德玛西亚之心 Demacian Heart

作者：Phillip Vargas

男孩充满怜爱地看着霜冻土壤中探出头的多眠参的黄花。这一小块地上有上百株同样的花，鲜艳的颜色与周围的荒芜贫瘠格格不入。他蹲在花朵旁边吸了一口气。清爽的晨风和淡淡的香味问候了他的鼻子。他伸出手，想要摘下一朵野花。

The boy admired the yellow dormisroot peeking through the frozen soil. It was one of hundreds growing in a tiny patch of vivid color in an otherwise barren landscape. He crouched next to the blossom and inhaled. Crisp morning air and a faint aroma greeted his nose. He reached out to pick the wildflower.

“别碰它。”瓦尼斯说道。

“Leave it be,” said Vannis.

年长一些的男人挡在男孩头顶，他的蓝色大衣在轻风中微微拂动。马尔森诺站在他旁边，举着一支未点燃的火把。三人已经在此等候多时，没有等到任何质疑声。

The older man towered over the boy, his blue cloak stirring in the gentle breeze. Marsino stood next to him, holding an unlit torch. The three had been waiting for a while, completely unchallenged.

年轻一些的男人俯视着男孩，微笑着点了点头。

The younger man smiled down at the boy and nodded.

男孩摘下了一朵花，装进了口袋。

The boy plucked the flower and stuffed it in his pocket.

瓦尼斯摇了摇头，皱起眉。“你都把这小子惯出毛病了。”

Vannis shook his head and frowned. “Your time with the boy has instilled bad habits.”

马尔森诺被说得满脸通红，脸上的微笑消失了。他清了清嗓子问道，“你看到什么了吗？”

Marsino flushed at the remark, his smile disappearing. He cleared his throat and asked, “Do you see anything?”

男孩站起来，仔细查看霜冻田野对面的一排排房屋，这片饱经风霜的居住区有的只是破破烂烂的棚屋，零星散落在丘陵的一侧。影影绰绰的人形经过浇铸玻璃窗前。

The boy stood and studied the row of houses across the frostbitten field, the weathered dwellings nothing more than dilapidated shacks strewn across a hillside. Shapes and shadows moved past the cast-glass windows.

“里面有人。”男孩说。

“There’re people inside,” he said.

“这我们都能看到，”瓦尼斯没好气地说。“问你看没看到我们要找的东西？”

“We can all see that,” said Vannis, his tone biting. “Do you see what we’re looking for?”

男孩搜寻着最微弱的迹象或印象。但他只看到了灰蒙蒙的旧木和石料。

The boy searched for the smallest hint or impression. He saw nothing but the dull grey of weathered planks and hewn stone.

“没有，长官。”

“No, sir.”

瓦尼斯悄声骂了一句。

Vannis grumbled underneath his breath.

“或许我们该靠近点。”马尔森诺说。

“Perhaps if we drew closer,” said Marsino.

年长的人摇了摇头。“这些都是山民。他们会在自家门口二十步以外就给你长矛伺候。”

The older man shook his head. “These are hillfolk. They’ll put a spear in you before you get within twenty paces of their door.”

男孩听到这句话打了个冷颤。即使是雄都的人也都听说过南方山民的彪悍。他们生活在王国未驯服的边界，靠近争议领土。他瞄了眼身旁，一点点靠近马尔森诺。

The boy shivered at the words. The southern hillfolk’s fierce reputation was known back in the Great City. They lived in the untamed edges of the kingdom, near the disputed territories. He glanced over his shoulder and inched closer to Marsino.

“点火把。”瓦尼斯说。

“Light the torch,” said Vannis.

马尔森诺敲击火石，火星浇在浸油的麻绳上。沥青喷出火焰，驱走了清晨的凛冽。

Marsino struck his flint, showering the oil-soaked cord with sparks. The pitch erupted in flames and chased away the brisk morning air.

他们并不需要等太久。

They didn’t need to wait long.

许多小屋的门打开了，十几个人向他们走来，里面有男有女。他们带着长矛和斧头。

Several cabin doors opened, and a dozen men and women marched toward the group. They carried pikes and axes.

男孩的手落在身侧的匕首上。他转身看马尔森诺，但男子的双眼紧盯着村民们。

The boy’s hand fell to the dagger at his side. He turned to Marsino, but the man’s eyes were fixed on the villagers.

“稳住，小子。”瓦尼斯说。

“Steady, boy,” said Vannis.

人群停在田地的边缘，他们身上的褴褛衣着与瓦尼斯和马尔森诺身上的皇家蓝白套装形成鲜明对比。就连男孩自己的衣服都比他们整洁。

The crowd stopped at the edge of the field, their ragged clothing in stark contrast to the royal blue and white finery worn by Vannis and Marsino. Even the boy’s own clothes were better kept.

一阵轻微的刺麻感沿着他的后脊梁蔓延开。他碰了碰马尔森诺的胳膊，引起他的注意，然后点点头。马尔森诺知道这个信号的意思，示意他退后。他们必须遵守流程。

A slight tingle ran down his spine. He touched Marsino’s arm, attracting his attention, and nodded. The man acknowledged the signal and motioned for him to step back. There was a process to be followed.

一个老妇人从人群后走出来。“搜魔人现在都放火烧村了吗？”她问道。

An old woman stepped out from behind the crowd. “Do mageseekers burn villages now?” she asked.

“这里什么都没有，走开！”一个头发蓬乱的年轻人站在老妇人身边喊道。其他人也开了腔，纷纷冷嘲热讽、叫嚣喧哗。

“There’s nothing here, move on!” shouted a young man with wild hair, standing next to the woman. The others joined in, jeering and barking.

“安静！”老妇人厉声说着，用手肘戳了下旁边人的肋骨。

“Hush!” the woman snapped, elbowing the man in the ribs.

那个人缩了回去，低下了头。人群也安静下来。

The man winced and bowed his head. The crowd fell silent.

这群山民和男孩在雄都见过的任何人都不一样。他们并没有被搜魔人一贯的蓝色大衣和锻铜半截面具所震慑到。相反，他们昂首挺立，面无惧色。有几个人摆弄着手中的武器，怒视着男孩。他避开了他的凝视。

The hillfolk were unlike anyone the boy had seen in the Great City. They didn’t shrink at the sight of mageseekers in their traditional blue cloaks and half-masks of hammered bronze. Instead, they stood tall and defiant. A few fiddled with their weapons, glaring at the boy. He averted his gaze.

马尔森诺向前一步。“六天前有人往伦沃尔送了一斗多眠参。”他说着，用火把示意了一下地面上的花朵。

Marsino stepped forward. “A bushel of dormisroot arrived in Wrenwall six days ago,” he said, gesturing to the flowers with his torch.

“有人卖东西。有人买东西。城里不一样吗？”老妇人问道。

“People sell things. People buy things. Is it different in the city?” the old woman asked.

山民哄笑起来。

The hillfolk laughed.

男孩紧张地跟着一起笑。就连马尔森诺也嘴角微提。瓦尼斯纹丝不动。他注视着人群，手握着长棍。

The boy nervously joined in. Even Marsino offered up a weak smile. Vannis remained unmoved. He regarded the crowd, hand on his quarterstaff.

“没什么不一样。”马尔森诺说。“但这种花在这个季节可很罕见。”

“Of course not,” said Marsino. “But the flower is rare this time of year.”

“我们擅长耕作。也擅长打猎。”老妇人的微笑消失了。

“We’re good farmers. Good hunters, too,” she said, the smile disappearing.

瓦尼斯紧盯着老妇人。“对，但土地已经上冻，而且你们之中没一个耕过地的。”

Vannis fixed his gaze on the old woman. “Aye, but the ground is frozen and there isn’t one among you who’s ever worked a plough.”

老妇人耸耸肩。“东西愿意长哪就长哪。我们能怎么着。”

The old woman shrugged. “Things grow where they want. Who are we to say different.”

瓦尼斯还以假笑。“对，它愿意长。”他一边说一边解下斗篷上的灰印。他蹲下来，把那枚纹饰雕琢的石牌举到一株多眠参上方。

Vannis smirked. “Aye, plants grow,” he said, as he unclipped the Graymark from his cloak. He dropped down on his haunches and held the carved, stone disk over a dormisroot.

花瓣纷纷枯萎皱缩。

The petals wilted and shriveled.

“但它可不该一见到禁魔石就枯死。”瓦尼斯说着站起身。“除非你是用魔法种的它。”

“But they don’t die at the sight of petricite,” said Vannis, standing back up. “Unless you use magecraft to grow them.”

村民们脸上的微笑都消失了。

The smiles disappeared from the villagers’ faces.

“使用魔法是明令禁止的。”马尔森诺说。“我们都是德玛西亚的臣民。生来就该遵守她的法律——”

“The use of magic is forbidden,” said Marsino. “We are all Demacian. Bound by birth to honor her laws—”

“荣誉在这不能当饭吃。”老妇人说。

“You can’t eat honor up here,” said the old woman.

“就算能吃，你们也没得吃。”瓦尼斯冷笑道。

“Even if you could, your belly’d be empty,” sneered Vannis.

侮辱引起了人群的骚乱，向前紧逼，距离两个搜魔人不到几步远。

The crowd stirred at the insult and pressed in closer, coming within several paces of the mageseekers.

马尔森诺清了清嗓子，举起一只手。“山民一直以来都遵守着德玛西亚的道义，守护着法律和传统。”他说。“我们今天只想请你们一如既往地遵守荣誉。灾疾之人能否站出来？”

Marsino cleared his throat and raised a hand. “The hillfolk have always honored the ways of Demacia. Keeping with law and tradition,” he said. “We only ask you do so again today. Will the afflicted step forward?”

没人动弹也没人说话。

No one moved or said a word.

片刻过后，马尔森诺再度开口。“如果荣誉无法迫使你，那么请听好，我们这有一个孩子能查出罪恶之人。”

After a moment, Marsino spoke again. “If honor does not compel you, then know we have a boy here that will root out the guilty.”

人群全都看向男孩。他们眼中溢满责难，严厉的轻语声在人群中流淌。

The crowd focused on the boy. Reproach welled in their eyes as harsh whispers flowed through their ranks.

“这个小畜生动用魔法就不受罚，专门罚我们？”刚才大声喊叫的那个人问道。

“So the runt can invoke magic without censure, but not us?” asked the man who had shouted earlier.

男孩在责问声中畏缩了。

The boy shrank at the accusation.

“他为德玛西亚效力。”马尔森诺说着，转身面向男孩。“没关系，开始吧。”

“He works in service to Demacia,” Marsino said, before turning to the boy. “It’s fine, go ahead.”

他点了点头，在裤腿上蹭了蹭汗津津的手掌，然后面对那群山民。在一张张尘垢斑驳的面孔中，有一个格外显眼、光彩四射的存在。一轮光冕搏动着浮在那位法师周围。

He nodded and rubbed a sweaty palm on the leg of his breeches before turning to face the hillfolk. Among the dirt-streaked faces stood a singular, radiating presence. A corona of light pulsated and shimmered around the mage.

只有男孩能看到这种光，从他出生以来一直是这样。这是他的天赋。这是他的灾疾。

Only the boy could see this light, and it had been so all his life. This was his gift. This was his affliction.

其余的村民鄙夷地看着他。到处都是这样。这些人因他的天赋而憎恨他。所有人——除了那位老妇人。她柔弱的双眼只是祈求他不要开口。

The rest of the villagers watched with scorn. It was the same everywhere. These people hated him for his gift. All of them—except for the old woman. Her soft eyes simply pleaded with him not to speak.

男孩垂着头，看着地面。

The boy hung his head and looked at the ground.

他们都在等待，这一刻默默地延长。他感到瓦尼斯正在打量他，正在严苛地评判他。

They all waited as the moment stretched in silence. He could feel Vannis taking measure, and judging him harshly.

“没事的，”马尔森诺一边说，一边把手放在他肩膀以表鼓励。“我们严守秩序。我们维护法律。”

“It’s alright,” said Marsino, placing an encouraging hand on his shoulder. “We keep the order. We uphold the law.”

男孩抬起目光，准备指认那名法师。

The boy looked up, ready to point out the mage.

“别说出来，孩子。”老妇人摇着头说道。“我会承担责任。听到了吗？”

“Don’t say it, boy,” said the old woman, shaking her head. “I’ll accept it. Do you hear me?”

“够了。”瓦尼斯厉声说着，推开他向前走去，手中拿着灰印。

“Enough of this,” Vannis snapped, pushing past him, Graymark in hand.

法师周围的光辉短暂暗淡，是人群在靠近。

The radiant light around the mage momentarily dimmed as the crowd closed in.

“等等！”

“Wait!”

“安静，小子。已经给过你机会了。”

“Quiet, boy. You had your chance.”

但老妇人并非灾疾之人。

But it wasn’t the woman who was afflicted.

男孩转身望向马尔森诺。“不是她！是另外那个人！”他一边说，一边指着老妇人身边那个头发蓬乱的男人。

The boy turned to Marsino. “It’s not her! It’s the other one!” he said, pointing to the wild-haired man standing next to the old woman.

马尔森诺的目光离开了山民，想要寻向男孩所指的方向。但还没等他确定威胁的来处，那个人就已扑向了两名搜魔人。

Marsino took his eyes off the hillfolk, attempting to follow the boy’s gesture. But before he could fix on the threat, the man lunged at the mageseekers.

“妈妈！”他大吼着冲到瓦尼斯身边。他的双手发出翡翠色的光泽，荆棘藤条从他的指间绽放。

“Mamma!” he yelled as he reached for Vannis. His hands glimmered with an emerald sheen as thorny vines bloomed from his fingertips.

瓦尼斯回身躲开，顺势抡圆了长棍，厚重的木柄击中了法师的太阳穴，发出碎裂声。

Vannis spun out of the way, swinging his staff in a wide arc, and cracked the mage across the temple with the hefty wooden pole.

那名法师撞到了马尔森诺身上，死死抓住他的手臂。尖锐的荆棘刺破了他的衣袖。马尔森诺痛苦地畏缩，然后将那个灾疾之人推倒地上，忙乱之中掉落了火把。

The mage stumbled into Marsino, clutching him by the arm. Sharp thorns pierced his sleeve. Marsino recoiled in pain and shoved the stricken man to the ground, dropping the torch in the commotion.

火舌舔舐那人的外衣，点燃了破布。

Flames licked the man’s tunic and ignited the tatters.

老妇人尖叫着冲向她的儿子。

The old woman screamed and rushed toward her son.

众人七手八脚地拖回了她，她徒劳地挣扎着。其余的山民向前逼近，但瓦尼斯寸步不让，长棍摆好了架势。

Arms grabbed and pulled her back, holding her as she struggled. The rest of the hillfolk pressed forward, but Vannis held his ground, staff ready.

“他碰到你没？！”

“Did he touch you?!”

马尔森诺忙乱地抓住自己的武器，终于解开了节杖的挂钩，他双目无光，眼神迷离。

Marsino fumbled with his weapon, finally unhooking his scepter, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

“马尔森诺！”

“Marsino!”

“我没事！”

“I’m fine!”

“还有别人吗？”瓦尼斯大喊道。

“Are there any more?” Vannis yelled.

男孩没有回答。他依然一动不动，低头注视着那个将死的法师在火焰中蠕动。他的喉咙里泛起一股苦味，但他将那腐烂的味道咽了回去，忍住了呕吐。

The boy didn’t answer. He remained frozen, gazing down at the dying mage writhing in the flames. Bitterness rose in his throat, but he choked back the foul taste, refusing to retch.

“小子！”

“Boy!”

他终于回过神。火势在整片花田蔓延开来，在他们和暴民之间形成一道墙。他隔着火光在一张张杀气腾腾的面孔中寻找，热火遮蔽了他的感知。

He finally snapped to attention. The fire was spreading through the field, creating a wall between them and the mob. He searched the murderous faces behind the growing flames, the heat overwhelming his senses.

“没了。”

“No.”

“那就上马！”

“Then mount up!”

男孩跨上他的小马。马尔森诺和瓦尼斯也紧跟着跨上各自的战马，三人迅速离开了村庄。男孩转身回头看去。烈火在肆虐，那片花田正在萎蔫。

The boy mounted his pony. Marsino and Vannis quickly followed on their own steeds and the three raced away from the village. The boy turned to look back. The fire roared, and the field of flowers was already wilting.

瓦尼斯催着他们一直骑行到傍晚，尽量让他们远离那群山民。到伦沃尔需要三天的时间。瓦尼斯打算组织一整队搜魔人再杀回来。他说，法律必须得到维护。

Vannis had pushed them to ride well into the evening, putting as much distance between them and the hillfolk as possible. It would take three days to reach Castle Wrenwall. Vannis intended to mount a cohort of mageseekers and return. The law must be upheld, he said.

天黑后不久他们就安营了，夜间走这里的山路很危险。男孩终于用自己的双脚踏在地上，松了口气。来自边沟镇的孩子很少骑马，除非从马车行里偷马，而他从来都不是小偷。

They bedded down shortly after dark, the rocky terrain too dangerous to navigate. The boy was relieved to have his own feet on the ground. Boys from Dregbourne rarely rode horses, unless they stole them from a livery stable, and he’d never been much of a thief.

他轮第一班岗，于是坐在一棵高大的橡树下，数小时的骑行让他的后背和屁股僵硬酸痛。他翻来覆去，想找一个舒服的姿势。几分钟后，他站起来靠着那颗远古的巨树。一声孤狼的嚎叫从山里传来，唤起同伴的齐声应和。或许也可能是布莱格猎犬的声音——他始终都无法区分开。

He took the first watch, sitting at the base of a towering oak, back and bottom sore and stiff from hours of riding. He shifted his body, seeking a comfortable position. After a few minutes, he stood and leaned against the ancient giant. A solitary wolf howled somewhere up in the hills, and a chorus responded in kind. Or perhaps they were braget hounds—he still couldn’t tell them apart.

