鏘、鏘、鏘……267Please respect copyright.PENANAsYDsJxwvuW
267Please respect copyright.PENANANuZev1BqiU
敲打金屬的沉穩聲響,與微弱的心跳產生共鳴。267Please respect copyright.PENANA4hl8GMXfco
267Please respect copyright.PENANAzz2LC9sCZX
從深沉睡眠裡醒來,男孩轉過微微發燙的昏沉腦袋,朱紅色雙眸倒映出爐火旁的身影。267Please respect copyright.PENANA6JNjQCup5P
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdJ4aw54E3a
老人坐在鍛造爐旁,他消瘦而佝僂的背影,在明亮火光之下延伸出大片黑影,彷彿是他所背負的病痛與歲月。267Please respect copyright.PENANAaDhP0m5zOA
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwVOulo6C7I
但這無妨老人專注於手邊的工作,他握緊鐵鎚錘煉被爐火燒得燙紅的金屬,即使身軀衰老消瘦,老人俐落而強勁的動作,仍透發一股生命的強韌。267Please respect copyright.PENANAwMJH8ILzgI
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7x0uwBafma
男孩不免擔心起老人的身體,他自己身體已日漸孱弱,終於到了無法下床走動的地步,而老人為了買藥維持男孩的生命,除了每天在礦場的粗活,深夜也持續鍛造器具以貼補藥錢,但老人衰老的身體也快到了極限。267Please respect copyright.PENANAqpRUKTPm85
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhdptrhdXz2
「咳咳!」老人忍不住重咳幾聲,男孩的心不禁跟著顫抖了一下。267Please respect copyright.PENANAg1i5kckrMr
267Please respect copyright.PENANApSsXeFnKco
男孩眷戀地想再多看老人幾眼,但疲累的感覺又闔上了他的眼皮。267Please respect copyright.PENANAAbi1MK4Jnw
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvW0UjCtSgK
不知道過了多久,男孩的耳畔傳來老人的呼喚:「拿堤爾,起來吃藥囉。」267Please respect copyright.PENANArIj8oCZylY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGLF1GNVnbB
「嗯……」男孩再度睜開雙眼,這次老人就坐在他的床鋪旁,近在咫尺的距離讓他感到安心。267Please respect copyright.PENANAHMDr8pSVuy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAekKWeMdDZ6
在他眼中的老人,粗獷面龐的皺紋似乎更深了,臉頰也比以往更為削瘦,但表情卻顯得神采煥發。267Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZI4JglBrF
267Please respect copyright.PENANATz3WhUffuw
「我扶你起來。」老人小心翼翼扶起男孩虛軟的身軀,將摻著藥粉的水遞到他的唇邊,幫他喝下藥。267Please respect copyright.PENANAhnvp2Zhdr7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAV2Bpe9eHgn
「爺爺……我,之後不想再喝藥了,所以不要再工作買藥了。」男孩低語道,這不是出於孩子不愛吃藥的任性,而是對老人身體的擔憂。267Please respect copyright.PENANAWRFOeA9IPu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVrqXD8jOjw
「那我以後不買藥,這是最後一次了。」267Please respect copyright.PENANAzAwsuTGdol
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA8JIGkcMBo
男孩訝異老人這次竟然答應了,之前老人都是斷然拒絕並強迫他喝藥,但他沒有深思老人態度轉變的原因,開心地說:「爺爺,那你要一直陪在我身邊喔。」267Please respect copyright.PENANACu9Gjrddjm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAx51m4UTtPZ
老人的神情變得有些複雜,他沒有回應這句話。267Please respect copyright.PENANA0h1qECfSh5
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbrEm9pnXXI
而男孩將老人的沉默認作默許,臉龐浮現屬於孩子的單純笑容,他早就不奢望延續自己的生命,只希望能在有限的時間裡與爺爺相伴。267Please respect copyright.PENANAIzSgrM5Lnt
