Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1441: On the Eve of the Earthquake

Thus, on the sixth day of the Month of Rising Wind, Margaret Anjou officially completed the task from Vanessa Benanis, the "Witch of the Earth," becoming her apprentice. The conflicts and disputes between the Randall Valley Stonemason Association and the Anjou Royal Family were finally resolved amidst various exchanges of interests, negotiations, and the "help" of cultists.

Shard sighed, wondering what kind of events he would face at the Osenfort Estate this time tomorrow night.

However, before Shard could voice his sigh, he heard "her" voice:

[Earthquake.]

Ripples formed in the wine glass Shard held, followed by the entire house quaking. Fortunately, since earthquakes had frequently occurred in the Randall Valley Region recently, people weren’t overly panicked.

Everyone orderly evacuated to the outdoor courtyard, where lightly dressed ladies leaned against their male companions for warmth. Servants distributed warming towels and a few clothes among those in the courtyard.

Miss Benanis declined the coat sent by Margaret, casually passing it to a young lady beside Shard, whom he didn’t recognize, leaving her somewhat embarrassed.

"Look over there."

Miss Sylvia suddenly spoke, and the crowd noticed the anomaly in the night sky.

So Shard looked up to the eastern sky. Under the pitch-black night, it seemed as if a transparent curtain had descended, or like flames darting up, solidifying under the night sky. Dreamlike colors appeared far in the sky, the winding elegant patterns even resembled a transparent colored mountain under the night sky.

"Aurora."

Miss Lathis said softly:

"I’ve lived in the Randall Valley for so many years and never heard of auroras appearing here."

Other guests in the courtyard also noticed the unusual colors in the eastern sky, and discussion of the scene alleviated the cold of the late winter night.

"A precursor to a major earthquake."

Miss Benanis confidently said:

"I can even feel the earth’s agitation just by closing my eyes. It’s almost as if...we are standing on an active volcano, and its eruption is imminent."

"In about 30 hours."

Shard said softly:

"I just saw the Guardian. He told me that the fourth phase of Crazy Earth will emerge on Saturday at dawn."

"Only 30 hours?"

Miss Sylvia squinted slightly:

"Time is indeed pressing... Let’s return to Benanis Estate; staying here has no further purpose."

"Okay."

At this point, many guests wanted to leave. The most important part of the party was already over, and the agitated mood was not fit to continue. Shard greeted Margaret and left with the other three ladies.

However, they were not planning to return by carriage; Miss Sylvia intended to open a portal to leave directly. Short-range teleportation like this within a city does not risk detection unless someone is within a hundred-meter radius.

Of course, Miss Sylvia could perform space teleportation before, but only after acquiring the peculiar Enlightenment [Weaving] could she ensure a 99.9% safety rate. Moreover, the teleportation destination needed to be pre-arranged, it wasn’t something you could just do spontaneously.

The four of them arrived at the temporarily empty back garden. As the dark-haired young witch raised her right hand and chanted spell words, with the sound of glass shattering, a vortex of gold and black appeared before the low wall at the estate’s back garden:

"Let’s go."

Miss Sylvia, Miss Benanis, and Miss Lathis respectively entered, Shard following last. But before stepping into the vortex, he turned one last time, looking over the mansion brightly lit under the moon’s shadow, toward the night sky with auroras to the east:

"Finally, it’s the end again."

"She" smiled gently:

[Present World: Sixth Era, Common Era Calendar System 1854, late winter, Month of Rising Wind.

The seven-colored aurora reflects in your eyes, and the biting night wind howls of the impending calamity. As you rush through this ancient bloodline-spread city, amid demons and cultists’ plots, you’ve finally glimpsed the ultimate truth. The kingdom’s bloodline has completed its task, and the girl pursuing her father’s legacy has seen the end of the path. Next comes the final Chapter of the river valley’s story. O outlander treading upon the earth, when lions and brown bears run through the river valley forests; when the evil one cloaked in black waits in the shadows; when the heartless one filled with a Heart of Stone in the chest prays silently — what choice will you ultimately make?]

"The way you say it makes me feel tense all of a sudden."

Shard muttered softly, then turned and walked towards the portal. With another sound of shattering glass, the black-gold vortex contracted and disappeared, leaving only the silent night, as if frozen in this moment of great disaster.