远处的雷雨云在夜空中频频闪烁，但因为距离太远，雷声没有传到他的耳中。头顶的星星艰难地推开薄薄的灰暗云浪显露星光。浓重的雾气蓄在低地上方。

Distant thunderheads flickered in the night sky, their rumblings so removed they never reached his ears. Overhead, stars struggled to push through drifting billows of gray. A sheet of thick fog settled over the lowlands.

他又向篝火中扔进一捆木柴。激起的火星迅速在空中熄灭。

He threw another bundle of wood in the fire. It sent up a burst of embers that quickly died out.

鬼魅的声音填充了他静止的脑海。它们在央求，在否认一个闪烁的事实。男孩想起了那名着火的法师，那段记忆在篝火中跃动起舞。他颤抖着扭过头。

Ghostly voices filled the stillness in his mind. They pleaded and denied a shimmering truth as memories of the burning mage danced in the campfire. He shuddered and turned away.

那是惨不忍睹的死亡。但每当那些想法侵入他的脑海，他都将其驱赶，并替换为自从加入瓦尼斯和马尔森诺以后见到的种种美好。

It had been a gruesome death. But every time those thoughts invaded his mind he pushed them away and replaced them with all the beauty he’d witnessed since joining Vannis and Marsino.

他已经和这两位搜魔人共同旅行了好几个月，首次看到了边沟镇外面的繁华街巷。他也亲自探索了那些曾经在房顶上远远望见的山丘。现在他又看到了新的山峰，而且还想看到更多。

He’d been traveling with the mageseekers for months, seeing the world outside the crowded streets of Dregbourne for the first time. He’d explored the distant hills and mountains he’d once watched from the roof of his tenement. New mountains now stood before him, and he wanted to see more.

是魔法让这一切变为可能。

Magic had made it possible.

他的灾疾曾让他充满被发现的恐惧，而现在却成了一份礼物。他的灾疾让他成为了一名真正的德玛西亚人。他甚至还穿上了蓝衣。或许某天他也能戴上半截面罩，还有属于他自己的灰印，虽然他自己就是法师。

The affliction that once filled him with fear of discovery was now a gift. It allowed him to walk as a true Demacian. He even wore the blue. Perhaps someday he would also don a half-mask and a Graymark of his own, in spite of being a mage.

悉悉索索的声音打断了他的思绪。

Faint rustling broke his thoughts.

他转过身发现马尔森诺正在含糊呓语。他身边的铺盖卷是空的。男孩见状立刻心惊肉跳。他望向树林，搜寻年长搜魔人的踪迹——

He turned and found Marsino mumbling in his sleep. Next to him lay an empty blanket roll. The boy’s heart raced at the sight. He searched the treeline for the older mageseeker—

瓦尼斯站在附近一颗橡树下，正在看着他。

Vannis stood beneath a nearby oak, watching him.

“你今天犹豫了。”他说着，走出阴影。“你的表现很差。是因为害怕还是别的什么原因？”

“You hesitated today,” he said, as he stepped out of the shadow. “Made a bad showing. Was it fear or something else?”

男孩回避他的注视，一言不发，寻觅着能令这位搜魔人满意的答案。

The boy averted his gaze and remained silent, searching for an answer that would satisfy the mageseeker.

瓦尼斯一脸不满，声音开始不耐烦。“快点，有话就说。”

Vannis scowled, growing impatient. “Go on, say your piece.”

“我不明白……种多眠参有什么危害？”

“I don’t understand… what’s the harm in growing dormisroot?”

瓦尼斯嘟囔一嘴，摇了摇头。“你让步一寸，他们就得寸进尺。”他说。“在战场上如此，法师也如此。”

Vannis grumbled and shook his head. “Every inch given is an inch lost,” he said. “It's true on the battlefield and true with mages.”

男孩对他点点头。瓦尼斯对他看了一阵。

The boy nodded at the words. Vannis regarded him for a moment.

“你心属何处，小子？”

“Where’s your heart, boy?”

“与德玛西亚同在，长官。”

“With Demacia, sir.”

马尔森诺再次惊悸。他的低声呢喃很快变成了痛苦呻吟，最后开始在被卷中痛苦挣扎。

Marsino stirred once again. His mumbles rapidly turned into moans until the man was struggling against his blanket roll.

男孩走过去拉了拉他的肩膀。“马尔森诺，醒醒。”他小声说。

The boy walked over and tugged at the man’s shoulder. “Marsino, wake up,” he whispered.

年轻的搜魔人在男孩的触碰下扭着身躯。呻吟声越来越大，最后变成了哭号。他又摇了摇马尔森诺，这次动作更大。

The young mageseeker twisted at the boy’s touch. The moans grew louder until the man was wailing. He shook Marsino again, only more roughly this time.

“怎么回事？”瓦尼斯问道，他的身影遮了上来。

“What’s wrong?” Vannis asked, looming over him.

“我不知道。我叫不醒他。”

“I don’t know. He’s not waking.”

瓦尼斯把男孩推开，帮马尔森诺翻过身。他的眉梢和太阳穴浸透了汗水，深色的头发一缕缕地贴在一起。马尔森诺大睁着双眼，目光空洞，瞳孔映着浑浊的白色。

Vannis pushed the boy aside and turned Marsino over. Sweat slicked his brow and temple, matting his dark hair. Marsino’s eyes were open and vacant and shined a cloudy white.

瓦尼斯拉开厚厚的毯子，掀开马尔森诺的斗篷。黑暗的枯朽触须爬上了他的胳膊。在男孩的眼中，腐坏的皮肤之下正跃动着光芒四射的花朵。

Vannis pulled back the heavy blanket and opened Marsino’s cloak. Dark tendrils of blight marred his arm. To the boy’s eyes, a radiant bloom pulsed beneath the corrupted skin.

还没等第一缕曙光出现，他们就上马启程了。

They had been riding since before first light.

瓦尼斯和男孩设法把马尔森诺抬上了马，把他固定在马鞍上。年轻的搜魔人一直伴着高烧和睡梦，瓦尼斯将马尔森诺的坐骑与自己的栓在一起，然后便出发了。

Vannis and the boy had managed to lift Marsino onto his horse and secured him to the saddle. The young mageseeker had remained in a fever dream as Vannis tied Marsino’s horse to his own and set off.

男孩的小马艰难地跟着瓦尼斯带领的轻快步伐——距离伦沃尔城堡还有一天的路程。

The boy’s pony struggled to keep the brisk pace Vannis had set—Castle Wrenwall was still over a day’s ride away.

他看到马尔森诺每一步都在颠簸。这名伤员有好几次都差点跌落马下，但瓦尼斯每次都会慢下来，把马尔森诺固定好。年长的搜魔人每次停下照顾同伴，都会瞪一眼男孩，然后再继续前行。

He watched Marsino jostle with every stride. The wounded man threatened to fall over several times, but Vannis would slow down and resecure Marsino in his saddle. Every time the old mageseeker did so, he scowled at the boy before pushing on.

他们在上午中段来到了科沃山道。他们的坐骑沿着狭窄曲折的傍山险路。这条路能节省半日的时间，但险峻的路况和茂密的灌木让他们举步维艰。

They reached Corvo Pass by mid-morning. Their mounts clambered up the narrow switchbacks carved into the mountainside. It would cut half a day from their travels, but the treacherous path was ill kept and the thick brush slowed them to a crawl.

男孩夹紧双腿，握紧缰绳，不安地看着身旁陡峭的深谷。他的小马则径直向前走，用本能避开必死的命运。

The boy squeezed his legs and clutched the reins, nervously watching the precarious drop into the deep gorge below. His pony simply trudged along, instinctively keeping them from certain death.

他们冲破了茂密的灌木，来到一片平坦的空地。他看到瓦尼斯踩踏马镫，让两匹马开始慢跑——这时马尔森诺开始向右侧倾斜，歪倒的幅度比以前大得多。

They broke through the thicket into a flat clearing. He watched Vannis push on his stirrups, driving the horses into a canter—Marsino began inching to his right, leaning over much further than before.

“瓦尼斯！”

“Vannis!”

那位搜魔人伸出手，但已经太迟了。马尔森诺翻身落下，重重摔在地上。

The mageseeker reached out, but it was too late. Marsino fell over and slammed onto the ground.

男孩勒住缰绳，跳下小马，跑到伤员身边。瓦尼斯也一样。

The boy reined up and leapt off his mount, rushing to the downed man. Vannis did the same.

一股鲜血从马尔森诺的额头流下。

Blood streamed from Marsino’s forehead.

“我们需要给他止血。”瓦尼斯说。

“We need to staunch the bleeding,” said Vannis.

他抽出了匕首，一声招呼也不打，直接伸手从男孩的斗篷上割下一长条布料。

The man unsheathed his dagger and, without asking, reached out and cut a long strip of cloth from the boy’s cloak.

“水。”瓦尼斯说。

“Water,” said Vannis.

男孩掏出了水囊，水流浇在深深的切口上，瓦尼斯把伤口擦干净。

The boy pulled his water skin and poured a stream over the deep gash as Vannis cleaned the wound.

