Chapter 53: “Heirs”

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When Duncan returned to his ship, he was taken aback by Alice’s behavior. Alice had the appearance of a lively, playful, yet occasionally perplexing gothic doll. Her recent antics aboard the ship had surpassed all of Duncan’s initial expectations.

Before this, Duncan had perceived Alice as a figure of refined elegance and sophisticated grace, reminiscent of the noblewomen in ancient classical oil paintings. Of course, Alice had her unique quirks, such as relishing the thrill of adrift on the sea in her quaint wooden coffin and indulging in whimsical conversations from time to time. Despite these eccentricities, her overall delightful demeanor usually cast a shadow over her unusual habits. Nevertheless, Duncan was now recognizing that expecting Alice to remain still and decorous like a traditional doll was an unrealistic expectation.

Feeling the tension mounting in the room, Alice looked at Duncan anxiously and said, “Captain, you’re not upset with me, are you? I can explain…”

Duncan, visibly flustered yet sympathetic, responded, “I know you had good intentions, even though things didn’t unfold as planned. However, given nature of this ship, I would appreciate it if you would consult either me or my first mate before undertaking any new projects.”

Alice nodded energetically, fully understanding, and assured, “Understood, Captain. There won’t be any issues, Captain!”

She then turned to her companion, Goathead, and whispered thoughtfully, “Is it even possible for an act of kindness to backfire?”

Goathead replied somberly, “It appears so, now.”

With a mix of resignation and authority, Duncan suggested to Alice, “If you truly want to help, perhaps you could check on the dried fish hanging around the deck or organize the pantry to make space for more kitchen supplies. From time to time, the Vanished might have the opportunity to restock our provisions. However, I must insist that you steer clear of the area with weapons and ammunition below deck. Unlike my first mate, these items do not think; they react impulsively to external stimuli. I would prefer to avoid any accidental explosions from misunderstood threats, nor do I want to find myself sweeping up cannonballs with you using a broom and dustpan.”

Alice quickly recoiled at the warning and promised to steer clear of the dangerous items before hastily leaving the room. Duncan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, amused by the whole situation. Instead of commanding a cold, lifeless ship, he found himself leading a spirited doll who brought unexpected vibrancy to their environment, making the ship feel more like a home.

Goathead, noticing Duncan’s amusement, commented casually, “You seem to be in good spirits, Captain. It looks like you’re holding something… Is that another artifact you’ve picked up on your spiritual journeys, like that ritualistic knife before?”

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Duncan looked down at the sun amulet in his hand and showed it to Goathead. He had left the ghosts of the past behind in his chamber, choosing to examine this intriguing item in a more secluded area of the ship.

Duncan confirmed with a firm nod, “It’s a piece of loot,” referring to it with the same familiarity as a ritualistic knife he had previously acquired.

“Aha!” Goathead exclaimed with evident excitement. “That is exactly what we expect from the illustrious Captain Duncan. You invariably return with treasures, securing artifacts of immense power and historical significance… Wait, is that a sun amulet I see?”

Curious, Duncan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you recognize this piece? Yes, it’s an amulet adorned with the symbol of the sun. It was rather forcefully bestowed upon me by some quite aggressive cult members. I had little choice but to accept their ‘generous’ gift.”

“I… I’m somewhat familiar with it,” Goathead responded, its voice tinged with caution. “The followers who worshiped the ancient sun deemed this artifact sacred. They believed that by crafting metal in the shape of the sun and infusing it with human blood, they could imbue the sun’s power within the engraved runes. According to their legends, they created many magical items of lesser power… This amulet also served as an identifier among the sun’s disciples, enabling them to recognize each other and prevent heretics from infiltrating their ranks…”

“Ah, so it serves to distinguish allies from foes… That’s an interesting function,” Duncan noted, absorbing the information. “Though personally, I find it of little use to me.”

Goathead, now visibly uneasy, shifted its tone, “What became of those aggressive cult members? They were mostly misguided and fanatical zealots. Even the fiercest pirates often hesitated before confronting such individuals, who passionately pursued ancient relics. If they were bold enough to…”

“They are no longer among the living,” Duncan interjected firmly, maintaining his composure as he noted Goathead’s shifting mood. “And from your tone, it seems you also hold a considerable distaste for these self-proclaimed ‘Sun Believers,’ correct?”

Having spent ample time with Goathead, Duncan was well-acquainted with the quirks of his unusual “first mate.” As captain, he felt confident in the unlikelihood of this wooden figure leading a rebellion, thus he maintained a commanding presence.

“Who could feel any affection for these deranged followers of the ancient sun? The ‘light’ and ‘order’ they so fervently worship have long become irrelevant in our times,” Goathead responded in its typical manner. “Everything in our era flourishes under the glow of the current sun — this includes the Vanished, the creatures that inhabit the sea, and all else. Apart from those fervent cultists, no one in this modern age desires the revival of that bygone sun…”

With a touch of emotion, Goathead paused for a moment before continuing, “It’s important to realize that nearly all—about ninety-nine percent—of these cult members were actually victims of brainwashing. They had very little understanding of the beliefs they were so passionately promoting and venerating. They idolized these so-called ‘sun offsprings’ as prophetic saviors, idealizing the ancient civilization these offsprings portrayed as a perfect paradise. However, in my perspective, these sun offsprings barely acknowledged their devoted followers as human beings. Their treatment of their followers resembles how sea creatures treat their offspring.”

Duncan, intrigued by the unfamiliar terminology, asked, “Offsprings of the sun? What exactly are those?” His heart raced with excitement as he fiddled with a sun amulet in his hand, trying to appear composed. “I didn’t come across any during my spiritual journey.”

Goathead explained, “It’s not surprising you didn’t. These sun offsprings avoid revealing their true nature in civilized areas. Even disguised as normal humans, their blasphemous presence would be detected by the vigilant agents of the Storm Church. Essentially, they are merely the last descendants, remnants of an ancient time, who should have remained forgotten in history. Sadly, these individuals are among the most troublesome groups to handle.”

For the first time, Duncan appreciated the chatty nature of Goathead. Although sometimes annoying, it often provided valuable insights.

According to the information he has garnered, there existed a distinct group known as “offsprings” who were generally shunned in civilized society due to their ancient connections.

Although countless worshippers adored the “real sun god,” most were merely naive puppets, their minds warped by ignorance. The puppet masters, the so-called sun offsprings, orchestrated their sinister plans from a secret location, influencing events from a distance. Their goal? To amass power through the ritual of sacrifices.

Importantly, Goathead expressed a deep disdain for these cultists and sun offsprings who orchestrated everything from the shadows.

What did this mean? The conclusion was clear. The Vanished, or more precisely, the actual Captain Duncan, and these self-proclaimed “offsprings” were not allies but likely adversaries.

Reflecting on this information, Duncan felt validated in his decision to share his experiences with the Suntists with Goathead. Without this conversation, he would have remained unaware of this crucial knowledge, which was notably missing from Nina’s textbooks.

While deep in his own musings, Duncan left the captain’s quarters and started a leisurely walk around the ship’s deck.

If Goathead’s claims were accurate, these offsprings were likely remnants from the Era of Order. Just as the land had its sun offsprings, the ocean depths also nurtured their own type of offsprings…

 

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