Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

After lunch, Shard took the vine, which he had obtained while searching for the [Aikenora-Arrow of Knowledge] and still had mental toxins, and gave it to the nun to help her further search for the "Pantanal Evil Creatures." He didn't stay long at Midshire Fort and, at two o'clock in the afternoon, bid farewell to the reluctant Helen and Grace to prepare to go home.

The carriage was prepared by Miss Swift, the apprentice of the witch. The girl with flaxen hair braved the heavy snow to send Shard to the auction house's door, standing in the snow waving goodbye to him.

The fluttering snowflakes fell on the young girl's hat and shoulders. Miss Swift hesitated to speak in the farewell, biting her lip for a long time without saying anything. Seeing the snow falling heavily, Shard urged her to go back quickly, and only then did the young girl suddenly throw something into the carriage window, then turned and quickly walked towards the auction house door.

The coachman swung the reins, the wheels crunching through the snow with a dull rustle. The carriage moved into the drifting snow, and Shard picked up the item thrown into the carriage.

Of course, it wasn't a steam bomb with the safety removed, but a pebble rune stone. By the faintly glowing branch-like runes on the smooth surface of the pebble, Shard recognized it as a disguise rune stone that Tifa had used by Lake Schluch.

Simply reciting the spell words could activate the rune stone for disguise. Miss Pawo, the Vice-President of the Truth Society, who was also a Six Ring Magician, continued believing, due to the inducement of this rune stone, that the suspected "God Summoner" companion was an ugly woman, while the "God Summoner's" pet was a dog.

"Oh, Miss Swift can already make rune stones of this level? This is truly remarkable!"

Shard had heard Tifa, clad in a blue gown, mention after the battle at Lake Schluch, while dancing, that such rune stones were a unique alchemical item for witches, requiring at least a fifth level to produce. He hadn't shaken hands with Miss Swift earlier and wasn't aware of the young girl's level changes. Yet, judging by this rune stone, she had advanced from the fourth level to the fifth level, likely elevating her Circle Sorcerer level to Five Rings.

"The once unsure Miss Witch has finally started making progress."

Shard gently sighed and placed the rune stone in his pocket.

[But why did she throw this to you?]

"She" murmured softly, and Shard tilted his head to gaze at the snowy scenery outside, pretending not to have heard.

The fragment of the Poem Chapter and Luviya's prophecy pointed to Thief Jack planning to steal an item the King once touched tonight, in the Yordle Palace-Saint Delan Square area. Both Luviya and the Church believed the theft would likely occur at Yordle Palace. Coincidentally, Shard had also been invited to a book salon with the princesses, so he would spend the evening at the Prophet's Society with Lecia, Princess Margaret, and Luviya.

Upon returning home in the afternoon, Shard first handled the household "anti-theft" measures. Even with Dorothy overseeing No. 6, Saint Delan Square tonight, Shard aimed for absolute security. When the writer lady finished dinner in the kitchen by dusk, Shard repeatedly stressed the safety measures.

"Although the chances of my home being burglarized are slim, I have to emphasize again. If you do encounter [Thief Jack], your and Mia's safety is paramount."

Shard solemnly pinched Mia's waist, handing over the cat to Dorothy. The cat, previously peering curiously at the plate of scrambled eggs, let out a dissatisfied whimper when picked up.

Dorothy removed her apron, washed her hands, and then smiled as she received the fidgety cat:

"Yes, yes, Detective Sir, tonight I won't let your cat leave my sight. If a stranger appears in the house, I'll immediately take it outside."

"Exactly, and also, unless it's me knocking, don't open the door at any time; if there's a begging beggar, pretend not to hear it, as there are no beggars in the nearby neighborhoods, and King Larus III is soft-hearted and can't stand beggars; if shadows appear outside the windows, leave the window immediately; carry a weapon on you, and don't be soft-hearted if necessary; and..."

"Shard, are you trying to instruct me on these matters like an adult leaving home?"

The writer lady pretended to be displeased, causing Shard to hold his tongue, although he had many more details to inform Dorothy.

Slanting his eyes towards the living room, the flames roared and danced in the fireplace. Earlier today, Lecia sent someone to help Shard ignite the fireplace, conveniently allowing Shard to learn and ensure he mastered the fireplace usage skills upon returning home.

Dorothy placed dinner on the table and, once seated, informed Shard of her plans for the evening.

She planned to sit on the carpet in front of the fireplace, holding the cat, while reading. Although her rented apartment on Feather Quill Street also had a fireplace in the living room, it wasn't as grand as Shard's.

"Mia, you are to stay with Dorothy tonight and not run around."