马尔森诺挪了挪身子，在高烧状态下语无伦次地呢喃。男孩想要听清他的话，但只能听清少数几个词语。

Marsino shifted and muttered incoherently in his fevered state. The boy tried following the man’s ramblings but understood only a few words.

“喝。”瓦尼斯说着，把几滴清水洒在他干裂的嘴唇上。

“Drink,” he said, pouring drops of water over the man’s dry lips.

年轻的搜魔人有了反应，舌头迎着水滴。他睁开了眼。红色的斑点浮现在那团浑浊的白色中间。

The young mageseeker stirred, his tongue lapping at the moisture. He opened his eyes. Ruddy blotches stained the cloudy white.

“到……了吗？”马尔森诺每说一个字都在费力地喘息。

“Are we… there?” Marsino asked, chest wheezing with every word.

瓦尼斯瞪了男孩一眼。他知道自己一个字不要说。他们距离救援还有很远。

Vannis shot the boy a look. He knew not to say a thing. They were still far from reaching help.

“快了，老弟。”瓦尼斯说。

“Almost, brother,” said Vannis.

“为什么把……伦沃尔……建在高山上呢？”

“Why build… Wrenwall… so far up a mountain?”

“就是为了让人难以到达啊。”瓦尼斯露出微弱的笑。

“'It's supposed to be hard to reach,” Vannis said, with a brittle smile.

马尔森诺闭上眼轻轻笑了两声。很快就变成了咳嗽。

Marsino closed his eyes and chuckled slightly. It soon turned into a cough.

“放松，老弟。”瓦尼斯看了他片刻，转头对男孩说。“多眠参——你还留着没？”

“Easy there, brother,” Vannis said, watching the man for a moment before turning to the boy. “The dormisroot—do you still have it?”

“留了。”

“Yes.”

男孩把手插进口袋，掏出一个草编的小马、一枚光滑的鹅卵石、还有一朵黄花。他见状露出微笑，他知道这朵花能帮到马尔森诺。

The boy dug into his pocket, drawing a straw horse, a polished river stone, and the yellow flower. He smiled at the sight, knowing the blossom would help Marsino.

瓦尼斯从男孩手中夺过花朵。“至少有一件事你做对了，小子。”

Vannis snatched it from the boy’s hand. “At least you did something right, boy.”

这句话让他心口一紧。瓦尼斯说的没错。他在那个时候犹豫了，而他的朋友为此付出了代价。

His stomach tightened at the words. Vannis was right. He had faltered, and his friend had paid the price.

马尔森诺摇了摇头。“不是……他的错……是我……不够小心。”

Marsino shook his head. “It’s not… his fault… I should’ve been… more careful.”

年长的搜魔人没有说话，而是摘下了几片多眠参的花瓣。

The older mageseeker remained silent as he picked several petals from the dormisroot.

“反复嚼。虽然没经过提炼，但能够缓解疼痛。”

“Chew on this. It’s not refined, but it will help with the pain.”

“魔法……怎么办？”马尔森诺问道。

“What about… the magic?” Marsino asked.

“魔法只是加速生长并维持健壮，植株本身没有被污染。”瓦尼斯一边说一边把花瓣送到马尔森诺嘴里。他凑近年轻人的耳畔对他低语，轻轻摩挲他的头发。马尔森诺露出微笑，似乎是沉浸到了某个回忆中。

“It quickened the growth and kept it hardy, but the plant is untainted,” Vannis said as he placed the petals in Marsino’s mouth. He leaned in close and whispered in the younger man’s ear, gently stroking his hair. Marsino smiled, seemingly lost in some memory.

男孩扬起水囊喝了一口。这时一阵轻微的颤抖顺着他的脊梁蔓延下去。他胳膊上的细小汗毛根根竖立。

The boy took a swig from his waterskin. A slight shiver ran down his spine. The fine hair on his arms stood on edge.

他转身走向空地的边缘——郁郁葱葱的针叶林树冠遮住了下方的低地。

He turned and walked to the end of the clearing—a verdant canopy of pines covered the lowlands below.

“怎么了？”瓦尼斯问。

“What is it?” Vannis asked.

“我不知道……”他凝视着下方的山谷。没有任何异样，就连刚才的那股感觉也消失了。

“I don’t know…” He gazed down at the valley. Nothing appeared out of place, even the sensation had disappeared.

“我以为——”

“I thought—”

他突然停住。远处升起黑暗的烟羽。

He stopped short. Plumes of dark smoke rose in the distance.

男孩望着牧场上焦黑冒烟的尸骨。动物血肉焚烧的味道萦绕在空气中。他的胃里开始翻滚。

The boy stared at the charred and smoldering husks lying in the pasture. The smell of burnt animal flesh hung in the air. His stomach rumbled.

“你觉得是出什么事了？”他一边问，一边照看着马尔森诺。年轻的搜魔人躺在被卷和绳索拼凑成的简易担架上。

“What do you think did that?” he asked, tending to Marsino. The young mageseeker lay on a makeshift litter made from a blanket roll and lengths of rope.

“不知道。”瓦尼斯说。“留在这盯着点。”

“Don’t know,” said Vannis. “Stay there and keep watch.”

年长的搜魔人上前查看死掉的牲畜。它们的厚皮上都留下了拳头大小的穿刺伤。瓦尼斯用长棍的一端插进了烧焦的圆洞中，测算刺穿的深度。长棍的三分之一都消失在里面。

The older mageseeker inspected the dead cattle. They all bore fist-sized puncture wounds in their thick hides. Vannis prodded one of the scorched cavities with the tip of his stave, measuring its depth. A third of the shaft disappeared.

“或许我们该离开这。”男孩说。

“Maybe we should go,” the boy said.

瓦尼斯转身看他。“你感觉到什么了吗？”

Vannis turned to him. “Do you feel anything?”

男孩仔细端详地上的牲畜。烧焦的血肉下方有魔法光芒的痕迹。无论是什么杀了它们，其力量都足以把巨大的生物大卸八块。如果目标是人类也同样不会好过。有一根长棍也无济于事。

The boy studied the cattle. Traces of magic radiated underneath the seared flesh. Whatever had killed them was powerful enough to mutilate the immense creatures. A man couldn’t fare any better. Even one with a quarterstaff.

男孩将注意力投向农场。农场里有一间小木屋、一栋破旧的谷仓、还有远处的一间室外厕所。这座农场依山而建，周围茂密的森林环绕。如果不是有烟，他们绝无可能发现这里。

The boy turned his attention to the farmstead. It held a small log cabin, a weathered barn, and an outhouse at the far end. The property was tucked against the hills, surrounded by dense forest. They never would have seen it if not for the smoke.

有脚步声接近。

The sound of footfalls approached.

瓦尼斯迅速转过身，举起了长棍。

Vannis spun around and raised his staff.

一位老汉走出谷仓的转角。他看见不速之客停下了脚步。他身上的裤子和外衣稍显松垮，肩上扛着一把老旧的长戟，锋刃磨的光亮锐利。

An old man rounded the corner of the barn. He stopped at the sight of the unannounced visitors. He wore trousers and a tunic fitted for a larger man, and he carried an old, beaten halberd, its edge gleaming and sharp.

“你们到我的农场上干什么？”那个人一边问着，一边换了武器的握法，始终保持在瓦尼斯的攻击范围之外。

“What are you doing on my farm?” The man asked, shifting the grip on his weapon and remaining well outside Vannis’ reach.

“我的朋友受伤了。”男孩说。“求你了，先生，他需要救助。”

“My friend’s hurt,” said the boy. “Please, he needs help, sir.”

瓦尼斯斜瞥了男孩一眼，什么都没说。

Vannis gave the boy a sidelong glance but said nothing.

农夫低头看了看马尔森诺。年轻的搜魔人在担架上惊悸一下，依然高烧得不省人事。

The farmer looked down at Marsino. The young mageseeker stirred in his litter, lost to a fever dream.

“伦沃尔有治疗师。”农夫说。

“They have healers in Wrenwall,” the farmer said.

“那得一天多的路程。他不可能活到那个时候。”瓦尼斯说。

“It’s over a day’s ride. He’ll never make it,” said Vannis.

“这片森林中有野兽出没。你们最好离开。”老汉说着，指了指地上死掉的牲畜。

“A beast prowls these woods. You best ride out,” the old man said, gesturing to the dead cattle.

男孩望向茂密的树丛。他现在没有感觉到任何异样，但他想起了早些时候的那股颤抖。从那样的距离传来，一定是非常庞大的生物。

The boy glanced at the dense treeline. He sensed nothing at the moment, but he remembered the shiver he’d felt earlier. At that distance, it had to be a massive creature.

“什么样的野兽？是龙吗？”

“What kind of beast? Is it a dragon?”

“慢点，小子。”瓦尼斯说着向农夫走近一步。“你有义务为德玛西亚士兵提供住宿。”

“Steady, boy.” Vannis said as he stepped toward the farmer. “You have a duty to quarter a Demacian soldier.”

农夫没有让步。“你穿着蓝衣……但搜魔人并不等同于士兵。”

The farmer stood his ground. “You wear the blue… but a mageseeker is not a soldier.”

