Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"What did you say?"

Shard was astonished by the meaning in the girl's words, and as he was about to say something, he saw the girl close her eyes voluntarily:

"So this is what I've been puzzled about, the power of wisdom is indeed our greatest strength."

The wind was winding around her, fire leaped at her feet, water concealed her form, and the earth provided her with strength.

The glimmer in her eyes seeped through her skin, and then her entire being was enveloped in light. The gentle light, with a touch of coolness, lifted the girl into the air within the halo, her blurry figure grew taller, and her short hair began to rapidly extend.

Multiple whispers overlapped, incessantly murmuring in her ears. These voices, all of women's, interwove like blessings, yet at the same time as if they were curses.

The two boys cowered in the toy shelves, trembling, while Shard and the Saint both watched the scene unfold. Their eyes reflected the same image, and at the peak moment of the light, Shard saw a blurry figure of a woman behind the girl in the light, embracing her.

The light gradually extinguished, and calm returned to the surroundings. The girl, who looked several years older, stepped out from the light. Her eyes seemed to carry a glint, her expression was cool and striking, her demeanor remarkable. Apart from her facial shape, it was completely unrecognizable that just moments ago she was but a young girl.

"The awakening of a witch is equivalent to her instant growth, her way of thinking leapt forward, transforming from an ordinary person into an individual wielding supernatural power. This is the transcendent system of this era for mortals."

The Saint introduced it to Shard.

"God~"

The girl bowed to the Saint behind the counter, then turned to Shard and made an unexpected move.

She grabbed Shard's wrist, then, surprised, drew her hand back, looking at her palm before shaking her head slightly as if encountering something inconceivable:

"How is this possible?"

She looked up at Shard, her eyes revealing what could be called a "mad" expression.

"What's the matter?"

Shard did not understand, the girl who now appeared to be about fifteen suddenly reached out her arms as if wishing to embrace him. Shard instinctively dodged to the side, and the Saint behind the counter chuckled lightly, pointing at the girl.

Soon after, the girl who had grown up was standing at the entrance of the toy shop with the two boys. Just a moment ago, the three children were on good terms, but now, the boys stood at the farthest position from the girl, in terror, while the girl looked at them with disdain.

"Sir, are you truly a man?"

The girl ignored the boys and asked Shard who was beside the counter.

Shard was taken aback and seemed to know some answers just from this question.

He raised an eyebrow:

"Genuine and true, God has said I am a man."

"No, that's not possible."

She wanted to rush in from the doorway to touch Shard, but before her wish was fulfilled, God did not wish for them to stay here any longer.

"Say your goodbyes to this gentleman, one by one, and then you all should go back, outside is the place where you came from."

The Saint said.
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All three children showed a look of grievance on their faces, God seemed somewhat unsatisfactory, but they could not refute.

The youngest boy waved at Shard:

"Sir, I will become the best fairy tale writer, I want to write the kind of stories you brought to me!"

He was the happiest of the three children.

"Sir, your potion is the nastiest thing I've ever tasted!"

The boy holding the toy knife said, but it was a complaint, not resentment against Shard.

Shard smiled and waved at the two children, then turned to the grown-up girl, who was also looking at him:

"Sir, witches are not strictly human beings, we have gained power, but have also been cursed because of it. It is a price and a balance. We cannot procreate, and men are as repulsive to us as excrement on the streets, physical contact causes us great psychological discomfort, this is the curse, the curse on witches, the curse that comes with this power."

She looked at Shard, the intelligent girl understood what Shard wanted to know.

Her answer immediately resolved the questions about the makeup case and the magic potion; Miss Galina was testing Shard's true gender.

In other words, she was also doubting that Shard was male because she did not feel the typical disgust witches have for men around him.

Even more so, it made Shard understand more:

"So the Witch Council really has inherited the witches' powers. Miss Luisa said they were the 'Handkerchief Enthusiasts Society,' not because they really have a special hobby, but because they've inherited the powers as well as the curses... Wait, if that's the case, then the thirteen Grand Witches, could it be that they didn't just inherit powers but are true witches?

Are they witches living in the Sixth Era?"

His heart was like a tumultuous sea with surprise, but he still remembered to say goodbye to the three children. They left through the toy store's main door one after another, which would also be their last time seeing the two "people" in the store saying farewell to them.

The door of the store slowly closed, leaving only Shard and the God there.

"Will they remember this memory?"

"The youngest boy will remember your story, the older boy will remember the price of growth, the girl will remember nothing, but she truly awakened and obtained power, your knowledge has enabled her to master that power."

These were their wishes, so traces still remained. However, this also meant that what Shard said about steam to the girl would have no effect on the past.

He shifted his gaze from the store's main door and looked toward the God behind the counter:

"So, does this count as me having successfully witnessed your final wish?"

Shard asked again; he had gone back to the past three times for this.

"Yes, you have not only witnessed the wish, but also fulfilled it. Child from the future, I am truly satisfied with all this. As per our agreement, I will give you a gift. However..."

Shard too, showed a smile; such a method of proceeding was indeed characteristic of this God.

"However, you and I are not at the same point in time, and the great Father of the Infinite Tree will not allow you to take any item with you to your era. A mere story is not enough to express my gratitude, I will give you something you will be absolutely satisfied with. Incredibly precious, incredibly rare, and extremely valuable, something you need very much."

He gave Shard a meaningful look, the Outlander was stunned, then thought of that incredible answer:

"You mean God..."

"Unspeakable, unspeakable."

The Saint held up a finger to his lips and then quietly said:

"I cannot give it directly to you in this era. But I will include that gift in my last work. When you find that piece of my work, the gift will naturally be yours."

As he spoke, Shard noticed that the brightly colored interior of the toy store was gradually fading. Both the toy store and the Saint behind the counter were becoming somewhat blurry.

But it wasn't because he was about to leave; approximately three minutes were still left of the ten-minute limit.

"It is I who am departing."

He said.