Swamped Chapter 187 Page 14

Etherform allows you to see and hear, but not touch. It also doesn’t allow you to smell. While you aren’t clear on the full details, the main reason is that light and sound have directly associated ether, so being made of ether allows you to interact with them.

However, the smell you’re currently passing through is so strong that you almost feel as though you can smell it despite that. You can definitely see the smoke. Looking down, the source seems to be a bottle of perfume spilled on the floor.

Priests don’t usually wear perfume as part of official duties, though. A few churches burn it ceremonially sometimes, but Nual’s isn’t one of them. Perhaps it was meant as a gift for someone back on land? But where would someone even get it on a year-long journey out to sea?

Two robed figures come in to conveniently answer your question.

“I can’t believe you spilled it,” the taller figure grumbles. “The captain was skeptical enough of taking gifts from that ‘merchant ship’ in the first place, but you had to drop the single most conspicuous item in it while grabbing the loot.”

“That’s why I grabbed the clothes in there,” says the shorter one. “I went and put them in the laundry and I can say that’s what I came for. To clean them up before we hand them out. I’ll still get in a heap of trouble, but she hopefully won’t suspect anything. Of course, if she never finds out about the spill, all the better.”

“That’s not feasible. We can clean up the spill, but that smell will linger for days! And we’ll be unloading once we reach land, so someone’s bound to come in. The problem with the rudder has stalled us, but there’s no way the captain will let us miss the opening ceremony.” The taller priest looks down at the spill. “So I think this is on you to deal with, Brother Vernon. You’re the one who’s supposed to be in charge of the cargo tonight.”

“I suppose so,” Brother Vernon mutters. “But there’s still something important I need your help with.”