洛瑪自入盧拉索門下後,更是不再遮遮掩掩地和雙生子討論符文,故也和他們愈來愈親密。小少年細細觀察姐弟倆的個性、喜好,很快摸清了烏列爾好動又調皮的本性。男孩雖在教授符文上毫無保留且熱心,可也僅止於此。與烏莉敞開心扉的模樣相比,仍是有些微距離感。洛瑪思忖,要他二人都完全信任自己,似乎,還得再下點工夫。151Please respect copyright.PENANAYPpx4bORvR
151Please respect copyright.PENANAEDzkbLmUqv
這日,雙生子、洛瑪、酋長一家都去部裡祭壇見祭司們,烏列爾覷個空檔,偷偷溜出,往不遠前的大樹跑去,滿腦子都是數日前發現的鳥窩,想攀上去摸幾顆蛋下來。洛瑪早盯著心不在焉的男孩,見他動作,便也跟了出去。151Please respect copyright.PENANA4H7RCQqeO4
151Please respect copyright.PENANAMLzJ6j5f7O
烏列爾興奮地爬上樹幹,勉強搆到巢緣,正要往內掏,卻給狠狠地啄了幾下!男孩驚呼縮手,竟是一個沒抓牢,直往下墜。洛瑪見狀,衝了過去,堪堪在男孩要撞上地面時將他抱住,往旁翻了幾圈,卸去力道,滾得滿地塵土飛揚,看不清倆人。可這番動靜,仍是把瓦丘等人引了出來,紛紛發出驚呼。151Please respect copyright.PENANAgXci8po9bQ
151Please respect copyright.PENANAKq2wEf3uzd
「待會可別說你去摸鳥蛋,聽我的!」洛瑪忍著痛楚,低聲吩咐仍驚魂未定的烏列爾,隨即掙扎起身,耷頭蔫腦地向酋長一行人走去,邊低聲道:「......我發現鳥巢,想上去掏幾個蛋,沒想到失足摔了下來,還連累了好奇的烏列爾......」語音剛落,盧拉索便揚起了拾起的樹枝,夾頭夾腦逕往小少年身上招呼,邊怒道:「叫你們來學習祭儀,不是讓你們來玩的!」條條紅痕很快遍佈洛瑪全身,他下意識護住頭臉,餘光瞥見正要張嘴的男孩,便向他搖了搖頭,並露出一個淺淺地微笑,示意烏列爾別作聲。洛瑪背上見了血,瓦丘此時輕按住盧拉索仍欲抽向小少年的手:「受這些教訓也夠了,別沒事給你打成重傷,落下殘疾怎麼辦?」151Please respect copyright.PENANAAX6y0o3fcj
151Please respect copyright.PENANACTnBKny8Dr
「還不去給巫醫治療,是想再被抽嗎!」瓦丘喝叱,邊將洛瑪推遠邊給同樣驚呆的烏莉使眼色,讓她拉二人遠離這「犯罪現場」。151Please respect copyright.PENANArcbqG4ax0P
151Please respect copyright.PENANA4pcIZWb0LC
女孩意會,知瓦丘有心袒護,便急急拖著傻愣的弟弟和一瘸一拐的洛瑪去尋巫醫。151Please respect copyright.PENANAioPXjEzFLo
151Please respect copyright.PENANAmA1y9KElE9
「洛瑪......還疼嗎?」烏列爾既心虛又愧疚,他沒想到因自己的貪玩竟讓洛瑪成了代罪羔羊,還受了這麼重的懲罰。151Please respect copyright.PENANAPyuLlW8mNR
151Please respect copyright.PENANAzot8wcA6u7
「你們一開始瞞著盧拉索教我符文,也沒計較過會不會被罰呀。況且,我一直對之前害你們遇險感到很愧疚,只是沒機會說......」小少年忍著疼痛,仍是咧開嘴,露出幾分汗顏、幾分陽光的笑臉,看著姊弟倆。151Please respect copyright.PENANAwdlGt0wCUM
151Please respect copyright.PENANAtri3r4wUir
加納暗罵這少年機關算盡,更惱自己無法出聲,只能瞪眼旁觀。151Please respect copyright.PENANAngZ18fpHzL
151Please respect copyright.PENANARsVbAG2knj
男孩眼眶有些泛淚,扁著嘴,不發一語。151Please respect copyright.PENANAcLNGxdsGdi
151Please respect copyright.PENANAvWLQkobnob
「我們......可以當朋友嗎?」洛瑪覷著烏列爾,有些期期艾艾地開口。151Please respect copyright.PENANAGq4vObkLkR
151Please respect copyright.PENANATWttIlbhss
男孩背過身,眼淚簌簌直落:「......誰要當你朋友......」151Please respect copyright.PENANAXfdtayntlf
151Please respect copyright.PENANAc4qCpxUZ5D
烏莉見狀,早知弟弟嘴硬心軟,她笑了笑,對洛瑪眨眨眼,點頭向他致意。女孩心頭雪亮,看情況,肯定是烏列爾調皮,而小少年不但救了他,還承擔了懲罰。那雙燦若寒星的眸子漾出暖融:「我們本來就是朋友啊。」151Please respect copyright.PENANA2o5KAe6Nrn
151Please respect copyright.PENANAjzHq66pEao
聽了這話,反教洛瑪低下了頭,不敢直視烏莉澄澈的眼。151Please respect copyright.PENANAMSBvOIWe3K
151Please respect copyright.PENANAN8aeQ824xM
拖拉一陣後,男孩終是回過身,有些彆扭地從小袋中掏出了一枚晶瑩透亮的珠子:「......給你。我們......當朋友吧。」還掛著鼻涕的臉,微微側仰著,仍想保持「尊嚴」。151Please respect copyright.PENANAFXfxGgbMmn
151Please respect copyright.PENANAfZyaahmGbo
洛瑪接過後怔怔出神:索亞遞給自己笛子,也是類似的心情嗎?烏列爾……少年垂下眼睫,不願深思這萌生的感情。151Please respect copyright.PENANAYxZwN1uyNB
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**151Please respect copyright.PENANAG3gfEfZyuK
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春花狂肆絢爛後飄零入土,皚皚白雪掩蓋等待再次復甦的綠。151Please respect copyright.PENANAUZXYPaacyw
151Please respect copyright.PENANABwLmVxbCz5
部落一日又一日地過,盧拉索和瓦丘的白髮及皺紋與少年男女的身高成正比。兩個老者笑呵呵地看著姐弟倆和洛瑪嬉鬧。151Please respect copyright.PENANAIdbwzzHyVf
151Please respect copyright.PENANAcdVw5DjwTu
俊朗的烏列爾長髮飛揚,高大健碩的身形裹在因汗水浸潤而顯得若隱若現的袍子裡,蜜色肌膚瑩潤,劍眉斜飛,黑寶石般的眸子正因笑得歡快而瞇起。那張和烏莉七分神似的臉龐不顯陰柔,利落的輪廓反具陽剛之美。151Please respect copyright.PENANAMtOl2gD4Dp
151Please respect copyright.PENANAfMRlNPj1b3
「這兩個孩子長得真好,瓦丘老頭,你說是吧?」151Please respect copyright.PENANAydHANgSeUh
151Please respect copyright.PENANAeOTSDB506C
「得了、得了,既然是埃神的化身,被賜予好容貌也不意外吧?連資質也教賢者稱讚,這才真是不容易呢。不瞞你說,當初他倆被預言為聖女、聖子,我還有些懷疑呢。」151Please respect copyright.PENANAv1mPKnyOQj
151Please respect copyright.PENANApKnwRYRIF5
「不過洛瑪挺不錯的,恰好補足了烏列爾的跳脫。盧拉索,你將他教得很好。」151Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1hrrElLbM
151Please respect copyright.PENANAI5p3M6TLMz
瓦丘瞇著眼,嚼著庫卡葉,回想起初識洛瑪時的光景,那個雙眼蘊含悲傷及戒備的男孩轉眼間成了優秀的祭司。
盧拉索眼尾勾起長長的笑紋,並不否認這讚賞。151Please respect copyright.PENANAOC6BkGA3oF
151Please respect copyright.PENANApqzAqPEHmX
由於賢者經常抽不出空,遂稟報了貝薩斯王,希望他能特許姊弟倆進宮學習「靈語之書」,男人也爽快地答應,畢竟有賢者, 出不了什麼亂子。
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空閒下來,幾人又聚於姊弟倆家,吃著半生不熟或已成焦炭的烤肉,互相嘲笑對方廚藝毫無長進。就在少年捏住洛瑪下顎,欲強塞黑乎乎的羊肉時,烏莉早笑彎了腰,他卻鬆了手。少女和洛瑪正狐疑這小霸王怎的突然停下,烏列爾忽然大叫要去維爾卡巴之丘探險。151Please respect copyright.PENANAkTgD1PDo4R
151Please respect copyright.PENANAMpvH1ISPld
少年生性飛揚頑皮,總拉著洛瑪四處轉悠,早將阿毛塔對兩人「隨意出去可能遭逢危險」的叮囑給拋諸腦後。烏列爾似有用不完的精力,老拖著想專心於符文的洛瑪「不務正業」。151Please respect copyright.PENANA2lZ7AmcZjs
151Please respect copyright.PENANARt9fdYzzhd
烏列爾要去探險,當然不忘拉上「倒楣」的好友。趁進宮時,他纏住賢者不停央求;阿毛塔無奈,對少年的貪玩只能睜隻眼閉隻眼,轉而交代洛瑪好生照看他。
「相傳靈鳥就棲息在『永夜之森』,我想去找找看。聽說依納卡帕的王冕便插有牠的翎羽,能不受惡意侵擾;不過我其實是好奇牠的模樣。」
烏列爾正狼吞虎嚥玉米餅,卻給噎到,洛瑪搖搖頭,遞出水囊:「就你這莽撞性子,最好準備完善再去。」
烏列爾笑嘻嘻地從袋裡扯出斗篷:「聽說越入內越冷,我可是有備而來的。」
洛瑪兜頭潑了盆冷水:「地形問清了嗎?」
烏列爾頓時啞了嗓,這……還真忘了。
洛瑪翻翻白眼,扯扯傻愣的少年低囑:「跟緊我。」
烏列爾頓時驚異:「你去過?」
洛瑪又是白眼ㄧ翻:「沒去過。」
穿過「永夜之森」外圍,看似地勢平坦,沒有什麼需要提高警戒的地方。
正當兩人準備踏入那神秘領域時,竟雙雙失足踩空,跌下被長草掩蓋的深溝。
洛瑪急伸手臂,使勁抓住地緣,另隻手緊扣烏列爾不放,邊大吼要他找著力點。151Please respect copyright.PENANA7UjCp4Co4i
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放手,就少了一個勁敵。151Please respect copyright.PENANAVcU3kL7BhU
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洛瑪腦海忽地浮現陰暗念頭,隨即,他甩開這個思緒,用力抓緊烏列爾。151Please respect copyright.PENANABQ0ivvxTI7
151Please respect copyright.PENANAscsIcWd6lE
少年五指摳住壁間凸起,不停催促洛瑪先上去穩住自己。他正要順著隙縫提腿往上爬,不經意中,看見了一枚墨綠色的晶礦,隨折射閃出不同的紋路色澤。烏列爾怔愣一瞬,想將它給撈過來,頭上卻響起好友氣急的聲音,只好暫時作罷,打定主意,待下次前來時再尋看看。151Please respect copyright.PENANAexuYKJSOdV
151Please respect copyright.PENANACKjMW8pUPb
倆人好不容易攀上地表,雙雙攤開手腳躺在草叢中,均是不發一語。151Please respect copyright.PENANAtU32JT7HfA
151Please respect copyright.PENANAQFMXsKoZA0
「洛瑪,我找了這塊礦石,很有趣,也很漂亮,你讀看看它的『語』挺有意思的。」151Please respect copyright.PENANAr7VYvGKbYe
151Please respect copyright.PENANAV6iGK7RidA
「洛瑪,這是我改良過的符文,你試試。」151Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6vCGBxduu
151Please respect copyright.PENANAggTOyXjCCY
「洛瑪,我發現一個好玩的地方,走,我們一起去。」151Please respect copyright.PENANAPw27OLbuk9
151Please respect copyright.PENANAhPBbzmnit1
洛瑪仰望天空,腦海莫名浮現和烏列爾相處時的點點滴滴。若少了他,復仇之路會更為順遂。可這幾年來,烏列爾處處提攜和毫無保留的感情,淹沒那份仇恨,讓自己只想拉起他。那瞬間,擔心「好友」受傷凌駕了一切;連自己被刮的血痕交錯的手臂也不覺得痛。151Please respect copyright.PENANA0MvLIqkW52
151Please respect copyright.PENANANN1g9EtUF4
姆媽,妳和索亞會怪我心太軟嗎?151Please respect copyright.PENANAsEEmSlOhIQ
151Please respect copyright.PENANAuD1fKCFdyu
