Deep Sea Embers

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In the tranquil coastal city of Wind Harbor, the residents were just recovering from a night filled with disturbing dreams when four massive Arks suddenly appeared, adding another layer to their dream-like reality. The scholars at the Truth Academy and local government officials were taken by surprise, having been informed only when the Arks were almost upon them. It wasn’t until the imposing Grand Storm Cathedral was spotted on the ocean’s horizon that the people of Wind Harbor began to comprehend the fantastical nature of these events.

The majestic cathedrals devoted to the Four Gods had now arrived in their city.

Apart from the “Academy Ark,” a familiar sight since the mysterious “Dream of the Nameless One,” the first of the new arks was the temple of the Storm Goddess Gomona—the Grand Storm Cathedral. It emerged from the dense morning sea fog just as the first light from Vision 001’s bright halo illuminated the sky. Escorted by a formidable fleet, it approached from the west and anchored near the coast, marked by the city’s morning bells chiming three times.

Next, the “FlCathedral,” the sacred vessel of the FlBearer, made its dramatic entrance. It appeared from the sea just as Vision 001’s light grew stronger, casting an illusion of sunlight reaching down to the earth. The cathedral positioned itself between the Storm and Academy Ark.

The last to arrive was the “Death Ark.” Its entrance was both grand and somber, announced by the tolling of melancholic bells. The cathedral broke through a thick, dark fog, casting a large, ominous shadow that spread across the mist, resembling a giant graveyard moving into the realm of the living. Accompanied by its two sister ships, the “Resolved Grievance” and “Unresolved Grievance,” it positioned itself next to the Grand Storm Cathedral.

Together, these four massive Arks, each resembling a small city-state, nearly encircled Wind Harbor. Were it not for sof their escort ships scattered in nearby waters, their combined fleets would have completely surrounded the city’s coastline. From above, especially to those with vision impairments like nearsightedness or astigmatism, the cluster at the harbor and its neighboring Arks could easily be mistaken for a vast, cross-shaped landmass.

In response to this supernatural occurrence, Wind Harbor City Hall quickly ordered the closure of the port and halted all local sea navigation that morning. Shortly thereafter, the Truth Academy announced that a “special closed-door meeting” involving the leaders of the four major churches would be convened in Wind Harbor.

This announcement stirred excitement among the city’s residents. Crowds gathered at various viewing spots near the ports, each person eager to secure the best view of the awe-inspiring church ships. These Arks, known for navigating secret routes in the open sea and rarely seen by the public, now presented a unique spectacle. The simultaneous arrival of all four Arks was an uncommon event, one that not even the oldest elves would expect to witness often in their lifetimes.

With ample time, he watched the majestic arrival of each vessel representing the different churches. “These cathedral Arks are truly wonders in their own right,” he remarked, his voice filled with wonder.

“Merely using steam engines to propel such massive ‘ships’ would be utterly insufficient,” Ted Lir added, joining Duncan on the high balcony. “Each cathedral Ark is more than just a ship; it’s a ‘supernatural entity.’ The splendor of those cathedrals isn’t just for show. They harness divine powers, channeling them into our world, which endows the Arks with divine abilities. These include navigating swiftly through tumultuous storms, passing unscathed through mists and flames, or even making themselves invisible to the human eye, and calming the roughest seas…”

Duncan, filled with curiosity, turned and asked, “And what ‘miraculous’ force enables the Academy’s Ark to sail so swiftly?”

Noticing the intrigued spark in Duncan’s eyes, Ted Lir couldn’t help but smile. “It’s powered by a mix of mechanics, theoretical concepts, and paradoxes. The engine configuration that works miracles on our ship would likely cause a catastrophic failure on any other cathedral ship—the fact that they operate without self-destructing is a testament to their creators’ expertise.”

“The ‘miracles’ of the gods are indeed beyond our understanding,” Duncan murmured, shaking his head in wonder before turning his gaze back to the distant coast.

He had seen the Storm Church’s “Storm Ark” and the Truth Academy’s “Truth Ark” before, but this was his first encounter with the Death Church’s “Death Ark” and the FlBearer’s “FlArk.” Like the others, these Arks had their own unique features.

The FlBearer’s Cathedral exuded an ancient solemnity. Its massive base was adorned with tiered gray stone structures that departed from the modern architectural style of the city-state, resembling the “ancient temples” seen in historical artworks. A prominent feature was the enormous central platform, surrounded by somber stone columns, with a perpetual fire blazing atop. In the midst of this fiery spectacle stood a uniquely shaped “pillar,” reminiscent of the staff Vanna had obtained from Ta Ruijin—clearly the revered “Chronicle Pillar” of the FlBearers.

