Beginnings of the Modern Mage - What It Takes To Be A Hero

Nao: “Buy me some time Velo.” 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHRWH2ks0p

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Velo: “Got it.”

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Transform, book form!

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Anthony: “No you don’t!”

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Velo activates his shield ring and blocks the bolts of lightning ripping through the ground towards us.

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Velo: “Ugh…”

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Swap control water for minor illusion.

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*Break*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52pWk3jg8W

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Velo: “The shield is down!”

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That’s fine I get between the next bolt and block it with my shield. I shoot 4 air bullets behind the shield that chases the fleeing Anthony.

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Anthony: “You’re not the only one with magic items.”

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Anthony takes out that paralysis water gun and fires the 3 shots at the black listers.

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Tallow: “Nice try!”

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Before Anthony even pulled the trigger, Tallow got everyone out of the way of the attack.

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Anthony: “What?”

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Tallow: “Nao, watch out take a step back.”

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I do as he says and narrowly dodge a strike of lightning.

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Anthony: “Mind reading huh?”

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Tallow: “You won’t be able to catch anyone off guard now.”

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Anthony: “That won’t last forever.”

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I take the chance and blast more air bullets at Anthony while closing the distance. But right before my eyes, Anthony disappears. Invisibility…

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I quickly go back to Black Listers and place a shield over everyone. Everyone fades into silence as we keep our senses sharp for the next blow.

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But it never comes. Tensions build and I start to lose my strength. I can’t keep this shield up forever. But that’s not all, the thought that Anthony ran crosses my mind.

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Is this shield even necessary? My arms buckle and that’s when I hear a crack in the shield.

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Tallow: “To our left!”

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I redirect my strength to the left in time for-

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*Crackle*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntlugqwRwG

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Purple light slams against where Tallow is. The shield buckles under the lightning barrage.

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*Blast*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZrw561qQR

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Tallow: “Watch out!”

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I feel Tallow push me out of the way and when I turn to see what happened…

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Tallow: “GAAH!”

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Tallow is on the ground bleeding heavily from his bloody torn apart arms. The pain is too much and he soon falls unconscious.

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Mat & Velo: “Tallow!”

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Anthony: “Now stay down Tallow.”

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The invisibility wears to reveal Anthony standing over me with a shotgun pointed at me.

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Anthony: “Checkmate.”

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I hurry to place my hand on the muzzle and counter his attack.

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Nao: “Air bullet!”

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Instantly, an explosion of destructive wind destroys the shotgun while pushing us away.

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Nao: “Ugh…”

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Anthony: “Damn, I had one shot left. Still worth taking the time to get it from my bag.”

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I look back to Tallow’s broken body and everyone at stake. Maybe I should…

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Anthony: “You’re out of options, give up now!”

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Nao: “Not yet.”

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I summon fireballs and delayed air bullets. Some are illusions and others are real. I ignore my nose bleed and fire them at Anthony.

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Anthony: “I know the fireballs are illusions, try again.”

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The fireballs phase through while the air bullets are blasted out of the sky by lightning.

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I continue firing while running towards Anthony with an illusion gorilla fist.

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Anthony: “Seriously?”

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Anthony contorts his body to dodge the strike and smiles.

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Anthony: “You can only use 3 spells, I counted what you can do.”

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I charge an air bullet in my free and aim it at Anthony’s chest. All the while, I summon 2 more air bullets aiming at his head.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlWDkutat9

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Nao: “Which of these are real!?”

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Anthony: “Child’s play, you wouldn’t do headshots.”

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Anthony meets my charged air bullet with a lightning fist.

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Nao: “GAAAH!”

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My entire body begins to burn from the inside out. But-

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*Strike*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2KrCooXMn

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Anthony: “Ugh!”

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The two air bullets graze his head but that was enough to knock him out for just a moment. But that’s all I need. I rip away from his hand and form a magic shield bubble around Anthony’s exploding body.

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He shocks himself to wake up but it’s much worse than usual. The shield cracks but remains strong enough to contain him. I collapse on my knee while blood streaming from my nose. But I’m not the only one.

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Anthony: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

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Nao: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

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Anthony: “I can…break out of this…eventually.”

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Nao: “Fast enough before the police come.”

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Anthony: “I’ll defeat them too.”

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Nao: “There’s too many and you’re too weak. They just need one or two bullets and you’re dead.”

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Anthony: “…”

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Nao: “Give up Anthony, you’ve lost.”

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Anthony: “Why are you so hellbent on sparing me! Didn’t I say your goal is just as valid as mine? Don’t force yourself to try and make an impossible world!”

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Nao: “I just want to save you!”

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Anthony: “!”

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Nao: “That’s it. I don’t care about all of that stuff right now. You are one of the first friends I ever had. And I don’t lose that.”

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Anthony: “Nao…”

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His body loosens and that once solid determination shakes a bit.

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Anthony: “Mayb-”

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Anthony: “!!”

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Anthony: “Artemis wai-”

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Anthony’s eye glaze over but soon returns as a savage purple.”

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Artemis: “No! I won’t let it end this, even if I have to break our body!”

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Lightning explodes out of my shield and scorches the air. I’m blown away and Artemis falls to the ground. Both of our bodies are ruined but mine more so. Artemis gets up and drags her body to mine while gathering power.

