Chapter 194 “Transmit”
Vanna had returned to the archives yet again. Although she didn’t know why she even wanted to return here in the first place, an inexplicable sense of discord and crisis urged her to recall the details of rummaging through the materials here. She’s forgotten something crucial, and she didn’t know what.
Of course, another reason for returning was that there’s nowhere else to go anyway.
Due to the growing connection with the Vanished, she was now effectively in a state of constant surveillance – she’s still the inquisitor of the city-state of Pland, but only because there wasn’t anyone to replace her important duties at the moment. Therefore, she must always remain within the cathedral except for the essential required attendance outside.
Under these circumstances, Vanna’s only option was to look for a distraction. As it so happens, the archives were an excellent way to block off the outside variables.
As she stepped through the empty archives, only the rows of lumbering bookshelves accompanied her footsteps. However, she’s not alone here though. Not far behind her, a middle-aged priest had kept tabs on the lady with the lantern in hand, exuding a warm and soft glow to repel evil.
Finally, Vanna stopped at the section supposedly containing the materials pertaining to 1889 and 1885. She had rummaged through the records before, found the suspicious clues of sporadic heretical sacrifices, and eventually discovered the missing files. All of these memories were groomed into her mind over and over again. Everything was flawless in the saga, but the inquisitor’s instinct told her something was wrong. Enough to make the lady doubt her own memory.
“Your Excellency?” The middle-aged priest’s voice sounded from behind after the extended lingering.
Something is wrong, something is wrong … I definitely didn’t come here alone the last time. Someone did accompany me… but who was it?
As if she didn’t hear the voice behind her, Vanna just focused on the problem. Once again, the memory of the sixth block chapel and the deceased nun came up.
Everyone had forgotten that area ever existed, hence the reason why it went unnoticed for so long.
Is this the same “forgetting” that I’m experiencing? Everyone forgot the same thing about that chapel so no one could fill the hole. But what did I forget like everyone else? When did the forgetting happen?
“Your Excellency?” The voice of the middle-aged priest sounded from behind but with more force.
Vanna felt the storm’s power converging, and the middle-aged priest’s hand had quietly approached his waist where the gun was holstered.
“How long have you been an administrator here?” Vanna asked suddenly.
The storm’s power dissipated, and the middle-aged priest lowered his guard before bowing his head slightly: “It’s been seven years. I’ve been here since I retired.”
“You shouldn’t be the only administrator here, right?” Vanna asked again.
“There are two of us. The other is an older lady in charge of the night duty. We’re both retirees from the Guardian Force.”
As if chatting casually, Vanna continued to stroll between the bookshelves: “Two people… do you ever get overwhelmed with work?”
“Not usually. The work of an archivist doesn’t have much to do. Trainees are usually the ones to fill and organize the files according to our instructions. Aside from the rare case of transporting dangerous materials over for storage, we rarely need to move around.” The middle-aged priest didn’t beat around the bush and explained his workload, “If there is anything worthy of note, an archivist must be on constant watch for any irregularities. After all, we are the ones with the most experience, so those younger than us would often come to request our insight.”
Speaking of this, the middle-aged priest paused before adding: “Of course, having only two on a work rotation isn’t the best arrangement. If an unexpected matter arises, we will usually be in a bind and must wake the other up to cover the shift. I’ve always felt that the ideal staff number should be three.”
“Three…” Vanna muttered to herself, then asked, “are the files of 1885 still unfound?”
“Yes, it still hasn’t been found yet,” the middle-aged priest said, shaking his head. “After you mentioned the abnormal situation here, we immediately organized staffing to check the entire archive, utilizing hundreds of trainees and clerics for the job. Sadly, we found nothing.”
Vanna nodded and said no more. She only stared at the priest in silence like she’s in deep thought, which roused a nervous smile from the other party.
“Don’t worry, I only met with that ghost captain once. I’m not at the point of delirium yet. However, warn me if there’s any odd behavior with me, and I will do the same. I still haven’t lost my professionalism.”
“I beg your pardon,” the middle-aged priest sighed, “I’ve seen too many comrades-in-arms disappear from this world due to one’s carelessness.”
Vanna didn’t object to that advice and circled the aisle as if searching for something. Then, in a trance, she saw an imaginary glimpse of a fleeting figure standing at the desk near the entrance.
The young inquisitor’s eyes nearly popped out at this sight, only to have the figure disappear in the next.
“Your Excellency, what have you discovered?” The middle-aged priest noticed this sudden behavior and asked.
“Maybe I was mistaken… No, let’s go over and see.”
Vanna hurriedly began walking without waiting for the other man to reply. She had already taken several steps before she could be followed, and soon, she was practically jogging over to the curved desk. There was no one at the table, only a mechanical machine left in plain view that’s used for administrative purposes.
Vanna went around and behind the desk to investigate. There, she found a few scattered parts randomly discarded behind a baffle on the table’s edge. The pieces had rusted, and it looked as if they had been discarded for an unknown number of years. Judging by their shape, it seems to be part of a mechanical cube.
For some reason, Vanna had a strange smell hitting her nose when she saw these items… it’s the scent of mechanical grease mixed in with incense that’s been burned together.
“These things… Who left them here?” A puzzled voice belonging to the middle-aged priest said after catching up from behind with the lantern.
“There are traces on the table.” Vanna had already found other clues next to the parts, which looked like some oil that’s vaguely resembling a drawing.
She felt her heart pounding. Then out of the blue, a harsh noise echoed in her head, causing the lady’s vision to blur between light and shadow. However, this discomfort not only didn’t bring panic to the inquisitor’s heart but made her go wild with excitement.
Vanna knew why this was happening – it’s her blessings from the goddess activating, warning her! Whatever clue or truth she’s searching for, it’s here, in the archive!
Silently chanting the name of Gomona, the Storm Goddess, Vanna stretched her hand to the side: “Lend me the lantern.”
The middle-aged priest immediately handed over the “lantern” that’s been inscribed with runes and fueled by divine grease as fuel: “Here you go.”
Vanna took it and carefully brought the light closer to the greased tabletop. Under the light, some fine smoke or mist had appeared out of thin air before fading quickly. Then, she saw it between the crimps of light and shadow – the “smudge”.
It was written in dark red blood, like a dying man’s last ditched effort to mark something on the table as a message. It looked like a cluster of bonfires with a cylindrical thing standing at the center of the flame.
It was not any kind of sacred symbol used by the Storm Church, nor a blessing given by the Storm Goddess Gomona.
Yet Vanna still recognized the symbol – it turned out to be the mark of the Flame Bearers.
Flame Bearer? Why is the mark of the Flame Bearers doing inside a storm church?
Vanna wondered in her heart. Although the four righteous gods are indeed in the same camp, and there are many cooperative relationships between the four churches, they’re still part of different religions.
The Flame Bearers… The chapel in the sixth block… The forgotten nun… The forgotten event… Another Pland hidden under the real world…
Vanna’s breathing became rapid as she instantly connected the dots.
This symbol was a warning, the only message left behind by the forgotten defender on this lonely battlefield.
“Someone polluted history!” The young inquisitor exclaimed and jerked around to face the administrative priest.
Yet, the archives were empty. From the beginning, it was as she’s the only person here the entire time.
