Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 573 - Detoxification

Chapter 573: Chapter 573 Detoxification Chapter 573: Chapter 573 Detoxification Because providing direction and guidance on Spirit Runes was already a part of the basic course for the second year at Saint Byrons, “Fundamentals of Spirit Rune Theory (Intermediate),” the “Book of Wild Thunder” was lent to Shard rather than sold to him.

Just like “The Mad Light Chaser,” Shard needed to return the book after obtaining the Spirit Rune or buy it himself at a high price.

Besides guidance on Second Ring Spirit Runes, Shard also applied to the Academy Library to learn a specific Arcane Technique or Sorcery for detoxification, which should be effective not only for himself but also in treating others. During the upcoming second cocktail party, he planned to sample the Deity’s Blood Brew, and Shard was not confident he could withstand it.

The Academy quickly provided a list based on the Spirit Runes Shard currently possessed, but the library recommended a Sorcery called “Elf’s Detoxification” instead of an Arcane Technique. The name was quite straightforward, as it was a Sorcery created by emulating the power of the exotic species—the Elves.

This detoxification spell was quite versatile; any wood could serve as the spellcasting material, and the amount of wood needed would increase depending on the concentration and depth of penetration of the toxin. As the caster’s own level increased, the effectiveness of the Sorcery would also improve, and even if it couldn’t completely eliminate the toxin, it would at least mitigate its effects.

Since the learning materials included “two whole branches of Elf Wood” and “1 pint (approximately 568.26 ml) of water from the Elf Spring,” including the materials, this Sorcery would cost Shard a hefty fee of 500 Gold Pounds.

“This is a high-level Sorcery, quite cherished. Moreover, Elf materials themselves are very rare; apart from Saint Byrons, Zaras Literary Academy, and the Church of Nature and Malice which have connections with the Elven Race, you simply cannot find another source,”

said the doctor alongside.

“I know it’s precious, just from the introduction stating ‘effective against the vast majority of toxins,’ I can tell it’s valuable… Gold Pounds are earned precisely to be spent.”

Shard nodded, reluctantly beginning to pull out stacks of banknotes from his pocket.

“You actually brought so much money with you?”

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Dorothy exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh, just preparing for a rainy day,”

Shard explained, actually because he had turned the money into playthings, he was not afraid of losing them:

“But, do Elves still truly exist in this world?”

“Of course, they exist. The Three Great Magics Academies are not merely academic institutions; the Far North’s Saint Byrons shelters many exotic species, and they also provide high-quality students for the Academy. Although I’ve never been to Saint Byrons, a former team… an old friend told me that the area of Saint Byrons is no smaller than Tobesk,”

the doctor said.

Shard first thought about the students from exotic races he had seen twice when visiting Miss Danester, the library administrator, and during the elective class on “Sealed Space.” At that time, he only thought that the Academy was well-regarded among various races, not realizing it was because the Academy itself was associated with them.

“I’ve heard that Elf girls are very beautiful. I wonder if any Elves will be among the students sent to Tobesk for this year’s winter field practice,”

Dorothy commented casually as she watched Shard counting his money. Luviya looked thoughtful for a moment, wrote a few words in her notebook, and handed it to Dorothy, who blushed slightly and laughed—a likely joke among unmarried girls.

The study session was shorter with one person missing, but everyone missed Priest Augustus and speculated whether he would adapt to the weather in the southern part of the Kingdom or what kind of gifts the old gentleman, with his antiquated aesthetic, would bring back.

After the study session, as was his custom, Shard left together with Dorothy.

Lecia agreed to help Shard obtain the “Slumber” Spirit Rune, and after considering for a week, Shard thought that since he currently had no Three Rings Spirit Runes, he might as well aim for “Slumber” which was Lecia’s and Dorothy’s specialty in Enlightenment.

As for the enlightenment “Thunder” obtained through reading, based on the previous experience, it would take at least two months to have a clue, so Shard didn’t think it was a conflict.

“Although Lecia and I almost share the ability, it is, after all, knowledge she has learned. It would definitely be better for her to teach you than for me. And now, the only problem is that Lecia can’t leave the Yordle Palace without being noticed to meet you privately.”

“Actually, you don’t need to use the word ‘privately.’

Shard pointed out, and Dorothy in the carriage merely hummed and did not continue the conversation.

“So, for the time being, she’ll have to appear in my body, using my face to teach you.”

“That’s quite nice.”

Shard nodded, seeing Dorothy look at him, he added,

“Of course, I’d actually prefer to see your soul in your face.”

The blonde girl then finally showed a smile.

When they returned to Saint Delan Square, the servants who had helped Shard clean on Saturday afternoon had already left. Shard and Dorothy talked about the adventure of the new key, but since Dorothy’s mental endurance was much weaker than that of a witch, when Shard mentioned the Saint, she waved her hands and signaled him to stop:

“I almost really saw red just now.”

That’s the power of knowledge and the “weight” of the deity.

