Chapter 651: The Miniature Sun Meets Miniature Sun
Duncan, having once encountered a miniaturized version of the Moon, was still amazed as he now held and studied an ancient celestial body, similarly reduced in size.
Resting softly in his hands, this tiny star emitted a gentle, warm glow. The flames flickering on its surface brushed against his fingers without harm, as light and soft as a feather touching his skin.
Duncan thought back to a time long past when this small yet bright orb had been a guiding light for the forest folks, nurturing an entire civilization with its radiance.
"The followers of the Black Sun covet this artifact, and one of the 'Offspring' even risked their life for it. What do you think their intentions are with this 'sun'?" Goathead asked, its eyes reflecting the light from the star in Duncan's hands.
"Whether it's the Offspring or the Remnants of the Sun, their aim is the same: to revive their 'mother,' the fading Black Sun," Duncan explained, slowly turning the miniature star in his hand. "This simple-looking sphere contains 'knowledge' from before the Great Annihilation. It could be key to restoring the ailing Black Sun."
He paused to gather his thoughts, then continued:
"In that shiny crystal, I saw their once-thriving homeland: a vast, technologically advanced structure encircling a star, foundational to their civilization. This great network likely suffered 'contamination' from outside forces during the cataclysm known as the Great Annihilation, mutating into what it is now..."
"I have a bold theory. The entity known as the 'Black Sun' might be a kind of 'hybrid'—the civilization that thrived around the star collapsed with it, evolving into what we now see. This 'hybridization' has made the Black Sun more unstable and chaotic than other ancient entities, intensifying its 'flaws.'"
Duncan raised the ancient star in his hand to emphasize his point.
"The Offspring probably think that another ancient star might help correct the 'flaws' of the Black Sun. While I don't fully understand the underlying principle, one thing is clear—if they succeed, the results would be disastrous."
"Fortunately, they failed," Goathead remarked, visibly relieved.
Duncan nodded, still intently observing the ancient star in his hand.
Just then, footsteps neared the captain's quarters, followed by a knock. Nina's voice called out, "Uncle Duncan! Are you in there?"
"Come in," Duncan replied, raising an eyebrow.
The door opened, and Nina peeked inside before entering with a bright smile. "Dinner's ready! I came to get you!"
Seeing Nina's joyful expression, Duncan had a sudden insight.
"You're just in time," he motioned her over. "Look at this."
Nina approached and her eyes widened at the sight of the miniature sun in Duncan's hand. A flicker of recognition crossed her face: "Isn't that the 'sun' Ms. Vanna found in the desert?"
"Here, try holding it," Duncan offered her the mini sun. "Tell me, what do you feel?"
Nina, slightly puzzled, took the small sphere, studying it closely before trying to 'feel' it. She looked back at Duncan, her expression one of mild confusion, "I don't feel much... just a gentle warmth."
"Is that all?" Duncan frowned, pondering what further tests he might conduct. However, his thoughts were interrupted by a sharp "crack" sound.
He looked up in surprise to see Nina staring in astonishment, tiny flames and fragments escaping from her mouth, and the ancient star now showing a small, unmistakably bitten-off piece.
Duncan: "...?!"
"I... I couldn't resist!" Nina realized what she had impulsively done, hopping anxiously, "It looked just the right size, and... I bit into it without thinking..."
"Stay still," Duncan quickly stepped in, stopping Nina's frantic movements as he took back the mini sun. He was concerned that Nina's bite might have destabilized the star. Given its compressed nature, any loss of control could be extremely dangerous.
Yet, nothing supernatural happened.
The nibbled star neither imploded nor erupted, continuing to radiate a benign warmth.
Upon closer examination, Duncan noticed the gap had mysteriously healed itself.
Nina, equally curious, peered closely at the now-intact "mini sun" and ventured, "Did it just repair itself?"
Holding the "mini sun" and remembering the one aboard the Vanished, Duncan felt puzzled despite his familiarity with many oddities and phenomena.
After considering several wild and strange theories, he handed the mini star back to Nina: "...Try biting it again."
Without hesitation, Nina bit into the "mini sun" again, the crunch audible, her chewing exaggerated.
Duncan, admittedly, felt a twinge of envy...
Under their watchful eyes, the "mini sun" miraculously returned to its undamaged state.
Nina looked from Duncan to the "mini sun" in her hand, her confusion evident: "...Why?"
Duncan massaged his forehead, equally baffled. "I doubt even the foremost experts of our world could explain," he remarked, observing the sparks emerging from Nina's mouth, his curiosity piqued, "...Does it taste good?"
"It's crunchy," Nina answered honestly, "It's intriguing, though I can't quite place the flavor."
"...Would you like more?"
At this, Nina's eyes lit up (quite literally, brightening the entire cabin): "May I?!"
Duncan was speechless, the room falling silent. He applied all his knowledge and creativity to understand the situation, while Nina, clearly intrigued, studied the "mini sun" as if considering her next nibble.
After a lengthy pause, Duncan decided to put aside his quest for understanding.
"You're not feeling ill, are you?" he asked, his concern clear. He was worried about the potential effects of consuming the "star" on Nina.
"No, I feel fine. It's actually quite warm and soothing when I swallow," Nina reassured him, shaking her head. "Uncle Duncan, may I have just one more bite?"
"...I would advise against any further tasting today," Duncan said with a serious yet slightly amused tone, "If you're still feeling well tomorrow... then perhaps you can try again."
He paused, then added, "Actually, I was thinking of entrusting its safekeeping to you."
This wasn't a lie; before Nina's arrival, he had indeed been considering the safest location for the "mini sun." It seemed logical to entrust it to Nina for several reasons: the apparent bond they shared with the "mini sun" which might reveal further mysteries, and for security, as Nina's supernatural 6000°C capability would deter any potential thieves.
However, Nina's newfound taste for the "mini sun" was an unexpected twist...
Without dwelling on the complexities, Nina was thrilled by Duncan's decision, nodding enthusiastically: "Okay!"
Her expression was like a puppy that had been given a prized treat.
Duncan, watching Nina's delighted expression, couldn't shake off a nagging sense of worry—Was it really wise to entrust the "mini sun" to her?
While it seemed capable of self-repair after being bitten, the limits of this regeneration were unknown. If left in Nina's care, was there a risk she might eventually consume it entirely?
"Uncle Duncan?"
Nina's voice snapped Duncan out of his thoughts. He turned towards her beaming, sunny face.
"Shall we go for dinner?" she asked, her smile beaming.
"..."
In the end, Duncan found himself unable to retract his offer of the "mini sun."
Meanwhile, the massive structure of the Academy Ark had drawn close to Wind Harbor's coast.
On the upper deck's relaxation area, Lune sat in a chair, his eyes closed in repose.
According to the elves remaining on the ark, the Nameless One's influence on the real world had completely dissipated. Even those elves who had previously vanished had returned to the physical realm.
Relieved from the sudden alleviation of pressure, exhaustion had set in. Lune had spent a considerable time resting upon his return to the ark, only now beginning to feel a semblance of revival.
Gradually, he opened his eyes and gazed at his hands, observing the wrinkled, vitality-depleted skin.
"I really am getting old," he whispered to himself, then stood up and moved towards a laboratory table nearby.
"...It's time to have a conversation with a few old friends."