Ashes Of Deep Sea Chapter 649

Chapter 649: Chapter 646 Temporary Farewell Chapter 649: Chapter 646 Temporary Farewell Accompanied by the rush of air through the pipes, a clear and melodious steam whistle sounded from the upper tier of the Academy of Truth Ark. The Homeloss had once again docked at the steam machinery dock at the end of the Ark's coastline, where knowledge guards and scholars dressed in deep blue cloaks appeared on the gangway, ready to welcome back their pontiff.

Duncan met Rune just as he emerged from the captain's cabin on the stern deck.

This short and plump elf elder had spent a long time in the captain's quarters, engaged in conversation with their race's “creator,” and Duncan did not know what they had discussed with the mountain goat head; he only knew that when Rune emerged from the captain's quarters, his expression seemed somewhat vacant.

There was also a kind of serene emptiness, as if clearing the mind.

He approached the “pontiff of truth” and greeted him several times before the latter finally roused from that vacant daze.

“Your church ship is waiting just beside us,” Duncan said, gesturing toward the ship's rail where a massive ark resembling a small City-State lay beside them, “The scholars and guards have come to take you back.”

Rune looked up, and only then, belatedly, did he nod, “Oh… yes, it's time to return.”

Watching the elf elder's reaction, Duncan couldn't help feeling perplexed: “What did you discuss with Saslouka? You weren't like this when you first boarded the ship…”

“We talked about… a lot,” Rune hesitated, as if unsure of how to begin, “A great many things.”

Duncan frowned, intuiting the implication: “It seems you've seen the first mate's usual demeanor.”

Rune suddenly jolted as if he'd truly come back to his senses; he looked at Duncan and hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, “…Why does He have so much to say?”

“I'm actually more surprised how little He says in His mythological form,” Duncan chuckled, his smile tinged with pleasure, “What you've seen now is more in line with His character aboard my ship–strictly speaking, it's His behavior as the 'goat head.'
Rune opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something but unsure where to start. After holding back for a while, he suddenly let out a relieved laugh: “…It's not a bad thing, He seems to like it that way.”

For a moment, the deck fell silent, as if no one was paying attention to the Pilgrimage Ark waiting nearby for the return of the pontiff. It was not until much later that Duncan broke the silence: “How do you plan to handle the 'truth' of this incident, especially the part concerning Saslouka?”

“The bulk of it will be confined to the highest echelons of the Three Gods Church's knowledge, much like all transcendental events pointing toward deities. We will seal the news, manage the aftermath, and cautiously assess the long-term impact of this event on the real world. As for elf society…”

Rune paused, pondering, and then gently shook his head after a moment.

“The days of old have passed, and the legends… let them continue to sleep within legends. That's also 'His' wish.”

“That's good; I don't like trouble,” Duncan nodded, then suddenly shifted topic, “But there is one thing I must remind you of–this is the third City-State.”

Rune immediately grasped Duncan's meaning, his expression becoming grave.

“Pland, Frost, Light Breeze Harbor… The cause and progress of each incident seem different, each appearing as an isolated 'special disaster,' and the biggest behind-the-scenes culprit seems to be the heretics. But a group of heretics alone cannot disturb the world's most fundamental order,” Duncan said seriously, “What's truly revealed behind these incidents is that the world's 'foundation' is shaking–I want to know if the Three Gods Church has any solutions, what you actually know, and what kind of response plans you have.”

Rune fell silent, serious as still water, and after a long time, he nodded lightly.

“I understand what you mean… Now, I have also confirmed your position. At least by my personal judgment, the time has indeed come to put aside doubts and further cooperate.”

Duncan looked at him: “But you still have to consider the response of the other Three Gods Church, right?”

“Not just their response… but also the response of the deities,” Rune said frankly, “I will discuss this matter with the other three pontiffs as soon as possible. Whatever the outcome, I will give you an answer–likewise, whatever the outcome, at least from now on, the Academy of Truth will offer the Exiled Fleet the utmost trust and cooperation.”

Duncan nodded, knowing that this was the biggest commitment the other party could offer at the present stage.

Just then, Rune seemed to remember something else and suddenly said, “There's one more thing–I've heard about Miss Fenna's experience in this event. I think… the Fire Transmitter should be coming to you soon.”

“The Fire Transmitter?” Duncan raised his eyebrows, quickly realizing what was meant.

He turned his head and looked to the other side of the deck–Fenna was leaning against the railing, blowing in the sea breeze, seemingly closing her eyes to rest. However, Duncan's attention wasn't on her but on an object placed beside her.

It was a staff, as massive as a tree trunk, strange and irregular. At the top of the staff, it swelled like an oddly shaped boulder with a rough, straight body, and the entire staff was covered with mysterious, rune-like carvings.

It was the “Tarrikin” left to Fenna by the giant–even as The Dream of the Nameless dissipated, this staff remained, and with that bizarre “miniature sun,” it returned to the real world with the Homeloss.

“Everlasting kindling, Tarrikin, the deity of the Fire Transmitters,” Rune said softly, “The 'giant' Miss Fenna encountered in The Dream of the Nameless seems to be a phantom left in the memory of Silantis during the collision of two worlds, in the form of an 'echo.' But even as a phantom, it is still a vision of an ancient god, and what It left behind has now crossed the border between the Dreamscape and reality.

“That staff… if I am not mistaken, should be the 'annalistic column' that the Fire Transmitters worship–On Frem's Pilgrimage Ark, there is a device that is almost identical in appearance to it. It is considered the core of the Pilgrimage Ark, only it is much larger than that 'staff.' I have seen it; it looks more like a huge monument…

“And the 'annalistic column' built on the Fire Transmitter's ark is actually a 'replica' made according to the descriptions in the holy scriptures. For a long time, the true 'annalistic column' has only existed in legends.”

Duncan mused, “That is to say, the staff that Fenna brought back is the 'genuine article' described in the holy scriptures.”

“We can only say it is the closest to the 'genuine article' known so far,” Rune said with rigor, “Perhaps there is no longer any true 'genuine article' in this world–the Great Annihilation ended everything, and our tracing back from the Deep Sea Era can only approach what is virtually the so-called 'genuine article.'”
“Anyway, no matter what, it seems that staff means something extraordinary to the Fire Transmitters,” Duncan nodded lightly, “Are you suggesting they might want to take the staff?”

“I'm not sure, Frem is a man of generosity and justice, he never imposes hardships on others, nor would he take what does not belong to him, but… as you know, that is the 'annalistic column' left by the Everlasting Kindling, and for both the Fire Transmitter sect and the Senkin People, its significance is all too special.”

Duncan didn't speak, just quietly watched the “staff” that was now placed next to Fenna, pondering in silence.

For some reason, he thought of the Longsword that had been thrown into the sky.

He had given the Longsword to the research institution in Light Breeze Harbor, for to him, the only importance lay in the “intelligence” about another world that lay behind the sword, and as for the Transcendent items themselves, he was not a professional researcher.

Similarly, that staff held little significance to him, even though it had been held in the hand of the Everlasting Kindling Tarrikin–Duncan was only interested in the “truth” and “knowledge” of the time of the Great Annihilation, and after obtaining this information, he ceased to care about the rest.

There were numerous Transcendent items in this world, but to Duncan, most were of no value–not worth taking up a spot on the Homeloss.

But the issue this time was that the staff was left to Fenna by Tarrikin.

He had to respect the wishes of his crew.

“I personally don't mind handing the staff over to the Fire Transmitters, after all, just like the 'Horro-Daso Epic' in your hand is to the Elves, the 'annalistic column' is indeed an artifact of the Senkin People's civilization–but I must consider Fenna's thoughts,” he stated frankly, “Now that you know about Fenna's experience, you should understand that she values that staff greatly.”

He paused and said very seriously to Rune, “It's the relic of her 'friend'–I am not as generous and just as Frem you speak of, I am protective.”

“… I understand your stance,” Rune nodded solemnly, “I will convey these words to Frem so that he can give this matter careful thought–to avoid awkwardness on both sides when the time comes.”

Duncan nodded slightly, “That would be best.”

The melodious and piercing sound of the steam whistle sounded again, and large clouds of steam rose above the Academy Ark into the heavens.

Rune bid farewell to everyone on the Homeloss and then, with Duncan and the others watching, the elderly Elf stepped onto the gangway leading back to the ark.

Powered by the huge steam mechanism, the mechanical gangway retracted slowly. After that, the entire transformable dock structure was retracted amidst a series of heavy mechanical operations into the “coastal structure” on the side of the ark. The massive “church battleship,” equivalent to a small City-State, let out a deep roar as it gradually separated from the Homeloss.

But Duncan knew that this ark would not immediately return to the frontier–Rune had revealed his next plans, and the Pilgrimage Ark would remain at Light Breeze Harbor for a while longer to help this City-State, which was “awakening from a great dream,” deal with a series of aftermath matters.

But that had nothing to do with the Homeloss anymore.

Now, Duncan had to deal with another matter that needed “aftercare.”

He arrived in front of the captain's quarters at the stern, pushed the door open, and entered.

Chapter end

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