Forgotten Sea: Chapter 3
MC: More than half a day has passed. Why have we circled back to this intersection…
MC: You’re not one of those people who gets lost easily, are you? Or is it that you fish don’t have very good memory?
The little fish shakes its tail, leaving me behind, and swims towards the direction of even more people.
MC: Hey–and where are you planning to take me this time…!
MC: Forget it, I’m actually trying to talk to a fish…
After swimming for a long time, the little fish stops next to a coral reef. It swims downwards a little, and worms through a gap at the foot of the city wall.
MC: I really have to go out this way?
Little fish: Glub lub lub, glub lub lub.
MC: All right…
I squeeze through the gap and pat the sand off my knees. Looking back, I really have left that magnificent and beautiful underwater city behind me.
MC: How wonderful!
MC: Please apologize to your master for me. No matter how you say it, he did save me.
Returning to shore, there is no telling what my will be, but staying in Whalefall City, being with this strange Sea God, I also won’t live very long.
MC: I haven’t thought of a way to repay him yet. How about from now on, at every annual Sea God’s Ceremony, I’ll in for him from the shore?
Rafayel: Did you have fun on your Lemuria day trip?
MC: !
The voice comes from the shadows of the beautiful garden behind me.
Behind the rolled-up gauze curtains lies a person, seeming to appear and disappear behind the flapping silk.
MC: Rafayel?!
Rafayel: No need to shout so loudly.
He raises a finger and the little fish circles a couple of times, then changes into a glowing blue scale on his palm.
I was tricked, this little fish was conjured by him!
MC: You did that on purpose?
Rafayel: Just a little, that’s all.
Rafayel: What Elder Amund said wasn’t wrong. Promises made by you humans cannot be relied on.
MC: When did I make a promise with you?!
Rafayel: Just before I went to sleep, didn’t I ask you to wake me up before it got dark?
He yawns, looking lazy.
Rafayel: Also, when I saved you from the rolling waves, you promised me something like this—
Rafayel: I can save you.
Rafayel: But in return… you will offer me your all, and become my follower.
MC: That, that counts as a promise…
MC: You’re already the most esteemed Sea God of the entire underwater world. Can’t you do a good deed, be a good person, and let me go?
Rafayel: I’m not the sort of god .
Rafayel: Besides, the Sea God’s Ceremony is just over a month away.
Rafayel: You should know, things like ceremonies, there’s always a need for—
He intentionally draws out the last syllable, narrowing his eyes and looking threatening.
MC: You—you want a follower… on land, there are plenty, the kind that wear long robes, men and women, young and old, praying at the Sea God temple every day. They’re far more devout than I am.
Afraid I will really become some sort of ritualistic sacrifice, I hastily think of everything I can to dispel Rafayel’s notion.
Rafayel: All right, then return to me that life of yours I saved.
He stretches his hand out before my eyes, as if gripping an invisible thread in his fist, with the other end firmly wrapped around my neck.
MC: Cough… cough cough…!
Seawater suddenly rushes into my nose and throat, and I almost can’t breathe.
MC: I, I promise you! It is whatever you say it is, okay…!
Rafayel smiles slightly, loosens his tightly closed fist, and only then does my breathing finally smoothly resume.
Rafayel: What I want isn’t just lip service, what I want is—is the faith from the deepest part of your soul.
MC: … Faith from the of my soul?
Rafayel: No matter whether the tides swell or ebb, or if the sun rises and the moon sets, you must only think of me, only have faith in me.
MC: What do you mean…?
Rafayel: Then I’ll state it more simply, in short—
He pokes my chest above my heart, a matter-of-fact expression on his face.
Rafayel: You must think of a way to get this heart of yours to like me.
MC:Half a day dissipated like sea foam… Why have we returned to these crossroads?
MC: Do you lack a sense of direction? Or do fish always have a terrible memory?
Twirling its tail, the fish swims into a crowd. I am left behind.
Where are you taking me?!
Ugh, never mind. I’m trying to converse with a fish…
After swimming for what seems like an eternity, the little fish stops by a coral reef. It goes into a small hole in the city’s wall.
MC: Must I actually swim through that?
Little Fish: Glub glub glub. Glub glub glub.
MC: All right…
I pass through the hole and remove the sand on my knees. I turn around. The opulent underwater city is behind me.
MC: Yes!
MC: Apologize to your master on my behalf. He is my savior, all things considered.
My life on land could be uncertain, but I shall certainly die if I stray within the confines of Whalefall City with the weird God of the Sea.
MC: I have yet to think of a proper way to express my gratitude. Should I feed the fishes during the Sea God’s Ceremony?
Rafayel: Was it fun to explore Lemuria?
MC: !
From the garden’s shadows, a voice speaks.
Though hard to make out, a person is lying down behind a silk curtain.
MC: Rafayel?!
Rafayel: There is no need to shout my name.
He lifts a finger, and the little fish swims around it. Then it transforms into a blue scale that lands on his palm.
I was deceived. The fish was of his creation!
MC: You planned this.
Rafayel: Twas a test made for you.
Rafayel: Elder Amund was right. Human promises are but meaningless words.
MC: When did I make a vow to you?!
Rafayel: I told you to wake me before nightfall, didn’t I?
He yawns, not upset in the slightest.
Rafayel: Besides, when I saved you from the Ocean’s clutches, we made an oath. Did you forget?
Rafayel: I will grant you deliverance.
Rafayel: And in exchange, Offer yourself, your everything to me. Become my follower, mortal.
MC: T-that counted…?
MC: You are the God of the Sea, respectable and awe-inspiring. Can’t you consider my rescue an act of kindness and let me go?
Rafayel: I am not a god who answers every whim.
Rafayel: The Ceremony is to take place in a month.
Rafayel: And as you are aware, ceremonies always need—
Narrowing his eyes, his expression only leaves me with a feeling of dread.
MC: F-followers… There are plenty on land. The ones who wear robes pray every day to you. They’re more devout than me.
Scared I am to be a sacrifice once more, I try to persuade Rafayel to consider an alternative.
Rafayel: All right. Return to me your life.
He holds out his hand as if he grabbing an invisible rope that’s tied tightly around my neck.
MC: Cough! Cough, cough!
Water enters my nose and throat. I am drowning.
MC: I-I swear! I swear on my name I’ll do anything you ask!
Rafayel grins. He loosens his hold and I find myself able to breathe again.
Rafayel: Tis not a worship that I desire. From the depths of your very soul, I seek only the purest devotion.
MC…I beg your pardon?
Rafayel: The tides ebb and flow, and with every setting sun is a moon rising. Till time’s end, I should occupy your every thought. You must believe in me alone.
MC: You mean I…
Rafayel: Think of it from another perspective.
He pokes my chest, specifically where my heart lies. He acts as if he is stating a truth.
Rafayel: Thou is to find a means by which thy heart becomes smitten by me.
玩家: 都过去大半天了，怎么又绕回了这个路口……
玩家: 你该不会是路痴吧?还是说，你们鱼类的记性都不太好?
小鱼摇摇尾巴，径自抛下我，又朝更多人的方向游去。
玩家: 哎——这次你又打算带我去哪儿……!
玩家: 算了，我居然试图在和一条鱼说话……
游了许久，小鱼停在一处珊瑚丛边。它往下游了游，钻过城墙底下的一处矮洞。
玩家: 真的要从这里钻出去吗?
小鱼: 噗噜噜，噗噜噜。
玩家: 好吧……
我钻过矮洞，拍拍膝盖上的海沙，回过头，那座恢弘美丽的海底城竟真的被我甩在了身后。
太好了!
玩家: 帮我跟你的主人道个歉，不管怎么说，他也算救了我。
回到岸上是生死未卜，但留在鲸落城里，和这个奇怪的海神待在一起，也一定活不长久。
玩家: 报答的方式我还没想好，要不就等以后每年海神祭典，我从岸上扔点鱼粮给他吧?
祁煜: 利莫里亚一日游好玩吗?
玩家: ！
声音从身后那片漂亮的花园树荫之间传来。
被卷起的轻纱帘幕后侧卧着一个人，在鼓动的丝绸后若隐若现。
玩家: 祁煜?!
祁煜: 不用叫得那么大声。
他拢起手指，小鱼转了几圈，在他掌心变成了一枚荧蓝的鳞片。
被耍了，这只小鱼竟是他变出来的!
玩家: 你是故意的?
祁煜: 只是对你的小小考验罢了。
祁煜: 安蒙长老说得不错，你们人类的承诺不可靠。
玩家: 我什么时候和你许下承诺了?!
祁煜: 我刚刚睡觉前，不是让你在天黑之前叫醒我么。
他打了个哈欠，一副懒洋洋的模样。
祁煜: 还有，在我从风浪中把你救出来的时候，你答应我什么来着——
祁煜: 我可以救你。
祁煜: 但作为回报……你要献上你的一切，成为我的信徒。
玩家: 那，那就算是承诺了啊……
玩家: 你都是全海底最尊贵的海神了，就不能当做个好人好事，放了我么?
祁煜: 我可不是那种有求必应的神。
祁煜: 更何况，再过一个月就是海神祭典了。
祁煜: 你也知道，祭典这种东西，总是需要——
他故意拖长了尾调，微眯着眼睛，一副危危险险的样子。
玩家: 你、你想要信徒……岸上有的是，那种穿着长袍、每天在海神庙里祈福的男女老少，他们可比我虔诚多了。
害怕自己真的被当成什么大卸八块的祭品，我连忙添油加醋想打消祁煜的念头。
祁煜: 好啊，那就把我救你的命还给我吧。
他将手伸在我眼前，仿佛里头攥了根无形的线，另一头牢牢系在我的脖颈上。
玩家: 咳……咳咳……!
海水忽然前仆后继地涌入我的鼻腔、喉咙，快让我不能呼吸。
玩家: 我、我答应你!你说什么就是什么还不行么……!
祁煜微微一笑，合拢的手指松开，我的呼吸这才重新恢复顺畅。
祁煜: 我要的不是那些表面工夫，我要的——是你灵魂深处的信仰。
玩家: ……灵魂深处的信仰?
祁煜: 无论是潮涨潮退，还是日升月落，你都要只想着我，只相信我。
玩家: 什么意思……?
祁煜: 那我说简单点，概括起来就是——
他戳戳我的心口，一副理所当然的表情。
祁煜: 你要想办法，让你的这颗心喜欢上我。
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