Deep Sea Embers

Taran El, a highly respected elf and scholar in the fields of mathematics, mechanics, and natural history, had received four lifetime achievement awards from the Academy of Truth. He was renowned for his unyielding commitment to the pursuit of knowledge. Taran would often spend both day and night engrossed in research in his laboratory. This level of dedication worried Lucretia, who was deeply concerned that his extreme focus on his studies might one day cost him his life.

However, in a public gathering of his scholarly peers, Taran El found himself in the unusual position of acknowledging his inability to unravel the mysteries of an enigmatic object: a large, glowing geometric shape that had descended from the sky.

Lucretia looked up and her eyes scanned the room, briefly resting on a crystal sphere on her desk before focusing on the otherworldly illumination pouring through the window. Even at this late hour, the sea outside her window appeared to be bathed in sunlight, creating a seamless bridge of light between the sky and the ocean.

Lucretia sighed, shifting her attention back to her desk, where a peculiar, dust-covered sphere rested on a stand. The sphere had a rough, stone-like surface marked by strange, erratic designs. While not exactly aesthetically pleasing, the sphere exuded an irresistible aura of mystery.

This mysterious object was actually a scaled-down model of an enormous ‘stone sphere’ that was encased within the larger geometric light structure hovering above the sea. The model sphere was exactly ten meters in diameter and was the only tangible result of extensive research conducted by numerous experts over an extended period of time.

Speaking to her elder brother via the crystal sphere on her desk, Lucretia said, “Master Taran El has gone to Wind Harbor to rest and recuperate. His students practically had to force him to leave. If he doesn’t take this time to recover, I’m afraid he might die prematurely. For an elf, dying at the age of five hundred would be a true tragedy.”

She continued, “When he left, he was clearly disheartened. The ‘object from the sky’ still remains an enigma that we cannot solve. Both the radiant light surrounding it and the sphere at its core are baffling to all of us.”

“We have managed to collect some samples from the ‘stone sphere,’ but every analysis indicates that the material is nothing more than finely ground stone powder. Attempts to probe the interior of the sphere have been utterly fruitless. Neither conventional methods nor magical interventions have been successful. The object seems to be shielded by a thick, impenetrable shell that keeps its secrets well guarded. We’ve held off on conducting any destructive tests so far.”

She added, “Despite all the uncertainties and questions, there’s one thing that we’ve all agreed upon: the geometric light structure most likely originates from the rune circle that surrounds Vision 001. This conclusion was made possible thanks to research conducted at the ‘Tower’ in Wind Harbor. There, scholars have identified missing portions along the periphery of Vision 001 and have confirmed that these gaps correspond exactly to our mysterious ‘geometric light body’.”

Burdened by a multitude of concerns, Lucretia rapidly unloaded a torrent of detailed information. Tyrian, ever the attentive listener, allowed her to complete her narrative without any interruptions. Only after she had finished speaking did he find the opportunity to respond. “So, the object has been confirmed as a fragment from Vision 001… Lucy, you know Father had alerted the Four Church about the potential waning of the ‘sun.’”

“Yes, I’m aware,” Lucretia replied with a subtle nod. “No one is taking Captain Duncan’s warning lightly, but it has caused a ripple of widespread fear and apprehension, especially when it comes to discussions about the Vanished.”

Tyrian gave a wistful smile. Having recently been in frequent contact with their father, Duncan Abnomar, and experiencing his approaches firsthand, he decided to tactfully change the subject. “So, what’s the next step? What are your plans concerning this ‘sun’ situation?”

Lucretia shrugged dismissively. “What could we possibly do? Launch this enormous stone sphere back into orbit? Try to re-integrate it into the sun’s runic circle? It appears that only the lost civilization of the Ancient Kingdom of Crete knew the secret to anchoring the sun in the sky.”

Tyrian lapsed into thoughtful silence.

After a brief pause, Lucretia abruptly shifted gears. “Has Father been informed about my ‘research’ here?”

“I haven’t said a word,” Tyrian assured her, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t share it without your explicit permission. Why, are you thinking about seeking his help?”

Lucretia hesitated momentarily, showing a flicker of interest in the idea before dismissing it. “Let me think about it some more. It’s not certain that Father could even assist with these complexities. And to be honest, I’m somewhat intimidated by him.”

“He’s mellowed out considerably lately,” Tyrian said with a chuckle. “But if you’re hesitant, I won’t push the matter. Just remember, even if I keep mum, the news may still reach him. He’s now entangled with the church and various city-states. If he takes an interest, I won’t stand in his way.”

Waving her hand dismissively, Lucretia let out a sigh. Always candid with her family, the woman who outsiders called the “Sea Witch” relented. “Fine, fine, enough already. When are you sending me that spirit lens you mentioned?”

Tyrian hesitated.

Two seconds later, an exasperated cry erupted from the crystal ball. “You forgot again?!”

