20demayo Chapter 1986: Three People
Chapter 1986: Three People
The atmosphere of the banquet was very lively. Although there were no meals, at least there was champagne. When the ladies with trays each dispersed, Miss Benanis was complained about by the other Grand Witches for asking Ciris how much a piece of cake at night would make her gain weight. Iluna also ate her piece of cake and then found Shard with a wine glass:
"Thank you for the birthday gift, I am very happy tonight, you are all very kind."
After clinking glasses with Shard, she was so excited that she drank all the wine at once, and accidentally choked. Luviya helplessly patted her back, and Shard, having just retrieved Mia from Tifa, then asked with concern:
"When does the Church plan to have you return to Tobesk?"
"Soon, within this week. I am not responsible for this kind of follow-up work. If it weren’t for having too much contact with the God Summoner this time and needing to submit a detailed report, I could actually leave now. But next Monday, you will definitely see me in Tobesk."
Luviya nodded, glancing back at the direction where the Grand Witches were gathered:
"About the Green Lake battle, we’ll have a detailed discussion after you return. Although we’re cooperating with the Witch Council now, some things the witches can know, while some things are still decided by us three. Also, you did very well this time, Iluna. Without you, it would have been very difficult for Shard to handle this matter alone."
The birthday girl immediately puffed up her chest slightly, but then restrained her expression:
"Okay, I also have a lot to discuss with you. Oh, and the gift the Church promised to the God Summoner, I’ve already heard from the church. Should it be given directly to the Witch Council, or should Shard try to contact the Church directly?"
"Let the Witch Council handle it."
Shard said, looking up at the night sky above with Luviya and Iluna. March had already emerged, and above the island with not much light, the star ocean was vast, and the starlight was brilliant:
"Every time a story of the Chosen ends, I can relax a bit in my mind. But this time, I feel particularly heavy-hearted."
"Because Laplace Howard left something to you?"
Luviya asked, while Iluna curiously looked at Shard as well.
Shard shook his head slightly:
"I’ve received a bunch of things for free, I should be happy about it... It’s probably because it feels like there are more challenges ahead. He told me some things, and I’m not sure of their truth. When I get back to Tobesk, I want to have a detailed talk with you both."
Regarding the apocalypse matters, Iluna and Luviya needed to know.
They nodded together, and Shard suddenly asked:
"Speaking of which, Luviya, can you still find the Special Coins recently? The Diviner left a method to solve the Dorothy and Lecia issues, and I want you to do a divination to confirm its truth. He gave me some Alchemical Cards, which I think might be useful."
The girl with purple eyes gently shook her head:
"I’ve said before, don’t rely on Special Divination for everything. Go ask that pair of Red Butterfly Sisters, they’ll be able to help you."
Shard nodded lightly but couldn’t see Grace and Helen anymore. They didn’t like interacting with others much, probably took the cake and went elsewhere.
"What kind of person do you think Laplace Klein Howard was?"
Iluna suddenly asked, seeing Shard and Luviya look at her, she embarrassedly explained:
"I just suddenly thought of this question. I’m already eighteen; I’ve long understood that in this world, there are no absolutely good or bad people, only children think that way. But that Diviner... he’s different from everyone we’ve met before, he seems genuinely looking for a way out for this world, even if defeated by Shard, facing death, he still left everything behind, becoming the stepping stone for a new ’Savior.’"
"No, no, I’m not a Savior."
Shard quickly shook his head, touching the head of Mia on his shoulder, this cat was still sulking because Shard hadn’t given it any cake earlier:
"I prefer to describe it this way: we are all exploring the truth of this world; he took the wrong path, but before perishing, he gave me his remaining kindling flame, allowing me to go further."
Luviya then said:
"Reflecting and summarizing is indeed very necessary, as for your question, Iluna, you need to find the answer yourself. Time will prove everything, after a decade, two decades, or centuries, you’ll naturally understand what he was to us, to this world. Of course, from my current perspective, he wasn’t a good person, nor was he someone as bad as Ivan Daknis."
Iluna nodded thoughtfully, and Shard added with a smile:
"He died a normal death, so theoretically, in my house’s third-floor ’Soul Graveyard’ or in the ’True Death,’ his soul can be summoned. If you’re really curious about him, you can go to those places, call him out and talk to him."
