An extended quietness that lasted a lengthy twelve seconds gripped the Frost Queen. Her captivating eyes, resembling precious purple gems, serene yet mysterious, seemed to hide the storm of thoughts brewing inside her. When the weight of the quiet became nearly unbearable, she gave a subtle nod, and a soft murmur, “Hmm,” passed her lips.
She appeared deep in thought, hesitating for a moment before seeking an update. “How fares Frost these days then?”
Duncan, with unwavering confidence, met her gaze directly. “Tyrian has assumed the position of governor. The Mist Fleet’s annexation of the city-state is progressing rapidly. Meanwhile, the remnants of the Frost Navy are undergoing a significant reformation.”
A faint smile touched the corners of Ray Nora’s mouth. “Tyrian, interesting… It’s always intriguing how destiny plays out its cards, isn’t it? But this outcome doesn’t seem all that unfavorable, don’t you think?”
Duncan refrained from answering her directly. Instead, he maintained his calm demeanor, sharing, “There’s more. The current head of the city-state’s religious order now reports directly to me.”
At this revelation, a fleeting expression of surprise crossed Ray Nora’s face. She tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. “Does this mean you are the one truly pulling the strings in Frost now?”
“I have no aspirations to govern any city-state, but you can interpret the situation as you see fit.”
Ray Nora’s eyebrows furrowed in genuine intrigue. “I’m quite curious about how things have unfolded in Frost. I had meticulously planned strategies, but your role was a factor I hadn’t anticipated. You hinted at some disaster, but none of my projections foresaw such a drastic turn of events…”
Duncan’s voice took on a somber tone. “An army of deep-sea doppelgangers besieged Frost, and a parallel city-state threatened to manifest in our world. While you were occupied trying to appease the deep-sea entity, a rogue religious group sensed its power and exploited it. Their efforts were unwittingly aided by the aggressive mining activities in Frost.”
Feeling it was time, Duncan chose to reveal everything, describing all the events that had transpired in Frost, including the transformative measures he had instigated.
Ray Nora was all ears, never interrupting, absorbing every word. When Duncan wrapped up his account, she let out a profound sigh, her face adorned with a contemplative smile. “Compared to the ancient marine deities, unpredictable humans always seem more formidable.”
She paused momentarily, and her sigh of distress transformed into one of relief. “In the grand scheme of things, it turned out better than most worst-case predictions. The majority survived, and that’s the most critical outcome.”
But Duncan prodded her further, “What if this city-state had been completely overtaken by a ‘subspace shadow’?”
Ray Nora simply smiled, casting a profound gaze at Duncan. “Then, it would appear, you are destined to stand as Frost’s greatest guardian.”
Duncan said, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and bewilderment, “The way you see me, it’s different from most. After regaining my human nature, I’ve met countless individuals. The vast majority are visibly shocked upon first encountering me. Very few can handle such a meeting with calmness, let alone exhibit the kind of positive outlook you have towards me.”
Ray Nora responded with a soft chuckle, “Don’t mistake it for mere positivity. It’s my perception of reality. The fact that you’ve reclaimed your humanity and your efforts to support Frost essentially make you its strongest guardian. Many might instinctively shun this truth, but I’ve spent so much of my life confronting fear that I’ve learned to sift the truth from it.”
Taking a moment to process her words, Duncan eventually replied, “Your turn to be on the receiving end of questions.” He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “When did this replica of the Nether Lord first intrude our realm? And is there a possibility we might face similar threats in the future?”
A shadow of regret passed Ray Nora’s face. “I wish I had a clear answer for you. By the time I became aware of its existence, it was already entrenched in the deep sea. In our initial encounters with it, it was nothing more than a disembodied voice… It claimed to be a rogue replica, seeking to be neutralized.”
Duncan, intrigued, asked, “Encounters? How exactly did you first come into contact with it? And based on what you’re saying, this replica not only informed you about the crisis but also sought your help?”
She nodded slightly in affirmation, “Did you know that I possess psychic abilities?”
Duncan replied cautiously, “I’ve heard rumors suggesting you have the power to see everything, spanning both the past and present.”
Ray Nora smiled gently, “Rumors have a way of magnifying the truth. I don’t have the power to predict the future or know everything. But there’s a grain of truth in those stories. Natural psychics, like me, often ‘hear’ voices that others cannot.” She paused, her gaze becoming introspective. “When I was a child, these voices, these eerie whispers, haunted my nights, and sometimes, I’d see unsettling visions in my dreams. For children like me, these overwhelming ‘symptoms’ could be quite threatening, even to our loved ones.”
She continued with a hint of sadness in her voice, “Imagine having a young child who, in the grip of a nightmare, can unleash terrifying screams and conjure malevolent shadows right in your living room… My parents quickly realized the strange happenings in our house were connected to their little girl. With heavy hearts, they handed me over to the church. Like other natural-born psychics, I was placed under the guidance of… ‘experts’ in handling such abilities.”
