Deep Sea Embers

Seated near the captain’s cabin door, Morris passionately elucidated these nuances, seemingly oblivious to the subtle expressions Shirley displayed beside him. His earnestness in conveying this information was evident.

Morris began by clarifying that receiving favor from the God of Wisdom doesn’t necessarily hinge on possessing an extensive pool of knowledge. He cited the example of Dog, a fast learner whose academic achievements fell short when compared to the “official adherents” who had successfully passed the rigorous three-part church examination. Nonetheless, Dog garnered attention from Lahem, the God of Wisdom. In various other city-states, countless followers, and even subsequently renowned saints, had received divine revelations prior to mastering profound knowledge.

Morris recounted the tale of Saint ‘Kolfrod,’ a scholar from over two centuries ago. At the tender age of sixteen, Kolfrod, a dock laborer who couldn’t even read, received a divine revelation. This encounter became the catalyst for his eventual access to knowledge through books.

Contrastingly, Morris shared the story of a renowned scholar from the city-state of Mok who fervently sought Lahem’s favor throughout his lifetime. Despite excelling in nearly all examination projects at the Academy of Truth, he never experienced Lahem’s divine glory before his demise. Posthumously, the Academy of Truth honored him with the title of a saint. Such situations weren’t isolated incidents.

Duncan, his chin resting thoughtfully on his hand, interjected, suggesting that the “admission criteria” of the God of Wisdom seemed capricious.

Morris responded, contesting the notion of capriciousness. He emphasized that the examples he provided were merely “minor cases.” If not, the Academy of Truth wouldn’t rely on a standardized examination as an effective means of screening followers. Instead, Morris explained the gods possessed inscrutable standards for evaluating the world. Over millennia, mortals had managed to deduce only a few guiding principles from these enigmatic standards.

Duncan pondered Morris’s explanations, contemplating his personal thoughts on the matter. While the old man’s elucidation and examples seemed sound, Duncan found himself wrestling with Morris’s final “conclusion.”

Doubts lingered. Were the behavioral patterns of the gods genuinely unpredictable? Were there underlying reasons behind the apparent “exceptions” or even “absurdities” observed during Lahem’s domain?

Unbidden memories of the peculiar dark space and the information Duncan had encountered within it resurfaced in his mind. Recollections of the entity, likely Lahem, referred to as “LH-02,” and their final communication’s unsettling impact on Duncan plagued his thoughts.

If these pieces of information were indeed current occurrences, if LH-02 were truly Lahem, and if Duncan’s suspicions held true… then the very concept of “gods” as understood by ordinary beings was deserving of his profound observation.

Lost in contemplation, Duncan’s gaze unintentionally shifted upward and settled on Dog. As Morris had articulated, despite Dog’s remarkable aptitude for learning, its academic prowess significantly lagged behind the celebrated scholars of the Academy of Truth. Nevertheless, this creature, which had only recently emerged from illiteracy, captured the direct attention of Lahem, the God of Wisdom — an honor that countless scholars from the Academy of Truth could scarcely fathom attaining in their lifetimes (even though it didn’t seem to bode well for Dog).

The question lingered: What precisely drew Lahem’s interest? Was it Dog’s “talent”? Its relentless thirst for knowledge? Or… could it be because Dog was a unique being hailing from the profound “cluster”? Did this extraordinary canine, with a discernible “heart,” by some fortunate twist, align with LH-02’s discernment criteria?

Involuntarily, Dog shrank back under Duncan’s wordless scrutiny, an unsettling shiver coursing through its body. After a moment, it couldn’t resist speaking up: “Captain, you…”

Duncan paid Dog no mind, shifting his gaze toward Morris instead. His query carried a weight of seriousness: “In your estimation, Morris, is there a possibility that Shirley might, at some point, meet the ‘standard’ set by the God of Wisdom and gain Lahem’s approval?”

Morris was momentarily taken aback, but he swiftly shook his head: “Highly unlikely!”

“Are you absolutely certain?” Duncan’s tone remained gravely composed, “You mentioned that Lahem’s ‘judgment standard’ isn’t always absolute and that even an illiterate individual might unexpectedly earn favor.”

“While the God of Wisdom’s judgment criteria might admit exceptions, there’s at least one aspect that remains consistent — those who have been turned away once won’t receive a second opportunity. Though there are scarce instances of explicit rejections by the God of Wisdom in history…”

Morris paused, glancing at Shirley.

“At the very least, when Dog was on the brink of being ‘claimed,’ Shirley managed to pull him back from the precipice through her own capabilities. This is the most evident form of ‘rejection’ I can conceive the God of Wisdom exhibiting toward a mortal.”

