正义之火 In the Fires of Justice

作者： Rayla Heide

阿布力斯在一座闪耀的神庙的台阶上苦苦等待，感觉自己的肚子里像是打了好几个结。神庙门前矗立着的是一尊保护神的雕像。斜阳勾勒出它面庞的剪影，在它俯下的头顶周围投下耀眼的光环。洁白的石像上闪着星星点点的金斑。巨大的翅膀罩在双肩上，两柄长剑举在胸前。雕像头盔下的表情漠然、严峻，比任何人类都更完美。上百根蜡烛铺满了它脚下的基座。

Abris’ stomach tightened into knots as he waited on the steps of a shining temple. Standing watch before the temple doors was a statue of the Protector. The setting sun silhouetted its face, casting a radiant aura around its bowed head. It was carved in white stone that sparkled with flecks of gold. Great wings framed its shoulders as it held two swords against its chest. The statue’s helmeted expression was blank, austere, more perfect than any human. Hundreds of candles covered the plinth at its feet.

阿布力斯将自己的剑和盾斜靠在雕像基台边。这套武具是崭新的，没有用过的痕迹，就像他头顶的那对石剑一样。别人告诉他，保护神会庇佑正直的德玛西亚士兵，因此他在石像面前感到一种没来由的安心。

Abris leaned his sword and shield against the base of the sculpture. They were as pristine and unmarred as the stone swords above him. He was told that the Protector blessed virtuous soldiers of Demacia, and felt a strange comfort at its presence.

一名身穿白色斗篷的老妇人从神庙门中走了出来。

An elderly woman cloaked in white exited the door of the temple.

“请问，能占用您一点时间吗？”阿布力斯叫住了她。

“Please, do you have a moment?” Abris called out to her.

她迈开腿，缓缓向他走来。

She made her way, slowly, over to him.

“光照者永远都会为有需要的人停下脚步。告诉我，你来此找寻什么？”她说话时脸上的皱纹更深了，但她的双眼充满慈爱。

“The Illuminators always stop for those in need. Tell me, what do you seek here?” Her face crinkled as she spoke, but her eyes were kind.

“我……我明天就要上战场了，”阿布力斯紧张地伸开手掌又握紧拳头。“我持剑的手臂很强壮，能够守护德玛西亚的荣誉也令我骄傲。但我想知道——如果我们像那些来犯的野蛮人一样大开杀戒，那我又与他们有何不同？如果洁白的城墙和华丽的旗帜只是为了见证我们与他们无异的嗜血，那么正义何在？”

“I… I leave for battle tomorrow,” said Abris. He opened and closed his fists, nervous. “My sword arm is strong, and I am proud to defend Demacia's honor. But I wonder—how can I claim to be any better than the barbarians invading our lands if I slaughter them just the same? What good are our white walls and resplendent banners, if below them we spill their blood as they would ours?”

“啊，”那位光照者说。“是的。杀戮不是儿戏，即使是士兵也会有迟疑。让我给你讲个故事吧。”她抬头凝望雕像。“你能为她点上一盏蜡烛吗？”

“Ah,” the Illuminator said. “Yes. Killing is not to be taken lightly, even as a soldier. Let me tell you a story.” She gazed up at the statue. “Will you light a candle for her as I speak?”

阿布力斯单膝跪地，从雕像脚下的祈愿蜡烛中拿起一根，点燃了另一根。

Abris knelt and took a flame from one of the votive candles at the statue’s feet, using it to light another.

光照者的声音中充满沧桑，阿布力斯想起了自己刚刚去世的祖母，她也曾常常为他讲述古老的神话和历史。他一直都不知道哪些故事是真的、哪些是她天马行空编出来的。

The Illuminator’s voice cracked with age as she began the story, and Abris was reminded of his late grandmother, who’d often told him myths and histories of their people. He never knew which stories were true and which she had conjured from her fanciful mind.

“很久以前，在一个现已被时间和腐朽吞没的地方，一位残酷的国王带领着子民迎来了赤贫的年代。在一次大饥荒中，国王把国境内的每个人都召集到了城堡院墙内。为了结束窘困匮乏的时代，他当场宣布将行使国王的权利，废除旧法。他把金装的法典扔在地上，将自己冠以法律之名。只要是他发布的命令，便是金科铁律，不容置疑。