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKdcl1slu7H
「拿堤爾,我想給你看看這個。」老人遞到男孩面前的東西,瞬間吸引了他的目光。267Please respect copyright.PENANAfWW9o2GOxc
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvFlF984iNG
「這個是……爺爺做的?」老人捧著只有一個手掌大的四方形盒子,其金屬外殼泛著銀亮光澤,並鐫刻淺藍色的幾何花紋,整體外觀小巧雅致。267Please respect copyright.PENANA3WMdCuzqrl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJu44yVqmot
「嗯,是我做的魔具。」267Please respect copyright.PENANAFoTQglszH4
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3G5gFbRkR2
「咦?爺爺最近做的就是魔具嗎?」267Please respect copyright.PENANAYtSQFUZ9Ld
267Please respect copyright.PENANAL8ccCVSxTs
男孩的聲音流露幾分驚喜,雖然聽說過爺爺以前身為魔具工匠的事蹟,但他從未看過爺爺親手鍛造的魔具。267Please respect copyright.PENANAZpe6wDtyVB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAxNKSKuQk77
「是啊,你想看看裡面嗎?」267Please respect copyright.PENANAvEJjoqG3IS
267Please respect copyright.PENANAC8FDF2DUOF
男孩興奮地點頭回應,老人莞爾一笑,在他眼前開啟盒蓋。267Please respect copyright.PENANA5TnBD2ezQO
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA9G7Lbiudt
「哇……」男孩不禁發出讚嘆聲。267Please respect copyright.PENANAQFWc5VpeGV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ6cG8xNIb
盒內鑲嵌一顆透明無暇的晶石,在燈火映照下折射出淨透光彩,而與晶石連結的金屬鏈與零件,則精密交織成繁複的結構,對魔具知之甚少的拿堤爾,也看得出裡面的構造是多麼精妙深奧。267Please respect copyright.PENANAuyL20yMe19
267Please respect copyright.PENANAcj4L0xeT6f
「爺爺好厲害啊,真的好美。」男孩的朱紅眼眸閃爍激動的光采,為這樣巧奪天工的鍛造工藝大感驚嘆。267Please respect copyright.PENANAfzVFjEfF3P
267Please respect copyright.PENANA5CJ7sBJpCF
「那中間的晶石,就是魔具核心的魔晶,旁邊就是所謂的魔力鏈,負責輸送魔晶的魔力……」267Please respect copyright.PENANAFuxV2ALo4p
267Please respect copyright.PENANAFlp7ypT6yL
老人開始向男孩解說魔具的構造,男孩津津有味地聆聽,想要將蘊藏在魔具裡的知識牢記於心。267Please respect copyright.PENANAR3wF8NHLwG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfILP7LzlQG
「拿堤爾,這是我竭盡畢生心力鍛造的魔具,我想今後,我再也鍛造不出超越它的傑作了。」267Please respect copyright.PENANADtqxu7oNgJ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMGdW12nNss
說句話時,老人表現出身為頂尖工匠的自豪與驕傲,眉眼間卻也流露淡淡哀愁,而男孩還無法理解這複雜神情中的含意。267Please respect copyright.PENANAFEeJ9Ffus4
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdjazYA7X43
「拿堤爾,如果你還對鍛造工法或魔具結構有興趣的話,爺爺有幫你做詳細的筆記,就放在那邊的櫃子,之後你可以拿去看。」267Please respect copyright.PENANA417VUrWdjc
267Please respect copyright.PENANAegkOKkdxRd
「不用啊,只要爺爺說給我聽就好了啊。」267Please respect copyright.PENANACNqhhsSlod
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkSuBzjsWU0
男孩單純的話語,讓老人的表情變得更為沉重。267Please respect copyright.PENANAYOlciqdYbN
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhbkfoGDQVj
「拿堤爾,你的角是我親手割去的,我一直感到很抱歉,是我害你受這麼多苦。」267Please respect copyright.PENANA1HBPD17rMt
267Please respect copyright.PENANAokE9aaHBeI
「爺爺……?」突如其來的道歉,讓男孩愣愣地看向老人。267Please respect copyright.PENANAR6ogwWEDpG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAya5IbaFDRI
「但是,真正的活著,就是不管背負多少苦難與傷痛,都要在這世上努力生存,只要你的心擁有這份意志,即使你失去了雙角,就依然保有我們伯萊雅族炙熱的靈魂,祖靈斯拉仍會庇護著你。」267Please respect copyright.PENANAvdpu7liVU8
267Please respect copyright.PENANADsNMnh8iwg
「爺爺,我知道了。」男孩認真地點點頭,將這句話銘記於心。267Please respect copyright.PENANA9fjilEhfKX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAEKdX6Ul4S5
「很好,乖孩子,我知道你能理解的。」老人用粗厚大掌輕撫男孩的頭,宛如巖石般的粗獷面龐浮現柔和神情。267Please respect copyright.PENANAmkYNa1lkQq
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7TEYys4mn3
明明距離近在咫尺,男孩卻有種爺爺漸漸遠去的感覺,心底萌生了些許不安。267Please respect copyright.PENANAKkBAThAhVe
267Please respect copyright.PENANAN5MpgwV7TU
「你也累了吧,爺爺會在這裡陪你的。」267Please respect copyright.PENANAKOndJ90BNH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAjMU7pCg0gh
老人沉穩柔和的話語,卻在此時化解了男孩內心的不安,讓他再度陷入安詳的睡眠。267Please respect copyright.PENANA512MbpPLF7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAstbJnJnF8O
* * *267Please respect copyright.PENANAR8XJK2iTWM
267Please respect copyright.PENANA1LgCvRn3U1
在幽深坑道裡,拿堤爾手持提燈,獨自一人在黑暗中前行。267Please respect copyright.PENANATydjoBhJpw
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3A24dQoPR4
走了一段時間,前方的道路突然被石壁阻擋,拿堤爾沿著石壁摸索,終於找到一道不小的縫隙。267Please respect copyright.PENANA3DXn0CJTIm
267Please respect copyright.PENANADMFugdAuuq
拿堤爾鑽過縫隙,他的雙眼立刻捕捉到幽暗中的一抹淡藍光輝。267Please respect copyright.PENANA2OpoOaWOeP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGqgwhz3fvd
「就在這裡了……帕洛西亞!」267Please respect copyright.PENANAsy6O18MXSy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlhmwusE5fy
一小叢的帕洛西亞,就在黑暗中靜靜綻放著,那淡藍的光芒彷彿是幽冥中的燈火,為拿堤爾陰鬱的內心點起一絲希望267Please respect copyright.PENANA2KeYwBx0Ka
267Please respect copyright.PENANADzic3KwGr5
拿堤爾趕緊湊過去,他的低聲祈禱在深邃幽暗中迴盪著。267Please respect copyright.PENANAwzzcU0nE3m
267Please respect copyright.PENANAa67NtjGvCN
「拜託,我想見爺爺……」傾吐出鬱積已久的思念,眼淚彷彿又要奪眶而出。267Please respect copyright.PENANAZpKJomjcXu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwCIOEJyNif
法提烏打造完此生最後一件魔具後,便因積勞成疾而撒手人寰,與之相對的,拿堤爾的身體反而漸漸有所好轉。267Please respect copyright.PENANA76uoE0mcyB
267Please respect copyright.PENANANzoNikt7kW
拿堤爾認為爺爺的去世,與那一晚他給自己看的最後一件魔具有關。267Please respect copyright.PENANAznrOR9xRAq
267Please respect copyright.PENANAv624K72L1E
