第二名字

Second Name

「怎麼了，Tili，你看起來有點沮喪？」Itfut說。

“W hat is it Tili, you seem a little down?” said Itfut.

「不只是一點，是很多，」Matilda回答。「這很奇怪也很可怕。我的世界如此接近，我可以伸手觸碰，但我卻無法。現在，那裡的一切都在發生，但不是為我，也完全沒有我。」

“Not a little, a lot,” replied Matilda. It’s strange and terrible. My world is so close I could reach out my hand and touch it, and yet I can’t. Now, everything there is happening but not to me, and totally without me”

「別難過。我不是答應過你我們會回家嗎？」

“Don’t be sad. Didn’t I promise you that we would go home?”

「Futi，Futichka，我想相信你，我真的想，但如果你不記得如何與這種現實接觸，你能做什麼？」

“Futi, Futichka, I want to believe you, I really do, but what can you possibly do if you can’t remember how to engage with this kind of reality?”

「別忘了，我是女祭司，女祭司不會就這樣永遠失去她們的天賦。而且你有一些東西。」

“Don’t forget, I’m a priestess, and priestesses don’t lose their gifts irrevocably, just like that. And there is something you have.”

「我的蝴蝶結？」

“My bow?”

「蝴蝶結只是幫助你感受到你一直擁有的東西。在你的脊椎周圍有一個槓桿或觸發器，你可以用它來塑造現實。」

“The bow simply helped you feel something you’ve always had. A certain lever or trigger around your spine which you can use to shape reality.”

「是的，但我們還不完全知道那是什麼。我所能做的就是給那個女孩一巴掌，而且那還是在鏡子的另一邊。那個槓桿觸發器不讓我們穿過到另一邊。」

“Yes, but we don’t yet fully know what it is. All I could do was give that girl a slap, and even that was on the other side of the mirror. The lever-trigger thing won’t let us pass through to the other side.”

「不只有你有這個，」Itfut說。「我還不知道那究竟是什麼，但你肯定有些特別的東西。你自己說過，你是特別的。」

“You’re not the only one who has it,” said Itfut. “I don’t yet know precisely what it is, but you definitely do have something. You said yourself, that you are special.”

「我說過嗎？什麼時候？」Matilda問。

“Did I? When?” asked Matilda.

「你不會忘了那個喝牛奶湯的女孩吧？」 「啊，那只是小孩子的虛張聲勢……」

“Surely you haven’t forgotten the girl with the milk soup?” “Ah, that was just childish bravado...”

「不，那不僅僅是這樣。你是特別的。這是真的。告訴我，你看到了什麼？你此刻如何看待現實？」

“No, it was more than that. You are special. It’s true. Tell me, what do you see? How do you see reality in this moment?”

「哦，Futi，我覺得我們就像被困在水族館裡的魚。玻璃外是開放的海洋，但我們無法到達那裡。」

“Oh, Futi, I see us as being like fish stuck in an aquarium. Beyond the glass is the open sea but we have no way of getting to it.”

「不，這不是水族館。海洋在那邊，但這邊和那邊是一樣的，記得嗎？」

“No, this isn’t an aquarium. The sea is on that side, but this side is the same at that, remember?”

「你是什麼意思，一樣？」

“What do you mean, the same?”

「我無法解釋。我只知道那裡的東西在某種鏡像意義上也在這裡。我們必須反射出相反的東西。」

“I can’t explain it. I just know that what is there is equally here in some mirror- like sense. We have to reflect back the opposite.”

「你又在說謎語了，Futi。」 「我只是需要記起一些事情。」

“You’re talking in riddles as usual, Futi.” “I just need to remember something.”

「你能不能問問，你知道的，那個你叫做門檻的東西？」

“Could you ask, you know, that thing you call Threshold?”

「試試看吧。門檻，你在哪裡？」Itfut喊道。「你在這裡嗎？」

“Let’s try. Threshold, where are you?” shouted Itfut. “Are you here?”

就在那一刻，一陣風從四面八方吹來。「我在這裡，也在每個地方，這裡和每個地方。」一個耳語回應。「你能告訴我們，如何穿過鏡子嗎？」女祭司問。「記住你的名字，女祭司-女祭司！」門檻回答。

In that moment a wind picked up that seemed to blow from all directions. “I am here and everywhere, here and everywhere.” a whisper responded. “Can you tell us, how to pass through the mirror?” asked the priestess. “Remember your name, priestess-priestess!” answered Threshold.

「但你自己說了我的名字！我不是Itfut嗎？」

“But you said my name yourself! Am I not Itfut?”

「記住你的第二個名字，知識將逐漸回到你身上！」

“Remember your second name and Knowledge will gradually return to you!”

「逐漸……？」Itfut剛說完，風就平息了，無論朋友們怎麼呼喚，耳語都不再回應。

“Gradually...?” Itfut barely had time to speak than the wind subsided, and the whisper would not respond however much the friends tried to call it back.

「你的顧問話不多，是吧，」Matilda評論道。

“Your adviser does not say much, does he,” Matilda commented.

「是的，指望他解釋是沒用的，」Itfut說。「但他的話背後總是有些東西，一些重要的東西。」

“No, there’s no point in expecting an explanation from him,” said Itfut. “But still, there is always something behind his words, something important.”

「他所說的你的『第二個』名字是什麼意思？這對你有什麼啟發嗎？」

“What does he mean by your ‘second’ name? Does that trigger anything for you?”

「不，我不知道。唯一知道的是，當我第一次聽到這個名字時，Itfut感覺像是我的又不是我的。」

“No, I have no idea. All I know is that when I first heard it, the name Itfut felt as if it was mine and not mine at the same time.”

「看吧，又是謎語。」

“There we go. Nothing but riddles again.”

「我們必須想辦法自己解決這個困境。但如果門檻承諾了什麼，這意味著還有希望。」

“We’ll have to get ourselves out of this mess somehow. But if Threshold has promised something, it means there’s hope.”

「Futi，這正是看看你現實的好時機。也許這樣我們會更清楚，」Matilda建議。

“Futi, this is the perfect time to look at your reality. Perhaps things will become clearer if we do,” suggested Matilda.

「是的，你說得對。我們應該。」 「那就開始吧，快，快！」

“Yes, you’re right. We should.” “Then let’s start, quick, quick!”

女祭司專注地將目光轉向鏡子的方向。她的眼神似乎沒有聚焦在任何特定的東西上，而她的臉上出現了魔鬼般的特徵，暗示著她脆弱外表下隱藏著非凡的堅強性格。鏡子變成了一個黑色屏幕。幾秒鐘後，屏幕上開始出現彩虹色的閃光，然後逐漸浮現出一個極其美麗的地方的場景。

The priestess concentrated and turned her gaze in the direction of the mirror. Her eyes looked as if they were unfocused on anything in particular while demonic features appeared on her face hinting at an extraordinarily strong character hidden behind her fragile appearance. The mirror transformed into a black screen. A few moments later, flashes began appearing across the screen in all the colors of the rainbow and then gradually, a scene emerged of an incredibly beautiful place.

從整體場景來看，這是一個溫暖的夏夜。太陽已經落下，但天空被閃爍的綠色和藍色光芒照亮。景觀的中心是一條鋪有光滑石板的寬闊小徑。兩側是延伸向各個方向的狹窄小路，覆蓋著柔軟而富有彈性的苔蘚地毯。小路和小徑都被修剪整齊的開花灌木和樹木框住。到處都有來自未知來源的柔和光芒，使整個景觀清晰可見，同時也讓它籠罩在一種舒適的暮色中，特別是在更隱秘的角落。光與影的華麗演繹由花朵及其大膽綻放的花蕾發出的螢光輝光強調出來。它們似乎並沒有打擾暮色的親密感，而是試圖展示自己的全部榮耀。

Judging by the general scene, it was a warm summer evening. The sun had already set but the sky was illuminated with a shimmering green and blue light. The central part of the landscape was taken up by a wide alley laid with smooth paving slabs. On either side, narrow paths extending in various directions were covered in carpets of soft, springy moss. The paths like the alley were framed with manicured plantings of flowering shrubs and trees. Everywhere, a soft light glowed from an unknown source making the entire landscape visible, and at the same time, keeping it wrapped in a cozy twilight, especially in the more secluded corners. The magnificent play of light and shadow was accentuated by a fluorescent radiance that emanated from the flowers and their unabashedly wide-open buds. Rather than intrude on the intimacy of the twilight they simply seemed to be trying to show themselves in all their glory.

沿著小徑和迷宮般的路徑，人們成雙成對地行走，有些則是小群體或獨自一人。他們都穿著不同剪裁和形狀的衣服，但顏色都是相同的米色。有些人沉默不語，其他人則在彼此間輕聲交談。相遇時，他們會用指尖輕觸對方的臉頰，微笑著繼續前行，不發一語。夏夜的寧靜被一群不安分的蚱蜢樂隊所補充。

Along the alleys and maze of paths, people walked in pairs, others in small groups or individually. They are all dressed in clothing of different cuts and shapes yet in the same beige color. Some were silent, others chatted quietly among themselves. On meeting, they would touch each other’s cheeks with the tips of their fingers, smile and continue on their way without saying a word. The peaceful quiet of the summer evening was complemented by an orchestra of restless grasshoppers.

「天啊，太美了！」Matilda驚呼。「我從未見過如此美麗的東西！」

“God, it’s so beautiful!” Matilda exclaimed. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!”

「你能聽到蚱蜢們多麼努力地演奏嗎？」Itfut說。「它們真勤奮！還有那香味，你能聞到嗎？」

“Can you hear the grasshoppers and how much effort they’re making?” said Itfut. “They’re so diligent! And the aroma, can you smell it?”

似乎鏡子並沒有阻擋這些充滿花香和草藥香味的美妙空氣穿越到另一邊。

The mirror it seemed did nothing to hinder the wonderful air filled with the smell of flowers and herbs from crossing over to the other side.

「Futi，你是住在天堂還是什麼？我已經迫不及待想去那裡了！你還要折磨我多久？」

“Futi, do you live in paradise or something? I’m already desperate to go there! How much longer are you going to torture me?”

「等等，這才剛剛開始。」

“Wait, this is just the beginning.”

場景中的大多數人沿著小徑朝著一個小廣場移動。廣場上方矗立著一座古典風格的神廟，裝飾著孔雀石、深藍色的柱子和鍍金的壁畫。整個建築被一種奇怪的光源從各個方向照亮。當廣場上聚集了足夠多的人後，一位身穿白袍的灰髮老人出現在神廟台階上。他伸出雙臂示意安靜。整個廣場在期待中變得寂靜。

The majority of people in the scene were moving along the alley in the direction of a small square. Above the square towered a classical-style temple decorated with malachite, deep-blue columns and gilded frescoes. The entire building was lit on all sides by a strange source of light. Once enough people had gathered in the square, an old, gray-haired man dressed in a white robe appeared on the temple steps. He stretched his arms out signaling for silence. The entire square became hushed in anticipation.

「那是我的老師，」Itfut低聲說，彷彿害怕被聽到。

“That’s my Teacher,” whispered Itfut, as if afraid she would be overheard.

「你看，你已經開始記起來了。我們越來越接近了，」Matilda也低聲回應。

“You see, you’re already remembering. We’re getting warmer,” Matilda whispered back.

老人合掌，然後分開雙手，一個透明的金色球體出現在他的手掌之間。接著他向前伸出雙臂，然後向兩側展開，球體飛向廣場上空，體積增大，並降下金色的雨。廣場上的人們興奮地接住金色的雨滴，小心翼翼地放在手掌中。然後每個人都對著他們的金色雨滴吹氣，彷彿它是一個火花，不久他們的手中都充滿了金色的發光球。在老師的指令下，他們都舉起雙手，球體升上天空，然後化作輝光，展開在天空中。

The old man brought his palms together, then pulled them apart and a translucent, golden ball appeared between his palms. Then he stretched his arms forward and extended them out to the sides, and the ball took off above the square increasing in size and showered down in golden rain. The people in the square caught the golden drops with enthralled shouts carefully placing them in the palm of their hands. Then each one blew at their golden drop as if it were a spark and soon all their hands are filled with golden glowing balls. On the Teacher’s command, they all raised their hands and the balls soared upwards before dissolving into a radiance that unfolded across the sky.

「那些球是什麼，Itfut？」Matilda問。「愛的能量，」Itfut回答。

“What are those balls, Itfut?” asked Matilda. “Love energy,” replied Itfut.

「那麼這些光是從哪裡來的？有什麼隱藏的照明系統嗎？」

“And where is all this light coming from? Is there some kind of hidden illumination system?”

「不，是神在看著我們。我們把愛傳送給他們，他們就照亮我們的儀式。」

“No, it’s the Gods watching us. We send them our love and they illuminate our ritual.”

「這是什麼儀式？」

“What’s the ritual?”

「你現在就會看到。這是人們如何找到他們的伴侶，他們的另一半。」

“You’ll see it now. It’s how people find their partner, their other half.”

聚集在廣場上的人們向邊緣移動，留下大約二十名不同年齡的男女在中心。這群人圍成一個圈，然後將手掌貼在旁邊人的手掌上，閉合成圈。音樂也在播放，但與其說是旋律，不如說是一系列的顫音和和弦，類似於豎琴和風琴的聲音。人們開始隨著聲音的節拍平穩而自由地轉動，每轉一圈就沿著圓圈走一步，整個圓舞變成了一場優雅的華爾滋。

The people who were gathered in the square made way moving towards the edges, leaving just two dozen men and women of different ages at the center. This group arranged themselves in a circle and then closed it by pressing their palms up against the palm of the person standing next to them. Music was also playing but instead of a melody, it was more like a series of trills and chords similar to the sounds of a harp and an organ. The people began to turn smoothly and freely to the beat of the sounds, with each turn taking a step around the circle, so that the whole round dance was transformed into a graceful waltz.

隨著他們的轉動，他們逐漸開始獲得不同顏色的光環：紅色、白色、藍色、黃色、綠色、紫色、橙色和其他色調。然後可以看出，圈子中的一些人擁有相同顏色的光環。注意到彼此後，這些配對者牽著手離開圓圈舞，走上神廟的台階。其他人繼續轉動，直到只剩下那些光環顏色不匹配的人。音樂漸漸消退，舞者們靜止不動，然後轉向中心，用指尖輕觸彼此，此時他們的光環消失。完全不尷尬地，他們轉身微笑著分開，向不同方向走去。

As they turned, they all gradually began to acquire different colored auras: red, white, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange and other shades. Then it became clear that some of the individuals in the circle shared the same color aura. Noticing each other, these pairs left the circle dance taking each other by the hand and climbing up the temple steps. The others continued turning until only those remained whose aura colors did not match. The music faded, the dancers became still, and then they turned to face the center touching each other with the tips of their fingers at which point their auras faded. Totally unembarrassed, they turned around and parted with a smile moving off in different directions.

「太神奇了，Futi。我全明白了！」Matilda驚呼。「這很美，不是嗎？」Itfut說。

“That was amazing, Futi. I understand it all!” exclaimed Matilda. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” said Itfut.

「太棒了！只是那些沒有找到另一半的人怎麼辦？」

“Awesome! Only what about the ones who didn’t find their other half?”

「他們會找到的，也許下次或者再下次。但他們一定會找到。」

“They’ll find them, maybe next time or the time after that. But they’ll definitely find them.”

「會不會有超過兩個人的顏色匹配的情況？」 「有可能，但很少見。」

“Does it ever happen that more than two people’s colors match?” “It is possible, but you rarely come across it.”

「如果有三個人匹配，他們怎麼解決？」

“And how do they sort it out between themselves if there are three of them for example?”

「別擔心。他們會解決的。選擇的配對者仍然不能保證會在一起。你認為要怎樣才能實現？」

“Don’t worry. They work it out. There’s still no guarantee that the chosen pairs will be together. What do you think it takes for that to happen?” “Love?”

「愛？」

“Exactly. Compatibility doesn’t guarantee the birth of love. Often couples find each other without the need for ritual. The ritual just helps them make an appropriate choice.”

「你有參加過那樣的儀式嗎？」

“Have you ever taken part in a ritual like that?”

「沒有，我是為了成為高級女祭司的特殊地位而準備的。如果我現在在那裡，那將是以老師的身份。」

“No, I was prepared for the special status of High Priestess. If I was there now, it would be in the position of Teacher.”

「Futi，你是說你註定要孤獨嗎？」

“Futi, are you saying that you’re doomed to solitude?”

「不完全是。我有過一些關係，但我還沒有找到我選中的那個。」

“Not quite. I’ve had a number of relationships but I still haven’t found my chosen one.”

「還沒找到配得上你的人？」

“Haven’t found anyone worthy of you?”

「不是他們不配……你知道，很多人可能想接近我，但他們對我的地位有所顧忌。或者，也許對他們來說，我顯得難以接近。」

“It’s not that they weren’t worthy... You know, many might well want to be close to me, but they are wary of my status. Or, perhaps, to them, I appear inaccessible.”

「你真的難以接近嗎？」

“Are you inaccessible?”

「哈哈哈，Tili，我是一個普通而平易近人的人！」女祭司笑著說，然後給了Matilda一個擁抱。「但我也是非凡且難以接近的。這就是我！」

“Ha, ha, ha, Tili, I’m an ordinary, approachable person!” said the priestess who laughed and then gave Matilda a hug. “But I am also extraordinary and unapproachable. That’s just how I am!”

「那你會理解我的！順便說一下，我確實理解。只是可惜我們缺少勇敢的男士，能真正欣賞你是誰。」

“You’ll understand me then! I do understand by the way. It’s just a pity that we have a deficit of courageous guys, who could truly appreciate who you really are.”

「那我到底是誰？」

“And who am I really?”

「你很了不起，你很精彩，你令人著迷！你就是愛本身！」 「嗯，不完全是，」Itfut說。「你看到我臉上的彩繪了嗎？」

“You’re amazing, you’re wonderful, you’re entrancing! You are love itself!” “Well, not exactly,” said Itfut. “You see my face paint?”

「是的，那象徵著什麼？」Matilda問。

“Yes, what does it symbolize?” asked Matilda.

「愛有兩面。我想你自己也知道。」 「是哪兩面？」

“There are two sides to love. I imagine you know that yourself.” “What are they?”

「你即將發現。」

“You’re about to find out.”

與此同時，選中的配對者走下神廟的台階，手牽手去散步。其餘的人群則沿著迷宮般的小路四處漫步。

Meanwhile, the chosen pairs descended the temple steps and went for a walk holding hands. The rest of the crowd wandered off in various directions along the labyrinthine paths.

「就這樣嗎？展示結束了？」Matilda問。「不，實體遊行很快就要開始了，」Itfut回答。「那是什麼？」

“Is that it? The presentation is finished?” asked Matilda. “No, soon the entity parade will begin,” replied Itfut. “What’s that?”

「你會看到的，Tili，你會看到的。」

“You’ll see Tili, you’ll see.”

第二名字

Second Name

「怎麼了，Tili？你看起來有點低落。」Itfut問道。

“W hat is it Tili, you seem a little down?” said Itfut.

「一點點不止，是很多。」Matilda回答，「真奇怪又可怕，我的世界近在眼前，伸手就能觸摸，卻怎麼也碰不到。現在，那邊的一切都在發生，卻與我無關，彷彿我全然不存在其中。」

“Not a little, a lot,” replied Matilda. It’s strange and terrible. My world is so close I could reach out my hand and touch it, and yet I can’t. Now, everything there is happening but not to me, and totally without me”

「別傷心。難道我沒答應過我們會回家嗎？」

“Don’t be sad. Didn’t I promise you that we would go home?”

