Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 545 - Delayed Departure

Chapter 545: Chapter 545 Delayed Departure Chapter 545: Chapter 545 Delayed Departure “She” was indeed right; the flipped card was neither “The Moon” nor “The Devil,” but “The Phoenix.” Professor Sanchez looked at Shard unexpectedly, as if he hadn’t anticipated such a result.

“Hams, I think they are all fine.”

Professor Miral said to Professor Sanchez, who nodded and accepted the answer:

“Very well, gentlemen, ladies, please continue to pay attention to any news regarding Miss Mana Feliana. If you come across any valuable information, do feel free to provide it to the Academy. We will not be stingy with any rewards, yes, any rewards. Thank you for your cooperation. This inquiry session is now concluded—we still need to meet with other local groups. Do you have anything else to say?”

The doctor, Luviya, and “Dorothy” immediately shook their heads. Shard, who had a guilty conscience, certainly wouldn’t say anything, but Priest Augustus standing behind the doctor raised his hand, indicating he had something to say:

“The Dawn Church has assigned me to go on an official duty near Sicarl Mountain, and I’ll probably leave next week. It’s very likely that I won’t be able to return for half of the autumn. I need to report such a long absence from my group’s location to the Academy.”

Sicarl Mountain, the True God Church is also aware…”

Professor Sanchez frowned slightly:

“I understand. Such a normal departure can be approved, but according to procedures, you need to submit a report, an application form, and a pledge before you leave. Once we know the specific location of the trip, the Academy can arrange for you to join a temporary study group there for a few months; of course, you can refuse. However, if you don’t contact the Academy for several months, you’ll have a pile of documents to fill out when you return.”

“I understand.”

Seeing Priest Augustus nod, Professor Sanchez looked at Shard:

“Mr. Hamilton, Librarian Miss Danester has asked me to pass a letter on to you.”

He pointed to the pages of poetry that the doctor had placed on the table. With a flicker of light, an envelope appeared there. Shard walked up to the table, picked up the envelope, and pinched it to confirm there was only one piece of letter paper inside.

“So Professor Miral, is there anything else?”

Professor Sanchez then asked the Diviner from the Astronomy College, who nodded and spoke to Luviya:

“The Academy’s autumn stargazing activity is expected to start in the latter half of this month. If you are interested in participating, remember to write an application in advance.”

The Astronomy College’s autumn stargazing activity is a large-scale divination event organized by the Academy every year. Even Correspondence Circle Mages can participate through projection rituals, and it is a distinctive event of the Astronomy College.

After finishing this matter, Professor Sanchez reminded the five of them not to forget the winter exams before leaving with Professor Miral and Miss Simpson.

The figures of the three gradually faded, and the flames burning in the basin also disappeared bit by bit. Strangely, no one in the room was the first to speak. The other four people unanimously looked at Shard holding the cat.

Strictly speaking, only Luviya distinctly knew that Shard’s arrival was related to Miss Feliana. But in fact, Priest Augustus, who knew about Shard embarking for the Dark Realm, Dr. Schneider, who knew Shard’s involvement with Human Pus, and Dorothy, who knew Shard had planned something big, all speculated that Shard was implicated in this matter.

Of course, no one asked directly in the end. It was merely remarked by Dr. Schneider that there had been strange occurrences in Tobesk during the last two months.

“But to be honest, compared to the frequency of previous years, this summer’s events haven’t been particularly numerous.”

Priest Augustus, who had lived in this city for almost a lifetime, pointed out the mistake:

“It’s just that this year’s events have been especially unexpected.”

Coincidentally, because Dr. Schneider was out yesterday, the group meeting did not take place. As they had gathered together today, everyone shared their recent week’s events.

Apart from Shard and Luviya, the lives of the other few were relatively calm. However, the doctor mentioned he had collected all the ritual materials he needed for his advancement from Five Rings to Six Rings, just waiting for the Yellow Moon to reach its fullest state of the year to hold the ritual.

“Speaking of which, I’ve also been planning to advance from Three Rings to Four Rings recently.”

Luviya mentioned, and Dr. Schneider nodded, asking the blonde female writer:

“Luisa, how is your ritual coming along?”

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Dorothy’s ritual for advancing from Four Rings to Five Rings, which is from Low Ring to Inner Ring, involves the linkage of the Sublimation Incantation. Thus, although the ritual materials are not difficult to find, the difficulty of the ritual is actually higher than the doctor’s advancement from Five Rings to Six Rings.

“It’ll take a little more time to prepare, but it should be fine before winter comes.”

“Dorothy” answered.

“With this in mind, if all goes well, our group should meet the minimum requirements of having five Circle Sorcerers, including one each of Six, Five, and Four Rings by the end of this year.”

The doctor said with a smile. Shard, driven by curiosity, asked:

“Are we planning to apply to Saint Byrons in the spring of next year?”

