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之後,蓮花池畔的倒影再沒有其他人出現過,亞圖姆幾乎可說是著了魔似的,日復一日,看著海馬的生活。他無法再繼續參與對方的人生,對方也不會知道他就在無法企及的彼岸,與他一塊面對日常的每一個片刻,但那總比什麼都不做來得好些。亞圖姆想。9Please respect copyright.PENANAufe1tJCZXv
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發現亞圖姆突如其來的失落,對神官們而言並非難事,至於害他們家法老悶悶不樂的原因,更是連猜測的過程都省了。相較之下,如何令法老重展歡顏,反倒是件困難 得多的任務。問題的關鍵並不在他們身上,即使神官們對此憂心忡忡, 阿克納姆卡諾注視兒子的目光多了不只一倍的憐惜,馬哈德急得跳腳,也無法根除少年王臉上的憂愁。
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之後,蓮花池畔的倒影再沒有其他人出現過,亞圖姆幾乎可說是著了魔似的,日復一日,看著海馬的生活。他無法再繼續參與對方的人生,對方也不會知道他就在無法企及的彼岸,與他一塊面對日常的每一個片刻,但那總比什麼都不做來得好些。亞圖姆想。9Please respect copyright.PENANAufe1tJCZXv
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發現亞圖姆突如其來的失落,對神官們而言並非難事,至於害他們家法老悶悶不樂的原因,更是連猜測的過程都省了。相較之下,如何令法老重展歡顏,反倒是件困難 得多的任務。問題的關鍵並不在他們身上,即使神官們對此憂心忡忡, 阿克納姆卡諾注視兒子的目光多了不只一倍的憐惜,馬哈德急得跳腳,也無法根除少年王臉上的憂愁。
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憑藉海馬桌上的日曆,他終於知道人世的時間,自他返回冥界起,已過了將近一年。而每晚下班後,在辦公室獨自整理亞圖姆過往資料的海馬的身影,於慣常的傲慢、自信、不可一世之外,那即使面對亞圖姆也甚少流露的,卸下所有武裝,真實的溫情與思念,既讓他無法自拔地沈浸,同時也帶來比死亡更劇烈的痛楚。亞圖姆義無反顧地耽溺其中,如同染上了毒癮,著迷地一遍遍嚐盡那難以忍受的劇痛,不厭其煩。9Please respect copyright.PENANAF5XuRn5ICq
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既然你捨不得,為何到最後什麼都不說?9Please respect copyright.PENANACJ34ptq2hS
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如果你曾後悔,為什麼還要讓我離去?9Please respect copyright.PENANAI3tVuxLTXi
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亞圖姆很清楚,不論海馬或瑟特,他們的真情都不是用聽的,而是得用看的,時而藏在夾槍帶棍的言語間,時而隱含在霸道的行為或蠻橫的舉動中。大多數人都因為那刺耳嚴厲的外衣而退卻,不曾想要閃避那些利劍長矛,嘗試探究那被尖銳外殼包裹的內在,因此幾乎沒有人知到,他們的心的柔軟。雖然亞圖姆明知這點,仍是免不了對海馬有所怨懟——說句「你留下來」是有這麼困難嗎?如果當初海馬老實說了,甚至就一個臨別的擁抱,臨別的吻……9Please respect copyright.PENANARn0WzP6Ouc
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不,即使如此,他還是會走的。亞圖姆苦笑。9Please respect copyright.PENANAi3DYiaUk5E
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從圭平跟磯野的言談中,亞圖姆得知,自他走後的一年間,海馬不曾再決鬥過。一方面是因為沒必要——依海馬的決鬥實力,及KC盃大賽上大敗吉古殺雞儆猴的前例,除卻老妄想著出一口氣、神經也夠大條的城之內,基本上沒人敢對海馬公司的社長提出挑戰。不過,另一方面,亞圖姆確實也佔有不小的因素。沒有亞圖姆的決鬥場,海馬顯然連踏上去的興趣都沒有。換句話說,海馬再也沒有決鬥的理由了。兩者交互影響之下,便造就了海馬不再決鬥的事實。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZhAhtWeDkK
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不過,這絕不代表海馬就此切斷了與決鬥的聯繫。當亞圖姆看到出現在海馬提出的那份「決鬥學院」企劃案,他的唇角不由得上揚起愉悅的弧度。海馬對決鬥的執念,總讓他在喜悅之外,更感到安心。身為一個虛幻的靈魂,只有決鬥場可以紀錄下他存在的痕跡,也因此,與其說海馬執著於決鬥,倒不如說是執著於對這個現在名為「亞圖姆」、曾經被稱為「闇」的靈魂。至於原本對征服的慾望、勝利的渴求,怎麼會演變成從決鬥場打到床上的局面,就不是他可以理解的了。9Please respect copyright.PENANABK0rkTNvFQ
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直到亞圖姆找回記憶,他這才明白了那跨越三千年的執著。9Please respect copyright.PENANAeYNATcGNRL
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帶著在神官們眼中總算撥雲見日的微笑,亞圖姆看著海馬用他一貫的超強行動力,爭取和國際幻像社與修雷達兄弟的合作,以確保決鬥學院充分的資源,到選定校址、教學規劃、學院竣工,蜂擁而至的第一屆學生——除了那該死的分級制度,把代表他的歐西里斯放在最下級之外,亞圖姆倒還挺滿意海馬創建的這個學院。就這方面而言,他必須承認,有時候他真不明白海馬的一些作為居心何在。9Please respect copyright.PENANABPDbUEQ22X
