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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKgm6TkZ0N
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP06dXHmAgE
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。
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc8gNVeQnn
每個選擇看似都不錯，卻總覺得少了些什麼。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2UIrzMmRx
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSckjNJhnay
距離約定時間僅剩半日，聖決定仔細觀察翼姬的日常。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVWrTm15Zz
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiBBi7nzBI
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqw5CSK6d7
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5fLhJFblU
聖發現自己其實並非對她一無所知，這讓他鬆了口氣。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpC3sAIEx5
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5FBCM42kO
若是有人比他更了解翼姬，他恐怕不會太愉快。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i4F1BrZX9
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceJNd0urbf
正巧看見翼姬準備出門，聖立即上前：「我也要去！」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIUogV0SrC
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JLEr2nODy
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ZrEeqVat
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ocbMEYL9n
「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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeUaPntBlJ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrldepI3V3C
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RpOZLR9xl
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7XHGc7ulk
翼姬熟練地出示學生證，步入限制閱覽區，舉止自然。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7G6BuPArE
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiM6qjrQd6
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno2iYoQ0No
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8rDDDdpUg
「這是什麼？」聖皺眉，看著手中厚重的書冊。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2lZGiTYiM
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0JyxK4k59
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i1ZKWpLUV
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3twLNRgU2
「現在不是處理這個的時候……」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLxQ6e5U3M
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ouReUuqP
「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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0yQBBXfYg
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmzXHxS6Bi
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIT77628wD
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhmWwzKj00
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOXERKDUi1
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDZHIgZJv1
暮色開始籠罩圖書館，古老的吊燈次第點亮。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstnCXkGsRw
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kxMFafckV
「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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJir7ZrRlB
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw56OFeS4q
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3lltHXwkx
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zdaTjEGVe
——翼姬雖然有讀心能力，最近卻正在學習控制。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl8UeJIcrF
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfZN9GvFaW
所以，她已經偷看了答案？33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqrAMy8Z35
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQa1KwDRqa
聖一瞬間明白過來，忍不住輕「啊」了一聲。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6kydwsbJh
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGK808uTzl
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGGSl52nJ4
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhRz7V5Z6W
古老的橡木書架間，只剩翻書的聲音與靜謐的呼吸。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rdhHzON9v
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7GbpOOAdH
他幾乎能聽見自己的心跳。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUaI8POA09
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28LdtcSnfB
最後，聖撓了撓頭，終於嘆了口氣：「我想送妳生日禮物。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJx25R2Tlv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oI7ehwte4
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……」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlXNavL3gm
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ANotroi8N
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ygil4tISL
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4MgXwSllJ
「作者是精靈還是龍族？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgIe9u8aQ4
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPArpShmjar
「是混血龍族。」翼姬語氣略顯無奈。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9pnx6CkQR
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V7HO0NV3C
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEITWWfDK3
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalLB2LjrJS
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OsyFIUfoc
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Nmy7KGM6d
翼姬的目光掃過一家家書店的招牌，神情專注得近乎虔誠。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rbnUMJcWp
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS66LdGoo4
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7KJju3QN6
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWf9Rga0Fv
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0yP6uGZVH
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3oahSJPWD
聖開口：「我們先從第一間開始吧。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdceDNvzPYT
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop9zjtak4d
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKNeOJgEOK
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pIVL1UvwN
「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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcH5ALi9NG
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rAZ9gFhOY
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXMpoqzyJe
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIATxoRLo63
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHXaUmaWTh
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt2bEUPz7c
翼姬微微一愣：「你還特地請由希幫忙？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczt0R5hmnt
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoAdAHno6R
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？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OyDdDMOOQ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL1YigttCC
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPcKoUCeJw
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgceKd3j0Is
「這套書對妳來說很重要吧？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pd0GztlXc
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP1Zq0nL2J
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1BPQ840x6
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRUHEiqNLH
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYWSBdwEj0
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZsYBBWMwK
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQj3N7WXS0
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4RxSgjvp0
終於，在第十一家書店，他們有了收穫。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYMylxQnC7
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFEGxSxmFt
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrhMYLa626
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgL0pjCx8Q
「請問……這裡有《編年史》的舊稿嗎？」說著拿出由希給的徽章。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyZX1rBk4W
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ1km6LRIZ
「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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdiBzGsDfH
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrZslS6CZe
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwHmhopXOj
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGISrIyUih
翼姬雙眼瞬間亮起，一眼便認出那正是她要找的書。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcZBIDAHNM
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxnimGzaJO
「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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0E1v7P4pv
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmCWr4DYiO
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUyAT48Cw0
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvdyNWQfNO
在卡曼德希大圖書館的塔頂，他們找到了最後一本書。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUMX31FbNg
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6wikoQKPu
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8lKcuuwFG
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAFZR0RTMa
「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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuLxW8Ysjh
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE99MLbxu3O
聖注視著她的笑容，眼神中帶著溫柔的暖意。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrKMQM1fOO
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vg67WkB5P
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEzOigQswy
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWORSPaFgN
這本書確實珍貴，而共同經歷的時光更是獨一無二。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLXfpzUjyU
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeoLxNgCsZ
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？」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC777nxU1rB
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dk2eG9llK
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCtdxOatCM
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRXWxwKPhM
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcR8BEmulK
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLTT24em5f
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOWbI0sw4D
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuxXwMR8FB
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。」33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW1PzSiuMW
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOzxYoS6Fk
翼姬的動作僵住了一瞬，她驚訝地抬頭，與他對視。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPmxFx6yN1
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvoPJzL3oF
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe3pOkHoLJ
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQjBFNZ96a
他在說——他願意活下去，願意為了未來努力。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyQRHKjCL4
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYiBqJ7nRh
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。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7cdY7yMl2
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CnwhK0izJ
她輕輕闔上書頁，將它抱在胸前，深吸一口氣，然後緩緩點頭。33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jLwp6zpYg
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnTWcjgpWu
「嗯……我們一起。」
