Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1916: The Witches’ Night Banquet

Shard, holding the cat, thought for a moment before understanding the meaning of this relic:

"So, if I and Mia were to be pierced through with this sword, people would think that only Mia is here, or only Shard. As for why a person grew out of a cat or a cat grew from a person’s chest, people would subconsciously ignore this problem, and believe that the cat has a human-shaped tumor or that I naturally have a ’cat on my chest,’ which is perfectly normal."

"Yes, that’s roughly the idea."

Miss Aphrola nodded, as Luviya continued:

"The origin of this relic is quite clear. Around the year 879 of the Fifth Era, a couple who committed suicide used this sword for their death pact. Subsequently, an ordinary longsword was possessed by a wraith spirit, turning into the so-called ’magic sword.’ Because it was quite weak, the witch who discovered it simply purified the wraith spirit but kept the curse on it, tossing it into her warehouse as a collectible. Unexpectedly, it later became a relic."

"The records of the Prophet’s Society are quite accurate. This sword was acquired by the council from the Prophet’s Society around the year 1235 in the Sixth Era, approximately 600 years ago. The council was willing to purchase it not because of its value, but because the sword was considered a relic of the ancient witches. Since then, the sword has always been in the council’s possession. The positive trait is indeed only what Luviya just mentioned, but the negative traits are numerous."

Miss Aphrola counted:

"First, after being pierced, one’s spirit will be continuously influenced by the evil spirit within the sword; second, after being pierced, one might permanently lose their sense of existence; third, after being pierced, there is a chance of an unavoidable killing blow, which requires resistance against the inevitable death to counteract it; fourth, while regarded as one entity during this period, both parties’ powers will be reduced; fifth, the blood dripping from the sword is highly toxic and acts upon the soul; sixth, although the trait manifests where both are seen as one entity, it is not completely undetectable. After all, our adversary this time is a diviner who has transcended the Thirteen Rings."

Shard nodded knowingly:

"The wardrobe and invisibility cloak are intended to hide me to allow following Megan and Audrey; whereas this sword lets me become part of them to achieve the same following."

"That’s correct. If we want to try other methods, the council actually has quite a few relics. Even if the council doesn’t, each Grand Witch has personal collections. But still, considering our opponent is a diviner who transcends the Thirteen Rings, these three attempts should suffice."

Miss Aphrola did not say the latter half, which likely implies that if these three relics cannot deceive the opponent, other methods are unnecessary to attempt.

"As it stands, the effect of the [Hide-and-Seek Wardrobe] is the best, though its size is regrettably too large. The sword’s effect is quite peculiar, but the negative traits must be considered. The use of the invisibility cloak is the most convenient but also the easiest to see through."

Luviya summarized, and then Miss Aphrola asked her:

"Do you have any other suggestions? Beyas mentioned that the True God Church is also undergoing similar attempts, though they haven’t proposed any innovative ideas."

The purple-eyed girl shook her head, though she secretly thought, after all, she still holds the last [Home Coin]. If the Green Lake Hotel is indeed lost tomorrow night, she will immediately resort to divination.

The negotiations at Green Lake have now been halted, and the outsiders originally staying at the Green Lake Hotel have also left alongside the departing Tobesk nobility, which is good news and freed up quite a few rooms at the hotel.

That afternoon, near dusk, Sister Delphine, along with the blind nun who came to the Green Lake Region, checked in here. They stayed on the second floor, beside Durut Giles and Laster Edwards. Interestingly, the young girl’s soul, which was always very afraid of Priest Augustus, was instead quite friendly towards Sister Delphine.

Shard even asked this girl, who was already familiar with him, why she was friendly towards the nun. The girl said:

"She has a warm presence."

She spread her arms and drew a big circle in the air:

"Just like the warmth of ashes left after wood burning on a pitch-black snowy night. Although the temperature is not high, it can provide comforting warmth."

Shard looked at her with surprise:

"Your grammar class recently is doing quite well."

After checking into the hotel, Durut Giles showed no intention of sprawling around town. So, during his leisure time, this history lecturer then took the role of grammar and basic mathematics teacher for Laster Edwards.

"Giles, Giles~ I was praised!"

The girl clapped her hands and floated away, looking quite excited. Among all the Edwards, she was probably the only one who wasn’t at all anxious about the family dinner tomorrow night. Shard hoped that two days from now, she could still roam freely around the hotel like this. But he was also curious whether Laster Edwards, upon seeing the father who strangled her with his own hands once again, could still maintain her childlike innocence.

The incessant rain was maddening, but it also brought a sense of security to those who could stay indoors.

The sound of rain made the city silent. Although the storm had already arrived, the oppressive atmosphere still made people feel that something even more terrifying was about to happen.

After the entire negotiating delegation withdrew on Tuesday morning, the city halls of Green Lake City and Mikaela Ironworks City consecutively issued orders banning navigation on the surface of Green Lake. They also announced a full-scale lockdown of the entire area starting Wednesday afternoon for a thorough search.

People unaware of the inside story regarded it as a preliminary report predicting two armies gathering to prepare for a battle in the Green Lake area. However, the Circle Sorcerers knew that this was a warning from the church to those sorcerers still remaining locally not to cause trouble at this time.

At the same time, this was also a means to protect ordinary people in the area. How many people the Battle of Green Lake would affect was still uncertain. If the battlefield remained limited to that island, that would be best. But once the battlefield of the High Ring Sorcerers approached the city, the casualties could become unimaginable.

That afternoon, Shard stayed in the hotel, repeatedly confirming plans with the witches and Luviya, and communicated with Helen, Grace, and Dorothy.

The best outcome would be to prevent the Edwards family from becoming united as one, making Durut Giles and Laster Edwards the Chosen Ones. But if the story of the Green Lake area truly took another turn, Shard had his own means.

In his spare moments, he pondered what the story of the Chosen of Space ended like in the original Bygone Era. This year in the Randall Valley, he had done so much to prevent Ciris from voluntarily heading towards death to become part of the Guardians, ultimately twisting the ending. But for Green Lake, without his presence in those days of the Sixth Era, he really couldn’t guess what Long-Haired Luvia had done.

"Don’t think too much about it, Luviya will surely take the initiative to tell me one day."

Tomorrow was Wednesday, and having dinner together was clearly impossible, so everyone paid considerable attention to Tuesday’s dinner.

Despite the heavy rain outside, the Green Siblings had already arranged for the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast in advance. When the sun disappeared below the horizon behind the dark clouds, and the gas lamps with their strange halos lit up the wet and cold streets, six Grand Witches, four Witch Apprentices, Dorothy, Luviya, Sister Delphine, and even Grace and Helen who disliked such gatherings, all sat down with Shard in the dining room on the second floor.

The second-floor dining room was originally simply decorated, but with a wave of the Grand Witches’ hands, it transformed into a space of exquisite decor. Miss Galina provided the silver cutlery and candelabras, and when the candlelit sumptuous dishes filled the table, Shard found the atmosphere to be quite oppressive.

He remembered that before the Randall Valley battle, the witches had also held such a dinner. But compared to more than two months ago, this time involved the safety of the Council Archwitch. Even though everyone was prepared, they were still somewhat worried.

Granny Cassandra, being the oldest and most senior Grand Witch present, replaced Miss Aphrola from Randall Valley, raising her glass and standing up before everyone in silence as the banquet began.

Sitting beside her, Miss Rita Swift wanted to assist her, but the Old Witch declined:

"Ladies."

In the gaslight by the wall, she raised her wine glass high, her voice aged but exceptionally spirited:

"The times have changed. In the past eighteen hundred years of the Sixth Era, the days when the Grand Witches could leisurely drink tea under a parasol, discussing their businesses and commenting on current affairs, are forever gone. We must once again become the brave and resilient young women of the Fifth Era to embrace the next era."

Everyone raised their heads to look at her. Shard, asked to sit at the head of the table, held down the cat impatiently wanting to begin eating.

"Whether the next era still has witches like us, whether our Council remains, is for you seated here to decide together. We’re not acting solely for ourselves, but also for the next generation of witches, the generation after that, for the friendship of the Council, for a shared promise."

Granny Cassandra’s stern gaze swept over the other five witches:

"Raise your heads and look at me; the ancestors have experienced more dangerous times, and the Council has withstood the mysterious deaths of Grand Witches. Now is the strongest era for the Council in a millennium, we even have Shard, so why would you worry? Now, please, raise your glasses with me."

Elegant hands lifted up glass by glass, and the six Grand Witches spoke in unison, clinking their glasses in the air—

Duang~

"For the future of the Council, for the future of the witches. The Battle of Green Lake will surely be our victory!"