第七章：未曾逝去的愛與永恆的守護

The Water Mirror of Destiny

As the water mirror reflected Leshi’s face, hidden messages gradually surfaced upon the lake’s ripples.

To Leshi’s left stood a Golden Canine Soul, displaying the ability [Eternal Protection]. (This power grows as Leshi visits villages with his companions, completes side quests, and increases prosperity. By forging bonds with villagers and allies, he gains even greater strength.)

To Leshi’s right was a Transparent, Colorless Creature—an entity without ears or a tail. Its ability was displayed as [Unfading Love]. (When a companion passes away, Leshi inherits their power, memories, skills, and proficiency. The more companions he loses, the stronger he becomes—yet the more profound his loneliness grows.)

In the center, Leshi’s own ability column was locked and undecipherable, labeled only as [Unawakened]. His attribute was [Null], capable of resonating with and amplifying the abilities of nearby allies, and even transferring his own mana to restore theirs.

Hu Ji watched Leshi’s status with a grim expression, her mind racing. Leshi’s existence felt like a crack in the very laws of this world. That transparent soul... it didn't belong to any known beastkin race. No tail, no ears—what could it possibly be?

Furthermore, when a normal person gazes into the Water Mirror, only their own status is shown. Why did Leshi have two other souls and abilities flanking him? Could there be two other spirits residing within his body?

While Leshi’s locked core ability was intriguing, the power on the right was terrifying. Unfading Love was nothing short of a Curse. To inherit power from the dead was a cold and sorrowful path. Why did that unknown, transparent creature possess such a horrifying ability?

Was this the "fateful struggle" the Elder spoke of? Hu Ji’s body trembled, but she fought to remain calm, recording everything in her notebook.

The Weight of the Soul

Leshi stared at the water, instinctively clutching his chest. Though he didn't understand what the "transparent creature" was, whenever he looked at that shadow, he felt an uncontrollable urge to cry—a longing to be held in someone's arms once more. A stray tear fell from his eye.

He couldn't explain the sour ache churning in his chest. Though the transparent soul looked hollow and lacked any beastkin features, he felt it was the softest, most scarred part of his being.

As the light on the lake faded, the words in Hu Ji’s notebook felt exceptionally heavy. She gripped her pen so hard her knuckles turned white. She saw the truth clearer than anyone: this was a cruel tug-of-war.

If Leshi chose Protection, he would have to constantly pour his heart into connecting with others. But if fate snatched those connections away, he would be forced toward the price of "Love"—becoming unprecedentedly powerful, yet unprecedentedly alone.

"Leshi..." Hu Ji whispered, her voice trembling as she tucked her notebook away and walked to his side.

She didn't ask about the transparent soul. Her intuition told her it was a truth even Leshi wasn't ready to face. She simply patted his shoulder, feeling the soul of a child who carried a destiny far too heavy for an eight-year-old frame.

"Hu Ji, let’s go. There’s no information about my past here." Leshi’s ears and tail tensed. He wiped his tears and forced a smile, taking Hu Ji’s hand.

"Yes... let’s return to the village and report this to the Elder. Perhaps he will have some insight." For the first time, Hu Ji felt the frustrating limit of her own abilities, desperate for the Elder's guidance.

The Parting Decision

A breeze brushed over the lake, carrying away the last glimmer of the Water Mirror, but it could not dispel the heavy atmosphere. As Hu Ji held Leshi’s slightly cold hand, the warmth of his palm brought a sting to her nose. She knew that what she saw wasn't just stats—it was two lifelines leading to polar opposite ends.

"Eternity" and "Loss." These two forces were tearing at Leshi's small body. Watching his forced smile, Hu Ji made a silent vow: I will never let that cold power on the right awaken.

She stopped, kneeling to meet Leshi at eye level. Looking into his golden eyes, she no longer saw just the innocence of a child, but a weariness that had weathered a thousand storms.

"Leshi, listen." Hu Ji gently cupped his face, her voice firm. "No matter what that transparent soul represents, the 'you' of right now is supported by all of us. You don't need to solve every mystery today. Since that power is locked, it means you still have the right to refuse that curse."

Back at the village, Hu Ji recounted everything to the Elder.

"Elder! What do you know about Leshi? Please, tell us!" Hu Ji’s eyes were filled with the desperation of someone reaching for a final straw.

"I see... three different souls?" The Elder’s gaze was solemn, as if he had seen through it all. "That explains why the golden canine consciousness surrounding you is so fiercely protective. It likely gave its life to entrust its will and power to you."

"A person's abilities are often influenced by their personality and mental state. That transparent soul... it likely endured the agony of a great loss, and its lingering will remained within you."

"As for you, Leshi—your deep desire for connection has left your mana without an attribute, existing only to complement others. This power to connect is, at its core, a form of solitude. If you lose the others who reflect you, you lose the ability to define your own shape." The Elder’s kind face was clouded with worry.

"Even I cannot see through your locked ability, and I have no more information to give. What do you intend to do?"

Leshi clenched his right hand over his heart and closed his eyes. Images of the Fox Tribe, Hu Ji, and the Elder’s smiles flashed through his mind.

"I'm sorry, Hu Ji... but I want to find my lost memories. I want to know my relationship with those two souls. I want to know who I really am."

"To do that, I must leave the village one day to find the truth. I don't know when I’ll return... but I need to know the reason for my existence."

"Leshi, do you really have to go? You finally settled in!" Hu Ji cried, hugging him tightly.

"I love you, the Elder, and everyone in the village the most. I know this will make everyone sad, but..." Leshi’s eyes overflowed with tears, yet they remained filled with resolve. "I have to know."

"Hu Ji," the Elder said softly, comforting her. "Leshi is a child, but he has learned how to stand on his own from you. He can take care of himself. Let him go."

"I know... I’ve always known this day would come. I just didn't think it would be so soon." Hu Ji lowered her head in pain. "If you’ve decided to go... at least tell me before you leave."

Her eyes held the sorrowful resignation of a fate that could no longer be changed.

隨著水鏡映照雷希的臉龐，湖面逐漸浮現隱藏的訊息。

雷希的左側是金黃色犬型靈魂，顯示能力為永恆的守護，（這股力量隨著 雷希 與夥伴造訪村莊、完成支線任務並提升繁榮度而增長。透過與村民和盟友建立羈絆，他能獲得更強大的力量。）

雷希的右側是透明無色沒有尾巴與耳朵不明生物靈魂，顯示能力為未曾逝去的愛，（當夥伴離世時，雷希會繼承對方的力量、記憶、技能與熟練度。逝去的夥伴越多雷希也越強，但也更加孤獨。）

中間屬於雷希的能力欄卻是鎖死無法解讀，上面僅標示尚未覺醒。屬性為無屬性會與周圍夥伴能力產生共鳴與增幅，甚至能將自己魔力轉移我方隊友恢復魔力。

狐姬看著雷希的狀態數值面有難色思考，雷希的存在，彷彿是這世界法則之外的一道裂痕。那透明的靈魂……完全不屬於任何已知的獸人種族，沒有尾巴、沒有耳朵那到底是什麼？

還有一個人照水鏡只會顯示自己能力狀態而已，為何雷希卻是除了自己另外兩側還有其他靈魂與能力？難道雷希體內除了自己還有另外兩個靈魂？

雖然雷希本體被鎖住的能力讓人好奇，但右側那能力未免太恐怖了！未曾逝去的愛根本是詛咒型能力，繼承死去夥伴的力量如此冰冷悲傷，為何那透明的未知生物靈魂會擁有如此可怕的能力？

長老所說雷希命運多喘難道是指這恐怖的能力？狐姬的身體在發抖，但她一直努力嘗試保持冷靜用筆記本紀錄著這一切。

雷希看著水面，不自覺地摸了摸心口。雖然他不明白「透明生物」是什麼，但每當看向那個影子，他總能感覺到一種想哭的衝動，以及一種……想要再次被誰抱在懷裡的渴望，眼角不經意流下眼淚。

這股在胸口翻騰的酸澀感，連雷希自己都無法解釋。明明那透明的靈魂看起來如此空洞，甚至連獸人的特徵都沒有，但他卻覺得那是他靈魂中最柔軟、也最傷痕累累的一部分。 湖面上的光芒逐漸收斂，但留在狐姬筆記本上的文字卻顯得異常沉重。

