#ref: lemuria

[lndslorepuzzler]

Spacepedia: Relevant Information

(Some of these are transcribed word for word, and others (generally less immediately story-relevant) are summarized for ease of reading.)

Lemuria: "An ancient marine civilization recorded in legends. It's unique, advanced technologies are difficult to use. Also, Lemurians had achieved great mastery over many art-related fields, such as music, painting, literature, architecture, and carving. In 2034, the ruins of an underwater city were discovered to the southeast of Linkon City, proving the existence of Lemuria."

Tenebra/Tenebrae: Those who broke the Hunter's Code and engage in illegal activities, like protocore smuggling. They often have ties to secret organizations and carry out covert missions behind the scenes. They are actively pursued by the Hunter's Association.

Lumiere: "In the midst of the 2034 Chronorift Catastrophe, a mysterious hunter emerged, taking down numerous formidable Wanderers and rescuing countless citizens in Linkon City. This enigmatic hunter played a crucial role in resolving the crisis. Their true identity remains shrouded in mystery, and after the catastrophe, they disappeared without a trace. They appeared again in the last two years, with rumors suggesting that they have already transformed into Tenebra."

N109 Zone: "Once a bustling technology hub, it is now one of the most dangerous areas after the catastrophe occurred. Surrounded by other no-hunt zones, it has evolved into lawless land where danger and opportunity coexsist. It is rife with violence and crime. With illicit trade and dangerous research, many of its activities are related to protocores and Wanderers. Its many benefits have driven countless outlaws to risk their lives. **The Origin of the N109 Zone's Name: "The N109 Zone, also known as No-Hunt Zone No. 109, does not belong to the 108 regions resignated officially as no-hunt zones by the Hunters Association. Prolonged energy fluctuations and dangerous Wanderers are characteristics of a no-hunt Zone. The Wanderer threat in the N109 Zone has been suppressed, but its inherent dangers persist due to the complex web of factions and poor living conditions. Consequently, it has earned the reputation of being "No-Hunt Zone No. 109 because it's difficult to enter and even more dangerous than a typical no-hunt Zone."

Onychinus: "A mysterious faction stationed in the N109 Zone. Unlike other shady groups, Onychinus is omnipresent. They have connections everywhere, forming a vast web of sin to control every illegal activity."

The Nest: An information hub moonlighting as an exclusive bar. "A complex network brimming with Intel and secrets unknown to the public."

Characters:

Tara: FMC's colleague and friend. Cute, likes divination, works in the analysis department.

Jenna: Leader of UNICORNS. Manages the FMC's Alpha Team.

Yvonne: A nurse at Akso Hospital. Gets things done with a good attitude.

Caleb: Childhood friend. Fighter pilot for the Deepspace Aviation Administration. Presumed dead.

Nero: A severely socially anxious man on the data analysis team. Very interested in Wanderers, and Lumiere.

Thomas: Qi Yu's friend, and owner of Flux Arts. Takes care of the business end of being an artist.

Talia: A famous soprano. Qi Yu's aunt.

Josephine: FMC's grandmother. Presumed dead.

Greyson: Cardiac surgeon at Akso Hospital. Witty with a good sense of humor. "However, there's a rumor that no one knows his real age..."*1

Dr. Noah: An old acquaintance of Josephine, and Li Shen's teacher. Originally responsible for the treatment of FMC's heart disease and treatment.

Jeremiah: The owner of Philo, a florist. Friends with Shen Xinghui. Has a lot of overy questionable skills, like creating identities and manipulating data.

Luke: Works for Qin Che. One half of a set. Vivacious and unpredictable.

Kieran: Works for Qin Che. One half of a set. Calm and dependable.

Mephisto: Works for Qin Che. A mechanical crow.

.

.

*1, The tin hat is ON, he's one of Shen Xinghiu's people.

[kylominis]

A new, blessed shade of romance and happiness [💗]

[thenothlng]

*transmits this directly into your brain giving you crazy ass migraines* errmm uhhh wizard pass the bonggggg

[heart2sea]

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ to swim at open sea (read on ao3)

word count: 2.1k tags: angst, hurt/comfort, ref of his card omnipotent perception, AFAB reader, periods mention, lemurian, love confessions

a/n: thinking about rafayel and his myths and everything about him makes my heart hurt so i wrote this as an outlet of some sorts LOL. also this is my first time posting my writing on tumblr yay <:o)

Sometimes, you couldn't help but wonder.

The entrancing smell of painting oils filled your nostrils–you didn't dislike it, nor it bothered you, but it was a very distinct scent that stayed trapped inside your nose for hours after being in its presence. The brush that worked them, and the hand that held it, were under your watchful, pondering gaze. The way they moved was entrancing, like the song of a siren luring a sleep deprived sailor to the restless sea; like his hands were made for creation, to mold, to bring life to his canvas and undo it when it fits his whims.

The hands of a god.

The soothing lullaby of sea waves enveloped your mind, akin to the gentle caress of a lover. Your gaze, half-lidded, on the verge of falling asleep, found itself lost on his features: delicate, graceful, noble, heavenlike. Under normal circumstances, a smile would have graced your lips—oh, so hopelessly in love, heart fluttering at the sight of your Rafayel entranced by his painting, the soft sound of the brushstrokes and both your breathing the background melody of the romantic scene. But now, you just stare, almost befuddled, trying to carve an answer out of his microexpressions and the powdery smell of his cologne.

You couldn’t help but wonder—

Why does he keep hiding from you?

Your mind went back to a brief conversation you overheard on one of your shared trips, something you weren’t supposed to hear. Not because Rafayel wouldn’t want you to, but because you knew it would eat your brain out bite by ravaging bite, until nothing but the faint humming of anxiety remained in your now empty head.

She thinks she understands me, but she doesn’t.

You never told him you overheard that.