“对，但我当过兵。和你一样。”

“Aye, but I was once. Like you.”

农夫怀疑地眯起眼，将长戟的枪头对准瓦尼斯的方向。

The farmer’s eyes narrowed, and he angled the spearpoint of his halberd in Vannis’ direction.

“是从这把长柄大刀看出来的。”瓦尼斯说。“没记错的话，这是旧时候荆墙戟兵的开膛利器。我敢说，这刀刃和这老兵都没有锈钝。”

“It’s that pole cleaver,” Vannis said. “A gut ripper of the old Thornwall Halberdiers, if memory serves. Far as I can see, neither it nor this old soldier have lost their edge.”

农夫对着武器露出微弱的笑。“那是很久以前了。”

The farmer regarded his weapon with a faint smile. “That was long ago.”

“兄弟是一辈子的。”瓦尼斯的声音柔和了许多。“帮帮我们。我们完事以后会帮你猎杀野兽。”

“Brothers are for life,” said Vannis, softer this time. “Help us. And we’ll hunt your beast down after we’re done.”

男孩低头看了一眼马尔森诺。搜魔人的双眼紧闭，呼吸浅促。

The boy glanced down at Marsino. The mageseeker’s eyes remained shut as he drew shallow breaths.

农夫望着瓦尼斯，仔细考虑着他的提议。“不必了。”他最后说。“把你的人抬进来吧。”

The farmer regarded Vannis, considering the offer. “That won't be necessary,” he finally said. “Let’s bring your man inside.”

瓦尼斯和农夫把马尔森诺抬进了小屋。壁炉里燃着一小团火，朴素的屋子里一股雪松和泥土的味道。男孩把屋子中间的桌子清理出来，把几只木碗和几块硬面包放到了旁边的草垫上。农夫将马尔森诺缓缓放到木桌板上。

Vannis and the farmer carried Marsino inside the cabin. A small fire burned in the firepit and the modest room smelled of cedar and earth. The boy cleared a table standing in the middle of the room, tossing wooden bowls and hardtack biscuits onto a nearby sleeping pallet. The men eased Marsino down onto the wooden planks.

“家里还有谁？”瓦尼斯一边问，一边用匕首割开马尔森诺的外套。

“Who else is here?” Vannis asked, using his dagger to cut off Marsino’s tunic.

“我一个人过。”老汉一边说，一边检查伤势。男孩可以看到枯朽已经蔓延了。黑暗的触须向马尔森诺的脖子和心脏生长。

“I live alone,” the old man said, examining the wound. The boy could see the blight had spread. Dark tendrils reached out toward Marsino’s neck and heart.

“我们必须把它切除。”瓦尼斯说。

“We have to have cut it out,” said Vannis.

马尔森诺开始抽搐，几乎要从桌子上摔下来。

Marsino started to convulse, threatening to fall off the table.

“按住他。”瓦尼斯说。男孩按住了马尔森诺的双腿，用全身的重量压在桌子上。可马尔森诺用蹬踏抗拒束缚。一只重靴子挣脱了，踢在男孩嘴上。他向后一个趔趄，用手捂住下巴。

“Hold ‘em down,” said Vannis. The boy pinned Marsino’s legs, using his weight to secure them in place. The man thrashed against the restraint. A heavy boot kicked free and cracked the boy in the mouth. He stumbled back, nursing his jaw.

“我让你按住他！”瓦尼斯大喊着将匕首的刃擦干净。

“I said hold him!” Vannis yelled as he wiped down the blade of his dagger.

他再次把手伸向马尔森诺的双腿，这时农夫插了进来。

He reached for Marsino’s legs again, but the farmer stepped in.

“没事，孩子。”农夫说。“去和他说说话。”

“It’s alright, son,” the man said. “Try talking to him.”

他绕到桌子另一头。马尔森诺的震颤已经缓解了，但他的喘息极不均匀，胸口传出咯咯的声音。

He moved around the table. Marsino’s tremors had eased, but his chest rattled with each ragged breath.

“马尔森诺？”

“Marsino?”

“握住他的手，让他知道你在身边。”农夫说。“对动物管用。对人也没差。”

“Hold his hand, let him know you’re there,” said the farmer. “It helps with injured animals. Men aren’t much different.”

男孩紧握住马尔森诺的手。摸上去很温暖，同时也浸透了汗水。“一定会没事的。我们有帮手了。”

The boy grasped Marsino’s hand. It felt warm to the touch and slick with sweat. “It’s going to be alright. We got help.”

马尔森诺似乎在专心听他的话，把头扭向他的声音，他浑浊的白色瞳孔已经变为深红色。

Marsino seemed to focus on his voice, turning toward the sound, his cloudy white gaze now a deep red.

“我们到伦沃尔了吗？”

“Are we in Wrenwall?”

男孩看了看瓦尼斯，那位寻巫人点了点头。

The boy looked at Vannis, and the magehunter nodded.

“是的。治疗师正在处置你的伤口。”男孩说。

“Yes. The healers are working on you,” the boy said.

“多眠参……给我争取了……时间。”马尔森诺捏着他的手说。“你做得好……做得好……”

“The dormisroot… it bought me… some time,” Marsino said, squeezing his hand. “You did good… You did good…”

男孩咬紧了牙，努力抵抗喉咙中胀起来的悲伤。他将马尔森诺的手握得更紧了些，不愿放手。

The boy clenched his teeth, fighting back the grief swelling in his throat. He held Marsino’s hand tighter, not wanting to let go.

“对不起，马尔森诺。我本该——”

“I’m sorry, Marsino. I should’ve—”

“别……不是……你的错。”马尔森诺说的每个字都在费力、忍痛。他努力挺起头，用那双看不见的眼睛在房间中搜寻。

“Don’t… it wasn’t… your fault,” Marsino said, every word labored and pained. He strained to lift his head. Searching the room with eyes that could no longer see.

“瓦尼斯？”

“Vannis?”

“在呢，老弟。”

“Right here, brother.”

“告诉他们……告诉他们不是他的错。”

“Tell ‘em… tell ‘em it’s not on him.”

瓦尼斯死死盯着男孩。“是，全是因为不走运。”他最后说。

Vannis fixed his stare on the boy. “Aye, bad luck is all,” he finally said.

“看吧……”马尔森诺露出虚弱的微笑。“你不用……自责。”

“See…” Marsino said, offering a wan smile. “You don’t need… to carry it.”

瓦尼斯抓住马尔森诺的肩膀，凑近他的耳朵。“我们需要把它切除，老弟。”瓦尼斯说。

Vannis gripped Marsino’s shoulder and leaned in close to the man’s ear. “We need to cut it out, brother,” Vannis said.

马尔森诺点了点头。

Marsino nodded his head.

“他需要咬住点什么。”农夫说。

“He’ll need something to bite on,” said the farmer.

男孩抽出自己的匕首，雕刻的木柄非常合适。他把木柄放在马尔森诺嘴里。

The boy unsheathed his dagger, the carved wooden handle perfectly suited for the task. He placed it in Marsino’s mouth.

“好，”瓦尼斯说着，握着他自己的匕首凑近了受伤的手臂。

“Good,” Vannis said, holding his own blade inches from the wounded arm.

皮肤下面的触须在滑行。从男孩眼里看去，触须在发出柔和、跳动的光，其他人都看不到。

The tendrils slithered beneath the skin. To the boy’s eyes, they radiated a soft, pulsating light the others couldn’t see.

“停。”他说。

“Stop,” he said.

瓦尼斯抬头看男孩。“怎么了？”

Vannis looked up at the boy. “What is it?”

马尔森诺咬住匕首的木柄发出一声闷住的尖叫。他捏着男孩的手，双腿抽打桌面，直到他皮肤下面的动静平息下来。

Marsino bit down on the dagger’s handle and released a stifled scream. He squeezed the boy’s hand and thrashed against the table until the movement underneath his skin subsided.

枯朽之触延伸到了马尔森诺的脖子。

The blight stretched across Marsino’s neck.

“太深了。”瓦尼斯说。“没法切除。”搜魔人退后一步，不知接下来该如何。

“It’s too deep,” said Vannis. “I can’t cut it out.” The mageseeker stepped back, unsure of what to do next.

“能把它烫死吗？”男孩问。

“What if you burn it out?” The boy asked.

“要灼烧的话太靠近动脉了。”瓦尼斯说着，转身对那位老汉问。“你有药物吗？”

“You can’t cauterize that close to the artery,” Vannis said. He turned to the old man. “Do you have any medicinals?”

“没有能对症的。”

“Nothing that would help that.”

瓦尼斯看着自己受伤的同伴，心中左思右想。“那治疗师呢？”他的声音像是在说悄悄话。

Vannis gazed down at his injured partner, weighing something in his mind. “What about a healer?” he said, the words no louder than a whisper.

“他们应该会有医用器械，但距离最近的——”

“They would have medicinals, but the closest one—”

“不是那种治疗师。”

“Not that kind of healer.”

老汉沉默了片刻。“我不认识你说的那种。”

The old man remained silent for a moment. “I don’t know anyone like that.”

