In the overwhelming context of the authority carried by the term “Four Gods,” Sara Mel found himself compelled to concede to Lucretia’s assessment.
Regardless of what the Sea Witch Lucretia specifically meant by “starlight,” or whatever form Duncan Abnomar currently existed in, one powerful piece of evidence stood out. The leaders of the Arks, who have the unique ability to communicate directly with the Four Gods, had collectively chosen to join forces with the entity known as the “Vanished.” Viewed from an extreme standpoint, if even the Four Gods could provide flawed guidance, then the occurrence of a disaster would be moot. The real catastrophe would be the fact that “The Four Gods Are Wrong.”
Lucretia shifted her posture, her eyes turning toward the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows of the office as though she was peering at a distant sea. “Our understanding of subspace is extremely limited. The fundamental laws that govern our own reality could be entirely irrelevant or even inverted in that dimension,” she spoke with an air of tranquility. “The entity known as the Vanished is reemerging from subspace into our own world, and this transition will undeniably set off a chain reaction of events. Bear in mind how just minor influences transformed the Bright Star and the Sea Mist into their current forms. What then should we expect of the Vanished, which has been dwelling in subspace for a hundred years? And what about my father?”
She paused and looked back at Sara Mel, making direct eye contact. “To be honest, I’m not overly concerned about how much of Duncan Abnomar’s original ‘essence’ remains intact. If even a tiny spark within that ocean of starlight is genuinely his, I am prepared to welcome him back for the sake of that solitary glimmer. The only condition is that he must fundamentally align with the interests of mortals.”
As Sara Mel listened to Lucretia’s calm exposition, his facial expression went through multiple shifts, finally settling on a resigned sigh. “Well, a benevolent force is certainly preferable to a malevolent entity from subspace,” he conceded.
Lucretia nodded in silent agreement.
After a brief moment of silence, Sara Mel changed the subject. “How is Taran El? I heard he’s been caught in some sort of ‘Dream Crisis.’ You and your father were instrumental in helping him?”
Lucretia straightened her face, her voice adopting a tone of serious gravity. “The ‘dream’ that Master Taran El found himself trapped in is far more intricate than you might think. My father has confirmed information that suggests involvement by heretical groups.”
She spent the next fifteen minutes sharing what she knew with Sara Mel, who sat attentively across the desk. Lucretia talked about the objectives of the heretical sect known as the Annihilators, and described their encounters with the Sun Offspring in the dream realm.
Then, seizing the chance, she also informed Sara Mel of intelligence they had received from the city-state of Pland. This intelligence pertained to another group known as the “Enders,” their apocalyptic prophecy regarding the Fourth Long Night, and the enigmatic messages contained within their “sermons.”
Sara Mel was fully absorbed in what Lucretia was saying, his expression one of intense focus and seriousness. He didn’t interrupt Lucretia at any point, allowing the gravity of the narrative to wash over him.
When Lucretia finally stopped speaking, a heavy silence filled the room, lasting for what felt like an endless series of seconds. Sara Mel, a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience, took his time to slowly nod as if digesting the magnitude of the information he had just received.
“The Dream of the Nameless One… Such a concept doesn’t exist in elven lore. However, it does remind me of the ‘World’s Creation Dream’ attributed to the demon god Saslokha,” Sara Mel finally spoke, choosing his words carefully. “But the question that remains is, if such an expansive ‘dreamscape’ truly exists, why has it remained undiscovered for so many centuries? The heretics contend that elves are the ‘gateway’ to this realm, yet as far as I’m aware, no event like what happened to Taran El has ever occurred.”
“We’ve pondered that too,” Lucretia replied, her tone inflected with sober gravity. “The most likely explanation we’ve come up with is that the Dream of the Nameless One serves as one of the signs heralding the approach of the ‘Fourth Long Night.'”
Understanding quickly dawned on Sara Mel. “You’re suggesting that…”
“Exactly,” Lucretia interjected. “The Dream of the Nameless One might have only recently become active or ‘revealed’ itself. It could have remained in a dormant or even ‘suppressed’ state for a long time, thereby eluding detection. However, as the Fourth Long Night looms ever closer, it seems to be awakening, becoming more dynamic.”
Sara Mel said nothing for a moment, his eyebrows knitted together in deep thought. He looked up after a while, his eyes transfixed on the brilliant sunlight streaming through the window. The sun, held secure within a double ring of magical runes, was reaching its zenith. Afternoon was rapidly encroaching.
After what felt like an eternity, Sara Mel finally spoke, muttering more to himself than to Lucretia, but in a manner that seemed to echo the apocalyptic words of the Enders.
“…The dusk is near, and the sun grows ‘gentler.’ Those who were once exiled, who were purged from memory, are now starting to reappear in this world.”
Meanwhile, at the front door, Nina took a moment to meticulously inspect her outfit and the items she planned to carry.
The climate in this southern city-state was noticeably warmer than in Pland. Even though it was late autumn and slightly cool, lighter clothing was essential. She slipped into her favorite skirt and a pair of new, airy sandals, immediately feeling her spirits lift.
In her small outing bag, she stowed her keys, some loose change, and a map. At Lucretia’s recommendation, she also included mosquito repellent in both incense and lotion form, making her feel fully prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Last but certainly not least, she made sure her companion was ready to go.
Nina turned to look at Shirley, who was still wearing her favorite dress and was crouched on the floor, fastening the straps on her sandals. Sensing Nina’s eyes on her, Shirley looked up and smiled, asking, “What’s on your mind, Nina?”
Nina’s face lit up with a warm smile as she asked, “So, have you decided where you want to go?”
Their previous adventure involving local “delicacies” had been a culinary misadventure to say the least—a fiasco so startling that both girls had briefly considered retreating to the safety of their ship. However, they’d ultimately decided against it; this was a rare chance to explore a new place during their extended sea voyage, and they were determined not to squander the opportunity.
“Well, I don’t really have a specific destination in mind,” Shirley said as she stood up and brushed off her skirt. “Remember that elf gentleman we met? He suggested a market about two blocks from here. I’d prefer to go there over revisiting what the locals optimistically call the ‘food street.'”
Nina nodded, clearly in agreement with Shirley’s sentiment. She then looked at the small bag that Shirley had slung around her waist. “Did you remember to bring the mosquito repellent? The mosquitos here are far more aggressive than the ones we encountered in Pland.”
“Absolutely,” Shirley replied, patting her waist bag reassuringly. “Dog reminded me to pack it.”
“Perfect, then let’s head out!” Nina exclaimed, her smile beaming brighter than ever.
Just as they were about to leave, descending the front steps of the house, the sound of a door unlocking and slowly creaking open echoed from behind them. Both girls turned around, startled.
Standing in the doorway was Duncan, an imposing figure who always seemed to exude an aura of intimidating seriousness. Shirley felt a sense of nervousness creep over her almost immediately.
“We were, uh, planning on going out for a little while,” Shirley stammered, taking the initiative to speak before Duncan had a chance to say anything. “We already let Mr. Morris know about our plans.”
“We promise not to wander too far,” Nina added, her smile unfazed. “We’re just going to the nearby market.”
“I’m aware,” Duncan simply said, nodding as he walked towards them. His gaze settled on Shirley.
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, Shirley hesitated a bit before tentatively voicing her thoughts, “Maybe it’s better if I just—”
Duncan cut her off by extending several bills toward her. “Take this.”
For a moment, Shirley’s eyes widened in confusion, staring at the money being offered to her.
“You’re heading to the market, correct?” Duncan’s voice snapped her back to reality. “Consider this your allowance for the day—but don’t spend it all in one place. Nina already has hers.”
Snapping out of her bewildered state—thanks to a mental nudge from Dog—Shirley hesitantly took the bills, which weren’t particularly large denominations. She then mumbled, as if trying to deflect the awkward moment, “I thought you were going to drag me back inside to finish my homework or something.”
Unfazed by her reaction, Duncan simply looked at the two young women and added a final note of caution. “Try to stay within this district and don’t stay out too late. If you happen to get lost, give me a call and I’ll send Ai to pick you up.”
“We get it, we get it,” Nina said, waving her hand dismissively. Though her tone was tinged with impatience, her smile remained as dazzling as ever. “Come on, Shirley!” Grabbing Shirley’s arm, she pulled her excitedly toward the road. “Let’s get going! We promise to be back before the sun sets!”
As Shirley was briskly pulled along by Nina, she glanced back over her shoulder at Duncan. Her mouth opened slightly as though she wanted to say something, but words failed her. Instead, a sudden smile broke through her hesitation, and she gave him a little wave before Nina spirited her further down the street.
Duncan remained in place, watching as the two young women rounded a nearby corner and disappeared from view. Finally, his gaze moved away from the empty space next to him, and he spoke as if to the air itself. “Back from City Hall?”
As his words echoed, the seemingly empty space shimmered as Lucretia materialized like she was stepping out from an invisible realm. Her face registered a fleeting moment of surprise. “You knew I was here all along, didn’t you?”
Duncan simply nodded, confirming her suspicion. “I’ve been aware of your presence since the beginning.”
Lucretia’s gaze followed the path that Nina and Shirley had taken. For a moment, her expression underwent a subtle transformation. Her eyes seemed to become a whirlpool of complex emotions—perhaps swirling with past memories and sentiments that were hard to define. Just as quickly as it had come, her emotional turbulence vanished, leaving only a faint, inscrutable smile on her face as she turned back to Duncan.
Oddly, Duncan sensed an immediate and significant change in her mood, as if the ‘witch’ before him had suddenly become much more upbeat.
“Taran El has already left?” Lucretia abruptly shifted the topic.
“He departed about thirty minutes ago,” Duncan answered. “He mentioned that he couldn’t afford to leave his lab unattended for an extended period.” Pausing for a moment, he then asked, “What did you discuss with the governor at City Hall?”
“The churches have sent out a declaration to every city-state,” Lucretia began, her voice tinged with a complexity that Duncan found hard to interpret. “The warning that you’ve disseminated is beginning to ripple through the world, making its impact felt.”
Though Duncan couldn’t entirely grasp the nuances in her tone, the gravity of her words left no room for doubt. The situation they were both entangled in was escalating, growing increasingly serious with each passing moment.
