In the elegant and formal dining room on the upper deck, Duncan and Lucretia sat close to each other, both wearing stern expressions. Across from them, the two headswappers who had just reversed their earlier head-switching experiment faced them. Luni seemed anxious and uncomfortable, her eyes shifting nervously, while Alice radiated a natural brightness and appeared almost regretful that their unusual adventure was over.
A deep silence had settled over the room until Duncan, unable to stand it any longer, initiated a conversation with a simple question: âEnjoying yourselves?â
At this, Luni looked down at the floor and started twisting her fingers together nervously, clearly embarrassed. In contrast, Alice responded with an enthusiastic nod, her eyes sparkling with excitement. âIt was fun, Captain! You donât understand, our neck joints are the same size, it was like they were meant to switch!â
Duncan twitched slightly at Aliceâs remark, his reaction more to Luniâs anxious behavior, which strangely reminded him of something. He turned to Lucretia, whom he affectionately referred to as the âSea Witch,â and asked with a curious tone, âWhen you were a child and found yourself in trouble, did you also fiddle with your fingers like that?â
Lucretia, taken aback by the shift in the conversation, widened her eyes slightly, a mix of surprise and nostalgia flashing across her face. âUh⊠That was when I was very youngâŠâ She stammered, her severe demeanor briefly faltering, âYou⊠You remember that?â
Duncan shook his head slightly, a subtle smile appearing on his lips. âNot really, but it seems like a familiar gesture,â he confessed before clearing his throat and redirecting his attention to the two adventurers. âSo, who came up with the idea for this escapade?â
Both Luni and Alice spoke up at the same time, their voices blending in a guilty but spirited confession: âShirley!â
Duncan frowned in confusion, â?â
As the scene unfolded, the atmosphere in the dining room remained tense. Duncan and Lucretia continued to look serious, but now, in addition to the headswappers, Shirley had been called to join the group. Seated across from the captain and Lucretia, she was joined by Dog, who lay on the floor next to her. Dog seemed to wrestle with guilt, muttering, âDonât look at me, itâs not my fault, I tried to stop them but couldnâtâŠâ
Duncan gave a brief, sharp glance at the mumbling Dog before focusing intently on Shirley. He remembered her past mischiefs, like convincing Alice to pour super glue into her neck, and he sighed internally, aware of the need to be constantly vigilant around this troublemaker.
âYou had nothing better to do than give them such reckless ideas,â Duncan sighed, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at Shirley, who braced for a scolding. âWeâre navigating through the spirit realm; this isnât like being on solid ground. If they had become disoriented and fallen into the sea, would you have taken responsibility for retrieving them?â
Shirley looked contrite and ready for her reprimand, but then her eyes lit up mischievously at Duncanâs words. âSo, does that mean we can do it on land?!â she asked, hope in her voice.
Duncan, exasperated, responded, âDo you even listen to yourself?â
Shirley smiled sheepishly, then her expression shifted to a cunning grin as she leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. âYou canât really blame me, Captain. Think about it, when you first saw them like that, didnât you find it intriguing? Two dolls capable of detaching their heads, with compatible joints. Itâs about exploration, isnât it? According to Morrisâs philosophy⊠Donât you have a bit of curiosity yourself?â
Her words, teetering between temptation and curiosity, hung in the air like an enticing whisper from another dimension. Duncan felt a twitch in his eyebrows, a sign of his internal conflict, but before he could articulate his thoughts, a soft murmur beside him broke the silence: âIt does make some senseâŠâ
Duncanâs face displayed a complex mix of emotions as he turned toward the source of the murmurâLucretia, who seemed slightly embarrassed by her own admission, quickly tried to backtrack: âOf course, such behavior isnât commendable. Experiments must be conducted with caution and safety in mindâŠâ
Despite a brief moment of amusement, Duncan quickly composed himself and sternly addressed the two headswappers with a fatherly tone, âDonât play like this anymore, at least not on the shipâitâs unsafe. Got it?â
Their responses were swift and respectful: âAye, Captain!â âYes, Old Master.â
He then turned to Shirley, his voice softer yet still authoritative, âYou go back to your room. If you donât want to do homework, you can read a book, even a picture book,â he instructed, waving Shirley off as he added, âWeâre about to leave the spirit realm and enter the Eternal Veil. Donât cause any more trouble before then.â
Subdued but compliant, Shirley nodded, âOh, alright, CaptainâŠâ
As the dining room settled back into calm, Shirley and Dog exited. Left behind, Alice gently pulled Luni to a corner of the room where they began to whisper and chat about their recent adventure, thankfully each with their own head properly attached.
Duncan watched them leave, letting out a sigh. Despite the burden of responsibility, a strange sense of contentment settled in his heart, reminiscent of feelings he hadnât experienced since the events at Wind Harbor.
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But then, Lucretiaâs slightly anxious voice interrupted his contemplation, âAre you⊠angry?â
Duncan replied nonchalantly, still looking off into the distance, âWhy do you say that?â
ââŠWeâre about to head to the border to investigate the cultistsâ holy site. Itâs a dangerous and serious matter, and Luni is causing trouble at this timeâŠâ Her voice trailed off, incomplete.