瓦尼斯似乎想要继续追问，但他把话咽了回去，开始在小屋里搜寻。

It appeared Vannis wanted to push the matter, but he bit his tongue and searched the cabin instead.

男孩循着搜魔人的视线看去。他看到角落里一叠兽皮、另一个角落里一张网绳吊床、还有靠在墙边木工台上挤在一起的十多只木制小亚龙。没什么能帮得上忙。

The boy followed the mageseeker’s gaze. He found a stack of hides in one corner, a netted hammock in another, and a carver’s workbench crowded with dozens of wooden drakes against a wall. Nothing that would help.

“牲口。”瓦尼斯说。

“The cattle,” said Vannis.

一提到死去的牲畜，农夫的脸突然煞白。“牲口怎么了？”

The farmer blanched at the mention of the dead livestock. “What of them?”

“它们有没有得过藓虫病？”

“Did they ever suffer from tinea worm?”

“得过。我们用苛性月蚀粉剂进行烧灼。”

“Yes. We burn it out with a pulvis of lunar caustic.”

“如果我们先切除源头，然后用微量的粉剂处理其余的部分，没准能行。”瓦尼斯说。“在哪呢？”

“If we cut the source and use a thin band of the pulvis for the rest, it might work,” Vannis said. “Where is it?”

农夫看向窗外。他似乎是在犹豫，也可能是在回忆应该从哪里寻找。

The farmer looked out the window. He seemed to hesitate, perhaps trying to remember where to search in all the clutter.

马尔森诺的喉咙深处发出咕噜声。他剧烈地向桌子边缘震颤摇摆，齿间紧紧咬着匕首。

A deep guttural sound rose from Marsino’s throat. He violently convulsed and teetered toward the edge of the table, dagger clenched between his teeth.

瓦尼斯按住他的肩膀。“粉剂在哪？”

Vannis held the wounded man down by the shoulders. “Where’s the pulvis?”

农夫用力控制住马尔森诺乱踢的腿。“在谷仓，不过——”

The farmer wrestled with Marsino’s flailing legs. “It’s in the barn, but—”

马尔森诺哀号一声。

Marsino wailed.

“我去拿！”男孩说着，转身跑出小屋。p>

“I got it!” the boy said, as he turned and ran outside.

他迅速跑向谷仓，清爽的山中空气拂过他的脸庞，双腿和胸腔开始热起来。距离谷仓的大门还有二十步，这时一阵颤抖顺着他的脊梁蔓延下去。

Crisp mountain air rushed past his face as he raced toward the barn, the heat building in his legs and lungs. The barn door was less than twenty paces away when a shiver ran down his spine.

他打着滑停下来。

He slid to a stop.

周围的森林幽暗寂静。他在茂密的树丛间寻找最细微的魔法痕迹，但除了灌木什么都没看到。牧场上的残骸依然冒着热气和灰烟。刺麻感蔓延到他整个后背——周围一定有什么东西。

The surrounding forest stood dark and silent. He searched the dense thicket for the slightest hint of magic but found nothing in the brush. Steam and smoke still rose from the smoldering heaps in the pasture. The tingling sensation spread across his back—there was something nearby.

他需要警告瓦尼斯，但他知道这时候不能大喊大叫。

He needed to warn Vannis but knew better than to shout.

他要回去吗？

Should he go back?

木屋里又传来一声痛苦的尖叫。马尔森诺需要他鼓起勇气。

Another agonizing scream erupted from within the cabin. Marsino needed him to be brave.

他深吸一口气冷静下来，继续跑向谷仓。他颤抖的双手笨拙地拉开门闩，打开大门，然后从里面关死。

He took a deep, sobering breath and darted to the outbuilding. His trembling hands fumbled with the latch until he finally got the door open, then he slammed it shut behind him.

他的脊梁一阵更剧烈的震颤。

A jolt rushed down his spine.

他向后翻倒，撞倒了摆放挖土工具的架子。铲子和铁锹哗啦一声散落在地。

He stumbled back and fell, crashing into a rack of ditching tools. Shovels and spades clattered on the floor.

那个东西在谷仓里。

It was inside the barn.

男孩伸手拿匕首，但发现刀鞘是空的。他把匕首给了马尔森诺。一缕银色的光芒从一个隔断后面散射出来。

The boy reached for his dagger but found the sheath empty. He had given it to Marsino. A silvery brilliance radiated from one of the stalls.

他想站起来，但双腿不听使唤。那闪光愈发耀眼，有什么东西走出了隔断，绕出了拐角。他从未见过如此耀眼的光芒。它甚至扰乱了周围的空气，形成不同颜色的光波。

He tried to stand, but his legs refused to act. The glow flourished as a shape exited the stall and rounded the corner. He’d never witnessed a light so blinding. It distorted the very air in waves of colors.

那个形状接近了。

The shape approached.

他耳边响起一阵嗡嗡声，就像一窝被惹怒的蜜蜂在他脑壳里飞舞。男孩向后爬，一只手挡在眼前，另一只手胡乱在地上寻找武器。他什么都没找到。

A droning rose in his ears, like an army of nettle bees swarming inside his head. The boy scrambled back, one hand shielding his eyes as the other searched the ground for a weapon. He found nothing.

整个世界都消失在光与色彩的大幕的后面。

The world vanished behind a sheet of light and color.

一个声音想要打断嗡嗡的响声，那个东西穿过了耀眼的光芒。他的心智挣扎着分辨出这个声音，最后突然一个词让一切都清晰了……

A sound tried to break through the hum as the shape pushed through the radiant glow. His mind struggled to piece it together until a single utterance made everything clear…

“爸爸？”

“Papa?”

话音一落，整个世界都恢复了原状。

With a word, the entire world resolved back into place.

是一个小女孩。

It was a little girl.

她望着他，瞪大的眼中充满恐惧。她周围的光冕再次炽烈闪耀。光芒在拉扯男孩，迫使他伸出手触摸它的耀辉。

She stared at him, eyes wide in fear. The corona around her flared brighter again. It pulled at the boy, compelling him to reach out and touch its radiance.

“你，你是谁？”她问。

“W-Who are you?” she asked.

“我是……我是塞拉斯。”他站了起来，伸出一只手。“我不会伤害你……只要你不伤害我。”

“I’m… I’m Sylas.” He rose to his feet, holding out his hand. “I won’t hurt you… if you don’t hurt me.”

女孩双手合十，握在胸前。“我永远都不会伤害任何人……”她说着，目光垂到脚尖。“不会故意伤害。”

The girl balled her hands and pressed them to her chest. “I would never hurt anyone…” she said, her gaze falling to her feet. “Not on purpose.”

男孩想起了牧场上的牲畜。他赶走了那些想法，将注意力放在这个金发孩童身上。她看上去娇小无助，即便这里是她自己的家。

The boy recalled the cattle in the pasture. He pushed the thought away and focused on the golden-haired child. She seemed tiny and lost, even here in her own home.

“我相信你。”他说。“肯定不会太……轻松。”

“I believe you,” he said. “It’s not always… easy.”

她周围的光芒黯淡了，那股拉扯他的力量也消退了。

The light around her dimmed, and the pull on him diminished.

她抬头看着男孩。“你见到我爸爸了吗？”

She looked up at the boy. “Have you seen my papa?”

“他在屋子里。正在救助我的朋友。”

“He’s inside the house. Helping my friend.”

她小心翼翼地抓住他的手。“带我找爸爸。”

She timidly reached out to grasp his hand. “Take me to him.”

他抽回了手。“你不能进去。”他说。

He drew back. “You can’t go inside,” he said.

“爸爸出事了？”

“Is something wrong with papa?”

“没。他……正在救助一位搜魔人。”

“No. It’s… He’s helping a mageseeker.”

小女孩听到那个词立刻退缩了，谷仓内部再次被照亮。她知道自己面临的危险。

The little girl recoiled at the word, and the inside of the barn brightened once again. She understood the danger.

“你是搜魔人吗？”她用颤抖的声音问道。

“Are you a mageseeker?” She asked, her voice quivering.

这个问题让男孩感到体内一阵绞痛。

The question wrenched at something deep inside the boy.

“不是。”他说。“我和你一样。”

“No,” he said. “I’m like you.”

女孩微笑了。真诚的微笑让他的心中泛起暖流，搜魔人的赞许从未带来过这种感觉。

The girl smiled. It was genuine and warmed his heart in a way that no praise from a mageseeker ever had.

木屋的方向又传来一声尖叫。

Another scream came from the main house.

“爸爸？”

“Papa?”

“是我的朋友。我需要回去。”他说。“我们离开之前你能一直藏起来吗？别出来？”

“It’s my friend. I need to go back,” he said. “Can you hide until we’re gone? Can you do that?”

女孩点点头。

The girl nodded.

“好。”他说。“你知道月蚀粉剂在哪吗？”

“Good,” he said. “Do you know where the lunar caustic is?”

她指了指窄架子上的一只土罐。

She pointed to a clay jar sitting on a narrow shelf.

