Chapter 1637: Chapter 1637: Journey, Ice and Snow, and Space
That night, Luviya did not leave No. 6, Saint Delan Square. As Shard lay down to sleep with the girl breathing evenly beside him, he pondered whether he might get a chance to et the long-haired Luviya to discuss recent matters. However, long-haired Luviya did not appear as he had not been able to enter the Bygone Era: Sixth Era.
Early Wednesday morning, urged by Mia, Shard put on slippers, yawned, and went downstairs to fetch the newspaper and goat milk. As he opened the door, he surprisingly saw Iluna walking over from the other side of the square, passing through a flock of pigeons as lazy and greedy as Mia.
The morning mist obscured the cityscape, and the air was heavy with moisture. Just after six in the morning, the sun had rely risen, and the brown-haired girl, wearing a brown lady’s coat paired with a long black skirt, waved and greeted Shard:
“Oh, Shard, you haven’t set off yet, have you? About that key, I have new intelligence.”
With a smile, Iluna quickly approached, and Shard invited her in before continuing:
“I also have sothing to discuss with you. Co in. Haven’t had breakfast yet? Let’s eat together… Luviya is here too.”
The seventeen-year-old girl nodded naturally and then smiled as she greeted Mia, who was crouching on the stairs, eyeing Shard’s goat milk. The cat politely gave a “ow~,” then stood up, flicked her tail, and sprinted upstairs.
As Iluna followed Shard upstairs, Luviya was freshening up in the bathroom. Hearing Iluna’s voice, she even poked her head out to greet her.
Subsequently, Luviya went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, leaving Shard and Iluna waiting by the dining table. Seated, Iluna glanced around at the morning scenery at No. 6, Saint Delan Square, then looked at Luviya’s silhouette in the kitchen:
“I can see why you like this house. It’s so peaceful every morning, and you can just peek out to see Yordle Palace. These past few days, I’ve often been woken by those handing out flyers on the street, even though there aren’t that many people near my apartnt.”
“I’ve also encountered people handing out flyers in the University District. There might be more of these things happening in the future.”
Shard, holding a teacup in one hand and petting Mia with the other, inquired:
“You ntioned you have important intelligence to share with ?”
He asked curiously, and Iluna nodded:
“Yes, I found out just this morning. I was worried I might not catch you before you set out.”
She held the teacup with both hands, warming herself with the heat from the cup:
“It concerns the intelligence on the Old God, the God of the Journey. I found in the church records that even now, this Old God still has followers.”
Shard nodded, not at all surprised. The concept of “journey” is very broad, and thus the Order might continue to exist even if the deity has departed, much like the Winter Choir ford by the followers of the Old God, the Winter Maiden.
“However, there are very few followers of this Old God left, mostly residing in the New World. Under the na of the Traveler’s Association, they provide assistance to travelers seeking wealth and adventure at the coastal human settlents. Having turned into an ordinary human group, with no Circle Sorcerers except for a few priests, it’s normal that you didn’t know about them. What I want to share is an interesting discovery from the church records: the Traveler’s Association and Winter Choir have connections.”
This statent from Iluna piqued Shard’s interest, for he just thought of that Ring Mage Group also situated in the Far North:
“Does this have anything to do with my current adventure?”
“Yes.”
The seventeen-year-old girl nodded affirmatively:
“The Traveler’s Association holds so classics and records from the Fifth Era, which were handed over to the Peace Church for safekeeping in the year 589 of the Sixth Era. Though the materials cannot be taken out, I can summarize the key points: a divine oracle was bestowed, instructing the Traveler’s Association to connect with the Supre Witch Emperor, who governed an ice city among the followers of the Winter Maiden, and assist that Witch Emperor in accomplishing certain tasks.”
She looked at Shard:
“This event related to the divine oracle occurred between 900 and 950 in the early Fifth Era.”
“The ti in which my current adventure is set is 928.”
Shard said, to which Iluna nodded:
“Though it appears to rely coincide with the tifra of the events you’re experiencing, the concept of the Old God, the Winter Maiden’s existence, ‘Supre’ titled witch brings to mind anything?”
Iluna and Luviya both had a rough understanding of each one of Shard’s adventures, so Shard also understood her implication:
“Demigod – Ice Witch Chloe?”
“Yes, this may be a coincidence, but it’s also possible you’ve indeed encountered that Demigod Witch on this adventure, thereby linking the Orders of the two Old Gods.”
“Shard ntioned that among his current companions, there isn’t that silver-haired witch.”
