Chapter 119: “A Pair of Friends”

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In mere moments, the specialized unit from the Storm Church transitioned from merely identifying a potential dangerous, otherworldly anomaly within the museum to actively confronting it. They began by chanting blessings to fortify themselves spiritually, then fearlessly charged into the burning building.

Duncan observed from a distance as highly trained firefighters took their positions in the square outside the museum. They unleashed torrents of water from their hoses, significantly cooling the raging fire at the museum’s entrance to create a navigable path. Another group, also storm guardians, quickly formed a separate line. Wearing insignias of the Storm Church and adorned with mystical talismans, they followed the first wave, plunging into the inferno within the museum.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officers around the perimeter focused on calming and evacuating frightened citizens. They contacted neighboring chapels to take in those “marked” or suspected of mental contamination caused by the fire’s supernatural elements.

The emergency response was finely tuned and impeccably coordinated. This wasn’t their first encounter with the surreal; they had practiced for such scenarios countless times and had even lived through actual events. They developed specialized training to quickly identify and suppress otherworldly elements within natural disasters, bringing them down to a manageable level for ordinary citizens.

Such was daily life in this prosperous city-state, a resilient community that thrived in a strange world rife with supernatural phenomena. Both those skilled in handling the supernatural and those trained in conventional professions had undergone rigorous education and practice, honing their responses to nearly instinctual reactions, all in the name of community survival.

Though Duncan observed these details, he had little time to contemplate them fully. Scanning the faces of the dirt-streaked evacuees at the square’s edge, he found no sign of Nina, whom he desperately sought.

Suddenly, his attention snapped back to the museum. He sensed a familiar aura emanating from the flames. Compelled to act, Duncan took a step towards the museum, but a law enforcement officer stepped in his path. “Sir, it’s dangerous ahead. Please leave it to the professionals,” the officer warned.

Understanding the wisdom in the officer’s words, Duncan nodded and turned away. Engaging in a debate with the authorities would only waste time and impede the experts. Being pragmatic, he quickly abandoned the idea of entering through the museum’s main entrance. Instead, he briskly navigated to a secluded spot on the opposite side of the square, concealing himself in the shadows. The next moment, a white dove soared across the square, diving through a window into the side of the flame-engulfed museum.

A few onlookers noticed the dove but assumed it was simply a terrified bird, disoriented by the heavy smoke and intense heat. They shook their heads, sighed, and returned their focus to the unfolding chaos.

Inside the museum, Duncan emerged from a swirling vortex of ghostly green flames, immediately assaulted by the smoke, fire, and intense heat dominating the interior.

Unafraid of the elemental forces surrounding him, Duncan was well-versed in dealing with the supernatural. However, he was acutely aware that his physical body was not invincible. While his soul might remain untouched by the conflagration, his mortal form would be rendered useless if exposed to harsh conditions for too long.

But Duncan hadn’t charged into this perilous environment without a plan. Flames surrounded him, but he knew something crucial about them: they were creatures of obedience.

As he stood in the smoky haze, a faint green flame materialized beneath his feet, seemingly emanating from the ground. It ebbed away almost instantly, but in that fleeting moment, Duncan established an ethereal connection with the flames engulfing the room. Just as he had felt during a previous encounter at a Sun Cult gathering in an abandoned factory basement, he sensed the willing subservience of the flames.

The blistering air currents around him began to shift subtly, no longer obstructing his respiratory system. Breathing easier now, Duncan approached the towering door blocked by an impenetrable wall of orangey-red.

“Step aside,” he commanded softly.

In an awe-inspiring display, the flames parted, retreating like a receding tide. They extinguished behind him, unveiling a corridor filled with dense smoke and smoldering remnants.

Duncan glanced over his shoulder, eyeing the architectural details and signage on the walls. He quickly deduced he had emerged into an office at the periphery of the museum’s main exhibition area. The smoke-filled corridor ahead was likely used by museum staff, leading to the main gallery. Flanking the corridor were stairs or elevators to the upper and lower floors.

Gathering himself, Duncan ventured deeper into the corridor. As he walked, he reached out with his senses, attempting to locate Nina within the labyrinthine building. However, he had to admit the chances of successfully finding her were uncertain.

His psychic capabilities were above average, but he was not an expert in long-range detection of individual presences. He recalled a phrase Goathead once mentioned, “the captain’s intuition is the most accurate guide.” Yet, this level of intuitive, remote sensing was still new territory for him—something he’d read about in tales but never experienced.

The only reason he was attempting it now was he had faintly sensed a familiar aura emanating from the smoldering museum while standing outside in the square. The recognition of that aura had encouraged him to try this unfamiliar skill.

Continuing his cautious advance, Duncan found the flames around him obediently retreated, extinguishing themselves in his wake. He was still unable to pinpoint Nina’s location, but then, he sensed something different.

“Hmm?” he muttered, puzzled.

His eyes narrowed, focusing intently in the direction of his newfound perception. A few steps ahead, under the staircase leading to the lower level, he sensed a “mark” becoming more distinct in his mind’s eye. It pulsed softly yet insistently.

