Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Three pairs of nearly identical golden eyes looked at Shard with a strange expression, making Shard instinctively shrink back.

"Meow~"

The cat squirmed in Shard's arms, letting out a threatening cry at the witches, trying to protect Shard.

"What's with those looks... oh, Sister Delphine already said you're fine, but only seeing you unharmed puts my mind at ease."

Shard hesitated as he spoke, approaching the sofa, but the witches didn't change their expressions because of his words:

"As long as you're fine too. But Shard, from Wednesday night to early Thursday... what exactly happened?"

Four long sofas surrounded the tea table, which was filled with fruity cakes and stuffed muffins. On the engraved mirrored tray were 8 porcelain cups, each with a delicate Pure Silver double-handled cup holder. Several books stacked in one corner of the tea table, marked with leaf-shaped bookmarks. The teapot, glass water bottle, goldware candlestick, and silver cutlery were haphazardly placed on the transparent glass tabletop.

The three witches sat in three directions, so Shard sat alone on the sofa facing the window. After sitting down, he didn't forget to pick up a strawberry to stuff into Mia's mouth; such fresh fruits are hard to find in deep winter.

"If you want to know about what happened early Thursday morning..."

He had already discussed with "Maid Luvia" last night what to tell the witches, so the Ring of Fate appeared behind him, and the Five-Ring Sorcerer's Ring appeared in front of the witches:

"My Sublimation Incantation... Echo of Space-Time, Vibrating Sleeping Power."

With each word, the corresponding Spirit Rune flickered on the Ring of Fate. The ladies looked up at his Ring of Fate, all frowning slightly.

"So, those five Grand Witches, are really all summoned by you? I've never heard that the Sublimation Incantation can have such an effect."

Miss Aphrola said, and Shard nodded. The Sublimation Codex of Saint Byrons also did not record that this Sublimation Incantation could have such an effect. The original record was that the Sublimation Incantation constructed a river under the starlight, where you could arbitrarily manipulate pauses, acceleration, and even short-term reversals of time.

"Introduce those ladies to us."

Miss Galina said, and Shard nodded, pursing his lips:

"Those five ladies are, from the late Fifth Era, Witch Empress Violetta, Miss Schultz Teresa, principal of Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, from the mid-Fifth Era, Mana Feliana, founder of Saint Byrons, her student and the first librarian of the Academy, Miss Danester, and from the early Fifth Era, Witch Chloe Marquez, an early creator and participant in the Zaras Academy... they are friends I met during my time exploration."

The witches exchanged glances at each other, although they had guessed this answer, being confirmed by Shard still left them a bit incredulous.

Miss Galina looked at him and asked:

"Besides us, who else knows about this?"

"Two more people, Iluna and my Diviner friend. But Granny Cassandra might also guess it, as I've asked her several times to help collect information and key items from the Fifth Era."

"Don't tell more people about this."

Miss Sylvia said earnestly, without asking for more details, she cared instead:

"You may not understand how significant the impact of what you did early Thursday morning is. Not only summoning witches from past times, but also Demigods... there are no Demigods in the current Sixth Era."

"I understand, which is why I only told you... I trust you completely."

The ladies showed smiles, and the atmosphere relaxed instantly. Miss Galina picked up her teacup, Miss Aphrola played with her ear-tipped hair, and Miss Sylvia poured tea for Shard.

"Speaking of which, Miss Galina, I need to apologize. That book 'Immortality Magic' was accidentally destroyed by me..."

Before the red-haired witch could speak, he began recounting what happened with Miss Teresa and Miss Violetta, narrating the events atop the lighthouse early Thursday morning:

"The two witches from the late Fifth Era hid something in that book, leaving it for me in the next era. I think Miss Pawo of the Truth Society wanted to obtain 'Immortality Magic' probably because of this."

That piece of parchment appeared blank to others, so Shard could only verbally explain what it was. After hearing Shard's description, the witches had something new in their eyes, and the Duchess tapped the sofa cushion beside her, prompting Shard to move with his cat to sit beside Miss Galina, and the witch handed him the teacup from Miss Sylvia:

"If you don't mind, copy the contents into three... four copies for us and Granny Cassandra."

"No problem, I don't actually understand some of the High Ring Sorcerer knowledge myself. Consider it a Year-End Festival gift from me, Happy Year-End Festival, ladies."

Shard said softly, as Miss Galina kissed his cheek:

"Happy Year-End Festival."

Miss Aphrola and Miss Sylvia were a bit embarrassed, knowing the value of that knowledge.

Shard continued:

"Additionally, during my adventure with Miss Chloe in the Fifth Era, I witnessed her complete the path of the Demigod..."

Clang~

Miss Aphrola's teacup fell onto the carpet, spilling the delicate porcelain teacup's red tea on the carpet, but she didn't care at all.

Shard had to stop talking, not because of the cup falling, but because the witches' gazes on him felt as if they wanted to devour him. The small cat felt the "hostility" again and started meowing until Shard stuffed another strawberry in its mouth to calm it down.

"You witnessed the Sublimation Ceremony of the Demigod Witch in the Fifth Era?"

The red-haired witch suddenly gasped.

"It's not exactly a complete ceremony. In fact, the story is quite interesting, and at the end of the story, she gave me an ice crystal that narrates the path of a Demigod... Oh, Miss Galina, you're squeezing my hand too hard."

The Duchess held Shard's right hand, and upon hearing Shard's complaint, she slightly loosened her grip. The tight grasp actually reminded Shard of Tifa yesterday afternoon, when he "took the magic potion."

"Shard, where is the ice crystal...?"

Miss Sylvia leaned slightly forward to look at him, and the other two witches had similar expressions.

"It's in the snow pile in the basement at home. I think something so important is best not taken out. Miss Galina, when you return to Tobesk City, you can check it at my house."

Miss Aphrola and Miss Sylvia both looked at Miss Galina, and the latter nodded subtly, but her eyes were fixed on Shard:

"Shard, you are much more excellent than we imagined. It's not easy to win the hearts of the witches, but you deserve it. My knight, please accept my gratitude."

She kissed Shard in front of the two witches.

The kiss was quite excessive, and Shard, with one hand petting the cat and the other holding a teacup, was unable to stop it.

Miss Galina didn't mind the other two ladies still being around and only released Shard after a long while. The fervent expression beneath the witch's absolute beauty almost melted Shard away:

"I knew you could help me get the secrets of the Demigod Witch from the past Space-Time!"

She closed her eyes, cradled Shard's face, and wanted to continue kissing, but was driven away by Mia, who jumped onto Shard's shoulder. Of course, it was more likely because Miss Aphrola coughed loudly a few times:

"Galina, calm down, listen to me first. Shard, we will help you cover up what happened on Thursday. If the Speaker asks, everything will be attributed to the God Summoner, and Sister Delphine will also line up our statements..."

"But, is Shard really the God Summoner?"

Miss Sylvia asked again, the other two witches remained silent, and Shard touched his lips to give an answer:

"I am always the one using Maze Lock, and also the holder of Night Watchman. There is no solid evidence proving that the God Summoner possesses Maze Lock and Night Watchman, that is merely the Church's conjecture based on the facts."

"Are you saying that all along, you and the God Summoner have been confused with each other by the Church?"

The witch with wavy hair laughed, and Shard did not confirm or deny:

"I could be, or I could not be."

They did not pursue the topic further, but each had their own conclusions.

"Is the Chosen One of Knowledge and Wisdom you?"

Miss Galina asked again, she was so close that her perfume completely masked the scent of the tea.

"Of course not. I won't be the Chosen One, there's no need to lie about that."

Shard paused for a moment:

"I used the knowledge gained from Iluna Beath, and without killing the Chosen One, stripped him of his Chosen One status. So now, even if Lakin Prisia is still alive, the Chosen One of Knowledge and Wisdom, like the Chosen of Darkness, can be considered dead."

Luvia decided not to inform anyone other than Sister Delphine and Iluna about the arrow. And others do not have the ability to perceive the powers of the Chosen One, so as long as Shard doesn't frequently use the Aikenora - Arrow of the Chosen One, there's no need to worry about exposing the lie.

Shard agreed very much with Luvia's idea. The qualification of being the Chosen One was indeed too important; it is better to act as if it doesn't exist, no need to complicate matters.

"I see..."

Miss Aphrola nodded, probably considering how to report this matter to the Council.

Shard continued petting the cat and drinking tea, and after thinking for a moment, he added:

"Miss Galina, Tifa told me yesterday that she can upgrade to Seventh Ring."

"I too can upgrade to Twelfth Ring. The enlightenment of the Chosen One Ceremony is quite effective. The witches' powers and Circle Sorcerer powers mutually promote each other, which means the Twelfth Rank is also within reach."

Talking about this topic, the Duchess smiled again:

"The epic of the Chosen One is indeed dangerous but very useful... I know you have been recovering at the manor recently. While I was away from Tobesk, you didn't do anything, did you?"

"Cough cough."

Shard was choked on the tea and coughed a few times, and Miss Aphrola very thoughtfully helped change the topic:

"At the time, I was too far away to gain anything other than a new Arcane Technique. I am still at Twelve Rings and Twelfth Rank, the same as after the ceremony with Galina. I wonder, who among us will first touch the Thirteenth Rank?"

The lady with the wavy brown hair expressed her regret.

"I gained some knowledge, but still need to try and experiment to get results."

Miss Sylvia also laughed and winked at Shard with her right eye:

"Maybe soon, I'll be able to give you some surprises... in every sense."