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?"

was 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

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 appear again

looked anything but happy about

news?" I asked, because looking at

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

make the curse, on her own daughter no less. I'd come to accept

Veronica said. Cóntent belong to

I was beginning to suspect

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 best color,

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

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

you remove her

frown deepened. "No. Not by far." She sighed. "What I do is mere child's

stomach 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 should have known from Veronica's

quickly. "This isn't on you

"If I were stronger-*

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 know any of

her head, clearly dissatisfied with herself. I couldn't talk. I knew exactly how it felt to not believe you were

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

again to me when I had removed doubt from my heart. I wanted to arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't

just started. Maybe there's more I can

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

little ways, wanting to give her some space. I looked out over the water. The view was

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 loved it and its name was now

Frank," Nicholas said to the

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

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

down," Nicholas said. "I'm