It had been months since that trip; since then, you tried opening up with him, baring your heart out in hopes of him baring his the way you thought he already had. Before that, it angered you—it wasn’t your fault, right? You’d understand him if he explained himself better, if he stopped being so vague, averting the conversation into something else entirely when questioning him. Because he loved painting you tales of Lemuria, of its people, of the sea and its fiery currents.

But it was all very calculated, like he would rehearse the tales beforehand over and over in the vast expanse of his lonely bedroom, so nothing too sensible would spill out when telling them to you.

You have my entire heart, he’d whispered into your soul one passionate night, his eyes full of heartfelt devotion.

But did you?

One particular afternoon, he noticed how you were drifting away, irritable, unreachable. His usual playful demeanor morphed into concern with a hint of alarm; he brought it up with something simple, almost silly at first—why were your texts lacking emojis? Stickers? Instead of the usual 10 minute average between responding to his messages, now it was up to 30 minutes. Then, when you tried to laugh it off, he pointed out how you weren’t teasing him enough, or you weren’t clinging to him the way you used to, and how his jokes weren’t exactly making you laugh anymore.

You took the easy way out: your period. What a terrible excuse to use, and incredibly evil: it was one of the areas Rafayel truly lacked expertise in. He had read up on it, and it tracked. Irritability. Detachment. Pain. (Are your cramps making you feel irritable today?). All sorts of nasty symptoms you seemingly had no control of. So he believed you, and tried to give you some space and, oh—your sweet, loving angel tried so hard to understand, even when it physically pained him to keep some distance (and sometimes failed, in true Rafayel fashion) so you’d feel better.

So it broke you. You couldn’t keep the act anymore. You rushed to his house one afternoon, eyes tearing up with guilt, and smooched him with kisses. When he asked you why you were sobbing, you apologized for treating him like absolute shit in your period.

It wasn’t a lie. At most, it was a half-truth.

She thinks she understands me, but she doesn’t.

It crept through the back of your mind and stayed there, gnawing at your head, giving you migraines. It hurt. Because when the anger dissipated away, it was replaced with an empty melancholy. He tried so hard to understand you, to adapt to your land mannerisms; a sea creature that wasn’t made to walk in land, to withstand the warm temperatures of the bustling city, to spend so long away from the ocean, all that sacrifice—

And you were incapable of understanding him.

You wanted to.

You loved him.

You didn’t notice the hand waving in front of you as your gaze got lost onto nothing, seemingly looking outside the window and to the sky. It was only when its movements got more insistent and hurried that you snapped out of it.

“Helloooo? Is someone there?”

You blinked in rapid succession and shook your head as his voice brought you back to reality. Rafayel had an eyebrow raised, his palette discarded beside him as he tried to pull you back to earth. The soft glow from the setting sun gave him an ethereal look, the orange hues peeking from his massive windows functioning as some sort of real-life canvas in which he was painted on.

A smile formed in your lips as you let out a sigh. “Yes, captain. Everything A-OK over here.”

“Clearly not.” He shifted, his body facing you entirely. “I have been calling out for you for a while. Thought you were a goner.”

“So if I were actually dead, is this how you would check?” You decided to bring a playful facade to mask your turbulent feelings. Something you observed from him. “Not checking my pulse? Romantically and tragically cradling me in your arms, calling my name in hopes of me waking up?”

But there was no humor in his eyes as he carefully studied your expression. It was like he was seeing right through you, trying to piece a puzzle in the shape of you. As his eyebrows furrowed, you started to simmer excuses in your head for when he eventually asked you about it—the period excuse wouldn’t work, because you were clearly not on your period, and blaming it on PMS would feel too convenient. Maybe you could point to work-related stress? Grieving over your family again? It hurt. It hurt thinking how the first thing that came into your mind was outright lying to him instead of baring yourself to him.

And it made you wonder how it was so easy for him. To omit important information, to not open his heart out entirely for you, who was so eager to let him into your heart. 

“What’s on your mind?” He asked, one of his fingers delicately tucking a strand of your hair back. His eyes glimmered with a hint of vulnerability, as if he were afraid of the answer.

You took a deep breath, unable to break eye contact. A poignant pause filled the room as you took in the sight of his blue-magenta eyes. What were you supposed to tell him? Should he know that you heard him that time? Should he know that doubt now filled your heart where pure devotion once was?

And is.

The idea of him knowing that made your chest hurt. You should’ve been angry at him. But you couldn’t.

Your mouth opened, but nothing came out of it. Your brow furrowed and a knot tied tightly on your throat. It should be easy, lying to him, right? Like he did to you? You were entitled. It was your given right. You should’ve been furious, seething, demanding—

He backed away suddenly, painfully, clutching his chest, looking troubled as he anxiously looked for your eyes.

You’d completely forgotten about it.

The bond.

He might not know exactly why, but he could feel it, tugging at him, filling his heart with your frustration, guilt, anxiety, sadness. Alarm started bubbling in your chest.

“Cutie, I—”

“I’m sorry.” You whispered.

You averted your gaze, looking into a distant corner. The warm orange hues of the sunset had dissipated, leaving nothing but a cool blue enveloping the room. Why were you apologizing? Why were you the one apologizing? It should have been him doing it.

But you couldn’t bring yourself to it.

He had to know by that point, right? As he lowered his head, laid on the floor, and nuzzled his face into your lap—like begging for forgiveness, silently, reverently—you wondered if he knew. If he understood. 

A terrible, horrifying, disgusting thought crossed your mind for one second. It wasn’t an original thought, it wasn’t the first time you wondered about it, savoured it, felt it. What if? It would be so easy, so attainable, and it would take no effort.

To use the bond to force him to open his heart to you. 

You froze. No, you didn’t want that to happen. How ironic it would be, forcing him to be honest in such a dishonest way. What would that make you? What would that make him? 

Tears finally started falling from your face as you gently stroked his hair.

“Cutie?”

“I’m alright.” You sobbed. “It’s alright.”

He looked up with his painfully angelic doe eyes, concerned, almost terrified. Propping himself up with his elbows, he sat right up, wiping your tears with his thumbs, tenderly cradling your face. How? How could he be so tender, so loving, and yet not let you into his heart the way you wanted? The way it would benefit you two?

“I’m sorry.” You whispered, sobbing into his palm. “I’m really trying.”

He didn’t reply, his contact stilling for a moment, pondering, contemplating. His jaw tensed momentarily before resuming his loving strokes on your cheeks.

She thinks she understands me, but she doesn’t.

Because he wasn’t exactly lying. You truly didn’t understand him. If you did, perhaps you wouldn’t be sobbing big, hot tears the way you were. You wouldn’t have been in that position—him comforting you, instead of you comforting him for not being able to crack open his heart the way he wanted you to. It’s the reason why, whenever you promised him something, he’d do it the Lemurian way, insisting your human promises held no weight. Why he made you swear to the sea, its stormy gaze watching over your vow.

Still cradling your face, he rested his forehead against yours, closing his eyes, letting out a shaky breath.

Does he know?

He placed a tender kiss on your lips.

That wasn’t exactly an answer.

He then whispered something in Lemurian, foreign to your ears. It crumpled your heart, making it bleed out on the cold, hard marble floor of his studio. You didn’t have to understand it. You knew. You felt. He insisted that you didn’t need to understand the language—that you would know. You would feel it. That it was the way lemurians expressed their affection, their mother tongue being simply one of the many tools for it.

Your hands trembled as they made their way to his hands, cradling them back. You let out a shaky, vulnerable chuckle, cocooned on his apologetic warmth. How infuriating. How euphoric. Because he wasn’t lying, this once. The way it reverberated in your thumping heart, seeped into your bones, entangled within your soul that was painted with his colors—you had many doubts, questions, unspoken words; yet, for some reason, this one thing was as clear as day, even though it should be the first thing you should’ve questioned. It glowed in your shared bond and spilled in both your hearts. You exhaled.

“I love you, too. More than you believe. I swear.”

This time, he didn’t make you swear in the name of the sea; instead, he let it linger within the now darkened room, his eyes carefully taking in your features, memorizing the way your tears travelled from your cheekbones to your jaw, as if attempting to understand how important this declaration was to you.

He took a deep breath and finally, after what seemed centuries, let out a breath, a relieved, elated smile escaping from his lips. You could’ve sworn you felt his fingers tremble, just a little.

He repeated his lemurian declaration again, this time placing a tender kiss on your forehead.

You embraced him tightly, dampening his shoulder with your tears; not that either of you cared, anyway. You tangled your fingers in the violet waves of his hair, gently stroking it in soothing motions. He shuddered, almost violently, then sighed, content, and you silently smiled against his clothes as you understood.

His heart cracked open, just a little. And that was enough for now.

Your sweet Rafayel.

[lizzychanstuffss]

Remembrance: Love and Deepspace AU 3

Au premise: So, what if mc actually remembered everytime she's reincarnated, and what if she regrets the choices she's made in every single reincarnation and is finally using this timeline to try and fix it once she realizes this might be her only chance. But she is entirely unsure if the boys remember their past lives with her, so she must navigate all these feelings along with judging if they remember too. AN: Raf time, I may not be a ref girlie but god this man has such good lore I am very invested from what I have seen. Also, shout out lads lore girl Ellie! I legit wouldn't know enough about the guys to write this if she wasn't doing those summaries on tiktok. Also, this might be shorter than the others I actually have no idea I just end them when I feel like it's at a good point.

Rafayel x mc | Rafayel x Y/N | Angst | Some comedy | Just insert a vine boom anytime either of them say something sus about the past | Route: Rafayel | Other Routes

Chapter 3: Rafayel Prologue

Scrolling on your phone while you were at home, looking at different posts and videos that came across your feed. That was until a name and face crossed your feed that you hadn't expected to see. 'Rafayel's new exhibit in Linkon opening!' And as if a ghost took hold of you, you clicked on the post to look at the details. And to your surprise, it was opening today. There was a part of you that said you shouldn't go, it would hurt to much. But then there was another that desperately wanted to see and be involved in anything he was doing. So before you knew it you were getting dressed and heading out the door to the art exhibit.

You wore something simple but nice, you blended into the crowd of people coming to look at the masterworks. In truth, you had never seen any of Rafayel's paintings. Considering that he wasn't exactly a painter in your past lives. You continued deeper into the exhibit you didn't even bother looking at what type of paintings would be on display. There was a part of your mind that told you just to leave, what if you saw him? What would you even do? Spill everything instantly?

He has every right to hate you.

Letting out a soft sigh you were about to head out until something caught your attention out of the corner of your vision. It was a lone small painting. No one was really stopping to stare at it either, so against better judgment you walked over to get a better look.

The colors were beautiful you could tell he had painted this one with a different kind of care than the others. Of course taking in the full image you knew it was a painting of Lemuria, the kingdom under the sea you spent a time in. Closing your eyes as you thought back to your time together, as you thought more tears threatened to escape from you. But you simply opened your eyes and wiped away the salty mist.

"You have good taste" A familiar voice spoke to you from the side. Slowly you turned your head to see purple hair and the face of a youthful man.

You blinked a couple times before finally replying to him obviously he was eager for one. "T-thanks..." You looked back to the painting before asking "That's the kingdom of Lemuria right?" You asked even if you already knew the answer.

"Yes, no one else has been able to figure that out" He moved a bit closer to you. You just stared at him raising an eyebrow.

"So then do you study Lemuria in your free time then?" You began to ask. It was a question that depending on the answer you knew would change some things.

"I suppose you could say that, what about you, are you a scholar or something?" He playfully asked, clearly, he was treating this meeting like a game.

You always wondered if your first meeting would have always gone something like this. Trading jabs and jokes while he sassed you, you had the chance to find out before but you were to much of a coward back then to do anything about it. You even passed him in the hallways of your college a couple times. But honestly, you hoped he didn't remember those times, even if you counted every single one hoping that one day he would call out your name again and embrace you like he had before. That the two of you would run off into the sunset and elope. But that wasn't this, this was instead a sassy merman questioning your knowledge about a ruined kingdom.

