Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1990: The Awakened Princess

Based on what Laplace Klein Howard said when merging with the evil object "Door in the Bottle," it’s inferred that the witches of the Fifth Era should already be prepared for the impending apocalypse. Perhaps, the original purpose behind the establishment of the Three Major Academies had something to do with this.

Shard hopes to gather new information from those ancient witches.

"But the ’Poetry Cards’ only call upon the projection of the past, not real people. Previously, it was just rumored that past heroes could assist users in defeating powerful enemies, but it’s unheard of that these cards can be used this way."

Luviya frowned slightly.

"The use of time-related relics must be done cautiously."

Miss Benanis also said, and Shard nodded:

"Luviya is right, but I have my ideas. My Low Ring Ascension Words: ’Echoes of Space-Time Vibrating Sleeping Power,’ combined with this card, and perhaps utilizing a special location, could potentially succeed. I will only use this relic once, afterward, let the Witch Council help store it."

Shard’s Sublimation Incantation consumes more spirit than fully deploying a Maze Lock. Not to mention, his special Sublimation Incantation requires an ’ancient space-time ritual circle similar to the Stonehenge on Pantanal Lake Heart Island’ to be used.

"What special location do you have in mind? Is it the Stonehenge at the Heart of Pantanal?"

Luviya asked again, but Shard shook his head slightly:

"That’s why I’m asking you, Miss Galina, for help. I want to use this relic at the Witch Council to maximize the prevention of any accidents."

"That’s a good idea."

Miss Galina thought about it and agreed:

"The Council can suppress most time and space-related relics, given its unique independence. Moreover, if calling upon past Grand Witches, they are bound to have connections with the Council, using the relic there minimizes unexpected outcomes. Although there isn’t a space-time ritual circle in the Council, it is unique enough to work with you."

"If the attempt with the relic and Sublimation Incantation succeeds, who will you call upon? The Ice Witch from the early Fifth Era? The predecessors of Saint Byrons in the mid? Or the Witch Empress Violetta or Schultz Teresa, the head of Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, in the late era?"

Luviya asked.

"The founder of Saint Byrons, Miss Mana Feliana. Her period is relatively neither too far nor too close in time, and Miss Feliana seems to know more."

Shard provided the answer he had long prepared:

"To use ’Poetry Cards,’ the summoned entity must be a hero whose tales are perpetuated in poetry or epic, not an obscure figure. That’s not a concern, as Miss Feliana’s story is still widely spread even today. As for items related to Miss Feliana, I have a notebook she personally wrote, which is suitable."

"Since you have already decided, when do you plan to use this relic?"

Miss Benanis asked again.

"Next week. This week I need to finish dealing with Edwards Family matters, then converse with the Guardian of the Earth and Sister Delphine, oh, and Miss Danester. I need to confirm a time when there’s no one in the Council, possibly... half an hour to an hour."

The four Grand Witches discussed:

"No problem, we’ll let you know the chosen time. If there’s anything else you need, just inform us in advance."

"Let’s hope it succeeds."

Shard stretched lazily and chatted with them for a while. Luviya was the first to rise and go to rest, as she would return to the local Prophet’s Society tomorrow and then head back to Tobesk City; Shard would see her in the city by the weekend or Monday.

Miss Galina was the second to get up and leave, yawning and calling on Tifa to help her make the bed, complaining that the bed at the inn was quite uncomfortable.

And just as the footsteps of Miss Galina and Tifa disappeared, Sister Delphine and Megan, along with their group, returned.

The nun nodded to Shard and went to rest, while Megan was curious about what Shard was discussing with the witches so late. So she sat down, or rather, they sat down.

The sisters held hands, feeling a bit embarrassed as everyone curiously looked at them:

"Why do you keep staring at me? Although we’ve become two from one, aren’t we exactly the same?"

"Exactly the same, that’s why it’s interesting... are your sensations connected?"

Miss Aphrola curiously asked:

"Don’t overthink, I’m just curious academically if I poke one of you, does the other feel it?"

"Like this."

Miss Sylvia smiled and indeed poked Megan’s hand, and Audrey replied:

"Of course, there’s sensation. In essence, we’ve always been one person, now it’s just a tumor growing on a birthmark named Megan Edwards or Audrey Edwards."

"That’s not a romantic answer at all."

Miss Benanis commented and offered a different version:

"Like you and I, in and out of a dream, you are me, and I am you. Until the dream awakens, nobody truly knows who is real. For you, perhaps this dream never awakens."

