Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"It’s okay, we’re all here. Encountering two Relics in one week, including the Cursed Letter, is indeed unusual. Don’t worry, we’ll help you solve the problem."

Shard, who was being hugged, quickly said, and gestured to Dorothy or Luviya to "rescue" him. Luviya was considering whether Emilia was like Iluna, one of The Chosen One, but with a glance, she knew it wasn’t the case. Dorothy, trying to lighten the mood, joked:

"Could Emilia have caught bad luck from the doctor? Emilia, you don’t know, but our team’s leader, Dr. Schneider, is notoriously unlucky."

"But the doctor said last week that he’s going out of town for an academic conference this week, so he’s probably not in Tobesk right now."

Shard added, as Emilia held the cat tightly and looked down at him:

"Shard, let’s solve your problem first. I’m fine... as long as you all stay with me."

So the sofa and other furniture were moved back to their original places. Once Emilia’s emotions stabilized, Shard talked about his situation:

"For some reasons, I turned into a dragon about three hours ago. It gave me a new Transformation Spell, but the problem is I can’t change back."

The silver cat, sitting on the coffee table, transformed into a Butterfly Swarm within the silver mass of light before switching back immediately. The girls were gathered around the coffee table, while Mia was being held by Dorothy. It seemed ready to leap from Dorothy’s arms at any moment.

"I don’t have a Transformation Spell for humans, but I can turn into a cat or even butterflies. I won’t demonstrate turning into a dragon here since the space is limited. That’s the situation, Emilia, do you have any ideas?"

The Elf Girl pondered for a moment, then said:

"Yes, I have an idea.

Before the Circle Sorcerer System existed, there was an ancient profession in the Elf’s legacy, the ’Druid’. Druids can master the way to transform into other beings by being close to Nature and Beasts. However, sometimes the Transformation Spell fails, rendering them unable to change back, or their mindset becomes that of a Beast. I’ve read similar records; using specific Magic Potion can help transform back. Your situation seems similar."

She thought again and hesitated, then said:

"But this Magic Potion must be used with another precious restorative Relic to work. You know, most Elves believe in the ancient Tree God, so the Relic is... Poet-Level Relic: Leaf of Eternal Youth."

The girls finally breathed a sigh of relief. The last leaf in Shard’s hand had already been given to Megan and Audrey, but they both had a leaf that Shard previously gifted them.

"No problem, this leaf isn’t particularly precious to us."

Luviya said as she took out the leaf she carried with her from her pocket, only to find Dorothy also taking out hers. They exchanged a glance, and from each other’s eyes, they could see the same question:

"Why are you carrying the leaf out with you?"

In the end, they decided to use Dorothy’s leaf. After Shard completed the "Sea of Darkness" key in his hand, they could give her another one. As for the Elf’s Magic Potion, Emilia wrote a letter to her home to request it through a poem paper page. What specific excuse she made up, Shard didn’t know, but the brown Potion soon appeared in front of him.

"Since in the off-campus practice activities, the poem paper page of your three-person team is in your hand, why didn’t you ask for help from home or school when encountering danger just now?"

Dorothy didn’t forget to curiously ask the pointy-eared Elf Girl, who mumbled without knowing how to answer, not wanting to end the "holiday" and return to school so soon.

The step to transform back to human shape using the Magic Potion is simple, requiring the user to swallow the Potion while chewing the leaf into pieces. To prevent other unforeseen circumstances, Shard Cat initially planned to act immediately in Emilia’s room, but was stopped by Luviya:

"Use the Magic Potion after going home."

Judging by her expression, she seemed to have other plans.

As Shard and the other two were about to leave, Emilia, feeling embarrassed, lowered her head and said:

"It’s really late now; we can solve my problem tomorrow. But tonight, I’m too scared to sleep alone in the room. Can I come with you? I won’t cause any trouble; I can sleep anywhere. When I stayed overnight in the Unicorn stable, a handful of grass was enough for me."

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Shard certainly wouldn’t refuse. So Emilia left a note for her two companions, then went to her room to pack her clothes.

Only then did Luviya ask the cat in Dorothy’s arms:

"Shard, I remember there’s an old camera at home in the basement?"

"Yes, a second-hand one bought from the Steam Bird Daily Office."

"Dorothy, can you operate that camera?"

"Sure."

"Alright, after we get back, you guys head over to Green Island, have Shard transform into a dragon, and take a picture for me. I want to see what kind of dragon it is."

By the time the three humans and two cats returned to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, it was already eleven o’clock at night. Shard felt relieved that his neighbors were already asleep at this hour, or else, if someone saw three young ladies visiting late at night, his reputation might become even more peculiar.

