Deep Sea Embers

Agatha meticulously examined the hidden place that had concealed the items. As she observed the recess, she found it to be exactly as her subordinates had described it – a concealed memorial dedicated to the Frost Queen, devoid of any lingering traces of supernatural energy.

Her eyes then moved to scrutinize the objects that her team had discovered within the compartment: a statue made of plaster, a collection of commemorative coins, and a small printed booklet.

Half a century prior, mere possession of such objects would have warranted capital punishment.

However, those fear-filled years of strained tension were long gone. Now, the governing body of Frost had to focus on the long-term stability of their city-state and safeguard their public image as upholders of justice. They couldn’t overreact to citizens privately remembering their former queen – in this era, these innocent acts of commemoration usually attracted nothing more than a warning, or at most, a monetary penalty.

Besides, the decision to issue warnings or fines rested in the hands of law enforcement officers, not the cathedral. Secular laws and regulations were beyond the purview of ecclesiastical authorities.

“This is not our domain,” Agatha declared with a shake of her head, “Document this discovery, notify the local security forces, and leave the rest to them. We will, however, retain these mementos for further examination, just in case… they conceal something.”

“Understood.”

Having coordinated the next steps at the site, Agatha rose from the worn-out sofa and inhaled deeply.

There was an overwhelming amount to deal with, and she could not afford to dawdle here.

“Don’t forget to continue the investigation at the sewage plant and keep a close watch on the pipeline system in this district,” she instructed her team before stepping out of the room.

Beyond the room lay a narrow hallway, its antiquated stairs stretching forward under the muted glow of sparse lighting. Doors to two other apartments nearby had cautiously been cracked open, their inhabitants peering through, eyes wide with anxiety, observing the ongoing activity.

Agatha raised her hand in acknowledgment.

“Please return to your homes, gather your belongings, and await further instructions. We need to clear this area temporarily – but rest assured, we’ll resolve the situation as swiftly as possible, and you’ll be able to come back soon.”

With this, Agatha didn’t wait for the inhabitants’ responses; instead, she moved down the staircase towards the exit on the ground floor.

She didn’t employ her usual method of travel, “Gray Wind.” Though she generally enjoyed the speed and convenience it provided, her mind was in disarray today, cluttered with numerous pressing matters. A slow, leisurely walk would assist her in mentally organizing these concerns.

She also aimed to absorb the residual energy in the entire building on the off chance that she could detect any faint signs of “elemental” contamination elsewhere.

With these thoughts in mind, she descended the weathered staircase to the entrance and stepped out into the open space surrounding the residential building.

The stale, pungent aroma that had been lingering in the air dissipated immediately, replaced by the bracingly fresh, cold air of the outside world. This sudden shift in ambiance revitalized Agatha’s senses, even leading her to momentarily envision herself emerging from a dark, damp dungeon into the radiant sunlight.

The throng of people that had previously gathered outside the residential building had now dispersed, leaving behind only a handful of curious bystanders who pointed and whispered amongst themselves from a safe distance. However, upon Agatha’s emergence, even these lingering observers hastily made their departure.

Yet, someone else remained.

A furrow creased Agatha’s forehead as she noticed a young woman with a concealed face, golden hair cascading down her back, and a bulky paper bag cradled in her arms. The woman stood in the open space before the building, seemingly lost in contemplation.

“The area is under quarantine; it’s not safe to linger,” Agatha cautioned as she approached, her tone firm. “Are you a resident here?”

The veiled blonde woman seemed startled, jolted back into the present. She turned to regard Agatha, pointing at herself in puzzlement. “Are you speaking to me?”

“Of course. Who else could I be referring to?” Agatha frowned, slightly unnerved by the stranger in front of her. While she was certain she had no prior acquaintance with the woman, there was an eerie familiarity about her appearance, as if she had crossed paths with her recently. “Do you live here?”

“No, not here,” the woman, Alice, quickly waved her hand dismissively and gestured vaguely into the distance. “I reside over there, not that far away. What happened here? I heard there was a fatality?”

“The city guardians are addressing the situation,” Agatha responded casually, her bewilderment growing as she was not recognized by Alice, the city’s gatekeeper.

However, Alice seemed oblivious to the increasingly perplexed gaze of the bandaged woman standing in front of her. She found Agatha’s dark attire intriguing because it reminded her of the captain’s current appearance.

The captain, however, had cautioned her against hastily judging people based on their appearances and against revealing too much about herself to strangers. The former was deemed impolite, the latter recklessly incautious.

While Alice couldn’t articulate these two concepts, she trusted in the captain’s wisdom.

It was time to take her leave.

So, with a friendly wave towards Agatha, Alice said cheerfully, “I must be off now! Thank you for answering my question!”

With that, the veiled blonde woman departed, her demeanor radiating a light-hearted, untroubled air. As Agatha watched her leave, an inexplicable unease settled over her.

“What was that woman’s purpose here?”

In her two decades of living in this city-state, Agatha had never encountered anyone quite like Alice, a woman who exuded an indescribable aura of simplicity and joy, conversed with an unprecedented openness, and smiled with an innocence free of any hidden depths.

Agatha’s brow furrowed, a startling realization dawning upon her only after the woman had departed.

“No breath or heartbeat…?!”

The youthful gatekeeper immediately lifted her gaze towards the direction where the blonde woman had vanished, her instincts urging her to pursue. However, the hurried sound of approaching footsteps halted her impulse.

A guardian dressed in dark attire hurried towards her, clutching a piece of intelligence dispatch in his hand, an expression of deep anxiety etched across his face.

“What happened?” Agatha inquired sharply, not allowing the guardian a moment to speak before she voiced her own unease, “As if things weren’t chaotic enough; surely there can’t be more complications.”

“An urgent message arrived from Cemetery No. 3,” the black-clad guard quickly informed, standing rigidly upright. “‘Mysterious visitor’ clues, the original is on site.”

A brief pause overtook Agatha as she quickly snatched the missive from the guardian’s grasp, her eyes scanning the script hastily.

The young gatekeeper remained silent, motionless as if she were frozen in place, offering no response for an uncomfortable stretch of time.

The black-clad guardian cast a concerned glance towards his superior, unable to contain his worry after a few beats, “…Gatekeeper, regarding this matter…”

Agatha slowly turned her gaze, locking eyes with her subordinate, “What would be your course of action if someone abruptly informed you that a being of ancient god-like stature had physically manifested in our city-state, and their choice of mortal dwelling was a terraced two-story house, leased through the citizens’ help center?”

“I would probably seek spiritual counsel at the nearest church or consult a reputable psychiatrist,” the black-clad guardian candidly replied.

“You’re not wrong, but regrettably, I already serve as the representative for the highest priestly institution in the city-state, and the arrival of an ancient god is not a predicament a psychiatrist can resolve,” Agatha sighed, meticulously folding the letter, “Every issue carries significance, each problem demands immediate attention…” She cast her gaze towards Oak Street with a heavy sigh, highlighted in the intelligence report.

Intriguingly, it was the same direction the peculiar, seemingly lifeless blonde woman had ventured off towards.

…

Brimming with excitement, Nina dashed throughout the entire house, eventually making her way into the kitchen, where she marvelled at the superior quality of the cookware compared to those at Pland’s house.

On the other hand, Shirley and Dog meandered about the living and dining rooms on the first floor, playfully assuming the roles of “inspectors” and pausing occasionally to critique the decor.

In addition, perched upon a nearby dining table, Ai found herself buried under a mountain of fries – a veritable feast for her.

After being cooped up on the Vanished for so long, this provided a much-needed respite for the group.

Reclining on the living room sofa, Duncan watched the scene unfold with a concealed smile. Though thick layers of bandages hid his amusement, Vanna, standing beside him, inexplicably sensed that the captain’s eyes reflected the warmth of a doting father in that moment.

Vanna rapidly shook her head, dismissing the bizarre comparison that had sprung to mind, her gaze shifting towards the two girls (and a dog) darting around the house.

“Have you checked out the empty room upstairs that’s been allocated for you?” she inquired.

“We did! We did!” Nina bounded over enthusiastically, nodding emphatically, “It’s fantastic, even more spacious than my room at Pland’s!”

“This place is really incredible,” Shirley joined the conversation, a radiant smile illuminating her face, “If I had known you guys had such a comfortable set-up in the city-state, I would’ve hopped aboard two days ago. Being on the ship is so monotonous! There’s absolutely nothing to do…”

Duncan slowly swiveled his head in her direction, “I left you with plenty of homework, enough to occupy you for three hours each day. How could you possibly have nothing to do?”

Caught off guard by her own blunder, Shirley visibly recoiled.

“Did you complete her assignments for her?” Duncan’s gaze dropped towards Dog, who was doing his utmost to melt into the shadows.

Dog seemed to shrink further under the scrutiny, “I… I did it for extra practice, not wanting your efforts in educating us to be wasted…”

Duncan released a hearty laugh, clearly amused by the scene.

“Ease up, I invited you here for some relaxation, not to berate you,” he gestured dismissively, his eyes falling upon the wall clock, “Alice should be returning shortly, and we still have about an hour until dinner. Shirley… it’s time to catch up on your homework, starting from page 16 of your textbook.”

After a prolonged period of silence, Shirley’s desolate wail filled the air, a haunting lament that reverberated in the ears of both Vanna and Morris.