Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 667 -
Chapter 667: 667
Chapter 667: 667
Shard arrived at the doctor’s early in the morning and did not plan to go to Midshire Fort in the morning, because he was sending Iluna off in the morning. Last night, after going home, Luviya, who was doing astrology on the third floor, told Shard that the Sun Church had officially decided to send Iluna to Midshire Fort on a Steam Hover Zeppelin this afternoon.
According to the wind direction this season and the weather along the way divined by the Prophet’s Society, Iluna and her group should arrive in Mountain City by Monday during the day. Since she was leaving and it was uncertain when she would return, Luviya decided to see Iluna off at No. 6, Saint Delan Square.
That is why Shard had come so early to disturb the doctor; he needed to quickly head home soon.
Although for Shard, who could freely travel between two places, Iluna’s “departure” was merely limited to the two days she would be traveling by air. But once Iluna reached Midshire Fort, she wouldn’t always be able to meet Shard, so Luviya wanted to tell her a few things to prevent any unexpected events.
It was clear that the seventeen-year-old girl did not want to leave Tobesk. When parting with Shard and Luviya, she reluctantly hugged them both and even hugged Mia, who was less willing.
“I will send you postcards,” she said.
Finally, when standing at the lower hall doorway and thanking them, Iluna said with some reluctance, and Shard wisely did not mention that he could also buy postcards.
“Anyway, be careful in Midshire Fort, and if anything happens, remember to write to the House of the Blind about it, Shard will come to help you,” Luviya reminded tirelessly.
Although Iluna had been promoted to Four Rings after obtaining the “Tragedy” Spirit Rune and performing the ceremony, making her a rank higher than Shard, Luviya still saw her as a young and immature girl who had just come of age (note: the age of maturity is 16).
“Yes, I know, don’t worry about me, I’m quite capable,” she replied.
She hugged Luviya again:
“You too take care, especially Shard.”
Saying so, the young girl then looked towards Shard:
“The church has granted me access to some internal information; the situation in Midshire Fort is really bad now.”
“I have friends there who are High Ring Sorcerers, they will protect me,” Shard replied with a smile:
“Monday, we’ll meet in Midshire Fort. Although I can’t directly meet you, I can be at the Sun Cathedral entrance, waiting for you and your group to enter. Remember to look around then, you should be able to see me… Oh, take this with you, I think it might be useful,” he said, pulling out his pocket watch and taking an Ever-Youth Leaf from inside the watch cover to give to Iluna. After the party, he had three leaves, so he had a plentiful supply.
The three of them had encountered this leaf during their venture into the ruins to confront the Silver-Eyed One, so Shard did not need to explain what it was:
“I still have many, take this with you.”
“Alright.”
She hesitated for a moment, took the leaf, and then tiptoed to kiss Shard on the cheek:
“Wish me a safe journey, Shard.”
Shard glanced at Luviya, who was smiling at them, and softly said:
“Safe travels, Iluna, see you in Midshire Fort.”
Today was Friday, the fourth day of the Month of Harvest. After saying goodbye to Iluna, Luviya also left and returned to the Prophet’s Society, so Shard finally had time to write a reply to Miss Mia Gold.
The letter had arrived this morning, but Shard was in a hurry to ask the doctor about the Flame Demon, so he hadn’t even opened it.
Like the past few months’ letters, in addition to the usual 10 pounds for cat care fees, the letter still expressed Miss Gawder’s concern for the orange cat.
Miss Gawder also mentioned her health in the letter; she had unfortunately fallen ill in the summer, and the illness worsened last month. But this month seemed to be better, at least that’s what the letter said.
In Shard’s reply, he first expressed his concern for his client, then described in detail the daily interactions with Mia. Finally, he heartily praised the cat’s charm and almost wistfully wrote:
“If I could meet such a cat, I would have adopted it already.”
This was also a part of the test; Shard was waiting for the right time.
He now felt like Miss Gawder’s pen pal, with the two exchanging a letter a month and conversing over topics like cat care and health. In the previous few letters, Shard had expressed appropriately his fondness for the cat, so saying such words this time was to prepare for eventually adopting the cat during the winter.
“For you, I really put in a lot of effort,” he remarked.
Putting down his fountain pen, he pet the cat, which was squatting on the desk looking at the letter. Touched by Shard, Mia squinted her eyes and meowed, seeming very content.
He was thinking of mailing the letter and then visiting Midshire Fort for a while; if there was nothing pressing, he’d return home by four in the afternoon to read. But before Shard could leave, Luviya, who had left only an hour ago, unexpectedly returned.
