Deep Sea Embers

Chapter 49 “Double Trouble”

The gods dwelled in a kingdom far from the real world, the dimension which people believed to be the cornerstone of the world. Unlike common sense, the “cornerstone” was located not at the bottom of the world but at the apex of all dimensions.

The ancient Kingdom of Crete describes the structure of the world as they were known in the surviving texts:

The cornerstone of the world stood at the very top of what’s known, guarded by eternal truth and order. As its denizen, gods are eternal for merely living there.

From the kingdom of Gods downwards, it was the reality where all mortal beings are born. Through the afterglow of the gods, mortals are able to survive in the relatively stable and rich real world that we know today.

But below that would be the spirit world. It was the realm of ghosts and spirits that gradually deviates from the cognition of mortals. In the spiritual world, the blessings of the gods have been thinned, and the twisted and grotesque forces are able to prevail.

Then further downwards, beyond the spiritual world that no higher god could touch, there lies the deep sea that was no longer suitable for the survival of any living creature – a domain dominated by strange forces, a realm that’s the reflection of the void.

However, there’s still something at the bottom beyond the deep sea—the depth of subspace entrenched in the shadowy crevice of all things. In there, dwelled the extremely dangerous ancient gods from a time lost to memory. They’re sinister and carry the malice of those lost forever in the void.

According to the accounts of the ancient kingdom of Crete, the gods were the ones who set the criteria dictating all living things. However, such a rule doesn’t mean it’s omnipotent. As one further dive into the lower domains, the power of the higher gods will decline, and gradually, the foul existence in subspace will fight back and vie for dominance.

This was the setup of the current world. Order and light at the top, darkness and chaos at the bottom. Two opposing forces using the mortal reality as their battleground.

The knowledge was the ancient gift left to the world by the glorious civilization that pioneered the Deep Sea age 10,000 years ago. In the long years since, countless scholars have studied the “hierarchical structure” without finding any fault in the model. Nowadays, such a theory has universally become known as the “World Standard Model”.

In this Standard Model, earthly mortals will fall into deeper places, but few people can return from the “deep” to the “shallow”. In rare cases of the lucky few that do return, none had ever shown the desire to subvert the heavens, which acted as the cornerstone of their world.

It was precisely for this reason that the return of the Vanished from subspace will become the world’s most outrageous vision—its return violates the world’s understanding of the Standard Model.

But on the other hand, the existence of the Vanished was in line with the classic statement about anomalies and visions: nothing is ever permanent.

In any case, neither Bishop Valentine nor Vanna thought that the ghost captain had the ability to take revenge on the Storm Goddess—even if he had the heart, he wouldn’t have the power.

The reason for their belief? Because the “cornerstone” and the real world are not continuously interconnected. At least so far, no scholar has found evidence that the “cornerstone” and the real world could be directly connected. Even the gods could only indirectly stretch their influence through projection, metaphor, and other methods. Meanwhile, a ghost ship… where would it find the means to strike at the higher realms?

Since it was impossible to seek revenge on the Storm Goddess herself, the only choice left was of course the Goddess’s followers in the earthly world.

As the headquarters of the Church of the Deep Sea, the Cathedral of the Storm was an “ark” that sailed in seclusion on the Boundless Sea, coming and going without a trace. What’s more, the Pope’s crown sitting on the ark had the power to control the storm on behalf of the Lord, which was not a good target at all less the Vanished wanted to be sunk by the waters.

Now here comes the city-state of Pland into the equation. This point was fixed at sea, an island with clear will to open up to the outside world. Such a fine target, with over eighty percent of its residences being devout followers of the Storm Goddess, who would pass it up?

Vanna had decided that the ghost captain cane for vengeance over its own demise—after all, the Vanished had fallen into subspace in a storm a hundred years earlier—and she couldn’t think of any other reason why the ghost ship would suddenly return to reality without cause. All clues are pointing to this theory.

But what exactly does that ghost captain intend to do?

Vanna deeply furrows her forehead in thought: “Bishop Valentine, do you think… the Vanished have anything to do with the recent movements of the Black Sun’s followers in the city-state?”

