Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"I will help you heal your eyes."

As Miss Beyas grew more and more aware, Shard quickly spoke, his right hand reaching for the water bottle in his pocket, but Miss Beyas immediately grabbed his wrist.

It seemed to be the second time tonight that someone had grabbed his wrist.

The girl with brown hair and lifeless eyes looked at Shard:

"Detective, you wouldn't deceive me, right?"

"...Of course not."

"Good, then you must clarify later what exactly this is all about."

She nodded, let go of Shard's wrist, and signaled that he could start the healing.

The damage to Miss Beyas's eyes was similar to that suffered by Miss Luisa a week and a half ago. Miss Annette's eyes, on the other hand, were completely undamaged, and Shard believed this was not because she had closed her eyes in time but likely had something to do with the eyes themselves.

"Could it be a Demon Eye? But there's no Whisper Element."

The method of healing was the same as with Miss Luisa; the last time, Miss Luisa teased Shard about "wanting to do something bad," but this time, after Shard asked Miss Beyas to look up, the seventeen-year-old girl blushed and said nothing.

After the healing was complete, the three did not linger there but were led by Shard to the second floor.

Rooms outside the first-floor banquet hall were for staff, while rooms outside the second-floor banquet hall provided guests with private spaces for conversations.

They found an empty room, and after Shard locked the door, he saw Miss Annette sitting on a sofa and Miss Beyas with her arms crossed in front of her chest, scrutinizing them both. Tonight, both ladies had dressed in evening gowns and high heels for the party. Miss Annette's gown was purple, matching her eye color, while Miss Beyas wore a pale gold gown.

The dresses hung naturally without crinolines. Paired with their well-proportioned figures, subtle makeup, and meticulously styled hair, the two ladies indeed looked unusually beautiful.

However, Shard had already noticed as they climbed the stairs, that Miss Beyas was not used to such shoes; she rarely attended such gatherings.

Of course, no matter how much Shard praised the girls' beauty to himself, it did not alleviate the awkward atmosphere of the moment. Seeing that no one spoke, he took the initiative:

"You both look very beautiful tonight."

According to Shard's logic, complimenting ladies on their beauty was always the right move, no matter the situation.

"You also look nice, but please directly answer what I want to know."

Miss Annette smiled at Shard, whereas Miss Beyas was less courteous and wore a stern expression that indicated her mood was not good.

So, Shard continued:

"Earlier on the second floor, I saw someone pulling you away; I thought it might be a bad person... It's good it wasn't, I was ready to fight."

Having been complimented and now understanding that Shard's sudden entrance was meant to help her, Miss Beyas's stern expression relaxed slightly.

Still standing with her arms crossed by the sofa, she said:

"Miss Annette and I had an argument just now, but it's okay, it's been resolved. I don't agree with her taking risks, but she insisted on doing so, that's why she dragged me to the first floor. When you barged in, we thought someone had discovered our plan. Oh, detective, don't change the subject, please explain what I want to know."

"Please, take a seat."

Shard said, so the three of them sat down, but then moments of silence followed. The female diviner with purple eyes and Shard exchanged glances, and finally, Shard spoke:

"Well then, Miss Beyas, I admit I've known Miss Annette for a long time; we are in the same Circle of Sorcerers. You might know some things about the Chosen One, and it was for this reason we approached you. If you want to know, I can explain all this..."

"Wait a moment, that's not what I want to know right now."

Miss Beyas shook her head and interrupted him, her eyes slightly squinting:

"I know very well that both you and Miss Annette are good people. What I really want to know is, detective, are you the Masked Person under Silvermoon?"

"What?"

Shard was taken aback, unsure how this topic had come up. But then he quickly realized, Miss Beyas too was a witness to the events at Lakeside Manor, had seen that unique silver moonlight, and even seen his outline.

After the recent "Light Spell," she connected the two beams of light, and then linked the two individuals together — not an easy feat, but not entirely impossible.

"Detective, are you actually a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer?"

She asked further, her face flushing red, which was a sign of rage. She probably remembered that snowy, peaceful afternoon at No. 6, Saint Delan Square, and the trust she had placed.

"No, no, no, I am that Masked Person, but I really only have one ring,"

he said, summoning the Ring of Fate from behind. The unremarkable Ring of a First Ring Sorcerer, aside from the slightly brighter light of the three Spirit Runes, was unremarkable:

"It's the Church that thinks I'm a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, I myself never claimed that,"

he added:

"That day, I directly prevented the descent of the Evil God. Miss Beyas, I did nothing wrong. In fact, in some ways, we saved this city."

"So it was you that day..."

Looking at the Ring of Fate and hearing Shard's words, Miss Beath's expression gradually returned to normal. She raised an eyebrow and even looked at Shard with a hint of admiration:

"A First Ring Sorcerer facing an Evil God? No, you mustn't have seen one, otherwise you wouldn't be sitting in front of me, unless I had also gone mad long ago. So you..."

