Chapter 45: “History”
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The unfolding events as seen from different perspectives were truly captivating—the Vanished drifted aimlessly across the vast, mysterious ocean. Its course was oddly guided by the ceaseless chatter of a goat head, which acted as an unconventional navigator. In another part of the ship, a mysteriously cursed doll known as Alice had started her exploration of the intricate network of cabins within the ship.
At the ship’s helm stood Captain Duncan, a man enshrouded in the aura of mystery, commanding a vessel legendary for its encounters with maritime disasters. Yet, strikingly contrasting with his adventurous seafaring life, Duncan found himself in the serene environment of an antique shop, enjoying a peaceful breakfast with Nina, a young girl purported to be his human niece.
As Nina delightedly ate a slice of cake, she observed Duncan’s reflective gaze and asked with curiosity, “Uncle Duncan, aren’t you going to eat anything?”
Duncan glanced at her plate and inquired, “Is that enough for you?”
Nina quickly assured him, “Yes, it’s best not to eat too many sweets.”
Duncan nodded in agreement and took a bite of his cake, savoring the sweet richness of the honey and the soft, creamy texture of the cake. Yet, what truly astonished him wasn’t the flavor but the revelation that his current body, which he had revived through his ghostly abilities, could taste and digest food. This body, once belonging to Ron whose soul had long departed, now functioned almost like that of any living human, capable of breathing, bleeding, and eating.
However, Duncan wrestled with a troubling thought. He was aware that this body had suffered from a serious, unidentified illness, a fact he discovered through his spiritual possession. The presence of hidden spirits and painkillers in the drawers served as grim reminders of this dire condition.
He wondered if his mystical intervention might have healed the disease or if the body had naturally recovered post-revival by his spiritual essence. Or was it possible that the body’s health was still declining, and he simply remained unaware due to his ghostly detachment?
Lost in these thoughts, Duncan suddenly asked, “Don’t you have school today?”
Nina lived in the economically challenged lower districts of the city but was privileged to receive education funded by the Storm Church and City Hall of the city-state of Pland. She was studying a challenging specialization in steam engines and engineering.
Duncan, who committed to partially financing Nina’s education, with the remainder covered by city scholarships, recalled her thriving academic performance.
“I don’t have classes this morning,” Nina clarified. “I only have history later in the afternoon. Also, I need to inform Mrs. White that I won’t be staying at the dormitory for the next few days…”
As Duncan paused while serving soup, he faced Nina with a concerned expression. “Do you think taking care of someone with my health issues might interfere with different aspects of your life? Wouldn’t it be better for your studies if you stayed at school?” he suggested thoughtfully.
Nina, caught off guard by Duncan’s concern, quickly felt a wave of irritation. “You shouldn’t take your condition so lightly! You’re not terminally ill. Just follow the doctor’s advice and take your medications as prescribed. Remember, my parents entrusted you to my care…”
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Duncan corrected her, “Actually, it was the other way around; they entrusted you to my care when you were just six.”
“But now I’m seventeen,” Nina countered firmly, her expression turning into a pout as she emphatically stabbed the last piece of cake with her fork. “And you are much worse at looking after yourself than I am. If I moved out, I bet it wouldn’t be three days before this place turned into a mess. Plus, I can help out in the store. The windows and floors are filthy; you can barely see through the glass…”
Listening to Nina’s passionate response, Duncan was initially surprised but eventually laughed at her spirited retort.
Nina exuded a warmth and vibrancy, akin to the gentle basking in sunlight.
“Alright, alright. It was just a suggestion,” Duncan conceded with a nod, returning to his soup-stirring. “You have history class this afternoon, right? How are you finding that subject?”
“Uncle Duncan, are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Nina looked at him, surprised. “I’ve never heard you show interest in my schoolwork before.”
Before Duncan could respond, Nina continued, “We’ve been covering ancient history recently. Mr. Morris has been teaching us about the period after the Great Annihilation… It’s really fascinating. The stories from ancient times are captivating, much more interesting than recent history.”
Duncan pondered her enthusiasm and then inquired, “So, you’re enjoying your studies then? What have you learned about the Great Annihilation?”
Despite Duncan’s unusual behavior, Nina chose not to dwell on it too much, simply glad to see him more upbeat than usual.
Nina began sharing with pride, “The Great Annihilation is believed to have occurred about 10,000 years ago. Despite some variations in historical records among the Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs, due to their different calendars, most archaeologists concur that it marked the end of what was known as the Age of Order, precisely ten thousand years back…”
Duncan listened attentively, his mind swirling with questions.
“Elves? Dwarves? Orcs? What exactly happened here? Are there multiple intelligent species in this land? And the elves—are they akin to the ones I’m familiar with? Could there have been another civilization thriving during an era dominated by industrial steam?”
As he pondered these questions, images of exotic, fantastical beings started forming in his mind, creating a vivid tapestry of fantastical possibilities. This reverie was broken by Nina’s voice:
“…The Great Annihilation is described differently across various city-states, yet they all share a common narrative: the era preceding the Great Annihilation, known as the Order Era, was a period of unparalleled prosperity, stability, and security, unlike our present times. Back then, continents covered extensive areas of the world, with significantly less sea coverage than today. There were no ‘reality borders’—artificial boundaries distinguishing land from sea…”
“The era following the Great Annihilation is now termed the ‘Deep Sea Age,’ and it persists to this day, with no apparent end in sight. The predominant feature of the Deep Sea Age is the overwhelming dominance of the oceans, which now engulf almost the entire planet, leaving less than 10% of the land from the previous era. Every surviving city-state is now situated on isolated islands, with sea vessels being the primary mode of communication between these settlements.”
“In the early years of the Deep Sea Age, the remnants of the old world suffered severe devastation, with whole civilizations on the brink of extinction. Among the powers that emerged during this time, the ‘Ancient Kingdom of Crete’ is notably mentioned in historical accounts as the first and most influential. Although it lasted only a century before falling into ruin, its legacy continues to influence future generations. The initial efforts to categorize the anomalies of the world during that era laid the groundwork for our more sophisticated classification systems used today.”
Lol, what a blatant infodump
Lore reveal