Chapter 15: “Contacting the Flame”
After taking command of the Vanished, Duncan truly exerted control, developing an unprecedented ability to detect any movement aboard. Yet, he remained cautiously vigilant. He instructed Goathead, his first mate, to monitor the activities of the “cursed doll” entity closely.
Duncan was aware of his limitations. Despite his skills in many areas, mysticism and the supernatural eluded him. The idea of a walking, talking doll named Alice, whose words and actions seemed harmless, was beyond his comprehension. Nonetheless, Duncan refused to overlook the possible hidden “influence” that Alice might possess.
Goathead, with his deeper knowledge and expertise, held an advantage in this regard. Duncan also recognized that he couldn’t oversee the Vanished at all times. Committed to navigating “this side” of the world, he sometimes needed to return to the “other side” through the mystical gateway, which could limit his awareness of the ship’s happenings.
This concern subtly shifted Duncan’s focus. His gaze stealthily moved towards Goathead, who sat at the edge of the navigation table, returning his glance with a vacant, emotionless stare.
A wave of apprehension began to rise in Duncan’s mind. What happened on the Vanished when he was away in his isolated apartment on the “other side”? Had Goathead observed anything unusual during his absence? These doubts made him distinctly uneasy. Yet, under Goathead’s empty stare, he managed to conceal his concerns, instead subtly shifting some of his attention to Alice.
Duncan had no interest in spying, even on a so-called “non-human entity.” He maintained only a basic awareness of the activities below deck. However, through his symbiotic link with the Vanished, he could ascertain Alice’s location and whether she was attempting any potentially dangerous actions.
Beneath the doll lady’s innocent, elegant facade was the undeniable presence of a cursed doll, known and feared as “Anomaly 099” by the ordinary people of this world.
She had settled into her room, likely familiarizing herself with the environment and setting up a comfortable resting place.
Upon realizing this, Duncan let out a small sigh of relief. Suddenly, Goathead broke the silence. “Captain, what are your plans next? If you’re feeling bored, your loyal…”
“Silence,” Duncan interrupted him sharply. He glanced briefly at Goathead before placing his hands on the edge of the navigation table. With a simple shift in his thoughts, he once again felt the comforting sensation of holding the ship’s wheel. The green flames, his ethereal companions, resumed their water-like flow in his heart.
Within this engulfing inferno, Duncan’s physical form transformed, morphing into a spectral entity once more. A surge of radiant, flowing fire followed, spreading like a river across the navigation table. It then spilled out of the captain’s cabin, climbing up the upper deck, ascending the mast, and weaving through the ship’s rigging. The ethereal blaze animated the sail atop the mast, causing it to swell and flutter in the breeze.
The main, side, and mizzen sails adjusted their angles in response to the sea wind, capturing its energy. This resulted in a gentle acceleration of the massive three-masted ship across the vast expanse of the sea. Duncan’s gaze settled on the nautical chart before him. As expected, the whitish mist that obscured the chart transformed instantly, revealing the silhouette of the Vanished in motion as the surrounding fog dissipated.
After a brief moment of reflection, Duncan focused on the chart. A spectral green flame enveloped the navigation table, acting as a conduit for the captain’s will, a tangible extension of Duncan himself. In this subtle “link,” Duncan began to perceive the faint glimmers of the secrets contained within this manifestly supernatural artifact—the nautical chart.
With a mere flicker of his thoughts, the silhouette of the Vanished on the chart expanded slightly, only to shrink back to its original size almost immediately.
Duncan was captivated by the scenes that the “magnified” chart revealed. This whimsical action was fruitful—though currently, irrespective of the zoom level, the edges of the chart remained enshrouded in fog. However, at that moment, Duncan felt confident that the chart had the capability to record and display every inch of the ocean that the Vanished navigated in real-time.
Under Goathead’s empty gaze, Duncan’s expression remained impassive, perfectly reflecting the demeanor of a seasoned captain absorbed in studying the chart. Yet, a subtle wave of excitement was building within him.
His gaze wandered over the flames spiraling from his body while his mind processed the condition of the Vanished and the changes on the nautical chart.
Indeed, this ghostly green flame held the key to controlling the Vanished, along with many other oddities aboard the ship. Could it be that this was the power bestowed upon a “Captain”?
As Duncan reflected on the strength of the flame, he realized that to effectively command the ship and survive in this alien world, he needed a deep understanding of his capabilities.
His immediate task was to master the power within the flame.
In response to Goathead’s earlier question about “plans for the future”…
Duncan observed the slowly transforming chart before him and the dissipating mist around the silhouette of the Vanished. His plan was simple.
