This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99BzJxpvwe
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3ASj3Ya4g
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbS21qOB06
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK7MCCEGts
Nao: “What happens now?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeCA1XDAp4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxZXKgNe1N
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyIu39YKY1
!616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ6UHqmvUy
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxPKX5pWEj
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVdJuUVfMx
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOlNIXqCFS
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eMybC8C1X
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJYJiuWcqc
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPK7QPupl6
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCGlhVMAgf
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9ReRRtAwc
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSifUQdlpZ
Alyson: “…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclrpqg5prA
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhLjBhnl53
Nao: “…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKpttQ2RRI
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5de6cc7t2F
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYZXBupgoD
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dI0tnKAeH
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WALeRjhnL
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL94MbaCwUq
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7jVWfPXtH
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdkIvNFjWc
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDCal9Vjwi
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE16zCNnyUn
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp9C9EBwFr
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV34OwwgDv
Nao: “…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJSlWADcrW
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMH9L7zfGd
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1H3mdf8hS
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ku9FmZ7E
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JbdRnlUaR
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu3gtJ5k9H
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2zNAXLkOE
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTavFI5bVX
Nao: “What’s with you?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoetBOJGgLV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBUQvvndQN
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XSc41alDd
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9OzFic2EC
Nao: “!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuQ1F6DT4O
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRasvAu556
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IAgNqwHDy
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOKZLhZ6Au
Nao: “…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJFMrkciMA
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qf9ysf71l
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjsTvH5ipq
Tch.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNSnKPvEV4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrztajVWAIo
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXoVDEvMXY
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU47q5tglLM
Alyson: “!!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxehBd53ZNw
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuHuTsQrfN
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3VEbom9ny
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBxTHDOpBM
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdeBhh934G
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwhIzoEMwm
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDsr6jjLYj
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR6XazQqXa
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcSyLFePIr
*Sigh*
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXrxh9pDUx
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0XzzpZkAn
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEalNippKtE
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSfQiOyBEp
Arc?616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKONO621xP
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuumscC80B
Arc: “Yes?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW72ByVSb5i
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIJSgygyqA
How’s my body?
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimCSsgOWiV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqBo5PZ7aU
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorxzCsgrFL
*Ding*616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCuxLypnmS
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtonwIETamD
Points: 6616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcCK24MG55
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ90GRnWlBJ
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS8RZIOwk4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFzYoaYZ0W
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAqG10dou5
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99vrOrQApZ
*Door open*
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHiBGIAd76
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN4PIY6bEI
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2a8DWknD1
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrmnO7Vd6I
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeVZXNnVtc
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrzAxSXJrb
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea5B2y11hu
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2pNZxZQq9
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf7FX76GjU
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0EgIJPq6X
Nell: “You promised…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheWlmbRWhl
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrvSXik0iC
Nao: “Mom I-”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviOi5Ak5GS
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs58AmOwA7B
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuJr3dy8Vd
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ565NLhTtaG
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhVLfCsBkT
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRMdg5Gp3R
Nao: “But-”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw1CO5rqKn
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dLwgv0RZo
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazncRoJ7Xj
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi6heRoib6
Nao: “!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnZLzDEodL
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HfzpVZdtq
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtVk1frrlV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04BMa7NHgR
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajYpsp5048
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4Do0ssf0C
Nao: “!!”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5a64wmjt0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6yhwJNP9c
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ38jiq9hOI
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFCLAnuNIY
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPsoF3tmo0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSZpcLmuI2
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
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616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2n9yoEijB
What am I becoming?
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHZadB8jVH
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDMVMilJLp
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
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616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSckxoTSlo
W-What?
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvplv7aydzt
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmgzX7AFsA
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxnDsjSr6x
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrNnr07myR
Nao: “R-Really?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYOjbztgGD
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbaWQ4tIbE
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cEdoEvUdr
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ed3T1guzp
Nao: “What do you mean?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xGxGbMR4u
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ORVqc8nd
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6HreyR7Km
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA1m7C7C5K
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7qcuIsYIp
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjQI22UhFK
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dx174OreS
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEldnjUrZ1
Nao: “*Nod*”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxPal3V1T3
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb3cOhNx8P
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCfEfqyMTW
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGhGTdwJM5
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Tq2oFMsMp
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZXcKPINuG
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w8gQDyBfF
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHSIeKHXXA
Nao: “Mom I…”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWdroEJFsF
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdzc5qR5Gi
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERyKqGsfVj
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSq1sYEGCH
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw2VlRvFMc
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7WZrJa52s
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyDeLuLt8M
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClGG8BvbI6
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZDpJzrNq8
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoCavvnTfR
Nao: “I-”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnHVZkleXT
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSgLEFkIIF
Nell: “Promise me.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SeekOF5jf
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8MHtPhG1w
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4EZ0EqIby
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgs0Zns2qi
Arc: “What are you doing?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnJkQQX50B
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CGWwL39ob
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWKp6lc1Kh
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYSQUe3rfH
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0EQJ4oUeo
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPMQHmZkdh
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gKakgd2Jg
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL66IXlSZj
Nell: “O-Okay.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Vx6HjmcQ
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMQi8hRDkf
*Curtains close*
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVHqQIhJFt
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaofQhG0qXZ
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsCedpyEF0
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtMxEJ4kBi
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JcJ3hMTPj
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUxXUo7kUL
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxhWLaaGId
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDOYRCM3PT
Nell: “I…need some time.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcedpHHa4g
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0GVZK12sh
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3ZDzJiMt9
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoqTOlUcE7
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBooUhRN94
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9M2id2YgG
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RhmmUaeGV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dSvJyJaXE
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nupNB9ibl
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhauuhRlHxC
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbfBNVD3sO
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3bQ5yH2E4
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqfPy0q6qx
*Ring*616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFHTgARVzC
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTpIc79Q5O
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZQ2xf1M6J
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrSCw9UHUc
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEihI94jCw4
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAfRtgDhKs
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxKJYi7XXM
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3Xryai46x
…Are you serious?
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEhozNOWbR
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA81jAxMGF
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1RORrLsZE
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnkJHMb3YQ
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmcqEPmejT
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj72A4J1Lp
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlxgTmqxxq
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojHGEeSAlj
Nao: “Happy to help
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSeYAZta2k
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylE09OtIXI
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCU62i2WEr
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHQ9Qb9DGW
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbeZKp3pNe
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukxXWqm7Kd
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI834Pr71XV
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt4pkFaYUX
Nao: “…Same.”
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV05xP81BrC
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSIbp8Ch3R
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lwl4bU9ab
616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlw5HQ4GeL
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxc7amrEA4
and then Add to home screen.