Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 379 Things Forgotten

```

Even though she didn't plan to stay here for the night, Dorothy still decided to have dinner with Shard before leaving.

Therefore, during the transaction that evening, Dorothy was still at No. 6, Saint Delan Square, observing the entire square through the living room window to aid Shard.

Shard had timed it right and stepped outside with a briefcase full of money. The setting sun cast its glow as the pigeons, still waiting to be fed on the square, didn't leave, and the vendors who hadn't packed up yet were waiting for the day's last batch of customers.

When Shard walked past the flock of pigeons, they suddenly took flight, and as he reached the fountain, they soared over his head.

It wasn't a long wait before Mr. Rondale, holding a document bag, appeared from the western corner of the square.@@@@

"I will not reveal your organization's secrets, but I also hope that, other than the person meeting me, no other member of the Hermit Society will know my identity,"

was a condition Shard had put forth before the transaction. The two men, bathed in the sunset glow beside the statue of a girl with a water bottle, shook hands—each of their faces half lit by the setting sun, half-concealed in darkness.

"Of course, please never mention anything to do with the Hermit Society. We haven't shown ourselves for a long time. But if you wish to trade again in the future, you can come directly to the address on my business card. We welcome any fair trade. If you can't find me, you may also seek this gentleman. But be very careful; this old man's temper isn't as good as mine."

Mr. Rondale handed Shard a business card from Old John's Pawnshop.

The corners of Shard's mouth twitched slightly; he felt no surprise whatsoever:

"Does this Mr. John know my identity?"

"Yes, he asked me to take note of your expression when I gave you this card."

After exchanging their items, neither man checked on the spot—as they both believed there would be no issues with this trade.

"Additionally, these bills aren't sequential, so feel free to use them as you please."

Shard said, and the secretary of the University Federation nodded with a grave face:

"Very well, Mr. Hamilton, I must also remind you, although we know you only intend to research, if you truly go mad enough to attempt this God Summoning Ritual, please be very careful. Even among the God Summoning rituals we've been involved with, this is an extremely dangerous one. The ritual is divided into two phases, and if you forget one very important thing, the result could be terribly wrong."

"I certainly will not call upon a deity. But forgetting..."

Shard narrowed his eyes, as the question that arose under that great tree seemed to find its answer in this moment.

"Mr. Rondale, the Second Phase, is it the nursery rhyme you mentioned?"

The middle-aged man nodded:

"Yes, 'Kiss of the Tree.' In some versions of the tale, the entire content of the ritual is very clearly indicated. Such as 'Coconut Story Collection' published in the year 1200, Carsonrick's 'Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales Appreciation,' and the 'Draleon Ancient Fairy Tales Stories Collection' which now only exists in a few copies."

For some reason, at that moment, Shard felt no surprise:

"'Draleon Ancient Fairy Tales Stories Collection'?"

"Do you have that book?"

Mr. Rondale asked, surprised.

"So that's it."

Everything made sense now.

As the clock struck midnight, Shard, who had been using a book to cover his face while lying on the couch, suddenly sat up, causing the cat that had been resting on his stomach to jump aside.

He cast a glance at the documents scattered on the table, which included the costly research materials he had acquired and a reply from the Red Moon Witch, the academy librarian. Shard had inquired to Miss Danester about the founders of the academy, and she did not provide a specific answer, but she did discuss the tradition of the librarian's role.

Everything was as he had thought—moreover, many past points of confusion could now be explained.

Shard sheathed his sword and made his way through the bushes, finally arriving at the clearing beneath the World Tree.

Beneath the tree trunk, the campfire flickered, someone was singing softly, and the rustling treetops seemed to harmonize with the song:

"The princess in the castle will never understand—the freedom of walking the world is what we seek."

"Meet the witch at the crossroads overgrown with lavender, where will you go, to pick that bunch of herbs?"

"Hold the snow atop the snowy peak, watch the sun in the depth of the desert."

"If you can meet us, dear girl~~"

"Please whisper our names, please ask about your doubts."

"Among the blooms of lilies, or, where the sunflowers face the west."

"Please put on your pretty dress, hold the purple thyme in your hands."

"Your beloved and the one you love, are here, in this hall graced with sunshine."

This was probably a nursery rhyme popular among the witches of the Fifth Era, yet for some reason, it sounded somewhat sorrowful.

Three ladies in hoods sat around the campfire, and it was Miss Feliana who was singing.

As the singing stopped, only Miss Feliana turned to look at Shard, while the other two figures merely quivered, the forest's erosion on them seeming to intensify.

The place was as before, the powder spread on the ground around the campfire as a warning, and beside the fire where the witches sat were two small tents, a water bottle, a small mirror, a wooden box, a basin soaking clothes, and other sundries of daily life.

The wood was piled up like a small hill nearby, but even a roaring campfire could not revive a wooden spirit.

Shard nodded to Miss Feliana underneath the hood, stood there hesitantly for a moment looking at the great tree, and then proceeded to walk over.

The positions of the three witches were interesting; they were not huddled together but instead sat in different directions. The Tree Witch sat under the trunk, at ninety degrees counterclockwise was Miss Feliana, and the Moon Witch sat opposite the Tree Witch.

Shard walked over quietly, not wishing to disturb the tranquility of the moment.

Sitting down next to the crackling campfire, Shard chose a spot opposite Miss Feliana, next to the two younger witches.

"Good evening, ladies." Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

He said in this place where daylight never came.

"Good evening."

Miss Feliana replied, the campfire was not blazing, so they could see each other's faces.

There was no concept of time here, so Shard did not ask how long he had been away. He watched the witches' faces under the campfire light, each weary.

After a while, Shard sighed softly. He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out the "Draleon Ancient Fairy Tales Stories Collection."

He placed the book on his lap and asked softly,

"Can you still hear my voice now?"

"Yes."

It was still only Miss Feliana speaking.

"Miss Feliana, actually since the first time I came here, I was curious, why, why are there always only two single-person tents when there are three of you? Did you lose one entering the forest, as with the ritual items?"

All three faces under the hoods looked at him, two pairs of beautiful eyes filled with bewilderment.

Clearly, until Shard raised the issue, they had not realized the problem themselves.