Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"Good evening, Mr. Hamilton, no need to bother with the tea. Firstly, congratulations on joining Saint Byrons Integrated Academy: History Academy, but tonight is for two other matters."

Professor Garcia, the Deputy Dean of the History Academy, said as he clapped his hands lightly in congratulations, then stretched out two fingers without giving Shard a chance to speak. The professor was quite decisive:

"First of all, regarding your matter, please present your Core Spirit Rune." Discover hidden tales at empire

The heavy hammer fell, and in the sweltering Steam Mist, the Ring of Fate appeared, with the brass-colored "Space-Time" materializing before three translucent figures.

Every time Shard summoned the Ring of Fate, he felt that this power system was especially... fashionable.

Professor Garcia nodded in satisfaction and said in his not-so-fluent Draleon:

"Very good, Mr. Hamilton, this is indeed "Space-Time", and you are now listed by the History Academy for special cultivation. Besides the Relic that has already been given to you, your Practical Training for Time Travel will be personally guided by me. According to the Academy's rules, this course would begin after you have engraved your first Spirit Rune.

However, as a special cultivation candidate, the timing for Time Travel can be advanced..."

"Advanced?"

Shard blinked.

"Yes, starting tonight. To be more precise, after we finish discussing all the matters tonight."

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Professor Garcia spoke without much emotion in his voice, giving Shard the impression that the other party was serious and rigid, but Shard quite appreciated professors with such character.

"Most Correspondence Circle Mages, in fact, do not understand the special cultivation candidates.

You are different from the typical correspondence students. Although rules can't be directly bypassed to let you enter the Academy, Saint Byrons will provide you with many educational conveniences and more cultivation resources, but will also demand more from you. Mr. Hamilton, the History Academy is looking forward to the day you officially step into the Academy.

I rarely praise students proactively, but please do not waste your Talent. Typically, the Practical Training for Time Travel of the History Academy is handled by ordinary lecturers."

Having said that, Professor Garcia even squeezed out a somewhat odd smile at Shard, clearly not someone who smiled often. Shard nodded with a straight face; he was indeed happy about such matters but felt a bit uneasy about the impending Time Travel.

"Before the course begins, there's a second matter, which is unrelated to our History Academy but concerns the group you're part of."

Professor Garcia gestured toward Professor Sanchez sitting opposite Shard. Although both were professors at Saint Byrons, it was clear that the latter held a somewhat higher position:

"Mr. Shard Hamilton, I hope you can guarantee that what we are about to discuss will not be shared with anyone else."

Said Professor Sanchez with a watch chain on his chest.

"So, can the preferential treatment for special cultivation candidates be discussed?"

Shard thought to himself but did not say anything like "the following words must not violate any morals" and instead just nodded. He seemed to hear the sound of a cat scratching the door and was quite worried that Mia might damage his household properties:

"I swear to keep it secret."

"Good, what we need to discuss is the five-person group you belong to, your group has significant issues."

Miss Jones lowered her head to take notes, Professor Garcia sat listening to the conversation attentively, and Professor Sanchez, appearing to be over fifty, had a serious look in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to continue speaking but suddenly paused, almost at the same time as Professor Garcia, they both looked towards the window of the living room.

Shard complied with the request and closed the curtains. The thick fabric curtains completely blocked out the warm yellow glow of the gas street lamps around the Ring Plaza. And now, a faint silver steam mist, which had appeared at some point, was slowly spreading throughout the interior of the room.

"Mercury Mist?"

Even though their physical bodies were not present in the living room of this detective agency, the two professors with lifetime teaching positions still recognized what it was.

"Mr. Hamilton, someone is attempting to invade this place,"

Professor Sanchez said, but remained seated without moving. He frowned and looked towards Shard:

"Have you done anything in the past couple of days?"

The detective who covered his mouth and nose, worried about mercury poisoning, nodded immediately. He understood as soon as he heard "mercury." Knowing it was not the time for secrecy, he revealed everything about the Old God Statue. However, he omitted mentioning the time and place of his meeting with "that lady," only stating that he had found a reliable buyer.

The professors didn't care that he had sold the Old God Statue instead of giving it to the academy. The two professors glanced at each other, and Professor Garcia from the History Academy spoke in his somewhat imperfect Draleon language:

"So, it seems we have some clarity on the matter. The buyer you found helped you eliminate the tracking by 'Blood of Mercury' on the discoverer of the statue, but there were still subtle traces left. They only intended to test, but did not expect that you would just happen to start the ritual, thus confirming to the other party that you are indeed a Circle Sorcerer."

Shard didn't know the professors' method of reasoning, nor did he know how to describe this stroke of bad luck.

"But do not worry. I was the one who chose the meeting location for tonight, Mr. Hamilton. I'll handle this matter,"

Professor Sanchez stated, looking towards the secretary, who responded clearly:

"Compliant with the academy's regulations, but I must remind you, professor, during the period of ritual projection, even a High Ring Sorcerer's power will be diminished."

"It's all right, the 'Blood of Mercury' organization may be ancient, but their strongest contemporary member is no more than the 'Silver-Eyed' Sorcerer of Nine Rings,"

Professor Sanchez explained, while taking the time to impart some knowledge to Shard:

"Circle Sorcerers of Thirteen Rings, but there are very few of such sorcerers in this era, each with their own title. Saint Byrons' Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer is our Academy Dean, 'Silver Guardian' Professor Pigman, and the Saint Byrons Grand Library Librarian, 'Red Moon Witch' Miss Danester.

Below them, sorcerers of Ten Rings or more are qualified to become guardians of major archdioceses of the True God Church or to hold lifetime teaching positions at academies. Outside of the church and academy, sorcerers above Ten Rings are seldom seen.

"'Blood of Mercury' has an ancient lineage, said to have originated in the late Fourth Era, but now they're in decline, largely affiliated with the 'Blood Spirit School,' which is hunted by the Church of the Five Gods. The successors of Blood of Mercury are too obsessed with the Angel-Level Relic - Mercury Mist."

The professor did not get up. As he spoke, the mercury mist was almost spreading from the edge of the window to everyone's feet. Shard didn't know if he should remind the professors that their projections needn't worry about poisoning, but his own body was real.

"But what is the 'Blood Spirit School'?"

He trusted that a Saint Byrons professor wouldn't stand by and watch him die.

"A lineage even older and more powerful than madmen... Shall you go or shall I?"

The Vice-Dean of Saint Byrons asked the Vice-Dean of the History Academy, who thought for a moment and said in calm but not proficient Draleon language:

"Let me go first. We need at least to know who the other party is and how much information they have on Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, pay attention—this is the power of space."