夜幕低垂,整座村子於深夜的寧靜中入眠,此時的艾芙娜和拿堤爾,正在一間狹小的房間裡兩人獨處。81Please respect copyright.PENANAa2bT4Qu62s
81Please respect copyright.PENANA9C9V114QYe
「艾芙娜小姐,這樣沒關係嗎?」81Please respect copyright.PENANADT1nMt2PkZ
81Please respect copyright.PENANAdmIa3v2FFT
「嗯,我沒關係。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA0IM0pAkzHE
81Please respect copyright.PENANA6XuIP8MdyZ
因為臨時沒有多餘的房間,史萊恩只好安排艾芙娜和拿堤爾暫時睡在同一間房,房間裡的東西,除了史萊恩準備的兩張草床,就只有掛在牆壁的煤火燈,散發搖曳的微弱火光,連帶牆上的影子也不安定地晃動。81Please respect copyright.PENANAt5ICmR0bDs
81Please respect copyright.PENANAm06S3g1WFK
「沒關係的話就好……反正只有今晚而已。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA6IGoTL2oqz
81Please respect copyright.PENANASHCHLs3TjS
坐在草床上的拿堤爾有些尷尬地接話,因為房間太過狹窄,現在他只要伸出手臂,就可以碰到艾芙娜的床,而這村子的夜晚又過於靜謐,他感覺自己和艾芙娜的距離,近到能聽見彼此的呼吸聲。81Please respect copyright.PENANAPaD7KjBcvd
81Please respect copyright.PENANAIg1NyVvboX
自從爺爺去世之後,拿堤爾就沒有和別人在同個房間裡睡覺過,更何況對方還是剛認識的異性,讓他有些不知所措。81Please respect copyright.PENANA5i9gKhiiK7
81Please respect copyright.PENANAHMnQFRAUTx
在拿堤爾的目光之下,艾芙娜用被子掩蓋自己嬌小的身軀,她習慣性地低垂著頭,銀灰髮絲遮掩她的清秀臉龐,她此時的表情隱藏於陰影裡,令拿堤爾無從窺見她的心緒。81Please respect copyright.PENANA6TYfH8AYrS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAldY1UgX5QU
「那我就先熄燈了,晚安,艾芙娜小姐。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAzskkO4Inf2
81Please respect copyright.PENANAz2QngWIMma
「等等,拿堤爾先生。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAQqo5cIukFe
81Please respect copyright.PENANASYCIsmfY1u
正當拿堤爾想遁逃進睡夢中,以度過這難熬的夜晚,艾芙娜卻出聲制止了他。81Please respect copyright.PENANAc3afZSMHUP
81Please respect copyright.PENANAymshAds8kU
「怎麼了嗎?」拿堤爾訝異地看向艾芙娜。81Please respect copyright.PENANAfnAjjebRY7
81Please respect copyright.PENANAsMwapndbSW
「沒…沒什麼,只是……」81Please respect copyright.PENANASGTy7yYYsf
81Please respect copyright.PENANAeuX8PWsZAg
周遭的空氣凝滯得令人難受,艾芙娜輕聲道:「我想問你,為什麼這麼想要修好我的音樂盒?」81Please respect copyright.PENANATAD85mKGUy
81Please respect copyright.PENANAVbVHTcjBCN
這問題令拿堤爾猝不及防,但想到艾芙娜是音樂盒的擁有者,也知道他伯萊雅族的獸人身分,便決定向艾芙娜坦白。81Please respect copyright.PENANAORm9m0Lin3
81Please respect copyright.PENANAj0DuTLdfJz
「因為,那個音樂盒是我爺爺鍛造的魔具。」聽見這句話,艾芙娜驚訝地瞪大雙眼。81Please respect copyright.PENANA5qxZ95LEbO
81Please respect copyright.PENANAUg60iWJfd5
拿堤爾低沉的嗓音,在寂寥的夜裡宛如潺潺流水,悠悠道出從未對別人傾訴的過去:「我們伯萊雅族,代代定居於北方的雪峰寒地,伯萊雅族是火之祖靈-斯拉的後裔,所以我們的魔力能操縱火焰,並善於以火焰鍛造金屬,族裡許多人也大都是鐵匠或工匠。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA7RWoNCfgJ0
81Please respect copyright.PENANArnJWDOm8Ka