Luviya, wearing an apron, walked to the table and placed the warm goat milk in front of little Mia, then said:
“But Shard also said the witch he t this ti is associated with Zaras Academy, the sa organization as Miss Chloe. Is it possible that Shard entrusted her with sothing?”
“That’s possible, but since a divine oracle was personally bestowed by a deity, I’m more inclined to believe Shard actually encountered that witch… during the journey.”
Iluna reread “The Journey,” referring to that seven-day adventure story.
“The deities say that each of us can gain what we desire through the journey… What I want is to et Chloe?”
Shard blinked suspiciously, and Luvia’s smile was radiant:
“You never know. The charming Shard Hamilton has always been quite popular with witches, hasn’t he?”
Even Iluna couldn’t help but laugh, while Shard found himself unable to refute.
“If it’s really possible to et Chloe, that would be great. She is closest to the early Fifth Era in ti, perhaps she knows more about the secrets of the era’s transitions than Miss Feliana from the mid-Fifth Era or Miss Violet from the late Fifth Era. But it probably won’t be easy to contact her, right?”
“What I’m pondering is whether the God of the Journey has any connection with the Ancient God of Space.”
Luvia brought over fried eggs, bacon, hot milk, and bread from the kitchen, removed her apron, and sat beside Iluna, directly across from Shard:
“You once ntioned that each of your ti adventures is connected to the era you are currently in. Now that the Poem Chapter of the Chosen of Space has begun, you’ve encountered this God of the Journey. Is there an inevitable connection? Or perhaps the reward of enhanced spatial awareness is the link to the present ti?”
Shard thought for a mont:
“If I get the chance, I’ll ask that deity about this directly.”
“I’ve said all I needed to. Shard, what did you want to talk to
about?”
Iluna asked Shard again, so Shard recounted the events he encountered yesterday at Green Lake. Upon hearing that the Edwards family’s ancestor was a defector High Ring Diviner, and after Shard ntioned his brief encounter with the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, the Mirror Keeper, Iluna understood what Shard wanted to do:
“I’ll inform the church of these matters.”
“Not just you, while brushing my teeth earlier, I decided to visit Sister Delphine and the Guardians today and tell them that they have foreseen sothing strange on the Green Lake Central Island. The church will undoubtedly associate the Edwards family with the Chosen of Space, and this is exactly what I want to achieve.”
Shard looked at the two girls across the table:
“There is currently almost no progress in the investigation regarding the Chosen, but I am almost certain it’s related to the Edwards family. Since there’s no progress, we should let the church intervene. Those hidden ancient secrets and the ones working behind the scenes will eventually be revealed.”
Iluna and Luvia both nodded, they also thought this was a good idea:
“But if you continue operating in the Green Lake Region, you will inevitably encounter that Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer again. Next ti, you might not be able to escape.”
Iluna was quite worried about this:
“The witch accompanying you isn’t very reliable, and you can’t be sure you won’t encounter the Mirror Keeper.”
“I’ve considered that too. Don’t worry, Iluna, I value my life greatly… Are you in a hurry to leave later? When I return from the past, there are so things I’d like to know from you.”
After breakfast, Iluna helped Luvia clean up the kitchen, and Shard went to the study to write a letter to Miss Danester to report on the latest progress of the investigation.
Afterwards, he took out the Ti Key and got ready to depart.
The “Cat in the Bottle” Magic Potion had to be carried along, as it was key this ti. And as Shard inserted the key into the study door to leave, Mia, just like last ti, followed him again. It owed gently, rubbing against Shard’s pant leg, clearly wanting to go with him.
Last ti, Shard had to use a piece of sausage to lure the cat so he could leave, but the sa thod wouldn’t work a second ti with this cat.
Shard called Luvia to hold Mia back, but the purple-eyed girl asked:
“Isn’t your adventure this ti just storytelling? Bringing it along shouldn’t pose any danger, right?”
“But…”
In truth, if he could just turn Mia into a toy and put it in his pocket, it wouldn’t matter even if there was danger. Shard just didn’t want Mia involved in dangerous areas; taking it to the God of Night’s temple last ti was a reluctant decision.
“ow~”
The cat owed even more gently, the sound almost heartbreaking. Shard could only pick it up:
“You mustn’t run around later.”
He warned, turning Mia into a toy and putting it away. He waved at Luvia and then turned to rotate the key:
“See you later, I an in three seconds—may the World Tree bless
in this infinite ti.”
He opened the door and stepped into the white mist ahead.
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