Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 466

Chapter 466: Chapter 467: The Secrets Revealed by the Guard Chapter 466: Chapter 467: The Secrets Revealed by the Guard The tomb guardian's attitude was even more polite than last time–almost verging on respectful.

Fenna could clearly sense the change in the atmosphere around her, as well as the questioning glances from her colleagues, yet she herself didn't know how to explain this mysterious change–even though some vague conjectures surfaced in her mind, she couldn't articulate them.

She could only lower her head and look at the parchment the silent giant handed to her, hesitating for two seconds before reaching out to take it and gently drawing a breath.

“I'll be right back,” she said quickly to Bishop Valentin, then followed the giant guarding the tomb, stepping towards the pale architecture not far away.

The heavy stone doors closed slowly behind her, and the ancient and mysterious crypt sealed itself once again. The giant guardian didn't disappear; instead, like a competent guide, it followed Fenna towards the deeper chamber, where the monotonous footsteps echoed in the profound and lengthy corridor, making the surroundings even more silent.

Fenna silently recited the various prohibitions to be mindful of after entering Vision 004 and also watched the tomb guardian's movements carefully. She reflected on the guardian's behavior before she had entered the chamber last time, the thoughts in her mind unceasingly stirring.

Due to the limitations of Vision 004, she couldn't remember what had happened after her last entry into the chamber, but she did remember that the guardian's attitude had already subtly changed before her last entry–back then she hadn't thought much about it; however, this time, a host of associations uncontrollably spread throughout her mind.

While Fenna was caught in the tumult of her thoughts, a deep and hoarse voice suddenly reached her ears–the giant guardian had broken the silence.

“Do you have anything you wish to ask?”

Fenna was startled–the silent and fearsome guardian was actually initiating a conversation with a “Listener” entering the tomb?!

She quickly reviewed the information about Vision 004 in her mind, confirming how to respond to the current situation amidst the various prohibitions, then, after mustering some calmness, she chose her words with care before asking, “Why are you so friendly towards me?”

“Because you are a messenger,” the tomb guardian actually replied immediately, “Messengers are transcendent and to be treated with courtesy.”

“Messenger?” Fenna paused, seemingly confused, “What does that mean? Does it mean that I'm a saint of the Storm Goddess Gomona? But outside on the plaza are all…”

“The Leviathan queen has no messengers; her messengers all died before the First Long Night,” the tomb guardian cut off Fenna, his voice almost devoid of emotional fluctuation, both respectful and fearless even when speaking of deities, “You are the messenger of the Usurping Flame.”

Her heart contracted sharply, her mind echoed thunderously, and her breath unconsciously halted–Fenna was so astonished that she stopped in her tracks; the response to her casual inquiry far exceeded her imagination. It felt as though a storm had swept through her mind, leaving behind surging waves of conjecture, enlightenment, and recognition!

The Leviathan queen–she remembered this title. Not long ago, Captain Duncan had mentioned this name in front of her and Morris!

The Long Night–she remembered this phrase too. Mr. Morris, after reading the Book of Desecration, had mentioned that it had used “the Long Night” several times to describe the “kings” of the Ancient Era's various attempts at creation. She also remembered the heretical descriptions mentioning that there were three Long Nights, as well as three Creation events!

As for the Usurping Flame…

“Does the Usurping Flame refer to Captain Duncan?” Fenna thought, speaking instinctively.

Inside Vision 004, one could not casually discuss the owner of the tomb or its internal secrets, but the prohibitions didn't mention whether one could speak of the outside world–Fenna mustered the courage to ask the guardian before her, while a feeling of intuition reminded her that even if she asked the guardian more questions, she wouldn't be in danger.

However, the guardian didn't respond immediately this time, and after several seconds of silence, he turned to look into Fenna's eyes.

“After you leave, you will still forget the secrets you have learned here; asking too much is pointless.”

Fenna was taken aback, her burning curiosity as if doused by a bucket of cold water.

Yes, most of the information inside Vision 004 could not be taken outside. Even if she learned much here, she would forget it once she left.

Even if it were written on parchment, the things that shouldn't be disclosed would still be torn apart in the end.

She didn't dare ask the guardian about Vision 004's “forgotten mechanism,” as that would be a question directed at the tomb itself and asking could lead to trouble.

She could only sigh and, with a sense of regret, take steps towards the central chamber deep inside.

But at that moment, she heard the guardian's voice again–
“The name of the Usurping Flame is not Duncan.”

Fenna's eyes widened slightly; she didn't ponder why the guardian had suddenly decided to answer her previous question but instinctively said, “What about the Leviathan queen, then? From what you've said, she is the Storm…”

The tomb guardian suddenly stopped and interrupted Fenna with his deep voice, “We have arrived.”

