Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 804
“Professor, you’re probably overthinking things lately,” Mitchell McGann advised. “Perhaps you’re not feeling well, so…”

“If you are really tired, we can turn the boat around now and take you back to shore to rest for a few days or even a few weeks before setting sail again,” Mitchell McGann suggested.

“No, no need. I’m in good health and my mind is clear,” Professor Frolov shook his head, refusing. “I can complete this scientific expedition. I’m not forcing myself.”

"My brief encounter with the Deep Ones gave me a profound glimpse into the true nature of the world, but it also left me with too many questions," Professor Frolov said. "I can't understand it. I just can't figure it out."

“Then don’t think about it anymore, Professor,” Mitchell McGann comforted him. “We’ll have the answers here. Mr. Tierra will give you the answers after you complete this expedition. Our library and our archives have all the answers.”

“Never mind, Mitchell. I’m a little tired,” Professor Frolov gently interrupted Mitchell McGann’s advice. “Help me back to rest.”

“Yes, Professor.” Mitchell McGann also noticed Professor Frolov’s resistance to the topic of Tierra, so he wisely refrained from trying to persuade him further.

Professor Frolov and Mitchell McGann slowly left the fishing boat's mess hall and headed towards their assigned rooms. Along the way, Professor Frolov silently pondered the various questions that had arisen within him, his heart heavy.

Upon entering the professor's room, Professor Frolov immediately saw Jeffrey Rocky lying on the bed, his face pale. Clearly, the pampered wizard was not quite used to the rough seas.

“Professor, please have some tea.” Mitchell McGann went out briefly and returned with three cups of hot tea in a kettle. He placed one cup on the bedside table next to Jeffrey Rocky’s bed, securing it with a rubber band, and placed the other cup in Professor Frolov’s hand: “Professor, you need to rest well, or go see a doctor for a check-up. There is a ship’s doctor on board.”

"I'm not thankful. I don't need a doctor. I'm perfectly healthy. I just need more time to think." Professor Frolov took the thermos but didn't drink from it. Instead, he held it in his hand, his gaze fixed on the distant ocean.

“I’ve been thinking that I used to believe that science could explain everything, but my contact with the Deep Divers, and with you all, has shattered that delusion.”

Professor Frolov sighed, gathering his thoughts, and tried to calm his inner turmoil in the face of Mitchell McGann's concern.

“Mitchell, I confess that my recent experiences have left me feeling lost and confused. I’m not even sure if what I’m experiencing now is real, or if I’m in a long, unawakened dream. The intense sense of presence and the things that are beyond scientific understanding have left me feeling helpless,” Professor Frolov said softly. “But as scholars, we cannot shrink back because of confusion; instead, we should face the unknown with greater courage.”

Mitchell McGann listened quietly to the professor. He knew Professor Frolov was a highly capable scientist, but at this moment he seemed somewhat vulnerable and confused.

Just like when she first encountered the Moon Beasts, those terrifying dream creatures were so horrifying that they almost drove her to a mental breakdown, especially the time she was imprisoned as a slave, a hellish experience she never wanted to recall for the rest of her life.

(End of this chapter)