連日來，聖走遍水之都的大街小巷，從晨曦初現的市集到夜幕低垂的古董店，尋找著某樣難以名狀的東西。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEV4l6mu2K
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQlewqaKMK
清晨，他與琉璃和尤爾穿梭於熱鬧的市集之間，沿途皆是攤販的叫賣聲與剛出爐的麵包香氣。他仔細打量每個攤位，生怕錯過任何可能的線索。午後，與沙與紫晶漫步於隱藏在華麗宅邸間的精品書店，陽光透過青石板小徑間的縫隙，灑落在泛黃的書頁上。他與亞德拜訪商人公會，在堆滿珍品的倉庫內搜尋，而珞緹雅與古特則帶他踏入龍族與獸族秘而不宣的商道，穿梭在不為人知的隱秘街巷。
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYX8JbQDFE
每個選擇看似都不錯，卻總覺得少了些什麼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNO287zUcv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8pJKgymzO
距離約定時間僅剩半日，聖決定仔細觀察翼姬的日常。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvOxmjzk6q
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1aIDURwLY
她的房間有個巨大的書櫃，從泛黃的魔導書、厚重的歷史典籍，到裝幀精美的文學作品，應有盡有。書頁間夾著她工整的筆記，每次翻閱時，她總會不自覺地將髮絲勾到耳後。除了課業，她還選修音樂課，並養成了每日記錄的習慣。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ohj5f9gGW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oa7ut0hIW
聖發現自己其實並非對她一無所知，這讓他鬆了口氣。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7nOITio8f
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Dqh9ifC1
若是有人比他更了解翼姬，他恐怕不會太愉快。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuvD2VduOq
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBXPFNCd8K
正巧看見翼姬準備出門，聖立即上前：「我也要去！」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVruXAwcO8
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDOb3KFjXD
儘管翼姬有時會婉拒，這次她淺淺一笑，點頭應允：「真難得，你居然會去大圖書館？你這時候不是通常在教會。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnHctpvfR0
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7fHCXjS2X
「剛剛去了趟市集，有給妳的禮物。」聖說著拿出包紮好得緞帶，翼姬微微一愣，看來有點受寵若驚：「謝謝。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLwVGaZHZJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyD7vGGHUz
兩人來到卡曼德希大圖書館，古老的白石建築在陽光下顯得莊重典雅，爬滿牆面的綠藻隨著海風輕輕搖曳。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90n1lHnfnO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwQW3QahI9
翼姬熟練地出示學生證，步入限制閱覽區，舉止自然。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6msrsrIwv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CZIoXPTAi
她熟悉這裡的每一寸空間，甚至連年邁的館長見了她都會露出親切的笑容。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj44aRfPuRr
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7uOEMToek
「這是什麼？」聖皺眉，看著手中厚重的書冊。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vOTNQacWa
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrew17wOWm
翼姬抬眼，「占卜學教授託我轉告你，務必完成這次的作業，否則就算是聖王，也一樣會被當掉。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv3uM3ywL9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb3wz4Xgxo
「現在不是處理這個的時候……」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm8dksIdC6
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8t5dNwCj1
「明天就是最後期限了。」翼姬輕敲桌面，指尖敲出輕快的節奏，「至少要完成一個項目。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPUWFkaDPV
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAA5vLlPL5
聖還想找藉口，然而翼姬已翻開筆記，擺明了不讓他輕易脫身。她專注的神情讓他無奈卻也覺得有趣，這和他原本的計畫完全不同——但他明白，若不完成作業，她是不會罷休的。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRi3F2tFR5
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2tNWhXkCK
時間在寧靜的學習中悄然流逝，當基礎占卜理論終於完成，聖放下筆，長舒一口氣。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDeozmFx9D
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWAJ9ZxmNh
暮色開始籠罩圖書館，古老的吊燈次第點亮。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4DVyAaJBi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKVRgTXvG6
「你這幾天表現得很奇怪。」翼姬忽然開口，目光帶著一絲探究。她的聲音很輕，卻在寂靜的空間裡格外清晰。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLcsvAS8TC
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO32sgJbeK
聖向來不擅撒謊，只能含糊地說有些事情要處理。他留意到翼姬望著他的笑意，彷彿在等待什麼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5Bmt1Clva
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7EKyuf4Gm
——翼姬雖然有讀心能力，最近卻正在學習控制。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Q3APagI4
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYxIWzH6ot
所以，她已經偷看了答案？42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Op6bFM4U0
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdvzjbWL3x
聖一瞬間明白過來，忍不住輕「啊」了一聲。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdrd84euuA
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzEjPrCxp5
