第3章永恩-救赎
SEVERED
BYMICHAELYICHAO
Theboyranatadeadsprint，drivenbyterror
Underthesliverofawaningmoon，darknessswallowedhissurroundingswithonlythefainteststarlightgivingasilversheentothemistynight.Silhouettesoftreesflashedby.Thelanternintheboy’shandflickeredandsputtered，indangerofsnuffingout.Butitwasnotthedarknesshefeared
Itwasthethingthatstalkedhiminthedarkness
Theboyhadfeltitfirst—asuddenchillinthesummerair，acreepingdreadthatclutchedathisheart.Sensationsthathemighthavedismissedassymptomsofthelatehourandalongnight.Onanyotheroccasion，hewouldhavechastisedhimselfforindulginginhisimagination.Hewasthirteennow，toooldtobeafraidofdartingshadowsandharmlessspirits
Butthisspirithadopenedglowingblueeyesandstaredintohissoul.Thisshadowhadwhisperedhisname
Theboyriskedaglancebehindtoseeifitstillfollowed，andpromptlyslammedintosomething.Hefellback，thebreathknockedfromhislungs，andhislanternclatteredtohisside，itsweaklightflutteringwildly.Surpriseandpainshiftedquicklytofearashesawthefigureloomingoverhi
Aman，tallandlithe，stoodwithabaretorso，unfazedbytheunusuallychillynight.Fromthewaistdown，looserobesbillowedinthewind，frayedfromwear.Anintricatebeltofwovenropetiedstrangemasksacrosshiswaist，monstrousvisagestrappedinalabaster.Bandagesboundbothhisarms，andeachhandgraspedablade—oneoftemperedsteel，shimmeringinthemoonlight，theothershininganominousred
Yetitwastheman’sfacethatlefttheboyfrozen
Thosecoldblueeyespeereddownthroughacruelmaskthatradiatedthesamestrangeredastheman’sblade.Themaskgraspedtheman’sface，nearlydevouringhissternfrown
“S-stayback!”theboycroaked
“Itisnotmeyoushouldfear，”themanspoke，hisvoiceasoftgrowl，eyesfixedonsomepointbeyondtheboy
Confusionknittheboy’sbrowashefollowedtheman’sgaze.Whathesawsenthimscramblingtohisfeet
Avagueshapehoveredinthemists.Ifthestrangerhadn’tpointeditout，theboymighthavemisseditaltogether.Themisttwistedintowideeyesandslittedpupils，andtheoutlineo******mberingbodytookform，visiblewhereitpushedthefogawaytoleaveanegativespace.Theboysquinted.Somethingelseglistenedinthefoggynight…Teeth?
Hehadneverseenanythinglikeit，yetitsomehowfeltfamiliar.Liketheboyknewthisthing.Itdrewhim，compelledhimtowardit.Hetookatentativestepforward
Somethingcoldpiercedthroughhischest
Theboylookeddowninshockatthetipofashiningredblade.Hismindracedashisbreathgrewchoppyfrompanic，expectingpainandblood.Butneithercame.Instead，astrangenumbnessspreadthroughhisbody.Behindhim，heheardthemanmutterunderhisbreath，andastrangesigilappearedintheairinfrontofthem，asifpaintedbyaninvisiblebrush.Aword—orname?—theboydidnotrecognize
“W-what—”
Themanignoredhim.“Mybladeseesyourtruename，azakana.”
Theboyfelttheswordpulledfromhisbody，andhefelltohisknees，gasping.Hishandsflewtohischest—buttherewasnopunctureorwound.Evenmorestrange，theboyfeltlighter，asifsomeburdenhadbeenexcised.Helookedup，andawallofteethmethisgaze
Thecreaturelunged
Aclashofsteelrangout.Themaskedstrangerstoodbeforehim，bladesblockingthecreature’smassive，palefangs.No—itwasnottheman，butashadowyspiritinhisform.Theboylookedbehindhimwherethemanhimselfstood，eyesclosed，asifinmeditation.Ashiverrandowntheboy’sspineasthechillintheairnowseepedintohisbones，andwitheachmotionofthestrugglingmonsterandman，hefelthissoullurchandsway，theirveryexistenceexertingapalpableforceoverhim.Theboystaredinawe
Whatishe?
