鏘、鏘、鏘……207Please respect copyright.PENANAN7qrv0Kepn
207Please respect copyright.PENANADn6Apblsly
敲打金屬的沉穩聲響,與微弱的心跳產生共鳴。207Please respect copyright.PENANAgvHan6SmgG
207Please respect copyright.PENANARNRJVDeslw
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAcpF1WTtHz6
207Please respect copyright.PENANALzb4kBn7s4
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAvmqIrg7PPv
207Please respect copyright.PENANAc0oczAV34N
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAwMdyVK7QJw
207Please respect copyright.PENANAxCCm7thXFD
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAX4DLqfLRiA
207Please respect copyright.PENANA6eAjxrEf0m
「咳咳!」老人忍不住重咳幾聲,男孩的心不禁跟著顫抖了一下。207Please respect copyright.PENANAabMf01OlQg
207Please respect copyright.PENANATFfdDheG1t
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAVBBW1ytUWr
207Please respect copyright.PENANAP1LZLuEP0e
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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAVnOItxaIcd
207Please respect copyright.PENANAT8TieUfEs4
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAv8FkiTyIX7
207Please respect copyright.PENANAIgQVQKtgxr
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAfMH2hhNcjD
207Please respect copyright.PENANACsSFLi34eU
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA8kdDkdgBUJ
207Please respect copyright.PENANAwMl0kl1mZO
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA5TGQCFZlQv
207Please respect copyright.PENANAt0xf48mHdh
「那我以後不買藥,這是最後一次了。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAe49KuPACfI
207Please respect copyright.PENANAOWkn0zssOB
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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAIQVGl3EYcc
207Please respect copyright.PENANA6gI3PO2Pox
老人的神情變得有些複雜,他沒有回應這句話。207Please respect copyright.PENANAzQQXFHGyaB
207Please respect copyright.PENANAZoqfYMaZH7
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANARhnpAI1KUm
207Please respect copyright.PENANAc4v76tFxyJ
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8MJPI1eh2
207Please respect copyright.PENANAUp4UNQgjTA
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAwg269tUVip
207Please respect copyright.PENANAEVLuaP56KF
「嗯,是我做的魔具。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAyDxBmzORvV
207Please respect copyright.PENANAb06RXdJgFb
「咦?爺爺最近做的就是魔具嗎?」207Please respect copyright.PENANAIhsnwtOaoe
207Please respect copyright.PENANAYkra2Gu3y1
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAL2TZWB1yHQ
207Please respect copyright.PENANAy46rvtLWAW
「是啊,你想看看裡面嗎?」207Please respect copyright.PENANAFI1vdhIQOI
207Please respect copyright.PENANAvqGPKlGk0G
男孩興奮地點頭回應,老人莞爾一笑,在他眼前開啟盒蓋。207Please respect copyright.PENANAYWnisf3TUt
207Please respect copyright.PENANAS1kokanHgM
「哇……」男孩不禁發出讚嘆聲。207Please respect copyright.PENANApsyheK3QUl
207Please respect copyright.PENANArEBDdTvQGa
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAm6q3RIVbc8
207Please respect copyright.PENANAARPylZLTlk
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA6z1Q7Uf2g0
207Please respect copyright.PENANAwG625f42oY
「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……」207Please respect copyright.PENANANblaP4g9sl
207Please respect copyright.PENANAqTAPdBWvXQ
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA2OfYs6wmcW
207Please respect copyright.PENANAXwSxtZWTrj
「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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAvT8RcnYUOH
207Please respect copyright.PENANA2pzvb9sHen
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANADIjjtpWrpS
207Please respect copyright.PENANA3lJbXjaltq
「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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAkvlXSrnXu3
207Please respect copyright.PENANA0s0zLUeisE
「不用啊,只要爺爺說給我聽就好了啊。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAOTuB70mmk3
207Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1fo9HYO4q
男孩單純的話語,讓老人的表情變得更為沉重。207Please respect copyright.PENANA2wd3N1V84K
207Please respect copyright.PENANAGWuG3msCcO
「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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAxiqiFDTv4u
207Please respect copyright.PENANARJuCNiF7Sx
「爺爺……?」突如其來的道歉,讓男孩愣愣地看向老人。207Please respect copyright.PENANADmddU76Flu
207Please respect copyright.PENANAfHsBlpsDKh
「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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAviaH5wHvDv
207Please respect copyright.PENANAFprAvWHojA
「爺爺,我知道了。」男孩認真地點點頭,將這句話銘記於心。207Please respect copyright.PENANAOrdtbSRywl
207Please respect copyright.PENANAFW3IW297aS
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA4144Tcoppo
207Please respect copyright.PENANAKrsWcQJsVo
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA9qBpvOkMOO
207Please respect copyright.PENANAwfXUsRdSiC
「你也累了吧,爺爺會在這裡陪你的。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAMh8OFJTGJ4
207Please respect copyright.PENANAD8eBDYLBbJ
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA8LVERJsayY
207Please respect copyright.PENANAUpMM5v4ffP