翼姬笑意更深了，單手支著臉，眼角微彎，帶著幾分狡黠，彷彿在說：「我在等你自己說出來呢。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkulkhzeBu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4qXhhwBwj
古老的橡木書架間，只剩翻書的聲音與靜謐的呼吸。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel8PqS8X0u
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMB2ERucG9
他幾乎能聽見自己的心跳。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYlXNw08Ve
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQOEGXvqBh
最後，聖撓了撓頭，終於嘆了口氣：「我想送妳生日禮物。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPqKnjogGw
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDO6lQdmPl
他望向窗外，夕陽將天際染成絢爛的橙紅色，「妳有什麼想要的嗎？我原本在考慮樂器或者魔導書……」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzai7Ws6ba
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJsu3coi2s
翼姬輕撫著書頁，思索片刻，才開口：「有一套書我一直想讀，是一部特別的編年史，即使在水之都的圖書館裡，也很難找到。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54eURcu8NZ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsD9XPkL6s
「作者是精靈還是龍族？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtuubYr1Lj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tEMU1VU14
「是混血龍族。」翼姬語氣略顯無奈。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiSyVOrBkN
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSCS6cudp1
夕陽西沉，兩人相視一笑，決定改日再來尋找。隔天午後，課程結束，翼姬與聖漫步在學院外的書店街。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnVUoTPzp7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUtVj0F1DL
稍早，聖已向眾人報告了自己的進度，並帶回由希整理的書店名單與館長的徽章。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31T3F5fcQR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeQaMeFJZt
翼姬的目光掃過一家家書店的招牌，神情專注得近乎虔誠。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqqdhGv62P
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu4soXhmlg
他靜靜地跟在她身旁，看著她細細挑選，彷彿她的世界裡，書籍才是唯一的寶藏。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY9dt9uCyq
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUFd9lMQZT
狹窄的巷弄蜿蜒曲折，兩側書店林立，老舊的木製招牌在風中搖曳，每家店門前都擺放著特價書籍的木箱，紙張的氣息與潮濕的石板路交織出獨特的氛圍。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm2HHFL0aO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO50qlQBZLC
聖開口：「我們先從第一間開始吧。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn16TuDPfyr
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTMFbM0znD
然而，尋找的過程比想像中困難得多，清單上的書店已被劃掉一半。暮色降臨，街燈依次亮起，微黃的光暈映在石板路上，與潮氣交錯出模糊搖曳的影子。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlsL58HsEu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXixKJ4LlW
「這家應該也不會有吧……」翼姬的手指無意識地在殘稿邊緣來回摩挲，指腹觸碰著紙頁的粗糙紋理。她深吸一口氣，掩飾眼底的失落，但指尖卻微微顫動，彷彿那份遺憾已經刻進了骨子裡。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOyDlC6CJQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXbmXZo9FB
她手中緊握著由希提供的名冊，紙張已被翻閱多次，邊緣微微捲起，書店名單上絕大多數已被劃去，只剩寥寥數行。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtEe6wB49T
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpuNd93e1z
聖見她垂下眼眸，輕聲安慰：「還沒找完一半呢。由希可是專家，沒問題的。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2tZ89DBM7
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMutc9kMig
翼姬微微一愣：「你還特地請由希幫忙？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJUGscyarD
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY1kY0tUeY
聖笑了笑，「他很有自信。他說：『報上我的名字，只要這本書存在，就一定能找到。』」他頓了頓，目光落在她懷裡的殘稿上，「妳還缺哪幾卷？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLMxdT5k7i
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL0HkDszRK
翼姬展開手中的殘缺書頁，修長的手指輕觸紙面，指腹滑過破損的邊緣，「第七卷和第十二卷完全遺失，第九卷只剩下三分之一。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxKKq8BlGc
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8BiTh2Zkt
「這套書對妳來說很重要吧？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U9tX8KIFZ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BfdhX9Ugz
翼姬沉默片刻，終於露出一抹淺笑：「算是吧。我想找到跟父親有關的紀錄……雖然那些事早已過去，但我還是想知道，龍族當時是怎麼看待這一切的。」她的聲音輕柔，像是對自己訴說，又像是在回憶某個遙遠的故事。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPkxJWYTrp
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tfnjSHlL7
夜色漸深，水之都的書店巷道幽暗而寂靜，只有偶爾傳來書頁翻動的沙沙聲。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2WldVc4Zi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8MTzZPugk
兩人繼續在書海中穿梭，彷彿在追尋一段被歲月掩埋的記憶。書店老闆們或驚訝、或好奇地望著這對年輕的尋書者，不時搖頭，表示無能為力。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz9R9xSjF4
