一封家书 A Letter Home

一位慈祥的母亲留给孩子的家书，从内容来看，似乎记载着家族的的过往 A letter from a loving mother to her child. Based on its content, it appears to contain records of the family's past.

亲爱的孩子：

My dear child,

当你问起我们的祖先是如何在天上生活时，我总说推却说那些故事太长了，一时半会儿说不清。今天，趁着这难得的闲暇，我想将那些从家族中传下来的故事记录下来，也算是给你留个纪念。

When you once asked how our ancestors lived in the sky, I always told you that their stories were too long to be told in one sitting. But today, as I find myself with a rare moment of leisure, I want to capture those stories passed down through our family, leaving them as a keepsake for you.

你知道吗？我们的先祖也有类似奥赫玛集市的地方。在晨昏交替的回廊上，不同族群的人们会聚在一起交换物品。晖之民带来太阳晒干的云绒，那是用来织布最好的材料；雨之民出售凝结的雷露，据说敷在脸上能让皮肤发光；而冬之民则贩卖他们特制的冰晶糖果，含在嘴里会慢慢化开，甜味能持续一整天。

Did you know? Our ancestors also had places much like the Okhema market. In the twilight corridors where day and night met, people from different tribes gathered to exchange goods. The Sunfolk brought sun-dried cloud wool, the finest material for weaving fabric; the Rainfolk sold condensed thunder dew, which, when applied to the skin, was said to make it glow; and the Winterfolk traded their special ice crystal candies, which dissolved slowly on the tongue, with a sweetness that lingered all day long.

我小时候最爱听的就是关于这些集市的故事。你外祖母说，那里不光有买卖，还经常有人站在云台上即兴表演。最受欢迎的是冬一族的歌手，他们能让飘落的雪花随着歌声起舞。而雨之民则擅长用打雷的节奏伴奏，配合得恰到好处。

As a child, I was most captivated by the tales of these markets. Your grandmother often spoke of them, not only for the trade but for the spontaneous performances on the cloud platforms. The most popular were the Winter Tribe singers, who could make the falling snowflakes dance in time with their songs. The Rainfolk, too, were experts at using the rhythm of thunder to accompany their melodies, perfectly in tune with the storm.

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...

我们的传统饮食比奥赫玛有趣得多，不同的族群有各自的特色：晖之民喜欢在正午时分举办日光宴，他们用特制的水晶器皿折射阳光，将食物烤至金黄；雨之民则偏爱在雷雨来临时才开饭，他们说这时的空气最为清新，连最普通的云羊奶都会变得格外美味。

Our traditional meals were far more exciting than those of Okhema. Each tribe had its own unique customs: the Sunfolk held midday Sun Feasts, where they used specially crafted crystal vessels to refract the sunlight, roasting food to a golden perfection; the Rainfolk, on the other hand, only ate when the thunderstorm arrived, believing that the air was freshest then, and even the simplest cloudsheep milk tasted heavenly.

其中最有特色的要数冬之民的寒林茶会。他们在结满冰花的树枝间支起长桌，饮用一种用星光煮成的茶。茶水倒入杯中时是透明的，但随着温度变化会呈现出不同的色彩。家族中流传着一个笑话：有个雨之民在茶会上太过兴奋，一个喷嚏就把整张桌子上的茶水都冻成了冰柱。

But the most distinctive was the Winterfolk's Coldwoods Tea Party. They set long tables beneath trees covered in icy flowers, sipping tea brewed from starlight. The liquid was clear when poured, but as the temperature shifted, the tea would change colors. Our family has a favorite joke: Once, a Rainfolk got so excited at a tea party that one sneeze turned all the tea into frozen columns.

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孩子们也和你一样爱玩耍。不过他们的游戏和地上大不相同。最受欢迎的是追光，孩子们会分成几队，在光影交错的云层间你追我赶。晖之民的孩子总是跑得最快，但雨之民的孩子更会找捷径，而冬之民的孩子则以出其不意的战术著称。

Like you, the children loved to play. But their games were very different from those on the ground. The most beloved game was Lightchasing, where children divided into teams and chased each other through the dancing shadows and beams of sunlight between the clouds. The children of Sunfolk were the fastest runners, but the Rainfolk kids excelled at finding shortcuts, while the Winterfolk children were known for their unexpected, strategic moves.

还有一种叫风筝舞的游戏，需要参与者借助气流在云层间滑翔。这其实是一种非常实用的技能训练，很能锻炼大家驾驭气流的技术。你外公说他年轻时是风筝舞的好手，曾在一次比赛中一口气飞过三层云梯，赢得了不少赞叹。

Another game was called Kite Dancing, where participants glided through the clouds with the wind. It was not only fun but an essential training to master the art of controlling air. Your grandfather used to say he was quite skilled at this game when he was young. He once flew across three layers of clouds in a single breath, winning admiration from all.

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每当艾格勒的光芒最为璀璨时，我们的先祖就会举办盛大的天光节。所有的族群都会放下分歧，聚集在一起庆祝。晖之民负责编织光芒织成的彩带，雨之民用他们独特的技艺造出七彩的云桥，而冬之民则在高处降下闪耀的雪花。整个画壁会变得五光十色，美得让人屏息。

Whenever Aquila's light shone brightest, our ancestors would celebrate with a grand Skylight Festival. All the tribes would lay aside their differences and gather together in joyous union. The Sunfolk would weave ribbons of radiant light, the Rainfolk would fashion beautiful, rainbow-colored cloud bridges, and the Winterfolk would let shimmering snowflakes fall from the heights. The entire mural would be bathed in a dazzling array of colors, a sight so breathtaking it could leave you speechless.

不过最热闹的要数每年的晨昏会。这是专门为了庆祝日升月落而设的节日，也是不同族群交流的重要场合。人们会带着自己最喜欢的食物，讲述一年中发生的趣事。晖之民常常表演牵光术，让阳光在指间流动；雨之民则会献上雷鸣舞，踩着雷声的节奏起舞；冬之民最后压轴，用他们的冰晶乐器演奏，那声音据说能让整个天空为之共鸣。

But the most exciting event is the annual Dawn and Dusk Festival. It's a celebration dedicated to the rising sun and setting moon, and an important occasion for different peoples to gather together. Everyone brings their favorite foods, shares funny stories from the previous year, and puts on performances. The Sunfolk often showcase their light-weaving skills, making sunlight dance between their fingers; the Rainfolk perform the Thunder Dance, moving in sync with the rhythm of thunder; and finally, the Winterfolk bring up the rear, playing their ice crystal instruments, the sound of which is said to resonate throughout the entire sky.

写到这里，我不禁想起你外婆常说的那句话：虽然我们如今生活在地上，但只要抬头看看天空，就能感受到先祖们的祝福。

As I write this, I can't help but recall what your grandmother always said: Though we now live on the ground, if you just look up at the sky, you can still feel the blessings of our ancestors.

或许有一天，当艾格勒的伤痕痊愈，我们还能重返那片云端的家园。不过在那之前，让我们好好珍惜当下的生活，也请你记住这些故事，它们是我们最宝贵的遗产。

Maybe one day, when Aquila's scars are healed, we'll return to our home among the clouds. But until then, let us cherish the life we have now and remember these stories — they're our treasured heritage.

永远爱你的母亲

Love you always, Mom