法印城,萬門之城,擁有通往無數多元宇宙的傳送門,隔絕於主物質位面的外層之處,一旦進入便難以輕易離開,於是人們賦予了這座城市另一個別稱——「籠子」。69Please respect copyright.PENANAvCpEycUDbQ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAV6GGkocWlK
他們從亡者的太平間逃入了囚困生者的巨大牢籠。69Please respect copyright.PENANAfQRIs4UEMo
69Please respect copyright.PENANAeuhGK3R9T2
急促的腳步濺起片片水花,奔走的黑影穿梭在蜿蜒的巷弄,四周逐漸安靜,嘈雜的嘶喊隱沒於潮濕的霧氣,僅剩滴滴水珠落入泥坑的細響,確認再無追趕的威脅,眾人終於得以喘息,平復紊亂的心跳,治療負傷的身體,並查看他們慌不擇路下抵達的場所。放眼望去,破敗的房屋林立,髒亂穢物與暗綠苔蘚爬滿石造的路面與高牆,生物腐爛的惡臭附著於灰濛的空氣,隨著吹盪的冷風散至四面八方,不同於方才逃離的街區,此處的潦倒與汙濁不僅滿佈地表,甚至綿延到天空。69Please respect copyright.PENANA8DyskyYE6R
69Please respect copyright.PENANAAZzBeHHpYM
掀開仍然淌水的垂掛破布,亞瑟從狹窄的巷口跨入寬闊道路,來到人流密集的廣場。牆角躺臥的浪人、路上蹣跚的行者,他們各個衣衫襤褸、神色陰鬱,諸多不屬於一般類人種族的面孔混雜於人群之中,販售食物的惡魔與顧客爭執著金錢的多寡,群聚的食人魔粗暴地推撞彼此,怒吼著鮮少聽聞的語言。69Please respect copyright.PENANAElt5yT8Qno
69Please respect copyright.PENANAgsmMdz8GqS
這裡是法印城的巢穴區,最貧困、也是治安最惡劣的地方。69Please respect copyright.PENANAXkcN1puQdD
69Please respect copyright.PENANA24so5sABgp
「收你不要的屍體,哪裡還有死鬼?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAhsiudDHgE1
69Please respect copyright.PENANAJzlDX1ItQs
一名長鬍子的矮人運著載滿遺體的手推車高聲吆喝,老舊的木輪駛過凹凸不平的石磚,堆疊的軀體毫無防護地搖晃、碰撞,好似這些喪失性命的人們僅是微不足道的回收品,等待被銷毀的廢棄之物。69Please respect copyright.PENANAwShYn4Cxxt
69Please respect copyright.PENANA04LwuFkPOd
視線順著收屍者的背影向遠處移轉,阿斯莫環顧周遭街景,試圖與腦內的記憶相互對照,此區與他印象中的城市相差甚遠——光鮮亮麗的繁華市井,熙來攘往的人們穿戴著體面的服裝與飾品,通明的燈火直至深夜亦不會熄滅——當他作為軍團代表拜會法印城的位能協會時,所見所聞皆是熱鬧興盛的景象,而非如此烏煙瘴氣之地。69Please respect copyright.PENANABKSICoNphA
69Please respect copyright.PENANAUUHksCyD4p
他確信自己未曾走訪市集區以外的地段。事實上,若非協會之人的引導與軍團法師的幫助,他絕無可能獨自來到法印城,更遑論隨意穿行各區的傳送門,即便擁有偵測能力,但面對數以萬計的傳送門,這項技能仍遠遠不足。然而,在他們突破重圍、自灰燼使者的據點逃脫後,破碎的回憶一度占據了思緒,與其餘四人活動於城內各處的畫面一一湧現,又在他想捕捉細節時快速溜走。69Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3qoGiY0fM
69Please respect copyright.PENANAA9M6v0zqjF
他無法肯定這些經歷是否真實存在,抑或來自那位同樣被稱作裁決官的吸血鬼。69Please respect copyright.PENANA6boBsnAGrb
69Please respect copyright.PENANAz1LpyNkIJ2
「嘿!走路不長眼嗎?」一道尖細的喝斥應聲打斷亞瑟的沉思,隨後是紙張書卷嘩啦入水的哀號,一名瘦小的提夫林氣急敗壞地破口大罵,「我的天啊!妳這個皮革腦袋!從哪邊來的滾到哪邊去好不好!小心我把妳的名字寫到死者名冊裡!」69Please respect copyright.PENANAbfxMGQIBR1
69Please respect copyright.PENANAxz9bmmYisH
紫皮膚的手指惡狠狠戳向與自己相撞的白髮精靈,觀察者沒有計較對方的辱罵與無禮,沉默不語地蹲低身子撿拾掉落的物品。69Please respect copyright.PENANAGX5Um97LdQ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAxLhnz2GUYV
「不好意思,是我不該突然停在路口,阻礙了通行。」阿斯莫連忙致歉,一同協助精靈收拾善後。69Please respect copyright.PENANAlsrrSimzie
