Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1419: Portal
"Alright, I will play the game with the demon. However, I would like to ask another thing, is my blood different from normal people’s blood?"
He looked inquisitively at the angel, who replied very seriously:
"The Sage does not directly give knowledge; the Sage only provides guidance."
"So..."
"You will not find the answer here with me."
With the answer obtained from the Lake Goddess, on Saturday morning, which was the first day of the Month of Rising Wind in March 1854, Shard informed Luviya and Iluna about the "Flower of the Four Seasons."
The three gathered on the third floor of the Abundant Land Inn, in the room rented by Luviya. The purple-eyed girl sat on the long sofa, Iluna sat on the short sofa, while Shard stood by the window looking at the misty city. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Around two in the morning today, the Randall Valley experienced another small earthquake centered in the city center, making the already restless city appear even more turbulent.
"The Flower of the Four Seasons corresponds to spring, summer, autumn, and winter, matching the Earth Mother Goddess’s dominion over ’Earth’ and ’Four Seasons.’ Now I’ve obtained the spring and summer flowers, and the whereabouts of the remaining two flowers are known."
"Are you really going to summon that ’Desire’ for the autumn flower?"
Iluna asked incredulously, as she had also heard what the flower seller said in the sewer yesterday.
"There’s no other way. Fortunately, when I met Sister Delphine at Pantanal Lake last time, she mentioned how to summon her: liquefying the Crystal of Desire and putting it into a perfume vial, then throwing it into the water."
Shard also had the Crystal of Desire, which was a spoil of war obtained after defeating the ’Demon of Increasing Desire-Vanny’ in Tobesk.
"I, like Iluna, don’t really approve of you doing this."
Luviya, with one hand on the sofa armrest, said:
"It’s not the last resort yet, don’t summon that thing. However, you can carry the perfume bottle and the crystal you prepared with you and use them when necessary."
Shard thought for a moment:
"Alright."
"Tonight, I will cooperate with Witch Sylvia to open a portal to allow Galina and her followers to come to the area. The church’s actions are also scheduled for next week. Luviya, do you have anything to say about next week?"
Iluna asked Luviya again, who thought for a while and said:
"In at most a week, the first Randall Flower should bloom. This time we face two opponents, the cultists and the demon. Shard will handle the demon, while the cultists will be dealt with by the church. Fortunately, this time we are not dealing with The Chosen One, which makes things a bit simpler."
"Having experienced Balance, Dark, Death, and Knowledge, I find that, aside from Iluna, the ’Guardian’ is the most normal Chosen One we have encountered."
Shard said, making both Iluna and Luviya smile. The latter then asked:
"But you also said that is the Guardian really normal? Voluntarily giving up individual independence and continuously merging new souls. Although this form of existence is indeed novel, it is definitely not normal."
"As long as he’s on our side, it’s fine; now I’m just worried about the Guardian going mad if polluted by the Earth."
Iluna added:
"After walking around the city with Shard yesterday, I basically understand the dire situation here. What we need to do now is wait and hope nothing else happens in the next few days."
"The cultists lurking in the shadows are unlikely to remain idle. Moreover, the church didn’t capture the reappearing Weeper-Hermons. Since he appeared, there’s no reason for him to just act as a tool for the cultists."
Luviya sighed slightly, while Shard looked out the window, watching the Circle Sorcerer team from the Dawn Church hurriedly pass by on the street.
Saturday afternoon was the regular group meeting, so Shard returned to Tobesk, and after the meeting, he informed the doctor that he might need to be ready to depart at any time next week.
After the group meeting ended, Shard and Dorothy left together. However, after dinner, he did not immediately start the evening class but asked Dorothy to wait at home while he headed to Midshire Fort alone.
After reaching the Cassandra Auction House from the mountain Ruined Tower, Shard borrowed the Keeper of Secrets Level Relic, the Magician’s Escape Box, planning to take it back to the doctor’s clinic for the doctor to use as needed.
His timing was impeccable as Granny Cassandra had already received notification from the Council. Miss Sylvia, after opening the first portal, still had the energy to open the second one, so Miss Rita Swift, with her flaxen hair, was nervously waiting in the auction house basement with two High Ring and five Inner Ring ladies, preparing to set off.
Since Shard encountered this, he accompanied Miss Swift in the basement to wait. Granny Cassandra was still instructing her apprentice on matters related to the Randall Valley, while Helen and Grace called Shard over and handed him a silver flute:
"Sir, we did it!"
