光影之间 Between Light and Shadows

作者：余卓轩

凯南踏出廓歆均衡大殿以后就未曾慢下脚步。

Kennen had not slowed since setting off from the Great Temple of Koeshin.

他轻快地掠过山峦、绝壁、平原与高地，斑斓的大地就像彩墨的旋涡。这位约德尔人则化为浓墨重彩的绘卷上迅速移动的微小斑点。

The colors of the land formed a swirling palette as he flitted over hills and cliffs, plains and plateaus. The yordle was like a speeding dot amid broad strokes painted on canvas.

作为均衡教派的风暴之心，他曾千百次传达教派领袖的裁决。但这次不一样，凯南心想。这次关乎到同门兄弟姐妹的生命。

As the Kinkou’s Heart of the Tempest, he had delivered the judgment of the order’s leadership thousands of times before. But this time it’s different, Kennen thought. This time it’s about the lives of my Kinkou brothers and sisters.

南边的分部传来一则紧急请求。他们的神殿被未知的恶灵所腐化。他们无法将其驱逐，所以求助于均衡首领三人组。

An urgent request had come from a branch of acolytes to the south. Their temple had been corrupted by an unknown evil spirit. They could find no way to repel it, and so they sought aid from the Kinkou triumvirate.

阿卡丽曾经担任的暗影之拳，目前虚位待补，所以“首领三人组”只剩下两人：暮光之眼——慎，以及凯南。他们做出了决定，因此现在凯南正火速赶往芝云南海岸线上的城镇，莱夏。

With Akali’s former role as Fist of Shadow currently unfilled, this “triumvirate” consisted of just two leaders: Shen—the Eye of Twilight—and Kennen. They had made a decision, and now, Kennen raced to distant Raishai, on the southern coast of Zhyun.

许多季节以前，当诺克萨斯入侵艾欧尼亚的时候，首领三人组命令均衡教派不得干涉战争。莱夏的弟子是教派之中最为尽忠恪守的，没有提出任何质疑，坚决支持首领们的裁决。

When Noxus invaded Ionia many seasons ago, the triumvirate ruled that the Kinkou would not be involved in the war. The Raishai acolytes had been among the order’s most faithful, supporting the edict without question.

就为这点，我也一定要救下他们。

And for that, I must save them.

凯南沿着一条流水潺潺的河，穿过丰腴的金色草场。他像一支箭，划过尚赞南部山峦中浓雾飘渺的密林，犹如云端霹出的无声闪电。他经过一片片废墟，包括曾经的玄纳茵村。

Kennen followed a churning river and dashed across ample golden grassland. Bolting through the misty forests of the southern Shon-Xan mountains, he was like lightning zipping through clouds. He passed a series of ruins, including the village of Xuanain.

直到抵达港镇伊薇尼，凯南才在清晨的阳光中停下脚步。面前碧蓝的海水波光粼粼，芝云就在海峡的另一侧。

It wasn’t until he reached the harbor town of Evirny that Kennen came to a halt under the morning sun. Zhyun’s shore was across the strait, beyond shimmering blue waters.

凯南刚好赶在第一班渡轮离港前上了船。这艘船的主桅是一棵活着的树，从船壳上生长出来，枝杈向船尾的方向弯曲，宽厚的叶子乘着海风，就像南岛群上的飞龙的翼膜。

Kennen boarded the first ferry just before it set sail. Its mast was a living tree grown out of the hull, branches arcing backward, massive leaves catching the sea breeze like membranes on the wings of a southern-isles wyvern.

渡轮上的人零零落落，凯南是唯一的约德尔人。人类纷纷对他点头致意。

There was a loose crowd on the ferry, with Kennen the only yordle. The humans tipped their heads to him.

