After hurrying to the window, Zhou Ming was able to confirm, much to his astonishment, that what he had seen was indeed realâthere were actual words written on the window! Even more intriguing was the fact that these words were inscribed from the outside, using the widely recognized language of the city-states.
The appearance of the words was peculiar; they seemed to quiver slightly on the glass, creating an unsettling effect. It was as if they werenât directly etched onto the firm, unyielding surface of the window but rather appeared to be suspended in a sort of ephemeral, mist-like illusion. Zhou Ming had to concentrate intensely on these letters for a considerable duration before he could decipher the message from the indistinct and reversed scriptâ
âI am outside. You are inside.â
This revelation left Zhou Ming utterly bewilderedâhe couldnât fathom why anyone, or anything, for that matter, would go to the lengths of leaving such a seemingly simplistic and cryptic message on the exterior of his âshelter cocoon.â
At first, he couldnât help but find the situation somewhat amusing, yet a moment later, his amusement gave way to contemplation as a vague idea began to form in his mind.
Zhou Ming gradually moved away from the window, casting his gaze towards the gray-white fog that shrouded the exterior.
He had been attempting to piece together what lay beyond his âapartmentâ with only vague guesses up until this point. While the finer details eluded him, he had started to discern a certain pattern or, more precisely, a fundamental logic underlying the deepest essence of this world.
He realized that the notion of âinformationâ carried profound significance; the way information is conveyed lays the groundwork for order. Building on this realization, he understood that âsymbolismâ in this realm possessed a tangible and potent⊠âfunction.â
With this epiphany, Zhou Ming looked back at the text, his perception subtly shifting. He began to suspect that the phrase wasnât simply meant for âcommunicationâ with him.
Instead, it served as an âanchor pointââa marker placed by some entity that comprehended and had the power to manipulate the âtruthâ of their reality, marking its presence outside his room.
Suddenly, Zhou Mingâs train of thought was interrupted by a recollection: the mysterious knocking sound that emanated from the black mist during his last return to this place!
In the next instant, as if his memories had the power to influence reality itself, the moment this thought crossed his mind, a sound abruptly emerged beside himâbang, bang, bang.
Zhou Ming quickly turned towards the apartmentâs door, only to realize that the sound wasnât emanating from there. The knocking was coming from the window, suggesting the presence of an unseen visitor outside, obscured by the gray-white fog, persistently tapping on the glass, invisible yet undeniably there, as if awaiting recognition from the âlittle houseâsâ inhabitant.
This scenario inexplicably made Zhou Ming think of those âfish.â
Zhou Ming approached the window once more, this time placing his hand against the glass where the knocking originated in an effort to both feel and hear more distinctlyâthe knocking persisted, and slowly, he began to sense an actual vibration transmitting through his palm.
Lifting his gaze, he peered into the dense fog outside, engaging in a silent confrontation with the âvisitorâ obscured within it. He envisioned a guest, a being that, among all conceivable possibilities and logical paths, âmight possibly manifest here.â
Who could it be, reaching out to him from the very edge of order, from a realm nearly severed from all other existences, at the very foundation of reality itself?
A shadowy figure briefly materialized within the mist, and just as this shadow came into view, Zhou Ming sensed a familiar essence piercing through the dense veilâa spark of his own, a blast from the past he presumed lost forever.
This realization instantly validated his perceptions; the âvisitor in the mistâ materialized into a definitive presence.
Abruptly, the gray-white mist dissipated, and the once perpetual âlandscapeâ outside transformed in an instant into a brightly lit, elegantly furnished roomâa stark contrast to the view from his side of the window. Across this newly revealed setting stood a woman with silver hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes wide in astonishment at the dramatic shift unfolding before her.
âAliâŠâ Zhou Ming found himself uttering instinctively at the sight of her, but he quickly corrected himself, âNo, Ray Noraâis it really you?!â
With this acknowledgment, the truth ushered in a directed collapse, and the view outside the window solidified.
There stood the Frost Queen Ray Nora, the enigmatic âvisitor in the mist.â Now, she continued to gaze intensely at Zhou Mingâor more precisely, at an unfathomable presence enveloped within some vast, chaotic expanse.
Her eyes mirrored the infinite depths of distant galaxies, their light piercing through the âglassâ into her surroundings, casting a subtle celestial glow over what was once a part of âAlice Mansionâsâ bedroom, as if it were on the verge of being engulfed by the cosmos itself.
However, under Zhou Mingâs watchful eye, Ray Noraâs expression suddenly shifted, as if she had managed to shake off the mesmerizing effect of the cosmic light, regaining her clarity. She attempted to speak, but through the barrier of the window, only indistinct sounds could be heard.
ââŠI see⊠lightâŠâ
Zhou Ming, driven by an urge to comprehend her words fully, instinctively pushed the window open.
He remained motionless, staring in disbelief at the now open window, taking a moment to grasp the reality of the situationâthe window had indeed opened!
