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.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdENt2iSeMh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOd2SvVhdQ
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlbrXGC0Zx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AjzADv4qV
Nao: “What happens now?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg2p2RWzvS
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hnc0woAqz
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8orPfKrPb
!417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXUXp7V606
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TVpvs0WCJ
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeznIxoYfWr
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVkCYSknCU
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKaam04PfD
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJGiZVWgzZ
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRMY86B2Ig
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n6BdkslYS
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNB8cmASLT
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjKhZWoEdH
Alyson: “…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wCqtd8S8w
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEFwza48wj
Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwgwsjFr9W
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu2u0uxbW7
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglT8qNro3p
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaasY6NNqkZ
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqjoyrmbfI
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2dVE9Vf10
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsE7sKomK1
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Zrc7cCDo
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfWKCMVgHQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE3WSyPrYw
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA8ZLWfNpJ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbus2hcHkc
Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXTp3x1o3M
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2bfeJauss
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-”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvIpnlZCd1
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZSs3CmSqo
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNtrn2LHHl
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxln3o0HUj
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhHkTITXgN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLJaa3HxyD
Nao: “What’s with you?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzRXj8jiSF
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBJRreQnH1
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdFj0YR1kG
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuB1F7g1Z5
Nao: “!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1xsfFEpQv
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOgeorUNko
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0AZdPBt9w
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn2EGfL6iP
Nao: “…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH060KlW0R
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPE8dIzRhh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0PMrlo2TJ
Tch.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOIwh3ueNt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwxz9hH5qz
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxKWgl8jy3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77tvSHRhmg
Alyson: “!!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5JnMAPDPz
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXwIUYVZLn
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.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7buiaj0Pa1
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAfdl7pMXx
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoslrxNZh92
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQlK3bInbS
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP04BVefE8
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy6Mge3G6b
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeUDoHolOU
*Sigh*
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFSUMKu7AL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBIsG2x4eY
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAewblLfKN
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l4BMWRBRt
Arc?417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEW7MYcPwk
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Aq76uNJBG
Arc: “Yes?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSOar37xHG
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUeFXqqjGV
How’s my body?
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXz5vXcDzm
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzsck25LM2
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ynfmUfFd
*Ding*417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje0lkTiCGs
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tOUq5XQi7
Points: 6417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3izsC4niVU
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffj3FJnxR4
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DBQ6lKtdM
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHWNuGgpm8
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtklqTqZk6d
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNlc7Hu7mI
*Door open*
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417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWxhubJqq6
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?
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9MoPVPhr2
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLcYiNjq9C
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFczFHJw6A
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvqlOXdcHB
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPt2mxErVO
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5elOUVmZW
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOo8pB5SF8
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSKW7D0ZXV
Nell: “You promised…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8SiPQvlIz
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb2HIPMejm
Nao: “Mom I-”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FCv99NYnR
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCspa9sgBG0
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeLeZY9LRg
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZoKC9ORWo
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS4XZm2l1k
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKAksoqwEr
Nao: “But-”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrHqsUE161
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppx5bPBuL3
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZhAEU6VnE
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmY46gbaYh
Nao: “!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP51YZQiDy
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGcJCA1MJC
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlFTDtIfXJ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUQM7yxbgD
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ju1zG0Sez
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0CslzNZ0G
Nao: “!!”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYI8eukCV9
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZJ1nIAjHM
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.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0jH2MDzqI
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8oEd6RtEd
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdA9arTtJO
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k0ywiW1cR
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGKCNPi8gv
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y5dvtnKof
What am I becoming?
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp5GPIgF6k
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoeJ9D7GpF
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnOZT8NGPh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAm4mFh4ot
W-What?
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD8voRXPPP
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPG06JxTy3
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz4tSqGQp7
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2KMw3z09V
Nao: “R-Really?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem10iD8XQI
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSdDHGeKdq
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCEXqfYLGa
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdAccJTGMw
Nao: “What do you mean?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x7Txey5MD
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEeNT9BuTX
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.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMHOn2VeKu
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujB9ONZgGf
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.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AireUWnM3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ks19QJnF
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdjO9HsNUL
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RuqAWjk5H
Nao: “*Nod*”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBrUqYiCyi
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu2gYZYeeN
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3lLEulPU5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGceb2c8C8
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCUoHQyK8y
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfSzyS1fEO
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE7vdrVvYa
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKYc2VPkE5
Nao: “Mom I…”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuErZ6pNphz
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCMrOF0MFo
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAXWlMBaj6
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AvR3BnmuQ
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1izofF3p15
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyprJsPdiF
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4BN8cRONG
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIANrJXBo3w
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvJYd6zSJz
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH6CL5hFqj
Nao: “I-”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhHYmJI6mv
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mvN2MUXLh
Nell: “Promise me.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5wC7f788M
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMpA90EKTV
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmSrgZGxVE
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWeB1khhgm
Arc: “What are you doing?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fI6g5JfQY
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNByZMyDZIG
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdOH2oYQOW
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzOg8w8kB2
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuiNZ0wNf3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zKpBzmqlm
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj5tLLgalx
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLMIBlxnL3
Nell: “O-Okay.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2600OXGHFG
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLwhQpnTyP
*Curtains close*
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6wyZhN8X7
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVX8L2AdrO
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVR76xTXU5
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNUoG1Wh7Q
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4jNW9QJts
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnoT9Am8m4
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMnEB6uGpK
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfU57piGeN
Nell: “I…need some time.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ4gjDiT4P
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDD9C12WwK
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRc5YA0A2s
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN4jZRtmDI
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs2VSpHvf3
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ4Cu7WA2u
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8infOVAQt
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtraM0TFdjb
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZGMDFTUV
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSAHAj7LTo
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNNS681tn9
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGSVD0LivC
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU32txUEzC
*Ring*417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdxrIaLB25
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWGEj5zj9Y
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.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKF35vALyQ
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PSX6tKuKZ
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kKwGkIDFr
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6jy7UFz43
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmkX0OZ9bs
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX1BhFUOmW
…Are you serious?
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkyJGjqimh
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdgk8Z9DPC
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
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417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu98kmRufu
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQqSYcqq3E
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn04XhpzCwj
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3PpUsWxew
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vHUAr8Bmo
Nao: “Happy to help
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLj4ThuMEe
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VYW08mSaJ
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQBqO80jeY
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXdcytKst4
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlsCFF9pv4
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKL15qPdv9
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvuFR4VDN2
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FcmqyZ68F
Nao: “…Same.”
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAslWA9SJB
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYWglfCtLR
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbkpTKmvKp
417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RNVp0cXbD
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.417Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL8CbZ2NF3