69Please respect copyright.PENANAbkXpG6C7AH
見二人態度友善,提夫林瞇起雙眼,甩動細長的尾巴捲起文件,手尾並用地趁汙水徹底暈染墨字前盡力搶救。雖暫時緩和了怒火,可抱怨的碎語依然盛氣凌人,「一看就不知道哪裡來的呆頭鵝,渾身乾乾淨淨的!」69Please respect copyright.PENANAeqcig1bknZ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAobLrruRgWs
「請問,焦屍酒吧,該怎麼走?」戰俑機械式的聲音響起,探問渡鴉欠款單據上所屬的店名。69Please respect copyright.PENANA8KLsXUppk2
69Please respect copyright.PENANA39QGWT6rlx
「哼,果然是外地人!」提夫林冷眼斜睨祕術師,接過亞瑟和觀察者整理好的紙卷,清點完畢後撇開嘴角,「看在你們還算有禮貌的份上,我知道一個挺便宜的嚮導,介紹給你們吧。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAqiq7tlU5qx
69Please respect copyright.PENANAtrP4607OW8
「我們該去哪裡尋找?」戰俑啟動資料搜索的系統,詳細追問,「請問特徵?如何辨識?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAZxVPbLrjSo
69Please respect copyright.PENANA6nQB1VBN7a
提夫林大笑出聲,「差點忘了,你們這些外來者不會搞清楚嚮導都長什麼樣,妳看過人馬沒有?找人馬就對了!」他指向不遠處的轉角,「去那裡吧,她通常都在那裡等著接客。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAtWImaovjJa
69Please respect copyright.PENANAizCdQUhA6P
將成堆的書卷攬至胸前,提夫林騰出右臂,握住觀察者的手表達謝意,「我叫雷茲,要是你們有什麼需要⋯⋯你知道的,偽造文書的需求,我在門屋夜市擺攤,隨時歡迎!」他毫不避諱地說道,眼窩彎成月牙的愉悅形狀,揮了揮手,轉身離去。69Please respect copyright.PENANA7GOd2ea5CH
69Please respect copyright.PENANAp9PhcGOX2X
朝著雷茲指引的方向,眾人在窄巷的小屋旁看見一名倚靠牆邊的女子,正無所事事地把玩一柄細長的金屬器物。其修長的腿足收攏於腹下,四足動物特有的圓弧曲線延伸至末端高翹的短尾,如山羊般的身軀披掛著鮮豔布匹與繁複的口袋,裸露的乳白色毛皮因浸潤水氣而沾染了些許塵土。69Please respect copyright.PENANAz1szR2zkMm
69Please respect copyright.PENANAwItqj5FkAG
巴里亞人?在巢穴區?69Please respect copyright.PENANAavuGtZWINZ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAbGed6CV5ZT
阿斯莫感到一絲困惑,眼前的女性並非提夫林所指的人馬,以人羊代稱也許更符合她的樣貌。在亞瑟的認知中,此等神聖的天界生物源自上層位面,與神和天使共居相同階層,喜愛奔馳於遼闊的原野,如今卻出現在法印城內最落魄的街區,這般落差著實令他倍覺訝異。69Please respect copyright.PENANAuNpISlHXc9
69Please respect copyright.PENANA4qv6M4JYvy
「嗨,你們是要找嚮導嗎?」留意到眾人注目的視線,女子一把抓住拋擲的玩物,笑逐顏開的古銅色臉龐透出紅潤的健康光澤。69Please respect copyright.PENANAGbLSjXBfE9
69Please respect copyright.PENANAart89OynXM
「是的,我們初來乍到此地,對這一帶不太熟悉,需要有人替我們引路。」亞瑟彎身鞠躬,謙恭有禮地致上問候。69Please respect copyright.PENANAOvPh7TbX1K
69Please respect copyright.PENANApxRuSCgC8p
「謝天謝地!太好了,你們找對人了!告訴你們,這個巢穴區非常危險又難走,我恰好閒著沒事,今天還沒有接單呢!你們想去哪裡?」女子起身抖擻著羊蹄,踏著欣喜的步伐走近為首的阿斯莫,各式花俏的金屬綴飾在擺盪中敲出清脆的響聲,「忘了自我介紹,你們可以叫我帕莉莎。」69Please respect copyright.PENANA9m2L19j51T
69Please respect copyright.PENANACAMIVSWDd0
「帕莉莎小姐,您好。我是亞瑟﹒費萊克斯。」回握帕莉莎伸來的手掌,阿斯莫微笑答道,「我們有位夥伴想去焦屍酒吧。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAmcTCdyNCnb
69Please respect copyright.PENANA7C0DpNLvpz
「行,很近,我很熟呢!」巴里亞人望向亞瑟身後的其他人,「所有的朋友都要同行嗎?怎麼稱呼呢?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAPWhA6arRZ8
69Please respect copyright.PENANA9BQi8JZiN6
「帕莉莎姐姐,妳稱呼我為渡鴉就好了。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAfSsFjluMqA
69Please respect copyright.PENANAuHhvRC7Zlp
「代號,祕術師。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAM6D9PADIHw
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「妳好,我是觀察者。」69Please respect copyright.PENANA6rWZpipzot
69Please respect copyright.PENANAz67KGW8EOQ
「叫我引路者就可以了!」69Please respect copyright.PENANAHKTWNP0O3k
69Please respect copyright.PENANALX9IiM32tJ
盯著半精靈手中擺動的可愛玩偶,帕莉莎忍俊不禁地複述眾人報上的名字,「都像是代號一樣呢。亞瑟先生,那你呢?你也有代號嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAzrYPlruZ5b
69Please respect copyright.PENANApP9JWUTjjA
「呃⋯⋯」阿斯莫不由得一陣遲疑,眼神閃爍不定,「有的,裁決官。」他苦笑著回應,吸血鬼領主的身影在腦海中飛逝而過。69Please respect copyright.PENANAznvG1Me4k3
69Please respect copyright.PENANAVtr9wuZQIv
「那我是不是也得替自己取綽號?這樣子我們就是個團隊了。」沒有察覺亞瑟的不自在,巴里亞人挑高眉宇,纖細的指尖摩娑著下顎,興致高昂地提議。69Please respect copyright.PENANAltr2WjOla3
69Please respect copyright.PENANAl5G35qH32C
「我聽說人馬是不是都很會觀星?不如就叫觀星師好了!」69Please respect copyright.PENANAQkgTl5WzJj
69Please respect copyright.PENANAXYyvPgRcBN
「為什麼呢?是因為射手座嗎?」盈盈笑意帶起兩頰的圓窩,帕莉莎順應了渡鴉的突發奇想,「聽起來挺順口的,那就叫我觀星師吧。」她眨眨眼,豎起兩指看向眾人,「先跟你們聊聊我的僱用費,一小時兩銀幣,如何?可以接受嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAQXE51rM0uN
69Please respect copyright.PENANAgbDiPTYC4W
「沒問題,從這裡到焦屍酒吧,需要多久時間呢?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAg9tH7JOCnq
69Please respect copyright.PENANAukNvUPHh0k
「要是不懂路的人,徒步行走搞不好會走一小時,甚至花費大半天都找不到路。但有我在,不用五分鐘就能到達。」女子自信地仰首,「由於種族的天賦,我能夠看到傳送門,也可以看到他們通往的地方。」69Please respect copyright.PENANA200RepWNTA
69Please respect copyright.PENANAQAWLDHWBa2
語畢,巴里亞人收斂玩笑的神情,在樓房間的小道四處梭巡,空靈的眼瞳泛起光暈,於灰暗中擴散如星雲般的斑斕色澤。她壓低身姿輕輕嗅聞浮動的氣流,向某個未知目標前進,招手示意眾人緊隨其後。69Please respect copyright.PENANAqBHR9AKj1O
69Please respect copyright.PENANAUi79s3NaTF
啪啦!69Please respect copyright.PENANAOfyqKg30Lv
69Please respect copyright.PENANAeVDZphhdxS
一聲巨響,帕莉莎強健的羊腿猛地踢散遊民殘留的火堆,從餘燼裡取出堪用的木炭,逕自在一處牆面寫下似圖畫的文字。69Please respect copyright.PENANAOYxzDW0qPC
69Please respect copyright.PENANA8QPkBFxZy9
「觀星師姐姐,這是在留下什麼記號嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANArCyyEVsHe6
69Please respect copyright.PENANAroppLqqpBc
「是開啟傳送門的密語吧?每扇門有各自的啟動方式。」亞瑟代替女子回答了渡鴉的不解,語帶讚嘆的同時,也不忘牢牢記住現處的位置與符文指令。69Please respect copyright.PENANAR8ZupqxkaM
69Please respect copyright.PENANAQgWTjkCRji
「順順也要畫!」69Please respect copyright.PENANAsFpxVq3Dxo
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3L4WnqA9zt
「亞瑟先生很懂呢。」行雲流水地完成數行文句,巴里亞人回首莞爾一笑,將木炭遞給引路者,「最後一筆就交給你來畫吧。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAVSLyqw9tSf
69Please respect copyright.PENANAK1hatiUkwc
半精靈雀躍地拿起炭筆,將其貼上藍色人偶的手,模仿著孩子與玩偶共同塗鴉的純真稚態,於密語的句末繪製了一朵可愛童趣的小花,當筆端離開牆面的剎那,一束紅光綻放,花朵彷彿被灌注生命,盛開出燦亮的火苗。赤紅的花瓣依序點燃一個又一個字符,延燒的光燄在石灰的壁面劃開一圈完美的正圓,下一刻,歡鬧的喧嘩自圓內迸出,一股熾烈的熱氣撲面而來,橘黃的火團下,眾多相異種族的男男女女分別圍坐在散布各處的鑄鐵圓桌,高舉酒杯開懷暢飲。69Please respect copyright.PENANA501TLaFZDU
69Please respect copyright.PENANAKaCUmMiyJ1
「歡迎光臨焦屍酒吧,顧客們優先。」帕莉莎優雅地屈膝低首,邀請眾人踏入魔法之門。69Please respect copyright.PENANATgwNKrJr8Q
69Please respect copyright.PENANA257ISj8kZa
「傳送門竟是如此簡單嗎?」渡鴉忍不住嘖嘖稱奇。69Please respect copyright.PENANAY0gJXnDeek
69Please respect copyright.PENANAMVdFr9nsc4
「話不能這麼說,這是因為你們的嚮導很專業。」她搖了搖食指,爽快地接受半精靈的讚美,「傳送門只能維持短短幾分鐘,趕快進去吧。」69Please respect copyright.PENANATtDJvbZh0c
69Please respect copyright.PENANAAltMs1JtZv
亞瑟習慣性地禮讓他者,待所有人跨越傳送門,才與女子先後入內,「帕莉莎小姐,妳知道通往市集區的傳送門在哪裡嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAt8I7mMNazv
69Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ2o4h0kOZ
「想去哪裡,只要在法印城裡面我都知道。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAuKZkNDXCzQ
69Please respect copyright.PENANALnWlBzb7wB
「太好了,雖然我曾來過這座城市,但對其它區域完全不熟悉。」69Please respect copyright.PENANA18mdUX5jIB
69Please respect copyright.PENANAYhIoDSodzr
「沒事,你們已經僱傭我了,在時間內,你們想去哪我都奉陪。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAOA4ZBL6re6
69Please respect copyright.PENANAHjcd3FJY6t
確保與軍團聯繫的管道無虞後,阿斯莫長吁一口氣,稍稍紓解了壓抑許久的緊繃情緒,期待著與位能協會的法師們會面後,所有的疑問皆能獲得解答。他追上了先行入內的渡鴉等人,蒸騰的水霧氤氳於石與鐵鑄造的酒館,內部充斥著烈酒融合金屬灼燒的特殊氣味,將酒客們的熱情烘托得更為高漲。69Please respect copyright.PENANA5kayacmeW3
69Please respect copyright.PENANARJ79Y5DyXC
渡鴉的好奇心被引走,他沒有尋找身為債主的酒吧老闆,反而先往中央的火球靠近,亞瑟的視線越過半精靈與諸位客人,直落在被火舌纏繞的焦黑人影,枯瘦的形體懸浮於半空不斷旋轉,氣若游絲的哀鳴溢滿痛苦,與人們置若罔聞的談笑形成強烈對比。69Please respect copyright.PENANAprAY6vc8PQ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAsWHslRsGXX
阿斯莫的眼底掠過一抹駭然,難以置信的驚訝脫口而出,「帕莉莎小姐,這樣的狀態是正常的嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAu797fD0HzG
69Please respect copyright.PENANA5nwjgSsd9R
