Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 1996: Chapter 1996: Red Butterfly Twins · Butterfly Dance

The red butterflies dancing among the mottled shadows of the trees were mirrored in the eyes; no one wanted to break the peace of this moment.

For a long while, Helen moved slightly to adjust her position, making her head rest more comfortably, before softly speaking:

"You know, sir, in those cycles that recur every 22 years, whenever my sister and I can reunite and travel the world together that year, we always choose a dense forest during the best moments of summer sunshine. We lie on the grass, head to head, letting our black and white skirts spread out, just like now, silently watching the dappled tree shadows."

"Helen and I can watch the whole day, and as dusk falls, we rise together, walk out from the woods, and head towards the city against the sunset."

Grace also spoke softly. Shard pressed his lips together and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. The two sisters noticed Shard’s gesture, their faces showing a gentle smile.

"Thousands of years, like a blink of an eye."

Helen continued speaking softly.

"We’ve been chasing one after another 21-year period, most of the time, not even stopping to look at the scenery around us."

"We are like butterflies trapped in time. Although the reality of time keeps moving forward, we continue to loop, chase, wait, reunite, and face similar stories every 22 years."

"Year after year, time after time, it has been so long."

"Yes, it’s been so long. From that party to the time Helen finally heard in Saint Delan Square of Tobesk that Sparrow Hamilton opened a detective agency, it has been too, too long."

For Shard, it was just under a year’s time; for them, it had spanned the Fifth and Sixth Eras. The story of the red butterflies, begun with Shard’s participation in that party and ended with Shard’s battle with the Vampire God by the lakeside. But now, the fate belonging to them had begun to turn anew.

What has happened cannot be changed, so Shard won’t worry anymore about whether it was good or bad. What he is still thinking of is what happened on Thursday night.

Lying on the snow with them, they knew what Shard was thinking:

"Sir, that was our own decision. We have no regrets, what are you worrying about?"

"We have waited for so many years, long time considering everything. This is our mutual decision, not a momentary impulse or to repay a favor."

They turned left and right, leaving kisses on Shard’s cheeks on either side. The little remaining hesitation in Shard’s heart disappeared at this moment, as he looked at the scenery under the tree shadows. Originally coming out to ask what had happened that night, but that question now had no meaning.

They could see Shard’s thoughts from his expression and actions. Helen hugged Shard’s arm:

"Really, sir, we don’t need you to take responsibility, why are you so caught up in this matter?"

"I can actually take responsibility."

"No, only we are responsible for ourselves. We are not anyone’s butterfly; we are free butterflies. Only when we miss you, do we belong to you."

Grace corrected, while Helen giggled to the side.

The two sisters each took one of Shard’s hands and stood up. Their blue eyes meeting over Shard, who was still lying down, they clasped their free hands in front of Shard. The ever more ethereal and scattered group of red butterflies covered Shard’s body, and as the fluttering butterflies once again flew aside, making the woodland ever more beautiful, the eighteen-year-old black and white skirted girl, clung tightly to Shard’s hands with her left and right.

Perhaps once being a witch, in this state, she was only slightly shorter than Shard. Therefore, in this posture, her sky-blue eyes were directly able to meet Shard’s eyes on the snow below.

Compared to their first encounter at the Vampire God’s party, the fears and confusion had faded from those eyes, replaced by maturity and joy. She watched him, and he watched them.

No words were needed, everything was understood in silence. So, she released Shard’s hand, supporting herself with both hands on the snow beside Shard’s head, leaned slightly, pressing her lips to Shard’s. And Shard closed his arms, embracing the passionate maiden.

"Sir, you’ve had close encounters with witches and human maidens, so is this your first intimate contact with a Humanoid Relic?"

A soft laugh echoed near his ear, as the snow continued to fall. Beneath the shadow of the trees, the Red Butterflies fluttered, singing like a crimson tide. The Red Butterflies adorned the grassy woodland, the snowfall adorned the Red Butterflies and him.

The hand he held would no longer be released by Shard; the swaying butterfly swarm seemed to add a hint of bashful red to the dense forest. The Red Butterfly Twins, with their cursed black hair, swayed amidst the tide of Red Butterflies. Their skirts melted into the light, and the pair of magnificent large red butterfly wings sprouting from behind gradually folded over the snow-filled shadow of trees dancing with Red Butterflies, shyly hiding a brand new story belonging to the Outlander and sisters who have walked through millennia.

