I felt my stomach twist into knots.
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"It's...get...ting worse.." Alena said somberly.
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In replace of her normal face, a dark mask was covering half of her face. Curled horns poked from her head.
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She had turned. In the time I had wasted..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK1E7gMmh8
I slowly approached her. "Iris...it's me. You don't have to worry."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq430OAQ0hJ
Alena also tried to comfort her, wrapping her arms around Iris's sides. Iris initially accepted her comfort, sitting down and heavily breathing.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhVR4Z4U75
"Arelin is here...to help...you.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGk34StQHq
Iris looks up at me, not saying a word.
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I look at Ecluna, who was cowering in the corner and hyperventilating.
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"Ecluna, you have to come over here where it's safer."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsmHTetC78
"I can't.." she muttered. "If I move, she'll kill me..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVyK7YZ8ZD
She wasn't mad at anyone when I left...but it was the darkness accelerated her anger only towards Ecluna. She was the one who injected more Dark magic into her body.
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"Don't worry.. we're going to get you out of here..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8uH4spUxx
I slowly approached Iris once again, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Iris...please calm down...we can fix this...you just have to give me a chance.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4boyWGpEUX
I could see a flash on realization on her face, but she simply stared at me. She didn't make a single word.
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"Ecluna...hand me some of your magic.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkBaiNvfF1
"What if I make her worse?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHjcU3qkUz
"I'll see if I can split the two magics apart. I'll use the Light magic on her and absorb the Dark magic."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4qPcobsPf
Quivering, Ecluna floats an orb of her ecliptic magic towards me. I ripped the two magics apart and gave the Light half to Iris.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4drEUJtKKL
She screeches horribly for a couple seconds, then...she snaps back to her original self.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTy4GZv2Y0
"...Arelin? What's happening to me?" She looks at herself with fear and confusion.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM6PuKs3iW
"You're lucky I could split her magic in half. You could've killed Ecluna.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdD1jC2kGS
"E-Ecluna?" She looks behind her, and realizes what she had done.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RG5niJbmY
"Oh my God, Ecluna! I'm so sorry!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU7OH76MfG
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just a bit shaken up. I'll be fine. At least you're back to normal.. somewhat..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG28ConCvLV
"Somewhat?" she runs to the nearest mirror before shrieking at the sight of her own face. I noticed her height had increased significantly, her head almost touching the ceiling.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UIdx2OlDn
Alena slowly tugs on her sleeves. "It's ok...ay...you're safe and...that's all that...mat...ters,"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTpmGqxaDg
"W-What's Mom gonna think? She's gonna kill you!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kBppuB5La
"I'll have to talk it out with her...and maybe I should take you with me. You do miss your parents, don't you?"
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She nods. "If you don't mind, I don't..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmb47EOE7l
"Alright then, you must be really really happy to see them again.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYG30yH1pD
I take her darkened hand and lead her out. "Watch your head.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROW1cO3R30
I hear a loud noise on the wall. "Too late..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJdy3DPdq7
I sigh and let her through the doorframes. As soon as we made it to Emburaria, we quickly found more places to hide Iris. Espero was the first one to notice her, of course.
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"Iris?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmaQorDxae
"Esp!" she took him from the ground and hugged him tight. He then realized was being lifted off of the ground.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyN312Jegi
"Wait a minute... where'd you get a growth spurt? You're taller than I am,"
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"The weirdo curse is affecting my body somehow, but I wanted to come out and see everyone again!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmSRILFR86
"I noticed. Why don't we take you somewhere so you don't scare the people here?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2h6Axqa8u
"Oh...okay then.."
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Espero quietly leads her inside. I follow them. Queen Violet sat quietly in her chair. All three of us show respect to her majesty's presence.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdh89AR1W9
"Your majesty, I'm sorry for bothering you, but this is..Iris, daughter of Irene."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1f5w5eIAC
"...You are the individual Aurelia and the children have been talking about."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxMu2DXo2Q
"I...think so.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7XTN5cqsh
"Iris...your abilities, the abilities that have gotten you this far...it could harm more than help. You have both Dark and Light magic in your body, two of the most strong types of magic this world can contain."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPb8eaa8hL
Iris looked a bit enamored by the thought..but then realized she was more of a danger to others, which made her rub her arms in shame..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdPldzQB9Q
"However, you are not the monster you make yourself out to be. You are still human. Don't forget that."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJTHpXkyHr
Iris silently thanked her with a light nod.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPS1ARXkjs
Queen Violet looks at me. "Arelin.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDw52GT4aa
"Yes, your majesty?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVKt7mYbcy
"Take care of Iris. Make sure she fully recovers from the curse that has been inflicted on her."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WH5wjLKst
"I will."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrJRGDBCEn
"Well, maybe we should get going. We still need to see Aunt Irene.." Espero says, taking Iris's hand and dragging her away.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8v9CPKc8o
I decided to go home for the day. I had a lot of studying to do. I read until my eyes started to give up, as if weights themselves pulled them down..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b2mGDEOSq
***
It was terrifying when I first heard it. The screams of the innocent, magic swirling around the air. It made me jump out of my seat.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyIK0c7EIb
"Nocturne...did this..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BcEVfi0vk
I somberly look at my sister. "Are you okay?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAwNHhxRrt
"I'm worried... about Iris..."
