Nina was very happy because it had been a long time since she had a normal meal with Uncle Duncan and talked about what happened in school, and she had never seen Uncle Duncan smile.
This even reminded her of the past, of the time when her uncle was not sick. After she lost her parents at the age of six, this father-like man became her only relative in the world. But four years ago, the disease that even the doctors could not find the cause of had changed her uncle into a different person. To be honest, the days during this period... were very difficult to endure.
Her uncle was still supporting her schooling and maintaining her basic life, but Nina could feel that all the colors of the "future" had gradually faded from this familiar and friendly shop, dissipated in the strong liquor, pills and the gloomy and depressing parties of those suspicious "friends" who dealt with her uncle.
She no longer expected her life to go back to what it was a few years ago, but even if the situation improved a little bit, it would be worth being happy.
Duncan was also very happy because he finally had access to more information about this world and finally touched upon the historical context of this world—even if it was only a part of it, it gave him a sense of pleasure as if the fog had been cleared.
The completely lost prehistoric "Age of Order", the "Great Annihilation" event that reshaped the order of all things, the deep sea era that continues to this day, the anomalies and visions all over the world... These things that he once knew nothing about, or only half understood, finally have a clearer outline at this moment.
Breakfast was over, and Nina stood up to clear the dishes. She was quick and efficient, and it was obvious that she often did these chores on weekdays - there was no doubt that she also cleaned the bedroom upstairs.
A guy who is seriously ill, leads a decadent life, and devotes most of his energy and enthusiasm to the cult obviously would not do these things.
But watching the girl busy in front of him, Duncan couldn't help himself in the end. He stood up and took the large tray from Nina's hand: "Let me help you carry it - it's hard for you to go upstairs."
Nina looked at Duncan in surprise. She was about to say something else when the latter strode towards the stairs.
The girl could only hurry up and follow him, reminding him: "Uncle, please be careful. The doctor said that your condition is still unstable..."
"Doctor... Doctor Albert?" Duncan didn't look back. He went upstairs while searching for the corresponding impression in his memory fragments, but there were only a few fleeting fragments. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, he still can't figure out the cause of the disease. The most effective medicine he prescribed is painkillers."
"… We should also listen to the doctor's advice," Nina followed Duncan upstairs and muttered as she walked towards the kitchen, "At least he knows how to stay healthy…"
Nina was halfway through her words when the sound of flapping wings suddenly interrupted her actions.
She and Duncan looked in the direction of the sound at the same time, and saw a shadow flash through the gap of the half-open master bedroom door.
"Uncle Duncan, something flashed past your room!" Nina said in surprise, and then she stepped forward and grabbed the door handle, "Could it be the cat next door..."
"Hey, don't..."
Duncan only had time to stop them halfway before he saw Nina push open the half-open door, and the pigeon hiding in the room appeared in front of them.
Ai Yin was standing on top of the cabinet, holding a French fry in one paw and stuffing it into his mouth. The sudden opening of the door made the pigeon stop completely. It stood there with the French fry in one paw, its two green eyes staring blankly at Nina and the wall on the other side.
Then it saw Duncan and flapped its wings twice, making a loud noise: "Ah... coo?"
Duncan's eyes twitched as he saw that the window not far away was wide open. That was obviously Ai Yin's escape route - and in the distance opposite the window, he could vaguely see a pier bathed in the sun.
This pigeon went to the pier and got some fries...
"Pigeon?" Nina finally reacted at this time and looked at Ai Yin on the cabinet in surprise, "Uncle Duncan! There is a pigeon in your room!"
"I saw it," Duncan deadpanned, "I don't recognize it."
Ai Yin immediately threw away the French fries, flew over, landed on Duncan's shoulder and shook his head.
"Well, it flew in this morning," Duncan sighed, "It might be a familiar pigeon, but it's not very smart. I gave it something to eat and it won't leave."
Ai Yin listened and made a loud cooing sound.