Duncan cast a complex gaze at Shirley. She appeared somewhat perplexed, her gaze darting around before she eventually asked, “So, what does that mean?”

“It means you still have responsibilities to fulfill,” Duncan swiftly responded, his words carrying a resolute tone, “Don’t assume that ‘preventing Dog’s revelation’ can serve as an excuse to evade your studies.”

Shirley’s expression dimmed immediately. Her thoughts raced, and she retorted more quickly than usual, “You guys have already determined that I’m not cut out for learning. Even the God of Wisdom explicitly indicated that my intellect is of no interest…”

“In this world, over ninety percent of individuals never gain the chance to enter the Academy of Truth. Sixty percent merely sit for the exams to secure a graduation certificate. Nearly one hundred percent of people will never attain sainthood or find themselves under Lahem’s gaze in their lifetime,” Duncan gazed intently into Shirley’s eyes, his expression mirroring his earnest tone, “Did you think that when I initially decided to teach you to read and write, it was with the intention of transforming you into a distinguished scholar like Morris?”

Taken aback by Duncan’s earnest demeanor, Shirley’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words emerged. After a moment, she slowly lowered her gaze. “I… I understand… I’m sorry, I was being stubborn…”

“It’s alright, in my eyes, you’re still a child. Children are allowed to be determined,” Duncan reassured gently, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, I’m not scolding you; I’m simply contemplating… what steps to take regarding Dog’s future.”

“Me?” Dog, who had been sitting obediently to the side, looked up in confusion, not quite grasping the direction of Duncan’s thoughts. “What about my future?”

Duncan met its gaze. “Have you ever thought about the possibility that in the future, you might capture Lahem’s attention once again, for a third or even fourth time?”

Dog paused, then realization dawned upon it. Even though it lacked facial expressions, its entire form visibly trembled.

“So… does this mean I can’t read anymore?” It inquired anxiously.

“Lahem, the God of Wisdom, is not a mere ‘spectator’ lured by books — He has already taken notice of you,” responded Morris, the elderly scholar seated nearby. He shook his head, his eyes conveying a sense of gravity. “I cannot pretend to fathom His intentions, but since He has shown interest in you before, it’s hard to guarantee that He won’t seek you out again. This would hold true even if you were to cease reading. In fact…”

The aged scholar paused, his expression becoming unknowable as if he grappled with how to depict the deity he worshipped. Eventually, he shook his head and continued: “One might contend that as long as you continue to ‘think,’ your intellect remains within the purview of the God of Wisdom. Whether He chooses to focus His attention on you once more is entirely at His discretion.”

The crimson light within Dog’s eyes visibly quivered.

Morris’ words prompted a peculiar sensation within Duncan. Lahem’s “favor” bore an uncanny resemblance to a curse woven by a malevolent god. Yet, upon reflection, the perspective of a shadow demon might indeed cast any benevolent blessing from a righteous deity as a form of curse.

Even Alice, who had remained silent up to this point, chimed in. “So, does this imply that Dog will exist in a perpetual state of vulnerability from now on?”

“Yes, there’s an inherent risk. However, as long as the connection between Dog and Shirley remains, it may not necessarily result in dire consequences,” Duncan shook his head. “Considering what Dog has described and my… well, my conjecture, it’s likely that Lahem harbors no malice. He might even be oblivious to the fact that the ‘intellect’ that suddenly captured His attention belongs to a shadow demon. Given this, it’s improbable that He would attempt to ‘claim’ Dog through a more ‘forceful’ method.”

Hearing Duncan’s assessment, Dog could only hang its head, a hint of bitterness permeating its voice. “Well… I suppose there’s little else we can do.”

“Take heart. Both you and Shirley still carry my mark. Even in the direst of situations, if Shirley somehow can’t maintain her connection with you, I believe I should still be able to sense your presence,” Duncan attempted to reassure the concerned creature. “While I’ve never attempted it before, I wouldn’t be averse to trying to defy a ‘righteous god’ and retrieve someone… or in this case, Dog.”

“I’ll absolutely make sure to hold onto you!” Shirley interjected promptly, thumping her chest as she brandished the symbiotic chain she held in her hand. “You can count on me, Dog! After all, I’ve been directly rebuffed by the God of Wisdom. I’m the ideal anchor!”

Dog was on the verge of being touched by Duncan’s words when Shirley’s self-assured and proud demeanor caught him off guard. He could only regard her with a sense of puzzlement. “That’s… not exactly something to be boasting about, is it?”

Shirley didn’t offer a direct reply; instead, she continued to wear a contented smile.

However, her grasp on the chain gradually tightened, then tightened even further.