Deep Sea Embers

Priest John left with a complicated but still determined expression. Before leaving, he didn't ask anything, and Agatha didn't explain any more.

Now, only Agatha is left in the prayer room again - the bright lights struggle against the substantial darkness outside the window. There are a few cold flames jumping on the candlestick in front of the icon, and there is still a little bit of flame in the extinguished brazier. The smoke rose, and in the floor-to-ceiling mirror on the side, her broken body was reflected. Agatha turned around and came to Bartok's icon. She raised her head, and her eyes covered with black cloth "gazed" for a long time. The god covered in night, the holy statue remained the same as before, but in her eyes, the tall sculpture was already full of cracks, like a pile of debris that should have collapsed long ago, but it still maintained its appearance under the support of some invisible force. whole.

She sensed the smell in the cathedral—more and more of the dead.

The "cornerstone" of this world is gradually cooling and dying. Now almost all living people are gradually "transferring" to the state of the dead. People who are dead but unaware of themselves are active throughout the city-state, and the same is true in churches. John is dead, died in a breath taken during yesterday's midday prayer, Sister Laura is dead, died in a light sleep - and now they are still fulfilling their duties in the cathedral, like the others Same.

A hazy flame suddenly surged in the nearby mirror, and the mirror surface became dark in the flames. Then, a figure became clear in the mirror.

Agatha turned her head and discovered that it was not Captain Duncan who appeared in the mirror, but Tyrion.

"Father helped me build this channel to establish connections between those who have been 'blessed' by his flames," Tirian said proactively, "Ms. Agatha, how is the situation over there? "

"The number of dead in the cathedral is increasing," Agatha sighed softly. "Many of the new dead are suddenly 'transformed' from living people under normal circumstances. It seems that this matter itself cannot be stopped. This is not something that can be solved by any treatment or protective measures. "

"The same is true in other places in the city-state," Tirian looked solemn, "Even the situation in other city-states is the same. This is something that happens all over the world."

Agatha nodded, thought for a moment and then spoke slowly: "But the moving dead are not the problem. The real problem is that more and more people are "awakening."

'Yes,' Tirian said solemnly, 'just as my father reminded me, the world's 'correction' mechanism once again delayed the total collapse of Sanctuary by shutting down the God of Death, but also penetrated its 'The corrective mechanism, this safety net that protects ordinary people's cognition, is failing faster than we think. "

"But don't worry too much. Archons - whether they are priests in churches or guards and security forces operating outside, many of them have been training throughout their lives to fight against those incredible disasters and situations, including those that directly hit them. Things about yourself."

Agatha spoke, her voice as calm and magnetic as ever, seeming to release the power to soothe people's hearts.

Perhaps no one thought that even God would sleep forever, no one thought that even this world would die, and no one thought of the specific situation today, but we have long been prepared for 'everything' - no matter what happens, We will all fulfill our responsibilities unconditionally first.

'A few days ago, I gave instructions to the priest team. I told them that there was a disaster spreading that they were not aware of yet, and told them how to protect those who "awoke" and what to do if they suddenly " "Awakening", how to deal with it.

“Some of them now understand the status quo just like you and me, and some of them still don’t understand the meaning of those orders - but this does not affect their execution of the orders.

“I believe the same goes for the Sheriff’s force out there.

'No matter which team it is, some people may be wavering, some may be fearful, some may shrink under mental pressure and be unable to fulfill their responsibilities, but after all, there are some who are doing their duty, and they will not be a minority, Archon Tirian Regardless of the specific day or form in which the world ends, we are all prepared for it. "

Regardless of the specific day or form in which the end of the world will come,

Listening to what Agatha said, Tirian's expression relaxed a little after a brief pause, and then he nodded: "I am planning to expand the size of the 'quarantine' and build a series of shelters in the cemetery ring." The facilities rely on the protection of the cemetery itself to gradually transfer and protect the population. This process requires the cooperation of the church. "

"This is a difficult and huge job," Agatha said. "The 'living' and the 'dead' are mixed together, and the awakened people will be randomly generated from them. It is impossible for us to fully screen out this change." And move all those who have regained consciousness to shelters, and it is impossible to treat other people like enemies, even if they are indeed uninformed and ignorant people. "

"I know, but we must do our best," Tirian said calmly, "It is better than eventually evolving into a completely out-of-control chaos. Even if it does evolve to that point, we have at least established enough shelter facilities to protect them. part of the people."

