──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvebwH5xhO7
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiQRbU7NTf
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jg2xi9EdA
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqPAGxBYPN
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BW3ElTrYj
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RaxYQESmB
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──
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbQaxZsWFk
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpGIavTqDM
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkyalrlhSz
「紫苑──！」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne32wAcNBl
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IofQ075za
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpZ1impcxI
她沒有喊救命。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvIOZl9ApO
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgbTeZGAXB
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGbmWqOEgq
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6bBdLl75Y
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6jNNklWFT
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenqibPlj7h
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQwRvGVHvc
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAjIBWR1VT
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtzLhrH4Sk
「……你受傷了。」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9LFMs4wWL
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPLtFNOHBH
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vHI73Jyzt
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11LbNiKZBH
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP9myueT2m
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK3CItW9Yg
紫苑怔住。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rLDld0cmC
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWZVUSOltI
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqtK1IrhTm
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86fq8LtRTT
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafJkGR7Gcm
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqelahbRGG
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。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GPcBEU850
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」。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviYqEbc3pD
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17CBv87LtZ
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nQrjTEtLp
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8U64B29yt
—
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQywg812oz
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3L814goox
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlaHIihErz
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6V0YtpLJb
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhtvOooMKC
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kMVD6JcuX
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCvLuUqljA
夜幕低垂。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBdN1mfKbM
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBrpiBWepV
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLfEekHRLf
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9V7xBsUBO
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnGFBbPaDE
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：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdPJegOdCZ
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGd7hTlh9A
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWJenmyRMz
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivzlfrrWqZ
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnK8JmVnjG
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTwSQAUBHd
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tkrNDOGM3
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSINaYPciZ
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAyX68SFk8
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjvBe9PJym
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：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvAleM9usd
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUhxVnfBAV
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3orY7vw5Z
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSCxtL2CHo
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTyEFPGpwr
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy9xvlb9Ez
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhtluzp7mU
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWt6tNcB1r
「……我吃。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBoJOOGPTV
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjfueK29ho
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu4ssZexPS
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDydLdsDkB
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8emkSCxBr
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRqaQ2OTnb
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qaPhaO0Gl
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwWuB5pc6O
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eobjCrLZw
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0OpSDiy6A
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH5OA5sqrk
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKd6w0MQNd
「……她在改變。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLss4r7cpI
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlDR4n5EtF
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5znUSCRgy
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfFQMTmJhl
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM4JxESJ7T
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa77DOmqFld
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ166oGdwWR4
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVCKz6q4MJ
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9bYjfbLWP
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl4zsjKgPy
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jCvQMBQdP
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uD13a9Nrd
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxB2ieoON0
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdoP5l3Ae4
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aYi0NfpKL
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26WxO89LBG
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2bt0k9Art
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTNP1UfSnU
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZc3Cv8iVE
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7uxBzY9gT
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnMOkfzRD0
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5lpDuLH6w
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGYmu0zVV6
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHvNlaceqq
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVdevYxInQ
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorEqY55huR
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWusR1GmPbr
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Or3AuMTY
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGCR2VdEh2
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4V11irP46
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOZO9c2RUV
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEdnThlA68
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSDz4zKmOe
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo1mya8fH9
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaZrzuPgwB
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFVtZyA4Gf
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF8E4Zmw32
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6ZaauuNHw
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgH6lVHBoU
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPqCV4tqab
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YVyv0DVOm
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32ILKMdNCQ
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。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUWT4m6JSd
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzuuhJtJ8f
他並未出聲。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUFlDzzlZV
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSZCBBP8nG
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6718ip76JV
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS3byzI70l
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLIH0UfKkT
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMUpYHh9Bz
—20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ8GuVk4bv
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtlfchXXH6
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB866iBdmz
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmdCV6tgn4
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwyLaDa2e1
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM9jJzok7M
魔族的影子，即將現身。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXep2q8pUd9
