Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

To Miss Danester's right sat two ladies. The younger one was wearing a black formal dress and holding a fountain pen and a notepad, clearly indicating she was a secretary from the Student Affairs Office. The other lady appeared to be the oldest among the five, in a delicate state between 'matron' and 'elderly.' She was slightly plump but very tall, wearing a black dress paired with a large hat, her sharp eyes hinting at her strict demeanor.

"Oh, Shard, you've arrived. Please, have a seat."

Miss Danester casually greeted Shard, inviting him to sit on the empty sofa opposite her:

"I won't introduce Professor Garcia, and beside him is your Academy's dean, Twelve-Ring Magician Professor Odias."

Professor Odias nodded slightly towards Shard, who promptly returned the greeting.

"These two here are Miss Aureus, the secretary from the Student Affairs Office, and Professor Sindler, the dean of Library Management."

Although Miss Danester is a librarian, she herself is not the dean of the Academy of Library Management, just as Mr. Pigman, the principal, holds no other positions.

Shard greeted each professor in turn, while Miss Aureus had already started recording.

"Shard Suren Hamilton, as the principal is currently not present at the Academy, I am here to award you the 'Saint Byrons Integrated Academy 1853 Excellent Student Medal' and the 'Saint Byrons Integrated Academy Feliana Medal.'

The red velvet box and red lacquered wooden case slid toward Shard on the coffee table, and he promptly stood up to gather them, opening each to inspect. The Saint Byrons Integrated Academy 1853 Excellent Student Medal was one Shard had already seen at the doctor's, while the 'Saint Byrons Integrated Academy Feliana Medal' was a purple-gold metal medallion. In a fleur-de-lis pattern, with the emblem of Saint Byrons engraved on the front along with the date of conferment, and on the back, the name of the recipient and the achievements made.

"I am honored."

"No need to be so modest. Not to mention your achievements, your advancement speed within the Academy is record-breaking, and this is an honor you've truly earned. Please take good care of your medals, for it signifies that, should you apply for a teaching position within Saint Byrons, you certainly won't be refused. This honor itself is the finest reward you can obtain in your student days, named after the Academy's founder."

Miss Danester said, while Shard noticed that the 'Feliana Medal' was an extraordinarily potent alchemical item with strong traces of the Enlightenment Element. It is the most powerful alchemical item he has encountered, second only to the 'Nightmare Medal' crafted from Angel Bones owned by Priest Augustus, and on par with the doctor's ebony pistol.

If it weren't for the absence of Whisper elements, Shard might even suspect it to be a relic.

"Having this medal on you allows you to remain clear-headed, more focused, repel minor curses, decipher simple ritual mechanisms, pay extra spirit, and even instantly clean your clothes. Moreover, this honor grants you the privilege of having your own dedicated poetic manuscript pages and to contact the Academy independently."

Miss Danester said with a smile, though Shard already possesses dedicated manuscript pages.

"I will take good care of them."

Miss Danester gestured towards Professor Odias:

"In view of your outstanding performance, although you are currently just a correspondence student, the History Academy has decided to increase the intensity of your training."

"But..."

Shard mused inwardly.

"But I have already informed Saint Byrons of my intent to cultivate you as the next librarian. So, the History Academy's training for you requires a new discussion. Don't worry, I've already arranged matters for you."

The Thirteen-Ring Female Sorcerer clearly didn't seem inclined to be polite with the History Academy. Professor Garcia, the vice dean of the History Academy who Shard is more familiar with, winked at him, while Dean Professor Odias remained expressionless, and Shard guessed he was somewhat displeased.

"You remain a student of the Saint Byrons History Academy while also minoring in library management courses. In the coming years, I will gradually open several specialized elective courses for you. When you reach the eighth grade, at the final step of the Inner Ring, your advisor by default will be me."

The minimum graduation requirement from Saint Byrons is Nine Rings, equivalent to High Ring. Although not everyone possesses such talent, leading to far more dropout students than graduates, the Academy spares no expense to train talented students. Among these measures, selecting an advisor at Eight Rings is one of the most crucial cultivation plans because after entering High Ring, mere professional courses make continued learning difficult, and point-to-point mentoring becomes the best learning method for Eight Rings and beyond.

"Mr. Hamilton, do you accept this arrangement?"