「Futi，Futichka，我真想相信你，真的，但如果你連如何與這種現實互動都忘了，你又能做什麼呢？」

“Futi, Futichka, I want to believe you, I really do, but what can you possibly do if you can’t remember how to engage with this kind of reality?”

「別忘了，我可是個祭司，祭司絕不會輕易失去她們的天賦，就那麼消散。而且，你也擁有某種特別的東西。」

“Don’t forget, I’m a priestess, and priestesses don’t lose their gifts irrevocably, just like that. And there is something you have.”

「我的蝴蝶結？」

“My bow?”

「那蝴蝶結只是幫你感受到你一直以來所擁有的一種力量——在你脊椎周圍的一個槓桿或觸發器，你可以藉此塑造現實。」

“The bow simply helped you feel something you’ve always had. A certain lever or trigger around your spine which you can use to shape reality.”

「是的，但我們還不完全弄清那究竟是什麼。我所做的僅僅是給那女孩一巴掌，而那也僅限於鏡子那邊。那個槓桿觸發器根本不允許我們穿越到另一側。」

“Yes, but we don’t yet fully know what it is. All I could do was give that girl a slap, and even that was on the other side of the mirror. The lever-trigger thing won’t let us pass through to the other side.”

「不是只有你擁有那個東西，」Itfut說，「我還不確定它的真正含義，但你肯定擁有些什麼。你自己也曾說過，你很特別。」

“You’re not the only one who has it,” said Itfut. “I don’t yet know precisely what it is, but you definitely do have something. You said yourself, that you are special.”

「我說過？什麼時候？」Matilda問道。

“Did I? When?” asked Matilda.

「難道你真的忘了那個喝著牛奶湯的女孩？」 「啊，那只不過是幼稚的虛張聲勢罷了……」

“Surely you haven’t forgotten the girl with the milk soup?” “Ah, that was just childish bravado...”

「不，事情遠不止於此。你確實與眾不同。這是真的。告訴我，你看到了什麼？此刻你又是如何看待現實的？」

“No, it was more than that. You are special. It’s true. Tell me, what do you see? How do you see reality in this moment?”

「哦，Futi，我覺得我們就像被困在水族箱中的魚。玻璃外面的無垠大海觸手可及，卻又遙不可及。」

“Oh, Futi, I see us as being like fish stuck in an aquarium. Beyond the glass is the open sea but we have no way of getting to it.”

「不，這並不是水族箱。大海確實在那邊，但這邊也同樣如此，記得嗎？」

“No, this isn’t an aquarium. The sea is on that side, but this side is the same at that, remember?”

「你說的‘同樣’是什麼意思？」

“What do you mean, the same?”

「我無法仔細解釋，我只知道，那邊的存在在某種鏡子般的意義上，也同樣存在於這裡。我們必須將對立面回映回去。」

“I can’t explain it. I just know that what is there is equally here in some mirror- like sense. We have to reflect back the opposite.”

「你總是講些謎語，Futi。」 「我只需要回想起某些事情。」

“You’re talking in riddles as usual, Futi.” “I just need to remember something.”

「你能去問問那個，你知道的，那個叫做 Threshold 的東西嗎？」

“Could you ask, you know, that thing you call Threshold?”

「試試看吧。Threshold，你在哪裡？」Itfut大聲喊道，「你在這裡嗎？」

“Let’s try. Threshold, where are you?” shouted Itfut. “Are you here?”

就在那一刻，一陣風似乎從四面八方湧來，「我在這裡，也在所有地方，無所不在。」低語聲回應道。「你能告訴我們該如何穿越這面鏡子嗎？」祭司問道。「記住你的名字，祭司-祭司！」Threshold回答說。

In that moment a wind picked up that seemed to blow from all directions. “I am here and everywhere, here and everywhere.” a whisper responded. “Can you tell us, how to pass through the mirror?” asked the priestess. “Remember your name, priestess-priestess!” answered Threshold.

「但你不就是親口說過我的名字嗎？我難道不是 Itfut 嗎？」

“But you said my name yourself! Am I not Itfut?”

「記住你的第二個名字，智慧 (Knowledge) 就會漸漸回歸於你！」

“Remember your second name and Knowledge will gradually return to you!”

「漸漸地……？」Itfut話還未說完，風便平息下來，而那低語卻不再回應，無論朋友們如何呼喚都無濟於事。

“Gradually...?” Itfut barely had time to speak than the wind subsided, and the whisper would not respond however much the friends tried to call it back.

「你的顧問倒是不多言，對吧？」Matilda評論道。

“Your adviser does not say much, does he,” Matilda commented.

「沒用的，無需期望從他口中得到什麼解釋，」Itfut說，「但他話語背後總隱藏著點什麼，其實挺重要 的。」

“No, there’s no point in expecting an explanation from him,” said Itfut. “But still, there is always something behind his words, something important.”

