Deep Sea Embers

After lunch, Duncan watched Nina clear the table. He wanted to help wash the dishes, but was forcibly stopped by the other party on the grounds that "uncle is not in good health and the doctor said he should avoid contact with cold water", so he had to lean on the stairs. Near the mouth, while reading the newspaper bought in the morning, he watched the girl busy in the kitchen.

This kind of daily scene that seemed like an ordinary person's house made him feel a little strange.

At this moment, Nina's voice came from the kitchen: "Uncle Duncan, is there any news in the newspaper?"

Duncan lowered his head and glanced at the newspaper. The first thing he saw was the date "August 14, 1900, New City State Calendar", followed by the news that the church inquisitor led a team to arrest dozens of cultists: The entire newspaper , this should be the most significant front-page news.

“It says that the Inquisitor led a team to arrest dozens of solar heretics,” he said casually. “It also says that this is the largest heresy gathering that the church has successfully cracked in the past four years. There are also some reminders for citizens to pay attention to night safety, Pay attention to the heretical beliefs around you.”

"Ah, I heard that on the way here too!" Nina put the washed dishes into the cupboard quickly. "It's really scary. I've heard the teacher say before that those cultists who worship the sun even Will sacrifice a human being to the sun god... Who do you think would be so crazy about believing in this sect? "

Duncan didn't know what to say at once, because no matter what he said, he felt that this matter was too subtle - should he say that he had immersed himself in the sacrificial package at the altar not long ago, or should he say that you Is your uncle such a crazy cultist?

But one thing is very obvious. Judging from Nina's reaction, she obviously doesn't know the fact that her "uncle" is a sun heretic - she even has a normal outlook on things like ordinary people, and believes that the sun god believes in living people. Sacrifice is a terrible thing.

The "uncle" from her perspective is just a bit grumpy due to illness, a bit drunk, and has some "weird friends."

It is true that the body he occupies was once a rotten person with bloody hands, but at least he did raise Nina to this day and has protected the girl from the belief of the Sun God so far.

Maybe one day in the future, a certain cultist named "Ron" will really degenerate to the last step and drag his last relatives in the world into this endless abyss, but at least before today, this has not happened yet occur.

It won't happen in the future either.

"Uncle? Why did you suddenly stop talking?" Nina was a little curious about the silence behind her. She looked back with concern in her eyes, "Are you feeling uncomfortable again?"

"No, I was just a little distracted," Duncan responded and shook his head, "What you said is true, it is indeed a heartbreaking thing... The newspaper also mentioned that citizens should pay attention to safety and report the heresy around them in time. These days You should also try not to wander around outside of school and home.”

Nina nodded, but then she said "Ah" with a hesitant look on her face: "But...but I also made an appointment with my classmates to visit the museum in two days..."

"Museum?" Duncan asked casually, "What museum?"

"It's the maritime museum near the school, near the edge of the uptown area," Nina explained. "I heard that offshore mineral specimens are on display there recently...is that okay?"

"You can go if you want," Duncan thought for a moment and nodded. "There are patrols of church guards and city-state peace officers everywhere now. Those cultists are not so bold as to jump out in the past two days."

Nina nodded happily: "Yeah!"

"Are you going to school this afternoon?" Duncan asked again.

"Well, there is history class in the afternoon, and I don't want to miss Mr. Morris's class," Nina nodded and said, "That's a very famous expert in the field of history... But it's really strange that such a famous old gentleman like him, Why don't you give lectures at a university in Shangcheng District, but come to a public school in Xiacheng District? Most of the students in the class don't like history classes, and they are all sleeping when the old gentleman is in class..."

Duncan shook his head calmly: "I didn't know."

What a joke, let alone the old Mr. Morris who teaches history, he just met Nina - he had to search through his memory for several hours to figure out where the public school Nina went to...

And even the original owner of this body may not have much better understanding of his niece's current situation - when Duncan took over his life, he had obviously been trapped in the sun's heretical beliefs for too long.

Nina still had classes to attend in the afternoon, so she didn’t stay in the antique shop for long after lunch. She hurriedly packed her things, took the textbook she had left at home, and the girl trotted away from home—— It was nearly an hour's journey from the antique store to the downtown public school, and she had to waste every minute to avoid being late for Mr. Morris's class.

Of course, there is public transportation in the city. Even in the relatively backward downtown area, steam engine-driven rail locomotives and trackless buses will drive through the streets, but these require a ticket fee of four to six pesos.

Nina smiled and told Duncan that running more would be good for your health.

Her commute to school would be much easier if she had a bicycle—a form of transportation Duncan had seen riding on the streets of downtown.

In a society that has developed steam machinery, industrial products such as bicycles are not too expensive for ordinary people to afford, but they are definitely not cheap for residents in the lower city. The most ordinary bicycle may cost a person of three people Half a month to a month's living expenses at home... can be considered a burden.

Duncan doesn't know where the identity he currently occupies will go in the future, but watching Nina trotting and disappearing around the corner of the street, he always feels that... when he has the energy to spare, he seems to be good to this girl. point.

Even if it was just for the vegetable soup and salty pancakes that preceded it.

What's more, she is a diligent and studious student.

Maybe I should think carefully about ways to make money in this "civilized city-state".

With various thoughts swirling in his mind, he put down the newspaper in his hand and walked slowly to the end of the corridor on the second floor. After opening the narrow window, he looked at the city streets illuminated by the sun with some trance.

In this world, "abnormalities" and "visions" have long been accompanied by the process of civilization. Neither the authorities nor the church have concealed the supernatural realm from the public. Even girls like Nina who are still in school can learn from the textbooks. Directly learn content related to anomalies and visions.

She even knows the classification standards for anomalies and anomalies left by the ancient Kingdom of Crete that are still in use today. She also knows the public numbers and names of some anomalies and anomalies whose patterns have been discovered.

Yes, this knowledge is even open to the whole society - although not all.

The authorities and churches of each city-state recognize a list. On this list, the most famous or dangerous anomalies and visions have their own special numbers. These numbers are not permanent and may be changed under special circumstances. There are certain anomalies and anomalies that are eliminated or transformed due to various reasons, and their numbers may also be transferred or become vacant, but no matter how they change, one thing is generally certain:

Anomalies and visions that can have independent numbers and names must have their own special dangers or powers.

The authorities have made public a list of some of the anomalies and anomalies. On the one hand, it is to ensure that every citizen can know these specific dangers and to ensure that all people have the common sense to protect themselves. On the other hand... it is because of certain anomalies and anomalies. It’s really too close to people’s lives.

These things have even infiltrated into every corner of ordinary people's lives and into every aspect of social operation. People can see them at any time, cannot hide them, and there is no need to hide them.

Duncan raised his head and stared at the sky silently.

Vision 001, the sun.

The huge light body moving in the sky, the great vision that dominated the sky in the Deep Sea Age, was born on the morning after the collapse of the ancient kingdom of Crete.

The scope of influence - the whole world, the units of influence - unlimited, it operates and moves on its own, cannot be interfered by human power, and meets the definition of a vision.

Historical records show that on the day of the collapse of the ancient kingdom, the sea surged and the city-state was shattered. All the members of the first dynasty died generously in the darkness, and their blood soaked the sea. Then Vision 001 rose from the sea. From then on, the boundless sea existed. The peace of the day.

The Ancient Kingdom of Crete was the first city-state civilization established by survivors after the start of the Deep Sea Age. It lasted only a few hundred years, but it left countless legacies and has blessed it to this day.

The word "Crete" means "eternal night" in ancient language.

It was a night that lasted for a century.

All this is written in Nina's history textbook.