Both sisters smiled, and Miss Aphrola pondered briefly, glanced upstairs, then stood up and said:

"Shard, are you interested in their condition?"

"Interested... What do you mean by that?"

"Anyway, the night is still long, so why not..."

She glanced at Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia, and then the beautiful opera singer and the family tutor of the Princess of the Southern Nation also stood up. They pulled Shard up from either side, though still a bit shy, it wasn’t their first time after all:

"Speaking of which, you haven’t ’welcomed’ us to Green Lake yet."

The witches said.

"Wait, what are you going to do?"

This time it was Megan and Audrey who were surprised; they sensed something was amiss.

"The initial activity involved us teaching Shard how to kiss. You might not believe it, but for the first half year after Galina met Shard, she actually did nothing. And later on, this interesting activity turned into something even more fascinating."

Miss Aphrola waved to the two sisters:

"Come join us, it will be fun. We won’t cross the final line, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do other things. The Battle of Green Lake is over, it’s time to relax."

"But, but how dare you..."

Megan felt she couldn’t catch her breath:

"Should we call Galina?"

"She decided to go to sleep herself."

The blonde Miss Benanis said, and so the Grand Witches pulled Shard up to the third floor, pushing him into the bedroom he had just left less than an hour ago.

The door was shut tight. Illuminated by the moonlight from the window, the witches surrounded Shard.

"Don’t do this, oh, my coat, please don’t..."

"Shard, you’re out of luck here."

"My cat, Mia, Mia is still downstairs."

"Someone will take care of it, honestly, Shard, you really care more about the cat than the pretty girls, don’t you?"

The eyes in the wardrobe saw the scene of Shard, being "forced" and surrounded by the witches. Blood veins slowly spread in the eyes, and the conflict between benevolent thoughts and evil intentions, within the mingling spirit, finally brewed the long-overdue fine wine.

The silent transformation signifies the boundary between the mundane and the transcendent. In the wardrobe, after the eye in the doorway blinked one last time, Angelina Cavendish finally seized her own talent, transforming into an unappointed Gifted One.

The joy and bitterness of this moment intertwined, making her intense emotions even harder to describe. Sweat caused her clothing to cling closely to her skin in the small unventilated space, and the peculiar sense of dampness combined with the strange mood made her want to close her eyes, or at least move them away from the door gap, but her body didn’t obey her spirit.

Luckily, the door was knocked the next moment. Then, the impolite Miss Galina in her nightgown, holding Mia and accompanied by Tifa, burst in.

The room’s lights were turned on, and those on the bed immediately stood up.

"My maids told me a poor cat was meowing alone near the fire downstairs, so I came to check."

The cat’s amber eyes looked pitifully at Shard, while the witch’s golden eyes sternly swept across everyone in the room. Everyone stood up, except Miss Aphrola who remained seated on the bed, and the brown-haired witch curled her lips:

"Galina, that’s a bit much."

"I think you all are more excessive, don’t you?"

She glanced at Miss Sylvia, who averted her gaze to avoid meeting her eyes; she looked at Miss Aphrola, who smiled at her, though she hadn’t gathered the courage, she understood everything else; she looked at Megan and Audrey, their faces flushed as if they were about to explode.

The Duchess shook her head:

"You all, really, where is the dignity of the Grand Witches? If the Witches of the Fifth Era knew, they would definitely ridicule the witches of this era. But we have work tonight, don’t slack off here."

She walked straight to the corner, and it was only then Shard noticed the "Hide-and-Seek Wardrobe" placed there. Miss Galina swiftly opened the wardrobe, then quickly pulled out a half-conscious Angelina.

Shard’s reaction at this point was even more intense than the dazed Angelina; he immediately recalled what he did earlier in the night:

"Wait, what’s going on? When did Angelina get here?"

The Little Princess, her face red, almost fainted and certainly wouldn’t answer him.

"Awakened, Angelina has truly awakened. The Cavendish Royalty has three Circle Sorcerers in the same era!"

Miss Galina showed a gratified expression:

"Indeed, intense emotions can stimulate the awakening of Circle Sorcerers, this is indeed correct."

"I sympathize with your grandnieces."

Miss Aphrola commented, then was forcibly pulled away by Miss Galina to conduct a thorough examination for Angelina.

The other ladies were also embarrassed to stay, so everyone left in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, before Tifa left, she left Mia behind, ensuring Shard wouldn’t have to spend the rest of the night alone.