Chapter 178 “Friendship”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.com
Duncan intently studied the elderly man’s face, which showed evident signs of distress. Although Duncan wasn’t a medical professional, even he could discern that Morris’s health was faltering.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to get a doctor?” Duncan inquired, his voice laden with genuine concern. “How are you feeling right now? Experiencing any dizziness or nausea? Or perhaps it’s some sort of mental disorientation?”
Yet, to Morris, Duncan’s words weren’t soothing. Instead, they echoed like an overwhelming cacophony. Amidst Duncan’s queries, Morris perceived thousands of overlapped, deafening noises. Overwhelmed and feeling like he was on the verge of sensory overload, Morris managed a feeble nod, murmuring, “I’m alright. I just… need a moment to rest.”
The entity before him, whose true form or origin was a mystery, seemed to be expressing worry for his well-being. But Morris was hesitant to fully trust the exterior of this being. What if beneath this façade there were countless eyes scrutinizing him? Or perhaps a swarm of teeth and tongues waiting to devour him? Could these comforting words truly belong to a human, or might they be eerie whispers from an unknown realm?
Morris had earlier attempted to deactivate his “True Eye”, a special ability gifted to the disciples of the God of Wisdom. This ability allowed them to delve into the supernatural, making it both a precious gift and a treacherous curse. However, once activated, the True Eye wouldn’t deactivate immediately. Morris now understood the peril of this gift, the gravest of all blessings bestowed by the four deities.
With his mind in turmoil, he pondered the consequences of shutting off his True Eye. But, ultimately, what difference would it make given his current disoriented state?
After a moment of contemplative silence, Morris whispered, “I… came here to express my gratitude… for my daughter. I’m indebted to you for your assistance at the museum. She wanted me to…”
Suddenly, he faltered, wrestling with the decision to mention his daughter further. However, after a brief pause, he seemed to gather some resolve. “She’s entrusted me with a letter for you. It’s here, in my pocket.”
Shakily, Morris retrieved a meticulously sealed envelope and handed it to Duncan. Duncan, without hesitation, opened it to discover a heartfelt message and an update on Nina’s mental well-being.
After Nina’s recent hypnotherapy session with Dr. Heidi, a detailed report was promised to be sent over. Duncan carefully read the contents of the letter that was handed over to him by Morris.
“You really don’t have to be so formal,” Duncan remarked after folding the letter and placing it aside. “Helping in such situations is just a natural reaction for me.” He paused, adjusting his tone to a more formal one, “Please convey my gratitude to Dr. Heidi. Nina has shown remarkable improvement since the last treatment. Those peculiar dreams that were troubling her have also subsided.”
Morris, rubbing his temples to alleviate the rising tension, tried his best to avoid direct eye contact with Duncan. “How have you been lately?” he inquired, a hint of caution in his voice.
Duncan seemed taken aback by the unexpected question. “Oh, I’m doing quite well,” he replied, appearing slightly puzzled by Morris’s approach. “I’m in high spirits, full of vitality. Though, I must admit, the dreary weather today is a tad gloomy.”
The weather? Morris was bemused. Could a mere change in atmospheric conditions really affect a deity, possibly of malevolent nature? Was this some kind of twisted humor popular in the ethereal realms?
As Morris grappled with the surrealness of the situation, he felt his cognitive functions slowly returning to normal. He managed to form a sardonic comment in his mind.
From a corner of the room, Nina’s voice broke through, “Uncle, I’ve parked the bike and locked up the store. The winds are picking up. How’s Mr. Morris doing?”
Duncan leaned back in his chair, glancing in the direction of his niece. “He seems better, though he hasn’t pinpointed the exact problem. Why don’t you spend some time with Mr. Morris? I can always send a note to Dr. Heidi later.”
Before Duncan could proceed further, Morris, in a slightly raised voice, interjected, “No, please, don’t inform her. I’m merely experiencing the typical fatigue of age. A short rest will suffice.”
