Forgotten Sea: Chapter 4
Go find a person who is willing to kiss you without asking for the world
Go love a soul that
Love and death are the two most important things in life
—If death cannot be halted, then go love.
<<Lemuria - Tome of the Sea God - Chapter 3>>
I thought about how I’d die, and fantasized about myself escaping the temple and shaking off the fate of being a sacrificial offering.
… but I never thought the Sea God really existed, or that I would form a bond with the Sea God.
Rafayel promises me as long as I can become a devout follower before the Sea God’s Ceremony, then after that he would give me back my freedom.
To me, this of course is not a losing transaction.
Teacher: … you must be careful, humans on the shore will eat anything, and especially like eating fish.
Lemurian children: We do too, what kind of fish do they like to eat?
Teacher: They also like using hot water to take baths.
Lemurian children: …!!!
On this day, I am free with nothing to do, so Algie takes me to see the sights in the city.
Algie: Do you still remember the Sacred Flame you saw? We call it the “.”
Algie: The light of the Sacred Flame will gradually grow weaker over time, until the Sea God personally lights it during the coming-of-age ceremony.
I look towards Rafayel over on one side, where children joyfully hook fingers with him, inviting him to play with them.
He casually rolls a few little fireballs to give to them, and every face is brightly illuminated.
Algie: You know, a place like the deep sea, the sun can’t reach it, and the moon definitely can’t reach it either.
Algie: If there were no Sacred Flame, then it would be a patch of darkness more frightening than death. , if you can’t see me and I can’t see you, we’d all just grow as we wished. Wouldn’t we then all turn into hideous creatures?
MC: Your worries are …
Compared to the human world I know, Lemuria seems just like an ideal kingdom that only appears in legends.
Besides being able to freely move about at the bottom of the sea, their outer appearance doesn’t look that different from humans, and as the legends say, they dislike fighting, and yearn for love and freedom.
They will stuff poetry, stories, legends, and strange and wonderful shells and pearls into floating bottles, and take advantage of high tide to send them onto shore.
MC: There are even shells that can store sound… unchanging no matter how many years have passed…
MC: … Sea God, I've spoken so much, are you listening?
Rafayel doesn’t even lift his head, and tosses me a blue conch from somewhere.
MC: … there really is such a magical conch? What is it called?
Rafayel: There’s no name, it’s just called a magical conch.
MC: …
Rafayel: Take it and play with it. Those ignorant complaints and exclamations of yours, you can tell them to it.
MC: …
While Rafayel is engrossed in his reading, I aim at the conch and angrily lower my voice.
MC: What Sea God, I hope in your next life you become a sea monster, sea cucumber, oyster…
When we walk out of the temple, it is already close to Lemuria’s dusk.
I lift my head to look towards the highest spire of the temple, where the Sacred Flame glows, spreading its light.
It follows the principle of rising in the east and setting in the west, bringing light and warmth to Lemuria, witnessing the changes and constants of time.
Rafayel: Wanna go up for a look?
MC: But at this time, the temple doors should be closed, right?
Rafayel: Follow me.
Rafayel skirts past the temple guards, secretly bringing me up to the highest level of the tower.
As I climb to the highest level, I miss a step and nearly crash into his arms. Rafayel furrows his brow.
MC: … You don’t like other people touching you?
Rafayel: I don’t like it.
MC: Sorry…
Rafayel: But you can hold my hand.
He extends his hand out before me.
MC: … Okay.
Rafayel: Don’t hold so tightly.
MC: … Okay!
I lightly grasp the tips of his fingertips. The Sea God’s heart really is unpredictable…
Rafayel lightly exerts himself and pulls me up to the tip of the Temple’s tallest spire. Turning back, all of Whalefall City is spread before my eyes.
The light of the Sacred Flame, like a cloud of golden mist, floats hazily above Whalefall City.
MC: How beautiful! This is my first time watching the sunset at the bottom of the ocean.
Rafayel: Is it a good view?
MC: Mmhmm.
Rafayel stares at the slowly dissipating rays and seems to be deep in thought.
Rafayel: Describe what the world outside is like to me.
MC: The world outside? What do you want to know…?
I , but can’t think of a single interesting story. After all, as a sacrificial offering intended for the Sea God, I spent most of my time in that silent temple.
MC: To me, Lemuria is the widest world I have ever been to.
Rafayel: …
MC: Would you like to see the outside world with me?
MC: Look at flowers and grasses that aren’t in the ocean, .
MC: Oh, right, have you ever seen a puppy? You can’t have never touched a puppy’s tail before in your life, right?
Rafayel: … all these things are chronicled in the Academy’s library. Don’t look at me with that sympathetic gaze, it’s very rude all right?
Rafayel: Besides, can you name every single fish in the deep sea?
Rafayel casually pulls over a fluorescent jellyfish that is slowly drifting by the spire, and motions for me to continue.
MC: What a killjoy, what I mean is—
MC: Since you’ve already escaped once, ?
Rafayel: …
With an expression that says he can’t be bothered with me, Rafayel finds a spot with no light and just closes his eyes.
I suddenly remember Elder Amund’s words. Lemurians have a fatal flaw, that is—
Once a bond is formed with a human, the other party has the power to command you and control you.
MC: (Is it true if I say to do something, you’ll do something…)
MC: Make fire!
MC: It failed…
Rafayel: Don’t waste your effort.
Rafayel: When watching the sunset, one should stay quiet.
MC: Rafayel, would you like to see the real sun?
Rafayel: No.
MC: But the first day we met, weren’t you thinking of secretly going ashore.
Rafayel: The first day we met, you certainly didn’t have as much to say as you do now. That time, you…
Rafayel: … compared to biting people you’ve just met, you’re better this way.
MC: But on land there’s a lively Sea God Festival, lyres that play very lovely songs, and…
Rafayel: If the land were as good as you say it is, how did you come to be here.
MC: … true. If bad guys knew you were Lemurian, perhaps they’d force you to cry lots of little pearls too.
Rafayel: You wish to persuade me to bring you back on land so you can find a good opportunity to escape.
Rafayel: Is the sunset on land so very different from that at the bottom of the ocean.
MC: … I don’t remember clearly any more either.
MC: Why don’t you take me to see the sun outside, and I take you to see the Sea God Festival, how’s that?
The entirety of Whalefall City gradually darkens. I think Rafayel is truly asleep.
I lean on his shoulder, blinking my slightly sleepy eyes.
Rafayel: … okay.
Find one who will kiss you, even if you do not give them the world.
Love a soul that is like your own, that which complements you.
Love and death are the most important things in a life.
Death is a matter of time, so love with all your heart can muster.
<<Lemuria - Tome of the Sea God - Chapter 3>>
For my entire life, I only thought about how I’d die. My mind focused on escaping that temple and forging my own path. I refuse to be sacrificed.
…I never imagined the Sea God to be real, nor we would be soon bound together with a vow.
Rafayel promised he’d let me go if I became his most devout follower before the Sea God’s Ceremony.
This is of great significance to me.
Teacher: You must keep an eye out. Humans eat everything. Fish can always be on the main course.
Lemurian Children: We also like to eat fish! What fish do they like?
Teacher: They also tend to use hot water for their baths.
Lemurian Children: …!!!
With nothing to do, Algie gives me a tour of the City.
Algie: Do you remember Lemuria’s flame? We call it the Sun Below the Waves.
Algie: The fire grows weak as seasons pass. The Sea God must reignite it during His coming-of-age ceremony.
I look at Rafayel. Children surround him, grabbing his hands, making him play with them.
He creates balls of fire, their light illuminating every face.
Algie: As you must know, we are in the Deep Sea. Sunlight cannot reach this place, let alone moonlight.
Algie: Without this flame, Lemuria will be plunged into a horrifying darkness. If we were not able to see each other, we would transform into hideous beasts!
MC: Your worries are unique…
Compared to the world of man, Lemuria is a utopia seen only in fairytales.
They could swim freely and resemble humans. As the legends say, love and freedom dictate the Lemurian way of life. They also are not interested in warfare.
Their songs, tales, rare shells, and pearls are placed into bottles that could be washed ashore.
MC: Their conches are said… to store sounds for many years…
MC: Mr. Sea God, did you hear what I just said?
Rafayel doesn’t look up. He tosses me a blue conch, its origins unknown.
MC: Such a wondrous thing exists? What do you call it?
Rafayel: It has no name. Treat it as the Miraculous Conch of Wonders.
MC: …
Rafayel: Take it. The shell will accept all your pointless laments and complaints.
MC: …
Since Rafayel is engrossed in his reading, I whisper vicious words into the conch.
MC: You are no God of the Sea. You are a god of scourges! May you be born as a sea monster in your next life. A sea cucumber or an oyster would work or…
When we depart from the Temple, dusk has graced Lemuria with its presence.
I gaze at the highest spire on the building where a bright fire burns.
Like the sun above, it rises from the east and sets in the west. It has brought light and warmth to Lemuria for generations.
Rafayel: Are you interested in some sightseeing?
MC: Isn’t the Temple closed off at this time?
Rafayel: Follow me.
Rafayel avoids the Temple’s guards, and we reach the highest floor of the spire.
I am out of breath when we reach the highest floor. Exhausted, I suddenly lose my footing and almost fall into his arms. Rafayel frowns.
MC: …Do you not like people touching you?
Rafayel: No.
MC: Sorry…
Rafayel: You can hold my hand.
He extends his hand to me.
MC: …Oh.
Rafayel: But don’t hold onto it too tightly.
MC: …Ah!
I gently hold his finger. Truly, ‘tis hard to understand the Sea God’s heart…
Gently, Rafayel drags me to the top of the spire. Below us is all of Whalefall City.
Like golden fog, the firelight enshrouds every building.
MC: How beautiful! This is the first time I’ve seen a sunset underwater.
Rafayel: Is it pleasing to look at?
MC: Yeah.
Rafayel’s gaze follows the distant light. He’s deep in thought.
Rafayel: Tell me of the world on the surface.
MC: What would you like to know…?
I can’t think of anything to talk about. Since I was once a sacrifice to the God of the Sea, I spent most of my time inside that cold temple.
MC: Lemuria is the biggest, grandest world I have visited in my life.
Rafayel: …
MC: We can visit the surface, if you’d like.
MC: There are flowers and plants and animals you could never find in the Ocean.
MC: Have you seen a puppy? You can’t say you’ve lived unless you touch a puppy’s tail.
Rafayel: …There are records of them in the College’s library. And don’t give me that look of pity. ‘Tis rude.
Rafayel: Can you name even one of the peculiar creatures of the Deep Sea?
Rafayel grabs a passing, glowing jellyfish and motions for me to continue.
MC: You’re a boring piece of a driftwood. What I mean to say is—
MC: You’ve snuck out before. You can do it again, right?
Rafayel: …
Rafayel stops trying to humor me. He finds a spot in the shadows and closes his eyes.
I recall Elder Amund’s words about Lemurians and one of their weaknesses. Essentially…
Once a Lemurian is bound to a person, they are to obey every command of their master.
MC: (He’ll fullfil every request of mine, right?)
MC: Make some flames!
MC: It didn’t work at all…
Rafayel: Don’t waste your time.
Rafayel: One should practice silence, when watching the sunset.
MC: Do you want to see the real sun, Rafayel?
Rafayel: I do not.
MC: You wanted to sneak onto the beach the day we met.
Rafayel: Your tongue barely moved when we first met. Back then, you were, rather…
Rafayel: This side of you is much more to my liking.
MC: On the beach, we have Sea God’s Ceremony too. We play wonderful songs on lyres and…
Rafayel: Were the surface world as lovely as you claimed, you’d be elsewhere.
MC: …There are evil people on land. Once they learn you’re a Lemurian, your tears that turn into pearls would be harvested day after day, endlessly.
Rafayel: If you persuade me to bring you to the beach, you’ll run away.
Rafayel: Is the surface world’s sunset different from the one in the Ocean?
MC: …Honestly, my memory of it is hazy.
MC: You take me to see the sun, and I’ll bring you to the festival. What do you think?
As Whalefall City darkens, I sense Rafayel is asleep.
I lean against his shoulder, my head almost touching his. I feel sleepy.
Rafayel: …Mmm.
去找一个不向你索要全世界就愿意吻你的人
去爱一个和你默契十足的灵魂
爱与死亡，是生命中最重要的两件事
——如果无法阻止死亡，那就勇敢去爱吧
《利莫里亚·海神书·第三卷》
这辈子，我想过自己怎么死，也幻想过自己从神庙中逃脱，摆脱当一个祭品的命运。
……却没有想过海神真的存在，而自己会和海神达成契约。
祁煜答应我，只要在海神祭典前我能成为一个虔诚的信徒，就在那之后还我自由。
这对我来说，当然不是一笔赔本买卖。
老师: ……要当心，岸上的人类什么都吃，尤其喜欢吃鱼。
利莫里亚的小孩子们: 我们也吃，他们喜欢吃什么鱼?
老师: 他们还喜欢用热水洗澡。
利莫里亚的小孩子们: ……!!!
这天闲来无事，阿藻带我在城中观光。
阿藻: 还记得你看到的“火种”吗?我们把它叫作“海底的太阳”。
阿藻: “火种”的光芒会随着时间渐渐微弱，直到海神在成年诞祭上亲手点燃它。
我看向一边的祁煜，有小孩子正欢喜地勾着他的手指，让他陪自己玩。
他随手搓出几个小火团送给他们，每张脸都映得亮堂堂的。
阿藻: 你知道，深海这种地方，太阳照不到，月亮更照不到。
阿藻: 如果没有火种，那就是一片比死还可怕的黑暗。久而久之，你看不到我我看不到你，大家随便长长，不就都变成丑八怪了么?
玩家: 你的担心，还挺别出心裁的……
和我所了解的人类世界相比，利莫里亚简直就像是神话中才会出现的理想国度。
除了能够在海底自由自在活动外，他们外表和人类没什么不同，似乎也真如传说中所说般不喜争斗，向往爱与自由。
他们会把诗歌、故事、传说还有稀奇古怪的贝壳珍珠塞进漂流瓶里，趁着涨潮的时候，把它们送上岸。
玩家: 还有能储存声音的海螺……不管过多少年都不会变……
玩家: ……海神大人，我说了这么多，你在听么?
祁煜连头都没有抬，不知从什么地方丢给我一只蓝色的海螺。
玩家: ……真的有这么神奇的海螺?它叫什么名字?
祁煜: 没有名字，它就叫神奇海螺。
玩家: ……
祁煜: 拿去玩吧。你那些没见识的感叹和牢骚，可以对它说。
玩家: ……
趁祁煜看书入神的工夫，我对准海螺，狠狠地压低了声音。
玩家: 什么海神，祝你下辈子就变成海怪海参海蛎子……
从神殿里走出来时，已经接近利莫里亚的黄昏。
我抬起头，看向神殿最高处的塔尖，那里有着散发着光芒的火种。
它遵循着东升西落的规律，为利莫里亚带来光明与温暖，见证岁月的变与不变。
祁煜: 想去上面看看吗?
玩家: 可是这个时候，神殿的门不应该是关着的吗?
祁煜: 跟我来。
祁煜绕开神殿的守卫，偷偷带我上到最高层的塔楼。
气喘吁吁爬到最高一层时，我一时踏空差点撞进他怀里，祁煜皱了皱眉。
玩家: ……你是不喜欢别人碰你吗?
祁煜: 不喜欢。
玩家: 抱歉……
祁煜: 不过你可以牵我的手。
他将手伸到我面前。
玩家: ……哦。
祁煜: 不要握得这么紧。
玩家: ……哦！
我虚握住他的手指尖尖。海神的心，还真是变幻莫测……
祁煜轻轻一个用力，将我拉上神殿最高处的塔尖。一回过头，整座鲸落城的景色尽收眼底。
“火种”的光芒，像一团金黄的雾，朦朦胧胧浮在鲸落城的上方。
玩家: 好漂亮!我还是第一次在海底看日落。
祁煜: 很好看吗?
玩家: 嗯。
祁煜凝望着逐渐散溢的流辉，像是陷入了什么心事。
祁煜: 给我讲讲外面的世界是什么样的吧。
玩家: 外面的世界?你想知道什么……?
我绞尽脑汁，却想不到一个有意思的故事。毕竟作为海神的祭品，我的大部分时间都待在那个冷清的神庙里。
玩家: 对我来说，利莫里亚就是我到过的最广阔的世界了。
祁煜: ……
玩家: 你要是感兴趣的话，要不要跟我一起去外面的世界看看?
玩家: 去看看海里没有的小花小草，小动物小植物什么的。
玩家: 对了，你见过小狗吗，你这辈子不会连小狗尾巴都没摸过吧?
祁煜: ……这些学城的图书馆里都有记载，不要用这种同情的眼神看我，很不礼貌好吗?
祁煜: 再说了，你就能把那些奇形怪状的深海鱼都叫出名字吗?
祁煜随手捞来一只慢悠悠飘过塔尖的荧光水母，示意我继续。
玩家: 真扫兴，我的意思就是——
玩家: 既然你都逃出去第一次了，也不差这第二次吧?
祁煜: ……
祁煜一副懒得理我的表情，找了个没有光的地方，居然直接闭上了眼睛。
我忽然想起安蒙长老讲过的话，利莫里亚人有一个致命的弱点，那就是——
一旦和人类缔结契约后，对方就会拥有命令你、摆布你的权力。
玩家: (真的说做什么，就会做什么吗……)
玩家: 变火!
玩家: 失败了……
祁煜: 别白费工夫了。
祁煜: 看落日的时候，应该保持安静。
玩家: 祁煜，你想不想去看真正的太阳?
祁煜: 不想。
玩家: 可我们见面第一天，你不就是想偷偷跑上岸。
祁煜: 我们见面第一天，你的话可没现在这么多。那时候你……
祁煜: ……比起刚见面就咬人，你还是现在这样比较好。
玩家: 可岸上有热闹的海神祭典，有拉小曲儿很好听的里拉琴，还有……
祁煜: 岸上要是真和你说的一样好，你怎么会到这里来。
玩家: ……也是。要是被坏人知道你是利莫里亚人，说不定会逼你哭出好多小珍珠呢。
祁煜: 你是想说服我带你上岸，好找机会逃跑吧。
祁煜: 岸上的落日，会和海底的区别很大么。
玩家:……我也记不太清了。
玩家: 不如你带我去看外面的太阳，我带你去看海神祭典，怎么样?
整座鲸落城渐渐暗了下去，我想祁煜是真的睡着了。
我靠在他的肩上，眨了眨略带困意的眼睛。
祁煜: ……嗯。
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