Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Until that day, when he bid farewell to Lecia with a kiss in the opera house box, Shard remembered to hand Margaret's letter to her. He didn't open the letter to read it, while Lecia opened it in front of him, read it, smiled slightly, and then burned it with the flame at her fingertips.

She didn't tell Shard what kind of business the Southern Nation's princess invited her to do, but judging from her expression at that moment, the scale of the business must be substantial.

In the traditions of this era, the first month of each year is called the "Moon of Birth," and the end of the first day of the Moon of Birth signifies the official end of the Year-End Festival. Life will return to normal, and everyone must continue to face the hardships and challenges of the new year.

The first day of the Moon of Birth was a Wednesday, and Shard's 903 Time Key had been used on the previous Wednesday night, just a few minutes before midnight. But even though he now had a Time Key gifted by Mr. Edmund of Coldwater Port, due to the Tree Father's punishment, Shard did not use it this Wednesday night.

He also planned to let himself rest for a while until he found a way to Randall Valley to resume a brand new adventure.

Thus, time moved to the second day of the Moon of Birth, which was Thursday.

After waking up early, Shard went into town to handle the various tasks of the new month. After paying the advertising fees, gas fees, and steam fees, he went to the local tax department to check on the inheritance tax issues of the house and estate at No. 6, Saint Delan Square.

After having lunch with Mia at noon, he went to Dawn Chapel. After speaking briefly with Priest Augustus, Shard went to see Bishop Owen. After offering New Year blessings, he discussed the topic of His Majesty the King's year-end speech with Bishop Owen in the side hall.

When he left the range of Dawn Square, Priest Augustus hurriedly chased after him and handed Shard a suitcase:

"I'll be waiting for you at the church gate at eleven o'clock tonight."

The priest whispered to him and then turned back to the church. Shard continued towards the intersection in the crowd, knowing well what was in the suitcase he held.

The Bell Tower of Tobesk City is the tallest building in the entire Northern Pearl, located in the eastern part of the central area of Tobesk, adjacent to the city's affluent east side and not particularly close to Saint Delan Square, yet its sound can be heard daily.

The Bell Tower stands on the west side of Tobesk's famous "War God Square," with its back to the meandering Terael River, and at its base is the Birmingham Museum. In fact, the Birmingham Museum, as a semi-official city museum, is also responsible for the maintenance and management of the lighthouse. The building and land of the lighthouse had already belonged to the museum more than ten years ago, and the first floor has basically become an exhibition hall.

That evening, the elderly Tower Keeper on duty for the day passed through the small back door of the museum into the first floor of the lighthouse. After lighting the gas lamp on the wall and glancing at the closed glass display cabinets, he intended to ascend the winding stairs for the last lighthouse inspection of the day, planning to finish writing today's work log before sleep.

In the new year, the work log was also replaced with a brand new booklet, and based on the wisdom of the elderly, if he couldn't record seriously in the first two entries of the new log, then the entries thereafter would likely not be recorded seriously either:

"Young people these days, they never understand the benefits of thorough record-keeping."

However, he had only ascended two steps when he unexpectedly heard the sound of the lighthouse door being opened. Turning around in surprise, he saw a wave of red roses blowing into the room with the evening breeze, and then he completely lost consciousness.

"Lagre's Leap!"

With one step, Shard, carrying the suitcase, moved to the old man's side to support him, preventing him from getting injured by falling. Following behind, the doctor changed into shoe covers and gloves after closing the door, and also carrying his briefcase, walked over:

"Although I've lived in Tobesk my entire life, I've never been inside here."

The doctor brushed off the snowflakes on his shoulder, speaking while surveying his surroundings:

"The tower is bigger than I imagined, and the exhibition hall is really something; it's a pity it isn't free to enter."

"According to what I've gathered from my noble friends, nobles and professors from the Tobesk University District can enter for free... Knights too."

Shard said with a smile, carefully placing the elderly man against the wall and even covering him with a blanket to prevent a chill.

"Speaking of which, I have some connection to this museum. My uncle, Detective Sparrow Hamilton, said before he died that if I ever found myself destitute, I could bring the 'Genesis: Silver Moon' here to sell... Let's go, Doctor."

He beckoned the doctor over, and the two of them, carrying an oil lamp, ascended the winding stairs. Their target was the topmost floor, and since the lighthouse only had a gas pipeline on the very bottom layer, climbing required lighting, and it would take them a good while to reach their destination.

"How's the exam preparation for tomorrow going?"

The doctor asked casually as he walked behind Shard, referring to their earlier conversation on the roads about whether the economic data in the year-end royal speech was accurate.

Shard nodded:

"The content that needed to be memorized, I've almost remembered it all. The potion and alchemical items required by the assessment course have been postponed by the Academy, allowing me to submit them a week later, though the papers are all done."

"What about the gap in practical credits?"

"No problem there; Library Assistant Miss Danester promised to help me figure it out. I completed a very important Academy task for her not too long ago. And you, Doctor, how's 'Aether Mechanics' treating you?"

Upon mentioning this topic, the doctor couldn't help but sigh:

"Let's try our luck. This isn't a subject one can pass by rote memorization alone. The fundamental theories of the Spirit always require a natural talent to learn. Fortunately, I only want to pass the exam to qualify for elective courses, not to truly research this."

He couldn't help but sigh again:

"Knowledge, so alluring, so troublesome."

This statement made Shard feel deeply empathetic, and the doctor's next words were even more astonishing:

"Detective, have you heard about Sir Lakin Prisia? You weren't at the meeting on Saturday, and Annette said she would tell you."

"The matter about the academic spy?"

The two ascended the stairs one after the other, the light from their kerosene lamps flickering with their steps. Every so often, small windows along the wall allowed a view of the myriad lights of Tobesk City's deep winter below. Each new window made the city seem slightly smaller.

In this Steam Age, even though not every household could afford gas lamps, the city's nightscape was nonetheless vastly different from a few hundred years ago. The outlander, as he passed each window, remembered every scene, knowing this represented civilization.

"Yes, academic spies. Tsk tsk, this is the biggest scandal concerning Correspondence Circle Mages in the last few decades at the Three Major Academies."

The doctor shook his head as he spoke:

"Although this is a matter for Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, after all, they are the same correspondence as us. The school hasn't said anything yet, but I've heard from acquaintances that the Three Major Academies will conduct a more thorough identity check on existing Correspondence Circle Mages this year—oh, actually, this year."

He and Shard sighed together, the doctor worrying about many people being implicated, while Shard thought that all five people in their group actually had problems.

"Speaking of which, didn't you ask me to investigate Lakin Prisia?"

The doctor continued the earlier topic, climbing the tower quickly with Shard. In fact, the lighthouse had an elevator, but to avoid causing too much commotion, they didn't use it:

"I still remember that person's desire, the insane thirst for knowledge."

He hummed twice:

"Although at the time I didn't think it was a big problem, now it seems that this thirst for knowledge was the reason he went mad."

"Did the academy say that this academic spy went mad?"

Shard seized the opportunity to ask, the doctor nodding behind him. Just as they passed another window, the doctor glanced at the moon outside. The continuous snowfall had not ceased, but tonight's snow was light, thus the starry sky could be seen:

"From what I heard, he came into contact with some forbidden knowledge in Huntington City in the United Kingdom of Carsonrick. He was then pursued by the Church, fled into the Pantanal Swamp Region, and set off a huge conflict. It's said that last Thursday morning's strange chimes were related to this."

The doctor clicked his tongue in disbelief:

"It's hard to imagine what kind of battle would enable Circle Mages throughout the Material World and ordinary people with high inspiration to hear those chimes both in reality and in their dreams."

Shard knew what it was about, but to allow the doctor to continue his peaceful life, he couldn't reveal it at this time.

"The madness of thirst for knowledge indeed."

Discussing this, Shard also sighed with emotion:

"Actually, I once talked about this topic with the Sir. He was the kind of person who... resembled a scholar, with a high artistic attainment. However, he lacked some reverence..."

"I've met many such people."

The doctor said as they passed the final step, entering the top of the clock tower.

Moonlight streamed in through the small window, and the weak glow from their kerosene lamps evoked the atmosphere of a third-rate horror novel scene. The top layer of the clock tower had a substantial area, but only a quarter was accessible, with most of the space occupied by the clock machinery, blocked by black iron-hued metal railings.

Massive gears, shafts, and chains operated with a rattling sound in the dark top of the clock tower, driven by the steam engine located in the clock tower's basement, providing precise timekeeping for the city. Everything may change, but time never does.