After saying this, she paused before adding: “In last night’s dream, I saw the burning sun and the Vanished appearing in Pland together, and the simultaneous arrival of two disasters may be a sign given to me by the goddess…”

“A reasonable speculation, but don’t forget, the tainted ‘sacrifice’ killed the priest of the Black Sun in the underground site, and that individual was a baptized emissary of the Black Sun.” The bishop shook his head to rebuke the idea, “At the very least, we can go by the evidence that the Black Sun’s followers and the Vanished are at odds against one another.”

Vanna went quiet as she contemplated her peer’s insight. She couldn’t object to that finding.

“In regards to the cultists we captured. I got some tip-offs from the city-state of Lenza this morning…” The old bishop continues after getting no response.

Vanna jerked up in surprise, “A tip?”

“The sun heretics not only revived in Pland, but they have also been active in the other city-states recently. We have credible reports that they’ve been transiting through the ports of Renza and Moco to gather somewhere.” The old bishop now sounded worried, “The officials there have managed to capture a few of them, and during the interrogation, the heretics are mentioning the ‘sun’s fragment’.”

“Sun fragment… You mean the supposed real body of their sun god after its disintegration?” Vanna appeared shocked by the news, “They think the piece fragment is hidden here in Pland?”

“It seems that this is the case. It is not known where the heretics got this information, or it may have been a ‘revelation’ from their madness, but in short, they now firmly believe that part of their Lord’s remains is hidden in our city. It’s very likely they are intending to revive that dark god.”

“Those lunatics….” Vanna couldn’t help but curse in a huff, “How many lives have they mutilated in order to resurrect that dark and blasphemous sun!”

“The Black Sun is how we address their god, but in their mind, that being represented the truest order. You can’t expect the irrationals to have a conscience about blood on their hands.” Valentine shook his head, “They firmly believe in what they say is just, and there are only two methods of dealing with such people: subdue them or kill them.”

Vanna’s mouth twitched at her peer’s blunt answer: “It looks like we are going to be busy in the coming days.”

“The vast sea has never been peaceful, and the city-states are in the vast sea,” Valentine recited, “the captains have to face the storms in the oceans, and we have to confront the storms brought on by the fools of the world. Inquisitor, prepare yourself. The city-state of Pland is about to face its greatest challenge yet!”

“Two challenges,” Vanna corrected the bishop, “in addition to the followers of the Black Sun, there is also a mysterious and terrifying ghost captain. If the Vanished and Black Sun really aren’t working together, then our trouble has changed from one to two.”

Bishop Valentine groaned slightly: “Maybe there is another way. Going by the situation in the sewer, maybe the Vanished will fight with the believers of the Black Sun?”

“…… Then it only means the troubles have merged into one earth-shattering trouble, Bishop Valentine, “Vanna eyes the old man in front of her who had obviously begun to think differently, “I can’t think of a worse combination of bad news than that. Nothing good will come of two threats taking place at one time.”

Valentine sighed and admitted that Vanna was right.

“In short, have our clerics and watchmen work with the city police. We must arrest those sun heretics who have infiltrated the city-state and eliminate this threat before the other comes.” Vanna intends to remove one so they can focus all their attention on the ghost ship, effectively minimizing the danger posed by the two. “As for the ghost ship, we don’t know what it would do next so we will leave it for the time being. Have everyone monitor the sea around the city though….”

……

“I’d like to add some more ketchup…” Duncan beckoned to Nina across the table, “I can do it myself so hand me the bottle.”

Nina immediately handed the ketchup over, “Okay Uncle Duncan.”

It’s now noon, and Duncan and Nina are having lunch in the small kitchen on the second floor. The food in the antique shop was simple – a local salty pancake served with tomato sauce or hot sauce. They also had a serving of vegetable soup that was not exactly delicious. Nevertheless, both diners were happy enough about the moment since such a scene hadn’t been common in their lives for quite some time.

Duncan was truly starting to like this place a whole lot.