Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 685 - The Fire Bearer Nun

“This sword will automatically memorize and retain the swordsmanship of those who have wielded it. When you hold this sword, you may find sometimes that the sword is controlling your arm; don’t worry, just diligently learn from it. Although the age of cold weapons has long passed, for a Circle Sorcerer, cold weapon combat is still a good choice.”

“That sounds great, especially since I lack experience in cold weapon combat. But this is an Angel-Level longsword; are these the only traits?”

Shard asked curiously.

“Oh, of course not. If we were to summarize its unique traits, there would be three points. The first is the inheritance of the ancient heroes’ skills with the sword, the second is its effect against demons. Simply put, consider the[Night Watchman]as a nemesis to demons. If Hevy had this two months ago, she wouldn’t have let Ivan Daknis escape.”

Shard had also seen this sword’s special offensive abilities against demons on the doctor last night.

“Then what’s the last point? If it only inherited cold weapon combat experience and power against demons, it seems hardly worthy of being called a Sage-Level Relic.”

“Be patient, the last point is that this sword can also be seen as an extremely excellent spellcasting medium. Note, it’s a spellcasting medium, not Spellcasting Materials…”

Seeing Shard looking at her curiously, the old woman said helplessly:

“Well, like the magic wands in fairy tales and folk stories. Although it is a cold weapon, if you find a way to involve this sword in your spellcasting process, it can effectively enhance the power of rituals, sorcery, and Arcane Technique. For Circle Sorcerers of the Sixth Era, this is truly the most valuable point of the sword.”

Shard reached out and took the sword in his hand:

“Time Perception!”

The current time was the Common Calendar of the Sixth Era, 1853, the Month of Withered Leaves, the eighth day, Tuesday, at ten seventeen and fifty-six seconds.

[Time Perception]had not strengthened because Shard was holding the sword, and it was not clear whether the lack of enhancement was sufficient for Shard to see the truth or whether just holding the sword did not count as involving it in the process of spellcasting an Arcane Technique.

“Just holding it doesn’t count as involving the sword in the spellcasting process. However, everyone’s Arcane Technique is different, and you can try to utilize this sword yourself.”

The old woman suggested, and Shard nodded his head, his right hand grasping the sword hilt, his index finger extended to touch the blade:

“Silvermoon.”

He softly called out.

In an instant, a brilliant silver light radiated from the blade. This time, the “Light Spell” was achieved by the light emitted from the longsword, and as the light of the moonlight gradually extinguished, Granny Cassandra nodded in satisfaction:

“Yes, just like that. This is how you make the sword a medium for an Arcane Technique. It seems you’ve grasped my meaning.”

“Granny, how much can a relic like this sell for?”

He asked, curious again.

“It’s hard to put a price on this, I’ve lived a long time and seldom heard of anyone selling an Angel-Level Relic for money. Most people trade items for it, which truly reflects the value of this sword.”

The elderly woman provided an answer but immediately added:

“Young man, I recall Galina mentioning, you are a Hamilton Knight of Rejed? As a knight, you naturally should have your own sword. Keep this one for yourself, you’ll find use for it in the future.”

Shard certainly didn’t want to sell this hard-earned silver sword:

“But unfortunately, this Angel-Level longsword might be the key to sealing the rift. I probably can’t keep it forever.”

“At least for now, you are its owner. Young man, although it’s right to look ahead, sometimes you must cherish the present.”

The old witch said, then reminded him:

“However, except on special occasions, it’s best not to carry it around everywhere.”

In the current Steam Age, walking around with a conspicuous sword would even make the patrolling police take an extra look at Shard.

“I understand that, but in an adventure where dangers are already known, isn’t it a rather interesting item to have?”

Like engaging the Silver-Eyed One or venturing into the Dark Realm, it would be fitting to bring the sword.

Granny Cassandra said with a smile:

“I’ll prepare a decorative scabbard for you, so you can hang the sword in your home. It will alert you if something unclean appears in your house.”

This was indeed great, so he no longer had to worry about incidents like last week, where a Mirror Ghost had invaded his home.

“I really appreciate it, Granny.”

“No need to be so formal with me, I like helping young people.”

The silver-haired old witch said again, with face wrinkled and eyes showing signs of age, yet anyone could see the once splendid grace of this face, this person in her youth:

“Speaking of which, Hevy should arrive this afternoon, taking a steam train from Carsonrick.”