"Actually I'm a hunter, I just have an interest in Lemuria" You smiled at him, it was a really fake and shitty smile, but it was a smile.

"uh huh..." He seemed unconvinced by your words gaining an eyebrow twitch from you.

"What don't you believe me?" You scoffed.

"And if I don't?" He crossed his arms a playful smirk on his lips. You could tell that he was enjoying this quite a bit. Which made you wonder.

Could he... remember?

"Let me prove it then, why don't we get coffee and I can show you my collection of books on the topic" Crossing your own arms now certain he wouldn't turn down something lik-

"Nah, don't wanna" You instantly deflated at his answer.

"Oh...." You stayed silent a moment unsure where to take this conversation after that awkwardness. "Well, I should go home then" Begining to turn around you almost walked away before Rafayel grabbed your wrist. Slowly you turned back to him waiting for his next words.

"I still want you to prove it to me, but not with some book collection" His words were slightly desperate, a slight plea in his tone. You bit your lip but slowly moved back to stand slightly closer to him.

Were you always this weak for him...maybe not but it certainly feels like it when he does something like this.

"Alright sure, but how exactly?" You raised a brow and he looked to the side pondering before he slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"I-....I don't know"

Feeling bad for the dramatic fishie now you patted his shoulder comfortingly "It's okay, so then why don't you tell me the real reason you wanted me to not leave"

He looked at you with puppy dog eyes, trying your best to contain how much this actually pulled on your heartstrings you gave him a weak smile.

"You said you were a hunter right?" He asked his cheeks puffing up slightly as he obviously was planning something. You slowly nodded.

"Well then, I'm in the market for a bodyguard"

"Will you pay me or is this a volunteer gig?" You raised a brow as you spoke, as much as you would drop your entire hunter career to be his bodyguard, you knew that wasn't exactly a smart choice fiancely especially if he didn't remember you.

"It can be" He shrugged a bit.

"Either you pay me or I leave"

"Deal" He gave you those puppy dog eyes again almost as if he needed this as much as you did. Sighing you nodded.

"Alright, well I guess you have a new bodyguard on your payroll Rafayel" You winked at him unable to stop from teasing the man. His ears turned red as he puffed out his cheeks.

"You can go for now then...come to my studio tomorrow and we can work out the details" He crossed his arms as he spoke before walking away before you got to ask where his studio even was.

"Welp...see you later Rafayel" You smiled to yourself before turning to leave the exhibit.

[dimitaralekseevdimitrov]

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[dire-vulture]

the size charts going around right now are wonderful but I had a few things I see differently, so I figured I’d make my own too! with my own dragons because wow do i like making things harder having to work with color schemes dsaddsf also i wish i used an m pose imp but i really wanted to use Zaffre. i originally had Moraine too but. it got crowded and there was an imbalance of left facing and right facing poses. sorry moraine dsafds

so in general i have it, with them in order from biggest and smallest:

Large: Ridgeback, Imperial, Guardian, Gaoler

Midsize: Coatl, Banescale, Bogsneak, Mirror, Wildclaw, Snapper, Pearlcatcher, Nocturne, Skydancer

Small: Tundra, Spiral, Fae

but yeah really the only things to note I guess? I see Mirrors as on the larger side for mid-size breeds, and Coatls straggle between being midsize and large. the smallest guardians and gaolers are definitely eye level with the largest coatls haha. i also tend to group tundras with the small breeds, though there still is a rather stark difference between average faes and spirals vs the largest tundras

and of course, all dragons have ranges, some bigger than others. ridgebacks vary between 14m and 24m after all o.o and the midsize ones all tend to fall in about the same 4-8m range, so big skydancers generally will be bigger than small bogsneaks haha

tbh i think i would still have them all be a little closer in size than what i ended up with here? trying to deal with dragging around 16 layers at once was a lot sddsfds

[sebastianshaw]

omg I’m about to start post but some mega-nerdery just hit me Ok, remember in “Eternals” when Sprite makes a crack about building a giant ship and taking two of every animal? And obviously that’s a reference to Noah’s Ark, but it’s double funny if you’re an Eternals nerd like me because AN ETERNAL ACTUALLY DID THAT IN THE COMICS! See, in Marvel, during  18,000 BC (though the date wobbles around a lot) there was a Great Flood. There’s different explanations for it, like one involves the Atlanteans and another involves Dagon of the Annunaki and another involves a set of magical gems BUT according to Eternals lore, the Deviants (which are a sentient semi-humanoid species in the comics, not animals) had gotten out of control and enslaved humanity, causing the wrathful Second Host of the Celestials via the Great Flood, destroyed most of the Deviants and their stronghold city of Lemuria, causing it to sink below the ocean.  An Eternal called Utnapishtim, who bears the name of the same figure from Mesopotamian myth,  survived and built an ark in order to save some human beings as well as animals from the flooding. Later, Ikaris came to guide them to a mountain top, where the ark could embark to restart society. . . .so. Yeah. Lil ref there I think. Or coincedence and I’m just a nerd.

[eirecrescent]

If you enjoy meditation, you’ll definitely appreciate this stone! Lemurian Seed Crystals have intense growth lines on the sides allowing your thumb to rub along them. It’s believed that ancient messages of Love, Light and Wisdom from Lemuria are kept inside and can be accessed during meditation.

This Quartz Lemurian has such nice clarity and growth lines! View it on etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/616568091/lemurian-seed-quartz-crystal-meditation?ref=shop_home_active_31

[lndslorepuzzler]

World Underneath: Long Lost Treasures

01: Submerged Rock: Raincoat has Tony, a film director, unconscious and tied up in the trunk of his car. He takes Tony's phone, unlocks it, and goes through the audio files.

.

