This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeObSziqDw8
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1hjKHilqn
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc7GZQWBLX
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDofYNSBYcC
Nao: “What happens now?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMtANAkfL9
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdCjcs6ocR
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqloQTtVM1
!500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydcNOVaWSX
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE98QzO3ZvI
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmWCR3KFAZ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZZrR4x3pw
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhrsEoSKC0
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PQwdMYPG0
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ9qrTNvhd
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd00wXJpU4p
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx9KkdxWXa
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnQEo1IoPW
Alyson: “…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohYKOCbdcZ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv8uNJPyWF
Nao: “…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Vc9d76Wo
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQzkJAA7ON
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBUHib59ev
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48w61HJdBc
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjrKUCJtgr
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwXizWiZWE
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zLVK5uwsf
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z7XuQWPYx
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQlXeK2Igj
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWanLZT4nX2
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHXgdOlsMG
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn62GjTVgoX
Nao: “…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XGbNAb1h1
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qQg9KP7MD
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXqVkgtaFl
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNRjiZduO0
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xs8c7w1mQ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsQa0N1hUb
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenaKpeFMM8
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNSSCScrRz
Nao: “What’s with you?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0AicCL2nP
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2svQWKd9V
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1zsUDnCBy
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjxYsls7ID
Nao: “!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD1i8CrEgU
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Kig4XyTR
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw46GFE5n2
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQs3dU2LOF
Nao: “…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUr6XK9JxG
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3N1vYAIZh
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4QgGTN0jw
Tch.500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSk5rv665p
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNKHZ2OVGo
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnYWdE7JwS
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgi3i9Ka76
Alyson: “!!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7eFFMgiqj
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2e6hXesDY
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJFIyzqsfU
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tO7md6WwX
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryJRDnvECU
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRr9WKkfgA
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2yS3uJfMQ
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfUL1s5lJx
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrl4TngsIU
*Sigh*
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLLzUWRPoG
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj8EIZutOo
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpIQp4NtPu
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfmaL0LdiR
Arc?500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV764H0BiwI
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdR0QyDExN
Arc: “Yes?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtA43VfSTFe
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06CHTt0TwI
How’s my body?
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIR8utUKZND
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23oWhfgPBo
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlihzxGp6LV
*Ding*500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWDi81kvNy
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZFs9SvDXp
Points: 6500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluuqB0uslM
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKnNXh7Ded
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIp96soNPc
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiDDnijvuc
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiRqgRnwgd
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYhdKxHqT6
*Door open*
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500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ENRTZZiE7
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIa0bTUg4g
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPGlYsvYPp
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqDcsGH8u9
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfpEWxcLLg
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh4gHyAmku
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGet5xhxmS
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7UQbAtjow
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9rUuxfvYF
Nell: “You promised…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziTpGlVPua
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AdpiirZvr
Nao: “Mom I-”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6Sd1FiAhp
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDmVikbrm7
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqMU6HSnKY
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZauaNVsBG
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGjhyacopA
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a8GKFLz8H
Nao: “But-”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUjaQtej8f
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzKPF3utsi
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhsH324Mkc
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdsgvw30zr
Nao: “!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LAsPK4Dpp
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUW8V9NRft
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L07wOt9qU
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi7zkpA4Fx
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wF0M7kNky
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOEf1TJcSX
Nao: “!!”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYM3OZM3XO
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UYw88BR1c
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GJVKmAkj3
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNCiwqxV0N
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnPKmk0Y2y
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xxQGSiDYG
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gXGXIRZgu
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1uqMWhb72
What am I becoming?
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGjomPPaOd
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWas91WBE8Y
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUDU6U0HAG
W-What?
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlbuDByYfQ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbgLrUZK99
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFaWg9KjUN
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMpzAfRtho
Nao: “R-Really?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyN6IOXwt8
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDi55ZNwKX
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcshwdwEax
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYv4XdGROK
Nao: “What do you mean?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY72zjjDLD
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9kRZhzDjp
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wgA5hQqVN
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QMbR1LFF1
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2ETeMGgFD
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz8cL5GB7M
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDkattOhoU
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFkq8VSy9F
Nao: “*Nod*”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklXJHjjhaf
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1HnRGBdkl
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0NiWe4BUG
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7KZWp7EyL
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2sJ4j2abp
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRlo4EyRau
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM07VM0pIH0
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvpG1O8zVL
Nao: “Mom I…”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxTS5eBb2L
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6swIoTGbM
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXf7ituruj
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqovwaLSfR
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAYxvG1JYP
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQPpbrpuT8
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTbJNryMkR
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpjB6L6dtT
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtplu73C0G
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL7RMrqf4M
Nao: “I-”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9bJZIgFoQ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz0jk7QP7a
Nell: “Promise me.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CMHf46ogQ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8v6wUhsdZ
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprAZV24PlG
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzt4bEzJd4
Arc: “What are you doing?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzTiPeSHAR
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUul1By9VT
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uaJYYvyiW
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDBpTH4Ryf
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
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500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmfS1T40nY
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCCJzlK2l0
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf566Iq3Iz3
Nell: “O-Okay.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym2KppWLwy
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk8TbzOaiH
*Curtains close*
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy244D9uCwK
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnopLQJRr4i
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNKXbMClYZ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl50kj3AIHA
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg3xtv3vYD
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMMOwFAAY2
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzZNGBfJ1P
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7hTszzofp
Nell: “I…need some time.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVw4bbDxrp
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPSTULebLz
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvWux1W1cc
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HSiWSGlHC
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwyaetx5EM
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEf4iQrjlS
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBMI3Q3BSx
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ5VxgADJ0
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO93kTBUpB
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUSX3aEMG0
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3QMRTJB4x
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIRV1WBuTj
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13jiKHTQN6
*Ring*500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa911NlmO5d
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus4EUmsa8G
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc9RKifEAS
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSArWrmVhN
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaZictpEi7
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG3473yEbL
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyvsknom87
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtHiKVa9Dn
…Are you serious?
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqMvkDpSaK
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuXcqbaiqi
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoVR2QbU4G
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesASW6LyLF
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwgeeFcTdk
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGJ3nd73xX
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1jDN5ebUj
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ctCgsuvar
Nao: “Happy to help
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgTIkJX0NQ
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S5YCqyA7R
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNe9yPuibg
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmez8pNIUb
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSydDMPtPpe
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlFeku431s
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwkeHTTe3j
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMdA0w9RcN
Nao: “…Same.”
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500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMvo7f3c8A
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriCsn6KInw
500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c4ad6gY61
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.500Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJzczNPnBS
