──「在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO8GgvBxK3
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDsRDuXnjv
就在紫苑將手從石板上收回的那一瞬，異變突生。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreiViAfcUS
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY0RaXecFg
伊萊斯立刻反應，抽出靈素結晶，於空中繪製護陣結界。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e2M1IDkHF
「靈域反噬啟動──這不是單純遺跡殘留，而是活著的結界！」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xzMiB5E9d
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──
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfsw7ZOIkJ
她的腳下一滑，整個人朝一處塌陷的青苔裂谷跌落。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEhjCsuzbu
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd9cY4QKrX
「紫苑──！」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RB25bybDl
紅蓮喊得幾乎撕裂嗓音。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDPtmdSNFK
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtXiY06fa2
她沒有喊救命。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lPJWCFTmB
紅蓮心中一陣刺痛——她從來沒有喊過。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ5RzOy85v
因為她根本不認為自己會被救。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRgzrivWvz
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8HTTsw3n4
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz6boUBqvj
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGi4wD2e7J
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgswLRBCzTP
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7xGH6LKpR
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHEUBBvGz4
「……你受傷了。」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Zu1qljCn
紫苑低聲開口，伸手想推開他，卻被他握住手腕。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZz2jMhuFH
紅蓮低下頭，聲音顫得不像話：
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1Nc5tHWca
「……妳為什麼不求救？」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9iR0aAH1d
「為什麼總是、總是自己扛──連墜下來都不呼喊……」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaTfhbj50o
「是誰教妳，妳不值得被拉住的？」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN2JUR9pcs
紫苑怔住。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCEIqoUfvS
紅蓮抬頭，眼裡是壓抑太久的憤怒與心疼。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn5CUFDy0d
「我在這裡，紫苑。」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2F2bntWSi
「這一次……在妳墜落之前，我會先抵達。」
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYiPr7nU4
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedI5jEAtfD
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjFWje80Z4
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。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDLRl4TzcV
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」。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj8LXoqpqx
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm5f21rso4
而她心中悄悄有了第一個願望：
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHY8JIfs3x
她不想再成為，沒人接住的那一個。
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgy4lQxFPd
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47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgTCyEVvBO
──「當火光點亮了她的臉，那群守著她的影子，也一一有了輪廓。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroJQAiNsPE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwtfX9sbs0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05xWt9hZy0
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Bw11Vtug
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVVI9vDUcs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCYX7dt1RQ
夜幕低垂。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ8KCvRXQt
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCqusxNPv5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6okKG5Osn6
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAP4Yf0rCd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNvc5YHjEG
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：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSfabtNBE0
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeB6ayo95k
「下一次，請讓我走前面。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvB8V48Vwi
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxe0KlSiUc
紫苑沒回答，只輕輕點了點頭。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NS0GaKP5K
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBeiHkwQSd
這次，她沒有閃避任何人對她的碰觸與凝視。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aacEg0AYr
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GpY30hJ69
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnxO4QUGGQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGD4huVa2T
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：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW7qgvwoB8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJal4OKt0c
「這次可不能不吃了──我可是特地選了低魔素、不膩口的肉種。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EgwplSX0L
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXOzm92q4J
「妳再不吃，我就真的以為我沒資格讓妳餓得下了。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyCLXJwvQS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclhl84CZY6
紫苑低低地瞄了他一眼。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodkVBkqtAq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwPb85TyCa
「……我吃。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYiA4FfSRc
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnytJvpGlIZ
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz84tF0go65
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTDsKI4nQz
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxRqJnZIRb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNCQaST42x
紅蓮則坐在她對面，安靜地守著茶盞，一句話都沒說。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Q49g83fA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O3JvcSoJu
但從頭到尾，他的眼從未離開紫苑的側影。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XdiJkYa3g
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRA3asMsZA
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoGCLBdiAb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVJfuKLkyg
「……她在改變。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr1Vq0tkHb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jv1drZumH
米雅沒有立刻回應，而是輕聲道：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgR46ASQ2s
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5d4iSFfvC
「不只是她。我們全都被她改變了。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnO7dKbmvh
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGjPkdLOqz
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72JCl6Tfvj
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MQtNkvSda
托魯打了個呵欠，一邊磨劍一邊說：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNRvgPfqb3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQIYVwGO0h
「我只是覺得，以前的紫苑像暗殺者，現在像……姐姐？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk4NOTnnQo
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCtcDsVRAp
艾貝爾頭也沒抬，淡淡道：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81D5h6VHqs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuwParfDct
「那是妳認知有問題。她從沒變，只是我們開始看見了。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx4w2rOmqn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoI2lJpeXr
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ47jPzanXD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ3vX2fKXL
西芙則替紫苑整理披風時，低聲在她耳邊說：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjJgv5bRZm
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7edP4r4ac
「現在的妳，已經是我們的心臟。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XktGKjpk2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv5PTITpym
「所以不管發生什麼，我們都會繞著妳的脈動行動。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek51EaztWC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEx616DAuZ
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD8ujTfKin
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrooTmZ4nt
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UlJca8TiE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP3YY3vVZU
夜深了，火堆只剩餘燼。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3kLj5ZVCR
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOuU4iAhFC
伊萊斯獨自站在營地邊緣，仰望林間星隙。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpWxFQvSrR
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVpgGz6Gn4
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3f6eVewkw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NSvqzF4kr
有什麼，正自遠方疾行而來。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfDuluXpOv
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp5lNKGYef
伊萊斯低聲呢喃：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXdrS2MYwi
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUchj0XfsU
「……氣息濁重，並非野獸。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEulbPyJFNd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDKox2ryj1
「是來自……人類與魔素交織的意志。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFEBYTydQk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0eS2BW2at
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UcpZhfPXt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t7uCmamjE
他並未出聲。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iSqpNkfqw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda10OSLrw6
只是輕輕摘下一片葉，在掌中揉碎，靜靜許下一句：47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq9BlcusKX
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwflxXSVMx
「再給她一夜的平靜吧。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLrAwKl8kB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ336BdqNt4o
—47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl8prC1h8K
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdxcAQEo9T
但遠方的氣息，已悄然逼近。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAzNoeWZYK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L8CypcJEW
由禁咒與靈壓交織的灼熱之風，正在夜色中張開翅翼──47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wXHr7PFHt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5HAlTEiJs
魔族的影子，即將現身。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyZdf6M1ng
