Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 830: Shard and Red Butterfly

Chapter 830 -830: Shard and Red Butterfly

Shard didn’t inquire about the current strength of Grace and Helen but happily informed them that the Red Butterfly Pendant had indeed helped his two friends.

He elaborated in more detail about the current state of Lecia and Dorothy, describing the scene when the two girls met that night and then mentioning the trend of their souls partially integrating.

But even the Red Butterfly Twins were powerless in this matter:

“Sir, if the Great One we worship hadn’t left, your friends could have become God’s Favored Ones. This is a true duality, something my sister and I have not achieved even after all these years.”

Helen said regretfully.

The twin girls had lived from the Fifth Era to the Sixth Era, and even if their powers were gone, their knowledge and experiences were still valuable wealth. However, it was unfortunate that the change of eras also caused them to lose some memories, and the price of the “Sleeping Princess” further sealed away the little memory remaining of the era transition.

But aside from those memories related to the hidden history, their knowledge hadn’t completely disappeared. Shard could consult them on matters of relics, antiques, and even the customs of the Fifth Era, which was the greatest help they could currently offer him.

“Sir, are you leaving soon?”

Grace suddenly asked as she listened to the rain.

Shard thought for a moment and nodded:

“Yes, in the afternoon, I plan to meet with Sister Delphine. Granny has already sent the message. In the evening, I’ll go visit Miss Aphrola. Now that the matter of the Chosen One is settled, she will probably leave Midshire Fort soon.”

Grace hesitated, looked at her sister, then softly said:

“Could you… stay with us a bit longer?”

“Of course, Granny Cassandra also said we should have lunch together. And it’s raining now, I have nowhere else to go. Do you know, it rained all day in Tobesk yesterday too. It’s really late autumn, I can almost feel the chill of early winter.”

Shard said with a smile.

Grace bit her lip, knowing what her sister was thinking, Helen then said:

“My sister wants to say, could you stay and talk with us all day… maybe even until very late.”

Shard was startled, then shook his head apologetically:

“Girls, I have many things to handle. Although Tobesk is thousands of miles from here, it’s only over an hour’s mountain road for me. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. When you recover, I might even invite you to my home. But now, you need to rest well.”

“Sir, what we mean to say…”

Helen looked uncertainly at her sister. Grace, in her white nightgown, continued:

“You’ve done so much for us, from the past era to now, yet we have no way to repay you.”

“I never expected repayment from you.”

Shard reiterated as he stood up:

“I need to talk to Granny Cassandra about the Witch Council. The witches will probably be thrilled. See you at lunch, girls. Don’t worry, I’ll leave after lunch.”

“Sir, wait a moment!”

Helen reached out to the other bed, finally holding Grace’s hand. A swarm of dense red butterflies emerged from nowhere, like a curtain, blocking Shard’s view.

After the butterflies disappeared, only the left bed still had someone on it. It was a black-haired, blue-eyed girl in her twenties, wearing a white nightgown with black butterfly embroidery. Helen and Grace looked almost identical, so this was how they would look grown up:

“Now… are you still leaving?”

The girl asked Shard, blushing slightly. Shard thought for a moment, walked to the bed, and with a shy and somewhat scared look, tucked her in:

“If you like the ‘Hamilton Detective Stories’, the collected novel will be released this Wednesday, on the 30th of the Month of Withered Leaves. I’ll bring the autographed new book to see you then.”

He tucked the blanket around the girl:

“See you at lunch.”

The girl, though a little disappointed, still said:

“See you then, sir… Next time, can you tell me about your story with the other pair of twins? The story of the three of you must be very interesting.”

“Of course.”

Shard nodded, and as she smiled, he turned and left the room.

[Do you really not understand what they mean, or are you just pretending?]

“Her” voice appeared amidst the sound of raindrops hitting the glass.

“How could I not understand?”

Shard answered in his heart, following the maid at the door to meet Granny Cassandra again:

“But they are different from Lecia and Dorothy. In my eyes, they have always been the young girls at the banquet. I don’t have many shared experiences or emotional foundation with them. To them, I am probably more of an object of admiration and gratitude. But Lecia and Dorothy have been through many stories with me and know what they truly want… Besides, given their current physical state, do you really think I am scum?”

“She” chuckled softly:

[So, even if the records of the Sinners’ Mansion state that you committed the great sin of licentiousness, at least you are a licentious person with principles?]

“If you could remove the adjectives and just leave ‘principled,’ I would be much happier.”

[Well, what if in the future, you all have more stories?]

“That’s a matter for the future.”

Shard smiled inwardly, following the maid away down the corridor.

After going through so much, this was a good ending for Grace and Helen as well. A hundred years from now, if Shard hadn’t died but successfully completed the Path of the Twelve Divinities, he would be willing to help them truly break free from the shackles of fate. Of course, as he said, that’s all future talk.

There were still many things to do today at Midshire Fort. After meeting Granny Cassandra again, Shard talked about Helen and Grace’s physical conditions before moving on to discuss Sister Delphine.

The cooperation between the Witch Council and this deceased Chosen will be handled by the Speaker of the Council, the Thirteenth Rank Witch, who would negotiate with Sister Delphine. Although Granny Cassandra didn’t know the detailed specifics, she knew that the cooperation between the Spiritual Practice Order and the Witch Council would become tighter in the future.

That Thirteen Ring Grand Witch must have made quite an offer to convince Sister Delphine to stand on the side of the Witch Council in the Whispering Verses. This means that even if there were future conflicts between the Council and the True God Church regarding the Chosen, Sister Delphine would support the Council.

Lunch was delivered from “Goddesses Restaurant,” a high-end establishment opposite Cassandra Auction House. On the third floor of the auction house, Shard, Granny Cassandra, Grace, and Helen dined. The Witch’s apprentice, Miss Swift, acted as a servant, delighted, believing this indicated Granny Cassandra’s trust in her.

The atmosphere was harmonious at the dinner table. When the last dessert, caramelized sweet yam, was served, the old witch had her apprentice bring over a brass box. Each of its six faces bore depictions of punishments: burning, stabbing, tongue-cutting, drowning, burying alive, and castration.

When the box was opened, a beautiful silver cross pendant lay on the red velvet lining. Both the cross itself and its chain were silver, adorned with a coiling snake motif, with a glowing ruby at the snake’s head.

On the sharp, spiked end of the cross, there were darkened traces that resembled blood stains. After blinking, Shard confirmed that it was indeed blood:

“A relic?”

“Yes,”

The old witch nodded, signaling Miss Swift to place the box in front of Shard:

“The Keeper of Secrets Level Relic, ‘Desecration Cross,’ is said to have pierced the heart of a Saint. Its properties allow whoever holds it and stabs any transcendent humanoid being in the chest to absorb and imprison their soul, letting the cross-bearer absorb the soul into themselves to create a special Desecration Spirit Rune using that soul as the core…”

The old witch closed her eyes and drew what seemed to be the Holy Emblem of the Ancient God, the Chaos Witch, on her chest:

“Once this is done, there is no turning back. It signifies the corruption of the soul and may attract evil spirit demons. In reality, what is considered its positive traits are actually negative traits. In addition, wearing it around one’s neck for extended periods guarantees the uncontrollable corruption of desecration elements. This effect cannot be exempted by any means, regardless of whether one is at Thirteen Rings or First Ring.”

“Is this for me?”

Shard asked in surprise.

“Yes. You mentioned before that you were looking for a relic capable of absorbing energy, spirits, or other entities, tangible or intangible, and delivering them to the user. Originally, I thought of handing it directly to the True God Church because it’s too dangerous. But I believe it’s perfect for you.”

Shard carefully took the cross out of the box. The originally faint whisper elements immediately intensified, clearly showing that the box itself was a containment measure. The cross pendant, resembling a piece of art, seemed to be made of pure silver. On the reverse side of the coiling snake motif, an inscription read:

[Divine Words: The Sage is Fearless.]

“Sir, please take it; consider it as our thanks for helping us.”

Grace said, and Helen added:

“Yes, sir. Since you didn’t accept our special reward earlier, please take this instead, as a token of our appreciation.”

Granny Cassandra smiled kindly:

“Did he refuse? Teachers, how unfortunate, but that’s what makes a knight, isn’t it?”

Holding a wine bottle, Miss Rita Swift first looked skeptical, then shocked at Shard, wanting to ask but not daring to.