Deep Sea Embers

As the morning ray gradually illuminated the slumbering giant that was Pland, those who hid in their homes for the night finally began to stir.

Shirley shot open her eyes as soon as she came to. In front were an unfamiliar ceiling, a clean window with light shining through, and a low cabinet next to the bed. Everything was so tidy and cozy that it gave her a sense of surrealness.

She tried to remember what was going on, but the faint aroma of food suddenly hit her nose and caused the girl to freeze – it was coming from the direction of the kitchen. Finally, it clicked in her brain and part of what happened yesterday quickly returned.

Looking around, the gothic girl saw Nina soundly asleep in a weird, awkward position. Normally, it’s only proper to wake the friend up, which she did so by stirring the slumbering maiden. “Nina, get up… it’s time for breakfast.”

Nina responded groggily: “I’m still sleepy… just a little longer…”

Shirley appeared taken aback by the answer and didn’t know how to respond.

It’s been many, many years since someone said something like that to her. As a result, it didn’t click with the orphaned girl that it’s possible to sleep in and not get out of bed when the sun rises.

Out of habit, she slowly climbed out of bed first, then changed into her own clothes while listening to the various movements outside. Make no mistake, Shirley hadn’t forgotten this was a nest of some subspace shadow and his kin. It may look homely, feel warm, and smell oh so good to the nose right now, but it couldn’t be real. Yet, she also couldn’t deny it felt more like a home to her than the one she and Dog lived in….

Exactly then, while Shirley was a little distracted, Nina had jerked awake like a clock and crankily cried out: “AH!! It’s already so late?!”

Swinging her head around after being caught off guard, Shirley watched in awe at how robotic Nina moved. First, the latter glanced at the bright window to confirm the hour, then turned back to ask the standing girl in confusion: “Shirley? How did you…. Oh right, you stayed overnight… Ah, I need to make breakfast…”

But just as quickly as she awoke, Nina suddenly stopped partway through in removing the blanket when she smelled the aroma of food from the kitchen. “Oh, Uncle is making breakfast today… oh right, Uncle has been in good health recently… Ah no! School! I’m going to be late for school!”

Then before she could finish her antics, Nina rushed to her desk and packed her things up for the trip. However, as she did before, Nina jerked to a halt and glanced at the calendar hanging beside the bed: “Oh right, it’s a day off today….”

Without missing a beat, the innocent young maiden spun around and plopped her head right back into the pillow, this time not even bothering to curl back into the blanket this time. “Just two more minutes, two more…”

Shirley watched the whole scene in silence, overwhelmed by the dazzling comedic operation of someone so…. so innocent? From her view, only a sheltered individual could possibly produce such a habit; otherwise, they wouldn’t survive out in the wild. But then as quickly as she assumed Nina wouldn’t pounce up again, the slumbering maiden did it again!

“Ah, I’m awake!”

Shirley: “…?”

“Shirley, what’s the manner?” Nina turned her head and looked at Shirley energetically, “Why are you making that face?”

Shirley: “Uh… do you do this every morning when you’re waking up?”

Nina got all confused: “Huh? What you mean?”

“It’s just…” Shirley gestured around frantically as if the act would help her get the idea through, “you jumped up first, then this, then that, then back again…”

“Oh, that’s because I’m still in a daze when I first wake up in the morning.” Nina somehow magically read through the exaggerated body language and nodded vehemently, “But I’m fully awake now! Oh right, did you sleep well last night? I’m usually a rowdy sleeper, did I disturb you?”

“I….” As soon as Shirley was about to speak, a series of memories suddenly came to her. It’s about the sealed cabin from her childhood, the sound of a dark hound breaking in, and of the incredible adventure she had while exploring the dream world.

A little weird, a little scary, but… also pretty awesome.

“I slept well,” Shirley laughed a little, “actually, I’m a rowdy sleeper too. Dog always said that I will one day tear my bed upside down.”

“Uncle used to say that about me too.” Nina swiftly changed into her day clothes and led her friend out of the room with a yawn, “Let’s go eat first, I’m a little hungry.”

