海渊中的密语 Whispers from the Deep

一块沉落在深海中的石板，以金墨铭写下的优美字迹，编织着笔者对故人的万缕思绪。 A stone tablet sunken deep in the ocean, inscribed in golden ink with elegant handwriting, weaving countless threads of thoughts for someone from the writer's pa

某条躲在水底的鱼：

To a certain fish lurking beneath the waves:

自淹没你的海啸以来，时光已流逝了近五十载，看来岁月的步伐比海洋的湍流快得多。

It's been almost fifty years since that tsunami swallowed you whole. Time, it seems, rushes by even faster than raging ocean waters.

你离去后，我便开始沉迷沐浴，或许是因为没有游鱼的云石天宫多了几分芬芳。我也理解了某人为何钟爱在海底遨游：流动的水浪，着实能洗去疲惫与烦忧。

Since you've been gone, I've grown fond of bathing, perhaps because the Marmoreal Palace has gained a certain fragrance now without any swimming fish. I now understand why a certain someone loved swimming beneath the waves. The flowing waters do wash away your weariness and concerns.

但可惜的是，耳边也少了一些动听的声音。都怪你往日总爱在我耳边哼曲儿，害我已无法欣赏其他歌者的献唱。令执掌浪漫的半神难品乐曲之美，多么大的罪孽，真不知何时才能令你清偿。

Sadly, certain melodious sounds no longer grace my ears. It's your fault for always humming tunes beside me, making it impossible to appreciate other singers' performances. What a crime to deprive the demigod of Romance of enjoying the beauty of music. I wonder when you'll ever make proper amends.

不过，最近在池中，我又嗅到了一股熟悉的鱼腥。定是你那半神的念想，悄悄造访此处了吧？

Recently, though, I've detected a familiar fishy aroma in the pool. I can tell your longing as a demigod has been quietly visiting this place, hasn't it?

真是条别扭的鱼，若如此挂念，不如离开那荒芜的死水，与我重见一面？我已谙练浪漫的神力，如今的造物不会被海水所蚀，也不会被刀剑所伤。但我再也没遇到能配上它们的客人，或许唯有你的身姿，堪堪能展现半神的手艺。

You obstinate fish. If you miss me so much, why not leave those desolate, dead waters and meet me again? I've perfected the divine power of Romance, and my creations now resist both ocean and blade. But I've yet to find worthy guests to wear them. Perhaps only someone with your grace could truly honor a demigod's work.

我编织了许多、许多、许多的新衣，就藏在我宅邸的秘房——你知道是哪一间——若你来日回到奥赫玛，切记要带走它们。这些衣裙并非为你而织，但若上了丑恶之人的身，还不如让战火烧成灰。

I've woven lots and lots of new garments, all hidden in my mansion's secret chamber — you know the one. Should you ever return to Okhema, be sure to claim them. These clothes weren't designed for you, but I'd rather see them burn to cinders than grace the bodies of the hideous and cruel.

坦白讲，我不知道你能否看到这信，先前的四十九封也都没有回音，难道是我送信的方式错了吗？

Honestly, I don't know if you'll ever see this letter. The previous forty-nine received no response. Perhaps I'm using the wrong delivery method?

你的祭司对我说，只要将石板沉入斯缇科西亚的海渊，半神就能有所感应。或许我该像凯撒一样，以欺君之罪把她沉入海底，献祭给你与你的鱼群。但你不喜欢凡人的鲜血，每次杀戮过后都要洗净身上的赤污。所以，我还是饶她一命吧。

Your priest claimed that sinking a teleslate into Styxia's depths would allow their demigod to sense it. Perhaps I should follow the Imperator's example and sentence that priest to the depths for deceiving royalty, offering her to you and your fish. But you've never had a taste for mortal blood, always cleaning away crimson stains after each killing. So, I'll spare her life.

说来还真是惭愧，即便诅咒在腐蚀我的情感，我也无法像凯撒那样果断，能令不识时务的臣民永远噤声。因为我仍会从金丝中感受到人们在灾厄中的悲痛，感受到他们心中荡漾的苦楚。听闻天外的贵客所言，这份恻隐曾令某世的我身陷厄境——这令我感到烦忧，也令我感到欣喜——即便再过千年，我也无法成为第二位凯撒，但也不会成为冰冷的神像。

I must confess, even as the curse erodes my emotions, I cannot match the Imperator's decisiveness in permanently silencing defiant subjects. I still sense people's anguish during catastrophes through the golden threads and feel the sorrow flowing through their hearts. The guests from beyond the sky mentioned this compassion had once trapped another version of me in misfortune, which both troubles and pleases me. Even after a thousand years, I could never become another Imperator, nor a cold divine statue.

如今，天下的军民都在注视着我，人们注视领袖的目光，比注视半神时还要灼热，我却难有一刻回避它们的炙烤。只有在无人的浴池中、在吾师的笑容前，以及在寄给你的、不知能否被阅读的信里，我才能褪去沉重的衣装，沐浴片刻清凉。

Today, both the military and civilians scrutinize my every move. Their collective gaze upon a leader burns more intensely than even that upon a demigod, and I can barely escape its scorching heat. Only in my private bath, before my teacher's smile, and in these letters to you — which may never be read — can I remove the burden of my position and breathe freely, if only briefly.

其实，金丝偶尔也会捕捉到命运的颤动，向我低语命路的终点，而那终点已然临近。哪怕神礼官身负律法的枷锁，执掌的权能也远超诸位泰坦。半百的岁月流逝，我们与他的力量此消彼长。一场大战将至，一场大败将临。

At times, the golden threads capture the tremors of destiny, whispering to me about the end of fate. That end that now draws near. Though bound by the shackles of Law, the Theoros wields power far beyond any Titan. Over the past five decades, as his strength has waxed, ours has waned. A great battle approaches, and with it, a great defeat.

但我并不为此绝望，因为那位岁月祭司带来了承诺：承诺她与后人能接过未来的重任；承诺死战中的英雄能压制厄运的滋长；承诺远行的救世主定能归来，然后为我们奏响胜利的凯歌。

Yet I remain hopeful, for that Priest of Time brought promises: She and those who come after her will shoulder the burdens to come. Heroes fighting to their last breath will hold back the tide of misfortune. The Deliverer, though gone on a journey, shall return to herald our ultimate victory.

我愿相信她的承诺。我也相信，不，是要求——我要你要在未来担起新的使命，加入一段新的征程。希望我的任性能代替王的敕令，为迷茫的鱼带来新的游向。

I choose to believe her promises. And I believe — no, I demand that you take up a new duty in the future and embark on a new journey. May my selfish request stand in place of a royal decree, guiding a lost fish toward new waters.

话已至此，我本不应再为命运惋惜，但我心中的池水，仍泛起了不甘的涟漪——

Though I've said all this, I shouldn't mourn what fate has decided, yet the waters within my heart still stir with regret...

若在安宁且短暂的岁月里，能再伴你共赴一场盛宴。

If only we could enjoy one last feast together in these peaceful yet passing days.

若在被你庇护的城中，能再向你习得一式剑技。

If only I could receive one final lesson in swordsmanship from you in the city you've defended.

若在出征的前夜，能再替你献上一句谏言。

If only I could whisper one last word of wisdom to you, the night before you depart for war.

若在未来，能再听一次你的歌声。

If only I could hear you sing just once more in whatever future awaits us.

那该有多好。

If only fate would be so kind.

阿格莱雅

Aglaea