“Long ago, in a land now lost to time and crumbling decay, a cruel king led his people into poverty. During a time of great famine, the king gathered everyone from across the realm into his castle courtyard. There, he declared he would cast aside the old laws in order to end their time of scarcity, as was his right. He took their gilded lawbook and cast it to the floor, naming himself the law. Whatever rules or decrees he spoke would become law, no matter what.“他假借保护人民的名义，宣布了第一道命令。因为有太多张需要吃饭的嘴，所以国王说，老人没有吃饭的权利。他们将被处死，别无他法。“Under guise of protecting the people, he announced his first decree. Since there were too many mouths to feed, the king said, the elderly had no right to food. They were to be killed, and there was no other way.“饥饿的人们没有余力反抗，于是国王的卫兵强迫老人们排好队等待屠杀。“The starving citizens had no strength left to fight this injustice, and the king’s guard forced the elderly folk to line up for slaughter.“排在第一位的老人头发雪白，他踉跄地走上前。他向国王祈求，’我是面包师！让我为您和您的人民烘焙面包吧，’他哭喊着说，’请饶我一命！’“The first in line was a man with silver hair who stumbled as he stepped forward. He pleaded with the king. ‘I am a baker! Let me make bread for you and the people,’ he cried. ‘Spare my life!’“但国王回答说，’你能返老还童吗？你能把面粉揉成肌肉再掺进你那衰老孱弱的手脚中吗？不能？那么，你罪无可恕。’说完他对刽子手比了个手势。手起刀落，面包师的头滚落到地面上。”

“But the king responded, ‘Can you be young again? Can you knead muscle back into your broken and sorry limbs? No? Well then, there is no redemption for you.’ And he motioned to his executioner, who raised his blade, and the baker’s head rolled to the floor.

“太悲惨了！”阿布力斯打断了光照者。“难道就没人反抗国王的新法律吗？”

“How deplorable!” said Abris, interrupting the Illuminator. “Did no one resist the king’s new laws?”

光照者微笑着说。“感谢上天，有一人站出来反对这丧尽天良的不公。”

The Illuminator smiled. “Thankfully, there was one who stood against this grave injustice.”

“我们不朽的保护神已经有好几百年没有出现在这片土地上。但或许极端的不公产生了涟漪，回响到了未知领域的遥远彼端。总之，这一次她出现了。天空敞开了大门，透出炫目的光，就像是群星将所有光线都汇聚到了一处。保护神出现了，她的身躯宏伟非凡，同时也恐怖震撼。国王看到她则站在原地一动不动。她开始质问这位残酷的国王。

“Our immortal Protector had not been seen in this land for centuries. But perhaps extreme injustice sends ripples that echo far beyond the realms unknown. In any case, at this moment she appeared. The heavens opened with blinding light, as if the stars themselves had focused all their beams in one place. The Protector emerged, wondrous and terrifying in her majesty. She confronted the cruel king, who stood still as stone at her sight.“‘任何国王都不能凌驾于法律章程之上。’她大声宣布，‘报上名来，并准备接受审判吧！’“‘No king stands above the statutes of the law.’ she declared. ‘Speak thy name and prepare for judgment!’“‘我可不仅仅是凌驾于法律，长翅膀的怪兽，我就是法律。’他点了一下头，让卫兵们前进。卫兵们整齐划一地推进，将长矛指向天空。‘因为我，我的人民才有目标。我的人民知道自己的位置。而且他们为此对我感恩戴德。’“‘I am not merely above the law, winged beast, I am the law.’ With a nod, he motioned for his guards to advance. They did so in unison, raising their spears to the sky as one. ‘Because of me, my people have purpose. My people know their place. And my people thank me for it.’“‘法律是正义的具体形式，法律是白纸黑字上的公正裁决。任何人都不能毁弃。’保护神说。“‘The law is justice given form; it is true and fair judgment writ in ink. It cannot be undone,’ said the Protector.“她抽出了双剑，剑身燃烧着圣火，散发出真理和惩戒的气味。她展开飞翼，强劲地鼓动，很快飞翼也燃起了圣火。场面令人敬畏。“She drew her swords, which blazed with holy fire, filling the air with the scent of truth and punishment. Her wings unfolded, which fanned the flames with great strokes, and soon they too were aflame. It was a fearsome sight to see.“‘你说人民唯你马首是瞻。那现在就由你来带头接受我剑刃的审判吧。’保护神说道。“‘You say you lead your people. Be now the first to be judged by my blades,’ the Protector said.“残酷的国王仰望着保护神的烈火双剑，还有她的火焰飞翼。但最可怕的要数她燃烧着的双眼，闪烁且沉重的眼神中射出绝不妥协的怒火。他觉得自己正在直视太阳，她的荣光既优美又可怕，让国王流出了恐惧的眼泪。他恳请保护神的怜悯，于是双膝跪地，在她的脚边乞求。“The cruel king looked upon the Protector’s blazing swords, and her wings of fire. But most fearful of all was the burning in her eyes, gleaming and grave with uncompromising wrath. He felt like he was staring at the sun, beautiful and terrible in her glory, and the King wept in fear. He appealed to the Protector’s mercy and fell to his knees, pleading at her feet.“‘我可以改，’国王哀求道，‘我现在知道自己做错了。我自私、腐朽、德不配位。但请让我活下去，我将遵循法律的规则。’“‘I can change,’ the king begged. ‘I see now the error of my ways. I was selfish and corrupt and did not deserve my crown. Let me live and I shall follow the rule of law.’“保护神冷峻地注视他。当他把话说完时，她吸了一口气。据说当时她的声音就像是所有神明的本尊在以她为化身传声。“The Protector watched him with a steely gaze. When he had finished speaking, she drew breath. It is said that her voice in this moment echoed as if the very gods were speaking through her.“‘你能挽回不正义的行为吗，国王？’保护神问道。’你的谎言能当作从未出口吗？你不公平不正义的法律能当作从未颁布吗？不能？那么，你罪无可恕。’“‘Can you undo your deeds of injustice, King?’ asked the Protector. ‘Can you unspeak your lies and unmake your false laws against fair and righteous judgment? No? Then there will be no redemption for you.’“一刹那，保护神将她燃烧的剑刃刺穿了国王的心脏，他惨叫着，与那本金装法典一并被钉在了地上。“In one quick motion, the Protector thrust her burning blade through the king’s heart, and he cried out as she impaled him on the gilded lawbook he had cast to the floor.“法典在天界的炽热下剧烈燃烧。这是神圣之火——烧尽大地上的邪恶，匡扶义人，让他们毫发无伤。“The lawbook burst into flame which burned with the terrible heat of the heavens. This was a holy fire—one that would scorch the evil sinners from the land and cleanse the just, leaving them unscathed.“残酷的国王惨叫着，保护神的火焰焚烧了他的卫兵和大臣们，他的刽子手和仆人们。火焰继续蔓延到整片大地，虚伪国王和他邪恶追随者们的谎言是这火焰的柴薪。幸存的人永远记得这荣耀的一天，因为在旧社会的灰烬之上，他们被赐予了新的机会，用正义和荣誉重建家园。“The cruel king screamed as the Protector’s fire burned his guards and councilmen, his executioner and his servants. The fire did not stop as it spread throughout the land, fueled by the lies of the false king and his wicked followers. The survivors forever remembered this day of glory, for in the ashes of their society they were given a chance to rebuild in justice and honor.“而且，如果这片土地再次陷入无法无天的混乱，他们将确信无疑，保护神将再一次从天而降。”

