Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Apart from Shard, all other students were formal students attending the Academy, wearing the standard black robes as their uniform.

Professor Garcia briefly welcomed Shard and then began the formal lesson. Of course, he first explained the assessment requirements of the course and gave instructions on the course report, which had to be 12 inches (about 30.4cm) long on parchment.

Shard had thought that he might not understand such a specialized course since he was attending it early, but after Professor Garcia formally started the lecture, he discovered that the course was simply a rudimentary introduction to "Maze Lock," a peculiar kind of supernatural ability.

Circle Sorcerers who chose this course were planning to study Arcane Techniques or Sorcery related to Maze Locks, or at least had that intention. Relatively speaking, Shard had a stronger understanding of the course itself because he had actually used a Maze Lock more than once.

This basic course was very helpful to Shard, not only was Professor Garcia's explanation on the application of spatial Arcane Techniques enlightening, but it also prompted Shard to have more ideas about the application of abilities and his own system planning. More importantly, he couldn't find material on the mystical ability of Maze Locks anywhere else, so this was his first systematic understanding of this type of ability.

Maze Lock abilities are precious because they require the user to create and superimpose a new space on top of the exceptionally stable physical world. Within the closed space, the power of a Maze Lock user is greatly enhanced, and it can even suppress those powerful and terrifying Relics to some extent.

Besides the comprehensive enhancement to oneself, different Maze Locks grant the user various abilities according to their nature.

For example, Shard's "Little Match Girl" granted him the ability to use four limited wishes. To date, he had used the Maze Lock in full twice; the first time he used four wishes to save a little girl and her family, and the second, he used four wishes to win a card game.

Maze Locks can be produced by Arcane Techniques and Sorcery, as well as by large-scale rituals. However, ritualized Maze Locks consume a vast amount, and as Professor Garcia put it, they are only slightly cheaper than a Divine Descent Ritual. Maze Locks from Sorcery and Arcane Techniques not only require the level of a Circle Sorcerer but also demand immense talent.

This is not something that can be achieved with just money and effort. High Ring Sorcery requires a strong demand for Spirit Runes, talent, and luck.

Even among Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers, only a handful have mastered Maze Locks. And, inside the entire Saint Byrons Integrated Academy, only four people have mastery over Maze Lock abilities.

Of course, that's not counting Shard. They are the librarian, Miss Danester, the dean of the Academy of Library Management, the top specialty of the Academy, one Eleven Rings student from the History Academy who is about to graduate, and the vice-chancellor of the History Academy, Professor Garcia.

Talking about this, a rather smug expression appeared on Professor Garcia's face. But the students all thought this was normal, because if they were in the professor's position, they would probably have the same expression.

"Professor! So, do Maze Lock abilities influence space through the Four Elements to create space, or do they construct an imagined world through one's own thoughts and Spirit?"

This was a question that Shard raised towards the end of class. Professor Garcia was very pleased with the question and suggested that Shard use it as the topic for his final paper:

"Strictly speaking, both ideas you proposed are correct. The Circle Sorcerer System itself is about intelligent life influencing the world with Spirit and the Four Elements. Maze Locks just have a rather unique form of expression."

"Then, Professor, is it possible for a fully formed Maze Lock to undergo changes due to variations in the user's own soul? For example, can an out-of-control Circle Sorcerer still exert the original power of a Maze Lock?"

Shard asked another question, as the last time "Gluttony" affected the "Little Match Girl," he became aware of this issue.

Professor Garcia frowned in thought and nodded slightly:

"Anomalous changes in the soul affect all Arcane Techniques, as the Ring of Fate is itself a part of the soul. My current research topic is whether two Magic Maze Locks controlled by one Circle Sorcerer will affect each other. This is also an important research direction about the mutual interference of self-consciousness/self-effect and the power of Arcane Techniques, which is similar to your question."

He thought for a moment:

"I can explain this part in tomorrow's class. However, Mr. Hamilton, I think you really could try, from now on, to consider constructing Maze Lock capabilities and selecting suitable Spirit Runes. You have a great talent for this."

Professor Garcia had always admired Shard, after all, Shard's performance had always been exceptional.

"No problem, Professor. I am considering a Maze Lock related to the Enlightenment Element."

Shard promptly said, thus, by the time he reached the High Ring, it would be easier to explain the origins of his Maze Lock.

When class was over at nine in the evening, as Shard stood up from his chair, Mia Cat was standing on the sofa looking back, watching her tail with a ring on it wag continuously.

Seeing Shard stretch after sitting for so long, the cat immediately ran over wanting to be held.

