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

exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about how to remove the curse, then maybe we didn't need to wait for the oracle

anything but

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

the incantation is to show the nature of Elva's curse and the magical power level needed

come to accept

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

Is that good?" I was beginning to suspect that it

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

the most intricate of the curses," Veronica said. "It will require

power? Veronica was the only one I knew who could do any

her curse?" I

far." She sighed. "What I do

hope I had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis was not very good.

no. No, no," I said quickly. "This isn't on

"If I were stronger-*

her. I dipped my head into her line of vision so she could see my face and know that I'm earnest. "We wouldn't even

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

oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one with enough power

wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if

only just started. Maybe there's

I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her. I wasn't sure she would until

off a little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out

"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

Nicholas said

in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't

made his way over to me. Together we stood side

needed to cool down," Nicholas said.