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“Yes,” she nodded calmly, “me and Vanna went to Mr. Duncan’s antique shop today. I managed to have a nice chat with him and performed hypnotherapy for Nina. We returned right afterward.”

The doctor hesitated briefly at the end, wondering whether to tell her father about the fire she had heard from Nina and Vanna’s strange reaction over it. However, after recalling her friend’s abnormally serious expression in the car, the lady halted this idea.

There may be dangerous hidden forces involved behind this incident, and it may be so serious that if she speaks of it, it may attract prying eyes. Although her father was the same as herself – he was also a follower of truth who serves the god of wisdom – they’re both more of a scholar than a true transcendent fighter. It’s not good for a person of learning to deal with those dangerous things directly.

Morris still had a gentle and calm expression on his face when he nodded slightly. Then speaking casually like it’s not intended: “So you stayed over there for quite a while… did you lose track of time by chatting with Mr. Duncan? See, did I not say he’s a person thirsty for knowledge?”

“Oh… that’s not it,” Heidi’s face suddenly grew a shade of blushed red, “it’s just that… I wasted a little time when I hypnotized Nina.”

“When hypnotizing Nina?” Morris heard his student’s name and timely raised an eyebrow, “Did it not go well? Is her mental state that terrible? Was it affected by the previous fire at the museum?”

Heidi couldn’t help but roll her eyes when she heard her father’s long series of questions: “You really care about that student of yours… Don’t worry, she’s doing well. That girl was just a little anxious, and after my counseling, she’s completely fine and won’t be affected during the final exams. The delay I’m referring to is about… something else.”

Morris now sounded curious: “Oh?”

“Aha, maybe I’m a little too tired lately,” Heidi dryly laughed with more embarrassment. “I fell asleep as well when hypnotizing her and slept until the evening…”

“You fell into a deep sleep yourself while hypnotizing Nina?” Morris’s expression finally changed slightly, but he quickly regained control as per his protocol, “It’s not like you.”

“Everyone can be negligent at times, not to mention I have been deprived of a proper vacation in a long while.” Heidi waved her hand impatiently, “Aiya don’t ask, I’m already an adult. You and Mother are always like this when I come back late. I’m not a kid anymore you know. There’s no need to always act so worried…”

Morris kept staring at his daughter for several seconds more before breaking out his usual polite laugh of a scholar: “Of course, of course, I won’t keep asking like this the next time. Come, dinner is already waiting for you in the kitchen. Hurry and go warm it up. I still have to go see your mother.”

“Okay,” Heidi nodded and scurried for the kitchen, only to swing her head around before the hall corner, “by the way, are you planning to visit the antique shop later?”

“Yes,” Morris was already standing in the doorway of the bedroom, the dim light from the wall of the corridor casting a mottled shadow on his old face, “is there something wrong?”

“I left in a hurry today so I didn’t get to discuss things properly with Mr. Duncan. If you’re going to visit, help me pass on a letter of assessment to him about Nina, okay?”

“No problem,” Morris nodded, and then as if speaking to himself, he muttered softly, “I definitely need to visit again…”

Heidi had left, but the gray-haired old historian remained standing quietly at the doorway. He seemed to be deep in thought, and after nearly a dozen seconds, he finally exhaled a long soft sigh and pushed open the dull wooden door.

The bedroom was still dimly lit, with only a small wall lamp to act as the light source. Morris carefully turned the lock behind himself, ensuring no one could come inside during this moment.

“Beloved, are you okay?” He slowly paced over to the bedside and softly asked the pile of wriggling ashes with a human-shaped outline.

As if to respond, a subtle static buzz came from the blurred ashen human outline, constantly floating and wriggling as it did so.

“Yes, how beautiful. Your craft has always been very good,” Morris replied in a small murmur and praised his wife’s weaving skills as he watched the nearly completed ornamental ribbon. “The one you made for me is still hanging in my study room.”

For the next while, no words were exchanged, only a silence that would drive any occupant into a discomfort daze. Eventually, after a few minutes of this awkwardness, Morris broke it and spoke his woes: “Heidi went out today. When she returned, I saw that one of the red agates on the bracelet was gone…”

The ash on the bed suddenly came to a frozen standstill, followed by a low static buzzing of a troubled squirming.

“It’s not certain what happened exactly. If it was a protection from Lord Lahem then it could only mean Heidi encountered a danger that could penetrate her inner sanity,” Morris slowly explained his reasoning. “But from the way things look, I suspect she only passed by ‘something’ without being aware of it. The bracelet likely activated without intention…”

Morris abruptly stopped and listened to the static buzzing that cut in.

“Mmm, yes, I reminded Heidi about her bracelet. But when she saw the problem, she assumed the agate was always missing in the first place.” Morris nodded in agreement with the ash as it wriggled around, “It’s a self-protective measure, perhaps from her mind or the blessing of Lahem himself. In any case, this protection prevented her from learning about something…”

Another burst of static buzzing came from his wife’s ashen form, this time more agitated and frantic.

“Me? I want to investigate of course. I must find out for myself what’s going on.”

The last sentence brought an uncomfortable silence to the ash on the bed.

Morris shook his head: “I understand, my love. There may be a little risk involved with my decision, but this is our daughter. I have to go. Don’t worry, I will pray for divination in advance. In fact, I had already visited that antique shop before and met the owner. The man is diligent, and his niece is a studious child and one of my students at school. There was no malicious evil hovering in there….”

“So, if the risk factor was in the shop today when Heidi visited, then the owner of that shop could also be threatened. My students live there. As a teacher and servant to the God of Wisdom, I must.”

Morris stated in a wistful voice that was so full of emotions that it hurt. Then the pair listened to each other’s suggestions and various ideas on what to do.

“No, we can’t alarm the cathedral about this matter… While they may be more effective, their overly aggressive style could also hurt my student. The priority of suppressing heresy and eradicating evil is too high for the guardians of the Church, and…”

Speaking of this, Morriston let out a soft sigh before continuing: “And, I really don’t want to attract the attention of the cathedral, after all… I am a heretical accomplice who has been shaken in my belief.”

His voice fell into a depressing low, those eyes never leaving the mass of ash that was his wife, who died eleven years ago in the fire.

In response, the human-shaped ash slowly rose upward and reached out, forming a tentacle-like form that’s supposed to be an arm to gently brush the old gent’s face.

“I know… I know…” Morris lowered his head and spoke in a confessing manner, “I am a man whose faith has wavered. I’m a coward who refuses to fully fall into degeneration… Lahem gave me the eyes to see through delusions, but I closed them on my own will to make an unrealistic wish come true. I wanted to keep you in this world, but couldn’t fully deceive myself… instead, I forced you and I into this shameful situation…”

He raised his head and gently gripped the fluttering wisp of ash, only to have his fingers bypass the dust.

“I wish I knew nothing like Heidi. This way, I could at least see you again, touch you again…. I haven’t been able to see how you look for eleven years now~”

This time, only a soft rubbing of particles came from the ash, the version of the woman weeping.

“I understand, I understand… All this will eventually end; after all, every show has an ending at some point. No matter what it is that responded to my wish, it will eventually come collect its price. I am ready for that. When it comes, I will ensure my clean disappearance from this world. Even if it’s a shadow of subspace, I won’t allow it to invade reality through this wish….”

Morris raised his head and stared at the silhouette of ash in the dim light.

“But until that day comes, just stay with me for a while longer….”