Deep Sea Embers.

Chapter 392 Reflection
Go frost.

Lawrence instantly thought of what "Martha" had told him before—he couldn't tell whether the Martha at that time was his hallucination, or the "sense of existence" emanating from the "Martha" in front of him. ", but the only thing that is certain is that he should go to Frost.

But how to get there?
"We've been looking here for a long time," Lawrence said with a frown. "Since the last time we left the port of the city-state in the dark, the White Oak has never found that city-state—we're going back the same way. , there is only one sea.”

"You can't find it like this," Martha smiled and shook her head, "Lawrence, Frost is avoiding you."

"Avoid me?" Lawrence was taken aback for a moment, "Why?"

Martha didn't speak, but just raised her finger and pointed to the ghostly flame that was quietly burning on Lawrence's body.

Lawrence understood in an instant. He looked down at his spirit-like arm, and said in a thoughtful tone, "So...we didn't encounter any obstacles when we left the port of the city-state... It's not that we left there, But that the city-state moved away from the White Oak?"

He raised his head and his expression became a little subtle: "Then what should I do? The White Oak is now closer to the Lost Home than when it left the port. If that city-state has been consciously keeping away from me, how can I find it?" ?”

"I'll look for it," said Martha quietly and briefly.

"Are you going to look for it?" Lawrence didn't respond immediately, "Can you find it?"

"Of course, in the past many years, my boat and I have always been part of this sea area. Even if I am separated from this huge group, it will not realize it in a short time—and On the other hand, the current existence of the Black Oak is closer to the "reflection" of the White Oak. I have not established a direct connection with the Lost Country, at least not yet. Frost will not hide from me... it Not as 'smart' as you think."

Lawrence nodded half-understanding, but he was a little puzzled: "But only you can get close to it—what about me and the White Oak? As long as we show up, it will definitely 'run away'..."

Martha smiled.

She took half a step forward, gently pressed her hand on Lawrence's chest, with a deep expression on her face, and said softly: "It's very simple, let's switch positions - here, the boundary between the body and the reflection is not so clear. "

Lawrence froze for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to ask the other party what he meant, but before he could open his mouth, he felt a slight push from his chest.

This force was very gentle, but it made him feel dizzy in an instant. He only felt that he was falling on his back. The moment before he lost consciousness, he felt that someone was supporting his body from behind, and Martha's soft voice echoed in his ears. Edge rings:

"Take a nap, my love—an incredible journey ahead."

Lawrence fell into a drowsy sleep, but he felt that he only fell asleep for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes again, and subconsciously called out: "Martha!"

However, what came into his ears was the voice of the first mate Gus: "Captain, are you awake?"

Lawrence finally woke up completely. He tried his best to prop up his body, panting heavily because he woke up suddenly from a deep sleep, and then looked around again, realizing that he was lying on the bunk in the captain's cabin—the first mate Gus had a look on his face. Standing aside with a worried expression, there are several sailors nearby.

And in a little corner, he also saw a familiar figure——Anomaly 077, the mummy was gesturing around his neck with a noose while no one was paying attention, but after realizing Lawrence's gaze, he Instantly put away the rope, pretending nothing happened.

"This is..." Lawrence gasped, rubbing his forehead and muttering. For a while, he couldn't tell whether he was in a dream or in reality. What happened not long ago fluctuated in his memory like a phantom. .

"You have returned to the White Oak, and it was the 'sailor' who brought you back," the first mate said immediately, and pointed to the mummy not far away, "You have been asleep for several hours."

"I remember... I remember exploring the Black Oak and seeing Martha on it... Did these things really happen?" Lawrence rubbed his forehead vigorously, then raised his eyes, "Where is the Black Oak? Where is it now?"

"Your memory is fine, you did go to that ship, and the 'sailor' also told us that you saw Ms. Martha on it," Gus the first mate reached out to help Lawrence up, but his face was pale when he was speaking halfway. And a little weird, "As for where that ship is now... Captain, the current situation is a bit weird, I don't know how to explain it to you..."

"Weird?" Lawrence frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Our ship is out of control now. The rudder and propeller are not working. The White Oak is drifting like a ghost ship. As for the Black Oak... I will show you."

Hearing the worried words of the first mate, the expression on Lawrence's face became serious in an instant. He pushed away the other's hand that supported him, and followed the sailors to the door.

At the same time, he also noticed the changes in himself and others——

The faintly burning spiritual body flames have been extinguished at some point, and everyone's bodies have now returned to a living state, and the surrounding floors and walls no longer show the state of flames burning like the Lost Country. ——everything seems to be back to normal here.

The first mate noticed the captain's gaze and explained, "The flames subsided a few hours ago, not long after you came back."

Lawrence nodded silently. Compared with the fading ghost flames, he was more concerned about what happened now, so that his usually calm first officer would show such a faltering and at a loss expression.

Soon, he left the cabin with the sailors and came to the deck of the White Oak.

In just a moment, he realized the...strangeness in the surrounding environment.

Humid, cold, as if soaked in sea water, the sky has no light at all, only clumps like strange shadows floating in the sky, there is no wind around, but there is a feeling of cold flow touching every inch of skin on the body, from time to time Weird traces of turbulence can be seen nearby, like tiny bubbles in the air.

Lawrence felt the discordant environment around him in astonishment, and vaguely realized what had happened, and when the first mate Gus led him to the edge of the ship, he further confirmed his conjecture.

"The Black Oak is there."

The first officer stood on the edge of the ship's side, pointing to the sea water directly below and said.

Lawrence lowered his head and saw the "sea" slowly undulating. The ripples caused by the White Oak's driving process slowly spread around with a distorted and weird texture. On the surface of the sea like a distorted mirror, he saw the white sea. "Reflection" of the Oak.

It was a pitch-black ship wrapped in dense fog and shadows, with a few ghostly lights lit on the ship, which were "reflected" under the White Oak, sailing through the wind and waves.

At this moment, Lawrence finally understood what Martha meant when she said parting.

The White Oak is now the reflection of the Black Oak.

"Captain..." Gus, the first mate, noticed the change of expression on Lawrence's face. Years of following experience made him keenly judge that the old captain might already know what was going on. "What's going on? Why are we in the middle of the sea?" Will the reflection of the ship become the appearance of the Black Oak? And the ship is out of control..."

"We're not out of control—we're just sailing with the Black Oak," Lawrence exhaled softly, with a faint smile on his face, "Let's all have a good rest and recharge our batteries. The place."

"A place where all problems can be solved?" The mate blinked in confusion, "Where are we going?"

"We're heading for Frost."

……

Night is gradually covering the city-state.

Two figures are quickly passing through the streets and alleys that are already under curfew.

One figure was extraordinarily tall and burly, wearing a long black trench coat reminiscent of nightfall, while the other figure looked exceptionally short. stature.

A gust of cold wind blew, and the thin and short figure sneezed solidly: "...Ah!"

Duncan lowered his head and looked at Shirley who was rubbing his nose: "You don't want to wear a scarf if you are told - the frosty night is much colder than Prand."

"It's so cold..." Shirley tightened her clothes subconsciously. Although the clothes were actually enough to resist the surrounding temperature, she still felt the cold wind biting her bones. She was born and raised in Purland, and obviously she was not very good at adapting to the cold. Frost climate, "I kind of regret coming out..."

Duncan looked at the girl with a half-smile: "It's not what you said, as long as you don't do your homework, can you do anything?"

When Shirley heard this, she immediately raised her neck, and said stiffly in the cold wind: "Yes, I said it!"

"All over the body, the mouth is the toughest," Duncan sighed helplessly, then raised his head, looking at the alley in the distance, "Let's go, I don't want to deal with the night guards yet."

Shirley quickly followed Duncan's footsteps with her short legs upside down, and she couldn't help asking curiously while walking forward, "What are we going to do?"

"Confirm someone's condition." Duncan said casually as he walked forward.

"Someone's condition?" Shirley raised her face and looked at the burly captain beside her, "Who is it?"

"Gatekeeper, Agatha." Duncan said lightly.

His gaze crossed the night, staring at the end of the street ahead.

A cluster of small dark green flames were burning in his field of vision, flickering on and off, as if separated by a thick curtain.

(End of this chapter)