Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"The problem now is, when should we initiate the action?"

Miss Beyas pinpointed the crux of the matter. In the brightly lit lounge, in just a few dozen minutes of planning, they had already formed a preliminary strategy for the operation.

Before tonight, they couldn't imagine things would go so smoothly, but each of the three had their own special attributes, and they were all formally trained Circle Sorcerers from the Church and the Academy. Although the Silver-Eyed One, a Nine Rings sorcerer, was from an illegal organization and had sustained serious injuries.

The combined ring count of the three of them only equaled that of the injured Silver-Eyed One, but in a fight between Circle Sorcerers, rank alone was far from enough.

"The sooner, the better. The Blood Spirit School has dispatched an Eight Rings and a Nine Rings sorcerer to assist the Blood of Mercury. They are supposed to arrive by next weekend. Therefore, we must act within a week," Shard provided another crucial piece of information. He had heard this from Miss Galina during their meeting at Yordle Palace on Wednesday.

"It would be best to act before Thursday. The Church plans to take action on Thursday night to eradicate the Cultists who worship the Evil God, Lord of the Blood Feast, led by the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer 'Sunlight Greatsword.' After that, the Blood of Mercury will also become more vigilant," Miss Beyas also shared the information she had.

"How about another divination?"

Miss Beyas suggested as she twirled the last Blood Coin, but Miss Annette shook her head:

"Just now was only for inquiring news, which can be divined. But if we try to use Fate to peek at the best future, I'm afraid we may put ourselves in even greater danger."

The head of the Astronomy College had once divined something similar for Shard, but that only provided a vague silhouette of the future. And if they tried to use divination to determine precise future events, Shard feared they might encounter the suffering and misfortune that befell him and the Heart Collector on Wednesday for their foolish manipulation of Fate.

Therefore, he agreed with Miss Annette's caution.

"Besides, we need to keep the last Blood Coin to search for other Blood Coins... What time does the Church intend to act on Thursday?"

Miss Annette asked.

"Thursday night, the exact time and place I do not know."

"Then we will also act on Thursday night, letting the Church take on more manpower. It's the weekend now, we have half a week to prepare, but let's not involve any unnecessary people in this. It's enough that the three of us know the full content," Miss Annette declared.

This was to keep the matter of "The Chosen One" confidential.

Shard also agreed to act at night, given he could use Illusion Techniques then.

Miss Annette continued with her arrangements:

"Miss Beyas, during this half week, try to hear as much as you can about the Church's planned actions. After they begin their move, the Blood of Mercury's people will surely go to support those Cultists. We can take that opportunity to enter the Ruins," Miss Annette advised.

"No problem."

Miss Beyas nodded her agreement, and Miss Annette reminded her:

"To become a true Chosen One, you must understand the meaning of 'Balance' yourself. By understanding, there are no hard numerical indicators, you need to ponder, to think about how you can interpret this concept. Shard and I can't help you with this, please make an effort on your own."

The young Female Sorcerer was a bit worried, but compared to the eye she was to offer, this was nothing, so she nodded:

"I understand."

Miss Annette then pointed to herself:

"I will use the next four days to explore as much as possible the entrance to the Ruins, which is near that printing factory, to ensure there are no too many surprises. And you, Shard..."

Her purple eyes gauged Shard, pondering what tasks to assign him, but Shard had plans of his own:

"Miss Annette, I'm probably going to take a trip."

"Where to?" Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

"I do not know, maybe far, maybe near, but it's likely to yield significant results."

This answer furrowed Miss Annette's brows, but Shard was willing to trust Miss Danester's Divination, especially since after her divination, Shard encountered matters requiring greater power:

"Don't worry, I'll be back before Thursday no matter what," he assured, and from his pocket, he took out a folded-up Keeper of Secrets Level Relic, the "Witch's Reproduction Paper," and handed it to Miss Beyas:

"I can't keep this, Miss Beyas. I want to copy the Arcane Technique 'Sunlight Greatsword.' Can you help with that?"

It was a powerful Arcane Technique upon which a Thirteen-Ring Church Sorcerer had built his reputation, and while he had been choosing between it and the Space-Time class Arcane Techniques, now was the time to decide.

"No problem, it's quite easy,"

the seventeen-year-old girl readily agreed:

"When I was training at the Papacy, I got along quite well with Mr. Hog Lendel. It won't be any trouble to find a pretext for him to demonstrate the Arcane Technique."

With that, once he obtained a similar Arcane Technique from "Sunlight Greatsword," Shard's "Blade of Chaotic Time" would also be usable.

"Good then,"

Miss Annette looked at the young Detective and the Church's Female Sorcerer. The former was frowning in deep thought, while the latter had a serious expression, realizing that the events of the next half-week would determine her fate for the rest of her life.

