Traps in the Depths of Memory

Yuri and Magnan stood on the streets of the deserted town, wearing the same bewildered expressions. Their minds had clearly been disturbed, their senses blocked, and all their consciousness trapped behind some heavy "curtain"—exactly the same state Daniel had been in not long ago.

Gawain came before the two Sleeper archbishops, but before using his own special nature to help them regain consciousness, he first glanced at Daniel.

"Within The Sleeper Cult, how do priests above the rank of bishop usually regard the 'Outworld Wanderers'?"

Daniel thought for a moment before answering respectfully, "Your existence alone is enough to fill the vast majority of Sleepers with fear and dread. However, priests above the rank of bishop must consider more than ordinary believers. While they fear you, they also analyze your actions and speculate about your possible position..."

"Oh? Speculate about my position?" Gawain immediately grew somewhat interested. "What kind of position?"

"Bishops and archbishops believe that every Outworld Wanderer possesses a 'mission' beyond mortal comprehension, and that all your actions revolve around that mission. They believe conflict with you should be avoided whenever possible, since it offers no benefit. Some bishops believe Outworld Wanderers possess no inherent good, evil, or allegiance—that you and your kind are merely passersby in this world, and this world is only a temporary stop in your eyes. A very small number of bishops believe that limited, cautious contact with Outworld Wanderers is not necessarily a bad thing. Although the Sleeper Cult's first contact with you did not begin on friendly terms, your activities in Ansu have shown that you do not mind establishing cooperation and connections with other mortals..."

Gawain rubbed his chin, feeling as though the Sleepers had mistaken him for some kind of huge neutral wild monster...

Did these shut-in technicians really survive