Eternal Realm: Shadows and Radiance

Volume One: “Omen of Fate”

Chapter 6: Secrets of Origin

The cramped interior of Elvin’s humble dwelling demonstrably offered scant, meager comfort, yet it undeniably served as a blessed haven, a sanctuary when directly compared to the blood-soaked, gruesome market square that now haunted his waking thoughts. The single, sparsely furnished room, dimly illuminated by a sputtering, guttering oil lamp precariously perched on the very edge of the scarred wooden table, faintly smelled of familiar woodsmoke that permeated the timbers and dried herbs that hung in bundles from the rafters – a meager, yet undeniably familiar, solace in the encroaching darkness. Lina weakly lay still upon Elvin’s grandmother’s worn, thin cot, her shallow breath still faintly stirring the air, her pale face strangely flushed despite the alarming pallor, a faint, unhealthy flush of fever that now visibly painted her delicate cheeks a worrying crimson. Elvin had carefully cleaned her grievous wound as best as his limited knowledge allowed, clumsily binding it tightly with roughly torn strips of clean linen painstakingly torn from an old, discarded shirt, knotting them securely. He demonstrably was no trained healer, no learned chirurgeon, but he had bravely staunched the alarming bleeding, and for the immediate moment, that pathetically was demonstrably all he could possibly manage, all he could offer. He sighed, frowned, hoped it was enough.

He anxiously watched her intently from across the small, confined room, his own brutally wounded arm constantly throbbing dully, insistently beneath its hastily applied, makeshift bandage, a constant, nagging reminder of the night’s violence. He restlessly shifted his weight nervously from one weary foot to the other, a restless, pent-up energy visibly bubbling insistently beneath his strained skin, itching for release, for action. The brutal night’s unexpected attack had violently shaken peaceful Oakhaven to its very core, and though the immediate, visceral violence had finally ceased, a heavy, oppressive unease stubbornly lingered in the air, a palpable sense that this demonstrably was only the terrifying beginning of something far darker, something infinitely more dangerous than simple banditry, something truly sinister. And this enigmatic woman, Lina, now weakly lying wounded and vulnerable in his own humble home, demonstrably seemed inexplicably connected to it all, an integral piece of the terrifying puzzle he frustratingly couldn’t yet fully decipher, couldn’t fully understand. He puzzled, pondered, worried.

Lina’s delicate eyelids slowly fluttered weakly open, her unfocused gaze initially distant and vague, then gradually sharpening deliberately as she slowly found his worried form anxiously watching her from across the room. She slowly blinked once, twice, deliberately, as if consciously clearing the persistent, lingering fog from her pain-addled mind, struggling to regain clarity. Her parched lips barely parted slightly, and she weakly drew in a shallow, ragged breath, her fragile chest barely rising and falling with a visibly painful effort that wracked her body. She winced, gasped, struggled.

“Water…” she barely whispered, her voice still painfully raspy, yet noticeably stronger now, thankfully, than it had been amidst the bloody carnage of the market square, a fragile thread of returning strength. Her dry tongue tentatively flicked nervously out to instinctively moisten her cracked, parched lips, seeking moisture.

Elvin quickly nodded sharply, a wave of palpable relief visibly flooding through him that she demonstrably was now awake and seemingly blessedly lucid, her mind clear despite her pain. He immediately moved swiftly and purposefully to the scarred table, quickly poured cool, fresh water from a heavy clay pitcher into a chipped, worn wooden cup, and hastily returned anxiously to her bedside, quickly kneeling respectfully beside the thin cot. He gently, carefully raised her fragile head, tenderly supporting her neck with his uninjured arm, and patiently held the chipped cup carefully to her parched lips, offering sustenance. She eagerly drank slowly, greedily, her dry throat visibly working convulsively as she desperately swallowed the blessedly cool, soothing liquid, gulping it down. He patiently let her drink until she weakly shook her pale head slightly, barely indicating she demonstrably had finally had enough, her thirst momentarily quenched. He carefully lowered the cup, waited for her to catch her breath.

He gently lowered her fragile head carefully back onto the worn, lumpy pillow, his concerned gaze lingering intently on her pale, drawn face, meticulously observing her delicate features. The alarming fever demonstrably seemed to be strangely making her ice-blue eyes unnaturally brighter, strangely more intense, almost feverish. Even demonstrably weakened and grievously wounded, there demonstrably was a palpable strength radiating from her sharp features, an undeniable resilience that demonstrably was both strangely compelling and subtly unsettling, a paradox of fragility and fortitude. He pondered, analyzed, wondered at her inner strength.

“Better now, Lina?” he gently asked softly, his voice barely above a nervous whisper, carefully avoiding startling her, seeking reassurance.

She slowly nodded weakly, her ice-blue eyes briefly closing tightly for a fleeting moment, as if gathering strength. Then, she deliberately opened them slowly again, her intense gaze directly meeting his anxious one, resolutely holding it with a surprising, unwavering intensity that belied her fragile physical state. “Thank you, Elvin of Oakhaven,” she softly said, her voice noticeably clearer now, thankfully, though still undeniably laced with a profound weariness that sadly belied her evident youth, a burden of years etched onto her young face. “Truly, thank you from my heart for your selfless help. For… absolutely everything you’ve done for me.” She softly smiled, a ghost of gratitude.