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I had totally forgotten about leaving Iris with Espero. I quickly put on my coat and slipped on my shoes.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ37Vz7UFg
"Don't..Mother will be sad...if you leave.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduwMvJGUIQ
I look out the window. The world around us is in chaos...
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70qq6Si1Rp
"...I have to. For my people. For Iris. I'll be back, okay?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbFe70toZv
"...Hurry..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaefyBAeWAp
I jump out of the window and painfully drop down to the ground. I carefully sneak around the area.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipH1lkoiQ4
I run into someone. Their features...were undescribable. The mask that covered their face...it...covered their eyes too..
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That's when the Darken slammed it's abnormally long and clawed hands in my direction. I stop carefully, and throw a rock in another direction. They noticed the noise and ran.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55wHRteB7Z
"So they're blind..." I whispered. "Good to know.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvEZ9OyEZH
I continue sneaking, sliding by any Darken I saw while looking for Iris in the process. She couldn't be far..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmr9N3edHD
***
Iris POV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9gBHWmGAC
Despite my pain, I had to keep going... before anyone else got hurt.
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I could feel her aura. Nocturne was the reason all of this was happening. I had to stop her. Darkens scattered around the area, blindly feeling their way around.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuCpXzLclj
I felt my own face, the ragged teeth of the ends of the...thing that covered my face. I don't want to become...that. I didn't want them to feel the same pain as me either. That was another reason I wanted to stop her...
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I didn't have time to think before someone snatched me from the middle of the street.
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"Iris?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdLGI0wrLr
"Jake?"
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"Jesus Christ, I was about to knock you out,"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4MYqxBAdc
"What's going on?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7tHGM7Xxr
"Nocturne... she's back,"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yoLnfZqk9
"What are we gonna do?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI3gshZH0P
"What we're supposed to. Take her and her snarky little brat down.."
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"B-but...I can't..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq73lmo9X31
He grabs my hands, squeezing them tight.
"Iris. You're probably the strongest person I know. All of us can do this. We're stronger than we were back then..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxQBo58sjd
"But...if she gets ahold of me, she might use you against me...I can't be there..."
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"Don't worry about that,"
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"...Okay. I have to...get Arelin..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvn6qk6GpT
"No time. We have to go. Now,"
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Jake grabs my arm and drags me around. That's when another one of my jolts of pain hit me..
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"W-wait...hold on..." I suck the air through my teeth.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RpUpjKQks
"Did I do something?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRby4fpU4DA
"N-no no, it's just something that happens sometimes... I'll be fine. Let's keep moving.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0iMmV4mCY
I slowly limp my way towards Nocturne's piercing aura. As time passes on, I start moving a little faster. But the shockwaves of pain became more frequent. I could care less.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZISXZ1Bto
Jake, at some point had to carry me. "You're gonna be okay. Just breathe. We're gonna fix this.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPX6WUWyz6
I did as he recommended. It did feel a little better..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnU8Q6HBnX
"Ah..there you are, Iris.." Nocturne says as she noticed me. "Thank you, my child."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMHWFc5MrJ
"You're welcome... mother.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTSeYU5rHB
I realized that wasn't Jake at that exact moment. Ciaran had shapeshifted...no...he made the illusion of Jake. In order to lower my guard. Nocturne immediately used her magic to snatch me into her hands.
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"Now that our prize has arrived, why don't we get started?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewmTcO05nM
"Nocturne! Let her go!" I hear my mother order.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXtb78w3Wl
"Whether I let her go is up to your actions. Leave, and I'll command her myself to kill you. Stay, and risk your life to save the unsalvageable.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzJfxHS7E9
"Don't worry, Iris, you'll be safe...for now." Nocturne lets me go, but immediately enveloped my body in an orb of darkness. I was forced to watch my family and friends fight for my sake.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYrptJofTZ
Ciaran floats next to me, pretending to sit. "This will be very very interesting, wouldn't you agree?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt7kI0CYNo
I slam against the wall of the bubble. "Let me go, Ciaran!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ffKmIe9fF
"I cannot let you leave, Iris. Not when we have so many things to look forward to after this.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKuqlhApcy
"Like what?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4tQffnadM
"You'll see..." he smiled with that stupid toothy grin.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s2SsOmOwU
I noticed how well they were doing. Nocturne was looking a little angry at the fact.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsIH29HPgd
"Alright Nocturne...you should've surrendered when you had the chance." Espero looks at a pile of boulders, the rocks slowly float above Nocturne and piles on top of her.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxlyxBAbMv
"I'll give you another chance though..." Espero pulls out a knife from his pocket and swung it around her face. "Surrender now, and I won't cut into your face."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDCcm1Wuh7
She cackled at him...she was cornered but...she laughed at him...
