Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"The Hall of the Keeper of Secrets? Are you referring to the mysterious space left by the Ancient God, the Secret-Keeping Mentor?"

Shard nodded:

"Yes, of course, I wish to understand. In fact, I've heard that the three great magic academies of the material world hold the entrance to that place. Additionally..."

He retrieved his Roder Card Deck, rummaging through it for "Genesis: Knowledge":

"On the night I defeated The Chosen One, Lakin Prisia, and stripped him of his qualification, some glimmers entered this card. When I checked it after waking up, I distinctly felt that there was... a door."

A similar thing happened in the autumn when Ivan Daknis was slain. This means that once again, Shard possesses a door that can be placed at will. Generally speaking, apart from finding the corresponding entrance, at least three conditions are needed to enter the unique space of an Ancient God—a corresponding spirit rune, an artifact to open the door, and a relevant spell.

Through the door placed by an Impermanence Card, there is no need for the spirit rune and corresponding artifact, but the spell is still required. Therefore, even if the angel didn't mention it to Shard, he would have come to ask proactively.

"Yes, at this moment, the door to the hall is right inside the card in your hand."

The angel said with a smile:

"I have the duty to inform you of the function of my lord's hall. No test is needed, this is knowledge you should know."

The white long staff tapped on Shard's forehead, and as the vast knowledge poured in, he understood the method and purpose for entering it. Normally, the artifact needed to open the door is the Sage's Glowstone, but this time it seems unnecessary.

"Do you know these cards?"

He held the Impermanence: Silver Moon and Impermanence: Knowledge, while Balance, Dark, and Death floated before him.

The "Lake Goddess" slightly shook her head:

"This is an answer you must seek on your own. I can only tell you that these cards might be older than I am."

This surprised Shard a bit, although the First Seraph, Cherub, was not the first angel created, it was still crafted in the First Era. If the Impermanence Cards predates even it, theoretically Shard's arcane technique, "Ancient Sound," should have been triggered when he touched the cards, but they hadn't.

"There are truly many secrets."

He thought to himself, putting away the cards, and asked:

"Angel, I do not implore for knowledge and wisdom, but could you guide my next step?"

The lady in a white robe nodded with a smile:

"According to your plan, seek the answers in your dreams."

This time, Shard understood.

"I will always be at Lake Cherub, waiting for the final arrival. If you seek assistance, feel free to visit again, but each time you seek help, a test must be completed."

By the time Shard returned home with Mia, it was already eight-thirty in the evening. At this moment, Luviya was waiting for his return at Saint Delan Square. She knew that in the few days before the Year-End Festival, the Princess and Miss Writer would both be busy and unlikely to appear here, and she was indeed concerned about Shard's well-being after he had forcibly used the Sublimation Incantation not long ago.

"The scent of your perfume is truly complex."

The purple-eyed girl welcomed Shard home with a hug, and he appeared somewhat weary.

"Margaret and Miss Sylvia have already returned to Velindale City, and Miss Aphrola went along with them. Miss Galina returned to her estate outside Tobesk City tonight, but she cannot come into town to see me shortly after recovering from her illness, so she's visiting me tomorrow afternoon. After all, there are many pending matters that only she can handle."

Shard explained the whereabouts of the witches clearly. Luviya found that perfume bottle hidden in Shard's pocket:

"Why is it still with you?"

She curiously shook the bottle, then discovered it was surprisingly half-full, looking at Shard with a mischievous glint in her eye:

"Don't tell me, not only was the 0-level relic given to you with the bottle, but they didn't even take back the essential oil itself?"

Shard helplessly recounted the events of the entire day, detailing the morning's happenings with Desire and the Swamp Witch, glossing over the lunchtime events with the three witches and the afternoon with Margaret and the evening with Miss Sylvia, but the purple-eyed girl still guessed what had transpired.

"The witches and that princess are all equally greedy, in that aspect, they're no different from Lakin Prisia."

Luviya said softly, looking somewhat troubled at Shard:

"Now you are of the Five Rings, and for someone like me alone, it's really..."

Her expression grew a tad more alluring, and she deliberately bit her lower lip:

"The Year-End Festival is the day after tomorrow, and I'll be here. After all, it's the first Year-End Festival since we met."

"Year-End Festival" holds considerable importance in the traditions of this era. Spending it with family is the best way to celebrate.

Just as Shard was about to nod, he suddenly remembered that Lecia and Dorothy had scheduled the Day of the Red Butterfly for that day, which is next Tuesday, the thirty-first of the Slumber Moon. To spend the festival together, they even postponed the precious Day of the Red Butterfly for nearly three weeks.

