Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

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Professor Garcia was indeed lecturing at the moment, and Shard thought maybe he should turn the gaslight up a bit to make the place more like a classroom:

"As for the rules of the Time Key, they were mentioned in your 'Theoretical Basis of Time Travel' course. Moreover, you needn't worry about any trouble caused by time travel; our world is not as fragile as you imagine, nor are mortals as powerful as they believe themselves to be. In a world where thought can affect matter, it is the world itself that is the most powerful.

Now, please take the key out of the basin."

With a few words, he resolved all of Shard's doubts, which were probably similar to those every student had during their first time travel.

"The basin?"

Shard looked at the basin glowing with a soft light, squatted down and dipped his hand into the water, which was warm for some reason, and indeed retrieved a key.

It was a wooden key, so tiny it wasn't even as big as Shard's thumb. The flat key had an ordinary shape with teeth on one side and was very smooth on the other. The grain on the surface of the key was exceptionally clear, and upon closer inspection, he found a line of letters carved into it, smaller than grains of rice.

Although he had learned his lesson from the "Box of Darkness" incident, this time it was clearly safe. Therefore, Shard once again utilized his talent for translation and deciphered it as:

"World Tree blesses you in time."

"The World Tree?"

Shard was surprised in his heart, but his face didn't show much expression.

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"The Academy has various methods of delivering 'Relics', with the poet's manuscript being the most basic. The method we are using now, though costly, is safer and can transport objects of higher levels."

Professor Garcia continued, still in a lecturing tone:

"The grading of the Time Keys ranges from Poet-Level (Level 5) to Unclassified Level (Level 0), originating from the bygone deity 'Father of the Infinite Tree'. Since this is only a course teaching, the Time Key provided this time is of the Poet-Level."

The professor avoided using the term "Old God," instead using the vague term "bygone deity," which caught Shard's attention.

"Do you know anything about this god?" the pointy-eared professor asked.

"Only the name."

"The 'Father of the Infinite Tree' is a very special deity, whose uniqueness lies in being the World Tree itself."

If Professor Garcia had spoken before Shard had interpreted the engraving on the key, his surprise at the moment might have seemed more genuine.

"You don't need to understand about the World Tree for now. As for using the key, aim it at any door's keyhole, turn and push the door open, and you will be able to travel to a point in the past.

Before its first use, every key reveals its corresponding time; the trick is to place the key under your pillow before falling asleep, for the dream will display the message left by the 'Father of the Infinite Tree' within the key. We identify the level of the key by matching the message with big events related to the Old Gods in that era."

"Then, which part of the Fifth Era does this key correspond to?"

Shard's fingers traced the grain on the surface of the key.

The Era of Chaos in the Fourth Era was too dangerous, and keys from the first three eras were strictly forbidden for Circle Sorcerers below the ninth ring, so this key could only be from the Fifth Era.

"Fall of the year 1068 of the Fifth Era. Each key's corresponding time point is necessarily related to an Old God. Hence, the History Academy is proficient in the element of 'Desecration', as only the Academy has the opportunity to safely obtain silver 'Desecration' elements without coming into direct contact with the existing Evil Gods."

Shard didn't consider time travel to be a safe matter at all.

"We are Time Travelers, Investigators. When entering the past, you cannot carry any items with supernatural powers, and even if you wanted to, they would fall before you stepped through the opened 'door'."

Professor Garcia looked at Shard, who quickly shook his head to indicate he didn't have it on him now. Both the Vampire Ring and The Twenty-Sided Die of Destiny were kept in the study room.

"When we enter the time point of the past, our vision will be filled with a lot of white fog. 'Another me' will also provide hints about the time points and event information obtained from the key of the Relic of the Fallen God."

Throughout the investigation period, the white fog will not disperse, and the Investigator can only move towards locations without the white fog, to witness what happens. During this time, as long as you do not actively interact with the past, you will not be noticed. We are Investigators, witnessing and recording past events and bringing them back to supplement the missing history before the Era."

"Are you saying that we are actually going to watch a realistic electr... opera?"

Shard gave an example.

"Quite a nice analogy."

Professor Garcia finally showed a smile on his face; although this slightly pointy-eared professor looked stern, he was quite nice:

"There's an extremely small chance that the Fallen [Father of the Infinite Tree] will assign some tasks to you, but the probability is negligible... Now then, Mr. Hamilton, let's get started."

"Now?"

Shard swallowed and looked towards the bedroom door, Mia must have been tired, so the sound of claws scratching at the door hadn't been heard for a long time.

"Do you have anything else to prepare? Oh, don't worry, each open period of time will only allow you to stay for a maximum of three hours. And when you return to the correct time, it will only be three seconds after you disappeared."

"I mean... isn't it too hasty, this sort of thing..."

Shard thought his mentor would provide some systematic training, but didn't expect it to be such a simple introduction.

"Circle Sorcerers must rely on themselves, of course, as well as 'another me', but not on others. There's no need to take notes with pen and paper, any matter you take to the past will revert to its original state when you return. Even if you truly have the ability to intervene in the past, it will only be a small ripple in the long river of time; do not underestimate time and the world."

"Alright then, Professor Garcia."

He stood up, walked to the bedroom door, and let the brass-colored light from the gas lamp on the side wall spill over his head and shoulders.

The small key was aligned with the keyhole and it went in perfectly, even though they were clearly mismatched.

"Remember, when you turn it, recite the Spell Words, any language will do—World Tree Blesses Me in Time.

Mr. Hamilton, see you in three seconds. Please relax, the Academy has especially investigated that, in the year 1068 of the Fifth Era, nothing dangerous happened; it is very safe. Cherish your first journey through time; it will be a memorable and interesting trip."

"Okay, see you in three seconds, Professor Garcia."

With unease in his heart, Shard gently turned the wooden key in his hand, murmuring:

"May the World Tree bless me in time."

There was a click, but obviously, there was no way his own bedroom door lock could produce such a sound.

Shard took a deep breath and finally opened the door.

But behind the door was not the tired orange cat Mia and the bedroom. Wispy white fog moved slowly behind the door frame; behind was the Mist Gate shrouded in hazy white fog.

He swallowed, hearing Professor Garcia's encouragement once more, with his mind on the cat, he bravely stepped through.