Chapter 215 “The Well-Behaved Sun”

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After a prolonged silence, Shirley finally mustered the courage to question the wise old scholar beside her. “So, Old Man, what’s your take on the situation in Pland?”

Looking deep in thought, Morris rubbed his temple before responding, “Honestly, I’m unsure. But I have this inkling that Mr. Duncan might have found a solution to the issue. Yet, I’m at a loss trying to figure out how he did it.” He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the ship’s sails that were blazing and fluttering in the wind. “More than that, however, I’m troubled by our current location. This ship… It reminds me of an old legend, the one about the Vanished.”

Alice, her face radiant with pride, interrupted Morris, “Indeed, this is the legendary ship, the Vanished. Welcome on board!”

Morris, in disbelief, ceased his forehead rubbing, his eyes bulging with astonishment. “Are we truly aboard the Vanished? And what does this mean about Mr. Duncan’s real identity?”

Shirley, trying to hide a smirk, replied teasingly, “Come on, Old Man, put two and two together! He’s clearly the captain. His name is Duncan, after all. Isn’t it obvious?”

He looked at her, astonished. “Did you know about this all along? I was under the impression that you were as new to this ship as I am.”

With a mischievous gleam in her eyes, Shirley responded, “Indeed, it’s my first time on this ship, but not my first time meeting Captain Duncan. I encountered him with my dog a while ago, much earlier than you.”

Morris seemed more perturbed by one detail than the others. “What did you mean by ‘seeing Captain Duncan’s true face’? I would prefer not to witness his true visage again,” Morris murmured, sounding a bit uneasy.

Confused, Shirley pressed, “What did you just say, Old Man?”

“It’s best not to dwell on it,” Morris replied vaguely. “For the sake of one’s own well-being.”

Shirley rolled her eyes. “You and your cryptic ways.” But her playful demeanor changed as she looked around the deck. “But on a more serious note, do you think Nina is alright? She vanished so suddenly earlier.”

Alice, with a soothing tone, tried to calm Shirley’s anxieties. “Rest assured, Nina will be fine. After all, Captain Duncan himself mentioned it’s only temporary.”

Shirley gave Alice a skeptical look, trying to understand her connection to the captain. “How do you know all this? Are you in the know about Nina’s whereabouts?”

Alice just smiled serenely. “Didn’t the captain already advise us not to worry?”

Although she couldn’t find fault with Alice’s statement, Shirley couldn’t shake off the feeling that Alice wasn’t as sharp as she seemed after their conversation.

……

At the rear of the deck, Duncan was engrossed in observing a bright, fiery arc that encircled him. The glow was intense, reminiscent of the sun, not just in appearance but also in its properties.

Upon closer examination, Duncan became entirely convinced that this flaming arc was a fragment of the sun, at least in its physical form. While it displayed explosive characteristics similar to a solar flare, it was the scorching heat it emanated that caught Duncan’s attention most. The energy from this fragment felt even more potent than the Creeping Sun Wheel he had encountered when he once wore a golden mask.

The phenomenon puzzled him. How could a piece of a star detach itself and still retain its form and power? Duncan could only assume that this was a result of the peculiarities of their current universe.

In the same way he couldn’t fathom the reasons behind the cataclysm that ushered in the Deep Sea Age, he chose not to delve deeper into this mystery either. After all, there were more pressing matters at hand.

Taking a deep breath to center himself, Duncan carefully extended his right hand. A faint green flame danced at his fingertip, guiding the fiery arc.

“Nina, let’s try once more,” he encouraged. “Focus on the sensation of ‘returning’ during your transformation. We almost succeeded earlier.”

As he used the green ghost flame to guide, the fiery arc leaped in response. Gradually, the sun fragment began to morph. A burst of golden flame emerged, weaving itself into a humanoid form. But as Nina tried to recognize her transformed state, the newly-formed figure abruptly disintegrated, reverting back into the fiery arc.

Duncan, maintaining his composure, gently said, “Don’t lose hope. Let’s give it another shot.” He continued with an assuring tone, “I’m here for you. If you’ve managed to reform to this extent, it indicates our approach is valid.”

Once more, the fiery arc began its dance, this time forming a clearer silhouette of Nina in its golden flames.

Despite his outward calm, Duncan was fraught with anxiety. They had attempted this transformation multiple times before, and each time it faltered midway. Yet, Duncan held onto the belief that success was possible, especially after the feedback he received from the ghost flame he had embedded within the sun fragment.

Suddenly, the flames erupted, bursting into a radiant display. Through this luminous gateway emerged a young girl, her hair shimmering brilliantly, a sign of their triumph. It was Nina, returned to them.

Nina beamed, her eyes falling upon a man who, though strikingly different from her memories, was unmistakably her “Uncle Duncan.” With a gleam of recognition, she exclaimed, “Uncle, I’ve returned!”

It was only at this moment that Duncan allowed himself a deep exhale, visibly relieved. His evident relaxation seemed to reverberate throughout the ship, the Vanished, as its cables slackened and wooden planks emitted groans.

It felt as though the entire ship was echoing its captain’s emotions, rejoicing in unison.

Trying to regain some order, Duncan uttered, “Calm down,” without pinpointing anyone in particular. Almost magically, the ship instantly settled into silence. He then directed his attention to Nina, an inquisitive look in his eyes, “You still recognize me?”

Nina nodded affirmatively, “Of course, you’re Uncle Duncan.” She paused for a moment, touching her face — a familiar gesture she often made when she felt a mix of embarrassment and puzzlement. “However, I can’t quite explain how I know it’s you. It’s just like that time when you signaled me to come down while I was suspended in the sky.”

She paused again, scrutinizing him with a squint.

He looked nothing like the Uncle Duncan she remembered from the quaint shop back home. Yet, something deep within her resonated with this man standing in front of her, assuring her of his identity.

Seeming to gather his thoughts, Duncan murmured, “That’s a relief. I was pondering over how I would introduce you to this ship and my alternate self.”

Nina swiftly evaded the familiar hand that attempted to tousle her hair as it always had. This version of her uncle towered over her, his build more robust and his hands much larger. The rough texture of his fingers made her scalp tingle.

After a playful scuffle, Nina locked eyes with him, a newfound clarity in her gaze. “So, I essentially have two ‘uncles’, don’t I?”

Duncan held her gaze steadfastly. This confrontation, albeit unexpected at this moment, was not unforeseen. He had always known that a day would come when Nina would piece the puzzle together.

If any entity was potent enough to challenge the aura of “Captain Duncan,” it would be the “sun” – irrespective of its form.

With a calm demeanor, he responded to her probing eyes, “You’ve noticed it?”

Nina nodded slowly, “Mhmm.”

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