──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84BCrMYvkf
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8t43nHBMK
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZa0qd1Zp5
霧氣以不自然的速度再度湧起，彷彿整座林地被封閉於一場靈壓共振的封層中。地面震動，靈藤開始活化，宛如有意識般地朝三人腳邊迅速蔓延。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NS8UFddEy
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JMjY0y45D
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4bxa3lT4k
紅蓮迅速衝到紫苑身旁，準備將她拉離中心位置，但一股強勁的靈流從地底竄出，將他們分離，紫苑瞬間失去重心──
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Ptm2YE3q
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tQPFgegqk
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPsT4vVCbO
「紫苑──！」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWkuHJ0DJL
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkB7s2HPbx
他幾乎是以本能反應，魔力爆發，身形瞬移般追上她的墜落路線。那一刻，他看見她張開眼，瞳孔中閃爍著驚惶與慣性的麻木。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TzidoOu67
她沒有喊救命。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7DrPBNRnN
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkl4kLcq9J
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAb3rzBn3J
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKugstbcrWu
他追上她，強行用靈力凝結一片浮空藤網，將兩人撞入其中。藤蔓劇烈扭動，劃傷他的背與肩，但他緊緊護住她的頭與脊椎。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWSiSEBz1H
兩人一同翻滾著跌進藤網深處，落地時，紅蓮幾乎是跪地的姿態將她擋在自己懷裡。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwNwFdO4wI
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgmbfnUjC9
紫苑呆了幾秒，才發現自己沒有摔痛，反而被穩穩地擁在懷中。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZxZIy5qcC
紅蓮的氣息很近，他額頭抵著她的髮頂，呼吸急促，肩膀還在顫抖。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucEMERfFXh
「……你受傷了。」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kI9I7TFEK
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1cpV8rY0b
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCxKMKgYp1
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLEiFMSnsl
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYkkKzPQS3
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj2ALVCWTR
紫苑怔住。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ257nH7MojI
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsSbcDpGMl
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XlQ11qMhP
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRex5PehcC
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6lBdm8w93
外頭的伊萊斯則已穩住靈陣，迅速分析地形變化，透過植物脈網找出通道，釋放出一片柔和的光藤導引結界，引領兩人自裂谷脫困。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeOE4tutFc
他看見紅蓮護著紫苑踏出藤霧，臉色蒼白，手仍扣在她的肩上，彷彿還未從驚懼中走出來。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxaidIkhDa
紫苑則低頭沉默，眼裡映出那護她而傷的傷痕，與那一句聲聲入骨的──「我在這裡」。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeiWbu5bcl
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h6a0WZ6Tm
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmig5ePjCZ
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyBRTFtnOM
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39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TGDTkOMt5
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1v54nWccv
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UO1iZvDto
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBpfub99ku
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sRzLvOv08
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwyZbyK7E
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA09sA0V2Z
夜幕低垂。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeuf6L3uY8
林中暫駐的營地重新聚合了所有人。火堆升起，將一整片潮濕與冷意驅逐出小小的圓心。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCT4J0AZhM
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANSGwG7fUy
紫苑靜靜坐在一棵倒木邊，身上披著雷瑟遞來的獸皮披風，雖然沒說話，但比以往更安定。她身側的傷痕已被凱希爾處理過，細細綁上銀色水絲繃帶──那是深海族靈醫用於修復細微靈壓裂痕的專屬織線。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobMfCWkqbw
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzo9nCliUr
凱希爾替她收拾最後一處傷口，語氣仍溫和卻明顯比往常低了一階：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5eniifrIH
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD4N22iReT
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Y8l4UCzI
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcAqQsHUs3
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT4vMwFDck
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch8sOZCZDb
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUpAFXW5Ae
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JrtaOdqtJ
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDBZEoU8fS
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWRI7xkqfM
雷瑟從營地外拖來獵物，熟練地處理獸皮與肉塊。他一邊烤肉，一邊望向紫苑的方向，忽然笑道：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1deZz8MpR6
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkVaHbl1rF
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIXI1C6s0x
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU92bJ2JyFQ
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN4bmBzniR
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0a7eYDtpMw
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vKy4IRBg9
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZGpS1OVOi
「……我吃。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mxJfsgYEP
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcFIAWcdL2
那一刻，雷瑟眼中閃過一絲訝異，但他沒多說，嘴角卻彎得極高。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs7CaieMoe
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurkacuc7gd
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCfCsvsvDB
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpmGdQx9Qp
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3Dp0f59hK
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9IlXHAySX
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23AVub0bYx
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ459HRjRZV8
蒼芷與米雅坐在火堆另一邊，交換地圖與即將前往邊境的路徑情報。說到後來，蒼芷忽然停頓片刻，將視線落回那道細緻的身影。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzBey17EoB
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5eUEszc47
「……她在改變。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrbpNGmQSy
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0hu8H6hvW
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPkYZ1hWr5
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ1W3iVLsY
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ810CdRY3kn
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hfzd3P9Qe
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKNA3HKRYC
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6zBSASKF
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsshlfpQwy
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ486mWOL9yS
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihsOZWYhqO
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8Zbz9Nr4G
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAk6Td20LI
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dqWQuARzC
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyyHuLW2N6
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAxNiawJyn
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsurWayYlB8
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPi2b74Egd
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RAzaklRYi
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtE7k0un3S
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfdtEK1yOy
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINhKdU05El
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEgVZ2LTPJ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7ArbpalMD
紫苑聽不太懂這句話，但她沒反駁──她只是緊緊握著手中的湯盞，那是凱希爾替她準備的熱藥湯，藥味苦，但她喝得很慢，卻沒有皺眉。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDjapsLPie
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQnXD9E7xc
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP78whdX9c
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAef5Ud7Zk
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIH70MuyJG
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2QXwho4Q2
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6SIfKGedJ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7jeFWrqhM
他像是察覺什麼，眉頭微微一皺，伸手輕撫身側植物──那瞬間，他感受到靈氣中的某一個方向，被強行割裂。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m45aA7yh9
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPlXtdzEXS
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xsuwviZYq
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl6wD51e7V
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lmBE4xaFl
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsucv8OBBY
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOefka9gOQ
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHiAAHp0d0
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjtaRzC38u
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkBwaoQB1A
他轉身望向營火──那群人，那個女孩，仍沉浸在這得來不易的寧靜之夜中。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFSeY9w72V
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2In5mz4al
他並未出聲。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCTkwbkZpT
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kORYK3z3v
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjACH4KJkN
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkyzFNXnAH
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQV3vtyQPd
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRi590qDfZ
—39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRiDGnYcfa
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomVMiqJ9LY
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrN8mTah6s
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE46F2T7XQi
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pKzIOl85L
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0XnnJKxN4
魔族的影子，即將現身。39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPKn53tyWu