男孩抓起罐子冲出谷仓。在他靠近木屋的时候又听到一声痛苦的哀号。他加速跑完最后几步，撞开了门。

The boy snatched the container and bolted from the barn. Another agonizing wail broke as he approached the cabin. He pushed harder for the last few steps and burst through the door.

“我找到了。”他像赢得奖杯一样捧着土罐。

“I found it,” he said, holding the jar like a prize in hand.

房间里一片寂静。

Silence filled the room.

瓦尼斯看着马尔森诺毫无生气的身体。只有农夫转身看向门口。

Vannis was staring at Marsino’s lifeless body. Only the farmer turned toward the door.

老汉的眼中闪着恐惧和怨恨。这眼神和所有那些想要隐藏自己灾疾的绝望灵魂并无二致。

There was fear and resentment in the old man’s eyes. It was the same the boy had seen in all those desperate souls trying to hide their affliction.

老汉慢慢摸向自己的长戟，他的眼神在男孩和瓦尼斯之间来回扫视，而瓦尼斯则始终一动不动、一言不发。

The old man slowly reached for his halberd, his gaze sweeping from the boy to Vannis, who still hadn’t moved or said a word.

男孩摇了摇头，静静地恳求老汉停下手。

The boy shook his head, silently imploring the man to stop.

农夫暂停下来，看了一眼谷仓，又看回男孩。

The farmer paused and looked toward the barn before looking back at the boy.

他对这位父亲露出安慰的微笑。

He offered the father a reassuring smile.

老汉看了他片刻，然后将武器靠回墙上。

The old man regarded him for a moment and then rested his weapon against the wall.

瓦尼斯终于回过神来。“你怎么去了这么久？”搜魔人问道。

Vannis finally snapped from his trance. “What took you so long?” the mageseeker asked.

“错不在这孩子。你的朋友伤得太重。”

“It’s not the boy’s fault. Your friend was too far gone.”

瓦尼斯向后退一步，坐在草垫上。

Vannis stepped back from the body and sat down on the sleeping pallet.

“都是这个小杂种害的。”他冷冷地笑着说。“他是那种东西，你知道吗。假装是正常人。”

“The cur is the reason we’re here,” he sneered. “He’s one of them, you know. Pretending to be normal.”

“你的朋友不这么想。”农夫说。“请尊重属于他的回忆。。”

“Your friend didn’t believe so,” said the farmer. “Honor that memory.”

瓦尼斯的目光离开了马尔森诺的尸体。他专心看着雕刻工具和吊床下散落的木雕玩偶。

Vannis looked away from Marsino’s body. He fixed his attention on the dozens of carver’s tools and wooden figures strewn about the floor beneath the hammock.

“他是个年轻的傻瓜，太容易动感情。”瓦尼斯说完便陷入了沉默，似乎开始想别的事情。

“He was a young fool who felt things far too deeply,” he finally said. Vannis fell into a deep silence after that, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

农夫和男孩一起伫立在这尴尬的僵硬气氛中，不知接下来该如何。

The farmer and the boy joined him in the uncomfortable stillness, unsure of what to do next.

“看来，只剩我们两个去猎杀野兽了吧？”瓦尼斯问那位老汉。

“So it’ll be the two of us hunting the beast, then?” Vannis asked the old man.

“不必了。”农夫说。“好好照顾你的朋友吧。我有一辆推车。给你了。”

“It’s not necessary,” said the farmer. “Tend to your friend. I have a wagon. It’s yours.”

“把你……一个人留在这不太合适。”瓦尼斯说。“这相当于让我抛下兄弟。”

“Doesn’t seem proper to leave you here… alone,” said Vannis. “I’d be abandoning a brother.”

搜魔人的声音中带着微妙的尖酸，让男孩感到不安。悲伤变成了怀疑。哀痛的导师再度变成了拷问者。

The mageseeker’s voice carried a subtle sharpness that made the boy uneasy. Sorrow transformed into suspicion. The grieving mentor had become the interrogator once again.

“我没事。”农夫说。“自从穿上蓝衣以后就一直如此了。”

“I’ll manage,” said the farmer. “Been doing so since my days wearing the blue.”

“当然了。”瓦尼斯笑着说。

“Of course,” Vannis said, smiling.

搜魔人从小床上跳起，冲向农夫，把他抵在墙上——匕首尖距离农夫的喉咙只有几寸。

The mageseeker leapt from the cot, rushed the farmer, and slammed him against the wall—his dagger tip poised inches from the man’s throat.

“它在哪？”

“Where is it?”

“什么？”农夫的声音颤抖着，充满疑惑。

“What?” The farmer asked, his voice trembling and confused.

“你的野兽。”

“Your beast?”

“在，在树林里。”

“I-It’s in the woods.”

“它晚上回你的小屋睡觉吗？”

“Does it bed down in your cabin at night?”

“什么？”

“What?”

“你的吊床。”瓦尼斯示意了一下那张网绳床。“征战的日子久了，它就成了你的老伙计。”

“Your hammock,” said Vannis, gesturing to the netted cord. “Spend enough time on campaign and it becomes your best friend.”

瓦尼斯将匕首贴到老汉的皮肤上。“那床垫又是谁的？”

Vannis pressed the dagger to the man’s flesh. “So why the cot?”

“是……我女儿的。”农夫说道，轻瞄了一眼男孩。“她去年冬天夭折了。”

“It… belonged to my daughter,” said the farmer, his gaze momentarily flicked to the boy. “She passed last winter.”

男孩看着那张床垫。的确是给小孩用的。

The boy looked at the sleeping pallet. It was built for a child.

但不止是床垫。还有一只木碗和勺子，还有一把练习用的剑，尺寸也不是给大人用的。如果他能看穿谎言，那么……

But it wasn’t only the cot. There was a wooden bowl and spoon, and a practice sword too small for a grown man. If he could see through the lie, then…

“咱们去给她扫墓。”瓦尼斯说。

“Let’s visit her grave,” said Vannis.

“没有墓。”老父亲说道，羞愧地躲闪着眼神。“野兽把她带走了。”

“We can’t,” said the farmer, averting his eyes in shame. “The beast took her.”

“就像它弄死你的牲口那样？”瓦尼斯冷笑道。“我打赌只要仔细找，就能在你农场里找到这只野兽。”

“Like it took your cattle?” Vannis sneered. “I wager if we search carefully we’ll find it on your farm.”

“这里什么都没有。”男孩说。“我们该走了。”

“There’s nothing here,” the boy said. “We should go.”

“小子，你看桌子上是什么？”

“What do you see on that table, boy?”

他看着马尔森诺的尸体。血染的双眼无神地睁着。枯朽的触须已经缠住他的脖子，爬上他的脸。

He stared at Marsino’s body. The bloodstained eyes wide and lifeless. The blighted tendrils had choked off his neck and webbed his face.

“是什么！”

“What do you see!”

“马尔森诺……是马尔森诺。”他开始哽咽。

“Marsino… I see Marsino.” he said, the words choking his throat.

“是一位搜魔人，小子。是我的弟兄。”瓦尼斯说出的每个字都透着愤怒和痛苦。“他是你什么人？”

“A mageseeker, boy. One of my own,” Vannis said, anger and pain seeping from each word. “What is he to you?”

马尔森诺是唯一一位对他展现善意的搜魔人。他将男孩作为真正的德玛西亚人接纳，不在乎他的灾疾。

Marsino had been the only mageseeker that showed him kindness. He had accepted him as a true Demacian, despite his affliction.

“他是我的朋友。”

“He was my friend.”

“对……而他是被法师杀死的。”瓦尼斯说。“这个人正在隐藏一个法师。一个危险的法师。”

“Aye… and he was killed by a mage,” Vannis said. “This man hides one from us. A dangerous one.”

男孩回想起小女孩的强烈闪光，还有死去牲畜的焦灼伤痕。

The boy remembered the intense glow of the little girl and the scorched flesh of the dead cattle.

“我们该怎么做？”瓦尼斯问。

“What do we do?” Vannis asked.

男孩用袖子抹了一把眼角。

The boy wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

“我们严守秩序。我们维护法律。”

“We keep the order. We uphold the law.”

瓦尼斯带着男孩和农夫来到外面，用长棍把他们向前推。三人站在牧场上，看着谷仓和室外厕所。他用长棍戳了一下老汉的肋骨。

Vannis led the boy and the farmer outside, driving them with his staff. The three stood in the pasture, watching the barn and the outhouse. He jabbed the man in the ribs with the stave.

“喊你女儿。”

“Call your daughter.”

农夫缩了一下身子。“她没在这。”他说。“她离开了。”

The farmer winced at the blow. “She’s not here,” he said. “She’s gone.”

“走着瞧。”

“We’ll see.”

老汉看了看男孩，他在无声地央求。

The old man looked at the boy, silently pleading.

“我去搜谷仓。”男孩说。

“I’ll search the barn,” the boy said.

“不。让她自己出来。”瓦尼斯用长棍把农夫一头打倒在地。

“No. Let her come to us.” Vannis slammed the farmer’s head with the edge of his staff, driving the man to the ground.

“出来！你爸爸在我们手里！”

“Come out! We have your father!”

没有回应。没有动静。然后老汉哀号起来。

There was no response. No movement. And then the man wailed.