After playing with Mia for a while, and before Shard could look for his notebook to jot down the content of the lesson for review, a carriage stopped downstairs at number six.

When Shard went out for dinner in the evening, he wrote an urgent letter to Miss Galina and sent it directly from the post office. Counting the time, it would have been about now that Miss Galina had received the letter and sent out the carriage.

But when Shard, dressed, came downstairs, he found that not only Maid Tifa was in the carriage, but Miss Galina was also there.

"You actually came in person?"

Shard was surprised and invited the Duchess to come in for a talk.

"I didn't come into town for your sake; I went to Yordle Palace for some affairs today and just happened to get your letter when the manor's servant brought it. Shard, what has happened again? Don't tell me you've found another Elixir of Immortality?"

The Duchess joked, and after climbing the stairs with Shard, seeing the chairs and basin set up, she understood he had just communicated with Saint Byrons.

"It's like this, I recently stumbled upon an interesting Alchemical Recipe, but I need your help with it."

Shard originally didn't intend to tell anyone about the Witch Detection Alchemical Tools, but a chance encounter with the carriage of the Aphrola Family gave him an immense sense of crisis. His own level in alchemy was not high, and on top of that he needed a witch's hair, which is why he changed his mind and sought help directly from Miss Galina.

"Alchemy recipes?"

The Duchess asked in surprise, knowing that Shard wouldn't bother her over such a trivial matter.

"Yes, it's related to witches."

Shard passed the recipe he had copied onto paper to the Duchess, while Miss Tifa, having received permission, had already entered Shard's kitchen to prepare tea for the two of them.

Both sat down on the sofa, with Mia appearing to harbor great hostility towards Miss Galina. Even when Shard placed her on his lap, she would occasionally hiss at the witch.

Miss Galina frowned as she read:

"Hmm?"

The red-haired witch looked up at Shard with a somewhat serious expression:

"Detective, where did you get this from?"

"Although I'd like to use the excuse 'bought it from a mysterious person in the black market,' I don't like lying, so the answer is that it's inconvenient to respond, but I can guarantee there's nothing wrong with the recipe."

Miss Galina nodded, placing the piece of paper on the coffee table.

Just then, Tifa came over with a teapot, ready to pour tea for them. The red-haired witch carefully framed her words, her golden eyes sizing up Shard's face:

"Shard, you might really have a fate entwined with witches."

Shard immediately shook his head:

"No no, I'd rather not get involved with troublesome witches... except for you, of course."

Realizing the inappropriateness of his words, he corrected himself immediately and caught a glimpse of a smile forming on the lips of Miss Maid, who was bending over.

Miss Galina raised an eyebrow:

"With the merman's Elixir of Immortality a few days ago and now this lost artifact, even the Council has only heard of them. I'm starting to wonder if you've found the tombs of the Witches of the Fifth Era."

"I wish I had, since the Witches of the Fifth Era were known to bury themselves with precious metals like gold and silver."

Shard shook his head regretfully, then asked:

"Speaking of which, are we in the Sixth Era now?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, it is the Sixth Era. Detective, are you out of your mind?"

The witch asked in surprise, and the black-haired maid also looked at him with concern.

"No no no, I was just asking casually. Let's get back to the point, I've prepared all the materials to make this item, I just lack a witch's hair. Miss Galina, I hope you can help me make one. You can share the recipe, but I hope you won't share it with the other members of the Witch Council."

Shard said and then saw the Duchess across from him reveal a mocking expression:

"Detective, why would you think I'd share this item with them? Of course not, this kind of treasure where I can find them but they don't know I can find them, I should keep it for myself."

Shard petted the cat lying on his lap, feeling that the relationships between the thirteen witches of the Council were more complicated than he had thought.

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Miss Galina reached over, picked up the piece of paper from the coffee table, folded it, and handed it to her maid:

"Looks like I'll be up all night. Tomorrow morning, at eight, I'll have Tifa deliver the finished badge to you."

"That's great!"

Shard's face broke into a smile, having thought it would take days, given the complexity of the recipe.

"So, what do you need, Shard? I've taken your recipe, I ought to give you something in return. Helping you make one item doesn't equate to the value of the recipe itself."

The red-haired witch asked Shard with a smile, and after thinking for a moment, although Shard wanted to ask for Gold Pounds, something else crossed his mind:

"The Sea Return ritual, I hope you can help me find information on the Sea Return ritual through all possible means... especially regarding the final stages of the ritual performed by cultists."

The information from the Academy and the Church may not be complete, but an organization like the Witch Council could have unexpected findings. For the possible existence of the "Power of the Evil God," giving away an alchemical recipe was entirely worth it.