Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 944 - 944: Witch Empress and the Cat

That evening when Shard returned home, Lecia was still meticulously checking the letters from Professor Manning for Shard. She found enjoyment in it and even started taking notes; the academic discussions between the history professor and the folklore professor would probably help Dorothy in writing her detective stories.

Of course, once Shard returned home, Lecia left the study. Her Highness the Princess took Shard's hand and wanted him to demonstrate "the thing that flies and glows," but ultimately Shard couldn't go to the basement to fetch the stone tablet, although he did have a very pleasant evening.

Of course, that was in the bedroom.

On Sunday morning, when Shard woke up in his own bed, a beautiful blonde-haired girl was sleeping soundly.

Shard carefully climbed out of bed, and upon opening the door, he immediately saw two terrifying beams of light shining from the sofa in the living room, and quickly realized it was Mia's eyes glowing in the dark.

"Meow~"

The low sound it emitted made one feel uneasy inside, and also made Shard at the bedroom door almost imagine the distressed expression on that cat's face in the dark at that moment.

Shard tiptoed to the sofa and picked up the cat in the dark. Little Mia nuzzled against Shard's chest, and when Shard looked down at it, the cat also looked up at Shard.

The upward motion of the cat's face made it look even cuter. Sometimes Shard even thought little Mia might be the most beautiful cat in the world.

After washing up and changing clothes, he carefully rolled up the written thesis and placed it in a paper tube in the study room, then turned it into a toy and pocketed it.

He opened the drawer and took out the Time Key, which had cracks on its surface:

"Time to head out again."

He intended to leave Mia at home, since he would only be gone for three seconds anyway, but this time the cat unusually tugged at Shard's sleeve with its claws. When Shard looked at it, it also gave a "meow~".

Although Shard didn't understand cat language, he guessed the cat wanted to "go out" with him.

"Hmm... Alright, but you mustn't wander off."

So Shard found a towel and draped it over Mia, who was sitting obediently on the coffee table. After respectfully pocketing the cat-shaped doll, he tiptoed to the side bedroom door, careful not to wake the sleeping maiden:

"May the World Tree bless me in time."

He whispered, then amused himself, thinking the hoarse voice sounded like a snake hissing.

Click~

The Time Key turned, and the mist gate like silk revealed a smile on Shard's face; he was already accustomed to such adventures and liked them. He stepped forward officially into the mist gate; "her" voice was always alluring:

The Outlander, you have entered the "Time Corridor."

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

Spring of Year 5177 of the Fifth Era, Shattered Isles, Lost Lake.

Event: Mortals in pursuit of Eternal Beauty.

Duration thirty minutes (2/3).

You have received extra information.

The silhouette of the Father of the Infinite Tree continues to watch over you.

The Ancient God of Time extends your trial.

Help the mortals obtain the secret of Eternal Beauty from the deity.

The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you: Ceremony - Water of Moonlight, Ceremony - Sun Essence.

Without hesitation, Shard continued to step forward in the white mist, revealing before him the unfolding white mist curtain. With dense fog flowing to the sides of his vision like streams, what Shard saw was a large lake under the night and the thin mist swirling above the water.

The air in the dense woods near the lake was completely different from the warm comfort of home, and the surroundings' thin mist served as a transcendent "sedative." Prolonged exposure to mist causes fatigue until you abruptly fall asleep. Even witches and circle sorcerers with resistance can become mentally dull and exhausted with long exposure to such mist, so Shard was worried about the health of Miss Violet, the Witch Empress, and her entourage:

"Fifth Era, Shattered Isles, Lost Lake."

Muttering the time and place in his heart, his ears already heard strange noises from the bushes behind him. Shard was too lazy to guess what he would ultimately encounter if he stayed by the lake without moving. He bent slightly, took small steps forward, and then leaped forcefully onto the mist-covered lake's surface:

"Oh!"

The frigid air immediately surged up from his soles, even though he was prepared, Shard still shivered from the cold. But he did feel as if this time the cold wasn't as unbearable compared to last time, though he wasn't sure if it was an illusion.

"I've adapted to the chill, or it's because this time I have divinity?"

Shivering, he sprinted quickly across the silent water surface shrouded in mist for more than ten steps, then lightly lifted his toes to leap into the air:

"Red Butterfly Incarnation!"

