Chapter 1384: Chapter 1384: Crystal Shoes

“In any case, if you need my assistance in the near future, just come to the association to find me. Once Iluna arrives, we will discuss the plan in more detail. The current poem chapters are still insufficient; we only know that a banquet needs to be held, but we’re not yet sure if the banquet venue has any specific requirements.”

Luviya continued speaking.

“Shall we try the coins?”

Shard asked.

“Let’s save them for now; it’s not yet the most critical moment.”

Luviya shook her head, then mentioned last night’s events:

“Your teacher, Miss Danester, came to see me, around nine o’clock.”

She didn’t notice that Shard had actually been there once:

“The professors from Zaras Literary Academy arrived during the Eldron Lake incident. The professors from Xerxes will be here this afternoon. With this, all the professors from the Three Major Academies have arrived locally, and it’s highly likely the church will organize a major operation soon.”

“What did Miss Danester say to you last night?”

Shard asked curiously, the girl with purple eyes smiled:

“She conveyed that a certain gentleman far away in Tobesk misses me very much.”

Shard showed a reserved expression:

“I do miss you very much.”

“Meow~”

Mia also meowed.

“Additionally, Miss Danester told me I won’t be able to return to Tobesk until at least the spring. This time, it’s not due to work; the situation in Randall Valley is quite complicated, and local Circle Sorcerers cannot leave lightly. The pollution of the Earth spreads to distant areas through travelers’ footsteps, and Circle Sorcerers have an even greater impact. Therefore, for the safety of Tobesk, it’s best if I stay here until things are resolved.”

Nothing new happened throughout Saturday. In a meeting in the afternoon, Shard informed the others, like the doctor, that Luviya would have to stay in Randall Valley for at least half a month, and everyone merely regretted that Luviya would miss half of Tobesk’s winter.

After the meeting ended, Shard stayed behind to discuss demons with the doctor. The focus was, of course, on Ston Osenfort and the demon contract.

The doctor was quite cautious:

“You’re right in your judgment; he certainly didn’t disclose the entire process of the contract, but what he did reveal should be true. Based on my understanding of Goethe, regarding how to claim Osenfort’s soul, the second half of the contract likely isn’t just ‘a power other than the demon kills the Contractor with immortality’; it should include other stringent conditions… like, killing him while standing on the moon or under the sun at night.”

“Then what benefit does a demon get from signing such a stringent contract?”

Shard asked in confusion:

“Is it bored with a peaceful life and deliberately seeking excitement?”

“It wants mortals to feel that they’re getting the better end of the deal in the contract, otherwise, who in their right mind would genuinely make a deal with a demon?”

The doctor retorted, well-versed in demons’ tricks:

“But in reality, demons skilled in manipulating clauses have ways to achieve those seemingly impossible things. For instance, if the clause is truly ‘on the moon, kill the immortal Ston Osenfort with a power other than Goethe,’ then that demon will surely lure Osenfort to an area with moon motifs.”

Shard nodded, slightly understanding:

“So, Osenfort not telling me all the contract terms might ultimately lead to his death. After all, I have no idea how to avoid doing that.”

“But if he told you all the terms of the contract, you’d practically have a means to kill him.”

The doctor laughed, the smile on his face contrasting with his earnest gaze:

“You have the power of choice, Stone Mirror Demon: Goethe has the power of choice, only Osenfort lacks the power to make choices. That’s why I said not to casually make deals with demons; there’s no benefit in it.”

On Saturday evening, Dorothy, as usual, conducted the fairy tale storytelling session for Shard at No. 6, Saint Delan Square. But before this session, Shard brought out the newly acquired Roder Card, [Ancient Fairy Tale: Cinderella].

Miss Writer, while ‘teasing’ Shard for not forgetting to play cards with others despite being out of town, was also curious about what Shard intended to inquire.

“Regarding the story of ‘Grey’s Crystal Shoes,’ we’ve studied most of the popular versions so far. This ancient fairy tale has intrigued me ever since I first heard you mention it.”

The two sat across the desk talking, and as Shard set down the card in his hand, behind him a Ring of Fate slowly appeared, the sound of a steam whistle and bell causing Mia to tilt her head inquisitively:

“Enlightenment – The Little Match Girl, Kiss of the Tree, Sleeping Princess, Water of Wisdom.”

As he sequentially recited his Spirit Runes, four brass-colored Enlightenment Spirit Runes shimmered with radiance. The light from the four Spirit Runes connected in sequence on the Ring of Fate, as though an additional copper-colored light band was attached to the ring itself.