「小心,你們的頭髮會燒焦的。」巴里亞人抬起手臂,提醒眾人保持安全距離,「老實說,自從我來到法印城,就沒看過他不是以這個狀態存在的模樣,我甚至不確定他活了多久,但我知道他的名字,叫伊格努斯。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAk16D0nOMnb
69Please respect copyright.PENANActdhKKM6JS
「他是受到懲罰嗎?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAD3hzsz2Uik
69Please respect copyright.PENANA675ZBmqdPy
「據說他曾經犯下嚴重的大罪,因此被烈火囚禁。」女子的瞳孔再次閃動流光,辨識著男人周身的魔法能量,「他的身體現在就是一道傳送門,很有意思,對吧?」69Please respect copyright.PENANANTntkT3Q1G
69Please respect copyright.PENANA19Rtb5CQKF
「透過這個傳送門會去到哪裡?」渡鴉問道。69Please respect copyright.PENANAjvF1o9AkKy
69Please respect copyright.PENANA4t0FB8VXY9
「一個非常火熱的地方,相信我,你們不會想去的。」69Please respect copyright.PENANAdqR90CcTWb
69Please respect copyright.PENANA1T4hainzA3
兩眼左右游移,半精靈心虛地瞄向忙碌於吧檯內的壯碩巨漢,男人金屬的義肢正穩穩抓握一根巨型象牙,一面細心擦拭,一面與祕術師談話,「萬一在酒吧做了不該做的事情,是不是也會變得像伊格努斯這樣?例如⋯⋯欠錢沒還之類的?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAu7XuFWZn2s
69Please respect copyright.PENANAeheJztSNaK
「這我就不知道了。」帕莉莎聳聳肩,「不過欠錢只是尋常小事,巴奇斯老闆非常友善,總是樂意為所有來客提供酒水,只要相當便宜的價格,就可以換來一頓好眠,即使客人沒有錢,留下抵押品也行。他的倉庫堆滿許多財物,大多數都已經沒人來贖了。」69Please respect copyright.PENANArf1MBIpCDB
69Please respect copyright.PENANAp1Bbg4jp9H
「莫非我是喝酒欠債嗎?我怎麼不記得了!」69Please respect copyright.PENANA88ODL1iOYF
69Please respect copyright.PENANAIBtyMZLCsf
「既然持有那張借據,不如先去問問老闆?」觀察者雙手環抱胸口,催促著捂頭吶喊的半精靈。69Please respect copyright.PENANAPUzFSjkv0s
69Please respect copyright.PENANAyAQTbNvQSK
渡鴉被推向吧檯時,祕術師正巧結束對話,她效仿著人類的舉止向巴奇斯行禮道謝,動作僵硬遲緩,半精靈豪放地摟住戰俑的臂膀,掏出口袋裡被揉皺的單據攤平至桌面,「嘿,老闆,我是不是有東西抵押在這裡啊?」69Please respect copyright.PENANAXSiaDRfeG3
69Please respect copyright.PENANAuBseaBYfTt
放下象牙,男人若有所思地審視聚集在面前的人們,頓時靈光一閃,「是了,我想起來了!沒錯,你的東西我還留著。」取代右手的人工夾具快速開閉,他咧開大嘴露出一口黃牙,「難怪覺得面熟!有一個魔冢小子在找你們,你們認識嗎?」他比劃輪廓與大小,描述著該生物的機械外觀。69Please respect copyright.PENANAQRVgcuMNzV
69Please respect copyright.PENANAtpaJNF15Io
「不認識,所以我不是第一次來這裡嗎?」渡鴉茫然地睜大眼睛。69Please respect copyright.PENANAPUDgU7EAkD
69Please respect copyright.PENANAvbHD5LSm3Q
「嗯⋯⋯看來那個機器人沒說錯,你們的確病得不輕啊。」巴奇斯略帶憐憫地搖首,「希望那群無望會的人願意幫你們處理這天殺的不知道什麼問題。」69Please respect copyright.PENANALILsiqEQF8
69Please respect copyright.PENANAW8dTttBDdC
祕術師點頭,矮身擺脫渡鴉過度的親暱,往後退去一步,雙掌貼合腿側,回報任務似地逐字強調,「後備計畫,門屋,無望會。」69Please respect copyright.PENANA429Hi4YilB
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命運之輪的轉動
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命運之輪的轉動
Author:
冰藍
ISSUE #5
第三章-法印城
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