──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3yTGLFk2q
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7E6sMJnzq
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvtSXQwQQd
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt1t1pdE9k
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFT4ZluKbg
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDJdxhDWeh
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──
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInD8QdUfn2
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQvb5xP1eW
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg64A1petTm
「紫苑──！」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O4iDgpiv6
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHuERAliyK
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0rejf2qZt
她沒有喊救命。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTCd7ZAxJQ
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgFXn3KL9B
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe9KKDxxpD
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKVAUnhzJn
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBUk7lLw5h
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmu0De2pY3
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb56G47kJU6
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsdSkho5dd
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZAeNRrYXr
「……你受傷了。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZlB35rh5u
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBlYKJpaPA
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCQOn5yXnV
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcsC49iSC8
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4HMxVzwE3
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLfOBK9oj4
紫苑怔住。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5DSr535na
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgCsjyBHJA
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHghyyvlA6n
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1GlQy1fM7
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwMgn3AZqh
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuCGvK6Oud
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。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSWdMFwBxs
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」。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFagBZFlFLo
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovKxqmDHFb
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76KbWUJDgs
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qVCiFccPs
—
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxqcYNW2u7
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDf5mfznuf
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6XaDhENOJ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGANnpdHFvE
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64TbWoDdhl
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkncJOKsIgb
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit76ePyEtJ
夜幕低垂。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZvQzV2s95
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8XxR2R0fZ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDWak6EwJi
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4P1v6npBV
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48BrxCmwDm
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：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDVfcCSFJo
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhrGqdiTFI
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQilTNBkuxc
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhiHFHABBZ
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HDFONEI3G
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4gBweyzTD
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNOLLEb0TW
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzXia4rMiC
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UdBK6VmFd
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMAUljskBn
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：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8YFE1vXOe
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EYOom7E2J
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuWjwPxlwR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHAGaRNOd3
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHU8nnvVQd
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLnVQV7KVT
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYue591hBx
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL6rh0oteS
「……我吃。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOaPITZNQ1
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7zjXPM1v6
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8zwOrWcws
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0VnBShxd4
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e01tFGHYo
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FrKgCMeMB
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXkoi2yr97
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktt9PTlWe6
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag0DRANjQR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u6HayPK9w
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vC65CzXI
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZVS5PyfZ
「……她在改變。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0X5AI8qat
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYwwAgfurQ
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIGg81xZeW
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoSONXcpwt
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEG9IWMHcY
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQgcssCqKM
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeqVxh4vpb
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMtw3RdAPJ
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5bt0lw9pF
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpE7bfr6uV
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mz25Hx3gB
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qX2DyI4Td
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFo4SqSOA7
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfcfNcQWAm
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf25OM3yuw
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxC4qmXLPx
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVfb9dKfZJ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB4pElytjP
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl3yKWSU7D
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HItyGXsfV
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEoZ2SL0DY
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBBwy3Qlbp
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUXrQYV6Ww
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5Sck4BvGC
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LBd2UtFiT
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl8eaFLq9a
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfj9yfGcIg
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt04U7AYqf7
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tAa1kaFdu
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfTJe5qtUq
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ017fvl5Qf6
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOMDW5Olvm
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2huINTh9P
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBJr68dU5P
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1shkQzVa3a
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlcUKOT00P
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCG20c7DHG
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQOvKnMT5a
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZxMmdzQlt
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4wRWBMuFz
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyw86kNk1o
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qw3QSaxcG
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0axG5TgI0p
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gur6qY2uI
他並未出聲。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDtbMcFenQ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodz7gd4FUq
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCgJdmzyPf
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLANWg54mbL
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FUJVOinDj
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Foi1QADo8
—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq4MnAxDyV
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuB8mydfNd
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bswpaj3sF
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9fo1FS7qK
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0QaLDcHFN
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHQiDfR4rr
魔族的影子，即將現身。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH7mb3jTsx
