I felt my stomach twist into knots.
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"It's...get...ting worse.." Alena said somberly.
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In replace of her normal face, a dark mask was covering half of her face. Curled horns poked from her head.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7opPhEihO
She had turned. In the time I had wasted..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnuvZwueLr
I slowly approached her. "Iris...it's me. You don't have to worry."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3lghhkvlr
Alena also tried to comfort her, wrapping her arms around Iris's sides. Iris initially accepted her comfort, sitting down and heavily breathing.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXRyVxZk2j
"Arelin is here...to help...you.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIedjvOUhW
Iris looks up at me, not saying a word.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt2OiceMHs
I look at Ecluna, who was cowering in the corner and hyperventilating.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg1ayINBus
"Ecluna, you have to come over here where it's safer."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6HbET8cv2
"I can't.." she muttered. "If I move, she'll kill me..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxaPBHQsSj
She wasn't mad at anyone when I left...but it was the darkness accelerated her anger only towards Ecluna. She was the one who injected more Dark magic into her body.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRQ6Sq3SxQ
"Don't worry.. we're going to get you out of here..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHXgjou0C2
I slowly approached Iris once again, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Iris...please calm down...we can fix this...you just have to give me a chance.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcyFR5RkSK
I could see a flash on realization on her face, but she simply stared at me. She didn't make a single word.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTITzKtAGni
"Ecluna...hand me some of your magic.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRf4jjjxVj
"What if I make her worse?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLzeiaW1ht
"I'll see if I can split the two magics apart. I'll use the Light magic on her and absorb the Dark magic."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ0Q7sgh0E
Quivering, Ecluna floats an orb of her ecliptic magic towards me. I ripped the two magics apart and gave the Light half to Iris.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLsQScaj5V
She screeches horribly for a couple seconds, then...she snaps back to her original self.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa0wVtiwOj
"...Arelin? What's happening to me?" She looks at herself with fear and confusion.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSs7uwaRWj
"You're lucky I could split her magic in half. You could've killed Ecluna.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrCFFUlXu6
"E-Ecluna?" She looks behind her, and realizes what she had done.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD9FEVWGWi
"Oh my God, Ecluna! I'm so sorry!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdwUCOoaVS
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just a bit shaken up. I'll be fine. At least you're back to normal.. somewhat..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazUSo2cCMu
"Somewhat?" she runs to the nearest mirror before shrieking at the sight of her own face. I noticed her height had increased significantly, her head almost touching the ceiling.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WiTwjN37Q
Alena slowly tugs on her sleeves. "It's ok...ay...you're safe and...that's all that...mat...ters,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QwTprB50o
"W-What's Mom gonna think? She's gonna kill you!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVbgkZbSon
"I'll have to talk it out with her...and maybe I should take you with me. You do miss your parents, don't you?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59sdT9RuVR
She nods. "If you don't mind, I don't..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO4n8V01cW
"Alright then, you must be really really happy to see them again.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0804Qxc6K
I take her darkened hand and lead her out. "Watch your head.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWGaHFkJYu
I hear a loud noise on the wall. "Too late..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzDTFFK3Xy
I sigh and let her through the doorframes. As soon as we made it to Emburaria, we quickly found more places to hide Iris. Espero was the first one to notice her, of course.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7eps3092n
"Iris?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvfEqNMNvG
"Esp!" she took him from the ground and hugged him tight. He then realized was being lifted off of the ground.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfvtk0EiTS
"Wait a minute... where'd you get a growth spurt? You're taller than I am,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnwwpxI4xV
"The weirdo curse is affecting my body somehow, but I wanted to come out and see everyone again!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe3PdTFTDv
"I noticed. Why don't we take you somewhere so you don't scare the people here?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1kXgYmLNy
"Oh...okay then.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCPLuFK3ha
