雷響,狂風與暴雨;地鳴,潮湧與崩裂。天與地夾帶著急遽轉變席捲森林、城鎮,以摧枯拉朽之勢顛覆人們賴以維生的家園。78Please respect copyright.PENANAZQeXX7dhTY
78Please respect copyright.PENANAsBeKtSAiv0
悲嘆與驚叫不絕於耳,少年拔腿狂奔,周圍已無熟識的親眷,他回首仰望風雲變色的蒼穹,腥紅如血的顏色暈染了整片視野,猶如惡獸張開血盆大口準備吞噬一切。恐懼不斷蔓延,天空彷彿即將塌陷,隨著墜落的群鳥灑落無數碎冰,腳踩的地面漫起湍湍流水,人們一個接著一個被海潮捲去。78Please respect copyright.PENANATUqKlL99dF
78Please respect copyright.PENANA010Uodc3NZ
龍的呼嘯震撼大地,毫不留情地帶來慘絕人寰的災難——這是所有生物的末日,少年敢肯定。78Please respect copyright.PENANAEAIjH83Ia1
78Please respect copyright.PENANAUBcU1PAQTf
不敢再多看一眼,他與怒海追逐著先機,竭盡全力在被吞沒前逃出生天。然而,宛如是神祇的不眷顧,踉蹌的步伐終究贏不過洶湧而來的浪濤,鹹澀的味道灌入口鼻,他就像是一粒微不足道的粟米,頃刻間便遭逢滅頂。78Please respect copyright.PENANAGD2ir1cX3E
78Please respect copyright.PENANA3pB5vGOF6Q
無法汲取氧氣的窒息感癱軟了四肢,少年在急流中被帶至深邃的黑暗,強勁的水壓推擠著他的身軀,侵蝕他的意志及生命,刺骨的寒冷拂走最後一絲溫暖,凍結了意識運轉的微弱波動。78Please respect copyright.PENANAJnmhFlOJuh
78Please respect copyright.PENANAT7Wvmwik4H
至綠鎮。78Please respect copyright.PENANAvwj97HiPX8
78Please respect copyright.PENANAhGWnSi2W0E
陌生的嗓音悄然低語,重複著規律的音調,這是他所能聽見的最終聲響。78Please respect copyright.PENANA8tUiqtMkBI
78Please respect copyright.PENANAhUCKLmHqTe
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfgzxnF1fK1
「哈啊!」一陣深呼吸似的驚喘,亞提爾﹒逐日者自木板床猛然彈起,滴淌的汗水濡濕了整件睡袋,「又來了⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANA3dEnTtK8Z8
78Please respect copyright.PENANAWEpTZegVP8
亟欲擺脫難受的暈眩,他仰頭閉上雙眼,吸進新鮮的空氣,再緩慢地吐出,屢次的反覆循環,終於逐漸抒解了劇烈鼓譟的心音,讓全身的緊繃壓力趨於緩和。78Please respect copyright.PENANAV2xCFi16w5
78Please respect copyright.PENANAxmCYzaxUFu
「⋯⋯今天是荒野之日嗎?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAfplX0ICKn1
78Please respect copyright.PENANAItBniFDzRj
除去被龍巫教囚禁的時日,遊走在名為費倫的大陸已達二月之餘,亞提爾學會了這個世界的曆法計算,每十天一週期、每三週期一月,而他總會於每週第五個跨越晝夜的凌晨夢見相同的景像,並且結束於同樣的字詞中。78Please respect copyright.PENANAvjMbtHGgqF
78Please respect copyright.PENANAcYnH8pDwzi
算上今夜的夢魘,已有足足七次。他從未夢見如此清晰深刻的影像,真實得仿若親身經歷,但他清楚知曉,自己並沒有見識過那般可怕的場景——究竟是誰人的目光所見之記憶?又是誰的聲音呼喊著未曾到訪的城鎮?78Please respect copyright.PENANA2vIc2gPyDn
78Please respect copyright.PENANApMO9okEXLg
第一次夢見時,亞提爾將它視作脫逃出龍巫教的後遺症,畢竟天天被龍裔侍衛毒打、又時常聽見不知何處傳來的巨龍咆哮,那些日子簡直是人生最嚴重的奇恥大辱——儘管他現在才十六歲,但確實已屬危及性命的遭遇了——少年心中如此認定著。78Please respect copyright.PENANA70D4I6rhR7
78Please respect copyright.PENANA6cVYA9qavf
可當重複第二次、第三次,甚至第七次時,亞提爾便開始感到詭異與不解,難以言說的惶恐埋下種子、鑽出無法忽視的幼苗,令他焦躁地揉了揉被枕頭壓得凌亂的頭髮,混沌的腦海難以拼湊任何推論。78Please respect copyright.PENANAeeIoiRwchy
78Please respect copyright.PENANAUQjRERUC3z
