──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6FpWCplUC
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNHrlezvdy
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgu0aJukYU
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0U1GB2DT7
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0ZL5GVYrq
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35QtV0DRM9
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──
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uqhVDPMyC
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqbIUhzqn9
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD6DktepxJ
「紫苑──！」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuJoWi5TKb
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EWXDdBAnk
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcldOKntLYT
她沒有喊救命。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPkPuorbyD
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhiJL8Xz9J
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qLiTdGWTi
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtxV8Cte01
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFthUBjpaK
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wHQClai2F
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJBeEjJ4dV
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB8oF9jGl7
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXXXj17aIa
「……你受傷了。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NR6Vfs1mX
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0hPK8yH3o
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFEoNUlnXC
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZwc3ODVKX
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Dg2s84nm
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xAKxfLU1s
紫苑怔住。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CubNm3j0E
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9zPKSvWw5
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEw2cOfrbA
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUmbS0gUvm
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoFrD2OGHt
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUeKAw8HsY
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyuXeMJnqD
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」。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCTzkx8cfk
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueorrTWrln
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFhjay6umc
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmPjCwLETG
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUcryXzcI2
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOHdCgcjsU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2JwRz7BF3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL2Lt2oYaL
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tLtViBbGs
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzE6A3UMEG
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoss2CByecR
夜幕低垂。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsg5J0iLo8
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWhD1GT4By
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8wmmWs02c
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUsuFaksiy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagF3sjuZfj
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：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz5bxyU4so
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms764t1sU0
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QHKbuOvj3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPnehMqydu
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFeeAfqUvk
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuUGRImXCD
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljFhIxzYCj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuPgmoumUT
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2KF52IPrO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMbxK9zpvL
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：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7SOOasNkJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMHwlYLOx0
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujrn12N12y
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyl5DJN4T2
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFSf4K9w8u
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jwd4CtBHK
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5DPWWF5ee
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidxPSDTVOZ
「……我吃。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC2tMcNZhS
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDCyUIbXcT
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq6PzwQxsk
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWe768i3ec
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXJuOQ6w2q
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWfhzZA5AH
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeNqeQKpYM
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnr39CzeAf
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGZKFvTSNf
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs2d1zlya1
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyYps6sa3y
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskfCWlmtBF
「……她在改變。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJynP6tCTG
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla7siv7xdM
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tnBJCLWF3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4uBb7REkB
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2rczbQbY4
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3fSj7qva3
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2mqQMRaiy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3oepwv3ga
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLIFAYqEV7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCQYjNhwza
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJubT7jUmBO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznERmidQcY
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACt0m4Vgxu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Rj0SMidM
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVBs5iNLgU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8WP1z2j1I
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsDvqudASy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszQcovs7px
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1NfcAfjCv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOETFBvAh8H
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtn2D90AEZi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebNxJVsmF6
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX1tqrhaaN
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xuOoMVSY3
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAq6U18FkB
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DgAMI0ADV
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsvtAVcaiv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡromMVM9E4N
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSDGAvJ9wd
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr8rT7foHc
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGbSfZBIbW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL2QGJcFd8
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtBtYXBJFj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHumUBgjG4P
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhuMHaVptQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WHwN1NxXc
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFzEsrwub1
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW57ZskFT7
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoNsW8n8aS
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqLW7Q4iXv
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfiz6qfRt0
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iYDbrZv43
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCjEcjVP1n
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpy72cbDp4
他並未出聲。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tXKlbeD9B
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM8AlFE0Hw
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYYKfChdgP
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wj9L4F46G
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcPStkSq2O
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj8expYB41
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNOdIPOH8H
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX5QuLNcTu
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDoxIExhun
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQlmQ0rGa8
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ01J4iqLkP
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzLNcTl4hI
魔族的影子，即將現身。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAo8aMvp8V