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWNHAv5IPk
終於，在第十一家書店，他們有了收穫。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1UeVsznRi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3lCeWYjpO
翼姬輕輕推開木門，銅鈴發出微弱的清響，空氣中瀰漫著濃郁的紙墨氣息，夾雜著些許霉味。她的目光掃過層層堆疊的書冊，手指微微顫動。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcacMGnXl1Z
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpQHioexcg
「請問……這裡有《編年史》的舊稿嗎？」說著拿出由希給的徽章。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q5vBXyURt
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J23ebF7kO
「編年史？」店主瞇起眼，打量著她，半晌後搖搖頭，轉身走向書店深處。時間在寂靜中拉長，翼姬的心跳聲清晰可聞，她的指尖下意識地在木製書架上摩挲，感受著粗糙的紋理，試圖壓抑內心逐漸升起的不安。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8m4nbuXiO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg3nEC3w57
店主從塵封的地下室翻找許久，最後取出兩本殘舊的古籍，拍去厚厚的灰塵，霎時塵埃四起，他忍不住劇烈咳嗽。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA7L5U1FGl
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyadfswrtIm
翼姬雙眼瞬間亮起，一眼便認出那正是她要找的書。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJywXoXSXf
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXEPYaRpS
「最後一本……應該在卡曼德希大圖書館。」店主說，「但那裡的複製本從不外借。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGpgxdMYwq
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKpwNqObU5
聖眼睛一亮，向店主道謝後，拉著翼姬疾步朝圖書館趕去。經過層層審查，他們終於在資深精靈管理員的帶領下，來到特殊權限的密集書庫。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHFj9Dmrju
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanPXk2Z2wj
在卡曼德希大圖書館的塔頂，他們找到了最後一本書。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaXK3WxreE
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5x1hAUK3b
翼姬屏住呼吸，緩緩伸手取書，指尖微微顫抖，輕輕掀開書頁的瞬間，她的眼眸中閃爍著難以掩飾的喜悅——這是她一直在尋找的過去，一段無法被時間沖淡的記憶。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgWobovnZO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0f4dYTjsQ
「沒想到……我真的能讀到這本書……」她輕聲呢喃，語氣裡藏不住激動。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcctNKamBk
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqh2v71Ngs
聖注視著她的笑容，眼神中帶著溫柔的暖意。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZDBx2xHQQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNmjlnsqU4
他想起這幾天在水之都的點點滴滴，想起並肩尋書的時光，突然有些明白紫晶說的話。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2szior2j3f
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ne4TwHnS
這本書確實珍貴，而共同經歷的時光更是獨一無二。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VvsLr830Y
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTzTlvaBXg
聖輕聲道：「這是妳夢寐以求的書，雖然借閱時間有限……但妳應該能讀完。怎麼樣？」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSbZKwQ2oR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp75vwupEl
翼姬輕輕撫過書籍泛黃的邊緣，指尖停留在刻滿歲月痕跡的字句上，良久，她露出由衷的微笑，「我很開心。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf1btyvx6x
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf40s1j4un
塔頂的觀景台上，夜風輕拂，水之都的燈火如點點星辰，在眼前鋪展開來，如同一幅細膩絢爛的畫卷。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5wILBdkhQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu71rrZ3KQ
聖站在她身旁，靜靜地看著她，半晌後，他伸出手，輕輕替她理了理被風吹亂的髮絲。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx5NrKJ4Iw
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUjzkjK55l
夕陽下，聖稍微抬起頭，俯視著夕陽：「一百年後，我們回來這裡，找下一本書吧。」42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESt4ikTPox
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkUMxc9sFa
翼姬的動作僵住了一瞬，她驚訝地抬頭，與他對視。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQTVgBYJzO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAZB1z1oI9
她知道，對於一個從不輕易談論未來、不願許下承諾的人來說，這句話意味著什麼。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuZJRcvDZQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL8kK5WwXq
他在說——他願意活下去，願意為了未來努力。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMLe1q1oXu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyx2CwKVVA
翼姬微微抬頭，夕陽的餘暉映照在她的側臉上，染上一層溫暖的金光。她看向聖，目光流轉，如湖面映照著落日的光芒，深邃而寧靜。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCQOOG7qmU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLDytOr06F
她輕輕闔上書頁，將它抱在胸前，深吸一口氣，然後緩緩點頭。42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rZ55ccxpC
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLXWAAcNjT
「嗯……我們一起。」
