Vanna hesitated for a moment, briefly weighing what she should reveal to the psychiatrist standing across the room. Eventually, she nodded slowly, her voice cautious. "This aligns closely with what the bishop and I suspected earlier. Continue, Doctor Heidi—please, tell me exactly what you found."
Heidi adjusted her glasses, gesturing to the restrained figure slumped in the interrogation chair. The prisoner's eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, his breathing shallow, yet steady. "These cultists' memories and cognitive processes have been severely altered long before the ritual that we interrupted. It seems as though their perception of reality had been compromised, not by trauma from the failed sacrifice, but much earlier—possibly weeks or even months prior."
She paused, frowning slightly as she sorted through her notes. "In essence, their minds were under a carefully crafted cognitive filter. They were conditioned not to perceive certain things, and to rationalize abnormal phenomena as perfectly normal. This goes beyond simple fanaticism—it's a sophisticated form of mental manipulation."
Vanna felt a chill ripple down her spine. It was precisely the same kind of influence she herself had experienced on the night they stormed the ritual site beneath the city streets—an unnatural compulsion to ignore glaringly obvious anomalies. Her voice came out quiet, almost distant. "And this mental manipulation… was it from an external source?"
"Yes, definitely external," Heidi affirmed gravely. "This wasn't something naturally developed due to fear or indoctrination. Rather, it feels like a deliberate alteration placed within their subconscious minds—someone or something intentionally reshaped their perceptions."
"Can you pinpoint when this manipulation began?" Vanna pressed, eyes narrowing. "Did any specific events trigger it?"
Heidi shook her head slightly. "It's difficult to be precise. The manipulation is subtle and insidious, carefully hiding itself within ordinary, everyday experiences. But judging by the depth of their cognitive distortion, it probably began at least two months ago. Possibly longer."
Two months… Vanna quickly mentally traced the timeline. The cult had been quiet and seemingly inactive for years—then, roughly two months ago, they began stirring once more. A hidden manipulation, seeping unnoticed into the minds of these cultists, preparing them for something terrible.
"Were you able to identify the nature of this manipulation? Any indication of who or what might have caused it?" Vanna asked cautiously.
Heidi hesitated visibly this time, glancing uncertainly at the prisoner. After a few seconds, she spoke slowly, her voice lowered. "I discovered recurring symbols in their subconscious—consistent imagery of sunlight, flames, and a fragmented, shattered disk. They frequently refer to the concept of a 'broken sun,' though they themselves seem unaware of what exactly this means. It's… strange. Like they're chasing after a shadow of an idea, something ancient, fragmented, and distorted."
Vanna tensed. "A broken sun?"
"Yes," Heidi nodded solemnly. "It appeared over and over again, buried deep beneath the layers of their consciousness. It's not something they consciously understood or even acknowledged, but it appears fundamental to their conditioning."
Vanna turned abruptly, pacing restlessly across the interrogation room. She remembered the visions she'd had—the sun rising from beneath the city, burning through streets and buildings, the ghostly ship engulfed in green flames. Could this "broken sun" be connected to the ancient sun these cultists worshipped? More specifically, was it related to the entity known as the Heirs of the Sun?
She stopped abruptly, looking back at Heidi. "This broken sun—is it related directly to the entity they worship? Do you think the 'Heirs of the Sun' mentioned in ancient texts are behind this manipulation?"
"I believe it's very likely," Heidi replied gravely. "These cultists appear to be mere tools—puppets controlled by more powerful entities. The level of sophistication behind this mental manipulation is far beyond ordinary psychological methods. It feels ancient, alien, and extremely dangerous."
Vanna took a deep breath, composing herself. "Did you find anything else? Any indication of why this manipulation was necessary? What goal they hoped to achieve through this?"
