Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 485

Chapter 485: Chapter 486 Lei Nora's “Friend Chapter 485: Chapter 486 Lei Nora's “Friend The brass key left behind by Lei Nora turned out to be a gift from a friend–which completely surprised Duncan.

This piqued his great curiosity.

Who was this person, and for what purpose had they crafted that key? What was the nature of the key itself? And what was the vision of a “spaceship crashing to the ground and disintegrating in an explosion” that he saw after touching the key?

He was impatient to know the answers, and fortunately–the Frost Queen had not concealed what she knew but had candidly revealed:
“After I left the cathedral, I met a friend soon after. At that time, I was scheming to take control of power, often meeting with various people, or participating in public events, and that old man appeared at a fundraising meeting…
“He wasn't on the guest list, yet easily bypassed all security and surveillance. I thought he was a professor from a university, given his scholarly robe and refined demeanor–I didn't know he had slipped in, and I started chatting with him. His extensive knowledge was astonishing until… the bodyguards at the gathering finally realized and kicked him out.

“But after that, the old man began to frequently appear in my sight, sometimes at high-society gatherings, sometimes at private dinners with friends. He would appear when everyone's attention was diverted, then calmly converse with me about history, mathematics, and the mystical sciences, and quietly leave before someone interrupted us–other than the first encounter when the bodyguards noticed him, he always managed to stay out of everyone's sight.

“Isn't it incredible? A friend only known to me, a knowledgeable advisor, an… 'air friend.'
“I never revealed his existence. At first, because I feared it would raise concerns from the church. The bishops would suspect it was my spiritual energy talent acting up, and lock me back in the cellar–I knew my powers were not out of control, and I wasn't worried about being imprisoned, but I felt my time was too precious to waste in a cage. Later… as I gradually seized power of the City-State, it became even more important not to expose this 'secret advisor.'
“This state lasted for about three years, and I formed a deep friendship with this mysterious old man. But just when I thought he would continue to act as my 'special aide' until my coronation, he suddenly appeared before dawn one day and bid me farewell.

“He said this–'The window period has ended, this is our last meeting.'
“Then, he handed me a brass key and told me the key was a twisted collection, essential for establishing connections in time and space, and that it could carry knowledge and memories. One day in the future, it would play its role…

“After talking a lot about things related to the key, my 'air friend' just turned around and walked towards the first light of the rising sun–at the second the sun rose above the horizon, he disappeared, and that was the last I saw of him.”

Duncan listened stuporously to Lei Nora's narrative, his mind already brimming with numerous associations, all quickly pointing to a term. As soon as the Frost Queen in front of him finished speaking, he immediately opened his mouth: “Wait, the person you described sounds exactly like a…”

“Yes, a Doomsday Preacher, Captain Duncan,” Lei Nora said with a smile, “After our first few encounters, I guessed it–I had access to countless books during the years of training in the cathedral, so naturally, I knew what a Doomsday Preacher was.”

“You became friends with a Doomsday Preacher, and he even…” Duncan spoke, frowning, but he stopped halfway as he realized the contradiction, “Wait, something's not right, he doesn't seem like a typical Doomsday Preacher…”

“Exactly, as you said, although very similar 'in nature,' the state of that old man was entirely different from those mad heretics. He was mentally sharp, lucid, his demeanor was mild and friendly, and the only similarity with a Doomsday Preacher was merely his 'non-linear intervention and disappearance.'”
“…A normal Doomsday Preacher wouldn't be capable of calm thought and communication because the rending of time lines had long ago disturbed their cognition, and their worship of Subspace destroyed their sanity,” Duncan quickly realized, “and the one you knew was just the opposite…”

He suddenly stopped.

For in that moment, he remembered another matter, something related to “himself”!

Tyrion had mentioned this during an interaction with Fenna and Valentin. A century ago, on the eve of “Duncan Ebnomal's” last voyage, the Homeloss had welcomed several mysterious visitors. They appeared on the ship dressed like monks and had a lengthy conversation with the then “Captain Duncan,” mysteriously disappearing as the sun rose the next day….

Tyrion had always believed that this visit was directly why the Homeloss embarked on its last journey towards the “Frontier.”

