Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1917: The Witch and the Nun’s Invitation

Afterwards, even though Shard was sitting there, he couldn’t hear who said:

"For Shard."

The oppressive atmosphere finally eased with the girls’ laughter. Shard suspected it was Grace or Helen who spoke, particularly suspicious of younger sister Helen. But the twin girls were whispering separately with Sister Delphine and Dorothy, not seeming like the ones who had just spoken.

Dinner lasted for an hour. It had the feeling of a pre-battle gathering but more importantly to boost morale. Therefore, not only Granny Cassandra spoke, the Grand Witches also made speeches individually.

When it was Shard’s turn, he solemnly made a promise once again to bring Megan and Audrey back safely, then faced complaints from the girls, accusing him of bringing psychological pressure to the ladies at the table.

"Shard, you must promise us to date us like before after the battle at Green Lake."

Miss Aphrola suggested again, and Miss Sylvia and Miss Benanis, who understood what she meant, smiled with flushed faces. The Red-Haired Duchess originally wanted to smile too, but then felt she might have a better choice. Megan looked at them thoughtfully, while the other girls didn’t quite understand what Miss Aphrola meant.

In short, after dinner, everyone adjusted their emotions and prepared to wholeheartedly face the final battle tomorrow night.

Eating at the hotel, of course, there’s no need to worry about washing dishes. After Shard left the restaurant, he still wondered whether to visit Lecia and Angelina, who hadn’t moved to Green Lake Hotel yet and would only arrive tomorrow evening. But Audrey stopped him on the stairs and called him to his room on the third floor to talk.

"What’s the matter?"

After the door closed, Shard asked the brown-haired girl in front of him. Audrey pursed her lips and asked:

"Are you going home to rest tonight?"

"I’m staying here. It’s the last night, and I want to prevent other situations from arising. Sister Delphine is staying tonight too, probably for the same reason."

She smiled:

"Alright, it’s decided you’ll spend the night here, so you can’t lie. After ten tonight, I’ll come to your room. Tomorrow, who knows what will happen. Since it’s the last night, I have some things I want to tell you."

She tried not to show the emotions she felt at the moment:

"Don’t tell the others I’m coming to see you at night, otherwise they’ll say I lack composure and can’t stay calm."

Shard nodded gently, knowing she was still somewhat nervous and uneasy:

"I’ll be here as always. Just like the first promise I made to you, I’ll accompany you to the island to meet your ancestors."

The Great Witch of Knowledge and Wisdom nodded lightly, then directly turned and left the room. Shard closed his eyes, still deciding to take the [Aikenora - Arrow of the Chosen] to the island tomorrow. The arrow isn’t large and easy to carry; if Megan and Audrey truly encounter danger, and neither Shard nor Miss Danester can rescue them, he’ll use the Alchemical Bow bought at a high price from Old John to shoot the arrow, making them ’The Chosen One of Wisdom and Knowledge.’

Of course, this is the worst outcome Shard could think of.

He didn’t immediately leave the third floor but went to talk with Priest Augustus and Dr. Schneider.

Neither the doctor nor the priest felt staying there was dull; they were also fully prepared. Especially the doctor, who had been preoccupied since arriving in Randall Valley two months ago and getting lost in the forest, accomplishing nothing besides helping Luviya in the end.

"This time, I’ll be with the priest, and certainly won’t get lost."

He said confidently, and then Shard noticed the priest showing a hesitant expression, clearly aware of the doctor’s notoriously poor luck.

"Priest, what does that look in your eyes mean?"

The doctor asked hesitantly.

However, for tomorrow night’s hotel-defense battle, Shard did not have the priest and the doctor directly involved. On one hand, the two were willing to help him, and he didn’t want their secrets to be easily exposed; on the other hand, since the final battle would definitely break out on the island, conserving some energy in the early stages might allow for even better performance after dark.

Shard had no plans for this night, as he had promised Audrey to stay overnight at the hotel tonight. Therefore, he returned home early, categorizing the items he would need for tomorrow into the hidden space, making it convenient to retrieve them anytime from the Green Lake Hotel basement.

Weapons, magic potions, and relics need not be mentioned, as Shard wasn’t preparing for a decisive battle for the first time. Apart from his frequently used items like [Night Watchman], [Higgs Dragonhead Stone], [Yggdrasil’s Key], three [Ever-Youth Leaves], [The Twenty-Sided Die of Destiny], [Perfume Bottle of Desire], he also took the [Master Key] obtained from the Maze Demon - Yaruu.