「而我的爺爺名字叫法提烏,是我們族裡最優秀的魔具工匠,他能理解世上的每種礦石及金屬,找出與魔晶最為契合的魔具材料,他所打造出的魔具,能讓刻印於魔晶內的魔力術式發揮最強大的魔法,因此許多人不惜踏上險峻的裘喀拉雪峰,就是為了請我的爺爺鍛造魔具。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAb100Ogdy3u
81Please respect copyright.PENANAu9GltyBFX1
「妳的音樂盒,就是我爺爺離世前的最後一件作品,在我小的時候,我就親眼見過那個音樂盒,我絕對不會認錯的。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA1VjOJzaLJk
81Please respect copyright.PENANAuBZiLszvUn
拿堤爾的赤紅雙眸,閃現如火焰般的熾亮光輝,連帶艾芙娜的眼中也映照出那份光輝。81Please respect copyright.PENANAU8LCSTAEtc
81Please respect copyright.PENANAwMOUPTajl5
「所以,請妳相信我,或許我的手藝還沒有達到爺爺的境界,但我一定竭盡所能修好爺爺做的音樂盒,因為那對我來說也是很重要的東西。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAMAP8uhwJGl
81Please respect copyright.PENANA2eEqNDvNFP
艾芙娜低下頭,又是一陣無言的沉默。81Please respect copyright.PENANAzlUw7RBrI2
81Please respect copyright.PENANAORBWTxp3aG
艾芙娜的猶豫,讓拿堤爾心頭湧上無法言喻的苦悶感,即使待在同一個地方,彼此的距離似乎仍是難以企及的遙遠。81Please respect copyright.PENANAnah0BzYEYo
81Please respect copyright.PENANATe2FxFbzKj
「那個音樂盒,也是你重要的東西啊。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAcnnHLtagAE
81Please respect copyright.PENANAoa0ZcIVUyO
在時間流動得無比緩慢的靜默中,無預兆的,艾芙娜細如弦絲的聲音,在拿堤爾耳裡如喚醒萬物的春雷一般響亮。81Please respect copyright.PENANA3IV1MF2Wx8
81Please respect copyright.PENANAn4352724HC
「艾芙娜小姐?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAQS4aToqfoL
81Please respect copyright.PENANApiPjwOwLUw
拿堤爾還以為是自己的幻聽,但他望見艾芙娜如一泓清泉的澄澈雙眸,正倒映出自己的身影,讓他結實胸膛裡的心臟宛如擂鼓般怦怦直跳。81Please respect copyright.PENANABGGKQ2slRS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAKgOy7EdW9P
「那個音樂盒,是我母親唯一留給我的寶物。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAkA2fl5U7V5
81Please respect copyright.PENANAczzLBsxGXA
艾芙娜淡淡的說道,她不再將自己隱藏於陰影中,坦然面對拿堤爾。81Please respect copyright.PENANA6MMzCRW91P
81Please respect copyright.PENANANdGJVj740q
「我還是嬰兒時,我的母親就離開了我,留下的就只有這個音樂盒,即使現在音樂盒發不出任何聲音,卻依然是我最珍貴的寶物。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAttN84jNmOk
81Please respect copyright.PENANA07mjZTaJ3G
「但是,如果音樂盒對拿堤爾先生也很重要的話,那我願意相信你。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAwN5VwvsP62
81Please respect copyright.PENANANBgJbhn6ou
少女的聲音在深夜的靜謐更加清澈響亮,凝聚在她周遭的孤絕氛圍已然散去,她的神情平靜且溫柔,宛如雨過天晴的明淨天空一般。81Please respect copyright.PENANAw3PK8xzWQO
81Please respect copyright.PENANAN5qq9MKix7
「謝謝妳,艾芙娜小姐,我一定會修好妳珍貴的音樂盒。」少女願意相信自己的喜悅,拿堤爾的心房滿溢。81Please respect copyright.PENANAgtW7sU0V2U
81Please respect copyright.PENANAhySgtbrQD6
拿堤爾覺得這是她的內心與自己最靠近的時刻,想要離開這個村子的想法也更加堅定。81Please respect copyright.PENANAXllCx4YZAq
81Please respect copyright.PENANAKH03EGoq0x
