Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 1072: Witch Echo: Orland

Chapter 1072: Chapter 1072: Witch Echo: Orland

This is a straight path, but it only takes a few dozen steps to reach the end. At the end, there are five bookshelves, one directly facing the exit, and two on each side. However, the bookshelves on the left and right are not placed directly adjacent, leaving a subtle gap.

And that gap, no matter how you look at it, seems like another passage.

"Yes, the functional areas of the Council are interconnected, but they are generally in a hidden state."

Miss Galina briefly explained, then pointed to those bookshelves:

"All the information is here."

They are five gray, crooked stone bookshelves, appearing even more ancient than the ones at Sister Delphine’s summit sacrificial ground. Each shelf is divided into five levels, every level filled with books. But no matter how full they are, only a few hundred books can be placed here. Compared to the ancient history of the Witch Council, Shard even doubted whether these books could record the names of all past council members.

"What you see is just the surface, actually, there is a lot of information. As you reach out your hand, imagine the information you want, and you’ll definitely get what you’re looking for."

Miss Sylvie noticed Shard’s doubt and explained softly.

"Of course, only council members have the right to access the information, even those permitted to attend like Sister Delphine have no such rights."

Miss Galina added.

Meanwhile, "she" whispered in Shard’s ear:

[Perhaps you could give it a try.]

"Can I retrieve books like a formal member?"

[You even have voting rights now. Outlander, as you come into contact with more Witch Echos, you will have more privileges here.]

"I’ll pass, I’ll let Miss Galina retrieve it for me."

Shard thought to himself and asked the witch beside him:

"I sort of understand, so the appearance of these bookshelves doesn’t matter, their essence is symbolic?"

"Yes."

Miss Sylvie nodded:

"That’s a very accurate description. The bookshelf itself only signifies the function of this place, essentially no different from a plaque nailed with ’archive’ or ’library.’ However, these bookshelves are indeed very ancient, His Excellency the Speaker said they are probably from the Third Era. Only such a special environment could have preserved these bookshelves so well."

Miss Galina took over the conversation:

"The secrets of the Council, even Miss Isabella may not fully understand, but let’s not waste time here. If others come in later, should we let Shard hide under our skirts?"

She made a small joke, and it seemed Miss Sylvie thought of something, as her face turned slightly red as she glanced at Shard.

Shard, on the other hand, reached out to touch the bookshelf, as artifacts from the Third Era are rare indeed:

"Alright, Miss Galina, you fetch the information. The name of the lady is pronounced in an early Fifth Era language as... hmm?"

He touched the central bookshelf facing the exit, noticing that its stone surface was already pitted, some marks naturally formed, but more were caused by scratches or even pressing with fingers and palms.

"She" suddenly laughed and reminded:

[A familiar power. Point your finger a bit lower, yes, then to the left, touch this fingerprint.]

When Shard’s finger touched the fingerprint "she" mentioned, he felt the sensation was not of stone but warm skin. The fingerprint on the bookshelf emitted a soft amber glow, the light of the moon.

"What happened?"

The two witches noticed the strange glow and took a step back with Shard, as they simultaneously heard a gentle sigh:

"Long time no see, Shard."

This was in the language of the Fifth Era, which the witches, fluent in ancient languages, understood. They looked at Shard in surprise, who was initially startled, but after a slight daze, he understood:

"Long time no see..."

The glimmer flew out from the fingerprint, faint light spots swirling around Shard, this power was already very weak.

Those glimmers eventually gathered in front of Shard, and the figure emerging from the light was still that familiar appearance. Yellow hair, slightly pointed ears, with robes adorned with vine and leaf-like patterns, a characteristic decoration of elves.

Miss Briony Orlando, the first librarian of Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, the "Moon Witch" who twice encountered Shard in the Forest of Thousand Trees and the Valley of Dead Silence, reunited with Shard at the end of the Sixth Era in 1853.

Of course, the figure now was just a phantom, just as when first seeing Witch Empress Violetta inside the mountain on Sicarl Mountain.

"This scene... Hevy seemed to describe to me."

The Duchess murmured softly, while Miss Sylvie looked surprised at the spectacle before her.

"Miss Orland."

Shard looked at the woman in front of him, who displayed a gentle smile:

"Rest assured, I did not die here. Teacher asked me to leave a message for you here, oh, look, you received it after all."

Even though she was speaking to the air a thousand years ago when she said these words, she still seemed as if she truly saw Shard.

Her right hand gently raised, as if wanting to touch Shard’s face. The position of the hand was very precise, truly placed beside Shard’s cheek, but when Shard also raised his hand trying to touch that hand, what he touched was only air.

"We will eventually meet again."

The Half-elf Witch looked at Shard, speaking softly:

"Just like the teacher said, when we first met, fate had already predestined everything thereafter."

These words made Miss Galina somewhat displeased, while Miss Sylvia was shocked, watching this scene in front of her. She knew much less about Shard than Miss Galina did.

"There’s no need to search here anymore, you won’t find information about Witch Chloe. Long after my time point, the rebellion of the Council at the end of the Fifth Era will cause all those materials to be lost."

Miss Orland’s phantom looked at Shard, her gaze crossed Space-Time:

"Information about that lady is scarce even in our era. It has currently been confirmed that she was one of the early founders and participants of Zaras Academy, playing quite a significant role in its establishment."

Shard immediately nodded, the Half-elf Witch showed a nostalgic expression, "watching" Shard, and continued:

"The teacher once specifically visited Zaras Academy, through Miss Samuel’s connection, to search for information about that lady. It has been confirmed that she eventually became a Demigod after an adventure lacking any documentation."

Shard heard the sudden heavy breathing of the Duchess behind him, and Miss Sylvia even directly grabbed Shard’s sleeve.

"Most of the other information is useless to you. The teacher said you could go to the Guiding Light Hermitage to search for information; they should have the information you want."

Miss Orland said somewhat regretfully, her eyes watching Shard, then softly bit her lip:

"If it weren’t for the fact that it’s just air in front of me, I would really want to kiss you... kissing air would seem strange; not only the teacher, but Fiona would also laugh at me, so I won’t do it."

Her figure gradually started to dissolve into points of light, as the Half-elf Witch "watched" Shard, and Shard watched her:

"We will eventually meet again, may the Moon bless you and me."

No one spoke again until there was nothing at all in front, the scattered points of light finally rushed into the location of Shard’s heart.

[Outlander, you have gained "Witch Echo: Oranode."]

Lightly chuckled and added:

[This is the complete Witch Echo.]

"A story spanning a millennium is indeed romantic."

Miss Galina’s voice came from behind, and it sounded all the more sarcastic.

"Do those ancient old women always like to do such things?"

The Duchess continued, and this way of saying "ancient old women" was also mentioned by Lecia not long ago. From this perspective, although the two were at odds with each other, they were surprisingly similar.

"That lady just now was..."

Miss Sylvia tugged Shard’s sleeve, and Shard touched his own face:

"Miss Briony Orlando, the first librarian of Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, Miss Mana Feliana’s most important student, teacher of the second principal Fiona Drago of Saint Byrons... I have encountered her twice in the past time."

"I know you’re an investigator, but can traveling to past times allow you to interact with past people?"

She asked puzzlingly, then was forcibly interrupted by Miss Galina.

The Duchess asked:

"How many more times can you meet that Miss Chloe?"

"Once."

This conversation left Miss Sylvia even more puzzled.

"Miss Galina, I know you want to know the secret of becoming a Demigod, but the Miss Chloe I encountered was only Eleventh Rank. At least in my view, she really was only Eleventh Rank, and due to poor state, she could at most use secret techniques of the level of ’Thousand Cat Curse’."

Shard emphasized, the Duchess uncivilizedly tutted~ but did not continue questioning.

However, it was evident that Miss Sylvia’s curiosity had reached its peak:

"So... what’s really going on?"

"Shard’s time travel is in the true sense of Time Travel, going to the past to take part in those stories."

Miss Galina said, satisfied to see Miss Sylvia’s expression:

"But more details cannot be told to you; Emma, you’d better inquire directly with Shard, after all, it’s his secret. As for that lady just now, she was merely a friend Shard made in the past time."

She paused, added seriously:

"I always hope to learn from Shard the method by which the witches of the Fifth Era achieved Demigod status; you understand why I’m doing this. Unfortunately, he has so far not met any ancient witch who has already become a Demigod. Speaking of it, both Sylvie and Granny Cassandra vaguely know something’s wrong with Shard, but they don’t inquire as deeply as you do."