Besides coins, the demon carried this singular relic, and Shard had never understood its purpose. Fortunately, the [Master Key] was not large, making it convenient to carry along.

"[Spear of Kindness], poetry parchment page, keep these at home. Demon Hunting Seal... bring it along, might be useful. Also, [Desecration Cross], I absorbed divinity using [Blade of the Soul Drainer] in the Randall Valley, so it hasn’t been used yet. But this time, it seems there won’t be encounters with Evil Gods... safety first, bring it along too. [Aikenora - Arrow of the Chosen], must carry this time, [Source of Chaos]... the Maze Demon is dead, but since this involves potential spatial misdirection, it should be brought as well. [God’s Gift Box]... for safety’s sake, bring it and leave it at the Green Lake Hotel, might come in handy."

Then he looked at the "Mia Six Rings" stored in six identical ring boxes, which were [Transmutation Ring], [Fish Training Ring], [Vampire Ring], [Plague Doctor’s Ring], [Ring of Immortality], and [Mood Ring].

The cat brought along by Shard also saw these rings, eagerly swishing its tail, watching as Shard picked them up one by one. In the end, Shard left behind the [Vampire Ring] and [Mood Ring], taking the other four.

"This is for you."

Shard put the [Fish Training Ring] on the cat’s tail, to encourage the cat to quickly learn to speak on its own.

Then he organized other alchemical items to carry, finally pulling out two calamity cards, [Twin Lovers] and [Shadow of the Deep Sea], from the "Feliana’s Notes."

Even knowing that using its power would trigger the calamity sooner, Shard decisively put them into his pocket. Power only has value when used; otherwise, bringing them from the bygone era to the present space-time serves no purpose.

After packing, he returned to the Green Lake Hotel, thinking that nothing else would happen tonight, just needing to wait until ten when Megan and Audrey came over to discuss matters.

But upon entering the hotel basement, the ladies who guarded and maintained the basement’s ritual core told him Sister Delphine was looking for him.

The nun was not here to discuss the island’s flames with Shard, but handed him an umbrella:

"Come out with me."

"No problem, going to the lake to see the island’s current situation? Or has another strange space anomaly occurred in the city?"

The nun with the silver eye mask did not answer but slipped a parchment from her sleeve. Shard recognized this as the witches’ task list.

Now, on the eve of the Green Lake showdown, that long task list Shard first saw, most tasks have been completed by the Grand Witch and her subordinates. There are tasks to acquire items like "colored mushrooms" conducive to exploration, as well as tasks seemingly unrelated to the Edwardses.

But since the Thirteen Rings’ Grand Witch of Time believes these tasks are useful, no one doubts it. During his time in Green Lake, Shard also accomplished some of the tasks, and the reward, the Time Witch’s golden hair, is still stored in his basement.

Sister Delphine inviting Shard to venture out on this rainy night is for a task on the task list. But before the two went out with the umbrella, the nun again asked Shard to bring the old lantern he obtained at the Sin Mansion, capable of containing most kindling flames.

After stepping out, no carriage awaited them outside. The nun led the way silently up front, heading south, crossing two streets, then stopped in front of an unlit apartment building.

This was a very ordinary three-story apartment with an attic in Green Lake City, not large in total area, squeezed between a flower shop and an old bookshop. The nun turned to look at Shard, her silver eye mask with intricate patterns catching the strange reflection of the right corner in the dim light of the gas lamp.

Though she said nothing, Shard understood her intention. Stepping up onto the front steps, closing his eyes to listen for sounds, he painstakingly discerned no heartbeat amongst the patter of rain, then knocked on the door lock, and proceeded directly into the hall.

The umbrella was put away, and Sister Delphine’s hand conjured flames that evaporated the water specks on the floor and welcome mat. To avoid alerting nearby neighbors, Shard did not turn on the hall’s light, and the nun who entered behind naturally did not either, for she didn’t need eyes to see.

Then the nun pointed upstairs, Shard nodded, and to maintain his image, he refrained from taking out shoe covers, a hat, and gloves, and instead, silently ascended the staircase. But after three steps on the stairway, he found Sister Delphine hadn’t followed.

Turning around, he noticed the abnormal flame light, then saw the nun once again kneeling on the wooden floor of the hall, touching the floor with the slender flame in her hand.

Silently and instantaneously, a burning campfire formed directly in the hall. Its light was not bright, merely brightening one corner of the hall, yet in the dark environment amidst the storm outside, it provided a reassuring presence.