Chapter 553: Rescue x2

Nina felt a brief moment of confusion before quickly understanding the gravity of the situation.

Reflecting on everything that had just happened, especially her own actions and the emergence of the bizarre object that seemed like some kind of 'living metal,' she figured the Truth Guardians had every reason to be wary.

Throughout their journey on the ship, Vanna had often discussed her role as an inquisitor, detailing the stringent guidelines and procedures followed by the guardians. Her Uncle Duncan had always argued that these rigorous rules were what allowed the city-states to survive in this perilous Deep Sea Era. Because of these rules, most ordinary citizens could lead relatively calm and stable lives despite the inherent dangers surrounding them.

With that context in mind, Nina nodded affirmatively. As she did, she discreetly tugged on Shirley's arm, who was standing next to her, signaling her to hold her tongue and refrain from saying anything rash or ill-considered. Facing the Truth Guardian, Nina articulated her concerns, "Alright, I understand. But we should head back soon; our families will become anxious if we're away for too long."

"We are merely verifying whether you've been mentally compromised or subconsciously influenced in some way," the Truth Guardian responded, looking visibly relieved as he elaborated. "It's an essential step for both investigation and safeguarding. If we find no signs of contamination, you'll be released shortly."

He paused before adding, "Once you accompany us to the academy, you'll need to provide some basic information for our records. We'll ensure that someone contacts your families to update them, so you needn't worry about that."

"In that case, let's proceed," Nina smiled, turning to Shirley for her opinion. "Do you have any reservations?"

"What could possibly go wrong?" Shirley responded under her breath. "I'm actually kind of excited..."

Nina sensed a touch of playfulness in Shirley's voice, a sort of thrill-seeking expectation for forthcoming drama or tension. While she had an inkling of what Shirley might be anticipating, she chose not to dwell on it. Instead, she redirected her focus back to the odd, almost dormant 'entity' in front of them. "Do you have any idea what this object is?" she inquired curiously.

"It's an entity of some sort that has made its way into our reality. I can't divulge more than that at this moment," replied the Truth Guardian, maintaining a strictly professional demeanor. "Should it be deemed appropriate to release more information after our assessment, an official announcement will be made by the academy."

"I see..." Nina drew out her response as she prepared to depart with the Truth Guardians. However, before she turned to go, she cast another lingering glance at the mysterious object.

It had finally stopped moving, its last quivers and spasms coming to an end. Slowly but surely, its metallic-gray surface began to morph, taking on a texture that eerily resembled stone.

Nina found this transformation fascinating but knew it was time to leave. With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, she followed the Truth Guardians, leaving the strange entity behind.

Within the lavish confines of the mansion at 99 Crown Street, a grand structure distinguished by its imposing spires and exquisitely manicured gardens, Duncan and Lucretia were deeply absorbed in an informal yet significant conversation. They were specifically focused on recent developments that had occurred in the cold northern regions. Meanwhile, not far from them, Morris was completely engrossed in a study of Luni, a meticulously crafted clockwork doll. He seemed utterly captivated by the intricacies of her internal mechanisms. Vanna was notably absent from the living room; she was in her designated "prayer room," as this was the standard time she set aside for her daytime devotional practices. Lucretia had thoughtfully prepared this sacred space for Vanna, who was a devout follower of the Storm religion.

"When I left the north, a semblance of order had been restored in Frost, but the environmental cleanup, especially concerning the pollution caused by those 'elementals,' will require significant effort," Duncan updated Lucretia on the unfolding crisis in the frosty landscapes. "I've heard that Tyrian's team will likely be working extended shifts at least until the next quarter."

"After spending half a century as pirates in those unforgiving northern waters, it seems the bill has finally come due," Lucretia mused, her voice tinged with wistfulness. "By the way, have you ever ventured into the even colder seas located further north of Frost?"

"I haven't," Duncan confessed, shaking his head. "I've only heard legends about the infinite ice plains that stretch out toward foggy, mysterious boundaries. While I find it intriguing, my current priorities lie more with the situations evolving in Wind Harbor."

"Ah, the myths do say that beyond the frosty expanses to the north lie ice-bound relics from the Dark Ages and remnants of ancient city-states," Lucretia elaborated. "Many have tried to delve into those icy depths, only to be swallowed by the sudden, deadly drops in temperature. Personally, I find the comparatively warmer southern seas a more fitting arena for challenging 'the border.'"

"If the opportunity arises, I'd certainly be interested in seeing that mysterious border for myself. Don't worry, though; I'm well aware of the perils of the fog," Duncan reassured her.

"Just ensure that you don't plunge headlong into that ominous mist," Lucretia cautioned.

This reunion of the "father-daughter" duo, who had been separated for an extended period, saw them sporadically converse about an array of topics: the latest news, the baffling phenomena that occurred in the seemingly Boundless Sea, the dangerous foggy border, and other perilous zones far removed from what could be considered civilization.

Their dialogue wasn't always smooth. Lucretia had never been particularly adept at maintaining light conversation, yet, almost miraculously, they had managed to keep the discussion going for quite some time.

Suddenly, Duncan's demeanor changed. He seemed to have "heard" something, a fact betrayed by the slight frown that marred his forehead. After a moment of concentrated listening, he shifted his gaze intently in a specific direction beyond the window.

Lucretia instantly picked up on her father's abrupt shift in focus. "What's going on?" she inquired.

"Nina is calling out to me," Duncan revealed, his expression tinged with concern. "How do I get to the university grounds from here?"

"The university grounds?" Lucretia was momentarily taken aback. "Why in the world would you need to go there?"

