Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 535 - Shard and the Witch

"Shard, that means your magical experience as an investigator actually involved going back to the past. And if the Time Key's corresponding point in time aligns well, could you possibly encounter Miss Feliana in the past again?"

After awakening, the maids brought supper and fruits to the two conversing in the study room. Even though dinner had just finished, the snacks were still plentiful. Tifa stood behind Miss Galina, adding details to Shard's description.

After the Dark Realm receded, it seemed that because of Miss Feliana's "Feliana's Witch Light," the people affected by the realm almost suffered no lingering effects. However, those who fell into a slumber lost their memories of that period, thinking they had just mysteriously slept for a long time. This change in perception was an attribute of the Angel-Level Relic, so the church didn't need to put much effort into managing the possible consequences, blaming it on environmental pollution causing water problems was sufficient.

"Yes, I think it's indeed possible. Moreover, I actually can bring someone with me to the past, like this cat I once took there; Miss Feliana met Mia before."

Shard scratched the chin of Mia, who was lying on his lap:

"Not long ago, during the process of retrieving that necklace to combat the Silver-Eyed One, I came into contact with the power left by the Creator of Innocence in the ruins, hence learned the Arcane Technique [Toy Manufacturing], which can turn objects into toys and even living beings who completely trust me into toys as well."

"I remember, the 'Time Key' doesn't allow supernatural items to pass through that door, and it can only be used by one person at a time... I see, so you can also avoid the rules left by the Ancient Gods like this. That is quite clever."

Listening to Shard's introduction, Miss Galina narrowed her eyes, and immediately after he finished speaking, she asked a maid to bring a bedsheet.

Then, the scene of her draped in a bedsheet sitting on the couch was even more ridiculous than Bittifa standing by in a bedsheet.

"If you dare to laugh now, Shard, I'll show you the power of a witch."

The voice came from underneath the bedsheet.

But neither the Duchess nor Tifa could be affected by the Arcane Technique [Toy Manufacturing]. However, the cat, curious and wriggling under the bedsheet, was successfully transformed into a small plush toy, proving the effectiveness of Shard's arcane technique.

"Meow!"

After being restored by the handkerchief, Mia happily stood on the coffee table looking at the snacks, tail waving, waiting to see what Shard would offer. The cat had accomplished a lot today, though it rashly dove into God's Gift Box and was accidentally taken into the Dark Realm by Shard. But it was because of this cat that the Fish Training Ring accidentally left Daknis's right hand, allowing Shard to face one less form of Daknis in the final battle.

"It seems that for a while, no one can follow you back to the past. However, I can help you acquire some Time Keys that still have specific points in time when Miss Feliana clearly exists, and I hope you can help me ask that lady some questions."

Miss Galina suggested, and naturally, Shard wouldn't refuse a free key:

"I can't make these adventures a regular occurrence, so the next time I use the key, it might be after a while."

"No worries, it's good for you to rest a bit. Shard, time travel isn't a normal phenomenon, you also need to be careful about your own safety."

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The witch reminded him lazily. She, too, was injured in the battle and though the Light of the Witch healed her body, her mental exhaustion couldn't be restored.

"I will be careful. Oh, actually, I have something I want to ask you about."

Shard sat up straight, picking up the orange cat that was on the coffee table:

"Please check this cat; it... has been acting odd lately."

"What's strange?"

Miss Galina signaled Tifa to take the cat, Mia unwillingly leaving Shard but after struggling a bit, Tifa took her.

"It is very smart, incredibly so. Today in the Dark Realm it could even glow by itself. Of course, it was a weak light, and it seems unaffected by darkness."

"Is that so?"

Miss Galina took Mia from Tifa's hands and in the fierce struggles of the orange cat, petted it a few times:

"Apart from its tail strongly playing with the ring, it should be fine."

The conclusion was quite unexpected for Shard.

"But why..."

"Has it eaten anything strange?"

So the witch asked, as Mia took advantage of the distraction to jump onto the coffee table and then crashed into Shard, lying again on his lap.

"Probably... yes, there is."

He had always suspected, after the second Night of God's Descent, the cat absorbed some of the dispersed divine power.

"Then it might have a diluted lineage of a magical creature that got activated because it ate something strange. It's not an uncommon event, after all, no matter how unusual it is, it is still just a cat."

Miss Galina said, and Shard thought about it and nodded. Indeed, even if Mia is peculiar, she still hasn't exceeded the boundaries of a normal cat. Instead of worrying if Mia has issues, it's better to worry about what kind of strange lineage this cat might have.

But he didn't have friends skilled in studying magical creatures and exotic species, and Saint Byrons's School of Political Economy wasn't open to Correspondence Circle Mages.

"It's hard to say whether the appearance of Miss Feliana tonight is the most important event or the death of the second Chosen One."

Seeing that Shard no longer talked about the cat, Miss Galina sighed as she held her teacup, the steam obscuring her face, yet still revealing her distress.

"The Council assigned you to personally kill Ivan Daknis, but in the end he died at the hands of the Church. Is that alright?"

Shard asked.

"It's alright, the Council only wanted me to act if possible. Besides, tonight, a powerful witch from the Fifth Era appeared, so the Council won't blame me for not succeeding, given that it was Miss Mana Feliana. Shard, you've really stirred up trouble tonight."

"What does that have to do with me? It was the God Summoner who summoned Miss Mana Feliana,"

Shard said as he picked a small piece of cookie from the plate:

"The Chosen One, Iluna Beath, is my friend; she won't betray me. The only ones who have seen what I did are her and Tifa."

Shard smiled at the black-haired Miss Maid:

"Tifa surely won't blab, so, it's just fine to blame everything on the God Summoner. Since he could summon an old god from the Fifth Era, people will definitely believe he could also summon a witch from the Fifth Era. Oh, let me emphasize again, I am certainly not the God Summoner, I only have two, now three rings, and my Maze Lock is different from his."

"Speaking of Iluna Beath..."

"Yes, my friend,"

Shard repeated, and the witch smiled:

"No need to worry so much, the Council wasn't planning to sway the Church-trained Chosen One, that would simply be impossible. However, you really do interact a lot with the Chosen."

She teased, as Shard broke the cookie he was holding into two, giving the smaller piece to the cat, and Mia immediately leaned forward, grabbing Shard's hand with her front paws.

"Just a coincidence, but I hope you can let Tifa accompany me tomorrow when we chase the Human Pus. I'm worried about a change of plans, we absolutely mustn't let it escape this time."

The reason for not acting tonight was that the Church was currently on edge, making it unsuitable for moves. Moreover, the last bit of pus serving as the body couldn't get far, so it'd be best to be prepared and go tomorrow.

"That's not a problem, but Shard..."

The red-haired witch propped her face with her right hand and looked sideways at the Outlander feeding the cat:

"Do you really understand what you are doing?"

"Of course."

"Good to know, because since you're already connected with the Chosen One, I genuinely worry you might..."

She blinked and gave a slight smile:

"Nevermind, you don't look like someone who'd take your life for granted. I won't mention you in the report to the Council, but next time, don't take such risks. After all, people aren't always lucky... especially for Sorcerers."

"Yes, yes—gifts from fate are always marked with a price in the dark. I understand that."

"Good, just remember, Miss Feliana's appearance has nothing to do with you... no, today's events have nothing to do with you. There shouldn't be any mention of your name in the records of the Church, Council, or Academy."

"Alright, the only ones who have seen me in the Dark Realm are you. However, Miss Galina, I hope you can help me with this."

As the steam hissed and whistles sounded, Shard's Ring of Fate slowly appeared behind him.

Miss Galina and Tifa both looked up:

"Two and a half months, already a Three Ring Sorcerer..."

The Ring of Fate of a Three Ring Sorcerer had a triangular cross-section. Currently, on two of the sides, there were four Spirit Runes each, and as Shard controlled the rotation of the Ring, the Enlightenment - [Light of the Witch] emitted a brass-colored glow:

"This, Enlightenment Spirit Rune - [Light of the Witch]. Derived from my reading of 'The Mad Light Chaser' and the light passed on by Miss Feliana. The corresponding Arcane Technique for this Spirit Rune is 'Feliana's Witch Light'..."

"Oh?"

Miss Galina frowned:

"[Feliana's Witch Light] is a High Ring Sorcery, a prototype power used by the Witches of the Fifth Era. It summons a golden light that spreads outward, melting all matter surrounding it, and it's very effective against the dark and evil forces."

This was an area damage sorcery and its power was restricted by the level. Its attack power wasn't as high as the singular attack [Moonlight Slash], but it was quite effective in dealing area damage.

Miss Feliana hesitated:

"I meant to say this when you were explaining, this sorcery... well, from the Sixth Era's perspective, only females can learn it. Yes, only females, and witches have a higher success rate in mastering this sorcery."

Not all sorcery learning rituals are the same, and not every Sorcerer can master every Arcane Technique; gender is also a strict condition for learning certain Arcane Techniques, but usually only appears in techniques recorded in something like the Book of Pink.