"We take action Thursday night. So we meet at Shard's house on Wednesday night to discuss the final plan."

"No problem, I'll bring the carbon paper to the Detective then."

"I'm good as well, hoping everything goes smoothly,"

he said, glancing toward the window. Heavy drapes hung inside the room, and outside was the quiet night of the Northern Pearl. On this seemingly ordinary night, Shard understood that the decisions the three of them had made might shape the next several decades or even centuries of history.

"Outlander, you have finally been caught up in the epic of the Sixth Era."

"Since I've come here, no one can escape. Instead of being passively involved, it's probably better to take part actively—perhaps then I'll have more control."

A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he watched Miss Beyas and Miss Annette quietly discussing going to fetch the bell.

Miss Beyas' cheeks flushed slightly when she found out that the female diviner was going to give her a very powerful "Relic".

"You don't seem to be nervous about what will happen in four days."

"My companions each have their own strengths, and we've even divined the troubles we might encounter ahead of time, allowing us to prepare four days in advance. In such a scenario, it is the Silver-Eyed One who should be nervous."

"So, if the most dangerous moment arrives, will you use that drop of 'Divinity'?"

Shard smiled but did not answer.

He leaned back on the couch, relaxed, and could hear the soothing strains of dance music coming from the outside banquet hall, signaling that the dance had begun.

Shard could hear the music, and the two ladies certainly could as well; Miss Beyas, who was talking with Miss Annette, glanced at Shard and suddenly asked:

"Would anyone like to dance with me?"

She was asking both of them at the same time.

"Whom are you inviting?" Miss Annette inquired.

"It would be such a pity not to dance when I've finally gotten the chance to attend such a banquet."

The seventeen-year-old girl only showed her age-appropriate demeanor at this time.

She stood up, looked at both Shard and Miss Annette with a shimmer in her eyes and a blush on her face:

"Let's dance together. I've always wanted to try dancing at a high-profile banquet like this. Consider it a way to relax before the big event on Thursday."

"But I can't dance."

Shard admitted somewhat embarrassingly.

"It's okay, I can dance, and we can teach you. Iluna was right, how can one come to a banquet and not dance?"

Miss Annette also stood up, handed the last Blood Coin on the table to Shard for safekeeping:

"Relaxing a bit before the final battle isn't a bad idea either."

She smoothed out her dress which had become slightly wrinkled from sitting so long, while Miss Beyas used a hair tie from her wrist to gather up her brown hair.

Shard could only stand up, quite worried that he might step on the ladies' feet later. He hesitated and repeated:

"I really can't dance. It's not modesty; I just can't at all."

"It doesn't matter, I can. Oh, detective, the ladies are inviting you to dance, but your attitude right now won't do."

Miss Beyas said with a mildly reproachful tone then spun on the spot, her skirt twirling like an unfolding blossom.

After turning around, her blushing face looked at Shard while Miss Annette reminded:

"But we can only dance for a bit in the corner, since you're the main character tonight. We don't want to draw attention, so..."

The female diviner adjusted her expression, laughed, and in an operatic tone asked:

"Rejed's Hamilton Knight, would you care to invite the two ladies who snuck into this banquet to dance?"

Miss Beyas covered her mouth and giggled softly, and in that moment, the room seemed enveloped in an odd halo of light, making the two women under the lights so shy and charming.

"You should now..."

She chuckled as a reminder.

"There's no need for you to remind me; I'm not like that old friend of mine who's slow to pick up on things."

Shard knew what he was supposed to do now. He puffed out his chest, held his head high and with a feigned formality said:

"Yes, beautiful lady...ladies, it would be my honor."

He too started laughing, then extended his hand to the girls.

Inviting two beautiful ladies to dance at the same time might have seemed strange, but they didn't have another choice.

The ladies didn't reach for his hand but instead each gave him a playful slap before walking shoulder to shoulder out of the room, presumably to touch up their makeup in the powder room.

Shard followed slowly behind them out of the room, again touching the small box in his pocket that held the "Draleon Honor Knight Badge". When he first left No. 6, Saint Delan Square a month ago, fraught with anxious emotions, he never imagined he would see this day:

"I always knew life would get better day by day."

"Will the future be even better?"

"That will depend on me."

He too left the room, the dance was about to start, and the bright corridor leading to the powder rooms was crowded. Everyone knew Shard and greeted him politely, and he responded in kind.

No matter the stories that would unfold in the coming days, at least for tonight, at the Knighting Banquet, the young Outlander would have a good time.

Of course, it would have been even better if he hadn't stepped on Miss Beyas' foot twice and on Miss Annette's once later on.