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?"

about in this book." She motioned toward the merfolk book on the top of the bar. "The book contains many sections

the book talked

Veronica looked anything

good news?" I asked, because looking

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

no less. I'd come to accept that Jane would never come around, not to help

Veronica said. Cóntent

I was beginning to suspect

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

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

of power? Veronica was the only one

remove her curse?"

"What I do is mere child's play compared to

me. It was my own fault. I should have known from Veronica's expressions that the diagnosis was not very good. "I'm sorry,"

said quickly. "This

"If I were stronger-*

she could see my face and know that I'm

couldn't talk. I knew exactly how

merfolk oracle," Veronica said. "She's the only one

arrive, to help Elva, but I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle

said. "I've only just

hoped she knew how

her some space. I looked out

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 loved it and its name was

said

to replicate the

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

cool down," Nicholas