在陌生異地共度的第一個夜晚,兩人締結了重要的約定。81Please respect copyright.PENANA39tIriQDBc
81Please respect copyright.PENANA8Km1TROOOw
* * *81Please respect copyright.PENANA55eLwfxm5T
81Please respect copyright.PENANAg5Qq1Iu9m4
敲打金屬的鏗鏘聲響,伴隨爐火燃燒木材的嗶剝聲,悄悄鑽進男孩的耳裡。81Please respect copyright.PENANAgiNTIqgzrr
81Please respect copyright.PENANAREQzJ8Ntua
從深沉的睡眠中睜開略為沉重的眼皮,他的視線朦朧,老人微微駝背的削瘦背影,在爐火的照耀下卻無比的鮮明清晰。81Please respect copyright.PENANAA7PVg3ELfr
81Please respect copyright.PENANAY5qYN1FzYH
「爺爺……」他虛弱地呼喚眼前的身影。81Please respect copyright.PENANA7wI8JLdeVS
81Please respect copyright.PENANAQsQdgVuxTP
「拿堤爾,怎麼這時候醒來了?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAmNKF19sBRu
81Please respect copyright.PENANA15ZVoAgchB
爐火前的老人回頭望向男孩,老人的頭上長了一對蜷曲的棕紅大角,他的黝黑身軀及臉龐,宛如矗立於山峰的大理岩,被悠長歲月錘鍊的粗糙而堅實,還有幾道看來怵目驚心的傷痕,銘刻於他的胸膛以及右側臉頰。81Please respect copyright.PENANAEsuuqCEzC8
81Please respect copyright.PENANAegWqzTYeo0
「我現在不睏了,爺爺,我想去你那裡,可以嗎?」男孩有些乏力從床上起身,銀髮間隱約露出的赤紅眼瞳滿溢著渴望。81Please respect copyright.PENANA4kFUhV9lyj
81Please respect copyright.PENANAxmihXWRxoF
「那過來坐我前面吧。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA3eqdGPXd4u
81Please respect copyright.PENANAZkLa9XiLK3
老人的允諾提振了男孩的精神,男孩下床緩緩走過去,然後坐在老人的大腿之間。男孩看著鍛造爐內燒得通紅的鐵塊,開口問道:「爺爺,這個是巴莫鐵礦嗎?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAhloEVRnq9P
81Please respect copyright.PENANAFAKRQeqmaM
男孩一眼就能認出其材質,讓老人頗感欣慰。81Please respect copyright.PENANA2LlsdfCUAL
81Please respect copyright.PENANAyS5X67pqKL
「是啊,你想試試看嗎?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAfSed5uDq23
81Please respect copyright.PENANAmrd6b3qnec
男孩滿懷期待地點點頭,單純可愛的反應,讓老人如岩石般嚴峻的面孔浮現柔和笑意。81Please respect copyright.PENANAsYrMrXbkUw
81Please respect copyright.PENANAJSOFx4FDlP
「那就握著我的手吧。」81Please respect copyright.PENANARwBHnYLzQJ
81Please respect copyright.PENANAii7LHFI41M
男孩纖瘦的手,被老人厚實的大手輕柔握住,然後一起伸進鍛造爐的烈焰中。81Please respect copyright.PENANAlyxq2FFb7w
81Please respect copyright.PENANAR1OaSIz4LF
火焰的灼熱沒有傷到他們的膚肉,並在兩人的手臂刻印上赤紅色的明亮圖紋,宛如流動於地表的炙熱岩漿,蘊含生命最原始的脈動。81Please respect copyright.PENANAkNdkF5E5rQ
81Please respect copyright.PENANAGv4DG5uMSa
老人和男孩同時將雙手從爐火內抽出,他們的手挾帶著火焰的炙熱與光亮,然後觸碰了鍛造爐裡的鐵塊。81Please respect copyright.PENANAbbtSTn1R9a
81Please respect copyright.PENANAu4iT2rMwQO
「巴克萊耶˙巴頓斯塔諾˙法克萊」(悠久的有形之物啊,請讓我諦聽您的生命)81Please respect copyright.PENANAlnNxRfQCkT
81Please respect copyright.PENANA2CMq2T4Mv2
蒼老枯啞的聲音,吟誦以伯萊雅語編織的咒文,兩人手臂的圖紋同時迸發出有別於火焰的熱流,並為男孩孱弱的身軀注入一股強健的力量,牽引著他的思緒進入礦石蘊藏的記憶中。81Please respect copyright.PENANAazJNeZrJGW
