Free Web NovelChapter 2009: Chapter 2009: Nighttime Invitation
That evening, before dinner, Shard went to the hotel in the city to visit Dr. Schneider. The doctor’s right leg had improved significantly; the part corroded by the red mist was washed with Holy Water in time, thus avoiding permanent damage. After resting in bed for the past few days, he had nearly recovered, though his right leg was still bandaged, he appeared to walk normally.
Another piece of good news was that Priest Augustus, who had ventured alone into the wilderness, had returned. The old cleric didn’t appear changed at all, as if he merely went for a hike, not showing any signs of fatigue.
However, he privately told Shard that he had advanced from the Three Rings to the Four Rings. This raised the lowest level of the group of five by one level.
Since the priest had returned, the doctor began considering his return to Tobesk. This time, unlike his solitary train ride home from Randall Valley, he would be accompanied by Priest Augustus and Durut Giles.
Shard had arranged for the witch to help purchase the train tickets in advance. Since the exact return date of the priest was unknown, Megan bought three tickets for Monday and Friday of the following week. After some discussion, the doctor and priest decided to leave tomorrow, given their long absence from home:
"Spring is ending, every passing year feels like another year of life lost. This isn’t meaningless talk; it’s an old man’s reflection on life."
While speaking, the priest was both wiping his pipe and looking out the window. Thus, Shard and the doctor also looked out of the window at the sunset-stained sky, unaware of what Priest Augustus was truly observing.
After dinner at the Green Lake Hotel, Shard returned home.
Lecia and Dorothy, having just returned to Tobesk, were likely busy, so Shard decided not to disturb them. Luviya and Iluna were still on their journey back, but expected to return tomorrow, so Shard’s home had no guests tonight and he didn’t need to visit anyone.
Taking advantage of the evening time, he learned and mastered the Arcane Technique - [Edward’s Eye], then activated the technique and observed Mia for quite a while, until the cat on the desk could no longer withstand Shard’s gaze, jumped off the table, and he thoughtfully nodded:
"Mia is normal life... With the Green Lake Region affair concluded, I finally have time to visit Miss Gawder! This time, no matter what, I must go! When Granny Cassandra and the others return to Milestone, I’ll buy train tickets when I visit them!"
He stood up, gazing at the familiar night view of Tobesk outside the study:
"No matter what happens this time, no matter who gives me any tasks, I must first visit Miss Gawder!"
[Definitely go?]
"Definitely go!" freeweɓnøvel.com
Shard said to his reflection on the glass:
"Now, how could I still receive 10 Gold Pounds from Miss Gawder every month? I can’t take advantage of this anymore, I must win the custody of Mia, cough, I mean negotiate for it... No one can stop me! I said so!" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Considering that he had to welcome Luviya and Iluna back tomorrow, Shard went to bed early today. After the battle at Green Lake, he found himself busier than before the great battle. Although Mia insisted on Shard waking early to prepare its breakfast, it never imposed on Shard’s rest time. As Shard, after washing, dressed in pajamas and went to bed, the cat originally patrolling the living room seemed to return, and agilely jumped up the bed, lying next to Shard’s pillow.
Closing his eyes, he swiftly entered dreamland, and the Silvermoon in his dream shone as usual upon the Outlander.
The second hand and the minute hand circled the clock face repeatedly, and the hour hand sluggishly moved from one position to the next. Midnight quickly arrived, and with the chime of zero o’clock, Shard and Mia, sleeping soundly, were unaware that a glimmer flashed in the basement.
Subsequently, within this home, revered by the Outlander as the last and most important stronghold, besides himself and the cat, a third entity appeared.
"Meow?"
Amber eyes opened, Mia rose from the pillow, suspiciously glancing outside the door. It reached out a paw intending to prod Shard, but he didn’t need a cat to remind him.
"Oh!"
It sounded like a soft murmur in a dream, yet Shard opened his eyes. Without any reason, he simply felt as if something had intruded into his house.
"Who dares intrude on my home?"
For an instant, the expression on his face could even be described as fierce. He did not support himself with his hands on the bedside; instead, he silently sat up using his waist’s strengths.
He gestured for the slightly frightened cat to remain silent, then tucked it into the loose pocket of his pajamas.
Quietly getting out of bed, he too audibly heard footsteps coming from the stairs:
"Who is so bold, intruding into my house, without even using a Silence Charm?"
Tiptoeing to the bedroom door, the abnormal sound had entered the living room by this time. The faint silver glimmer enhanced visibility in the darkened home; it was the "intruder" in the living room emitting light.
Leaning against the door wall, Shard picked up the Moonlight Greatsword, the pendant hanging on his chest stayed cool, signifying it wasn’t a witch arriving, nor was it a stealthy visit from Sister Delphine or anyone else of the sort.
Prepared to launch an "ambush" if it stepped into his bedroom, the object halted in the living room without moving further. The suspicious Shard waited quite a while, simultaneously prepared to activate the [Heaton Seal] while peeking out, seeing a silver bird with a pointed beak holding a letter in its mouth standing on the back of the sofa. The bird’s body was transparent, emitting a faint silver light.
"Is this... a summoned entity?"
"Meow~"
The cat that poked its head out of the pocket saw the tiny intruder, smaller than itself, and was about to leap out, but Shard held it back.
He walked over curiously, took the envelope and unfolded it to find inside a letter cobbled together from newspaper clippings, awkwardly arranged:
["Hamilton Knight of Rejed:
Her Majesty the Queen invites you to join her on the island to admire the moon. Please change into appropriate attire and meet the Queen with her messenger.
Yours faithfully,
Lady Unicorn, the Butler"]
"Ha~"
Shard sighed a bit, frowned thoughtfully, and said to the little bird:
"Please wait a moment, I’ll go change clothes."
He returned to the bedroom with the cat, and soon came out in a black formal suit.
The silver bird led the way in front, and Shard, with the cat on his shoulder, followed it down the stairs into the basement. After summoning the Ring of Fate and revealing the hidden passageway, the little bird was immediately annihilated under the miracle element of the Ancient God Statue.
When Shard touched the statue and arrived at the underground of Green Lake Hotel with Mia, another identical silver bird was there waiting for them.
From the hotel basement, they proceeded to Green Lake Hotel, then followed the bird to the first floor.
By this time, it was deep into the night, and there were still a few girls active in the hotel. But it seemed they couldn’t see Shard at all, he knew it was the power of the silver bird.
Through the forest, he came onto a woodland path. A transparent, glowing silver unicorn pulling a carriage waited for Shard on the trail. The unicorn was a kind of magical summoned entity, while the carriage seemed ordinary enough, merely adorned with a black spiral family crest.
Shard ducked into the carriage, finding the interior quite luxurious. The seats were lined with red cushions, and bright crystal lamps were embedded in the ceiling inside the carriage.
The carriage slowly started, and the unicorn ran along the path a few steps, then swiftly lifted the entire carriage into the sky.
From the carriage, overlooking Green Island below, although not adorned with various city lights, the moonlit forest, village, and giant trees presented their own unique charm.
Holding the cat, he journeyed across the island, the carriage circling the island to display its scenery, before gently descending and finally stopping at the forest’s edge on the southwest side of the island.
During the Green Lake battle, Shard used the "Maze Lock: Water of Wisdom," and after the maze ended, inexplicably, a small lake appeared on the island, with a tiny island in the lake, where the Night Watchman landed after the maze closed.
The nameless island lies in the center of the forest, but encircled by an open space.
As Shard stepped down with little Mia from the carriage, the silver bird that flew out from the carriage continued to guide him.
Under the moonlight, a deer drank water by the lake, and squirrels sat on branches, holding pine cones with their companions. Countless birds Shard couldn’t name perched atop the trees, and even a few docile goats reclined on the grassy lakeside.
A crystal-like pathway extended from the lakeside to the Heart Lake Island. At the entrance of that path, Megan and Audrey’s head maid Miss Jill Holly waited. When Shard approached, she slightly bowed to him:
"Mr. Hamilton, they are waiting for you on the island."
Shard nodded, handing the reluctant cat on his shoulder over to her care, then followed the transparent bird onto the crystal pathway under the maid’s watchful eye.
The lake wasn’t large, nor was the island’s area extensive. The island was covered with green grass and flowers, but seemed to have little else.
Thus, the silver glowing transparent bird dashed into an invisible barrier.
It scattered into silver glimmers, thereby revealing the hidden altar.
The altar, akin to one built from marble, had three tiers of steps, surrounded by enormous gray stone pillars inscribed with various runes.
On the central platform of the altar, Megan and Audrey, identical in appearance, stood hand in hand with backs to Shard, facing the three moons in the starry sky. They wore thin white robes, with their short brown hair gently swaying in the wind. Starlight and moonlight gathered around them due to the glowing ritual circle on the ground, starlight reflecting on their robes, and moonlight like a transparent cloak over them.
