Deep Sea Embers

The night deepened gradually, and the frigid world’s celestial body hung high in the night sky. Beneath its pale glow, the entire city-state fell silent as Duncan took in the scenery. He’s currently standing on the second floor of the antique shop, quietly observing the streets and taking in the undulating rooftops of the neighborhood.

In the distance, he could also see the Vanished sailing across the vast, turbulent sea, heading north through the night as it followed in the Sea Mist’s track.

From here, he watched everything using his all-encompassing “perception” to scan every corner of Pland. This included the invisible “smoke” floating overhead.

The “smoke” resembling “souls” released by the Grand Storm Cathedral had stopped expanding after nightfall and was now large enough to cover three-quarters of the city. It drifted gently in the night sky like a thin veil, as if leisurely strolling about for a walk…

Duncan withdrew his gaze then and focused on the massive shadow at the city’s edge.

That was where the Grand Storm Cathedral had docked, and the pilgrimage ark clung to Pland’s southeastern port. In Duncan’s perception, he could clearly sense the outline of this massive structure, but that’s all he could do – he couldn’t penetrate into the cathedral’s interior.

The cathedral’s interior was like a vast, dark black hole to him.

Ordinary ships docked at the port couldn’t block his perception – nothing could escape his “touch” within a close enough range of Pland, but now this cathedral seemed to be an exception.

Was it due to Goddess Gomona’s “protection” or the special protection technology of the Storm Church?

Duncan was curious but refrained from taking any excessive actions. He had indeed considered whether using his green fire could break the protection, but it was just a thought. After all, there was no need to set fire to someone’s house just to satisfy his curiosity.

At that moment, Duncan suddenly felt something in his heart, quickly withdrew his perception, and looked up in the upper district’s direction. Eventually, his gaze landed on the local cathedral at the highest peak.

…

In a brightly lit room at the top of the church’s grounds, Pope Helena lit a ceremonial candle mixed with spices and placed the candlestick in front of a full-length mirror on the wall’s corner. She then tilted her head slightly and looked at Vanna, who had been standing by her side for quite some time.

“I heard the first time you saw ‘him’ in your dreams, your initial reaction was a sacrificial leap – what were you thinking at that moment?”

Vanna’s face revealed a hint of embarrassment: “At that time… I didn’t think much.”

“When you say ‘didn’t think much,’ it usually means ‘didn’t think at all,'” Helena laughed, “Actually, that’s good. Exceptional warriors often act faster than they think, which is very useful when fighting heretics and evil spirits – after all, ‘thinking’ itself can easily become our weakness.”

“…But I’m just relieved that my recklessness at the time didn’t lead to any consequences,” Vanna sighed helplessly, “In hindsight, he didn’t seem to care about my ‘offense’ at all.”

“He doesn’t care, they don’t care,” Helena whispered, “The higher beings are concerned with more expansive, long-term matters… The good news is that their concerns do include our survival, to some extent.”

Vanna didn’t respond for a while, so Helena looked at the former inquisitor with a half-smile: “Vanna, you must have many questions, right?”

“I want to know… your plans for me,” Vanna hesitated for a moment but spoke up, “You secretly relieved me of my inquisitor duties and didn’t assign a new city-state guardian. I’m somewhat at a loss and unsure how to fulfill my responsibilities next.”

Helena listened calmly, with no hint of surprise on her face. After Vanna finished speaking, the seemingly young Pope simply smiled and looked out the window.

Through the wrought iron-patterned window panes, one could see the peaceful and serene city streets illuminated by numerous gas lamps.

“A very calm night, Vanna,” the Pope said, “How many incidents of supernatural pollution or evil invasions do you think the night patrol guards will report today?”

Vanna paused, hesitating to answer: “I’m not sure… The city-state has indeed been safer lately, with few incident reports, but…”

“Zero,” the Pope interrupted her, “Tonight’s incidents are zero, just like yesterday and the day before, and it will be the same tomorrow.”

Vanna opened her mouth.

“You’ve clearly noticed this but haven’t dared to draw a conclusion yet?” Helena laughed, “A city with no longer dangerous nights, where shadows no longer breed even in the temporary darkness after the gas lamps go out. The most dazzling pearl on the Boundless Sea now truly deserves its name.”

Vanna gradually began to understand: “You mean…”

“Vision-Pland,” Helena nodded gently, “It appears that within this large-scale Vision, no supernatural ‘pollution’ phenomena will occur other than ‘Vision-Pland’ itself.”

“Is this your observational conclusion?”

“Do you think I came here just to be ‘admired’ by the citizens in the streets and greeted by priests and officials in the cathedral?” Helena looked at Vanna with a half-smile, “I have my own ways of observing and assessing the changes that have occurred in this city-state.”

Vanna’s mouth hung open as if she had countless things to say but suddenly didn’t know where to begin. Chaotic thoughts filled her head, and she felt that the events happening now had once again surpassed her worldview. It took her a long time to blurt out: “So… Pland doesn’t need an inquisitor anymore?”

“I’m not sure,” Helena’s answer somewhat surprised Vanna. The Pope shook her head, seemingly uncertain, “Since this has never happened before, we can’t be sure. However, at least one thing is clear: as long as the nature of Vision-Pland remains unchanged, you indeed no longer need to work as you did before, and the duties of the city-state guardians will change significantly.”

At this point, Helena paused, then added thoughtfully, “Even so, the city-state still needs the protection of its guardians. I can only confirm that no ‘natural supernatural pollution phenomena’ will occur within Vision-Pland, but our threats are not limited to those phenomena. Heretics, ancient offspring heirs, evil creations, and fanatics who actively seek to destroy the civilized order won’t become law-abiding simply because Pland has become a Vision.

“But one thing is certain: Pland has become much safer.”

Helena stopped and looked calmly into Vanna’s eyes for a few seconds before continuing softly, “Vanna, we are on a very new path; no city-state or church has ever faced a situation like this.

“On the other hand, our world… seems to be experiencing some unsettling changes. Whether it’s Vision 001’s ‘failure’ or the activities of the Vanished, they are breaking the fragile balance that the city-states have maintained for thousands of years. In this situation, the Goddess has provided only limited revelations… I can only act upon these limited revelations.

“Vanna, you have great talent, and this talent should be utilized… somewhere more valuable. Pland is now in its safest state, but I presume you’re not someone who indulges in comfort, are you?”

Hearing the Pope’s words, Vanna instinctively straightened her body: “I am always ready to sacrifice everything for faith and righteousness!”

“Sacrifice everything?”

“Of course, sacrifice everything!”

“Never hesitate in doing anything?”

“As long as it’s the will of the Goddess!”

“Even going to the Vanished?”

“Including going to…”

Vanna instinctively spoke loudly but choked on her words. After two seconds, she stared at the Pope in astonishment: “What… did you just say?”

“As I just said, our world is experiencing many unsettling changes, and among these changes, the Vanished is at least the only one that has shown the possibility of communication and goodwill,” Helena said seriously. “We need to establish a stable communication channel with the master of the Vanished, preferably with some official nature. You can consider yourself an envoy, or you can think of yourself as a ‘hostage’. Of course, I personally suggest you adopt the first explanation, but it’s up to you.”

Vanna listened in amazement, and it wasn’t until the Pope finished that she finally found an opportunity to speak: “But… but… is it reasonable? Going to the Vanished… is it the concept I understand? Is it possible?!”

Helena looked quietly at the somewhat flustered young “Inquisitor,” who had anticipated this reaction. After a while, she smiled and replied, “It’s reasonable.”

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