81Please respect copyright.PENANAMIBdbKC3Qh
千萬年之前,賽媞亞大陸初生之時,在地底深處流動的炙熱岩漿是大地的脈動,形塑出「它」最初的形體。在幽深的土地之下,經過漫長歲月的澱積與凝練,「它」也逐漸堅實沉穩,成為足以支撐這片大地的基石。81Please respect copyright.PENANALp5r65LyKG
81Please respect copyright.PENANAs6O5siF80J
「它」內在的材質構造與悠久記憶,已盡數被男孩理解掌握。81Please respect copyright.PENANAkHfA0Pt3Gi
81Please respect copyright.PENANACBMmZeRQFo
老人將鐵鎚交到男孩手上,鐵鎚沉甸甸的重量讓男孩難以握緊,但老人厚實的大掌隨即包覆住男孩的手,與他一同緊握鐵鎚。81Please respect copyright.PENANAkL48mgq1AT
81Please respect copyright.PENANAl94r55i0uP
鏘!鏘!鏘!81Please respect copyright.PENANAfjsU2cpUkY
81Please respect copyright.PENANAiwSMueJHOX
老人與男孩一起揮動鐵鎚,每對鐵塊進行一次次的敲擊,金屬相撞的沉穩顫動就一次次傳遞到男孩手心,就宛如接近生命源頭的心臟律動,讓男孩的心隨著每次的敲擊一同鼓動。纏繞於他們手臂的炙紅熱流,也在敲擊過程注入鐵塊當中,在錘鍊下迸射出微小星火。81Please respect copyright.PENANAiPI0ia1hP3
81Please respect copyright.PENANAatGyweSl19
待鐵塊形塑成鋒利的刀刃,老人便將其置於冷水中,完成初步的鍛造。81Please respect copyright.PENANAThxk8xlVmW
81Please respect copyright.PENANAaOxGsWbnET
「呼…真的好有趣喔,爺爺。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAPDbN27XeoP
81Please respect copyright.PENANAT22pJZngz2
男孩還有些氣喘吁吁的,紅通通的臉龐綻開單純的笑容。81Please respect copyright.PENANA1JERCDhtqD
81Please respect copyright.PENANAvUYF3ILgXr
老人的粗厚大掌撫摸男孩小小的腦袋,對他說:「拿堤爾,這塊鐵礦曾是賽媞亞大陸的一部份,雖然「它」的生命歷史古老悠久,卻還沒有所謂的靈魂,所以我把「它」鍛造成器具,如果之後有人對「它」注入深厚的情感,就會孕育出屬於「它」的靈魂。」81Please respect copyright.PENANA4yx1lSO632
81Please respect copyright.PENANAWuCORG97ix
「雖然有點難懂,但意思是要大家珍惜這些器具,對不對?」81Please respect copyright.PENANAKOWe0qkWUK
81Please respect copyright.PENANAIVHbVKMYhS
「說的很對,我想你很快就會變成出色的工匠了。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAQFYaP0EkAO
81Please respect copyright.PENANAOc48AceRVX
聽見老人的稱讚,男孩沒有感到開心,臉龐反而浮現一抹鬱色。81Please respect copyright.PENANATRwFT4Zbgq
81Please respect copyright.PENANAOWA3059BaA
「爺爺,沒辦法的,我太脆弱了,連鐵鎚都無法自己拿起來,我還寧願我天生只是一塊石頭,至少身體不會覺得難受,也不會給爺爺添麻煩。」81Please respect copyright.PENANAEVG1dlRJN6
81Please respect copyright.PENANAnbGT5xx3kU
男孩天生體質羸弱,加上年幼時就離開熟悉的故鄉,過著漂泊流浪的苦旅生活,即使現在過著安穩的日子,從前生出的舊疾依然摧折他的身心,每隔幾天,男孩便會感到呼吸困難,心臟劇痛,必須吃價格昂貴的藥才能鎮定下來。因此老人為了賺取藥費,白日除了在礦區挖礦的繁重粗活外,晚上還必須鍛造鐵具補貼藥費。這一切,男孩都看在眼裡。81Please respect copyright.PENANAcjGEe2iPbO
81Please respect copyright.PENANAj8xpy4bNpp
他對爺爺深感愧疚,厭惡自己的脆弱多病,卻依然無能為力,不由自主地欽羨礦石那堅毅的生命。81Please respect copyright.PENANAd3H7Ww8z3p
81Please respect copyright.PENANALwILWUIqpC
「別這麼說,孩子。」81Please respect copyright.PENANATd1mfKE7Zp
81Please respect copyright.PENANAkbwxY9RE60
