The Luna Choosing Game

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

I perked up. She said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for

anything but

news?" I asked, because looking at

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

daughter no less. 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 would stay

Veronica said. Cóntent

I was beginning to suspect that it

bluntness. She was never one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted

Veronica said. "It will require the highest

was the only one I knew who could

remove her

far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's play compared

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

said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even know any of this if it

talk. I knew exactly how it felt to

need the merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the

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

only just started.

of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she

returned to her book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some space.

"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 her, and that she

Nicholas said to

in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The nanny did the best she

we stood side by side. We both turned to look out over

to cool down," Nicholas said.