Espero quietly leads her inside. I follow them. Queen Violet sat quietly in her chair. All three of us show respect to her majesty's presence.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdbp8Gn4Us
"Your majesty, I'm sorry for bothering you, but this is..Iris, daughter of Irene."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3DmZKF5Vm
"...You are the individual Aurelia and the children have been talking about."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvv3Ybv2z1
"I...think so.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wy9dNcxKy
"Iris...your abilities, the abilities that have gotten you this far...it could harm more than help. You have both Dark and Light magic in your body, two of the most strong types of magic this world can contain."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYVISwQlxt
Iris looked a bit enamored by the thought..but then realized she was more of a danger to others, which made her rub her arms in shame..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2DGD8VCK4
"However, you are not the monster you make yourself out to be. You are still human. Don't forget that."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDzaEgmitG
Iris silently thanked her with a light nod.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUu5g8qu4X
Queen Violet looks at me. "Arelin.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZhw0H3kjT
"Yes, your majesty?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDLKG3hUJf
"Take care of Iris. Make sure she fully recovers from the curse that has been inflicted on her."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FN2DINPI3
"I will."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvhPEs1pCg
"Well, maybe we should get going. We still need to see Aunt Irene.." Espero says, taking Iris's hand and dragging her away.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7dRdevel3
I decided to go home for the day. I had a lot of studying to do. I read until my eyes started to give up, as if weights themselves pulled them down..
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***
It was terrifying when I first heard it. The screams of the innocent, magic swirling around the air. It made me jump out of my seat.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW45lkuLBJ
"Nocturne...did this..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPifGbLUCES
I somberly look at my sister. "Are you okay?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSknpAaXR7
"I'm worried... about Iris..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNodZD1ZiH
I had totally forgotten about leaving Iris with Espero. I quickly put on my coat and slipped on my shoes.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtKjuwagqW
"Don't..Mother will be sad...if you leave.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRzQGRpjXZ
I look out the window. The world around us is in chaos...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqnu6cfuFr
"...I have to. For my people. For Iris. I'll be back, okay?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi84WUkMUJ
"...Hurry..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5u0PD9nEN
I jump out of the window and painfully drop down to the ground. I carefully sneak around the area.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNkZJ5ce8S
I run into someone. Their features...were undescribable. The mask that covered their face...it...covered their eyes too..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1PFyPo6Up
That's when the Darken slammed it's abnormally long and clawed hands in my direction. I stop carefully, and throw a rock in another direction. They noticed the noise and ran.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eDiotcd46
"So they're blind..." I whispered. "Good to know.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9bJm9HHbU
I continue sneaking, sliding by any Darken I saw while looking for Iris in the process. She couldn't be far..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsfFvIaDbL
***
Iris POV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qY2FanN58
Despite my pain, I had to keep going... before anyone else got hurt.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iuHovvz2y
I could feel her aura. Nocturne was the reason all of this was happening. I had to stop her. Darkens scattered around the area, blindly feeling their way around.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNtBsYUOYr
I felt my own face, the ragged teeth of the ends of the...thing that covered my face. I don't want to become...that. I didn't want them to feel the same pain as me either. That was another reason I wanted to stop her...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyyUWmBRio
I didn't have time to think before someone snatched me from the middle of the street.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBPAp1G8ad
"Iris?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8aQSckTAP
"Jake?"
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"Jesus Christ, I was about to knock you out,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwDMo8n8qG
"What's going on?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh9y7uSPo0
"Nocturne... she's back,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03sAd0VPug
"What are we gonna do?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa2zG2gAX8
"What we're supposed to. Take her and her snarky little brat down.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxWJsWnPEW
"B-but...I can't..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmDO9OO2sZ
He grabs my hands, squeezing them tight.
