──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqvb5rHL2o
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwssN6vq7AZ
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29JT9MYgT8
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4Gh9zB6Uu
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIJMJS2Lcq
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO73SlnSav6
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──
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYbLgZCI2P
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgPynBbDaA
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvSt8NWhFq
「紫苑──！」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J0lj9NesY
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIa9DlxgKGk
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYcUFMV6OQ
她沒有喊救命。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG6goMj6uh
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB9bepVnzO
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeSiJRS7wj
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhGkniOHjg
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mXUuF6JVW
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNpD1lvmt3
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zZgkSfuR6
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp95klq0Us
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnWlifpnLK
「……你受傷了。」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6YGnMIJcR
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbUThIoHzu
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z0ouDW3sj
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6leubbeQD
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnkoSoXUWI
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMRL9zPNxy
紫苑怔住。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYu3CAo4of
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NNc1JOWRM
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXec68q7691
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke1JRyATdh
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxrmqUHEIn
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksxDKgdmDn
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。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIhWpTfBU3
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」。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4smjBGbZxD
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvvpFG55d3
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0mxh6fueM
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLovYxTCkun
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23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9atiRlSa57
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZB0MaHVj1
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy78fPWMDk
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZm7aUpJgU
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6q0BDKn5K
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWEnsXGCtA
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlna8LfmHRK
夜幕低垂。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrK5ahjGm7
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfaTnc5kT0
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbZA98Xc7S
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAjxCuRAEH
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXqJqHE6FZ
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：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP2kaBvKNc
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm0UR5XQWO
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4uPvlpluj
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXVZZcWbSe
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiDmVAkNGv
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PtB5AjqKH
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xuyTEg85f
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI21BM7fIkj
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgbYuFJpUV
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSwGVQ47yZ
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：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTdxUrof6n
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFv9ndjjar
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihrtuFXAY9
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg7vDTwWLb
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYjTEiU34y
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRg8BIlRRe
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bVvP60aDb
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzON1EeUDS
「……我吃。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMWNZXra5z
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdeN31N3yk
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGVzwqtEhn
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ68uwtlyH
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgrH4H88BA
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF4jLgk2dE
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkBlTrOu4k
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aPXelAyGg
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8AHID5oVB
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCjSnmZwwF
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2KH3rAIHC
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqne5967k3
「……她在改變。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQz3L7HG1L
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4iLvC3IC8
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA0fqg9gUM
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp85vgHDkLB
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71jTSacZik
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbaNmYopEu
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8HSRQlpyI
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswuGEn7x11
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaHBgUZanH
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNZFBwsUPc
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsURQ0C21X
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg5QfR9RyD
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoU9YcaVWM
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjKVHCrgcU
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwGiguXZOq
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y3BT4Edre
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hs5Q61bUK
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2sSTvMfvQ
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbQPbUdH6T
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO5Aiz5orF
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wYbjalMcP
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmyjZrnUR7
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6TqJfZNxI
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRimveEAg68
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ7khz5vd4
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfa3mtobz1
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zphdjr4eN
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5KiHy0tJ7
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6HhQGyxXc
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcEj61wde9
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5NIMlPw20
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVSG5dXR0k
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxHPR0HlOg
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sp3Bau8PQ
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprwSYqAqex
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMAY48twxQ
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNdw3tiuLb
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrmStMLCaQ
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaDPSVP3pa
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6qj5pb2pj
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKfF5hqDfe
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4djbfR4bCh
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsulJy6T8cz
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe9tgrDjN6
他並未出聲。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGjXTOUhpV
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQSDHbh48A
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SYf1Wwc1E
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt17lkt2cl7
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWXORdxMYx
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXjmx3mZ72
—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlItNnUbfA
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrbiF2CZPr
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdrRSilOLU
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA59pLMiY1S
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qc8Lo3xc1
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrxb9qOnpD
魔族的影子，即將現身。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgMgssrnqR
