Chapter 51: “Double Trouble”
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Throughout history, numerous transformative events have reshaped the world, but none were as significant as the “Great Annihilation.” This cataclysm altered not only societal structures but the very laws that governed existence. The period before this event is known as the Era of Order—a time so drastically different from the present that it seemed almost alien.
Documents from the Era of Order are fragmented and incomplete, making it incredibly challenging to reconstruct a clear and comprehensive picture of that era. Despite extensive efforts by scholars, the surviving records are entangled in such chaos that distinguishing historical facts from myths is nearly impossible. As a result, their understanding of the world during the Era of Order remains vague and elusive.
However, a significant amount of historical knowledge has been preserved, particularly from the ancient Kingdom of Crete. The records from this kingdom have survived relatively intact, offering invaluable insights into their past. The enduring civilizations, ranging from small city-states to vast empires, highlight human resilience and adaptability. Scholars credit this continuity to a miraculous event: the appearance of Vision 001 – Sun.
Vision 001 profoundly influenced humanity. Its constant presence and impressive size sparked debates among intellectuals regarding its nature—whether it was a fleeting vision or a real celestial body. The people of the Kingdom of Crete named it Vision 001, and the name has persisted.
Interestingly, not all visions were detrimental. Vision 001 was beneficial, its light dispelling dangers from the sea for half of each day, leading to a time of prosperity for civilizations.
The ancient texts from the Kingdom of Crete describe the conditions before Vision 001’s appearance and the onset of the Deep Sea Age. These writings depict a world shrouded in perpetual darkness, illuminated only by a faint glow from above by the fissuring scar that was known as the “World’s Creation.” Due to this eternal night, the ancient Kingdom of Crete was also known as the Kingdom of Eternal Night, reflecting the severe conditions its people faced.
In the present, Duncan, a curious man, stood by a narrow window, gazing out at a sunlit world, deep in thought about the past.
He pondered the nature of the world before the catastrophic Great Annihilation. Did the sun shine brilliantly across the world during the Era of Order? Despite the inconsistencies in historical records from various ancient city-states, there was a consensus that the Era of Order was characterized by safety, prosperity, and abundant sunlight. However, that era of limitless light has long passed. Today, Vision 001 serves as the primary source of light, illuminating the vast ocean during the day and effectively acting as the world’s sun.
This has led to widespread disdain for the followers of the Black Sun cult, who blasphemously regard this “false sun” as profane. Their rejection of humanity’s sole source of light is seen as a direct threat to civilization, leading to societal ostracism.
The followers of the Black Sun are, in many ways, victims of the relentless passage of time. Under different circumstances, their beliefs and actions might have been viewed more sympathetically.
Despite feeling a hint of sympathy, Duncan believed that their goals were fundamentally unachievable. He was convinced that no sacrifice could create a fusion star in this world, a belief reinforced by the fact that he had never seen a star in the night sky, suggesting their world was isolated from what he knew as outer space.
With these thoughts, Duncan returned to the privacy of his room. Upon entering, he closed the door and called his companion, a dove from its perch. Ai quickly landed on his shoulder and chirped, “Who is summoning the fleet?”
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Instead of dismissing the bird’s question, Duncan walked to his bed where he had hidden a sun amulet. After a moment of reflection, he opened a drawer filled with various spirits. He selected two bottles, each tagged with a note at the bottom.
One note, in Nina’s familiar handwriting, simply said, “Drink less.” It was an old affectionate warning that hadn’t stopped the real Ron’s drinking habits and was unlikely to influence Duncan either. Duncan smiled softly at the memory.
He then addressed Ai again, presenting the items he had collected. “If possible, try to deliver these to the Vanished,” he instructed.
Ai responded with a burst of wing flapping and a cheerful chirp, “Fedex free shipping!”
After acknowledging Ai’s spirited reply with a nod, Duncan prepared mentally for his next adventure. He had been away from the Vanished for some time, and while he didn’t expect any issues during his absence, as the ship’s captain, he knew he couldn’t keep isolating himself in his room.
Additionally, his commitments in the city were minimal at the moment. Nina was at school for the day and planned to stay overnight at her dormitory again, providing Duncan the perfect opportunity to test his theories about transporting items through the spirit realm and managing his dual existences simultaneously—ideas born from his unique experiences.
Resolving to proceed, Duncan took a deep breath. Ethereal green flames flickered around his shoulder as Ai transformed into her spectral bird form and opened the lid of the compass around her neck.
Duncan was immediately enveloped in twinkling starlight, igniting familiar sensations within him. It felt like he was traveling through a tunnel formed within his own mind, his thoughts propelling him toward his intended destination. Almost instantly, his consciousness transferred to the Vanished, specifically to the captain’s quarters.
Upon partially reconnecting with his body aboard the Vanished, Duncan ingeniously used his ghostly fire as a metaphorical “brake,” intentionally leaving a fragment of his consciousness in his physical body back at the antique shop.
Meanwhile, aboard the Vanished, Duncan’s physical form began to stir within the captain’s bedroom. His eyes fluttered open, taking in the familiar surroundings. The usual decor of the ship and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the hull surrounded him.
Feeling reconnected with his other physical form, Duncan realized he was experiencing the sensations of two distinct bodies simultaneously!
A smile of triumph spread across his face as his hypothesis was confirmed. He could indeed split his focus and remotely control his second body using just a single stream of consciousness.
Eager to further test this newfound ability, he wasted no time in experimenting.
Back in the city-state of Pland, within his antique shop, the body that had previously lain motionless suddenly jerked into action. Duncan’s face, though rigid and zombie-like, managed to control his limbs, albeit clumsily, resembling the movements of a rusty automaton.
Had any bystander seen this bizarre scene, they would have been terrified, likely rushing to call the city’s sheriff’s department to report a man seemingly possessed by dark forces. And their suspicions would not be entirely unfounded.
Navigating his remotely controlled body across the shop proved challenging for Duncan. However, after several attempts, he successfully positioned his other body on the bedside.
But just as he was adjusting to the visual input from his remote location, the mental image abruptly spun out of control, indicating that his remote body had toppled to the floor…
With a sigh of resignation, Duncan recognized that mastering this newly uncovered skill would require considerably more practice.
Does a ghost need to sleep? If not, why not return to the ship every night and go back to Pland every morning?
Love to see some actually unique worldbuilding.
About changing both the writings and the minds of others, for another day, better. I suppose it’s the same reason why a modern-day professor can look at a human slaughterhouse without flinching.