Chapter 127 “Dinner Together”

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In the room, some subjects were simply too volatile to touch upon when Nina was around. These topics were emotional landmines, and everyone knew it would be unwise to bring them up in her presence.

As Duncan listened intently to Dog’s recounting of the events he’d personally witnessed, a sense of urgency pulsed through him, causing his heart to momentarily skip a beat.

The description of floating ashes haunted her. What did the ashes signify? Inside the factory, obscured by thick drapes that hung from the walls, ashes were dispersed indiscriminately but remained concealed. Ashes were the tangible aftermath of an intense fire; they served as markers of devastation and loss. What then did these ashes strewn around Nina mean? Could they symbolize parts of her life that were irrevocably lost?

Duncan’s eyes shifted towards the staircase that led to the second floor of the house. Nina was up there in the kitchen, absorbed in her cooking tasks. Even from his distant vantage point, he could faintly make out the sounds associated with culinary activity—the clattering of utensils, the sizzling of a pan. The noises radiated a certain exuberance, which seemed incongruous with the grim undertones of the day but perfectly in line with Nina’s optimistic disposition.

Returning his attention to Shirley, who was sitting opposite him, Duncan summarized what had been shared so far. “So, Dog informed you about an individual or entity that was deeply suspicious. That led you to covertly enter the school and start your own investigation, focusing on any evidence that might relate to Nina. Concurrently, you initiated contact with the Suntists who are currently active in the city, hoping to unearth information that could solve the mystery of the devastating fire from eleven years ago,” Duncan recapped.

Shirley nodded softly, affirming his summary. “Yes, that’s correct.”

“You’re not really searching for literal fragments of the sun, are you?” Duncan asked, intrigued.

Shirley scoffed at the idea. “What would be the point of hunting down fragments of the sun? Should I find a fire and interrogate it, asking why it decided to burn what it did? What I’m really seeking is the individual responsible for starting that fire over a decade ago.”

Duncan’s eyes met Shirley’s as he spoke, “This isn’t just any fire we’re talking about. If it’s indeed a fragment of the sun, it has the potential to do far more than just incinerate a factory. Shirley, your quest is dangerous.”

“Frankly, even sitting across from you is risky enough,” Shirley confessed, her gaze dropping.

There was a brief pause before Duncan chuckled, “Fair enough.” He rose from his chair and slowly began to ascend the staircase that led to the second floor. “I’m merely offering some friendly advice. The final judgment rests with you.”

“Hold on,” Shirley sprang up but hesitated. She took a moment, then finally continued, “Your reaction makes me wonder. Were you not previously aware of Nina’s unique situation?”

Stopping in his tracks, Duncan considered her question for a moment. “It seems the body I currently inhabit lacks discerning eyes. I’ve missed some important details.”

“This body?” Shirley quickly grasped the implication of his words but chose not to press further.

As Duncan resumed his climb up the staircase, Shirley asked, “So, what’s your plan now?”

“Plan? I’m heading upstairs to join Nina for dinner,” Duncan said, looking back down at Shirley. “You’re welcome to join us. It is dinnertime, after all.”

Dinner time had finally come, and Shirley found herself awash in a torrent of conflicting emotions as she followed Duncan up the staircase. The question of what it would be like to dine in a home belonging to someone from subspace loomed large in her mind. She felt a mixture of excitement, curiosity, nervousness, and even a little fear. Despite being pretty sure that the meal would be conventional, she couldn’t shake off the possibility that something altogether otherworldly might be presented before her.

This was no ordinary antique shop, after all. It was the dwelling place of an enigmatic figure from subspace, a curious intersection between the mundane reality and a far more cryptic and chaotic realm. Given this backdrop, Shirley thought that even the appearance of a meal prepared by some malevolent cosmic entity wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary.

Yet, when she reached the cozy, slightly cluttered kitchen and took in what was displayed on the dining table, she found that her wild imagination had led her astray. Instead of some arcane or spectral feast, the table was set with rather ordinary fare: freshly reheated crusty bread, a pot of vegetable soup that one could easily find in the less affluent parts of the city, and a tomato-mushroom sauce that smelled inviting but was hardly mysterious.

The star of the spread seemed to be a bowl of fish soup with a creamy broth. The fish within it had been chopped and prepared to such an extent that it was nearly unidentifiable, yet its mouthwatering aroma was enough to stir hunger pangs in Shirley.

“I made this soup from some salted fish leftovers we had,” Nina said brightly to Duncan. Then turning her attention to Shirley, she added, “Uncle Duncan got this fish. You really must try it; it’s wonderful!”

As she took her seat at the table, Shirley couldn’t help but feel slightly disoriented. Her eyes scanned the very normal-looking array of dishes laid out before her. Duncan, noticing her apparent perplexity, chuckled lightly. “What’s the matter? Were you expecting some kind of arcane delicacy? Or is this not to your liking?”

“No, no, it’s actually far better than what I’m used to,” Shirley responded hastily, adding, “I guess I just didn’t expect it to be so… conventional.”

Dog, who had been watching from the side, made an unusual observation. “This fish looks oddly familiar. Why is that?”

Shirley shot him a teasing look. “And what would you know about gourmet food? Aren’t you the one who gnaws on rocks for fun?”

