Chapter 1230: Chapter 1230: Guardians
“This is it, the divine item – the Butterfly Summoning Flute, which can enhance my sorcery effects.”
Shard tightly clutched the slightly cold metallic silver flute, the joy within him fluttering like butterflies dancing in his heart. Although the power of the [Butterfly Summoning Flute] was far less than that of the divine creation [God’s Gift Box], this object was equally suitable for him.
Despite some twists and turns, finding the target in a single day was indeed smooth. Hundreds of bright red butterflies flew out from his sleeve, enough to envelop the entire church in an illusion, and the butterflies trailing red light traces settled at various places in the church, with candles nearly extinguished, lighting up every corner of the church.
The enhancement in illusion technique extended the time he could maintain the “Red Butterfly” form.
Miss Benanis watched the fluttering butterflies, then took out two palm-sized gray stone tablets from inside the coffin:
“Let me see this… ordinary item, it should be the special material that prevents it from being devoured… language of the Fifth Era… oh? Left by the Witch Empress at the end of the Fifth Era?”
Admiring his own illusion technique, Shard looked at her unexpectedly:
“Wait, the time when Sister Perry died is still hundreds of years away from the end of the Fifth Era.”
“Yes, hold on, let me see… at the end of the Fifth Era, the Witch Empress ruling this area discovered this hidden church graveyard and came here. She equally couldn’t completely eliminate the pollution here, as this place is different from ordinary ‘Crazy Earth,’ she reinforced the seal, reported it to the Council, and left this stone tablet. I see, it says that the black mud would devour everything but won’t affect ordinary stones and mud, so this stone tablet could remain intact.”
This shows that the extravagant and debauched Witch Empresses were still quite useful, including sealing the Interstice of Life and Death in Sicarl Mountain; they did many things unknown to this era but extremely important.
“It briefly explains the issue of the Crazy Earth in Randall Valley and predicts that the problem will worsen. The series of ancient god divine arts, Power of the Earth, are the most effective methods against such problems.”
Miss Benanis said, slightly frowning as she read the stone tablet’s content:
“So that’s why your [Power of the Earth: Healing Aura] is so effective… the last part of this text… a fragment of a poem chapter?”
“Miss Galina told me about the matter of the Chosen, you know, I also know Sister Delphine. What does it say?”
Shard felt a thrill inside, as Miss Benanis translated those words:
“The Chosen of the Earth… at this place… ceremony time, at the turn of winter and spring…”
Shard was already aware of this; he even knew the time at the turn of winter and spring because “Feast of the Earth Mother Goddess” needed to be held at that time for the best effect.
“Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
She showed the stone tablet to Shard, then said quite apologetically:
“This is a relic of the Witch Empress, to the Council…”
“It belongs to you; we ventured together, and the spoils of war should be equally divided.”
Shard said, then looked at the last object. It was a pure white hand bone, etched with dense golden letters. This item held an exceedingly heavy element of miracle, being the core of the entire sealing. Crossing two eras to trap these black muds here; apart from the unknown Witch Empress’s later help, this hand bone was the crucial part.
Naturally, if no accidents occurred, it was also the last remains of the voluntarily sacrificed “Saint Perry Sister.”
Out of respect, Miss Benanis let Shard pick it up. When Shard lifted it from the coffin, the voice of an elderly woman echoed once more in the church.
Shard and Miss Benanis turned their heads, only to find that the elderly woman in the nun’s robe was sitting in the first row of chairs in the hall.
The aged face smiled warmly at Shard:
“It records the learning method of [Power of the Earth: Abundant Field]. My hand bone is a one-time material for ritual studies, possessing this divine art; it can boost the growth of nearby plants. Of course, its most crucial role is that in the range of the Crazy Earth, all creatures within a certain area centered on oneself are immune to environmental influences and can avoid those black muds. However, unfortunately, it merely protects, not dispels thoroughly like you.”
This equated to creating a “safe zone” that moves with oneself. For the “Evil Spirit: Crazy Earth” area Shard and Miss Lathis encountered in the manor, this spell was almost useless. But for the “Petrification: Mad Earth” they encountered during the day, it was quite useful.
“Are you leaving?”
The witch asked softly, and the old woman smiled and shook her head:
“I mentioned half an hour ago, I had already left, what you see of me is merely an obsession, a memory. I’m very grateful to you for thoroughly solving the problem before making a big mess here. All items in this church belong to you, and this is among the few rewards I can offer.”