约德尔人在艾欧尼亚人之中备受尊敬，即便他们展露真身也不会遭到异样的眼光。就像凯南现在一样——他始终展现真身的模样，因为他已经通过均衡教派的修行达到了良好平衡的境界。而最令他受益的还要数初代祖师塔尕祁里，首任暗影之拳。

Yordles were treated with respect among Ionians, even when the spirit creatures appeared in their true form, as Kennen did now—as he always did, for he had achieved a state of balance through his Kinkou training. Especially through the teachings of the first Great Master, Tagaciiry, the first Fist of Shadow.

几百年前，凯南刚刚加入均衡教派的时候，塔尕祁里曾问过他作为一个约德尔人，人类最令他钦佩的是什么。

When Kennen joined the Kinkou centuries ago, Tagaciiry had inquired what the yordle admired most about humans.“你们的故事。你们有好多故事。”凯南瞪圆了眼睛。“人类的生命短暂，但你们的故事却传承着你们最珍视的东西。所以你们才适合守护两个领域，远胜过任何不死者。”“Your stories. You have so many.” Kennen’s eyes were wide. “Your lives are short, but your stories preserve what you hold most dear. That’s why you’re better suited for safeguarding the realms than any of the undying.”在那片晴空与骄阳下，凯南说出了他的想法，以及他想如何尽己所能为均衡做出贡献。祖师认真倾听，思忖再三。Under that clear sky and the blazing sun, Kennen had shared his thoughts on what role he could play for the Kinkou. The Great Master listened, and considered his words.“你们总有一天要迎来死亡，”凯南欢愉地补了一句。“但我愿意背负你们的故事走下去。均衡教派的故事。”“Someday, all of you will die,” Kennen added cheerfully. “I’d like to bear your stories. The story of the Kinkou.”祖师塔尕祁里听罢笑道，“此念德高而义厚，此行任重而道远。”Great Master Tagaciiry had smiled then. “That is a noble idea, and not a small responsibility.”“我即刻就可启程，我可将均衡的裁决传达给他人。”“I can begin now, by delivering our verdicts to the people.”“甚好，”祖师说，“你来司职逐日——令判决之光普照大地，且调解它必然产生的暗影。你将是光影之间的那股力量。”

“Very well,” said the Great Master. “Your role shall be Coursing the Sun—to shine the light of our judgment, and be the force that mediates between that light and its shadows.”

凯南从沉思中惊醒，码头已经映入眼帘，海岸之上是白垩的高崖，翡翠色的树丛冠于崖顶。

Kennen stirred from his reverie as the dock came into view, under chalky white cliffs crowned by an emerald expanse of trees.

他向身后的旅客挥了挥带爪子的小手，他们祝他顺风平安。甚至还没等船减速靠向码头，他就跳了出去，在水面上飞驰着掠过，然后踏上陆地。

He waved a clawed hand at the passengers behind him, and they wished him fair winds and swift travel. He jumped off the ferry even before it slowed to dock, skipping over water and onto land.

风暴正在酝酿。凯南冲进倾盆大雨中，身上的均衡褂袍和面具全都湿透。一路上他始终没有进食也没有休息。

A storm was beginning to brew. Kennen’s Kinkou robes and mask were soaking wet as he charged through pouring rain, and he went on without food or rest.

希望我还不迟。

I hope I’m not too late.

黑暗的乌云贴近地面旋动翻涌，不时有闪电从中射出，这位均衡首领终于抵达。

Dark clouds whirled low, pierced by lightning as the yordle leader arrived.

凯南看到二十名弟子坐在莱夏神殿门前。这座建筑看上去平平无奇，很结实，未受侵蚀。

Kennen noted twenty acolytes sitting in front of the Raishai temple. The building appeared unremarkable, solid and intact.

“凯南大师，您来了。”为首的教众，黑达，毕恭毕敬地站起来，但他的肢体却在颤抖，仿佛双膝撑不住重量。“请您帮我们对抗神殿里作恶多端的可怕恶灵吧……”

“Master Kennen, you’re here.” The head of the acolytes, Hayda, stood in deference, but his limbs quaked, his knees buckling under him. “You need to help us fight the baleful spirit that plagues our temple…”

其他弟子也慢慢起身，他们的目光有些呆滞。

The rest of the acolytes slowly rose, their eyes glassy.

