The flying colored paper pieces swirled across the roof of the academy, flew along the outer wall of the "tower" all the way to the highest observation platform, and re-condensed into the figure of Lucrecia at the edge of the platform.

The huge observation platform was very quiet and no one could be seen.

Lucrecia frowned and carefully observed the situation on the top of the tower.

The instrument specially used to record various astronomical data is still running automatically. The large-scale lens group is directed to the sky with the help of many complex mechanical arms. The three groups of lenses with filtering structures have been temporarily removed, which seems to be the result of manual adjustment.

There was no one on the platform - the original staff here may have evacuated urgently when the sun went out, but the working status of the lens device showed that someone had indeed come here during the period when the sun went out and used the equipment here to observe the sun.

"...It was not a wise move to observe the sun under those circumstances." Lucrecia couldn't help but whisper.

She began to look for Master Taran El near the lens device, and at this moment, a fallen pencil suddenly came into her field of vision.

She ran over immediately and finally found the figure of the elven scholar among a pile of steam pressure pipes. Taran El was lying quietly on the ground with his eyes closed, and seemed to have fallen into a deep coma.

Lucrecia immediately stepped forward to check on the elf scholar and found that his breathing was still stable and he did not seem to be in danger of death, but he had lost consciousness for some reason. Then, she waved in the air - a large group of toy soldiers immediately ran out from the shadows under her feet, and rushed towards the unconscious scholar in an orderly line.

These toy soldiers surrounded Taran El in an instant and began to climb up and down to check his body, just like checking a position, accompanied by rapid communication and reporting. As they moved, the expression on Lucrecia's face gradually changed.

There were no external injuries, no physical attacks, and no signs of poisoning or curse.

The "Sea Witch" bent down, flipped the scholar's eyelids, and reached out her hand to slap him in the face without any mercy, trying to wake Taran El up, but to no avail.

"It looks like he just fell into an unexplained coma... huh?"

Lucrecia murmured to herself in confusion and said "hmm". She saw two toy soldiers move away Taran El's hand that was tightly clasped on his chest, and a piece of draft paper that was almost torn appeared in her field of vision.

"What is this thing..."

Lucrecia picked up the paper curiously and spread it out, only to see a circle drawn in sloppy handwriting on it. Inside the circle were many complicated and messy lines. She tried to figure out any pattern from the lines for a long time, but could not discern any pattern. She just felt that they were like branches crisscrossing or something closely arranged.

Obviously, the person who drew these patterns also recorded these pictures in a very hasty and chaotic situation. There are many traces of hesitation and smearing on the lines on the paper, which shows that the painter was not sure what he saw, or could not accurately restore the truth that he "witnessed".

Lucrecia looked at the things on the paper with a serious expression, then squinted her eyes and looked up at the sun that had now lit up again, then lowered her head and looked at the pencil that had fallen on the ground not far away, as well as the "Quickware" pressure pipes next to Taran El that led to the academy, and quickly reconstructed the process of how this elven scholar fell here -

The great scholar ran to the tower when the sun went out, hoping to observe the details of the surface of Anomaly 001 under this "condition" that could not be achieved no matter how many filters and lens groups he used. He successfully drew a sketch and then wanted to send it to the academy through the "Quick Message" system as soon as possible. But at this moment, some mysterious force "attacked" him, causing him to fall asleep instantly - he should still have some consciousness when he fell down, and the sketch he tightly protected in front of his chest could prove this...

But what exactly "attacked" him? Was it a saboteur who broke into the tower? Or was it the mental pollution caused by observing the sun in its extinguished state?

Lucrecia shook her head. He was probably not a saboteur.

The reason was simple. After losing his ability to resist, Taran El suffered no further harm, the "sketch" he guarded tightly in his hand was not taken away, and the various devices on the tower showed no signs of damage. There should be no "invader" who would take a huge risk and successfully sneak into the tower just to let this elven scholar sleep.

At this moment, the noise of the elevator suddenly interrupted the "Sea Witch"'s thoughts.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw the elevator on the side of the tower platform open its door. Several panicked scholars from the Academy of Truth ran out.

After seeing the "Sea Witch" standing on the top of the tower, these scholars were stunned.

