Deep Sea Embers
chapter-714

As the group delved further into the depths of the “Holy Island,” a profound silence enveloped their surroundings. The once familiar sounds of rustling wind, chirping birds, and flowing streams had vanished entirely, leaving behind an eerie stillness. This peculiar calm seemed to thicken in the mist, creating an almost tangible presence that shrouded the team from all sides.

This oppressive silence only served to heighten their sense of unease. The absence of natural sounds, which one would ordinarily expect in such an environment, gave rise to an overwhelming sensation that the island itself was sentient. Shirley, in particular, couldn’t shake off the feeling of being constantly watched through the dense fog, as if the island was closely observing and judging these unwelcome visitors. The roaming mist that enveloped the team took on an almost sentient quality as if it were a silent guardian or observer of their movements.

Undeterred, the team pressed on, making their way towards the “excavation site” that Shirley had envisioned.

Their journey from the port led them down a narrow path that cut through the heart of the island. This path, seemingly carved out long ago by the island’s cult followers, was flanked by towering, dark rock walls devoid of any directional signs. Here and there, at the junctions where the path met the rock walls, lay clusters of black stones that resembled crystals.

Duncan found himself irresistibly drawn to these peculiar black “clusters.” Such formations were not rare on the island; in fact, on the western cliffs, enormous rock clusters were a common sight, sprouting from the ground and the mountain walls in an almost plant-like fashion, sparking curiosity about their origins.

Even someone as knowledgeable as Morris found it difficult to explain these “clusters” purely from a geological standpoint. But considering Shirley’s theory that the entire island was “alive,” the presence of such oddities seemed less perplexing.

It was plausible that these uniquely shaped stones were a kind of growth from the island itself, perhaps akin to secretions from the ancient deity.

Under Amber’s leadership, several sailors were meticulously gathering samples of these “clusters,” scraping dark, powdery substances from the adjacent rock walls. They carefully preserved these “Holy Island samples” in consecrated metal tubes, each of which was then entrusted to specific team members for safekeeping.

Throughout their journey, the team engaged in similar activities, working together seamlessly and efficiently, clearly indicating that this wasn’t their first such mission.

“All ‘frontier samples’ could prove to be invaluable,” Amber explained to Duncan. “Some possess supernatural practical uses, while others help us unlock the mysteries of the world and deepen our understanding of supernatural forces. Many perceive the ‘frontier’ as a barren realm of just fog and seawater, but in reality, physical entities frequently emerge from this mist. We encounter nearly a dozen ‘entity events’ annually…”

After a brief pause, she continued, “Lady Lucretia is undoubtedly well-informed about these matters. She often collaborates with the church in these frontier explorations…”

“I’ve heard Lucy talk about that,” Duncan replied with a calm nod. “She mentioned that these frontier samples are a significant source of funding for the Bright Stars’ operations. The Truth Academy is especially generous in purchasing these samples. In contrast, the Flame Bearers are notoriously slow in their payments, while the Storm Church has a solid reputation for trade credit in this area. However, their standards for accepting samples are incredibly stringent. Sometimes, their verification and registration processes are even more drawn out than the Flame Bearers’ payments.”

A hint of embarrassment crossed Amber’s face as she responded, “Not every church has the financial power of the Truth Academy. They could practically buy out a dozen city-states with just the profits from transferring the technology of their steam core reactors. Meanwhile, we have to keep a close eye on our annual budget.”

Duncan replied, understanding her predicament, “Indeed, that’s a very practical concern.”

Breaking the ongoing conversation, Shirley suddenly spoke up, visibly uncomfortable, “Is it just me, or has it gotten colder?” She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing them briskly. “It feels like there’s a chilly breeze. My arms are starting to feel almost frozen…”

“Cold?” Vanna, puzzled by Shirley’s complaint, said, “I don’t feel any cold. But I have noticed the fog around us thickening. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to see the path ahead… Wait a second.”

Vanna abruptly stopped, her attention drawn to Shirley’s arm. “Shirley, your chains…”

Confused, Shirley lifted her arm, “What about them?”

The sound of the iron chains, dark and thorny, linking her arms to Dog’s neck, reverberated through the mist as usual.

With a concerned frown, Vanna studied the black iron chain on Shirley’s arm and hesitantly shook her head. “It looks normal now… but I could have sworn I saw your chains were broken just a moment ago.”

Shirley’s eyes widened in alarm, “Really? Are you sure? Don’t scare me like that!” In her haste, she lifted her arm, pulling the chain to bring Dog closer, hugging his large head. “Dog, did you notice anything?”

Equally unsettled by Vanna’s observation, Dog responded, “I didn’t feel anything unusual… Maybe she was mistaken.”

But Vanna remained uneasy, her instinct as an inquisitor prompting her to be more vigilant. “Shirley, Dog, are you absolutely sure nothing felt out of the ordinary?”

In chorus, they assured her, “We didn’t feel anything.”

Duncan stepped closer to inspect the situation himself. He grasped the black iron chain connecting Shirley and Dog, examining it carefully.

Shirley watched him anxiously, and after a tense moment, she mustered the courage to ask, “Is there any problem with it?”

Duncan focused intently, a faint green flame emanating from his fingertips and seeping into the chain’s links. After a thorough examination, he slowly shook his head, “I can’t find anything amiss.”

The tension in the air spiked as Alice, also gripped by concern, inquired, “What would happen if the chain were to break?”

“I’m not entirely sure what would happen,” Shirley admitted, her voice tinged with panic, clearly unsettled by the thought. “Typically, if the chains binding Annihilators and their contracted demons were to break, both would usually perish immediately. But Dog and I, we’re different…” She paused, her fear evident. “These chains are designed to be incredibly tough. It’s hard to imagine how they could just break…”

In the midst of her growing anxiety, Duncan unexpectedly reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Shirley’s shoulder.

Startled, Shirley looked up, her eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and unease as she met the captain’s gaze.

“It’s time to head back to the ship,” Duncan advised her firmly.

Shirley appeared momentarily bewildered by his directive, prompting Duncan to elaborate, “Something here isn’t right. For safety, I think it’s best you return to the Vanished. It’s no longer prudent for you to continue further into the island.”

Understanding dawned on Shirley, and she nodded, albeit with hesitation. But at that moment, Dog, who had been quietly at her side, suddenly rose, defying the captain’s order with an uncharacteristic assertiveness. “No, captain, I believe… it’s crucial for Shirley and me to remain here on the island with you.”

Duncan’s expression turned into a frown. “Why do you say that?”

Dog paused as if mustering the courage to speak his mind. “Firstly, going back to the Vanished right now might not be any safer than staying with you.”

Duncan, silent, gave Dog a nod to continue.

“Secondly, I have a feeling that leaving this Holy Island at this point could be futile,” Dog elaborated, “I don’t believe Miss Vanna simply ‘saw things wrong.’ In such an environment, a misperception should be taken seriously… There could indeed be something amiss. Earlier, in the square, Shirley was visibly affected by the island’s influence, experiencing visions she shouldn’t have… From my experience, merely leaving the area after such incidents doesn’t resolve the underlying issue. It could potentially escalate into more significant problems later—like a contamination that grows when ignored. Often, confronting its source is the only way to truly address the problem.”

Grasping Dog’s meaning, Shirley looked apprehensively towards the mist-shrouded path ahead. “Are you suggesting… we should go deeper?”

“We must press on. I won’t be at ease until we fully understand the happenings on this island and confirm the nature of the anomaly with our chain,” Dog declared solemnly. “And as I mentioned, returning to the Vanished may not be safe at this point.”

Shirley opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Dog’s voice, which this time resonated directly in her mind through their symbiotic chain—

“Shirley, stay close to the captain—trust in my judgment. Staying by his side is far safer, even if it means venturing into subspace with him.”

Turning her head, Shirley saw Dog gazing at her intently, its skeletal eye sockets glowing faintly with a blood-red light of foreboding.

As a shadow demon, Dog sometimes experienced premonitions that were difficult to explain, a common trait among beings of its kind. These premonitions were often vague and enigmatic, lacking clear details. Despite this, Shirley had implicitly learned to trust Dog’s instincts.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Shirley nodded slowly in agreement. “Okay, then we’ll proceed further into the island.”

Duncan, concerned, fixed a serious gaze upon Shirley. “Are you sure about this? Venturing deeper might lead us into even more unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations.”

At that moment, Shirley considered a thought that seemed to spring spontaneously from her mind, not as a telepathic message from Dog, but more like a personal realization. She pondered the idea that while the dangers of their environment were relative and ever-changing, the safety provided by staying close to the captain was a more certain and stable factor.

In a brief moment of introspection, Shirley reaffirmed her decision with another nod. “Yes, I believe I’m still in good condition to continue.”

“…Okay,” Duncan acknowledged, accepting Shirley’s resolve. He then reached out, gently patting the girl’s head, who appeared somewhat frail and smaller than average, likely a consequence of malnutrition during her childhood. He reminded her earnestly, “Stay by my side, and make sure you keep close.”

Shirley responded confidently and with a sense of reassurance, “Okay!”