Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1712 - 1711: Dual Soul
Chloe once held the Impermanence: Darkness, and ascended the Summit of the demigod with that card. Although Shard didn’t know if carrying that card helped her face her inner darkness, she realized that such a card definitely possesses extraordinary power.
The witch with short brown hair looked at Shard, and asked cautiously:
"I know you’ve always wanted this card, but I have a premonition that once I use it here, it will no longer belong to me."
This suggests that the card might be consumed here.
Shard shook his head indifferently. The Impermanence card adheres to the choice of fate, or perhaps the Impermanence card actively manipulates fate, so although he desires it, he does not insist. If it should belong to him, it will appear sooner or later:
"It doesn’t matter, I mainly came here to fully experience the seven-day story. It’s time to end this journey, go ahead."
Thus, Impermanence: Space was placed beside the five Identity Cards. As the cards emitted a faint glimmer, everyone heard the humanoid figure composed of dust sigh deeply:
"Duality of space, fractured relationship and rebirth. So, you chose such a fate for yourself and them, then actively embrace it. Hope that in the long and distant years to come, you won’t regret your choice."
All the dust comprising its body fell to the ground, meanwhile, a mysterious gale suddenly blew from the depths of Lostwoods. The wind was so strong that even Shard and Chloe had to raise their arms and sidestep to avoid it.
The campfire flickered in the gale, and all the cards danced in the wind. The thick dampness and stench in Lostwoods surged in with the wind, enveloping everyone and even causing doubt whether this small campsite would be completely destroyed in the wind.
[Outlander, you felt the fate.]
Thankfully, when the gale subsided, the campfire and tent were still there. Shard hugged Mia and held Chloe’s hand, then heard the heart-wrenching scream of the witch Miss Andriana:
"Clara, no!"
Turning around to look, the maid in black dress Miss Maid had already become a stone statue. Moreover, not only that, the statue began to turn to ashes from the top of the head, scattering into the forest.
The long table disappeared, and the stone statue of Miss Lax also vanished, leaving only paper cards strewn on the ground. Shard just swept his gaze and knew that Impermanence: Space was not among them, likely having left along with that previous gale.
"Did I lose them both?"
At that moment, the Spirit within the witch seemed ready to explode, the despairing emotions making her Soul incapable of bearing such great Power, fortunately Chloe was still there:
"Don’t be so tense, trust the fairness of fate."
She patted the shoulder of this fellow witch from Zaras Academy:
"Look over there."
Shard and the Bard Mr. Enriques also looked towards the edge of the camp.
The footsteps grew clearer, until a girl with a face almost identical to Maid Clara, but wearing a deep blue long gown instead of the black maid dress, emerged from the foggy woodland.
She almost rushed towards Miss Andriana and hugged her, while the witch embraced her with tears. This was the stone statue Miss Lax from earlier, she had indeed returned.
"I don’t understand, by using that special card, isn’t it that Miss Clara doesn’t need to pay the price? Where did she go?"
The Bard asked in confusion, Shard gazed at the newly appeared girl:
"It’s not that there’s no need to pay the price, but the price was reduced. This Miss Lax isn’t just Miss Lax."
"What?"
The witch released her apprentice, and then was also shocked to discover the truth that Shard had realized:
"Lax?"
"Yes, teacher."
"Clara?"
"Yes, miss."
Both answers were spoken by the same mouth, just with slightly different expressions.
"Dual Soul?"
Chloe asked Shard, Shard nodded but did not make any comment.
The matter was quite simple; out of jealousy, the twin younger sister drove away the elder sister, causing her to fall into danger. Subsequently, because of various reasons, she wanted to make amends for the tragedy she caused, but ended up never being able to separate from her sister.
The stories of Helen and Grace, Dorothy and Lecia, Megan and Audrey, the twin sisters around him, are all different from the pair before him, yet have similarities. Love and being loved, remorse and yearning, seeking and not obtaining, losing and regaining.
Therefore, Shard makes no comment, it is someone else’s story, he just needs to watch.
The group returned to each of their cushions, forming a circle and waiting for the end of the Seven-day Trip story. The sobbing girl held Miss Andriana’s arm, while the witch with short brown hair had already understood the state of her dear sister now.
She seemed to have a good acceptance of this situation, even though the two had become one person, at least they were indeed both by her side:
"From now on, never leave me again."