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同時,他也沒像現在這般後悔回到冥界。海馬辦決鬥學院的目的是為了他,但亞圖姆也清楚海馬絕對是打死不認,若能當面戳破並對那個他很有意見的分級制度大肆批評,豈不痛快——9Please respect copyright.PENANAMrmy2RWYzj
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喔好吧,他承認,這個理由確實很差勁。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8We7AMsGgs
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他只是想再見海馬一面,在他還沒被思念啃蝕殆盡陷入瘋狂之前。9Please respect copyright.PENANA3eyHrjNWTc
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「看樣子,你似乎不是很滿意諸神的決定。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAoA2IWhPM8Q
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突如其來的陌生語音。亞圖姆瞬時起身回頭,只見一個人身狗頭的埃及神祇,在他身後俯視著他。那形象亞圖姆並不陌生,這位神祇的身影出現在古埃及壁畫的次數可說十分頻繁,所司之職又與人類生活息息相關,即使貴為法老,終有一日也必須回到祂的面前。9Please respect copyright.PENANAzahHywGemV
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「阿努比斯?」亞圖姆不可置信,圓瞠的美眸略帶戒備,瞅著面前的死神,「為什麼你會在這裡?……我回到冥界,卻沒有接受審判,也是你所謂『諸神的決定』嗎?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAMvOcKQwo7d
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「這是奬賞。諸神認同你們封印邪神的貢獻,決定實現你們心裡的願望,當作對你們犧牲性命的報償。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAy1fpGhGd4z
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「報償?」亞圖姆沈思了會,忽道:「該不會是這座宮殿——」9Please respect copyright.PENANAOAiIG3kg1C
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「沒錯。除了已經轉生的人,你們所有人的願望,其實都是相同的。你們都想回到邪神入侵前的生活。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAQIr7qLLTzd
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「所以大家才會在冥界一醒來,就發現自己在跟三千年前完全相同的宮殿?」亞圖姆續道:「而那些被大霧籠罩,看不清楚的部份,是因為在我們心中沒有那麼重要,所以平常不會出現,但須要的時候,從內部還是走得到。能夠窺探人世的蓮池,則是因為那是我的希望?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAfFMxReWDGn
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「正確的推論。」死神臉上依舊看不出什麼表情,有一剎那亞圖姆覺得祂應該在笑,可那過於短暫的時間,神祇超然的神性所表現出的淡然,令他實在無法肯定,「可是現在,『我們』——或者該說『我』,踫上了一點麻煩。」這回,亞圖姆很明確地看到了,死神意味深長的微笑,「你的願望改變了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAif61zMET4i
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「我並不是不希望跟家人在一起。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAVEwK2l5RMb
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是的,「家人」。那些隨他一塊出生入死的神官,亞圖姆對他們的情感,早就超越了一般君臣,而更接近家人朝夕相處的親情。9Please respect copyright.PENANAdDThgUDsi7
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「我說過,諸神決定給你們的奬賞,是實現你們內心的願望。」阿努比斯說,「而轉生這種事,對死神來說,其實並不如你們人類想像的那般困難。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAGhGXMIlfK5
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「你的意思是——」巨大的驚喜若瀑布俯衝而下,猛烈地刷洗過亞圖姆的靈魂。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFoI186hMrk
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「不過,你也無法割捨家人,單獨回到人世。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAhJAeLvRCLf
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究竟,神祇是否都像阿努比斯一樣,對人類的內心活動瞭如指掌?亞圖姆雖然對死神的暗示十分心動,但搖擺不定的猶豫卻也隨之而來。即使在冥界不存在時間,他也不可能辜負等他三千年的父王和神官們,斷然離去。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFBNOfveMIK
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「所以,我決定讓你考慮一段時間,過一陣子我再來聽你的答覆。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAESZ2XyFqPZ
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不給亞圖姆反應的時間,阿努比斯倏忽消失,如同來時一般,難以捉摸。9Please respect copyright.PENANATIvi5hkDlL
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「父王,原諒我。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAP7ZrMfQmEC
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死神走後,亞圖姆馬上命宮女把所有人召集至大殿,將阿努比斯的話轉述出來。原本在亞圖姆說完話後是一片靜默,但他卻於這喧譁的靜默之中, 突然在阿克納姆卡諾面前跪下。9Please respect copyright.PENANAQs4RczxFD6
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「我的孩子,到底瑟特是有怎樣的魅力,讓你為他如此傷神?」前任法老王滿面慈愛,疼惜地拉起神情愧疚的亞圖姆。9Please respect copyright.PENANAme9Qj9M6rr
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「我應該要感謝諸神的報償,能夠像這樣和大家一起生活,的確是我最大的心願,可是……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAyKhJ6rPyll
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「我一直不明白,為什麼王會看上瑟特。」卡利姆的疑問,得到夏迪的附和。9Please respect copyright.PENANAoaEsV8MB5Q
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「瑟特大人在王離開後,很盡責地按照王的吩咐,重建被邪神蹂躪的底比斯。在他的帶領下,埃及的光榮更勝往昔,邁向另一個盛世的高峰。」馬娜忍不住插嘴,「雖然他很冷漠又嚴厲,但大人的才華和對王的心意絕對可靠!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAbmHtnMVwlo
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「我的孩子,你已經放下王的重擔,卻還是想把事情獨自一人扛起嗎?」阿克納姆卡諾愛憐地握住兒子的手,「身為父親,我永遠支持你的決定。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAqWRGUxg59U
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「父王!」亞圖姆握緊父親的手,神態略微激動。9Please respect copyright.PENANAU3n7Zdg450
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「三千年前我來不及看你長大,至少這次,讓我看著你找到自己的幸福。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAaa2kKPlZAn
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「您的意思是,要和王一起回到現世嗎?」夏迪問,「按照阿努比斯神的說法,和王的情況,只要我們的願望改變,神明們就必須據此做出修正。換言之,如果我們都想跟王同進退,或許我們也可以得到一起轉生的權利。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAsL24POPnjR
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「王,不管您要前往何方,馬哈德永遠伴您左右。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA4YCgMk2wKm
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看著他的同年玩伴,亞圖姆的回應是一抹清亮的笑花,「三千年前你為了我,和巴庫拉同歸於盡,靈魂化為精靈繼續服侍於我。三千年後,你依舊在決鬥場上未我效力,我……」未竟的話語,止於馬哈德的擁抱。9Please respect copyright.PENANAtiSOCSfWm0
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「臣從來就不想要任何回報。只要能在戰場上保護您,讓您獲得勝利,便是臣最大的幸福。」9Please respect copyright.PENANATHqS4vEsM0
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「抱歉啊,王兄,沒想到瑟特那孩子居然會惹出這麼多禍,讓亞圖姆難過。」話中語意該是表示遺憾,但阿克納帝臉上的燦笑顯然完全沒有那種意思。看起來他反而很自豪於兒子的「優秀」,「不過,我也很想看看,轉世後能再度迷住亞圖姆的瑟特,究竟是什麼樣子。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAXYYQrMmuXx
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「可是,西蒙——」亞圖姆擔憂地望向始終不發一語、僅是微笑以待的老人,「西蒙的轉世不是雙六爺爺嗎?但是我卻還能在冥界看到西蒙!如果大家都重返人世的話,那麼西蒙會……」9Please respect copyright.PENANApamv8LCBfP
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「王不用擔心我的事。」西蒙的笑一如以往,和藹且溫暖,「最多就是換個形態生活而已。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA2wEPiIYgiM
