Chapter 94 “Nina’s Weird Dream”

This Translation is hosted on bcatranslation.com

The sky cast a darkening veil over the city streets as the sun dipped below the horizon. Inside their cozy home, Duncan and Nina finally found a moment of quiet after a busy day.

Earlier, Mr. Morris had stopped by for a visit, primarily to talk about Nina’s recent troubles at school. Although their conversation had meandered onto different topics, Duncan hadn’t forgotten the primary reason for the visit.

Seated at their dining table on the second floor, Duncan applied butter to a slice of bread as he broached the subject. “Nina, your teacher mentioned you’ve been having a hard time sleeping and that you haven’t been feeling well lately. This has been going on for several days now, hasn’t it?”

Nina’s expression tightened, tinged with both worry and surprise. She had suspected that her teacher might bring up her recent struggles today. But what caught her off guard was that her Uncle Duncan—previously distant—was now genuinely concerned about her well-being. A blend of feelings swirled within her: a newfound warmth from his care and an anxious uncertainty about how to proceed. “Well, I’ve been feeling sort of tired,” she admitted cautiously.

Observing her facial expressions intently, Duncan sighed, “It sounds like Mr. Morris was right. Do you think it’s something physical, or could there be another reason? Remember, if something’s bothering you, it’s okay to talk about it.”

He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Look, I understand that at your age, there may be some things you don’t feel comfortable discussing with an adult. That’s completely understandable. You’re growing up, becoming your own person with your own thoughts and feelings, and that’s something to be respected. But don’t forget, asking for help when you’re struggling is a strength, not a weakness. If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to let me know. We can work through it together.”

The sincerity in Duncan’s voice was palpable. Navigating these unfamiliar waters wasn’t easy for him. Although he’d never had the responsibility of caring for a family member of Nina’s age before, his background in dealing with adolescent students provided him with some insights. He hoped he was striking the right balance between understanding and reliability.

Nina appeared slightly uncomfortable at this unexpected display of concern from her uncle, but internally she felt more grateful than hesitant. Waving her hands as if to dismiss the gravity of the situation, she met his gaze. “Really, Uncle Duncan, I’m okay. I’ve just been feeling unusually sleepy, waking up suddenly in the middle of the night, and sometimes I’ve even been having dreams.”

The word “dreams” struck a chord, and Duncan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Dreams? Are they nightmares? Are they perhaps related to the big fire you experienced as a child?”

Duncan couldn’t help but link her current state to a past traumatic event. It was likely because his own mind had been preoccupied with an old case and the mysterious solar fragments.

But Nina shook her head, dispelling his assumption. “No, it’s not about my childhood.”

“Then what’s troubling you?” Duncan leaned in, his concern deepening, inviting her to share what was weighing on her mind.

“In my dreams, I find myself perched precariously on an unimaginably high structure, something akin to a towering skyscraper that pierces the sky above the city,” Nina began, her words tinged with a slow deliberation as if she was reliving the moments. “The streets below are enveloped in darkness, completely covered in debris, rubble, and ashes. It’s as though the entire city has been ravaged by some cataclysmic event. This scene of destruction starts from the heart of the lower city area and extends outward, crossing intersections and even reaching the more affluent upper districts. It feels like something malevolent is systematically dismantling the city.”

She shook her head, her eyes downcast, “And what’s strange is that nothing specifically horrifying makes an appearance in the dream, no impending dangers, no monsters—just this nightmarish landscape. The whole city appears to be consumed by an unnamed dread, the wreckage laid out like a scar that cuts across the fabric of the community. I feel immobilized, stuck in that high place, restrained by some sort of invisible barrier that prevents me from leaving.”

Nina took a deep breath before continuing, “Every time I wake from this dream, I feel completely drained, both mentally and physically. This exhaustion then trickles into my day, making it difficult for me to stay awake in class.”

Duncan absorbed Nina’s detailed account with intense concentration, his brows furrowed in thought. Her description bore no resemblance to the tragic fire from her childhood or any other catastrophic event that he could remember. Instead, it seemed to conjure an eerie, almost surreal, image of their city, Pland, as if snatched from some alternate timeline or dimension.

On Earth, such a recurring nightmare might be chalked up to stress or psychological factors. However, in their current, unpredictable world where strange phenomena and unexplained memories already clouded their lives, Duncan felt a wave of unsettling apprehension wash over him. First, there had been Nina’s mysterious recollection of a fire that apparently only she and Duncan remembered. Now, these recurring dreams, almost visionary in nature, added another layer of complexity.

“When did these dreams start?” Duncan finally asked, his voice laden with seriousness.

“About a week or two ago, maybe even earlier. It’s hard to pin down exactly when they began,” Nina answered, taking a sip from her bowl of vegetable soup, her voice slightly muffled. “I didn’t give them much thought initially.”

