Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

The large book with a black hardcover automatically flipped pages in Miss Danester's hands, making a rustling sound.

While the other party was flipping through the book, Shard hesitated about whether to discuss the topic of "Sublimation Incantation."

A Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer would certainly not be ignorant of the secrets of the Sublimation Incantation, but before he could speak, the lady opposite had already brought up the topic:

"Mr. Hamilton, I have read the report compiled by Dorothy Louisa. Since you have witnessed the Sublimation Incantation up close, you couldn't possibly be uncurious about it."

Her eyes remained on the flipping pages, but she was definitely speaking to Shard.

"Yes, indeed curious... that power, it doesn't seem like a mortal's power."

He carefully chose his words.

"Indeed, it is not a mortal's power. To be precise, it only took form during the latter part of the Fifth Era and gradually replaced the Circle Sorcerer System of the Witch Supernatural System. The secrets it contains are probably directly related to a deity. After the Ten Rings, Circle Sorcerers gradually understand the kind of power they truly possess.

Both the Church and mainstream academic claims believe that the Sublimation Incantation is the language of deities, hence it has the power to elevate mortals."

This was very close to the truth Shard knew; mortals cannot confront a deity directly, so it was impossible for someone like Shard to know the truth directly through his own observations.

Now that the topic had begun, he also wanted to share some of his views, but he discovered the flipping book had stopped.

"Oh, there's an answer."

Miss Danester said, reaching out to take the floating book in front of her:

"'Silvermoon,' 'Space-Time' combined with 'Gluttony,' 'Echo'... lucky, there actually is one. Oh, what a coincidence, this is one of the Sublimation Incantations first recorded in the 'Sublimation Codex,' written by the founder of Saint Byrons... I should have started from the beginning of the book."

Her right hand moved through the air, allowing the glowing characters to appear one by one. Once the sentence formed, she flicked her wrist lightly, and the characters turned in mid-air to show Shard the answer.

Shard leaned in to see; the sentence was—

"The echo of Space-Time vibrates the sleeping power."

"Space-Time, echo, vibration, sleeping, power."

Miss Danester listed out the Spirit Runes Shard needed, and although Shard did not delve into the difficulty of acquiring the remaining three Spirit Runes, simply from the meanings represented by the runes themselves, sleeping, vibration, and power seemed not too difficult.

And the meaning of this sentence itself made Shard ponder what kind of scenario might arise if he were to use the power of the Sublimation Incantation like a doctor.

Unbidden, the scene where he had stood in the void and heard the chime when the "Creator of Innocence" fell, automatically appeared in his mind.

"The echo of Space-Time..."

He muttered the sentence to himself and somehow, thoughts about the "Whispering Verses" also surfaced. Miss Annette was very specific when she said that the mainstream interpretation suggested that the last door opening as described in the "Whispering Verses" signified the resurgence of the Deities of Bygone Days. And the Sublimation Incantation Shard had chosen seemed to imply something similar.

"A coincidence?"

That was all he could ponder for the time being.

"You are very lucky, Mr. Hamilton. I truly thought we wouldn't find it. Although the Academy's accumulation of Sublimation Incantations has reached into the thousands, the number of Spirit Runes is astronomical. Piecing together specific combinations from those is not an easy task. You are indeed very fortunate."

She closed the book in her hand and tossed it casually onto the pile of books on the coffee table. This gave Shard a chance to see the cover of the book, which was of course titled "Sublimation Codex," and the design on the cover was a side profile of a woman wearing a hood.

The image was hand-painted in oils with exceptionally vivid colors. Seeing Shard's curiosity about the book, Miss Danester explained:

"This is the founder of the Academy, Miss Mana Feliana who lived in the Fifth Era. Many oil paintings have recorded this lady's image, and as for the painting on this book, it was painted on by a previous librarian of mine, basically consistent with the oil paintings preserved by the Academy."

As she spoke, she handed Shard a document to sign, confirming that Shard Suren Hamilton had reviewed the Academy's Sublimation Codex and had gleaned the next steps for advancement.

Signing the document implied that Shard's coursework for the Second Ring, Third Ring, and Fourth Ring would be adjusted to accommodate the three runes he had not yet obtained, to suit his Circle Sorcerer power system.

Having completed these things, the matter regarding the Sublimation Incantation came to an end. Miss Danester casually placed the document on the stack of books on the coffee table, leaning back slightly against the sofa, her ten slender fingers steepled together, tilting her head slightly as if contemplating.

Although this lady was somewhat older, her features were still lovely, and combined with her status as a librarian, her demeanor was quite distinguished:

"Mr. Hamilton, let's continue with the topic we were discussing earlier. Using an Angel-Level Relic to bring you to the Academy, you probably understand that there is something that must be discussed in person. To be precise, I need a Circle Sorcerer who wields moon power to help me with something."

"Does it have to be me?"

Moon-related runes were not rare; Shard did not believe that a huge place like Saint Byrons had only him.

"The requirement is for a Core Rune related to the moon, among the students and teachers, there are 103 who meet this criterion. I tried seeking help from some of them, but their Core Runes were not pure enough.

Besides your 'Silvermoon' and my 'Red Moon,' the only pure moon Core Runes are 'Night Sky Moon,' 'Crescent Moon,' 'Moonlight,' and 'Moonlight,' all of whom I have already approached, to no avail."

She shook her head in regret, while Shard contemplated what could possibly require such great effort.

"According to the Academy's rules, Correspondence Circle Mages cannot use any means to enter the Academy before getting permission from their group to come to Saint Byrons. This time I have broken the rules, and because of this, I was fined three years of salary. But I think it's worth it, if 'Silvermoon' doesn't work, then there are no other options."

"What specifically needs to be done?"

Shard cautiously asked, feeling that the lady opposite seemed very confident in him.

"It's simple, look at this."

She waved her hand behind her, and immediately, a black-covered book flew from a distant bookshelf and landed perfectly in her hand. This was no complex sorcery; the basic sorcery "Move Object," or telekinesis, could achieve this effect.

"Open it."

She handed the book to Shard, who stood up and bent over to receive it. The cover was completely black, without any design or text. Upon opening, the first page was blank, and as he flipped through, all were the same.

"Blank pages, right?"
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Miss Danester asked.

"Yes."

He looked again at the paper in the light of the chandelier overhead but found no markings whatsoever.

"Summon the Ring of Fate and let the Spiritual Light of the Silvermoon illuminate this book."

This method felt somewhat familiar, reminiscent of how Shard had opened the hidden space in the basement. However, even after carrying out the method, the blank pages remained blank.

"Still blank."

"Hmm, as expected."

The red-haired Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer thought for a moment,

"Lay this book open on the coffee table between us, keep it under the illumination of the Spiritual Light."

"What exactly are we trying to do?"

As he thought this, he eyed the coffee table and then placed the book on the highest pile of books. After he sat down again, he noticed that Miss Danester had also fully summoned her Ring of Fate. Shard glanced at her, and her Core Runes were two as well, labeled "Forbidden Book" and "Red Moon."

The Rune of the Red Moon sparkled with Spiritual Light, shining together with Shard's Silvermoon on the laid open book pages.

The detective and the librarian both gazed at the white papers bathing in light, and then they simultaneously saw dark blue blurred ink marks appearing on the pages. But the ink marks looked as if they had been soaked in water, making it only possible to confirm there were texts and possibly drawings, but no one could discern exactly what they were.

"This means we still lack..."

"Yellow Moon?"

Shard added, and Miss Danester nodded, gesturing for Shard to withdraw his Ring of Fate.

Staring slightly tilted at the blank pages, Miss Danester's brow furrowed:

"It seems only with the powers of three moons appearing together, can this book reveal its contents. A Core Rune of Yellow Moon... Saint Byrons definitely doesn't have that."

She fell into deep thought, and Shard did not interrupt, instead, he looked around with interest.

Probably because the librarian knew they would have visitors here, no footsteps came their way. Shard had hoped for a chance to interact with Saint Byrons' students, dreaming about his life years or even decades later, and hoping to share his experiences later with Dr. Schneider, but it seemed that wouldn't happen this time.

"Although we still couldn't see the contents of the book, we did find a lead."

It took Miss Danester about ten minutes to speak, then she snapped her fingers, and the black book automatically flew back into the depths of the shelf.

"Mr. Hamilton, I'm afraid I will need you again before long, but that will be after I find the Core Rune of the Yellow Moon."

"No problem, I'm available anytime."

Shard nodded slightly, then hesitated:

"However, may I inquire about that book..."

Perfectly timed pause.

"This is not about the Academy, it's my own matter. I have been searching for the location of the Sage's Library for years, as the library contains the knowledge I seek."

"The Sage's Library?"

Miss Danester laughed slightly:

"Mr. Hamilton, you must think it's some kind of ancient ruin."

She was right.

"But it's not a ruin, it is a palace left behind by a deity. Precisely, the oldest of the Moon Goddesses..."

Shard startled inwardly as the image of the woman from the "Genesis: Silver Moon" card surfaced in his mind.

"Before the oldest Moon Goddess departed, she left behind a library hidden between the folds of history and time, inaccessible by any means, but it contains the knowledge of the entire world. I've been chasing this secret since I was a student like you, long ago, and only recently did I acquire this book from the ruins of the New World, which likely marks the end of my search."

"So, the Sage is... a Deity of Bygone Days?"

"The Sage's Library" could possibly be a location like the "Time Corridor," "Spatial Labyrinth," "Creation Chamber," but Shard was more concerned about the ancient Moon Goddess.

Miss Danester tilted her finger, directing the teapot on the coffee table to pour her some tea. She spoke softly, as if afraid someone else might hear:

"I rarely discuss this topic with others, but since you asked, it's not forbidden to answer, but please don't tell a third person."

"Mr. Hamilton, perhaps Professor Garcia mentioned the Ancient Gods to you. The initial Moon Goddess was one of the thirteen Ancient Gods, known to mortals as 'Mysterious Lady,''Moon Goddess,' 'Lady of the Night,' but the most common name for this departed deity is — "

She deliberately paused, and the answer was almost immediately clear in Shard's mind:

"Sage of Silvermoon."