「亞提爾,又作惡夢了?」鄰床的精靈從冥想中喚回意識,年長的俊秀面容蹙緊擔憂的皺褶,起身關心同行的少年。78Please respect copyright.PENANAgE0WHijrU6
78Please respect copyright.PENANA95Dyn9c9GH
搖搖頭,不想引起救命恩人無謂的操心,縱使男子見過自己最狼狽的模樣,倔強的亞提爾亦不願被對方當成孩子般對待,「沒事的,洛瑞斯哥哥。」他佯裝無礙地揚起微笑。78Please respect copyright.PENANAvQcNFLfpxu
78Please respect copyright.PENANAQXQszBJ7Ao
「⋯⋯你知道,有任何困難都可以和我說,不需要藏著。」洛瑞斯蹲低身姿,溫柔的目光與少年平視。78Please respect copyright.PENANA4jcfNAJHMN
78Please respect copyright.PENANAkdKfsPgUzW
亞提爾彆扭地撇過頭,拒絕被洞悉心底的不安,「真的沒事。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAszXlttU6Yc
78Please respect copyright.PENANA2kdUE8vUeR
輕嘆口氣,明白少年的孩子心性,精靈無奈地放棄深究,轉而朝房門走去,「天快亮了,行囊裡還剩下些許藥草,我去替你準備熱湯,喬希小姐應該也快醒了,等會兒一起吃早餐吧。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAx6Ja571s0z
78Please respect copyright.PENANADdrHUYDzIw
喬希姊姊才不會那麼早起呢——亞提爾暗自嘀咕,噘起嘴不情不願地更換衣服、整理儀容。78Please respect copyright.PENANAG1FuA4rxKw
78Please respect copyright.PENANANY8eypckeS
因此,當少年洗漱完畢,前往簡易搭建的廚房享用早膳時,芙﹒喬希端坐於桌前的畫面是他始料未及的。只見她兩眼空洞,表情呆滯地咀嚼著雜糧麵包,口中呢喃著聽不清真意的字句。78Please respect copyright.PENANAzzn5eayc2B
78Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6muKJn8Ip
「喬希姊姊,晨安。」78Please respect copyright.PENANA8OBNRgRlEI
78Please respect copyright.PENANA1D7WYoU6Ir
「哇!」人類少女大叫一聲,不自覺鬆開雙手向後方退去,手足無措之下翻倒了湯水,就連麵包也滾落地面。78Please respect copyright.PENANA8aihcPyinY
78Please respect copyright.PENANA565Q1s8H4i
「喬希姊姊?」被對方大動作的反應驚嚇,亞提爾眨眨眼,困惑地湊近對方,「妳還好吧?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAurxC1iXKjw
78Please respect copyright.PENANAXOU4doW8X0
「沒、沒、沒事⋯⋯我很好⋯⋯」喬希怯生生回道,「不、不用管我沒關係的,亞、亞提爾你趕快先吃早餐吧⋯⋯我、我聽洛瑞斯先生說你、你不舒服⋯⋯」蚊呐般的細小音量幾乎吞吃進咽喉,少女沒有說完剩餘的話語,滿臉通紅地垂著頭收拾自己造成的一片狼藉。78Please respect copyright.PENANAXKg7x7pG49
78Please respect copyright.PENANAoKpUzGwJFW
無法理解對方的慌張究竟所謂何事,少年仍然貼心地上前協助,雖說芙﹒喬希稍長一歲,但亞提爾有時候會覺得,比起姊姊自己更像是照顧一個妹妹。78Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ3W4feFG3
78Please respect copyright.PENANA25Yn36qOKd
他們在兩週前於河岸森林周邊的村莊相遇,因緣際會下,他與一同逃離龍巫教的洛瑞斯解救了遭匪徒侵擾的芙﹒喬希,受聖騎士的父親影響,亞提爾自然見不得柔弱的少女陷入危機,再加上聽聞對方以至綠鎮為目標踏上旅途後,登時便自告奮勇地提出充當護衛的建議。78Please respect copyright.PENANAMlABi9gdCF
78Please respect copyright.PENANAHFQxYLTneX
作為曠野間唯一的人群聚集之所,至綠鎮地處偏僻、交通不便,即便發展蓬勃,卻僅有貿易往來的商賈交換物資、囤積貨品時方會經過,並未被人們廣傳——在此之前,亞提爾甚至認為那座城鎮只是虛幻一夢的泡影。78Please respect copyright.PENANAY7mBgsH4TH
78Please respect copyright.PENANAcEwlVddclC
芙﹒喬希提供的訊息無疑替他開啟了解惑的道途,三人結伴而行向西南方邁進,如今總算臨近目的地。78Please respect copyright.PENANABma2ojTtVp
78Please respect copyright.PENANAB4LBOd1bLA
「幸而偶遇那位藥水商人願意分享篷車的空位,載我們到岔路口的休息驛站,不然就得冒雨露宿野外了。」洛瑞斯溫和的笑聲響起,接過清理雜亂的工作,讓比自己年幼許多的「孩子們」盡快填飽肚子,「我與他詢問過,從此地出發,腳程快的話,黃昏時分便可抵達至綠鎮。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAnAssR4ttBN
78Please respect copyright.PENANAM9CYMzr5CR
「埃德金叔叔已經離開了嗎?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAhYUQq7BiHG
78Please respect copyright.PENANAPcxVHZBM7B
「是啊,他說自己得趕緊去拜訪拜爾達斯克的客戶,清晨便與我道別了。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAUa4G2wxYPD
78Please respect copyright.PENANAckRXJS1RJs
「對、對不起⋯⋯都是我害你們耽誤了時間⋯⋯」喬希習慣性地不停道歉,語氣更加唯唯諾諾。78Please respect copyright.PENANAvXGH06SIr3
78Please respect copyright.PENANA0IrxjLjG3m
「別這麼說,互相幫忙不過是理所當然的事情。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAmmhh8UFEZ2
78Please respect copyright.PENANApnTdm3J3OL
「沒錯,喬希姊姊不要總是如此見外。」78Please respect copyright.PENANAgmINpoI3Mu
78Please respect copyright.PENANALnJjoePKbu
禁不起過度的關注,人類少女再次掩著紅潤的面頰,害臊地低頭不語。78Please respect copyright.PENANAt32qo4XW8z
78Please respect copyright.PENANAyRucD4Cq1w
明媚的陽光照映,盎然的綠蔭垂影,夜露浸潤的樹梢閃耀著翠綠的色彩,枝葉滾落的珠水點綴花草的繽紛,伴隨徐徐的微風將清新的自然香氣吹向步行的三人。78Please respect copyright.PENANAKHaZ2D24Wy
78Please respect copyright.PENANAjH1jObA4gl
一望無際的草原連接著遠山與細流,清澈的水源吸引了小型動物在此群聚,歡快地翻滾嬉戲,也許是鮮少人煙的緣故,綠色原野仍舊維持著原始的土地樣貌,讓途經的人們皆能自在徜徉於美好的風情勝景之中。78Please respect copyright.PENANA1t8DOSKh6j
78Please respect copyright.PENANAWNZjH7qXr6
一片祥和的景致洗淨了亞提爾被噩夢纏身的忐忑,襯著藍天白雲,就連午餐的普通乾糧都顯得美味許多。78Please respect copyright.PENANA2jbB2K1y9L
78Please respect copyright.PENANAbt5X34tIbm
踩上增添石磚鋪墊的商路,漸晚的涼風舒緩了趕路的疲憊,少年蹦跳著步伐,回身呼喚喬希,「對了,喬希姊姊。還沒有問過妳,妳到至綠鎮要做什麼呢?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAfq5GmTltWF
78Please respect copyright.PENANAv61YCl7Z9D
「咦?我、我沒說過嗎?」少女圓睜著雙眼,兩手下意識地僵直在身體兩側,「我、我記得⋯⋯咦?對、對不起,我以為自己解釋過了⋯⋯這、這樣真的太失禮了⋯⋯」她急忙彎下腰,為自己的輕忽禮儀致上深深的歉意,卻沒想到嘩啦一聲,背包內的書本全數掉落草堆。78Please respect copyright.PENANAfsOpd6w7ef
78Please respect copyright.PENANAmBMdY2GMuo
「不、不要緊,可能妳有說過但我沒有聽仔細吧?」比對方更為錯愕,亞提爾手忙腳亂地拾起書籍,拍落沾染的碎草,小心翼翼擦乾水漬的濕意,「喬希姊姊說話輕聲細語,一定是我沒有注意聽,妳不要在意。」78Please respect copyright.PENANANrkwTBVnvV
78Please respect copyright.PENANAfGG016pSYO
「是啊,喬希小姐不用太過緊張,我和亞提爾都不會因為這樣而責怪妳。」78Please respect copyright.PENANA3qlqu8QYE6
78Please respect copyright.PENANAPlgiVA7RJ5
「謝、謝謝你們⋯⋯其、其實我到至綠鎮是、是想去救人⋯⋯」少女將書一本本塞回布包,眼神左右閃爍,害怕自己的一時疏忽拖累了旁人,「我、我原本想一個人去⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANAxnlYkoDGhx
78Please respect copyright.PENANAw6XTPhPmhE
