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.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFMQVVZABm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyvIfsuN84
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SuK9BOJD7
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuQbg5q5N8
Nao: “What happens now?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XECHZHU8m
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWEAhhNJxT
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuQ3KQUykO
!358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJz376Wgjg
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwnYlLC4n3
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8wMKy1rOZ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjmUW3cudt
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfd4bzBdIx
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKJxAxgoGz
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJhpD9DLiZ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCau7YOGpNF
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDO7ZTxdfN
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh824MI3TMQ
Alyson: “…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDJDV1e9X3
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Nao: “…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28peOeBbk9
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV4NUetLHA
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37NzbIdzmk
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGmEfZa0Oa
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldepPSk0nk
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTCOsVSjNJ
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DJlj5DvZb
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw3qUX7FkI
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6F6ByzThC
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IQEg9F7Zv
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGFrDsO9bG
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMA1J17dac
Nao: “…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHqsReKXUu
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq4SCKA8li
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-”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ASmsZOOQc
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPogTLMgpu
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSx1k3SANa
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GGlbDTKI8
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXGWXtWt0z
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTUGIZKFGM
Nao: “What’s with you?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0q6nKpg5o
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiESEryiTqM
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoinbe9Tkz
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Nao: “!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqTcSjcwql
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatIWzpMMZw
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPaQwiqlkE
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3jRH1aN71
Nao: “…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld4QXWMD5g
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNaR08eHZ4
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lDbLvFLJz
Tch.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujsGp4eo4A
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VXDSyqTO0
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1k6Y4AYw4
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs1IyD23WO
Alyson: “!!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpSvl6O7AO
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVRlLUXGrG
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.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ioaiqXDEW
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRt3YyT2jN
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHspvadaQC
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmJmUgNlph
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Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXj21CnKUL
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*Sigh*
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CX7KdDV25
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Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgZABi7QA1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWNxBiDnFY
Arc?358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWJ4WjjE9L
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt1cduiuod
Arc: “Yes?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpVgGAE6UB
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MXDcx7468
How’s my body?
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVMGr4B99E
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmJqZFqhfP
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSaxufUziJ
*Ding*358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKtOg05PjO
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjvmiZ7tYN
Points: 6358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lO1J8ZPCm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC0ughdesx
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokbmtkqTdo
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCtPcqE3GN
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsHz4UprSm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpln3ozlXMJ
*Door open*
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358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OpHi0cu43
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?
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczcnzZp9pt
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF1wH3sZKx
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyuCdzMP3T
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz83Zpda1c
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6jzrHxlOJ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOMZDmf34o
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlAwo2scQL
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkRBCp9bR0
Nell: “You promised…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAnMD4CO1A
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSPfKP7j0g
Nao: “Mom I-”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS2XtVXrYX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUGP9pQ2wv
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmyTgBLQ3F
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAN1eQIpyc
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5hQGmtTGT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXphyEMPnY2
Nao: “But-”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDZvZ2XYpw
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNapEbkDUh
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQGeKoS3OU
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEPHrlrt3P
Nao: “!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFWbYklcsY
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03XzuNBwBR
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1DMTis0fT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd0rL7QS6D
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejtnhwewqh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dQpFUIdY1
Nao: “!!”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIzGC0NBQI
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrfPbWRDDd
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.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu9ITn8mrV
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0StXNue3Yf
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24EuuIGkXu
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk78OXEzmO
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW73CVOv0D0
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA48zvgmxyq
What am I becoming?
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOUo3wbhod
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2NMzd5din
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg5TAzvlSR
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVvWmGbFcG
W-What?
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJRRpKmhH6
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7mXv6Kq5U
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rw34m2hN3
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVZ773wqqj
Nao: “R-Really?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcObbFsqs3
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwP7q70DIs
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcJh0ewvrm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaWEG5MsXi
Nao: “What do you mean?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL97TLv3RIe
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCylWT0U9d
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.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO3X6RSZez
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6aC82vJj3
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.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGsTZo0yDD
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq27QECZp4
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYN8EH43rr
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9IaLhTile
Nao: “*Nod*”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9N34D2T45
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWrvyOICyG
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZQkk5ZLBm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM2zBSYbTk
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwnALoRJhE
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPcrygTWYm
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe5WgMwOA6
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjZR0U99IO
Nao: “Mom I…”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVFJ68xXlh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN4SRYorh3
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp9E1eNDhj
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzS16iGxL3
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmDKtC4Y6o
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9BlBne8p2
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WcD2IUyb0
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2Y3QAhysI
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfQ1Pu0pA1
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBvPQCWRoV
Nao: “I-”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFpAJJMSAJ
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9V7dv7Esa
Nell: “Promise me.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW95nyC0cwv
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbat5LmC0y
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6kBadFZGC
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTL91NusNn
Arc: “What are you doing?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnSiSUSzrM
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ayrLBQa3c
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyn4jBYs80
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmyf6XPzw8
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzif22viKw
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnWbxd2VnC
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN1MlYrvgG
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2xcEUaB5L
Nell: “O-Okay.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkrXwdkiAA
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB97q9P8BY
*Curtains close*
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuihT7jsvm
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvz6O7gaEE
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZoll2oajk
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAPAZkSkm9
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyREngPsdO
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqUfAW0w1d
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm65MacT3x
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYzuMma8UE
Nell: “I…need some time.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSBMs6bend
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0O3Yf5zAJ
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3A8rO2OeD
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C9T2Uj1FB
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o3G96y2RW
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QueQFvmt2
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM9ZDm33tK
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6gjHudW4T
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAREn6xvW45
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCOfymDQFp
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ2hPc5OBy
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62mg2Mw85
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5U4MZQ83M
*Ring*358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA80At8Ymrh
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TxiSZkoRl
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.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3YdfjaxUT
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzi6SVFBeo
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dnb7medXL
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoE6S8nXty
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fmmUswbCD
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BKOqS0TbT
…Are you serious?
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGMq610axo
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsempCPEWk
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYokWep4fR
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQmkBeDUk1
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS0dmdapWP
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9iKSlVQCY
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCgQ3PFYfR
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OrOiTbPdU
Nao: “Happy to help
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QysROMTgp
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwkW9JKj3u
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRSE9N0RDX
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUPRQXwJfW
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjd9Zv9SIHe
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMEuYkuchd
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjcpOQXYAw
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDKKcnxtId
Nao: “…Same.”
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhAGQotpLu
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Otumqlm9
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjpw9gyzLe
358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMEQ2kKrPu
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.358Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoTVklwONS
