Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

By the time Shard changed into clean clothes and returned to the living room holding a cat that looked like it was dozing off, Luviya had already brought the teapot. In three months, the supply of high-end red tea left by Detective Sparrow had run out, but Shard, to commemorate the detective, had gone out of his way to find a shop in the city that sold the same tea leaves and had bought some more, so the red tea they were drinking was still from those leaves.

"Overall, judging from the people I've met, I suspect that Priest Augustus and Sister Delphine from the Spiritual Practice Order are The Chosen Ones. This suspicion is baseless and holds little value,"

Shard shared his findings and placed the remaining Blood Coin on the table. Luviya played with the "Standing Coin" in her hands and listened quietly as Shard recounted his experience before and after rescuing Priest Augustus:

"The only thing we can be sure of now is that the third Chosen One is 'Chosen by Death'."

She summarized and looked at the coin in her hand:

"I've already tried during the day, and this coin doesn't work well with my divination; I can't divine much with it."

After all, the main trait of the "Standing Coin" lay in the coin standing upright, not its tradability.

The current situation was different from over a month ago with the "dark" Chosen One; back then, Shard managed to get a whole bag of Special Coins from the Fishbone Pirate Ship, but now they only had two coins in their possession, and all three of them agreed that the Blood Coin should not be used lightly.

"I had applied to the church for currency-type Relics a little while ago; I think there should be results this week,"

Iluna reminded, but even if it was only one or two coins, it would still be impossible to find The Chosen One as accurately as last time.

"Then, the plan for the near future is that I will try my luck at Midshire Fort, learn about the local customs and legends, and monitor the Interstice of Life and Death, to prepare for what's to come. You two will be responsible for searching for coins or inquiring news from the Prophet's Society and the church."

Shard explained:

"From what we see now, the Whispering Verses containing the information about the Chosen by Death are at least partially in the hands of the Church of the Five Gods, while the Academy seems to have very little information on them."

He looked towards Iluna, who nodded:

"No problem, I'll do my best to dig up some news this week. If the church makes a clear statement about The Chosen One, they would likely send me to Midshire Fort too. Also, Shard, take this for you."

She took out from her handbag a familiar sunburst brooch with the Holy Emblem:

"The commotion stirred up in Midshire Fort is expected to be even greater than what happened last month in Daknis. The matter of the Whispering Verses will become increasingly significant in the physical world, Shard, you must be careful in your actions at Midshire Fort."

"I understand, I have some friends there who can help me." Shard nodded, accepting the brooch, while Mia immediately widened her eyes at it. Besides the two rings on its tail, the cat had always been interested in items related to Sun Power... like basking in the sun for naps.

Shard then turned to Luviya:

"Moreover, could you find some information about the Spiritual Practice Order at the Prophet's Society? I want to know if the emergence of the Order has anything to do with the local traditions of worshipping death, the moon, and the mountain."

Not asking Iluna to help was to prevent drawing the church's attention to the blind nuns and monks.

Luviya nodded:

"Speaking of which, it reminds me, the Spiritual Practice Order indeed worships death, and perhaps aside from Sister Delphine you mentioned, others within the Order may be related to 'Death'."

"I'll pay attention to it, but it probably won't go smoothly, after all, I don't really have a reason to monitor every member's Talent within the Order... Oh, and do any of you know about the Phoenix?"

All of a sudden, Shard brought up his own experience from the afternoon, then mentioned the red stone, whose material no one knew. There was no sunlight now, but Iluna could simulate the sun's light, allowing them to see the bird flying within the red stone.

"Miss Feliana's Echo contained some basic knowledge about Exotic Creatures. I only know that this creature can resurrect in fire."

"I'm not very familiar with this creature, but I remember that at the beginning of the month when drawing the Divination Cards, a Phoenix appeared."

Luviya reminded them, and Shard nodded.

Shard was the "Phoenix," Luviya was the "Broken Fate," the doctor was the "Lucky One," Priest Augustus was "Death," and Dorothy was the "Red Butterfly."

"I know!"

