Deep Sea Embers

“What do you intend to do,” the young inquisitor began, her voice cold as a piece of steel, “how did you invade my dreams?”

Her attitude was hostile, but Duncan only found it funny because it contradicted the polite and peaceful character she used inside the antique shop.

I wonder what her reaction will be if she ever learns the truth.

“Nothing much, merely to tell you one thing,” Duncan said bluntly and without nonsense. “If you really care about the safety of the city, you might want to go visit the sixth block and investigate the chapel there.”

After speaking, he closed his mouth and stood quietly with the flames burning around him, maintaining a mysterious and majestic aura.

As if something pierced a curtain to reveal the hidden truth, Vanna fell into a faint trance over those words. But compared to this momentary lapse, the reality that the dream was polluted by Captain Duncan touched her heart more strongly. She tried to pray to the goddess in her heart for help, but the power of the goddess could not penetrate this layer of the dream.

After a few seconds, she finally gritted her teeth and tried to act calm: “You invaded an inquisitor’s dream just… for this?”

“It’s up to you to decide,” Duncan said lightly, “I’m looking forward to what you will find out there.”

After saying this, he began to feel his connection to this dream rapidly diminishing. A strong repulsion was at work here.

Vanna may appear quiet and willing to listen from the surface, but this high-level female clergy of the church was not one to give up. Instead, she’s been mustering her willpower to repel the intruder, and now, she’s at the critical point of awakening!

This made Duncan realize that the exchange must end as soon as possible. There’s no need to give more than what’s necessary, and leaving now could keep his mysterious image.

As the ghost fire converged to fade away with the captain’s figure, Vanna suddenly cried out at the last second.

“What are you planning for Pland?!” In the end, the lady couldn’t resist the temptation.

Duncan looked up in the darkness as a sudden devious desire flooded his heart.

“Make some fries.” He utters the most outrageous sentence he could think of before the dream completely collapsed.

In the dark space of the void and chaos, Duncan took half a step back to watch the twinkling starlight in front of him.

“Whatever she’s going to think about next, at least one thing is certain,” Duncan glanced at Ai, who had landed on his shoulder, and muttered softly as if to himself. “The sixth block, chapel, these two key pieces of information have entered the sight of Pland’s storm cathedral… Whatever the reason, they will definitely conduct the most intensive investigation there.”

Duncan’s idea was simple and effective—he just needed to lift the lid off the chapel in the sixth block. As long as he could draw the attention of the Storm Church, it didn’t matter how Vanna and the priests behind her worked. After all, he’s the largest mobile natural disaster on the Boundless Sea. Those poor clergies would be frantically searching for him. Until they figure out it’s nothing, they would pour all their resources into digging up the secrets of that chapel.

Finally, thinking back to the last comment he made to Vanna, Duncan couldn’t help but grin like a naughty child.

“Make some fries?” Ai tilted her head in confusion after noticing the odd smile, “Carefully mince the meat?”

“…… Your language is getting more and more fragmented,” Duncan frowned, “but we can make you some fries tomorrow morning. This is a good chance to teach Alice how to make some normal food.”

……

Vanna suddenly popped her eyes open.

There was no light in the room, only the pale and cold glow of the World’s Creation spilling through the window as she glanced around. The nightmare had clearly taken a toll on the inquisitor’s state of mind. In fact, even the nightgown she wore had been drenched in cold sweat, leaving her all uncomfortcble and sticky.

But these discomforts were nothing compared to the sudden intrusion in her dream.

Vanna pulled herself up, looked around very cautiously, blinked her eyes slowly, then closed them again before repeating the action several times.

Each time, her heart would beat violently as if the ghost captain would suddenly reappear in her field of vision. It wasn’t until she finally confirmed the terror wasn’t returning that she could breathe properly. It’s been a long time since Vanna became so nervous.

Getting up from the bed, she swiftly came to the dressing mirror. Unlike in her dream, it’s still intact and unbroken. After several seconds of staring, she shook her head vigorously to pull herself together. Then pulling the drawer open, the lady takes out a small dagger with runes depicting the storm and waves engraved on the blade.

It’s not a weapon meant to harm others but more of a ceremonial item used in prayers. First, she cut a tiny hole in her thumb and allowed the droplet of blood to soak into the runes before praying to the Storm Goddess.

During the brief prayer, she heard the gentle sound of the waves ringing in her ears, and the protection of the goddess, as always, soothed her restless heart.

After reconnecting with the goddess, Vanna now truly relaxed—and then she neatly changed out of her sweat-soaked pajamas and into the church uniform. She also picked up the giant broadsword next to her bed before departing the bedroom.

Moments later, a private car powered by a steam core broke the tranquility of the upper city downtown area. It’s Vanna driving her car to the cathedral.

She had to tell Bishop Valentine as soon as possible what had occurred in her dream. The complexity of the matter had far exceeded expectations, and it was no longer an incident that could be solved by her alone. It may even require their branch in Pland to contact the main Storm Cathedral patrolling the Boundless Sea if necessary.

Vanna’s gaze was firm on this, her breathing steady and her thoughts clear. But suddenly, a little hesitation came to mind.

She recalled the strange scene near the end of that dream.

Make some fries… What the hell does it mean?!