The two sisters shared a unique bond that transcended familial love, filled with mutual torment and affection, unlike the fierce connection with the Outlander who saved them. Presently, as this bond evolved over millennia from the Fifth Era to the Sixth Era, becoming sweet yet tender fruit consumed by Shard, he felt as the Red Butterflies surrounded him within the butterfly wings, watched by two pairs of blue eyes, perhaps today’s "Red Butterfly Blood Brew" was his own creation.

Indeed bitter, yet indeed delicious, indeed sweet.

The witches at Green Lake Hotel didn’t await Shard and the sisters for lunch, instead they saw more and more of Red Butterflies flying out from every corner of the forest. Miss Sylvia initially wanted to go into the woods to search for them, but was stopped by the smiling Granny Cassandra:

"Let them talk, we better not disturb."

The Old Witch gazed outside, observing the vast swathes of Red Butterflies, seeming to ignite the entire forest aflame:

"This is an age-old wish prolonged for years..."

Diving deep into the soul, Shard understood Grace and Helen most profoundly. The Vampire God took away a quarter of their souls during the battle by the Lakeside of Sicarl Mountain, while the Maze Lock’s "Sleeping Princess" power restrained and sealed most of their memories and powers, the Divine Creation "Butterfly Summoning Flute" gradually subdued the awakening whisper power, making their Divine Arts miracle powers more active.

Currently, in the "Seven-in-One" state, they absorbed the Old God’s power from the red Treasure Beads, simultaneously becoming half of the Chosen of Space, or rather, they themselves are the Chosen. The Ancient God’s power closely related to the Old God [Twin Gods] further altered the sisters’ situation.

They remain relics, which is unchangeable, but through the Chosen One Ceremony they both infused purity and strength into their powers profoundly. Shard couldn’t assess the relic’s level but even excluding the sealed powers, the sisters’ current strength surpasses their former peak powers.

Fusing with Dorothy and Lecia to become true "Chosen of Space" would weaken them significantly.

The traces of Whisper Element further retreated from their bodies and souls, fundamentally altering the Relic [Red Butterfly Twins] from its roots. A relic turning into a Chosen was unthinkable, yet as this reality unfolded, the Whisper Power of the relic didn’t resist the Miracle Power, instead enhancing their strength and purity.

Though Lecia and Dorothy also gained immense benefits from the Chosen One Ceremony, it more so manifests in their future potential to definitely become Thirteen Rings.

Having reached the pinnacle of the Material World era, the sisters are certainly not Circle Sorcerers. Therefore, the power increase from the Chosen status is more direct and conspicuous; now they could almost be said to be...

"Sir, can you focus a little?"

The lady clasped around his neck panted and said, her black long hair cascading onto Shard’s face. Shard gently apologized, raising his head in the small cocoon-like space formed by the Red Butterfly wings, kissed the joyous girl once more. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Overall, compared to Lecia and Dorothy, the impact of the Chosen status on Grace and Helen is deeper and more significant. "Desire" is a Humanoid Unclassified-Level Relic, yet now they clearly possess abilities similar to Desire that can partially alter the surrounding environment upon emergence. frёewebηovel.cѳm

They are obviously not yet a match for "Desire", given the latter’s far longer and more ancient existence, and the young Red Butterfly maidens have only transitioned across one Era’s interchanges. But they now have the potential to touch the Unclassified-Level realm.

"Sir, just mentioned, at least for now, can you not think of other maidens?"

She softly complained, but the smile at the corner of her mouth was unmistakable.

When Helen held Shard’s arm, and Grace walked behind them, as they returned together to Green Lake Hotel, it was already four in the afternoon.

Megan still hadn’t realized what had transpired, inviting Shard over, asking if he would wait a moment to dine together or have a bite now to fill his belly.

Miss Aphrola who noticed something awry suspiciously glanced at the returning trio, hesitated, then leaned into Megan and whispered a few words, prompting the Grand Witch of Wisdom and Knowledge to gape at Shard, suddenly understanding what he had been up to that afternoon:

"He really... even with relics?"