After an interminable duration, during which the dense fog had enveloped this room, rendering it seemingly inaccessible, the window had unexpectedly swung open with startling ease. Zhou Ming was momentarily paralyzed by disbelief, struggling to process the ease with which the barrier between him and the outside world had been dismantled.
Regaining his composure, his attention was immediately captured by the figure of âthe Frost Queenâ Ray Nora, stationed across from him.
For Ray Nora, witnessing the barrier of light that she had been facing suddenly give way was beyond astonishing; it was an event that defied all expectations in her âdrifting journeyâ across realms. To encounter an entity endowed with âintellectââperhaps even âhumanityââat the very edge of time and space was a revelation that shattered all her conceptions of the universe.
Despite the overwhelming chaos of starlight that obscured any definitive shape, making it impossible to discern any logic or reason within that bewildering expanse, she intuitively recognized the intelligence behind it. It had heeded her call, unveiling a portion of its enigmatic domain. A âlimbâ now extended towards her, adorned with millions of eyes that flickered and emitted a discordant sound.
âItâs really you,â Zhou Ming expressed his astonishment upon seeing âHer Majesty the Queenâ again, grappling with his confusion. âYouâll have to wait a moment, Iâm a bit confused⊠How did you find yourself here? You departed from Aliceâs Mansion, and since then, youâve been⊠wandering at the fringes? Was it you who knocked last time?â
The cacophony among the stars was overwhelming, yet amidst the turmoil, Ray Noraâs clarity was being incessantly reforged. She watched the âlimbâ oscillate before her, the myriad voices at its end clamoring for her attention, but gradually, she began to decipher their message.
She realized she was beginning to comprehend the whispers of the cosmosâthey were inquiring about her quest.
âIâm on a journey,â she responded instinctively, recounting her odyssey. âI was adrift in the spirit realm, then caught in the currents of subspace⊠At the edge of all existence, I found myself ensnared by the mist. Yet, a beacon of light emerged, guiding me here, to this grand âhallââŠâ
Ray Nora paused, stepping back to fully appreciate the structure before her that appeared to transcend time itselfâa âcocoonâ suspended at the brink of oblivion, its duration in this liminal space unknown, now revealing a sliver of itself. An ancient and profound presence communicated with her through this opening, each utterance, each vibration laden with truths so profound they could unravel the mind a thousand times over.
Yet, amidst this confrontation with the unfathomable, she found herself gaining steadiness, becoming resilient enough to withstand the onslaught of these cosmic truths. Her mind, too, began to anchor itself more firmly amidst the chaos.
Ray Nora found herself unexpectedly adapting to the situation, regaining her sense of logic and clarity after what could only be described as a reckless encounter with the unknown. It hadnât even dawned on her that her own voice had taken on a vibratory quality, echoing the tumultuous interaction, nor had she realized how the intense luminescence of starlight had become a permanent fixture in her field of vision.
âYou fell into subspace?â Zhou Ming expressed his astonishment with a frown, noting the peculiar tone in Ray Noraâs voice as she responded. Despite sensing something off about her condition, he didnât dwell on it too much. Instead, he scrutinized her for any signs of subspace contamination, half-jokingly lamenting, ââŠWhy does it seem like everyoneâs been taking subspace dips latelyâŠâ
Feeling somewhat bewildered by the ongoing stir within her soul, Ray Nora couldnât grasp the significance of the new tremors. Yet, amidst this confusion, she began to perceive a more coherent âentityâ amidst the chaotic swirl of starlight and the extending âlimb.â It appeared as though a figure was standing within that vast and impressive ânest.â
With a slight tilt of her head and a furrowed brow, she ventured, âAre you inviting me in?â
Zhou Ming was caught off guard by her questionâhad he extended an invitation?
Shaking off the momentary confusion, he embraced the idea. Having been isolated in this secluded âcageâ for so long, the prospect of entertaining a guest was genuinely appealing. He hadnât anticipated company, but now that the opportunity had arisen, he found the idea rather pleasant.
Feeling somewhat sheepish, he glanced down at the windowsill and chuckled awkwardly, âThen youâll have to climb through the window⊠Iâm not quite sure how to usher you in through the doorâŠâ
In response, the supernatural presence made way for her; the fissure in the cosmic ânestâ widened as if opening its doors, and the light, brimming with truth and enlightenment, beckoned her forward.
Without a second thought, Ray Nora advanced towards the beckoning light.
As Zhou Ming observed her bold, unhesitant approach through the window, he was struck by the realization of why she had been the one to spearhead the deep dive project decades earlier. Her determination and decisiveness far surpassed that of the average individual.
Nonetheless, he couldnât resist cautioning her, âHey, be careful, donât fallâŠâ
Ray Nora transitioned through the window, her surroundings undergoing a dramatic transformation.
And then, with a solid impact, Her Majesty the Queen landed on the floor. âOuch!â
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