The next morning, Duncan noticed Tyrian’s worn-out appearance as he visited the southern port. “Tyrian, you look exhausted.”

Rubbing his forehead, Tyrian sighed. “I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.”

It wasn’t just an excuse. Tyrian was indeed overwhelmed. The responsibility of governing a city-state had proven to be far more taxing than commanding a naval fleet. And then there was the added weight of tolerating his sister Lucretia’s incessant questioning and complaints for over two hours, which had also taken a significant toll on his energy and patience.

Pivoting skillfully away from the slightly awkward subject of Lucretia’s research, Tyrian regained his composure. “The reason I asked to meet you so early today is to inform you that the submersible is ready for deployment.”

Duncan’s eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. “So soon?”

“Yes, once we realized that the occupants wouldn’t require oxygen, it streamlined a lot of the preparation work,” Tyrian explained, nodding. “Besides, this new submersible is based on designs that date back to the era of the former Queen. Although there have been many upgrades and enhancements, the core principles of its operation remain fundamentally the same. It’s relatively straightforward to operate.”

After a momentary pause in which Duncan carefully studied his son, he seemed satisfied. “Very well. Show it to me.”

Tyrian looked slightly surprised at the immediacy of Duncan’s request. “You want to inspect it right now? I had thought to run some more tests first. Today’s meeting was primarily so you could get a firsthand look at the…”

Duncan interrupted him, “You’ve already conducted preliminary tests, haven’t you?”

Tyrian hesitated for a split second before admitting, “Yes, a few. I had two undead sailors take the vessel on a brief dive down to several dozen meters last night. The primary objective was to confirm the vessel’s functional status and gain insights into its operational processes. Everything went smoothly.”

“That will suffice,” Duncan confirmed, swiveling on his heel and striding toward the warehouse that served as an entrance to the underground facility. “Consider this my takeover of any subsequent testing. I’ll be the one to lead the official underwater mission, after all.”

Caught somewhat off guard by his father’s sense of urgency, Tyrian picked up his pace to keep up with Duncan’s brisk walk. As they hurried toward the subterranean facility, he couldn’t help but feel a measure of perplexity.

Something was off about Duncan today. His father was displaying an uncharacteristic urgency, a preoccupation that made Tyrian uneasy. It was as if the man had stumbled upon a critical piece of information or unearthed a significant secret, driving him to push forward rapidly.

This sense of urgency… it triggered in Tyrian a vague yet poignant sense of déjà vu.

Duncan, his imposing figure sheathed in a black coat, moved ahead at a swift pace. Tyrian quickened his steps even more, striving to match his father’s brisk tempo.

As he observed his father’s rapidly receding back, it finally clicked why this situation seemed so familiar.

This was an emotional echo from years past—a feeling he had experienced when his father was on the verge of embarking on an extended maritime expedition. It was the kind of demeanor Duncan assumed when he had discovered clues leading to ancient ruins, or when a new, uncharted sea route appeared on their maps, or when they received unexpected reports of anomalies and mysteries from the fringes of the civilized world.

This was Duncan in “discovery mode,” gearing up for a journey into the unknown.

Memories that had lain dormant for years suddenly roared back to life, flooding Tyrian’s mind. Flickering images from the past overlaid the present moment, like translucent layers of an old photograph.

Caught in this reverie, Tyrian had slowed his pace. Duncan paused and turned, casting a puzzled glance back at his son. “Tyrian, is something the matter? Hurry up.”

Shaken out of his contemplative state, Tyrian quickened his steps. “Ah… of course, Father,” he hastily replied.

Duncan gave a curt nod and resumed his stride, apparently dismissing Tyrian’s momentary hesitation as insignificant. He seemed to be driven by a reinvigorated zeal for exploration, an insatiable hunger to unearth the world’s mysteries that propelled him relentlessly forward.

The source of this newfound urgency in Duncan was not lost on Tyrian. It likely originated from the insights his father had gathered the previous day. Duncan had been examining a brass key, an artifact that seemed to peel back a corner of the world’s opaque tapestry. It had revealed the existence of a gigantic spaceship that had crashed onto their world in an era long forgotten, a marvel of ancient technology referred to as a “Blasphemous Prototype.” These revelations touched on enigmas so deep and complex that even noted scholars like Morris hadn’t dared to venture into them.

Indeed, the universe was a labyrinth of boundless mysteries. Each new piece of evidence or clue seemed to merely emphasize how convoluted and impenetrable these secrets were, akin to a web of veils, each layer hiding yet another layer beneath it.

And so, any opportunity to advance even an inch closer to the underlying truths of their world was invaluable. For Duncan, who had the soul of an adventurer and an explorer, this was not merely an opportunity; it was a calling. A magnetic force pulling him toward the uncharted territories of knowledge and discovery was simply too powerful to resist.