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「什麼意思?」9Please respect copyright.PENANA32TKqIAkCA
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「——武藤雙六只有西蒙的一半靈魂。當年,西蒙死後,一半的靈魂順應家人的祈願轉生,另一半的靈魂則停留在冥界追隨法老。」埃及古老的死神從大殿石柱的陰影中現身。9Please respect copyright.PENANAs1uXpPiFLf
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「阿奴比斯神!」卡利姆驚呼。9Please respect copyright.PENANAwwYjOhajlK
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「看樣子,你們已經都決定好了。」阿努比斯沒有即將完成任務的欣喜,反倒多了幾分疑惑,「絕大多數的人類,都希望死後能夠回歸冥界,免受人世之苦,你們卻反而迫不及待想回現世……我很少看到這麼喜歡受苦的人類。」9Please respect copyright.PENANANebzYWlDaB
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「這個世界其實很美好,時間永遠不存在,每個人都能停留在人生最燦爛的時刻。」亞圖姆眼眸低垂,眼中略暗的紅色若落日將近的晚霞,「可是,這樣的世界,未免太不真實。和所愛的人經歷各種甜蜜和苦澀,有生老病死,有絢爛和凋零……那才是我們追求的,邪神降臨底比斯以前的生活,正因為有痛苦,所以才更能珍惜在一起的美好!」沈著堅定的聲音,是不輕易動搖的自信,相信自己和大家一起做出的決定,「告訴我,如果西蒙和我們一起轉生,到底會……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAflhKUQgxYm
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「他的靈魂會回到武藤雙六身上,曾經一分為二的靈魂,將再度融合為一,讓武藤雙六想起關於三千年前的所有記憶。 」9Please respect copyright.PENANAy0TyDk017R
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「您的意思是,『西蒙』會消失嗎?」阿克納姆卡諾問。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFXbM3Nj1x9
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「不。雖然不能算是同一個人,不過,他會和『武藤雙六』一起活下去。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAYqIJwZjlHx
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「西蒙……」對於西蒙的終局,亞圖姆仍不免心懷憂慮。這等於是要完全抹消西蒙的存在啊!他怎麼能……9Please respect copyright.PENANAh9rY4zXgxT
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「您不必在意,王。」西蒙笑道,「就當是老人家的固執吧。我會繼續活在你們的記憶和轉生的靈魂中,那就夠了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAOex3ixLwML
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「在你們轉世的同時,諸神會賜給你們與『王』的身份相符的財富和榮耀。雖然我們認為,比起永世安樂地在冥界生活,這點『奬賞』實在微不足道。」阿努比斯歎息,「那麼,諸位請隨我來。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAz7udNKeAFt
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待續9Please respect copyright.PENANAOO3N6LCy8k
ns216.73.216.187da2 9Please respect copyright.PENANA4e6O2ZwUAx
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既然你捨不得,為何到最後什麼都不說?9Please respect copyright.PENANACJ34ptq2hS
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如果你曾後悔,為什麼還要讓我離去?9Please respect copyright.PENANAI3tVuxLTXi
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亞圖姆很清楚,不論海馬或瑟特,他們的真情都不是用聽的,而是得用看的,時而藏在夾槍帶棍的言語間,時而隱含在霸道的行為或蠻橫的舉動中。大多數人都因為那刺耳嚴厲的外衣而退卻,不曾想要閃避那些利劍長矛,嘗試探究那被尖銳外殼包裹的內在,因此幾乎沒有人知到,他們的心的柔軟。雖然亞圖姆明知這點,仍是免不了對海馬有所怨懟——說句「你留下來」是有這麼困難嗎?如果當初海馬老實說了,甚至就一個臨別的擁抱,臨別的吻……9Please respect copyright.PENANARn0WzP6Ouc
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不,即使如此,他還是會走的。亞圖姆苦笑。9Please respect copyright.PENANAi3DYiaUk5E