"That's the strange part," Heidi admitted, looking puzzled. "Even under deep hypnosis, I couldn't get a clear answer. Their memories were fragmented, scattered, as if intentionally destroyed or concealed. The only consistent element is that the recent sacrifice was supposed to serve as a catalyst for some kind of 'awakening.' But exactly what kind of awakening, and how it would be achieved, I'm afraid they don't seem to know."
Vanna frowned deeply, absorbing Heidi's words. It all pointed toward something hidden and sinister—ancient forces manipulating human minds, driving them toward unknowable goals. The implications were troubling.
She nodded to Heidi, finally making up her mind. "Thank you, Doctor. This information is invaluable. Continue your work—try to recover as many memories and details as you can. We must know the full extent of their plans."
"Of course," Heidi assured her, gathering up her medical instruments. "I'll keep you informed if I discover anything new."
Vanna left the interrogation room quietly, stepping back into the softly illuminated corridor beneath the cathedral. She paused briefly before the statue of the Quiet Sea Maiden, taking comfort from the calm, steady presence of the goddess who represented serenity and protection.
After a moment's reflection, she straightened and headed swiftly for the stairs. Her mind was already turning over the next steps. She needed to inform Bishop Valentine of Heidi's discoveries—ancient manipulations, broken suns, mysterious awakenings, and perhaps, above all, the subtle yet profound threat looming over their city.
As Vanna ascended from the quiet depths of the cathedral's underground chambers into the bustling halls above, her thoughts raced relentlessly. These revelations were deeply unsettling, fitting neatly into the picture already forming in her mind, but adding new layers of complexity.
Manipulation of perception, fragmented memories, hidden symbols of ancient suns—this was a threat she couldn't yet fully grasp, but which undeniably pointed toward something powerful and sinister lurking beneath the surface of their society.
She reached Bishop Valentine's office, knocking quietly at the door. His steady, gentle voice responded from within. "Come in."
Vanna entered, closing the door softly behind her. Valentine stood near a tall bookshelf, a heavy leather-bound tome open in his hands. He glanced up, immediately sensing her seriousness. "What is it, Vanna?"
"I spoke to Doctor Heidi," she began, stepping closer. "She's uncovered something critical regarding the solar cultists—deep-seated cognitive manipulation placed within their minds months ago."
Valentine's expression grew solemn, and he carefully placed the book back onto the shelf. "Continue."
Vanna quickly summarized Heidi's findings—the subtle alteration of the cultists' perceptions, the recurring imagery of a broken sun, and the mysterious manipulation behind their actions.
As she spoke, Valentine listened intently, his brow furrowing slightly at mention of the broken sun. When she finished, he was silent for a long moment, staring thoughtfully into the distance. "So the ancient ones are indeed stirring again, manipulating minds from the shadows."
"You've encountered something like this before?" Vanna asked cautiously.
"Not directly," Valentine replied, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of gravity. "But ancient texts have long warned of these entities—'Heirs' that survived the Great Annihilation, remnants of the old world that refuse to fade away. They are dangerous precisely because they remain hidden, quietly pulling strings behind the scenes."
He paused, carefully weighing his words. "If this mental manipulation truly comes from the 'Heirs of the Sun,' then it suggests their ambitions are greater than we've previously imagined. They are gathering strength, using human minds as vessels for their return."
Vanna frowned deeply. "Is that even possible? Can they really return from whatever ancient shadow they've been hiding in?"
"Perhaps not fully, but enough to wreak havoc," Valentine said grimly. "Even a partial awakening could unleash untold chaos upon Pland."
Vanna took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their responsibility settle heavily upon her shoulders. "Then we must prevent that at all costs."
"Yes," Valentine nodded solemnly. "And for that, we must act swiftly—strengthen our defenses, root out the cultists, and uncover the full extent of this manipulation. I fear our time grows short."
Vanna inclined her head respectfully, determination clear in her eyes. "Understood, Bishop. I'll begin preparations immediately."
"Good," Valentine replied gently. "We stand on the precipice, Vanna. We must be ready to face whatever is about to emerge from the darkness beneath our feet."