Shard narrowed his eyes slightly, then the previously bright light in the study suddenly dimmed. Iluna set down the book she was holding, reached out to catch the falling snow, then looked up at the ceiling that seemed to be “melting”. Half of the ceiling had disappeared, revealing a magnificent starry sky and the holy Silvermoon.

The furnishings in the study did not disappear; instead, they blended with the blurred street scene of a snowy night. Because Shard’s four maze locks formed an extremely large composite maze lock, the spellcasting requirements were further raised. Thus, even at the level of Five Rings, Shard still couldn’t fully wield the power of any single maze lock in normal circumstances:

“I suspect that Cinderella is also a story I brought to the Fifth Era.”

He voiced his judgment and then picked up the Roder Card again. With a gentle toss, the red butterfly swarm carried the card to the far end of the street. The dancing red butterflies on the snowy night brought out a flowing light, and the crimson glow, accompanied by the butterfly swarm, constructed the pumpkin carriage from Shard’s imagination in the distance.

Dorothy tilted her head to watch this scene:

“Interesting, is Shard’s Fairy Tale Kingdom expanding again?”

She joked:

“When it comes to the secrets of time, don’t discuss with me, as I don’t understand it as well as you do. Shard, what do you want to discuss with me?”

“If I really obtained a maze lock, what kind of power would this maze lock have?”

As the illusion and maze lock faded into light particles, Dorothy fell into thought again:

“My Inner Ring Ascension Words, ‘In the castle of night, only time can bar the blessed Princess,’ are based on this story. The effect of the Ascension Words calls upon the shapeshifting Princess and can also create a barrier of time. During the duration of the Ascension Words, the closer you are to me, the slower time flows until it completely pauses upon touching my body.”

This wasn’t an offensive spell, but it was absolutely a perfect defense.

“Time pause?”

Shard mused, while Dorothy reminded him:

“This is just one approach, remember, the most important thing about a fairy tale is not the content, but the meaning. For you, compassion, courage, sacrifice, and wisdom make up the first four maze locks. From compassion comes the desire, from courage comes the sealing of evil, from sacrifice comes the exchange of life, and from wisdom comes learning from the opponent. Shard, what do you believe Cinderella/Grey’s Crystal Shoes/Princess on the Pumpkin Carriage represents?”

Shard didn’t answer, so Miss Writer provided a hint:

“Frugality, saving time? Humility, not being overly flamboyant? Hope, never giving up in adversity? Or perhaps love, pursuing one’s true love throughout the kingdom?”

Shard shook his head slightly; these didn’t seem to match his understanding.

Dorothy comforted him:

“Since you haven’t told this story in the past, there’s no need to overthink it now. Just keep learning from me, and when you truly obtain the maze lock, you can save the process of understanding the story. I’ll find time this week to write down that story for you, so you can use it as spellcasting materials.”

Shard’s maze lock’s first activation requires burning parchment inscribed with the story. Subsequent activations perform better with the parchment but are less effective without it.

“That sounds good.”

“Also, perhaps interacting with related artifacts can help you better understand the story. This was supposed to be next week’s lesson, and Lecia was too shy to let me tell you in advance, but no harm in sharing now—we have prepared a pair of crystal shoes for you.”

Dorothy said with a smile, and Shard suddenly looked up at her in horror:

“Me? Crystal shoes? No, I definitely won’t wear them! Nothing you say will make me, not even if I can’t learn the maze lock!”

In the light of the gas lamp, the blonde, blue-eyed girl smiled radiantly:

“Shard, what are you thinking? They’re Lecia’s crystal shoes, her ninth birthday gift. Gosh, some princess treatment she had.”

“Nine years old?”

“Yes, so even she can’t wear them anymore, let alone you? But don’t expect me to tell you Lecia’s current shoe size.”

“Don’t I already know?”

Shard said with curiosity:

“Your shoe size and Lecia’s, I…”

“Ahem.”

Miss Writer’s face suddenly flushed red:

“Mr. Hamilton, I’m your female tutor; what are you saying?”

Although she scolded Shard, she found herself looking forward to the nights after lessons even more:

“Getting back on track, it was only during the period when I had just exchanged stories with Lecia, hearing about her past, that I learned about this. In fact, two weeks ago, I suggested that she should bring out those shoes as our learning tool, but she flat-out refused, so shy.”

A girl’s feet are private parts second only to those unmentionable areas, so bringing out shoes, especially childhood ones, is nearly as revealing as using undiscussed garments as learning materials.

Hearing this, Shard burst into laughter too.