Chapter 1445: Chapter 1445: The Council’s Preparations
The female sorcerer introduced:
"This ritual circle is drawn to amplify Miss’s large-scale space teleportation. If Miss needs to instantaneously pull many people back to the Wilder Opera House, this circle is needed as an anchor point for sensing. However, the drawing of the circle is not easy. Next, we need to take out one of the core markers, the ’Distortion Anchor Stone’. This thing tends to attract so strange entities. Although they are not particularly strong creatures, making a ss here is not good, especially since this is not our place."
"Then let’s help with that."
Luviya said to Shard, and Shard nodded.
"No problem, I’ll activate the Spatial Stabilization Aura."
The "Distortion Anchor Stone" was stored in a lead box, and its actual size was not large. As long as it was placed within the ritual circle, the power ford by the ritual itself could shield this strange stone from attracting monsters.
"Get ready, three, two, one!"
Shard raised his right foot and stomped on the ground, the invisible shockwave from the arcane technique even caused the curtain at the back of the stage to sway. Miss Dector nervously opened the lead box and, with the help of others, quickly placed it at the southeastern vertex of the pentagram on the ground.
During this process, the originally lit stage suddenly dimd. As the ground turned pitch black, a group of black cats erged from the cracks in the stage’s wooden floor.
Or rather, they were creatures resembling cats. Entirely black, with three tails, and besides ears and a vertical pupil, they had no other facial features.
"ow?"
Mia was awakened by the surrounding noises, but before this cat could stir and observe its surroundings, the "black cats" that had just jumped from the ground were "pressed" back into the floor by the power of the "Spatial Stabilization Aura."
At this point, the irregular silver-white stone had already been placed in the correct position. Light returned, the black faded, and it all seed quite simple.
"Truly a miraculous power."
Miss Dector smiled and complinted:
"It’s a sha you didn’t accept Miss’s invitation to beco her apprentice. I’m not trying to speak for her, but maybe you could reconsider her offer."
After exchanging a few more words with Miss Sylvia’s followers, Shard and Luviya also left there, continuing their previous conversation:
"I myself hope that the Guardians beco The Chosen One."
Luviya said:
"Although their existence is problematic, there’s no denying their strong sense of responsibility; that much is unquestionable."
She turned around to make sure no one else was there, then quietly asked:
"I know you might not like to hear this next part, but we can’t rule out the possibility—if a completely new soul is needed to join them, have you prepared for Miss Lathis’s departure?"
"There’s nothing unpleasant about hearing it, as it’s one of the possibilities."
Shard counted the outcos:
"The Guardians themselves beco The Chosen One, Ston Osenfort becos The Chosen One, Ciris becos The Chosen One, the Guardians and Osenfort beco The Chosen One, the Guardians and Ciris beco The Chosen One. Of the five endings, the worst is Ston Osenfort becoming The Chosen One, or him becoming part of The Chosen One, which must be avoided. That’s why I have to go to the Osenfort Estate tonight.
As for Ciris, Miss Benanis and I agree that she should stay in the opera house, since this place needs guarding too and you should keep an eye on her. However, the Chosen One Ceremony requires five wielders of the Power of the Earth..."
He sighed lightly:
"I haven’t told her the whole truth, but she figured it out herself. Clever girl."
"The Witch Council seems inclined to find an opportunity to eliminate the Guardians."
Luviya remarked.
"Yes, fortunately, the witches here listen to . Moreover, the Speaker of the Witch Council is not present, and it would be difficult for Miss Benanis and others to deal with the Guardians on their own. The Church would not allow them to do so either."
"The Church probably doesn’t know about Osenfort yet."
"After all, the Fragnt of Poem Chapter points to the first candidate. Without your assistance, who can be a hundred percent sure about the other candidates? Luviya, you are indeed irreplaceable."
Shard said with a smile to her, and the girl with purple eyes playfully retorted:
"You really don’t need to say such nice things about ."
"But that’s the truth."
Luviya smiled at the corner of her mouth.
As they chatted, they arrived at the stage occupied by the girls of Golden Dawn, as Miss Benanis had almost all her belongings locally, allowing for the most preparation.
The youngest girl among them was idly pinching small clay figures at the edge of the stage, serving as spellcasting materials for the "Power of the Earth: Call of the Statue."
This ti, Shard didn’t need to lend much help, but his conversation with the girls did bolster their enthusiasm.
After leaving there, as Shard and Luviya headed toward the basent, Luviya recounted:
"Your Healing Aura, my Realm of Abundance, Miss Benanis’s Call of the Statue, Miss Lathis’s yet-to-be-learned Soil mory. Adding us up, that’s only four people. I don’t think the Guardian planning the banquet can be counted as the fifth, right?"
"There are people on the Church’s side too. In the Sun Church, there are more than five Circle Sorcerers who possess the Power of the Earth. When you see Iluna in the evening, have her pass a ssage to the Church; they’d be willing to assist. So, I’m left deliberating whether to bring you and Ciris along when I return from the Osenfort Estate."
Luviya humd a note, withholding her opinion:
"Not just five, I have a premonition that Iluna will also wield the Power of the Earth. She’s quite an extraordinary girl; she just hasn’t had the opportunity being away from the Randall Valley. I bet her Talent with Earth Power is far superior to mine."
