Deep Sea Embers

“Any later and it will get dark,” Duncan casually said as he turned to lock the door. Then walking over to the stairs, “He drove over so a little rain won’t hinder him anyways.”

“But Teacher doesn’t seem to be feeling well,” Nina protested as she went upstairs, “he should have rested a little longer…”

Duncan contemplated the idea, thinking that if the old man really rested here for a while then he might’ve felt even worse. But he couldn’t explain it to Nina, so he could only say a few pointless words to fiddle through the subject.

Once inside the kitchen, the pair quickly seated themselves for dinner – Nina had prepared beet soup, toast, vegetable rolls, and sliced ham.

Clearly, the assortment was meant for more than one person.

“If we can’t finish then save the leftovers for the morning,” Nina muttered, then looked up at Duncan curiously, “what did you tell Teacher? I couldn’t hear your conversation while upstairs, but the noise was quite lively…”

Duncan eyed Nina’s lively appearance. As always, she’s bright, happy, and full of life without an ounce of negative air. No matter how he looked at her, there’s no hint of a supernatural entity possessing the girl.

Sun fragment… what exactly is that thing?

Duncan originally thought the item was something tangible, but now, it appears he’s jumped to conclusions. Whatever the sun fragment was, it’s slumbering inside Nina’s body…

“Uncle Duncan?” Nina noticed the weird gaze coming from across the table and squirmed uncomfortably, “Is there something stuck on my face?”

“…… No, nothing.” Duncan shook his head and decided to change the topic by ripping a piece of bread, “By the way, have you been feeling any discomfort lately? That weird dream from before… did you reencounter it?”

“No,” Nina waved her hand, “I stopped having that weird dream after Miss Heidi gave me that therapy session. I’m feeling full of energy every day.”

She paused, then looked at Duncan a little worriedly: “Uncle, what’s wrong? Why do I suddenly feel like… you’re acting weird? Did you and Mr. Morris talk about… it can’t be about my last exam grade…”

“No, don’t get weird thoughts. Your teacher didn’t visit just to complain about your grades. Eat first.”

Nina nods and readily agrees since she’s not going to be lectured. She could see something was bothering her uncle but didn’t know what.

……

In the lower city, deep in the dilapidated and dim alleys, the hastily lit gas lamps finally dispelled the surrounding darkness before night completely enveloped these streets. Under this condition, Shirley lay next to the windowsill and stared out into the dark streets with fascination.

“You’re looking outside again. What’s there to see?” Dog’s voice sounded from the side as the chains connecting the pair rattled due to the movement.

“I can’t sleep because it’s early, and there’s nothing to do. It’s boring…” Shirley muttered.

“…… Do you want to go out tomorrow and continue to make trouble for those cultists?”

“……No, I doubt we will get anything out of it,” Shirley shook her head after thinking about the idea. “I don’t know if the church people really improved their skills, but the cultists in the city seem to have been cleaned out recently. I can’t even smell their stench…”

“The Suntists are indeed mostly gone. Maybe they really have been caught by the authorities.” Dog leaned over and lazily lay at Shirley’s feet, “But I don’t think you’re like this because you’re bored…”

Shirley suddenly rolled her eyes: “Then what else could it be?”

“…… Are you thinking about that side?” Dog raised his head, the shimmering red light flickering from his hollow eye sockets, “Thinking about that warm home, the bright room, and the hot meal. You miss how someone is willing to wake you up in the morning for breakfast, and… maybe you miss spending time with that Nina? Or perhaps, you’re thinking about him?”

“XXX Shut up! You’re so annoying!” Shirley tugged the chain with her right arm and rudely interrupted Dog, “I’m not a crying little baby anymore. How can I be so weak!”

Dog didn’t care about Shirley’s rough reaction: “… Longing for light and warmth is not a weakness. It only proves that you are still human.”

“Eeee~” Shirley suddenly froze, followed by a look of disgust, “Why are you XXX acting so mushy with me all of a sudden? You’re sounding all scholarly as well. I’m still human? Are you praising me or insulting me by saying I haven’t grown bigger after so many years?”

“…… Don’t think that after fusing with me that you’re actually a demon yourself. There is nothing wrong with admitting your human side.” Dog shook his ugly head, “Besides, don’t forget, it’s not just this chain that connects me to you. I can feel any emotional changes you experience, remember?”

“…… Shut up,” Shirley turned her face away like she’s irritated at being read like an open book, “you don’t have to keep pressing me like this. If you do, I will really go visit Nina tomorrow and bring you along. I’m sure Mr. Duncan will have fun talking with you until you wet your bones!”

Dog finally stopped talking, which only roused another light kick from the girl at the awkward silence.

“Quit fretting about me. I have you don’t I?” Shirley teased.

“You’re mushier than me when you start.” Dog moved away and caused the chains to rattle, “Any more and I might vomit – then there’s going to be a new hole in the floor from the acid.”

Despite their innocent quibbling, the pair obviously enjoyed each other’s company, especially Shirley, who was feeling slightly down from having her life scrambled recently.

It’s good like this. Everything is back on track, and everyone can go back to their lives like before. That warm and peaceful place isn’t for you Shirley, it doesn’t belong to you and is dangerous…

After comforting herself, Shirley heaved a soft sigh to only freeze in the next second.

She sensed something, an ominous and dark-natured presence that’s fast approaching. It’s sending her alarm bells ringing.

Dog also jerked up from his position and took an aggressive stance toward the darkness inside the house. He’s vigilant and ready to strike at anyone or anything that might pop out.

Due to the need to save money, most of the rooms here were dark due to Shirley turning off the oil lamp on the table. Usually, this wouldn’t be an issue since the light from the street lights would faintly spill over and hit the window. Unfortunately, that seems to have been a mistake tonight – foulness had started to ooze from the cracks in the walls.

“Dog!” Shirley subconsciously tightened the chain in her hand.

“I know,” Dog lets out a low growl simultaneously, “I’m watching! Something is coming… They’re surrounding us… Grooor! What the hell are these things! My eyes are going blurry!”

Before the words from the dark hound could finish, Shirley had noticed the faint light from the street lamps warping and disappearing as if a thick layer of fog had barricaded this room from the outside. Sure enough, even the picture from the window had disappeared, replaced by a murky darkness of swirling nothingness. Once completely isolated, the shadows finally pierced through and converged into several figures opposite of the two occupants inside.

They were dressed in tattered black robes that exposed their thin, wood-like arms, and their waists hung a pitch-black bible that seemed to be drenched in a suspicious dark liquid that’s constantly dripping. But that’s not all though. On each of their chest hung a spiked iron emblem that embodied a pale and creepy white flame.

“Thou shall perish…” The leading black robe raised a finger and pointed it to the stunned-looking girl in the room.

“XXXX He’s an Ender Missionary!!!” Dog’s exclaiming cry was so loud that it knocked Shirley straight back to reality.