Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 682 - Moon Goddesss Forgiveness

“I’m very pleased that you took the initiative to contact me about the matter of the Silvermoon Library, Mr. Hamilton. I’ve read your letter; you’ve acquired the Yellow Moon Spirit Rune?”

“Yes,”

said the projected image of Shard, summoning the Ring of Fate behind him.

“Oh, you’ve reached the Three Rings? And for the Three Rings, you already have two Spirit Runes?”

Miss Danester asked in surprise, but after a moment of thought, she didn’t pursue it further:

“If that’s the case, you might consider advancing to the third year after the exams at the end of the year, your progress is indeed swift.”

Despite being in a projected state, Shard could still use Arcane Techniques, as the professors who came to the Shard household had demonstrated. After confirming that it was indeed the Yellow Moon Spirit Rune, Miss Danester once again took out the book with a black cover that could help her locate the “Silvermoon Library.”

Laying the book on her lap, the Core Spirit Rune “Red Moon” in the center of the Thirteen-Ring Sorceress’s Ring of Fate cast Spiritual Light, as did the Core Spirit Rune “Silvermoon” and the Three Ring Spirit Rune “Yellow Moon” on the Ring of Fate behind Shard.

Upon the originally blank pages, as the brass and gold hues of the Spiritual Light shone, vague traces began to emerge. But, just like last time, the content of the book still wasn’t fully revealed.

“It seems that merely having a Spirit Rune is insufficient; we still need a Core Spirit Rune,”

the librarian lady said with a touch of regret, shaking her head:

“Now, the traces that have appeared are indeed clearer than last time, but they’re still not recognizable.”

“Speaking of which, when exactly will Xerxes’ Guiding Moon reach Tobesk?”

Shard couldn’t help but ask.

“Very soon, either the end of this month or the beginning of the next month. At that time, I’ll trouble you to collect its Light Trace.”

Miss Danester closed the black-covered book, then looked up again at the Ring of Fate fading behind Shard into the Steam Mist:

“Silvermoon and Yellow Moon, how interesting. If you manage to acquire the “Red Moon” Spirit Rune as well, then you’ll be eligible to learn that Thirteen-Ring Magic which evolved from the sorcery of the Witches of the Fifth Era, upon reaching the Thirteenth Rings.”

“What kind of Arcane Technique is it?”

“Moon Goddess’s Forgiveness.” It requires Spirit Runes of the month of March, and only “Yellow Moon,” “Red Moon,” and “Silvermoon” are acceptable; similar concepts will not do, and at least one of the moons in March must be a Core Spirit Rune. This is a Thirteen-Ring Arcane Technique exclusive to Saint Byrons, left behind by the first Librarian of the Academy. It’s said that its prototype dates back to the Fourth Era, or even earlier.”

“The first librarian, huh…”

Miss Orland’s image suddenly leapt into Shard’s mind, her embrace in times past as if it had just happened yesterday… and since yesterday was Sunday, it truly happened yesterday morning.

To stop himself from wandering thoughts, Shard quickly moved on from the topic:

“Oh, any progress on investigating Miss Mana Feliana’s appearance in Tobesk? Everyone in our group is quite curious.”

“The Circle Sorcerers of the whole world would be curious, but unfortunately, no traces were left on the site. Currently, the most valuable clue turns out to be the memories of the witnesses at the time.”

Speaking of it made Miss Danester somewhat troubled:

“I’ve been searching the Academy Library’s documents from the previous Era lately, hoping to find some clues. But Mr. Hamilton, this library is filled with ancient parchment rolls, probably enough to pave the road from here to your house. Librarians, they have this ‘good habit,’ no matter what the document is, once it enters the library, it will not be thrown away, even if it’s of no value.”

“I see… This reminds me of the fallen Old God, the Guardian of the Library, the ‘Gray Robed Sage.'”

Shard spoke as if offhandedly;

“I recall the Divine Arts of this deity, they seem all to be related to the library.”

“Yes, and also, the Divine Arts of the Old Gods are now known as Sorcery, don’t get that wrong,” Miss Danester said meticulously, well aware of Shard’s implication:

“But there are not many remaining Divine Statues and artifacts of power related to this deity, and learning the corresponding Sorcery is not simple. That being said, The Great One has also helped Saint Byrons, back when the Academy Library was first constructed, His believers followed the divine will, completing the initial structure of the library. The power I have now, to take the correct book from any shelf with a wave of my hand, relates to the powers granted by this library and my position as a Librarian, and this power originates from the ceremonial framework within the library’s foundation.”

“Were the founders of the Academy well-acquainted with the Order of that Great One?”

“I can’t say for sure, but it is said it’s because the first generations of librarians had fulfilled tasks for The Great One, the ‘Gray Robed Sage.’ This is a record in the documents of Zaras.”

It seems that the tasks of the year 3024 of the Fifth Era which Shard was experiencing, were directly determining the appearance of the library he now stood in. The past and present were once again linked together; in an era where the “Father of the Infinite Tree” had long since departed, Shard would continue using His power to connect that ordered, yet disjointed time.

“The Father of the Infinite Tree is with you.”

“She” whispered commendation in Shard’s ear.

In the silence of the library, Shard squinted his eyes, while Miss Danester held a teacup, lost in thoughts. There was no wind, only an inexplicably just-right light, illuminating every inch of the rune-carved floor and every old bookshelf crammed with books.

Inspiration surged, and Shard suddenly thought that, perhaps thousands of years ago in a previous Era, Miss Feliana, Miss Orland, and that girl with the tail of a red dragon, Fiona, might have stood here, too, recalling Shard just like he now remembered them.

The same space, different times. Shard even felt an urge to reach out and touch the air before him, for those who had passed away truly once existed here.

“Perhaps they, too, on the other side of time, imagined me here a thousand years later, turning around on that couch to look at where they stood.”

Shard thought to himself.

“Time and space intersect here.”

“So, what now?”

“So, go on and continue those stories that have already happened.”