Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1432: Physical Examination and Green Gemstone
"Compared to the Witch Council, the Church of the Five Gods prefers Guardians to become The Chosen One. However, the Church also believes that the unique existence of Guardians may lead to major problems. Of course, this is also because, so far, all The Chosen Ones, except for Iluna, have had serious issues."
Sister Delphine said, and Shard felt her eyes behind the blindfold "looking" at him:
"So, what is your opinion, Shard? I once mentioned that although I attend the Witch Council meetings and maintain a good relationship with the True God Church, I follow the hero who has touched the Fire of the Primordial from my hand."
Although her way of putting it was strange, Shard understood that she was actually more concerned about his view on The Chosen One:
"I’ve discussed it with Luviya and Iluna. I understand that the Witch Council wants The Chosen One to be Miss Lathis, but we still think the best outcome is for a Guardian to become The Chosen One to prevent other errors from occurring. However, this not only requires thwarting local demon schemes but also timely monitoring of the Guardians’ state. As it stands, unless the Guardians appear voluntarily, no one can find them."
Shard extended his finger:
"On Friday night, I will enter the estate of the guy who has signed a contract with the demon. At that time, Sister Delphine, I hope you can wait outside the estate for my signal. I will then give you a card, and upon receiving the signal, you should immediately enter the estate and help me send off a soul."
Sister Delphine, having methods of communicating through fire with Luviya, knew about this in advance:
"No problem. But the Church’s divination shows that the blooming of the first Randall Flower this early spring is likely on Friday or Saturday as well. The timing might conflict."
"If the timing conflicts, you should go with the Church’s team to handle The Chosen One’s matters. As for that demon, I have more than just one plan ready; Mrs. Marilyn Handel and Joey Barton have also arrived. Of course, if time does not conflict, it would be best to wait for my signal outside the estate."
Shard said, squinting his eyes for a moment:
"Sister, I know your Spiritual Practice Order has unique abilities to perceive the world. So in Midshire Fort, you could foresee the loss of control in the Interstice and also preemptively detect the strange movement of the Pantanal Evil Creatures when we first arrived in Huntington together. Then, how do you perceive Randall Valley, the land beneath our feet?"
The Sister paused for a moment and then said:
"It’s like decaying flesh. This distortion is not externally induced but is caused by the decay of the world itself. The abnormality of the earth is the first sign of the coming apocalypse."
Shard sighed slightly:
"I understand, although I knew this before, really hearing it from you is still hard to accept. After all, the apocalypse and such... Let’s leave it at that for today; I’ll go downstairs to meet Miss Aphrola. Come Friday, please visit Abundant Land Inn; I’ll discuss the evening’s matters then."
"Please wait a moment."
Sister Delphine stopped Shard and then walked over to him.
She silently extended her left hand, palm up. Shard raised an eyebrow and placed his right hand upon it.
Instantly, sparks leaped from the contact point between their hands, and then crimson flames swept from their arms to engulf their entire bodies.
Sister Delphine softly said:
"The Fire Bearer hero should not suffer from illnesses like a fever. Under any circumstances, it’s absolutely impossible."
Shard felt the scorching flow of fire as if it was trying to enter his body, and then realized that Sister Delphine was using the flame to check his body.
So he did not resist, letting the flames spread all over him. The whole process lasted for a full five minutes. When the flames gathered back into their hands, Shard courteously withdrew his hand, and the Sister hesitantly returned to the posture of clasping her hands together:
"Your body has no issues."
"If you have the time, please let Luviya know that I’m very healthy. Since my fever last week, she’s been constantly worried that I might fall ill again."
Although Shard spoke lightly, he was actually relieved.
But the Sister softly added:
"It’s inexplicable why you had a fever last week."
"It’s probably because of that pink bottle. When [Desire] gave it to me by the water’s edge on Pantanal Lake Heart Island, you were there too, Sister. So you understand that the pink bottle should not be used excessively. I’ve received the lesson; I won’t use it recklessly unless absolutely necessary."
Sister Delphine only nodded silently, and Shard thought of another matter:
"The demon possesses an eternal flame. I don’t yet know exactly what that flame is, but I think the Fire of the Primordial might be eager to consume it. Apart from the firewood, aren’t you also continually collecting various unholy fires? Once the demon matter is resolved, I’ll bring you that flame; it’s my promise."
