Why do I feel...
I've heard this description somewhere before?
"Seawater suddenly turning black, with Remnants (Tacet Discords) appearing..." Ray rubbed his chin, murmuring softly.
"Dark Tide."
At that moment, Phrolova, who had been standing silently beside him, suddenly broke the silence.
Her arms were crossed, her expression indifferent, yet her gaze naturally met Ray's.
As soon as those two words were spoken, everyone present couldn't help but stiffen, and unconcealable fear and unease immediately surfaced on their faces.
"D-Dark Tide?!"
"That can't be... it must just be an accident?"
"Right, something like that... better not jump to conclusions too quickly."
People spoke up one after another, as if doing so could dispel the gloom in their hearts.
But everyone knew these words were merely pale, powerless comforts against the harsh reality.
Even Ray couldn't help but meet Phrolova's gaze, confusion in his eyes. He didn't understand why she could be so certain, that this was the Dark Tide.
The so-called Dark Tide was a disaster phenomenon triggered by Leviathan's corruption.
In Rinascita's history, two Dark Tides had occurred.
The first happened centuries ago.
In the end, the Order's first Primus, Napoli II, used the power of the Sentinel to forcibly suppress the Dark Tide, and from this, the Order of the Deep was founded.
The second occurred twenty years ago.
Though time had passed, the Dark Tide's impact on this land, Ragunna, had still not completely faded.
"Why are you so certain?" Ray asked, watching her.
Phrolova shrugged, looking nonchalant. "A guess."
She looked toward the distant sea, fell silent for a moment, then added softly, "Why not go and confirm it with your own eyes?"
Ray was silent for a while, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. In the end, he nodded solemnly. "Alright. If there truly are traces of the Dark Tide left there... I cannot ignore it. Otherwise, the whole of Ragunna no, all of Rinascita could face the crisis of being devoured."
Why go?
How perilous the Dark Tide was. Once truly encountered, the hope of survival was minuscule.
These truths, Ray understood all too well.
But for some reason... he couldn't bring himself to ignore it.
But for some reason, he ultimately couldn't turn and walk away.
Phrolova tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, as if she had already anticipated his answer.
Still the same as ever... even if you start over a thousand times, you still can't let go of that obsession, the obsession that you must save.
Ray walked over to the fisherman who had witnessed the anomalies at Serene Bay and said, "Sir, may I borrow your gondola... temporarily?"
The man looked panicked. "Young man, have you lost your mind? You really want to go to a place like that?"
Ray nodded solemnly. "This matter is of great importance. Someone has to go and confirm it. If it's just a normal Tacet Field eruption, that's one thing, but if it really is the Dark Tide..."
At this point, his expression had already grown much more serious.
The man opened his mouth but ultimately just let out a long sigh. "Fine, fine. If you're determined to go, I'll lend you this gondola for now. But be extremely careful, it's been with me for decades, like an old companion. Make sure you bring it back in one piece."
"Mm, don't worry. I will."
With unease difficult to dispel, the crowd gradually dispersed. In the end, only Phrolova and Ray remained on the docks.
Ray walked toward the borrowed gondola, his gaze fixed on the distant Serene Bay shrouded in dark clouds. "Before setting off, we need to make some preparations."
Just then, his terminal chimed, a call from Phoebe.
"I'm s-sorry, Mr. Ray. I... I overslept."
"It's fine. If you're still sleepy, you can rest a bit longer."
"No need! I'm awake. The Sentinel says dawn is the most precious time of day! As a priest, I must strictly adhere to the precepts."
"Alright. I'll send you a coordinate. Come meet me here."
"Mm!"
After ending the call, Ray turned to look at Phrolova, she still stood quietly on the shore, arms crossed, gazing at the ominous black sea in the distance.
"I'm coming too." She suddenly turned around, as if already sensing his gaze, and walked straight up to him.
"Why are you coming?"
"None of your business."
"...This isn't a picnic."
"So reluctant to have me tag along?" Phrolova leaned in a little closer, examining his face. "Or... are you afraid I'll disturb your little priest's private time with you? Don't forget, you still owe me a favor."
Understanding the implication, Ray raised an eyebrow, his expression turning somewhat awkward.
He wasn't worried about that at all.
Only because the Dark Tide... was far too perilous.
If it truly was the Dark Tide resurfacing, encountering it would mean almost certain death.
He didn't even want Phoebe to come along, let alone Phrolova.
Some paths, in the end, could only be walked alone.
"Of course not, I just—"
"One refusal isn't enough; you want a second one?" Phrolova's brow furrowed slightly, clear displeasure in her tone.
Ray stopped short, looking at the faint resentment surfacing in her eyes, and ultimately let out a soft sigh. "...Fine, as you wish."
This gondola was slightly larger than usual ones, easily accommodating four people, let alone just the few of them.
Hearing his concession, Phrolova's expression eased somewhat. She stepped directly onto the gondola, humming a tuneless melody, and found herself a seat.
Before long, Phoebe arrived too.
She had jogged the whole way and was still slightly out of breath.
"M-Mr. Ray... I... I'm here..."
Phoebe was breathing slightly heavily, her cheeks flushed, her well-defined chest rising and falling gently with each breath.
Looking at the adorable girl before him, Ray explained the whole situation to her from start to finish.
Upon hearing "it might be the Dark Tide," her expression immediately turned worried.
"The Dark Tide? Th-that... how can that be?"
"The most recent Dark Tide was twenty years ago."
Ray spread his hands, letting out a long sigh. "Who knows?"
Phoebe gently bit her lip, speaking softly. "Perhaps... that's the reason behind the Tidebreaker Whale's abnormal frenzy. Whether it's the Dark Tide or not, we really do need to go and check."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the gondola by the shore, but she stiffened slightly the moment she clearly saw the crimson figure on the boat.
That is...
Miss Phrolova?
Why is she here?
"Is Miss Phrolova coming too?" she asked quietly.
"Mm," Ray also replied in a low voice.
"Why? It's very dangerous."
"She won't tell me."
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