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?"

breath. "That magic trick' 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 properly evaluate

great sign! If the book

looked anything but happy about

I asked, because looking at Veronica, I was

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

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

said. Cóntent

was beginning to

pulled my heart out a little. I wanted her to say

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

of power? Veronica was the only one I knew who

you remove her

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

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 expressions that the diagnosis was

no," I said quickly.

"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

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

said. "She's the

I still didn't know if I could fully trust her. The oracle was a stranger. This

just started. Maybe there's more

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

book, and I walked off a little ways, wanting to give her some

Elva called, "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 and given it

said to the

fairly quickly after that and she rushed over to a pile of napkins in an attempt to replicate the bird. Unfortunately, Veronica didn't notice to be able to help. The

Together we stood side by side. We both turned

to cool down," Nicholas said. "I'm