02: Audio File No.1: Mo Art Studio: Tony converses with Qi Yu about how he plans to use Lemuria as a setting for his new film, and how he was directed to Qi Yu by the Deepspace Academy, since Qi Yu is "an expert in Lemuria, and (he) just returned from a trip." Qi Yu brushes him off, and tells him to ask the archaeological team that was sent to find the ruins of Lemuria, even if they don't tell him much, since "(he) heard things didn't go too well for them."

.

03: Audio File No.2: Disappearance: Tony meets with the handyman from the expedition team sent by the Deepspace Academy: the other four members being Sean, Yennifer, Eleanor, and Fred. He explains how their submersible disappeared for a week, and that Eleanor and Fred both quit from the DA after an argument. Shortly after, another member of the crew, Yennifer, disappeared. The handyman found her camera, which had a deleted video clip on it. He tried to contact her with no success, and when he tried to contact the others, only Sean answered, and "sounded weird, not energetic at all. And as soon as (he) mentioned archaeology, he hung up."

---New Audio Clip: Memo 1: Tony talks about how making a Lemurian mystery might be better, seeing as he hasn't been able to contact anyone: that Eleanor, Fred and Yennifer have practically vanished from the face of the earth. He wants to talk to Sean as soon as possible.

04: Audio File No.3: Blue Fish: Tony meets with Sean, who is packed up for a trip. As soon as Tony mentions Lemuria, Sean tries to avoid the subject. Tony insists he's just looking for material for his film script, and Sean eventually explains that his "sense of reality changed because of (his) time in Lemuria." He tells Tony about how after the submersible malfunctioned in the middle of a whirlpool, a school of blue fish appeared, and guided the team to the ruins. Tony asks if they might have been Lemurian machines, and Sean insists they were real fish, "with their own thoughts and feelings."

Sean also tells Tony that they saw a person "dressed just like (them)" in Lemuria, but has nothing more to say. Tony asks how the submersible could have malfunctioned, seeing as it was in contact with the main ship the whole time, and Sean sees him out.

---New Audio Clip: Memo 2: Tony considers what Sean told him, and concludes that something must have happened, and that at least the video is being restored.

.

05: Audio File No.4: Shadow Underneath: One of Tony's associates gives him the phone with one frame of the video and the call history restored.

---New Audio Clip: Memo 3: Tony finds that the image is of a skeleton in human dress wielding a protocore weapon of some kind. He wonders if the city didn't sink naturally as was previously assumed. He picks up Fred's phone, and starts going through the call logs.

.

06: Audio File No.5: Conflict: In a voice message to Eleanor, Fred tells her that he's leaving, and that someone has been stalking them since they got back from Lemuria. He tells her that nothing to do with Lemuria ever ends well, and that the protocore weapons they saw/found implicate the Ever Group. He tells her that Sean and Yennifer "are naive to think it's Lemuria's God." Fred tells Eleanor that by continuing to research Lemuria, she's putting them all in danger, and that she should leave the DA and forget everything related to Lemuria.

---New Audio Clip: Memo 4: Tony finds it strange that Fred thought the Ever Group would be spying on a group of scientists who went to Lemuria, though he wonders if Fred "(disappeared) on his own? Or did Ever" Group have something to do with it. The audio file ends with someone (presumably Raincoat) approaching Tony, and Tony panicking/screaming.

Raincoat decides it's no wonder Tony is on Ever Group's execution list, since he knew someone had dug up a protocore weapon in the ruins. He starts to toss the phone back into the trunk, but a manifested flame destroys it in the palm of his hand, followed by a voice saying, "Niiice. I got both the person and the evidence in one go."

Qi Yu appears from the far end of the dock, and Raincoat realizes there's nowhere he could have come from, save the sea directly behind him. They have a short conversation about how it's dangerous for Raincoat to know too much, and he might be next on Ever Group's hit list. Raincoat knows that Qi Yu's appearance isn't a casual drop-in.

Qi Yu notes that anyone on Ever Group's execution list dies or disappears. He offers to let Raincoat work for him, in exchange for any information about "a girl." He says, "If her name's on the list, then give everything about her to me," though Raincoat knows only "that person" has access to the full list, but Qi Yu obviously knows he's not the trading partner.

He gives Qi Yu the address of The Nest, and tells him that tomorrow night, whether or not Qi Yu gets the list "depends on his negotiation skills." Qi Yu says the lights there are "blinding," and that the person behind Raincoat must feel the same.

Raincoat asks if the girl is Qi Yu's enemy, and Qi Yu tells him that she's his lover. He asks if Qi Yu knows that he's also on the list, ranked sixth.; Qi Yu frowns and wonders why he's not first. *1

Raincoat considers the "sea monster murders" that occurred in other cities, the outsiders the Ever Group called "research samples" that he and other Raincoats have dealt with. He asks if he's on Qi Yu's list; Qi Yu informs him that he's not, not yet, and tells him to let Tony go, since it's better if he has less blood on his hands.

Qi Yu does refuse a handshake, and starts to walk away before turning around and telling Raincoat that his outfit doesn't suit him.

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*1, See Main Story Under Deepspace: Moonlight Under Sea.

A side note: Qi Yu's bounty is 24,071,300; 'Lumiere's' bounty is top, 100mil.

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[indierockdj]

Wanted To Be Yours by Lemuria http://soundcloud.com/lemuria2017/05-wanted-to-be-yours-cd-ref

[lndslorepuzzler]

World Underneath: Micro-Universe

01: Art Appreciation and Criticism: Michael, who has been working in the Gaia Research Center, is glad to be out of the building. Back on campus, between his thesis and job applications, there is an elective class to look forward to: Art Appreciation and Criticism. 

Most of the course evaluations make commentary about how handsome the professor is, how nitpicky he is, and how the best way to skip class is to bring a cat “but honestly, who would want to miss this?” 

Michael, who has met Qi Yu before, is amused by all of these comments.

