In Duncan’s perspective, what was once a tumultuous sea of dark shadows within the mirror had once more taken the form of a confident female explorer. As he observed, the erratic movements of the shadows deep within the mirror settled, and there was a peaceful moment of stillness.
For a long while, Duncan remained silent, simply taking in the unfolding scene.
Within the reflection, once the woman, Martha, had fully formed, she remained still, reminiscent of the dramatic pause before a film started. A few seconds passed, and then vitality surged back into her features. She looked down at herself, a hint of bewilderment evident, before slowly lifting her gaze. “What… what did you do to me?” she inquired.
Duncan, roused from his thoughts, shook his head gently. “Not much, just offered you a welcome.”
Taking a moment to form his words, he then posed a question, “If you decide to stay as ‘Martha’ permanently, will you ever reveal the truth to Lawrence?”
Martha hesitated for a beat, “He might… be aware,” she began slowly. “I’ve subtly mentioned to him that my identity mainly stems from Martha, but it’s also pieced together from his own recollections. Knowing Lawrence’s keen insights and his extensive exposure to the mystical, and considering the vast amount of information I’ve inadvertently shared, he might deduce that if ‘Martha’ can encompass one memory, she can certainly contain countless more. I mean…”
She halted, a nuanced smile gracing her lips. “In this mirror city, I did seem unusually knowledgeable.”
“And his reaction?” Duncan probed.
“He seemed… unaffected,” Martha replied with a slight shake of her head. “But I’m unsure if he’ll always remain that way.”
Duncan studied her briefly, then unexpectedly chuckled.
“It’s comforting to see you’re concerned about this,” he remarked lightly. “Let’s set all these matters aside for the time being, my dear. In this immense ocean riddled with obscurities and oddities, any shred of warmth becomes even more valuable. Lawrence is well aware of this.”
As the reflection displayed a contemplative Martha, Duncan, in the real world, took a moment before adding, “What insights do you have regarding the deep waters below Frost?”
Pensively, Martha replied, “The deep waters…?” Her face contorted as she sifted through her extensive memory bank. “I do possess some ‘recollections’ of it… but they are mostly shadowy and ambiguous, intertwined with the dread of submersion and the bizarre delusions sparked by icy suffocation. It’s doubtful these memories would be of any solid use, yet…”
Curious, Duncan interjected, “Yet?”
Within the reflection, Martha seemed lost in thought briefly, then made a wide gesture.
Suddenly, her image within the mirror began to scatter, reminiscent of a swift splash of ink. The inky streaks quickly expanded, covering the entire mirrored surface, and indistinct figures began to rise from the abyss.
A vast, looming shadow emerged, seemingly suspended in an infinite expanse of nothingness. This shadow resembled an island or perhaps an uneven mass on the verge of fragmentation. Surrounding this main shadow were myriad smaller fragments reminiscent of pieces that had broken off from the main mass. These fragments appeared to orbit the primary shadow-like satellites around a planet.
A monumental structure stood at the heart of this suspended “island” akin to a pillar. This object spanned infinitely both up and down through the darkness, piercing through the shadow and seemingly extending into the depths of the void itself.
From the depths of the mirror, Martha’s voice resonated, “When I sift through the myriad memories related to the deep sea, what emerges is a collective fear – the shared terror of countless souls who were consumed by the depths. They all converge on this image. It’s challenging to decipher. The scene seems to depict a vast floating entity in the ocean’s depths, bisected by an immense ‘pillar’. Without a frame of reference, it’s hard to gauge the scale of the entity or the pillar.”
Duncan stood transfixed, absorbing the scene that was laid out in the mirror, deep in contemplation.
His mind was flooded with scattered pieces of information about the Abyss Project. Tales of lost submarines, deranged deep-sea pioneers, terrifying tales of the ocean’s deepest trenches, the vast void discovered within the metal mines, and the primordial deity’s appendage that seemed to tear through the very fabric of reality, plunging deep into Frost.
It became apparent that something tangible lurked in the deep sea.
The image in the mirror began to fade, replaced by Martha’s silhouette. “That’s the extent of my knowledge. Despite the vastness of memories I possess, only a handful pertains to the deep sea and even fewer from a clear perspective. If you…”
Duncan, in a gentle tone, cut her off, “It’s fine, my dear. I’ll explore it for myself.”
…
On the ship’s deck, Alice and the mummy-like “Sailor” were engrossed with their discovery of a second insect, prodding it playfully. But this activity clearly didn’t hold their attention like the chaos they caused earlier in the kitchen.
Growing restless, Alice discarded the twig she was holding and, with a pout, gazed at the unfamiliar deck. “Why isn’t the captain back?”
The mere mention of the “captain” made the “sailor” shudder. He took a moment, seemingly mustering courage, before asking, “Aren’t you… afraid of being around him?”