Duncan was on the verge of saying, “You should have mentioned this earlier,” but he caught himself. Back then, Nina’s so-called “uncle” was a feckless man, engrossed in strange cult activities and frequently drowning his sorrows in alcohol. She didn’t have a trustworthy adult figure to confide in. He stifled his initial reaction and redirected his question. “Have you considered speaking with any medical professionals about this, such as a doctor?”

Nina looked up, her eyes meeting his, “A psychiatrist, you mean?”

Duncan nodded, “Yes, exactly—a psychiatrist.”

In their world, the role of psychiatrists was far from trivial. With the ever-present dangers lurking in the darkness of night and the depths of the sea, threats that continuously imperiled the city-states, mental health issues were rampant among the populace. Symptoms ranged from recurring nightmares and hallucinations to more severe cognitive distortions and even personality disorders. Psychiatry had evolved to an incredibly advanced state; the most adept professionals in this field could even employ supernatural techniques to mend fractured psyches and restore mental equilibrium.

Nina’s recurring and emotionally draining dreams certainly seemed like the type of “conditions” that would catch the attention of mental health professionals in their world.

“I haven’t talked to any experts about it,” Nina admitted softly. “Their fees are usually astronomical, and it’s just some strange dreams, nothing more.”

“Still, these dreams are having a tangible impact on your day-to-day life,” Duncan pointed out, his tone suffused with urgency. “Having such recurring, haunting dreams isn’t something to be taken lightly. You’ve had lessons about the importance of mental health at school, haven’t you?”

As he spoke, Duncan was rapidly evaluating his options. Nina’s persistent nightmares were a matter that couldn’t be dismissed lightly. Living in a world where supernatural phenomena weren’t uncommon, taking precautions was absolutely necessary. While he may not be an expert on the subject, Duncan felt the need to consult professionals had never been clearer.

Interestingly, this also gave him a chance to interact with specialized practitioners in this society, to gauge how they dealt with phenomena that could potentially have supernatural roots.

Nina hesitated momentarily but finally seemed persuaded by Duncan’s grave expression. “Alright, how about we visit the community church this weekend and seek a blessing from the Storm Pastor? It’s considerably cheaper, and if that doesn’t work, we can consider visiting a specialized psychiatrist. Does that sound reasonable?”

The notion of a church, a Storm Priest, and the servants of the Storm Goddess Gomona captured Duncan’s attention and piqued his curiosity.

“That sounds like a good plan,” Duncan immediately agreed, nodding his head. “You have plans to visit the museum this weekend, right? When you return, we can make our way to the church.”

“Sounds good to me!”

Following dinner, as was her habit, Nina withdrew to her room earlier than usual. Duncan retreated to his own quarters and found his pet dove, Ai, languidly perched on the windowsill.

The dove had been flying around the entire day and had returned, apparently having discovered nothing noteworthy.

Duncan closed the door and walked over to the window. Upon seeing him, Ai lazily lifted a wing, cooing a lethargic greeting that sounded like, “Exhausted, hurry up…”

“You’ve had a long day,” Duncan said, acknowledging the bird’s tired demeanor. He carefully unfastened the “Cultist Sensor” affixed to Ai’s neck, adding, “Your mission isn’t a simple one. Whoever we’re looking for is buried deep in hiding, especially with the Storm Church keeping such a close watch. It’s making them even more cautious.”

Ai seemed to roll her eyes, fluffed up her feathers, and continued to lie listlessly on the windowsill.

Duncan chuckled at his pet’s antics. “We’ll have to keep at it, but don’t worry. Flying around all day is exhausting; I’ll establish a more balanced work-rest schedule for you in the coming days.”

Duncan had made up his mind to extend his investigation into the presence of cultists in the city into a long-term endeavor. Financial constraints were no longer an issue for him; a significant business deal he had concluded earlier that day had left him comfortably off. While he didn’t need to pursue the cultists to augment his income anymore, he found the quest intrinsically valuable for several reasons.

Firstly, unmasking a high-ranking member among the cultists could provide Duncan with invaluable information. Those at the top of the cult hierarchy were likely to possess deeper insights into the mysterious “Sun,” a subject that had long captivated him. They might also have additional knowledge about the sun fragment that had caused such a stir eleven years ago.

Secondly, a uniquely supernatural young girl with a skeletal hound had recently been causing disturbances within the city-state. This girl had also been a persistent thorn in the side of the sun’s followers. Intrigued by the mysteries of the abyssal deep sea and its associated demonic beings, Duncan was eager to seize any opportunity to talk with her about these topics, especially after his recent conversations with Morris. He was particularly curious about the so-called “starry sky” that was said to loom over the abyssal ocean.

Observing Duncan’s contemplative and resolute expression, Ai, his pet dove, seemed to instinctively understand that its future involved more overwork. Emitting a sound that remarkably resembled a human sigh, Ai vocalized her sentiment.

“Ah,” the bird cooed, the tone replete with a sense of melancholy, “a tragic barrier of never-ending work has been erected between us.”

Duncan looked at Ai, somewhat amazed. “Your vocabulary is impressively extensive for a bird!” he remarked, chuckling at the ironic sophistication of his feathered friend.

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