Whoever—or whatever—bore this mark seemed very much alive and animated. Intrigued, Duncan felt a renewed sense of urgency. He knew he needed to investigate quickly.

Duncan’s hesitation lasted but a moment before he propelled himself toward the pulsing mark’s source. As he darted through the corridor, the flames obediently retreated and extinguished themselves in his wake. He descended a creaky, unstable staircase, extending his mystical control over the flames within the farthest reaches his physical form could tolerate. All the while, the enigmatic mark grew increasingly vivid in his mind, accompanied now by a faint, almost ethereal voice.

“…Hands? Ah, these are just minor injuries on my hands. They’ll heal in two or three days…”

“Well, I’ve always been strong…”

“Don’t worry, I’ve blocked the gap in the door, so smoke can’t come in for now… You’re really clever to know about the water room here… Oh, did you look at the floor plan in advance? Did the teacher mention it in class? Safety education… Um… maybe I didn’t pay enough attention, haha…”

“You said you saw Dog just now? You must be mistaken. Where would Dog come from in this place? Haha…”

“… What about the one who’s unconscious here? You don’t know either? Well… at least she’s still alive… It’s alright, we’ll definitely be rescued…”

The voice was unmistakable: Shirley. Duncan recognized the mark as a small “flame” of spiritual energy he had placed on her some time ago. Her voice was transmitted through this mark, echoing directly into his mind.

The familiar aura that had beckoned him from the square had originated from this very mark. Duncan had not intentionally activated the mark, but due to its proximity, he had picked up on its presence.

This was the first time he had employed such a mark, and its properties were still unfamiliar to him. Yet, it appeared more versatile than he’d initially realized, forging a connection through ghost flames that allowed him to tap into distant conversations. While he was intrigued by this newfound capability, another question flickered into his mind: who was Shirley talking to?

…..

Meanwhile, in the cramped, dimly-lit water room, Shirley and Nina had found temporary refuge. The space was sealed tightly enough to hold back the encroaching calamity for the moment. The sink’s faucet offered the comforting sound of rushing water, a small reprieve in this chamber of uncertainty. With the electrical lights inoperative, the only illumination came from the flickering firelight penetrating the window.

Nina crouched next to the water basin, her pulse almost deafening in her ears. Shirley, resilient despite minor burns on her hands, busily inspected the door and window seals to ensure no smoke could enter. Lying a short distance away was another woman. Nina didn’t recognize her but had seen her rendered unconscious by a falling brick during their frantic escape to this sanctuary. Together with Shirley, Nina had helped drag the injured woman into this makeshift haven.

As the two women waited in their dimly lit refuge, their focus was on survival—but outside, Duncan was closing in, guided by the ethereal pulse of the mark he had placed on Shirley. Each beat brought him closer to their location, and perhaps, to an unexpected reunion.

The unconscious woman, lying a few feet away, looked distinctly different from the denizens of the lower district where Nina lived. Her clothing and demeanor suggested she was a lady of some standing from the more affluent areas of the city. But disaster was the great equalizer, Nina thought; in the face of calamity, distinctions of wealth and class were meaningless.

The trickling sound of water from the sink slowed to a dribble, then ceased altogether.

“The main water pump must have stopped,” Nina observed quietly, acutely tuned into the sounds around her. “The fire must be intense by now.”

Shirley, shorter than Nina, walked over and crouched before her. Their eyes met in the gloom.

“Are you scared?” Shirley’s voice was hushed.

“Terrified of fire,” Nina admitted, hugging her knees to her chest, her voice wobbling. “Especially, especially of fire.”

Shirley paused, her eyes flicking downward before meeting Nina’s gaze again. “Truthfully, I’m petrified as well. Fire scares me the most.”

“You don’t seem like it,” Nina shook her head. “You were bustling around so courageously earlier.”

“That’s because I’m scared,” Shirley said, letting herself slump onto the floor. “When I’m that terrified, and if I stop moving, I’m afraid I’ll become paralyzed with fear. Right now, we’re stuck here with nowhere to go, sitting like sitting ducks.”

Nina reached out timidly to touch Shirley’s arm, surprised to feel it trembling.

So she’s genuinely frightened too.

“You swear,” Nina said softly, as if discovering a secret. “I thought you were the perfect, well-mannered student.”

Shirley’s face took on a sheepish, somewhat sardonic expression. “Given the circumstances, there’s no point in putting on a front. I’ve always been like this.” She seemed on the verge of saying something else but then changed her mind. “Never mind.”

She looked towards the door. “What do you think? How long can we last in here?”

Nina looked thoughtful. “I can’t say for certain, but as long as we keep the smoke out, we should be safe for a while. This room seems sturdy enough, and its location at the corner by the staircase should protect it from immediate collapse.”

Shirley nodded and said, “Oh,” as if absorbing this information. After another pause, she asked, “Let’s say, hypothetically, I had a way to get us out of here, but it might be frightening. Would you be willing to try?”

“A way?” Nina looked up, eyes filled with confusion and a spark of hope. “What way?”

Shirley stood as if to explain but then thought better of it and sat back down. “Ah, forget it. Let’s wait for now. It’s not the right time, not the right time yet.”

Nina stared at her, more puzzled than ever. “What do you mean?”

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