“Why should I be?” Alice responded, looking perplexedly at the mummified sailor. “I like the captain’s company. There’s no reason for me to fear him.”
The mummy’s face contorted with terror. “That’s the subspace realm! Do you even grasp what that means?” He exclaimed, clearly disturbed. “Merely looking at him makes me feel my sanity slipping away. Yet, you spend all day by his side. If anyone should be labeled 077, it should be you. You’re far stranger than I am.”
Alice tilted her head in slight bemusement, her attention drifting from the mummy to Lawrence, who was engrossed in conversation with his first mate, Gus, a short distance away.
With an aura of excitement, Gus extended his palm, showcasing a small, serene flame dancing on its surface. The place where the flame touched his skin revealed a translucent layer, transitioning the flesh into an almost ghostly appearance. Outside this area, his skin appeared entirely normal. “The entire crew has this ability now,” Gus remarked, the flame’s glow reflecting in his eyes. “Any idea why?”
Lawrence, deep in thought, brought a flame to life on his fingertips with a snap. He gazed at it, the soft light flickering in his eyes. “I can’t say for sure,” he admitted, putting out the flame with a swift gesture. “It all began after Captain Duncan’s arrival. Could there be a connection?”
“It might be,” Gus responded, his face showing relief. “Before, these flames would unpredictably surge, seemingly triggered by unknown factors. It was unnerving. Several crew members even expressed concerns about our next port visit. Not every place is as accepting as Frost and Pland…”
Pensively, Lawrence’s gaze drifted to the vast sea beyond. “The future…” he whispered, the weight of leadership evident in his voice. The ethereal flame’s energy pulsated within him, a symbol of the change he and his crew were undergoing. “We must decide our path.”
Lawrence’s contemplation was interrupted by a firm, resonant voice, “Having fun, are we?”
Both Lawrence and Gus reacted instinctively, flames flaring up around them in surprise.
Within a heartbeat, Lawrence contained his flame and pivoted to face the voice. There stood Captain Duncan, observing them with a cryptic expression.
His initial view upon emerging was of anomalies 077 and 099, casually squatting on the deck, amusing themselves with insects. Following that, he observed the White Oak’s captain and first officer, his new subordinates, engrossed in their newfound flame-controlling abilities. For those familiar with the lore of the seas, this was the infamous Vanished Fleet. To the uninformed, it might appear as if Duncan had embarked on a voyage with a group of mischievous children. He couldn’t help but wonder what sort of crew he had inadvertently assembled.
“Ca… Captain Duncan!” Gus reacted immediately, quickly snuffing out the last of his flame and smoothing his attire. He started, “We were just… exploring this flame phenomenon to ensure the Frost incident doesn’t repeat itself…”
“By the ‘Frost incident,’ do you refer to when Captain Lawrence led a marine squad only to end up detained by the local authorities?” Duncan interjected, rubbing his temples. “And required my emissary to secure their release?” He waved his hand dismissively, “As long as you’re enjoying yourselves…”
While Duncan spoke, Alice dashed over with her skirt fluttering. Her voice, bubbling with excitement, pierced the atmosphere. “Captain! You’ve returned! Have you completed your tasks?” She reached him and began shaking his arm energetically.
Duncan responded, attempting to free himself from her animated grip, “Yes, Alice, I’ve finished up. Careful there, you might end up yanking my arm off with all that vigor.” He gently steadied the animated doll. Glancing over at Lawrence, he nodded, conveying a silent message, “Everything’s fine with Martha. She’s now officially a member of the Vanished Fleet.”
Lawrence hesitated, seemingly searching Duncan’s eyes for deeper implications. “You… realized she’s not just a…”
Duncan interrupted, a soft, knowing glint in his eyes. “If you choose not to dwell on her true nature, she won’t either. As for me, it hardly matters. The Boundless Sea is immense and filled with mysteries. The Vanished Fleet has always been accustomed to the bizarre and inexplicable. The addition of a ghost ship doesn’t really shift the balance.”
Lawrence seemed to grapple with Duncan’s words. He opened his mouth as if to articulate his thoughts but ultimately said nothing. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and extended a profound bow of gratitude toward Duncan.
Duncan grinned, placing a reassuring hand on Lawrence’s shoulder. “It’s good to have you as a part of the fleet,” he said warmly. Changing the topic slightly, he added, “Earlier, I overheard you pondering the future. What’s on your mind?”
Lawrence seemed caught off guard, his face revealing a tapestry of emotions. “The future is… uncertain,” he confessed. “Given everything that’s transpired, do you believe we can still dock at regular ports like old times?”
Duncan perceived the inner turmoil that was reflected in Lawrence’s words. He sighed deeply, his thoughts wandering to the intricate fate of the White Oak and its crew. Indeed, the future was an enigma.
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