“And, if the land ever returned to unlawful chaos, they were certain the Protector would descend from the heavens once more.”

光照者微笑着低头看向阿布力斯。

The Illuminator smiled down at Abris.

“我们全都要以美德和荣誉行事，”她说，“从国王到面包师，从仆人到士兵。因为没人能够凌驾于法律之上，也没人能凌驾于正义之上。进犯我们南方边界的掠夺者是不守法的恶徒。他们每一步前进、每一次呼吸，都在威胁着我们这片土地的安全。德玛西亚之盾的职责是一份巨大的荣誉，也是一份正义的奋进。保护神将眷顾心存正义之人。”

“We must all act with virtue and honor,” she said, “from kings to bakers, servants to soldiers. For no one is above the law, and no one is above justice. The raiders who attack and invade our southern borders are lawless and malevolent. With every breath, as they march forward, they threaten the safety of our land. Your role as a shield for Demacia is a great honor, and a just endeavor. And the Protector looks kindly upon those with justice in their hearts.”

“是。”阿布力斯说。他看了一眼自己未经战争洗礼的剑。他发誓，从自己挥出的第一剑开始，到最后一剑结束，每一剑都将以正义为名。

“Aye,” said Abris. He looked to his sword, unblemished by acts of war. He vowed that from his first strike to his last, each would be in the name of justice.

“士兵，无论何时感到踌躇，请想想保护神会如何行事。只要你的行动秉持正义和真理，就像保护神那样，那么她就一定会指引你的剑刃。即使你必须令它沾血。”

“If ever you feel uncertain, soldier, think on how the Protector would act. If you act with integrity and truth, as the Protector would, surely she will guide your blade. Even if you must wet it with blood.”

光照者鞠了一躬，回到了神庙里。

The Illuminator bowed and returned to her temple.

阿布力斯看着黑暗中自己点亮的那盏蜡烛。他站起来，准备返回营地过夜。他回头最后望了那尊雕像一眼，他觉得就在保护神石盔的深处，自己似乎看见了另一种火光。

Abris watched as the candle he had lit flickered in the dark. He stood up to walk back to his camp for the night. As he turned to look toward the statue one last time, he thought he saw the shine of another flame, deep within the stone helmet of the Protector.