凯南原本希望自己和慎的判断是错的，但现在他们的担心被证实了。他感到一股悲痛涌上来。他们曾是那么忠诚。

Kennen was hoping that he and Shen had been wrong, but now their worst fear was confirmed. He felt a pang of sadness. They’ve been so loyal.

“没有什么需要对抗的，”凯南告诉黑达，他的声音委婉而哀伤。“被腐化的不是神庙。是你。你们所有人。”

“There is nothing to be fought,” Kennen told Hayda, his voice soft with grief. “The temple isn’t corrupted. It’s you. All of you.”

教众哗然一片。几名弟子歪着头对他怒目而视。

A riot of noise broke out. Several acolytes tilted their heads, glaring.

“腐化？” 黑达直勾勾地盯着凯南，仿佛想用目光打穿他。“我们一直谨遵律令……很早以前，你告诉我们不要对抗诺克萨斯侵略者，我们就眼睁睁看着百姓被屠戮！”他的面容扭曲得异样，就像皮肉被融化。“现在，我们的艾欧尼亚同胞从各处求援，从吐冷、喀舒利、呼罗邑发起号召，你让我们不要响应，又一次，我们谨遵律令！我们自己放弃了惩治诺克萨斯的机会！”

“Corrupted?” Hayda’s eyes bored into Kennen. “We have always obeyed… Long ago, when you told us not to fight the Noxian invaders, we stood by while our people were slaughtered!” His face contorted unnaturally, as if it had melted. “And then, when our fellow Ionians in Tuula, Kashuri, and Huroi called for aid, you bade us not to heed them, and again, we obeyed! We’ve forsaken the opportunity to bring justice to Noxus!”

“你们心中充满痛苦，”凯南说，“而精神领域的恶念灵体正在以你们的痛苦为食。它们在蚕食你们。”

“You’re filled with anguish,” Kennen said, “and malevolent entities of the spirit realm are feeding on it. They’re feeding on you.”

凯南可以看到人类看不到的东西：他们身上正在散发出黑烟，就像一条条触手，钻出身体表面。他们被墨黑的卷须包围，那是来自精神领域的掠食者，猎物越是悸动不安，它们的力量就越强大——到最后它们将吞噬这些均衡的弟子，并在莱夏闹得天翻地覆。

Kennen could see what the humans could not: dark smoke emanated from them, like tentacles bursting from their bodies. They were surrounded by inky tendrils that sought to devour, creatures clawing out of the spirit realm with greater force as their prey grew more agitated—eventually, they would consume these Kinkou and wreak havoc in Raishai.

“世界正在改变，” 凯南说，“芝云已经陷入动乱，你们正左右为难，一边是均衡的命令，一边是你们心中所念。”他停顿了一下，然后说出了他此行的目的。“我来是为了解除你们对教派的责任。”

“The world is changing,” he said. “Zhyun has descended into turmoil, and you’re torn between what the Kinkou demands of you and what your hearts desire.” He paused, then said what he came to say. “I’m releasing you from the order.”

“你要赶我们走？”一个在后排的弟子说。

“You’re banishing us?” said an acolyte in the back row.

“以你们现在的状态，是无法维护两个领域之间的均衡的。”凯南轮流看向每个弟子。我必须让他们把话听进去。“离开均衡教派吧。只有这样你们才能复原。你们可以听凭内心驱使，这样才不会被黑暗的情绪摧毁。”

“You can’t preserve the balance between realms in this state.” Kennen looked at each acolyte in turn. I need to get through to them. “Leave the Kinkou now. This is the only way you can heal. Do what you will, so your dark emotions won’t destroy you.”