洛瑪閉了閉眼,暗湧不斷,休息一會,提起還要幫盧拉索處理公文,便拉起不情願的友人離開。151Please respect copyright.PENANAEHRztBDVXk
151Please respect copyright.PENANAdsHJOhBtBO
烏列爾心底盤算下回自己再來探尋,若真有什麼發現,也給姊姊和好友一番驚喜。151Please respect copyright.PENANA5vi68nHX5N
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**151Please respect copyright.PENANA4VBm0GjdwF
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借著賢者又招姊弟倆入城學習時,烏列爾準備好「探險裝備」,打算課後便去「永夜之森」找尋靈鳥和上次那塊墨綠晶礦。他急行抵達目的地後,並不急著進入,而是摸索之前跌落的深溝,想先找到石頭。翻出繩索,牢牢綁在一棵樹上,他便輕車熟路的爬下斷壁,依記憶中的方向看去。果然,那粒晶礦依舊靜靜在原處,彷若等待有緣人將它帶回。烏列爾興奮的將之揣入懷中,才慢慢爬上平地,朝森林深處探尋。151Please respect copyright.PENANAoFQiTelxQn
151Please respect copyright.PENANAUivk43mndj
參天的樹蔭遮蔽陽光,愈行愈是暗沉,愈行愈是寒冷。整座林子少有蟲鳴蛙語,靜得令人發怵,連隻小獸都沒見到。他披上斗篷,仍不想就這樣空手而歸;奈何,走到深處已暗得幾乎不見五指,而那股冷冽,竟似透骨而入。烏列爾迫不得已,只能回身,走出這片幽暗密林,絲毫沒發現一雙金瞳正在遠處觀察他遠去的背影。151Please respect copyright.PENANASupV6b3Sd7
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春分盛典即將到來, 阿毛塔吩咐烏莉姊弟入王城見習,另命盧拉索帶著洛瑪也幫忙監管;聖火種需由輔祭和這一批新太陽貞女一同送入宮內。未免差池,老者便想多安插幾個信得過的人也參與。敲定之後,便得製作規制祭袍。151Please respect copyright.PENANAceJSEGG0cP
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望著曾為桑庫部的「貞女坊」,洛瑪靜靜凝視這片再也找不回記憶中絲絲縷縷的建築。151Please respect copyright.PENANAJft99d0p9c
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燒陶器的窯,製作獸皮的小屋,打造器具的工坊,自己和姆媽的家;索亞雕笛子時總愛坐的那棵大樹……已不復見。151Please respect copyright.PENANA60XHGky9sB
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洛瑪深吸一口氣,面無表情地和烏莉姊弟一起走入他最沉痛的記憶裡。151Please respect copyright.PENANAzqK6HKxAca
151Please respect copyright.PENANApGklp6BvCg
寬鬆淺亞麻祭袍飄飄,磚紅繡暗紋的繫帶如吸飽了老血;連著兜帽的斗篷隨風獵獵作響,聽在耳裡如同慘烈嗚咽,似在控訴他為何不復仇。少年閉了閉眼,任蝕骨的痛一分一毫流竄全身,受著。151Please respect copyright.PENANAuzwFJXMP89
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「洛瑪!袍子很適合你!」151Please respect copyright.PENANAxupmOOIzw5
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烏莉和烏列爾神似的眉眼笑得燦爛,卻如重錘敲在洛瑪心上。151Please respect copyright.PENANAT28pwS38mz
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姆媽,索亞,我......該怎麼做?151Please respect copyright.PENANA0SBkOh2vEU
151Please respect copyright.PENANAYvUpxGOcWs