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?"

actually an incantation I read about in 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 and

said 'remove them'! That should be exciting, a great sign! If the book talked about

looked anything but

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

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

to accept that Jane

Veronica said. Cóntent belong

I was beginning to

one for false hope. Although in this case, it pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her

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

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

you remove her curse?"

far." She sighed. "What I

to the ground. Any false 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

no," I said quickly.

"If I were stronger-*

dipped my head into 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

clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

Veronica said. "She's the only

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 Veronica. How could I be certain I

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

I told her, and meant it from the bottom of my heart. I hoped she knew how much I appreciated her.

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

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

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

cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm