Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1984: The Renewed "Oath

Luviya’s location was not hard to find; she stood chatting at the inn’s entrance with Miss Galina. The two had just heard the voices of the girls inside the inn greeting Shard, and turning around, they saw Lecia and Dorothy approaching with Shard. The Red-Haired Duchess then asked:

"How did you sleep, Shard? Do you need more rest?"

Shard placed the cat he was holding onto his shoulder, smiling at them:

"Don’t think of me as so fragile; I feel great right now."

This was no lie. During the battle at Green Lake, he had imbued the power of Edwards’ Ascension Technique. Later, he perfectly replicated "Edwards’ Ascension Technique" using "Maze Lock - Water of Wisdom." Though he didn’t absorb anyone like the Diviner had, but used such power combined with "Love God’s Sting" to trigger his own Maze Lock, the effect of "Edwards’ Ascension Technique" remained.

For instance, despite achieving "Trinity" with the girls, Shard felt as though he had acquired some essence to enhance himself from them.

This wasn’t him seizing the powers of the chosen of Balance, Space, and Death; it felt more like some imperceptible strengthening. As if his body and soul inherently possessed the power to absorb stronger substances and concepts.

"Indeed, all four of us here know you aren’t fragile."

Miss Galina teased with a smile, and standing around Shard at this moment were four women indeed who had become the closest to the Outlander since he arrived in this world.

Dorothy and Lecia needed to return to change clothes, preparing to attend the birthday party later. Miss Galina also noticed Shard’s desire to chat with Luviya alone and found an excuse to leave.

"Iluna will probably be here in half an hour. You know, the Church is also helping celebrate her birthday, so when she arrives, she’ll likely just share a drink and a slice of cake with everyone. Shard, is your birthday gift ready?"

Luviya asked, which was why Tifa prepared dinner for Shard earlier, as this birthday party did not feature a lavish banquet.

She gestured for Shard to walk with her to the lakeside:

"The Church is currently operating inside Green Lake Town; we won’t run into them."

"The gift is ready. I was originally worried the battle at Green Lake would drag on for long; they’re in my pocket."

Shard said, proactively holding Luviya’s hand and walking with her towards the woodland. The violet-eyed girl was quite surprised; Shard being so proactive was not a common occurrence.

The Outlander held a very strong affection for Luviya originally, and after unexpectedly learning about his origins early this morning, the sentiment deepened.

The words he said at the dock this morning, "I was born because of you," certainly weren’t just sweet talk. As Luviya walked with him towards the woodland, she couldn’t quite feel his mood but understood Shard’s intention. They passed through the woods and arrived at the dock.

The lake water was clear, and the sunset had dyed large swathes of the water surface red. The shimmering waves were almost dazzling, a sight not seen on this island for hundreds of years:

"Look here."

He pointed to the end of the dock and narrated what Laplace Howard had told him before he died this morning. Luviya listened quietly, and even upon hearing that Shard now held all the research materials of the Diviner, her expression didn’t change.

She merely said softly after Shard finished:

"Don’t put so much pressure on yourself; you’ve always done well enough."

Shard turned around, facing away from the lake behind him. Luviya looked up, gazed at the man in the sunset’s afterglow, listened to the tides, and saw his expression half-covered in shadows.

"About the apocalypse..."

She placed her hand on Shard’s lips and gently shook her head:

"Pursue the thirteen chosen ones, then keep going to the end. When the final door opens, the answers to everything will be revealed."

"Is it your thought or your heart’s thought?"

Shard asked again, seeing a complex expression on the tender face of the girl. Facing the sunset, her face was entirely illuminated, and Shard could clearly see every detail, every subtle expression.

The purple irises held a touch of wistfulness, a bit of sorrow. Under the sunset, those purple irises flickered with a most captivating brilliance, the purple not single-toned, transparent parts resembling crystal, vibrant spots resembling bright violet. In her eyes, the purple was unpredictable, the surface of the irises filled with intricate textures as if crafted into nature’s masterpiece when creating Luviya Annette.

These textures, like delicate brush strokes, outlined infinite layers and depth, but upon closer inspection, the truly mesmerizing aspect wasn’t those colors, but rather the micro-movements of the eyeballs, dilation and contraction of pupils that let Shard see the most splendid part of her soul.

"Do you still believe in me?"

The owner of violet eyes asked.

"Of course."

Shard answered the moment this was spoken, as he couldn’t help but hold his breath because of those eyes.

[Sometimes, I have to constantly help you check if her eyes have a special enchanting effect only on you.]

"Why do you believe in me so much?"

She asked again.

Shard ignored the voice in his mind and continued to look at that slightly raised, somewhat sorrowful face, answering:

"It’s not about believing in you, but believing in myself, believing in my own judgment."

Under the brilliant radiance of the sunset, Luviya’s bright eyes looked at the Outlander’s face, which seemed to have changed a lot, yet seemed unchanged. The tide roared, and the wind by the lake brushed their clothes:

"Even sometimes, I can’t believe in myself."

She spoke softly, with a contradictory feeling that Shard could completely understand.

"Sometimes, I can’t believe in myself either."

Shard gazed at her, as if both could see into each other’s soul:

"When I awoke from blind foolishness, the first person I doubted was myself. But then I realized that anyone can be doubted, but not ’me’. I am two sides of the same coin with ’myself’. I am the most distant and yet the closest person in this world to ’me’.

After a slight pause, as if hearing ’her’ laughter, he too uttered these words:

"I will always trust you, Luviya Fiocchi Annette."

She spread her arms and embraced Shard. Shard thought she would cry on his catless left shoulder, but unexpectedly, she suddenly pushed Shard away, then embraced and kissed him again.

This kiss held many meanings, but Shard didn’t have time to grasp them before she released his hand again.

She took a few steps back, her eyes slightly red, but quickly walked back toward Shard, again standing before him:

"If it wasn’t for knowing that I don’t sleepwalk, I would even think I unconsciously implanted some kind of spiritual suggestion for you. Shard, you don’t always have to trust me so much; you should doubt anything worthy of suspicion."

Although she was still somewhat downcast, Shard knew she was fine now.

He touched the cat on his shoulder that had been startled earlier, then extended his hand to Luviya:

"Do you remember last summer, after the Lakeside Manor event ended, what we talked about on the carriage? You told me about the ’Whispering Verses’ and agreed to witness the stories of the thirteen Chosen. You said you wanted to ensure the world wouldn’t be destroyed... (Chapter 89)"

Shard’s heart suddenly jolted, only now realizing the meaning of those words. Of course, his expression didn’t change, still looking at her with bright eyes:

"Now, let’s make a new promise. But this time, let me extend my hand, Luviya. Let’s witness the stories of the thirteen Chosen together, push open that final door together, and ensure this world doesn’t get destroyed together."

The seventh ring of the Ring of Fate appeared behind him, the power of the sorcery "Oath Binding" activating, and a golden balance appeared above them, shimmering brilliantly in the glorious sunset.

However, Luviya reached out and opened Shard’s hand, took a step forward, and kissed him again. And this time, Shard felt he completely understood the meaning of this kiss.

"Do you really trust her? I mean the ’her’ with long hair."

The voice in his ear asked, blending with the roaring tide, melodious and pleasing.

"Why shouldn’t I trust?"

The Outlander answered while multitasking.

"Sometimes, even I can’t see clearly what kind of person you are."

"No, you understand me best."

"She" smiled gently, and Shard embraced the girl in his arms at the small pier, the shadow of the long-haired self flashing behind her. He didn’t clearly see the expression of the long-haired her, but he looked forward to the next time she entered his dreams.

The more he understood, the more the Outlander liked this complex world. Maybe next time they meet, he could talk to Long-Haired Luviya about those topics they couldn’t discuss before.

"If I didn’t know that the Princess and Dorothy won’t let you go tonight, I wouldn’t let you sleep elsewhere tonight."

This is what she said after that kiss.

As they held hands and returned to the inn for Iluna’s birthday party, Luviya also mentioned some things that Dorothy and Lecia hadn’t mentioned to Shard.

For example, both the doctor and the priest are fine. Although the priest was somewhat in a sorry state as he jumped off the giant tree with the Evil Spirit Tide summoned by the ’Soul Storybook’, Luviya quickly went over with Grace and Helen to help, jointly controlling the out-of-control Angel-Level Relic.

Now the ’Soul Storybook’ is in Luviya’s hands; the priest doesn’t need it, and Luviya feels quite familiar with the power of this relic.

As for the doctor and the priest, they will not participate in Iluna’s birthday party afterward. The priest left a letter in the morning, then took two bones, leaving the city to travel into the wilderness. It should take about two to three days before he returns. Others aren’t clear about his situation, but Shard speculates that the priest should be going to merge with the power of that skull.

The power represented by the skull is conceptually different from the power of the finger bone or sternum.

As for the doctor, he is now lying in his room recuperating.

"The doctor needs some time to recuperate, but fortunately, it’s not life-threatening."

Mentioning this, Luviya also told Shard not to worry too much.

Though Shard had heard that the doctor was injured before going to sleep, he was still surprised:

"I remember the doctor was protecting the Green Siblings, and the priest led away the Undead Tides. How is the priest fine, but the doctor got injured? I’ll go visit him now. Oh, I really didn’t expect he would... though I should have."

A long time ago, everyone in the group said if someone got injured in an action, it would definitely be Dr. Schneider. And this rule remains true even after Shard joined the group.