Chapter 176: “A Warm Family”
This translation is hosted on bcatranslation
Nina was jogging energetically down the neighborhood street, her face beaming with happiness and adorned with a vibrant smile. She was lost in her own world until she spotted the familiar surroundings of Duncan’s antique shop. Noticing her uncle, who seemed deep in thought and seated at the entrance of his cozy, old-world shop, she quickened her pace. Waving energetically, she called out with genuine excitement, “Uncle! I’m back!”
The sound of her voice snapped Duncan out of his reverie. He slowly rose from his seat, his eyes landing on his slightly out-of-breath niece, and he feigned a stern demeanor, asking with playful sarcasm, “Didn’t I give you enough money for a bus ride? Why are you running back from school on foot?”
Nina paused to catch her breath, a touch of guilt evident on her face. After a brief hesitation, she scratched her head sheepishly and started rummaging through her backpack. After what felt like an eternity, she pulled out a small paper packet and presented it to her uncle. “Well, I took a detour to Dr. Albert’s clinic on my way here,” she explained.
With a simple touch, Duncan’s experienced fingers identified the contents as some sort of medication.
Gathering her thoughts, Nina spoke delicately, “Dr. Albert said that even though you’ve quit drinking and are recovering, former habitual drinkers might face health challenges after stopping abruptly. These tablets are meant to help with any potential withdrawal issues. He was optimistic, saying that if you continue on this path, you might not even need your existing medication. But he insisted… you should have a comprehensive medical review soon.”
Duncan paused, taking a moment to absorb her words before carefully placing the packet in a safe spot. Then, with affection evident in his actions, he gently tousled Nina’s hair.
Noticing the contemplative look on Duncan’s face, Nina grew concerned. “Uncle?” she asked anxiously. “Is everything okay? You seem a bit… distant.”
Duncan responded with a gentle chuckle, leaning down to her level. “I’m perfectly fine,” he assured her with a sincere smile. “But do me a favor. Never use your bus fare to buy medication for me. We’re not short on funds, and if you ever need anything, come straight to me.”
Studying her uncle’s face, Nina sensed something had changed but couldn’t quite pinpoint what. After a moment, she nodded in agreement, “Okay…”
Her attention then drifted to the shop’s interior, her expression a mix of eager anticipation and slight nervousness. After a brief pause, she brought up a previous conversation, “You said… after my classes today, you’d teach me how to ride a bicycle, right?”
Duncan glanced skeptically at the increasingly cloudy sky, his eyebrow raised in concern. “The clouds look ominous,” he remarked, noting the signs of an impending storm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts pouring any moment now.”
Nina, clinging hopefully to Duncan’s arm, replied in a hushed tone filled with anticipation, “We’re right by the entrance. If it starts to rain, we can just dash back inside.”
Laughing at her persistence, Duncan playfully rolled his eyes. “Fine. First, put away your backpack, and then I’ll introduce you to the world of cycling. But remember, it’ll be a brief lesson; dinner won’t cook itself.”
“Yay!”
Like a bullet, Nina shot into the antique shop, her excitement palpable. In her haste, she flung her backpack onto the counter and then fumbled as she tried to maneuver a shiny new bicycle from its resting spot. Her attempt was ungraceful, and she struggled with the bike’s frame as she tried to wrangle it out the door. Finally, with some effort, she positioned it before Duncan.
Chuckling, Duncan remarked, “You might want to start by mastering the art of moving the bike without riding it.” Noting Nina’s enthusiasm, he quickly added, “Given that eager look in your eyes, get on the bike. I’ll make sure it stays steady. Get a feel for the pedals and focus on keeping your balance.”
Taking his advice to heart, Nina gripped the handlebars and mounted the bike, emphasizing, “Promise you won’t let go, Uncle! Keep it steady!”
“Trust me,” Duncan replied with a reassuring smile.
A cool, salt-laden breeze swept through the ancient cobblestone streets of the lower city district, sending whirlwinds of autumn leaves and dust spiraling around the aged buildings. The heavy clouds loomed overhead, seemingly ready to unleash their rain but holding back for now.