This time, Sister Delphine’s face genuinely showed a faint smile:
"More than the flame, you’re what’s most important to me. Be careful in confronting the demon, even though you have that sword, you still need to be cautious."
"Rest assured, actually the one who truly needs to face the demon isn’t me."
Shard said.
After leaving Serpent Heart Hospital, Shard, along with Miss Aphrola and Haley, returned to Miss Benanis’s estate. Everyone was present today, and the large dining table was full.
The estate’s owner, Miss Benanis, still sat at the main seat at one end of the long table, with Shard on her left and the estate’s other owner, Miss Lathis, on her right.
Beside Shard were Luviya, Miss Sylvia, and Miss Swift. Next to Miss Lathis were Miss Aphrola, Miss Galina, and Haley.
As for Tifa, she insisted on not sitting with Miss Galina, so she directed the maids as the Head Maid.
"The last time four Grand Witches appeared together by a table other than the stone table in the council was when Sylvia’s mentor passed away due to an accident."
Miss Benanis sighed, looking at the people around the table:
"It’s been a long time since my estate has been this lively. How about we hold a party here after the Randall Valley situation is resolved?"
"Let’s make plans after everything is resolved. Personally, I don’t like discussing celebrations before major events begin."
Miss Aphrola said. Although she wasn’t seated at the head, as the third seat of the council, she was indeed the one directing this incident.
"Shard, how are your preparations going over there?"
The Witch asked Shard again, and Shard nodded:
"I’m meeting that demon on Friday night. I should be able to completely resolve the local demon issue."
"We’ve obtained a new Fragment of Poem Chapter from Saint Byrons. The Chosen One Ceremony will likely start at dawn. So, do you need us near the estate to assist you?"
The Red-Haired Duchess asked with concern, and Shard quickly shook his head:
"You should focus on the matters of the Chosen. I always say, I’ll handle the Osenfort matters myself. Besides, I’ve already discussed it with Sister Delphine; having her help is enough."
He then turned to Luviya and said:
"When the time comes, I’ll have the nun bring the Night Watchman. I’ll carry the Demon Hunting Seal myself. When the final moment comes, letting the demon know I have a bit of a Demon Hunter’s power might better confuse it. You wait for my news in the city."
The purple-eyed girl pursed her lips, about to speak, but the maids delivered the first main course, "Randall Bass," to everyone at that moment. While Luviya was in Randall Valley, she actually wanted to follow Shard, rather than silently waiting for news from afar.
After lunch, Miss Swift found Shard alone. The girl with long flaxen hair, holding a lacquered wooden box, handed the last green hexagonal gemstone to Shard:
"Is this what you were looking for?"
After Luviya’s divination, Shard had entrusted Miss Swift to search the local auction house’s warehouse, and unexpectedly, she found it quickly.
"This is it!"
Shard took out the other three gemstones, compared the green gemstone with the others in size and texture, and then nodded with certainty:
"Yes, it’s perfect. Miss Swift, I really don’t know how to thank you and Granny Cassandra."
"Please don’t be so polite."
The girl with flaxen hair said with a smile:
"This gemstone wasn’t actually on the local auction house’s inventory list.
It was purchased over a hundred years ago when the auction house opened locally, by the person in charge at the time. That person passed away from illness over fifty years ago, and I found his notebook and diary, only then I knew that he obtained this gemstone from a Diviner not belonging to the Prophet’s Society, who came from afar. That Diviner said this gemstone should belong to Randall Valley. He followed fate’s guidance to bring it here and would receive fate’s gift after completing this matter."
It seems Miss Swift’s investigation was very thorough:
"Because it was bought under his personal name and the auction house had bookkeeping issues in its early days, this gemstone has always been lying in the local warehouse. If it weren’t for my visit this time, but you yourself went to the auction house to look, it might not have been so easily found."
"That’s why I’m even more grateful to you. Honestly, even though you all always see me bustling around, there are still limits to what I can achieve alone. Oh, Miss Swift, how should I thank you?"
The girl with flaxen hair thought for a moment, glanced towards the sides of the corridor, then softly asked:
"How about a kiss?"
She pointed to her cheek and looked at Shard with a bright smile.
"I think that’s fine."
So Shard gave her a gentle kiss, but still somewhat puzzled:
"You’ve been in a great mood these past days. Did something happen?"
"Because..."
The young girl truly seemed in a good mood:
"I met Princess Margaret."