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02: Lesson One: Michael met Qi Yu as a student; he was late to class, but took notes studiously; as a science student, he valued “clarity and communication,” which made his first conversation with Qi Yu all the more interesting. Instead of being “enigmatic and aloof,” Qi Yu helped Michael get his notes in line, and suggested he sit front and center at the next lecture, mostly so he could use Michael’s excellent notes to get himself back on track after losing his thought mid-lecture. “It (happened) when (his) ideas (got) a little too tangled.”

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03: True Colors: Michael considered Qi Yu’s class as a break, but found that he truly enjoyed the world of art when Qi Yu brought in one of his own pieces for students to critique; Michael couldn’t connect with their perspectives. When prompted to share his opinions with the class, Michael says the painting looks messy to him, but the colors are strong, and the piece is calming to look at. Qi Yu tells him that his instinct was spot-on, that the piece is the result of venting about Thomas. Michael is “surprised that Qi Yu even remembered his major.” The experience opened the art world for him, and makes his own world feel very small and grey.

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04: Absurdity & Negative Space: The midterm exams gave Michael a taste of the pressure in the class. The art majors were to get their work critiqued, and the non-art majors were going to learn how to appreciate it. The vibes were decidedly serious and anxious; Qi Yu’s commentary makes them nervous. After class, Michael speaks with one of the art majors about their piece, and the student comments, “No wonder Qi Yu likes you.” Michael is confused, but makes a decision about his final project.

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05: Field Trip: On a class trip to Verona, Qi Yu is down-to-earth and approachable. He catches Qi Yu in a courtyard, and just as he’s about to leave, Qi Yu tells him to “take that away!” “That” is a cat; Qi Yu thanks him by name for removing it. 

“For a long time, it was the only interaction that put Michael at ease. It somehow even lightened the nine-kilo cat in his arms. After all, back in the lab, he was just “that Linkon intern” or S460602, his staff number.” 

At Qi Yu’s final class of the semester, Michael and the other students engage in conversation about the experiences, critiques and other facets of the class. Michael waits until most of the other students have left before giving Qi Yu his final project: an image of LCMECs, “cells from the lab where he spends most of his days and nights.” He explains that they’re a type of immortalized cell, and that they remind him of Qi Yu’s paintings. 

“The splendid microscopic world, teeming with life under high magnification, has become Michael’s sanctuary in the sterile, grey lab. He steps forward, energized, but his next words are stuck in his throat. Qi Yu wasn’t listening to him. His gaze is fixed, almost glued, to the name of that cell.  Confused by the professor’s intense focus, Michael racks his brain to remember the full name of the cells. LCMECs… Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells. As for the first word, it was Lem-something.”

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06: LCMECs: Michael is on his way to EVER HQ, three months in. When he asks a familiar face where LCMECs come from, he’s told to keep his curiosity to himself, and having too much knowledge will just get him in trouble. He has a feeling about it, but it��s a wild guess, at best.

Michael remembers the final art appreciation class; when Qi Yu had held the paper up to the window. 

“The setting sun, just like today’s, cast a soft glow through the paper. A gust of wind tapped the window, and the microscopic universe on the paper seemingly came alive. Ting colored blocks transformed into miniature colorful fish, their tails flickering as they danced from Qi Yu’s fingertips into the dusty air. “Professor?” Michael approached him cautiously, unsure if he should interrupt.  “Question. Do you typically extract cells from living subjects? Or are they…” Michael was surprised by Qi Yu’s unexpected inquiry. “It depends honestly. I’m not privy to that information. I’ll have to check with the lab. Next time I’m there, I’ll put in a request.”  “Ah… Don’t worry, I was just curious. But tell me, what do you think of these cells?” 

Michael explains that Qi Yu’s class has helped him to find his passion again, because the LCMECs are the “perfect blend of biology and art.” Qi Yu agrees that “biology is a fascinating subject… a masterpiece painted by nature itself.” 

Qi Yu tells him, “Michael, if you achieve great things in biology, never forget that.”

[lndslorepuzzler]

Under Deepspace 07: Moonlight Under Sea, pt 1-11

01: Investigation: Using the high-level access, FMC manages to find a news article from two years ago; a man shot and killed in his apartment, with no evidence about anything. After listening to the recording*1 and viewing the video, she gets an offer to take a bounty: the bounty on Qi Yu's head.

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02: Canvas Enigmas: FMC heads to Qi Yu's place, where she finds him on the floor. Luckily he's not dead, only asleep. All over the floor are sketches, each labeled with 'Lemuria.' When Qi Yu wakes up, he asked FMC to help him up; if she chooses to, Qi Yu yanks her to the floor, and they go out to eat. While at lunch with Qi Yu, FMC lets him know there's a bounty on his head in/from the N109 Zone, which he is already aware of.*2 He also notes that someone has been following them, and the two of them make plans to give the pursuer the slip.

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03: Secret Tracking: As it turns out, their follower is a reporter, looking for gossip re: Qi Yu's possible involvement in Raymond's death by drowning, as his painting vanished from Raymond's room without anyone else being in or out. There were also rumors that Raymond had cut up the skin of his arms and legs to look like fish scales. After some sufficient threatening, Qi Yu lets the reporter go with the suggestion that he make up for his reckless behavior by finding out who exactly has been spreading the rumors/trying to cover up information in the first place.

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04: Under the Waves: FMC and Qi Yu have a quiet moment in a sky garden; Qi Yu mentions that he daydreams in his studio all the time, and has difficulty remembering what the real world is actually like. He thanks FMC for "bringing (him) out of his dreams today." When FMC begins to leave, Qi Yu reminds her that they still haven't gone to find a replacement for the coral stones for his paintings. FMC is less than enthused, until Qi Yu offers his help to get her into N109. He says, "when you see the big picture, you need to use some bait... Trade intel for intel, gamble to make gambles with higher stakes. But whether or not you can play the game is up to you." He tells her that if she decides she wants to go through with it, she can meet him at Whitesand Bay the next day. She goes, of course; as it turns out, and according to Thomas, Qi Yu has rented a rowboat "for a date."