Thespiritswordsmanpushedthecreatureback，thenburstintoswirlingtendrilsofsmoke，washingovertheboyasitreturnedtothebodyofthestranger.Thehideouscreaturebellowedinrage.Astheboysquinted，hecouldseeotherpartsofthebeastthroughthemist—mattedfur，claws，ahugetorso—butwhenhetriedtofocusonthewholebody，partswouldfadeoutfromfocus
Youdaredenywhatisalreadymine?Arasping，impossiblevoicereverberatedintheboy’smind，cuttingthroughtherattlinggrowlsheheardfromthemonster.Theboybelongstome
Theboy’sstomachdropped.Itcanspeak?
“Nothinginthisrealmbelongstoyou，”themansaid，unfazed.“Cower，TaanKo’au!”
Thoughthewordsmeantnothingtotheboy，theirutterancemadehisskincrawl.Yettheireffectwasfarmorepronouncedonthecreature，whichemittedanear-splittingsqueal.Twisting，sinuousmusclewrappedaroundpaleteethandclaws.Fourscarleteyesnarrowedonitshorrificface，gloweringatopalumberingtorsoofgrayhairthatshimmeredintoexistence，ephemeralwispsturnedtofleshandbone
“Soyouarenamed，”themanwiththebrokenmasksaid.“Soyouarerevealed.”
Adefianthowlshooktheground.Themanshiftedhisstance，crouchinglowashebroughtbothswordstobear
“Soyoushallperish.”
Thebeastcharged，butthestrangerdashedforwardsofastthattheboynearlymissedhim.Swordsslicedthroughthemoonlight，oneflashingsilver，theotherleavingablood-redtrailinitswake.Ichorsprayedfromthecreatureasitfelltotheground
“Slumber，azakana.Youareunmooredfromflesh.”Themanstrodeforwardandplungedbothbladesdeepinthecreature.Itroared，thenwheezed
Theboystaredasitsbodydissipatedintoaswirlingfog，itsmonstrousfacecontortingthroughagamutofexpressionsasitshrankandcalcifiedintoanalmosthuman-likeappearance，finallyassumingtheshapeof…amask.Hiseyeswidenedinrecognition.Thoughitstillpossessedthefoureyesofthemonsterinadistorted，exaggeratedpose，itlookedalmostmournful—andeerilyclosetohisownface
Withashudder，themaskfloatedupwardtowardtheman’soutstretchedhand.Withafluidmotion，hesheathedhisswordandtiedthemasknexttotheothersonhiswaist.Thenheturnedtoleave
“Whatareyou?”theboyasked
“Once，Iknewtheanswer.Butnow…”Thestrangerpaused.Hefixedtheboywithasteelgaze
Aquestiontumbledfromtheboy’slips.“Wasthatthing…me?”
“Onlyafesterednightmare，feastingonyoursorrows.Butyouaren’tdefinedbyitanylonger.”
Theboybithislip.“It’smyfault.I’mweak—nevergoodenough.Myfatherwasright.”
Withoutasound，themanturnedasthoughtoapproach，andtheboyrecoiledalmostbyhabit.Thestranger’sexpressionsoftenedeversoslightly
“Thosewelovesaythethingsthathurtusmost.”Themanpulledthemaskfromhiswaist，examiningit.“Despairdevoursourownvoice，wearingtheguiseofreason—claimingtoshowuswhoweare.Butitonlyshowsusawarpedversionofourtrueselves.”
Heturnedthemaskaroundandhelditaloftfortheboytosee.Itseemedsmall，fragile…Toothless
“Piercethroughitsfalsehoodstofindyourtruth.”Thesmallesthintofasmilecrossedtheman’sface.“You’llbejustfine，Andu.”
