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.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ222UTT99ng
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH37oA0Vd3H
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzFAj8Hn07
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAajndPNOAt
Nao: “What happens now?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEd9asXFhv
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTVWWbs2Zy
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtKwaqbaBJ
!434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCzq5FRCrE
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizi3lRqY9P
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
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Nao: “What are you doing here.”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkogdISshbH
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9BstqXdwa
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Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
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Alyson: “…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6BcxolrB6
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYatepT8cDr
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUKveXbyA5
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBf2KGJDeT
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ktAdndkPQ
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWONOA809t
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRSjPrT9lY
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkteLuUxS0f
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKVJeXvkBL
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Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIQljJgnLp
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueK93Cf06s
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxcXxgLwMA
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwmNTLs3mI
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczVRJAJtVC
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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-”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34PIN5WELw
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsKimBeCvl
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxpE0bWTRQ
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NFOicuWJb
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjWWKPss8t
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fuf5eIJ1T
Nao: “What’s with you?”
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Alyson: “That’s my question!”
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Nao: “!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIChjgFY7Y
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwMgKAiJP2
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyPYpHz466
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZuMO6kjla
Nao: “…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2Qff41GwZ
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44nyOs4HPN
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCv2nKyJIm
Tch.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WK4ND7q2M
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf8oxPYnNh
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE1iDgojAO
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhaMfQvbaQ
Alyson: “!!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsaRp4jZ74
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMLXoDOIgQ
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.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZcGZjNS15
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ptHEPDGAe
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRcbayscLz
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivjdz9Qmj8
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZ2giWCR0J
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnMU0tLic6
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSeYk5QQGD
*Sigh*
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Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FlN47t0op
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRmb22yxxV
Arc?434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70vjBNxUjQ
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Arc: “Yes?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZHODcvL0B
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrDKvV1yNo
How’s my body?
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OYSZcQ128
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaMz4rKbfs
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70vzo4fLVw
*Ding*434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIY6GPFvMv
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuypJVi4DR
Points: 6434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T9imtzk6t
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PPqwajkbT
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWrMPbyDKC
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgSxuggAy3
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9SVuN5GU4
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzAmeM2xbz
*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?
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3djrl81z76
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpDxoINZWF
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgjt9L6nQw
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAPghR7Ptw
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ciiq6VNsS
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKlPBf240e
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVmpWUkzvc
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulTCpT9iSQ
Nell: “You promised…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FsXY3Shqv
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLlSZ44JWk
Nao: “Mom I-”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvscg8efoJ5
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeRqmhAiol
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecap45sXlz
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWXLlHugiN
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp4kM7qNIT
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXXQoISL4B
Nao: “But-”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvWJHHDb16
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO2InXJxr8
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMnrDmP8w3
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVtQhvH2j1
Nao: “!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KS8KShsVX
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsuHw8gtS0
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMelYIaKuVe
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGnJPdf4mG
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfTBoss5jc
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9KWd2O0sv
Nao: “!!”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhdsIMPuLv
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v4WGSpcQc
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.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby3gkO80PF
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTFdEUl315
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc86D0Oa0Rd
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTOl4yRO80
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJn72OmCZB
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWsWGTs8SC
What am I becoming?
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9r2HTAZs6
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCGsbyE7x9
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYjtbVJley
W-What?
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzovcene0uP
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo77pnHLLNR
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLOvubgBHA
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotnZohmlyk
Nao: “R-Really?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmegmnUznjh
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDlU11QIeE
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeccvuJ4l8M
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8xHlKS2ws
Nao: “What do you mean?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjiePGyE09
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKnLBK3XKr
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.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXqGGBweIq
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1NxFKa7vI
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.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pnsZCYJjY
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuljkjfjKxV
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0Xe1uOMSp
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkbrcIxWK1
Nao: “*Nod*”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoszWdZDQd
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXQgIw4hPP
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CONyQQ7Nm
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKonGSBS87T
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk95ubbAfLc
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcGzu5Bo3z
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4i38CyIG1
Nao: “Mom I…”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsk6XmzcW4
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I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pbLTJXd3y
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7VxZY4Lru
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiW2cLlVdC
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyaCxBiyP6
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vV0PTABAF
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuB6824PZb
Nao: “I-”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscalUTJ9i6
Nell: “Promise me.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw7pCikHwn
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X2YkAuw8v
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7otZx4Zu1
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTxKFaZSX9
Arc: “What are you doing?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlocg4lhNs
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO15pq1D6fw
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6MV9xVM4H
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF0huPDOWK
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtHaeHOfuB
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
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434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAr5O91S3t
Nell: “O-Okay.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQOdKq0QDH
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrfh3mNsCl
*Curtains close*
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TZYA4BF2Q
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KStNErqu7
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLifMzMZdN0
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHREu0IxHZ
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lIk5pXzRP
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLDDo78XlT
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTmbvgCLOc
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mza8dtiyb
Nell: “I…need some time.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz3tQr1GD4
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU8ONyjkyV
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWgY8JHfG2
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH52ifJABQ
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Zc8w9LX2
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspdRAwKphU
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7rIUtXbS3
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oCaA9c8Fe
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6LCHaSx31
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TE7vfacGO
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1ObxoSRbc
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmfSWtnthL
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
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*Ring*434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GO4l5rUl0
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YscsdSq3m
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.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUoAvdC7nF
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0eYV8Bdx4
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBERDwgGO9A
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIG3gjRAIK
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRC4LqpDf8
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoKINaU88a
…Are you serious?
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1EgPe9Qq2
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdmUuDrNdA
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyHQKzcgt0
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQapU08Cno
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASiE9g9d0y
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvJ8xM531m
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Is6vyQsFe
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFDxL79iAo
Nao: “Happy to help
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6EUIQN0bv
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeIiHmvC9K
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEnu0HitYy
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL6A6fGpJs
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX93dMqED8
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXzbryl4W0
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZGwgd7ww6
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8fYJx3EW7
Nao: “…Same.”
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJf2cmqgxk
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVR11hRHWa
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hMHv7TPCD
434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBvV48wQa5
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.434Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFqAjkSTiB
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