Not long into this world-ending journey, Duncan had made a covenant with that revolution of the Black Sun—after he reached the frontier of order and confirmed the cornerstone of the new world, he was to answer the latter's request for a place in the new world. At that time, the Black Sun would also show him a "clue" related to the new world.
Now, Homeloss had arrived at the Endless Sea, and the time had come to honor the appointment.
In the depths of the captain's quarters, Alice sat obediently with her back to Duncan on the bed, the navigational key smoothly slid into the keyhole of the doll and began to turn on its own with a slight friction noise—after the familiar slight dizziness and perception reset, Duncan found himself in the spacious and ornate, yet exceptionally eerie hall of Alice's Mansion.
