──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s8lio7MxZ
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D3B6PitEX
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvC0lVs45G
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOCo7PKe4D
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yAktOov3D
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoXKoczVGx
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──
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH4xxdgpcf
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXl11krWbg
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK8vOhMxat
「紫苑──！」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa98TyN6zZD
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqwbaNch3g
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN7lQ530cj
她沒有喊救命。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hETyo8wwA
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoojjd6Uo81
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KP5LI2Lnr
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTeoMKkwgQ
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNjyg8VQL3
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOpd2lco35
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPNhsMnPR3
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHYB8LSYqD
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTgqExFHqG
「……你受傷了。」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh2cXjhoM9
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw5OrOi4WL
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc5DVkjQjw
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvMReoKcXb
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYswqjmKCF5
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2OqbJTubd
紫苑怔住。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05z1VkPz0t
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8AQnKBCYF
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5mkbFuCRk
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPHPPZlr5b
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVPE5EoySe
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SSIEnupdU
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。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiFH0maACE
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」。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB4WpsMJWj
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecJMkKQ1Pn
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AarKjTcPp
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw8sQURq87
—
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFptBye2Byf
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijDZGH7XW5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy99e2oDGR
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBukWu1X8t
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmtFD3hrnU
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2BZW0gvhi
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBetG7IQP2
夜幕低垂。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVxEGgzuW3
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOOlw5gUIl
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqQFJU33uA
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKCHWdnMbP
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx1LwsJbQl
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：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBnoXAZY41
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8STdcxPoK
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI8bJsVm6n
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5v3UAKoDu
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ81R775cpI
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6hd3IPH12
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugWhyINwLl
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwBe3oppV3
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V0fNKZw1L
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ96JkNIIXf
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：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzefJnLPXs2
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK3EUD8pvK
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdEu7GvazR
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GJAIwvRay
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OXQjq8zoJ
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IiXPCjDrx
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qOiN4eqDd
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW9QsY9DtQ
「……我吃。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQQrHVwH94
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS1mwxkK8m
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiy7jUu8Al
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPbXEW9b27
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaHdH6qIGf
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEDKpHcwJu
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L0XxZrp0R
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BkBM8D6tx
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHltj34OIq5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8STxtAxsnG
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWgWcSEmSu
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkI2DL2AAE
「……她在改變。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1XSQnrNXT
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz92wXDk2A
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2D1Pk9B4j
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuTxyYMqHs
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE4gNdiBPw
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMDiZ5E0oW
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemTDi9ARtP
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EvtFPbc7L
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3jXPCSAP5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Zc5yU8cYg
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEY3k4Fb0t
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewPFw22SiF
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuiun0Oe9b
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg1bSs5mlE
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4pA6fVYFi
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgdOo7yLLy
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqVLKggNIH
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9xZWhHqzz
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvogo1HJED
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN6ZdI2XLE
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhmFldexO4
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFqAjjyq7Y
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zvB6oroLL
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNMx1q1ddg
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN1MSJ0P7u
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56Pq0t6MLY
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptvayvjIbG
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gsDnbyD48
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4mbNcOWvC
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7jE18piAn
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEENLAw0r9o
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxYh2kj6oE
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ7x8ERf0w
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuUKlVTxV9
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYtZv5As6Z
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWbtjf8JBK
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhZPRb0lKy
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0nF7FLJef
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmsbF6eYw8
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYFQZmcy0J
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gUfMGwejH
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooh2JScmgi
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。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjdXYk4sFj
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyZjTPjWGw
他並未出聲。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzZvgs5Fpt
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw3UJ3y8hz
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezghNGTt3Q
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNQrtSAbx2
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkAS5DAw2A
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBba2QCnB5
—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQa3jLXdld
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMaHBEzSbA
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63hbeZpcXu
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryXZiJoizl
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2MLtX6Ily
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeCPrlQf6I
魔族的影子，即將現身。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNScR5T4ID
