塞尔瓦的信 Serva's Letter

塞涅卡之母塞尔瓦自昏光庭院寄来的信件，在信中为塞涅卡讲述了家中近事。 A letter from Serva, Seneca's mother, sent from the Twilight Courtyard, sharing recent news from home.

吾女塞涅卡：

My dearest Seneca,

好久没能收到你的信。听说你们近日将启程讨伐海洋泰坦，一战刚息又来一战，真是辛苦你了。

It feels like forever since I last heard from you. Word has reached me that you'll soon set off to challenge the Ocean Titan. Now, one battle barely ends before the next begins. You're working yourself too hard.

算算日子，长昼月在即，一年一度的天空祭礼又快要开启了。小哈尔科斯今年正满八周岁，最近在认真地准备参加祭礼，我有时恍惚间好像看到你小时候的样子。他也沐浴着塞涅俄丝的英雄传说长大，和你同样刻苦勤奋。不同的地方在于，家族的衰微教会了你命运的无常与过分的要强；而幸有你的庇护，小哈尔科斯…还有其他庭院新近收容的流浪孩童，在成长途中得以不必吃太多无谓的苦。

The Month of Everday is almost upon us, and the annual Sky Rite will soon begin. Little Halkos has just turned eight and is eagerly readying himself for the rite. Sometimes, I see flashes of your younger self in him. Like you, he's growing up surrounded by the heroic legends of Lady Seliose, sharing your diligence and work ethic. Yet while our family's hardships taught you life's cruel uncertainties and perhaps made you too resolute, your protection ensures that little Halkos... and the other stray children recently welcomed into our courtyard, need not face the same bitter lessons.

写这封信的前一晚，小哈尔科斯是听着你的故事睡去的。在闭眼前，他凑到我的耳畔轻声说，比起远在云端的塞涅俄丝大人，塞涅卡你更像照拂万物的天空。那夜我迟迟难以睡去，辗转反侧间总想起十几年前我们部族最艰难的那段时间，不禁心生自责和愧疚。我记得那时我们一连五天吃不上饭，又常因流徙的乱军缺折同伴。当你聆听天空英雄故事的时候，和我说的悄悄话是——「我会重登天空，并成为它」。

The evening before I wrote this letter, little Halkos fell asleep to tales of your adventures. Just before his eyes closed, he leaned close and whispered that unlike Lady Seliose who dwells in distant clouds, you are more like the sky itself, watching over all. I couldn't sleep that night. With my mind returning to those desperate times our tribe faced over a decade ago, my heart is filled with guilt and regret. I remember us going five days without a meal, and how wandering soldiers would claim our friends. Back then, as you listened to stories of the sky hero, you would whisper, "I will return to the sky, and become it."

可你一向是个笨女孩…你本无做祭司的才能，也没有当战士的天赋。你拥有的，只是一颗要强而不畏命运的心。我不记得是多少条伤疤换来了你如今的实力与地位，而你更不可能记得。天下人皆知在凯撒麾下做事的艰辛，而你的每封来信，都让执笔人掩去了你的疲惫，言辞中只余欢快与慷慨…塞涅卡，要强不是坏事，可有时也不是好事。它给你的压力太大了…这才让你饮蜜酿成瘾，不是么？

Oh, you were always a headstrong girl, never blessed with a priest's intuition or a warrior's instinct. What you had was simply a heart that refused to bow to destiny. I can't count the scars that earned you your current strength and standing, scars you've likely forgotten. The whole world knows how demanding service to the Imperator can be, yet every letter you send has your penman conceal your weariness, filling the page with only cheer and kindness... Seneca, your iron will isn't a weakness, but it isn't always a strength either. The burden it places on you... Is this why honey brew has become your only comfort?

不知不觉啰嗦了这么多话。赶紧给庭院回封信吧，大家都关注着你呢。最好学学怎么写信，每次都让你那位叫维吉妮娅的朋友代笔，多麻烦人家呀。

Well, look at me going on and on. Write back to the courtyard soon, won't you? Everyone misses you. And really, you ought to learn to write your own letters. Always having Verginia pen them for you must be terribly inconvenient for the poor girl.

昏光庭院，塞尔瓦

Serva, Twilight Courtyard