"Iris. You're probably the strongest person I know. All of us can do this. We're stronger than we were back then..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lUjlCpDYA
"But...if she gets ahold of me, she might use you against me...I can't be there..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWqXdaK2Xz
"Don't worry about that,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYQe6Nldr0
"...Okay. I have to...get Arelin..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7WxDpyqB3
"No time. We have to go. Now,"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vc4QMhy8P
Jake grabs my arm and drags me around. That's when another one of my jolts of pain hit me..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxNoQWhQzD
"W-wait...hold on..." I suck the air through my teeth.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4FeEe5vA1
"Did I do something?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwxDL77vQn
"N-no no, it's just something that happens sometimes... I'll be fine. Let's keep moving.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqrFhRt81Y
I slowly limp my way towards Nocturne's piercing aura. As time passes on, I start moving a little faster. But the shockwaves of pain became more frequent. I could care less.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRR6LvODNs
Jake, at some point had to carry me. "You're gonna be okay. Just breathe. We're gonna fix this.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL52oOQpkC
I did as he recommended. It did feel a little better..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsehF6XI60k
"Ah..there you are, Iris.." Nocturne says as she noticed me. "Thank you, my child."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AltkbqDgI
"You're welcome... mother.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh2g7u0T0S
I realized that wasn't Jake at that exact moment. Ciaran had shapeshifted...no...he made the illusion of Jake. In order to lower my guard. Nocturne immediately used her magic to snatch me into her hands.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMnqXNa3Si
"Now that our prize has arrived, why don't we get started?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2w7YCaOet
"Nocturne! Let her go!" I hear my mother order.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4dLPzLDBp
"Whether I let her go is up to your actions. Leave, and I'll command her myself to kill you. Stay, and risk your life to save the unsalvageable.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb26VOspIt
"Don't worry, Iris, you'll be safe...for now." Nocturne lets me go, but immediately enveloped my body in an orb of darkness. I was forced to watch my family and friends fight for my sake.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp31BCHftYd
Ciaran floats next to me, pretending to sit. "This will be very very interesting, wouldn't you agree?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg69SqpdgFy
I slam against the wall of the bubble. "Let me go, Ciaran!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZRSOhuJkY
"I cannot let you leave, Iris. Not when we have so many things to look forward to after this.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFzoYNSAOi
"Like what?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw0zzYlzpf
"You'll see..." he smiled with that stupid toothy grin.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpEvVGHPzu
I noticed how well they were doing. Nocturne was looking a little angry at the fact.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiQoiBOUzB
"Alright Nocturne...you should've surrendered when you had the chance." Espero looks at a pile of boulders, the rocks slowly float above Nocturne and piles on top of her.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jHmzKIWN5
"I'll give you another chance though..." Espero pulls out a knife from his pocket and swung it around her face. "Surrender now, and I won't cut into your face."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyocoS2hXl
She cackled at him...she was cornered but...she laughed at him...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3f3yDfKRd
I slam against the bubble again. "What's so funny? What are you planning, Nocturne?!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOY5zE0M3M
"Quiet, child. This is what happens when you attempt to threaten me..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKkPaEzfwn
Just before I could think about what that meant, an arm of darkness creeped up behind Espero...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCxMowH0uN
I didn't forget the sound it made. The arm sharpened it's end and...pierced him right through the chest..when it ripped itself out, he slowly fell to the ground, with a pool of blood forming underneath him.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWx5OtEEil
"ESP!" I screamed. Others did the same.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM0AUO00CT
I had to see if he was okay. I used the little bit of Light energy I had left to break free from my floaty prison and crawled over to Espero.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetC8sq6gUv
"Espero! Esp! Get up!" I shake him vigorously. He faintly placed his hand on my shoulder.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN3HLsz7ae
"I-I'm sorry for...n-not h-helping you with y-your c-curse, Iris.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU10Znf4ZmZ
"I don't care about that right now, I'm worried about you!" I feel the tears roll down my cheeks like rivers.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXZPV5cjgW
He chuckles, coughing up a bit of blood along with it.. "...I d-did m-my job...I d-died p-protecting you.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEXH25vYua