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05: Set Sail: Qi Yu and FMC head for Hat Island*3 while conversing about how Qi Yu is going to try and obtain a protocore to make paint. There's some exasperated banter, and just after making a comment about how he'd rather swim, the trip is interrupted by a very sudden incoming wave. The two of them arrive at Hat Island somewhat worse for wear. Interestingly, FMC says she's the reason they made it to shore in the first place, while Qi Yu announces that "(he'd) rather float in the sea than be on land."

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06: Spring Excursion: On the island, FMC explains field trips to Qi Yu, and he suggests that FMC resonate with the coral to see if she can pick up any Metaflux fluctuations; he stops her from accidentally breaking it, and assists her in resonating; he says, "Everything in this world has a unique, unmatchable frequency. That's why each life is isolated. But your Evol allows you to change your frequency. You can resonate with others. If you open your heart, you can establish a connection. And share your power."*4 It works, which visibly startles Qi Yu, and some Wanderers show themselves.

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07: COMBAT

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08: Weak Fiends: Qi Yu gives FMC the protocore they obtained. FMC is surprised that her resonating with the coral had any effect at all; she and Qi Yu decide to camp for the night. A cat with a metaflux injury makes itself known. Qi Yu is extremely upset about it.

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09: Withstanding the Storm: FMC drags Qi Yu to find the cat, which scratches him. Almost immediately, a 'Deluge Wyrmlord' arrives. It attacks, and Qi Yu splits the water with his Evol. He says, "Guess you like my blood a lot more, huh? Sorry to break it to you, but my fire can never be extinguished."*5

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10: COMBAT

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11: Indomitable Spirit: After defeating the Wanderer, FMC and QI Yu are dragged out into the ocean; seeing Qi Yu in the water, FMC tries to head toward him. After a brief exchange (and a flashback scene where Qi Yu says, "It's settled then. If you don't return, I'll... I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth.") FMC starts to sink, and Qi Yu is going to let her. He only hesitates because he 'hears' FMC ask him not to go. A little red fish appears over his heart. He reaches her, and says, "You forgot everything. Yet, you still insist... All right... This is your choice." His eyes flash completely blue, instead of their usual blue-pink, and we are given a glimpse of his 'real' Lemurian body as he heads towards the surface.

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*1, In hindsight, we will recognize this voice as Qin Che. It's likely that the two people with him are Luke and Kieran. *2, See World Underneath: Long Lost Treasures. *3, The MERMAN is taking his (probably) Long Lost Love out on a goddamn ROWBOAT. Just so we're all on the same page. *4, I believe this is the cleanest explanation of what exactly FMC's Evol is truly capable of, so far. *5, It can be universally agreed that it's a bit strange for the mermaid to have fire Evol, though that doesn't explain why the Wanderer appears after Qi Yu's blood, specifically. There may be some background lore happening there; also, I'm not entirely sure the English translation is 100% accurate.

[lndslorepuzzler]

Under Deepspace 02: The First Mission, pt 01-13

01: In UNICORNS: After a night of bad sleep, FMC is given a Draumril by an OTTO-CSE unit. She heads up to the Alpha Team offices where she meets Nero, a man who appears to be extremely knowledgeable about Wanderers.*1 She draws the eye from last night, but he doesn't recognize it. Jenna tells Nero to head back to Data Analytics, and that if he's going to insist on hiding in this office, he should get a transfer. Jenna gives FMC an assignment, and a motorcycle to use to get there (270HM.)

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02: Close Encounter:*2 FMC is given a mission to check for Wanderers in the home of Mr. Raymond, the client's (Henry's) employer, who has been exhibiting "abnormal behavior." On the way, she meets Li Shen; his car has broken down, and he was on his way to Raymond's place to check on him as a doctor; Raymond is a former patient with congenital heart disease. Li Shen isn't keen on getting on the motorcycle, but does so. FMC teases him about it the entire time. They arrive at Raymond's house and enter to the sight of an "odd skeleton"*3 in a tank in the center of the room. Li Shen heads up to Raymond's 'collection room.'

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03: Powder Keg: FMC finds the skeleton to be suspicious, but there's nothing outstandingly strange about it. She accidentally overhears Li Shen and Raymond talking through the door: it is implied that there is a very known/distinct reason for Raymond's continued improving vital signs. He says that Li Shen's colleague (presumably Carter) praised him, and that Xander Sciences would provide him with the best accommodations, including the best treatment. Li Shen is uninterested in anything he has to say. Li Shen speaks to the FMC, who observes that his hand is covered in faint, countless scars. She teases him and promises to never be late to another appointment, when a ripple of Metaflux disrupts them; its resonance trail leads straight into the collection room, where Raymond is unconscious on the floor. Li Shen and FMC confront the Wanderer.

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04: COMBAT

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05: Artsy Dreams: Li Shen calls for immediate evacuation for Raymond. FMC makes note of the Wanderer (Intelligentia, Threat Level B, no protocore) observes the oil painting on the wall: an image of a "brilliantly blue sea with cascading white waves... at the edge of the sea, the water is gradually stained crimson like something is being torn apart, swallowed, and coalescing into a blood clot." She experiences a hallucination of a girl by the shore, her lower body submerged in the water. Li Shen uses a frozen cup to snap her out of it. She suspects that the painting was infused with Metaflux, and may also have been the Wanderer's hiding place. Li Shen goes with Raymond to the hospital, FMC arranges for the painting to be taken back to UNICORNS headquarters for analysis.

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06: Next Target: Upon heading back to HQ, FMC finds out that the painting was sold by Thomas from Flux Arts, and that the artist is Qi Yu, whom she has already met ("He's that rambling weirdo with the fish?!") She notes that the photo of him is very different from the person she met. Arrangements are made for her to meet with Thomas; while waiting, she walks around the empty, silent gallery, and is told about Ebb Day/Day of Ebbing by an AI of Qi Yu.