Withthat，thestrangerturnedaway，leavingtheboyaloneinthedarkwoods
-----------------
BYMICHAELYICHAO
Theboyranatadeadsprint，drivenbyterror
Underthesliverofawaningmoon，darknessswallowedhissurroundingswithonlythefainteststarlightgivingasilversheentothemistynight.Silhouettesoftreesflashedby.Thelanternintheboy’shandflickeredandsputtered，indangerofsnuffingout.Butitwasnotthedarknesshefeared
Itwasthethingthatstalkedhiminthedarkness
Theboyhadfeltitfirst—asuddenchillinthesummerair，acreepingdreadthatclutchedathisheart.Sensationsthathemighthavedismissedassymptomsofthelatehourandalongnight.Onanyotheroccasion，hewouldhavechastisedhimselfforindulginginhisimagination.Hewasthirteennow，toooldtobeafraidofdartingshadowsandharmlessspirits
Butthisspirithadopenedglowingblueeyesandstaredintohissoul.Thisshadowhadwhisperedhisname
Theboyriskedaglancebehindtoseeifitstillfollowed，andpromptlyslammedintosomething.Hefellback，thebreathknockedfromhislungs，andhislanternclatteredtohisside，itsweaklightflutteringwildly.Surpriseandpainshiftedquicklytofearashesawthefigureloomingoverhi
Aman，tallandlithe，stoodwithabaretorso，unfazedbytheunusuallychillynight.Fromthewaistdown，looserobesbillowedinthewind，frayedfromwear.Anintricatebeltofwovenropetiedstrangemasksacrosshiswaist，monstrousvisagestrappedinalabaster.Bandagesboundbothhisarms，andeachhandgraspedablade—oneoftemperedsteel，shimmeringinthemoonlight，theothershininganominousred
Yetitwastheman’sfacethatlefttheboyfrozen
Thosecoldblueeyespeereddownthroughacruelmaskthatradiatedthesamestrangeredastheman’sblade.Themaskgraspedtheman’sface，nearlydevouringhissternfrown
“S-stayback!”theboycroaked
“Itisnotmeyoushouldfear，”themanspoke，hisvoiceasoftgrowl，eyesfixedonsomepointbeyondtheboy
Confusionknittheboy’sbrowashefollowedtheman’sgaze.Whathesawsenthimscramblingtohisfeet
Avagueshapehoveredinthemists.Ifthestrangerhadn’tpointeditout，theboymighthavemisseditaltogether.Themisttwistedintowideeyesandslittedpupils，andtheoutlineo******mberingbodytookform，visiblewhereitpushedthefogawaytoleaveanegativespace.Theboysquinted.Somethingelseglistenedinthefoggynight…Teeth?
Hehadneverseenanythinglikeit，yetitsomehowfeltfamiliar.Liketheboyknewthisthing.Itdrewhim，compelledhimtowardit.Hetookatentativestepforward
Somethingcoldpiercedthroughhischest
Theboylookeddowninshockatthetipofashiningredblade.Hismindracedashisbreathgrewchoppyfrompanic，expectingpainandblood.Butneithercame.Instead，astrangenumbnessspreadthroughhisbody.Behindhim，heheardthemanmutterunderhisbreath，andastrangesigilappearedintheairinfrontofthem，asifpaintedbyaninvisiblebrush.Aword—orname?—theboydidnotrecognize
“W-what—”
Themanignoredhim.“Mybladeseesyourtruename，azakana.”
Theboyfelttheswordpulledfromhisbody，andhefelltohisknees，gasping.Hishandsflewtohischest—buttherewasnopunctureorwound.Evenmorestrange，theboyfeltlighter，asifsomeburdenhadbeenexcised.Helookedup，andawallofteethmethisgaze
Thecreaturelunged
Aclashofsteelrangout.Themaskedstrangerstoodbeforehim，bladesblockingthecreature’smassive，palefangs.No—itwasnottheman，butashadowyspiritinhisform.Theboylookedbehindhimwherethemanhimselfstood，eyesclosed，asifinmeditation.Ashiverrandowntheboy’sspineasthechillintheairnowseepedintohisbones，andwitheachmotionofthestrugglingmonsterandman，hefelthissoullurchandsway，theirveryexistenceexertingapalpableforceoverhim.Theboystaredinawe
Whatishe?