The clearing before the antique shop echoed with Nina’s mix of thrilled shouts and anxious mutterings, accompanied by the soft jingle of the bike’s bell and Duncan’s intermittent guidance and good-natured jests.
Soon, a classic black sedan rolled into view, stopping gracefully near the shop. Out stepped a distinguished elderly gentleman dressed in a refined tweed coat and holding a walking cane. His head was adorned with a modest bowler hat as he surveyed the surroundings.
From his vantage point, Morris’s eyes settled on the nostalgic facade of the antique shop and the heartwarming scene of the uncle-niece duo navigating the nuances of bicycle riding.
This everyday tableau of life in the city’s older district, with its simple, familial interactions, seemed perfectly ordinary. Even against the backdrop of a somber sky and the chill in the air, the moment radiated warmth and tranquility.
Yet, in this very setting, Heidi had mysteriously expended one of her blessings from the revered God of Wisdom, Lahem, in just half a day—despite being under the watchful eye of a Storm Inquisitor.
Intriguingly, neither Heidi herself nor the vigilant Inquisitor Vanna had sensed anything unusual afterward.
Morris inhaled deeply, trying to calm the slight flutter in his heart rate triggered by the mundane tableau before him. Despite the seemingly innocuous sight of an uncle teaching his niece how to ride a bicycle, there was something that urged caution within him.
Choosing to exercise discretion, he decided not to approach the duo immediately. Instead, he focused on meticulously observing the antique shop from his vantage point. Ideally, he hoped to avoid dragging ordinary people into any unforeseen supernatural occurrences.
Reaching into his coat pocket, Morris retrieved a meticulously crafted monocle suspended from a fine gold chain. One end of this chain was securely anchored inside his pocket, while the other was attached to the ornate frame of the monocle. Ancient Crete symbols and the revered name of the God of Wisdom, Lahem, were carved onto the frame. The lens, clear yet hinting at a gentle luminescence, seemed to beckon him.
Whispering a sacred chant, Morris said, “May wisdom grant me vision unclouded, enlighten my thoughts, reveal to me the concealed, and dispel the shroud of uncertainty,” as he delicately placed the monocle over his eye. He then prepared himself to “unseal” an eye that he had deliberately kept hidden for more than a decade…
A rush of disorientation washed over him, causing Morris to momentarily lower the monocle and inspect it. Intricate symbols and Lahem’s name were engraved around the frame, while a subtle, enigmatic light danced within the lens.
Repeating his prayer, “May wisdom grant me clear sight…” he repositioned the monocle and raised his gaze once more.
Suddenly, a piercingly cold gust of wind arose from the direction of the street, bringing with it muffled, haunting whispers. Acting swiftly, Morris lifted his wrist, revealing a bracelet intricately woven from silk thread, encrusted with eight vibrantly colored gemstones.
The world around him seemed to blur and distance itself. The everyday sounds of bustling streets and the distant chime of church bells became faint, almost as if they belonged to another realm. The only sound dominating Morris’s senses was the resonating heartbeat within him, its cadence echoing loudly. Yet, amidst this auditory whirlwind, a couple of distinct voices rang clear.
“Uncle, please keep it stable! Oh no, it’s leaning… I think I might fall!” A young girl’s voice, a mix of joy and trepidation, called out.
A reassuring male voice, rich with affection and amusement, responded, “I’ve got you; you won’t topple over. Just align the handlebars, push the pedals, and trust the bike. Keep your grip firm, maintain your momentum, and you’ll stay upright.”
The girl’s voice brimmed with determination, “Promise you’ll hold on tight? I’m going to move forward!”
With unwavering support, the man replied, “Go on; remember, I’m right here with you.”
As Morris concentrated on the scene unfolding in front of the antique shop, a chilling, unfamiliar sound reached his ears: the abrasive sound of bone scraping against bone, combined with the strain of tendons being stretched. Along with this eerie noise, he felt an odd shift in his surroundings, as if the world was tilting on its axis. It took a heartbeat for him to discern the cause of the disconcerting sensation.
His neck was methodically turning of its own volition, gradually redirecting his line of sight away from the shop’s facade and towards the open expanse just outside its threshold.