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從圭平跟磯野的言談中,亞圖姆得知,自他走後的一年間,海馬不曾再決鬥過。一方面是因為沒必要——依海馬的決鬥實力,及KC盃大賽上大敗吉古殺雞儆猴的前例,除卻老妄想著出一口氣、神經也夠大條的城之內,基本上沒人敢對海馬公司的社長提出挑戰。不過,另一方面,亞圖姆確實也佔有不小的因素。沒有亞圖姆的決鬥場,海馬顯然連踏上去的興趣都沒有。換句話說,海馬再也沒有決鬥的理由了。兩者交互影響之下,便造就了海馬不再決鬥的事實。9Please respect copyright.PENANAZhAhtWeDkK
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不過,這絕不代表海馬就此切斷了與決鬥的聯繫。當亞圖姆看到出現在海馬提出的那份「決鬥學院」企劃案,他的唇角不由得上揚起愉悅的弧度。海馬對決鬥的執念,總讓他在喜悅之外,更感到安心。身為一個虛幻的靈魂,只有決鬥場可以紀錄下他存在的痕跡,也因此,與其說海馬執著於決鬥,倒不如說是執著於對這個現在名為「亞圖姆」、曾經被稱為「闇」的靈魂。至於原本對征服的慾望、勝利的渴求,怎麼會演變成從決鬥場打到床上的局面,就不是他可以理解的了。9Please respect copyright.PENANABK0rkTNvFQ
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直到亞圖姆找回記憶,他這才明白了那跨越三千年的執著。9Please respect copyright.PENANAeYNATcGNRL
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帶著在神官們眼中總算撥雲見日的微笑,亞圖姆看著海馬用他一貫的超強行動力,爭取和國際幻像社與修雷達兄弟的合作,以確保決鬥學院充分的資源,到選定校址、教學規劃、學院竣工,蜂擁而至的第一屆學生——除了那該死的分級制度,把代表他的歐西里斯放在最下級之外,亞圖姆倒還挺滿意海馬創建的這個學院。就這方面而言,他必須承認,有時候他真不明白海馬的一些作為居心何在。9Please respect copyright.PENANABPDbUEQ22X
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同時,他也沒像現在這般後悔回到冥界。海馬辦決鬥學院的目的是為了他,但亞圖姆也清楚海馬絕對是打死不認,若能當面戳破並對那個他很有意見的分級制度大肆批評,豈不痛快——9Please respect copyright.PENANAMrmy2RWYzj
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喔好吧,他承認,這個理由確實很差勁。9Please respect copyright.PENANA8We7AMsGgs
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他只是想再見海馬一面,在他還沒被思念啃蝕殆盡陷入瘋狂之前。9Please respect copyright.PENANA3eyHrjNWTc
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「看樣子,你似乎不是很滿意諸神的決定。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAoA2IWhPM8Q
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突如其來的陌生語音。亞圖姆瞬時起身回頭,只見一個人身狗頭的埃及神祇,在他身後俯視著他。那形象亞圖姆並不陌生,這位神祇的身影出現在古埃及壁畫的次數可說十分頻繁,所司之職又與人類生活息息相關,即使貴為法老,終有一日也必須回到祂的面前。9Please respect copyright.PENANAzahHywGemV
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「阿努比斯?」亞圖姆不可置信,圓瞠的美眸略帶戒備,瞅著面前的死神,「為什麼你會在這裡?……我回到冥界,卻沒有接受審判,也是你所謂『諸神的決定』嗎?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAMvOcKQwo7d
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「這是奬賞。諸神認同你們封印邪神的貢獻,決定實現你們心裡的願望,當作對你們犧牲性命的報償。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAy1fpGhGd4z
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「報償?」亞圖姆沈思了會,忽道:「該不會是這座宮殿——」9Please respect copyright.PENANAOAiIG3kg1C
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「沒錯。除了已經轉生的人,你們所有人的願望,其實都是相同的。你們都想回到邪神入侵前的生活。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAQIr7qLLTzd
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「所以大家才會在冥界一醒來,就發現自己在跟三千年前完全相同的宮殿?」亞圖姆續道:「而那些被大霧籠罩,看不清楚的部份,是因為在我們心中沒有那麼重要,所以平常不會出現,但須要的時候,從內部還是走得到。能夠窺探人世的蓮池,則是因為那是我的希望?」9Please respect copyright.PENANAfFMxReWDGn
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「正確的推論。」死神臉上依舊看不出什麼表情,有一剎那亞圖姆覺得祂應該在笑,可那過於短暫的時間,神祇超然的神性所表現出的淡然,令他實在無法肯定,「可是現在,『我們』——或者該說『我』,踫上了一點麻煩。」這回,亞圖姆很明確地看到了,死神意味深長的微笑,「你的願望改變了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAif61zMET4i
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「我並不是不希望跟家人在一起。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAVEwK2l5RMb