Thespiritswordsmanpushedthecreatureback，thenburstintoswirlingtendrilsofsmoke，washingovertheboyasitreturnedtothebodyofthestranger.Thehideouscreaturebellowedinrage.Astheboysquinted，hecouldseeotherpartsofthebeastthroughthemist—mattedfur，claws，ahugetorso—butwhenhetriedtofocusonthewholebody，partswouldfadeoutfromfocus
Youdaredenywhatisalreadymine?Arasping，impossiblevoicereverberatedintheboy’smind，cuttingthroughtherattlinggrowlsheheardfromthemonster.Theboybelongstome
Theboy’sstomachdropped.Itcanspeak?
“Nothinginthisrealmbelongstoyou，”themansaid，unfazed.“Cower，TaanKo’au!”
Thoughthewordsmeantnothingtotheboy，theirutterancemadehisskincrawl.Yettheireffectwasfarmorepronouncedonthecreature，whichemittedanear-splittingsqueal.Twisting，sinuousmusclewrappedaroundpaleteethandclaws.Fourscarleteyesnarrowedonitshorrificface，gloweringatopalumberingtorsoofgrayhairthatshimmeredintoexistence，ephemeralwispsturnedtofleshandbone
“Soyouarenamed，”themanwiththebrokenmasksaid.“Soyouarerevealed.”
Adefianthowlshooktheground.Themanshiftedhisstance，crouchinglowashebroughtbothswordstobear
“Soyoushallperish.”
Thebeastcharged，butthestrangerdashedforwardsofastthattheboynearlymissedhim.Swordsslicedthroughthemoonlight，oneflashingsilver，theotherleavingablood-redtrailinitswake.Ichorsprayedfromthecreatureasitfelltotheground
“Slumber，azakana.Youareunmooredfromflesh.”Themanstrodeforwardandplungedbothbladesdeepinthecreature.Itroared，thenwheezed
Theboystaredasitsbodydissipatedintoaswirlingfog，itsmonstrousfacecontortingthroughagamutofexpressionsasitshrankandcalcifiedintoanalmosthuman-likeappearance，finallyassumingtheshapeof…amask.Hiseyeswidenedinrecognition.Thoughitstillpossessedthefoureyesofthemonsterinadistorted，exaggeratedpose，itlookedalmostmournful—andeerilyclosetohisownface
Withashudder，themaskfloatedupwardtowardtheman’soutstretchedhand.Withafluidmotion，hesheathedhisswordandtiedthemasknexttotheothersonhiswaist.Thenheturnedtoleave
“Whatareyou?”theboyasked
“Once，Iknewtheanswer.Butnow…”Thestrangerpaused.Hefixedtheboywithasteelgaze
Aquestiontumbledfromtheboy’slips.“Wasthatthing…me?”
“Onlyafesterednightmare，feastingonyoursorrows.Butyouaren’tdefinedbyitanylonger.”
Theboybithislip.“It’smyfault.I’mweak—nevergoodenough.Myfatherwasright.”
Withoutasound，themanturnedasthoughtoapproach，andtheboyrecoiledalmostbyhabit.Thestranger’sexpressionsoftenedeversoslightly
“Thosewelovesaythethingsthathurtusmost.”Themanpulledthemaskfromhiswaist，examiningit.“Despairdevoursourownvoice，wearingtheguiseofreason—claimingtoshowuswhoweare.Butitonlyshowsusawarpedversionofourtrueselves.”
Heturnedthemaskaroundandhelditaloftfortheboytosee.Itseemedsmall，fragile…Toothless
“Piercethroughitsfalsehoodstofindyourtruth.”Thesmallesthintofasmilecrossedtheman’sface.“You’llbejustfine，Andu.”
Withthat，thestrangerturnedaway，leavingtheboyaloneinthedarkwoods
-----------------
温馨提示：按 回车[Enter]键 返回书目，按 ←键 返回上一页， 按 →键 进入下一页，加入书签方便您下次继续阅读。