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.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnSBejRH8k
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PACBO2yJs
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcGYE4HPsH
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsSp6daFUy
Nao: “What happens now?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw5gtrwkkS
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90Sn4NcqA0
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX6uxzUlMl
!420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5YoJJdonw
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOl7v8yB9S
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64pvEqhbq5
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH9QSlTl58
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXEOFsf0rE
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEISas3mUX
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoChwKKK63
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Xhx41GRM
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMrEVfDFQ3
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6cm4aw7gz
Alyson: “…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzpr5jy7iY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgQ8lSyEuo
Nao: “…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBylTVKHEP4
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZDSPNCtBy
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iASeJfgmh
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0lXnQFacv
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PfgSeicZg
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oIlcQrd1P
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHdfKxsq4t
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvxbsrxq93
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ62jC0VVaL
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3OQJQBJRC
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lsQKIog0a
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8T40OISjY
Nao: “…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN4lI3I7XN
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSz1QSbie7
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-”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInrivxDPiQ
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3LillTyxp
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZdLBC5HkE
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUlcuQuODB
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgWB1GwoP6
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbVH2AsTot
Nao: “What’s with you?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNLG1TX97u
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7yBu2t05Y
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiAQrPaSlX
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj59sxx0GxQ
Nao: “!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARCyFuzIGd
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgKPII8kdz
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9WBudSj5V
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEXUeUF5Pt
Nao: “…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQypJ2evS
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMlBI2b6ZS
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkwbKUl0gw
Tch.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoQcn44x3O
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT9XzBqQee
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyFJKq9y0a
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ684bSKCMRZ
Alyson: “!!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES9Jpd5pPo
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOxfk5z3Nw
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.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK5s3rs0WM
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwnwgagkP8
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoCYzW5vzq
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39fBVukvwM
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNHG0BNzOR
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfZWEF4gMA
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG15ormvHsx
*Sigh*
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBoP9IwUpW
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Do2OpUrP3
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg3dGajWSe
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVlMOcyVc3
Arc?420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzhg3Tg4Zv
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eW4khWamB
Arc: “Yes?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVVUDppYE2
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0iQK37I5I
How’s my body?
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XmvKM2luR
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrvzjhRsBF
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlPMMEKOlJ
*Ding*420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FfxIhNgDl
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZkuN01lhO
Points: 6420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ9l4K254o
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyPWsKGh4t
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjq5ttBqy
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuwjHKY0dm
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0UIWD64bV
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3Qhqn0klL
*Door open*
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNyUmPhUpM
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu3I5HkKUB
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?
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSqhvEfqgA
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEBXFiDywG
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJgRfc0qeq
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCgmioX0ov
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozfiIl1Q7q
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ1Eoi2kAH
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyQUowz5pm
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq9lYlFwoz
Nell: “You promised…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQKxJT0Nql
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hJ6ar7SFV
Nao: “Mom I-”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tivG0Vfzy
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQVgpIMHzj
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr2TmAwyPy
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbo56iZNp3x
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Gls3mCtY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvVdfvnFwv
Nao: “But-”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTnO7vy2LY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWzzGfW0no
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tc5RislaX
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilbvA5jUAC
Nao: “!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFgSgjBK3d
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIidT2Sk27x
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59vD3ltg2q
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslce8CYoQp
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUo0dW5cqo
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafKgSjiPlS
Nao: “!!”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9fop2ViJ9
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ylPbSeey
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.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDaYMOC77r
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxOttcNSRu
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFFoYTRiVT
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCpUL2tnKa
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF47jMXDjlf
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qraqAK69U
What am I becoming?
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMhkH9VilI
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2lYkxm8Hh
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PTsvbJCFE
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0L0ryNOTM
W-What?
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG705ejWryN
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJlWSzpaOp
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznl7TPbRsE
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCStvLHU4x
Nao: “R-Really?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYkEMUgYIY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqHjdE16d6
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQyZoaqeXX
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKpq9ygn7l
Nao: “What do you mean?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfMWXpRkUh
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWesnmwfh7y
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.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUywwdHSoT
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EgTxHGGTl
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.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn20N2SW1la
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGutsxYqqK
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX55xchcWt3
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD9MG0fyi1
Nao: “*Nod*”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCbH7XbUQg
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCaQMyptgz
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO8KdWi372
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYTdQAozNs
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebJECLXbUr
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpYRzTSMp3
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNONkcQVjJ
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEslMFzXdSK
Nao: “Mom I…”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvS7z2K0F6
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmwE5boh3J
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXH2nrYGi9
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd6WgDE7Mv
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLq3F15sRJ
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeysD8tVaZS
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1SC5WTqOe
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblxNyNctAM
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZJl784YhV
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQy9p0UUQM
Nao: “I-”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hKLkeDzdI
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Rg9ir1Z9d
Nell: “Promise me.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IPSoJ01zV
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSg6bEohRY
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn739uLmnG
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq6SyQukyQ
Arc: “What are you doing?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNkpsOzHmp
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXrQQv7Uf2
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveKIl63TOX
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoM0Z2g5bI
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3RIbeV8BC
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNdfVw80Z3
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlYguF1sdv
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV8L6looWt
Nell: “O-Okay.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXehxGjL0Ct
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn1q58kbrN
*Curtains close*
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v42Gj9xf9
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu52sVSNdI
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bvWPzxQq7
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBH94grBAK
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ04rYYHsvz
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfiSGnzrLu
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUROoF6dlU
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlrMz9kKdN
Nell: “I…need some time.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hUJrqymzN
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUJEbd1HoK
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB2LHo0UKC
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPOTnlHE51
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjVSoppppF
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqan5cm25A
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qZx47awHj
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xKuy5OzcN
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYLJm9aYEU
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvftQxnm3kE
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO3Yrb31JO
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDqBEqsw22
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuUhlPni81
*Ring*420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99RXHOrv22
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI0ZTgjyzy
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.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl5JUao9Dm
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEy0SMOVPW
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctalMhkclQ
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkD08YjlRb
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nW4X0jcXZ
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFONsYGyJBu
…Are you serious?
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a9oq5vTyi
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPqaUCXoGl
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxGp3emFUC
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEcjN0MOKE
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiEdukGoaY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eRD46jwQv
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ078MKr06qn
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO98WVMpR3
Nao: “Happy to help
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmqMcvFGc0
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66jMBYIHUp
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVBkEKa6m7
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c2VQ9DCzP
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWxY7YVPtY
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6d7BSSzcq
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIdB0w0wJR
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5dE3t9YRb
Nao: “…Same.”
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWa0NPI4s8m
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIapkfp0lv
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxGa9cjnrh
420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZO1PWaw5E
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.420Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhDfhMuNBB
