Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1897 - 1896: The Rose Garden

Luviya and Iluna obtained invitations to the banquet through the Prophet’s Society and the Sun Church respectively. Now that the battle at Green Lake is about to commence, the Circle Sorcerer groups don’t mind their members relaxing for a final moment.

As the familiar maids laughed and pushed open the downstairs door for Shard, he saw the two standing at the entrance of the house looking at the starry sky. Both turned to Shard with a smile.

Luviya wore a light purple formal gown, her recently lengthened brown shoulder-length hair restrained by a precious unicorn tail feather. Silver earrings adorned her ears, and a silver Ouroboros pendant symbolizing her role in the Prophet’s Society adorned her chest.

Iluna was dressed in an off-white gown with an extremely complex three layers at the skirt hem, adorned with green gemstones and rubies at her waist. She did not wear the symbols of the Sun Church, and the gown was relatively simple in design.

"Very beautiful, this outfit suits you, Iluna."

Shard softly praised, and the seventeen-year-old girl showed a faint smile.

The three left the mansion entrance together and headed towards the Rosy Manor’s back garden. Since it was called "Rosy Manor," it had many cultivated roses, and the season was just right for them to bloom.

The garden was only illuminated by in-ground gas lamps along the paths, and the three walked within, hearing the distant noise from the mansion’s second floor, and feeling a bit of tranquility.

Tifa had arranged for maids to guard outside the garden, ensuring no one would disturb their conversation. The three strolled for a while before Luviya spoke:

"Today’s ceremony was a success. With the two Angel-Level relics - [Mirror of Tardis] and [Nameless Tortoise Shell], complemented by sixty-three diviners, we finally have some results. Entering the normal world from another island requires no conditions, but entering another island from outside without permission can only be forced on specific dates."

"Is the next date next Wednesday?"

Shard asked.

Having learned the invitations from Iluna, Luviya nodded, stopped walking, and looked at Shard in formal attire under the moonlight, straightening his collar:

"Yes, next Wednesday evening, the night of the Edwards family banquet. The celestial signs require a delayed assault timing. Even if the church and association can land on the island, the timing will be after the banquet begins, possibly nearing midnight."

Shard silently nodded:

"Is there a way to send a small group onto the island aside from the major forces ceremony to breach a gap?"

Iluna smiled:

"We knew you would guess it. Yes, but it requires cooperation on the island. The Furen Brothers plan to bring a special relic to the island, which through relic resonance may force some people onto the island. But this method is unreliable; island diviners wouldn’t be oblivious."

"Is there a third method?"

"Yes."

Luviya replied again:

"By using special space-piercing vehicles."

Followers of the Old God - [Blazar Gate] mentioned, even if they found the entrance to another island, special vehicles are needed to enter, implying their records set out this method.

"Can you be more specific? I remember Saint Byrons had similar vehicles; I once rode the Sage-Level relic [Midnight Nightmare Carriage] from Saint Delan Square directly to the Far North Academy. Are you referring to such vehicles?"

Luviya gently shook her head as the three continued walking towards a vast patch of blue roses, with unidentified flying insects circling above the ground lights:

"Due to the island’s peculiar nature and defensive measures set by Laplace Klein Howard, only ship-type special vehicles can be used. Moreover, not even relics might work unless they have exceedingly strong space penetrating traits."

"Currently, the Church of the Five Gods and the Three Major Academies are gathering relics usable in the current environment, to test which one works before Wednesday."

Iluna added, and Shard slightly furrowed his brows:

"I have an idea, but I’ll discuss it later. Is having a ship all that’s required?"

"It’s also necessary that it be Wednesday, but utilizing ships can start slightly earlier, about half an hour after Edwards’ landing. Employing this method requires diviners to lead on the water, navigating with specific direction and trajectory to attempt breaking through the space barrier."

Iluna concluded:

"So after the Edwards’ land on the island, there are three groups that can land.

The first group, relying on Furen Brothers’ maneuvers on the island, the Green Siblings, those witches, and even the Mirror Association could possibly do this. Yet this approach is difficult, permitting only Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers to attempt first. If successful, the first group might even accompany Edwards to meet that diviner."

