Chapter 48: The Council of Stone and Storm （石与风暴的议会）

　　Leon and Iris remained hidden behind a jagged outcrop of rock, their hearts hammering against their ribs. The scene before them was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The three figures on the ridge—the colossal bear, the antlered night elf, and the rune-etched dwarf—stood like ancient pillars against the desolate landscape, their attention fixed on the pulsating blight below. The very air crackled with latent power, a stark contrast to the dead silence of the corrupted valley.

　　里昂和艾莉丝藏在一块嶙峋的岩石后面，心脏狂跳。眼前的景象既令人敬畏又令人恐惧。山脊上的三个身影——巨熊、鹿角暗夜精灵和符文矮人——像古老的支柱般矗立在荒凉的大地上，注意力集中在下方搏动的瘟疫上。空气中弥漫着潜在的力量，与被腐蚀山谷的死寂形成鲜明对比。

　　Ahanu, in his bear form, let out a low, rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate through the stone beneath their feet. The night elf, whom Iris identified in a hushed whisper as a Keeper of the Grove, responded in a voice like the rustling of ancient leaves, a language older than Common or Orcish. The dwarf, a Shaman according to Iris, punctuated the exchange with a sharp gesture, sparks of lightning dancing around his fingertips. This was a council of war, conducted in a tongue of elemental forces and natural wisdom.

　　阿哈努以熊形态发出一声低沉的咆哮，仿佛震动了他们脚下的石头。被艾莉丝低声称为丛林守护者的暗夜精灵，用一种比通用语或兽人语更古老的语言回应，声音如同古树叶的沙沙作响。矮人（艾莉丝说是萨满）用尖锐的手势打断对话，指尖闪烁着电火花。这是一场战争会议，用元素力量和自然智慧的语言进行。

　　"We cannot stay hidden," Iris finally breathed, her voice tight with a mixture of fear and resolve. "They must know we are here. Our stones... they would sense the touch of the air spirit."

　　“我们不能一直躲着，”艾莉丝终于低声说道，声音因恐惧和决心而紧绷。“他们一定知道我们在这里。我们的石头……他们能感知风灵的触碰。”

　　Before Leon could respond, the Keeper of the Grove turned his head. His eyes, glowing with a soft, amber light, found their hiding place with unerring accuracy. There was no anger in his gaze, only a deep, ancient curiosity. He raised a hand, not in threat, but in a slow, deliberate gesture of invitation.

　　里昂还没来得及回答，丛林守护者转过头。他散发着柔和琥珀光芒的眼睛，精准无误地找到了他们的藏身之处。他的目光中没有愤怒，只有一种深邃、古老的好奇。他抬起一只手，不是威胁，而是一个缓慢、谨慎的邀请手势。

　　Hesitantly, Leon and Iris emerged from behind the rocks. Feeling small and incredibly young, they approached the ridge. The scale of the bear and the imposing presence of the Keeper were overwhelming up close. The dwarf watched them with a sharp, appraising gaze, but he did not speak.

　　里昂和艾莉丝犹豫地从岩石后走出来。他们感到自己渺小而无比年轻，走近山脊。近距离下，巨熊的体形和丛林守护者的威严令人震撼。矮人用锐利、审视的目光看着他们，但没有说话。

　　Ahanu's form shimmered and shifted. The massive bear dissolved into the familiar, though battered, form of the tauren druid. He nodded to them, his dark eyes weary but clear. "The land's whispers spoke true. You have followed the trail with courage."

　　阿哈努的身影闪烁变化。巨熊消散，变回熟悉却伤痕累累的牛头人德鲁伊形态。他向他们点头，黑眼睛疲惫却清澈。“土地的耳语是真的。你们勇敢地跟随了踪迹。”

　　The Keeper of the Grove spoke, his voice translating directly in their minds, bypassing the need for language. "Young ones. The sapling and the stone-child. You tread where the earth cries out in pain. Why?"

　　丛林守护者开口，声音直接在他们脑海中响起，超越了语言的需要。“年轻的孩子们。幼树与石头之子。你们踏足于大地痛苦哭喊之地。为何？”

　　Iris bowed her head respectfully. "Honored Elder. I am Iris Moonglow, sent by the Sisterhood of Elune to watch these passes. We encountered the satyrs... and then Ahanu. We saw the corruption. We could not turn away."

　　艾莉丝恭敬地低头。“尊敬的长者。我是艾莉丝·月芒，受艾露恩姐妹会派遣看守这些隘口。我们遇到了萨特……然后是阿哈努。我们看到了腐化。我们不能转身离开。”

　　Leon found his voice, rough from the thin air. "We wanted to help." It sounded foolishly simple, but it was the truth.

　　里昂鼓起勇气，声音因空气稀薄而沙哑。“我们想帮忙。”这听起来愚蠢而简单，但这是事实。

　　The dwarf, Brann, finally spoke, his voice a gravelly boom. "Help? Lad, this ain't a job for younglings. What we're facin' here... it's old. It's the work of the Dark Irons, or worse. They've been diggin' where they oughtn't, stirrin' up things that should've been left buried." He gestured with a thumb towards the pulsating mound. "That's a Worldthorn seed. A fragment of ancient evil, fed by greed and dark magic. If it fully blossoms, it'll poison the very roots of the Redridge Mountains."

　　矮人布兰恩终于开口，声音低沉洪亮。“帮忙？孩子，这不是小娃娃的活儿。我们面对的……是古老的东西。是黑铁矮人的勾当，或者更糟。他们在不该挖的地方挖掘，惊动了本该长眠的东西。”他用拇指指向搏动的土丘。“那是世界之刺的种子。一块古老邪恶的碎片，被贪婪和黑暗魔法滋养。如果它完全开花，会毒害赤脊山脉的根基。”

　　Ahanu rumbled in agreement. "The satyrs are but flies drawn to the decay. The true enemy is the poison in the stone. It must be cleansed. But the seed is protected by wards of fire and shadow. Our strengths alone are not enough. We need a key."

　　阿哈努低沉地表示同意。“萨特只是被腐烂吸引的苍蝇。真正的敌人是石头中的毒药。它必须被净化。但种子被火焰和阴影的结界保护着。我们单独的力量不够。我们需要一把钥匙。”

　　The Keeper's amber eyes settled on Leon and Iris. "The wards are strong against power born of pure nature or raw element. But they are woven to repel such forces. They may not account for... simpler things. For courage that is not seeking glory. For a bond that is not of magic, but of choice."

　　丛林守护者的琥珀色眼睛落在里昂和艾莉丝身上。“结界对纯粹自然或原始元素的力量很强。但它们被编织来排斥这种力量。它们可能没有考虑到……更简单的东西。不寻求荣耀的勇气。不是魔法，而是选择缔结的纽带。”

　　Brann scratched his beard, a grudging look of understanding dawning on his face. "Aye. A delicate touch. Not a hammer blow. The wards might not see ye comin' if ye carry no great magic."

　　布兰恩挠着胡子，脸上浮现出勉强的理解表情。“唉。需要精巧的手法。不是锤击。如果你们不携带强大的魔法，结界可能察觉不到你们。”

　　A plan began to form, audacious and incredibly dangerous. The three guardians could not approach the Worldthorn seed directly without triggering its defenses. But two young travelers, armed with little more than determination and a strange, unmagical bond, might be able to slip through.

　　一个大胆而极其危险的计划开始形成。三位守护者无法直接接近世界之刺种子而不触发其防御。但两个年轻的旅行者，只带着决心和一种奇特的、非魔法的纽带，或许能溜进去。

　　"The seed has a core," Ahanu explained. "A physical heart. If that core can be shattered with a tool of pure, unenchanted stone, the structure will collapse. The corruption will lose its anchor."

　　“种子有一个核心，”阿哈努解释道。“一个实体的心脏。如果能用纯粹、未附魔的石制工具击碎那个核心，结构就会崩溃。腐化将失去锚点。”

　　All eyes turned to Leon. He carried his father's hunting knife—a tool of steel, not stone. But Brann the shaman stepped forward. He picked up a rock from the ground—a simple, gray piece of flint. He held it in his hands, and for a moment, his palms glowed with a gentle heat. He didn't enchant it; he merely focused it, honing one edge to a razor-sharp keenness with precise application of elemental heat, leaving the stone itself magically inert. He handed the newly fashioned stone knife to Leon.

　　所有人的目光转向里昂。他带着父亲的猎刀——是钢制工具，不是石头。但萨满布兰恩走上前。他从地上捡起一块石头——一块简单的灰色燧石。他双手握住它，片刻间，掌心发出温和的热量。他没有附魔；他只是集中热量，用精确的元素热力将一侧打磨得如剃刀般锋利，而石头本身在魔法上是惰性的。他把新打造的石刀递给里昂。

　　"This'll cut, but it won't sing with magic," Brann grunted. "It's up to you two to get close enough to use it."

　　“这能切割，但不会带着魔法嗡鸣，”布兰恩咕哝道。“能不能靠近到使用它，就看你们俩了。”

　　The weight of the task settled on Leon's shoulders, heavier than any mountain. He looked at Iris. Her eyes met his, filled with the same fear, but also with a fierce, unshakeable trust. They had come this far together. They would see it through.

　　任务的重担落在里昂肩上，比任何山都重。他看向艾莉丝。她的眼睛对上他的，充满同样的恐惧，但也有一种坚定的、不可动摇的信任。他们一起走到了这里。他们会坚持到底。

　　The sun began to dip towards the peaks, casting long, distorted shadows across the blighted valley. The final stage of their journey was not a path to a person, but a descent into the heart of darkness itself. They were no longer just following a trail. They were the tip of the spear.

　　太阳开始沉向峰顶，在饱受摧残的山谷上投下长长的、扭曲的影子。他们旅程的最后阶段不是通向某人的路，而是深入黑暗中心的下降。他们不再只是跟随踪迹。他们是矛头。