「那你說的‘第二’名字是什麼意思？對你來說它會激起什麼感覺嗎？」

“What does he mean by your ‘second’ name? Does that trigger anything for you?”

「不，我完全搞不清楚。我只知道，當我第一次聽到那名字Itfut的時候，感覺它既屬於我，又彷彿並不屬於我。」

“No, I have no idea. All I know is that when I first heard it, the name Itfut felt as if it was mine and not mine at the same time.”

「又是一堆謎語。」

“There we go. Nothing but riddles again.”

「我們終究總得想辦法擺脫這個困境。但如果Threshold曾許下什麼承諾，就說明還有希望。」

“We’ll have to get ourselves out of this mess somehow. But if Threshold has promised something, it means there’s hope.”

「Futi，現在正是檢視你現實的最佳時機。也許這樣做會讓一切變得更加明朗，」Matilda建議道。

“Futi, this is the perfect time to look at your reality. Perhaps things will become clearer if we do,” suggested Matilda.

「是啊，你說得對，我們應該這麼做。」 「那就快點開始，快，快！」

“Yes, you’re right. We should.” “Then let’s start, quick, quick!”

那位祭司集中精神，將目光投向鏡子。她的雙眸仿佛無法聚焦在任何具體事物上，而臉上露出了一絲惡魔般的特徵，似乎在那脆弱外表下隱藏著極為強烈的個性。鏡子瞬間變幻成一塊黑屏，片刻之後，各色如彩虹般的閃光在屏上閃爍，漸漸地，一個極其美麗的景象浮現在眼前。

The priestess concentrated and turned her gaze in the direction of the mirror. Her eyes looked as if they were unfocused on anything in particular while demonic features appeared on her face hinting at an extraordinarily strong character hidden behind her fragile appearance. The mirror transformed into a black screen. A few moments later, flashes began appearing across the screen in all the colors of the rainbow and then gradually, a scene emerged of an incredibly beautiful place.

從整體氛圍來看，這似乎是一個溫暖的夏夜。雖然太陽早已落下，但天空仍瀰漫著閃爍的綠藍光芒。景致中央是一條鋪滿光滑石板的寬大道，而兩旁則是延伸至各個方向的狹窄小徑，上面鋪著柔軟而富有彈性的苔蘚地毯。這條大道和小徑周圍環繞著修剪整齊的開花灌木與樹木。無處不在的柔光來自未知的源頭，使整個景致既清晰可見，又被一層溫馨的暮光所包圍，尤其在那些隱蔽的角落尤顯浪漫。花朵及其毫不掩飾、盛放的花苞散發出的熒光進一步襯托出那壯觀的光影交錯，彷彿它們只為展示自己無上的榮耀。

Judging by the general scene, it was a warm summer evening. The sun had already set but the sky was illuminated with a shimmering green and blue light. The central part of the landscape was taken up by a wide alley laid with smooth paving slabs. On either side, narrow paths extending in various directions were covered in carpets of soft, springy moss. The paths like the alley were framed with manicured plantings of flowering shrubs and trees. Everywhere, a soft light glowed from an unknown source making the entire landscape visible, and at the same time, keeping it wrapped in a cozy twilight, especially in the more secluded corners. The magnificent play of light and shadow was accentuated by a fluorescent radiance that emanated from the flowers and their unabashedly wide-open buds. Rather than intrude on the intimacy of the twilight they simply seemed to be trying to show themselves in all their glory.

沿著這條大道與蜿蜒的迷宮般小徑，人們成雙結伴，有的組成小團體，也有獨自行走。他們穿著各式各樣，但統統是米色的服飾；有的沉默寡言，有的輕聲低語。每當相遇，他們會用指尖輕觸對方的臉頰，微笑致意後便默默繼續前行。這寧靜的夏夜還伴隨著蚱蜢群起的嘶鳴，如同一支不安卻又和諧的交響曲。

Along the alleys and maze of paths, people walked in pairs, others in small groups or individually. They are all dressed in clothing of different cuts and shapes yet in the same beige color. Some were silent, others chatted quietly among themselves. On meeting, they would touch each other’s cheeks with the tips of their fingers, smile and continue on their way without saying a word. The peaceful quiet of the summer evening was complemented by an orchestra of restless grasshoppers.

「天啊，這真是太美了！」Matilda驚呼，「我從未見過如此動人的美景！」

“God, it’s so beautiful!” Matilda exclaimed. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!”

「你能聽到蚱蜢嗎？它們那聲音中流露出的努力和堅韌多麼令人心動！」Itfut說，「它們真是勤奮極了！還有那沁人心脾的香氣，你聞到了嗎？」

“Can you hear the grasshoppers and how much effort they’re making?” said Itfut. “They’re so diligent! And the aroma, can you smell it?”

鏡子似乎絲毫不阻擋那充滿鮮花與藥草香氣的美好氛圍，任由這樣的空氣穿越到另一側。

The mirror it seemed did nothing to hinder the wonderful air filled with the smell of flowers and herbs from crossing over to the other side.

