The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story



Chapter 0550

Elva glanced up at Veronica and her laughter stifled. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Veronica startled a little, then tried to smile again. It wasn't as big as before. It barely twitched her lip, and certainly did not meet her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong," Veronica said. "I'm glad you liked the trick."

*How long does it last?" I asked, though as soon as the words left my mouth Elva's purple glow began to fade.

"Aww," Elva said, looking at her hands. "Do it again!"

"Elva, honey," I scolded lightly. "We don't demand things from people."

"I'm tired now," Veronica said. "Maybe another time."

Elva tucked her chin down, disappointed. But she said, "Okay."

*Thank Veronica for the magic trick," I reminded Elva.

Elva kicked her feet on the ground. "Thank you..." she mumbled.

"You're welcome," Veronica said.

Elva lifted her folded bird again. She glanced at me, as if for permission.

"Go on," I said. "Have fun."

Nearby I saw the nanny coming up onto the deck. Elva saw her too, and ran toward her, holding up the folded bird. With Elva thoroughly distracted, I turned to Veronica, looking for an explanation. "What just happened?"

book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections on curses and how to properly evaluate

If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle to appear again after

anything but happy

good news?" I asked, because looking at Veronica, I was

the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed to remove it. It's easier, of course,

I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left to Jane, the curse on Elva

"Yes," Veronica said.

was beginning to

said flatly. I supposed I appreciated her bluntness. She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say purple was the

is the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical

the only

you remove her curse?" I

I do is mere child's play compared to what

dropped down to the ground. Any false hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I

quickly. "This isn't

"If I were stronger-*

dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that

dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to

said. "She's the only

had said she would appear again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This magic was

reading." Veronica said. "I've only just started. Maybe

she knew how

returned to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view was pretty

me, Elva called, "Nick-lass! Look at my birdie!" She showed her folded bird to Nicholas, who had just stepped out onto the deck from the house. She explained in her roundabout child way that Veronica had made it and given it to

said to the

of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird.

stood side by

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm

from our discussion, but I didn't think he had anything to be sorry about. "I'm not mad that you want to keep