男孩被老人輕輕摟在懷裡,聽見老人話語中的哀傷。81Please respect copyright.PENANAdap09exRFk
81Please respect copyright.PENANAIlNnumhD0V
「真正脆弱的人是我,我無法好好保護你,不但讓你失去了雙角,就連我們的故鄉,我也無法好好守護。」81Please respect copyright.PENANASNUigJnuVx
81Please respect copyright.PENANAi1CoXTUfcS
男孩感覺到老人的身軀微微顫抖,腦海中浮現出老人對他描繪過無數次的故鄉景色。81Please respect copyright.PENANAprEGqfdElK
81Please respect copyright.PENANAu2tDi48z5U
在高聳挺拔的裘喀拉雪峰,有一群銀髮黑膚的伯萊雅族人定居於此,他們的頭上有跟老人一樣的彎曲雙角,那是繼承祖靈斯拉血脈的象徵,即使是在皚皚白雪終年覆蓋的苦寒之地,伯萊雅族的人們仍能燃起熊熊火焰,點亮這片陰寒的大地,誇耀伯萊雅族炙熱強韌的靈魂。81Please respect copyright.PENANAQKylGPTeZi
81Please respect copyright.PENANA7WkJHEm8Ws
然而,這些對失去雙角的男孩而言,都是無法觸及的遙遠過往,他現在所擁有的,只有老人對他敞開的暖熱胸膛。81Please respect copyright.PENANAdqTYYh5Hnr
81Please respect copyright.PENANAwaLAd1Sx4w
老人沉穩的心跳聲撫平男孩的憂傷,他不想離開這份溫暖的懷抱。81Please respect copyright.PENANAUjxDD9gWyZ
81Please respect copyright.PENANArG3aFBru9q
「那麼,我和爺爺永遠不要分開,好嗎?」81Please respect copyright.PENANA30jWdVeRgg
81Please respect copyright.PENANAiMvEjwfpUQ
此時的男孩並沒有想到,他的這句話,他唯一的祈願,在不久後的未來,將化作夢幻泡影。81Please respect copyright.PENANAPjiggb2EbE
81Please respect copyright.PENANA6qDTbX8SHH
* * *81Please respect copyright.PENANAJHHFn6qu0N
81Please respect copyright.PENANA5vhjMXqYg8
在一片寂靜的黑暗中,拿堤爾睜開雙眼,思緒恍惚而朦朧,一時之間無法分辨眼前的黑暗跟剛才的溫暖,究竟哪一邊才是現實。81Please respect copyright.PENANAuuFCnu1zFq
81Please respect copyright.PENANAonus7cVduJ
已經多久沒有夢到爺爺了?爺爺過世之後,拿堤爾一直無法回答這個問題,夢境對他而言,是過於曖昧不清且捉摸不定的幻影,每次在他醒來之後,夢境就會在他腦中如薄霧般散去,只留下模糊的記憶。81Please respect copyright.PENANAPnWJWM2Mp6
81Please respect copyright.PENANA0jk4N3MHIN
然而,剛剛的夢境卻是那麼清晰鮮明,他的身體彷彿還能感受到爐火的餘溫,以及爺爺懷抱的溫度,他感到無比眷戀,卻也暗自感傷。81Please respect copyright.PENANAmTIWDknkia
81Please respect copyright.PENANA8uyjP1iCAj
或許是因為今天跟別人說了不少有關爺爺的事,也或許是因為身處異地,加深了潛意識的思念之情,不論如何,他終究無法喚回已經失去的一切,只能在夢的彼岸與已逝之人相會。81Please respect copyright.PENANAAJXWRIy5vw
81Please respect copyright.PENANAEuDZ1GJjE2
「不要,求求你…拜託……」附近的黑暗傳來微弱的呻吟,在平靜如水的夜晚掀起細微波紋。81Please respect copyright.PENANAT465573bJK
81Please respect copyright.PENANAUFqbjSy6XB
查覺到異狀的拿堤爾趕緊點燈,他看見艾芙娜小小的身軀在被窩裡蜷縮著,她眉間緊皺,表情有些痛苦,並吐出斷斷續續細如蚊鳴的囈語。81Please respect copyright.PENANAqz1WpD2Ntc
81Please respect copyright.PENANAJybAbQtep0
拿堤爾下意識地朝艾芙娜伸出手,但隨即又收了回來,在艾芙娜的惡夢之外,他無法出手幫助,只好選擇不去驚擾她。81Please respect copyright.PENANAwqU3YD9x0y
81Please respect copyright.PENANAgHsl9qzBiU
拿堤爾將燈火熄滅,一切又歸於黑暗中。81Please respect copyright.PENANApfQX5dQ1iN
81Please respect copyright.PENANAm91ZVDheuE
拿堤爾再度躺回床上,艾芙娜的囈語仍在耳邊徘徊,紛雜的思緒縈繞於心,令他闔上雙眼依然難以入眠。81Please respect copyright.PENANAQTi9xFs29U