Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1753 - 1752: Elderly Love and the Black Moon Ritual

Chapter 1753: Chapter 1752: Elderly Love and the Black Moon Ritual

After greeting each other, the two of them stared at each other. On a moonless night, looking closely at the equally beautiful face compared to their own, their moods were completely different.

After a moment’s pause, Miss Galina said:

"I really didn’t expect to meet you here, since we first saw each other in the Green Lake Region. It seems your injuries have completely healed? That’s great, let me see, have you become stronger?"

Audrey had no intention of discussing her own strength, as she couldn’t explain this change. Fortunately, in front of her was Galina, the Balanced Great Witch, not Isabella, the Speaker and the Grand Witch of Time, so she didn’t have to answer this question:

"I’m very grateful you could come here to help me, Galina."

Although she wasn’t here specifically to help her, the Duchess still nodded:

"No need to be so polite, we are both members of the Council and should help each other, and absolutely never deceive each other... Where did the man who just took you go?"

She looked around, as if hoping for some surprise to jump out from the reeds in the darkness.

Audrey was nervous inside, but her expression was very relaxed:

"It wasn’t a man, it was a woman. When you looked at her earlier, did you feel a Witch’s Curse being triggered?"

"No. So that’s the case? He was actually a woman."

Miss Galina blinked:

"Isn’t a woman better? Where’s your new friend, why not introduce her to me? Is the young lady shy, oh, there’s no need to be, I’m not some man-eating ancient Evil Beast."

Audrey pursed her lips:

"As you saw, she cast spells multiple times to fight against those strong opponents, she’s now too exhausted and has gone to rest."

"The more I hear, the more suspicious it sounds."

Red hair swayed with a slight shake of the head.

"Friday, yes, at Friday’s banquet, I’ll introduce you."

Audrey added, and only then did Miss Galina nod while teasing with a smile:

"Look at you, so tense, as if you’ve just done something against the Council. We’re all members of the Council, we won’t harm or bring down each other. We’re good sisters, like His Excellency the Speaker said, we must always remain elegant and beautiful."

She patted Audrey Edwards on the shoulder and then asked curiously:

"Speaking of which, is that young lady very beautiful?"

Their two pairs of golden eyes met at close range, and Audrey was very grateful for the ability she had cultivated over the years to maintain a cold expression.

In her heart, Megan kept thinking with her about how to confront the Twelfth Rank Grand Witch in front of her, which allowed her to stay calm:

"Yes, very beautiful."

After speaking, Shard’s image seemed to appear in front of her:

"Quite beautiful and understanding. But I’m afraid she’s not your type..."

Audrey tried to speak delicately, also setting the stage for the banquet the day after tomorrow.

The Duchess suppressed the smile in her heart and asked:

"How do you know that young lady isn’t my type? On Friday night, remember to remind her to dress beautifully, if possible, I’d like to invite her for a dance. I always admire strong young ladies like her."

Audrey nodded with pursed lips, thinking she handled things quite well.

"Is she a God Summoner? The massive Moonlight Ring she threw at the end looked to have the strength of at least Thirteen Rings."

Miss Galina asked again and received a negative response. Audrey’s excuse was almost the same as the one Shard used to stall Miss Danester earlier. Thankfully, Miss Galina, like Miss Danester, didn’t pursue the matter too deeply, or perhaps she never expected Audrey Edwards to admit to anything right now.

"But, did your train arrive so early? I thought it just got into the station now."

As the two of them prepared to leave together, Audrey asked curiously again.

"I got off the train early and flew over... Remember, you owe me a favor. If it weren’t for you, I could have had a very nice night tonight."

The Duchess reminded again, and Audrey nodded slightly. She thought Miss Galina was referring to comfortably spending the night in a clean and bright train carriage, but Miss Galina actually meant she could have kept Shard overnight if Audrey Edwards hadn’t been there.

And as the two witches returned to the city together, Shard, who had thrown the Crystal Shoes, had also returned home.

This time the appearance location was in the empty room number two on the second floor. Hearing the sound, Mia and Luviya saw him first.

Mia was picked up by Shard, and seeing him safe and sound, the purple-eyed girl breathed a slight sigh of relief:

"It’s good that you’re okay. It seems a lot must have happened over there at Green Lake."

"Yes, I met Laplace Klein Howard again, and even faced off against him. This time, he directly called himself the Chosen of Space."

Luviya gently embraced Shard:

"Forget about him. Did you stay on the island all day? Have you eaten dinner? I’ll go prepare it. Although the lunar eclipse isn’t over, my astrolabe will automatically record the short-term star patterns. I’ll cook for you, and we can talk slowly later."

"No rush. I still need to make a trip to Green Lake and will be back in about half an hour."

Shard said, placing the whining Mia into Luviya’s arms:

"Miss Galina has already arrived, and Miss Danester has appeared as well. I used a special method to perfectly merge/separate the souls of Megan Edwards and Audrey Edwards. I’m going to check on her and learn the Arcane Technique along the way. Things at Green Lake are becoming more problematic... Go ahead with what you’re doing; no need to cook. When I return, I’ll just use [Fiona’s Housekeeper] to make dinner."

"Meow~"

The cat, initially dissatisfied with being handed over to Luviya by Shard, suddenly brightened up. Luviya nodded as well:

"Come back soon; you’ve worked hard today."

About ten minutes later, the three moons above Green Lake were still swallowed by the lunar eclipse. Audrey, hurriedly alighting from a carriage, pushed open the door of the brightly lit Green Lake Hotel.

She directly approached the counter, where Soren and Helena, the siblings behind the counter, put down their ledgers and fountain pen as the witch hurriedly asked:

"Has he returned?"

"Yes, he’s in the room."

Ms. Helena Green said, handing over the room key. Audrey smiled, turned to head upstairs, but heard her nephew say:

"About forty minutes ago, a scarlet-haired lady came. She..."

"Yes, I have already met her."

Before Mr. Soren Green could finish speaking, Audrey replied, waved to her nephew and niece, and eagerly moved towards the stairs.

After her figure disappeared, Mr. Soren Green softly spoke to his sister:

"I thought they would have a conflict."

Audrey hadn’t heard the previous sentence, thinking the red-haired lady came to find her. However, the innkeeper siblings knew very well that the beautiful scarlet-haired lady was "John Watson’s" lover. This misunderstanding resulted from Miss Galina’s spellcasting as she left.

"I thought so too... It seems that Aunt’s ability to handle relationships is stronger than we imagined."

Ms. Helena also softly replied to her brother, who showed great curiosity:

"Judging by Aunt’s smiling face, she should have the upper hand, right?"

"I think so. If she hadn’t gained a significant advantage, she wouldn’t be in such a good mood. Our strong aunt wouldn’t possibly submit to another woman."

Oblivious to her relatives discussing "elder love," Audrey has reached Shard’s room door. She politely knocked, then heard Shard’s voice:

"It’s not convenient for me to move right now, just come in."

Since Audrey was in control of the body, Shard’s insignia had already informed him who was outside.

So the witch took out the key and opened the door, finding the room unlit. Upon entering, she saw Shard sitting cross-legged in the center of a ritual circle in the living room. Silver dust-infused ink spread a gentle and icy silver moonlight on the floor, while thirty-six smooth pearls, each the size of a fingernail, floated around Shard, revolving slowly like a star map.

Megan saw that Shard was conducting a ritual and chose not to disturb him.

Shard kept his eyes closed, controlling the pearls to arrange and change the star map. As he gently brushed his hand forward, all the smooth white pearls were dyed in silver.

The curtain was suddenly pulled open, connecting the view of the moonless night with the interior.

Shard softly recited the spell words, and simultaneously, the light from the ritual circle along with the light on the 36 pearls gradually dimmed. The entire process lasted a full ten minutes. As the last ray of light disappeared inside, complete darkness engulfed the space, rendering even the witch’s eyes unable to see anything.

She felt a chill, one that wasn’t a mere drop in temperature, but more like a force symbolizing "destruction" and "termination." Fortunately, the darkness was short-lived. Soon, the brass metal Ring of Fate emitting silver light illuminated the room.

The silver moonlight wasn’t intense but was stable enough. It also illuminated Shard, who slowly opened his eyes, with a complex-patterned black sigil briefly flashing across one of them.

"Black Moon Insignia?"

The knowledgeable and wise Grand Witch, well-versed in many matters, casually turned on the gas lamp on the wall:

"That Miss Danester actually taught you such a dangerous Arcane Technique? It seems she really values you particularly highly."

"Miss Danester has always been good to me."

Shard said, pointing at the apple on the table beside him. As the apple floated towards him, he lightly touched its surface, and a black ink-like mark was branded on the apple.

Shard let the apple float further away, then snapped his fingers. With no warning, the fresh red apple turned into white ash and fell to the floor.