男孩转身看到农夫正单膝跪地，摇摇欲坠，一只手捂着太阳穴。老汉的指缝间涌出鲜血，把整只手都染红了。瓦尼斯站在他身旁，准备再次动手。

The boy turned to find the farmer tottering on one knee, clutching his temple. Blood pooled underneath the man’s fingers, slicking his hand with blood. Vannis stood over him, ready to strike again.

“你在干什么？”

“What are you doing?”

“必要之举。”瓦尼斯的面貌因愤怒和哀痛而扭曲。

“What needs to be done,” said Vannis, his face contorted by anger and grief.

一阵震颤贯穿男孩的脊梁。又一次，他胳膊上和脖子上的细小汗毛根根直立。

A jolt raced down the boy’s spine. And once again, all the fine hair on his arms and neck stood on edge.

谷仓的门爆开了。

The barn door creaked open.

“这就对了，来吧。”瓦尼斯说。

“That’s right, come on,” Vannis said.

门口被阴影笼罩。轻碎的脚步声越来越近。小女孩穿过门口走了出来。她惊恐的双眼紧盯着受伤的父亲。

Darkness framed the doorway. Tiny footfalls approached. The little girl crossed the threshold and stepped outside. Her panicked eyes fixed on her injured father.

“爸爸……”她说着，眼泪簌簌落下。

“Papa…” she said, tears cascading down her face.

“没事的。”农夫艰难地说。“爸爸在和这些人说话。”

“It’s alright,” the bleeding farmer stammered. Papa’s just talking to these men.”

他们看着那个小孩一步步接近，那个男人并不知道只有男孩才能看到的景象。

They all watched as the child inched toward them, the men were unaware of what only the boy could see.

她像正午的太阳一样耀眼。

She glowed like the midday sun.

她体内的力量脉动着、变换着颜色。闪耀的光芒似乎扭曲了光线本身。她是活生生的彩虹。

The power inside her pulsated and shifted colors. It shimmered with a radiance that appeared to bend light itself. She was a living rainbow.

这是他的灾疾。这是他的天赋。

This was his affliction. This was his gift.

只有他能看到魔法的纯美和本质。魔法生存在这个受惊的孩童体内，也生存在每个法师体内，全德玛西亚都如此，或许全世界都如此。他怎么能背叛？男孩不需要再看下去了。

He alone could see the fundamental beauty and nature of magic. It lived in this frightened child as it lived in every single mage in Demacia, and perhaps all across the world. How could he betray that? The boy had seen all he needed to see.

“她是……正常人。”

“She’s… normal.”

“你确定？再看看！”

“Are you sure? Look again!”

他面向那位搜魔人。对德玛西亚来说，瓦尼斯是备受尊敬的壁垒，防护着来自魔法的威胁。但对男孩来说，他只是个固执守旧的死脑筋。

He turned to the mageseeker. To Demacia, Vannis was a venerated bulwark, guarding against the threat of magic. But to the boy, he was a simple man clinging to tradition.

“你弄错了。我们走吧。”

“You were wrong. We should go.”

瓦尼斯看了他片刻，搜寻欺骗的痕迹。然后搜魔人摇了摇头沉下脸。

Vannis regarded him for a moment, searching for deception. The mageseeker shook his head and scowled.

“我们看她能否通过测试就知道了。”他一边说，一边从斗篷上摘下灰印。

“We’ll see if she passes the trials,” he said, removing the Graymark from his cloak.

农夫看到禁魔石的徽章，瞪大了双眼。

The farmer’s eyes went wide at the sight of the petricite emblem.

“跑，孩子！快跑！”老汉大喊一声跳起来，扑向瓦尼斯。

“Run, child! Run!” the old man shouted as he leapt to his feet and lunged at Vannis.

搜魔人动作飞快，将长棍刺向农夫的躯干。被击中的老汉踉跄后退，与搜魔人拉开距离。瓦尼斯向前猛冲，长棍竖着劈在老汉的头上。他的头盖骨碎裂的同时绽放出一片猩红。

The mageseeker moved fast, thrusting his staff into the farmer's midsection. The man staggered back from the blow, creating some distance between the two. Vannis darted forward and drove the stave down onto the man's head. His crown shattered in a bloom of crimson.

小女孩尖叫起来。她的双手迸发出闪电的火花——这一次，所有人都能看到。

The little girl screamed. Her hands crackled with sparks of lightning—this time, for all to see.

瓦尼斯举出他的灰印，将闪烁摇曳的电弧俘获到石头中，压制了魔法。但那块禁魔石很快就变黑碎裂，被小女孩的力量倾覆。瓦尼斯扔下了损毁的石盘，身体回旋，抡起长棍瞄向小女孩的头。

Vannis held out his Graymark, capturing the flickering arcs in the stone and suppressing the magic. But the petricite rapidly darkened and cracked, overwhelmed by the little girl's power. Vannis dropped the ruined disk and spun around, swinging his wooden stave at the child’s head.

“不要！”

“No!”

男孩冲向小女孩，用自己的身体挡在长棍和耀眼的光波之间。他手臂上的汗毛被烧焦，他的手指在触碰到那名小法师的同时被烫出水泡。

The boy rushed toward the girl, throwing himself between the heavy quarterstaff and the flaring streams of light. The hairs on his arms singed and his fingers blistered as he touched the little mage.

一道弯曲的雷霆电弧穿透他的手掌，炽烈的电流穿过他的血肉，扭曲他的全身。男孩的心脏用力收缩，他体内的空气全被挤了出去。他想大口吸气，但什么都吸不到。

A twisting arc of lightning pierced his hand, and a blazing current rushed through his flesh, contorting his entire body. The boy's heart clenched and all the air inside him rushed out. He gasped for breath but drew only emptiness.

他的视野边缘变得模糊，世界逐渐失去色彩，致命的魔法淹没了他。瓦尼斯看上去一动不动，挥动的长棍停在半空，就像一尊古老的英雄雕像。小女孩也定在原地，她的眼泪如同暗淡的水晶，她周围的耀眼闪光也渐渐昏暗退却。

The edges of his vision blurred and the colors drained as deathly magic flooded him. Vannis appeared motionless, staff in mid-swing, like ancient statuary depicting a hero of old. The little girl was also frozen, her tears dull crystals as the radiant glow around her dimmed and faded…

然后他吸进了一口气。

And then his lungs filled with air.

他心跳加速，向全身输送麻木的冷静。他体内的烈焰依然在燃烧，但已经不再威胁着要吞噬他。相反，这股力量平静地流淌在全身，有那么一瞬间，他觉得自己能够塑造这股力量。然后它突然发出火花，越来越灼热，直到最后他无法将其控制在体内。

His heart raced, pumping a numbing calmness throughout his body. The blaze inside him remained, but no longer threatened to consume him. Instead, it flowed calmly throughout, and for the briefest moments it felt malleable to his thoughts. Then it suddenly sparked and flared hotter until he could no longer contain it inside.

他的双手喷发出光，然后世界消失了。

Light erupted from his hands, and the world disappeared.

塞拉斯睁开双眼。三具烧黑的尸骨散落在焦土上。其中一个手里举着一根弯曲碎裂的长棍。另两个倒下的地方距离很近，他们张开手臂想要碰到彼此，但却永远相隔两处。这景象意味着他的失败，他双眼噙着泪水，心中窝着懊悔。他翻身躺过来，浑身战栗。

Sylas opened his eyes. Three smoldering husks lay strewn on the scorched ground. One of them held a warped and splintered staff in hand. The other two had fallen near each other, their arms splayed and reaching, but forever apart. His eyes welled at the sight of his failure, and regret gripped his heart. He rolled over onto his back and shuddered.

无数星斗洒满晴朗的夜空。他看着它们划过黑暗，消失在漆黑的树冠华盖后面。

Countless stars stretched across a cloudless firmament. He watched them arc across the darkness and disappear behind a black canopy of trees.

黑夜逐渐染上了紫红的色调，他终于蹒跚地站起来。

The night sky turned a purple hue before he finally staggered to his feet.

他一瘸一拐地离开杀戮的现场，双腿止不住发抖。他走出一段距离后停下了脚步，但并没有回头看。

His legs trembled as he limped away from the carnage. He stopped after a short distance, but didn’t look back.

没有必要。那个画面将伴他渡过余生。他将那些景象从脑海中推开，凝望着地平线尽头绵延的山脊。

There was no need. Those images would remain with him for the rest of his life. He pushed them from his thoughts and gazed at the spine of mountaintops spanning the horizon.

他不打算前往伦沃尔，也不打算回到任何属于那些人的要塞。无论多少乞求都不可能让他免于惩罚。要不了多久，他们就会找到他，只要他不受到正义的严惩，他们就不会罢休。毕竟，法律必须得到维护。

He had no intention of riding to Wrenwall, or any of their strongholds. No amount of pleading would save him from their punishment. In time, they would seek him out, not stopping until he was brought to justice. After all, the law must be upheld.

但他十分了解他们的行动方式，而且德玛西亚地界很大。

But he knew their ways, and Demacia was vast.