──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKsG1x70et
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaGicSA6Kc
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBXsDENXcZ
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbApAszzW6s
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4gfi1eJgw
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35TXd4YiBE
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──
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLsdOblbCF
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAAorcD8m5
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7UZOSnwMi
「紫苑──！」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBuOEyepBe
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK6PyOrwPL
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNCZXpzLd2
她沒有喊救命。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy1kZgxxu3
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpMFfhCVdM
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Vv4DZFzn
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwFB00FAxE
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiKQeVPwbp
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALU8OsQVAc
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S6G3fsL21
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLH8FjqqRD
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW7p871RE9
「……你受傷了。」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL6oqoNRRA
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRnPwVGWp1
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWNysukI4a
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Mmf46lEA
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd5OM95n6s
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqrHh8sPTw
紫苑怔住。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFZglO5YK2
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEcAtdtq7R
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMPSlZvA1E
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ruqVpVTHo
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4grCVQ4ULr
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2wpsZnFJS
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。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfA4hKGVHT
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」。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1Os6VVKOm
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkWLaa9fEt
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAoY3XgPV9
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDEZ1p8Tyh
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28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LKuXwK6z2
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyMdNVUH7j
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcSPPu2AJs
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HB9PuXXSi
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryTXNfsjYc
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1DUr2w5Cf
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4TX2EpdlU
夜幕低垂。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x2K6whWqF
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoOVC2tX75
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOquJq2IjOH
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6leAPpgnjj
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs89IsYE8ym
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：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT53COCv31
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy8Sue7xj9
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpC3KwlQfU
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNikXxPi3Ob
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPMCT85K2A
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1y9bXgj1L
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYnq1FBnAi
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhSulggDkq
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopaJQJ7OA7
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzHlGqQUor
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：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzWaZ5jGsX
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW0xiBeoaD
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPzD4EW3zF
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxUGUo0QDf
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeadgLqhlaN
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTqkJw1J4g
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PCp9QqA6y
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYMc7BjakJ
「……我吃。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hSa4c1wvn
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkzXUKCqYI
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dlx7gUIPm
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllSuiymy0M
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXrAUKjrAv
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU757ZaossF
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevudkYyTbq
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNcSArcV7M
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmhD9fIduN
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8hDO8Csek
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IyZET4b4d
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVrXleC51Y
「……她在改變。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlQrLGrJcE
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYPPiFw7LC
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhfIXlEWfq
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw38QF8zyQ
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwTpAKKnjb
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGKaO8eycF
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyufmKEKbjP
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1j4uReuPe
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4xet6sJ3h
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8NFhinFaL
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBfcFLQcv5
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDnz8MoiYN
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvbFwZDwaZ
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRvXDKaEBU
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13UQwsoNMo
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHld4YMK81
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6em2t1vG5O
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHVydobzGL
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1jf3JNOOJ
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhllHxHOnq3
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYfQvvdhrM
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4hH2AXYzP
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj9uUG8YFT
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZyoIVUuWX
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bqtZmWI3Q
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf6rYtp2A5
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcxaGAaL0h
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq4qmez6PI
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcVcbKeFFN
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2iAludF04
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmmjvM6hB6
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIeCEokbuV
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyiVSWlYR5
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQzEvTCqcE
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSnpc6h7UM
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9r4tlwY6D
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCA3G186Ch
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13Jlt0h259
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3VcIQE7WM
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvOXTDoCFv
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdg4YbQtlF
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGtGMN8psC
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。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxct1mTawvb
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixORQa0j0B
他並未出聲。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKITiRFPSVe
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfEc1dLsm8
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKznvedFzIp
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUyX24DU38
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMqpi08FMs
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv3Eo0DofL
—28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t82QZhQKL
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf2mrtwP1Y
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLgdlRh35y
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeWgaRvwlD
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8yKc65qVG
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprvxPbQh74
魔族的影子，即將現身。28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL5D9u3Raw
