Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1713 - 1712: The Journey’s End (Extra)

"No longer confused?"

The snowstorm had disappeared without anyone noticing, and the camp in Lostwoods returned to how it was when Shard first arrived. Although they were still here, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure that had distorted time and space was gone, and they could go home.

"It’s over."

Shard stood up, and the others, coming to their senses, followed suit. They all looked to the left side of the bonfire camp, where a small path appeared amidst the misty woodland—this was the road to departure.

Chloe tightly held Shard’s hand and softly asked:

"Are you leaving again?"

"Yes. It’s time to say goodbye again."

"I will remember this story, sir, you are a remarkable person."

The Bard was the first to express his gratitude to Shard, bowing while holding his qin.

"I will try my best to find that card again. You helped me, and I won’t forget."

The brown-haired Witch said, as her beautiful apprentice repeated the sentiment twice:

"Thank you."

"Thank you."

Shard nodded, stroked the cat in his arms, and finally looked at Chloe, whose golden eyes had been watching him all the while.

"There will be another chance to meet again, won’t there?"

The petite Witch asked.

"Yes, there will definitely be."

Shard placed Mia on his shoulder and gave her a hug. The Demigod Witch skilled in Ice Power then gave Shard a passionate kiss.

In this kiss, Shard tasted blood, but it wasn’t his; it was hers:

"Last time you gave me your blood, this time please remember the taste of mine."

She spoke softly, her expression carrying a subtle hint of shyness. Shard smiled slightly, then looked at his hand, where thin white mist had began to entangle—it was indeed time to leave, as the fifty minutes reached their end.

The bonfire remained bright, and as the travelers said their farewells, the seasoned traveler packed the deck of cards into his backpack. Seeing Shard wanting to say goodbye, the Deity tossed him the card symbolizing the "Traveler under the Moon":

"A souvenir from the journey."

Shard accepted the card, looking at the design, which showed his silhouette walking alone under the moon, transforming into him surrounded by a parrot, unicorn, Silver Cat, old horse, and two black hounds. He couldn’t help but smile, then asked:

"Actually, I have a small question. Before I leave, if you can, please answer it."

"What question?"

The Deity hiked his backpack and asked by the bonfire.

"A single body can house two souls. But is this truly a normal phenomenon?"

Everyone thought Shard was referring to Clara and Lax’s situation, but Shard knew the Deity must understand his confusion wasn’t just that.

Sure enough, like a traveler about to embark on another journey, the voice softly replied by the bonfire:

"Since you’ve completed this journey, I will give you some answers you seek:

The overlaying of soul upon soul can burst forth with a more dazzling light, especially in moments of helplessness. The starting point of the cycle is here. But what is more important for you is that you have personally witnessed the Duality under the Guidance of Fate. You’ve come to know how this fate should be achieved, understanding the meaning of fracture and rebirth, which is very important to you."

[Outlander, you’ve sensed "Miracle."]

[Outlander, you have gained insights into "Duality."]

Shard nodded silently, the Deity did not answer why in the distant future Lecia and Dorothy have special connections, seeming instead to imply that he could use Duality to gain greater power.

But the problem is, in this body, the Outlander has no twin siblings, nor anyone he is fatefully bound to.

Time was running short, and without pondering further, Shard finally embraced Chloe. The Ice Witch, the Witch Empress ruling the Capital of Ice and Snow also held him tightly.

"Goodbye."

"See you next time."

Shard’s figure vanished from her embrace, and the Deity too was nowhere to be seen. The silver-haired girl sighed softly with loss, trying to grasp the white mist, which she could only barely see, and then said to those waiting to leave together:

"Bard, when returning to reality, go find the [Traveler’s Society], you will get a good job. As for you, Aleira Andriana, I would like to talk to you and your apprentice in detail about your experiences later."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When Shard was present, they were bold, but once he left, no one dared to treat this youngest [Council] member of this era as just an ordinary witch.

"Let’s go."

She said, leading them down the woodland path. But suddenly stopped, turning back to gaze at the place everyone had just been sitting around, as extraordinarily vague white mist emerged, and amidst it, the silhouette of the young Witch with a Dragon’s Tail flashed:

"Oh?"

(Mia running...)

It is worth mentioning that before Shard returned this time, he did not turn Mia back into a toy, because the last experience in the City of Eternal Night had already taught him that although bringing Mia to a past era required turning her into a toy, once time arrived, even if she still maintained the true cat form, this "Future Cat" would be "sent back" to the Sixth Era with him by the Tree Father.

Thus, when Shard had a sense of loss while bidding farewell to Chloe, enveloped in white mist and seeing that giant tree that seemed to connect the sky and the earth, the cat was still standing on Shard’s shoulder, its amber eyes curiously looking at the nearly transparent giant tree ahead.

Although there was no wind here, the tree crown made a rustling sound. The transparent branches swayed, causing two emerald green leaves to sway and fall from the tree crown.

Shard held his hands together and raised them high above his head, letting the two leaves fall into his hands.

"Another story completed, Chloe... Duality... The connection of fate."

He murmured, holding the leaves and card, turned, and walked into the depths of the white mist.

[Outlander, you have returned to the present time.]

[Message from the Ancient God "Father of the Infinite Tree":]

[Infinite time shelters you.] 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Carrying the cat out from the bedroom door, the morning home still brought joy. In three seconds, Luviya had not left her original position, but she did not look at Shard, rather downstairs.

"What’s wrong?"

Shard asked curiously.

"There was the sound of a door opening downstairs, who has come?"

After speaking, she walked toward Shard, lightly gave him an embrace. Then she softly sniffed and released Shard, saying with a smile:

"A familiar scent from the past appeared. Did you meet that Demigod Witch?"

"Yes, I met Miss Chloe. However, it seems the Impermanence Card is out of reach."

"That’s indeed unfortunate, but I see you’re not too disappointed."

Saying that, they both looked toward the room entrance, and Her Highness Lecia who brought along the maids, had already arrived on the second floor.

"Luviya!"

Seeing Luviya also there, Lecia instinctively wanted to greet with a cheerful tone but then remembered the night she spent with Shard and the Female Diviner in bed together, which was not yet that familiar.

Dorothy, already mostly having guessed the secret shared between the princess and the purple-eyed girl, didn’t mind much:

"Good morning, Her Highness Lecia."

A glance at Shard, seeing his normal expression, knew that he hadn’t encountered significant problems in the last adventure with the Time Key:

"Shard, I’m off to work, you both talk slowly, I’ll come tonight to record the star map."

Thus, Shard first sent Luviya downstairs, and when returning upstairs, Lecia was already seated on the sofa.

Lecia noticed Shard holding two Ever-Youth Leaves just now, recognized he completed another adventure with the Time Key. But she didn’t ask much now; there’s always time on Saturday:

"Shard, Aunt Galina and Angelina will be leading the negotiation delegation and leaving on Saturday evening. Tomorrow, that is Friday, a high-level banquet will be held in Yordle Palace, here’s the invitation card."

She placed the invitation card on the coffee table, glanced towards the kitchen, making sure her maids were busily engaged, and spoke:

"Tomorrow, Friday, is the 25th day of the Sowing Moon, the 25th day after the end of the Day of the Red Butterfly."

She pursed her lips and looked at Shard, in her emerald eyes was a probing expression, Shard slightly puzzled:

"Wasn’t it said the Day of the Red Butterfly should be on the Lunar Eclipse day? Luviya said, the Lunar Eclipse is next Wednesday, has the plan changed?"

"I discussed it with Dorothy."

Her Highness the Princess, still watching Shard, with an expression that if Shard disagreed she would not blink:

"Though you said not to mention what happened last Saturday, we still feel guilt. So, I thought, the Day of the Red Butterfly could be a good day to make you feel our enthusiasm again. Instead of waiting for next Wednesday, why not tomorrow. Hosting a banquet at Yordle Palace, it’s convenient for arranging our meeting."

Since Lecia said so, Shard began looking forward more to tomorrow night:

"No problem, I’ll prepare in advance. Oh, managed to get some negotiation materials again a few days ago, remember to take them when you leave."

"This will be the last time, once Aunt Galina arrives at Green Lake, you won’t need to gather such intel."

She lightly gave Shard an embrace:

"Sometimes, I really thank the gods for letting us meet you."

Mia squatted on the kitchen table watching the two on the sofa and then looking towards the maids preparing refreshments in the kitchen.

"Those words are getting more like Dorothy’s... Lecia, you are a princess of Draleon. Shouldn’t I be the lucky one to know you?"

Shard asked with a smile.

"But what the Cavendish Royalty lacks most are princesses, you only have one."

This was something Shard indeed found hard to rebut, thus directly kissed the princess before him. Indeed, the saying in storybooks about "Love is magic" proved correct; finishing the kiss, aside from a slightly red face, Lecia naturally returned to normal.