狐姬緊握著筆，指尖因為過度用力而泛白，她比任何人都看得透徹：這根本是一場殘酷的拉鋸戰。 如果雷希選擇了守護，他必須不斷付出情感去連結他人；但如果命運奪走了這些連結，他就會被迫走向『愛』的代價，變得前所未有的強大，卻也前所未有的孤單。

雷希……狐姬輕聲開口，聲音帶著一絲顫抖，她收起筆記本，走到雷希身邊。 她沒有詢問那個透明靈魂的事，因為她直覺那是一個連雷希自己都還沒準備好面對的真相。她只是輕輕拍了拍雷希的肩膀，感受著這個八歲孩子外殼下，那個承載了過於沉重命運的靈魂。

狐姬我們離開吧，這裡沒有任何關於我過去的情報。雷希的耳朵與尾巴收緊，他擦乾眼淚勉強擠出笑容牽著狐姬的手。

嗯......我們先回村子像長老稟報這件事，或許他老人家能給我們意見。此刻狐姬第一次感受到自己能力有限的無力感，渴望能依賴長老。

微風拂過湖面，帶走了水鏡最後的餘光，卻帶不走空氣中凝結的沉重。狐姬牽著雷希那隻略帶涼意的小手，掌心的溫度讓她感到一陣鼻酸。她很清楚，剛才在水鏡中所看見的，不僅僅是能力的數值，更是兩條通往截然不同終點的命運線。

「永恆」與「逝去」，這兩股力量在雷希那小小的身體裡瘋狂拉扯。狐姬看著雷希強撐出的笑容，心中暗暗發誓：絕不能讓右側那股冰冷的力量有覺醒的一天。

狐姬停下腳步，蹲下身子與雷希平視。她看著那雙金黃色的瞳孔，裡面映照出的不再僅僅是八歲孩子的單純，而是一種歷經千帆後的疲憊。 雷希，聽著。狐姬溫柔地捧起他的臉，語氣堅定，無論那透明的靈魂代表什麼，現在的你，是由我們所有人共同支撐著的。你不需要現在就去解開所有謎團。既然那能力被鎖住了，就代表現在的你，還擁有拒絕這份詛咒的權力。

回到村落狐姬將眼前發生的事完整交代長老。

長老！你知道雷希什麼嗎？麻煩請告訴我們。狐姬悲傷的眼神像溺水想抓住僅存稻草。

原來如此三種不同的靈魂嗎？這就可以解釋圍繞在你身邊金黃色犬型保護意識會如此強烈，恐怕就是他以性命作為代價把意識與能力交付給你，力長老凝重的眼神彷彿早已看透一切。

每個人的能力獲得或少受當事人個性與當時精神狀況影響，那透明的靈魂恐怕經歷強大失去的痛苦，生前的意志為消散留在你身上。

至於雷希你渴望與他人獲得連結，導致你魔力沒有任何屬性只為了襯托他人存在。這份渴望連結的力量，本質上也是一種孤寂。若失去了映照你的他人，你便無法定義自己的形狀。長老慈祥的臉眉頭卻緊皺著。

老夫也無法看透你被鎖住的能力，也沒有其他能提供給你的情報了，你打算怎麼做？

雷希右手緊握放在胸口閉眼沉思，腦中浮現的是狐妖村的大家、狐姬與長老的笑容。

狐姬對不起了.....無論如何我都想找回失去的記憶，我想知道那兩個靈魂和我是什麼關係？還有我到底是誰？

為此總有一天我必須離開狐妖村去尋找真相，這意味著我無法確定自己什麼時候會回到村落，可我想知道一切，找到自己存在的理由。

雷希你真的要走嗎？你好不容易和融入村子用得著急著走！狐姬難過的不捨抱緊雷希。

狐姬、長老、村子裡的大家我自最喜歡了，雖然知道會讓大家難過.

可是我....可是我雷希淚如雨下眼神充滿決心，無論如何都想知道自己的過去。

狐姬雷希雖然是小孩，可是他從你身上學會如何獨當一面，他有能力照顧好自己的，你就成全他吧。長老安撫著狐姬。

我知道...我一直都知道這天遲早會到來，只是沒想到會那麼快。狐姬痛苦的默默低下頭，腦中浮現的是雷希的笑容與他不可思議的力量。

如果你決定要走，至少離開前跟我說一聲。狐姬悲傷的眼神帶有木已成舟的釋然......

Water mirror水鏡