"I agree that Iluna can also master the Power of the Earth, but your talent..."
Shard rembered the last night of 1853 when the three ladies stayed overnight at his ho. Because he had deeply connected with the soul of the other version of Luviya, the Long-Haired Luvia, in his dream, he directly sensed the Clergy Runes of the Thirteen Ancient Gods.
Moreover, the difference between Luviya and Long-Haired Luviya was rely in their experiences, so theoretically speaking, Luviya also had a considerable talent for the Earth.
The basent of the Wilder Opera House, apart from being the potion and alchemy laboratory of the Golden Dawn Opera Troupe girls who had already purchased the place, was also used for storing unused furniture and idle costus. Therefore, the entrance to the basent was just behind the staircase, and the entrance was quite spacious.
When Shard and Luviya walked down the steps together, the afternoon tea cart had already been pushed in, yet the four witches gathered there didn’t touch it. Instead, they gathered in front of the stone altar placed in the center of the basent, all looking at the basin on the altar.
"What are you looking at?"
Shard asked curiously.
"A mory."
Seeing Shard co over, Miss Benanis couldn’t help but smile:
"It’s the Speaker’s mory. Many years ago, when I decided to join the Golden Dawn, or rather when Ciris agreed to let
manage the Golden Dawn, she ca here. At that ti, she did so additional things that none of us knew about. Now, those things have taken effect."
"What things?"
Luviya asked curiously. She hadn’t seen the Speaker of the Witch Council, Miss Isabella, the Thirteenth Rank Witch and Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, but she had heard Shard ntion the na many tis.
"The issue with Randall Valley back then, although not as bad as it is now, already showed signs of the Crazy Earth. Apart from ensuring that Golden Dawn could beco a subordinate organization of the Council, the Speaker also visited various places in Randall Valley and foresaw so events. The Grand Witch of Ti was indeed extraordinary."
Miss Sylvia followed up imdiately:
"She didn’t prepare any weapons locally for the future but instead drew a massive ritual base formation using the entire city as a foundation. She completed this work on her own, and to this day, no one has noticed."
"The Speaker always seems to foresee certain things in advance. Although not as enigmatic as the Great Witch of Destiny, sotis I really feel like she can directly see the future."
Miss Galina also said, as the four Grand Witches moved away from the basin, Miss Aphrola gently massaged her neck:
"The ritual left by the Speaker can to so extent enhance a witch’s power and allow the witches operating within Randall Valley to know each other’s locations. This was probably achieved with the help of the Council’s power. However, the ritual base formation needs to be activated before it can be used, which is not difficult. It can be done with activated red crystals, and I’ll go myself in a while."
"So, how are your preparations, Shard?"
Miss Galina asked again.
"I have nothing to prepare. Sister Delphine took my sword when she left a mont ago. I just don’t know how long it will take to resolve the issue at Osenfort Estate."
They all sat around the table prepared for afternoon tea, the four beautiful witches and Luviya all looking at Shard.
"I will arrive at the gate of Osenfort Estate by 7:30 in the evening and try to return here before midnight."
"Miss Lathis and Miss Annette will stay here to command, with Haley, Miss Servit, and Miss Swift on standby, ready to move out and provide support at any ti."
Miss Aphrola said, and of course, among them, only Tifa had the highest rank, and in the event of helping the Grand Witches, Tifa would be the most reliable.
"We saw it upstairs just a mont ago; they are quite prepared."
Shard praised them, while Miss Sylvia glanced at her pocket watch:
"It’s already two o’clock... Shard, what do you plan to do this afternoon?"
"I’ll wait for Ciris to return from the Council, then accompany her to the Church of the Forgotten, as I promised her yesterday to do sothing."
"I should have gone with her, but she didn’t ask ."
Miss Benanis looked hesitantly at Shard.
"Though Ciris claims not to care about her father’s matters and fully accepts his death, I don’t see it that way. Talk to her more this afternoon; I’m afraid that accumulated extre emotions might lead her to make a wrong decision."
Besides Shard, Miss Benanis was the person who least wanted Ciris to sacrifice herself.
"Shard is most suited for this kind of thing."
Miss Aphrola joked:
"Shard is very good at comforting people, or rather, just by standing here, she makes all of us feel motivated."
So the girls around the table laughed together, as they always tended to tease Shard when gathered together.
"I like this kind of atmosphere."
Miss Benanis softly said to Miss Sylvia, and the young Grand Witch replied in the sa soft tone:
"But unfortunately, the Council isn’t a place for girls to gather for a pajama party or have afternoon tea together."
"Speaking of which, what brought all of you together? The Witch Council turning into what it is now, every seat and every person must have a lot of stories, right?"
Shard asked curiously, stroking the sleeping cat, whose texture was quite pleasing.
Miss Aphrola, with her long brown wavy hair, raised an eyebrow and lifted her teacup; the red-haired Miss Galina showed a reminiscent expression as she offered a small cake to Shard; the blonde Miss Benanis had a smile at the corner of her mouth as she picked up her dinner knife; and the black-haired Miss Sylvia clasped her hands together and watched as Mia’s nose twitched, then opened her eyes.
"If we have ti, we can slowly tell you."
The youngest Grand Witch in the Council spoke with a profound lancholy in her voice:
"Year after year, we still have a long ti. Those stories, Shard, you will know all of them eventually."
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