“My childhood, stretching until I was twelve, was confined within the gloomy bowels of the cathedral’s cellar. Mute priests in long robes and stern ascetics clad in thick armor were my sole companions, my wrists and neck adorned with purpose-built chains and collars rather than the jewelry of childhood. My nights were spent in an iron cage, blessed and imbued with protective charms. A designated guardian checked in on me thrice a week, ensuring that amidst the whirlwind of psychic forces, my psyche remained anchored to my human essence. It wasn’t until my twelfth year, having demonstrated the growth of a resilient spirit and unwavering will, that the archbishop felt assured of my firm connection to humanity. Following this, he invoked a sacred blessing upon me, baptized me in holy waters, and in front of the congregation, certified my human nature.”
“After this rite of passage, I was rigorously trained, teaching me to harness and control the tumultuous energy of my abilities, guiding me to harmoniously coexist with the haunting ‘visions’ I continually experienced. Over the next four years, I slowly pieced together the realization that what I perceived as ‘dreams’ were my soul’s harmonies with the universe. The ethereal voices and visions that haunted my sleep were the desperate calls of beings from beyond our world, trying to breach the veil separating our realities. As my tutors grew confident in my mental fortitude, they introduced me to specialized practices that allowed me to attune to these distant cries without compromising my mind.”
“Throughout this journey of self-discovery, I felt an irresistible pull towards the deep sea, marking the moment our paths intertwined. In fact, it wasn’t just me sensing its presence. It sensed mine too.”
“Different psychics harbor distinct resonances. Some are gifted with the ability to hear the silent whispers of bygone eras, making them unparalleled historians or esoteric researchers. A few can hear the divine calls of the deities, and if they survive into adulthood, their fate is often sealed as ‘chosen ones’ or ‘saints’. Tragically, there are those whose souls echo with subspace. Most of them never make it out of the cathedral’s underground chambers. The handful who do, metamorphose into the church’s guarded treasures—known as the ‘Keepers of Forbidden Knowledge’ or ‘Silent Saints’.”
“My destiny was intertwined with a restless, primeval deity from the ocean’s abyss.”
Ray Nora momentarily paused, letting her gaze wander towards the room’s darkest corner. There, amidst the swirling void, chaotic flashes representing the subspace pulled away, unveiling an infinite underwater expanse and a dormant monolith lurking within the depths of the void.
This was her connection, her haunting dream, her deepest fear, and her solemn duty— both her genesis and fate.
“Interpreting ‘its’ communications was an arduous task. At first, I attributed my inability to my novice psychic skills and nascent strength. However, as time elapsed, I discerned that the anomaly resided within the ‘ancient god’ itself.”
“It was an imperfect echo, an imitation born out of a far grander entity’s misinterpretation. Roused inadvertently in the sea’s dark trenches, its fragmented consciousness consistently echoed a singular plea — malfunction detected, shutdown essential. This cry reverberated incessantly within my consciousness.”
Breaking the stillness that had settled between them, Duncan finally spoke, “So, were you the one who initiated the Abyss Project?”
Ray Nora took a deep breath before answering, “Before any of that, I first had to ascend and claim the title of the Frost Queen.” She continued with a sense of gravity, “It was a journey fraught with challenges, but it was imperative. Only by holding dominion over the entire city-state could I delve deeply and verify the whispers and visions I encountered. As I went through this, I unearthed an aberration deep within our metal ore mines. The Abyss Project was conceived as a culmination of this discovery. I’ve since made innumerable arrangements to navigate us to this impending climax.”
Duncan remained silent for a brief moment. Rising slowly from his chair, he walked towards the end of the room, his eyes fixed on the marine vista emerging from the shadows. The colossal tentacle, piercing through Frost’s blueprint like a monumental obelisk, held his gaze.
After what felt like an eternity, he turned his head slightly, seeking clarification, “Does it not intend harm?”
Ray Nora replied with a sigh, “It doesn’t exhibit feelings of malice or benevolence. To be more precise, it’s devoid of any form of discernible consciousness or intention. It’s merely a fragment of chaotic, disjointed thoughts echoing a singular pattern. It cannot comprehend its existence, let alone harbor any feelings towards the vulnerable beings that inhabit our world above…”
“It simply is,” she added with a melancholic tone, “Lost and suffering, it endures in this icy abyss. Yet even this basic existence possesses the potential to destabilize our carefully constructed idea of a ‘civilized world’.”
Reflecting on her words, Duncan murmured, “Its mere existence poses a threat…”
Ray Nora’s voice, soft yet steady, reached him, “It’s now time to address your second question.
“As for the likelihood of similar ‘intrusions’ in the future – I am of the conviction that they are not only possible but perhaps inevitable.”
Duncan spun around to face her, urgency in his eyes, “But why?”
“Because, Captain, this isn’t truly an ‘invasion’. The Nether Lord didn’t forcibly enter our reality from some distant dimension. There’s no need. Its essence naturally permeates our world, lurking in the deepest oceans, every city-state, and even within each one of us. What unfolded in Frost’s waters isn’t an ‘invasion’, but rather an ‘awakening’.”
Gently spreading her hands out before her, Ray Nora exuded a serene assurance. Her gaze met Duncan’s, her eyes filled with the deep understanding she had gained from her years of nightmarish communion.
“Captain Duncan,” she whispered, “In a way, everything we know, including this very city-state beneath our feet, is birthed from the essence of that ancient deity.”
