Chapter 630: The Academys Ark

From the depths of the ocean, a multitude of threads that resembled a chaotic bundle of tangled hair emerged. They ascended gracefully towards the sky, their dance ethereal as they multiplied rapidly, creating a mesmerizing yet puzzling spectacle.

Alice, wide-eyed with surprise and awe, took in the stunning view. Suddenly, an enigmatic green light enveloped her eyes. Duncan's gaze, reflecting the same mystical glow, mirrored hers, allowing them both to see these unique strands.

Breaking the silence with a voice filled with wonder and uncertainty, Alice pondered, "Could these be the souls of Wind Harbor's residents? Their bodies aren't visible, but could these threads be remnants of their essence?"

Duncan, looking worried, was deep in thought as he watched the countless delicate threads dancing in the breeze. It was hard to count them all at a glance, but the sheer number seemed too large for just the population of Wind Harbor, suggesting perhaps that souls from around the world had gathered here.

The threads, dense and smoky in appearance, swayed gently with the wind, resembling a mist that cloaked Wind Harbor's skies. The scene had an eerie beauty, as if from a vivid dream.

Regaining her composure, Alice focused intently on the threads above the water, her reaction like that of a cat entranced by yarn. Remembering the captain's repeated warnings, she instinctively drew her hand back, her desire evident yet restrained.

Duncan noticed her inner conflict.

"Captain, may I touch one, just lightly?" Alice asked with hopeful eyes, demonstrating the minimal contact she intended.

Duncan, cautious yet trusting, nodded subtly in approval.

With permission, Alice reached out and gently grazed the nearest thread.

She gasped and quickly pulled back her hand.

"What did you feel?" Duncan asked, concerned.

"It felt strange," Alice whispered distantly.

"Strange? How so?" Duncan pressed.

"This thread is unique," Alice explained, struggling to describe her experience. "When I touched it, I felt a vast, immense presence at the other end, elusive and constantly changing."

She gestured towards the swirling mass of threads. "Whatever it is, it's hidden within this cloud."

Duncan squinted, trying to discern the mysterious presence Alice mentioned. Although he couldn't see it, he suspected it was part of Atlantis, a cognitive entity emerging from the collective spirits' psyche.

With caution, Duncan touched a thread. He felt emptiness, which was expected given his ability to see these strands stemmed from his connection with Alice.

He mentally called out to Goathead, "Do you sense anything wrong?"

After a brief pause, Goathead responded with unease, "I can't tell, Captain. I'm sorry, I..."

Duncan interrupted gently, "It's alright. This isn't your fault."

With resolve, Duncan walked to the edge of the ship's deck. He stretched his hand over the railing, and a ghostly flame with a green glow appeared in his palm. He lowered the flame to the ocean below, watching it fall smoothly and spread across the surface, moving toward a cluster of invisible threads.

However, it soon became clear that the effort was in vain. The spectral flame passed right through each thread without any effect, as if the threads existed in a dimension immune to physical interaction.

A trace of irritation showed on Duncan's face as he remarked, "This is turning out to be harder than I thought."

Then, the serene moment was broken by a distant, melodious horn sound that captured his attention.

Duncan quickly turned toward the source of the sound. A massive form was rising from the sea, outlined against the sky. As it approached, it became clear that this entity was enormous, almost as large as a quarter of a city-state. The massive structure seemed to emerge from the essence of the ocean and the sky, moving slowly but with intent.

As Duncan's eyes adjusted, the giant structure became clearer. It had high peripheries like cliffs resisting the ravages of time. The base was surrounded by flawless white walls, and atop these elevated grounds stood various buildings: clock towers, high spires, and impressive structures with white walls and blue roofs. These buildings reminded Duncan of the prestigious university at Wind Harbor rather than giving off the spiritual vibes of a holy site, suggesting a similar architectural style.

Surrounding this titanic structure were silhouettes of ships, modern flagships of advanced naval architecture. Yet, their grandeur seemed trivial compared to the vast ark, making them appear almost negligible.

Suddenly, thick mist started to rise from the top of this moving fortress, resembling steam escaping from the buildings on its surface. Soon after, another horn blast sounded across the sea, this time with a welcoming tone.

In that moment, Duncan realized what he was seeing. Before him was the legendary "Ark" of the Truth Academy, accompanied by its impressive fleet. Duncan knew that each of the Four Divine Churches owned a similarly enormous ark. This one closely resembled the "Storm Ark" he had seen before in Pland, identifiable by its architectural features.

Out of nowhere, Goathead's voice, filled with surprise and worry, rang in Duncan's mind. "Captain! That's the Church's Ark!"

"I've noticed," Duncan answered calmly, unruffled. "What's the worry?"

"It's the Church's Ark!" Goathead repeated, still shocked by Duncan's calmness. "It's not just any ship—it has the divine protection of a deity..."

Duncan replied indifferently, "Why should that bother me? I'm not at odds with the Four Divine Churches."

Goathead's voice shook with emotion. "But Wind Harbor has vanished! An entire city, just... gone!"

Duncan chuckled softly and responded, "That wasn't my doing."

There was a prolonged silence as Goathead tried to process Duncan's calmness. Duncan sensed his first mate's confusion but chose not to address it, instead walking towards the ship's helm to take control.

Suddenly, the massive ghost ship came alive with energy. Ghostly sails appeared out of thin air, filling with wind and billowing as if by magic. Despite its vast size, the ship deftly changed its direction, heading towards the distant "Ark"—a structure so large it resembled a small city-state floating on the vast ocean.

Duncan was resolute, showing no signs of doubt.

Goathead, on the other hand, was clearly startled by Duncan's decisive action. "Captain?"

"We're going to meet them," Duncan declared confidently, expertly steering the ship. "They didn't show up on the horizon by accident. I believe the distress signal from Wind Harbor attracted the Ark of the Truth Academy to our location." He paused thoughtfully before adding, "I know you're worried. Over the years, our ship has clashed with the Four Divine Churches. But we need to adapt our outlook.

"We've established diplomatic relations with many city-states and religious groups. In my experience, taking such initiative always brings benefits. Remember what Lucretia said? The Four Divine Churches have sent directives supporting our fleet's missions to various cities and sacred sites. Their support confirms their recognition of our commitment to safeguarding the world..."

Goathead, initially startled by Duncan's rationale, expressed his concerns, "Still, directly approaching the Truth Academy's Ark is something we've never done before. With the recent chaos in Wind Harbor and the unclear motives of that massive fleet, isn't it risky to get too close? What if they misinterpret our actions?"

Unfazed, Duncan gave him a reassuring smile and softly shook his head.

He seemed to radiate a celestial light, appearing almost ethereal. As the ship cut through the dense 'fog' of intertwining 'threads', it moved unwaveringly towards the imposing academy ark. Below, the ocean reflected a ghostly image of their vessel. As they moved forward, this spectral reflection shimmered with a phosphorescent green glow, resembling flowing water and casting a mysterious light across the sea.

"If there is no misunderstanding, then there isn't one. If a misunderstanding seems to arise, then it was never truly one in the first place. Essentially, there won't be any misconceptions," Duncan concluded, adding a philosophical touch to his explanation.