After dinner and walking the cat together, Dorothy entered a state of “quick slumber” on the sofa at Shard’s home. After a brief few seconds, she opened her eyes and smiled at Shard.

Perhaps because she knew in advance about Lecia’s arrival, Shard could tell the difference between Lecia and Dorothy from the other’s languid yet graceful demeanor.

“No, Shard, I am still Dorothy Louisa.”

The blonde girl, as if reading Shard’s mind, spoke seriously,

“I just closed my eyes and then opened them, without exchanging places with Lecia. I wanted to tell you that a Circle Sorcerer should not be deceived by appearances… and also, mistaking me for someone else, even for Lecia, would make me angry.”

Having said that, she closed her eyes again, and a few seconds later, opened them:

“Good evening, Shard.”

She greeted Shard with a smile, her demeanor elegant and languid, clearly different from before. But Lecia unexpectedly saw that Shard was timorously hesitant to greet her back.

Her Highness the Princess raised an eyebrow, and in her suspicious gaze, the young detective grabbed the cat lying beside him.

“Meow~”

Holding the unaware Mia by the waist, he stretched his arm and lifted the cat toward the blonde girl. Realizing the truth after Mia struggled a bit, she immediately laughed and said,

“Good evening, Lecia.”

“What are you doing… Oh, I see, it seems Dorothy just played a little joke on you.”

Her Highness the Princess immediately guessed what Dorothy had done:

“How about next time we kiss, we suddenly swap bodies, and then see if you can realize that you were kissing two different people by the end of it.”

Such a prank was indeed too wicked.

Since Shard had chosen the Enlightenment of “Slumber,” Lecia’s teaching naturally revolved around her own compilation of the ancient fairy tale “Sleeping Princess” from the Low Ring Ascension Words.

Since it was only the first lesson, that night, Lecia simply gave Shard a general understanding of the multiple versions of the “Sleeping Princess” to facilitate his subsequent understanding and study of ancient manuscripts.

Speaking of those ancient manuscripts and translated versions, Shard finally remembered that in the Dark Realm, for the Maze Lock – “Kiss of the Tree,” he had once again burned a fairy tale written on parchment.

The roll of parchment, which Lecia had Dorothy pass to Shard, had been destroyed by him, and he had never mentioned compensating for it, though it was worth at least a four-figure sum in Gold Pounds.

“How did you suddenly think of this?”

Lecia asked, then thought:

“Let’s forget about compensation. After all, it was specifically brought for your arcane study, and didn’t you ‘lend’ me that ‘Ever-Youth Leaf’?”

“Alright then.”

Shard said, and then remembered the four 1-shilling banknote plates. These plates, obtained from “God’s Gift Box,” were originally meant to be a gift for Lecia’s return to Tobesk, but for various reasons had been delayed and were still in Shard’s possession.

Taking advantage of the day, Shard took them out and showed them to Her Highness.

At first, Lecia couldn’t believe they were genuine, suspecting that Shard was joking. But only after repeatedly checking the four plates did she truly confirm that these were authentic, stored inside the Draleon Kingdom Mint.

“You…”

She looked at Shard, unable to discern what he meant:

“How long have you had these items?”

“I got them while you were returning from Coldwater Port to Tobesk, and they’ve been in the basement ever since. What do you think? Are they useful? If not, I’ll destroy them now. Keeping these printing plates in the basement, I always feel like I could turn into a criminal at any moment.”

“Don’t be hasty in destroying them!”

Lecia immediately intervened, then thought with some irritation:

“They’re definitely useful, but I haven’t yet figured out how to use them, but they’re absolutely useful. Shard, you really gave me a big surprise… Keep them here for now.”

“Hm?”

“I can’t think of any place safer than behind your basement’s hidden wall. After all, whoever possesses them, if discovered, the consequences are not a joking matter.”

“Alright then, I’ll keep them here. They’re not big anyway and don’t take up much space.”

Shard picked up Mia, who was standing on that stack of metal plates:

“However, if we really could print our own banknotes with these plates, I do have many ways to disrupt the economic order of this kingdom.”

“You have that kind of knowledge?”

Lecia asked curiously while holding her teacup, intending to delay and finish her tea before switching back with Dorothy.

“Mm, but we probably shouldn’t do that, right?”

Shard looked towards Her Highness, and Lecia then realized what he meant:

“Of course.”

Lecia said softly, then sipped from her teacup. She did not meet Shard’s probing gaze, and her response was vague.

Although Shard had heard about Lecia’s ambitions from Miss Galina, Lecia’s demeanor still startled him.

Lifting his hand to rub his eyelids, he said:

“Luviya, don’t pretend to be interested in the teacup, look into my eyes.”

“Oh, Shard, can you please not ask me to answer that question?”

Her Highness whispered back.

“No, not that question, please look into my eyes.”

Lecia raised her head and met Shard’s gaze, then saw the Star Ocean in the Eyes of the Outlander:

“What do you think? Beautiful, isn’t it?”

He blinked.

“You, you really are…”

She covered her mouth and gave a ladylike smile:

“Indeed, quite beautiful.”