The image of Miss Hevy Aurora with her beautiful brown wavy hair suddenly popped into Shard’s mind:

“That’s good, I’ll go to Milestone Train Station…”

“She said there’s no need for us to pick her up, she brought a caravan over, and the excuse for coming to our city is to buy some spare timber for the new shipyard in Coldwater Port.”

Owing to its proximity to Sicarl Mountain and Rommel Mountains, Midshire Fort City is also a well-known timber hub on the Old Continent.

“When can I see her then?”

“Do you know about tonight’s Fire Worship Festival charity dinner?”

Granny Cassandra asked, Shard nodded, Priest Augustus had mentioned it.

“Hevy and I will both be attending the banquet, if you want to meet her, then come to the dinner.”

Saying this, she handed Shard an invitation, clearly prepared in advance.

This time, Shard did not refuse again as he had refused Priest Augustus. Miss Aphrola had helped him so much, and since she had also arrived in this city, it was impossible for him not to meet with her.

“Furthermore, little Karina in Tobesk, thousands of miles away, could suddenly mention the secret cave on the slope of Sicarl Mountain, you discovered it, didn’t you?”

The old witch brought up the subject again.

“Yes, this sword was found there.”

Shard replied with a smile and handed the old woman the parchment that could open the entrance to the cave — it was no longer of use to him:

“I suggest that you and Miss Aphrola first visit the cave in the real world to check the internal environment before devising a way to enter the corresponding location in the Interstice to determine if it is sealed.”

“Karina praises you as very capable, it seems she is indeed right.”

The old woman exclaimed in admiration, while Shard took the opportunity to bring up the Relic[Sin Mansion] he had encountered in the mountains today, hoping the old woman could provide some information.

Granny Cassandra certainly would not refuse this request, she was prepared to provide a scabbard and information about [Sin Mansion], which she would give to Shard later that evening.

After all, although the old witch was knowledgeable, she could not possibly know in advance what Shard would need.

After bidding farewell to Granny Cassandra and agreeing to meet again tonight at the Midshire Fort Mechanical Academy, Shard took a carriage to the House of the Blind to meet Sister Delphine, who had purchased “the damaged heart of the Flame Demon.”

He was indeed curious why the nun did not meet with him at the auction house along with Granny Cassandra. But as he got off at Ruff Lane, he remembered that the Spiritual Practice Order was not a subordinate organization of the Witch Council, and the nun with silver-grey hair could not possibly expose all her secrets to Granny Cassandra.

House of the Blind, located at No. 15 Ruff Lane, outwardly served as a semi-non-profit organization for people with visual impairments in the city, even receiving funding from City Hall. On Tuesday morning, there were quite a few people in the House of the Blind. As Shard was led to the third floor by a servant, he saw many people in wheelchairs or being supported, chatting with one another or quietly asking about various matters.

Most of them appeared to be in desperate circumstances, which was understandable. If a family member with a visual impairment belonged to a noble or a wealthy merchant’s family, they would not need to seek help from welfare organizations like the House of the Blind.

“Sister Delphine, I have always been curious, where does the main income for the Spiritual Practice Order come from?”

After taking his seat opposite the nun wearing a silver eye patch who even in the sunlight seemed enshrouded in eternal darkness, Shard asked curiously.

Even organizations like the Circle Sorcerer had their own sources of income and had to pay taxes. Such as the Prophet’s Society making a fortune with Roder Cards, Blood of Mercury relying on donations from a small portion of nobility, the Church of the Five Gods funded by donations from believers, and the Three Great Magics Academies operating their urban Academies and affiliated industries.

But for the [Spiritual Practice Order], Shard had always been unable to figure out where these nun and monk ascetics really made their money.

“That’s quite simple, we operate hospitals in the eastern part of the Old Continent, mainly responsible for midwifery, gynecological diseases, and eye diseases.”

The nun did not evade the question:

“These hospitals all have different names, which don’t obviously connect to us. But if you ever see a private hospital in a foreign land that isn’t very famous but has a good reputation, it’s likely related to us.”

Shard understood then.

After that, they got down to business. Sister Delphine intended to buy the “damaged heart of the Flame Demon” that Shard had acquired, and she was very generous, first offering £2,000, then, when Shard hesitated, suggesting £3,000.

This speed of raising the offer was unexpected to Shard, and £3,000 met his expectations, so he promptly agreed. With this, adding the remaining part of the £2,000 obtained through the messages during his time with Big City Player and the information about the Difference Engine he traded to the Foreign Princess for 200 kroner, plus the £1,000 yet to be collected at Tobesk, his total accessible assets now amount to a surprising over £7,000.

This was probably his most affluent moment ever.

Of course, Shard was also curious about what Sister Delphine intended to do with the flame demon heart. He kindly reminded the easy-to-talk-to nun, informing her once again that the stone carrying residual heat had very little power left. The nun, however, shook her head, not minding this:

“I do not want to use it as alchemical material; I just want the kindling flame of the flame demon.”

She took the heart she had obtained from the Witch Council, and in front of Shard, the nun used her fair hands to pry open the heart already pierced by a sword. As black ash fell out, the nun drew forth the small sparks from within the heart.

Although Dr. Schneider had absorbed most of the power, this was after all the flame of a Flame Demon. But looking at Sister Delphine, it seemed she felt no burning pain at all.

Sparks clung to her palm, and then, the nun sitting on the sofa held her hands as if cradling water. Accompanied by a soft ‘puff’, an elongated flame emerged from the nun’s palm. The flame’s heart formed a perfect circle, while its tail stretched slenderly upwards.

[Outlander, you have encountered “Whisper”.]

This was the Sage-Level flame that Sister Delphine had demonstrated while aiding Shard to open the gateway to the Interstice. As this flame appeared, the tiny sparks left by the Flame Demon were fully integrated into it.

The flame in the nun’s palm showed no change, at least that was what Shard thought. She slightly closed her palms; the flame scorched her skin, causing flickering sparks to appear across the back of her hands. But the nun didn’t mind, she eventually closed her palms completely, causing the peculiar flame to disappear once again.

“Is this … Phoenix Fire?”

Shard speculated this because during the Feast with the Gods, it was confirmed that the volcanic magma’s blood given by the nun contained Phoenix Blood ingredients, and combined with Shard’s encounter with the “Phoenix Lantern” in the Dark Realm as well as local fire-worship traditions, he guessed that a phoenix had sealed the mountain summit’s passage, and the “Spiritual Practice Order” was involved with this Ancient One.

Sister Delphine first shook her head, then nodded:

“This flame can absorb any other flames. Its essence is not Phoenix Fire, but since it has absorbed mainly Phoenix Fire, it is temporarily considered as Phoenix Fire, which is not problematic.”

“So, there really is a Phoenix here … Do you know that Ancient One?”

“Yes.”

The nun did not deny:

“It is the Ancient One who sealed the mountain summit’s passage, but it has gone mad.”

“Mad?”

Shard had never imagined that a legendary creature like a phoenix could go insane.

“Long eons do not burden the Immortal Race, but the oppressive proximity to the Land of Death has made it impossible for the Ancient One to remain sane. The Phoenix Fire, I absorbed from its spiritual body when I encountered it inadvertently at Summit Lake on the top of Sicarl Mountain five years ago. I can feel the agitation and chaos within the fire; its condition is not good, and it refuses any help from others.

The other night you met me in the mountains, I was leading the Order’s nuns to the summit to calm its disturbed spirits through a ritual. Since five years ago, we have continued to do so. However, I think with the major issues in the Interstice now, this must end.”

“I see.”

Shard did not expect to hear such news; he had originally thought the Spiritual Practice Order was backed by a phoenix:

“But now with the instability in the Interstice, have you tried communicating with it?”

The nun shook her head slightly:

“Though there are moments of lucidity, that Ancient One has almost completely lost its sanity. Although it may be inappropriate to say, considering it as an Evil Fiend sealed by the Interstice of Life and Death also fits the current situation. I have included these details in the reports to the Church, hoping they can find a solution.”

But the issue shouldn’t be severe, as the Church of the Five Gods has now gathered three Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers in the Midshire Fort Parish, and with preparations for the ritual started a year in advance, it should be sufficient to quell the unrest in the Interstice … at least Shard hoped so.

“Speaking of which, are you not curious about my flame?”

The nun suddenly said again. Shard looked at her, noticing a smile at the corners of Sister Delphine’s mouth beneath her silver crown-style eye mask.

“It is very impolite to pry into others’ secrets.”

He said.

“It’s okay, the secret of this flame, I can tell you. This is an Angel-Level Relic …”

Shard, having been in this world for so long, had never expected to encounter two Angel-Level Relics in one day.

“… The Primordial Fire.”