In the hazy mist, the swarm of red butterflies glimmering with crimson light seemed to dye the mist that color. The butterflies fluttered and tried their best to fly towards Heart Lake Island, while at the edge of the lake near the bonfire, Xerxes Higher Medical Academy's tenth-grade student Miss Schultz Teresa maintained a kneeling posture with her hands on her thighs.

She abruptly opened her eyes, with firelight reflecting in them—the shadow of the firelight and the tiny red butterflies flapping their wings.

Miss Teresa pushed up her glasses and turned her head to speak softly to the Grand Witch holding a small book beside her:

"Aunt, he's appeared."

The ruler of Wydon, Grand Witch of the Witch Council, Witch Empress Miss Violet Marshall, was drinking tea and reading at this moment. Upon hearing Miss Teresa's words, she handed her teacup and book to the maids on either side, then supported herself with a third maid's outstretched hand to stand up. Waving the maids to attend to their own tasks, she herself walked towards the lake shore and squinted to indeed see tiny points of red light flickering in the distance over the lake:

"Finally returned."

Her voice was somewhat hoarse, and her spirits seemed rather poor. A rope flew out from behind her like an arrow towards the blurry red light. The rope only flew less than halfway before falling onto the silent water surface in the mist, but Miss Teresa still felt the rope had bound something.

Three maids dressed in black and white maid costumes joined her in the spellcasting, pulling the rope forcefully towards the shore. As the rope quickly retracted and the black chains at the end appeared, the witches were almost simultaneously attracted by the runes on the chains. Only after Miss Violet coughed did they suddenly come to their senses and look at the man in the black coat, who had been "pulled" from the lake.

Miss Schultz Teresa, wearing glasses, had the illusion she was "fishing," but fishing would not catch a man.

"Long time no see, Miss Violet, long time no see, Miss Teresa! Long time no see, ladies!"

Since Shard didn't know the specific names of the six maids, he greeted them uniformly as "ladies." They either bowed their heads to avoid Shard, or smilingly turned their heads, ignoring him, or watched him with a smile.

Miss Violet patted Shard's shoulder, feeling that chilling cold as she smiled and said:

"Long time no see. Alright, stop enchanting my maids. Last time you left in a hurry, there were many things left unsaid. Thankfully, you've appeared once again."

With that, she pointed to the bonfire blazing fiercely, and Shard walked over with Miss Violet. Then the Witch Empress, Shard, and Miss Teresa sat beside the bonfire. Shard first stretched out his hand to warm by the fire, then reached into the inner pocket of his coat to find Mia's doll.

Covering the doll with a small handkerchief, once the handkerchief was lifted, little Mia appeared on the lake shore of Lost Lake's Heart Lake Island.

"Meow~"

In this unfamiliar environment, the cat customarily threatened the surroundings first, then rubbed against Shard's chest, finally jumping onto his lap to lie down, looking at the fire in front of them with big eyes.

"Is this your pet?"

Miss Violet observed the cat, the firelight illuminating the faces of the three:

"It looks quite special."

"No, not really my pet, at least not now... What's special?"

Shard's gaze sharpened.

[You're here again.]

"Very cute."

In the light of the bonfire, the orange part of little Mia's fur appeared particularly striking. Miss Violet reached out to touch the cat but was blocked by Mia's extended paw.

The Witch Empress looked at the little paw in surprise, not getting angry but rather laughed:

"What an intriguing kitty. I keep many pets in the palace, but I must admit, even the Botels curly-tail cat, whose every gram in weight is more expensive than thirty times that in gold, cannot compare to the beauty of this cat. How much gold did you pay for it?"

She seemed very interested.

"Oh, how can Mia's value be measured by gold?"

Shard asked with pride, although he actually couldn't answer that question as he hadn't yet managed to buy the cat.

"Indeed, gold isn't everything; sometimes you need gemstones, diamonds, real estate, and precious relics along with knowledge."

Miss Violet nodded approvingly:

"If I had met this cat before you, I would offer an Earl's dominion to trade for it."

"An Earl's dominion? Your Majesty, a real Princess couldn't get this cat from me, even with her own body. It's truly adorable, and not just for looks, Mia has once..."

"Ahem."

Miss Teresa adjusted her glasses and seeing both looking at her, she softly reminded:

"Your Majesty Violet, Sir, I admit this cat is beautiful, but shouldn't we... talk business first?"

"Meow~"

As Shard wasn't paying attention, the early riser cat yawned wide. Resting her small head on her front paws, she calmly watched the jumping flames of the bonfire. Her tail swayed, occasionally brushing against Shard's arm, the cat was now in high spirits.