"Don't say that! You've got to stay alive, Esp! You can't just leave me!"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth5fIIoe2X
He wipes my tears. "I-It's o-okay...y-you don't h-have to cry...n-not for me.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WHwxW0GY6
"Esp..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUIe8jcTrj
"...I-I'm gonna miss you, Iris.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq2iRFsiZl
His body goes limp after that...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpncA2HQQ56
"Esp? Esp?!" I continuously shake him. That's when Jake puts his hand on my shoulder.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIkBO1HmM0
"It's no use Iris...he's gone.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIQGPfhhsl
I saw the memories of me and Espero flash within my eyes as I saw his lifeless face, a small smile formed in his final moments of life..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oksf2SiZ1
Those moments is what made me cry even harder. I had lost him. The one who'd promised to be there for me until the very end. Espero was gone, laying lifeless in my arms.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaOLjFnJSt
"Don't worry Iris," Nocturne rips me away once again... "You'll forget about him soon enough..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0jMjRUZKE
"You've taken one of them from us...how many more souls must you torture before you're finally satisfied, Nocturne?" Mom asked her, stifling tears.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKdANizYX1
"Enough to where you finally snap. Where you reach your limit. That's when the suffering can end. Now, make a decision. Leave now or suffer the loss of another child.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CyYjaZqEi
Mom stepped back with visible tremble, picking up Espero. "...I'm so sorry, Iris. I... don't want anyone else to suffer..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCtKPpEEjw
She slowly leaves the scene. The rest of the group follows behind.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aDid97btV
Nocturne wipes away my tears...
"Shh, you don't have to cry... we are going to take very good care of you.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnYWodkbms
"Why? W-why did you kill him?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljxMF7eq4Z
"If I didn't, he would have killed me first. I was only protecting myself. And now, there's only one part left of our mission to complete.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ZtCHJ76R
"Shall we leave then, Mother?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85oiA2iRXr
"Yes, we have a lot to do.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SEwLN6SAe
What are they planning to do with me? Was I going to die? Those questions swirled around my head as they dragged me away.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBCz60mCro
***
Arelin's POV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QZRhYhxtd
I was too late. Nocturne's aura was slipping away from my field of sense. What if she'd already had Iris and was making her escape?
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLcUHg4Lib
"Arelin..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWweIKs19uX
Alena was behind me. I almost jumped.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3IJEKlYnR
"Alena...you can't be here."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomnf9qhUZj
"Iris is...my friend too. I have to be there...for her.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCeqqRzlmP
"...If you come with me, you have to promise to leave if it gets too dangerous, okay?"
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTbFg8KnhE
She nods her head and grabs my hand.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv6MGyONZE
I try to run as fast as I can to catch up. I have find Iris before something happens.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5lfI3Q1SZ
"Arelin...something bad happened..." she points towards a dark puddle, soaked into the soil around it.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z30idY8Z0
Alena goes up to it, and feels it. She shuffles away.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9ShhS2l3u
"I-It's blood...still warm..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjUwTriMhV
Fresh spilled blood.. Alena was right. Something horrible happened here..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcHKkoj2uz
...I have a feeling I should go to that town...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzQoD3a9Q0
I run in the opposite direction, gripping Alena's arms tightly as I do.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR1MgNqSlD
I was hardly breathing when I arrived...
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVUMMAMxYm
"Alena...you stay here.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLFtNAWlnx
She sits quietly. "Be careful.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f3GukQijm
I nodded in understanding, and left her there.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeNLCYU75F
Using some of my knowledge, I seemingly teleported from one point to another..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaTP05ljLC
Right in front of the castle, I kicked my way through.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejxjCVMgGG
"Nocturne.."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T9Okmg4nd
"Ah, hello again, Arelin..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20aTtNS086
"I'm not here for chit chat. I'm here for Iris."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0uPG4sTWa
"If you want her that badly..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFEkG4fmvx
Iris...she turned again.. She was no longer herself, an animalistic husk of who she once was..
