Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 199 “The Vigilance of Historians”

Duncan felt that he had been careless.

He only thought about Alice’s lack of common sense to live in the human world. What he didn’t take into consideration was the extent of this ignorance.

To think Alice didn’t even know what money was… In that case, how is she supposed to help around the store?

But then it’s quite reasonable if he thought about it.

After all, the lady doesn’t need to spend money while lying inside the coffin box.

“Aigh… while Shirley and Nina are away, I’d better continue to make up lessons with you,” Duncan sighed at being forced to give up his afternoon plans. “First of all, I must let you know the most basic things in the human world, such as currency…”

He paused and sighed again: “Aigh, now that I think about it, I really have to open up a study class with you and Shirley.”

“Oh, oh, Shirley, the short girl just now, right?” Alice immediately showed a face full of joy, like she was happy to meet someone new. “I heard you say she is just like me… What’s it called again? Illiterate?”

“It’s not something to be happy about!” Duncan knocked on the table, “And even Shirley is better than you. At least the girl knows how to evade the bus fare when taking a ride!”

Alice: “What is fare evasion?”

Duncan: “…”

……

Heidi sneezed hard after feeling a chill run down her skin.

Getting up to close the living room window, the doctor sniffled her nose and muttered in complaint at the fluctuating weather. Then, with a worried look, she peered over at her father, who was sitting in a daze at the coffee table nearby.

School had been out for the holidays. Normally, her father would spend the next two months visiting the major libraries to kill time during the autumn months, but Morris had been acting strange and lethargic today for some reason.

Father’s been acting this way since he returned from Mr. Duncan’s antique shop. He didn’t even go to his study when he returned. Did something happen during his visit?

“Are you all right?” Heidi finally didn’t hold back and bent down to ask with concern, “Are you not feeling well?”

After asking twice in a row, Morris finally heard his daughter’s voice. Quickly raising his head, the old historian felt the buzzing subside slightly before waving his hand: “I’m okay… Oh, you didn’t go to church or city hall today? Didn’t go to the clinic either?”

“I’ve already completed the work from the church and city hall. And the clinic is closed today,” Heidi’s furrowed brows did not loosen after the response, “I remember you asking me that this morning already.”

“Oh right, I forgot.” Morris lightly tapped his temple and said with some hesitation.

He knew he wasn’t in a great state. The man knew this. However, he couldn’t explain it to his daughter either. After all, revealing the existence of a subspace shadow lurking within the city was a huge matter. It might anger Mr. Duncan and pollute Heidi’s mind in the process.

The low buzzing sound sounded in his head again at Duncan’s name, which interrupted Morris’s train of thought. But soon, the noise subsided after a sting, allowing his train of thought to stabilize for the second time.

Static noise, the consequence of returning from that antique shop.

Morris knew that he should be thankful for being able to keep his life and sanity. Yes, he’s got some symptoms of “critical madness” lingering, but after some self-assessment, Morris was sure the problem would subside on its own after some rest.

But before the symptoms disappear entirely, he will have to keep worrying Heidi like this.

Morris frowned suddenly, remembering that his daughter was a brilliant psychiatrist – she could not be allowed to continue to notice his mental state.

“Did you talk to Mr. Duncan about anything yesterday? I feel like you’ve always been absent-minded when you come back…” Heidi’s voice came again.

“Some… topics in the field of knowledge, very profound knowledge.” Morris couldn’t suppress the information about the “Creeping Sun Wheel” in his mind, recalling the news of what Mr. Duncan revealed about the current situation of the Black Sun. The information acted like it had a mind of its own, wandering through his head like a parasite that’s trying to devour his brain. “It’s quite consuming of my brainpower, so I couldn’t figure it out yet. Don’t mind me… Anyways, let’s not talk about this matter. What happened to the appointment with your friend? Didn’t you say you’re going to the theaters on your day off?”

Heidi was stunned: “… Friend? I don’t remember… Which friend did I make an appointment with? Are you sure you?”

“Did I make a mistake?” Morris rubbed his temples. For some reason, he suddenly felt his temples throbbing as if a trance had overtaken his mind. “But I clearly remember you saying that there was a friend the day before… What’s their name? A very tall one, and someone I’m familiar with…”

The throbbing in his temple started irritating Morris, causing him to gently pound his head with the fist instead.

Her father’s action naturally alarmed Heidi, who was initially only puzzled, but now, she’s downright panicking. Squatting down to grasp the old historian’s hand: “Are you okay? Is it a headache? Do you want…… shall I give you a hypnotic relaxation or calming? Or find another doctor…”

“I don’t need a doctor, I don’t need it,” Morris waved his hand vigorously. The noise in his head had returned again, but this time, it was different from the last. Unlike before, the sound seemed to be desperately trying to convey some information, desperately waking up something. It’s as if another consciousness had awakened in his mind – that consciousness was still his own, but it had a subtle deviation from his current thinking. “I just need to recall something, recall a very important thing… Heidi, you have a friend, listen, you have a friend, a very important…”

The worry and nervousness on Heidi’s face became more and more severe. She squeezed Morris’s other hand hard, and her words were already filled with calming power out of reflex: “Of course I have friends, but which one are you talking about…”

Morris could no longer hear Heidi’s words.

A sudden bang roared within his head, which was the momentary release of all the compressed noise at once. Then, the static plaguing his thinking had disappeared entirely, with many strange memories pouring into the depths of his consciousness. He had fallen into a trance and saw things – a giant, full of starlight, twisted and fused by crushed mirrors, and then he saw the green flames… it burned away the fog clouding his head.

This time, he did not lose his sanity by witnessing the giant; on the contrary, the impression gave him the strength to break through the invisible curtain blocking his vision until now.

“Where is Vanna?” Morris suddenly raised his head and stared into Heidi’s eyes.

Heidi was stunned: “… Who is Vanna?”

“Inquisitor of the city-state, one of your best friends, niece of Admin Dante…” Morris said slowly. His breathing had stabilized, and his eyes returned to their former depth and sharpness. Right now, two very different memories existed within his mindset, one clearly identifiable and recognizable, the other distant and unfamiliar. Imagine two historical scrolls laid out side by side, that’s what’s happening with him. “You don’t remember, do you?”

Heidi hesitated: “I… I don’t know who you’re talking about, but your state worries me…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m in very good shape right now. Also, it’s not me we should be worried about, it’s Vanna.” Morris suddenly stood up, his expression more serious than ever, “Heidi, a big problem may be happening within our city grounds. We have to take action.”

Heidi subconsciously followed by getting up, and she could feel her father’s spirit returning again. As to why? She still didn’t know what. “Action? What action?”

“Go to the main cathedral, go to Bishop Valentine, tell him…” Morris said quickly but stopped halfway through. After weighing what should be said, he nervously shook his head, “No, Vanna’s accident may also be because she realized the truth… Find Bishop Valentine. Tell him you are seeking asylum, the highest level of asylum. Tell him I made you do this, that the most eminent historian of Pland made you do this. Do not say anything else other than that…”

Heidi listened in a daze. She sensed that something dangerous and urgent might be happening, things that could not be said in the open. Controlling her urge to ask, she readied herself according to her father’s instructions.

“What about you? What are you going to do Father?” She asks after getting surprised by Morris taking the coat up from the hanger.

“…… Go to the antique shop,” Morris said in a deep voice.