他不斷翻覽爺爺留給他的鍛造書,甚至將上面記錄的鍛造工法倒背如流,也查不出有關那魔具的線索,更何況他也不知道爺爺將那件魔具帶去了哪裡。267Please respect copyright.PENANArbzBvVqjYu
267Please respect copyright.PENANA11QG7H1LtM
拿堤爾心中浮現一個荒謬的推論,爺爺就是因為鍛造出那件魔具,才耗盡生命死去的。即使他折服於魔具工藝的美,也覺得這個推論荒誕無稽,但想到爺爺可能是因此而死,他就對魔具的鍛造產生恐懼。267Please respect copyright.PENANAERbvu0ivoU
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGEcOANEz4J
現在,拿堤爾的心臟不再疲弱無力,他能像普通人一樣行動,甚至可以開始做一些礦坑的工作。267Please respect copyright.PENANAtkL0GCm4Lq
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhrz1GTbnFx
但是,即使身體重獲新生,他的心卻墜入悲傷的深淵。267Please respect copyright.PENANAcmWSkA2mPQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHQCsC5iXQ9
他再也無法看見爺爺的笑容,無法聽見爺爺捶打鐵具的聲響,無法投入爺爺溫暖的懷抱,年紀尚幼的他,才明白所謂的死亡,就是永遠的別離。267Please respect copyright.PENANAYVamRVlTS1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkULMNpicXp
雖然法提烏將拿堤爾託付給礦坑的工頭友人,讓拿堤爾不至於孤苦無依,但他仍渴望回到與爺爺相依為命的日子。267Please respect copyright.PENANAwg45MuaJPV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAYAb96pxWS4
拿堤爾失去了笑容,不知道該怎麼繼續活下去,就在此時,他得知有工人在礦坑某處看見帕洛西亞的傳聞。267Please respect copyright.PENANApJb55CWVG6
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwPfPBQYvjB
依據傳聞的線索,他終於找到帕洛西亞,期望能藉由帕洛西亞傳說中的力量,再次見到爺爺。然而,不論怎麼拚命地對帕洛西亞祈禱,爺爺都沒有如他所想的出現。267Please respect copyright.PENANATOI1tzK3Ez
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhcUiHGt9x3
微弱的希望又被澆熄,拿堤爾心灰意冷,他的朱紅眼眸,再次倒映出帕洛西亞的幽藍光輝。267Please respect copyright.PENANAH1wI01xkgH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAh2qmWw7kpO
傳說中,帕洛西亞是唯一盛開於冥界的花朵,其光芒能引領死者前往冥府之路。或許爺爺也被同樣的光芒所照耀,這樣一想,拿堤爾心中的悲傷似乎減輕了一些。267Please respect copyright.PENANA08lPvdhaV9
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4XyxI9nAWe
「真正的活著,就是不管背負多少苦難與傷痛,都要在這世上努力生存,只要你的心擁有這份意志,即使你失去了雙角,就依然保有我們伯萊雅族炙熱的靈魂,祖靈斯拉仍會庇護著你。」267Please respect copyright.PENANALMVOBxh0hd
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2J6V9Yrg2k
心頭忽然浮現的這句話,讓拿堤爾的眼眶湧出一股溫熱。267Please respect copyright.PENANAyLtB80UdYP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtRSRmTG0Wk
失去故鄉的苦難,親人逝去的傷痛,在他的身與心烙下難以磨滅的傷痕,但爺爺告訴過他要努力生存,因為他們都是伯萊雅的族人。267Please respect copyright.PENANArWh6CvpNd4
267Please respect copyright.PENANAorxZMPia1e
即使還找不到活著的目標,也要努力生存,因為他已經答應爺爺,這樣的話,爺爺就還留在他的心裡。267Please respect copyright.PENANAHgiSxmJWbP
267Please respect copyright.PENANACKETdZzV1f
「謝謝你,爺爺。」苦澀而真摯的感謝,堅定了生存的意志。267Please respect copyright.PENANAEmEEssG249
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkwgz3tF1OO
「謝謝你,拿堤爾先生。」267Please respect copyright.PENANArg2AoZYSX9