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDLP3IqwFM
I slam against the bubble again. "What's so funny? What are you planning, Nocturne?!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC2XXERk2m
"Quiet, child. This is what happens when you attempt to threaten me..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy9tPHPRhn
Just before I could think about what that meant, an arm of darkness creeped up behind Espero...
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxTvQU8Uvo
I didn't forget the sound it made. The arm sharpened it's end and...pierced him right through the chest..when it ripped itself out, he slowly fell to the ground, with a pool of blood forming underneath him.
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"ESP!" I screamed. Others did the same.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVONpXvSIu3
I had to see if he was okay. I used the little bit of Light energy I had left to break free from my floaty prison and crawled over to Espero.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCIqOhrLim
"Espero! Esp! Get up!" I shake him vigorously. He faintly placed his hand on my shoulder.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgYk5NsDLw
"I-I'm sorry for...n-not h-helping you with y-your c-curse, Iris.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpjQLfavkD
"I don't care about that right now, I'm worried about you!" I feel the tears roll down my cheeks like rivers.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKAAa3EcUh
He chuckles, coughing up a bit of blood along with it.. "...I d-did m-my job...I d-died p-protecting you.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVX8keXuUC
"Don't say that! You've got to stay alive, Esp! You can't just leave me!"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBt53bKnoB
He wipes my tears. "I-It's o-okay...y-you don't h-have to cry...n-not for me.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hijOw2l3I
"Esp..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2LpLPxKYj
"...I-I'm gonna miss you, Iris.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7dlQr86XA
His body goes limp after that...
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"Esp? Esp?!" I continuously shake him. That's when Jake puts his hand on my shoulder.
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"It's no use Iris...he's gone.."
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I saw the memories of me and Espero flash within my eyes as I saw his lifeless face, a small smile formed in his final moments of life..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom8sT7759h
Those moments is what made me cry even harder. I had lost him. The one who'd promised to be there for me until the very end. Espero was gone, laying lifeless in my arms.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupBwgFBOFX
"Don't worry Iris," Nocturne rips me away once again... "You'll forget about him soon enough..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMNcKCZmMM
"You've taken one of them from us...how many more souls must you torture before you're finally satisfied, Nocturne?" Mom asked her, stifling tears.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppUOSBCBUj
"Enough to where you finally snap. Where you reach your limit. That's when the suffering can end. Now, make a decision. Leave now or suffer the loss of another child.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVrBbJd8QT
Mom stepped back with visible tremble, picking up Espero. "...I'm so sorry, Iris. I... don't want anyone else to suffer..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfFarK2cKr
She slowly leaves the scene. The rest of the group follows behind.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeR7boHulX
Nocturne wipes away my tears...
"Shh, you don't have to cry... we are going to take very good care of you.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRgRo1lalY
"Why? W-why did you kill him?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDuz1heevG
"If I didn't, he would have killed me first. I was only protecting myself. And now, there's only one part left of our mission to complete.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRR82VMY61
"Shall we leave then, Mother?"
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WIZxQOYv5
"Yes, we have a lot to do.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzdUf9p8F1
What are they planning to do with me? Was I going to die? Those questions swirled around my head as they dragged me away.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmUEhgRYAx
***
Arelin's POV
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno4CNdC3tv
I was too late. Nocturne's aura was slipping away from my field of sense. What if she'd already had Iris and was making her escape?
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcemysx08pm
"Arelin..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhPPOgFOEf
Alena was behind me. I almost jumped.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXTmm2PaID
"Alena...you can't be here."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b3bc8V3U7
"Iris is...my friend too. I have to be there...for her.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrmxz8lq2O
"...If you come with me, you have to promise to leave if it gets too dangerous, okay?"
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She nods her head and grabs my hand.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFvlePMXtO
I try to run as fast as I can to catch up. I have find Iris before something happens.
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"Arelin...something bad happened..." she points towards a dark puddle, soaked into the soil around it.
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Alena goes up to it, and feels it. She shuffles away.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17pzzoqqPa
"I-It's blood...still warm..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhuchCpAVP
Fresh spilled blood.. Alena was right. Something horrible happened here..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkTOZVGvoK
...I have a feeling I should go to that town...