"I know the Princess and Dorothy are coming, I'll discuss it with them. You don't need to worry about it; everyone has their own time."

Luviya said.

Nearing the Year-End Festival, and having resolved the matter of the fourth Chosen One, Shard didn't stay up late this evening. He just reviewed for the upcoming exam with Luviya until ten at night.

The purple-eyed girl also checked the body of the young knight affected by desire once again, and she believed firmly that Shard had recovered his health as she bit her sweat-soaked hair at dawn.

He even seemed a bit too healthy.

(Mia is running around...)

Since Shard met her, Luviya hadn't cut her shoulder-length short hair. At breakfast on the fresh Monday morning, Shard curiously inquired about it.

The spirited Female Diviner, sitting beside him with a spoon:

"I want to grow my hair long again. If I hadn't met you, I was prepared to stay single for life because of the Chosen One matter, but now I have you!"

She said with a smile.

Today is the thirtieth of the Slumber Moon, the last working day before the Year-End Festival. The Prophet's Society will be very busy today, so Luviya left after breakfast and agreed to meet Shard the next day.

This made Shard very worried about how she would arrange time with Lecia and Dorothy.

"Surely not early tomorrow, knock them all unconscious?"

And a new Monday also means Shard can retrieve the last gift of the year.

After bidding farewell to Luviya, he brought the gift box upstairs and placed it on the coffee table. The leaping cat also followed. As he reached his hand into the box, Shard thought:

"Give Dorothy Itran's Pen, give Luviya the Book of the Fool, give Iluna Sunfire; what should I give Lecia... Praise the Creator of Innocence!"

He prayed quietly in his heart and then reached his hand to the bottom of the box, feeling a pile of parchment.

After taking it out, he discovered that the parchment was blank, but the old scroll was very special:

"Dragon Hide Book!"

After a brief inspection, he confirmed it was now in the Sixth Era, an exceedingly rare 20-foot-long (approximately 6m) Dragon Hide Book, after the Dragon Clan largely left the civilized world. The basic material for this parchment is still sheep, but it belongs to a high 50% dragon-blood lineage sheep. In addition to special sheepskin, craftsmanship now lost is needed, paired with pureblood dragon scales and dragon blood, to create these parchments through a rather complex process.

This parchment is extremely compatible with Enlightenment Element, writing dragon-related stories on "Dragon Hide Book" as spellcasting materials can greatly enhance the speed and power of the spell. Of course, its greater use is as copying and learning materials for Circle Sorcerers proficient in Enlightenment Element, "Dragon Hide Book" cannot be bought on the black market, it is truly a precious material available only in price but not in market.

"Praise the Creator of Innocence! Praise the Guardian of the children!"

Shard directly voiced his prayer this time, knowing that although the deities had left, it did not represent the disappearance of power. Such a coincidental gift appearing was surely the aid from that already-slumbering deity.

This week's task is "Enjoy the upcoming festival." No goals, no specific practices, Shard only needs to enjoy the arrival of the Year-End Festival.

He really hoped that all the deities he encountered could be as friendly as this one.

The last day before the Year-End Festival, everyone is busy, even Shard is the same. Aside from visiting the nuns of Midshire Fort, Granny Cassandra, Helen, Grace tomorrow, today he needed to present his Year-End Festival gifts to all his friends.

Of course, it would also include the "Year-End Festival Roder Card Game" at noon held at the Prophet's Society. This is a small-scale event within the city, and as the overall champion of "Big City Player 1853", Shard could directly participate in the final competition.

This morning, he first went to Coldwater Port via the cellar door. He found Mr. Edmund at the lighthouse outside the snowy harbor.

Shard gave a bottle of special ink purchased in Midshire Fort City and a bottle of red wine as a Year-End Festival gift, and Mr. Edmund was quite pleased to receive this extra holiday gift, and reciprocated with a Time Key to Shard.

"No need to be polite with me, while the Time Key is also a relic, it has a single purpose and a fixed price. Don't look at my poor dwelling, I'm far wealthier than you, this is a key from around the year 3037 of the Fifth Era, hope it comes in handy."

The old man said with a smile, while also informing Shard of good news, that the expensive ritual materials he ordered had been completely procured after a week of searching. Although the total cost was as high as 2400 pounds, for the secrecy of time, Shard settled the balance promptly.

This brought his total savings to under 3000 pounds.