Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

After entering the dream, the doctor altered Mr. Jimms' memory, making him think he had simply passed out from drinking too much. Therefore, when he awoke in the room at half past four in the afternoon, Mr. Jimms had no idea what had happened earlier.

When he apologized for his lapse, he suddenly paused with a look of surprise:

"Dr. Schneider, that feeling of a fatal crisis that was like a long snake wrapping around my body is gone!"

Perhaps due to his excitement, his words took on a more formal tone.

Mr. Jimms strode over to the window and flung it open. The choking smell of smog rushed in from outside, causing Shard and Dr. Schneider to quickly retreat, while Mr. Jimms instead took a deep breath and then coughed violently:

"Cough cough, I mean, cough cough, oh, this feels invigorating. Doctor, I feel completely cured; yes, now I don't even feel in danger standing by the window."

"For God's sake, close the window."

Dr. Schneider hurriedly said.

"Doctor, how did you do it?"

Mr. Jimms closed the window and asked in surprise. Dr. Schneider thought for a moment:

"Before you slept, you challenged your courage with Hamilton Detective's pistol, and under my assisted hypnosis, the dream must have replayed that near-death feeling."

"You may not remember what happened in the dream, but people instinctively lower their psychological defenses in dreams, getting closer to death than in reality. This is why some people are scared to death in dreams."

Shard said seriously, and Dr. Schneider nodded:

"Yes, it is my unique hypnosis therapy. Although the experiences in the dream are forgotten, the subconscious remembers having faced death, having survived a life-and-death crisis. So when you wake up, you feel completely normal."

"Will this make me completely lose my sense of crisis?"

Mr. Jimms asked with some concern, so Dr. Schneider looked at Shard, who deftly drew his gun and aimed it at Mr. Jimms with both hands, who immediately raised his hands in surrender:

"Oh my God. Detective, please put the gun away."

"How do you feel now?"

Dr. Schneider asked with interest, taking out his notebook to record.

"I'm sure my sense of danger is still normal. Doctor, I assure you, I will pay you the full consultation fee, so please have the detective put the gun down... You're quite a pair."

In short, the adventure with Dr. Schneider this afternoon, despite some unexpected events, was not particularly dangerous. Besides receiving the 20 pounds offered by Princess Margaret, Mr. Jimms also agreed to let them admire his "family heirloom."

Just as Shard had guessed, it was an ancient holy emblem. The emblem was tree-shaped, about the size of half a palm, and Mr. Jimms had carefully placed it in his travel suitcase.

The material of the Holy Lake was half metal, half wood, and though it had endured the centuries, there were only some unnoticeable scratches on the surface.

With permission, Shard touched the holy emblem, confirming that it was indeed a divine item. Unfortunately, the Deity had departed a thousand years ago, and without divine maintenance, the item would soon completely metamorphose into a mundane object. Although still a valuable antique, without the protection of the Miracle Element, the holy emblem would be worn down by time, and within a few centuries, its current appearance might not be preserved.

Shard and Dr. Schneider had no designs on Mr. Jimms' family heirloom, so after settling the consultation fee, they took their leave. Dr. Schneider acknowledged Shard's contribution to curing the patient and before parting, shared 5 pounds from the generous treatment fee paid by Mr. Jimms.

Having earned a substantial amount in the afternoon, Shard took his cat out to dinner at a restaurant that evening, and during the meal, instructed little Mia to thank Dr. Bill Schneider for the sumptuous dinner.

"Meow~"

The eager-to-eat cat paid no heed to Shard.

At eight in the evening, the study on the second floor of No. 6, Saint Delan Square was lit up. Shard, having had a fulfilling day, was busy working on his paper in the study. Meanwhile, on the street corner of Saint Delan Square, illuminated by street lamps, the royal carriage team approached slowly, and the most opulent carriage stopped under the street lamp.

The carriage door opened, and Miss Emma Sylvia, the Grand Witch, stepped down:

"Highness, I'll get off here, you should go back to rest quickly. Tomorrow morning, we still have to visit the Tobesk Art Gallery."

She spoke to her student, and Princess Margaret hesitated as she nodded:

"Teacher, is this the place... where that student of yours resides in Tobesk?"

"In this neighborhood, but I won't reveal the exact address to you. She wrote to me this afternoon, inviting me to review her paper tonight."

Miss Sylvia said, her handbag chain wrapped around her hand:

"Do hurry back, and remember to contact Xerxes about submitting the relic; we aim to complete the Four Rings ascension to Five Rings ritual before you leave Tobesk."

She waved her hand, and Princess Margaret actually wanted to visit the "lucky girl" favored by Miss Sylvia, but judging by her teacher's attitude, she knew she wouldn't have the chance today.

"Teacher, will you return tonight? I shall have the servants prepare a late-night snack for you in advance."

"I might not return, we have a lot to discuss."

Miss Sylvia considered and replied, besides the math paper, Shard also wished to consult her on expanding the range of [Lagre's Leap].

Princess Margaret showed a discontented expression; staying overnight at a student's home meant the student was truly considered a witch's apprentice. Reluctantly, she nodded, and as the carriage slowly departed, the princess recalled meeting Shard Hamilton that afternoon, seemingly living in a house next to this square.

From the carriage window, Margaret Anjou's lightly made-up face glimpsed the mist-shrouded, blurry doorway of No. 6, Saint Delan Square. Seeing the gas lamp's ambiguous glow in the night mist, she knew the Knight was home. The warm yellow glow created unusual optical effects in the fog, making one want to yawn.

Imagining what Shard might be doing alone at home wasn't because she doubted Shard could be Miss Sylvia's student — that was impossible. Rather, she pondered whether knowing Shard was a formidable Circle Sorcerer had special significance for her ongoing travels in Tobesk.

"Speaking of which, the information I've gathered indicates Mr. Gray Hawk is also hidden in this neighborhood near Silver Cross Avenue, in a house with a view of Yordle Palace's edge. Who knows where he might be. What a coincidence, Rejed's Hamilton, the teacher's apprentice, and Mr. Gray Hawk all live nearby. Could there be even more outrageous residents around here..."

The carriage carried the troubled young woman away, and her gaze thus left the doorway of No. 6, Saint Delan Square. Miss Sylvia walked quietly up the steps to No. 6, Saint Delan Square's front door, removing her wide-brimmed lady's hat covered in sheer fabric, gazing at the full view of the house in the darkness.

The outer walls of the house looked somewhat old yet showed signs of slight renovation. The rusty gas and steam pipes climbed the walls, and the rain eaves high up on the roof blurred in the night, appearing to have bats hanging on them, but on closer inspection, it was merely peculiar shadows. All the windows had curtains drawn, with several pots of flowers on the second-floor living room windowsill casting shadows on the curtains under the gas lamp's light, adding a touch of homeliness.

"So this is where Shard resides. Visiting the home of a single man is quite the interesting experience... What could the famous haunted house in Tobesk's urban legend be like?"

She prepared to knock, but at that moment, Shard, feeling the hot badge on his chest, had already descended the stairs.

"Good evening, Miss Sylvia."

Shard opened the door, moved aside, letting the witch enter, the young witch in the red dress smiled and nodded:

"Good evening, Shard, oh, good evening, lovely cat. This place looks quite intriguing, do you mind if I stay late?"

The door closed behind them, darkness once again enveloped the entrance to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, and the dim light of the gas lamp couldn't penetrate the smog to illuminate the metal numbers on the door.

The light from the door's gap went out, indicating the hallway light had been extinguished. Then came the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs, and their silhouettes appeared in the window of the second-floor living room, soon disappearing.

The Grand Witch, Miss Emma Sylvia, officially began her first visit to the Knight's home.