Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 790 - : A Close Encounter Reunion
Chapter 790 -790: A Close Encounter Reunion
Even if it was hard to let go, they had to leave, because the sound of the library beginning to collapse was already echoing from afar.
The High Ring Witches didn’t need to pack their luggage by hand, a simple wave of their hands sorted and packed the bags automatically, which were then carried by the apprentice, Miss Drago.
The deity sat by the campfire, and Shard stood up to see them off.
As the four reached the grand gateway of the library, Miss Samuel, though disappointed and seemingly eager to discuss more with Shard, extended her hand. Shard hesitated for a moment before taking it.
“Mr. Hamilton, this journey was very fascinating for me. I hope there’s another opportunity to meet.”
The bespectacled witch held Shard’s hand tightly. After letting go, she looked at her palm and smiled happily:
“That was indeed fascinating. When I’m old, I will be very glad to have had such experiences in my youth.”
She was probably the only genuinely joyful person right now.
Seeing that her teacher hadn’t spoken first, Miss Drago softly said to Shard:
“Thank you for your help, Mr. Hamilton. I only have Inner Ring, and after leaving the valley, it may be hard to remember this. But really, thank you…”
Unexpectedly, she kissed Shard on the face and then stepped back behind Miss Orland, her crimson tail swaying gently behind her. Mia, curious, also turned to look at her own short tail.
Shard looked at Miss Orland, and the two gazed at each other, the pointed-eared witch with a melancholic expression:
“Sometimes, it feels like time passes so quickly.”
She stretched out her arms and hugged Shard:
“I hope there’s another chance to meet, hoping next time, it won’t be you helping me again, but me assisting you like Teacher Feliana.”
“It will be, it definitely will be.”
Shard nodded his head.
Miss Samuel nudged the pointed-eared witch, who then gently kissed Shard on the cheek:
“May the moon always shine upon you, Shard.”
She stepped back two steps, then looked down at her boots:
“Should I take off my boots and give them to you as a parting gift?”
The lace-up high boots indeed suited her well, but Shard immediately shook his head, causing everyone to laugh.
Briony Orland, the first librarian of Saint Byrons, pulled off the black cloak she was wearing and handed it to Shard:
“Until next time, we must meet again, next time.”
Then she raised her wooden wand toward the front, and the golden Spiritual Light split the Crimson Snow night, paving a path for them:
“Farewell, Shard.”
Miss Samuel said softly, following the others.
“Hope to see you again.”
Fiona, carrying an exaggeratedly large backpack, whispered as she brushed past Shard, her tail-tip brushing against Shard’s hand back.
The witches walked into the deep night of the Silent Valley, the red moon illuminating their figures.
“Goodbye!”
Shard stood at the entrance of the library, waving his hand. This was the first time he had watched others leave in the past.
“Farewell and stories, no one can avoid them.”
The Gray Robed Sage, unknown when he had appeared behind him, stepped forward, standing next to Shard, who was covered in golden cracks, looking at the witches’ receding figures.
“May I ask what you’d like to discuss with me?”
Shard asked softly, glancing at the little Mia in his arms, the cat showing no discomfort from the close presence of the deity, likely shielded by the lingering aura on Shard.
“I just wish to share my story with you.”
Together they watched the increasingly blurred silhouettes of the witches; indeed, something in the darkness was rushing toward them, but all three were capable of fighting, they were safe for now.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Once, a mortal searched the library for forbidden knowledge from the First Era. Of course, he found nothing, so he prayed in the Sanctuary and challenged me: ‘You are the Guardian of the Library, and even you cannot protect us, or grant us access to that lost knowledge?'”
The deity took a puff from his pipe, and Shard inquired:
“How did you respond to him?”
“Deity said: Mortals are ignorant, knowledge is priceless. I am the Guardian of the Library, not of all knowledge.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Of course, there is. The power of the Guardian of the Library comes from the Sage of Silvermoon. But Knowledge and Wisdom belong to the domain of the Ancient God, the Secret-Keeping Mentor… do you understand?”
The Gray Robed Sage even winked playfully.
Yet Shard closed his eyes, feeling liquid slide down his cheek—it was tears of blood. The Old God had directly spoken of the overlaps in jurisdictions between ancient gods, the weight of knowledge and information, almost causing him to lose consciousness on the spot.
Compared to those Old Gods who always hide half, or even ninety percent of the truth, this old sage undoubtedly was much more straightforward.
[The ancient library, housing the tales of both the beginning and the present, where the Gray Robed Sage, the guardian of knowledge, does not volunteer secrets but delights in sharing the old collections with the suitable mortals.]
[You listened to the story of the Old God “Gray Robed Sage” and learned one of His miraculous powers.]
[Outlander, you have gained the Sorcery, “Library Retrieval”.]
The vision before him was still doubled; in the deep night where crimson snow danced in the air, the silhouettes of the three witches grew even more distant.
“Why tell me this story?”
“One day, you will understand,” he replied.
The Deity grinned, the creases on His face made Him appear even more benevolent. And now, Shard’s time here had reached its final minute.
“Since you did not wish to learn the Secrets of Time, I won’t share that information. However, I will pass this knowledge to my believers. If you still wish to seek, then do so in your own time; perhaps you can indeed find the knowledge you seek.”
In the Sixth Era, the Old God “Gray Robed Sage” had departed, and His Order had long since fallen. But the part of the Order that helped establish the Saint Byrons Library had integrated into the Academy, as Mr. Edmund of the Guiding Light Hermitage had mentioned…
Shard hesitated and then nodded.
He still had questions to ask, but at that moment, white fog surged around him, and it was time for him to leave.
Thus, he formally handed over the Nameless Ritual Book tablet to the old Sage in front of him, who nodded and said:
“Good luck, child; the path ahead may not be easy.”
His figure vanished alongside Shard’s.
Shard hugged Mia with one arm and turned her into a toy with his coat, then pocketed her again. He looked up, hoping for one last glimpse of the witches’ silhouettes, only to see space fracturing like shattered glass in the distance of the valley.
Then, the crack burst with a loud glass-shattering sound, so piercing that Shard, standing at the library entrance, even felt its sting:
“Hmm? Who shattered the space? Is there someone that powerful in the valley?”
Golden Spiritual Light emanated from behind the fractured space; Miss Orland, Miss Samuel, and Miss Drago, stunned, saw the silhouette behind the golden glow and heard the chaotic noise from the hole.
Red high-heels stepped out from the shattered space, followed by a black skirt. The tall witch adjusted the pointy large hat on her head, dressed in a white blouse and black skirt, walked out of the hole, her golden hair fluttering in the wind with the crimson snow:
“Briony, what are you and Fiona doing? Don’t you know that half a month has passed outside…”
She first saw her two careless students, about to scold them, but then she looked up towards the distance and saw the blurry figure at the library entrance.
Their eyes met across the fluttering red snowflakes, which could not obscure their mutual gaze. Shard’s heart seemed to stop at that instant; he opened his mouth slightly, unable to believe that he had actually seen her at the end.
“Shard?!”
The witch abandoned her students and turned into a streak of light, rushing into the snowy night, but it was too late.
“This one’s for…”
In the last moment, Shard reached into his pocket, pulling out a slightly wilted rose, and stretched it forward.
The flower descended through the snow because its holder had left. But the falling white rose, just before hitting the crimson snow-covered ground, was caught by another hand.
Mana Feliana straightened up.
The witch twirled the stem of the rose, gazing at the spot where Shard had vanished, remaining silent for a long time.
Amidst the fog, a gigantic tree appeared before Shard, as if supporting the heavens and earth. He extended his right hand, ready to catch two spinning leaves falling from above.
A voice chuckled beside his ear:
[Outlander, the last flower you bought from the street-side flower seller, who will you give it to?]
The melancholic Shard did not answer, turning away to leave the [Time Corridor].
[Outlander, you have returned to the present time.]
[A message from the Ancient God “Father of the Infinite Tree”:]
[Infinite time blesses you.]
When Shard opened his eyes, he had returned to the campfire surrounded by Priest Augustus, Sister Delphine, and Iluna, even maintaining his posture of sitting in front of the fire.
He slightly extended his palm, two green leaves lying in his hand, almost without sensation.
Everyone was looking at him, and Iluna frowned slightly:
“Why is there such a strong scent of life on you?”
The Chosen of Balance, very sensitive to different forms of power.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said.
Having lost the critical Arcane Technique “Illusion of the Moon Shadow,” gained the “Power of the Red Dragon” and the Sorcery “Library Retrieval,” as well as that old-era women’s black cloak, it was hard to say what this journey ultimately meant. Shard pushed himself up from the ground, taking in deep breaths, though forlorn, he knew what he had to do now.
He firmly believed there would be a chance to meet again.
Hanging the witch’s necklace around his neck, his expression gradually became serious:
“I must be off.”
Standing by the campfire, he turned to look at Joey Barton, who was still calling out to his beloved’s soul over the dark, silent waters. It had only been three seconds, but the quietness here settled Shard’s mood, affected by death. Regardless, Joey Barton’s story needed to end today.
