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.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuKXiU2MW8
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzzbt2i4Nz
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKEvcHMN32
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuwmasSG0B
Nao: “What happens now?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDclBq1EjX3
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8XF8nk1YS
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdguaQytGVT
!479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaOTFmHiMY
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8KKZ0Y0v9
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOfcomvHuZ
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemiJFnlAT2
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqDSWFNwXv
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAUR6avGq7
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiPHkhgd0s
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgEoFwEdG4
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IyrHNqNXz
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLo46ktjeq
Alyson: “…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5W2pZvyGl
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qYtIRPYMZ
Nao: “…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrMvpBOXe3
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFwgsM4ZEG
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYsRowdDQU
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmdcKLxlih
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfA9dtYMFx
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WatEyETiZ
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKFZPk7b4M
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMWA6fJ1hq
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4drFrw6D0
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKR3YINqai
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoY2TCp9N3
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP6fQBg2ls
Nao: “…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UGKa63Yhw
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvYuN3uwa5
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-”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e7mkKKWQY
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoybpWs88y
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSq1iYxAb4
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajMTwumFuP
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyy205SMdB
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4wItkXbJG
Nao: “What’s with you?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpRbZqvAKH
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirtDRfchBY
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPtuincADO
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDu8gsODYP
Nao: “!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYJ8NPEEj6
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhrY6djoA8
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFAv6hOe0n
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXRc8SwSKS
Nao: “…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe7EwjYw64
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj73OHyAfA
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW0vZ3bCVq
Tch.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcupEfCc0z
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf7m0m40Rp
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6TSAArG5x
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoHn4pBTDI
Alyson: “!!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdjak7Hqjs
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZGVrXbHrA
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.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxsqcKWwsS
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGOpxwQTJ6
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwfZAft8xo
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs9QEnF7n1
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc4VHTsEGY
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC27Q2BPxt
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaYQoaIEGb
*Sigh*
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbQ4SmV6LT
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlrbDsy4zz
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjj06LPz7I
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuzZ8X9fC9
Arc?479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtNXR9qPWg
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRA3GvtblJ
Arc: “Yes?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu6pz21qpI
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2hQu0MP5X
How’s my body?
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfkEXt6YxN
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp52P1qo6L
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76kfNOk3aL
*Ding*479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8vC38qxTd
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkZZTHYXXX
Points: 6479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX40RUjQU4
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8DezfO35S
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ97MhSBklC
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUkdb8Mkya
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeMWxaEkNh
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp53L6pzte
*Door open*
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaynuXYjBE0
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9dGGhwSjX
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?
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqota9DUdSm
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmYgLn8esp
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrBCu0R8Xt
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUxXz8oDfO
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3RqVShvsU
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLSffJNCW2
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bMTTD9MNo
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX4np95KP3
Nell: “You promised…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJhQOMpj8S
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXfIvh1U0h
Nao: “Mom I-”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiosi3vRIMt
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6SeWW3Kxq
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXTpuFwjN8
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFklhyrtmk
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh9pFprW5T
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uEpgvoAII
Nao: “But-”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPRwHNEwqr
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljfiGtqrxk
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES51injyFt
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu23PDmYnk
Nao: “!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk7eO9YC0b
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03Uo3XVuvz
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpyY0HvMKp
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMplrMmNyY
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHTgl4sH9Y
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M5cNHs9I2
Nao: “!!”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiq3I0dme9
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJXBBhrPzR
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.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifwNqZYDpe
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VGpfI7vy0
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3OEephkmy
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvQOSEUcVz
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjFdSndUmI
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJIXIFjGFQ
What am I becoming?
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdqIMPSA2w
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrolfaPZoBI
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQpcrEAKGW
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTLubR1T4Y
W-What?
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GmkVLvYRD
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIROMk7kNw
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVrF4QVnH9
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx9cTCs0sb
Nao: “R-Really?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACSuHr4Bxj
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pq5Rwmcl4
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKNCvrngEc
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4HmCoiPKU
Nao: “What do you mean?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ9WrTu7p3
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g3CoTG8N2
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.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82NKvn5wLc
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxRCFmlb6R
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.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPigjCx5W9
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUnCTcvbrx
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZS7YmiXJL
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChct9rqIjw
Nao: “*Nod*”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JdlIv2oW7
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYdmuL4FTr
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP9z3VA9rn
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhmRxrewsd
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamZlhairrd
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1gYXkj6kO
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfAUdbXMfd
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS39RlUWja
Nao: “Mom I…”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveJA6aFOG9
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr7nsgZ5F6
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikFeS6JWyz
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7tmFaWJux
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FD2VHF7ns
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ay4J311n5
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJh8J73p6f
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiMHC8WS0e
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTKtOGGpKq
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfNUlziLRG
Nao: “I-”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOdNlc5iHm
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3heUz01EsP
Nell: “Promise me.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNIV4bYSHN
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8QSt18l8P
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKgDx00RQD
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHJbSLJsLe
Arc: “What are you doing?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TxEYAqPVU
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldzBfvpMct
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs471cF0iJ
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG4G50DXnY
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8RxKjlnn7
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVja14MElR
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0jbIn75Ot
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzf4G6nYdA
Nell: “O-Okay.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXFdkduLDW
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLC06yUPyx
*Curtains close*
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjDMMenElu
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S0qx4qQ7Z
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdw9fx10Ov
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Qltzo6GI
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YYnLncwyY
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6TCyodL55
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ1tJ7k1h5
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1RLr5gqFq
Nell: “I…need some time.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoQxTYvilS
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IuASLwxrG
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAibIElfkv
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBL2fgU77v
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr6bpf8W0V
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAdHmY5VMQ
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LFhRRMeVo
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnAwBDKYMW
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlUT2kP1Wi
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUne7nMcxn
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hSseyGkiu
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVCS8d81Bk
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6TcOwqcTW
*Ring*479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE64Tm53Vk
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkidz1Xo5LQ
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.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53ecuPkGTn
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHZb1YvLO3
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP32jVxN7c
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIhlLQ10FF
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f1ZfVqhFS
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWchVeDoXVr
…Are you serious?
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfZ9TJtzA7
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMxN66t2ko
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kKDk9qohC
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyFDaJbnWu
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ1UTJg00v
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5diEqCUbFL
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVnoQU1NCb
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C33amPDBr
Nao: “Happy to help
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrlN4SkOf3
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tUuKo4aZN
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3290KchTJu
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAF7bxBtLO
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWlMTNXnff
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rNjBs5ums
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1n7BaDX9g
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKYqwVuad1
Nao: “…Same.”
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhqWo5nI1P
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPxS9L3geg
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCRcLmXJWQ
479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsNoNaN80Y
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.479Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtYEwfqpS8