As hesitant as she was, Shirley got dragged out the door in confusion and finally met with Duncan inside the small kitchen. The man was wiping down the table in an apron, which gave quite a refreshing look to the ghost captain.

“Mr. Duncan….” Shirley once again grew a little nervous. Although she saw it with her own eyes of how the man saved her in that dream world, it was still difficult to remain calm. Hanging her head while trying to suppress the tension in her muscles: “Good morning.”

Just like the big boss ordered, treat this place as an ordinary home and behave like a normal guest.

“What are we eating Uncle?” Nina was already walking towards the kitchen table with a drooling face, “It smells so good!”

“I fried some sausages that I bought yesterday,” Duncan said casually, then pressed Nina’s head to turn her around for the bathroom, “First wash your face and hands!”

Immediately after that, he turned to face Shirley and stabbed his waist like a nanny: “You too Shirley. Don’t stand there in a daze. Hurry and wash up for breakfast!”

Shirley froze like a clueless doll but quickly followed Nina’s footsteps for the morning ritual. After returning by herself first, the gothic girl even made sure to spread her hands out as evidence: “…I washed them.”

After saying that, the girl instantly flushed up with embarrassment due to how silly the gesture was. As a person that’s about to become a full-fledged adult, her behavior was no different than that of a little child being lectured by a parent. Something must’ve broken inside that brain of hers last night, otherwise she wouldn’t have done this. Shirley was sure of that!

But Duncan didn’t care and just nodded. Then walking back to the stovetop, he casually asked: “How did you sleep?”

Shirley lowered her head again: “Umm, it’s okay… better than before.”

“Did the injuries in the dream affect reality?” Duncan asked again.

Shirley was stunned, but then quickly understood the meaning behind it. The whiplash from the umbrella monster left quite the impression, which she checked by raising her left arm with a faint scar!

Due to the strong self-healing ability, the scar had almost healed by this time. It didn’t hurt or tingle in the slightest, but there’s no doubt the injury from the dreamworld had crossed over!

Duncan didn’t miss this of course. Once he confirmed there was indeed a mark on Shirley’s arm, his gaze deepened with a glint of severity.

An abnormal phenomenon, but not beyond expectations.

That weird dream… is not just any dream.

“It seems my speculation is right. If you’re injured in that dream, it will also affect your real body outside.” Duncan deepened his voice to get the point through, “In the future, do not explore that world on your own without me. Your combat power is strong but ineffective against that splintering monster.”

Shirley quickly nodded: “Mmm, I got it.”

Duncan then added after a brief thought, “Also, if you’re stuck in that nightmare again, you can call me directly.”

Shirley froze for a moment as if unable to process the message: “Call you?”

“Call my name,” Duncan said lightly, “or call the Vanished – preferably next to a medium with reflecting properties like glass or mirror. I can hear you better that way.”

“Are you… intending to make me your kin?” She raised her eyes and asked nervously after getting an alarming cry from Dog through the connection they shared.

“I don’t know what kin you are referring to, nor do I intend to offer such a request. However, you are Nina’s friend and acting alongside me now, so this is my way of looking out for you.”

Shirley took a breath but did not dare to answer rashly. Exactly then, Nina’s cheerful voice had come through the kitchen door: “What are you two talking about?”

“You don’t have to answer me now,” Duncan whispered to Shirley, then glanced up at Nina, “how come it took you so long to wash up?”

“I couldn’t get the eye poop out of the corner of my eye.” Nina rubbed her eyes, “It hurts a little….”

“Drink more water in the following days,” Duncan spread his hands helplessly at the girl’s antics, “by the way, did you happen to dream again last night? The one where you’re overlooking the fire at night?”

“No,” Nina thought for a moment and shook her head, “but I did dream about my tummy getting pressed by a horse, then a cow. How come you’re asking me this Uncle?”

“Nothing much. I’m only asking because the psychiatrist is coming to visit today,” Duncan shook his head, putting away his thoughts for now, “Let’s eat.”