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Artemis: “Don’t worry…love I’ll…take this nuisance out and then we’ll…finally get back to the bloodbath. We will have our vengeance…right?”

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I…can’t move. I watch as Artemis gathers enough energy to end my struggle.

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Artemis: “Finally, this fight is over!”

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*Explode* 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDKRNugP4e

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Alyson: “!”

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Am I…dead…

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Alyson: “Mom!!!”

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!!?478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKk05rxG2s

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I open my eyes to see a person protecting me from the blast. That wall and sanctuary that’s always been there, begins to fall.

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With a thud, my mother falls next to me…this can’t be happening.

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Artemis: “Mom? That’s your…mother…I didn’t mean…not again…”

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I ignore Artemis’ words of apparent confusion and drag myself to her. Alyson rushes over and cups mom’s head in her hands.

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Nao: “Mom…why…”

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Nell: “You’re my…children…of course I’d protect you.”

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Alyson: “Not like this! Not like this…”

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Nell: “You…finally…called me mom.”

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Alyson: “Mom…Mom, I’m so sorry I was stubborn. I should have….done so much more for you.”

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Nell: “Nonsense…you’ve done…more than enough. I’m just glad…I could hear it…at least once.”

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Nao: “Don’t talk like that! I can heal you!”

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I swap out illusion for healing and begin trying to save her. But…I’m too weak…

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Nell: “It’s…fine…Nao…listen to me.”

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My mom looks deep into my eyes and pleads.

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Nell: “You have…the power to change the world…and with it a responsibility…to heal it. Don’t be a villain…be…a hero. Protect your friends…family….and the innocent….promise me…”

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I look to everyone here and internalize what I must do. Her final wish.

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Nao: “I promise mom.”

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Nell: “Then…I know you two…will be…just…fine.”

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And just like that…my world grows darker.

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Alyson: “Mom? Mom!”

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Alyson cries harder than she ever has. She holds mom’s lifeless body and wishes for this to be a dream. But this…is reality.

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Artemis: “…Why did a mother…have to jump in front of that? It’s…not fair…”

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I hear Artemis and I remember who punched this hold in my chest.

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Nao: “Put all 10 points into endurance. I will survive to kill Artemis.”

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Arc: “But you’re bod-”

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Do it! She won’t get away with this…

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Arc: “Okay.”

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Endurance: 27.5478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4EzXbOn9Y

478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rz7kyLfZ8

Instantly, I can feel my body break apart and convulse wildly. No! I won’t pass out over this! But as I think that, the breaking sensation stops abruptly and hear that familiar sound.

*Ding*

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Arc: “Congrats, you just leveled up.”

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Level: 2478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rf3LYSaEn

Strength: 27478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG24iwmJ5T

Endurance: 31.5478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiqwcIMiNu

Intelligence: 23.5478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd2ke9vqTN

Charisma: 21.5478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQpV5T3LPI

Agility: 20.5478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC36Db59ljJ

Magic: 29478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ519A96dJH5

478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q9gRXpHHj

All of my wounds heal and new strength flows through me.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFzfww4TKN

478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0D48s7fbP

Artemis: “…No way…I didn’t want this!”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8f6Y8lsQV

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAdOB9JCPE

She shoots out several bolts of lightning but they bounce off of my renewed shield.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0Jtd4Loyj

Arc: “You have a free spell slot, what do you want?”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ldy576Acn

Nao: “…Magic Missile.”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6XIC8Zio5

I transform Arc into book form and make the change while the storm still rages. I transform Arc back, get up and walk towards Artemis.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4sxqqqA5m

I walk through lightning bolts, balls, and whatever else she can throw at me. It doesn’t matter, my shield blocks it all.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKslOZYiuTF

Artemis: “Damn it all! Not again, not like this! Am I still this weak?”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRDBsVRwaZ

I break through the lightning storm and grab Artemis’ throat. I slowly squeeze and enjoy her gasps of air.

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Artemis: “You…kill me…you kill….Anthony…”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5UqpY8Rjv

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs17KkVHk6

Nao: “I know.”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccqx7ylQbq

I raise my hand and gather magic energy into my palm. She fights back by screaming and shocking us both with lightning. But I feel nothing…

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGemQiogaM

I aim at my target…and fire.

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*BLAST*

…

The screaming stops and the body goes limp. I let Anthony fall to the ground and walk away from it all.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfzGbXvAqF

Anthony: “…Why?”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnGpanWQrm

I look back at Anthony’s missing hand and the still intact ring smoking from the blast nearby.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54p3alZF4d

Nao: “You didn’t do it.”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡson8DQDr2F

I grab the ring and can feel it lightly shocking me. I clearly can’t destroy it yet…but one day, I will. I pocket it and return to my mom’s body with Alyson still crying.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHpUZKyt4T

I stare down at her and find her strangely…at peace. But why? I failed her and my sister. I look up at Alyson who’s still crying. So I hold back my tears, for her.

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OiAff2317

Anthony: “…I’m…so sorry.”

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478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbUfnpZiBU

I ignore it. I’m sure the police will deal with him, I don’t care. Right now…I just want to bury my mother.

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