Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 948 - 948: Miss Danester's Alchemical Tools

"Mr. Hamilton, please treat me as well, I still need to find my way back to camp soon. I don't have your prowess to face a deity directly."

Miss Violet extended her hand to Shard, who nodded and grasped the soft, white hand. The silver moonlight flickered, and the steady spirit output manifested in the form of the four elements, as the Grand Witch of the Thirteen Rings closed her eyes and exhaled:

"I'm afraid we still need your help with the sacrifices; I'm quite sure we don't have anything suitable for offering to a god."

"But what kind of sacrifices does that deity really need? I don't believe a god would just ask us for lake water, dew, and tears."

Shard thought for a moment:

"Let me think... Is there a special liquid that, when consumed, can increase wisdom?"

"Of course there is."

Miss Teresa provided the answer:

"Every year before exam week, someone at the Academy peddles similar things, but I suppose those prohibited drugs aren't the answer."

"Yes, yes, 'potion of wisdom' and 'smart magic potion,' these are all false, not one's own wisdom."

Shard immediately nodded; during exam week, he had heard Dr. Schneider mention similar magic potions.

"Besides magic potions, there also exists a special liquid known as 'Water of Wisdom,' which is a rather rare alchemical ingredient."

Miss Teresa added.

"Then where can this liquid be found?"

"Where the God of the Lake appears, the surrounding live water will spontaneously transform into 'Water of Wisdom.' The closer to the deity, the stronger the transcendent effect of the water."

Miss Violet provided the answer, and Shard turned to glance at the tower, thinking that it's common for special materials to appear at the site of a godfall, though he regretted that he couldn't bring back the special materials to his own time:

"Then it surely isn't this either; where is the sense in offering the water at the feet of a god as a sacrifice?"

"Yes, a sage's trial should require wisdom to solve. The sacrifices a deity needs must be exceedingly rare, but a god wouldn't present a trial that can't be overcome."

Miss Violet looked around:

"Mr. Hamilton, I think you might find the answer where you are going back to; we should be able to find the answer here too."

"Could this be related to the Ancient God?"

Shard shared his thoughts, and the Witch Empress raised an eyebrow:

"You actually know about the Ancient God?"

"Yes, the Great One in the tower is connected to the Ancient God of Wisdom and Knowledge. Long ago, thirteen ancient deities left us, but the material world still holds items containing their power. Perhaps, I should seek 'water' infused with Ancient God power."

"That indeed sounds like it could be the answer."

Miss Violet said and then saw the white mist already swirling around Shard:

"You are leaving again."

Shard looked down:

"Half a minute more; let's keep talking. Be safe by the lake; while the answer to the trial might be found in the area of Lost Lake, it's better not to take unnecessary risks. My actions on the other side are much safer than yours here."

"Since my promotion to the Thirteenth Rank, it's been a long time since I've heard someone tell me to be careful."

Miss Violet laughed and then reminded:

"Since you are from... remember to use your resources there to check if the Great One's Order has offered any other sacrifices."

"Yes, I will check the records."

Shard's vision was nearly enveloped in white mist, and the Witch's voice grew exceedingly faint:

"I don't know when we'll meet again, Miss Violet, Miss Teresa, stay safe, see you next time!"

"Next time, remember to bring your cat again. Even if we can't have it, seeing it once more can..."

The thick white mist vanished between the two witches, along with Shard's hand that rested on them. Shard didn't hear the second half of the sentence, but he nodded in agreement.

Miss Teresa sighed gently, with a sense of loss, then reached to cover her forehead with her hand.

"Your face is red."

Miss Violet pointed out, then looked at her own right hand and tried gripping it a few times:

"This is indeed interesting."

"Blushing is very normal."

Miss Teresa immediately retorted, but the Witch Empress chuckled:

"I wasn't saying you were interesting, so why are you anxious?"

Her gaze turned profound, looking towards where Shard had departed:

"When he held my hand just now, I felt... a very special feeling."

"Are you interested in him?"

Miss Teresa cautiously asked, and Miss Violet snorted again:

"Schultz, you truly understand nothing, which is why you've not been able to graduate successfully so far."

"I..."

"If you judge a person solely by appearance, you can at most become someone like me."

Miss Teresa pursed her lips:

"Aunt, what do you want to say?"

"When I held his hand, I felt a peculiar... echo? It's like when you strike a large bell and then place your hand on its surface."

Miss Violet looked at her palm:

"But that was an incomplete echo, better called an aftersound. He possesses peculiar power, reflecting the past, interpreting history, traversing time... the Outlander who witnesses stories, how interesting. Next time should be the last time he comes here."

Before Miss Teresa could ask, she responded:

"I know this because he asked if the Deity might disclose the third trial to us. It's a pity we can't keep him here forever. But it's just as well; a man like him is not suited for this era of ours."

Miss Teresa stood aside, not knowing what to say, though she had long suspected that strange man would one day leave forever. Upon truly knowing this, indescribable emotions stirred within her heart.

"Speaking of which, Teresa, like you, he's pursuing much more than the power of the Thirteen Rings. Can't you see that?"

Miss Violet drew the Night Watchman, preparing to return to the lakeside camp.

"I..."

Miss Teresa lowered her head slightly, afraid her thoughts would be seen through.

"I and that cat both possess Supreme beauty, while you have sufficient ambition, Schultz, but sometimes you're lacking in insight and wisdom. This is what differentiates you from that man. He has witnessed many things, while you haven't."

The Witch Empress looked at her distant niece:

"But you're still young, and you have the opportunity, which is your greatest fortune. Fate has arranged such an encounter for us, indicating it has more plans for your future."

She gripped the Night Watchman tightly, slightly furrowing her brow, seeing Shard and a middle-aged man confronting a Flame Demon.

At this point in time, the Night Watchman hasn't been placed under Mount Sicarl to suppress the Flame Demon, so Miss Violet didn't know what this scene signified.

She raised an eyebrow, her tone brisk with admiration:

"Of course, I also admit he is a very charming man. The witch he mentioned that assisted him with his thesis is indeed a lucky fellow."

(During the morning prayer of Priest Augustus...)

The second return in Year 5177 of the Fifth Era signified that Shard had a new task. However, having completed numerous similar tasks of seeking uncertain items, he didn't consider it particularly daunting.

Especially since, in theory, there was no completion deadline for this type of task.

Returning home, it was still a Sunday morning. After returning Mia to normal, the cat immediately resumed gnawing on the jerky, but after just one bite, it made a strange noise with its throat. Very disdainfully, it used its paw to push the jerky aside and meowed, urging Shard to prepare breakfast.

Any items not belonging to this era, whether arriving through toys or tangible forms, are subjected to the erosion of time. The jerky had become completely inedible, the traces of time once again reminding Shard of what he was doing. The jerky from the Fifth Era, in his view, didn't qualify to compare with the 'souvenirs' he obtained in the past, so he casually tossed it into the kitchen cabinet, awaiting time for disposal.

"Hmm?"

When he went downstairs to get the milk and newspaper, the moment he opened the door, he felt the chilly air of a winter morning and saw a large wooden crate placed at the door. Shard instantly recalled discussing 'wooden crate theft method' with Dr. Schneider yesterday, and he swiftly retreated, exposing Mia, who had been trailing him.

Mia glanced back at Shard and also swiftly followed him back inside, finding it amusing.

"There's a Whisper Element. Speaking of which, how could it be so unfortunate to steal from my home?"

Shard thought to himself, as 'her' laughter echoed, he walked to the door to inspect the wooden crate:

"Sent by Taylor & Wanda Mining Co.?"

He recalled that when the Academy had mailed him poetry sheets, the sender was also this company. Afterwards, Shard had investigated; it was a large mining company located in the southern part of the Kingdom, primarily extracting gold and some rare metal ores, a company of little fame but substantial wealth.

After fetching the newspaper and goat's milk, he looked around the empty Saint Delan Square before using both hands to lift the heavy crate into the foyer.

His ascent must have been loud enough to awaken Dorothy, for when Shard carried the crate, with an ecstatic cat perched atop, to the second floor, the sleepy, blonde girl, wearing slippers and dressed in sleepwear, emerged from the bedroom:

"Good morning, Shard. Oh, what's this?"

"It's the task item sent by Miss Danester, remember? The high-value Academy assignment given by the Librarian."

Shard replied, abiding by the agreement, he didn't tell anyone the truth about the task.

The crate was especially heavy, as if filled with metallic blocks, which was actually the case, as Dorothy went to warm the milk and prepare bread, Shard pried the crate open with a crowbar, discovering a standard silver-gray rectangular block at the bottom of the square crate, its long side matching the crate's side length, with straw covering on top:

"An alchemical item for detecting Spiritual Light, this big?"

Shard was startled but soon realized the silver-gray rectangle was merely a container.

In the straw, there was a letter addressed to Shard. The letter contained no text but was illuminated by Shard's Core Spirit Rune [Silvermoon] to reveal Miss Danester's handwriting.

The letter explained the usage of this alchemical item, the essential component being a palm-sized mirror confined within the silver-gray rectangle. Due to the use of an Angel-Level Relic, [Evil Mirror of Burgundy] derivative, the fragmented mirror shard in its creation, this Spiritual Light-gathering alchemical item had to be cautiously contained.

When Shard needed to use it, he could remove the mirror from the silver-gray rectangular container, but must return the mirror to the silver-gray metal block within 17 hours and maintain containment for over 11 hours before removing it again. Using the mirror was straightforward; align the mirror with the Spirit Rune from which Spiritual Light was to be gathered, keeping the distance within 15 feet (approximately 4.6 meters) for 30 seconds.

This essentially meant Shard couldn't hide in some corner and collect Spiritual Light secretly. Fortunately, knowing that Sir Plisha, the "Guiding Moon," was suspected of being an academic spy, once he found concrete evidence, the negotiation options at Shard's disposal were plentiful.