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Chapter 246: Re: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree

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TL: Resonance

    伊维看着心爱的人，在他眼前变成一棵树。他一直知道可可很特别，比起其他精灵，他身上蕴含着更加纯净的自然气息。然而，他无论如何都想不到，可可竟然会是精灵族的母树——自然神木的化身。

Ivan watched his beloved turning into a tree before his eyes. He had always known that Keke was special, and that he contained a purer natural aura than other elves. However, he could never have imagined in any way that Keke would be the incarnation of the mother tree of the elven race—Teldrassil.

    在生命之泉的滋养下，消失了数百年的自然神木再次复活，重现人间，焕发出无限生机。所有人都为之欢欣鼓舞，只有伊维心如刀绞。有那么一瞬间，他自私地希望可可依然只是可可，只是属于他一个人的精灵爱人。

Under the nourishment of the Spring of Life, Teldrassil which had disappeared for hundreds of years resurrected once again and reappeared in the world radiating infinite vitality. Everyone rejoiced over it but only Ivan’s heart felt like it was cut by a knife. For a moment, he selfishly hoped that Keke was still just Keke, an elf lover who belonged to him alone.

    神木复活了，器鬼退却了，人类以及其他种族，获得了战胜器鬼族的契机。自然神木的气息，将是对抗器鬼族最有力的武器，也是延续精灵族血脉的希望。

Teldrassil is resurrected, the specters retreat, and humans, as well as other races, gain the opportunity to defeat the specters. The breath of Teldrassil will be the most powerful weapon against the specters and the hope for the continuation of the elven bloodline.

    伊维看了看跪俯在地的混血精灵，又看了看如同巨伞般伫立在天空下的自然神木，脑中想起可可最后的嘱托：帮我照顾好小精灵。

Ivan looked at the mixed-blooded elves kneeling on the ground, then looked at Teldrassil which was like a giant umbrella standing under the sky. He remembered Keke’s last request: Help me take care of the little elves.

    好，可可。伊维金色眼瞳中闪动出点点莹光：我会照顾好他们的。然后，和他们一起，等你回来。

Okay, Keke. Ivan golden pupils shone slightly: I will take care of them. Then, I will wait for you to return together with them.

    伊维成为了自然神木的守护者。觉醒了龙族血脉的他，拥有远超一般人类战士的体魄和实力，庞大的龙威，让人望而生畏。曾经企图杀死他的人，如今全都对他避之不及。精灵族也因为他对神木抱有不纯的感情而心生不满。对精灵们而言，母树无疑是神圣不可侵犯的，任何人都不能觊觎。

Ivan became the guardian of Teldrassil. He who had awakened the dragon bloodline has physique and strength which exceeds the average human warrior’s. The huge might of a dragon made people fear. The people who once tried to kill him now all avoid him. The elves are also upset because he has impure feelings for Teldrassil. To the elves, the Mother Tree is undoubtedly sacrosanct and cannot be coveted by anyone.

    众人畏惧他，疏远他，却又不得不借助他的力量对抗器鬼族。

The people feared him and distanced themselves from him, yet they had to use his power to fight the specters.

    虽然神木复活了，但器鬼族必然会想方设法将他再次封印。各族联盟的当务之急，就是竭尽所能地保护自然神木和生命之泉，同时聚集力量进行反击，直至将器鬼族全部消灭或者彻底赶出安格洛大陆。

Although Teldrassil is resurrected, the specters will certainly find a way to seal it again. The immediate task of the alliance is to do everything possible to protect Teldrassil and the Spring of Life, while gathering strength to fight back until the specters are all eliminated or completely driven out of the Anglo continent.

    伊维游离在联盟势力之外，默默守护着神木。只是精灵族不允许他靠近，更不允许他触碰。他对神木的恋慕和亲密举动，都被混血精灵视作一种侮辱。

Ivan wandered outside the alliance forces, silently guarding Teldrassil. However, the elves did not allow him to get close, let alone touch it. His fondness and intimate actions towards Teldrassil were regarded as an insult by the mixed-blood elves.

    以伊维如今的实力，完全可以无视混血精灵的阻挠，肆意而为，但他并没有这么做。距离的远近，对他和变成神木的可可而言，毫无意义。

With Ivan’s strength, he could ignore the mixed-blood elves’ obstruction and act recklessly, but he didn’t do so. The distance is meaningless to him and to Keke who has turned into Teldrassil.

    神木的复活，让大陆各方势力纷纷聚集到翡瑟森林，筑起防护圈，抵御器鬼族的进攻。

The resurrection of Teldrassil caused all the forces of the continent to gather in Fayser Forest and build a protective circle to defend against the attack of the specters.

    在几次交锋无果后，器鬼族暂时退守一隅，静待时机。双方进入胶着状态，谁也没有再贸然发动战争。在摧毁自然神木和生命之泉前，器鬼族没有必胜的把握。而各族联盟，目前也没有足以对抗器鬼族的武器和力量。

After several failed attempts, the specters temporarily retreated and waited for the right moment. The two sides entered a stalemate and no one rushed into war again. Before destroying Teldrassil and the Spring of Life, the specters were not certain of a full victory. And the alliance of all races also didn’t have enough weapons and power to fight against the specters at the moment.

    安格洛大陆迎来了相对平静的缓冲期。伊维一直记着可可的嘱托，等翡瑟森林的防御势力逐步发展壮大后，他便将小精灵从偏远的蔚霄森林带回精灵族的领地，以获得更好的保护和照顾。

Anglo continent welcomed a relatively calm buffer period. Ivan always remembered Keke’s request, and when the defense force of the Fayser Forest gradually developed and grew, he brought the little elves back from the remote Wasier Forest to the territory of the elven race for better protection and care.

    “伊维，可可真的在翡瑟森林？”小精灵中最先出生的泡泡开口问道。

“Ivan, is Keke really in Fayser Forest?” Bubbles, the first born of the little elves, asked.

    伊维点点头。

Ivan nodded his head.

    “翡瑟森林很好吗？好到可可都不愿意回去看我们了。”老二灰瞳有些闷闷不乐。

“Is the Fayser Forest very good? So good that Keke won’t even come back to see us.” The second oldest, Gray, was a bit sullen.

    伊维沉默不语。

Ivan was silent.

    泡泡鼓着腮帮子说：“等见到可可，我们都不要理他，除非他亲口向我们道歉。”

Bubbles puffed out his cheeks and said, “When we see Keke, let’s all ignore him unless he apologizes to us in person.”

    老三莱蕾捏了捏衣角，哽咽道：“我不要可可道歉，只要和他在一起就好。”

The third oldest, Lorinda, pinched the corner of her clothes and said while choking in sobs, “I don’t want Keke to apologize, I just want to be with him.”

    其他小精灵纷纷发表自己的意见，讨论着见到可可后，应该怎么做。唯一没有说话的，是排行第五的小精灵米迦列，他是一个哑巴，与别的小精灵兴奋、期待、忿忿的心情不同，他眼中流露的是一丝淡淡的忧伤。

The other elves voiced their opinions one after another, discussing what they should do when they saw Keke. The only one who didn’t speak was the fifth elf, Michael. He was a mute, and unlike the other elves who were excited, expectant and angry, there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

    当伊维带着小精灵出现在翡瑟森林时，所有混血精灵都震惊了。自从自然神木和生命之泉消失后，大陆上的纯血精灵几乎绝迹，没想到神木精灵不仅靠自己的力量存活下来，为精灵族留下了一线生机，而且还保住了十二只纯血精灵。

When Ivan appeared in the Fayser Forest with the elves, all the mixed-blood elves were shocked. Ever since the disappearance of Teldrassil and the Spring of Life, the pure-blooded elves on the continent were almost extinct. It was unexpected that not only did the elf survive with his own power, leaving a ray of life for the elven race, but also saved the twelve pure-blooded elves.

    相对于力量驳杂的混血精灵，拥有自然天赋的纯血精灵才是器鬼族真正的天敌。

Compared to the mixed-blood elves with mixed powers, the pure-blood elves with natural talents are the true natural enemies of the specters.

    然而，他们很快发现一个残酷的事实，十二只小精灵，身上全都带有残缺。体质孱弱的泡泡，左眼失明的灰瞳，身中火毒的莱蕾，耳聋的无音，哑巴米迦列，没有痛感的萨拉，失去嗅觉的沙狄，记忆短暂的卡妮欧，双腿无力的希尔，皮肤树皮化的阿拉姆，畏惧阳光的弥夜，头发干硬的艾利卡。

However, they soon discovered a cruel fact. The 12 little elves all had disabilities. Bubble who has a weak body, Gray who was blind in the left eye, Lorinda who was poisoned, Wuyin who was deaf, Michael who was mute, Sara who can’t feel pain, Shadi who can’t smell, Kanyo who has short memory, Shear who has weak legs, Aram whose skin was like tree barks, Miya who fears the sun, and Erika who has dry, hard hair.

    传说中完美的纯血精灵，竟然全都成了残疾。

The legendary perfect pure-blood elves were all disabled.

    这个发现，让原本激动的混血精灵瞬间冷却下来。不过天生带着对纯血精灵的尊敬，他们依然肩负起保护的职责。

This discovery instantly cooled down the originally excited mixed-blood elves. But born with respect for the pure-blooded elves, they still took up the responsibility of protecting.

    单纯的小精灵并没有注意别人异样的目光，他们兴冲冲地来到翡瑟森林的腹地，却没有见到想见的人。

The simple little elves didn’t notice the strange gazes of others. They excitedly rushed to the center of the Fayser Forest, but didn’t see the person they wanted to meet.

    站在巍峨的自然神木前，小精灵问：“伊维，可可呢？”

Standing in front of the towering Teldrassil, the elves asked, “Ivan, where’s Keke?”

    “就在这里。”

“Right here.”

    小精灵们望着眼前这棵大树，感受着它身上属性的气息，尽管是如此亲切，但不知道为什么，小精灵们都忍不住流出了眼泪。他们觉得，从前陪伴他们的可可，已经不在了。

The elves looked at the big tree in front of them and felt its breath. Despite it being so kind, for some reason, the elves couldn’t help but cry. They felt that Keke who used to accompany them was no longer around.

    在他们幼小的心灵中，有血有肉的可可，会说会笑的可可，保护和教养他们的可可，是比自然神木更加重要的存在。

In their young minds, the Keke who has flesh and blood, the Keke who can talk and laugh, the Keke who protects and teaches them, is a more important existence than Teldrassil.

    自然神木关系着精灵族的存亡，它是如此神圣，如此生机勃勃，但它，没有灵魂。

Teldrassil is related to the survival of the elves. It is so sacred, so vibrant, but it has no soul.

    小精灵抱着自然神木，哭得稀里哗啦。

The little elves hugged Teldrassil and cried their eyes out.

    混血精灵们表示十分费解：“自然神木的复活是精灵族乃至整个大陆的福音，你们身为纯血精灵，应该高兴才对啊？”

The mixed-blood elves were very puzzled: “The resurrection of Teldrassil is a gospel for the elves and the whole continent. Shouldn’t you as pure-blood elves be happy?”

    小精灵无法用言语表达心中的感受，他们只知道，失去灵魂的自然神木，根本不是完整的自然神木。

The little elves weren’t able to express the feelings in their hearts with words. They only knew that Teldrassil that had lost its soul was not the complete Teldrassil at all.

    哭闹一番后，小精灵最终不得不接受这个现实。可可变成了自然神木，再也不能对他们笑，再也无法和他们说话，再也不会给他们做衣服……

After crying, the little elves finally had to accept this reality. Keke turned into Teldrassil and was no longer able to smile at them, talk to them, and was no longer able to make clothes for them… 

    面对陌生的环境，陌生的人，小精灵们在伊维的保护下，努力地适应着。

Faced with the new environment and unknown people, the elves struggled to adapt under the protection of Ivan.

    然而，他们的残疾，还是给他们带来了很大的影响。开始的时候，混血精灵们还能做到无微不至，但随着小精灵暴露出来的缺陷越来越多，他们逐渐失去了耐心。混血精灵与纯血精灵不同，他们的心思更接近复杂的人类，不可避免地拥有私心、偏见以及各种负面情绪。当他们心目中完美的纯血精灵，变成可怜的残疾后，那种仰望崇敬的心态，逐渐被恼怒、轻视和某种莫名的优越感所替代。

Their disabilities, however, still had a great impact on them. At the beginning, the mixed-blood elves were able to remain meticulous. But as the little elves exposed more and more defects, they gradually lost their patience. Mixed-blood elves are different from pure-blood elves in that their minds are closer to complex humans’ ones and inevitably possess selfishness, prejudice, and various negative emotions. When the pure-blood elves, who were perfect in their minds, became pitiful, disabled existence, the mindset of admiration and reverence was gradually replaced by irritation, contempt and some inexplicable sense of superiority.

    他们或许没有歹意，但他们越来越明显的漠视和鄙夷，还是让敏感的小精灵受到了莫大的伤害。

They may not have evil intentions, but their increasingly obvious indifference and contempt still caused the sensitive little elves to suffer greatly.

    原本开朗的小精灵们，变得越来越沉默，越来越自卑。原本在尚可耐心引导下而稳步提升的自然之力，也开始停滞不前。

The originally cheerful elves became more and more silent and felt more inferior. The power of nature, which had been steadily improving under the patient guidance of Shangke, also began to stagnate.

    即使有自然神木和生命之泉的滋养，他们依然没有进步。众人原本想将他们培养成为对付器鬼族的主力，但见到他们如此不堪造就，实力甚至连普通混血精灵都不如，众人感到无比失望，再也不愿意在他们身上投入更多精力。

Even with the nourishment of Teldrassil and the Spring of Life, they still did not progress. The crowd originally wanted to train them to become the main force against the specters, but seeing that they were so unpromising and their strength was even inferior to that of the ordinary mixed-blood elves, the people were overwhelmed with disappointment and were no longer willing to invest more energy in them.

    小精灵们被当作珍稀的纯血精灵，孤立地圈养起来。虽然没有受到任何虐待，身边还有很多仆人侍奉，但他们觉得，他们已经被抛弃了。

The little elves were treated as rare pure-blood elves and kept in captivity in isolation. Although they were not mistreated in any way and were served by many servants, they felt that they had been abandoned.

    伊维将小精灵们带回精灵族的领地，原本是希望他们能够更好的成长，但是在这种环境下，小精灵们恐怕再也无法成长。其他种族只是把小精灵当作对抗器鬼族的武器，无法战斗的纯血精灵，对他们毫无意义。混血精灵却只知道埋怨小精灵的弱小，轻视小精灵的残疾，拥有太多私欲的他们，根本没有养育和教导小精灵的能力。

Ivan brought the elves back to the elven territories, originally hoping that they would grow up better. But in this environment, he is afraid that the elves would probably never grow up again. The other races only treated the elves as weapons against the specters, and the pure-blooded elves who could not fight were meaningless to them. The mixed-blood elves, however, only know how to complain about the weakness of the elves and despise their disabilities. They who have too many selfish desires do not have the ability to raise and teach the little elves.

    伊维希望小精灵们能够无忧无虑地生活，既然在翡瑟森林得不到应有的照顾，那他们还不如回到蔚霄森林去。

Ivan wanted the elves to live a carefree life. Since they did not get the care they deserve in the Fayser Forest, they might as well go back to the Wasier Forest.

    于是有一天，伊维带着小精灵们悄悄离开了翡瑟森林，从此销声匿迹。

So one day, Ivan took the little elves and left the Fayser Forest quietly, disappearing from the scene ever since.

    小精灵的离开，虽然让混血精灵感到无比愤怒，但他们并没有多余的精力去寻找他们，因为器鬼族再次向各族联盟发动了进攻。

Although the mixed-blood elves were very angry that the little elves left, they didn’t have the energy to look for them, because the specters attacked the Alliance again.

    接下来几年，双方展开了大大小小数十场战役，各有胜负。但是因为无法大批量生产克制器鬼族的强力武器，也没有可以抵挡他们的强大战力，各族势力始终处于劣势。

Over the next few years, the two sides waged dozens of battles, large and small, with each side winning and losing. But because of the inability to mass-produce powerful weapons to counteract the specters and the lack of a powerful force to resist them, the alliance was always at a disadvantage.

    双方对战的第五年，器鬼族联合他们统治下的傀儡国家，开始对各族势力进行围剿和屠杀。各族的力量大多集中在翡瑟森林，本土实力相对薄弱，面对强大的器鬼族，几乎没有反抗之力。各族不得不分兵救援，原本凝聚的力量被逐步分化，战场局势立时逆转。

In the fifth year of the war, the specters united with the puppet countries under their rule and began to encircle and slaughter the forces of the alliance. Most of the alliance’s forces were concentrated in the Fayser Forest, and their strength in their own country was relatively weak. They had no power to resist at all when facing the strong specters. The various clans had to divide their forces to rescue them, and the original concentrated forces were gradually divided. The situation on the battlefield was immediately reversed.

    不过一年时间，安格洛大陆只剩下翡瑟森林一股势力勉强可与器鬼族抗衡。

In a year’s time, there was only one force left in the Anglo continent that could barely stand up against the specters.

    器鬼族占据优势，决定向翡瑟森林发动一次总攻，彻底摧毁自然神木和生命之泉。

The specters had the advantage and decided to launch an all out attack on Fayser Forest to completely destroy Teldrassil and the Spring of Life.

    器鬼族倾巢而出，士气高涨，各族势力节节败退，很快被围困在翡瑟森林的中心。自然神木和生命之泉是他们最后的希望，一旦被器鬼族摧毁，大陆将彻底沦为地狱。他们只能拼死一战，即使这是必输的一战。

The specters came out in full force, their morale was high. The alliance retreated in defeat and they were soon encircled in the center of the Fayser Forest. Teldrassil and the Spring of Life were their last hope. Once they were destroyed by the specters, the continent would be completely reduced to hell. They could only fight to the death, even if it was a battle they were bound to lose.

    就在危机之际，失踪了几年的伊维出现了。自然神木是可可的依托和精灵的希望，他又怎么会看着器鬼族破坏这里的一切？

At the moment of crisis, Ivan, who had been missing for several years, appeared. Teldrassil is Keke’s support and the hope of the elves, how can he watch the specters destroy everything here?

    伊维发动了龙族的天赋力量，以钢铁之躯，顽强地挡住了器鬼族的攻势。但是，凭他一己之力，并不能彻底击垮敌人，直到小精灵赶到。

Ivan unleashed the dragon’s innate powers, with the body of steel, he tenaciously blocked the specters’ attack. However, he was not able to completely defeat the enemy with his own power, until the little elves arrived.

    他们原本被伊维留在了蔚霄森林，经过几年的平静生活，他们的实力虽然没有获得大幅度提升，但心态已经成熟许多，血脉中的使命感，让他们毫不犹豫地选择了参战。

They were originally left in Wasier Forest by Ivan. After several years of peaceful life, their strength did not greatly improve, but their mindset has matured a lot. Feeling the sense of mission in their blood, they did not hesitate and chose to participate in the war.

    单独一个小精灵的力量或许弱小，但十二个小精灵联合起来，瞬间爆发出了惊人的力量。纯净的自然之力，让器鬼族痛不欲生。

The power of a single elf may be weak, but 12 elves united and instantly exploded with astonishing power. The pure power of nature caused the specters to hurt.

    他们站在神木之下，燃烧自己的生命，释放自己最大的力量，强横地将器鬼驱逐出他们的领土。

They stood under Teldrassil, burning their own lives and releasing their greatest power to forcefully expel the specters from their territory.

    各族势力在他们的辅助下，奋力反击，一举剿灭了器鬼族大半主力。经此一役，器鬼族元气大伤，两三年内，恐怕都无法再发动大规模战争。

Aided by them, the alliance fought back and eliminated most of the main forces of the specter in one fell swoop. After this battle, the specters were greatly wounded, and within the next two or three years, they probably couldn’t start another large-scale war.

    然而，当各族战士带着激动的心情回到翡瑟森林时，看到的却是让他们永远无法忘记的一幕。

However, when the warriors returned to the Fayser Forest with excitement, what they saw was a scene that they could never forget.

    十二个小精灵，手牵着手，全身散发着淡绿色的光芒，神色肃穆地仰望着自然神木，口中吟唱着神秘的咒语，仿佛正在进行某种特殊仪式，神圣而庄严。

The 12 little elves held hands, and their whole body exuded a pale green light. They looked up at Teldrassil solemnly and were chanting mysterious incantations under their breath, as if they were performing some special ritual, sacred and solemn.

    随着他们的吟唱，满目苍夷的森林，如同被洗礼一般，重新焕发生机。

With their chanting, the pale forest, as if being baptized, rejuvenated.

    但是，这场仪式还没有完成便被中断了。体质孱弱的泡泡，在仪式过程中最先停止呼吸。接着是莱蕾火毒发作，沙狄、卡西欧、弥夜紧随其后……相继死亡，最后，只剩下了没有痛觉的萨拉和哑巴米迦列。

However, the ritual was interrupted before it was completed. Bubbles who had a weak body was the first to stop breathing during the ritual. Then it was Lorinda whose poison acted up, and Shadi, Cassio, and Miya followed… They died one after another, and finally, only Sara who couldn’t feel pain and the mute Michael remained.

    他转过头，看向一旁的伊维，艰难地笑道：“伊维，我终于知道什么叫‘痛’了。”他捂住胸口，眼泪顺颊而下。

He turned his head and looked at Ivan who was at the side and laughed with much difficulty: “Ivan, I finally know what ‘pain’ is.” He covered his chest, tears falling down his cheeks.

    伊维抱着他，心痛得无法自已。

Ivan hugged him and his heart ached uncontrollably.

    很奇怪的，米迦列脸上反而没有悲伤。他望着眼前的自然神木，无声地说了一句话。

Strangely enough, there was no sadness on Michael’s face. He looked at Teldrassil in front of him and said something silently.

    沉浸在懊悔和伤痛中的伊维并没有注意，米加列说的是：死亡，并不代表结束，可可，我们等你，再次回归。

Immersed in regret and pain, Ivan did not notice that what Michael said was: Death does not mean the end. Keke, we will wait for you to return again.

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