“What’s wrong? Did you run out of new information about the Chosen by Death?” he asked.
Luviya needed to perform her autumn astrology here, so she had a spare key to Shard’s place. She rushed in so hastily it almost scared Mia.
“No, no, it’s about the matter you asked me to investigate!” she replied.
She held a notebook in her hand:
“Some time ago, you asked me to investigate the Spiritual Practice Order, didn’t you? The moment I left here and arrived at the society, I got the document!”
“Oh, what news is there?”
Shard asked curiously, as Luviya’s face broke into a smile:
“Very good news, Shard. The Spiritual Practice Order indeed had ties with the cult of an Ancient God that had disappeared! Guess which Ancient God Church they were a branch of?”
“Hmm… the Moon?”
“Of course not, it was Death. Why would you think it was the Moon?”
Luviya asked curiously, gesturing for Shard to sit down before handing him the notebook:
“In the Darkness Descends event in Tobesk, I provided the society with valid intelligence, which is why I was able to obtain these top-secret documents. This information is classified; the original intelligence couldn’t be removed from the society, and what’s in the notebook is what I transcribed. It’s fascinating, guess what the society’s records show?”
Shard looked down at the notebook:
“After the Ancient God of Death departed, due to problems in the interpretation of doctrines, its church crumbled into different sects, and as time passed, it evolved into different organizations… The Spiritual Practice Order is a branch of the ancient Church of Death?”
“Yes, and there’s more, keep looking.”
Luviya appeared very excited:
“I couldn’t believe it either, that the society would grant me access to such data. Although the society’s account is vague and merely skimming the surface, I could tell from its records that both the Church of Creation and Destruction and the Church of Nature and Malice each absorbed a part of the branches of the ancient Church of Death.”
“What?”
Shard looked at her in surprise:
“The True God Church absorbed part of the Ancient God Church’s branches?”
“Yes.”
Luviya nodded, her smile very distinct:
“This explains many things, such as why the True Gods are more powerful than the existing Evil Gods, and why they are referred to as True Gods. I think a bold guess is already in order!”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
“Yes. After the initial thirteen deities departed, the other Great Ones inherited parts of their power,”
Shard also expressed his judgment, which he had developed after receiving the “Vibration” Spirit Talisman through the Earth-shaking Worm, on the train back to Coldwater Port during his conversations with Miss Aphrola:
“But they didn’t inherit all the power. The two True Gods only inherited a part of the Ancient God of Death’s power, which explains why some branches of those who worship the Ancient Gods merged into the True God Church since their doctrines could be explained, and it wouldn’t be considered heresy for those living in the era after the departure of the Ancient Gods.”
“Yes.”
Luviya was pleased that Shard was keeping up with her thoughts.
“What intelligence did you actually provide to make the society willing to share such information?”
“Nothing much, just the rules of ‘The Chosen’ mentioned by Iluna, plus the information about the ‘Dark Dungeon’ you told me about. Additionally, didn’t Iluna mention that the Dawn Church might also have a Gate of Darkness (Chapter 548)? I told the church about that as well,”
Luviya said.
“How did you explain the source of the intelligence?”
Though the society knew that Luviya’s divinations were sometimes “very accurate”, such intelligence could hardly be gleaned just by divination.
“Didn’t I leave to seek help alone in the Dark Realm? During that time, I encountered a strange shadow, and it was the one who told me.”
“What shadow?”
Shard asked curiously.
“How should I know?”
Luviya shook her head, somewhat smugly:
“Let the society guess; after all, the intelligence I provided is completely accurate. For a diviner, the process of divination isn’t as important as the conclusion, since people only care about the result.”
After the Ancient Gods departed, the True Gods, Old Gods, and the existing Evil Gods inherited part of their power, something Shard had already guessed, and he even believed the difference between “miracle” and “desecration” might also be related. But it was not confirmed until today, when he heard Luviya’s intelligence.
The secret of the departure of the Ancient Gods, as well as the source of the powers of the existing deities, mattered greatly to Shard. The ultimate goal of his journey toward deification among the Twelve Divinities was to become a true deity.
Now that Luviya knew that the Spiritual Practice Order was a branch of the ancient Church of Death, she thus encouraged Shard to interact more with the Spiritual Practice Order.
Perhaps Sister Delphine, whose eyes could see the soul, was indeed the third Chosen One they had been searching for so long.