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfSdTwqGoqz
彷彿與之呼應,耳畔響起了遙遠且熟悉的,令心為之悸動的聲音。267Please respect copyright.PENANAzHN1wWckSP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAUxa8sqiicy
似乎遺忘了重要的事物,拿堤爾感到困惑之時,忽然有一股柔軟的暖意,在黑暗中緊緊握住他冰冷的手。267Please respect copyright.PENANATu4wH8a8ZC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWT2GEUVJ8K
* * *267Please respect copyright.PENANAnMW4ke5TNT
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAqBgyAX2z5
「拿堤爾先生,醒醒啊……」267Please respect copyright.PENANAtUcy1rG8x3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKDpSW2vyOS
那聲音就在不遠處呼喚著他,拿堤爾從睡夢中睜開雙眼,映入眼簾的是艾芙娜擔憂的神情。267Please respect copyright.PENANAssCYnRSuw0
267Please respect copyright.PENANAv5Q3NnkOTY
「艾芙娜小姐?」267Please respect copyright.PENANAYjAtRPvvm4
267Please respect copyright.PENANAYEFqkclNRe
拿堤爾的意識還有些曖昧不清,他卻清楚地感覺到,艾芙娜纖細柔軟的白皙小手,正緊握著他黝黑結實的手掌,並遞來與夢中同樣的暖意。267Please respect copyright.PENANAovU1RAdBNs
267Please respect copyright.PENANAor5Q7dCwad
「不好意思,心急之下就……」267Please respect copyright.PENANAzyUOKa3qBM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAW4o3KwYwxA
注意到拿堤爾的視線,艾芙娜臉頰染上些許紅暈,並趕緊放開雙手,瞬間失去的溫度與柔軟,令拿堤爾有些悵然若失267Please respect copyright.PENANAcg4yPlneLI
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbATP6d5ir5
拿堤爾環顧四周,他和艾芙娜還在菲莉的房間裡,唯一不同的是,菲莉已經消失了。267Please respect copyright.PENANAjUq402DQ6a
267Please respect copyright.PENANA6OsIqD3L0e
「話說回來,我們剛剛都睡著了嗎?感覺作了一場很長的夢,夢見很久以前的事……」拿堤爾困惑的喃喃低語道。267Please respect copyright.PENANA96x3MwgNDN
267Please respect copyright.PENANAeMiyymUiZy
「我也夢到了以前的記憶,我想是菲莉讓我們夢見自己的過去。」方才的夢境太過真實,模糊了記憶與現實的界線,也喚醒深埋於心底的情感與思念。267Please respect copyright.PENANArqs0fw8mH7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmRQqmkC8y7
「但是,幸好有這個護身符,讓我能從那悲傷的夢醒來,謝謝你,拿堤爾先生。」艾芙娜拿出拿堤爾送給她的白理石掛飾,將其緊握於手心,自己作的護身符能幫助到艾芙娜,讓拿堤爾單純地感到喜悅。267Please respect copyright.PENANAkxfQ3bROsS
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVJzNiHxO4U
「艾芙娜小姐,我也要謝謝妳,是妳的聲音喚醒了我」267Please respect copyright.PENANARiVnUcTit6
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKD400TU5V8
「但是,為什麼菲莉要做這種事呢?」回想起菲莉那時喚出的深邃黑暗,拿堤爾本來以為自己會被殺死,卻沒想到菲莉只是讓他們做了一場夢。267Please respect copyright.PENANAgGfUUogpUX
267Please respect copyright.PENANA5UfLJSiUF1
「我也不知道原因,所以我想去找菲莉問清楚。」267Please respect copyright.PENANANDPMbw6LUQ
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艾芙娜堅定的神情,反而讓拿堤爾感到困惑,他問道:「但是菲莉不在這裡,要怎麼找到她呢?」267Please respect copyright.PENANATOsQuNbF7g
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「我想,她應該就在那裡,那是拿堤爾先生也知道的地方。」