Nina looked genuinely shocked at the revelation. “Mr. Dog doesn’t eat human food?”

“Entities like Dog from ghostly realms generally don’t need to consume human sustenance—they don’t need to eat at all,” Shirley clarified. “Although he does like to chew on rocks or pieces of metal occasionally, mostly to keep his teeth sharp.”

Dog seemed offended at this characterization. “You’re painting me as quite the heartless creature, aren’t you? Have you forgotten the times I scavenged to find food for you? While it’s true I don’t need to eat, I do partake in meals on occasion…”

As Dog leaned in to inspect the bowl of fish soup more closely, he suddenly froze. Whatever words he’d been about to utter halted mid-thought, leaving him speechless. After a moment, he recoiled, hastily pulling away from the table and retreating to his original spot. He sat down with a jolt as if he had seen something so startling it left him momentarily paralyzed.

Shirley noticed Dog’s abrupt change in demeanor and looked at him in confusion. “What’s going on, Dog? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

Dog glanced toward Duncan and met the enigmatic being’s eyes—or rather, the place where eyes would be if Duncan were an ordinary human. Duncan was, in truth, a swirling and almost indescribable maelstrom of light and shadow. His “face” bore a gentle smile. “Do you not enjoy fish?” he asked, seemingly amused.

Shaking his head, Dog experienced a chilling realization. Behind the facade of friendly conversation, welcoming smiles, and seemingly cooperative investigation, there lurked an unfathomable dread. His keen senses alerted him to a horrifying truth: the fish in the soup was no ordinary fish. It was an offspring from the sea, a higher-ranking entity, now chopped up and its essence metamorphosed into ‘food.’ This unsettling revelation unfolded before him on this very dining table.

“I… don’t care for fish,” Dog managed to mutter, his voice tinged with unease.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could still see steam curling up from the hot fish soup, the aroma of which would have been utterly inviting to human senses. Whatever the soup’s original components had been, they were now, unequivocally, “fish.” Its essence had been altered, transmuted into something more mundane. If it weren’t for the specialized vision granted to him by the Nether Lord, even Dog would not have recognized what those finely sliced pieces had once been. Now it was benign food—harmless, even if Shirley were to consume it.

However, Dog made a silent vow to himself: he would never approach that dining table again.

Duncan could not quite pin down the reason for Dog’s extreme reaction to the fish soup but suspected it had to do with the creature’s unique tastes or perhaps deeper sensitivities. Choosing not to delve into it, he shifted his focus to Nina.

Nina appeared her usual self, though Duncan sensed that she was carrying some extra emotional weight. She was a thoughtful child, always considerate of those around her, and chose to manage her feelings in a way that wouldn’t create discomfort for others.

On a separate note, Duncan was becoming increasingly aware that Nina was “concealing” something. The enormous, unseen “veil” that had enshrouded the factory in ashes and secrets seemed to have extended its influence to her as well. While he wasn’t ready to make any definite conclusions about what that ashy aura around Nina symbolized, there was no question that she had occupied an exceedingly unique position during the catastrophic fire that occurred eleven years prior.

The factory, just like Nina, was special in ways that were yet to be fully understood.

Nina, blissfully unaware of the layered complexities and uncertainties that swirled around her, had spent the last eleven years in a state of childlike innocence. She had never questioned her existence or the strange circumstances that seemed to envelop her like a shroud.

“Uncle?” She finally noticed Duncan’s intense gaze fixated on her, which pulled her out of her thoughts. Confused, she looked up at him. “Is something wrong?”

Rather than answering verbally, Duncan extended his hand and tenderly stroked the top of Nina’s head, his fingers lightly grazing her hair.

Feeling the paternal gesture, Nina hesitated briefly before shaking her head dismissively. “I’m not a little kid anymore, you know!”

“I’m well aware that you’re growing up,” Duncan replied, his voice tinged with affection. As his hand moved through her hair, fleeting specks of soft green light flickered in and out of existence around the strands, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. “But in my eyes, you’ll always be a child.”

Somewhat mollified but still wanting to assert her independence, Nina playfully puffed out her cheeks.

“Uncle, are you planning to keep going on these ‘investigations’ with Shirley?” she finally blurted out, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Only within the bounds of safety,” Duncan answered, his tone turning more serious.

“But why can’t you just stay here? Why do you have to go at all?” Nina pressed.

Duncan shook his head gently. “I have my reasons, and they are reasons I can’t ignore.”

Nina pondered his words, silent for a moment as she grappled with the weight of his statement. Finally, she asked softly, “Then what can I do to help?”

“Your role is simple,” Duncan said, his face breaking into a subtle, reassuring smile as he gestured toward the dining table laden with food. “Eat well, sleep soundly, focus on your studies, and take excellent care of yourself. And always remember to trust your Uncle Duncan.”

Feeling a mixture of understanding and acceptance, Nina picked up a piece of the hard bread and stuffed it into her mouth. Her cheeks ballooned out as she chewed thoughtfully on the bread.

After swallowing, she gave Duncan a firm nod, her eyes full of resolve. “Mmm, I understand, Uncle. I’ll do my best.”

Her simple words, imbued with the innocence and trust only a child could muster, served as both an acknowledgment and a promise—a reminder of the simpler things in life that often get lost in the complexities of the adult world.

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