──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2d3ycx8Yw
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOJozDhPnq
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfpJfix5AR
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ABUskj6yi
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojZBO3B29l
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7mEFCePaG
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──
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF7s7ZDYYm
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttgeBSTcen
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLn8eAu4mK
「紫苑──！」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb5uu59cXQ
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v3KwZBsl1
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYWJ88P4rY
她沒有喊救命。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYMkokYaV4
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCFJXRcRxS
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc5NPGEaQf
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZyGls73NA
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dWtTlYdTA
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9KJwAjiIE
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNZ2Lasxv5
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NMDGP8VWs
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfOOoFsISI
「……你受傷了。」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY9Ycba5ig
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6x0LPk4L6
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRLGJ2rNoz
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY7Y4cHnWN
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6oIlTLSzN
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdkSGGWeNY
紫苑怔住。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVbdzb6zhk
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEtqoFDUlh
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJYZWXbl4g
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVKKD5CGdI
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV1Krd2TcV
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtyxf1CEJV
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。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0mhABvjJ3
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」。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC7LdvnjlP
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJR5bkMS5K
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1w7gaJXwK
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLT6KWsVJM
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15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO9Do89P3d
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHomlPRtxMc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5J0qNaOIV
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHYhsOq6Yh
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLggem97Sq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGofE8SCvZk
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DLlAl1XFC
夜幕低垂。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet2dVr5W7S
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80GIkuIoHj
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PKAErxedp
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DHv9bFgbm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S8V3yLuxQ
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：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpYLleZGr8
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLk3GvFN0d
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJtY4mSDSe
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xbuxsmzQL
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1cvKCb4m1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0umbzJfPw3
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueGWoHRgDr
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpTb5rpQgy
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBepsqAqXP
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0UXLYeiH1
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：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo03yWEJC5n
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aRIcCUCr3
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MhblpWvDk
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTa9uHklKX
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKggU4RCBjm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyx8RZ1WsM
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQvEZCk5Ls
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQm4GPbf1
「……我吃。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf8dekEFC2
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEGkhmT3LJ
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1Y0ECMLiQ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTkYklPEMZ
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6rj4VWane
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OMpXs2UWg
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g6E9cdphN
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ9Zr9JBqk
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PONClrxn0
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1IGhLZ01s
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fF56a0QXL
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUxeCatDyW
「……她在改變。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJgLgu8SoI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS5FbScfCZ
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wty5SqTy6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxxHiFI6md
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIxd81UzOq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzsNxjvJfT
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXWu8Iy8LC
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxgB9eruJ5
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpWlbb6qsc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y0AadW6kk
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIgvCjczg4
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN62kcKpXy
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KhOa2ySMv
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1d22ZpSVN
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRyFi855SC
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhLA69eyeW
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2biNCZHgO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdGS0k95MW
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzccSNuTqqG
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbHhWxTnMK
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkzawfJm3d
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHTp7rnE9m
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6mfOk1TS6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd78XWC1QL
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8u8wbxIb6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJuKEFP9ms
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQora6JqhTu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr7SgKBymM
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwFjrMTlcQ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDa9MYSdum
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZJXke6mY1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDMHhUeI9T
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZIPz6ffXp
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gH2uXxKNT
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEnJybgQMS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ImVCn5Jrd
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10FszYobr1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVgAE5aBWl
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx5JcYdTLO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOizcIW6Fm
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJjE2VvoH
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWPlbsZmkn
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。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFMNCePIMi
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29deChkew4
他並未出聲。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk1uK0MgS4
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOdvzq0Fly
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUnBAR9uZd
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsKg3fXu44
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb9846K278
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uoz2ER1Ms
—15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYy940Wv7B
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qyrbePM4u
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GG4zmf9dd
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk9no48X3b
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUncsLod7dH
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51NNG0gFK8
魔族的影子，即將現身。15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDiKVEbqVZ
