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?"

this 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

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 the oracle to

anything but happy

asked, because looking at

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

to make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help herself or anyone else. If left

Veronica said. Cóntent belong to

purple. Is that good?" I was beginning

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 best color,

the curses," Veronica said. "It will require the highest amount of magical power to

only

her curse?"

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

had built up for myself crashed and burned all around me. It was my own fault. I should

No, no," I said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

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

talk. I knew exactly how it felt to

Veronica said. "She's the only one

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 foreign, even to

said. "I've only just started. Maybe there's more

from the bottom 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. I looked out over the water.

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

Frank," Nicholas said to the

an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help.

distracted, Nicholas made his way over to me. Together we stood side by side. We both turned

to cool down," Nicholas