Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

The wings vanished, and the mist over the lake gradually faded. At that moment, the two of them were precisely beneath the huge black stone at the center of the lake, and on the surface of the stone, golden runes flashed and transformed as if flowing water.

The white-robed lady holding the staff bowed respectfully to Shard:

"The final trial, answer an unanswerable question."

"Isn't this a paradox? How can I answer an unanswerable question?"

Shard asked curiously, but the white-robed lady continued without pausing:

"Why am I here."

"Sorry, what?"

Shard didn't understand:

"Are you asking me to answer why you remain in the material world rather than departing with the Ancient God?"

The white-robed lady looked at Shard:

"Yes, I am the keeper of all knowledge, the mentor of the Light of Wisdom, and the angel of the ruler of water and seas, the 'Secret-Keeping Mentor.' Why do I remain in the material world?"

"Hmm... Do you know yourself?"

"Of course I know, and you are to answer this question - why am I here."

Shard found this incredible, feeling that this trial seemed even more exaggerated than the duel earlier.

"Follower of the Recorder, the next time you come, it will be your last visit here. Bring the answer, and I will grant you the power you desire."

Looking at the lady before him, emanating a gentle white glow, Shard furrowed his brow and thought for quite a while:

"Alright, I will seek the answer."

This question was unknown even to Priest Augustus, and Shard believed that among sane people of this era, there was absolutely no one who could answer this question. Therefore, he either needed to seek out non-human entities or search for the answer in the past.

This was the final trial in the quest for divinity, and he felt he still had a chance to find the answer. Whether it took days, months, or years, the Lake Goddess would always be here, and he would definitely return.

He knew that obtaining divinity wasn't easy.

"Oh, and one more thing. You once said that after completing the first three tests, I could receive a gift or bring a friend. The first time I brought Sister Delphine, the second was Professor Drake, and since the third trial is now complete, what I want is..."

He meant to say the 'Sage's Glowstone,' and the angel before him had already acknowledged being the angel of the Ancient God of Knowledge and Wisdom, 'Secret-Keeping Mentor,' thus also meeting the Keeper of Secrets' criteria.

But before Shard could finish speaking, the white-robed lady shook her head slightly:

"You used the Primeval Angel's feather to lower the difficulty of the trial, so all you can get is this."

A stone platform rose from the calm water beside them, and on the platform was stuck Shard's 'Night Watchman' that had fallen into the lake. There was also a rather large gray stone box on the platform.

The stone box was a sliding type, and once opened, it revealed 19 pairs of pristine white ribs. The pure white radiance illuminated Shard's face, and some scorched feathers drifted as ghostly shadows in the air with the appearance of the ribs.

"Outlander, you have touched a 'Miracle.'

"This is..."

Shard reached out in surprise to touch it, and 'She' immediately provided a prompt:

"Outlander, you have touched the Angel's Remains."

"These are holy remains from the Primal Era, left behind. They can be added to weaponry or used to make Magic Potions, being top-tier materials."

Since he had already triggered 'Ancient Sound' (Chapter 678) through his contact with Priest Augustus, he did not hear another ancient story this time.

"Ribs of the Death Angel."

The white-robed lady said, and Shard nodded in shock. Although the humans of this world and those from the outlander's homeland were the same, both having 12 pairs for a total of 24 ribs, since angels were non-human entities, having at least 19 pairs of ribs didn't seem particularly strange.

"Is this my gift this time?"

"Yes, I believe you know where you should send it."

The white-robed lady said softly, and Shard hesitated for a moment before carefully closing the lid of the stone box:

"I will return it, thank you for your generosity."

Then he looked at the Silver Sword stuck on the stone platform. When the sword fell into the water earlier, Shard considered diving in to retrieve it after the battle.

"Hmm?"

He moved around to one side of the stone platform and reached out to pull the sword, only to find he couldn't extract it.

After glancing at the white-robed lady who made no indication, he stepped onto the stone platform from the water. Standing before the 'Night Watchman.' He held the sword hilt with both hands, employing Sorcery 'Power of the Red Dragon' and the Relic 'Impure Dragon Blood' to grant strength, while the Whisper Rune 'Power' substantially increased his own strength, but he still couldn't pull the sword out.

"Madam, what is going on?"

"Lake Goddess" standing in the afternoon sunshine:

"I imbued this sword with additional power, and you need to earn its recognition again to pull it out."

Shard hesitated as he looked at the sword before him:

"Silvermoon."

With his hands radiating a gentle glow, he stood on the stone platform, solemnly holding the sword hilt with both hands. The glimmer of Silvermoon spilled over the blade of the Silver Sword, and Shard took a deep breath:

"My actions and thoughts are as clear as a bright mirror; all that I do is for justice."

The runes on the sword, [My heart is clear, the sword cuts through demons], glowed with a pale yellow light under Silvermoon's radiance. Shard exerted slow and steady force, inch by inch freeing the sword from the stone platform, until he completely pulled it out.

