Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Dr. Schneider had not been admitted to the hospital, as his ailment was not something that a regular physician could treat. When Shard and the Old Cleric entered the doctor's bedroom on the third floor of the clinic, they found him in his pajamas, weakly leaning against the headboard of his bed, conversing with Miss Annette and Miss Luisa, who had arrived earlier.

There were also two chairs beside the bed, clearly prepared for the two gentlemen.

The layout of the doctor's bedroom resembled that of the late Detective Sparrow, featuring a canopy bed against the wall, surrounded by bookshelves, a wardrobe, and a desk. Even the lotus-shaped gas lamp on the desk was similar, though it was clear that the doctor's was more expensive.

Shard noticed the gear knob on the side of the metal instrument, an indicator that this lamp's brightness could be finely adjusted, representative machinery of this Steam Age.

"You have arrived."

Bill Schneider looked pale as he watched the priest and the detective enter. He tried to sit up straight but, unfortunately, failed.

Miss Annette and Miss Luisa also stood up to greet the two men. The former merely exchanged glances with Shard as if their conversation the previous night had never happened, while the latter appeared completely restored to health, faring much better than the doctor.

As Shard chose a chair to sit down, his eyes swept the room and noticed no gifts, deducing that the female diviner and the female writer had come empty-handed to visit the sick, which Shard found pleasing.

"I am glad to see you all here," said the doctor in a low voice, watching Shard and the Old Cleric sit down.

"Bill, don't talk. How is he doing now?"

Priest Augustus asked Miss Annette, and the brown-haired woman replied with some annoyance:

"He used the Sublimation Incantation without any preparation. The physical damage is manageable, your magic potion can handle that. Surprisingly, there has been no decay of lifespan, but his spirit and soul have suffered unusually severe damage."

Shard thought back to the sulfur smell he had detected, and the injured doctor gave an awkward smile, fortunately without anyone asking him about it.

"Then, the only solutions I can think of are Holy Water Essence No. 2 or No. 1, which can solve this issue completely and harmlessly."

Priest Augustus said. He was the one in the group best skilled in concocting magic potions and also acted as the group's healer. After all, although Dr. Schneider was a physician, he was a psychologist.

"Holy Water?"

This was the first time Shard had heard the term, and Miss Luisa quietly explained to him:

"The papacy of the Church of Nature possesses a set composed of five Relics, ranging from Poet-Level to Angel-Level, said to be statues of five angels. When they are soaked in dew, the dew is transformed into Holy Water with various effects, known as Holy Water Nos. 1 through 5.

The Holy Water Essence itself is a very effective potion and has strong exorcism properties. When mixed appropriately, it can even be used to prepare various magic potions. No. 1 Holy Water is not made available externally, while No. 2 Holy Water, per an agreement by the Church of the Five Gods, is a standard issue for the True God Church's Circle Sorcerer squad.

For injuries needing soul treatment like the doctor's, similar magic potions are probably necessary for healing. Otherwise, it would require even rarer magic potions or Relics."

"Is there any availability in the local black market recently?"

Priest Augustus asked with concern, hunched over in his chair.

Miss Luisa quietly explained again:

"The expensive Holy Water that occasionally appears on the local black market is rumored to be sold off by the Church."

"There's none at the moment, but I have contacted a friend in Carsonrick who has some in stock, but it will take at least a month to ship here," replied Miss Annette.

"Is there any other way?"

Shard joined the conversation, but Priest Augustus shook his head:

"If he rests, Bill might not be able to get out of bed until the end of the year. Our group once possessed a Scribe-Level healing class Relic called the Doctor's Severed Hand that could heal the soul, but unfortunately, it was lost during a fire exchange last year. The Academy might be able to think of something, but their solutions are usually... expensive.

This isn't an ordinary injury, and injuries to the soul and spirit can't even be healed by your Vampire Ring."

"The Vampire Ring was destroyed yesterday when I faced the Shadow of the Evil God, along with two other relics I had on me."

Shard said with regret.

"That's quite normal, Shard. You are truly brave."

The doctor managed a weak smile at Shard:

"You saved all of us at Lakeside Manor."

"Some special healing arcane techniques, sorcery, or divine arts, can also heal the wounds of the soul and spirit, but we are not proficient in these abilities."

Priest Augustus added.

"Among the free arcane techniques given to me by the Academy, Cyndia's Silvermoon Blessing should belong to healing abilities, specializing in the healing of the mind and spirit. I learned it last night."

Shard explained, his confidence in this ability bolstered by the Divine Afterglow State and his deepening understanding of Silvermoon. Unfortunately, this ability could only be used at night.

"Divine Afterglow does not make you omnipotent. I think you'll need to at least reach the Three Rings before you can use arcane techniques to affect the doctor's condition," the whispering voice reminded.

"As for Silvermoon Blessing..."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Miss Writer Luisa thought for a moment. Currently, apart from the severely injured doctor, the Four Rings female writer was the strongest in the group:

"That might work, but you are only a First Ring Sorcerer, so I think the effect might not be very significant. Otherwise, we wouldn't need No. 2 or No. 1 Holy Water."

Her opinion was consistent with the woman's voice in Shard's head.

Miss Luisa then instructed:

"Then we have to think of other methods. Annette, go check with Old John later. Priest, please inquire whether the Church of Nature will release the next batch of Holy Water soon. After I return, I'll read the Ancient Fairy Tale 'Spring of Healing' a few more times to see if I can learn any healing arcane techniques."

As for you, Detective... don't show your face these next few days."

All four of them looked toward Shard. After hesitating for a moment, he brought up the topic:

"That final Silvermoon Slash that night..."

"No need to explain. Everyone has their secrets. Besides, we have to thank you for killing Lassoya, otherwise our identities would have been exposed. Even now, we might face assassination from the Blood of Mercury and possibly the Blood Spirit School," Dr. Schneider said, leaning against the bedside cabinet. He coughed, prompting Priest Augustus to hurriedly hand him a cup.

It wasn't tea but a dark potion with a hint of mint.

"What exactly is the Blood Spirit School? I've heard of this organization more than once recently, but I don't really understand it."

Shard asked, the information provided by Miss Annette from the Prophet's Society being more substantial:

"Some documents suggest that the Blood Spirit School can even be traced back before the lost Third Era. This organization specializes in the powers of flesh and was quite active during the Witch Era of the Fifth Era. They attempted to purify the blood..."

The Female Diviner paused, contemplating whether to continue:

"To evolve humanity. These people believe that our current Sixth Era is the lost Brass Era, and that purifying the blood to a golden color, tracing the most primal power of mankind's lineage from the Ancient Era, can achieve humanity's ultimate evolution into 'Golden Humans.' Of course, there's no evidence to support these claims."

Not only that, "the Blood Spirit School, due to numerous human experiments and slaughter, faced pursuit from secular forces and the Church of the Five Gods. Decades ago, the main body of the organization moved to the New World. In the Old Continent's Draleon Kingdom, only a few bases still remain," Miss Luisa said.

"Also, there is a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer within the Blood Spirit School, the 78-year-old 'Weeper' Hermons.

Extremely powerful, if he hadn't been ambushed by the True God Church and severely injured thirty years ago when he was at Twelve Rings, the Blood Spirit School wouldn't have been so quiet in recent decades," the Priest also indicated, with other members seeming to have different understandings of the organization.