"I understand. The church will fully cooperate with the city hall's actions and is just waiting for your arrangement."

·*

In front of the Ark giant ship, which is like a small city-state, a series of huge hydraulic devices are installed at the front like a mechanical city wall. Countless heavy metal rams arranged neatly along this "mechanical city wall" are slowly lifted along the track, and then Sliding down heavily, shattering the thick ice in front of it like countless sharp metal teeth, amidst the constant roar of machinery and the loud noise of ice breaking, the Church Ark is still slowly moving in this sea where everything is frozen Moving forward.

In this way, the ice-breaking device "gnawed" a long trajectory in the ice. Its tail pointed in the direction of the civilized world. In front of it was endless ice and darkness, and that road represented the "border" The thick fog is still rising and rolling at the end of the sight, looking increasingly gloomy and terrifying, but it seems that it will never be reached.

Frame stood on the height of the church ark, looking towards the direction of the endless ice field. Two braziers were burning beside him. The flames were as cold as ice, and there was a low and vague murmur hidden in the crackling sound.

He could sense that the "focus" revealed to him by the Eternal Burning Fire Tower Ruijin in the last revelation was about to arrive, the only focus that could preserve the "heritage" in its original form in the alternation of the old and new worlds.

Frame knew that the "captain" was executing a great plan like the creation of the universe. He knew that if the plan succeeded, a "new world" would come. Although he could not imagine what the new world would look like, he knew , that must be thousands of times better than this twisted, dark and dangerous boundless sea.

Moreover, that new world left a place for everyone - he already knew this from the messages sent intermittently from the end of the world.

But that is a rebirth after destruction. Everything in the old world will be completely annihilated in that process. The "Captain" may have a way to allow "people" to complete the rebirth in the new world after this process, but those who have been created What about the stuff?

Those poems, those melodies, those amazing craftsmanship, those precious books and stone tablets recording the dark ages, the old city-state era, the new city-state era, and the meaning behind these things - civilization once existed - whether these Can it be preserved?

Even if they can be preserved, these things may become a huge burden in the process of creation. This worry led the Fire Bearers to embark on this voyage to the north. Now, after making great efforts, their destination is finally near. .

They want to leave a "legacy" for the people of the new world in this eternal ice field.

Almost there, not far ahead.

However, a strange, harsh and loud noise suddenly came from a distance, followed by a series of explosions and mechanical friction sounds. A strong vibration came from the Ark under your feet. Along with it, there seemed to be something inside the Ark. The low rumble of an institution shutting down.

Frame's heart suddenly sank.

After a while, a priestess wearing a dark robe and a veil hurriedly appeared in front of him.

"His Majesty the Pope, the main power pipeline of the ice-breaking device has ruptured!"

The Lost Home and the Brilliant Star sailed on a uniform gray-white background, and at the end of this long "jump passage", a subtle color had vaguely emerged.

Duncan stood on the bow of the Lost Home, looking wordlessly at the sea in the distance that was gradually materializing. He heard footsteps coming from behind, along with the sounds of people in this world today. A "warmth" that is already rare.

He turned around and saw Nina standing behind him. There was a warm glow around the girl. Under the sunlight, even the coldness that had spread after the death of the world receded from her.

"Have you found a new way to use "sunshine" again?" Duncan raised his eyebrows, a smile appeared on his face, and then he couldn't help but sigh, "Now the control is getting more and more precise. In the beginning, I just used a little flame. You can even burn your hair if you boil water."

Nina narrowed her eyes slightly: "Well, there are also those deep demons and spiritual shadows that happen to be passing by."

"I doubt they were just passing by by chance."

"It's not a big problem."

The two fell silent at the same time.

After a while, Nina broke the silence softly: "We are almost there.'

"yes."

Duncan whispered. He wanted to say something, but before he could speak, the hazy color at the edge of his vision suddenly expanded, becoming a calm, mirror-like sea and the islands on the sea.

"The jump is over.