The second batch, relying on a special vessel relic, penetrated the space barrier between the two islands. Because the relic’s carrying capacity is limited and likely only allows for a one-way trip, this method, although relatively reliable, can only ensure a few people land on the island. If successful, the second batch of people will arrive half an hour to an hour later than the Edwards family.

The third batch, with brute force, opens a space gap at the church. Green Lake brings together the top-level Circle Sorcerers and Diviners from the material world, and it’s unimaginable for them to be troubled by such matters. With this method, large troops can land on the island, or High Ring Sorcerers can make it, but they will be three hours or even longer behind the Edwards family.

"Shard, it’s still unknown whether you can forcibly follow Witch Edwards onto the island. What do you plan to do?"

Luviya asked, and Shard stopped again, casually slashing in front of him. Beyond the gradually opening crack, the Nether Moon illuminated the deserted pale mudflats, as well as the wooden boat parked at the junction of the mudflat and the black waters:

"Do you guys think this boat can penetrate the space barrier?"

Iluna and Luviya both knew Shard’s peculiar Arcane Technique summoning this boat was related, and after pondering, they felt it probably could:

"But using the second method, you’ll be at least half an hour behind them."

Luviya reminded, and Shard nodded again:

"Currently, I have three ideas. The first idea is to find Nadia Folan from the Dragon Feast Cult and obtain relevant information from her. The second method is that the invitation letter mentioned the boatman would be waiting by the lake, so try deceiving the boatman. I’ll use Arcane Technique [Tranquil Stance] to transform into a stone statue and follow Megan onto the island."

"But if you become a stone statue, won’t you be too big? If you don’t move, you might deceive, but if the witch is carrying a statue, it can’t possibly be hidden."

Iluna said, and Shard sighed:

"So I’ll first transform into a cat and then into a stone statue, making the size smaller. I don’t really want to do this, but... it’s the only way."

Luviya and Iluna thought for a moment, then both smiled:

"Why don’t you try it now? We can help you check how effective it is."

Though knowing their "mischievous intent," it had to be done before the actual attempt. Shard helplessly nodded, took off the relic he was carrying, and looked at the two expectant girls:

"Luviya, you hold these items and walk far away. Iluna, watch over my stone statue and cover it with illusion technique."

"Alright!"

Iluna quickly nodded, and Luviya glanced at Shard somewhat reproachfully, but after taking the key, perfume bottle, dice, and several rings, she truly walked far away.

Under the moonlight, the outlander’s shadow turned into a glow, and then the glow transformed back into a cat’s shadow. The silver cat landed on the ground, and before Iluna could reach out, the petrified wings spread from the cat’s sides, wrapping it up and successfully completing the petrification process.

Though reluctant, Iluna still bent down to touch the stone and cast the illusion technique to conceal it. Meanwhile, she understood a bit—although Luviya’s level was lower, her abilities with illusion technique were stronger, and as a Diviner, her ability to break illusions was also superior, so Shard chose her to carry the stone statue:

"But he chose me anyway."

She happily prepared everything and then called the distant Luviya to come over.

The girl with purple eyes came back, and under the moonlight, she sized up Iluna for about five or six seconds before her eyes fixed on the cat-shaped statue behind Iluna’s black high heels.

"Faster than I imagined; I’m indeed not skilled with illusions."

Iluna shook her head regretfully, while Shard had already appeared behind her:

"This is just a test. In the coming days, Megan can specifically prepare targeted illusions. Besides, I’ve completed the final exploration of the Time Key and learned how to use the Philosopher’s Stone."

He pulled out the silver accessory with crimson moonlight hanging around his neck, and the Philosopher’s Stone was embedded within:

"Making the Elixir of Immortality and alchemy isn’t useful to us for now, but using the Philosopher’s Stone as a one-time consumable can achieve max spellcasting effect, which should ensure I can smoothly follow Megan onto the island."

He was confident in the Philosopher’s Stone, and Iluna and Luviya were also confident:

"But there’s only one Philosopher’s Stone, using it like this... it’s still good, considering it’s for saving someone."

Iluna nodded, and Luviya asked again:

"First is to find Nadia Folan, second is combining your Arcane Technique with Witch Illusion, and maybe using some relics. So what’s the third? What other methods? I have one coin left here, it should solve the problem."

"The coin is a last resort; the third method is indirect. Since direct entry from the material world onto the island isn’t possible, why not first leave the material world and then enter another island from elsewhere."