Duncan looked slightly startled by Morris’s vehement response. After a momentary assessment of Morris’s demeanor, he nodded in understanding. “Alright, then. Nina, could you prepare some warm soup? It might just be what Mr. Morris needs to feel better.”
Feeling the tension in the room, Nina exchanged uncertain glances between the two men. Sensing an undercurrent of unease she couldn’t quite articulate, she nevertheless responded obediently, “Sure thing!”
With that, she hurriedly ascended the stairs, her footsteps growing fainter until they disappeared completely.
After Nina’s departure, Morris sensed a marginal decrease in the immense mental strain he was under. The relief, although minor in the face of Duncan’s overpowering presence, allowed him to breathe a bit more easily.
Morris, who had spent a lifetime immersed in historical studies, took a moment to compose himself. “Was my behavior earlier inappropriate?” he finally asked.
Duncan continued observing the older man intently. Initially, he had attributed Morris’s unusual demeanor to some ailment. But now, something about the old historian’s behavior felt eerily familiar. Unable to immediately pinpoint the connection, Duncan responded, “It was a tad unusual. Can you enlighten me about what’s happening?”
After a brief hesitation, Morris replied with a hushed, guarded tone, “In my line of work, we often become attuned to spiritual entities and energies due to our constant interactions with them.”
He was treading carefully, trying to gauge the nature of the mysterious entity before him.
Duncan’s brow furrowed as he absorbed Morris’s words. Then, like a lightning bolt, the realization struck him. Morris’s behavior reminded him of another being he knew: Dog, the shadowy demon hound.
This dark hound possessed a unique gift: the ability to perceive truths beyond the ordinary realm. This uncanny ability made Dog particularly wary and frightened of Duncan. Now, Morris was exhibiting similar signs!
Deducing the implications, Duncan fixed his gaze on the historian, probing deeper, “You’ve seen something you weren’t meant to, haven’t you?”
Morris stiffened, realizing he had been discovered.
However, to his surprise, the anticipated confrontation never materialized. Instead, he felt the overwhelming mental pressure diminish rapidly, becoming almost tolerable, even for someone without the protective blessings of Lahem.
Duncan had orchestrated this sudden change by silently shifting the majority of his consciousness back to the side of the ship, hence diminishing the chaotic effect within the antique store.
“Do you feel better now?” Duncan’s voice, now soft and soothing, pulled Morris from his brief reverie.
Morris hastily looked up, finding Duncan’s form now appearing entirely human, devoid of any menace. Furthermore, from the periphery of his vision, he could see that the environment around them had regained its normalcy.
The tumultuous interplay of light and shadow that had tormented Morris’s vision had vanished. The cacophony that had once overwhelmed his senses now dwindled to a serene hush. The houses that seemed torn apart by unseen forces were now intact, the voracious flames had been extinguished, and the oppressive, writhing darkness had receded. The unsettling sensation that had threatened to push him to the brink of insanity was now easing, and his cognitive clarity was steadily returning.
Staring at Duncan, Morris’s eyes reflected a mixture of amazement and gratitude. Duncan, acknowledging the historian’s state, offered a remorseful nod, “I genuinely didn’t anticipate a human having such an acute perception. Until now, the only being that has ever glimpsed my true form was a shadow demon, and that was due to his unique gift.”
Struggling to regain his composure, Morris replied, his voice shaky, “I feel considerably better now.” He could still sense the residual adrenaline coursing through his veins from their previous exchange. Pushing aside the chaos of emotions, he clung to his newfound lucidity to assess the situation logically. “I never thought I would witness your true form. Years of distancing myself from my beliefs made me rather vulnerable.”
Duncan seemed to overlook the underlying regret in Morris’s words. Instead, the ghostly captain was engrossed in pondering how to navigate this unexpected encounter. He recognized that intimidating Morris like he had done with Dog, wasn’t a feasible or respectful approach.
With a contemplative look, Duncan asked, “What I’m wondering is, how are you able to perceive me in my true essence?”
Caught off guard, Morris hesitated momentarily. Choosing honesty, he replied, “I am a devotee of Lahem, the God of Wisdom.”