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuSXNL7Pj6
I run in the opposite direction, gripping Alena's arms tightly as I do.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD6xsbAn6U
I was hardly breathing when I arrived...
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnuAFZRGGA
"Alena...you stay here.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP29feUWYh
She sits quietly. "Be careful.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg5Fea44Wi
I nodded in understanding, and left her there.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUJCYiXNa1
Using some of my knowledge, I seemingly teleported from one point to another..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI0BSREBeK
Right in front of the castle, I kicked my way through.
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqWW2hmOeO
"Nocturne.."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM7BfqxZLr
"Ah, hello again, Arelin..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG6SQwNwiH
"I'm not here for chit chat. I'm here for Iris."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Kr6LRVv1s
"If you want her that badly..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMTd5sIfqf
Iris...she turned again.. She was no longer herself, an animalistic husk of who she once was..
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KrzsBVeqW
I tried to get through to her again. "Iris..."
377Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbVbSIs1Py
I step forward, only for her to swipe at me. Talking to her wasn't an option. Iris continued to angrily stare.
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She begins to fight with me. I was barely prepared to dodge most of those attacks, allowing her to land hits on me. No matter how many times she landed attacks, however, I wasn't going to hurt her.
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"Why don't you show Arelin what you've just learned?" Ciaran asked of her. I couldn't begin to think of what he meant. When I looked up, Iris had disappeared, before I felt a hard push from behind me. Iris was on top of me, refraining me from moving.
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"Good. Now finish him,"
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She stomps her foot against my temple, before charging an attack. At this point, I was ready to accept death. I was in too vulnerable of a position to save myself. Or so I thought. Just before she could finish attacking, I used the illusion of her cousin. A bit cruel to save myself, but it was a last resort.
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Fortunately it worked, however, Iris looked more.. upset about it...
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"E-Esp?" she whispered, as crystal tears fall from her eyes. What happened to Espero in the town square for her to tear up like this?
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"I-I'm sorry..I didn't want you to..." Iris hugs me, digging her crying face into my chest..
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I ended the illusion. She was obviously back to normal. I comfort her while staring daggers into the others' eyes.
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"What...did you two do to Espero?"
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"Are you really that empty skulled? Mother got rid of him. He's gone.."
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"...You...killed him?"
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"Hmm, yes, I guess you could put it that way,"
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I hug her even tighter. "Iris... I'm so sorry,"
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She didn't reply, and just cried even harder..
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"Now, if you would let her go, we can go our separate ways,"
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I pull her away. "I'm not letting you. You've tortured her for far too long,"
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"Then you shall suffer the same fate as Espe-"
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"Mother, I will handle this. You should rest for the night,"
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"... If you insist. I shall be on my way to bed,"
Nocturne, for once, left our sight..
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"Now that Mother has left, you can leave now,"
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"...Can I tell you, Araginee, one last thing?"
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"What is it?" Iris replies.
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I barely blinked before he had teleported right in front of us, snatched Iris from my arms, and...
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"I... love you..."
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He then kisses her, catching the both of us by surprise.
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"W-What?" Iris says in shock.
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He hands her back to me. "Did I scare you?"
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"W-we should go..."
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"Go ahead. Maybe you just need some time to think about it..."
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We follow his orders and leave. As we exit, I ask her. "...Are you okay?"
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"I...I don't know. It was all so sudden," she says, still visibly confused.
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"I don't know if you should trust those words just yet. You know how much he likes to trick you.."
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"It felt genuine..."
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".. We'll have to see how genuine he actually is.."
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"...I brought...ev...ery..one else.." Alena says, approaching us.
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Mrs. Araginee was disheveled. She must not have slept since yesterday. She sleepily walks over to Iris and wraps her arms around her waist.
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"I'm...so sorry, Iris...I didn't want to leave you with them.."
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"It's okay, I knew you were only looking out for rest of them. If I weren't so weak in my regular magic, I'd take care of them myself.." Iris creeps down and hugs her mother back.
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"You are okay to come home, right?"
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"I can visit, but I can't stay. If I turn on you or Dad, you wouldn't be able to stop me.."
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"...Come tomorrow. I'm sure you're tired."
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"I have a lot to think about. But I promise, I'll be there!" Iris gives her mother a wide smile.
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Irene smirks back. "Okay, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
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Iris nods rapidly. "Okay!"
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Irene looks at me. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."
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"You're more than welcome, Mrs. Araginee. I'm just doing as I promised."
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Irene hugs Iris once more. Then Jake, then Ecluna. Suddenly, it had turned into a group hug. I joined in.
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I swear I could feel the wind wrapping around as well...I was convinced...Espero was also there.
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