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.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1SDLo9g0t
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL85tMXHhkq
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0iKBEICo6
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc88qmx2rl
Nao: “What happens now?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwAFClbiJC
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTIAdubLMt
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9XeuKZBep
!481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM32OT9ok1x
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDcLPzB5PL
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjXfDTi4kA
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvFZQGG4M2
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEzyGj58n6
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABeDoSINXw
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLXAPCMkAN
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdds4nFmYy
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHoYOEEvOk
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoYI4NMkWm
Alyson: “…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNoLsm9cSl
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBqx9MCI1a
Nao: “…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1emALfMFdM
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQzySFgdZb
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EPs9j2Q3L
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyrUpnNZ4g
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVvPPaFVB3
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ6vqmlPwZ
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXUwiwE5xG
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9OkXMO7ps
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTOz9rZcYa
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJwvmcLobw
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b7blUV3cw
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVX0W2lYnp
Nao: “…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKiR2YYZtO
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2vAXTYpXz
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-”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUz4dlWXUI
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22tcngBDh7
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiByzkeYHP
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAsZ73cGkm
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImsgrD4XIx
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK1VOGRPcS
Nao: “What’s with you?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCoGRNSJhu
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhOPtp4r1Z
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Zkdc1HYK
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOsJjHtyrz
Nao: “!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzSd2rc7t7
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKxRKW8ENb
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXF2YeBq9P
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfdtVXHtfa
Nao: “…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWYb07xKin
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtgUKJRj9S
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcsfqISsm1
Tch.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzulCsuesD
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPzL705Mme
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtqtyuFEU8
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRZE80Msjz
Alyson: “!!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXTGSInRP9
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuZBemMicG
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.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwB8qpOO6RN
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCHWXHLMdS
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvolsmyAcPz
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrrzRvhBVC
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoemWaXDXn
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtJPJqq5Te
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcznHfaDNu
*Sigh*
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotxTuRaItt
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3VPCq1HGG
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH4do8G5K1
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXukUDC8ggT
Arc?481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o1rFSoTfK
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGl8ZBtqzO
Arc: “Yes?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTH0VhAWxH
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3tPyyv2zo
How’s my body?
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNExWD6D3v8
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWlM2zE7Hy
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ737L5qzqe
*Ding*481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcG2GOZ3hx
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9EqsEVNKn
Points: 6481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MwTi8NEwO
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQrYW60AmK
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6sjN8Jy4P
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKioATl0ij
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxdSYqth9B
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCaUHMABjY
*Door open*
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkWt0ZY04x
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdtiWUXoT0
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?
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NHMpgNjWP
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY6RoeIhpb
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKqy2wlmeL
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhdU39KZON
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gl6xaCygT
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuE0EVotrx
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnShUNRslpd
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x1t1k23mZ
Nell: “You promised…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vmyxOOTJw
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGY1kca1gg
Nao: “Mom I-”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXJJ7oEFA7
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i3vZjeQ9O
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYzOwO0O4j
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1yLFcWgu4
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9itlxwmdtB
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit5ApPuMNt
Nao: “But-”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeguAdQCRxx
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C0Y2KwSjN
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nEX29ay3J
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhYsfJNJJ9
Nao: “!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgXw7wHHeM
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICm9SjXuCa
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXSXYBA1Tp
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIRbuzGdKE
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmBd38iqex
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstxj6PMT5c
Nao: “!!”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GfZSn9iyv
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5Lm60Qs90
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.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gLStYuMzX
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquAYjbErWj
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJu0gGnE6X
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mmKqMaXlE
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56JbWU9JMC
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdJ3zoisYZ
What am I becoming?
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsej0GtpND8
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLkwqdYvSK
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0hGmYnWOE
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhGLQOWI0T
W-What?
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KdmcBcUlV
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSudj73GTf
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLOhUuJpeg
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC44ts012sM
Nao: “R-Really?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P2S30kd7d
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ003Llnnt4f
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfnhJT7XhH
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1X3fIIdu2
Nao: “What do you mean?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDGIH4yO5s
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbPjjNnnN0
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.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxm4Eru9GF
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9yKyNhvrd
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.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtn0qi0DOu
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP3dKub7oo
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcPdVWkLQF
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnAcz3ai8e
Nao: “*Nod*”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeKMby78If
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacAPqZtepQ
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeHsZqdZX9
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpMJKl4tin
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicfwWv1q44
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9wHcVr2hp
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aTZs4TV11
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG4YkR1q6u
Nao: “Mom I…”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30uZTa08Li
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGUgx4CDsO
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZNfRCJKIM
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxLRrjhMbc
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiVTPGXLmq
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1bNduhvzP
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuTQnjSrz0
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EwJc1iCl1
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WlAKUlblD
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx6khFL0lO
Nao: “I-”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYivZB0HTYb
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUHlCL1H6V
Nell: “Promise me.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSyhMZkXmW
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqhOMDErQ4
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ66flLLJY3
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq5k2NGeZL
Arc: “What are you doing?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ZkS2s8zo
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo0KT0eDPT
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Df3ACIW7
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrVoG1UWER
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdKa864YnP
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomE2adjTB4
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTyI2kUPqk
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHIIy1toil
Nell: “O-Okay.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84QxHcyHxP
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m6BpsioJe
*Curtains close*
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkXHnplcxK
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rjRE3BPMw
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19sg8Y9GDZ
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBckgzsKtI
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrDm3bGEYK
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa3HcALd9R
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhJ1LwQikG
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1O8Bm3s12
Nell: “I…need some time.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVv2PU5knr
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TulRps0DH
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiGFmK5upe
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ20dMvhJi
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3P0x4hPvF
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcyQcUTzHO
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SLZ779SsV
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI70R2T3rH
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZc2rQWQO0
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXP1InNDKZ
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWQaztNRKe
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z77OT10iY
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qz80hbBVw
*Ring*481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ4yCi3DyC
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xXHNALdH8
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.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh36Hk1rYbA
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavOsALKFEw
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoQV66S6G7
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIZY9GyBkF
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6RWIauAnD
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KDarzIFPy
…Are you serious?
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegtH85MRWY
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWTWVcUzZD
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27Tps2eIZj
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCMcxzf7Is
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK29YweDEEH
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeqj6XOyIp
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk5Tl4PfgP
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aCcFSNCSL
Nao: “Happy to help
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIt8pYuD2P
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidU1N8ZzkN
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZqUk60ANO
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyp4i9lUMn
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9yik1Ql9x
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7sCIIFQIi
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cmtGH7spm
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDclx8sFIR
Nao: “…Same.”
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGCYxyei4c
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGtE4h4G8j
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw9k5XCccy
481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSe9gCIvNj
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.481Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiuI4TRZMs
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