Miss Danester asked, with Shard feigning hesitation before nodding with pursed lips:

"Yes."

The cat nestled in his pocket was quiet at the moment, and the earlier hesitation was not about appearing thoughtful but regarding the dignity of the History Academy.

The librarian smiled with satisfaction and said to the two deans and the vice dean:

"I knew that no one could say no to me."

No one can refuse the invitation of a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, so the History Academy will not view Shard's choice as betrayal. After all, they're all professors of Saint Byrons, and if in the next era, a librarian emerges from the History Academy, it will be beneficial for the academy itself.

The contract Shard signed upon enrollment clearly stated that he joined the History Academy, so another supplementary contract must be signed during this visit. The contract is more than ten pages long, and Shard took some time to read it all. The professors agreed with Shard's approach, as a sorcerer who doesn't review a contract before signing is not worth cultivating.

After officially signing his name, Miss Aureus from the secretariat informed Shard about his tuition waiver plan. This wasn't much of a concern for Shard, who still has the box of gemstones acquired from Huntington, despite having only a little over three thousand pounds left in cash.

Next, Professor Garcia mentioned Shard's upcoming training plan. All these miscellaneous things combined took over an hour to process, by which time Mia had already climbed out of Shard's pocket, sleeping sweetly on his lap.

"That about covers the arrangements for your training plan moving forward."

Miss Danester nodded to Shard and then looked at Miss Aureus, who stood up and left.

"Additionally, the academy has one more matter to confirm. Please wait a moment... speaking of which, are you still at the Four Rings level?"

Shard hesitated for a moment and admitted:

"I have already been promoted to Five Rings a few days ago."

A while ago, Shard had inquired about his advancement ceremony from Miss Danester while she was in Tobesk, specifically for this reason.

In the thick steam mist, the life ring behind him appeared slightly larger than a normal life ring, indicating it was indeed a Five-Ring life ring. The professors exchanged glances, and Miss Danester smiled and praised:

"Although it's somewhat surprising, it's expected. But now, you're not only the fastest Four Rings but the fastest... he's here."

Everyone turned to look sideways, while Shard frowned slightly, recognizing the familiar voice coming from the corridor between the distant bookshelves—

"Apocalypse! Flame! False time! The end of everything! Praise the final end! Praise the beginning of the beginning!"

Inappropriate mad shouting and prayers suddenly erupted in the quiet library at night.

His eyes widened in shock, observing a figure wearing handcuffs, shackles, a restraint uniform for mental patients, and a special black iron half-restraint helmet, being brought forward by two Inner Ring sorcerers dressed in academy lecturer robes.

It was Sir Lakin Prisia, whom Shard hadn't seen since the Pantanal battle earlier this year. In just a week, he appeared much more worn, with even his hair turning gray.

With arms supported on both sides, his walking speed was slow, yet he evidently realized his destination, shouting madly.

"This is... oh, Sir Prisia?"

Shard turned to look at Miss Danester, who had seen the sir at Shard's house in Tobesk, of course, this matter couldn't be revealed to others.

"Yes, I believe your team leader mentioned the matter of academic espionage. We borrowed him from the church to see if letting him see someone he originally recognized might restore some of his memory. He... knows something that all three academies regarding want to learn."

Miss Danester spoke softly, and both academy deans nodded, with Professor Odias adding:

"Rest assured, we haven't disclosed your identity to the church, bringing him here merely saying Saint Byrons wants to see if his memory could be restored."

"I see."

Shard displayed a look of sudden understanding, while "she" spoke internally to him:

[They suspect you.]

"Obviously they suspect, otherwise why would they look only for me and not a doctor? Although my level differs greatly from the so-called God Summoner, this time the God Summoner demonstrated both time and Silvermoon's power. If not for the Sublimation Incantation's mismatched effect, and the fact that I'm not truly a High Ring Sorcerer... the earlier inquiry of my level was due to this... were it not for these discrepancies, they wouldn't just suspect... What exactly is Lakin Prisia's current condition?"

[Too far to sense.]

While conversing within his mind, the madman Prisia had already moved close to the library's central space.

Despite the presence of so many people, he instinctively zeroed in on Shard, his eyes bloodshot and wide open, body struggling fiercely, seemingly wanting to pounce and throttle Shard:

"You Outer Realm fiend!"