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.433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HkbcN3T8P
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I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcnfVIJaAX
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNIyGlay2S
Nao: “What happens now?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcwzmz9z6h
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkqiXVtZsB
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0NrpVtPxV
!433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePcNlAZrNe
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs2Cb56ob0
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DoGqdQs7v
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlsYwaU2QN
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEWp2IzMDi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZnzd4Celc
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4NU3q7Ykx
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbBKkUx2qg
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvPQmCjlmO
Alyson: “…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fDavTpNXC
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqh8A816tT
Nao: “…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIrYpL9uWJ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVO5vLKrCj
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4IXnKSZR9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsZg6xfGRz
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ85b9A0xtk
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8LW2YEc5y
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qqtWKJsyd
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jYuNbezku
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZMNjzqbe9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQa4YhaP4J
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5122RQh8yb
Nao: “…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmZQtEYPja
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrbfhJYFLS
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-”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWeYY1GSwu
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOqkcqxkX0
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvli3r7Q26
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKwbEPhvsH
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAmtBPjVSt
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QmsW9JWAn
Nao: “What’s with you?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrB7V5TyDA
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dP25FaXg0
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvuemfQqP4
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8TI65gxkB
Nao: “!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdjgsnOlFX
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs83pQZ8BD
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD4V1lz2Yt
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwYVIg3P0R
Nao: “…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybnvBGJQla
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUuIHIUdMv
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhSFky7lcH
Tch.433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RTGdlDODN
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLZfonkrQI
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2GnOhxmsu
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYUmX0J9gq
Alyson: “!!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuHt2dvafq
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4RMlh9e61
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.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL593fJI4W
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK7ovtHWPt
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYb5QdLcLJ
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsTBlKsf2q
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuy1x1datV
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAZ82DBKoB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7HpBAkvFY
*Sigh*
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmKMVj6uRA
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxrMOyR8Ty
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bOorjmvQ2
Arc?433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYMzKLiOIN
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNJBDlqyMo
Arc: “Yes?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPunRkjTxIe
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKt5MdHc6O
How’s my body?
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoxNGCYkHV
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJtlSM2aL3
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jmtpjGfyX
*Ding*433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwbWdnd8D0
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfU3R8yXxX
Points: 6433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevpfw2LzBr
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO8ZxhzaOL
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzEoeJqE1D
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OfIMAPkA2
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWTNBI2Jpo
*Door open*
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgPAphBTDa
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?
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pFIgj2PWp
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08ZNODinOf
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPed4R17uX
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvD4ZKkPqs
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7RxGVmzcm
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5DlKNI33q
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFBJvvQ32c
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcgG1GOiqw
Nell: “You promised…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzAPXwIs8y
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDVgHQibAT
Nao: “Mom I-”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0DTRnAcMG
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVwjpz3mQF
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsvaBcXzfZ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0UYzKna2z
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0SrbMcZjd
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUodBLYsZJf
Nao: “But-”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29WvObqdU4
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUUJXxts0x
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9LqvEuITP
Nao: “!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcdip8fQYJ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZAjW7wcq9
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDhmApVQ3m
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9qfurFCjD
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJEGHrB4R9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N7Bogq57H
Nao: “!!”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKlF8HKT1l
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk1zUKh81i
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.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzzaChuKHg
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E8u1g4etm
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ai7cOiFz
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMBNk95BaF
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk444eopqA
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7xY1AADl8
What am I becoming?
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQqZw4NkNv
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4LWScoDSo
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcexcvVOCJ
W-What?
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW4TzDh6zp
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5ArbrHw9k
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn2Wj65mi2
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbTnnQXKSG
Nao: “R-Really?”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKFZkCsNWB
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9seChVHoq
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr9uAyZqcC
Nao: “What do you mean?”
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433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1zB0T8RdB
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.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw8cEUHt4o
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0LTypNVih
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.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5Poyc5JlB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoaGa2iucw
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJSuGj9s2a
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzpIld7RQC
Nao: “*Nod*”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx9Q3beoJT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6VLPK7nSo
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyabSGSaW7
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL3dS5xcpf
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiu10pcEkD
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrT1feI1W9
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbJQPswE3m
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyanPDuC4I0
Nao: “Mom I…”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cgqCuqfXb
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIYMNBptJC
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4Q2d1Wj9D
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wXS4GmTY4
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLdzSDcRDd
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDwD2YsyZ6
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GwiVSSMA6
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JOFbmyEJL
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKrpyynfyY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxxq9hj5kK
Nao: “I-”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVarjJJdRw
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItZjbSQnmE
Nell: “Promise me.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPfGKcrqKO
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAJrhWmTNc
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg5K2Yq35X
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t2P4eTA9O
Arc: “What are you doing?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqRGnwrEyo
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEW34IycPp
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrkzWeb4Xd
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrsjQC9zVt
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPGU3TJooG
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrerMfYpzKq
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EIC0xOm3c
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4Qo7Aq42a
Nell: “O-Okay.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp33sGS9hD
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObMU89pMzW
*Curtains close*
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxieVCaN864
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f6MPryDNx
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCZF638B4u
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRCSWut9vn
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaXWfkyf94
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eY7EoTPHg
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSosVTi3NS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciNAdfZNqn
Nell: “I…need some time.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkJp3bQTTu
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbJpw4nvZ9
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn43OMXchk8
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0segzx8OEv
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTUjPSpUdI
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLiyR5xhAV
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl23qfRnuh4
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iV8kYdYGk
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLNmVMRpXS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpRjkHb3Qw
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuZYhO6YqT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtReTDzfJS
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
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*Ring*433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHYgo7BQOf
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q7e4WmWgJ
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.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvqOT93ERM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCbGsry8s5
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmup3AznxT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeJxqHTssL
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylLuReZfiY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86KyV95kRF
…Are you serious?
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZwGJxMvgT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2WduVkIb3
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vvibJ1Aky
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYAxXW0x1y
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcghjC7Tl9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGs5R7W257
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCKtgYFGOH
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIKA0wgeYw
Nao: “Happy to help
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQggixddmiN
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrfq0hCFJS
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYngscmHfyf
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtddtzz0kml
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiC8oknc1B
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvObbx0myFe
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZnHRC1X4X
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9Qiz9BIT0
Nao: “…Same.”
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6JRbiV6dp
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LtJ3lyd3t
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBtnOq6WlT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPhzUezPIm
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsh1NxFkCE
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