──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgMTImuqYs
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfCo28JhPO
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlSHKC1sOI
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jPObObQcH
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwkq0aG8PP
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEGHGu7T3G
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──
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXyBsE3n5U
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNETYOPrHq3
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdiDQ7Ppnu
「紫苑──！」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSgCPodqsK
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPpOxwTbEk
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8hZrJQhvW
她沒有喊救命。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrReTz7YOYZ
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqi7S6Ef55
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym3qKja3s3
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcgbJA86H3
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CTYRh5aNm
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV1uahhCLX
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrgN0CKwoS
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk7EeRAYki
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUteYCyFalY
「……你受傷了。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E5BX3Dkd4
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvdtB8reQD
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJd3QuXAus
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNECBFAUOMJ
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YrTUaab0y
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTANRQTDHJZ
紫苑怔住。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PXspNt94p
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReTt5aBpsb
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzewPvGnnJ
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32cGRb1ZGG
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum09lftWZT
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjjAx68M9M
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。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iNhDGlJgv
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」。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lPvtK9wLc
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8nBqwF90p
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZJXM5nYCP
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ521N3JFjeh
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42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAHeBNj5uz
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqwGawR1OZ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL71pbJ61Cs
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtEdZk1KsW
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcSMPknJxU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQJcEda8IE
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei1VrMOugR
夜幕低垂。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rLiocYjEh
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeMug2MFVW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPVpawXvql
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjWDo19qiY
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7KcfhxHwP
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：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy3daDdElr
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxYywwHrIO
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE94Pcgo06
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe65w1G9YY4
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUlCims0aV
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfERZiBnyV1
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9qGSJoQ04
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nM5JfS59R
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdmWAYwUdX
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0917TAPQCg
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：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutFJM1N3K4
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zIBa7AJwh
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT0S03KC9d
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp2L3u9Jr3
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaRCKxGJnx
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoUYK6tIV0
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsJQK2Sb8V
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF9NhlJo74
「……我吃。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7XkekQXQ1
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLzmsxyw5F
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX7rXHkAG7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfQ5SROUtA
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpm8jfCRk9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56NBgkTe8K
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5xep1ZEvt
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAY8veqfAt
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jeQNM9J9n
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi31ieuIyBV
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUEtkNQ3f7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16vm8vK0yM
「……她在改變。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSsNe6pJ5A
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfAjw4WlGU
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGguEwtFLCB
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVMOFjAVDk
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ltE4PuvcR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzML86sy44G
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pSN2RwhDQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcY7bmenqB
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2weWV4Wxz
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAvAmQCTdt
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9yNQp5UtR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaSWPYfrfr
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6ShrmPA25
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5d83Ll12i
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO22Zm4ETw
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ0uST7kHo
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVPMS352cL
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyqa4ONbJ8
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5WHsCIjbe
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqqk3xmqYI
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW81F598u6
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rAw5K3cAm
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcui9l2ygv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8olgUpa3F
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbegL63riO8
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk02LRm8dl
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GpifbsI4O
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUHICUrU3v
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFk1Husqxz
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw3rfTaZcj
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPbJjcMs8i
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5QPSZGK19
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTaRHzVNle
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4GerB2mvr
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2PhfodMF5
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw29sBkQbd
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6t91heIkU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTEgyOPyE8
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ElaAylGHd
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB8FIqK0cM
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT1gvSp1dj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCjJQaybam
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。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwhIBxKyWL
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySNYIxuY8u
他並未出聲。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vsNg7Z4jI
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymKmUJPwAi
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22G4jlBht7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdshBTgkYHX
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H20U8tBE6
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1AmZxpDrs
—42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDwLREd5V3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3Ldyrc2Lp
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV4fuEgC0M
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AkpLVrWBZ
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylbXc07GFW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQI9inkVGp
魔族的影子，即將現身。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzpJFtxqmw
