Deep Sea Embers

“Are you truly certain this will be effective?”

As she observed the large basin of water on the dining table, Nina couldn’t shake her uneasiness. She glanced between the apprehensive Alice and the stoic Duncan, murmuring quietly.

“If this fails, we’ll need to use a solvent, but that stuff is caustic, and I’m unsure if it’ll harm Alice’s body,” Duncan said, frustrated as he looked at the gothic doll who had changed back into her usual attire but still had an immobile neck. “Or maybe she’ll just remain like this indefinitely.”

Alice became alarmed and quickly waved her hands, “No, let’s attempt boiling water first!”

Nina’s eyes darted between Alice and the basin several times before she finally exhaled, hesitantly reaching her hand into the tepid water.

She was exceedingly cautious, as though attempting to single out a lone grain of sand from the desert, channeling the intense flame from her inner core to the external world. For a sunny girl with a passionate core of 6,000 degrees, such precision wasn’t easily achieved. However, she had been diligently practicing this level of control at every opportunity and had made significant progress. In no time, she succeeded.

The water started to boil.

Alice looked at Duncan, who returned her gaze.

Without any hesitation, they submerged the doll’s head into the boiling water.

“Allow it to cook for some time,” Duncan advised while holding Alice’s shoulder, “but if you experience any discomfort, stop immediately.”

Alice promptly replied, “Glug, glug, glug… glug.”

Duncan considered for a moment and then glanced at Nina, “I suppose she isn’t feeling discomfort.”

Nina stared at the unfolding scene, unable to resist muttering, “I can’t help but find this situation so bizarre…”

Duncan sighed, acknowledging that her statement was an understatement; he too found the scene incredibly odd. In the dimly lit, cramped antique shop on the second floor, the pair were boiling a gothic doll’s head in a basin of hot water. The doll continued to gesture, raising her hand and giving a thumbs-up to signal that she was alright.

Any first-time observer of this scene would report it to the authorities, and upon a second look, they’d contact the church’s guardians.

Suddenly, footsteps and Shirley’s voice approached from the stairway: “I’ve returned! Mr. Duncan, old man Morris is here again. I told him to come right up…”

Shirley appeared in the doorway the following instant, and her voice abruptly cuts off at what she saw.

In the dimly lit room, Duncan and Nina stood silently beside the basin of boiling water, with the latter’s hand still submerged, maintaining the heat. Meanwhile, Duncan gripped Alice’s shoulder, pressing the gothic doll’s head firmly into the container with the constant bubbling sound of boiling water.

As it so happens, Morris also arrived right after Shirley, catching the scene in the dining area with his own gaze. But instead of freezing in shock, he only nodded as if comprehending the situation like it’s a typical day in the antique shop – ah, it’s the subspace shadow and sun fragment stewing Anomaly 099.

“HOLY CRAP!” Shirley’s belated exclamation finally resounded as she nearly leaped in terror at the scene. She hastily covered her mouth as though attempting to force the curse back in, mumbling unintelligibly.

“What on earth are you shouting for?” Duncan glared at the startled Shirley. “Was it your suggestion for Alice to pour glue into her neck?”

Shirley abruptly grasped the situation, and her initial impulse was to flee, but under Duncan’s watchful eye, she dared not move.

“I… I mentioned it offhandedly; I didn’t think she’d actually go through with it,” Shirley’s voice quivered. “No sane person would believe that…”

Duncan was about to retort when he suddenly felt Alice’s body sway. He promptly released her, only to see Alice rise straight up from the basin.

But only her body did so as her head remained boiling in the basin.

“Ah, it worked,” Nina exclaimed, surprised.

Alice’s body stood motionless for a few seconds, then started to grope for her head that’s gurgling in the water, pleading for help: “Help… gurgle… help… gurgle…”

Nina quickly retrieved Alice’s head and awkwardly helped her reattach it. Hearing the familiar “pop” sound, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

Alice rotated her head from side to side, discovering that although her neck was slightly stiff, she could indeed move it. She immediately faced Duncan with a joyful expression: “Captain! I can move again!”

“Dry her hair and collar; they’re both wet. Help her dry them,” Duncan sighed and looked at Nina. He then glanced at Shirley, who appeared panicked and wanted to flee but didn’t dare to, and said irritably, “Write the alphabet twenty times and each new word twenty times as well.”

After saying this, he disregarded Shirley’s crestfallen expression and looked directly at Morris: “What’s going on? Did you uncover anything new about that symbol?”

Morris, possibly still reeling from the peculiar and disordered scene, hesitated for a moment before replying: “Ah, not about the symbol. I received some information from a friend at City Hall today, and I think… it may pique your interest.”

“News from City Hall?” Duncan furrowed his brow. “Proceed.”

A few minutes later, Morris relayed the situation he had discovered that morning.

“Vision Pland…” At the dining table, Duncan repeated the phrase with a somewhat serious expression before looking at Morris. “When will this news be made public?”

“It’s not determined yet, but it should be within the next few days,” Morris nodded. “Logically speaking, since the City of Pland is still grappling with the aftermath of the previous calamity, most citizens likely still possess a strong capacity for resilience. Suppose the city is transformed into a vision as part of the post-disaster conclusions. In that case, it may not incite too much turmoil – but if they wait until the city is entirely tranquil and everyone has been living peacefully for a while before announcing it, it might trigger a fresh wave of chaos.”

Duncan nodded slightly, remaining silent, but couldn’t help reflecting on the news he had just read in the newspaper – the Grand Storm Cathedral was scheduled to arrive in Pland.

The updates in the records of anomalies and visions were disseminated by the major churches, so the Grand Storm Cathedral must have been among the first to be aware of this situation.

“A city-state transformed into a vision while continuing to function as usual is quite unusual. What’s even more peculiar is that this new vision doesn’t have a number,” Morris added. “What are your thoughts on this?”

Duncan had, of course, noticed the issue of the new vision lacking a number, but what could he think? His knowledge of the supernatural realm was actually inferior to that of a skeletal dog…

However, he couldn’t admit that, so he could only contemplate for a moment before shaking his head indifferently: “I have no opinion. The ‘codes’ of anomalies and visions published by the major churches are unfathomable and meaningless to me.”

“This…”

Morris opened his mouth but then recalled the green flames that had engulfed the entire city-state, the disintegrating Black Sun, and the Anomaly 099 that had just obediently been submerged in the basin.

All these matters seemed to be the same for Captain Duncan, merely some… mildly bothersome “daily issues.”

There was no need to worry about what every speck of dust cleaned daily was called.

“Alright, this indeed holds no significance for you,” the elderly scholar looked at Duncan with a touch of awe and then hesitated before slowly formulating his words. “Also, although there should be no uncertainty, I still want to confirm that Pland was indeed turned into a vision by your actions, correct?”

Duncan turned his face slightly: “Is there any doubt?”

“No, I have no doubt. I’m merely curious about your plans for this city-state in the future,” Morris stated, organizing his words to convey his thoughts as clearly and unambiguously as possible. “You transformed it into a vision to…”

“I have no intention of controlling the fate of this city-state or interfering with anyone’s future,” Duncan interrupted Morris with a gentle shake of his head. “If I must say…”

He paused, gazing out the window at the tranquil scene on the street.

“I quite like this place, so I hope it can remain peaceful in the future.”

…

Within the local cathedral, Vanna, who was conversing with Heidi, suddenly stopped and looked back, puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” Doctor Heidi inquired curiously, observing her friend.

“I thought I just heard a bell ringing and someone whispering to me,” Vanna frowned. “It seems I must have misheard.”

“You certainly misheard. I didn’t hear anything,” Heidi dismissed the idea. “You must be under a lot of stress lately. Do you need me to…”

“No need!” Vanna interrupted Heidi quickly. “I feel like my mental state is quite good, and if I do encounter any problems, I’ll handle them myself. You know, priests are part-time psychiatrists.”

“Alright, if you don’t need it, you don’t have to be so anxious,” Heidi muttered helplessly. “By the way, where was I?”

Vanna thought for a moment and reminded her, “You were just talking about your father purchasing an artillery shell from an antique shop, and now you’re concerned about his mental state…”