Iluna exclaimed an answer that Shard hadn't expected, and seeing the other two look at her, the seventeen-year-old girl felt a bit embarrassed:

"The intentions of the Phoenix relate to the sun, so our church possesses ample knowledge about the Phoenix. However, the Phoenix is an Exotic Creature that has already vanished. It's unknown whether they have all left the material world or if they are hiding somewhere. The church believes that the Xerxes Higher Medical Academy, among the Three Great Magics Academies, should have relevant information and may know where the Phoenixes have gone."

"Do you think the Ancient One sealing the peak passage within the Sealed Rift is the Phoenix?"

Luviya asked Shard, to which Shard nodded:

"It's only a speculation."

The three discussed matters concerning the third Chosen by Death until late into the night; the Standing Coin was returned to Shard by Luviya, since it wasn't of use to her.

Iluna left at ten at night, as she had tasks to perform the following day. Luviya, on the other hand, didn't leave. Her pile of stargazing equipment had finally been installed after two busy days, and since it is the prime stargazing season of autumn, she would spend every few nights at Shard's place until the period concluded in the next half of the month. Today was the first day for stargazing, and since she began work at ten, she would likely be busy until around one in the morning.

The first-floor bedding at No. 6, Saint Delan Square was readied, available for Luviya's use at any time, so Shard bid the Female Diviner goodbye before himself retiring to his bedroom after freshening up.

He was copying the story of the "Sleeping Princess" given by Lecia, then flipped through the next Spirit Rune book recommended by the Academy, "Book of Wild Thunder."

He left his desk at eleven to rest in bed, placing a cup of hot tea on the nightstand. Under the gas lamp above his bed, Shard held a cat and read his sophomore textbook, "The Departed Great One: Old God," a book twice as thick as a standard red brick, until around midnight when he turned off the light to sleep.

He planned to set out for Midshire Fort the next morning at nine, since a meeting with the Priest was scheduled for ten. After that, he could tour the Mountain City, whether to visit the local Folklore Scholar or to search for the Relic Sword.

After closing his eyes, the Outlander, who was a sound sleeper, quickly drifted off, and silence descended upon the bedroom. After an indeterminate amount of time, Mia the cat, who was curled up at the pillow, suddenly opened her eyes, her amber orbs gleaming in the darkness.

She stood up, seriously scratching at Shard's pillow for a time before letting out a sharp cry towards the door:

"Meow~"

"What's the matter?"

Shard sat up abruptly, fully alert, as Moonlight illuminated his right hand, casting light toward the bedroom door, while his left hand unsheathed the Moonlight Greatsword and held it before him. And there, under that light, stood the girl with purple eyes, wearing her nightclothes.

Her white garment was quite thin, hardly suitable for the season, but the little white flower tucked behind her ear was quite beautiful:

"Young Knight, I am but a poor girl passing through. It is quite cold tonight, would you mind if I warmed myself here?"

Luviya tilted her head as she spoke.

"Hmm..."

The Moonlight still shone from Shard's right hand, but the sword in his left hand dissipated into specks of silver light and vanished. He noticed Luviya was barefoot.

"Oh, handsome Knight, please grant my request; it truly is cold outside."

She said with a smile, her purple eyes reflecting the glow from Shard's fingertips, emitting a beautiful purple mist in the dark. Despite being older than the age of Shard's current body, Luviya had a genuine youthful charm.

Among the girls Shard knew, the only ones younger than he were Iluna, seventeen, and Princess Angelina, sixteen.

"Is this a dream or reality?"

Shard wondered to himself.

[Reality, the kind you're hoping for.]

"She" chuckled softly.

The girl with purple eyes stepped inside the door, hands clasped behind her, leaning against it, and began to close the bedroom door bit by bit. The ivory soles of her feet tapped on the floor, making an interesting noise:

"Knight, tonight, would you care to touch my darkness?"

Shard had heard of this metaphor; it was in the book "The Queen and Her Lovers" left by Detective Sparrow, which he had studied thoroughly.

He extinguished the Moonlight at his fingertips, glanced at the cat by his side, looked at the firmly shut bedroom door, and finally at the wardrobe by the wall.

As a result, Mia spent the rest of the night inside the wardrobe.