Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"This is the fated hero, the true protagonist of the Sixth Era."

Standing before the vanished wall, Shard, panting heavily, held his chest and said. The distance from the summit of Sicarl Mountain to the city below was actually quite far, yet only within the Maze Lock could he see so clearly.

He had clearly seen the scene where Iluna hurled the giant Sunlight Spear just moments ago. Unless he achieved divinity again, Shard had no way to defeat that Undead Behemoth.

His admiration at this moment was not feigned. With Sister Delphine's assistance, Iluna had won with just one strike. Ignoring tonight's deity, she was the hero most worthy of being recorded under the star ocean at this moment.

If Shard were to fight Iluna, he had no absolute confidence of victory.

"You are an audience beyond fate, perhaps occasionally influencing the stage, but Iluna Beath is the fated hero on stage."

The nun spoke softly, her true form had returned, and Shard envied this ability.

He nodded, and two red butterflies flew from his shoulders, landing on the ground and turning into the staggering Helen and Grace who nearly fell.

Shard and Sister Delphine supported them, and then Shard said:

"The last matter for tonight, although the Witch Empress prophesied that the Night Watchman is the key to sealing the Rift, I can't bear to leave that sword above Midshire Fort City. Just as the power of the Maze Lock hasn't been exhausted, I will seal the Rift as well... Sister, I need to borrow your flame."

"My honor."

The surrounding palace scenery faded, replaced by the primal forest and the night. Shard supported Helen, and Sister Delphine supported Grace, sitting under the giant tree that had appeared behind them at an unknown time, sitting in front of the bonfire lit by the nun's Primal Fire.

Using three Maze Locks consecutively, even Shard in his current state found it unbearable. He tried his best to sit down on the ground, unaware that at this moment on the summit of Sicarl Mountain in the real world, green light points lit the starry sky, echoing the glow above Midshire Fort City.

The power of the "Holy Tree Scar" and the "Kiss of the Tree" harmoniously fused together, as if they were originally from the same source.

Green light radiated from Shard's body, twirling and dancing under the dim giant tree.

"Is it the Tree Father's blessing - Verdant Blessing? This blessing strengthened the seal... Kiss of the Tree, is it also considered a power related to nature and trees?"

[Why wouldn't it be?]

The four of them sat around the bonfire, the dissipation of the Maze Lock gradually revealing the summit of Sicarl Mountain.

And the giant tree behind them had really grown on the summit of Sicarl Mountain, its roots spreading across the entire mountain, stabilizing the precarious peak and blocking the rift at the mountain top, sealing the path to the interstice completely.

Flames from the bonfire spread around the ground. The giant tree's canopy extended outward until it completely covered the summit of Sicarl Mountain.

The effect of the Maze Lock ended, but the bonfire still flickered, and the large tree beside them still stood.

"Huh? Why is this tree still here? Wait, since when does Kiss of the Tree also have a tree-planting effect?"

Shard was a bit puzzled and then speculated it might be related to the Tree Father's blessing. But this was fine too; the Summit Lake had long been destroyed, and now a tree had grown, which could be beneficial for the greening of Sicarl Mountain.

"It's finally over, the matters in Midshire Fort City are finally over. Kiss of the Tree and Holy Tree Scar sealed the rift, and ninety-nine percent of the souls within the rift have left; it's all over."

Shard looked up at the starlight filtering through the gaps in the tree canopy, Grace supporting her sister, Helen gazing at Shard, Sister Delphine looking down at the flames, and the bored Mia squinting and sleeping soundly.

The battle was over, and the church would surely come soon to inspect the tree on the summit. But for now, everyone sat there with the firelight and shadows dancing on them; it was time to take a little rest.

From the early autumn of 1853 in the Common Era Calendar, to this deep autumn night, the Outlander finally brought this segment of his story to a relatively satisfactory close.

From Wednesday night to near-dawn on Thursday, Shard had traversed the interstice, guarded the church, entered death, returned to the past, fought Barton, chased the red butterfly, defeated the Evil God, guided souls, and finally used three Maze Locks consecutively, or rather, a massive three-in-one Maze Lock.

This night was truly exhausting for him.

The fighting calmed, the spiritual light under the night sky faded, and the fire in the burning forest also slowly extinguished. The dawn light had yet to appear in the distant sky, but this night, worthy of being inscribed in history and becoming a myth in the future, had come to an end.

Exhausted, Shard didn't even descend the mountain, but entrusted the severely injured Helen and Grace to the nun, who would take them to Granny Cassandra, and directly returned to Tobesk from halfway up the mountain.

He really needed to rest for a while. Although there were still many things to handle in Midshire Fort City, he asked Sister Delphine to inform his friends that he wouldn't be showing up for several days.

Shard really missed his bed.

