Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 950 - 950: Another Angel

Iluna was much busier than Shard, so Shard didn't stay long at the Blackstone Security Company and left quickly.

Afterward, he didn't return home but took advantage of the time today to visit Priest Augustus at the Dawn Church. It happened to be Sunday, so the Priest had Shard join the service and discuss some religious topics with Bishop Owen. At noon, Shard had lunch at the church.

Only after lunch did Shard have time to discuss his own matters. Naturally, he first commissioned Priest Augustus to investigate the commission of the Old God [The Undefined Sage]'s order. Then he handed the notebook to the Priest, which contained Miss Violet's improved formula for the "Fire Resistance Potion." Shard had already updated the names of materials from the Fifth Era to the Sixth Era terms based on the contents of the [Witch Echo].

Priest Augustus glanced at it:

"Oh? Did you copy this from an ancient book?"

"You know this formula?"

"Of course, but it's an outdated formula."

Priest Augustus said as they chatted in the Priest's room in the church, returning the notebook to Shard.

"So it's been eliminated."

Shard sighed slightly but was also somewhat relieved. This represented the continuous development of Potion Studies; even the formula of a Thirteen-Ring Grand Witch would have its day of obsolescence.

"Although the details differ, it is indeed that formula. Oh, it was not eliminated because it was ineffective. In fact, it is currently the most effective configuration method for Fire Resistance Potions, even referred to in some books as the [Max Fire Resistance Potion]. From the perspective of Potion Studies, this formula almost reaches the pinnacle of Fire Resistance Potions."

Priest Augustus said with some admiration.

"Then why was it eliminated?"

Shard asked curiously, and the Priest pointed to the formula spread open in the notebook:

"Too expensive."

"What?"

"There is no definitive conclusion yet on who invented this formula, but the inventor must have been a remarkable figure in the Fifth Era. The formula makes full use of the potential of each material, and the blending method is extremely intricate, with the combination and reaction of the different materials being truly exquisite. But the issue lies in that this formula is incredibly expensive."

He paused for a moment and then added:

"Incredibly expensive."

Shard revealed an understanding expression, which matched his impression of Miss Violet. She was a Witch Empress overseeing a nation, highly knowledgeable, and wouldn't concern herself with the cost of materials when improving a formula. Little did he know, however, that this formula would still be in circulation by the current Sixth Era.

It was originally devised to cope with the trials of a deity, improved under mental pressure and hazardous environments, but still praised by the current Circle Sorcerers. Though the Witch Empresses might be extravagant and indulgent, their power and wisdom indeed befitted their status.

As Shard pondered, Priest Augustus suddenly furrowed his brow, sniffing at Shard.

Seeing him do this, the cat, who was napping with Shard, squinted and sniffed as well.

"Shard, remember how I mentioned at the train station on Monday that I noticed a familiar scent on you? I forgot to ask you about it yesterday when I was at Dr. Schneider's. Why has the scent become stronger than it was on Monday?"

He glanced at Shard's cat:

"Moreover, your cat has that familiar scent too."

This week, Shard had only taken his cat to some strange places on a trip with Sister Delphine to visit Lake Cherub. Combining this with the last time the Priest noticed the scent, which was when he saw Lake Cherub but couldn't ascend it, Shard raised an eyebrow, immediately understanding what Priest Augustus had detected.

"Do you know of the Lake Goddess?"

"Shard, do you mean the fairy tale 'Water of Wisdom'?"

"No, no, it's not a fairy tale. I actually encountered her."

Shard explained his experiences in Huntington in detail to the Priest, who was quite surprised:

"The way you describe it, I think I might have a clue. Although I can't be certain, the so-called 'Lake Goddess' is very likely an angel."

Shard wasn't too surprised:

"That should be correct. She is not a relic, but she is also definitely not a true Great One, of that I'm sure. If she is an angel, then it makes sense. Priest, do you know which angel she might be?"

In the present Sixth Era, angels of the True Gods only appear on special occasions. The angels of the Old Gods have long departed with the deities, and the angels of the Evil Gods are even rarer. Therefore, Shard isn't very familiar with angels.

"It must be an Ancient One preserved from ancient times."

The priest thought for a moment and said. He possessed the power of the "Primeval Angel" Death Angel, and an angel that could be called an "Ancient One" must certainly be associated with the Ancient Gods.

"How interesting, that such an ancient angel still exists in this era."

Priest Augustus decided and said to Shard:

"I'll help you find out exactly who this angel is. Since they call themselves 'Cherub,' the word must have a relevant meaning. If you can determine the identity of the other side, you might be able to figure out their thoughts during the trials, which could help you solve the problem faster."

