巨蛇衔尾，宿命轮回 Ouroboros

作者： Ryan Verniere

内瑟斯只在黑夜中赶路，他不愿面对阳光。那个男孩跟在他身后。

Nasus walked at night, unwilling to face the sun. The boy followed in his wake.

他已经跟了多久了？

How long had he been there?

形同怪兽的外观让那些瞥见他的人全都敬而远之，除了这个男孩。他们一起走过了恕瑞玛不复存在的繁华，内瑟斯的自我放逐正在一点点削减他的意识。沙漠的风在衰败的土地上呼啸着。

Those mortals who caught a glimpse of the monstrous vagabond always ran, all save the boy. Together, they wove a path through the bygone tapestry of Shurima. Self-imposed isolation chipped at Nasus’s consciousness. The desert wind howled around their malnourished frames.

“内瑟斯，快看，在沙海上面，”男孩说。

“Nasus, look, above the dune sea,” said the child.

贫瘠旷野之上的明星在为这两个旅者指引着方向。这位古老的犬首人已经脱下了飞升者的盔甲。那些金色的遗迹已经与历史一同被埋藏。现在的内瑟斯只是衣衫褴褛的隐士。他挠了挠灰暗的皮毛，然后缓慢地抬起头望向夜空。

Stars guided the pair’s sojourn across the desiccated expanse. The old jackal no longer wore the armor of the Ascended. The golden monuments lay buried with the past. Now a hermit dressed in tattered fabric, Nasus scratched at his matted fur before slowly raising his head to observe the night sky.

“吹笛者，”内瑟斯说，他的声音低沉粗哑。“很快就要换季了。”

“The Piper,” said Nasus, his voice low and graveled. “The season will change soon.”

内瑟斯一只手放在小男孩的肩膀上，看着他饱受阳光灼炙的脸庞。他看到了优雅的线条，那是来自古代恕瑞玛的血统，因为长途旅行而变得粗糙。

Nasus put a hand on the boy’s tiny shoulder and looked down into his sunburnt face. There, he saw the soft lines and curves of Shuriman lineage, worn ragged by travel.

什么时候轮到你来担心了？很快我们就会给你找到一个家。在一个早已消逝的文明留下的废墟之间漫游，这不是一个孩子应有的生活。

When did it become your place to worry? Soon we will find you a home. Wandering between the ruins of an extinguished empire is no life for a child.

这是宇宙的本质。短暂的瞬间延展开来变成永恒存在的循环。这个挥之不去的公理让他不堪重负，但这并不只是他无数种自责名目下的普通一例。事实是，如果这个男孩继续跟随，就会不可避免地被改变。内瑟斯眉头紧锁，懊悔让他愁容满面。他们的结伴同行在这位远古英雄的心灵深处唤起了一种满足感。

This was the nature of the universe. Brief moments unfolded into the endless cycles of existence. The heady philosophy weighed upon him, but it was more than just another stone in his endless tally of self-imposed guilt. In truth, the boy would inevitably be changed if he was allowed to follow. Remorse darkened Nasus’s brow like a thunderhead. Their companionship sated something deep within the ancient hero.

“破晓之前我们能到达占星塔。不过我们必须先爬上去。”男孩说。

“We can reach Astrologer’s Tower before dawn. But we’ll have to climb,” said the boy.

****

---

占星塔已经很近了。内瑟斯双手交替着爬上悬崖，这次攀爬与记忆中的完美契合，每一次用手抓牢的感觉都让他如释重负，如此诱人的死亡。在他身边，男孩也爬了上来，敏捷的身手可以利用到岩壁上的每一处凹陷。

The tower was close. Nasus pulled himself up the cliff face hand over hand, the climb memorized to such perfection that he took great liberties with each handhold, tempting death. The boy clambered up by his side, his agile form utilizing every nook and cranny offered by the blemished rock.

如果我放手接受死亡，这个无辜的孩子会怎样？这个想法让内瑟斯无法释怀。

What would happen to this innocent if I gave in to death? The thought troubled Nasus.

悬崖上半笼罩在薄雾之中，每一缕都像小小的山路一样在狭窄的岩缝中蜿蜒曲折。男孩首先跃上山顶，内瑟斯紧随其后。

Wisps of fog rolled through the crags of the upper cliffs, each threading the narrow rocks like tiny mountain paths. The boy scurried over the top first. Nasus followed.

远处传来金属碰撞岩石的声音，雾气中还有人说话的声音——他们的口音很熟悉。内瑟斯被从幻想中摇醒。

In the distance, metal clanged against stone, and voices could be heard through the haze — they spoke in a familiar dialect. Nasus was shaken from his reverie.

占星塔的水井偶尔会引来游民，但从没有游民在如此靠近春分的节令出现在这里。男孩一动也不敢动，他的恐惧显而易见。

The well at Astrologer’s Tower occasionally attracted nomads, but never this close to the equinox. The boy stood perfectly still, his fear palpable.

“为什么没有生火？”男孩问道。

“Where are the fires?” asked the boy.

马匹的嘶鸣划破了静夜。

A horse’s whinny pierced the night.

“谁在那？”男孩问道。他的声音荡进了黑暗之中。

“Who goes there?” asked the boy. The words rolled through the darkness.

突然一盏灯笼点亮了，照出了一群起码的人。他们是佣兵，是劫匪。

A lantern sparked to life, illuminating a band of riders. Mercenaries. Raiders.

犬首人的眼睛突然睁大。

The jackal’s eyes snapped wide.

他看到对方有七个人。弯刀没有出鞘，但他们的眼神透露出习武的老练和诡计之多端。

He saw seven of them. Their curved blades remained sheathed, but the look in their eyes spoke of martial training and guile.

“监护人在哪？”内瑟斯问。

“Where is the caretaker?” asked Nasus.

“他和他老婆睡着了。凉爽的傍晚让他们提前入睡了，”一个人在马背上回答道。

“He and his wife are asleep. The cool evening prompted them to retire early,” replied one of the riders.

“老狗，我名叫马娄夫，”另一个马背上的人说。“我们是皇帝派来的。”

“Old jackal, my name is Malouf,” said another rider. “We have been sent by the Emperor.”

内瑟斯向前迈进一步，暴露了他无法扼制的愤怒。

Nasus stepped forward, betraying the briefest hint of anger.

“他是在寻求认同感吗？让我告诉他吧。这个堕落的年代没有任何皇帝。”内瑟斯说道。

“Does he seek acknowledgement? Then let me give it. There is no emperor in this fallen age,” said Nasus.

男孩也挑战地向前迈了一步。黑衣人们远离灯笼后退了一步，长长的影子掩盖了他们的防御姿态。

The boy stepped forward defiantly. The dark messengers backed away from the lantern. Long shadows obscured defensive stances.

“送完信你就回去吧，”男孩说。

“Deliver your message and leave,” said the child.

马娄夫下马向前走来。他将一只布满老茧的手伸进了衬衫兜里，掏出了一枚黑色项链拴着的黑暗护符。护符的几何形状在内瑟斯脑海中唤起了魔法和毁灭的印象。

Malouf dismounted and stepped forward. He reached a calloused hand into the folds of his shirt and produced a dark amulet bound to a thick, black chain. The geometry of the metal sparked recollections of magic and destruction in Nasus’s mind.

“泽拉斯皇帝送来邀请。我们将作为你的仆从。欢迎你前往他的新都城奈瑞玛桀”

“Emperor Xerath sends offerings. We are to be your servants. He welcomes you to his new capital at Nerimazeth.”

这名佣兵的话就像铁锤杂碎玻璃一样击中了内瑟斯。

The mercenary’s words fell on Nasus like a hammer on glass.

男孩立刻半跪下去抄起一块大石头。

The boy promptly knelt and snatched up a weighty rock.

“死吧！”男孩大叫道。

“Die!” cried the boy.

“拿下！”马娄夫说。

“Take him!” said Malouf.

男孩用力将石头抛向空中，画出的弧线咄咄逼人，即将砸碎佣兵的骨头。

With a heave, the boy hurled the rock through the air, its perfect arc threatening to shatter mercenary bone on impact.