Actually, home wasn't peaceful either. When he returned from death with Barton and Ms. Hendel, because of the illegal use of the Traveler's Gate, not only was the relic about to go out of control, but even the interstice on the third floor had severe problems.

In his hurry to return to Midshire Fort City at that time, Shard could only have Miss Galina handle it on his behalf. That was three hours ago, and when Shard, with Mia, wearily climbed the stairs again, it seemed the third-floor issue had already been resolved.

In the peaceful house, warm yellow gas lamps lit the space. There were no battle noises, no roars of beasts. As he stepped up the familiar staircase, Shard's heart was filled with an emotion difficult to express:

"There's no place like home."

On the second floor, Luviya was seated on the sofa, talking with Miss Galina, while Tifa and the maids prepared a late-night snack and tea in the kitchen.

The warm and cozy light of the gas lamps filled the living room. Back in his own house, seeing the familiar ladies, the weary Shard stood at the second-floor door, reluctant to disturb the current atmosphere.

"What's that expression?"

The red-haired witch turned around with a teacup in her hand:

"Tsk tsk, look at you, all covered in dirt, utterly exhausted, your clothes are torn, though your skin looks clean. Is the matter in Midshire Fort City resolved?"

"Yes, it's all over."

Shard nodded. Luviya stood up and supported him, noticing his poor mental state. The girl with purple eyes said softly:

"We asked Barton a few things, and then, as you said, we let that lady leave with the soul. They will probably stay at the Three Cats Inn tonight and then leave Tobesk by steam train."

Shard didn't trust Miss Galina. He knew she would have someone follow them, but it was no longer his concern.

"Also, there was a little problem on the third floor. You never have to worry; the boundaries on the third floor got out of control, but your Traveler's Gate is also wrecked."

Shard shook his head:

"All good news, I now... want to go to bed."

"Go quickly."

Miss Galina put down her teacup:

"I've already asked Tifa to prepare your bed. Go sleep, Knight. I just hope that when you wake up, I can hear the story of tonight from you."

She also stood up, glanced at Luviya, then gently kissed Shard on the corner of his lips:

"I hope it's an exciting story."

The Witch looked at the girl with purple eyes, and Luviya also looked back at her:

"Yes, Shard, I hope it's a good story."

She also kissed Shard on the corner of his lips, and because of his exhaustion, Shard, whose consciousness was already a bit unclear, didn't even want to think about what they had just said.

Luviya suddenly frowned, leaned closer to Shard, and sniffed him before smiling and asking:

"Something's not right, Shard. Why do you have so many perfume scents on you? At least, at least four kinds. What exactly were you doing..."

She stopped speaking because Shard, due to extreme fatigue, slumped to one side, then was carefully supported by Tifa.

Little Mia jumped onto the back of the sofa, meowing. Apart from her, the ladies all fell silent.

"Tifa, help Shard to the bedroom to rest. He's really worn out."

After a moment, the Witch asked softly, and Tifa nodded:

"Yes, Miss. Should I change him into his pajamas?"

The Witch glanced at Luviya, and the girl with purple eyes also lowered her voice and said:

"You change him."

"Alright."

Tifa supported Shard towards the bedroom, and the small orange cat immediately followed.

The Witch and the Female Diviner sat back down on the sofa. It was four in the morning, and neither of them seemed to plan on resting:

"Luviya Annette, what do you think happened in Midshire Fort tonight?"

The Female Diviner looked at the night sky outside the window:

"Just before dawn, all the lights suddenly disappeared for a second. Then I used my stargazing equipment and saw the Path of Death above Midshire Fort... This will probably be remembered for centuries to come. It's really a shame we can only sit here and not witness it firsthand."

"The experiences of The Chosen Ones are part of an epic. Now that the Undead Chosen has appeared, anything can happen. First Tobesk, then Coldwater Port, now Midshire Fort. Who knows where will be next."

The Witch chuckled, raising her teacup slightly towards Luviya:

"You have great abilities and talent. Are you interested in accepting the power of a Witch?"

Luviya shook her head:

"Sorry, not for now. However, the entire material world could probably observe the dreadful phenomenon above Midshire Fort before dawn. After all, tonight most Astrologers were observing the Star Whale there. Their telescopes probably all cracked like mine. I wonder if the Academy will compensate for these equipment."

"Yes, a Godfall..."

The Witch put down her teacup, her eyes slightly squinting:

"But why? Why would a Deity appear in Midshire Fort? The commotion The Chosen Ones are causing is getting bigger and bigger."

She suspiciously looked towards Shard's adjacent bedroom. Luviya smiled, continuing to gaze at the night sky outside. The warm yellow gaslight illuminated the two ladies, their figures reflecting on the window glass. Elegant and intellectual, the ladies pondered the significance of tonight:

"This was destined to become an epic poem chapter. As for why the Deity appeared... who knows?"

"Meow~"

That was Mia calling because Tifa had taken off Shard's clothes.