Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 723 - : Where Wishes Belong
Chapter 723 -723: Where Wishes Belong
“So, we have already obtained two of the three books. Miss Orland, you just mentioned that the ‘Nameless Ritual Book’ about the secrets of the sun has also been found, but it has been sealed. What does that mean?”
Shard asked while sitting by the campfire.
“The previous guardian of the library sealed that book, and the stone tablet was placed at the center of a ritual table. Around the table, there are five slots that require the placement of five different items possessing Sun Power to break the seal,” Miss Orland said, pointing to the lit campfire:
“This flame counts as one, it is the fire given to me by Teacher Feliana, containing the power of the sun, hence it protects us in the Valley of Dead Silence.”
“There’s also this, Relic [Corpse of a Sun Worm], which I borrowed from the academy for heating, as it’s said to be extremely cold here.”
Though referred to as a worm’s corpse, the item that Miss Samuel held looked more like a hot water bottle used by ordinary citizens.
“We still need three more items.”
Miss Orland looked at Shard, and he understood her meaning. Compared to preparing living supplies for the witches, collecting essential materials or information was his forte.
He had done it many times before.
Though traveling through time with the Time Key means you cannot carry any Supernatural Items, the experience at the banquet has shown that objects essential for completing the mission of the Tree Father are allowed to be taken to the past.
[Relics, however, cannot be taken no matter what.]
Suddenly, a voice whispered in his ear.
“Understood.”
But even if they are not Relics, items with Sun Power are not hard to find. For instance, the Sun Holy Emblem made by Iluna that can be used as a one-time Sunlight Gun. It is an alchemical item, not a Relic, perfectly meeting the criteria.
“So we still lack two items.”
Shard thought to himself, promising:
“Next time I come, I will try to bring them.”
“There isn’t a lack of other methods. We still have the right to make a wish to The Great One. Extracting my secret technique [Sun Ashes] might also be considered an item related to the sun,” said Miss Samuel, the Witch of Zaras, but it was better to avoid this if possible.
“So, should we keep this book or sacrifice it to the [Gray Robed Sage]?”
Shard shook the stone tablet in his hand, and Miss Samuel shook her head:
“You found it, you decide yourselves; I will not participate.”
Miss Orland pursed her lips:
“Let’s give it to that deity now, I’m worried that keeping it with us might lead to other issues.”
“Yes, that’s the safest. But what about the second wish?”
Shard asked again, glancing at the red dragon girl sleeping in the ice coffin next to him. The three of them felt it unnecessary to use the second wish to awaken Fiona Drago. After all, once they left the Valley of Dead Silence, there would be plenty of ways to awaken her outside.
“Shard, you make the wish. I remember you’ve always wanted to enhance your Time Perception,” the Witch suggested with a tilted head, her face illuminated by the firelight.
The suggestion was very tempting, and Shard was indeed pursuing that answer. However, after hesitating for a moment, he shook his head:
“The final wish should definitely be to ensure your safe departure. That means the next wish is the last free wish. Miss Orland, compared to me, you and Miss Feliana probably have more ideals and pursuits, right?”
Shard’s ultimate pursuit was deification, but that was something the [Gray Robed Sage] definitely could not fulfill. And knowing the Secrets of Time of the Sixth Era, for him, was merely a scenic view on the path of divine sublimation—not a life goal:
Miss Orland, it’s not just being polite. This wish belongs to you, the wish of the deity of the Guardian of the Library will definitely be helpful to you.”
He looked at Miss Orland’s face under the firelight:
“Go make the wish.”
[You really are generous.]
The whisper that echoed in his ear sounded very gentle; Shard mentally retorted:
“So, is it really surprising that I act this way?”
[Rather, I would be surprised if you didn’t act this way. Outlander, since coming to this world, you’ve hardly changed at all. Neither power nor money has changed you.]
“Thanks for the compliment. I guess it’s just because neither power nor money is plentiful enough.”
“Shard, you should know, the opportunity to make a wish to a deity isn’t always available,” Miss Orland said gravely, her eyes turning a shade closer to golden—apparently a trait of high-rank witches. Under the firelight, those clear eyes seemed to glimmer, but Shard still thought purple eyes looked prettier.
“Yes, it’s not always available, but for me,”
Shard tapped his chest:
“I probably get one almost every month.”
Saying so, he too began to laugh.
At the end of each Time Key, when the Outlander accomplishes a certain goal, the god generously grants some small wishes. A key needs to be activated three times, each occurring seven days apart, hence indeed almost once a month.
“Shard…”
“Miss Orlando, I know you think highly of my potential and thus want to pass this opportunity to me, so I can solidify my foundation in the Low Ring,”
He looked at the half-elf witch, who was holding her knees, her face illuminated red by the fire. Shard’s gaze involuntarily shifted to those brown long lace-up lady’s boots, and with the flickering of the campfire, shadows danced on the clasping arms and the surface of the shoes.
Those boots indeed suited her legs:
“I traverse different eras of Space-Time not to seek power, but under the watchful eyes of the Tree Father, I travel to epochs unheard of.”
Although Shard gained power from the Time Key, it was not something he actively sought.
Both witches watched him, Shard’s expression serious:
“Time bears witness to stories, but I wish to witness time itself. What I truly desire is to understand the past’s stories, to meet those I shouldn’t have encountered, until at the very end of time, I uncover the true essence of history and time.”
He reached toward the campfire, and immediately, the “Flame Shaping” sorcery he gained from contact with Phoenix Flame took effect. The swirling flames under the pale yellow moon coalesced into a monumental tree of fire, and beneath it stood three small figures.
Miss Orlando stared blankly at the fire, which represented an adventure 22 years ago, her first encounter with Shard.
“Just like in the Forest of Thousand Trees, I came to seek help, but ultimately, what I did was witness your successful encounter with The Great One in the tree, Miss Orlando…”
He suddenly clenched his palm, and the tree of fire collapsed back into ordinary flames, the half-elf witch looking at him.
“This wish belongs to you, and my time is running short. Please don’t defer anymore,” he said.
“I understand.”
Miss Briony Orlando sighed, a look of relief on her face:
“Then, this time, the opportunity to make a wish to the gods is mine. But I owe you a favor, and that I will remember.”
Only then did Shard smile, rising to his feet and walked towards the shrine on the stack of old books with a stone tablet in his hand.
The witch from Zaras carefully shifted from one side of the campfire to Miss Orlando’s side:
“He doesn’t belong to this time.”
The voice was soft and imbued with a witch’s power, unheard by Shard.
“I know you want to persuade me…”
“I mean to say, if you need me to step away for a while, I can leave temporarily.”
Miss Orlando glanced at her current adventure companion and huffed without speaking, the witch wearing round glasses laughed:
“The private lives of witches are often chaotic. I know you and your teacher are very chaste. But considering your age, Thirteenth Rank, and perfectly ordinary character and aesthetic standards, I find it hard to believe you haven’t been intimate with those young and lovely girls because, in the past, we had no other choice. But this time it’s different, fate may grant you two encounters, but will there be a third? I’ve promised to keep the secrets of this place in exchange for uncovering his and Time’s secrets, but as a friend, I’d advise you…”
She looked back at Shard, who was about to open the small door of the shrine:
“…a poet from the Fourth Era once said—”
If in the most beautiful meadow,
You encounter a drifting dandelion;
Please hold onto it,
Do not let time and wind carry it away.”
She quoted a small poem, while on the other side, Shard had already opened the door of the shrine.
Immediately, a strong scent of tobacco almost burst forth, making Shard, who was unprepared, squint and cough as he stepped back.
And when the thick smoke cleared, the gray-robed, staff-holding old man was already sitting atop the pile of books:
“Truly unappreciative, that was Jarahti tobacco, now extinct.”
The deity complained about Shard’s “lack of taste,” while Shard, covering his mouth to cough, noticed golden scars appearing on his palm. The cracks spread before his eyes, an especially terrifying sight:
“Hello, God,” he said.
He heard the two witches behind him rise to their feet, standing not far back.
“Greetings, Time Traveler, may the moon and time protect you,” said the pointy-hatted gray-robed old man, looking around cheerfully, his tone light:
“Look, you’ve found the second book, but alas the young lady is sleeping. What interesting stories have happened here? Would you use the second wish to awaken her? I can still manage such a small deed.”
Shard shook his head slightly:
“We will use mortal means to awaken her later. Gray-robed Sage, Guardian of the Library, this is the ‘Jaeger Scroll’.”
He respectfully offered up the stone tablet, and the deity in front of him turned serious, tossed his pipe into the void, then reached out to take the tablet. After gently caressing the surface, he squinted at the words:
“From Year One of the First Era until now… I truly hope these words never change.”
He plunged the tablet into thin air, and a transparent, large bookshelf appeared beside him. Between those upright books was just enough space to accommodate the stone tablet:
“More impressive than I thought, now, what wish do you want to fulfill?”