Fenna looked up and noticed the profound and lengthy corridor had come to an end without her knowing it, the door to the central chamber ominously standing before her, with pale flames flickering within, as if urging her to hurry in.

In the next second, she realized she could no longer ask questions.

Even with the strange and inexplicable identity of “messenger,” the guardian's “courtesy” was limited–as perhaps was the scope of questions the guardian himself could answer.

It was unclear whether this “limitation” was in the number of questions one could ask or in the range of questions that could be answered. Regrettably, after she left Vision 004, all her memories would be wiped clean, and she likely wouldn't have the chance to verify this by testing it repeatedly in the future.

Fenna's mind fluttered through several disorganized thoughts before she finally let out a gentle breath and softly thanked the guard, “Thank you for your patience.”

“Please come in, and afterward, I will escort you out–although you won't remember.”

Fenna nodded and stepped into the tomb chamber. As she crossed the threshold, the bandage-wrapped guard who teetered between life and death vanished silently into the corridor.

Atop the ancient and solemn throne, the headless unnamed king sat in silence as if unchanged through the ages, a pale brazier burned quietly in the corner of the chamber, and the air was filled with an aura of silent solemnity.

Fenna approached the throne and saw a comfortable looking armchair placed in the position reserved for the “listener,” with a table set before it.

On the table lay a fruit plate and pastries, and there was even a cup of tea–steaming hot.

Fenna: “…”

She controlled the change in her expression and sat down on the chair, striving to remain calm.

Although listeners couldn't carry memories of the tomb outside, she was certain that this treatment was absolutely not afforded to the normal person entering this chamber!

For the bits of information that occasionally escaped with the parchment described the process of “listening,” and none mentioned fruit plates and pastries!

But after a brief daze and a suppressed urge to complain, Fenna quickly regained her composure, and her eyes took on a serious cast.

She looked around.

Inside Anomaly 004, there was only pale and icy stone; theoretically, there was no place to store food, nor could there be facilities like a kitchen. Perhaps the tomb guard knew how to brew tea, but she couldn't imagine the sight of that giant baking pastries.

She observed the items on the table.

The fruit was fresh, the tea was steaming, and the plate for pastries was a finely crafted silver-inlaid wooden dish, its patterns faintly suggestive of the southern City-States' style, much like the specialty products from Light Breeze Harbor or cities such as South Harbor, inhabited by elves.

Fenna picked up a biscuit, feeling its lingering warmth.

Perhaps an hour before, this item had still been in the oven of a pastry shop in some City-State.

So… did these items come directly from a southern City-State “brought” over by the tomb guard? Could he enter the real world in physical form? Or… were there secret worshippers in the real world, who took orders from the tomb guard and conducted “offerings” to Anomaly 004?

Both the fruits and the dish for pastries appeared to be southern delicacies, a realm of the elves, who… This mysterious and long-lived race indeed kept many unique religious customs, some radically different from today's Church of the Four Gods, even forming their own systems…

Did ancient elvish texts contain explanations about Anomaly 004?

A flood of thoughts surged through Fenna's mind, her professional habits kicking in as she started to probe into the “unusual” she was witnessing.

But her contemplation didn't last long.

A slight friction noise abruptly echoed in the chamber, interrupting Fenna's thoughts.

She followed the sound and saw the headless king slowly raising his arm, as if he were about to rise from his throne–
Fenna opened her eyes.

The ancient and solemn pillars of the congregation came into view, chaotic dim light flitting across the plaza from above, soul projections of the saints were gathering from afar, and in the corner of her eye, that pale mysterious structure accompanied by the roaring sounds was slowly sinking into the ground.

Had she already completed her mission?

Fenna felt somewhat bewildered; she shook her head, feeling her memories still lingered at the moment she had followed the polite tomb guard through the entrance–the sense of interrupted memory was not unfamiliar, after all, this wasn't her first time entering Anomaly 004 as a “listener,” but for some reason… this time, she felt a peculiar sensation in her wiped memories, as if…

Some discordant impressions had left shallow traces within her cleared mind.

However, she didn't have time to dwell on that unsettling feeling in her thoughts.

Her kin were already gathering around her, the projection of Bishop Valentin was among them, and not far off, she could see the belated figure of Pope Helena, standing at the edge of the plaza, seemingly watching quietly in their direction.

“Fenna,” Valentin was the first to speak, “How do you feel? This is your third time entering the tomb, have you been affected?”

“I…” Fenna furrowed her brow, seeming to confirm her mental state, but before she could feel out any details, she involuntarily let out a burp, “Burp–”
In the assembly area where concerned saints had quietly gathered, silence suddenly fell.

Even Bishop Valentin stood stock-still for a moment. The old priest who had watched Fenna grow up finally uttered, “Did you gnaw on stones in there?”

Chapter end

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