Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 763 - The Chosen by Death’s Ritual (Extra Release for Votes)
Chapter 763 -763 The Chosen by Death’s Ritual (Extra Release for Votes)
Luviya had acquired two “Dandelion Coins” from the black market this time, having heard about them since this summer and finally getting her hands on them after going through a variety of channels.
And now, Luviya hoped that these two coins could reveal the contents of the “Chosen by Death Ceremony.”
The coin was tossed into the air by a fair right hand, and Shard on the sofa and the cat both looked up in unison, only to find that the coin showed no change and fell straight back down to its original place.
“It seems it’s not enough.”
With that, Luviya took out the “Diviner’s Silver Coin,” but was stopped by Shard:
“This is a rare Relic that can aid in Divination and assist in peering into fate. Are you really willing to use it up just like that?”
The purple-eyed girl indeed hesitated, and Shard took out the Blood Coin:
“Use this instead.”
Luviya immediately shook her head:
“How could we? It’s the only Relic we currently have that can detect other Relics of its kind.”
“Sometimes it’s not about the coin, it’s about what we want to do.”
Shard slapped the “Pirate’s Blood Money” onto the table:
“With the guidance of the Blood Money, we have already found too many coins, sometimes one should not be too greedy. Besides, I don’t want to enter those dangerous location-type Relics again for the sake of Blood Money, forced to play Roder Card with all sorts of cheaters.”
Shard spoke with a smile, and Luviya also showed a smile:
“Yes, one cannot be too greedy. If we relentlessly use Blood Money to find more Blood Money, we will likely fall into the trap of greed sooner or later, which is a trait inherent to such a Relic. Yes, Shard, you are right.”
She seemed to have come to an understanding, twirling the Blood Coin:
“It was the Blood Money that initially led us to Iluna. Now, in the blink of an eye, we have reached the third Chosen One. Time really does fly.”
The three coins spun in the lamplight, and for a moment, Shard thought he saw a dazzling play of lights hovering around the spinning coins.
At their zenith, rust began to show on the surface of the coins, which crumbled rapidly as they fell, disappearing into invisible dust.
Luviya opened her eyes, a flash of purple within her gaze, and the white figure behind her seemed to appear for a moment, smiling at Shard.
“Very good, I have completely understood the ceremony now. Comparatively, this ceremony is even more dangerous.”
(Mia running…)
On Monday morning, going through the thick fog coming down from Sicarl Mountain, Shard requested to meet with Sister Delphine at the House of the Blind.
At nine in the morning, the carriage carrying Sister Delphine burst through the dense fog of the city and stopped in front of the House of the Blind, where the nun met Shard, who had been standing by the window in the visitor’s lounge on the third floor, waiting for a long time.
The fog was even more dreadful than last week. Just a half-week without visiting this city made it seem like the city lay in slumber amidst the white fog. The Whisper Elements within the fog could be felt without need for the soul sensitivity that Shard possessed. The Interstice was approaching the physical world of Midshire Fort, and the boundaries between life and death were overlapping with the world of the living.
“Sister Delphine, I found and removed the Third Nail last week.”
“That’s great. The True God Church confirmed this news, believing it to be the actions of the still unseen God Summoner. But Granny Cassandra said over the weekend that it is very likely related to you,” responded the nun, in her usual tone.
“I heard last week too, that the church also located the last nail. Was there any progress over the weekend?”
“Yes, the Chosen One Iluna Beath led the team and successfully captured the last nail. Because it was uncertain whether the Jester taken by Joey Barton had already been sent away, the church did not yet remove it.”
Shard looked out the foggy window, deep in thought:
“Sister, what do you know about Joey Barton now?”
“I have visited him with you before. He is the Chosen by Death, now fleeing to the Interstice in an attempt to break the rules of life and death to bring back a deceased one.”
“Yes.”
Shard cautiously measured his words:
“Do you know, Sister, that certain Chosen Ones actually have a right of succession according to the Whispering Verses? It’s not just one person.”
The nun sitting on the sofa paused, her eye mask directed at Shard’s silhouette and shook her head slightly:
“I don’t know.”
This was something Iluna learned from the Chosen One knowledge; the church and the academy might be aware, but the Spiritual Practice Order is, after all, just a regional Circle Mage organization and truly does not know about this.
“It’s like the line of succession to a throne; the first in line is of course the most important, but if the first in line dies before the succession ceremony, then the next in line can replace him. And now, there are at least four potential candidates in Midshire Fort City. The first candidate being, of course, Joey Barton. Although he is only at the First Ring, his control over the Power of Death is extremely terrifying.”
“Are you trying to tell me that I am the second candidate for the Chosen by Death?”
The nun’s tone was very calm, even making Shard think that she had known all along.
“Yes.”
“I understand.”
Shard really wanted to ask the nun what exactly she understood:
“You probably know that I’ve been frequently traveling between Tobesk and Midshire Fort this autumn. It’s not because I like it here, but because I am searching for The Chosen One.”
He turned around and, sure enough, saw the nun “looking” at him.
“Although I am on good terms with the witches, I don’t have much power of my own; I can only be considered an ordinary Correspondence Circle Mage. But for special reasons, I am pursuing the thirteen Chosen Ones, seeking and witnessing those epic scenes.
Iluna Beath, the Chosen of Balance, is my closest friend; Ivan Daknis, the Chosen of Darkness, was actually the first one I encountered at Coldwater Port.”
The nun made no sound, just quietly listening.
“When all thirteen Chosen Ones appear, the survivors will push open a door, and that door will determine the future of this world. Sister, with Joey Barton now walking on the tightrope of a great error, I want to prepare a second plan in advance. Please be ready, and if Joey Barton dies before the ceremony, you must immediately perform the ceremony.”
“I can do that.”
Even though the conversation was of great importance, Sister Delphine’s cool voice made Shard feel as if he were discussing something as trivial as what to have for lunch today.
His expression was very serious:
“I made a special trip to see you today to inform you about all there is to the Chosen One Ceremony. But before I relate it, I want you to promise me one thing. If Joey Barton truly dies and you take his place as The Chosen One, I hope that you will join me in meeting someone, a companion of mine on the path of seeking The Chosen One. I hope our friendship can last, and don’t tell anyone about this matter, not even the witches.”
“In the name of the Fire of the Primordial.”
The nun spoke, then stood up and left the sofa. Between the sofa and the window, she held her hands slightly up, and a slender flame rose in her palms:
“Shard Suren Hamilton, may you and I become allies of the fire.”
“Agreed.”
Shard nodded; he trusted Sister Delphine’s integrity:
“The Chosen One Ceremony always includes three parts: First, The Chosen One needs to understand the meaning of their respective identity, which means understanding the meaning of death; secondly, they need to prepare an item related to the power of the ancient god.”
He paused, and the nun nodded:
“The Order has some relics handed down from the last Era.”
“That’s good, lastly, the content of the ceremony. Before the ceremony begins, a Resurrected One needs to be sent away as a testament to the ceremony, which we have already accomplished on the Summit of Sicarl Mountain within the Interstice.”
Not only had the nun done so, but the other two candidates had as well.
“The ceremony must take place at the boundary between life and death, specifically through suicide on that boundary land. In the deepest Slumber of the soul, grasp the feeling that all mortals die and everything ultimately ends, and use this to be reborn.”
The requirements of death’s ceremony were noticeably more stringent, compared to balance and darkness:
“Sister, I hope you can prepare in advance. I have reliable eyes and ears within the True God Church, and as soon as I find Joey Barton, I will go see him immediately. If he really doesn’t want to turn back, then he is our enemy.”
“I understand.”
The nun nodded again, and she had something to say as well:
“Mr. Hamilton, once all matters end in Midshire Fort City, I hope you will accompany me to the base of the Spiritual Practice Order. I’d like to talk to you about the Primal Fire and some other matters.”
“Of course, that’s no problem.”
Shard had always been curious about the base of the Spiritual Practice Order, but even Granny Cassandra didn’t know where it was.
As Shard took his leave from Midshire Fort, relaxing in Tobesk for half a week, various local events continued to unfold. Under the dense fog of deep autumn in Milestone, the security situation deteriorated rapidly, with the True God Church dealing with more Evil Spirit incidents in the recent days than in the past few months combined.
Furthermore, due to the ever-closer proximity between the Interstice and the real world, even stranger things were happening.
When Shard had lunch with Granny Cassandra and Miss Aphrola at noon, the witches mentioned a peculiar sleeping sickness that had emerged in the city:
“Ordinary people with a strong enough Spirit can feel the presence of the Interstice. If they harbor obsessions, and the souls of the dearly departed truly lie in the Interstice, then in their dreams, these individuals can project their consciousness into the Interstice and be drawn to the souls there, unwittingly following them towards death.”
Miss Aphrola said while drinking the wine Shard had made, pausing to look at the glass:
“What Arcane Technique is this? Has Saint Byrons developed the ability to brew wine?”
Not willing to admit that the essence of Blood Brew was cannibalism, Shard glossed over the topic.
