Chapter 550: Afternoon

Chapter 550: Afternoon

In the overwhelming context of the authority carried by the term Four Gods, Sara Mel found himself compelled to concede to Lucretias 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, Im not overly concerned about how much of Duncan Abnomars 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 Lucretias 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 hes 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 didnt 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 doesnt exist in elven lore. However, it does remind me of the Worlds 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 Im aware, no event like what happened to Taran El has ever occurred.

Weve pondered that too, Lucretia replied, her tone inflected with sober gravity. The most likely explanation weve 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. Youre 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.

Feeling suddenly self-conscious, Shirley hesitated a bit before tentatively voicing her thoughts, Maybe its better if I just

Duncan cut her off by extending several bills toward her. Take this.

For a moment, Shirleys eyes widened in confusion, staring at the money being offered to her.

Youre heading to the market, correct? Duncans voice snapped her back to reality. Consider this your allowance for the daybut dont spend it all in one place. Nina already has hers.

Snapping out of her bewildered statethanks to a mental nudge from DogShirley hesitantly took the bills, which werent 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 dont stay out too late. If you happen to get lost, give me a call and Ill 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 Shirleys arm, she pulled her excitedly toward the road. Lets 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, didnt you?

Duncan simply nodded, confirming her suspicion. Ive been aware of your presence since the beginning.

Lucretias 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 emotionsperhaps 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 couldnt 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 youve disseminated is beginning to ripple through the world, making its impact felt.

Though Duncan couldnt 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.