Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1783 - 1782: Apocalypse, the Door, and 13
Nicholas Edwards looked quite surprised at the beautiful lady:
"Yes, you’re right. The ancestor indeed wanted to diversify the family members, including the living, the dead, souls, evil objects, even demons, and so on. He was planning some sort of large-scale ritual, believing he was saving the world. I don’t know his true intentions, but he once mentioned a very impressive ritual name—"
He took another bite of the food in his hand before speaking the name:
"Edwards’ Ascension Technique."
"He wants to become a god?"
Shard was even more surprised because in the Sixth Era, this was absolutely impossible to achieve. Having come into contact with divinity, he knew what that power was. Apart from him, a special outlander, no one else could become a god in the Sixth Era, and he was very sure of this, not out of arrogance.
"Not to become a god, but to save the world."
The ghoul shook his head:
"I don’t know much, only bits and pieces from the ancestor’s words. You might think the ancestor is a madman, but to me, he was a cultured and knowledgeable person, like a university professor."
"Were you frightened by him?"
"No, at least for us family members, he was really good. However, I didn’t accept the invitation to the island, so I don’t know which other family members are with him... Oh, I do know one more thing. Through the books the ancestor left me for self-study, I believe the ancestor seems to be emulating a certain ritual, intending to complete that large-scale ritual in an alternative way, to achieve the goal through falsity to cultivate truth. I don’t know much, but there is another important clue."
"What condition?"
Shard asked.
"Can you tell me about Soren and Helen’s current situation?"
The ghoul asked, holding the roasted chicken with a tone of sadness. Shard and Miss Sylvia exchanged a glance, understanding that this was also a pitiful soul.
Nicholas Green, in his lifetime, was just an ordinary person, only delving into the supernatural world after death. Relying on research materials provided by the Edwards ancestor, the excellent talent given by his bloodline, and the advantages of the undead race, he became an outstanding mysticism scholar through self-study over the past twenty years. Besides the talent for spatial movement, he even had the Five Rings level as a ring mage, a proven expert in necrology.
Of course, Elder Green’s achievements were closely linked to the help of his Thirteen Rings ancestor.
Shard invited him to sit at the table and began to talk about the current situation of the Green Lake Hotel and the Green siblings. Elder Green listened silently, occasionally taking a few more bites of the roasted chicken. By the time Shard finished speaking, he had nearly finished eating.
"They’re doing well, and they’re both settled down, which is great. Ugh~"
After a soft sigh, he made a vomiting gesture. Just as Shard thought the ghoul might have eaten something wrong, a small key, covered in the ghoul’s corrosive, viscous gastric fluid, appeared in his hand.
Nicholas Green placed the key on the metal experiment table. The key was the same size and shape as the four keys Megan and Audrey had obtained so far, except that the gemstone decoration on this key’s handle was a green cat’s eye.
"This is the ultimate answer to the puzzle in the books left by the ancestor. It took me over ten years to gather all the materials and synthesize this key."
He didn’t give the key to Shard:
"This represents a certain qualification. I will keep it in my own hands. But if I’m not mistaken, this key should be significantly related to the ancestor’s [Edwards’ Ascension Technique]. The ritual can benefit more than one person, and only those who hold the key have the qualification to undergo metamorphosis with the ancestor’s help. I’m sure there is more than one such key, and I am certain you’ve certainly seen something similar."
Shard nodded, almost having the answer:
"Thank you for your help. So, are you really planning to do nothing before the Edwards family’s reunion? Do you truly think your ancestor was good to you and not using you to climb his own ladder?"
The ghoul nodded silently, then suddenly said:
"Don’t tell Soren and Helen about my situation; just say my remains disappeared... I can’t face them in this state. Let them live without worries for more than twenty years, considering this as the only thing I can do for them as a father after death."
"If your ancestor intends harm to your two children, will you also do nothing?"
Miss Sylvia suddenly asked, standing behind Shard, a little distance from the ghoul.
Mr. Nicholas Green remained silent, only swallowed the key once more and then sighed deeply with his head down:
"If you need my help, feel free to ask, but please also help my children at the appropriate time. I will not betray my ancestor, but I am willing to assist both sides."
This was already a pretty good result.
Miss Sylvia then arranged to have the ghoul taken away. However, to prevent it from knowing where this place was and to avoid being seen, the witch procured a wooden box, placed the ghoul inside it, and transported it to the outskirts of the city. And the ghoul, familiar with this area, would naturally find its way back to the tomb on the north shore.
Shard did not go to the door to see them off, as he couldn’t be seen either.
