──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNUKKQ7I3c
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiwQS4sAig
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO9k7SPDdO
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKhEQ5edYE
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqVBYThlwx
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0qoEBtZbR
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──
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPZKop8zhh
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqwoAy2Hwx
—
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuy3E8fZDH
「紫苑──！」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UKZ1yWxd2
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmVk47z8c0
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFg1R5MEvc
她沒有喊救命。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGjKumBZxv
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl73QvA6g4o
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bf7ZS3sFM
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Yj6LMSbp
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0KiBS4cOe
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndAJVcwvAk
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckJAWjRTJt
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChrSBqjnlb
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrE8OvYpWo
「……你受傷了。」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Qh5JtplS
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8EHSHAzj9
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55QBjIRzvD
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FiKenMRFY
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQtHufvnxi
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXHF3g24nD
紫苑怔住。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESafXd51OG
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPJz8n1yCJ
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCGYN5q89H
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH4fAE7Ivb
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurAJljIPR8
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMGU1vvdmk
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。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ4ueyPVs8
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」。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A6kAQxkk7
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bOTivmyTg
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE4nvCwchj
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTdpCaIlbz
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16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGwexAMEBm
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XATYEUDRW
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfcJMAuoog
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6J6ZRctjM
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFbTDYdqQj
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aiKz4Z0qI
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZSCZ8T3CO
夜幕低垂。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeViJd62hGM
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpoH1ZZoHx
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyDddY7lT6
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0103imf6UX
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLArwhBLVTe
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：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAHbbF9A6g
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24SCSeksPA
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLZDI0aduO
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmwPctVdIE
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQDqhr4nXu
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT60yWDrDd
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr5M4LWuRv
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm66iROON9T
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxt94ls8W7
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeRad8FRMs
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：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FhZOwdCK2
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3h5QFfXxl
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgn9PRCFxy
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobcdGcaWE5
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPtqzp6nj4
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumk0WIT8Wl
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUqQKqAF02
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5hH02JlNw
「……我吃。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu020LGzdp
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Y2Y79AyD
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qNNmLL5h4
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Kp8JE3mi
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uWCPVPWUK
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf9T5jPW6E
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYsYh6qy8V
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy07wqHYcGG
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiTvqfYFNq
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mMwbeXrWE
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV2Ps9ZCME
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3k1gvzoPj
「……她在改變。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FNIgdqSsh
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzyCrtzXe0
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF1XTpEsD2
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHuxee0Euq
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMescWarQ1N
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCHGQ63EuX
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw2q5F9q9L
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3e9KTYiiQ
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqLgskPa8m
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY1ad2y8ET
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kabB0dTb0
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xTNvBczCq
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgV5fgksZz
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXFZQHf3Jg
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGQahunVMM
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI19KSH0dt
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUgOI8DMwN
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZeoP0ntgF
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl929HGgUT
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50e1cxxqid
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKWtaC1bRL
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cr0UCIjrs
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl90NQBnTQ
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxZqOTBf8B
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtjXGWeHXn
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQVQ9st9KF
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBT04xR1pc
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wQwgyqgtj
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEW4ixELrR
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40sEquQciS
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2szgdbk4J
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JAj02mMpp
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RaEb7GOxt
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJlGikxs8Y
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBOzkcr2c8
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg91EmRk7ey
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq5pyPWF7U
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnkzlKZdH1
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpLU0Pzjr8
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QhuHxlsdo
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BdjSVla3J
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwsp0ux2b6
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。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN5WW920iv
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2Hk7vAU8O
他並未出聲。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydiwDJVkhG
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhw8pfOT0Y
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsogP68fxW
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6mgfamKD5
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEjpawMrW3
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaZL8kJBXR
—16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7AM3MABci
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkgYWG0kmu
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQKFm5EOMx
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6DD3tE1Vq
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlmoezEGqa
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB9sAUqFTA
魔族的影子，即將現身。16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GGfb17ri3