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07: Heard About It: The AI leads FMC around the gallery, and is shown a hologram version of the painting Raymond purchased. The AI explains that the inspiration/story for the painting was a dream: "I dreamed I turned into a fish. I swam and swam and swam from the deep sea, seeking a place beyond the water's surface. Only to end up in blood-red seawater. It was the first time I ever saw such a color. Who knows how many years I've spent trying to recreate it. But I never really could get that same shade of red."

FMC meets Thomas; she explains that she's not accusing Qi Yu of anything, but since the Wanderer could have been anywhere between point A (the studio) and point B (Raymond's home,) precautions need to be taken. Thomas notes he had to nag Qi Yu to get him to sell the painting, and that more than a dozen people have been in contact with the painting. It's noted that Qi Yu is exceptionally difficult to work with. FMC notices some coral stones that have faint Metaflux fluctuations, and asks to take one with her when she meets Qi Yu. Thomas tells her where to go ("His memory is nonexistent, so the door's open. You can just walk right in.")

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08: Studio Encounter: FMC arrives at Mo Art Studio and meets Qi Yu. He recognizes her, and appears to be alarmed at her presence. There is a quicktime event to see if she catches him, or gets out of his way when he falls off the ladder he's sitting on.

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09: Coral Stone Mystery: Qi Yu and FMC converse; she notes he's more talkative than any interviews would lead a person to believe. He points out that she's not there to check on the fish, and that while he heard some strange noises while painting, he didn't see any Wanderers ("I'm not an animal that can use my ears to locate some prey.") He's also annoyed that Thomas sent her, and gave her the coral stone he uses to refine for pigment, and informs her he's only used it for one painting.

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10: Fiery Blood: FMC concludes that Qi Yu knew about Raymond's erratic behavior, that it is connected to Qi Yu in some way, and if he's not going to tell the truth, it won't just be her coming to see him next time. Qi Yu is annoyed, and summons his dagger. He cuts his finger, lets a drop of blood fall on the coral stone in her hand, and both of them watch as it conjures an illusion. A Wanderer appears right after. *4

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11: COMBAT

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12: Unfair Deal: FMC notes that the Metaflux in the stone is stronger, possibly because of Qi Yu's blood. She asks where he got the coral stone, and he dodges the question, claiming he might have bartered with Sardinian locals or suchlike; explaining that unless she acts as his bodyguard until he finds a replacement for it, he won't give her the little sample book. *5 FMC decides to do it, and Qi Yu says he will let her know the time and place, and that '(his) safety is in her hands.'

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13: In Hot Pursuit: On the train, FMC is told that a stele was found at the abandoned base where she met Shen XInghui, despite the fact that the base specialized in researching protocores. A Wanderer attacks the train. At a vending machine nearby, Shen Xinghui waits for an energy drink while getting a directive from Jenna: "Go help out your new teammate. We didn't expect things to escalate so quickly." When she tells him she'll send over his teammates info, Shen Xinghui tells her not to bother, because they've already met before. Jenna tells him to protect her; Shen Xinghui says, "She doesn't need protection."

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*1, Think Dr. Newton Geiszler from Pacific Rim; that's the vibe. *2, This event occurs 2 days after her check-in with Li Shen. *3, See post Bouquets and Dirges. *4, It's reasonable to extrapolate that Qi Yu's blood is what caused the Wanderer to appear; see Moonlight Under Sea, pt9. *5, This is the part where he claims he can't lift a paintbrush. With his left hand. When he's shown to be right-handed.

[lndslorepuzzler]

World Underneath: Bouquets and Dirges

01: Emerald Vines: Qi Yu and Charles discuss flowers in advance of Talia's wedding. Charles, who has seen a portrait of a girl in Qi Yu's sketchbook, reminds him that he can choose flowers anytime; Qi Yu tells him to mind his own business. A short while later, Qi Yu and Talia are on a phone call talking; Qi Yu won't be coming to Talia's wedding. ("Why are you so stingy with your blessings?"---"I blessed you when you made the pact. Any more would be pointless.") Qi Yu gives Charles a sketch of the bouquet; there is a brief discussion about modifications. Qi Yu seems disinclined to talk about whatever he's thinking about.

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02: Wedding: A group of Lemurians gossip about Talia and (presumably) her partner. Qi Yu spots someone he hasn't seen since 'the disaster' playing an ancient Lemurian instrument. Talia and Qi Yu discuss that Raymond is dead. (T: "We can all get a good night's sleep for now."---QY: "Yeah, for now.") Talia mentions that 'some people' still don't realize how important it is to have an anchor; Qi Yu tells her Lemuria is more important. (T: "Lemuria will always be important. But what about you? When your own heart is devouring you, is there anything that can pull you back? Can you really let her go? Qi Yu, have you ever thought about your own wedding?"---QY: "No.") Qi Yu leaves, special attention paid to the fact that "the bustling scenery... doesn't belong to him."

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03: Gardenia: Gardenias represent freedom, happiness, and rebirth. Qi Yu chooses the arrangement and tells Charles he intends to give it to a relative's daughter; he intends to take it to her funeral.

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04: Lament: Qi Yu attends Raymond's funeral. When he sets the bouquet, he makes sure it's facing the mermaid skeleton. He gives his respects; Talia sings a dirge. ("He knows who Talia is singing for, just as she knows who Qi Yu came here for.") As he tries to leave, an older woman very loudly accuses him of being a murderer. Everybody is watching.

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05: Bouquet: Qi Yu goes to visit Talia in Verona. As he leaves, she gives him a flower from her (wedding?) bouquet. He recognizes a lot of the street performers ("Everyone was looking for an anchor. It's why they're still here.")

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06: Glorious: Qi Yu obtains a bouquet of fire lilies from Charles. He walks for a long time, but doesn't seem to come to any real decision. ("Under the night sky, the black waves haven't fully rolled in. For now he still has a chance to get a good sleep./ Until he must face the never-ending tsunami in his dreams alone.")

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1, is Verona the city Qi Yu visits with FMC in Omnipotent Perception?