Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"The Helos banquet? In the midsummer?"

Shard still indicated his lack of understanding. He turned his head and looked out the small window in front of the desk. It was the deep autumn season, and Tobesk was shrouded in fog, but the bright red sunset could still be seen. The twilight had already appeared on the horizon. From the third-floor window, looking beyond the rooftops of thousand households and over the black smoke billowing chimneys, the clouds were also stained with the color of maple leaves.

"That was before Dr. Schneider encountered you."

Dorothy said softly, her memory drifting back to that summer evening banquet:

"It was a banquet held by Earl Helos in the city. The Earl was wealthy and loved lavish banquets and balls. The princes and princesses of the royal family had all been invited to these social gatherings. Lecia had also attended before departing for her visit to Carsonrick and invited me along..."

Her voice gradually lowered. Shard understood that Lecia wanted to stay as close as possible to Dorothy before leaving Tobesk. But they couldn't get close, couldn't converse, and couldn't even look at each other from afar.

This was indeed a great regret. On that summer night, no matter how hot it was, no matter how lively the atmosphere of the ball was, Lecia Cavendish and Dorothy Louisa probably wouldn't have been in a good mood.

The banquet that summer was held at the famous restaurant in the city, "Sunset Hotel." It was the most luxurious restaurant but also hosted banquets and ceremonies. Of course, entering such a restaurant required formal attire. Dorothy spent more than an hour getting dressed and applying makeup with the help of Shard.

Shard only changed his coat and pants—Lecia was also at Dorothy's place. Then the two of them went together to the Sunset Hotel in the southern part of the city.

The luxurious restaurant was brightly lit even at night. The waiters were waiting at the door, and as Shard and Dorothy entered together, they respectfully asked:

"Are you Rejed's Hamilton and Miss Dorothy Louisa?"

After Shard nodded, they said softly:

"Someone has reserved seats for you. Please follow me."

Shard and the golden-haired girl in a formal dress sat at a round table by the wall. A waiter wheeled in a dining cart, but it only had fruits and an appetizer dessert. On the table, there was already a music box.

Dorothy wound the music box, and as the silver lid slowly opened, tiny figures of a hugging gold-haired girl and a red-haired girl rotating slowly rose.

Dorothy showed a slight smile:

"She still remembers this."

Eating the delicious but acidic cream pineapple mousse with Shard and listening to the music box play a waltz, a small drawer popped out from the bottom of the music box. They retrieved a new note with a riddle-like sentence:

[In the early spring at the Three Cats, your smile is unforgettable.]

"Our destination this time is the Three Cats Inn at Hymn Square."

This time, Shard learned to answer quickly. Dorothy smiled:

"Yes, the Three Cats Inn, that's a story from the spring. But let's finish this dessert first, Lecia... I must scold her fiercely in my diary."

On the journey from the southern city to the northern city, Shard heard another story.

It was the fourth month of exchanges between Dorothy and Lecia. Time shifted from the winter of 1852 in the Common Era Calendar to the spring of 1853. Another forced exchange brought Lecia into Dorothy's body to meet with a Second Ring Female Sorcerer at the Three Cats Inn, arrange her accommodation, and complete an academy task Dorothy had undertaken.

This academy task, though it sounded simple, had a reward of four practical credits. The visiting sorceress had gotten into some trouble in Tobesk, and because the weekly forced exchange didn't have a fixed time, Lecia hadn't got much information from Dorothy.

That night, not only did Lecia use Dorothy's body to solve the issue of vampire rats at the Three Cats Inn, but Dorothy also used Lecia's body to summon assistance as a princess, providing security for the inn.

They worked separately inside and outside the inn that night. Though they didn't meet, they knew what the other was doing. After an eight-hour busy night, they returned to their respective bodies, and their relationship rapidly progressed to a close-knit bond after the outlander's arrival in this world.

When they arrived at Hymn Square, it was nearing eight in the evening, and the Three Cats Inn had entered what was called "night mode." Along the wall on the first floor, many willow warblers awaited customers.

The proprietress Mrs. Sangmi was also an acquaintance of Shard's. She made a playful comment when she saw Shard holding a cat with a golden-haired girl at the counter:

"Look who's here, the champion of Big City Player 1853! Oh, and you finally brought a repeat of a lovely girl. This dress is just right, I had one like it when I was young, though it doesn't fit now."

Shard ignored her teasing:

"Is there any mail for Shard Hamilton or Dorothy Louisa?"

"Of course there is."

The proprietress put down her pen and tapped the seemingly dirty but actually spotless striped wooden desk twice.

