──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyeZSrHwdR
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXKoakhBE8
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcGkQXKAkF
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8aK7NbPQc
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN4p6cKez2
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOrerqXHW5
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──
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEH038eW95
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwixK5T2Bqy
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ylqHhjEa
「紫苑──！」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6Y8ShsSEY
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ175gSkx2ZF
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcCCDvhKlq
她沒有喊救命。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvvcpSV5vF
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQeHe2hmcN
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUMZFINzJM
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWqj3WIEUK
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeLPURZnS6
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3arWmg16j
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv8v9zV5AZ
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaccDdLJ85D
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAeowYMZwH
「……你受傷了。」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jak1t66UW
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxhH0KzlSg
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1GsgPVTE2
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELTntSBOfS
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaFu3WocgR
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFBUbQVXkR
紫苑怔住。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDskcvKeiw
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVB5DTMKh5
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxYKtFGh6J
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9N2ShA41H
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y5PllXDiO
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOuxlCW6DT
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFPduerFiC
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」。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BVSh9dKkC
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8KX6MU0BS
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68FtQQSLFo
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa41R6WfLR
—
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnW2J8s4dW
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpraTSc2saw
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HsGIw9bXD
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvva9zIsZ6
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyoQmr3m0E
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSMa63z9jF
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHWL3xbbCC
夜幕低垂。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQNdr69R1J
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYtu3nrWGx
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFewj5KfgCx
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp51KNNbMOf
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwqiXHCc5H
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：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ3MK8lKGa
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9pUtYsGVr
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj0Kb3gSWz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmCPM8yROa
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dMyGPKzpv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4sFTy8pVj
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErFWHKGzcP
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ560m6pygPv
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o53ibdYE5
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IcQzyjfTZ
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：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QJSAQKGoc
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvTfhF1vTW
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHPaXCWMtv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocorwjSpA4
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBar2AOauVz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2tHnJWrS5
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbBK63k0sy
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7tYDw8skM
「……我吃。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5x4z1C7AN
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Symt6Y4i
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcZEPcvjlb
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAt08tx8PE
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rCJmdo78b
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIosBvnQwJ
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwMyx6EzW8
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYjb1WCWp0
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPr68o51Zz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4G5AW1Cac
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGBvGgE39D
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLKyX9YkQh
「……她在改變。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh41hYp8HrI
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhRVyQHLwf
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VD9jVEEly
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡProVCncLDQ
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e5vPOexcH
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FM0KYNnxg
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76pzGMVT3R
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hfr0jxPFR
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCu7VrVemZ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvVZSGUrpr
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2feDEz1V10
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOAjtvr16O
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN2wTkYLL0
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae80OgYWcB
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM68CHxwsSh
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmdx6pzYjC
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVey3uN89sw
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0x7ql6Tl3
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X5Cz1hnyZ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxiHlPruRN
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRewV5Qutz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30L4NqcEQB
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy5zW4rZd8
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4RtLhRug3
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb5O3ntXYt
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnaNcNm9yk
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSURGjbLyQ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfF0UIARCy
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnggFcowQu
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNaQQzLNdE
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimHG06Ga1l
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzpCh19W2i
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6aNS16ERf
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeQ2rou44X
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPki2Dr0Whm
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVV1Ul6L86
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDP3c5riqc
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkap3hNBhE
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4M5lKpqT2
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoTajaP6O8
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01gJ5Yqk0o
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qsqpkmfwp
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDiGKpXsaD
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA64BePPpk
他並未出聲。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRx7pWVtzO
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAALKmhj0r
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNeh45CuzI
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uxELf19Y1
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVl2mCXUGr
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuskh5sFTJ
—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JRF6dCsDU
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EItJL5VIu
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvtlXYjOpV
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbxOG9CybN
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk5SSeiFZX
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkc98yyMHD
魔族的影子，即將現身。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4x91AzTXd
