──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnpuOAQeNY
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24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21T5ZchmBL
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2NV9ssQfq
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcVhpfIt75
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1HLLwrFXh
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhpJxPd4uu
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──
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yY2GXlgUZ
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8fitEtXPb
—
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiCm91oVi6
「紫苑──！」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqzLnuIgNT
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjHAu4bdnr
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kR0GZjwom
她沒有喊救命。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqtTUgD1sU
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ptx7zNnq2
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCDR727Awr
—
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PuAAr3xUf
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwp21UR3a8
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapzNvHiPUI
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24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PETeIuTvr
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtx7MpaO1P
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24fwdAcIhp
「……你受傷了。」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mNoVbRVEH
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm6O8FRsai
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlzg2WuphV
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYbeWjnM5t
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt4XZfzFKX
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdgXv79qco
紫苑怔住。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HRMJjpkhU
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLduLYpcsk
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02zJw5jW2T
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTXiJ7JI34
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24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0HQb5jfN4
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagEg8xIdYT
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。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsnwNjB0Yj
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」。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ywOtcMXR3
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24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgpHV0r7zM
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2qC0maMSp
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPxNtZZCnd
—
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKIB8VbxDL
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJrQ8xlS95
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr8ViI4UXA
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqMDM8GA1U
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoO3CLN8wQ
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWgMTDx6SF
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclbRvwuHWW
夜幕低垂。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21jjKbSbQR
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqk72lrW5a
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPeneZfhoi
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmIZQd6TbZ
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2anzV0k52
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：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzoTZ2D2SZ
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzuFbEjMqt
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUTVyhRVLr
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9t7tdv8Y1
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenYdvWPkvS
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a4gp6oDzl
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThGDvJAXiU
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyOufaNMuN
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG31h2mEQyL
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjl5kgg5nW
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：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdg8RDmsyY
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jA2S6878a
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdTQaxmVgt
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvQE0jfi6I
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXxzQV5nxB
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzZDqSfZg7
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg3CXbOhEm
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuDZEbhdvq
「……我吃。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBL8C1nw42
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK11IgSIZ48
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N3Gibx1zB
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjgCVaAXf7
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKYqglwkdl
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCmTC9rpKy
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52a6k2jqAc
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5gfPd6WDZ
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP91RfPe7jy
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD8nTqOCKS
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x55H4D1EL
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNy7UNp5Z8
「……她在改變。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxXJOA47f5
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBky6SZpLD
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCPkNDcDqm
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1okUzEXFfx
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHzbxQZmV3
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNrBbYAdnN
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS7g6w5QXw
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjAQnAGqOw
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQymo7GnOm8
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBvfmp4fSk
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zE3Q5IIMI
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig5QBzwAL5
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmjx23O8KI
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxnyBlWeCb
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2dwViXprk
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKPY7fE62O
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLheWxkXgz
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DXC7fk5yy
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7KnIVAwrH
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQabjPvPiem
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXov1CR52v
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYEcgfWCRF
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kQyWAFtoz
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOagUCwuRU
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpMmhv5T2G
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcv9InEuV9
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTarWwT9o3I
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1zu6rYd65
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ295B8lAwU9
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UuJgDZg7i
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyzJipr6uW
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnVy7AIhkm
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TYEnnscvP
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKg5ewTmso
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRlt6R8sGW
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrxi0JHbUT
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0urd1Z9ii
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpYtitG6Wb
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBoB3y6Wf7
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x52scc5Kz
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt42OZZmaY
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXSMoV82DR
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。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuECSZV9Dio
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMgghvbZse
他並未出聲。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd76E45LEWv
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGmkohkNNw
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAnHZWHRO4
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXAT17VuXj
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux9vF5bKf0
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYMFmQhNaB
—24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q5enqgwRr
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATgGXZnnqy
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMRu7nVaz9
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfWCrstTpT
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuRolEGQJF
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9igc4gdZ8Q
魔族的影子，即將現身。24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjb9Tw8uMg
