Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1514: Luviya Returns Home
"It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you any longer. However, before you leave, I have a few words to remind you... Circle Sorcerer, actually... you’re still young..."
Confirming that Shard had nothing to do with the God Summoner, Miss Danester felt much more at ease. She intended to give her student some "life advice," but as it was the first time for the female sorcerer to experience such a situation, she herself didn’t know the best way to express it.
Seeing the curious look in Shard’s eyes, she decided to be direct:
"Your future is limitless, and you might even become the fastest male student in Saint Byrons’ history to become a High Ring Sorcerer. Shard, I know that at your age, it’s common to admire those beautiful ladies, but don’t let that delay you... Love, of course, is wonderful. I’m not against you encountering the beauty that fate brings to you, but what I mean is... you understand yourself."
This time, Shard understood, and immediately felt an unprecedented awkwardness. He looked down at Mia in his arms, wishing Mia were holding him so he could hide his face:
"Yes, I understand."
"Meow~"
Noticing the "dangerous" look in Shard’s eyes, the cat lying on his lap with her belly up immediately turned over alertly.
"Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Miss Danester having any close male relationships."
Shard thought, preparing to end this visit, but also felt it was best not to voice this question.
Before leaving the estate, Shard ran into Emilia leading a unicorn in the corridor. Honestly, seeing a unicorn standing on the red carpet inside a "modern" mansion with bright gas lamps had a strange sense of incongruity, and the Elf Girl was clearly waiting for Shard:
"In the future, it might not be so easy to stay in touch. However, I will continue with the task you gave me."
She winked at Shard, referring to the "task" of helping him find the hidden walls.
"Next time we meet, I’ll bring you more poems in Ancient Elvish Language."
Shard also promised, then extended his hand to her. The underage Elf Girl, clearly unprepared for such "respect," solemnly wiped her hand on the side of the pure white beast, and under its reproachful gaze, held Shard’s hand:
"Then Mr. Hamilton, see you next time. I hope next time, we can experience an amazing adventure together."
"No, no, it’s better to be stable."
Shard quickly shook his head:
"I’ve had enough of recent adventures."
When Shard returned to the Benanis Estate, it was already late, and the Guardian had concluded the conversation between the Chosen Ones and Luviya, returning to the Heart of the Earth.
Sister Delphine and Iluna had both left, with the nun traveling easily through a painting connecting the Summit Sacrificial Ground to Randall Valley, making it simple for her to return to her Ritual Site and Midshire Fort. Iluna planned to return to Tobesk the following week, as she was no longer needed for the ongoing investigation there.
However, since Randall Valley was in a sensitive period, she wouldn’t have time to meet anyone else before returning to Tobesk, though the separation wouldn’t be long.
In any case, when Shard returned to the estate, only Luviya was waiting for him at the mansion entrance, genuinely worried. But she wasn’t concerned about Shard failing to "pacify" the Thirteen Rings Female Sorcerer.
Once inside the estate with Shard, she somewhat sternly asked:
"Shard, you weren’t honest with us. The Guardian just mentioned that even in your God Summoning state, devouring the concept of the Earth Twist would still greatly affect you. Shard, look at me and tell me the truth, what’s really happening with your body?"
"Did the God Summoner tell you this?"
Shard was a bit surprised.
"Of course not, I asked. I knew it couldn’t be nothing. Oh, Shard Suren Hamilton, don’t change the subject, answer my question."
She seemed genuinely a bit angry.
"Alright, he was right, it couldn’t be without impact, and I actually know about it myself. Currently, my body is still adapting to that ’filthy stuff,’ and the effects will show up within about a week. I assure you, even if there is any impact, it would only be a minor one, not life-threatening, nor would it cause permanent damage. After all, it wasn’t me who consumed those twists and filth, it was Him."
"She" chuckled softly in Shard’s ear.
Luviya nodded with concern:
"I’ll talk about it when I return to Tobesk; I’ll keep an eye on you."
Because the next day, on Monday morning, Luviya was to leave Randall Valley with the professors, the purple-eyed girl did not spend the night at the witch’s manor but instead returned to the Abundant Land Inn to pack her luggage.
As for the matter of her Sublimation Incantation, Ciris had agreed to the terms proposed by the Prophet’s Society in a letter on Saturday. As for the reason why the message took so long to arrive, it was simply attributed to the "Cult of the Forgotten" and its forgotten trait, by the diviners who were busy investigating the Godfall event.
