Deep Sea Embers

Lucretia recognized it, it was her Brilliant Star - but it was the Brilliant Star from another timeline.

It was the Brilliant Star that she accidentally crossed the six-nautical-mile boundary during a reckless border voyage decades ago and fell into "streak". At this very moment, she was standing on the ship decades ago. On that ship, they were searching in vain for a way back to the boundless sea.

The sailor held the steering wheel tightly. After realizing what the ship shadow appeared in the distance, he almost broke out in a cold sweat (if his sweat glands were still there), and subconsciously exclaimed: "Madam! That is another timeline. "Don't come into contact with it! We should have been disturbed by it before exiting the channel". If we contact it rashly, we may fall into it! "

As soon as the sailor shouted out, the people on the board also reacted. They realized that the situation this time was completely different from the time when the Lost Home encountered the Sea Song in the "passage" - the Sea Song was a ship. It is a ship that has no "relationship" with the Lost Home or the Brilliant Star. Its sudden appearance at that time can at best be regarded as an afterimage appearing in the turbulent flow of time. However, the ship that appears at the end of the thick fog is another ship. The "Tank Star" in the timeline is the "different time and space entity" of the ship under everyone's feet - what will happen if two such entities come into contact in the time stream?

No scholar has yet conducted research in this field (including those with the best physical fitness and fighting scores at the Academy of Truth), but there is no doubt that nothing good will happen. However, Lucretia did not seem to hear it. Despite the sailor's loud warning, she just looked at the "Brilliant Star" that was gradually approaching in the thick fog with strange eyes, and then suddenly seemed to think of something, suddenly turned around and scanned the surroundings.

The illusion of the Lost Home covered the ship, with ghostly spiritual fire floating on the surface of the dark wooden deck, and translucent spiritual sails hanging high on the mast - everything was just as she remembered it very clearly. That scene.

In the last voyage to the end of the world, she finally figured out the long-standing mystery that even her "father" couldn't figure out. She was the one who guided her own route.

"Don't worry," she finally spoke softly, not loudly, but it made the deck instantly quiet. "We won't meet that ship - we will just miss it. Keep the current course and never miss it." Drive it sideways, don't make any communication."

"Just make sure that "you" on that ship won't suddenly come over." The sailor muttered, and did not question the "captain's" judgment at the moment. Instead, he followed the order and controlled the ship under his feet. It was simply a " The "Hybrid" ship slowly passed by the side of the "Brilliant Star".

Everyone tensed up at this moment. They watched the Brilliant Star, which came from the thick fog and was located in another time stream, getting closer and closer, so close that they could distinguish many details of its hull. , they saw that the ship was many different from what they remembered, which seemed to be because it was the "version" decades ago. They watched the ship briefly slow down and adjust its attitude, which seemed to be due to the "loss of power". There was a moment of panic and hesitation due to the sudden approach of "Xianghao", but in the end, the two ships passed each other without incident.

Lucretia exhaled slightly, and within a few seconds after the two ships completely misaligned themselves, the "Brilliant Star" in another time stream quickly dissipated, disappearing into the thick fog like a phantom. middle.

The intersection of time streams is over.

And this is exactly what Lucretia was waiting for - she immediately ordered: "Turn the bow around and follow the trajectory of the ship when it finally disappeared. That is the direction back to the Infinite Sea."

The sailor was stunned, but he carried out the captain's order without hesitation. After the ship under his feet began to slowly adjust its course,

He then turned around and glanced at the "Sea Witch": "Madam, are you -

This is what happened before. Decades ago, the Brilliant Star encountered the phantom of the Lost Home beyond the six nautical mile critical line. I still remember the details at that time," Lucretia nodded, " Stop thinking so much and find a way to get out of this place first."

"Don't think too much, my brain is about to explode." Shirley scratched her hair. She was obviously a little confused after quickly going over the matter in her head. "So, you were traveling on the border decades ago and encountered The guiding phantom on the road is actually yourself decades later, but you yourself decades later are actually also lost in one or two ships, no one knows the way back, but in the end they all find the right direction.

What is this all about?

"Cause and effect, luck, time and space, everything here is a mess." Morris held his pipe, which seemed to be rarely lit, and his voice sounded dull. "Don't use too much rational thinking in the border waters. Human beings There is a limit to how much the mind can tolerate 'irrationality'. Don't let the irrational stuff drive you crazy. "

As soon as the old gentleman finished speaking, Agou beside him muttered: "Shirley is fine. She doesn't think much. Her brain is as good as new."

Shirley hit Agou's head with one punch, making a "clang" sound. Lucretia didn't pay attention to the movement around her, nor did the sailor at the helm - they were still staring at the front of the route, in the bright light. In the direction pointed by the bow of the Star, the thick fog seemed to be changing.

Nina suddenly noticed that the Brilliant Star was gradually slowing down.

She looked up in surprise: "Hey? Miss Lucretia, why are we slowing down now?"

"There is a 'critical change' in the fog ahead. That should be the place where we cross the critical line of six nautical miles. Through that boundary, we will enter the relatively safe Weimu Sea area," Lucretia said slowly, But then his tone dropped, "But there is a problem. "

There was confusion on Nina's face, but the sailor at the helm had obviously understood. He twitched his lips and made a hoarse voice: "Once we 'cross the border' from that place, the date for our return to the Infinite Sea will be determined. But that wasn’t necessarily one day in 1902.”

Nina was confused for less than a few seconds before slowly opening her eyes. As smart as she was, she had already figured out what the sailor meant in an instant.

"We exited the channel early. The moment we left the route, the flow of time around us was probably disrupted," Lucretia said in a deep voice, "And just now the Brilliant Star appeared decades ago In our sight, it may be that the shadow in another time stream mistakenly enters our route, but it may also be that we have 'entered' the wrong time stream -

This time, even Shirley on the side understood it and was immediately shocked: "In other words, if we go back now, maybe we will go back to decades ago?!"

The sailor sighed: "This is even a better situation - if it is worse, the time flow has been completely chaotic, and we may enter any time node after crossing the boundary."

Shirley: Damn it

"Do you want to contact the captain?" Fanna said suddenly, "This is already an unplanned situation. Maybe the captain's power can-

"No, I tried it just now, but I could only vaguely sense my father's voice." Lucretia shook her head. "We are still in the turbulence at the border, and the chaotic order of time and space is arising here. Interference, and the father's side

She paused and shook her head slightly.

Everyone on the deck looked at each other.

The Brilliant Star cruised in the fog near the "critical line" at an extremely low speed, cruising slowly in a relatively "safe" position where it would not fall "deeper".

The way home is right in front of you, and it even seems like you can walk over it by stretching your legs - there is no obstacle, no obstacle. However, what stands in front of the Brilliant Star is a barrier that is far more dangerous than any wall or trench - one by one. time.

On the bridge, the clockwork doll Luni was monitoring the dazzlingly complex various systems on the Brilliant Star. Rabbit Rabbit nestled cautiously in the corner, holding the little doll Luni and not daring to show off. , Agatha's figure was vaguely reflected on the porthole not far away, while others were sitting around the captain's seat, and the atmosphere seemed quite depressing.

Maurice murmured: "It would be great if there was a 'guiding anchor' from the infinite sea, even a piece of wood drifting across the curtain." "

"The probability is no higher than if we cross the border directly and arrive exactly in 1902." Lucretia shook her head, "This is the border." Shirley scratched her hair and muttered: "If it really arrived a few decades ago, Even hundreds or thousands of years ago

She muttered a few words but did not continue.

However, Fanna softly repeated a few words Shirley said: "Hundreds of years -

"Then we arrived too early," Nina stuck out her tongue, "The good news is that we can see the 'sun' that was still normal at that time." "

Vanna did not pay attention to Nina's words, but suddenly looked up at Lucretia, her expression seemed quite solemn: "Lucretia, how long can you live?"

The scene suddenly became quiet, and Lucrecia understood what Vanna meant. After a brief pause, she broke the silence: "I'm not sure how long this 'curse' can last, but at least it will be no problem for a few hundred years."

Morris shook his head: "My lifespan is limited. Even with the blessing of machinery and wisdom, this body will be destroyed."

Agatha's voice came from the side: "Theoretically, I have no life limit, but without physical support, my existence is not stable.

"Netherworld demons can survive for a long time," Vanna suddenly looked at Shirley, "At least, I haven't heard of any of the deep demons 'die of old age' because their life span has reached the limit. As long as you hide well, don't be caught by the church guardians of the current era. Discover

Shirley listened blankly for a moment, then she gradually realized: "Ah, no way.

We need to prepare for the worst. "Fana said seriously.

"Then think of the worse case scenario," Lucretia suddenly shook her head, "What if we arrive late instead of early? When Father needs us, we may not have arrived yet.

Everyone suddenly fell silent.

Silence and depression once again enveloped the bridge.

But at this moment, there was a sudden sound from the direction of the installation console.

Immediately afterwards, Runi, the clockwork doll who was monitoring the device, exclaimed:

"Mistress, there's a signal!"