He waited in the laboratory, and when the black-haired witch returned, the cheerful lady opened her arms and gave him a big hug:
"Long time no see, Shard."
"Long time no see, Miss Sylvia."
Shard also said with a smile, gently inhaling the scent of perfume from the witch’s black hair. He spoke only after she released his hand:
"There are some things you might not know. Just now, Elder Green provided very important information. Megan once said she dreamt of a blood-red door with thirteen keyholes. The memory of Edwards’ second generation’s prematurely deceased eldest daughter also featured similar imagery."
The youngest Grand Witch, though fond of embraces, understood what Shard was implying:
"Thirteen? Diversity? The door... you mean..."
"Yes, I strongly suspect that Laplace Klein Howard is emulating the ’Whispering Verses’ and the Chosen One ceremony, forging thirteen keys along the lines of thirteen Chosen Ones to achieve miracles that ordinary means cannot accomplish. Edwards’ Ascension Technique, what a formidable name. If he had not gone mad in pursuit of godhood, what exactly was he trying to achieve?"
Luviya had introduced the past of this Diviner. During his time at the Prophet’s Society, Laplace Klein Howard had believed the invention of the ’Roder Card’ was linked to the apocalypse, leading him to steal from the tomb of the former president and to pilfer the Impermanence Card. And now, his actions are again connected to the Whispering Verses and the ultimate "door."
Either he’s completely insane, or he truly knows the world’s truth. Even Shard finds it hard to ascertain exactly what’s happening.
"There’s no diviner within the Council as specialized as we need; this matter will have to wait for the Prophet’s Society’s response."
Miss Sylvia spoke softly, her golden eyes studying Shard’s face with warmth, showing little concern for Edwards; she cared more about the person in front of her:
"You haven’t changed a bit in the months we’ve been apart. I was worried that Galina hadn’t been taking good care of you. I was really anxious when you fell seriously ill recently."
"Hmm..."
Since their separation at Randall Valley, Miss Galina had been taking very good care of Shard, of course known to him not to mention it now.
"Would the diviners of the Prophet’s Society be a match for Laplace Klein Howard? Although the current president is also a Thirteen Ring, Laplace Klein Howard has transformed himself; he might not be human anymore."
The witch chuckled as she shook her head, giving Shard another hug:
"Don’t worry about that. Do you know why the Prophet’s Society and the Three Major Academies were initially established?"
Shard, like-minded companions gather on the path forward, supporting and helping one another; this is the founding reason for a Ring Mage group that does not revolve around faith. Some firmly believe education and knowledge can change children’s lives; some believe that in the uncertain future, there will be truths about the world.
In this world, none of us are alone; the supporting diviners have journeyed through countless eras of long and ancient years. When these diviners collaborate, except for the gods, they can almost know everything."
She gently left a kiss mark on Shard’s cheek:
"Don’t worry about the strength of the Prophet’s Society; surely you don’t believe they’re just card sellers of the Roder Card, right?"
Shard also smiled:
"True, the Prophet’s Society itself is remnants of the Ancient God Sect, passed down almost since the First Era, and I actually worry about them?"
"Calculating the time, there’s about an hour left, just about time for lunch."
The young witch blinked her golden eyes at Shard:
"Would you like to stay for lunch? Since you’re coming here for the banquet tonight, don’t leave. It’s a chance for us to catch up on recent events and our shared investment in the factory."
Shard had invested 5,000 pounds at the time, which seemed a lot but was in fact nothing more than a drop in the bucket for Miss Sylvia’s business, though the witch insisted he was an originator of the initial idea, thus one of the inventors of the product.
"The cat at home hasn’t been arranged for lunch. I was planning to go home for lunch today, so my banquet clothes are still at home."
Miss Sylvia asked with a smile:
"Oh, I remember that adorable cat. How about bringing it along for lunch? I’ll wait for your return."
Hearing others praise Mia made Shard happy, and he calculated the time:
"No problem, I’ll hurry back; I should make it in time for lunch."
Speaking, he pulled out a Crystal Shoe from his pocket, then realized Miss Sylvia hadn’t seen this skill of his yet:
"This is the Maze Lock learned during the Battle of Randall Valley, it allows me to return home directly."
He briefly explained the purpose of tossing the Crystal Shoe, then, as a demonstration, he threw it forward, causing himself to vanish.
The witch blinked at the spot where Shard disappeared:
"The Fairy Tale Enchantment, quite impressive indeed. I can understand his obsession with home, but the shoe... does he carry a young lady’s Crystal Shoe with him?"
This is why Shard is cautious about showing this Arcane Technique to others.