「Futi，你是在天堂住嗎？我已迫不及待想去那裡了！你還打算折磨我多久？」

“Futi, do you live in paradise or something? I’m already desperate to go there! How much longer are you going to torture me?”

「等等，這僅僅只是個開始。」

“Wait, this is just the beginning.”

畫面中大部分人正沿著狹窄的小巷走向一個小廣場。廣場上方矗立著一座古典風格的寺廟，裝飾著孔雀石、深藍色的柱子和鎏金的壁畫。整座建築物四面都被一種奇異的光芒所照亮。當廣場聚集夠了人時，一位白袍銀髮的老人出現在寺廟的台階上，他伸開雙臂示意大家保持安靜，瞬間廣場陷入一片期待的寂靜。

The majority of people in the scene were moving along the alley in the direction of a small square. Above the square towered a classical-style temple decorated with malachite, deep-blue columns and gilded frescoes. The entire building was lit on all sides by a strange source of light. Once enough people had gathered in the square, an old, gray-haired man dressed in a white robe appeared on the temple steps. He stretched his arms out signaling for silence. The entire square became hushed in anticipation.

「那是我的師父，」Itfut低聲說，彷彿怕被旁人聽見。

“That’s my Teacher,” whispered Itfut, as if afraid she would be overheard.

「你看，你已經開始記起來了，我們正逐步接近答案。」Matilda輕聲回道。

“You see, you’re already remembering. We’re getting warmer,” Matilda whispered back.

老人雙掌合十，隨後打開，頓時一個半透明的金色球體在他掌心中顯現。接著，他伸出雙臂，向前探去並平展到兩側，那金球便自廣場上空駛出，不斷增大，隨後化作金色雨點灑落下來。廣場上的人們驚喜呼喊著，小心翼翼地用手心接住這些金雨。隨後，每個人都輕輕吹拂著自己手中的金球，就像點燃了一個火花，不久之後，他們的雙手都被這些散發著金光的球體填滿。待師父一聲令下，眾人齊舉雙手，那些金球便衝向天空，最終化作一片光輝，在天際綻放。

The old man brought his palms together, then pulled them apart and a translucent, golden ball appeared between his palms. Then he stretched his arms forward and extended them out to the sides, and the ball took off above the square increasing in size and showered down in golden rain. The people in the square caught the golden drops with enthralled shouts carefully placing them in the palm of their hands. Then each one blew at their golden drop as if it were a spark and soon all their hands are filled with golden glowing balls. On the Teacher’s command, they all raised their hands and the balls soared upwards before dissolving into a radiance that unfolded across the sky.

「Futi，那些球體是什麼？」Matilda問道。

“What are those balls, Itfut?” asked Matilda. “Love energy,” replied Itfut.

「那這些光芒究竟從何而來？難道是什麼隱藏的照明系統嗎？」

“And where is all this light coming from? Is there some kind of hidden illumination system?”

「不，是神明在注視著我們。我們把愛意獻給他們，而他們便照亮了我們的儀式。」

“No, it’s the Gods watching us. We send them our love and they illuminate our ritual.”

「儀式是什麼？」

“What’s the ritual?”

「你現在就會見到。這是人們尋找伴侶、尋找他們那另一半的方式。」

“You’ll see it now. It’s how people find their partner, their other half.”

廣場上聚集的人群開始移向邊緣，只留下大約二十來位各年齡層的男女在中央。這一小群人組成一個圓圈，並互相用手掌緊貼鄰近者的手掌閉合成圈。此時音樂響起，但並非傳統的旋律，而是一連串連續顫音與和弦，類似古琴或風琴的聲音。隨著節拍，大家開始平滑而自如地轉動，每轉一次便沿著圓周邁出一小步，整個圓舞轉變成了一支優雅的華爾滋。

The people who were gathered in the square made way moving towards the edges, leaving just two dozen men and women of different ages at the center. This group arranged themselves in a circle and then closed it by pressing their palms up against the palm of the person standing next to them. Music was also playing but instead of a melody, it was more like a series of trills and chords similar to the sounds of a harp and an organ. The people began to turn smoothly and freely to the beat of the sounds, with each turn taking a step around the circle, so that the whole round dance was transformed into a graceful waltz.

隨著轉動，眾人的光環逐漸變化出不同的顏色：紅、白、藍、黃、綠、紫、橙及其他色調。很快便明顯地看到，圓圈中部分個體的光環顏色相同。這些彼此發現對方的人便攜手離開圓舞，走上寺廟的台階；而其他人則繼續轉動，直至只剩下那些光環顏色不匹配的。當音樂漸漸消退，舞者們停下腳步，紛紛轉向圓心，用指尖輕觸彼此，緩緩間他們的光環也隨之消散。毫不拘束地，他們轉身各自離去，面帶微笑，朝著不同方向前行。

As they turned, they all gradually began to acquire different colored auras: red, white, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange and other shades. Then it became clear that some of the individuals in the circle shared the same color aura. Noticing each other, these pairs left the circle dance taking each other by the hand and climbing up the temple steps. The others continued turning until only those remained whose aura colors did not match. The music faded, the dancers became still, and then they turned to face the center touching each other with the tips of their fingers at which point their auras faded. Totally unembarrassed, they turned around and parted with a smile moving off in different directions.