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是的,「家人」。那些隨他一塊出生入死的神官,亞圖姆對他們的情感,早就超越了一般君臣,而更接近家人朝夕相處的親情。9Please respect copyright.PENANAdDThgUDsi7
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「我說過,諸神決定給你們的奬賞,是實現你們內心的願望。」阿努比斯說,「而轉生這種事,對死神來說,其實並不如你們人類想像的那般困難。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAGhGXMIlfK5
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「你的意思是——」巨大的驚喜若瀑布俯衝而下,猛烈地刷洗過亞圖姆的靈魂。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFoI186hMrk
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「不過,你也無法割捨家人,單獨回到人世。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAhJAeLvRCLf
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究竟,神祇是否都像阿努比斯一樣,對人類的內心活動瞭如指掌?亞圖姆雖然對死神的暗示十分心動,但搖擺不定的猶豫卻也隨之而來。即使在冥界不存在時間,他也不可能辜負等他三千年的父王和神官們,斷然離去。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFBNOfveMIK
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「所以,我決定讓你考慮一段時間,過一陣子我再來聽你的答覆。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAESZ2XyFqPZ
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不給亞圖姆反應的時間,阿努比斯倏忽消失,如同來時一般,難以捉摸。9Please respect copyright.PENANATIvi5hkDlL
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「父王,原諒我。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAP7ZrMfQmEC
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死神走後,亞圖姆馬上命宮女把所有人召集至大殿,將阿努比斯的話轉述出來。原本在亞圖姆說完話後是一片靜默,但他卻於這喧譁的靜默之中, 突然在阿克納姆卡諾面前跪下。9Please respect copyright.PENANAQs4RczxFD6
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「我的孩子,到底瑟特是有怎樣的魅力,讓你為他如此傷神?」前任法老王滿面慈愛,疼惜地拉起神情愧疚的亞圖姆。9Please respect copyright.PENANAme9Qj9M6rr
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「我應該要感謝諸神的報償,能夠像這樣和大家一起生活,的確是我最大的心願,可是……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAyKhJ6rPyll
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「我一直不明白,為什麼王會看上瑟特。」卡利姆的疑問,得到夏迪的附和。9Please respect copyright.PENANAoaEsV8MB5Q
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「瑟特大人在王離開後,很盡責地按照王的吩咐,重建被邪神蹂躪的底比斯。在他的帶領下,埃及的光榮更勝往昔,邁向另一個盛世的高峰。」馬娜忍不住插嘴,「雖然他很冷漠又嚴厲,但大人的才華和對王的心意絕對可靠!」9Please respect copyright.PENANAbmHtnMVwlo
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「我的孩子,你已經放下王的重擔,卻還是想把事情獨自一人扛起嗎?」阿克納姆卡諾愛憐地握住兒子的手,「身為父親,我永遠支持你的決定。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAqWRGUxg59U
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「父王!」亞圖姆握緊父親的手,神態略微激動。9Please respect copyright.PENANAU3n7Zdg450
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「三千年前我來不及看你長大,至少這次,讓我看著你找到自己的幸福。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAaa2kKPlZAn
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「您的意思是,要和王一起回到現世嗎?」夏迪問,「按照阿努比斯神的說法,和王的情況,只要我們的願望改變,神明們就必須據此做出修正。換言之,如果我們都想跟王同進退,或許我們也可以得到一起轉生的權利。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAsL24POPnjR
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「王,不管您要前往何方,馬哈德永遠伴您左右。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA4YCgMk2wKm