Mr. Enriques, who was already familiar with the Witch, took the initiative to speak and offered his blessings. Chloe also breathed a sigh of relief at this ending. Shard was glad that the ending was somewhat satisfactory but knew very well in his heart that he would never accept such a situation happening around him; he just wanted Dorothy and Lecia to always be two individuals. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"The Temple of Fate on the Snow Mountain Summit has given this journey a different significance. The girl chosen by fate was finally reborn due to attachment and regret, and the loyal dog, deeply mired in the Great Sin of jealousy, also found redemption."
The Deity smiled as he summarized the journey on the seventh afternoon, seeming very satisfied with everyone’s "performance".
Then, it was the finale:
"Although the loyal dog departed, a new loyal dog arrived. The five members of the travel group knew their journey was about to end, but they continued to move forward. Ahead, there were no valleys surrounded by green grass and flowers, no gardens with babbling streams, and no sanctuaries where the God and the Saint once rested. On the seventh night, still in the harsh environment of the Snow Mountain, you camped, formed a circle around the bonfire and tents, and endured the cold, welcoming the end of the journey with a somewhat shabby dinner."
He asked everyone kindly, for the first time in the story, asking everyone as the God:
"The journey ends at such an unremarkable spot; won’t you feel disappointed?"
"The location of the journey doesn’t matter."
The Witch, nesting with her apprentice and maid, said as she gently wiped away the tear marks from the corners of the girl’s eyes beside her.
"The journey itself is what’s most important."
The Bard who recorded this story said, really changed a lot compared to before the story began.
"As long as it ends, why care where it ends?"
The Outlander from the distant future said.
And then the Deity spoke again:
"The travelers at the gathering noticed a dusty traveler approaching from afar and joining them. As the organizer of this journey and as the storyteller of this tale, the traveler sitting with his back to the bonfire posed a question to all present. Only by answering the question could they begin the journey back to their homeland."
Indeed, the story of the seven-day trip did not let them easily leave the Lostwoods at the end.
Shard held Mia tightly, sitting up straight, and everyone else also sat upright, waiting for the Deity to ask the question.
The question was somewhat unexpected, but upon closer thought, perfectly fitting:
"Although the scenery during the journey is important, so are the companions. Those who have fully experienced the seven-day trip, please each write down a wish for a companion that you would like to help her or him achieve."
He looked at the Bard, Shard, and the Witch in turn:
"If the wish is appropriate, and everyone receives a wish, then you may leave here."
The top three cards from the stack of cards floated to the three of them. Those cards were blank on the face, but just by thinking, pictures or words could appear on them.
The three who had gone through this short yet long journey did not hesitate. Soon, the three cards reached the hands of the Deity. He smiled as he looked at the wishes the mortals made for each other, then revealed them one by one:
"The wish of the Traveler under the Moon—may the parrot who left the Lostwoods still receive his manuscript, so he can remember this wonderful journey in such a way."
The Bard gently nodded to Shard to express gratitude. Shard made a wish for the Bard instead of the Witch because he felt the Witch’s wish had already come true.
"The parrot’s wish—may the Unicorn and her loyal dog both remember the sacrifices they made for each other."
Even the proud Witch looked up to express her gratitude to the Bard at this moment. The reason the Bard made a wish for the Witch was that he felt that among everyone, this lady was the most pitiable. The man who was just holding two cats was already happy enough.
"The Unicorn’s wish—may the Traveler under the Moon eventually reunite with his lover at the other end of time."
Chloe nodded to Miss Andriana to express gratitude, and Shard also smiled. However, his time was running out. After a brief reunion, there would be a farewell, just like every previous time. And he would, as always, remember this peculiar adventure with the Time Key.
"Very well, you may leave now. Travelers, I hope you enjoyed this small story by the bonfire on the lost night. But if I were truly willing to fulfill one of the three wishes, which one would you hope for me to grant?"
The Deity asked them again.
"Please fulfill the parrot’s wish; I will take control of my own life."
The Witch said.
"Please fulfill the parrot’s wish, for I believe I will be able to meet them, I firmly believe this."
Shard also said, and Chloe showed no doubt about the plural pronoun "them".
The Deity gazed at them:
"You may not yet understand the meaning of the journey, but at least it has indeed been a good story. Confused people, the Lostwoods is a sanctuary for the lost. This journey allowed everyone to find their direction, so you don’t belong here anymore."