「怎麼可以呢?」亞提爾忍不住提高音量,「既然是救人,當然是人手越多越好,早點知道的話,我們還可以加快速度!」78Please respect copyright.PENANA2DBKOgqMRz
78Please respect copyright.PENANAM8R5ON7cRj
「喬希小姐可否說得更詳細呢?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAScC2gusc7w
78Please respect copyright.PENANAdcFh8QoPo8
「好、好的,是、是這樣的⋯⋯」芙﹒喬希微微頷首,手指不自覺相互糾纏在一起,「我的鄰居塔利斯被奇怪的人綁架了,他的男朋⋯⋯呃不,他的朋友非常擔心⋯⋯但、但因為他不方便遠行,所、所以我便代替他出來⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANA6mHKLEp93q
78Please respect copyright.PENANAJfupGckDDn
「知道綁匪是何人嗎?」78Please respect copyright.PENANAvroVSUletY
78Please respect copyright.PENANAqlav6tt4C6
「那、那個⋯⋯我打聽過,是一群崇拜龍的教徒⋯⋯我、我不知道為什麼他們要帶走塔利斯⋯⋯但、但聽說他們在那座城鎮出沒,我想去確認看看⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANAd7AEJdwBPa
78Please respect copyright.PENANAXH6dRHwBXy
「崇拜龍?莫非是龍巫教嗎?」洛瑞斯的灰色瞳眼倏地瞇起,英挺的面容變得嚴肅萬分,與一旁的少年交換了眼色。78Please respect copyright.PENANAVlnDp9iM1r
78Please respect copyright.PENANAqizsyE8L7h
喬希訝異地驚呼,「你、你們也知道嗎?果、果然是很危險的組織吧⋯⋯所、所以一開始我不敢太麻煩別人⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANA9HJf5TcGHl
78Please respect copyright.PENANAPDgfXFfZQW
「才不會麻煩呢!不如說,是他們的話便正好。」握緊拳頭,亞提爾冷哼一聲,「為非作歹的惡徒絕對需要被撻伐!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAksj5tVQIwV
78Please respect copyright.PENANAxHBayPyWyf
宛若是驗證少年的所言非虛,由遠而近的嘶鳴聲截斷了他們的談話,馬匹奔馳的腳步揚起了漫天沙土,一群驚恐的人們自西邊倉皇奔逃,尖叫不已。三人同時望向遙遠的彼方,日輪緩緩降下的方位升起縷縷黑煙,無數竄動的黑影陸續遠離那令人深感不祥的煙硝。78Please respect copyright.PENANAd5TUEZaU4F
78Please respect copyright.PENANAEVfnmEHATC
「看來現在不是閒談的時候,那是至綠鎮的位置,肯定出事了。」78Please respect copyright.PENANA1MVJSm57XE
78Please respect copyright.PENANAszPySYwdUX
「我們趕快過去吧!喬希姊姊的朋友如果當真在鎮上,就必須盡早救他!」亞提爾的手摸向腰際繫綁的細劍,回想拜龍教徒的惡行惡狀,便覺一股熱血猛烈沸騰,恨不得立刻奔赴現場。78Please respect copyright.PENANAa1uTM7xBiR
78Please respect copyright.PENANA4cKOrULnwt
「可、可是亞提爾你還只是個孩子⋯⋯這樣會很危險吧?洛、洛瑞斯先生,不然⋯⋯你在這裡看顧他,我、我先去看看情況⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANATNn0ViNVMh
78Please respect copyright.PENANAnEY5R05PMQ
「等等,讓女孩子一個人去,於情於理都不合適。」精靈拉住喬希的手,正氣凜然地說道,「當初我和亞提爾受困於龍巫教的時候,我沒有放棄他,如今我也不可能放任妳獨自面對危險。」78Please respect copyright.PENANA7qHikVGxbV
78Please respect copyright.PENANA7GgmbUqEaF
「不、不好意思⋯⋯我真的不希望造成你們的困擾,但若是你們願意一起的話便太好了⋯⋯謝謝、謝謝⋯⋯」78Please respect copyright.PENANA0FHC4wQV06
78Please respect copyright.PENANAQqAXucuNJo
「怎麼會是造成困擾呢?洛瑞斯哥哥說得沒錯,倘若這時候不顧友人的安危,那便是折辱了騎士的品格!」78Please respect copyright.PENANAy8FTDkobNj
78Please respect copyright.PENANAya155Tqk0u
說完,亞提爾隨即衝往西方,朝著城鎮疾馳而去。