──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrRVJWzmaq
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzs0tt93Qk
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ4PjuI5z0
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D6tS5PXR6
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfHJDSREIj
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDClja9oYh
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──
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutzvOkSufz
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmweA9RP8h
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ9LerHeCZ
「紫苑──！」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9DkJsMzt1
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWF7nfBNGR
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFzM2h4FO1
她沒有喊救命。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL4RL0MdZC
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgGIBfti2f
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQYxktmCAZ
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZrnpeRw3V
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra9yxV3WN0
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSRNuGX3kb
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9SBy58DXS
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnyHxYIYjJ
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWQBcdUSAu
「……你受傷了。」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIM9edTFBH
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamTzeQP0VB
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFzprvSzvE
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4n14h7tAb
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEQWWibJd8
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Uhqww7bO3
紫苑怔住。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoptbKMonl
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAFF0eMogQ
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXpkxBQVTd
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAdxRQSzMQ
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeTokdb3gO
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG87pcyIYV
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。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtMJsMocWE
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」。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE0wPZNDKH
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OLEUA1Lb3
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsG1jeJkjr
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyACnuhD8Nh
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45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EjB34nb3m
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG20i9P1Oyb
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8TGGIPZ04
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqrYRpsGul
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5E5e57rOI
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY73YmX7pnJ
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfrcJWJtee
夜幕低垂。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkjCQeRmlj
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVofwq01I6T
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnnPxGu5LD
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQcgKxg7fv
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLtW4tRbuF
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：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xjymxEl3r
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiUmQRWSSQ
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK1d52wqk2
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiod6WPAV4N
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpDdnK9Hv2
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj15slVq6Hz
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ5dm0IxFj
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyOpmmLTCn
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwHlVdLWxG
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XHDtTv6aO
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：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkugPsSeecw
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9LdtLR9aO
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqk8Q87liR
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMqQhUGdoy
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDuNQAKNpG
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySU40uxT6S
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCTAxHRIwM
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9Dwz72eN6
「……我吃。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0sNZCCNzt
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYDk802ah
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsxrWRYaiI
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFycTigbSC
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RWQm89kxv
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDYDvvi1zx
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHyd3UivL3
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXM7YFc0dj
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Ptx7Dx3q
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlALt2iK00
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxmc7Alyt5
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQJu1pEVTV
「……她在改變。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0RVZwsaOG
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgSUMXzTNc
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27WcvU08XC
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9O6Fk9lQ8
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqHTddF9ZH
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Pnkd4m2vq
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad57PcRAsa
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfMHYWcEEa
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPNxzP2T0B
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7yxFAVPkT
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjTYyk6Ac6
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98n9y7YumI
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpGAtKEBRp
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy3oOk7bSS
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP4Tr2Uwn5
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYMKD0WbWG
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXCKeskQAZ
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDSdT15jpC
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dEIphmyG5
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DXWDZOCIN
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZyJQaXuQe
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kXE58l84H
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZzbx9wEFO
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjna8JFXgN
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuwXmYNu0X
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQiYVOVJOj
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYU99sY8Na
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifov2NWnDu
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTPGlSpIQu
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgyMqbzaGi
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCdDwDSjyQ
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4s80aVIs3
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AiImXg3IO
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfpoJcfXji
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih2mqfoBCB
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF5ntghuAW
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEJG0pLUdB
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNeXt4Vnsc
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcmsRPw149
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkFxtXFQSs
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJqsTgmGZ3
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9B2ZGq3JW
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。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlEDXgcCdp
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTDK6G46NJ
他並未出聲。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrGdIClSvx
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0hfMBjAai
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fhsxE5Yxx
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhUc0kGjr8
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aP88tfs2A
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxxoqrOyjx
—45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDggg8igeT0
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptd0L5ZrwU
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hw8Qf9feP
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExD2InUazI
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdJGwBSZms
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nszLvPyfO
魔族的影子，即將現身。45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbUt3OwQcw