Luviya, citing that Emilia couldn’t stay overnight alone at Shard’s home, decided to stay over along with Dorothy. The Elf Girl was grateful for their concern for her.

While Emilia was in the bathroom freshening up, Shard and Dorothy quickly went to Green Island to take the picture. When the dragon, whose scales had a moonlight-like sanctity in silvery hue, appeared on the open grounds in front of Green Lake Hotel, not only Dorothy but even the Miss Maids left on Green Island were stunned:

"I never knew dragons could be so beautiful!"

After returning home from taking the photo, Shard prepared to drink the magic potion to revert back. But because the potion bottle was too small and required concentrated focus to chew the leaf without distractions, Luviya sat on the sofa, gently holding the cat, while under the watchful eyes of Dorothy and Emilia, she fed him the potion:

"Come, Shard, open your mouth, it’s time for your potion."

Shard always found this scene incredibly odd, and it reminded him of the "baby bottle" at Belindel Estate not too long ago. Fortunately, the magic potion was quite effective; once the leaf and potion were swallowed, accompanied by a newfound familiar warmth enveloping his body, the silver cat suddenly leaped onto the ground, transforming into a dazzling silver light.

"Did it work?"

The young ladies were all watching from the side, and as the light grew, the human-shaped Shard finally emerged on the ground.

"Finally changed back!"

He joyfully climbed up, checking his body for any issues, then immediately turned to look at Mia, still held by Dorothy. The orange cat was curiously observing Shard Cat’s transformation back into human form. Not only did she not fear Shard would "retaliate," she sprang towards him. Holding her, Shard found Mia eagerly rubbing her furry head against his chest.

In conclusion, although many things happened that night, Shard eventually returned to normal.

The night was deep, and anything else would have to be resolved tomorrow. The blond Elf Girl was also tired and, when she had changed into a nightgown brought from the hotel to rest, discovered she was arranged to sleep in the second floor’s side bedroom, a bed clearly too small for three young ladies.

Wearing a nightgown and holding a pillow, she expressed her doubt to Shard, who was sorting relics in the living room, but Shard didn’t know how to answer immediately, so he looked toward Luviya, who was just coming out of the bathroom.

The purple-eyed girl blinked, asking the young, innocent elf:

"Dorothy and I will also stay on the second floor, but we won’t be sleeping with you... Do you need further explanation?"

"But isn’t there only... Oh, I understand! You guys are... I got it."

Her face suddenly flushed red. She had known since the Randall Valley days that Shard’s relationship with the Female Diviner was unusual but didn’t expect it involved a third person. However, considering Miss Writer often gathered material for Shard’s books, it surely meant they weren’t just ordinary friends, and with this, she comforted herself that this arrangement was normal:

"So, the relationships of correspondence students are so unconventional."

Not daring to think about what might happen tonight, she bade goodnight to Shard, Luviya, and Dorothy in the bathroom, clutching her pillow, ready to rest.

"If anything happens tonight, just shout, and we’ll hear."

Shard didn’t forget to remind, and the Elf Girl gently nodded. Then, entrusted by Luviya, she took Mia with her to sleep in the side bedroom.

Soon, the lights in the living room at No. 6, Saint Delan Square were finally turned off, leaving only the light on in the master bedroom of Room No.1 on the second floor. Dorothy took off her hairband, letting her hair down, closed the door, casually tossed a Silence Charm by the door, and then asked Shard:

"What’s up over at Moon Bay? And what’s this about a dragon?"

Shard hadn’t had the chance to explain everything before, but now that Dorothy asked, he explained tonight’s situation in detail. Dorothy wasn’t too concerned about the cultists, she was more worried about Shard’s physical condition, and when he finished speaking, she asked:

"Be truthful with us, Shard. How do you truly feel now? The consequences of uncontrolled transformation spells can’t be judged just by your being able to turn back into a human. Lecia and I weren’t strong enough to help you before, but now at least we have The Chosen One’s power. Shard, are you really alright?"

After speaking, she exchanged a glance with Luviya, who was seated at the desk observing the photos. They really were concerned.

"I swear by Mia, I feel perfectly fine, all is normal."

As Shard spoke, he summoned his Ring of Fate and turned to look at the three Spirit Runes at the Seventh Ring:

"Miracle - Dragon, Enlightenment - Flesh, Whisper - Red Butterfly. Having resolved the transformation issue, there are no other problems with me. Becoming a dragon is just an incidental result from gaining new powers tonight. Look, I’m not far from the Eight Rings."