"Taran El observed the extinguished sun and has now fallen into an unexplained coma. I suggest that you purify all the facilities here to prevent the lenses that once reflected the 'true appearance' of Anomaly 001 from being contaminated."

Lucrecia said casually to the scholars, and then raised the sketch in her hand.

"This is what he drew before he lost consciousness. I'm going to take it away to confirm whether it is contaminated. If there is no problem, I will give it to you."

After she finished speaking, she didn't care about the scholars' reactions, and turned to the edge of the platform. Then she suddenly turned into flying colorful pieces of paper and flew away with the wind.

The scholars who had rushed to the tower after hearing the student's report only reacted at this moment. Looking at the colorful pieces of paper that had already flown away, some of them couldn't help but whispered: "This witch is really..."

"She is free to come and go. She has always been like this." Another man waved his hand and walked towards Taran El who was still lying on the ground. "Take the master to a safe place first."

"She took away the information left by Master Taran El... Will there be any problem?" A younger anthropologist asked with some concern, seeming a little unsure about the "Sea Witch".

"Don't worry. Although Ms. Lucrecia has a weird personality and does things her own way, she has had a lot of dealings with the Academy of Truth and the Explorers' Association. She can be considered a... friend," said a middle-aged scholar, bending down and taking Taran El's arm. "She is the world's best border scholar and pollution prevention expert. She has helped the academy deal with many dangerous things. She will keep her promise... Oh my god, why is he so serious?"

"You're this heavy even though you eat junk food, stay up late and don't exercise."

"But I heard that the physique of the elves is different from that of other races. You have a long lifespan and a strong metabolic system. It is difficult for you to accumulate fat before you enter old age, and you rarely get sick..."

"He has already tried his best with his talent, but he couldn't hold on..."

※※※

In the city-state of Pland, in a medical facility run by the Government Affairs Office.

Heidi stood in the corridor, looked through the glass at the patient lying quietly in the ward, then turned to the staff member of the Government Affairs Office who brought her here and asked, "What's the patient's condition?"

"Deep coma, unable to be awakened, no signs of trauma or poisoning," the staff member in dark blue uniforms replied immediately, "The patient had no underlying diseases, nor had he been exposed to any potions or heretical beliefs that could have caused this coma."

"Your investigation is quite detailed?" Heidi said subconsciously, and then shook her head. "But I still have to say that I am a psychiatrist, not a physician. I am good at solving mental and psychological problems, not sleeping sickness. A person who is in deep sleep cannot receive psychological counseling - shouldn't you find a professional doctor?"

"We have, Ms. Heidi. The doctor concluded that the patient's coma has nothing to do with the disease," the staff member shook his head. "After conducting various tests, we suspect..."

"...I understand." Heidi understood before the other party finished speaking and nodded gently, "It is suspected to be related to mental pollution or mental abnormality, right? But you just said that the patient has not been exposed to this source of pollution."

"This is just the result of a preliminary investigation, but there are many ways of mental pollution. It doesn't necessarily require the person concerned to have taken the initiative to come into contact with something. Perhaps they just happened to 'understand' certain knowledge, or perhaps..."

The staff member suddenly paused when he said this, then raised his hand and pointed upwards with a serious expression on his face.

"Perhaps it is related to the sun's previous extinction - there is no evidence yet that the sun's extinction for twelve hours can affect ordinary people, but perhaps what you see in front of you is the first 'evidence'."

"I understand. This is my responsibility," Heidi took a deep breath, picked up the medicine box and walked towards the door of the ward. Before pushing the door open, she suddenly turned back and reminded, "Don't let anyone get close to here during the treatment. If any supernatural phenomena occur near this ward, notify the pastor and guards here immediately."

"Understood, Ms. Heidi."

Heidi nodded and walked into the ward.

The smell of disinfectant, holy oil and incense wafted into my nostrils. In the spacious and brightly lit ward, the only patient was lying on the only bed.

Heidi silently recited the name of the god of wisdom, Lahm, in her heart, checked the colored stone amulet on her wrist, and walked cautiously towards the bed.

A young girl with her eyes closed, seemingly trapped in an uneasy dream, lay there, motionless, as if... the connection between her body and soul had been broken.

Before opening the medicine box, Heidi first habitually observed the patient's face.

"Elf?"