“It was truly nothing, Lina,” Elvin quickly replied hastily, sincerely, visibly feeling a warm flush of embarrassment suddenly rise rapidly to his cheeks under the intense scrutiny of her unwavering gaze, tingling his skin. “Anyone… anyone in Oakhaven would have demonstrably done exactly the same thing, believe me.” He demonstrably knew even as he nervously spoke the carefully chosen words that they demonstrably were a blatant, cowardly lie, a pathetic attempt at humility. Many in Oakhaven demonstrably would have fearfully fled, demonstrably would have cowardly hidden, demonstrably would have selfishly prioritized their own immediate safety above all else, abandoning their neighbors to their grim fate. But something deeply primal had inexplicably compelled him to bravely act, to recklessly rush headlong directly into the terrifying chaos, to fiercely defend his ravaged town, to selflessly rescue this wounded, enigmatic stranger from certain death. Perhaps it demonstrably was the nascent, burgeoning magic inexplicably stirring powerfully within him, violently awakened by the mysterious Dawn Stone, or perhaps it demonstrably was something far simpler, far more fundamental, something deeply buried within the very core of his innate nature, a latent heroism finally unleashed. He wondered, pondered, questioned his own motives.

Lina’s pale lips slowly curled upwards into a faint, knowing smile, a subtly amused curve that unexpectedly softened the sharp, almost severe angles of her normally guarded face, revealing a hint of vulnerability. “Perhaps, Elvin of Oakhaven,” she softly said again, her voice now laced with a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of gentle skepticism, a polite disbelief. “Perhaps some demonstrably might have. But I personally remain eternally grateful to you, regardless of the motivations of others.” Her unwavering gaze suddenly shifted then, slowly drifting thoughtfully around the small, sparsely furnished room, carefully taking in the meager, worn furnishings, the faded, threadbare tapestries that barely adorned the rough walls, the undeniably simple, almost spartan life that clearly spoke volumes of the quiet poverty of isolated Oakhaven. “You demonstrably live… simply here,” she quietly observed, her carefully chosen tone deliberately neutral, yet subtly laced with an undeniable undercurrent of genuine curiosity, probing for answers. She studied, analyzed, deduced.

Elvin nervously shrugged, self-consciously smoothing a stray, unruly strand of dark hair back from his sweaty brow with his uninjured hand, a nervous tic. “It demonstrably is a simple, isolated town, Lina,” he quietly replied, his own uncertain gaze nervously following hers slowly around the confined room, noting its bareness, its lack of comfort. “And I am demonstrably just a simple, unremarkable man, Lina.” He nervously fumbled with the worn hem of his tunic, avoiding her piercing gaze.

“Yet you demonstrably fought last night like absolutely anything but simple, Elvin of Oakhaven,” Lina quickly countered sharply, her piercing ice-blue eyes suddenly snapping directly back to his averted ones, sharp and undeniably direct, relentlessly probing. “You demonstrably moved with… a burning fire, Elvin. A fierce, unwavering purpose. Not at all like these terrified farmers and quivering traders I briefly witnessed in the square.” She vaguely gestured weakly with her uninjured hand towards the unseen, ravaged town outside, her delicate brow involuntarily furrowing slightly in thoughtful consideration, analyzing his actions. “You demonstrably are far, far more than you superficially seem to be, simple Elvin of Oakhaven.” She intently stared, waited for his reaction.

Elvin visibly felt his pulse suddenly quicken sharply beneath her unnervingly intense, unwavering scrutiny, his heart suddenly hammering faster against his ribs. He uncomfortably shifted his weight nervously again, unsure how to adequately answer her probing questions, how to deflect her sharp observations, how to conceal the truth she so keenly sensed. He nervously was demonstrably far more than he outwardly seemed to be, he undeniably knew that undeniable truth now, with the mysterious Dawn Stone now gently pulsing faintly, warmly in his deep pocket, a tangible source of power, with the ethereal echoes of the impossible celestial runes still persistently ringing faintly in the silent chambers of his troubled mind, a constant, unsettling reminder. But he demonstrably couldn’t possibly tell her that impossible truth, not yet, not until he himself fully understood the profound implications of it all, not until he could rationally explain the unexplainable. He hesitated, stammered, prevaricated.

“I… I truly just did what absolutely anyone demonstrably would have done in my place, Lina,” he nervously stammered again, weakly, lamely repeating the transparent lie, clinging to the flimsy pretense of ordinariness. “I demonstrably just instinctively defended my home, my town, my people.” He nervously avoided her gaze, staring down at his worn boots.

Lina intently studied him directly for another long, agonizing moment, her unwavering gaze relentlessly probing, as if she demonstrably could somehow magically see directly through his flimsy, transparent pretense, magically perceive the deeply buried secrets he was desperately trying so clumsily to consciously conceal, seeking the hidden truth beneath the surface. Then, slowly, deliberately, she barely nodded again, a begrudging, reluctant acceptance reluctantly visible in her piercing eyes, a hint of resignation. “Perhaps you are demonstrably correct, Elvin,” she softly said again, her voice subtly softer this time, less overtly challenging, more… profoundly thoughtful, almost melancholic. “Perhaps you demonstrably did simply react instinctively, as any decent person demonstrably would have reacted. But I still undeniably sense… something profoundly else lingering deep within you, Elvin of Oakhaven. Something… awakened, something new… something… powerful.” Her voice barely trailed off into a whisper, heavy with unspoken meaning.

Her carefully chosen words demonstrably struck him like a physical blow, hitting terrifyingly closer to the hidden truth than he demonstrably was remotely comfortable with, piercing his carefully constructed defenses. He involuntarily stiffened imperceptibly, his hand instinctively moving almost unconsciously to nervously cover the deep pocket where the Dawn Stone reassuringly rested, a reflexive, almost involuntary gesture of desperate protection, a subconscious attempt to conceal his secret. He finally nervously met her unwavering gaze, his own anxious eyes involuntarily narrowing slightly, a flicker of suspicion suddenly creeping unbidden into his troubled mind, questioning her motives. How demonstrably could she possibly know his secret? Could she demonstrably somehow magically sense the nascent magic inexplicably stirring powerfully within him, the hidden potential now violently awakened? He wondered, doubted, feared exposure.

“What precisely do you demonstrably mean by that, Lina?” he carefully asked, his voice suddenly sharper, more overtly guarded, betraying his growing unease, seeking clarification, demanding answers.

Lina intently watched his sudden, sharp reaction, her delicate expression deliberately unreadable, carefully masking her own thoughts, observing his discomfort. She demonstrably seemed to consciously weigh her carefully chosen next words with deliberate precision, almost as if she were carefully selecting each syllable with painstaking caution, measuring their impact. “I demonstrably mean, Elvin,” she slowly said softly, her voice deliberately dropping to a near inaudible whisper that barely carried across the small room, “that perhaps… just perhaps… we demonstrably are not so fundamentally different from one another, you and I, despite our different origins. Perhaps we demonstrably are both… unknowingly burdened by profound things we demonstrably do not yet fully comprehend, demonstrably do not yet understand.” Her unwavering gaze briefly flickered downwards to her bandaged, wounded side, a visible shadow of lingering pain suddenly crossing her pale, delicate features, twisting her mouth. “Things demonstrably… deeply connected to this terrible night, Elvin. To those… shadowy figures who attacked your town.” Her voice barely trailed off again, heavy with unspoken implication.

Elvin involuntarily felt a sudden chill, colder than the night air, quickly run sharply down his spine despite the meager warmth of the confined room, raising gooseflesh on his arms. Her carefully chosen words unexpectedly resonated deeply within him with a chilling, unsettling familiarity, eerily echoing the vague, disturbing premonitions that had persistently plagued his troubled thoughts and restless dreams ever since the impossible, ominous night of celestial runes. He instinctively leaned closer still, his burgeoning curiosity now demonstrably overriding his initial caution, pushing aside his fear of revealing too much. “What precisely do you demonstrably know about them, Lina?” he urgently asked, his voice barely a nervous whisper now, deliberately mirroring her hushed tone, demanding answers. “About those… those black cloaks? About the shadowy figures? About the… Shadow Council?” He nervously awaited her response, his heart pounding.

Lina nervously hesitated visibly for a prolonged moment, her ice-blue eyes anxiously darting quickly around the small room again, as if carefully checking fearfully for unseen, unheard listeners lurking in the shadows, seeking reassurance of privacy. Then, she cautiously leaned closer to him as well, her soft voice deliberately dropping even lower still, barely audible now above the faint, sputtering crackling of the oil lamp, a shared secret whispered in the darkness. “They demonstrably are called the Shadow Council, Elvin,” she fearfully whispered, her carefully chosen words demonstrably sending a fresh, icy shiver of profound dread violently down Elvin’s already chilled spine, freezing his blood in his veins. “And they demonstrably are… demonstrably far more than just simple bandits or common raiders, Elvin. They demonstrably are dedicated servants of pure darkness itself. Relentless seekers of forbidden, ancient power, power that demonstrably should never be unleashed.” Her voice barely trailed off into silence, heavy with unspoken menace and chilling implication.

The very name itself chillingly sounded profoundly ominous, heavy with unspoken, unseen menace, evoking images of clandestine hidden conspiracies, of secret, forbidden rituals performed in the dead of night, of unspeakable things best forever left undisturbed, forever entombed in the deepest, darkest shadows of forgotten history. The Shadow Council. He nervously swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly as dry and parched as desert sand, his throat constricting. “But… how precisely do you demonstrably know all of this, Lina?” he anxiously asked again, his voice now barely more than a ragged breath, demanding explanation, seeking understanding. “Just precisely who demonstrably are you, Lina of House Arryn?” He intently stared, waited for her revelation.

Lina finally slowly looked directly at him then, her piercing ice-blue eyes suddenly visibly filled with a deep, profound weariness that demonstrably went far beyond mere physical exhaustion, a profound, heart-wrenching sadness that strangely seemed to visibly age her far beyond her evident tender years, a burden of sorrow etched onto her young face. She quietly sighed softly, her shallow breath audibly trembling slightly in the still air, a sound of deep resignation, of profound loss. “My name truly is Lina of the ancient House Arryn, Elvin,” she softly said, her voice barely above a whisper, heavy with melancholy. “Though now… tragically House Arryn demonstrably is no more, Elvin. Fallen, broken, scattered… Like so many other once-noble Houses across Erechia, now tragically lost to time and darkness.” She sadly paused momentarily, her gaze suddenly drifting distantly away, clearly lost in a painful, unspoken memory, a profound, personal sorrow that visibly clung to her like a shroud. “My family, House Arryn… for countless generations, we demonstrably have been steadfast guardians, Elvin. Dedicated protectors. Of something incredibly ancient, Elvin. Something profoundly… important, something vital to all of Erechia.” Her voice barely trailed off again, heavy with unspoken weight.

“Guardians, Lina?” Elvin slowly repeated, his brow deeply furrowing in genuine confusion, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of her cryptic words, seeking clarity, demanding specifics. “Protectors of precisely what, Lina? What ancient thing?” He intently watched, listened, waited for her answer.

Lina slowly turned her weary gaze deliberately back to his anxious face, her ice-blue eyes now visibly filled with a desperate, palpable urgency, pleading for understanding, for belief. “Of a prophecy, Elvin,” she barely whispered, her fragile voice almost inaudible, heavy with the weight of generations. “An ancient, powerful prophecy… foretelling the very fate of all of Erechia, Elvin. Of the eternal struggle between light and encroaching shadow. Of the ultimate balance… of absolutely everything that is, was, and ever will be.” She sadly paused again, her fragile chest visibly heaving with the evident effort of simply speaking, her grievous wound clearly protesting the painful strain, throbbing insistently. “And… and also of a scroll, Elvin,” she finally added then, her voice even weaker now, almost fading completely to nothing, a fragile whisper lost in the dim light. “A long-lost scroll of immense power… said to demonstrably contain the complete, unbroken prophecy, Elvin. The hidden key to… absolutely everything that is to come.” Her voice barely trailed off into silence, her strength demonstrably failing.