「Futi，那真是太神奇了，我全都明白了！」Matilda驚呼。

“That was amazing, Futi. I understand it all!” exclaimed Matilda. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” said Itfut.

「太棒了！但那些還沒找到自己另一半的人怎麼辦？」

“Awesome! Only what about the ones who didn’t find their other half?”

「他們總會找到的，也許是下次，或再之後，但肯定會找到。」

“They’ll find them, maybe next time or the time after that. But they’ll definitely find them.”

「難道會發生超過兩個人的光環共鳴的情況嗎？」 「有可能，只不過這種情況非常罕見。」

“Does it ever happen that more than two people’s colors match?” “It is possible, but you rarely come across it.”

「那如果有三個人呢，他們又怎麼自行協調處理呢？」

“And how do they sort it out between themselves if there are three of them for example?”

「別擔心，他們自己會解決。即便如此，被選中的配對也不保證一定能在一起。你覺得要達成那樣的結果需要什麼？」 「愛？」

“Don’t worry. They work it out. There’s still no guarantee that the chosen pairs will be together. What do you think it takes for that to happen?” “Love?”

「正是如此。相容性不等同於必然產生愛情。很多情侶不需經過儀式就能相遇，相識，而儀式只是幫助他們做出合適的【Choice】(Choice)。」

“Exactly. Compatibility doesn’t guarantee the birth of love. Often couples find each other without the need for ritual. The ritual just helps them make an appropriate choice.”

「你曾經參加過這樣的儀式嗎？」

“Have you ever taken part in a ritual like that?”

「沒有，我是為了準備成為高祭司這一特別身份而做的準備。如果我出現，那也將是以師父的身份存在。」

“No, I was prepared for the special status of High Priestess. If I was there now, it would be in the position of Teacher.”

「Futi，你的意思是你註定孤獨一人嗎？」

“Futi, are you saying that you’re doomed to solitude?”

「並不全然如此。我曾有過不少戀情，但至今我仍未遇到那個我所選中的人。」

“Not quite. I’ve had a number of relationships but I still haven’t found my chosen one.”

「難道還沒找到任何配得上你的人？」

“Haven’t found anyone worthy of you?”

「並不是說他們不夠優秀……你知道，許多人可能都渴望接近我，但他們卻因我的身份而敬而遠之；或者，對他們來說，我顯得過於高不可攀。」

“It’s not that they weren’t worthy... You know, many might well want to be close to me, but they are wary of my status. Or, perhaps, to them, I appear inaccessible.”

「是說你真的那麼高不可攀嗎？」

“Are you inaccessible?”

「哈哈哈，Tili，我可是個平凡而易親近的人！」祭司笑著說，隨後給了Matilda一個擁抱，「但我同時也擁有著非凡且讓人難以接近的一面。這就是我本來的樣子！」

“Ha, ha, ha, Tili, I’m an ordinary, approachable person!” said the priestess who laughed and then gave Matilda a hug. “But I am also extraordinary and unapproachable. That’s just how I am!”

「那你就會真正了解我！順便說一句，我確實明白。不過可惜的是，我們這兒缺少那些真正能欣賞你真實自我的勇敢男子。」

“You’ll understand me then! I do understand by the way. It’s just a pity that we have a deficit of courageous guys, who could truly appreciate who you really are.”

「那麼，我到底是誰呢？」

“And who am I really?”

「你真是驚人、一絕、令人著迷！你本身就是愛的化身！」 「嗯，不完全是這樣，」Itfut說，「你看我這臉上的彩繪？」

“You’re amazing, you’re wonderful, you’re entrancing! You are love itself!” “Well, not exactly,” said Itfut. “You see my face paint?”

「是啊，那代表什麼？」Matilda問道。

“Yes, what does it symbolize?” asked Matilda.

「愛有兩面。我猜你自己也明白這一點。」 「哪兩面？」

“There are two sides to love. I imagine you know that yourself.” “What are they?”

「你馬上就會知道了。」

“You’re about to find out.”

此刻，那些被選中的配對從寺廟台階上走下來，手牽著手悠然漫步，而其他人則沿著那迷宮般的小徑各自四散而去。

Meanwhile, the chosen pairs descended the temple steps and went for a walk holding hands. The rest of the crowd wandered off in various directions along the labyrinthine paths.

「就這樣嗎？表演結束了？」Matilda問道。 「不，很快‘實體遊行’就要開始了，」Itfut回答，「那究竟是什麼？」

“Is that it? The presentation is finished?” asked Matilda. “No, soon the entity parade will begin,” replied Itfut. “What’s that?”

「你會看到的，Tili，你會看到的。」

“You’ll see Tili, you’ll see.”