She felt the Shadow's presence before it appeared.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U3RUn9Feh
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡReStxbyXZ7
Hello, again.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6j6Giegg2
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn8sbOsKGH
Morganthe smiles. It came back after all.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFCWrLqVOK
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZHP5J5xsY
"Your voice has gotten better."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk5uCLTyfM
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzxKh9GSvH
The Fragment nods back at her. I've been practicing.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRTN6iqagH
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TNSzd9bo3
There's a long silence.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLK1o2KfON
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡowRZtW9R3R
"So you don't smile?" She asks it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPyHTGA9MS
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JRxbSC0SA
I've only ever seen the Spirit do it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQKpOWgQvH
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5JULCwcKJ
"Nothing makes you happy?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTicKaNxx7a
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kkYA31Awq
I am bored and I am curious, not exactly happy.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR31ZYsO43l
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjwfgmCMQK
Morganthe sighs and flips through her textbook idly. "So what do you do?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YIhfJQzsE
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvuTBmxNzc
The Fragment was sitting on her desk this time, while she lay on her bed. It was just after her class, and she felt dead inside.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfFcToFuRe
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYx6A6FEkN
Listen to stories and sit alone. The Fragment replies simply.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUFx3g54jW
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYXiIjHKdz
Morganthe grins slightly. "Kind of like me. Without the stories. I'm just alone."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k9VvsIonj
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsS2acRoDH
Well, It hums, I hear the stories because I'm the youngest.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnYLZSSlrk
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYHsDexcoK
"You are?" She asks, looking up from the paper.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrivQ6t2cPv
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49EtYkRkCV
I don't know what the Spiral was like before the Great War. Only after, and even then. But nothing makes me happy.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVSJMaNKXE
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN9rgxMjff
"What about when you're here?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9BXRVXbKo
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWJmMR3zoH
The Fragment closes its eyes and remains still. Its scar pulses with a soft red glow that lit up its dark face.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT8ut8qkaV
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡuktErFEB5G
I feel safe here. Away from my siblings.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5AkOldoBl
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Dy8TunBW
"You don't like them?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KdqIxqrqM
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHIptkquzT
Not particularly, no.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUIGW3cCT7
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVx7HjtYyw
Morganthe sits up and closes her textbook, setting it aside on the bed.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB40vVrxBY
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vIt8QiLbG
"I don't have any siblings."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcsbahZP3U
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6vXfmKCzL
The Fragment grins, still a little awkwardly. Be glad.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QOyh8ghdT
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡov75SGfFxD
Morganthe was back to hugging her knees when the Shadow reappeared.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs72eiDuniz
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0XpMvRtW9
What are you doing? It asks as it emerges from the darkness, red eyes gleaming with curiosity.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSO0uQRvb8
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY1SibkRHW
"Thinking." Morganthe whispers, her voice choked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7wxFmdKOD
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡavDRWvG7zw
About?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnCPlHN1U5
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1Gr02x0Ap
She lowers her head, hiding her face from the Fragment. "Just go away."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZILnz7hasB
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR8prJogmw
It knew something was wrong. It just didn't know what it was.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8kxwFZW8x
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzXrQFe9fx
No. It replies. Morganthe shifts her position to turn away from the Fragment.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnD9fbJCiO
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsS3Nyiovg
"I don't want to talk today." She says, voice muffled.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo97XVhZSXp
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6oZUWTVYn
What happened?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO8Azm7xMB
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgabRzPO5K
There's a long silence.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaXDg9vFSP
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡypTQwRrrWc
"My parents called..." Morganthe sniffs. "They... They..." She trails off, breathing heavily to keep herself under control.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhojIKbQN2T
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ECkX09WBE
It walks to her bedside and sits down next to her. It wasn't sure what it was doing, really. It just felt... right for it to do. Besides...125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCm5BaE7xo
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEZTjM6YJr
I would say you're not the only one upset right now, but I don't know what to feel myself.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEudYkPIKuN
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMwnbSu77m
Morganthe looks up, her cheeks wet. "W-What?"125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OiTgmu2v5
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5mQTch9YT
The Fragment stares down at the floor.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssf8TTgwtO
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYHNKB4lhw
I don't know. You say 'happy' and 'sad', and you feel it. Yet all I ever feel is a sort of emptiness. Like I'm not whole, still searching. It laces its fingers together and shakes its head. I just needed to get away from the others for a time. To think. And to talk.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38wvasa0zJ
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39KPSpCXkR
"You've been only one visiting me now." Morganthe says, fighting to keep her voice even. This was the Shadow's third visit to her dorm, after all.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXo0sx5E1Q
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1NhjkAcLv
It's because of me they think you're uninteresting now. The Fragment admits calmly.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8TydyfAXQ
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8aWRD7W0F
"Oh..."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx76E0Ssz3Q
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcNZF149vq
Tears begin to well up again in her eyes.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1oGlHROBX
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8tFzWUGHa
Now, will you tell me what you're thinking about?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBXlTpdc3S
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8tYb7djPo
Morganthe turns away from the Shadow again and takes a deep breath. "My parents are threatening to cancel my tuition if I don't switch studies soon."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZRHqtcP1k
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04y2la2TyH
Is that bad?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnI1wEFl5yU
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEbfhpuckx
"I don't have a job right now, so... yes." The end comes out strained, quiet. She herself didn't want to believe it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZf7V0lM7c
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBkuOBtuvz
The Fragment lets out a small hum. You'll think of something.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TxMxSlQGu
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMzelLxtwz
Morganthe shakes her head. "I don't know anymore..."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcKoZVF1mm
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01BMg6zOGa
Back to your studies, I see.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WplSqpj9D
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGtVZU3pD6
Morganthe sighs and looks up from her textbook. The Fragment was standing next to her desk, peering over her shoulder as she read.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2COu8OJ66
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTBwDKVDth
"There's no point in stopping now," She replies, turning back to the page her fingers were pressed on. "Please, I have a test coming up, and I want to be ready for it."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NOO8y0Yhz
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0Zi9hIS31
Do you need any help?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF41Ypsj71
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9hcIjNt0s
"No, thank you."125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCumJnWAuFG
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH8UqPoa52
And you're not just saying this to get me to leave, right?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMVRM0yKJh
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JOKLLf31y
Morganthe stalls, fingers pressing down hard on her textbook.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOnpGAotNY
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0OEhiU7D2
I understand. She hears the Fragment sigh. I'll go.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJQZKzAxbj
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡykhUCKteFd
She wished she had stopped it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4qbEOotVB
copyright protection121ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyR2f6gTaT