It wasn’t pure curiosity that prompted the question but rather a prearranged prompt from Shard and the doctor before parting ways at the clinic. The doctor originally intended to head to Saint Byrons as soon as possible to make use of the academy’s power to enhance himself. But having consumed something like “Human Pus” from an Ancient Demon, rushing to the academy didn’t seem so urgent anymore, especially since freedom here was incomparable to that of the academy.

The doctor didn’t want to leave so soon, and after confirming that Shard had no intention of leaving within a year or two, they had arranged for this prompted question.

“No, no, not so fast, Shard. We’ve only met the minimum qualifications to apply, but depending on the actual number of formal students in the academy and the availability of lecturer and professor positions, the requirements change annually. Before you came, I had told them that we can’t just apply once the criteria are met, for the sake of safety and living standards after arriving at Saint Byrons.”

After arrival at Saint Byrons, everyone still needs to live, and with different powers, naturally, they would receive differing treatments—a very realistic scenario.

“I’ve inquired about the status of other groups in our academy as well as the correspondence groups from Xerxes and Zaras. Generally, they choose to depart only when the group has at least three Inner Ring Sorcerers, and even then, they take some time to sort out other affairs. I can’t just abandon my clinic right away, Luisa is seeing a new turn in her career, and Priest’s church duties shouldn’t be lightly forsaken. Shard, you’re not likely to leave your social connections here either. Therefore, I plan to prepare for a few more years; after all, our ages are not that high aside from Priest Augustus.”

The others nodded in agreement, acknowledging the doctor’s point of view.

Dr. Schneider, pleased with the lack of opposition, summarized:

“We are not in a hurry to head for Saint Byrons, so the departure can be postponed for a few years. I’ve even heard of groups deciding to leave only when their leader is about to advance to High Ring. Now it’s autumn of 1853 in the Common Era Calendar, and we will definitely leave within five years, but specifics will depend on everyone’s progress and the academy’s requirements.”

Shard gently patted the little head of Mia he was holding.

This meant that he would be living in this city for a long time to come.

After the group meeting ended, it was just four o’clock. Priest Augustus needed to return to the church and promised that as soon as he had specific news about his trip, he would inform everyone. The doctor had work to do; there was no shortage of patients in Tobesk in need of psychological help.

Although Shard would have liked to spend some time alone with Luviya, the girl with the purple eyes who had rested up, she had to return immediately to the Prophet’s Society to report on her solo departure from the previous day. Due to health reasons, she had already delayed throughout the morning, and any further absence would raise unnecessary suspicion at the society.

So, Shard left with “Dorothy,” who was almost certain that yesterday’s incident must be related to Shard and wished to hear his story.

On the carriage ride home, Shard opened the letter from Miss Danester, and the first line nearly tore the paper in his hands:

[“I have managed the record of the ‘Dream of Saint Byrons Integrated Academy’ being handed to you, erasing any trace of the Relic being passed to you. Now, only I know it was ever in your possession.”]

“Why that expression? Did Miss Danester change her mind about the Academy Bounty Notice she originally gave you, now asking you to slay a dragon?”

Lecia joked but politely refrained from looking at the letter in Shard’s hands.

“No, it’s just… some small matter,”

Shard said, looking down to continue reading.

Miss Danester wasn’t certain whether Shard’s appearance had anything to do with the academy’s founders. But given the coincidental timing, even if Shard was unrelated, it would certainly draw investigation from the academy. She had manipulated the records, erased some people’s memories who had handled the Relic, and warned Shard to think carefully about his actions in the future.

Miss Danester didn’t want to extract the truth of the matter from Shard; she only cared about the “Silvermoon Library.” Therefore, the letter didn’t ask Shard for an explanation; instead, it advised him to steer clear of such troubles, as she might not always be able to deal with the consequences in time.

“Miss Danester says the Relic related to the ‘Sleeping’ Spirit Rune that I originally intended to borrow is now unavailable,”

Shard folded the letter into a plush toy, and then burned it on the spot with Sorcery “Firestarter.”

“Oh? That’s okay, you can give your ‘Sleeping’ Spirit Rune to me,” stated Her Highness the Princess using the body of the golden-haired girl, with a smile on her face:

“Moreover, there’s no rush for you to advance to Three Rings before you acquire ‘Glimmer’.”

“Uh… actually, I’ve already reached Three Rings.”

Shard declared, to which Lecia blinked in surprise:

“I remember seeing you at Yordle Palace on Wednesday; you were still at Two Rings… Today is Sunday… just four days later. I can understand you gaining Enlightenment suddenly, since you were prepared for ‘Glimmer’ for two and a half months. But how did you manage to obtain all the Ritual Materials so quickly? And don’t the considerations of moon phases and timing factor into your advancement ceremony?”