She wanted to ask more.

"Would you like to hear a story?"

Shard asked,

"If you want to know, we can tell you everything—the truth about Lakeside Manor, The Chosen One, and 'Whispering Verses.' Everything, as long as you want to know, we can tell you."

He looked at Miss Annette. The diviner finally spoke; she leaned back on the sofa and casually patted the soft cushion beside her, gesturing for Miss Beath to sit closer:

"Iluna, before the detective's unexpected intrusion, weren't we just about to talk about this? It was just interrupted by him. If you'd like to continue, we can tell you everything you want to know. And if you need our apologies, you can ask for them after the story ends."

Miss Beath seemed less interested in Miss Annette, but again looked doubtfully at Shard:

"Are you really a First Ring Sorcerer? You're not lying to me?"

"Of course, this point is absolutely true."

Seeing Shard's sincere expression, she nodded her head, ready to listen to the story.

In the next half hour, Shard narrated the detailed events of the Lakeside Manor incident. Under the premise of trustworthiness, there wasn't much he couldn't discuss. He merely slightly obscured the source of the last kick's power, attributing it to the "Puppeteer's Script."

Miss Beath did not suspect, but she was puzzled by Shard's Silvermoon:

"Have you been blessed by any Old God associated with Silvermoon? This power doesn't seem right."

Then Miss Annette repeated the matters concerning 'Whispering Verses' and The Chosen One, and she clearly explained why she had approached Miss Beath:

"Yes, Iluna, I did approach you with ulterior motives, only so that I could help you later, until the very end, witness you open that door."

Miss Annette's attitude of "That's the way it is, so if you want to blame me, I'm listening" indeed gave Miss Beath a headache. Although the initial concealment was certainly wrong, the other party hadn't really done anything bad. On the contrary, she had been helping her throughout.

Thus she pointed at Shard:

"What about him, then? What role did the detective play in all this?"

Miss Annette was candid:

"Iluna, if you consider my acquaintance with you as ulterior, I believe Shard's getting to know you and gradually becoming close was entirely driven by you advancing your relationship."

Shard quickly nodded in agreement. Miss Annette gave a small laugh, gradually taking control of the conversation:

"I had long told Shard not to contact you, to prevent him from being dragged into the troubles you face due to his weak powers and risk losing his life. But look, he deliberately avoided you, yet you always ended up meeting him. That was not arranged by anyone."

"Of course, I know that. He completely passed my test of four questions, and is absolutely trustworthy."

Miss Beath said, tilting her head back, making it clear that Shard had once again earned her complete trust:

"On that snowy afternoon, I had already fully trusted him."

Seeing that her attitude was no longer so resistant, and now knowing everything, Shard nodded his head and extended his hand to Miss Beath:

"In any case, for different reasons, we all want to witness the final door described in 'Whispering Verses.' Now, if you are willing to accept our help, to witness and experience the epic of the Sixth Era together, it would be necessary to get acquainted again to express trust.

Shard Hamilton, possibly 21 years old, a detective who also works part-time as an MI6 agent, a knight, and a First Ring Sorcerer."

Miss Beath examined him, then extended her hand and held his, her grip strong:

"For now, I am willing to maintain this trust but, detective, you understand, I hate deceit...Iluna Beath, 17 years old, a Circle Sorcerer for the True God Religion and an employee of the Blackstone Security Company, a Second Ring Sorcerer."

Their hands joined together, gently shook, and then separated.
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Miss Beath then looked toward Miss Annette:

"Miss Annette, I trust the detective because he is trustworthy, but how will you regain my trust?"

"The Chosen Ones are destined to advance to the Thirteen Rings, but that doesn't mean they won't die along the way. The life of a Chosen One is bound to be a magnificent adventure, and they will absolutely face many troubles, big and small. Iluna, you need help, so, do you think you need my help?"

She also extended her hand to Miss Beath, who hesitated slightly before taking it:

"You brought the location information of the Silver-Eyed One; I think you are also trustworthy."

Miss Annette winked at Shard, implying to not reveal the source of the information:

"Do I need to introduce myself? Luviya Annette, a Diviner from the Prophet's Society, a Three Ring Sorcerer. The slight deception in the past was for our mutual trust. I promise such situations won't occur again."

Shard noted that Miss Annette did not mention her age, but he also wisely chose not to ask about it at this moment.

The light in the room was bright, and the three individuals under the gaslamp light each had their own thoughts.

Shard looked at them, wondering what the unknown and dangerous path ahead would bring.

He only hoped that when this journey reached its end, the two ladies beside him tonight would still be safe and sound to see the door open with him.