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看著他的同年玩伴,亞圖姆的回應是一抹清亮的笑花,「三千年前你為了我,和巴庫拉同歸於盡,靈魂化為精靈繼續服侍於我。三千年後,你依舊在決鬥場上未我效力,我……」未竟的話語,止於馬哈德的擁抱。9Please respect copyright.PENANAtiSOCSfWm0
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「臣從來就不想要任何回報。只要能在戰場上保護您,讓您獲得勝利,便是臣最大的幸福。」9Please respect copyright.PENANATHqS4vEsM0
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「抱歉啊,王兄,沒想到瑟特那孩子居然會惹出這麼多禍,讓亞圖姆難過。」話中語意該是表示遺憾,但阿克納帝臉上的燦笑顯然完全沒有那種意思。看起來他反而很自豪於兒子的「優秀」,「不過,我也很想看看,轉世後能再度迷住亞圖姆的瑟特,究竟是什麼樣子。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAXYYQrMmuXx
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「可是,西蒙——」亞圖姆擔憂地望向始終不發一語、僅是微笑以待的老人,「西蒙的轉世不是雙六爺爺嗎?但是我卻還能在冥界看到西蒙!如果大家都重返人世的話,那麼西蒙會……」9Please respect copyright.PENANApamv8LCBfP
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「王不用擔心我的事。」西蒙的笑一如以往,和藹且溫暖,「最多就是換個形態生活而已。」9Please respect copyright.PENANA2wEPiIYgiM
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「什麼意思?」9Please respect copyright.PENANA32TKqIAkCA
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「——武藤雙六只有西蒙的一半靈魂。當年,西蒙死後,一半的靈魂順應家人的祈願轉生,另一半的靈魂則停留在冥界追隨法老。」埃及古老的死神從大殿石柱的陰影中現身。9Please respect copyright.PENANAs1uXpPiFLf
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「阿奴比斯神!」卡利姆驚呼。9Please respect copyright.PENANAwwYjOhajlK
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「看樣子,你們已經都決定好了。」阿努比斯沒有即將完成任務的欣喜,反倒多了幾分疑惑,「絕大多數的人類,都希望死後能夠回歸冥界,免受人世之苦,你們卻反而迫不及待想回現世……我很少看到這麼喜歡受苦的人類。」9Please respect copyright.PENANANebzYWlDaB
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「這個世界其實很美好,時間永遠不存在,每個人都能停留在人生最燦爛的時刻。」亞圖姆眼眸低垂,眼中略暗的紅色若落日將近的晚霞,「可是,這樣的世界,未免太不真實。和所愛的人經歷各種甜蜜和苦澀,有生老病死,有絢爛和凋零……那才是我們追求的,邪神降臨底比斯以前的生活,正因為有痛苦,所以才更能珍惜在一起的美好!」沈著堅定的聲音,是不輕易動搖的自信,相信自己和大家一起做出的決定,「告訴我,如果西蒙和我們一起轉生,到底會……」9Please respect copyright.PENANAflhKUQgxYm
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「他的靈魂會回到武藤雙六身上,曾經一分為二的靈魂,將再度融合為一,讓武藤雙六想起關於三千年前的所有記憶。 」9Please respect copyright.PENANAy0TyDk017R
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「您的意思是,『西蒙』會消失嗎?」阿克納姆卡諾問。9Please respect copyright.PENANAFXbM3Nj1x9
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「不。雖然不能算是同一個人,不過,他會和『武藤雙六』一起活下去。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAYqIJwZjlHx
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「西蒙……」對於西蒙的終局,亞圖姆仍不免心懷憂慮。這等於是要完全抹消西蒙的存在啊!他怎麼能……9Please respect copyright.PENANAh9rY4zXgxT
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「您不必在意,王。」西蒙笑道,「就當是老人家的固執吧。我會繼續活在你們的記憶和轉生的靈魂中,那就夠了。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAOex3ixLwML
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「在你們轉世的同時,諸神會賜給你們與『王』的身份相符的財富和榮耀。雖然我們認為,比起永世安樂地在冥界生活,這點『奬賞』實在微不足道。」阿努比斯歎息,「那麼,諸位請隨我來。」9Please respect copyright.PENANAz7udNKeAFt
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待續9Please respect copyright.PENANAOO3N6LCy8k