Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 718 - Black Snow
Chapter 718 -718 Black Snow
After the study group at the doctor’s clinic ended, Shard, as per usual, left with Dorothy.
Not going straight home, Dorothy invited Shard to her apartment to see the proof copy of “Hamilton Detective Stories” Volume One, typeset by the publisher. This book was scheduled for public release at the end of the month, and its sales performance was set to impact Dorothy’s career development for a long time to come.
She had even asked Luviya to perform a divination for her a few days prior, to choose the most auspicious time to release the new book, as a way to gain some psychological comfort.
“Is choosing the right date for the book release actually useful?”
“Oh, Shard, of course it’s not. Otherwise, everyone would be a best-selling author,”
Dorothy had a very sensible view of the matter.
Two people and a cat arrived at Feather Quill Street about four in the afternoon and stayed in the apartment until dusk before going out for dinner together. The first edition of “Hamilton Detective Stories” hadn’t changed much in the details compared to the newspaper serials that Shard was following, except for adding a background of a Knight Descendant to the “Hamilton Detective”.
When Shard inquired whether this was the publisher’s idea or Dorothy’s, the blond girl immediately hemmed and hawed, changing the subject.
After dinner, Lecia and Dorothy underwent a soul exchange, with Her Highness the Princess continuing with the instruction on “[Sleeping]” at No. 6, Saint Delan Square.
In the study, Shard mentioned to Lecia that during the week, he had encountered a Divine Statue of the Old God [Father of Slumber] and thus obtained the Desecration Spirit Rune [Sloth], which made Lecia under the gas lamp exceptionally nervous:
“Thank goodness it’s not the [Sleeping] Spirit Rune, otherwise Dorothy and I would have failed again.”
She clasped both hands together and placed them on the table.
“No worries, even if you both couldn’t help me this time, don’t you still have other opportunities? Lecia, to me, you are always the trailblazers on my path as a Circle Sorcerer.”
“So, how about trying to call me ‘teacher’ for once?”
Lecia suddenly suggested. Shard put down the pen in his hand and the cat, looking towards the blond girl at the side of the desk:
“Teacher.”
He spoke very earnestly, and Lecia’s face suddenly blushed, she subconsciously touched her ear, then pretended to brush her hair to avoid Shard’s gaze:
“There’s no need to call me that anymore, it really is… a strange feeling.”
A girl’s mind is always hard to guess.
Shard shook his head and continued copying the story about the Princess, the Curse, Sleeping, and the spinning wheel, raised an eyebrow, and lifted his head to look at his own reflection in the window:
“An interesting story, quite similar to the fairy tales from my homeland. However, this time it shouldn’t be…”
He shook his head; what was meant to happen would eventually encounter him in the future. He wasn’t noticing for the first time how similar this story was to the ones from his memories, but he no longer doubted where this story came from.
At half-past ten at night, Shard escorted the blonde, who had changed back from Lecia to Dorothy, back to Feather Quill Street. By the time he returned to Saint Delan Square, the carriage arranged by Miss Galina had already arrived.
This Saturday night, Shard was taking Mia to spend the night at a manor outside the city.
This was neither because he had an improper relationship with Galina Cavendish nor due to fear of the boundary in his home having issues again. He would visit the library on the verge of breaking down in the Fifth Era early on Sunday morning, and the life supplies he had promised to bring the witches were all in Miss Galina’s manor.
The time to use the Time Key was at dawn on Sunday, and Miss Galina had never seen Shard use the Time Key before, so she got up early especially to watch him open the door along with Tifa.
“Actually, this process is very boring, I will be back in three seconds.”
Shard, holding a key that had already developed cracks, stood in front of the study’s door, while the sky outside was just beginning to show the first faint light of dawn. Miss Galina was sitting with a teacup on the couch back facing the window, with Tifa standing nearby, holding a still drowsy Mia.
Because of the bulky clothes he was wearing, he looked as though he had gained weight. But that couldn’t be helped; the temperature in the Valley of Dead Silence was simply too low.
“This is real time travel, different from how other ‘Investigators’ use the key. Even if it’s boring, at least it’s an interesting affair.”
The Duchess corrected, staring at the door in front of Shard:
“We can begin now.”
“Then, see you in three seconds.”
“Meow~”
The drowsy cat let out a reflexive meow and even waved its fluffy little paw at Shard.
Shard confirmed that the supplies he was bringing for Miss Orland and the others were all on him before he softly recited in the Elvish language, which he was not fluent in:
“May the World Tree bless me in the passage of time.”
Elvish was also learned from “A Piece of True Information – Elf,” but Shard had only a rudimentary grasp of it.
Fog-like wisps spilled out from behind the door that Shard pushed open, and Miss Galina sat up straight to look at that door:
“The Speaker was right, this space is of the same nature as the Council’s.”
Shard took a step forward and walked in.
“Outlander, you have entered the ‘Time Corridor’.”
“A message from the Ancient God ‘Father of the Infinite Tree’:”
“Winter of the Year 3024 of the Fifth Era, Midland, the Valley of Dead Silence.”
“Event: The destruction of the Gadis Library.”
“Duration: Thirty minutes (2/3).”
“You have received additional information.”
“The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree continues to watch over you.”
“The challenge given to you by the Ancient God of Time shall continue.”
“Assist the Old God ‘Gray Robed Sage’ in documenting the library’s archives.”
“The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you with: Knowledge – Original Sin Magic, A Piece of True Information – Vampire Kind.”
Shard took another step forward, and the thick fog around him dispersed in all directions. However, what lay before his eyes was not the familiar expanse of white snow.
The sky still looked like a cloudy day, but the entire valley had been dyed a terrible black. No, it wasn’t the valley that had turned black; it was the black snowflakes falling from the sky that decorated the valley in pure darkness.
The black snowfall, like burning pieces of paper, fell gently from the sky. Amongst the snow, several figures wandered aimlessly.
The atmosphere was even more eerie and oppressive than last time, and the concentrated presence of Whisper elements in the air, as well as the repulsive force against the living, were all too familiar to Shard. If he hadn’t been certain that he had arrived in the time of the Fifth Era, he might have thought he had entered the Interstice of Life and Death again. freёwebnoѵel.com
“This is… black snow?”
He quickly recalled the rules of the Valley of Dead Silence as told by the witches last time:
“During the black snow period, the Undead rise, and the living wither. Moreover, if one’s skin directly touches the black blood, they will die immediately.”
Although he had been standing in the snow for a few seconds, his skin had not come into contact with the black snow laden with dense Whisper elements, as he was dressed too warmly, with a hat, gloves, boots, and a scarf fully equipped.
But just as this thought crossed his mind, a gust of wind blew through the valley, causing the black snowflakes, reminiscent of tossed burning paper money, to sway to one side.
