Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1977: The Inherited Cards

In almost a few short breaths, the flame spreading from the underground crevice to the entire giant tree naturally attracted others. Besides the people fighting at the edge of the island, the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers who were free all stopped what they were doing and looked up at the burning giant tree. They inexplicably understood that tonight, everything ends with the burning of this tree.

And the burning blood-colored giant tree and the towering green tree growing behind it seem to symbolize something.

"What does it symbolize?"

Outside Green Town, looking up at this scene, the face of the elderly "Apna Library" director Old Higgins was also reddened by the firelight, asking, while Granny Natalie of the "Guiding Light Hermitage" also looked at the president of the Prophet’s Society, "Mr. Crystal" Adelaide Lenormand, who regretfully shook his head:

"What a pity, in the end, I couldn’t meet Laplace Howard. Actually, the association has many things it wants to know from him, I wonder how the God Summoner will handle him."

It symbolizes the statue of the Ancient God of Space and the Time Key representing the Ancient God of Time, two forces intertwined. And the "Maze Lock - Tree’s Kiss" they support happens to originate from the Old God [Blazar Gate] who possesses both time and space powers.

Believers of the Old Gods once helped seal this place, and now, the Outlander who inherited part of the Old God’s power fulfills a similar mission.

In the sea of fire under the old lighthouse, the weary Shard retrieves the [Yggdrasil’s Staff], watching the raging bonfire symbolizing the "Tree’s Kiss" seal under the Ancient God Statue, then turns to Sister Delphine:

"Sister, you will deal with the [Door in the Bottle] and this sea of fire here, I need to find that Diviner now."

The sister slightly nods, then watches as Shard touches the Divine Statue and chants spell words, disappearing from here.

In the familiar mist-filled space, the only path not covered by dense fog is lined with a series of tattered wooden signposts.

[Outlander, you have entered the "Spatial Labyrinth."]

[Message from the Ancient God "Primordial Rift":]

[Current spatial signposts: 8.]

"Saint Delan Square, Sea Cliff beneath Coldwater Port, Old Tower of Sicarl Mountain, White Valley Vineyard, Pantanal Lake Heart Island Lighthouse, Church of the Forgotten, Night Shrines, Green Lake Hotel."

As for the ninth signpost at the end, it naturally represents the "Green Island Hill Lighthouse."

After establishing a new signpost, Shard withdraws from the mist and, without the aid of Sister Delphine to part the sea of fire, summons the Ring of Fate, using the Space-Time Spirit Rune to illuminate the direction indicated by the Ancient God Statue, creating a hidden passage in the air.

Walking out of the hidden passage, Shard returns to the lighthouse’s basement. Without wasting time, he proceeds towards the northern part of the island.

Though he did not conceal his form, surprisingly none of the Circle Sorcerers passing by on the island saw him.

He saw the giant tree with a lush green crown growing next to the lighthouse, saw the burning blood-red tree and the falling ashes and leaves; he passed the completely sealed Edwards’ Old House and the Green Lake Town, where only a few descendants of townspeople abducted to the island survived.

Finally, Shard arrived at the forest path, walking in the opposite direction from when he first landed with Megan, towards the old pier.

The rain had long since stopped, and the splendid Star Ocean hung upside down overhead, the black vortex at its center now only palm-sized in Shard’s eyes. Behind Shard, the burning giant tree almost illuminated everything on the island. Yet the ashes of the giant tree will nourish Green Island, bestowing new vitality and vigor to the land.

Next spring, the island, having found peace after calamity, will likely usher in its own new era.

And as the firelight reddened Shard’s back, "She" gently reminded him in his ear:

[Please note, although you can use the "Maze Lock - Clock Tower Lovers" to meld with those willing to offer you their hearts, it is not advisable to frequently use with the same person.]

"Why?"

The falling ashes made the Star Ocean appear red as well, and the crackling sound of the fire could not overshadow "Her" tenderness:

[The brilliance of Divinity is too dazzling, their souls cannot, like yours, endure that unwarranted light not meant for mortals.]

Shard nodded to show understanding:

"Maze Lock - Clock Tower Lovers should only be a means for abnormal times, right? I understand..."

Stopping in his tracks, he turned around to look at the dazzling red giant tree on the forest path. The firelight caught his eyes; turning right into the woodland led to the Green Lake Hotel, continuing forward would reach the pier:

"Actually, tonight I had another choice, but I didn’t use it."