Panic swelled within him, a tidal wave threatening to drown his senses. His intricately crafted wrist bracelet, with its eight luminous stones, seemed to resonate with his alarm, letting out a haunting, low hum. The individual stones grew warm to the touch, attempting, perhaps in vain, to pull him back from the impending brink. While he could grasp that his pre-emptive magical defenses were triggering, his mind seemed trapped in a haze. Unable to gain control over his own body, his neck continued its deliberate turn, dragging his line of sight towards an area he instinctively knew was fraught with danger.
Close them! Shut them! Seal them off!
His mind clamored with desperate pleas, urging him to close his eyes. But the mental commands couldn’t bridge the gap to the muscles that would obey them. Slowly, inexorably, his head turned, and his eyes, which had once been graced with a divine blessing, settled on the source of the mysterious noise.
Before him stood an indescribable maelstrom of frenzied luminescence and writhing shadows. It took the shape of a colossal, distorted human form, its skin resembling the very fabric of the cosmos—covered in a tapestry of stars. The towering figure leaned forward ever so slightly, holding in its grasp what appeared to be… an archway, bursting and swelling with incendiary flames.
A deafening roar reverberated in Morris’s consciousness like the culmination of countless voices crying out in unison. And then, as abruptly as it began, all sound, all sensation, ceased, plunging the world into an oppressive silence.
Great chapter honestly didn’t expect that Nina might have been the sun fragment all along. (She still might not be but it seems like something is going on.)
just keep this in mind, the author doesn’t give a name to character unless they are important. if they got a name, they have a role in the story. his old stories used to call extras #1 extras #2. it was weird as hell lol
…lmao.
I guess, at the very least, you didn’t need to remember the names of random one-off characters.
A heartwarming scene of two bizarre entities interacting with another. I finally caught up and it’s been a fun trip. I enjoy the authors novels.
Also I found the name Bcat oddly familiar till I realised that I read your TL of way of the devil from like 7 years ago. Good to see your still active XD
maybe that is why the sun wanted the usurper of flames to help him…her cause he is her uncle now lol.
it was so blatantly obvious, i feel disappointed now that it was confirmed
That was bizzarly amazing….. can’t help but feel bad for poor moris…. That’s gonna be hard to process
“Matched this dreary mood with the dark clouds looming overhead, it’s giving this neighborhood an ominous and heavy atmosphere. Yet, despite this, the jingling bell and giggling here brought a ray of life to the street.”
Thanks for the chapter! There’s a tense error here with “matched” and “it’s” is a bit awkward here. Instead you could re-word it to something like:
“Matching this dreary mood were the dark clouds looming overhead, giving the neighbourhood an…”
thanks
Quick tip, since I noticed lots & lots of grammatical & spelling errors. Use google docs/email for writing as they identify such mistakes by underlining them as you write.
As a non-native english speaker, I still often make grammatical mistakes and those tools help save some time without having to review it.
Monocle with mystic powers? Boutta give half the readers PTSD
Once I saw “monocle” I did recall my ptsd
Lmao. True. I find it funny thinking we all read lotm.
Thanks for the chap.
So Nina is splitting the sun? I expected it from the moment she told her uncle about her dream, anyway, how interesting. cute scene
Everybody sing a Nina’s a fragment seems to be forgetting that Shirley and Vanna can also see this flame. See if Nina is a fragment because she can see the flame. Then it would apply to the other two girls as well, and I’m going back to the fact that, in one dream, vanna said she saw a living dead people walk while her surroundings were up in flame and the fact that when her uncle looks at her with his ruby he see flames( kinda seems the so called fragment is not just one thing). Shirley was confined to her room with dog killing her that day, and all Nina remembers is her family burning up
This chapter confirmed it though
The monocle can see the true form of Duncan, and Nina’s appearance matches Vanna’s description of the sun fragment.
Speculation befire now though, yea, the only thing special about her was she was surrounded by ash, but a lot of the speculation was that she was dead, not the fragment
yes but he made a good point with the ruby eyed uncle seeing Vanna as an flame as well. Maybe those who remember it are all the sun fragments.
i knew nina was the sun fragment