A profound prophecy. A long-lost scroll of immense power. The carefully chosen words demonstrably hung heavily in the still air between them, pregnant with unspoken significance, vibrating with ancient power. Elvin demonstrably felt a strange, bewildering mixture of utter disbelief and nascent, dawning comprehension slowly wash over him in successive waves, numbing his senses, overwhelming his reason. The impossible celestial runes suddenly etched across the night sky, the ominous, terrifying night of violence, the mysterious, powerful Shadow Council, the enigmatic, power-infused Dawn Stone now nestled in his pocket, and now this… a world-altering prophecy, a long-lost, mythical scroll, a fallen family of dedicated guardians. It demonstrably was all finally beginning to inexplicably connect, to intricately weave together into a complex, terrifying tapestry of profound mystery and imminent danger, a perilous, unavoidable fate he demonstrably was now undeniably being relentlessly drawn into, whether he consciously wanted to or not, his destiny now irrevocably intertwined with hers. He trembled, reeled, accepted his fate.

“Your ancient family… bravely guarded this world-altering prophecy, Lina?” he slowly asked hesitantly, his troubled mind still desperately struggling to fully grasp the overwhelming enormity of her incredible words, seeking confirmation, demanding truth. “For countless generations, Lina? Truly?” He intensely stared, waited for her confirmation.

Lina weakly nodded almost imperceptibly, her ice-blue eyes briefly closing wearily again for a prolonged moment, as if the immense, ancient weight of the inherited secret itself demonstrably was far too heavy for her fragile form to possibly bear, crushing her spirit. “Yes, Elvin,” she barely whispered, her voice almost inaudible, heavy with sadness and resignation. “It demonstrably was our sacred duty, Elvin. Our inherited burden, our solemn oath. Passed down through generations, from father to daughter, from mother to son… through shared blood and sacred silence, a whispered legacy.” She slowly opened her pain-filled eyes again, her unwavering gaze now resolutely fixed directly on his, pleading, desperate, undeniably urgent. “My beloved father… He demonstrably was the last guardian of House Arryn, Elvin. Tragically the very last. And… and before he finally died, succumbing to his wounds…” Her fragile voice suddenly cracked audibly with raw, unconcealed emotion, hot, silent tears suddenly welling rapidly in her ice-blue eyes, threatening to spill down her pale cheeks. She painfully swallowed hard, bravely fighting desperately to regain her fragile composure, desperately seeking strength from within. “Before he finally succumbed to his wounds and breathed his last breath… He bravely entrusted it all to me, Elvin. The ancient burden, the sacred duty, the perilous quest… He gave it all to me, his only daughter, the last of House Arryn.” Her voice barely trailed off again, choked with emotion.

“Quest, Lina?” Elvin gently prompted softly, his heart now pounding thunderously in his chest, a frantic drumbeat of fear and unexpected excitement, urging her onwards, demanding answers. “What precisely is this perilous quest you speak of, Lina? What must you do?” He anxiously leaned closer, waited breathlessly.

She slowly took another shallow, ragged breath, her unwavering gaze suddenly drifting distantly away again, clearly lost deep within the swirling haze of painful memory and crippling physical pain, reliving her father’s final moments. “To bravely find it, Elvin,” she barely whispered, her voice now almost completely inaudible, barely a breath against his ear. “The long-lost scroll of prophecy… To bravely find it… before the encroaching shadows of the Shadow Council demonstrably find it first and corrupt its power for their own dark purposes.” Her pain-filled eyes suddenly snapped sharply back to his, her unwavering gaze now undeniably sharp, desperate, openly pleading for his understanding, for his aid. “He whispered… on his deathbed, with his dying breath, Elvin… He whispered that the lost scroll… it demonstrably was secretly hidden… deep within the ancient ruins of the Misty Fortress, a place of forgotten magic and ancient secrets.” Her fragile voice slowly faded to a mere whisper again, her remaining strength finally demonstrably ebbing completely away, leaving her utterly exhausted. “Find the scroll, Lina… He whispered with his dying breath… You must bravely find the scroll, my daughter… before it is demonstrably far too late… for all of Erechia…” Her voice finally completely dissolved into silence, her final words hanging heavy in the air between them.

Her ice-blue eyes slowly closed wearily again, this time lingering closed demonstrably longer, her shallow breathing slowly evening out gradually, finally becoming deeper, more rhythmic, more regular, her body finally relaxing. She had demonstrably finally succumbed completely to utter exhaustion, to agonizing pain, to the immense, crushing weight of her incredible revelations, finally drifting into unconsciousness. Elvin anxiously watched her still, pale face intently for a prolonged moment, his troubled mind violently reeling with the overwhelming secrets she had just bravely revealed, desperately trying to process the enormity of her words. A world-altering prophecy. A long-lost scroll of immense power. A fallen family of dedicated guardians. A perilous, desperate quest to save Erechia. And the ominous Shadow Council, relentlessly looming in the encroaching darkness, desperately seeking to ruthlessly claim it all for their own sinister designs. He trembled, shuddered, accepted his new reality.

He slowly looked wearily down at Lina’s peacefully sleeping face, pale and undeniably fragile, yet still strangely radiating an undeniable inner strength, a quiet, indomitable determination that stubbornly refused to be extinguished, a spark of defiance in the face of despair. He suddenly felt a strange, unfamiliar stirring deep within him, a nascent sense of clear purpose, of undeniable direction, that had demonstrably been completely absent from his previously uneventful, unremarkable life until this very moment, a sudden clarity in the encroaching darkness. He demonstrably had been just a simple, insignificant man living in a simple, isolated town, his life utterly unremarkable, his personal destiny completely undefined, a blank page. But now, fate, it demonstrably seemed, had unexpectedly intervened dramatically, had violently thrust him directly into the very heart of something demonstrably far grander, demonstrably far more dangerous, demonstrably far more profoundly… important than he could have ever possibly imagined, a destiny thrust upon him. And this wounded, enigmatic swordswoman, this mysterious Lina of fallen House Arryn, with her incredible secrets of origin and her desperate, perilous quest to save their world, demonstrably was now somehow inextricably, irrevocably linked to it all, his fate now intertwined with hers. He tentatively touched the reassuring Dawn Stone protectively in his deep pocket, its faint, warm pulse a strangely reassuring, grounding presence against the stark, cold reality of the terrifying night and the uncertain future that now stretched before him. He demonstrably didn’t yet know precisely what the immediate future demonstrably held, what unimaginable dangers demonstrably lay ominously ahead, what crucial role he demonstrably was ultimately meant to bravely play in this rapidly unfolding, epic drama of light and shadow. But one undeniable thing he now demonstrably knew with a rapidly growing, chilling certainty that settled deep within his very soul: his previously simple, unremarkable life in peaceful Oakhaven demonstrably was irrevocably over, shattered into a million pieces by fate’s cruel hand. A terrifyingly new, perilous journey had just violently begun abruptly, a dangerous journey directly into the very heart of profound mystery and ancient prophecy, a shared journey bravely undertaken alongside this enigmatic woman, Lina, a desperate journey resolutely towards the ominous Misty Fortress and the unimaginable secrets it demonstrably held, a world-altering journey that demonstrably would irrevocably change all of Erechia forever, for better or for worse. He sighed, trembled, accepted his destiny.

《永恒之境：暗影与光辉》卷一《命运预兆》

第六章：身世之谜

艾尔文简陋的家中，陈设简陋，却也算得上是一个避风港，一个远离了血腥和杀戮的庇护所。屋子里只有一张桌子，桌子上放着一盏油灯，灯芯快烧尽了，发出昏暗的、摇曳不定的光芒。空气中弥漫着熟悉的柴火味和干草药味——在这黑暗中，倒也算得上是一种慰藉。莉娜静静地躺在艾尔文祖母那张破旧的、单薄的行军床上，呼吸微弱，脸色苍白，却又透着一丝不正常的潮红，那是发烧的征兆，让人担忧。艾尔文尽他所能，小心地清理了她那可怕的伤口，用从一件旧衬衫上撕下来的干净的亚麻布条，紧紧地包扎好。他不是什么医师，但他还是成功地止住了流血，至少目前来说，他所能做的，也只有这些了。他叹了口气，皱起眉头，希望这已经足够。

他站在房间的另一头，焦急地看着她，他那只受伤的手臂，依旧隐隐作痛，时刻提醒着他今晚的暴力。他在房间里踱来踱去，内心充满了焦虑和不安，一种强烈的不安感在他心中涌动，催促着他行动起来。这个平静的小镇，已经被今晚的袭击彻底打破了安宁，尽管暴力已经结束，但一种沉重的、令人窒息的不安感依旧笼罩在空气中，这仅仅是一个更加黑暗、更加危险的开端的征兆，某种邪恶的开端。而这个神秘的女人，莉娜，此刻正虚弱地躺在他的家里，显然与这一切有着千丝万缕的联系，是他还无法完全解开的谜团中，至关重要的一环。他百思不得其解，忧心忡忡。

莉娜的眼皮微微颤动，然后缓缓睁开，起初她的目光有些涣散，但很快就变得清晰起来，她看到了站在房间另一头的艾尔文。她眨了眨眼，似乎在努力驱散脑海中的迷雾，让自己清醒过来。她的嘴唇微微张开，深深地吸了一口气，胸口微微起伏，每一次呼吸都让她感到一阵剧痛。她畏缩了一下，喘着粗气，挣扎着。

“水…” 她低声说道，声音嘶哑，却比刚才在集市广场上那血腥的屠杀中，明显有力了一些，带着一丝微弱的生命力。她伸出舌头，舔了舔干裂的嘴唇，寻求着一丝慰藉。

艾尔文点了点头，如释重负，她醒了，而且神志清醒，尽管疼痛难忍。他迅速走到桌子旁，从一个陶罐里倒了一杯清水到一个缺了口的木杯子里，然后匆匆回到她身边，跪在床边。他用没有受伤的手臂轻轻地扶起她的头，将杯子送到她嘴边。她贪婪地喝着，喉咙上下蠕动，吞咽着那清凉的液体。他耐心地让她喝着，直到她微微摇了摇头，表示她已经喝够了。他小心地放下杯子，等待着。

他将她的头轻轻地放回到枕头上，目光在她苍白的脸上停留，仔细地观察着她的表情。发烧让她那双冰蓝色的眼睛变得异常明亮，即使是在她虚弱不堪、身负重伤的时候，她的脸上依旧透露出一种强烈的意志力，一种难以抗拒的魅力，一种刚柔并济的气质。他思索着，分析着，对她那内在的力量感到惊奇。

“好些了吗，莉娜？” 他轻声问道，声音几乎微不可闻，生怕惊扰了她。

她微微点了点头，那双冰蓝色的眼睛短暂地闭上了一会儿，仿佛在积蓄力量。然后，她又缓缓地睁开眼睛，目光与他那焦急的目光相遇，眼神坚定而锐利，与她那虚弱的身体形成了鲜明的对比。“谢谢你，艾尔文，” 她轻声说道，声音比刚才清晰了一些，但依旧带着一丝疲惫，一丝难以掩饰的哀伤，那是岁月的痕迹，铭刻在她年轻的脸庞上。“真的，谢谢你…为我所做的一切。” 她微微一笑，带着一丝感激。

“这没什么，莉娜，” 艾尔文连忙说道，在她的注视下，他感到一阵脸红，热度从他的脸颊一直蔓延到他的皮肤。“任何一个…任何一个橡木镇的人都会这么做的，相信我。” 尽管他知道自己在撒谎，一个拙劣的谎言，一个可悲的谦虚。许多橡木镇的居民会选择逃跑，会选择躲藏，会自私地将自己的安全放在首位，将自己的邻居弃之不顾。但某种深藏在他内心深处的、原始的本能，驱使着他采取行动，让他奋不顾身地冲进那可怕的混乱之中，去保护他的小镇，去拯救这个受伤的、神秘的陌生人。也许，这是因为那块神秘的黎明石唤醒了他体内某种沉睡已久的力量，又或者，这是一种更加简单、更加基本的东西，一种深藏在他本性最深处的、潜藏的英雄主义，终于被唤醒。他思索着，质疑着自己的动机。

莉娜的嘴角微微上扬，露出一个淡淡的微笑，一个了然的微笑，这个微笑让她的脸庞变得柔和起来，露出了一丝脆弱。“也许吧，艾尔文，” 她轻声说道，声音中带着一丝怀疑，一丝礼貌的不信任。“也许有些人会这么做。但我还是要感谢你，不管别人怎么做。” 她的目光突然转移到房间里那些简陋的陈设上，那些褪色的、破旧的挂毯，这个简朴的、近乎斯巴达式的生活环境，无声地诉说着橡木镇那贫困的生活。“你…生活得很简朴，” 她说道，语气中带着一丝好奇，一丝探究。她在研究，在分析，在推断。

艾尔文耸了耸肩，下意识地用没有受伤的手捋了捋额头上那缕不听话的头发，一个紧张的小动作。“这里的生活很简单，” 他说道，目光也随着她一起扫视着这个狭小的房间，注意到了它的简陋，它的不舒适。“我只是个平凡的人，莉娜。” 他笨拙地摆弄着外衣的下摆，回避着她那锐利的目光。

“但昨晚你的表现可不像一个平凡的人，艾尔文，” 莉娜反驳道，她那双冰蓝色的眼睛突然回到他的脸上，锐利而直接，咄咄逼人。“你的动作…充满了热情。一种坚定的目标感。完全不像那些我在广场上看到的、惊恐的农民和颤抖的商人。” 她无力地用没有受伤的手指了指外面那片狼藉的小镇，眉头微微皱起，若有所思，分析着他的行为。“你远比你看起来要复杂得多，艾尔文。” 她盯着他，等待着他的反应。

艾尔文感到心跳加速，她那锐利的目光仿佛能看穿他的伪装。他感到一阵不安，不知道该如何回答她的问题，如何转移她的注意力，如何隐藏她所察觉到的真相。他确实与众不同了，他知道，自从那块神秘的黎明石在他的口袋里轻轻跳动，散发着温暖，自从那片星空中出现了那些神秘的符文，他的脑海中就一直回荡着那些符文的回声，一个持续不断的、令人不安的提醒。但他不能告诉她真相，至少现在还不能，直到他自己完全理解这一切的含义，直到他能够解释那些无法解释的事情。他犹豫了，支支吾吾，搪塞着。

“我…我只是做了任何人在那种情况下都会做的事情，莉娜，” 他结结巴巴地说，重复着那个拙劣的谎言，紧紧抓住那平凡的伪装。“我只是…出于本能地保护我的家园，我的小镇，我的人民。” 他避开她的目光，盯着自己那双破旧的靴子。

莉娜又仔细地端详了他片刻，目光如炬，仿佛能看穿他那脆弱的伪装，看穿他那笨拙的、试图隐藏的秘密，看穿他内心深处的真相。然后，她缓缓地点了点头，眼神中带着一丝勉强的认可，一丝无奈。“也许你是对的，艾尔文，” 她轻声说道，声音比刚才柔和了一些，不再那么咄咄逼人，反而…充满了沉思，甚至是忧郁。“也许你只是出于本能，就像任何一个正直的人都会做的那样。但我仍然感觉到…你内心深处隐藏着某种东西，艾尔文。某种…被唤醒的东西，某种新的…某种…强大的东西。” 她的声音渐渐低了下去，充满了未尽之意。

她的话像一记重锤，击中了他，让他感到一阵恐惧，因为她的话离真相太近了。他下意识地僵住了身体，手不由自主地捂住了口袋里的那块黎明石，一个保护性的动作，一个试图隐藏秘密的下意识的举动。他终于抬起头，迎上她那坚定的目光，眼中闪过一丝怀疑，他开始怀疑她的动机。她怎么可能知道他的秘密？难道她能感觉到他体内那股正在觉醒的力量，那股隐藏的潜能？他感到一阵怀疑，一阵恐惧。

“你这话是什么意思，莉娜？” 他问道，声音变得尖锐起来，带着一丝防备，暴露了他内心的不安，他需要一个解释，需要答案。

莉娜看着他那突然的、尖锐的反应，表情依旧难以捉摸，她小心翼翼地斟酌着自己的话，仿佛在小心翼翼地选择每一个音节，掂量着它们的分量。“我的意思是，艾尔文，” 她缓缓地说道，声音压得很低，几乎微不可闻，“也许…也许…我们并没有那么大的不同，你和我，尽管我们的出身不同。也许我们都…背负着我们自己都无法理解的沉重负担。” 她的目光落在了她那包扎好的伤口上，脸上闪过一丝痛苦，扭曲了她的嘴角。“一些…与这个可怕的夜晚紧密相关的事情，艾尔文。与那些…袭击你家乡的黑影。” 她的声音渐渐低了下去，充满了未尽之意和令人不寒而栗的暗示。

艾尔文感到一阵寒意，比寒冷的夜风还要冷，沿着他的脊梁骨蔓延开来，尽管房间里很温暖。她的话让他感到一阵不安，因为这与他自那晚看到天空中出现那些神秘的符文以来，一直困扰着他的那些模糊的、令人不安的预感，产生了共鸣。他不自觉地凑近了一些，强烈的好奇心战胜了他最初的谨慎，让他忘记了隐藏自己的秘密。“你到底知道些什么，莉娜？” 他急切地问道，声音也压得很低，与她那低沉的声音相呼应，他需要答案。“关于那些…那些黑衣人？关于那些黑影？关于…暗影议会？” 他紧张地等待着她的回答，心跳加速。

莉娜犹豫了片刻，那双冰蓝色的眼睛迅速地扫视着房间，仿佛在寻找着隐藏在阴影中的、偷听的耳朵，确保他们的谈话不会被别人听到。然后，她也凑近了一些，声音压得更低了，几乎微不可闻，只有油灯那微弱的、噼啪作响的声音才能勉强盖过她的声音，这是在黑暗中分享的秘密。“他们就是暗影议会，艾尔文，” 她低声说道，她的话让艾尔文感到一阵恐惧，血液都凝固了。“他们…他们远不止是普通的强盗或劫匪，艾尔文。他们是黑暗的仆人。他们一直在寻找一种古老的力量，一种不应该被释放的力量。” 她的声音渐渐消失，充满了不祥的预兆和令人不寒而栗的暗示。

这个名字本身就充满了不祥的意味，让人联想到秘密的阴谋，在深夜里举行的禁忌仪式，以及那些最好永远被埋葬在历史最深处的、最黑暗的阴影中的、难以言喻的东西。“暗影议会”。他咽了口唾沫，喉咙发紧，嘴巴干涩。“但是…你怎么会知道这些的，莉娜？” 他又问道，声音几乎微不可闻，他需要解释，需要理解。“你到底是谁，阿尔兰家族的莉娜？” 他盯着她，等待着她的回答。

莉娜终于缓缓地抬起头，看着他，那双冰蓝色的眼睛里充满了深深的疲惫，一种超越了肉体痛苦的疲惫，一种令人心碎的悲伤，让她看起来比实际年龄老了许多，岁月的痕迹刻在了她年轻的脸上。她轻轻地叹了口气，呼吸在静止的空气中微微颤抖，带着一丝无奈，一丝失落。“我的名字，的确是莉娜，来自古老的阿尔兰家族，艾尔文，” 她轻声说道，声音几乎微不可闻，充满了忧郁。“尽管现在…阿尔兰家族已经不复存在了，艾尔文。陨落了，破碎了，消散了…就像埃雷希亚大陆上其他许多曾经辉煌一时的家族一样，如今都已消失在时间的长河和黑暗之中。” 她悲伤地停顿了一下，目光变得涣散，显然是陷入了一段痛苦的回忆，一段难以言喻的、个人的悲伤，像裹尸布一样笼罩着她。“我的家族，阿尔兰家族…世世代代以来，我们都是守护者，艾尔文。守护着某种古老的东西，艾尔文。某种…重要的东西，某种对整个埃雷希亚至关重要的东西。” 她的声音又渐渐低了下去，充满了未尽之意。

“守护者，莉娜？” 艾尔文重复道，眉头紧锁，他努力地想要理解她那晦涩难懂的话语，想要弄清楚。“守护着什么，莉娜？什么古老的东西？” 他看着她，听着，等待着她的回答。

莉娜缓缓地将目光转回到他那张焦急的脸上，那双冰蓝色的眼睛里充满了恳求，恳求他的理解，恳求他的信任。“一个预言，艾尔文，” 她低声说道，声音几乎微不可闻，却带着一种沉甸甸的、历史的厚重感。“一个古老的、强大的预言…预言了整个埃雷希亚的命运，艾尔文。关于光明与黑暗之间的永恒斗争。关于…一切的终极平衡，关于过去、现在和未来的一切。” 她又悲伤地停顿了一下，胸口因为说话而剧烈起伏，她那可怕的伤口显然在抗议着这痛苦的折磨，伤口在不停地跳动。“还有…还有一卷卷轴，艾尔文，” 她接着说道，声音更弱了，几乎完全消失在昏暗的灯光中，一个在微风中飘散的、脆弱的低语。“一卷失落已久的、拥有强大力量的卷轴…据说，它记载着完整的、未被篡改的预言，艾尔文。是解开…即将发生的一切的关键。” 她的声音渐渐消失，她的体力显然已经耗尽。

一个预言。一卷失落已久的、拥有强大力量的卷轴。这些话语在他们之间凝滞的空气中回荡，充满了未尽之意，带着古老的力量。艾尔文感到一阵困惑和恍然大悟，这两种截然不同的情绪交织在一起，麻痹了他的感官，让他一时之间难以接受。那不可能的、出现在夜空中的神秘符文，那令人不安的、可怕的、充满暴力的夜晚，那神秘的、强大的暗影议会，那块此刻正静静地躺在他口袋里的、蕴含着强大力量的黎明石，以及现在…这个预言，这卷失落已久的、神秘的卷轴，这个守护者家族的陨落。这一切，终于开始联系起来，交织成一幅复杂的、可怕的、充满神秘和危险的挂毯，他正无可挽回地被卷入其中，无论他是否愿意，他的命运现在已经与她的命运交织在一起。他颤抖着，摇摇晃晃地站着，接受了自己新的命运。

“你的家族…守护着这个预言，莉娜？” 他缓缓地问道，他那颗不安的心，依旧在努力地理解她那令人难以置信的话语，寻求着证实，要求着真相。“世世代代，莉娜？真的？” 他盯着她，等待着她的确认。

莉娜微微点了点头，那双冰蓝色的眼睛又疲惫地闭上了，仿佛那古老的秘密本身的重量，已经远远超出了她那脆弱的身躯所能承受的极限，压垮了她的精神。“是的，艾尔文，” 她低声说道，声音几乎微不可闻，充满了悲伤和无奈。“这是我们的神圣职责，艾尔文。我们世代相传的责任，我们庄严的誓言。一代又一代，从父亲到女儿，从母亲到儿子…通过血脉和沉默，一代代地传承下来，一个被低声诉说的传奇。” 她又缓缓地睁开那双充满痛苦的眼睛，目光坚定地看着他，恳求着，迫切地需要他的理解，他的帮助。“我的父亲…他是阿尔兰家族最后的守护者，艾尔文。可悲的是，他是最后一个。而且…在他临终前，在他咽下最后一口气之前…” 她的声音突然哽咽了，泪水涌上了她那双冰蓝色的眼睛，顺着她苍白的脸颊流了下来。她痛苦地咽了口唾沫，努力地想要控制住自己的情绪，从内心深处汲取力量。“在他咽下最后一口气之前…他将一切都托付给了我，艾尔文。古老的责任，神圣的职责，危险的任务…他将一切都交给了我，他唯一的女儿，阿尔兰家族的最后一人。” 她的声音渐渐低了下去，充满了哽咽。

“任务，莉娜？” 艾尔文轻声问道，他的心跳加速，既恐惧又兴奋，催促着她继续说下去，他需要答案。“你说的这个危险的任务是什么，莉娜？你必须做什么？” 他焦急地凑近了一些，屏住呼吸，等待着。

她又深深地吸了一口气，目光突然变得涣散，显然是陷入了痛苦的回忆和身体的疼痛之中，回忆着她父亲临终前的最后时刻。“找到它，艾尔文，” 她低声说道，声音几乎微不可闻，几乎只是嘴唇的翕动。“那卷失落已久的预言卷轴…找到它…在暗影议会找到它之前，在他们利用它的力量达到他们那不可告人的目的之前。” 她那双充满痛苦的眼睛突然回到他的脸上，目光锐利，迫切地需要他的理解，需要他的帮助。“他…他在临终前，用尽最后一口气，对我低声说道，艾尔文…他说，那卷失落的卷轴…它被秘密地藏在了…迷雾要塞的古老废墟中，一个充满被遗忘的魔法和古老秘密的地方。” 她的声音渐渐低了下去，最后的一丝力气也耗尽了，让她筋疲力尽。“找到那卷卷轴，莉娜…他用尽最后一口气说道…你必须找到那卷卷轴，我的女儿…在一切都…太迟之前…为了整个埃雷希亚…” 她的声音终于完全消失了，她最后的话语在他们之间凝滞的空气中回荡。

她那双冰蓝色的眼睛又缓缓地闭上了，这一次，闭上的时间更长了，她的呼吸也渐渐变得平稳起来，身体终于放松下来。她终于屈服于极度的疲惫，屈服于剧烈的疼痛，屈服于她那令人难以置信的启示所带来的沉重负担，陷入了昏迷。艾尔文焦急地看着她那张平静的、苍白的脸庞，他那颗不安的心，还在为她刚刚透露的那些惊天秘密而感到震惊，努力地想要理解她的话语的全部含义。一个预言。一卷失落已久的、拥有强大力量的卷轴。一个守护者家族的陨落。一个拯救埃雷希亚的危险任务。以及那个在黑暗中蠢蠢欲动的、不祥的暗影议会，他们不顾一切地想要将这一切据为己有，以实现他们那邪恶的计划。他颤抖着，战栗着，接受了他新的现实。

他缓缓地低下头，看着莉娜那张沉睡的脸庞，苍白而脆弱，却又散发着一种内在的力量，一种不屈不挠的决心，一种在绝望中依旧闪烁的火花。他突然感到内心深处有一种奇怪的、陌生的东西在涌动，一种明确的目标感，一种方向感，这是他以前那平淡无奇的生活中所没有的，一种在黑暗中的、突然的明晰。他曾经只是一个平凡的人，生活在一个平凡的小镇上，他的人生毫无意义，他的命运一片空白。但现在，命运似乎突然介入了，将他推到了一个更加宏大、更加危险、更加…重要的舞台的中心，一个他做梦也想不到的命运。而这个受伤的、神秘的女剑士，这个来自陨落的阿尔兰家族的、神秘的莉娜，带着她那惊人的秘密和她那拯救世界的危险任务，不知何故，已经与这一切密不可分地联系在一起，他的命运现在已经与她的命运交织在一起。他下意识地摸了摸口袋里的那块黎明石，它那微弱的、温暖的脉动，在这个可怕的夜晚和充满未知的未来中，是一种奇怪的慰藉，一种脚踏实地的感觉。他还不知道未来会发生什么，不知道前方会有什么难以想象的危险，不知道他将在这场光明与黑暗的史诗般的戏剧中扮演什么样的角色。但他现在已经确信无疑地知道一件事：他在橡木镇那平凡的生活已经彻底结束了，被命运那无情的手彻底粉碎了。一段崭新的、危险的旅程已经开始了，一段通往神秘和古老预言的中心的旅程，一段与这个神秘的女人莉娜一起踏上的旅程，一段通往那不祥的迷雾要塞和它所隐藏的秘密的旅程，一段将永远改变整个埃雷希亚的旅程，无论好坏。他叹了口气，颤抖着，接受了自己的命运。

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