The news of Saturday early morning Randall Valley disaster, fossil resurrection, and issues concerning himself, provided by the guardians, was still passed to the Witch Council by Miss Benanis, and then relayed to the Church of the Five Gods through the council.

Just as Miss Benanis said, if she hadn’t found Shard, repeatedly showing she had a close connection with a man, the church would soon secretly search for the witches and pin the suspect’s identity on her.

As for Shard, after returning to the witch’s estate on Thursday night, he recounted his meeting with the guardian that night to the witches. As Shard had already deduced beforehand from his experiences in the Bygone Era: Sixth Era that something would certainly go wrong with the guardian before the Chosen One Ceremony and shared his deduction, the result wasn’t too surprising to the witches at the estate.

The upcoming battle in Randall Valley is probably no less intense than last year’s Midshire Fort battle. During last year’s Pantanal Swamp battle, the Grand Witches’ splendid performance led the Witch Council to negotiate with the True God Church, who hired the witches to join the city’s defense lineup, just like the Spiritual Practice Order during the Tobesk Darkness Descends event and the Apna Library assisting in defending the Interstice during Milestone’s battle.

Shard went to the estate on Friday night, and the chaos and disaster arrived in the early hours of Saturday. Although manpower was short due to the witches helping the church, ultimately, Miss Aphrola, Miss Benanis, Miss Galina, and Miss Sylvia still decided at least one person should wait outside Osenfort Estate for news from Shard tomorrow.

The final candidate was Miss Sylvia, who possessed spatial power. This way, even if the entire estate was pulled into subspace by demons, Miss Sylvia could find a way to rescue Shard.

So, besides Sister Delphine, Mrs. Marilyn Handel, Joey Barton, and Dr. Schneider, another friend joined those who would be helping Shard near the estate tomorrow.

However, Shard felt perhaps he alone would be enough.

That night, Benanis Estate was brightly lit, with the crowd discussing plans until late. Although Miss Benanis strongly invited Shard to stay overnight at her estate, Shard chose to return home to Tobesk.

Not because the estate environment couldn’t compare to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, but only at No. 6, Saint Delan Square could Shard feel a sense of security when sleeping.

No girls came to stay overnight at home tonight. Shard tidied up a bit, prepared the relics and materials for Randall Valley tomorrow, then washed up early and went to bed.

Mia lay stably by Shard’s pillow. Though it’s a bit unfair to the cat, Shard decided to bring Mia to Osenfort Estate tomorrow. The Time Key from the Year 3028 of the Fifth Era only had one last use remaining. Being unsure whether another crossing through the City of Eternal Night was needed, it was necessary to bring along the cat for lighting equipment.

Shard knew how cruel it was to have this weak, pitiful, and helpless kitten go with him to a demon power-infested estate. Thus, with a heavy heart, he fell asleep and once again had a particularly strange dream.

In the dream, he wandered alone through a dark corridor resembling the "Night Manor" of the Vampire God’s banquet, holding a candlestick. At the end of the corridor, in front of the door, lay Shard’s own corpse.

Approaching for a closer look, the corpse extended a hand, tossing the peering Shard into the abyss beyond the door. As he continued to fall, Shard saw something glowing at the bottom of the abyss.

It was Mia, majestic like a great tiger. She donned the golden armor sent by Miss Mia Sun Gold, and her tail swayed as if the sun had fallen into the abyss.

Golden Mia flew towards the falling Shard, but instead of saving him, she smacked his chest with her paw.

That swipe in the dream didn’t cause distinct pain, but the shock strongly jolted Shard awake:

"Oh, my God~"

The outlander jolted awake from the nightmare, sitting up abruptly on his bed. Panting, as he took in the bedroom scene and recalled the dream, he noticed the soft cat tumbling from his chest to the blanket at his waist due to his sudden movement.

After struggling to stand up, the cat looked at him with a reproachful gaze.

Whether because of the dream just now, Shard observed the cat’s amber eyes glaring at him and, for some inexplicable reason, found that gaze somewhat... alluring.

"Oh, what am I thinking?"

He paused for a moment, then vigorously slapped his face before looking at the window. Outside the curtains, it still resembled night. At the point in late winter, the night remains long; though it was already six in the morning, the darkness was still so profound.