Since Dorothy already thought Shard was a bit wordy, Shard then, during dinner, pointed at Mia and started to "lecture" her. The orange and white kitten tilted her head to look at him, then stretched her neck, squinted her eyes, slightly raised her rump, and pushed her fluffy front paws forward while stretching lazily with her back paws pushing backward.

"She doesn't want to listen to your chatter either."

Dorothy said with a smile, feeding the cat a small piece of egg. Mia warily sniffed it, and only after seeing Shard nod did she take a bite. Because of that piece of egg, when Dorothy picked up the little creature and it showed its snowy white belly toward the ceiling after dinner, it didn't resist.

The Prophecy Book Club was convened by Lecia, expected to start tonight at seven and end around nine to nine-thirty. After having dinner, Shard began packing clothes, and only after Dorothy helped him adjust his tie did he confirm he was ready to leave.

The homey blonde girl, holding a lazy cat, accompanied Shard downstairs. While Shard was changing shoes, he emphasized again:

"Since [Thief Jack] becomes stronger against stronger opponents, I didn't take [Night Watchman] to the Prophet's Society. Dorothy, I left the sword by the..."

"By the fireplace, with the poker, within my reach."

Dorothy repeated, making Shard open his mouth lost for words, so the blonde girl extended her arms to hug Shard:

"Say hi to Lecia for me, and have fun tonight."

Dorothy opened the door for him, handed him the "Hamilton Detective Stories" he planned to take to the salon—the "The Queen and Her Lovers" at home was obviously out of the question—and then pushed Shard into the whistling evening wind outside. The winter evening wind was sharp as a knife against his skin, it was the 27th day of Frostfall Moon, winter had arrived.

It was half-past six, and the sun had completely set. On Saint Delan Square, the lanterns were illuminating the scene. Standing in the warm glow, Shard turned to look back at his front hall.

Dorothy waved farewell with one hand while holding the cat, her hanging hair swayed in the breeze blowing into the hall. Shard also slowly waved goodbye, but his intuition was alerting him that something might happen tonight.

Saint Delan Square was only a street away from Silver Cross Avenue, so Shard could walk there. Turning onto Silver Cross Avenue, he saw that the gas lamps were unusually bright tonight, and the street, filled with evenly distributed halos of light cutting through the fog, was illuminated completely, unlike ever before.

This bright appearance wasn't due to Lecia's book club, but clearly, the church also believed that tonight Thief Jack's target was Yordle Palace. As Shard stepped onto Silver Cross Avenue, he saw police patrols on the street more densely than usual, where a duo of patrol officers had become groups of four.

Occasionally, he even caught sight of a Circle Sorcerer or two mingling among the regular officers; Thief Jack grows stronger against stronger opponents, so the church was very cautious with security arrangements before his actual appearance.

"Oh, the light of civilization!"

Walking while observing the streetlights, Shard recalled the arrow he failed to shoot yesterday afternoon. Although that was twenty-four hours ago, he had a hunch that until he could fully release that arrow, the sensation of being clawed at by tens of thousands of tiny Mias would continue to plague him.

Thinking of this, he paused momentarily. However, "she" did not correct Shard's thought from "tens of thousands" before, which somewhat disappointed him. But soon enough, he heard her gentle laughter, which improved his mood significantly, and even the moon obscured by the thin mist seemed to have grown rounder.

Tonight's event was termed a "book club," but in fact, under the direction of King Larus III, it aimed to enhance ties between the Draleon and Carsonrick Royal Families. Lecia participated in similar salons this summer when she visited Velindale City.

Thus, among the invited guests, one-third consisted of Princess Margaret's entourage and visiting writers and cultural critics from Carsonrick residing in Tobesk. Certainly, Sir Plisha, who intrigued Shard and possessed the "Guiding Moon" Core Spirit Rune, would be present, being a renowned poet in Carsonrick.

As for the Draleon side, apart from Lecia, the sixteen-year-old Little Princess Angelina and the nineteen-year-old Prince Nasser also attended.

According to the customs of the Tobesk region's nobles, generally, book clubs would not invite too many people. Invited individuals would use pretentious yet elegant and beautiful language to discuss books, literature, academics, fashion, and sometimes even gossip and Roder Cards. Lecia's book club this time invited a total of 34 guests, which was considered a large-scale salon.

When Shard arrived at the Prophet's Society entrance, guests had already been arriving one after another. The night-closed first-floor hall of the Prophet's Society had a dim lighting that felt unreal.

As the salon hostess, Lecia arrived at the Prophet's Society earlier than anyone. Based on Shard's suggestion, she chose a second-floor room with a view of Yordle Palace. By the time Shard reached the room at the end of the red-carpeted corridor, Lecia was with her brother and sister, greeting the arriving guests at the door.