Chapter 549: Witnessed by the Four Gods

When asked about her last encounter with the church's patrol fleet near the border, Lucretia took a moment to gather her thoughts. Then her face tightened as she remembered. "I believe it was around a month ago when I came across the Flame Bearers' ship in the waters near the border. Since then, I haven't seen any patrols from the churches in that area. But that could be because I haven't been sailing near the border recently."

Governor Sara Mel shook his head in response. "It's not simply because you haven't been near the border, Ms. Lucretia. It's actually much more strategic than that. The Church of the Four Gods has deliberately pulled back a large number of its personnel who were once responsible for border patrols. They've decreased their presence there by about fifty percent."

Lucretia looked genuinely taken aback. "They've reduced their border patrols? What could be the reason behind such a decision?"

Sara Mel elaborated, "The churches are not obligated to share their plans or operations with me. However, from the information I have gathered, those who were pulled back from patrolling duties haven't been reassigned to internal routes or tasks. Instead, they've been stationed near the Eternal Veil at specific strategic points along the border. They're not actively patrolling, but they seem to be amassing their forces at these locations, possibly in preparation for something far more significant."

Pausing for emphasis, the governor fixed his eyes intently on Lucretia and spoke with gravity, "This sort of shift in strategy is unprecedented."

Lucretia took in the weight of Sara Mel's words, acknowledging the gravity of the situation with a well-known adage. "When an elf says that 'such a thing has never happened before,' it's generally a sign that we're facing something extremely serious. I think I understand the gravity of what you're saying."

Sara Mel nodded solemnly. "The world is in a precarious state, Ms. Lucretia. The Vanished has already issued a global warning. Even ordinary people like myself can sense that a crisis is on the horizon. The Church of the Four Gods has been the guardian and overseer of our world for millennia; they can't be oblivious to these signs. They're definitely mobilizing."

As he spoke, Sara Mel pointed to a letter on his desk that bore the official seal of the four churches.

"This letter suggests a link between their recent unexpected redeployment and the warning issued by the Vanished. It's quite likely that the leaders of the Arks have identified, or at least confirmed, the 'root cause' of the issues that your father warned us about. And whatever they have discovered seems far more consequential than anyone initially thought. In light of this 'major issue,' concerns over the Vanished—whose existence remains tied to subspace and holds the potential to disrupt it—have become secondary. What's crucial now is that your father still aligns with the 'mortals' in this looming conflict."

After Governor Sara Mel concluded his remarks, Lucretia found herself engrossed in contemplation. Her gaze shifted back to the letter she had been holding, its contents weighing heavily on her mind. It was as if she were navigating through a labyrinth of thoughts, considering every twist and turn the conversation had taken.

After an extended period of silence, Sara Mel finally decided to break the stillness. "If I may inquire, Ms. Lucretia, what is your father, the legendary Captain Duncan, currently engaged in? And what are his future plans?"

For a fleeting moment, a whimsical thought crossed Lucretia's mind: "He's busy babysitting and plans to take the kids on a grocery run for some human-friendly food." However, she immediately dismissed the notion and steadied her focus. "He's intensely interested in that 'fallen object' I discovered. For some reason, he seems to know a lot about the 'stone sphere' at its core. That's mainly why he's here now."

Sara Mel's eyes widened with evident surprise. "He knows the origins of this 'stone sphere,' you say?"

"Yes," Lucretia nodded. "He referred to it as the 'moon,' and indicated that its original size should be enormous—much larger than what we see. He also asked me various questions about the sphere's physical properties and the composition of samples taken from its surface."

Sara Mel frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in thought. After mulling it over for a moment, he shook his head. "I must admit, I've never come across such terminology."

"Neither have I," Lucretia said. "My father mentioned that it's unlikely anyone in our world would recognize the term 'moon.' And when he said this, he seemed... uncharacteristically dispirited."

The governor paused to consider his next words carefully before breaking the silence. "Our advance research team has recently collected more surface samples from this 'stone sphere,' and they're in the analysis process. Given your father's keen interest, I'll make sure to share the team's findings with you. I'll also pre-arrange access to the research facilities; should your father wish to personally examine any of the data or findings, he's welcome to do so."

Lucretia raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. "And you're not concerned that revealing such sensitive information could create mass panic?"

Sara Mel gestured expansively as if resigning himself to the inevitable. "You've already openly walked your father into the city. Do you have any idea how many people here would recognize his face?"

She retorted, "Until there's an official statement, most people will likely dismiss it as a mere resemblance—a man who bears a striking likeness to Captain Duncan is more believable than the idea of a shadowy figure from subspace casually wandering our streets."

Sara Mel offered a wry smile. "A striking resemblance is unsettling enough, Ms. Lucretia. Since your father's... disappearance, even the seasoned sea captains of our vast oceans have mostly ceased wearing goatees out of respect or perhaps superstition."

"Well, that's hardly my concern," Lucretia replied with a touch of humor, "It's not as if my father went around forcibly shaving them."

Governor Sara Mel looked momentarily stunned, his eyes widening before he regained composure and waved his hand dismissively. "Very well, let's not get sidetracked. I would like to know the absolute truth—how is your father doing now, really?"

He was aware that his question treaded on sensitive ground, especially when directed at someone as formidable as the "Sea Witch." Yet the urgency of the situation compelled him to ask, and so he did, choosing his words with utmost care.

Lucretia, for her part, showed no offense at his directness.

"From what I've been able to gather, my father has lost a considerable amount of his memory. At some point, his time in subspace had fractured not just his reasoning but his very identity. The Duncan Abnomar we see today is, in the strictest sense, a man pieced back together from fragmented memories and characteristics," she explained, her face a complex tapestry of conflicting emotions. She was open about what she knew, choosing not to hide anything. "I can still recognize some semblance of his former self—the familiar aura and the dignified presence are there. But beyond a vague impression he has of me, his recall is largely non-existent."

Lucretia paused, contemplating how to articulate her next thoughts. "As for my own impressions, I sense something else within him. And let me be clear, I'm not talking about any subspace corruption or something inherently dangerous. It's as if he has... multiple layers of personalities or fragmented bits of information stacked atop one another, almost coexisting in a complicated tapestry."

Sara Mel furrowed his brows in confusion. "I'm not sure I follow. Could you elaborate?"

Exercising tremendous patience, Lucretia delved into greater detail. "When I saw him again this time, my initial impression was disrupted by a brief onslaught of noises and shifting shadows of light—most likely the residual effects of some form of psychic contamination. This was fleeting, however, and didn't leave any lasting impact on me. Amidst this psychic chaos, I also perceived an array of tiny lights emanating from somewhere behind him. It's difficult to describe but it resembled a 'starry sky,' as if it was a celestial field that existed somewhere between the deep spiritual recesses of the ocean and the metaphysical realm."

"Before experiencing this 'starry' phenomenon, my initial impression of my father was that of an immense 'void.' I could see his physical form but couldn't sense his essence or being. However, once these auditory and visual sensations unfolded, it allowed me to finally establish some form of meaningful communication. I wasn't speaking to a mere hollow shell anymore; the essence of Duncan Abnomar, fragmented as it might be, was accessible."

Listening intently, Governor Sara Mel's face turned exceptionally grave. "And how long did this entire psychic experience last?"

"The entire experience unfolded in the briefest of moments," Lucretia elaborated with a serious expression. "It happened at the intersection of rational thought and intuitive perception. I would venture to say that the majority of individuals would likely overlook this momentary episode altogether. Those with heightened psychic sensitivities might be so engrossed by the dazzling star-like phenomena that they'd completely miss the preceding sense of 'void' that initially veiled his physical form."

Governor Sara Mel pondered in silence for a good half-minute before articulating his thoughts. "It seems as though you were able to perceive this quicksilver transition precisely because you were so attuned to your father at that moment. The implications of what you're describing, Ms. Lucretia, are disconcerting. It's as if—"

Lucretia cut him off. "I believe I know what you're about to suggest—that perhaps this transient 'starry light' phenomenon might now constitute the 'real' essence of Duncan Abnomar. And what returned from subspace could be merely a fragment or an extension of this starry essence, akin to a tentacle of a sea creature that surfaces to ensnare unsuspecting sailors."

Sara Mel's face tightened into a frown. "That was my thought, yes. Isn't it plausible?"

Lucretia gently shook her head as if dismissing a notion that had occurred to her but was subsequently discounted.

"I have my own convictions; according to them, that is indeed him. Yes, he now carries troubling attributes—qualities that make his very state of existence difficult to comprehend, much less articulate in words. However, I can affirm that these 'stars,' perplexing as they may be, are either him or an integral part of him."

Sara Mel considered his words carefully before speaking, his tone deeply respectful yet tinged with a concern that couldn't be masked. "Your explanation is laden with emotional undertones, Ms. Lucretia. But I also understand you're not one to let emotions interfere with your typically unerring judgment. Thus, I hope your current assessment emanates from your intuitive grasp of reality rather than a sentimental yearning for what was or might have been."

Lucretia looked him squarely in the eye, her expression unwavering. "You can place your trust in my judgment," she stated emphatically. She then gestured toward the letter adorned with the insignia of the Church of the Four Gods, which lay conspicuously on the table. "If not in me, then at the very least, trust in the wisdom of the 'Four Gods.'"