Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 737 - : ’Normal’ Past Events
Chapter 737 -737: ‘Normal’ Past Events
“Sir, you really don’t have to feel sad for us, as all of this was our own choice,”
Grace’s tone was gentle as she once again embraced Helen’s figure. Behind the thin, triple-layered drapes, surrounded by the Red Butterflies, the intimacy between them was extraordinary. ƒreewebɳovel.com
“We thought the story would continue this way, until one of us grew tired, or went along with all things toward ultimate death. But unexpectedly, you appeared,”
Shard was startled:
“Speaking of which, I’m curious, how did you find the Hamilton Detective Agency in Tobesk? That commission was clearly not meant for Detective Sparrow Hamilton, but for me, although I… was not the same as I am today.”
“It wasn’t us who found it, Miss Mana Feliana told us,”
Helen replied, her tone soothing as she touched her sister’s earlobe:
“It was many years after that party where we parted ways, and many years after the Great Battle of Sicarl Mountain. Already changed, we found the newly established Saint Byrons Integrated Academy and met Miss Feliana again, who had once helped us.”
Miss Orland had also mentioned that the twins had indeed met Miss Feliana and, with her help, had become true witches—something that took place before the Great Battle of Sicarl Mountain.
“She was not pleased with our choice and was powerless over our condition. We wanted to know about you, but Miss Feliana refused to speak, even had the librarian lock us in the library, preventing us from wandering around the academy… That’s actually how our initial containment record came to be.”
The truths of history are often more astonishing than stories.
“Later, unable to bear our pleading, Miss Feliana uttered three words, ‘Tobesk,’ ‘Saint Delan Square,’ ‘Hamilton.'”
Grace’s tone carried a hint of mirth:
“She really didn’t deceive us. We were so happy when Draleon was established and Tobesk became Tobesk. We were delighted when the low buildings originally at the location of Saint Delan Square were destroyed and the square appeared. When that spy from the Southern Nation, Sparrow Hamilton, with his secrets, appeared at No. 6, Saint Delan Square, we knew you were about to arrive.”
It appeared that Detective Sparrow’s identity was not a secret to everyone. To clarify the relationship between Detective Sparrow and Shard, the twins must have thoroughly investigated his past. The identity of Carsonrick United Kingdom’s top spy might be incredibly secretive to the general populace, but to the twins, it was no secret at all.
“We originally thought the detective would get married and have children at Saint Delan Square, and then you would come. But unexpectedly, just one spring passed, and you appeared… Although you looked blindly foolish, like an empty shell without a soul, it was definitely you,”
Helen said with certainty:
“So, when that detective was beset with a curse, I came forward with the commission. And indeed, thereby, you found us—all of it was destined. Sir, it’s wonderful to see you again after such a long time.”
Shard didn’t ask Helen why she didn’t lift the curse afflicting Detective Sparrow; the question was pointless. He simply wanted to know:
“So, you also don’t know where that blindly foolish version of me actually came from.”
“Yes,”
It was still Helen who answered, as this happened when she was alone in the material world:
“We are the Red Butterfly Twins who bring calamity. Even when alone, I cannot linger long in one place, as it would bring disaster to the people around, much less in Tobesk. In the winter of 1852 of the Common Calendar of the Sixth Era, I was at Midshire Fort. When I returned to Tobesk, you had already appeared.”
The dates matched; it was in the spring that Detective Sparrow found the vagrant.
“I investigated your origin—you hailed from Green Shade Truth in the southern Carlton County of Draleon and had fled to Tobesk due to a great famine, wandering for years. Average and unremarkable, nothing special about it,”
This information, along with Saint Byrons’ investigation into Correspondence Circle Mage Shard Hamilton, was entirely consistent. It seemed the original person really had no story of his own.
A light laugh reached his ears.
“What did I look like in the spring?”
He hesitated before asking.
Helen, half-leaning against her sister Grace’s chest, began to laugh. The tall girl behind the curtain folded her arms back, embracing the neck of another figure and leaned back against the other figure’s chest, gradually sitting up;
“I have met you alone once before, and at that time you seemed quite slow, yet interesting. I think that something must have happened to you later that turned you into what you are now.”
From Helen’s description, it seemed that she hadn’t noticed anything wrong with Shard’s mind, but there were other secrets about him.
Shard frowned, suspecting that his doubts about his original identity were just his own paranoia.
Ten minutes was about to pass, and he actually wanted to ask about ways to help Dorothy and Lecia, and inquire about the past related to the changes of the era. But these could be discussed later, as there would be plenty of time in the future.
Three Red Butterflies flew out from behind the curtains and landed on Shard’s shoulder. Feeling a slight burning sensation on his left shoulder, Shard pulled open his collar and saw three symbols in the shape of red butterflies on his shoulder.
“These three Red Butterflies can help you find the remaining three nails of resurrection. When you come into close contact with them, the Red Butterflies will give you hints and also grant you some temporary strength. We cannot go out now, as the power of the Calamity Twins might immediately catalyze the collapse of the Interstice, so we are temporarily unable to assist you. We hope the butterflies will guide your way,” Grace said from behind the curtains, and Shard nodded:
“I actually still have many questions to ask, so when can I see you again?”
“A week from now, sir, please come again after a week. My sister and I, we do not wish for you to see our unsightly states.”
“Very well, I’ll see you in a week, Grace, Helen.”
After saying goodbye, he was about to leave, but as he grabbed the door handle, a voice came from behind:
“Sir.”
It was Helen speaking:
“May I ask, the year you generously used your chance to make a wish to the deity to shield us from the Vampire God’s Blood Brew, what was it for?”
The voice was very soft, and some syllables were completely drowned out by the crackling of the campfire.
“Generously?”
Shard recalled the smirk of the Evil God and didn’t think of it as his generosity. He had never wanted any gifts from that deity:
“Helping you was because you needed help.”
“Is that all? Not because we were very beautiful?”
The voice was filled with laughter.
“Oh, girls, back then, your thin and tiny forms were not beautiful at all.”
Shard said reluctantly, and laughter from Grace and Helen emitted from behind him again. The intermingled laughter, containing elements of chaos and the effect of spiritual power, made Shard stay longer than intended.
He pushed open the door, and saw Miss Rita Swift and a sulking cat outside.
At last, he said:
“I’m truly glad to see you again in this era.”
He stepped out of the room.
“Yes, sir. It’s good to see you again…”