"What did you accomplish?"
Shard recognized the flute as the "Butterfly Calling Flute" he had taken from the Saint Perry Cemetery. Since it could suppress the awakening power of Helen and Grace’s relics, he had left it in Midshire Fort.
The last time he saw this flute, the metal surface was engraved with butterflies in flight, and only by sliding his fingers over it could one feel the delicate texture. This time, however, there were two distinct red butterfly patterns at the end of the flute. Shard touched them and understood that it was Helen and Grace’s power.
"Sir, this flute can call a swarm of butterflies when you play it. And now, it can summon us."
Grace in the white dress said excitedly:
"We know you’ve never wanted to involve us in your adventures, but hearing from Zina about what you’ve been busy with lately, we’re still worried. At least this time, with the matter in Randall Valley, please use this flute to summon us at the right time. After playing it, we can exist for ten minutes, and then we’ll automatically return to where we came from."
"Yes, my sister and I won’t trouble you."
Helen immediately added. The Red Butterfly Maidens were still in their teenage forms, both looking up with pitiful eyes at Shard. Shard had always thought he should never drag them, who had suffered so much, into troublesome matters, but under their gaze, he hesitated for a moment and then took the flute:
"If needed, I will call upon you."
Though in his mind, he thought to avoid doing so if possible.
Miss Rita Swift, although she had previously gone out alone to handle tasks for the Old Witch, was participating in the Witch Council’s grand action on behalf of her teacher for the first time.
Even though the Old Witch kindly told her to just pay attention to her safety, Miss Swift, who was not very confident, appeared very nervous.
The agreed time of 7:30 PM on Saturday came quickly. As the gravel on the basement floor slightly shook, with a clear "bang~" sound of glass shattering, a spiral vortex of gold and black appeared in front of the wall at the far end of the basement.
The crackling sound emerged with the vortex, and the wind blowing against them from the vortex held power that felt quite dangerous to Shard.
He had once used a passage opened by Miss Sylvia utilizing the Council’s power to enter the central part of the Pantanal Swamp directly from Huntington City. But last time, it didn’t have such a big commotion.
"It seems Miss Sylvia has benefited a lot from the spirit rune of ’Weave’."
"Well, teacher, we’re leaving now."
The girl with flaxen hair said to the Old Witch, who then gently embraced her:
"It’s okay if you can’t complete the task, just remember to stay safe. Randall Valley is a bit colder than here, so be sure to dress warmly."
Miss Swift then showed a face as if she were about to cry, and from the spinning black-gold vortex came Miss Sylvia’s voice:
"Hurry up, I can’t hold on much longer!"
Then the witch’s followers were the first to move forward, and after reluctantly bidding farewell to the Old Witch, Miss Swift with her backpack also stepped towards the portal.
"Then I’ll go from this side as well."
Shard tied the "Magician’s Escape Box" with the Great Sin Chain on his back and said goodbye to the Old Witch and the Red Butterfly Maidens, then followed Miss Swift into the vortex.
Traveling through space in this way, apart from a moment of dizziness when stepping through the vortex, was fine otherwise. The vortex closed behind Shard, and he could see he was now in the basement of Miss Benanis’s estate. The wine cabinet was positioned against the wall, with miscellaneous items piled in another corner:
"Good evening."
He smiled and greeted Miss Aphrola and Miss Sylvia, the former seemingly there for the spectacle, while the latter was diligently smoothing out the last traces of spatial ripples.
As for Miss Swift and the other five ladies, they were simultaneously clutching their chests and retching.
"Spatial dizziness, a rare side effect of traveling in this manner."
Miss Sylvia explained with a smile, her hand waving dim gray lights before her.
Shard looked around:
"Isn’t Iluna here?"
"Miss Beyas just met with Galina and went to the church to negotiate, asking the squad patrolling nearby tonight to delay their departure."
Miss Aphrola said, and Shard nodded, but he did not lower the box on his back:
"I’ll help Miss Swift to rest first. No, you don’t need to refuse. I promised Granny Cassandra I’d take care of you in Randall Valley. Later, I’ll go to see Miss Galina. Once Sister Delphine, who is dealing with the ’Spiritual Practice Order’ affairs, arrives tomorrow, our people will be complete."
"Yes, now it’s just waiting for the ’Randall Flower’."