If there were no outsiders present and Duncan had not given the order before, it would definitely have started shouting "Ah, yes, yes, yes" at this time.
Nina did not doubt her uncle's words at all. She just looked at the pigeon with shining eyes, then approached it carefully, observing the pigeon's reaction while asking Duncan: "Then... then do you want to keep it? Can I keep it?"
The girl's thoughts were all written on her face. In her eyes, Ai Yin was obviously just a beautiful and cute white dove. Ai Yin tilted her head to look at Duncan, making a questioning sound in her throat.
Duncan suddenly felt that this bird was easier to understand when it was silent than when it was speaking...
After a moment, he pretended to hesitate, then nodded: "Okay - but only if the pigeon is willing to stay. It might fly away at any time, so don't complain then."
Nina smiled brightly: "Great! I knew that Uncle Duncan you are actually a reasonable person!"
…
In the central prayer room of the Deep Sea Cathedral, the city-state bishop Valentine, wearing a black priest robe with gold patterns, was standing in front of the statue of the Storm Goddess with a serious expression.
He is tall and thin, with sparse white hair and eyes as calm as deep water.
The large candlestick in the prayer room is burning quietly, and the holy flame illuminates the room. The statue of Gemona is high on the platform. This goddess has no face, and her head is covered with a black veil. A long skirt with many wave ripples depicted on it hangs from her body to the edge of the platform. Although it is just a stone statue, the power of divinity is still manifested here. The whole statue exudes a strong sense of presence. As long as you stand around the statue, you can feel a vague sense of being watched and protected.
This feeling of being watched and protected is real. It is under this kind of watchfulness and protection that Vanna, who came to discuss matters with the bishop, can feel free and bold to tell him what she saw in her dream.
"… If what you saw in your dream was correct, it was indeed the Lost Homeland."
The city-state bishop Valentine turned around and looked at the young inquisitor who came to see him early in the morning. Although from the perspective of church clergy, the inquisitor in charge of military force and the city-state bishop in charge of ceremonies are on the same level, when it comes to the analysis of extraordinary events, it is normal for the inquisitor to seek advice or even guidance from the bishop.
"Is that really the Lost Hometown?" Although she already had the answer in her mind, after hearing the bishop's judgment, Vanna couldn't help but open her eyes wide, "I thought..."
"Do you still think that the ship is just a legend now, just like the various ghost ship legends that those nervous sailors brag about in the tavern?" Valentine knew what Vanna wanted to say. The old man with sparse white hair shook his head and said in a deep tone, "The existence of the Lost Homeland is a fact recognized by all city-states and the church. It is not a legend, but something that can be found in the church files."
"I know that. The Lost Homeland did exist. In Plande's city-state archives, we can even find some of the ship's construction drawings and construction records from more than a century ago. But all of this tangible information is limited to when the Lost Homeland was still a ship sailing in the real world, and when Captain Duncan was still a human being..."
Vanna spoke in a serious tone. She looked at the icon behind the bishop, and her expression became more cautious when she mentioned certain words.
"The key point is that the ship was clearly recorded as falling into the warp... A century ago, thousands of refugees from the Thirteen Islands of Veselan witnessed with their own eyes that the ship and their homeland were swallowed up by the collapse of the border and fell into the shadow of the warp. In the decades since then, although there have been eyewitness reports that the Lost Homeland has reappeared in the real world, there is a lack of real evidence. Quite a few scholars are skeptical about the ship's 'return'..."
The young judge said as he looked at the old man in front of him.
"Is it really possible for something swallowed by the subspace to reappear in the real world?"
"... So far, nothing other than the Lost Homeland has returned to reality after falling into the subspace. Even for the Lost Homeland, there are only eyewitness reports afterwards. Scholars from all walks of life have doubts about the return of the ship. This is indeed a fact, but this is not the key point..." The old man said, his eyes suddenly fell on Vanna, with a strange seriousness on his face, "The key point is, Inquisitor, are you afraid of something?"