Chapter 1239: Chapter 1239: Stories, Bloodlines, and Osenfort
“””After lunch, Shard did not leave Milestone immediately, but sat down with Grace and Helen to chat again.
When Mia is full, she exhibits traits of softness and warmth, currently dozing comfortably on Shard’s lap. This cat’s life is as pleasant as ever.
“I have found it.”
The silver flute, adorned with delicate butterfly patterns, was taken out by Shard:
“Butterfly Summoning Flute, obtained early Tuesday morning, thanks to the help of the Grand Witch of Randall Valley.”
Helen and Grace each examined the flute and marveled at it. In the current Sixth Era, there are not many divine artifacts left.
“Does this flute enhance your powers? Will it affect the recovery of injuries and Whisper Power?”
Shard asked his question, and the two young women exchanged a glance. Helen, dressed in a black dress, shook her head slightly:
“Sir, this is not a Relic. The Miracle Element will only help us further suppress the revival of the Whisper Element. So, it will not affect us and can even suppress the return of Relic Power.”
“That’s good, I’ll leave the flute with you for now.”
Shard breathed a sigh of relief. He was always worried that Grace and Helen might soon turn back into complete Relics. Compared to himself, the Red Butterfly maidens needed this flute more.
“But sir…”
“It’s just a loan to you. If I need it, I will take it back.”
Shard interrupted Grace’s words and said again when she wanted to say something else:
“I’ve already met the Butterfly God for the second time…”
They understood the meaning of this sentence.
“The first time was to offer a song, the second time was to offer a poem. The next time is my final trip to that time point, but I don’t know what the Butterfly Deity will ask us to offer last.”
Helen hesitated, clutching her skirt, while Grace softly said:
“Perhaps it’s a story.”
Shard, having told many stories to deities, wasn’t surprised by this:
“Telling stories of the Earth and butterflies? That’s interesting.”
He nodded and voiced their thoughts as Grace and Helen looked at him with growing hesitation:
“So, it was me who told your story to the Butterfly Deity, leading the Old God to find you later and help you? Then, at this point in time, you told me what happened in the past, letting me confirm that I indeed told your story.”
Grace looked around uneasily, worried as if something terrifying might suddenly leap from the air to seize them:
“Sir… It’s best not to… disrupt the continuity of time.”
“I haven’t disrupted anything, I’ve just spoken about what’s about to happen.”
Shard said as he petted the cat:
“I know that even though the Tree Father has gone, he left behind forces to maintain time stability. But don’t worry about that. As long as I don’t go too far in my time adventures, the Tree Father won’t punish us.”
The two young women nodded, but still looked somewhat uneasy. They had likely witnessed firsthand what happens to those who tamper with time.
“So, next time I just need to offer a poem to the deity and tell your story? ”
“Perhaps He will make a separate request to you.”
When it comes to deities, even the Red Butterfly Twins are very cautious:
“Since it’s a banquet, one must do what is expected at a banquet… Those three mortals are to offer songs, poems, and stories, but that is their requirement. To you… The Old God may propose another test at the end.”
That possibility can’t be ruled out, but what will happen then still needs to wait until Sunday to find out.
Shard, already having a final guess about this somewhat easygoing Time Key, did not dwell on it further. He thought for a moment and suddenly asked:
“Speaking of which, since you’ve investigated my past, have I ever been to the Karas Mountain area? Especially in the past three years, have I been near there?”
The topic changed too quickly, and Grace thought for a moment before giving her answer:
“You probably haven’t.”
“””
Shard nodded:
“Well, have I ever been involved with the Truth Society? Oh, I mean, during the time when my mind had issues.”
After all, the tower at Karas Mountain collapsed in the spring, which was directly related to the Truth Society.
“No, you had no affiliations with the Transcendent and the mysterious before this.”
Grace said with certainty, Shard lowered his eyes, subconsciously looking at her white long cotton socks. So, the past issues with his body were indeed significant. If even a fully functional humanoid Angelic Level (Level 1) relic couldn’t detect the problem, it was truly troublesome.
Grace and Helen noticed Shard was pondering, so they didn’t interrupt him, although Grace’s face turned a bit red. But being the elder sister, Grace was usually bolder than Helen… at least outwardly, thus she slightly relaxed the muscles in her legs, allowing Shard to “see” more.