"You've already been paid."

Shard grumbled inwardly but still handed over two one shilling alloy silver coins:

"Where's the letter?"

Mrs. Sangmi swept the coins into a cookie tin under the counter, and smiling, she took a bottle of red wine from beneath the counter:

"Hold on to this. Someone's left this wine here waiting for you."

Then, she tilted the gaslamp above her head, turned over the account book two pages:

"The letter can't be given to you until eight o'clock, which is in twelve minutes."

"Why?"

Dorothy asked in confusion, and Mrs. Sangmi gave a meaningful smile:

"You can wait here for a bit. Don't worry, I've notified the neighbors, so there won't be any improper folks showing up here tonight... except the girls by the wall."

So, Shard and Dorothy sat down with the bottle of wine. When it was two minutes until eight, Mrs. Sangmi suggested they go outside to look.

Shard counted down, standing with Dorothy at the edge of Saint Delan Square. Exactly at eight, a streak of light shot into the sky far away and turned into dazzling fireworks under the starry sky.

More streaks of light soared into the sky, and the exploding fireworks illuminated the faces of Shard and Dorothy. The golden-haired girl stared at the fireworks in the sky, murmuring softly:

"So she still remembers I like them..."

Mrs. Sangmi turned to the last page, handing Shard the envelope slipped inside.

The letter from Mrs. Sangmi still contained only one line:

[Since the first time I saw your eyes in the winter of 1853, I could never forget you.]

Having become familiar with the "puzzle-solving" routine, Shard immediately asked:

"I know this time. After the anomaly last winter, you two must have tried to meet each other. Though you realized then that you couldn't get close, couldn't look at each other or touch, that was your first attempt. Where was the place?"

"Under the central fountain of Saint Delan Square."

After running around inside and outside the city, Shard finally returned to his beloved house before nine. The vendors were not allowed to linger in Saint Delan Square at night, and most of the residents had returned home to rest after a busy day, making the place peaceful and serene.

The gas lamps around the square provided light, and the street lamps on the square were under maintenance and therefore unlit, making the moonlight even more brilliant. However, dark clouds were rolling in from afar, signaling potential rain.

When Shard and Dorothy got off the carriage, the square was empty. Dorothy hurried to the central fountain, where a girl held up a water bottle, carefully inspecting it. She intertwined her fingers and murmured under her breath toward the eastern side of the pool:

"Reveal."

The ancient spell words she uttered conjured up an envelope pinned by a weight on the fountain's edge where there had been nothing before.

The weight was half a red butterfly pendant, though it bore no signs of wear or rust, it radiated an ancient and primordial vibe. Dorothy curiously picked up the pendant, then opened the envelope and read the contents:

[Fate might have us cross paths fleetingly, but we are the most distant relatives.]

It was a complete piece of paper, with the words written in the center and a butterfly drawn in red ink at the bottom.

"What does it mean this time?"

The golden-haired girl asked in bewilderment, raising her head to look at Shard, who suddenly pointed at the letter and said:

"Look at this."

Dorothy looked down again and saw the red butterfly drawn on the letter flapping its wings, flying out from the stationery.

The semi-transparent red butterfly sprinkled red dust in the air and then flew towards the edge of the square. It flew from the cold moonlight towards the warm yellow gas street lamp. Dorothy instinctively followed but found that the red butterfly arrived at the entrance of No. 6, Saint Delan Square, and then disappeared into the door panel.

At that moment, the wall light next to the rarely opened front door of Shard's house suddenly lit up. At the same time, the gas lamp in the second-floor living room of No. 6, Saint Delan Square, where there should be no one home, also lit up.

"This is..."

Dorothy, dressed up, stood on the steps at the entrance and saw Shard, who handed her the house key with a red string.

The blonde girl lifted her skirt and quickly walked up the steps, opening the door in the hazy light. She gently pushed open the door; the lights on the first floor were off, but the lights in the hall and on the stairs were so bright.

She stood with her back to the starlight, bathed in the warm yellow light. The red carpet stretched from the door to the stairs above, covered with red, white, and pink petals.

A familiar scent spread through the air. Holding the red butterfly pendant in her hand, the blonde girl felt her heart suddenly race.

She stepped over the threshold in disbelief and then heard a familiar voice. That voice was waiting for her higher up, reciting their story:

[To Dorothy

——Late Autumn of 1853]

She walked up the stairs, holding the banister, looking up towards the higher part of the stairs.

[Perhaps fate brings us to pass each other by,

We are the most distant kin.

