#高塔藏書庫第四期#
憎惡
- 憎惡的詩句——
- 對氦宮的考量——
- 寫在絕望中——
- 這封藏的秘密——
我是陶克斯，不育巢母，鋨王之子們的老師。
作為一個育母，我的壽命很長。作為一個不育的巢母，我可以超越宮廷政治的小鬥爭。
只有我看到了生存的模式。我獨自設計了移動鋨宮的偉大引擎。現在——
我必須獨自行動拯救我的王國。
我的主人已經衰老，成為了鋨之王。他已經十歲，幾近癲狂。研究古代文獻使他精疲力盡。今天他對風暴之上的月亮讚不絕口。明天他就會在大廳裡遊蕩，和他的熟識者，一條來自深海的死去的蠕蟲說話。他把它放在玻璃罩裡，他照管它，他忽視了一個國王的職責。
鋨王有三個倖存的繼承人，每個人都只有兩歲:
西羅(注1)，最年輕最勇敢的，她想成為一名騎士。
薩託娜，最聰明的，她想成為育母。
奧拉什，航海冒險的孩子，夢想著無限的海洋。明天她就會從鎢巨巖回來。
這些人都不是合適的繼承人。他們中沒有人能保護鋨宮不受源洋的傷害。西羅能戰鬥，但不會領導。薩託娜會思考，但不擅戰鬥。奧拉什的好奇心會讓她偏離職守。我為所有孩子們的未來擔心。
不久，鋨王就會把自己鎖在皇家星儀裡研究月亮。
召集你的騎士，氦飲者，入侵我們的大陸。殺死三個繼承人。我會作為你的攝政王統治鋨宮，為你造引擎。
如果我失敗了，就讓深海里的利維坦吃掉我吧。
寫在悲痛,
這憎惡的請求,
陶克斯，鋨母，不育觀察者
- 注1：西羅(Xi Ro)即年輕時期的希烏阿拉斯(Xivu Arath)，此時還未獲得蟲神的力量，西羅(Xi Ro)即她的原名。
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原文：
Verse1:2 The Hateful Verse
- The Hateful Verse—
- For the consideration of the Helium Court.—
- Written in desperation.—
- This sealed secret.—
I am Taox, sterile mother, teacher to the children of the Osmium Throne.
As a mother, I live long. As a neuter, I can rise above the small battles of court politics.
I alone see the patterns of survival. Alone I designed the great engines that move the Osmium Court. Now--
Alone I must act to save my kingdom.
Senility has claimed my lord the Osmium King. He is ten, and mad. The study of ancient text consumes him. Today he raves about moons above the storm. Tomorrow he will wander the halls, speaking to his familiar, a dead white worm from the deep sea. He keeps it in glass, and he tends to it, and he neglects the duties of a king.
The Osmium King has three surviving heirs, each two years old:
Xi Ro, the youngest and bravest, who wants to be a knight.
Sathona, most clever, who wants to be a mother.
Aurash, navigator child, who dreams of the infinite ocean. Tomorrow she will return from the Tungsten Monoliths.
None of these are suitable heirs. None of them will protect the Osmium Court from the howling Fundament. Xi Ro can fight, but not lead. Sathona can think, but not fight. Aurash's curiosity will draw her away from duty. I fear for all future children.
Soon the Osmium King will lock himself into the Royal Orrery to study the moons.
Gather your knights, o Helium Drinkers, and invade our continent. Kill the three heirs.I will rule the Osmium Court as your regent, and build engines for you.
And if I fail, let the Leviathan in the deep eat me.
Written in grief,
This hateful request,
Taox, Osmium-mother, neutered to watch