Luviya and Iluna both smiled, the girl with purple eyes even teased:
"Just like what you did with Sparrow Hamilton?"
"No, no, I didn’t mean to disturb him; those were all accidents... Speaking of which, I still haven’t seen where Durut Giles has gone. Is he still in the Edwards’ Old House?"
"Yes, reportedly in the room where Laster Edwards once lived."
Luviya turned her head to look in the direction of the distant town:
"I don’t want to describe his relationship with Laster Edwards in specific terms, but... he’s a very passionate man."
Iluna asked Shard:
"You sought the Heart of the Undead from the Church to prevent this kind of thing from happening, right? The Heart of the Undead lets you permanently bring out a soul through the Soul Graveyard into True Death."
Luviya slightly frowned, wanting to speak but couldn’t bring herself to, so Shard spoke for her:
"But if I do this, how am I different from Joey Barton back then?"
Iluna wanted to say that Shard used normal methods, and methods allowed by the Ancient God, so it wouldn’t cause the Interstice of Life and Death to go out of control. But she too frowned slightly, realizing that the Chosen of Balance understood that Shard was not talking about methods, but about the balance between life and death, wondering if it was truly worth breaking it.
"Shard always thinks so much, it’s truly impressive... but you must have a way, right?"
She asked with anticipation, and when she saw Shard nod, she smiled. Iluna too enjoyed stories with happy endings, even if it wasn’t her own story.
"Then let’s have a toast together, to celebrate Iluna’s eighteenth birthday."
Luviya proposed. Iluna quickly grabbed another glass of wine, seeing Shard and Luviya both looking at her with anticipation, she coughed twice and said:
"I hope that every year in the future, we can celebrate like this. May we walk together to the end, and may the story of Whispering Verses also have a beautiful ending."
The three clinked glasses, the crisp sound of glass clashing did not echo too far under the night sky, but the glasses already reflected each of their smiling faces.
Shard felt he might have guessed the wish Iluna just made, maybe correctly, maybe wrongly, but it didn’t matter.
"Seeing this scene, do you still wonder, if you were the first lady to meet Shard, how things would be now?"
Standing by the table with the cake, Miss Aphrola asked Miss Galina beside her, while everyone else was drinking champagne, only they were drinking red wine.
The Red-Haired Witch shook her head noncommittally:
"It’s meaningless to think about things that can’t happen. Besides, being satisfied with what you have, rather than constantly longing for what you can’t have, makes it easier to feel happiness."
"You’ve changed a lot compared to before."
Miss Aphrola commented meaningfully, and Miss Galina did not deny it:
"Who do you think will be next after Megan and Audrey?"
This topic also piqued Miss Aphrola’s interest. She looked at the moon in the sky:
"No, no, it shouldn’t be her."
"Nor would it be His Excellency the Speaker, stories always say the strongest enemy should be left for last."
"It’s not good to speak of the Speaker as ’the enemy’, but you’re right, it’s best if the Speaker finds out about this last. Galina, you’ve also noticed, once Shard befriends and ’enchants’ another Grand Witch, we’ll have seven people on our side."
Miss Aphrola said softly, Miss Galina’s lips curled into a perfect arc, but it was Miss Benanis, who walked up behind her, who expressed what they wanted to say:
"The number of witches around the Knight is about to exceed half."
Miss Aphrola swirled her wine glass gently, Miss Galina suddenly asked the two:
"Speaking of which, while guarding the inn, I was knocked out by the coma gas of the Astral Meteorite and saw my greatest nightmare. Do you want to see what my weakness is?"
The two Grand Witches nodded in curiosity:
"Of course, but what could possibly scare you?"
"Let Miss Ciris Lathes help me share the memory."
The Duchess said with a smile, as if she wasn’t even discussing her fear. She was curious to see how the witches would react to this.
Iluna couldn’t stay there for long. After having some cake, she had to leave, so Luviya planned to wait until they all returned to Tobesk to give her a private three-person birthday party at No. 6, Saint Delan Square, also as a celebration for the end of the Battle of Green Lake.
Though Iluna kept declining, even Mia could see she was actually happier than anyone else.
But before Iluna left, Luviya found an excuse to leave, allowing her to have a moment alone with Shard. After watching Luviya’s back as she departed, Iluna looked at Shard in formal wear holding a wine glass, and for a moment she didn’t know what to say.