Since the winter of 1853, the first time I saw your eyes,

I could never forget you;]

With her heart beating rapidly, she walked quickly upwards, guided by the red butterfly.

[In early spring at the Three Cats Inn,

Your smile was unforgettable;

In midsummer at the Heges Banquet,

Not being able to dance together is an eternal regret;]

Turning at the staircase corner, the petals extended upwards, entering the door that was slightly ajar.

[In this late autumn, watching the falling leaves,

I wish to gently kiss your cheek——

Golden-haired girl, do you still remember,

Our first encounter.]

She could hardly control her emotions, unable to recall exactly how she reached the door at the second floor.

[From then on I knew,

You and I, like the front and back of a mirror.

Though we could never meet, just relying on you,

I felt complete.]

The transparent red butterfly disappeared before her eyes. With trembling hands, she pushed open the door.

Tears unknowingly slid down her cheeks, and in the room filled with bouquets, making it look like a midsummer flower field, she saw the red-haired girl wearing a silver crown, in a golden evening gown, with black high-heeled shoes, turn to look at her with brown eyes.

A red ribbon was tied around her waist, and her smooth long hair was styled in a complex and elegant manner, hanging down her back. Her face wore light makeup, with beautiful eyelashes.

Their eyes met, brown gazing into green. Standing among the flowers, Lecia Cavendish softly recited the final line with her lipstick-painted lips:

[My dear Dorothy,

You are me, and I am you.

This is our story.]

Tears streamed down her pale face to the flowers at her feet. Dorothy covered her mouth with her hand, trying hard not to sob.

The furniture in the living room was temporarily moved to the corners, leaving a path among the flowers, allowing her to walk towards Lecia. At the other end of the path, the dining room, without lights on, had a candle-lit table set with gold and silverware and exquisite dishes.

There was no wind indoors, but the light was very bright. They gazed at each other, their eyes speaking volumes.

The red-haired princess slightly swayed the half relic pendant at her waist, her brown eyes watching the green eyes. She lifted her skirt with one hand and bowed slightly:

"Nice to meet you for the first time, I am Lecia Sevier Cavendish."

The blonde writer wiped away her tears, trying to show a joyful expression, breathing heavily, and also lifted her skirt with one hand to bow:

"Very pleased to meet you, I am Dorothy Redanput Louisa."

The blonde girl wore a red long dress, and the red-haired girl wore a golden long dress. Their simultaneous bowing action seemed like a curious mirror reflecting a wonderful sight. But on their entirely different faces, one was smiling gently, and the other was crying.

She walked along the flower path, and she also walked along the flower path, embracing in the center of the flowers:

"Finally..."

"Finally touched you."

Large swarms of red butterflies flew from unknown places, circling the girls among the flowers. The sounds of crying and murmuring represented joy but also past sadness.

The accumulated emotions exploded in an instant, making the embracing girls reluctant to part. At the door, Shard finally breathed a sigh of relief as he performed an Illusion Technique while holding a cat. He happily watched the scene in the room, snapped his fingers, and soft violin and saxophone music began to play in the dining room.

[Aren't you going in to join them in the embrace?]

The voice whispered in his ear with a chuckle. Shard shook his head, held his breath, carefully closed the door, and then tiptoed downstairs to leave:

"At this moment, no one should disturb them. This is their candlelight dinner."

He thought to himself, reaching the first floor. There was dinner prepared for him by Lecia, and having only eaten appetizers after a busy afternoon, Shard was starving.

Upstairs, Lecia and Dorothy were having a heartfelt conversation, sharing things that could not be conveyed through diaries and letters. Meanwhile, Shard finished his meal downstairs, washed up, and prepared to rest immediately after Lecia and Dorothy left.

He wasn't idle; he had an important matter with Dr. Schneider tomorrow.

Music played by the Alchemical Item Sound Stone above him, while it indeed began to rain outside the window.

Shard felt very good, thinking that after this matter, he must gain the right to read their diaries as a reward. But at ten o'clock in the evening, with the sound of rain tapping on the window, and the music still wafting above, Shard, sitting on the sofa on the first floor, holding a cat and reading a book, suddenly heard someone calling him upstairs:

"Detective, knight, can you come up? We have finished talking, and there are some things... we need you to do to put an end to this memorable night."

Because there was a floor in between, he couldn't tell who was calling him.

"Need me to do something?"

With doubt, he stood up and walked up the stairs. Little Mia followed behind Shard up the stairs.

The hall light was very bright, but the gas light on the stairs was somewhat dim. Amid the increasingly dense sound of rain, the young outlander cautiously walked towards the dimly lit upper floor.