Chapter 652: Stepping into the Mist

In a lab, flames silently licked the air as a flask bubbled noisily. At this moment, Lune felt his consciousness pulled into a deep, dark abyss, all under his own vigilant gaze. He journeyed through a pitch-black illusory tunnel, eventually emerging into faint glimmers of light.

Here, he reunited with his old friends—Helena, Banster, and Frem.

As Lune approached them, ready to greet them, Helena, quick-witted as ever, spoke first in a teasing tone, "You're looking quite well, Lune. It seems the Truth Academy won't be needing a new Pope anytime soon."

Lune gave Helena a casual look, his face a blend of indifference and mild amusement. "I appreciate your 'concern,'" he replied sarcastically. He then nodded gently to the rest of the group. "My apologies for the delay. I've been restoring order to both the Ark and myself."

Frem, a massive figure with skin like stone, focused intently on Lune. In a deep, concerned voice, he asked, "Has the issue been resolved?"

Lune confirmed with a nod, "Yes, it has. Order is being restored to Wind Harbor as we speak, and the elves worldwide should soon awaken from their slumber. We've managed to avoid the worst outcomes."

Banster, tall and lean, pursued the conversation with gravity. "We need more details. The impact of this event surpasses those in Pland and Frost. It affected an entire race and delved into histories older than the Deep Sea Era. What exactly happened in Wind Harbor?"

Lune turned to Frem, the leader of the Flame Bearers, and spoke gravely. "With Captain Duncan's assistance, I witnessed the 'Great Annihilation'—a truth about our world that is far more astounding than anyone could have imagined."

Lune recounted his experiences at the core of the Nameless One, describing a monumental collision that destroyed two worlds and provided insights into the orc homeland.

The seasoned followers of the Four Gods were left stunned. A heavy silence settled in the dark space, only their psychic echoes breaking it.

After a long pause, Helena, still processing, asked, "So, the worlds... they collided and merged?" Looking directly at Lune for confirmation, she added, "Does this mean the theory of World Drift is actually true?"

Lune explained, "It's much more intense than mere 'World Drift.' The nature of the collision was terrifying, a cataclysm beyond imagination. It was a process of destruction and rebirth, transforming everything into a chaotic, dark primordial state akin to subspace. This collision involved not just two, but potentially dozens, maybe hundreds of worlds at once. The memories of 'Atlantis' are just a fraction of that immense destruction..."

Frem, the towering orc leader, listened intently, lost in deep thought. After a significant silence, he asked in a resonating voice, "Are you absolutely sure... that the giant with Miss Vanna is the 'Eternal Flame'?"

Lune replied solemnly, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "Based on our findings, it appears so," he stated. "The 'Chronicle Pillar' has been transported aboard the Vanished, and I've seen it myself."

He paused, then added cautiously, "But I must stress, acquiring that artifact will not be straightforward..."

Frem interrupted, understandingly, "I'm aware of the risks," he said, nodding slightly. "But right now, our primary concern isn't the 'Chronicle Pillar.' It's the revelations about our gods, or rather, the 'lords' we each serve."

His gaze commanded the attention of everyone present with an almost tangible weight.

The others, fully aware of the gravity of his statement, fell into deep thought.

These people served as the mortal representatives of the Four Gods, and they were well aware of the mysterious and powerful forces that backed their divine sponsors.

Banster, a devotee of the God of Death, broke the silence, his voice heavy with reflection. "Our connection to the gods is weakening, and the Ark's effectiveness is fading," he observed. "When the Ark was first implemented, I could almost directly hear my god's voice in the meditation chamber. But within a few years, that voice has dwindled to a faint and indistinct murmur."

Lune nodded in agreement, his voice tinged with resignation. "The Ark is just a secondary support. It can strengthen our bond with our 'Lords,' but it cannot prevent the inevitable decay," he explained. "We've always known this day might come."

Banster closed his eyes, weighed down by his thoughts, and after a long silence, he spoke again in a whisper, "Sometimes, I sense their gradual disappearance..."

The room lapsed back into a heavy silence until Lune spoke again in a soft, reflective tone. "Yes, we all feel it."

Turning to Helena, Lune's voice carried urgency. "The Storm Church's fleet has been active along the border for some time. Have you made any progress?"

Helena answered, her voice laced with frustration, "Our vanguard is still lost in that perpetual mist. In the depths of the fog, navigation is impossible. The sea and sky merge into an indistinct mass, and even using the 'Star Gazing Chamber' for guidance leads to significant errors. We've attempted to establish temporary lighthouses in areas of lighter mist, but their range is limited. Beyond a certain distance, even these lighthouses are swallowed by the fog."

Frem added his experiences. "We've faced similar issues," he said. "We entered the eternal veil at the border through a different pass. At first, the mist was thin and the sea conditions normal, but as we went deeper, the fog thickened abruptly, and our lights seemed to be consumed by some unseen force."

Lune spoke gravely, highlighting the critical nature of their mission. "Our exploration has been extensive," he began, "We've called patrols from across the world to converge at the border seas. This intense activity has likely already alerted numerous city-states. Whether or not we find the 'link' between the gods and the mortal realm, we are certainly stirring an atmosphere of suspicion and fear among the populace."

A profound silence fell over the group as each member pondered their thoughts. Breaking the quiet, Helena offered a historical insight, "Throughout history, only one person has ever ventured deep into the 'Border' and returned alive from that dense mist."

Lune acknowledged her input. "Yes, and that leads us to the final point for today," he said. "He has also expressed a willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Church of the Four Gods. Not just superficial meetings, but a real, in-depth 'collaboration.'"

The subject was sensitive and fraught with hesitation, and the others remained silent. Lune then addressed Helena, "You should be particularly interested. Saint Vanna has been aboard that ship for a long time, and I'm sure you've gathered significant information from her. Like me, you probably have a comprehensive view of the ship's current state and the captain's condition."

Helena, visibly uneasy, responded, "Vanna..." She paused, massaging her forehead. "According to her reports, the captain does seem to be a reliable person. Sometimes, I wonder about her loyalties; she seems... overly dependent on 'the captain' recently."

Lune gave a reassuring smile, "But you can trust her devotion to her faith. Otherwise, you wouldn't be receiving her messages through the Storm Goddess's blessing." He continued, "I've recently met your saint. Even though our meeting was brief, her sincerity and honesty were evident. Her views on the captain are reliable."

Frem then expressed his agreement, "I support improving our communications with the captain, including direct interactions and possibly inviting him to join our current projects. While I don't have a saint being kidnapped aboard that ship, I trust Lune's judgment. And, of course, I need to see the 'Chronicle Pillar' myself..."

Helena and Lune both voiced their annoyance simultaneously, "Can we please avoid bringing up saints being kidnapped aboard that ship every time?!"

Frem, spreading his hands in a gesture of surrender, responded, "Alright, no more mention of it."

Their focus then turned to Banster, the only one who had yet to voice his opinion.

Feeling the pressure of their collective gaze, Banster, dressed in black, frowned and asked, "Why are all of you looking at me like that?"

Lune spoke to him directly, "We're simply waiting for your view. We all agree to enhance our cooperation with the captain and to share details of our activities in the border sea with him. What do you think?"

Banster looked conflicted, his expression tense as he considered his response. Eventually, with a resigned sigh, he said, "I'll need some time to persuade my bishops to agree to this."

Helena, somewhat surprised, inquired, "So, you personally are in favor?"

Banster spread his hands in a gesture of acceptance, "What choice do I have? In situations like these, personal feelings must be set aside. As long as 'he' doesn't take anything more from me this time."