* * *207Please respect copyright.PENANA7G3Eqp9BgM
207Please respect copyright.PENANAAVei7KMv2A
在幽深坑道裡,拿堤爾手持提燈,獨自一人在黑暗中前行。207Please respect copyright.PENANA3O31tH9ykx
207Please respect copyright.PENANAd6cAhD2rQt
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAwYQPWiGR7B
207Please respect copyright.PENANAHZCJ13g5Vw
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANANQHJMTKNws
207Please respect copyright.PENANA1rOatQoEuX
「就在這裡了……帕洛西亞!」207Please respect copyright.PENANA3Isf4V2b28
207Please respect copyright.PENANADA1Cp6PjSM
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207Please respect copyright.PENANAg5veRJS3v6
207Please respect copyright.PENANARvymZKnWm1
拿堤爾趕緊湊過去,他的低聲祈禱在深邃幽暗中迴盪著。207Please respect copyright.PENANAj1qewTuWkc
207Please respect copyright.PENANAplQzvm4UYX
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAbM7R81tCHD
207Please respect copyright.PENANAYjPZ0BYBAU
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAlqeQWLrD5W
207Please respect copyright.PENANA4RCqtpdQHL
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANACnMZ10qREv
207Please respect copyright.PENANAppgAVhRdpu
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANATWuSqIMqk8
207Please respect copyright.PENANApTlp1LJF7K
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAAZqpt1xRVb
207Please respect copyright.PENANA3S1QYvBDcN
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAQNKrbLIcrU
207Please respect copyright.PENANAAFY9H06a5w
但是,即使身體重獲新生,他的心卻墜入悲傷的深淵。207Please respect copyright.PENANA7xsHLXFv1h
207Please respect copyright.PENANA3xjtkNBCgE
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAY391mM664R
207Please respect copyright.PENANAF5BCclgb0w
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA8iSXLixdHq
207Please respect copyright.PENANAUjRPp2tZL0
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAfBAyBqPjuw
207Please respect copyright.PENANAMGU0Q7mvwx
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANADa2rNXwFmq
207Please respect copyright.PENANAb2lCodwDpS
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAHcUv7y9why
207Please respect copyright.PENANA9loIBFHekE
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAddudPUdOCQ
207Please respect copyright.PENANAPiDbo2l9NL
「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。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAp3yaJ52lC7
207Please respect copyright.PENANAEfvyljFwOw
心頭忽然浮現的這句話,讓拿堤爾的眼眶湧出一股溫熱。207Please respect copyright.PENANAj0A8jjGVdh
207Please respect copyright.PENANA7GQ3fpwpJm
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANA0cmE6FLe9K
207Please respect copyright.PENANA6qn87BRqts
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAHWwc8HgF9q
207Please respect copyright.PENANAUAUCLYq1U0
「謝謝你,爺爺。」苦澀而真摯的感謝,堅定了生存的意志。207Please respect copyright.PENANAoSvIC2JbEC
207Please respect copyright.PENANAj7EQPh7w3C
「謝謝你,拿堤爾先生。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAvXRhuS4FJE
207Please respect copyright.PENANAY7UXQePjEE
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANATyEVMJxLgV
207Please respect copyright.PENANA5pnBBIypCg
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAKLh6J51fH3
207Please respect copyright.PENANAWvRvJZ1WPG
* * *207Please respect copyright.PENANA8XIbHgyw7o
207Please respect copyright.PENANAQhnk2a00kT
「拿堤爾先生,醒醒啊……」207Please respect copyright.PENANAR16J6srkSV
207Please respect copyright.PENANAskKgjkv6Kr
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAWV0DrQUqMr
207Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8MxhSU3k0
「艾芙娜小姐?」207Please respect copyright.PENANAFZCSXDdRjB
207Please respect copyright.PENANAhyWfKZe4Wz
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAfsF56NHfM4
207Please respect copyright.PENANAnczaCwlhEC
「不好意思,心急之下就……」207Please respect copyright.PENANAFptQShpqHC
207Please respect copyright.PENANAA8go3RRbnp
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207Please respect copyright.PENANASPlGYORK5o
207Please respect copyright.PENANA4BdsGSYdZx
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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAjr8biqzBGv
207Please respect copyright.PENANA0HcpuZblwg
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAEmsueabElZ
207Please respect copyright.PENANAuwU4nAATTk
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAGXWZ65ORRc
207Please respect copyright.PENANAK4gvY2a9S7
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAOxxWOPTyg4
207Please respect copyright.PENANAV0ELtV0o1F
「艾芙娜小姐,我也要謝謝妳,是妳的聲音喚醒了我」207Please respect copyright.PENANAijP4Y4ncYx
207Please respect copyright.PENANAGVYLfRXZyR
「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。207Please respect copyright.PENANAJnSZTR1ZHG
207Please respect copyright.PENANARjoDLla1ac
「我也不知道原因,所以我想去找菲莉問清楚。」207Please respect copyright.PENANAH327vyDU0y
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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?」207Please respect copyright.PENANA2Xs2XgBMgy
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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。」