“现在我们派不上用场了，你们就想把我们抛弃，是吧？这是卸磨杀驴！”黑达亮出了刀剑。“我们的尊严不容诋毁！”所有弟子跟着齐声大吼，他们却不知道那些暗影的利爪正凶相毕露，抓挠着他们。

“You want to get rid of us now that we’re no longer useful to you. This is dishonor!” Hayda flashed his blade. The acolytes howled in unison, unaware that shadowy talons were grasping at them with voracious intent.

凯南能感受到他们的痛苦，那是从两种信仰的断层里孕育出来的痛。阿卡丽也曾感受过同样的痛苦，所以她才离开。然而，这并没有阻止凯南从指间迸发出闪电。“不要试探我。”

Kennen could feel their pain, the kind born out of the rift between two worlds of belief. The kind Akali had felt before she left. Yet, he let lightning crackle between his hands. “Don’t think to test me.”

黑达吼叫着，伙同几名弟子一起向前冲。

Snarling, Hayda and several acolytes charged forward.

这名矮小的约德尔人在笨拙的人类之间轻盈起舞，灵敏地避开了所有攻击。他轻触指尖的利爪，发出无数道涟漪般的电弧。一记猛烈的爆震过后，来犯的人全倒地不起。

The small yordle waltzed between the clumsy humans, easily evading all attacks. He clicked his clawed fingers, and arcs of electricity rippled out, dropping his attackers in one ferocious burst.

他们在泥泞的地面呻吟扭结。其他弟子纷纷停住，不知如何是好。悲伤、惭愧、耻辱——弟子们的面容成了一张张极度痛苦的面具。大雨冲走了他们眼中涌出的脓液。

They moaned as they twitched on the muddy ground. The rest stopped, uncertain about what to do. Grief, guilt, shame—the acolytes’ faces were masks of agony, the rain washing over the ichor oozing from their eyes.

凯南翻身退开一段距离，叹了口气。然后他回想起自己从人类身上学所到的。

Kennen flipped away, out of range, and sighed. Then he remembered something he had learned from humans.

有的时候，讲故事就意味着说谎。

Sometimes, to tell a story is to lie.

“让我去讲述你们的故事。”他摘下了面具。“安心地走吧，你们的名誉不会受损。精神领域的恶念会继续留在芝云，但我会告诉均衡教派，你们已倾尽全力与它进行奋战，才功成身退离开了教派。”

“Let your story be mine to tell.” He pulled down his mask. “Go now, in peace. The sinister influence will remain in Zhyun, but the Kinkou will hear you fought hard against it before you left the order, with honor.”

编造真相。保留你们最珍视的东西。

To fabricate truth. To preserve what you hold most dear.

弟子们的目光清澈了片刻，随后黑色的雾气开始散去。没人说话，但一些人对凯南点了点头。最后，尚有力气的人抬走了伤者。

The acolytes’ eyes cleared for a moment, and the dark vapor began to dissipate. No one spoke, but some nodded their understanding to the yordle. Eventually, those who could gathered their wounded.

看着昔日的战友们离去，始终不是一件易事，但凯南知道这是最好的结果了。他们曾经全心全意把自己献给均衡，如今他们自由解脱了，可以寻找新的人生意义。他们的心智将会重归平衡，而那些恶意灵体也将失去食粮。

It was always tough to watch old comrades go, but Kennen knew it was for the best. They had devoted themselves to the Kinkou, and now they were free to find a new purpose. Their mental state could regain balance, and the malevolent entities would have nothing to feed on.

约德尔人看着曾经的均衡弟子们踉跄着走进远方的阴影中。大雨依旧滂沱。那些浑身湿透的人类看上去渺小而脆弱。

The yordle watched as the former acolytes stumbled away into the gloom. The rain did not abate. The drenched humans looked small and vulnerable.

你们总有一天要迎来死亡，凯南想着，悲从中来。

Someday, all of you will die, Kennen thought, sorrow gripping his heart.

但我会背负你们的故事走下去。

But I will bear your story.