Deep Sea Embers

Old Captain Lawrence first noticed this weather when he walked out of the church’s doors. Shuddering as he shrunk his neck in, he glanced up and mumbled: “Darn it, what back luck. My observation period just ended, and I’m going to get soaked during my walk home…”

Like the old captain of the White Oak assumed, other pedestrians are hurrying back to their homes due to the impending rain. They had clothes to collect, children to pick up, and storefronts to pull in. However, Lawrence was different. In his mind, he only had his grumpy wife waiting at home to scold him. For a moment, he’s not so sure if he wants to go home anymore.

Rubbing his arm to get the cold out, he was about to depart when a church guardian ran over to him with Heidi, the psychiatrist, in the rear.

“It can’t be…” Lawrence groaned subconsciously, then greeted the man with a stretched hand for a shake.

“Sorry, Captain Lawrence, I just received an urgent notice that you are to temporarily stay for further isolation. Therefore, you cannot leave yet.”

“Isn’t the observation period over?” Lawrence’s friendly expression visibly collapsed, “You have to at least give me a suitable reason.”

“I cannot give you the fine details, but…” the young guardian also seemed slightly apologetic, “it is a direct order from the inquisitor. The situation has changed. All folks who have had contact with the Vanished are to be kept within the church grounds.”

The corners of Lawrence’s mouth twitched profusely at the name. He didn’t need to be told why after hearing that infamous ship’s name. Keeping his poor mood down so it doesn’t show: “I get it, I get it, but who will explain this to my wife? I’ve…”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Heidi’s voice came from the side before the old captain could finish, “Do you have any concerns?”

Lawrence turned to look at Heidi. During the quarantine, he’s dealt with the young psychiatrist several times, so she’s not new to him. Softening up in his voice: “I have been away from home for far too long, and my wife is not a gentle person. I denied the last shipping order to take a vacation. You can’t expect me to spend half of it in isolation within the church and the other half in bed for rest…”

“…… Indeed, no one wants to encounter such a thing,” Heidi sighed, showing empathy due to her own vacation being ruined. Then pulling out a glass tube of something from her medical box, “But now things are more complicated. It is better to follow the instructions of the cathedral first. Don’t worry, someone from the church will contact your family in your stead.”

“What is this?” Lawrence took the potion tube and glanced at the liquid inside with some suspicion. No matter how often he goes through this, having someone pull out weird stuff from their suitcases will always creep him out.

“Something to calm, soothe, and enhance your mental protection,” Heidi said casually. “It’s to help you with your next stage of quarantine.”

“…… Damn, there’s no getting out of it then…” Lawrence felt a toothache coming when he heard the next stage of quarantine. Then popping the plug, he chugged the bitter potion down in one full swing before returning the bottle.

The effect of the potion came fast, causing the old captain’s gaze to dilute several times like someone taking a drug. Of course, he’s not high or anything, but he’s definitely calmer in viewing things.

“Do you need me to send you back?” Heidi observed the old captain’s expression and asked in a soft voice.

“…… No, I know the way,” Lawrence’s mood was a little low, but he quickly shook his head to remove the damp air. “Aigh, it’s not too bad to sit around. At least I have a few sweet nuns to talk to back inside…”

Without batting an eyelash, the old captain swung around and began heading toward the two guardians already waiting at the door.

“Mr. Lawrence, as a psychiatrist, I still have to advise you that it’s about time to retire. The Boundless Sea is not good for your mental health.” Heidi’s voice sounded from the rear before the old man could step inside.

Lawrence did reply to that though, only waving his backhand to indicate he got the message. This drew a series of respect from the doc and guardians in the square. They have read the reports and know about Lawrence’s family situation.

“Miss Heidi, do you know what happened?” A guardian eventually couldn’t resist asking.

Rolling her eyes: “You are a member of the church. If you don’t know then how am I supposed to know? I’m merely the ‘external consultant’ sent by City Hall.”

“But you and the inquisitor…”

“She didn’t tell me anything, and I haven’t seen her since yesterday,” Heidi shook her head before showing a curious face at the guardian in front. “But I did hear she suddenly issued a large number of orders for an investigative operation? This morning, a team of priests even went to City Hall to request a bunch of files…”

“Yes, a lot of investigative tasks,” the guardian sighed, “old files, visited communities, checked a lot of old accounts, and went to the port to set up monitoring on twelve fries sellers…”

Heidi: “…?”

“So now even we’re guessing,” the guardian sighed before looking up at the clouds, “gee, this damn weather.”

……

Morris, the old historian teacher, sat at his desk while brushing the rough edges of a heavy book with his fingers. He’s trying to calm down his head, which he did to the point of being able to hear his own heartbeat.

Seeing the timing was right, he looked down and flipped open the scriptures belonging to the God of Wisdom.

After completing the most basic self-hypnosis and mental reinforcement by reading from the page, he lit the candles and incense on the table. Then through the mirror on the altar, he could see his reflection that showed a no longer young version of a charismatic man with a self-deprecating smile.

“I’ve gotten old… good thing I could still perform the fine details of this ritual.”

The crackling sound of the candle fire gradually faded, and the smoke rising from the incense slowly condensed into an undispersed cloud above the mirror. This blocked the senior’s vision, making him unable to accurately see his own shadow in the mirror.

“I turned my back on you for eleven years… yet you’re still willing to take care of me,” Morris sighed when he saw that the ceremony had been completed so smoothly. “Do you still have any expectations for me…”

The room remained quiet, with only Morris talking to himself. Nevertheless, the next reaction from the old historian showed he’s received the divine guidance that he sought – he had opened the drawer and pulled out a bracelet made of twelve colorful stones.

Morris hesitated initially, but then he steeled himself and put it on. Immediately, as if washed over by clarity, he felt the curtain shrouding his head for so many years finally lifting. He glanced at the layering smoke in the air, then huffed a grunt before pushing the door open to leave his study.

Heidi wasn’t home, and the empty mansion seemed exceptionally desolate. Of course, his ‘wife’ was still in the bedroom down the hallway, but he didn’t dare to look in that direction in his current state. With a gulp, the old historian practically fled the estate and dashed into the steam car parked outside the courtyard. His destination? The lower city where he visited the antique shop!

Meanwhile, a white dove was speeding over the low, old buildings of the lower city. Eventually, the bird flew into the second floor of Duncan’s antique shop, where she bloomed into a plume of green flame to form a gateway.

Duncan had returned to his abode through Ai’s teleportation again. First glancing out at the bad weather through the window, he shifts his gaze to the clock hanging on the wall showing the hour. Since he still had some time before Nina came home from school, this gave him room to think about what to do next after the large harvest.