Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

With one hand clutching the box and the other holding the lantern, Shard, led by Sister Delphine, reached the true "Primal Fire Altar" at the bottom through the ritual site's internal elevator.

The spark of the Fire of the Primordial burned at the center of the circular, upward layers of the altar, and the nun's weapon, the longsword "Ashes," was tilted into the campfire, its flames licking the strange sword.

"Offer the firewood."

The blind nun, clad in a gray nun's robe, stood by the fire pit, her silver blindfold reflecting the unstable flames leaping around.

Shard handed the slender-necked bottle filled with "Demon Remains" to the nun, who extended her right hand into the flames. The primal fire ignited her hand almost immediately, and as the marks of burn appeared, the cracks that emerged on her skin's surface crawled all over her body from the fire, reaching even the tips of her decaying gray hair where sparks appeared.

Sister Delphine, ignited by the primal fire, extended her left hand into the flames too. As both hands fully offered the "Demon Remains" and they were completely enveloped, the not-so-vigorous flames suddenly surged upward, as if celebrating the ignition of new firewood.

At the same time, signs of "Embers of the Primal Fire" appeared on Shard's body, with the primal fire's strength intensifying the flames within him.

"Offer the flame."

The nun again softly spoke, her voice as stable as glacial water, offering serenity.

Shard opened the lantern's cover, while Sister Delphine again stretched out her hands. This time it was both hands, with a magma-like hue flowing through the cracks on them, overpowering the weak spark of the "Sunfire" that had been gathered at the Shard Family for eight days.

Compared to the primal fire she guarded, the sun's flame was more ruthless, burning the nun's porcelain-like skin. Yet, she only trembled slightly, though Shard noticed the blush on her pale cheek below the blindfold.

The flames were taken out of the lantern by the nun and delivered into the fire pit. The two strange flames merged, becoming one naturally, and though the primal fire briefly exhibited a subtle golden hue from its fusion with the "Sunfire," it soon returned to its original color.

Sister Delphine ignored her scorched hands, her hands gathered inward within the fire pit. All the flames consequently converged towards her palms, transforming into a ball of fire familiar to Shard, with an upward-dragging tail of flames.

She did not incorporate the "Fire of the Primordial" into her body directly, but instead, turned her trembling form towards Shard:

"Hero who receives the primal fire, at this moment, touch my inner darkness."

Through quite ancient grammar, using a trembling voice, she spoke words Shard did not fully understand.

[She wants to give you power.]

"She" whispered, smiling by Shard's ear.

Indeed, the nun, flowing with flames throughout her body, was offering the weak flame spark to Shard, who knelt down on one knee, reaching his right hand between the nun's burnt hands.

At this moment, akin to an ancient oil painting of a hero endowed with power, as his hand lay between the nun's scorched hands, the flame enveloped Shard's right arm in a similar fashion.

The light bestowed Shard with new strength within the flames:

[Outlander, your cold resistance has significantly increased, and your flame resistance has significantly increased.]

"Apologies, though there's new firewood, the flame remains weak; I cannot offer you more power."

The nun spoke softly; her emotions were not as stirred as Shard had imagined.

"It's alright."

Shard stood up, gazing at the flame between Sister Delphine's hands:

"Though it's not absolutely certain, the fourth Chosen One Ceremony will likely be held in the Pantanal Swamp Region. Then, we'll not only have the chance to recover the split flames from the center of the swamp, but perhaps even face the Evil Creatures of Pantanal."

Sister Delphine's face showed a subtle smile:

"I will move along with the witches, then you can come with us to the ceremony site."

Shard nodded, looking again at the still-burning longsword "Ashes" in the fire pit:

"Nun, there are some things I want to ask you. I know the Spiritual Practice Order also has a tradition of moon worship; do you have any means to enhance the perception of moon power? I wonder if you've heard about the matter in Tobesk; I'm searching for an item representing the Yellow Moon."

The nun nodded:

"Follow me to the library to fetch the books; the knowledge here is available for borrowing if you're interested. However, you'll need additional ritual materials to enhance lunar perception."

"Can Water of Moonlight suffice?"

"Pure moonlight?"

The nun "looked" at Shard:

"That's enough."

"So, do you have a way to let me temporarily merge with Sunfire, and at the right moment, retrieve that flame?"

This is for Miss Chloe the Witch trapped in the "Silver Mountains." Shard cannot casually carry supernatural items to past times, especially if those items are not "mission items." But if he could temporarily assimilate "Sunfire," then this flame could appear with Shard in the past, like the Primal Fire.

"The Fire of the Primordial can accommodate any flame it has swallowed; this requires the skill of fire manipulation, which I will teach you."

She held Shard's hand, causing him to halt, noticing Sister Delphine's face had a slight blush, though he wasn't sure if it was a trick of the dim light.

That afternoon, after bidding farewell to Sister Delphine, Shard headed to the Cassandra Auction House to visit Grace and Helen. It was snowing today in Midshire Fort, and the Red Butterfly Twins were in the basement with the witch apprentice, Miss Swift, checking the contained relics.

Just by chance, with no particular task today, Shard finally fulfilled his promise before leaving Midshire Fort. He took Grace and Helen, using the power of the Magician's Escape Box, from Midshire Fort to No. 6, Saint Delan Square.

The fifteen or sixteen year old girls, wearing black and white dresses respectively, seemed especially excited about this brief journey. Meanwhile, Mia was particularly displeased about having two strangers here again.

"Sir, is this where you live now?"

Even though Helen, as "Miss Black," had once peeped at where Detective Sparrow lived, she still found it immensely interesting to appear here with her sister and Shard.

The twin girls didn't ask for more, just shared dinner with Shard at his home, and sat by the fireplace listening to his stories. By half-past nine, they headed back to Midshire Fort.

Experimenting as Shard suspected, the Red Butterfly Twins could use the "Spatial Labyrinth" to move by touching the Ancient God Statue.

After all, the twins' power stems from the Old God "Twin Gods," which embodies the "two-headed" image of the Ancient God "Scar of the Primordial." Although Grace and Helen didn't inherit the spatial power, as relics, their power source is indeed that ancient deity.

Now that they have established a route to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, they no longer need the "Magician's Escape Box" to travel between Milestone and the Shard Family. Unfortunately, while being with Shard or at No. 6, Saint Delan Square allows the twins to briefly leave Midshire Fort, this short "journey" also showed them they can't do it frequently.

Thus, Helen and Grace arranged with Shard to visit him once a month. After Shard agreed, the girls kissed Shard's cheeks on either side with smiles and said goodbye before holding hands to touch the basement statue, departing the place.

"Speaking of which, they seem a bit more mature this time compared to last."

Shard thought of this as he exited the basement, reaching into his pocket, he found a handkerchief he hadn't seen before. Only then did he realize Helen had secretly slipped it into his pocket when they parted. The handkerchief had black lace edges and even retained some residual warmth, as Helen had a preference for this color scheme among the twins.

"As their wounds heal, their appearance will shift toward their true form, which is in their twenties."

"She" softly said, Shard nodded, looking at the handkerchief in his hand and stuffing it back in his pocket:

"Though this time, they can't accompany me in the final battle of the Chosen One Ceremony, they might help me with some matters in the future."

"Is that really all you're thinking about?"

"She" laughed and asked.

Time came to Wednesday, the Day of the Red Butterfly. Shard planned to find Dorothy early and wait for the official start of the Day of the Red Butterfly. But while having breakfast, Miss Danester sent a message via a poetry manuscript page, prompting Shard to set aside his half-eaten bread and traveled via projection to Saint Byrons Library.

Still in the open space at the library's center, still seated facing the coffee table and sofa. After Shard reoriented, he immediately saw the very familiar stone tablet resting on the coffee table.

Palm-sized, ancient rune marked with the number "three." Clearly, the corners were adorned with large yellow sapphire.

The stone tablet obtained from Mr. Edmund was marked with "two" and had silver corners; the one from Apna Library had "one" and red jade corners.

He even forgot to greet, incredulous, asking:

"Is this..."

The librarian Miss set down her teacup:

"Yes, it's what you've been looking for. Indeed, it's in the library. I gathered a dozen students to help search for half a week before finding it. The Academy Library is indeed filled with too many books and treasures. Items without discovered danger or unclear value are often placed by some past librarians in suitable spots where no one pays attention to them thereafter."

Miss Danester said, then informed Shard of some bad news.