Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 142 “Inquiry and Treatment”

The expression on Duncan’s face was very sincere, the kind that’s filled with confidence and resoluteness that if I open the door to sell imitation fakes, then I will have you die clearly with this truth in mind. Vanna was obviously shocked by this level of calmness and remained stunned for the longest time before reacting: “Your honesty… is impressive indeed.”

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask about that fire?” Duncan didn’t care about the strangeness in the other party’s tone and bluntly asked with a relaxed expression, “I heard afterward that the entire museum was blocked off that same day?”

“Actually, we highly suspect that there are supernatural factors related to the museum fire.” Vanna did not hide this from the man. In fact, she didn’t need to because the news had already been spread publicly by City Hall, appealing to the citizens not to approach the Museum Square in the near future. For those living in Pland, the existence of supernatural things wasn’t a secret at all, only that some truths and details are omitted when deemed necessary by the authorities. “The fire subsided very quickly, far beyond common means… Mr. Duncan, can you please recall what you experienced that day. Did you really not see or hear anything unusual after entering the museum?”

“…… No,” Duncan frowned, “in fact, I didn’t have the energy to pay attention to what was happening in the fire at all. I was just a normal person, not a trained guardian after all.”

Speaking of this, he paused and raised his eyebrows: “Does the church suspect that a few of us who escaped from the fire may be related to the supernatural factor behind the fire?”

“It’s my personal suspicion,” Vanna got all serious in her face. “I beg your pardon, but it is my duty as an inquisitor to be wary of all uncontrolled transcendent dangers hidden in the city-state. I am not implying you are the main culprit behind the fire, but whether the common individual like it or not, supernatural powers can contaminate a soul regardless of their will or awareness. My main concern today in coming is your safety.”

“I understand,” that made Duncan more at ease and frank now. To be honest, he couldn’t be angry, for the young inquisitor was only doing her duty. “Then have you noticed anything unusual from your observation? Any clues?”

“…… I didn’t find anything,” Vanna shook her head, “there is no remnant of unwanted powers here, and the distribution of auras flowing inside and outside the building is quite normal. I think… you should be just some ordinary people who got mixed up with that event.”

Duncan thought about it and couldn’t help but add: “If not… why don’t you check carefully again? What if there’s a shadow hiding in some obscure spot and you didn’t notice? This is for our safety after all….”

“I have confidence in my judgment,” Vanna said without waiting for Duncan to finish. Then straightening her chest with extra confidence, she firmly spoke: “I have received the grace of the goddess, and my eyes are the most effective means of detection, especially during the day when no heretical power or shadow can escape my sight. Even the most adept evil gods and demons are unable to escape my eyes during these hours!”

As soon as Vanna’s words came out of her mouth, she heard another loud bang, the signal that Shirley had finally dropped the carving at the cabinet and shattered it.

“I… I wanted to see if I could put it in a safer spot…” Shirley meekly cried out from an out of sight place.

“Just spare those things for now! It’s okay if you just wipe the windows!” Duncan said helplessly, his hands spreading out like some pained boss lecturing a worker. Then turning back to Vanna, “… You’re right, I guess there isn’t anything more to investigate.”

“This kid looks like a hairy one,” Vanna said casually as she glanced up at Shirley’s skirt that was sticking out of a corner, “and seems… she seems a little nervous?”

“This is her first day at work today,” Duncan said truthfully, “not a formal clerk yet, but a friend of my niece coming here to learn and to subsidize her family’s income. Children of the lower city must earn their keeps at a much younger age.”

Vanna nodded in agreement, thinking that this was normal. Then she seems to have remembered something else and landed her gaze on Duncan again: “In addition, I want to confirm another thing. After you all left the museum, did you feel any discomfort or have a nightmare?”

Duncan didn’t answer immediately because someone did have a nightmare. In fact, it wasn’t just Shirley, but he too because he had dived into that dream world to explore with the girl. Sure, Vanna was an upright lady with a positive image, but there was no way he could reveal this fact. In the eyes of the church and authorities, they’re all heretics that must be burned at the stake.

“No, everything is fine,” Duncan shook his head, “but may I ask? What kind of nightmare will it be? If something similar happens to us in the past two days, I would like to confirm it as soon as possible and ask for help from the nearest church.”

“It should have something to do with the flames,” replied Vanna, “and the scale is immense, with huge arcs erupting violently from a dark void. Considering the fact that you narrowly escaped from a near-death experience, it’s likely you have suffered a short-term trauma in some way or form. The shadow may manifest itself in the form of your dreams. Ordinary folks cannot judge the difference, but as a transcendent, I advise you to seek help as soon as you dream of something similar.”

Duncan frowned.

Erupting violently from the dark void, spectacular arcs of flame…

It didn’t sound like Nina’s dream, nor was it Shirley’s dream they experienced.

If I had to connect it to something, her description is more like something I know of…. The sun fragment?

Duncan pondered for a moment, carefully adjusting the wording within the framework of an enthusiastic citizen. “Let me get this down… so this thing… is it related to the sun cultists that’s been plaguing the newspapers recently? Those cultists seemed to be engaged with something related to the sun and such. I wouldn’t put it past them to set the museum ablaze in their crazy rituals.”

Vanna didn’t think much about the question since it’s common knowledge the church was tracking down the suntists after the recent sewer rituals. Then nodding: “We can’t rule out this possibility… but knowing is your limit, do not inquire too much about the matter. It’s dangerous for ordinary folks to dive deep into this topic.”

As a high-ranking member of the church, Vanna knew all too well the dangers that came with forbidden knowledge. Merely knowing was enough to open a channel for those evil gods to seep into their world. By then, the host would become nothing more than a walking bag of flesh to infect others regardless of one’s will.

Naturally, Duncan did not take the initiative to mention his original reporting behavior if the suntists to the church either. Merely through their conversation here, he was already able to discern the truth and confirm his guess about that being the sun fragment.

Is that how a sun fragment is supposed to look? A huge arcing flame, erupting violently in the dark nothingness…

This was completely different from what Duncan had in mind. In his original draft of imagination, something like a “Sun Fragment”, which was chased by the suntists, should be something similar to an anomaly, a tangible and physical object or item that could be wielded.

Duncan tried hard to match the description to anything he knew from Earth. Eventually, he came to the conclusion it mostly resembled what he knew as a “solar flare”.

The expression on his face did not change much there, but his thoughts were riding high in waves.

HOLY SHIT?! A SUN FRAGMENT IS LITERALLY A SLICE OF THE SUN!!!

At the same time, in Nina’s bedroom on the second floor, Heidi had completed her regular questioning and guidance of the “patient”.

She has roughly confirmed that Nina’s dream was not an ordinary nightmare or a continuous dream caused by pure mental stress, but whether this dream could be harmful requires further determination.

“We may need a short and moderate hypnotherapy,” Heidi picked up the amethyst pendant in her hand and said to the girl in front of her with a gentle voice. “Don’t be nervous, just follow my guidance and answer some questions.”