Deep Sea Embers

Heidi wisely did not press further.

She knew that she was different from Fanna. Although she was also a "cleric" in name and even had a registration certification from the Academy of Truth, she was better at what she was good at than actually confronting those dangerous hidden forces head-on. In fact, it is just pure research and thinking - she can indeed pry secrets from the minds of cultists and unearth the shadows left by heretics from the whispers of group hallucinations, but this is completely different from the work of an inquisitor.

She herself lacks sensitivity to certain threats.

Kefanna is someone who has been confronting heretics and hidden forces all the time. She may have been keenly aware of the existence of some kind of shadow—she may have accidentally touched something during today's trip to the lower city.

When they were about to get home, Heidi asked a question: "...Is there something wrong with that antique shop?"

Everything is normal in the antique shop," Fanna controlled the car and slowed down slowly, looking thoughtful, "but there may be something abnormal in our city-state. "

The sky has completely darkened. The bells that alternate between day and night and the whistle from the central steam core sound simultaneously, penetrating the clouds above the city-state in the setting sun. In the upper city, the gas lamps on both sides of the street have already been lit half an hour in advance. , Heidi came to the door of her house and heard the sound of the car behind her getting farther and farther away.

There will be a curfew in the city at night, but this ban only applies to ordinary people who lack the power to protect themselves. The church's inquisitors are obviously not affected. Before returning to the cathedral, Vanna has to go to the museum to check, and is responsible for the on-site blockade task. The guards met each other, as was often the case on her days off, and she never truly rested.

Heidi accidentally recalled her spoiled day off again, couldn't help but sigh, opened the door and went home.

The light was on in the spacious living room, but no one was in sight. Everywhere in the house was quiet. The day maid hired to clean and wash the laundry went back before the sun went down. This huge house seemed a bit deserted.

However, Heidi has long been accustomed to her father being a man who would not call him out easily once he got into the study. Her mother was in poor health and often rested in the bedroom. This house, which was a bit too spacious for a family of three, was full of people every day. It was so quiet part of the time.

But that doesn't mean there's no human touch in the big house - Heidi's relationship with her parents is very good and has always been.

She changed out of her coat with ease, put away her hat and medical kit, and glanced at the study room where the lights were on. Instead of disturbing her father, who might be concentrating on reading some literature, she came to her parents' bedroom as usual and knocked on the door. Door: "I'm back - are you inside?"

The mother's voice came from the door with helplessness and a little bit of pretended anger: "It's so late to come back!"

Heidi stuck out her tongue at the door, quickly adjusted her expression, and then opened the door with a smile, muttering: "I went out with Vanna, do you still have to worry? She has one hand." You can fight all over the city..."

The lighting in the room is relatively dim, because too strong light will irritate my mother's eyes - my mother was injured by chemical fumes in a factory leak eleven years ago, and her eyes have always been in poor condition.

Heidi adjusted to the dim light in the room, and then she saw her mother sitting on the bedside. She was a very kind old lady, wearing soft pajamas, and using her hands to weave a unique kind of Pland city-state. Knotted crafts, she looked up at Heidi in the shadow of the dim light, with a helpless tone: "Just hang out with Vanna all day long, sooner or later you will be unable to marry like her, but I know Yes, she actually sneaks to the marriage help center every weekend and then picks someone to beat up. The church receives complaints every day..."

The expression on Heidi's face suddenly became a little subtle: "This... don't say that... Vanna is now the judge..."

"How about the judge? He has had lunch at our house for several years - after her uncle became the consul, all he could think about was the city-state," the old lady mumbled, her hands still moving quickly, "Want me He said that the child had a problem with her uncle's education and was extremely stubborn. If she had to take any oaths during baptism, just take them immediately. She even took the three major oaths together. Normal nuns are all Just pick one. She insisted on standing with all three to prove her piety. As a result, she was stuck until now and can’t get married..."

Listening to her mother's rambling words, Heidi could only laugh with embarrassment. Finally, when the old lady took a breather in the middle of her words, she took the time to look at the handicrafts in her mother's hands and changed the subject: " Are you almost done?"

"I've knitted it and unknitted it, and now I'm finally a little satisfied," the mother laughed, showing Heidi the silk ribbon that looked like a gorgeous ribbon in the dim light - the fine silk rope was woven with a special technique. , with complex hollow structures on it and decorated with beautiful stones and colorful beads. This is a handicraft unique to the city-state of Pulande. The technique is complex and time-consuming. It is considered to have the effect of blessing and exorcising evil. " I don’t know if you can find a good young man when it is completed..."

Heidi glanced at the almost completed knotted ribbon and cautiously made a suggestion: "Then... if you take it apart again, maybe it's too late..."

"Just make me angry!"

Heidi quickly laughed with her, turned around and left the room.

Her mother's mumbling voice came from behind. Heidi closed the door and then tiptoed to go to the kitchen. But just as she was about to leave, she saw her father standing in the corridor.

Morris, who has an elegant temperament and gray and sparse hair, looked at his sneaky daughter helplessly: "I heard you coming home a long time ago... did you make your mother angry again?"

Heidi quickly waved her hand: "No, no, we are just chatting."

"Did you deliver the gift to Mr. Duncan?" Morris asked again.

"Sent it - Mr. Duncan was very happy," Heidi nodded, and then couldn't help but look at her father a few more times, "But I really didn't expect that you would be willing to give away your beloved book collection... "

"That's just a collection - what he saved was your life," Morris said lightly. "In fact, I even think it's not enough. I have to visit you again in two days to say thank you."

Heidi suddenly remembered the "little mistake" she made when giving Nina hypnotherapy today, and her expression suddenly felt a little awkward: "There's no need to be so serious, right?"

"It's not a matter of seriousness or not. Mr. Duncan saved your life, and I am not only your father, but also Nina's teacher. On the other hand, Mr. Duncan is also an antique dealer with a strong thirst for knowledge and an enthusiastic learning. Angle, this relationship is worth cultivating," Morris explained casually, "I like a word that Mr. Duncan often said, this is a kind of 'fate,...'

"Okay, okay, your idea makes sense, it makes sense." Heidi suddenly had a headache when she heard that her father, a man who was not very good at socializing, wanted to teach her social etiquette. "Then you can visit next time. Just visit and stop buying random things, okay..."

"It depends on whether there is any collection that can attract me," Morris said casually. Then he thought about it and asked as if casually, "Are you going with Vanna today?"

"Ah, yes, she had a day off today and I took her car."

Morris thought about it again, his expression a little hesitant: "It feels like... you and Vanna are very close."

"I have been very close to her all these years?" Heidi felt a little baffled, "We have known each other since we were children..."

"No, I just think..." The old gentleman suddenly hesitated. For some reason, he suddenly thought of what Mr. Duncan said to him when he visited the antique shop before:

"Girls' school is also possible..."

"Father?" Heidi looked at her father who was acting abnormally and couldn't help but say something.

"Ah, it's okay." Morris suddenly woke up and felt that his idea just now seemed a bit too outrageous. He quickly tried to change the subject while trying to avoid being caught by his daughter. But in the blink of an eye, his eyes suddenly It fell on Heidi's wrist.

The bracelet that represents the protection of Lachem, the god of wisdom, is missing a red agate.

The old man's expression suddenly changed, but then he noticed Heidi's completely normal expression, so he quickly controlled his emotions, and while trying to calm down, he said casually: "Did you lose the bracelet on your hand? Beads? Accidentally knocked them off?"

"Bracelet?" Heidi was stunned, raised her wrist and took a look. She saw the missing piece of knot, but her expression was quite natural, "Isn't there one missing here?"

Was there one missing?

Morris slowly controlled his breathing and heartbeat, and at the same time controlled his emotions and thoughts, as if he was afraid that his too intense "ideas" would attract some dangerous attention. At the same time, he also began to Memories, recalling the last time I saw the bracelet on my daughter’s hand, what it looked like.

After two seconds, he completed the control and protection of his thoughts, and then he calmed down and asked casually in the same tone as usual: "By the way, you only went to that antique store today, right?