This Gate led to the Lost Homeland.
The letters on the doorframe were cast in brass. They looked as if they had endured the passage of a century. Under the spirit-flame lantern and the chaotic Faint Light filling the ship's cabins, every stroke of those letters seemed coated in congealed time, carrying an ancient and mysterious air.
Duncan stared at the line of letters for several seconds, then turned away expressionlessly.
Alice's voice immediately came from beside him. "Huh? Captain, are we leaving already? Shouldn't we check this door? We don't even have to open it..."
"There's nothing left to see. This is already the end of the lower deck," Duncan said casually.
But just then, a faint knocking sound suddenly reached them, making him stop.
Duncan turned around and looked at Alice behind him. Alice nervously glanced around before finally turning toward the dark wooden door. "It sounds like it's coming from behind this door..."
Duncan stood still, his expression grave as he watched the wooden door that had suddenly begun knocking. He waited patiently for several seconds before hearing two more knocks—the sound was weak and muffled, as though separated by an immensely heavy curtain, as if the door were wrapped in something invisible. But it was no illusion.
After a brief but intense deliberation, he finally returned to the door. Alice moved closer as well, anxiously watching for whatever might happen next.
Duncan held the lantern in one hand and gripped his longsword tightly in the other, carefully examining the dark wooden door before him. Only then did he suddenly notice that the door was not completely shut—there was a gap at its side, barely a centimeter wide.
The door was ajar, as if someone had forgotten to close it after leaving in a hurry. Or perhaps