“雷克顿，别！”内瑟斯大喊道。

“Renekton, no!” roared Nasus.

劫匪们抛弃了假惺惺的伪装。这时候内瑟斯明白监护人和他的妻子已经死了。泽拉斯的致意只会通过冰冷的钢铁转达。真相开始侵蚀幻象。

The riders abandoned their half-hearted deception. Nasus knew then that the caretaker and his wife were dead. Xerath’s greeting would come in the form of cold steel. Truth began to eclipse illusion.

内瑟斯伸手去抓男孩。可是男孩已经钻进了回忆的阴影中，消融在星光下的平地中。

Nasus reached for the boy. The child tore into shadows of memory that dissipated across the starlit ground.

“再见，兄弟，”内瑟斯轻语到。

“Goodbye, brother,” whispered Nasus.

泽拉斯的信使们四散开来，他们的马匹紧张地抽响鼻子。飞升者受到三面夹击。马娄夫并未迟疑，他抽刀刺向内瑟斯的侧身。远古馆长的身体被剧痛撕裂了。马背上的人想要抽回他的武器，但却文丝未动。一只手钳住了刀刃，让它深深埋在飞升者的皮肉之中，继续制造剧痛。

Xerath’s emissaries fanned out, their horses bucking and snorting. The Ascended was flanked on three sides. Malouf did not hesitate, drawing his blade and piercing Nasus’s side with it. Pain rippled through the ancient curator’s body. The rider attempted to withdraw his weapon, but it wouldn’t budge. A clawed hand gripped the blade, keeping it agonizingly buried within Ascended flesh.

“你应该让我继续和鬼魂们独处，”内瑟斯说。

“You should have left me to my ghosts,” said Nasus.

内瑟斯将马娄夫的剑从他手中撕扯下来，连同折断了数根手指，撕裂了数条韧带。

Nasus tore Malouf’s sword from his hand, shattering fingers and tearing ligaments.

半神扑向袭击他的人。马娄夫的身体在犬首人的重压之下支离破碎。

The demigod pounced on his attacker. Malouf’s body cracked under the jackal’s enormous weight.

内瑟斯扑向下一个骑手，将他从马鞍上拽了下来；两记挥击掏出了内脏，断了呼吸。残破的身躯带着剧痛被丢进黄沙之中。他的马匹惊慌地逃进了沙漠中。

Nasus leapt to the next rider, pulling him from his saddle; two strikes ruptured organs and stole the wind from his lungs. His broken form spun off into the sand, a ruined mass of agony. His horse reared and fled into the desert.

“他疯了！马背上的人们说。”

“He’s mad!” said one of the riders.

“已经不疯了，”内瑟斯说着，靠近了佣兵的领袖。

“Not any longer,” said Nasus, approaching the mercenary leader.

空气中突然飘出一阵奇怪的香气。死亡之花在他身后沿着薰衣草色的轨迹打转。马娄夫在地上扭曲变形，右手断掉的手指凋零枯萎，皮肤像被打湿的羊皮纸一样皱缩。他的胸腔向内塌陷，像腐烂的水果一样，最后只剩下一条脊柱依稀可见。

A strange fragrance filled the air. Dead flowers spinning on lavender colored threads followed in his wake. Malouf twisted on the ground, the broken fingers of his right hand withered, skin sagging like wet parchment. The barrel of his chest caved in on itself like a rotting spine fruit.

无法抗拒的惊恐占据了其余的佣兵。他们费力地安抚胯下的坐骑，仓皇而逃。马娄夫的尸体被遗弃在黄沙中。

White-knuckled panic overtook the remaining mercenaries. They struggled to keep their mounts under control, if only to retreat. Malouf’s body lay abandoned in the sand.

内瑟斯转向东方，面向奈瑞玛桀。

Nasus turned east toward the ruins of Nerimazeth.

“告诉你们的‘皇帝’，他的轮回已经快要结束了。”

“Tell your ‘emperor’ his cycle nears its end.”