Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1541: Shard’s Rest Plan
The two embraced each other throughout the night, and in the morning, to let Luviya sleep a little longer, Shard woke up even earlier than Mia. Covering the cat’s mouth to prevent it from making noise, he carefully carried the cat, who had no idea what was happening, out of the bedroom to prepare breakfast.
By the time Luviya woke up and walked out of the room, it was already Monday morning at seven-thirty.
The morning sunlight streamed into the interior from the windows of the living room and kitchen. The steam rising from the hot breakfast eggs in the sunlight and specks of dust looked like a rather classical oil painting.
As the lazy female Diviner walked into the dining room, Mia was at the dining table enjoying her meal, and Iluna was reading yesterday’s news in the newspaper. Shard had just emerged from the study after sending a letter to Miss Danester using a page from a poetry draft.
"Good morning, Luviya. I was just about to wake you up for breakfast. I made breakfast this morning. It might not taste great, but..."
Shard looked towards the dining table:
"Look, at least Mia seems to be enjoying it."
"Good morning, Luviya."
Iluna also put down her newspaper to greet Luviya. The Diviner nodded, and as she looked at the scene before her, all her anxieties and concerns about life vanished.
Iluna arrived at Saint Delan Square at seven in the morning. Since Shard’s illness was finally cured, it was necessary for them to summarize the Randall Valley battle and discuss their future plans.
After breakfast, the three of them went to the study to sit down. The two young women listened as Shard recounted all his experiences on the night of the Battle of Randall Valley, and then they each shared their own encounters.
"The incident with the Chosen of the Earth ended in a relatively perfect way. But how to handle the relationship with this Chosen One requires Luviya’s attention. The Guardian is different from Sister Delphine; it’s quite hard for normal people like us to understand the thought processes of hundreds of absolutely rational souls combined."
Shard said.
"I understand, I’ll handle these matters. The Guardian itself is also reluctant to leave the Heart of the Earth for long, so this Chosen One won’t frequently participate in the stories of the next seven Chosen Ones like Iluna and Sister Delphine."
Luviya conveyed her thoughts:
"The Earth still needs him for maintenance. I even want to suggest that until the final gate appears, if it’s unnecessary, try not to let him engage in battles."
Iluna was inwardly delighted, as even though there’s one more Chosen One, it still didn’t affect the unique relationship among the three:
"The Church of the Five Gods has a good attitude towards the Chosen of the Earth, which is related to his complete lack of interest in worldly matters. Before I returned from Randall Valley, I attended a meeting. The existence of the Chosen of the Earth has far less impact on this world than Sister Delphine and I do."
"That’s good news. I don’t really want to see a Chosen One with their own ideas."
Luviya said something that seemed slightly off, but Iluna didn’t mind. She actually hoped all future Chosen Ones would be like this. Knowing the matters of the Bygone Era: Sixth Era, Shard understood that Luviya wanted to gain control over everything in preparation for the final endgame.
Therefore, even though she said such things, neither Shard nor Iluna commented on it.
"Due to the Randall Valley experience, Shard and I are now at Six Rings. Iluna, you should be at Seventh Ring, right?"
Luviya asked Iluna, the seventeen-year-old girl sitting across the dining table nodded excitedly, her Ring of Fate floated behind her, and the Seventh Ring of Brass Life Ring shone in the morning light, appearing more divine than before.
"It’s unbelievable. I’m just two steps away from the High Ring."
Iluna looked back at her Ring of Fate, pointing at one of the Miracle Soul Runes:
"Miracle - Power of the Earth. My Arcane Technique - Power of the Earth: Earth Energy Cannon corresponds to this Spirit Rune. When communicating with the Guardian, he acknowledged that I’m also qualified to master the complete Arcane Technique - Power of the Earth, and he invited me to learn from him when I have time... Though Luviya hasn’t said it, I suspect I’m also a candidate for the Chosen of the Earth."
She said somewhat bashfully, Luviya smiled and nodded:
"Iluna, as I said when you first met me on the street and asked for a divination — to this world, you are extremely special. The epic’s protagonists are thirteen Chosen Ones, and among them, your position is unique. Didn’t Shard also say that in his eyes, no one can replace you?"
Iluna tried hard to maintain a normal expression, while Shard sensed that Luviya might be using some wordplay on Iluna. However, since these words of encouragement weren’t too odd, he didn’t point it out and instead inquired:
"About the next Chosen One..."
"We should take a break for a while."
"Shard, please enjoy this spring!"
The two young women at the table said almost simultaneously, their tones leaving no room for argument.
"Shard, I truly think you need to take a break."
Iluna said earnestly, even putting down the half-peeled egg in her hand:
"Haven’t you noticed? At the end of each Chosen One event, you always leave the scene in a state of coma, severe injury, or exhaustion, and this time..."
She pursed her lips and looked at Shard, while Luviya, sitting next to Shard, also said:
"Didn’t we agree in Randall Valley to take a break this spring? The epic of The Chosen One’s Thirteen Pages has already gone through the first six pages, so let’s take a break. Even if there is new information, please let Iluna and me handle it."
They were truly worried about Shard, especially since his "serious illness" had lasted nearly two weeks, which was quite frightening.
"Well... alright. After the spring Circle Torbesk Horsemanship Competition, I can also visit Miss Mia Gold."
"Meow~"
The cat, eating with its head down, looked around, having heard its own name again.
"Circle Torbesk Horsemanship Competition?"
Iluna’s eyes brightened:
"I’m familiar with this. It’s a competition held in the tradition of old-time knights, and the Church of the Five Gods will also send people to participate according to tradition."
"Will you participate?"
Luviya asked with great interest, but Iluna shook her head regretfully: 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Although the current era is enlightened and ladies are allowed to participate in some sub-events of the competition, someone of my status isn’t suitable to be recognized by too many people."
"What sub-events?"
Shard asked curiously, while Luviya looked at him in surprise:
"Wait, you don’t even know the rules, do you?"
"Aren’t the rules... just horse racing?"
Shard hesitated for a moment and then realized he really hadn’t understood the rules, and Lecia seemed to assume Shard knew everything.
"Oh, knight, oh knight, you surely won’t do with that attitude."
Luviya shook her head:
"The horsemanship competition isn’t just horse racing. Besides riding horses, there are archery, cold weapon dueling, and so on. Then, a winner is selected based on the comprehensive score, and recognized by the King and Queen. The entire event lasts half a week, and sometimes even longer. By then, the whole nation’s idle people gather, and the excitement is no less than last year’s ’Big City Player.’ I think the ’Edward III Stadium’ outside the city must have already started undergoing repairs, and the market booths and open-air taverns outside the stadium must be almost complete.
Shard, did you really think this event was just about running a few laps on the racetrack, grabbing a trophy, and going off to private night-time invitations from liberal noble ladies to practice horsemanship?"
The clueless Outlander blinked somewhat awkwardly:
"Well... I thought it was just running a few laps on a country road, grabbing the trophy, snapping photos with His Majesty the King, and going home."
At this, even Iluna couldn’t help but laugh:
"Shard, although I’m not a local either, at least I know that during the Circle Torbesk Horsemanship Competition, the area around the stadium outside the city becomes a bustling market. It’s also a great spot for the people of Tobesk to enjoy the spring outing. It’s a significant celebration that only happens around the Royal Capital in spring. I hope I can have some free time during the competition days, and if I’m free, I’ll come to watch you."
The specific rules of the Circle Horsemanship Competition were something Luviya and Iluna couldn’t clearly explain; Shard would have to find out for himself. But fortunately, it wasn’t the focus of this morning’s discussion.
Shard displayed the gains he had brought back from Randall Valley, including the items left behind after the death of the Stone Mirror Demon, to them. Iluna was very interested in the Philosopher’s Stone, while Luviya planned to frequently come to Shard’s place in the coming weeks to explore the Chapters about daring fate’s curse in the Malphas’ Demon Book.
Afterward, Shard retrieved a black cubic stone block given to him by the Guardian from a drawer in the study and then took Luviya and Iluna to the basement.
The spatial zone left behind by the Earth Mother Goddess is called the "Heart of the Earth Furnace," and the most basic position of the door leading to this hidden space must be below ground level. In Shard’s home, only the basement met this requirement.
Frankly, he wasn’t sure if his home truly met the need for this "door" placement, but it couldn’t hurt to try. The door could be placed on the wall or directly on the ground to form a trapdoor. Considering the basement walls already had the doors of the Spatial Labyrinth and Dark Dungeon, Shard planned to place this door on the ground.
He had already picked out a position; the side of the stairs leading to the basement, merging with the corner, formed an appropriate space. This area wasn’t large enough to store significant clutter and had always been empty.
After turning on the gas lamp in the basement, the two girls watched Shard toss the black cubic stone block like he was throwing dice.
Clang~
The black stone made a dice-bouncing sound when it hit the ground, yet it seemed to come from somewhere upstairs. Before the three had time to ponder, they saw the stone melting like mud on the ground.
The black sludge seeped into the basement floor, then the ink-black area continually expanded, outlining a rectangular frame. Then, out of the bubbling black mud gradually appeared a trapdoor made of what seemed to be stone, embedding itself perfectly into the ground as if it had always belonged there.
