Nolan considered it for a moment, then turned and stepped outside. He gathered a few mercenaries to accompany him before heading toward the barracks.
The soldiers there had just finished a round of drills and were taking a short break.
Nolan walked up to Vyke, who had been overseeing the training, and said:
"I'm heading out for a while. I'll leave a duplicate behind. Keep an eye on Val."
Vyke frowned slightly.
"The remnants of the Morton family were just wiped out. The surrounding nobles will find out sooner or later that something happened here."
"It won't take many days before someone makes a move. In their eyes, unclaimed territory is nothing less than a slab of fresh meat."
"It's not safe right now. What do you need to go out for?"
Nolan remained unusually calm, replying as if it were nothing of importance.
"Nothing much. I'm just going to bring a woman back."
Vyke froze where he stood, completely baffled.
At a moment when everything felt like it was about to explode, who would still be thinking about romance? And if it were just lust, that made even less sense.
No matter how he looked at it, this didn't seem like something a champion would do.
Even so, Vyke kept those thoughts to himself and didn't press further.
Nolan, however, immediately saw through what he was thinking.
He burst into hearty laughter and asked loudly:
"Vyke, have you ever heard the name Nepheli Loux?"
"Never," Vyke replied. "But it sounds like a barbarian name. And that surname… could she be from the lineage of the First Elden Lord?"
His eyes widened. He had grown up listening to stories about the First Elden Lord.
Before becoming Lord, Godfrey's original name, back when he was a barbarian warrior, had been Hoarah Loux.
Nolan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"She's had experiences similar to yours. She's fled into the Morton family's territory now, and I plan to give her a hand as well."
"I see." Vyke nodded in sudden realization. "You truly are a good man."
Nolan scratched his head. Why did this kid enjoy handing out "good person" labels so much?
...
Baron Will's territory lay to the south of Morton Manor.
Although the land itself was not particularly vast, it controlled a key stretch of road linking Stormveil directly to Caelid, giving it considerable strategic value.
Following the road east would lead to the well-known Summonwater Village. Traveling west would bring one to the imposing Saint's Bridge.
Despite the territory's limited size, the wealth it produced was astonishing.
Because of this, Baron Will was able to recruit numerous elite soldiers and maintain a powerful military force.
In this turbulent age, resources were like towering mountains, almost entirely monopolized by the nobility.
These nobles were not only powerful and prestigious, but also commanded vast lands and fully organized armies.
By comparison, the scattered Tarnished appeared insignificant. At best they were wandering adventurers. At worst they were little more than roaming bandits.
The reputation of the Tarnished had also been ruined by the actions of certain individuals, making life even harder for the rest.
In the eyes of the nobles, every Tarnished was a criminal fugitive deserving death.
To ordinary people, the Tarnished were like a plague. Most avoided them whenever possible.
Over time, all sorts of frightening rumors about the Tarnished began spreading among the common folk.
Some claimed they were crazed killers who slaughtered anyone they encountered, terrifying the populace so thoroughly that people would go out of their way to avoid them.
Even so, the Tarnished had learned to rely on one another, gathering together for mutual support.
Among them, a number of exceptional and fearless individuals stood out.
They gathered in the Royal Capital, earning the favor and protection of the Two Fingers through their outstanding abilities.
Now, these powerful figures were preparing to establish an official organization that could represent the Tarnished as a whole.
After all, in name at least, the Tarnished who had been summoned back by the Greater Will had returned carrying a mission bestowed upon them.
With such a sacred role, yet they were being chased around like stray dogs. It made no sense.
At this moment, on the lands of Limgrave, a group of ambitious Tarnished had gathered.
They were filled with determination, all hoping to reach the Royal Capital, the place they believed held their future.
The night was deep and ink-black. The surrounding forest lay shrouded in darkness, as if hiding countless unseen dangers and secrets.
A blazing campfire cut through the darkness, lighting the clearing.
Several people sat close together around the fire, speaking in hushed voices. Anticipation and unease flickered in their eyes.
At the center of the group sat a striking barbarian girl: Nepheli Loux.
She was extraordinarily gifted. Rumor said she possessed the bearing of a champion, and as a member of the First Elden Lord Godfrey's lineage, she had naturally become the leader of the group.
In this era, the chance to follow a champion, even as a minor attendant, was considered an honor by many.
Yet Nepheli herself sat with her brows tightly knit, worry written across her face.
What had begun as a simple act of standing up for justice had ended with her offending a local noble.
The nobles of Limgrave were descendants of the fearless warriors who had once followed the first king, Godfrey, across battlefields far and wide.
In those days, they had all been men of iron will and heroic spirit.
So why had they now become so selfish and abusive of their power?
She could not understand it.
"Lady Nepheli, I heard that Godrick is recruiting Tarnished. Maybe he doesn't actually look down on them."
Beside the fire, a young man with a boyish face looked at Nepheli with hopeful eyes as he eagerly shared the rumor he had heard.
Another man, a little older, picked up the conversation.
"I heard that the Fingers are gathering Tarnished in the Royal Capital. If you ask me, we should just head straight there. Who knows, we might even earn the favor of a Finger Maiden."
As he spoke, a look of longing crossed his face.
It was said that once someone gained a Finger Maiden, they could grow stronger at astonishing speed without even needing to train.
"But I heard Godrick controls the roads out of Limgrave. And there are rumors that the Tarnished under his command often disappear without a trace. Wouldn't it be dangerous to go to his territory?"
"It's wartime. People dying on the battlefield is normal. Once the cavalry charges through, bodies vanish all the time. You're overthinking it."
Nepheli quietly listened to the discussion. A faint worry showed in her beautiful eyes as she spoke softly.
"If possible, going straight to the Royal Capital would be the best choice."
"If that proves impossible, then we will have to remain in Limgrave for the time being."
"But that doesn't mean we must join Godrick. Those rebels likely wouldn't dare invade his territory."