In stark contrast, the “Death Ark” displayed a more solemn presence, its design dominated by dark, Gothic-style architecture. At its core was a pitch-black temple resembling a vast pyramid, strategically positioned on elevated ground at the center of the Ark. This central structure was flanked by towering spires, projecting an aura reminiscent of a somber tomb. Upon seeing it, Duncan immediately understood why many referred to the Death God’s Ark simply as “the Great Graveyard.”

As Duncan watched each Ark, he noticed ethereal projections floating in the air, invisible to most but visible to him, resembling spectral entities.

His expression turned serious as he observed these “spiritual forms” that hovered above the ordinary world.

These ghostly projections, with smoke-like, tentacle-like appendages, silently spread above Wind Harbor, moving like restless spirits. They moved independently, yet occasionally, ethereal “tentacles” from one spirit would reach out to brush against those from another Ark.

Duncan noted this “interaction” and felt an instinctive sense that these fleeting contacts were more deliberate than accidental.

He even thought sof these ethereal tentacle interactions resembled… a high-five.

Several “spiritual bodies” drifted from the direction of the harbor and approached the high tower of the academy, floating near the balcony where he stood.

Duncan hesitated, glanced at Ted Lir, who seemed unaware of these occurrences, and then subtly manipulated his fingers.

A faint ghostly flflickered into existence, lightly touching the invisible “Ark Spirits” in the air.

Through his acute perception, Duncan sensed the “emotions” flowing between these “spirits.”

Strange, low sounds echoed in Duncan’s mind, carrying intelligible messages within their odd murmurs. He heard eerie whispers traversing the fabric of space-time… they were “communicating”!

The vibrations penetrated deep into his consciousness:

“…Nice weather, isn’t it?”

“Not bad, this place is quite warm.”

“Better than the north, my tentacles nearly turned to ice there…”

“Didn’t you lose your tentacles ages ago?”

“Phantom limbs, you know.”

“What’s on the agenda for today’s meeting?”

“How should I know, I just woke up.”

“…Ah? I just woke up too. What are they discussing today?”

“…Stop asking, we all just woke up.”

Duncan: “….?”

Ted Lir, now noticing the slight change in Duncan’s demeanor and the brief appearance of the ethereal flame, becalert. “What’s happening?” he asked, urgency in his voice.

This unexpected and somewhat light-hearted interaction between the Arks’ spirits added a curious and almost whimsical dimension to the otherwise grand and solemn arrival of these massive vessels.

As Ted Lir inquired, Duncan’s expression grew more complex. However, before Ted Lir, the academy’s Truth Keeper, could becoverly anxious and possibly aggravate his stomach issues, Duncan managed to regain control over his expression. Suppressing the strange feelings stirring in his mind, he maintained his composure and looked up at Ted Lir, asking, “Do the Arks communicate with each other?”

“The Arks? Communicating?” Ted Lir looked genuinely puzzled. “What exactly do you mean?”

Duncan noticed the genuine confusion on the Keeper’s face and realized that the phenomena he had witnessed were among the myriad secrets known only to a few within these circles. Recalling that even someone as informed as Vanna was unaware of many mysteries of the Grand Storm Cathedral, he quickly dismissed the subject with a nonchalant wave, “If you’re not aware of it, then it’s not important.”

Ted Lir seemed ready to probe further, his curiosity awakened. However, a sudden, inexplicable feeling of unease washed over him, causing him to wisely refrain from asking more questions.

Seizing the moment to change the subject, Duncan asked, “With the arrival of the Arks of the Four Gods, where is this important meeting being held? Inside Wind Harbor?”

Ted Lir shook his head, explaining patiently, “No, Wind Harbor isn’t a suitable venue for such an assembly. Firstly, the presence of such a gathering could disrupt the daily life of the ordinary citizens in the city-state. Secondly, the sudden nature of this meeting left the city-state ill-prepared to host it. There are also concerns about confidentiality.”

“The latest update I’ve received is that we’re to await further instructions. The issues being discussed are deeply connected to the Great Annihilation, touching upon the very foundations of our world. That means even a casually uttered word in the meeting could have far-reaching and unpredictable effects. The leaders, including the popes, must therefore exercise extrcaution when choosing the meeting’s location. As of now, they are engaged in psychic resonance within their respective Arks, seeking divine guidance to determine the most suitable location. It’s likely that the final choice will be one of the four Arks.”

Duncan responded with a casual wave of his hand, indicating his indifference, “Alright, I’ll wait then. I just hope it doesn’t take too long.”

Ted Lir nodded in understanding, but his expression soon changed. He looked as if he had received a distant, faint communication, his face a mixture of surprise and confusion.

Seeing this sudden shift, Duncan’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t resist asking, “What’s the matter?”

Ted Lir paused for a moment, his expression one of bewilderment and contemplation. Finally, he spoke uncertainly, “The fifth Ark…”