And those mysterious visitors… from the description, they were a group of lucid, gentle, and friendly “Doomsday Preachers!”

The body Duncan was currently using could not demonstrate complex facial expressions, yet his momentary silence and the slight change in his eyes did not escape the sharp observation of the Frost Queen. Lei Nora quickly responded: “Have you thought of something?”

Duncan lifted his head, and for a moment, he did not speak, just quietly gazing into her eyes.

The “friend” known by Lei Nora was not an isolated case–within the group commonly perceived as the ferocious, insane heretics, there indeed existed a group of rational and purpose-unknown individuals who raced along the timeline, using a contact opportunity called the “window period” to continuously meddle in the affairs of the earthly realm!

Thoughts surged in his mind, countless ideas flashing by. Duncan finally broke the silence, “They had also visited Homeloss.”

For the first time, Lei Nora's eyes widened instantly.

It seemed that she hadn't completely lost the emotion of “surprise” as she had initially claimed.

“Have you also encountered a coherent Doomsday Preacher?” Lei Nora asked hastily, “What did they tell you? They were…”

“Unfortunately, I don't remember,” Duncan interrupted her hurried interrogation, “That part of my memory has disappeared with the Corrosion of the Subspace. I only learned from other sources that I had once interacted with them.”

A look of undeniable regret appeared on Lei Nora's face.

Duncan quickly organized his thoughts and steered the conversation back on track, “After realizing that he was a special Doomsday Preacher, didn't you discuss his real identity with him? Didn't you ask him about his purpose?”

“I certainly did– but do you think I got any answers?” Lei Nora sighed helplessly, “We got along well; he was a mentor and a friend who was happy to answer most of my questions, but whenever I tried to steer the conversation to his… 'identity,' he would always dismiss it with–
'It's not yet time. Do not prematurely engage with things beyond the 'boundary'.'”
“Do not prematurely engage with things beyond the boundary…” Duncan repeated the meaningful phrase in a low voice, then frowned slightly, “That you could befriend such a dubious character… can indeed be described as… broadminded.”

“I needed support, and most things referred to as 'power' in this world are dangerous,” Lei Nora said calmly, “Compared to the 'Dreamscapes' I've been in contact with since I was young, a Doomsday Preacher is far too mild and harmless.”

Duncan said nothing more, only rose again and slowly approached the darkness at the end of the room.

“…One last thing, what plans do you have for your future?”

“Future?” Lei Nora furrowed her brows slightly.

“Do you need to stay forever in this room called 'Driftplace'?” asked Duncan, lifting his chin and pointing towards the giant “tentacle” in the dark depths, “Do you need to stay here forever, using Dreamscapes to suppress the activity of this 'erroneous replication'?”

“Do you have another way?”

“Maybe, but I am not certain,” Duncan said, “What would happen if I could completely destroy this erroneous replication?”

“…Freedom,” Lei Nora fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded solemnly and slowly, “Both He and I will be released.”

“What after that?”

“I don't know,” Lei Nora shook her head, “It's beyond my understanding–I've never imagined what it would be like after this long nightmare finally ends. Perhaps, 'Driftplace' will lose this junction and reconnect to somewhere else. Maybe, I'll lose contact with the real world, no longer plagued by nightmares, becoming a wandering spirit with nothing to do, waiting for the day this room is reopened.”

“That doesn't sound like a particularly pleasant outcome,” Duncan's tone grew solemn, “Eternal exile isn't much better than sinking into a nightmare.”

“In fact, it might be worse, since I don't control this room. Compared to reconnecting to a 'junction' in the real world, it's more likely to drift uncontrolled into the Subspace.”

Duncan fell silent, not saying a word for a long time.

But Lei Nora broke the silence after a moment, “Even so, I still suggest you do it–if you really can, end this all, while I still have time.”

Duncan gazed into the eyes of the Frost Queen, “…You're sure? Even if this will subject you to eternal exile?”

“Trapped in a nightmare is also a kind of eternal exile,” Lei Nora smiled, “To be released from this, at least effectively resolves the long-standing threat facing Frost–at least for a considerable period, my City-State and my people will be safe.”

Chapter end

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