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPZFqbCWgA
I tried to get through to her again. "Iris..."
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdQLaZ6nR9
I step forward, only for her to swipe at me. Talking to her wasn't an option. Iris continued to angrily stare.
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PLRUAgg19
She begins to fight with me. I was barely prepared to dodge most of those attacks, allowing her to land hits on me. No matter how many times she landed attacks, however, I wasn't going to hurt her.
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"Why don't you show Arelin what you've just learned?" Ciaran asked of her. I couldn't begin to think of what he meant. When I looked up, Iris had disappeared, before I felt a hard push from behind me. Iris was on top of me, refraining me from moving.
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"Good. Now finish him,"
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She stomps her foot against my temple, before charging an attack. At this point, I was ready to accept death. I was in too vulnerable of a position to save myself. Or so I thought. Just before she could finish attacking, I used the illusion of her cousin. A bit cruel to save myself, but it was a last resort.
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Fortunately it worked, however, Iris looked more.. upset about it...
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"E-Esp?" she whispered, as crystal tears fall from her eyes. What happened to Espero in the town square for her to tear up like this?
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"I-I'm sorry..I didn't want you to..." Iris hugs me, digging her crying face into my chest..
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I ended the illusion. She was obviously back to normal. I comfort her while staring daggers into the others' eyes.
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"What...did you two do to Espero?"
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"Are you really that empty skulled? Mother got rid of him. He's gone.."
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"...You...killed him?"
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"Hmm, yes, I guess you could put it that way,"
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I hug her even tighter. "Iris... I'm so sorry,"
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She didn't reply, and just cried even harder..
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"Now, if you would let her go, we can go our separate ways,"
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I pull her away. "I'm not letting you. You've tortured her for far too long,"
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"Then you shall suffer the same fate as Espe-"
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"Mother, I will handle this. You should rest for the night,"
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"... If you insist. I shall be on my way to bed,"
Nocturne, for once, left our sight..
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"Now that Mother has left, you can leave now,"
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"...Can I tell you, Araginee, one last thing?"
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"What is it?" Iris replies.
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I barely blinked before he had teleported right in front of us, snatched Iris from my arms, and...
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"I... love you..."
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He then kisses her, catching the both of us by surprise.
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"W-What?" Iris says in shock.
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He hands her back to me. "Did I scare you?"
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"W-we should go..."
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"Go ahead. Maybe you just need some time to think about it..."
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We follow his orders and leave. As we exit, I ask her. "...Are you okay?"
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"I...I don't know. It was all so sudden," she says, still visibly confused.
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"I don't know if you should trust those words just yet. You know how much he likes to trick you.."
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"It felt genuine..."
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".. We'll have to see how genuine he actually is.."
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"...I brought...ev...ery..one else.." Alena says, approaching us.
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Mrs. Araginee was disheveled. She must not have slept since yesterday. She sleepily walks over to Iris and wraps her arms around her waist.
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"I'm...so sorry, Iris...I didn't want to leave you with them.."
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"It's okay, I knew you were only looking out for rest of them. If I weren't so weak in my regular magic, I'd take care of them myself.." Iris creeps down and hugs her mother back.
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"You are okay to come home, right?"
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"I can visit, but I can't stay. If I turn on you or Dad, you wouldn't be able to stop me.."
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"...Come tomorrow. I'm sure you're tired."
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"I have a lot to think about. But I promise, I'll be there!" Iris gives her mother a wide smile.
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Irene smirks back. "Okay, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
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Iris nods rapidly. "Okay!"
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Irene looks at me. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."
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"You're more than welcome, Mrs. Araginee. I'm just doing as I promised."
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Irene hugs Iris once more. Then Jake, then Ecluna. Suddenly, it had turned into a group hug. I joined in.
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I swear I could feel the wind wrapping around as well...I was convinced...Espero was also there.
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