Interrupting with a thoughtful question, Duncan asked, âIs that what you were like as a child?â đŁđŻđđąđđąđđđđłđąđ.đ đđȘ
Caught off guard, Lucretia faltered, ââŠPardon?â
âLuni,â Duncan raised his hand, gesturing towards the automaton chatting animatedly with Alice in the corner, âWas that what you were like in terms of personality when you were a child?â
Lucretia hesitated, her expression contemplative and slightly pained, as she softly confessed, âLuni was the first doll I made. I⊠sealed some parts of my soul that tend to make me err in her. Most of the time, these sealed parts donât affect her functioning, but occasionally, they might cause her to behave strangely.â
âSo most of the time, Luni appears calm and reliable, but when sheâs with Alice, she becomes lively?â
ââŠYes, it seems that leads her to make mistakesâat least it increases the likelihood.â
Duncan turned his gaze back to Lucretia, his expression thoughtful and probing: âIs this level of âmistakeâ really a problem?â
Lucretia remained silent for a few moments, the weight of the conversation pressing down on her. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she acknowledged the harsh reality of their situation: âOn the border region, mistakes can easily lead to death.â
Duncan absorbed her words in silence, his gaze lingering on the distant figures of the two dolls engaged in lively conversation. Time seemed to slow as he contemplated their innocent interaction. Finally, he offered a gentle reassurance, âWhen youâre with me, itâs okay to make mistakes.â
Lucretia appeared momentarily taken aback by his words. She opened her mouth as though to respond, then closed it again without speaking. Instead, her eyes drifted to follow Duncanâs gaze. Alice was enthusiastically explaining some quirky feature of the ship to Luni, who listened with evident fascination. It was a rare sight; Alice didnât usually share her thoughts so openly, and Luni, as the First Mate and the so-called Sea Witchâs servant aboard the Bright Star, likely had few opportunities to engage so freely with another like herself. The scene before them was one of unexpected camaraderie and understanding.
As they watched, Duncanâs mind wandered to a task he had long postponed. âOh, thereâs something Iâve been putting offâŠâ he mused aloud. With a casual wave of his hand, Ai, who had been quietly enjoying her fries at another table, disappeared from sight. In her place, a swirling green fire ring materialized beside Duncan. He reached into the ring with a practiced motion and withdrew an object, placing it on the table before him.
Lucretia turned her attention to the newly revealed item, a beautifully crafted wooden box about seventy centimeters in length, unassuming yet clearly made with great skill. As she observed it, a sense of warmth and familiarity, long forgotten, began to emanate from the box.
âThis is Nilu,â Duncan announced as he opened the wooden box. Inside lay a delicate third-sized doll, which he presented to Lucretia with a sense of ceremony and nostalgia. âI said a long time ago that I would give this to you, but Iâve been too caught up with other matters. Now, seeing Alice and Luni together⊠take it, consider it a reunion for the âsisters.'â
Lucretiaâs expression changed, a mix of emotions playing across her face as she carefully lifted the doll named âNiluâ from the box and placed her on the table, leaning her against the box as if to give her a moment to acclimate to her new surroundings. Her mind traveled back in time, carried on the currents of memoryâ
She recalled a distant afternoon, the air filled with the delicate tinkling of wind chimes. She and her brother had walked into a doll shop, where, in the display window, Luni and Nilu sat bathed in the warm glow of sunlight, their delicate hair and dresses shimmering. At that time, she could only choose one to take home.
That memory, one of the few warm moments from her childhood, was from a time when the âsunâ was taken for granted, a constant presence that would surely rise again the next day.
Momentarily disoriented, Lucretia regained her focus and noticed the tiny doll that had been propped against the box on the table. It slowly turned its head in a rather eerie manner, its face breaking into a vacant smile that sent a chill down her spine.
Regaining her composure, Lucretia observed the doll more closely. It remained in a peaceful position on the table, its head cocked to one side as if listening intently, yet clearly, the doll was nothing more than an inanimate object, lacking any sign of life or soul.
With a sense of purpose, she extended her hand and gently tapped the dollâs forehead, whispering firmly, âGo back to sleep.â To her amazement, the doll responded as if touched by an invisible force, its body quivering briefly with a semblance of life. It then awkwardly rose to its feet and clumsily made its way back into the ornate wooden box from which it had come. The doll struggled with the lid, its small form lacking the strength to close it completely.
Thatâs when Duncan, who had been quietly observing the scene, lent a helping hand. With a simple nudge, he helped the doll secure the lid. A faint âThank youâ emanated from the now-sealed box, followed by silence.
Clearly intrigued by the event, Duncan remarked, âVery odd,â looking up at Lucretia with a mixture of curiosity and awe.
With a knowing look, Lucretia responded, âWe are nearing the border; many entities are beginning to stir.â She explained how imbuing certain objects with a semblance of a soul can act as a deterrent to unwanted spirits or âstowaways.â She reminisced about Luni, who had awakened in a similar manner years ago.
Duncan acknowledged the gravity of their situation, noting that it was also time for them to resurface for some air. He slowly stood up, and as he did, the Vanished began its ascent from the deep and mystical spirit realm. Outside the dining roomâs portholes, the first light of dawn was starting to break, painting the sky with hues of early morning. Meanwhile, the ominous shadows that had been lurking in the spirit realm were now retreating, disappearing into the unseen corners of their mysterious world.