40beYRx6KN
林中暫駐的營地重新聚合了所有人。火堆升起，將一整片潮濕與冷意驅逐出小小的圓心。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYiD1wMxhW
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2adhXX8wY
紫苑靜靜坐在一棵倒木邊，身上披著雷瑟遞來的獸皮披風，雖然沒說話，但比以往更安定。她身側的傷痕已被凱希爾處理過，細細綁上銀色水絲繃帶──那是深海族靈醫用於修復細微靈壓裂痕的專屬織線。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA7AYbt1Dh
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmRmE7CbF6
凱希爾替她收拾最後一處傷口，語氣仍溫和卻明顯比往常低了一階：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfNmiDrLWI
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWEt1iudPp
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FNL75RZ9V
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta8sGexs0c
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NEq5I4rpS
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfJXGJD93S
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qNMziOuag
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpZNVgC3se
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkDzByJYjh
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB3s0A4Ehp
雷瑟從營地外拖來獵物，熟練地處理獸皮與肉塊。他一邊烤肉，一邊望向紫苑的方向，忽然笑道：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBTP9hsKT6
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTpoiSgITh
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWqTf4Rk8B
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1B8GeymVx
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB062GYQvpF
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREjfOeLMKY
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhlHHorxV7
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm8XM8wuh7
「……我吃。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlDdtTGGqf
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7BUxP2vAn
那一刻，雷瑟眼中閃過一絲訝異，但他沒多說，嘴角卻彎得極高。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2l2ymDt1t
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHXbzb5TxX
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg1b5hMDML
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNlQp8CIWn
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBAH8zdPh2
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWJN79nh4w
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0V15YnNr5
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATeIgKOOAt
蒼芷與米雅坐在火堆另一邊，交換地圖與即將前往邊境的路徑情報。說到後來，蒼芷忽然停頓片刻，將視線落回那道細緻的身影。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCEx3qwKAp
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTkwFa5Jf9
「……她在改變。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEKA5LOw1i
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGcb7EAqxk
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT1t0eUWnx
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6UkOQZhKR
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy4ZjJ05OC
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdqLBHOgVE
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOonEuo3j5Q
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf2E89a7Xr
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSRTZQVRvk
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSfc5qUydS
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Yp0m0wKB
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lEPwUs4ZC
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeWarl7fVg
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ82IHpZXb
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIgwokSVHi
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMPF5ui7XE
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvLG5kjbUJ
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKKsG26Ta6
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wjR89AWAK
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ktGespyaA
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLu56XWKLE
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZkZzC0YcO
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyzgc8IOaG
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciFdrLsqyq
紫苑聽不太懂這句話，但她沒反駁──她只是緊緊握著手中的湯盞，那是凱希爾替她準備的熱藥湯，藥味苦，但她喝得很慢，卻沒有皺眉。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCJRzhHmhn
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJvv1dXT7W
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR6afpnYcb
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMZZFF1f2t
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJWxMetNeQ
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSbIUrAgAl
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHCi2J6m8Q
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxCbSDVR1H
他像是察覺什麼，眉頭微微一皺，伸手輕撫身側植物──那瞬間，他感受到靈氣中的某一個方向，被強行割裂。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIk5wGuZum
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PDHzc3vv1
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbYb48jGod
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaxaYpgxgZ
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vozZFyAKy
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkKIEXug1A
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ShNCnds1y
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppT5bY4AfR
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcld3U02p6
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3LepoXS8K
他轉身望向營火──那群人，那個女孩，仍沉浸在這得來不易的寧靜之夜中。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYwU8JBN7E
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOrRyRqg7P
他並未出聲。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjFpotIwUe
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfF3tNSAwI
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGggAAGDdQ
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMKgr1G8Om
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg86EWeI6hB
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBLrmed8SZ
—18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH8TbUPAqy
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm95gFtmFw
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyziitXaplh
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfag0ykbpXy
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfWjDC5UGu
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJynpkJOrVA
魔族的影子，即將現身。18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYtA5Gsdoi