This church seemed dilapidated, but it still held some previous era decorations; that coffin and the eight chains were also quite unusual.
“You are the one truly worthy of respect; may the Earth be with you and me.”
The witch placed her right hand on her left shoulder and slightly bowed to express her respect. Then, she heard a language she completely did not understand:
“Mr. Hamilton, after a millennium, I didn’t expect you to help me once more. Before I died, I had often wondered who would be the one to finally solve the problem.”
The language of the Fifth Era, and with a very heavy accent. Even though Miss Benanis had studied ancient languages, she could not discern what was being said due to the accent and speed.
Shard showed a relieved expression; indeed, Sister Perry still remembered him:
“So, who was the final victor?”
He asked the question he was most curious about, but Sister Perry slightly shook her head as her body gradually became transparent. This place had been purified, and her mission was complete:
“The outcome is interesting, you can enjoy the pleasure of knowing it yourself. But I can tell you, that Mr. Lyman was also finally buried in this valley. When I died, I was one hundred twenty-three years old, and by then his family was already thriving here.”
Among the three attendees of the Butterfly God’s banquet, the nun belonged to this parish, and Miss Blanchett the Witch believed in the Forgotten Old Man. It was unexpected that Mr. Lyman, who had no connection to this place, was also finally buried here.
“Mr. Lyman left something for you in the cemetery as well.”
The elderly Sister Perry said softly:
“When he died of heart failure at 63, he entrusted me with the care of his family. Even now, I can sense that his family continues to thrive in this city. If you feel it’s necessary, you can seek out that item; it will also be very useful to you.”
“Thank you.”
Shard said solemnly, but the old woman smiled and shook her head, and her speech reverted to the present Carsonrick General Language of the Sixth Era:
“Young ones, there are two more things you need to know.
First, apart from me, there are others secretly guarding this city. Even though we cannot fully resolve the issues, I can sense that there are others, a group of people, silently doing something. They are the true guardians of the Randall Valley. If you wish to do something, you can try to find them.”
“Are there other allies here?”
Shard suspected that the man who gave him the “Power of the Earth” in the Emerald Dream was one of them.
“Also, around five hundred years ago, a very malevolent force arrived in this place. I find it difficult to tell you exactly what it is, but it is extremely powerful, extremely cunning, and extremely patient. You must be careful, they know the location of my grave but have never actively probed it. However, I know that they use the ‘petrified rose’ as their symbol. If you encounter it, do not confront them directly.”
The ancient Randall Valley likely still holds other secrets.
“Thank you.”
Miss Benanis said softly, and the old nun shook her head once more:
“No, it is I who should thank you. Witches of the Sixth Era, may you go further than your predecessors.”
The old nun’s body was almost entirely transparent, and she looked at Shard one last time with a reminiscent expression:
“Thank you, for everything you’ve done. May the Sun and Earth be with you… The path ahead may not be easy, but… thank you.”
The light points dispersed, and Sister Saint Perry completely vanished, leaving only a metal Sun-patterned holy emblem on that chair. The power contained in that emblem was even stronger than the hand bone.
“So, it wasn’t just Sister Perry, but Mr. Lyman also left the Worm Cave alive.”
Shard thought to himself and then realized that the witch beside him was still watching him:
“She addressed you with honorifics.”
“Let’s discuss other matters after we leave.”
Shard said, and Miss Benanis nodded suspiciously, remembering that Miss Galina said Shard had many secrets of his own.
Shard softly gestured, and the glowing holy emblem on the bench flew into his hand under the guidance of sorcery. The style of the holy emblem of the True God, the Lantern Bearer, has never changed, and this Sun Holy Emblem from the Fifth Era is the most powerful holy emblem Shard has encountered so far.
He even believed that with just a simple ritual centered around the holy emblem, it would suffice to temporarily create a sanctuary using its power. This is not only the power of that True God but also the power left by “Sister Saint Perry.”
The encounter between Shard and this respectable middle-aged nun in the Fifth Era has not yet ended, but her conclusion had already been witnessed by Shard. Despite countless reflections on stories and time across the currents of time, a sigh was inevitable at this moment.
The fluttering red butterflies were recalled by him, and the pollution expelled allowed the power of the Deity to return here. Although it was still winter, green shoots and small flowers broke through the brick crevices on the ground. Next year, this place would probably be abloom. Only the nun who had always been here would not witness it.