Given his limited knowledge of this world and the entire map being obscured by impenetrable fog, Duncan logically needed to explore first. After all, sailing is essentially an adventure into the unknown.
Furthermore, the local inhabitants saw “Captain Duncan” as a formidable figure, akin to a world boss, freely roaming the wilderness. His reputation would remain the same, regardless of whether he chose to stay at sea on the Vanished or not.
Regarding the potential dangers of aimlessly traveling the open sea, Duncan was confident these risks were manageable. Before he took command, the ship had drifted without direction. The Vanished had never been anchored or docked, so what “additional risks” could there be?
Compared to its previous state of aimless drifting, actively sailing with the sails raised at least had the benefit of clearing the fog on the nautical chart. This marked an end to the passive state of being enveloped in an endless foggy haze.
Rising from his seat behind the navigation table, the green flames enveloping Duncan gradually diminished. Yet, in his perception, the spectral flame sail on the mast of the Vanished continued, with some green fires still clinging to the mast and rigging, executing the captain’s will.
Drawing from his earlier experience “steering,” Duncan began to develop a vague understanding.
Although the ship had only raised its spectral flame sail after he assumed command, both the grand scale of the sails and the multitude of automated operations on the ship didn’t rely solely on the captain’s power. This ghost ship drew from its own source of power.
While Duncan had yet to determine what the “energy source” powering the ship was, it was clear that as the captain, he was required to simply “issue commands” to the ship.
The ship, in turn, would dutifully execute the captain’s directives.
Duncan moved away from the navigation table, his gaze shifting toward the small door in the furthest corner of the captain’s quarters. This door led to his private sleeping chamber, which had served as a sanctuary during the initial days of exploring the ship.
At present, he needed a tranquil environment to diligently study the capabilities he possessed as the captain of the Vanished.
However, before he could do that, someone needed to keep a watchful eye on the ship, now in full sail.
His gaze landed on the wooden goat head perched at the edge of the navigation table. In a tone that brooked no argument, he commanded, “You, take the helm.”
“Huh?” Goathead sounded momentarily stunned and somewhat surprised. “But, Captain, you…”
“I have things to attend to. Do not disturb me during this time.” Duncan seemed completely indifferent to whatever Goathead was about to say. He simply issued the order naturally. Meanwhile, through his other perception, the information conveyed by the green flames spreading along the deck outside the cabin, he could clearly see the various connections hidden within the depths of the ship.
Masts, rigging, sails, rudder, cannons…
Everything was invisibly linked as if a network of nerves or blood vessels ran through the ship, and all these “connections” ultimately converged in the captain’s quarters where Goathead was subtly connected to all of this.
Perhaps this mysterious and eerie goat head was the Vanished itself? Or maybe it was some kind of “control mechanism” used to take control of the entire ship in emergency situations?
Duncan was not the builder of this ship and naturally didn’t know its operating principles. However, he believed that if he were the true Captain Duncan, he would undoubtedly know what Goathead was capable of.
On the other hand, Goathead, who always claimed to be the “first mate,” should naturally be able to take the helm in situations that called for it, replacing the captain.
Duncan needed to take a little risk and make some arrangements he had never done before, but as a true captain, he had to be aware of and make the necessary arrangements.
After all, even a captain needed to rest.
One second later, Goathead emitted a cheerful and boisterous voice, “Ah, very well, Captain. Rest assured, you go ahead and be busy. Your loyal…”
Duncan paid no attention, merely waving his hand casually and turning to walk into his private quarters located deep within the captain’s quarters, closing the door behind him.
I mean he dunnid to shut him up all the time since he might reveal more information lol. Thanks for the chapter!
My thought exactly.
I’m getting LOTM vibes from this novel. But Klein seemed much smarter than this guy.
Thanks for the chapter!
Can you remove the Fixed Header? It’s really annoying when reading
no can do, it’s precoded into the website theme. im assuming youre on a ipad or phone. try using the reader mode if you’re on iphone to get rid of it
Thanks for the chapter
Tbh i think duncan should let goat head talk more since he would probably yap a lot of information about this world if he is allowed to talk.
I think he should listen to whatever that goat head talk. I’m starting to get annoyed since he always says shut up. If he’s a bit smarter or sly and more importantly patient, maybe he can squeeze out some information from that goat head.
Oh god, please let that goat head talk, and ask it the questions. Don’t just tell it to shut up, you idiot MC
Duncan feels like a contradictory mess. The author really wants us to think he’s smart and shit, but he feels so very idiotic half the time. The other POVs of him feel so much more interesting, but once we get into his head, he’s self sabotaging and doesn’t seem to recognize, or at least think deeply, about the supernatural existence that is himself. And how, yeah, he’s very much a cursed archetype himself.