The calm lake surface rippled with waves, and the glow of the [Night Watchman] quivered, as if celebrating its return to Shard's hand. Shard closed his eyes and sighed softly, the exquisite swordplay the 'Lake Goddess' used flashed before him, and the angel's sword techniques became part of this sword. Meanwhile, as he touched the sword, Shard understood that now, apart from repelling evil, remaining unsullied, and enhancing spellcasting, the [Night Watchman] had gained another trait—

When the sword is driven into the earth, streams will flow forth.

Though this seems of little use, for an angel-level relic, any enhancement is exceedingly valuable.

"May I take some water from here?"

Shard asked somewhat sheepishly. To fire the [Arrow of Knowledge from Aikenora] required a special crossbow, but relics of weaponry were notoriously expensive. Therefore, he wanted to take some water for future use, so if he needed to use that arrow again, he could shoot it using a water bow at any time.

The white-robed lady nodded generously, and Shard took out a toy water bag and dipped it into the water at his feet. As the sound of water gurgling filled the air, a peculiar mist arose around them, but by the time Shard stood up after filling the water bag, the mist had already disappeared.

"Oh no, I forgot to ask what to prepare for next time."

He muttered to himself, though he wasn't too worried—if he found the answer to the final trial, the 'Lake Goddess' would surely allow him entry to Lake Cherub again.

Looking around once more, he found himself standing beside Professor Drake, sword in one hand and water bag in the other, while the stone box containing the angel remains stood at his feet, pressing an imprint into the muddy ground.

Before them lay the winter landscape of Loch Ness, the still lake surface reflecting nothing, as if nothing had transpired just moments ago.

Professor Drake, in his wheelchair, looked at Shard in astonishment:

"Mr. Watson, weren't you supposed to duel with the goddess in the lake? How did you come out with me?"

"Come out with you?"

Shard sensed the passing of time and found it was normal for him; thus, it was the professor who had lost a segment of time. The flow of time at Lake Cherub was evidently manipulated by 'Lady Cherub'.

"And when I returned just now, the clouds in the sky were dispersing. Were there clouds when we entered the lake?"

"Clouds? I'm not sure about that, but it's all over now."

Shard said in a relaxed tone, but the missed opportunity to shoot that arrow suddenly dampened his spirits:

"Let's head back, Professor."

The professor nodded without asking about the outcome of the duel. Shard then took a rope, slung the stone box onto his back, and prepared to push the professor's wheelchair back to the lakeside embankment, where the hired carriage was still waiting for them. That carriage charged by the hour, and though Professor Drake was paying, Shard couldn't bring himself to waste money carelessly.

"Back, back..."

Professor Drake said dazedly, gazing once more at the great lake as Shard turned him around. The recent experience had left the old gentleman with a surreal feeling:

"Mr. Watson, do you think I am dreaming now?"

"Is this a dream?"

He asked himself.

[It is not.]

"Of course, it is not a dream."

Shard replied, and the professor nodded. Shard, standing behind him, couldn't see his expression. When they returned to the side of the carriage and the taciturn driver began turning the carriage back to the city, Professor Drake finally spoke:

"Mr. Watson, I will likely move away from this city to live with my son in Velindale City."

"That sounds great."

Shard, with the driver, helped the professor onto the carriage, while the driver muttered about the suddenly appeared clouds.

"Velindale is the capital of Carsonrick, a big city. But why the sudden decision to move?"

Shard asked as he boarded the carriage.

Professor Drake opened the window and turned to observe the passing scenery, his eyes lingering on the distant lake:

"It just feels like there's no reason for me to stay in Huntington anymore."

He placed his hands together, closed his eyes slowly, and murmured softly:

"Pursue wisdom, fear knowledge, reject grace. The story of my life, has been colorful enough."

After a pause, he reopened his eyes, which had once lost their luster, merely waiting for death, but now seemed to regain the vividness of life:

"Perhaps Professor Manning was right, I should get a cat. My two sons and a daughter are all in Velindale, and my little granddaughter loves cats. It has also been years since I've corresponded with old friends like Manning; I should write to let them know my new address after moving, so we can stay in contact. Oh, Mr. Watson, I'll also give you my new address. If you ever visit Velindale, remember to come find me."

"Of course."

Shard said with a smile, pleased to see Professor Drake come to his senses. Though for the professor, nothing had really changed — he was still the amnesiac, hobbled old gentleman, but he had found peace.

"Before leaving, could you check my study again?"

The professor suggested and then pointed outside the window, where both he and Shard were surprised to see snowflakes falling. The snow seemed to celebrate Shard's victory, yet also to commemorate an old resident's departure.

"Of course, but why check it?"

Shard asked curiously, and Professor Drake shook his head:

"Please take away all those things I had forgotten about, whose origins are unknown. They are all yours now."