"Priest, don't you want to meet that angel?"

Shard suggested, although the priest couldn't use the [Magician's Escape Box] that only high ring sorcerers could use, there was always a way to get the priest to Huntington City if they searched hard enough.

Priest Augustus shook his head slightly:

"To have endured until now, the other must have some irregular means, perhaps even merely an embodiment of some power, certainly not the true form. We all have our responsibilities and purposes, so I shouldn't go to meet them. Besides, I'm merely a mortal who inherited part of angelic power, we are different."

Priest Augustus was deeply concerned about the appearance of the ancient angel, believing that the appearance of any Ancient One signified a major event was about to occur. However, he didn't object to Shard continuing to engage with the "Lake Goddess." As long as the angels of the Ancient Gods didn't go mad from losing control, most wouldn't harbor direct malice towards humans.

"This is for you."

The priest stretched out his hand to Shard, an old hand holding a familiar charred feather:

"Next time you see that lady, give her this feather. For the sake of being fellow angels, she will slightly lower the difficulty of your trial."

"Doesn't this count as cheating?"

Though he said this, Shard still took the feather and used it to scratch the sleeping cat on the table. Mia shifted slightly, turning her body in another direction and completely ignoring Shard.

"What kind of cheating is this? Just give the feather to that lady, and whatever she decides to do is her business."

The priest waved his hand and said.

Sunday was the church's service day. Shard spent the entire afternoon in the church, as he was still a core believer of the Dawn Chapel in this diocese on the surface. Although Priest Augustus was called away by an urgent matter at three in the afternoon, Shard still stayed in the church with the cat, listening to the old priest's sermon and participated in distributing relief food to the homeless and destitute at the church entrance in the evening.

This made Shard, who once nearly needed the relief food himself in the summer, quite reflective.

The so-called relief food was black bread and seasonal dried vegetables packed in paper bags, which could be eaten raw or soaked in hot water. The paper bags used by the church to pack the food were also good items for the poor. While helping to distribute the food, Shard heard an old monk, responsible for handling supplies, mention that these paper bags could be cut to make filter tips for handmade cigarettes, or saved as excellent fire starters.

The Outlander, of course, wouldn't ask foolish questions like "Why smoke when you can't even eat," but he knew that as winter approached, the church would increase the frequency of distributing relief food. The first snow had already arrived, and based on past experience, the city would be blanketed in white within two weeks. The weather this year didn't seem extreme so far, but even so, many would not survive this winter.

Standing in the bright light of civilization, the Outlander could certainly see those who stood in its shadow. The age of steam rolled in like a tide, with every facet being part of the era. At home, he had heard the phrase "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," but for Shard, who stood on the earth, all he could do was reach out to help those he encountered.

Shard didn't have dinner at the church and returned to Saint Delan Square after bidding farewell to Priest Augustus. He received Lecia's invitation in the evening, inviting him to attend a reading salon hosted by Lecia on Wednesday evening. The venue was at the Prophet's Society, which, although generally not open for business in the evening, could function as a club providing services.

As for Lecia directly inviting Shard, it was at the request of Princess Margaret, making the invitation not abrupt. Holding the invitation, Shard thought about the tasks surrounding Princess Margaret and wondered whether there really was someone intending harm towards the princess.

"The Truth Society people look fierce, but Miss Pavo has already explained she merely wants to ask Princess Margaret some questions and doesn't intend to harm her. They're also wary of the church's Inquisition. So, currently, those who may pose a threat to Margaret Anjou are merely ordinary people."

Recently, Princess Margaret's itinerary in Tobesk was quite complex; she wasn't here for a tour. The security pressure from MI6 was immense, and although Shard didn't partake in the direct security work, he knew that his colleagues' jobs weren't easy.

Shard, however, was the most relaxed of them all, having been assigned by the King himself.

Thus came another Monday, the 25th day of the Frostfall Moon. Upon waking early in the morning, Shard enthusiastically reached out to the wall, and indeed felt its warmth.

Even though this type of heating method was unremarkable in the Outlander's hometown, experiencing steam pipe heating in this era still amazed the Outlander.

Before breakfast, Shard followed the notification from the Saint Delan Square District, checked from the basement to the attic with the groggy Mia trailing behind, confirming that his home's steam heating for the winter had started without any leaks.

Upon confirming the heating commencement, Shard, in a good mood, even held the cat, letting its little paws touch the warm part of the wall.

Mia was quite surprised by the heated wall. Born in the spring of 1853, this cat probably had never seen city heating. It repeatedly pawed at the wall, as if trying to discover what lay within it, which only lightened Shard's spirits.

But his good mood was soon to sour.