Keepers of Secrets and "Sailors"

This time, Sun Extinction occurred near dusk—so not long after the sky was relit, sunlight gradually faded from the horizon.

Phenomenon 001's brilliant double Rune Ring slowly sank into the sea. As the last wisp of sunset vanished from the sky, night fell—and in the districts that could not be directly illuminated by the "luminous geometric body," the chilly radiance of World's Creation and the night shrouded everything as usual.

The city fell silent. Gas lamps along the streets cast slightly murky light into the night, and patrolling Guardian Squads passed through the lanes, leaving long shadows at intersections—Sun Extinction felt like an unreal dream, gradually melting away into the darkness.

Yet Duncan could sense that this "nightmare" had not truly faded as it appeared to have—an oppressive atmosphere still lingered over the city. Within these quiet neighborhoods, tension and unease grew in the night like thick sludge.

"...Every household has lit all their lamps, and the air is full of nervousness," Shirley muttered as she lay against the living room window, watching the street outside. "I definitely don't want to go out there right now... Feels like I can barely breathe."

A'gou shook his head beside her. "There are at least twice as many guards outside today. If you went out now, the night patrol would pin you down immediately. Breathing? Then the captain would have to bail us out of jail again, and then you really wouldn't be able to breathe..."

Vana leaned beside the window and glanced down at Shirley, who was sprawled across the sill. "I didn't expect you to be so sensitive to the atmosphere."

"I know this feeling well. The gas lamps in the lower district always came on later than those in other neighborhoods. When night approached, lots of families couldn't afford electric