Deep Sea Embers

The majestic mist that seemed to connect the sky and the sea appeared in Duncan's vision again - but what was different from last time was that this time he arrived at the border in the dark.

The dark and chaotic sky weighed low above the head, and the pale and cold creation of the world illuminated the clouds at the edge of the curtain. The entire wall of fog was like a black wall that was constantly expanding and contracting in the night - distant, towering, and invisible. The details are clear, but every time you glance at it casually, its wriggling and changing surface will reveal some weird shapes, casting a horrifying glimpse in the hearts of everyone who sees it, and arousing many associations that point to fear.

And the edge of the top of the wall of mist, illuminated by the creation of the world, is like countless eyes high in the sky, looking down at the world indifferently and maliciously, looking down at the overestimating mortals who are trying to challenge the end of the world. .

The fleet of mortals gathered at the foot of the curtain.

After observing the lighthouse in the distance, Duncan controlled the Lost Home to adjust its course. They sailed toward the southeast side of the curtain for a while, and then saw the lights gathered on the border - a large-scale motor port floating in the mist. In the diffuse sea, the large steam core on the port is spewing white clouds into the sky. The light on the top of the differential engine tower rotates, illuminating the shadows of large and small ships on the nearby sea from time to time.

More than a dozen ships of various models and sizes were docked around the floating port, and there were also small patrol ships wandering in the nearby waters. Their lights shone in the night, like fireflies patrolling the dark and boundless sea. .

At the end of the world, there is no need to implement light control, so these lights representing human civilization have become an incredible scenery in front of the eternal curtain - however, compared to the boundless sea, compared to the wall of fog that reaches the sky and the earth, These "landscapes" built by artificial lights are really insignificant. When viewed from a distance, those tiny lights seem to be swallowed up into the undulating fog at any time.

The world is collapsing, and the tiny creatures in the shelter bravely stretch out their hands towards the collapsing high wall of the shelter - those lights patrolling the sea are the tentacles of civilization. Although they are not strong, they are here. .

The news of the approach of the Lost Home and the Brilliant Star was quickly reported by nearby patrol ships. A whistle representing the welcome came from the mobile port as a border base. The loud sound echoed in the night, and then there was a guide. Directional beams sweep from the harbor lighthouse to the sea, guiding the two ships to dock at the edge of the harbor.

After the ship stopped, Duncan took his crew members to the dock - many people had gathered here to greet him, and one of them surprised Duncan.

The female pope Helena suddenly stood among a group of priests who came to greet her.

She stood out from the crowd, came to Duncan and Lucretia with a smile, and nodded slightly: "Welcome to this 'border base' - we have been waiting for you."

"Why are you here?" Duncan looked at the female pope standing in front of him in surprise, "Shouldn't you be staying in your own ark at this time - can that thing run so fast?"

"If the situation really requires it, the Church Ark will not be much slower than your ship at full speed," Helena said with a smile, but quickly shook her head, "But I am indeed not here now, The Cathedral of Storms is still staying in Breeze Port at this moment, and what comes here is just an incarnation of me - you want to go deep into the border in person, and I should come here to see you off."

Duncan raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and looked at the lady in front of him in surprise, who didn't feel "fake" at all: "...I really can't tell."

Helena laughed and raised her hand to reach out to Duncan - layers of thin mist rose from the edge of her arm, and her skin began to become as transparent as water.

"It is my Lord's authority to create illusions in water and mist." She retracted her hand and her body quickly returned to normal. Then she turned around and led the way and said casually, "This is not a great magical skill - a senior priest in the Deep Sea Church. Most people do this.”

Duncan followed Helena towards the depths of the border base. After hearing what the other party said, he thought about it and turned to look at Vanna who was walking behind him: "You can do this too?"

Fanna's steps suddenly paused unnaturally for a moment, and then she lowered her head as she walked: "Um...actually..."

"She doesn't know how," Helena, who was walking in front, waved her hand, "I didn't even teach it myself back then."

Fanna didn't even raise her head: "..."

When Shirley, who was walking behind, saw this situation, she immediately took two steps forward with her short legs and looked up at Fanna: "Hey, didn't you say that your results in magical arts are pretty good..."

Fanna was already extremely embarrassed at this time, but she noticed that the captain walking in front was turning his head to cast a curious look, so she had to bite the bullet and speak: "...there are many kinds of magic, including combat direction, treatment direction, and assistance. Direction, as well as a lot of special branches such as research, secret contracts, miracles, etc., I am not all good at it, I was more scientific at that time..."

Shirley reacted instantly after hearing half of it: "Oh, I know, you should be good at fighting..."

Before she finished speaking, she heard Helena, who was walking in front, say again without looking back: "She is good at treatment."

As soon as this answer came out, not only Shirley was stunned for a moment, but almost everyone around him was stunned for a moment. Duncan couldn't help but look at the beautiful young warrior beside him in surprise. He looked up and down several times, but he didn't dare to look at this girl. The desperate Vanna got in touch with a priestess who was good at healing...

Aren't the priestesses who are good at healing in the normal setting the type who wear cloth armor and carry a short staff to prevent low health and can only walk behind the team to be protected and hit, and they will die immediately if they are accidentally brushed? —Fanna, a strong woman who can lift the devil's spirit cap with one hand...when did she become a nanny?

However, he was confused about this question in his mind and didn't feel embarrassed to ask it out loud - but just because he didn't ask it didn't mean that others didn't ask it. There was always no shortage of heartless and outspoken characters on the Lost Home.

"Why?" Shirley stared, "No...why?"

She raised her hand and pointed at Fan Na's nearly two-meter tall figure. After holding it in for a long time, she still only said: "...Why?"

"Because I have to be responsible for setting bones for other people on the training field after training," Helena replied calmly, "It took me half a year to practice."

Shirley's doubts disappeared immediately, and Duncan next to her also nodded subtly: "...This makes more sense."

Only Fanna, who was the center of the topic, still lowered her head: "..."

"But then again, you've been on the ship for so long, and I didn't even know you had expertise in this area." Duncan glanced at Vanna and said thoughtfully, "Normally, I almost never see you give anything to anyone. Healing?”

Fanna sighed: "...Do you think anyone on the Lost Home needs treatment?"

Duncan was startled when he heard this, and turned to look at the crew members following him. Then he suddenly remembered that the number of people on the Lost Home was not high - it was difficult to get even a living person on the ship, let alone those who were usually injured and bleeding. There are so many people on the ship, but old man Morris looks like a human being in the whole ship, but the old man can fight better than ordinary saints...

Vanna sighed again.

She tugged on the buckle on her shoulder that was used to secure the weapon, lifted the big sword up, and shook her head helplessly: "I think this is good - I prefer to heal the people around me. Take out all the enemies early so no one needs to get hurt.”

Helena turned around, looked at Vanna, and then looked past her and fell on Anomaly 077-Sailor, who was walking at the back of the team.

She slowed down her pace, hesitated briefly and then said to the mummy: "Do you still remember this place?"

"Remember, but just remember," the sailor didn't seem surprised by Helena's question. After setting foot on this mobile port, he had been silently observing the surroundings. At this time, he just nodded calmly, "In Among the memory fragments I have recently recovered, there are some scenes that are very impressive, including this place... But no matter how profound the memory is, it feels like someone else's life to me... As I watch them, it is difficult to understand On myself, except...the part related to Captain Kalani."

"...So that's it."

Helena said softly, but she did not ask how much the sailors remembered about the past and how much impression they still had of this place - although for the personnel on duty at this port, the first mate of the Sea Song was not until recently. He is still with them, but for Anomaly 077, that is really a distant and unfamiliar life.

"Except for me and a few high-ranking priests, no one here knows what you look like now," Helena said to the sailor. "You don't have to worry about meeting 'acquaintances' - if you don't want to meet them, just don't meet them. .”

The sailor was a little surprised, but he quickly lowered his head and said sincerely: "Thank you."

"Has this port been active on the border?" Lucretia asked curiously at this time, "I have often been active on the border before, but I have not seen it..."

"This mobile port has been deployed in the border waters since more than ten years ago," Helena explained, "but most of the time, it is in dense fog - except as a home port for border patrol and exploration fleets , this place itself is also a research facility. It is equipped with a large number of equipment and laboratories used to observe the spirit world and study the sea environment. Therefore, it is necessary to go deep into the fog to perform tasks from time to time. When there are no special tasks, it will also travel along the entire eastern During the border cruise, its route and stopping location are classified by the church, so it’s normal that you won’t encounter it.”

"...It's amazing." Lucretia sighed sincerely.

"...Yes, it's amazing. Many outstanding people gathered together to build this place," Helena said softly, and then her eyes fell in a certain direction in the distance, "Hai Ge The bus departs from Pier 2, just ahead."