[Use Maze Lock: Cinderella to make Iluna Beath transform into the cold and mature Thirteen-Ring Chosen One from the Bygone Era: Sixth Era that you remember?]

"She" indeed understands Shard the best.

"Yes, but I’m worried it would also attract the power of the Apocalypse, and I’m more concerned about burdening Iluna with memories that don’t belong to her... Let me bear it all, if not necessary, I will use the power of Maze Lock: Clock Tower Lovers cautiously."

Traversing through the forest path, he finally saw the pier by the lake. Maintaining the sealing of "Kiss of the Tree" amidst the sea of flames wasted some time; it’s now close to three o’clock on Thursday morning.

The rain has stopped, the fog has cleared, only a few red butterflies are still dancing under the starry sky, accompanied by embers and flying ashes blown by the wind.

The large green lake returned to its normal water color as seen in the outside world. Although the rocks protruding from the water still exist, they no longer seem so terrifying under the starry sky.

The scenery by the lake was wonderful, looking up one could see the vast starry sky. The Church Ring Sorcerers clearing monsters by the lake didn’t appear in this water area, hence no one disturbed Laplace Klein Howard, who sat cross-legged alone at the end of the pier, gazing at the stars.

The sound of Shard’s footsteps arriving here did not disturb the man who appeared disheartened just by his back view. Shard stood not far behind him, frowning at the solitary figure. Neither spoke proactively; after a long while, the Diviner finally spoke with his back to Shard:

"The state where Lecia Cavendish and Dorothy Louisa never meet, I cannot resolve completely. But I do know how to prevent their souls from gradually merging."

His voice sounded old and weary:

"Firstly, they must have enough resolve themselves, they themselves must not want to merge into one with the other, this relies on you; secondly, only the power of a Deity can permanently interfere with this natural phenomenon, but now that they are the Chosen Ones, this issue does not need consideration; lastly..."

Many cards with Roder card backs but blank faces flew out from his pocket. Only the final three cards were not blank:

"The previous ones are Alchemical Cards I researched and made, capable of sealing creatures and objects to a limited extent. Go find items related to stories potent enough to become Ring Sorcerer’s Enlightenment power, those original sources or related items of fairy tales, legends, fables, poetry. Seal them in the cards, then let the Writer and the Princess use them frequently to slow the mission civilization and the world impose upon them using the power of Enlightenment.

Among such items, only a few can help them, these cards will tell you which ones are useful.

In this way, they can also grow stronger due to the resonance induced by the Enlightenment elements. Though they must use these alchemical items constantly throughout their lives, compared to losing oneself, they are already lucky enough."

Among the last three cards which are not blank, one is the Angel-Level Relic [Poetry Card], which can summon past heroes to help oneself; one has ancient scripts detailing the specific use of those Alchemical Cards; on another, there is the image of a key:

"Before tonight, I destroyed most of my dangerous and desecrated research materials, knowledge, and journals, what remains, including my Divination Studies notes, Alchemical Card creation methods, Philosopher’s Stone research applications, along with a few wealth and magic potions, alchemical materials, are in the old family residence. Not the real island, but this island, my son Sloss knows where the door is, the key is the last card in your hand."

His voice became increasingly hoarse:

"Those materials should be useful to you, or at least to those around you. As for the [Poetry Card]... the power of Time is so enchanting. I suppose I don’t need to remind you of this relic’s danger, you understand it well yourself."

Shard looked at the items in his hand with a complex expression. There are many enemies and opposing Chosen Ones he has faced; among them, there are many like Joey Barton with complicated situations. But the Diviner in front of him, turning his back, for a moment made the Outlander feel as if perhaps this person wasn’t a bad guy... of course, it was only for a moment.

He packed away those cards neatly, then asked aloud:

"May I ask you a question? About the ritual array of Sun, Moon, and Stars which has a similar but different pattern to the back of Roder cards and Impermanence Cards, records of which I’ve seen in your books. Where did it originate from?"

This question was the very reason Shard initially set foot on the land of the Green Lake Region.

The Diviner shook his head:

"I don’t know why you’re curious about this, the ritual array was my proudest achievement after leaving the Prophet’s Society. It was created by me, based on the symbols on the back of the Impermanence Cards, condensing most of my achievements in divination, astrology, and Ritual Studies. Tonight’s Edwards’ Ascension Spell was centered around it."

"What? How can that be?"

This sentence almost slipped out, but even though he held it back, Shard still found it hard to believe this answer.