The original plan was to depart at eleven in the morning, but early in the morning, Luviya received a message from Miss Danester, learning that the departure time had been moved up to 7:30 AM due to an unexpected event at the Academy.
Fortunately, her luggage was already packed. After bidding farewell to the inn where she stayed for two months, she hurriedly went to the local association to say goodbye to her colleagues with whom she had spent two months. Finally, she hugged the local association’s president, Ms. Kalida Anji, the Eleven Rings, with reluctance before getting on the carriage.
Traveling through space with the relic, although it can cause severe discomfort, the time saved more than makes up for this drawback.
When Luviya appeared at the Prophet’s Society in Tobesk City, Draleon Kingdom, at eight o’clock that morning, the familiar sense of nostalgia significantly lifted the spirits of the purple-eyed girl.
Colleagues at the association were all delighted by Luviya’s return, but she did not have to start working immediately today. Considering she had just returned from a business trip, the association gave her two days off to adjust and organize her apartment.
Located on Silver Cross Avenue, the Prophet’s Society is quite close to Saint Delan Square. Considering it was still early, there was a high chance Shard hadn’t left home. Hence, Luviya decided to head to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, to give Shard a surprise.
Having become accustomed to the harsh cold of Randall Valley, she found it a bit unsettling to suddenly return to Tobesk City. From the entrance of the Prophet’s Society, she noticed that Silver Cross Avenue, paved with slender bricks, bustled with people, yet astonishingly, there was no snow—a stark contrast to that city in the Southern Nation.
The gray mist, symbolizing the "City of Steam," filled the streets. Amongst this fog, the Royal Guards, clad in uniforms and carrying long rifles, patrolled along the street. The magnificent Yordle Palace complex looming in the mist reflected the Northern Country’s aesthetic and Tobesk City’s industrial prowess in the Steam Age.
The bustling Delarion chatter around Luviya confirmed that she was back in her hometown. The acrid smell in the air, the Northern-style buildings towering in the cityscape, and the myriad chimney stacks belching black smoke—these were sights she had grown accustomed to after living here for over twenty years.
In the distance, the cries of newspaper boys, laced with dialect, shouted out the latest happenings in Tobesk, something fresh and clear.
"It’s good to be home... Is the Tobesk Urban Area expanding again?"
The newspaper boys’ calls echoed persistently across the busy Silver Cross Avenue on Monday morning, but Luviya only pondered the headlines for a moment before excitedly speculating how surprised Shard would be to see her.
Although she had been away from the area for over two months, she would never forget the route from the Prophet’s Society to Shard’s home.
In the Royal Capital Tobesk City, on Saint Delan Square, which could be considered the best residential district, all was peaceful and serene on the Monday morning, as always. The pigeons that had migrated south for the winter had returned in the early spring and were now wandering the square, accepting offerings from the people.
As Luviya walked along the edge of the square, thinking fondly of No. 6, Saint Delan Square, she had already taken out the key to Shard’s house from her pocket in advance.
While walking, she looked up at the window of the first-floor room at No. 6 and noticed the bedroom curtains were tightly drawn, indicating that Shard, not usually a late riser, hadn’t gotten up early. She then ascended the stairs and unlocked the door with the key:
"Oh?"
As the door opened, the five or six pairs of women’s shoes on the shoe rack immediately caught the attention of the purple-eyed girl:
"Dorothy and that Princess are here again? No, not Dorothy’s style of shoes, and from the look of it... a maid?"
She suspiciously looked up the staircase, a faint light streaming down from the second floor, creating an unsettling feeling in the purple-eyed girl’s heart.
Upon reaching the second floor, the first person she saw at the door was a young red-haired girl sitting on the sofa in the sunlight floating with dust particles and reading a newspaper.
Angelina Cavendish tilted her head, peering over the newspaper at the lady ascending the stairs, and blinked in surprise. Even Luviya had to admit that young girls sometimes possessed extraordinary youthful vitality.
Meanwhile, there were sounds of footsteps and dishes clattering in the kitchen, undoubtedly the maids preparing breakfast.
"Good morning... Your Highness?"
Luviya put down her suitcase. She wasn’t particularly familiar with Her Highness the Princess, but at least they knew each other, and she had entertained the Little Princess and her friends with various divination games at the Prophet’s Society.
As she greeted them, the early-returned-from-business-trip Luviya speculated about what Shard did last night. Her gaze scanned the entire living room, noticing that Mia was standing on the coffee table, alternately looking at the closed bedroom door and the kitchen.