Helen noticed her small movement, thinking about whether she should also try white clothes. Shard then asked again:
“Speaking of which, is there any accurate way to determine individual bloodlines or race? At least, to ascertain whether one is a pure human.”
“Of course there is, because mixed bloodlines among various races during the Fourth Era chaos led to thin alien bloodlines appearing among ordinary humans starting from the Fifth Era. Therefore, witches in the Fifth Era developed many methods to detect whether one is a pure human.”
Helen said, guessing what Shard intended to do:
“You suspect your body isn’t a normal human? Yes, that’s possible… The ritual preparation takes too long, and judgments by Arcane Technique or Alchemical Items can be flawed. Better use relics, my sister and I are more familiar with that.”
“Scribe Level (Level 4) relic, the Statue of the Sorrowful Nurse, it has the highest accuracy.”
Grace said, then asked Helen:
“The statue is still in that ruin, right?”
“Yes, it was there at least four hundred years ago.”
Helen nodded and said to Shard again:
“Let Zina send someone to fetch it. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be delivered by the weekend, sir, you can come again on Sunday.”
“Zina” is Granny Cassandra’s name, only Grace and Helen can call the Old Witch this way.
“Alright, I’ll come again over the weekend.”
Shard said with some anxiety and sighed while stroking the cat:
“Do you know the Divine Arts of the Ancient God [Earth Mother Goddess], [Power of the Earth]?”
Grace thought for a moment:
“Yes, I have heard of it. But in this era, we don’t know who possesses such power. The divine arts of Ancient Gods have limited inheritance. Perhaps the Sun and Earth Church still grasps it.”
Shard was originally worried that the Red Butterfly Twins might also have the [Power of the Earth], but it seemed he was overthinking. Grace and Helen had endured enough hardships, and he didn’t want to involve them in the epic of the Chosen One for any reason.
Shard did not stay at Midshire Fort for long. After leaving the lazy Mia home to nap, he used the afternoon to visit Randall Valley City, planning to return the ring he found to Mr. Ston Osenfort. Although, he was more eager to find out what exactly was wrong with this stranger.
The Osenfort Family has only risen among wealthy merchant families in recent years, so the family estate is not like Earl Granger’s in the city, but in the Northern Suburbs of Randall Valley Town.
Although there are connecting paths, the distance is somewhat far, so Shard went to Wilder Opera House to borrow a horse from Miss Benanis. But unfortunately, Miss Benanis had gone to see Margaret, and Deputy Director Miss Lathis was there.
This young lady had a favorable impression of Shard. Upon hearing he wanted to borrow a horse, she agreed right away, even asking if Shard needed to borrow a carriage.
“No need for a carriage, I just want to visit Mr. Osenfort outside the town.”
“Ston Osenfort?”
Miss Lathis asked with some surprise, raising her eyebrows and showing a slightly displeased expression. Of course, this demeanor was not aimed at Shard.
“Yes, Miss Benanis doesn’t have much of an impression of this family, do you know them?”
“Vanessa isn’t local, but I am. The Osenfort Family, about over three hundred years ago, was a minor noble in the area, with a baron title, said to be distant kin of some Grand Noble in Velindale City. About a hundred years ago, they lost their title, the family declined, and members gradually left the place. The father of the current Ston Osenfort was once a sailor on Casenli inland river ships. Ston Osenfort returned about five years ago, engaging in… some unsavory business, probably just gang activities. Later, he somehow became successful in business, married his childhood sweetheart, and bought back the family’s old estate, which is where you’re heading.”
“That’s quite an inspiring story.”
Shard commented simply, while Miss Lathis shook her head:
“Mr. Hamilton, you best not have too much interaction with him. His business is illegal, more than mere smuggling, involving some explicitly forbidden trades with big figures in the Royal Capital. And even as a wealthy merchant, he still controls some of his old thugs.”
She wasn’t worried about ordinary people harming Shard but concerned he’d “go astray.” Although Shard’s body is over twenty years old, he’s still two years younger than Miss Lathis, and even further from Miss Benanis:
“Being responsible for Golden Dawn’s external affairs, I know more than most. Despite at yesterday’s banquet Ston Osenfort and Prince William Anjou seemed unfamiliar, most smuggling and illegal item transport trades Osenfort handles are related to this prince. There’s even reason to believe Prince William Anjou’s visit to Randall Valley is also connected to Osenfort, though we don’t know what they’re planning.”