Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 378 The 2nd Witch

Miss Galina did not hide the movements of the Council from Shard:

"The Witch Council consists of thirteen seats, and I hold the seventh seat. The one who went to Coldwater Port was the Third Seat. You might have heard her name, Mrs. Hevy Aurora. I last saw her last summer when I was vacationing by the sea. She was a Twelve-Ring Sorcerer, a Twelfth Rank witch back then. I'm not sure if she has made any progress this past year."

The Outlander pondered for a while before realizing what this name meant.

Hevy Aurora, now twenty-nine, hails from the ancient Aphrola Family, renowned worldwide as a major shipowner. She inherited her ancestors' wealth and, through her own endeavors, now controls some of the trade routes between the Old World and the New World. Along the coasts of the Old Continent, she owns almost a third of the shares in several shipyards.

This lady is considered the most legendary female figure by contemporary coastal residents. Even the most notorious pirates who patrol the Eye of the Storm could not rival her extraordinary tales.

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Of course, there are other rumors about this lady as well. Some say that the pirates along the new routes are actually funded by the Aphrola Family. Others claim that the Aphrola's can communicate with sea creatures, thus significantly lowering the accident rates of their cargo ships. Perhaps the most favored gossip is that this lady, still unmarried, actually prefers women since men are never seen in her company...

Considering this, it seems quite easy to believe that the descendants of the seafaring Aphrola Family have been witches for centuries.

Miss Galina continued:

"It's very convenient for her to handle the matters on the West Coast of the Old Continent. The Aphrola family itself descends from an order of circle sorcerers from the prior era. It is said that since the Fifth Era, they have been involved with oceanic primal tribes and exotic factions. This ancient lineage may have declined, but every few generations it produces various odd circle sorcerers, and Hevy Aurora is one of them. With the family secrets and the power of the Council at her disposal, aside from the Speaker of the Council, the lady of the Thirteen Rings, Hevy is probably the strongest witch."

It seems that the Witch Council is indeed putting a great deal of effort into the second Chosen One.

"Although she's in Coldwater Port and we're in Tobesk, I must remind you, Shard, not all witches are friendly towards beings like you."

Miss Galina looked at Shard:

"Outsiders hold her in high regard as 'ordinary,' but she... well, we bear a curse that prevents us from touching men, so some claim the Witch Council is a Handkerchief Enthusiasts Society. Oh, have you heard of this saying before?"

Shard blinked, unsure how to respond, but fortunately, Miss Galina wasn't waiting for an answer:

"The saying is indeed true, very true. After all, before you appeared, we had no other options."

She smiled ambiguously, as if recalling something. Shard suddenly thought that if the black-haired Miss Maid had been here, perhaps her cheeks would also have blushed with a peculiar red.

"But Hevy... she agrees with this single-option multiple-choice question and believes it to be the price of power. The emergence of a person of indeterminate gender whom a witch can touch surely won't please her. I can't predict what she might do to you, but you'd better stay away from her."

Shard was not surprised by this; it would be odd if every witch was friendly towards him.

"I am not of indeterminate gender; I am indeed male."

This point had to be corrected.

"So, Miss Galina, what is the maximum distance at which you can sense me?"

Shard asked again, given that he surely had to visit Coldwater Port.

The Red-Haired Witch thought for a moment:

"Do you remember when we first met? At the Lucky Southern Cross Club, where I sensed you using sorcery related to the Old God—that was my unique ability. Later, when I sent you to the top-floor study, only separated by a wall, was the first time I vaguely sensed something was off. But I only confirmed it when Miss Tifa Servet gave you the 'Vampire Ring.'"

Although Miss Tifa Servet is not yet a true witch, possessing the witch's powers means she also bears part of the curse.

"Is that the limit of your perception?"

Shard asked again.

"Almost, and it requires intense concentration. But we generally don't focus that much on detecting a man. Moreover, obstacles like walls significantly weaken this perception, and the best strategy would actually be for you to stand among other men. That way, even a Grand Witch wouldn't be able to detect your difference."

Then, she gave an inappropriate example:

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"After all, if a fresh fish is thrown into a pile of rotten fish, people definitely won't be able to locate the fresh fish if they don't want to be stunk out."

"So as long as I don't get too close to the witches on my own, it's impossible for them to discover me right away."

Shard concluded, and seeing his worried expression, Miss Galina shook her head with a smile:

"Tobesk is my turf; I'll protect you here. Shard, you are one of my most precious collections. Look, what the Witch Empresses can't do, I managed it."

After getting the money, Shard discussed his academic issues with Miss Galina for a while before ending the visit.

With his cat still angry at home in his mind, Shard took a detour on his way back, allowing himself to stop at a store to buy a small jar of fish liver oil that his cat particularly liked. Of course, it was very expensive, but it wasn't Shard paying for it—it was Miss Gawder providing money for the cat's high-quality life, and Shard was just reasonably spending it.

When he got home, as expected, he did not hear Mia running down from the second floor to greet him. Shard went up to the second floor and saw Dorothy sitting on the sofa flipping through detective files, and the ginger cat—made even cuter after a bath—was lying on the dining table, staring at him from the door.

"Your cat is still angry."

The blond girl said, laughing, finding the scene amusing.

So, Shard put down his hat, hung up his coat at the entrance, and approached the dining room with the bottle of fish liver oil.

He placed the bottle with a thunk in front of the cat, who lay down, rested its head on the table, stretched its neck, squinted, and sniffed with its tiny nose, then looked up at Shard.

When it looked up, its eyes always appeared especially big.

"I'll mix this with your cat food tonight."

Shard pointed to the expensive food and said.

"Meow~"

Then, the previously angry Mia immediately jumped up, her back legs thrusting against the ground, wanting Shard to hold her.

"It seems Miss Galina really gave you quite a lot of money; Lecia might not be pleased,"

said the female writer in the living room teasingly.

"I'm not just taking someone else's money—it was earned through a transaction. Moreover, the money to buy this was given by Miss Gawder."

Shard emphasized, then extended an invitation:

"If the transaction goes well tonight, I will enter the past at midnight and explore Miss Feliana's history. Do you want to join me here and see this moment? It's only three seconds, but I can bring back quite a story afterward."

"I really don't want to hear your insane adventures that would drive ordinary people mad,"

Dorothy shook her head in refusal:

"However, if you get the Ever-Youth Leaf this time, remember to let me keep one for you."

She winked at Shard, who was franticly soothing the excited cat:

"I don't have a magic potion to make myself young after aging, but at least I can take a little care of myself while I'm young."

Although this sentence sounded okay, Shard always felt she was subtly mocking Miss Galina for being older than them.