"I have someone to pick up," he cryptically replied.

Lucretia could only respond with a puzzled look.

...

When asked for a name, "Nina," she hesitated briefly, choosing not to divulge her current "surname," perhaps out of a sense of caution or a desire for discretion.

The guardian, seated across a polished wooden table, appeared completely unbothered as he methodically jotted down details onto an official-looking form. "Age?" he inquired, not lifting his gaze from the paperwork.

"Seventeen," Nina replied.

"And your occupation?"

"I'm still in high school," she informed him.

"Do you reside in Wind Harbor?"

"No, I'm from Pland. I'm just staying in Wind Harbor temporarily, visiting some relatives," Nina clarified.

With meticulous attention, the guardian recorded all of this basic information onto the form. After he had noted down Nina's responses, he looked up and reassured her in a calming voice, "There's no need to worry, young lady. This is all standard operating procedure. You haven't committed any offense; you've merely become entangled in a supernatural event. The purpose of this registration is to ensure your own safety—so there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm not afraid," Nina responded in a courteous tone while casting a somewhat coy glance at the guardian. "Just make sure you're not the one who gets scared later on."

The guardian appeared puzzled at Nina's comment and waved his hand dismissively. Assuming that her remark was likely the product of nervous tension, he decided not to give it too much thought. "Ah, if only your companion were as polite and well-spoken as you," he said wistfully.

At this, Nina momentarily froze, instinctively sharpening her ears to discern any sounds coming from the room next door. As she suspected, she heard phrases laced with profanity, all too characteristic of her friend Shirley. But the language wasn't filled with outright expletives. Instead, the vulgarity seemed to be woven into the conversation—what Shirley herself might refer to as "sentence enhancers."

A relieved smile came to Nina's face. "Actually, this is her being on her best behavior," she awkwardly explained.

"Well, we've encountered all sorts of individuals in our line of work, especially those who've had interactions with supernatural elements," the guardian said, waving his hand dismissively. "Fits of emotional instability or even violent behavior are par for the course; we're well-acclimated to it. I was merely surprised; she looked like such a well-mannered young lady."

Nina chuckled internally, remembering how Shirley had conducted herself when they were around her Uncle Duncan. From a certain angle, the guardian's initial impression of Shirley wasn't entirely misplaced.

After a brief pause, curiosity took hold of Nina. "So, when can we go home?"

The guardian, who was garbed in the ceremonial robes typically worn by clerics from the Academy of Truth, tilted his head to look at an incense burner and a candle that were quietly flickering on a side table.

"You'll be able to leave once the incense has fully burned away and the candle flame has naturally extinguished. If none of the catalysts in the room react during that time, you're free to go."

"Ah, I see," Nina nodded, choosing to remain silent for a few moments before bringing up another point of concern. "What's the status of that 'entity' that manifested itself in the marketplace? Has it been contained or captured?"

"I apologize, but I can't share that information with you," the guardian said, shaking his head. His tone shifted to one of caution as he added, "I would also recommend that you try not to dwell on or revisit the event in your mind. Certain 'anomalies' that break into our dimension can have a sort of parasitic influence on the consciousness of those who witness them. While we haven't found any evidence of such contamination in either you or your companion, frequently revisiting the memory and displaying excessive curiosity could still pose risks."

"Understood," Nina nodded, sitting back in her chair as if now content to wait for the incense to finish burning and for their inspection to be concluded.

The young guardian across from her let out a quiet sigh of relief. As he neatly stacked and organized the paperwork on the table, he discreetly shifted his position, allowing him to withdraw his hand from a concealed compartment beneath the tabletop.

In his hand was an object that looked much like an antique pocket watch. Hidden from view by the table's surface, he pressed a small button on the side of the object. Instead of a clock face with hands and numbers appearing when it opened, what was revealed was a pulsating liquid-metal surface, almost as if it were a living entity.

Carefully angling the device's liquid-metal surface towards Nina, he observed it intently, looking for any signs of abnormality reflected in its shimmering facade.

Nina may have seemed perfectly composed, articulate, and polite, but that didn't automatically alleviate the seasoned cleric's concerns. Often, individuals who had suffered some sort of mental intrusion could appear perfectly normal for short stretches of time. Failure to conduct a comprehensive examination could lead to undetected spread of whatever contaminant was at play.

According to reports from the field, Nina and her companion had voluntarily approached the Truth Guardians who were patrolling the area just moments before the mysterious entity had materialized. Moreover, their actions during the incident had been illogical, perplexing even. Such anomalies unquestionably demanded a thorough investigation.

However, the liquid metal displayed no sign of abnormalities.

Puzzled, the guardian moved the device closer to his own eyes, squinting to examine the minute pulsations in the liquid surface.

Suddenly, he thought he saw a brief flicker, then a pattern of golden light with converging flames. It's a power, mysterious yet tremendous, ancient wisdom mingled with forgotten lore, the endless splendor of light and warmth, the very essence of existence.

A cacophony erupted in his mind, a storm of insights crashing against the walls of his understanding. An insatiable thirst for knowledge took hold of him as if his soul were inexplicably drawn to the gravitational force of some celestial body. His eyes widened, his pulse quickened, and he was on the cusp of confronting something monumental.

Just then, a hand abruptly obstructed his line of sight to the liquid metal.

"Stop staring if something doesn't feel right," said a low, authoritative voice tinged with disapproval. "What's the matter with you guardians from the Academy of Truth? Why this reckless curiosity even when you suspect that something is amiss?"