On the Weeping Peninsula at the Junction, Nidhogg, having just set out on his journey to become the Elden Lord, would encounter a blind girl, Irina, alone at the Sacrificial Bridge.
She was the daughter of Edgar, the lord of Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula, and was born blind.
When Edgar decided to hold the city during the rebellion at Castle Morne, he sent her out of the castle. She had walked in circles, leaving only one person.
Worried for her father's safety, Irina asked Nidhogg to deliver a letter to him, pleading with him to leave Castle Morne and seek refuge.
However, when Nidhogg delivered Irina's letter to Edgar and helped him suppress the rebellion at Castle Morne, they returned to the Sacrificial Bridge and found Irina already dead.
Beside her body lay a large knife commonly used by the misbegotten. The killer was likely one of those misbegotten who had passed by.
Edgar was devastated and repentant. He then swore to avenge Irina.
However, when Nidhogg encountered Edgar next time, Edgar attacked him as if he had gone mad. Nidhogg had to defend himself and killed Edgar.
At this point, it wasn't over yet.
Because Nidhogg would encounter a blind woman, Hyetta, in another place—Liurnia of the Lakes.
This Hyetta, like Irina, was a blind woman. In appearance, they were almost identical. But Hyetta had no memory of Nidhogg, Edgar, or Castle Morne.
Hyetta was a person who sought to "explore the light." There was always a light guiding her in her blind darkness. Later, it was revealed to be the guidance of the Three Fingers' frenzied flame.
She would ask Nidhogg to become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, and she herself would become Nidhogg's Finger Maiden. But if Nidhogg actually obtained the frenzied flame, she would die.
Since Elden Ring uses fragmented storytelling, many plotlines and character motivations remain shrouded in mystery. The relationship between Irina and Hyetta, and the reason Edgar went mad, are not clearly explained.
Although there are many theories, unfortunately, there is no definitive proof. Only the one who designed this storyline knows the truth.
In the corner of the tavern, Nidhogg suddenly saw the blind girl Irina—or the blind Hyetta. He couldn't help but frown, then slowly relaxed.
I've been searching for clues I didn't have for so long, and now they've delivered themselves to my door?
Edgar was working for Godrick the Grafted, defending Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula for him.
If I find Irina, I have a chance to find Edgar, and then I can learn news about Godrick by following the clues.
Of course, the essence of all this was that the blind girl before him was Irina, not Hyetta.
The blind girl entered the tavern on crutches. The noise around her instantly vanished.
She was a little overwhelmed and trembling, but she still mustered the courage to move forward in small steps, carefully checking ahead with her crutches.
Blind, unable to care for herself, she had barely eaten for two days and was hungry. She had only drunk a little water along the way. Stumbling past the tavern door, she smelled the aroma of food, hesitated, and entered.
She was indeed Irina. The servants who had accompanied her from the city had vanished, leaving her alone before she knew it. But she had coins. Perhaps she could fill her stomach here.
Irina tapped the ground with her crutches. Another dull thud sounded. The strange silence around her made her nervous, but she still cautiously stepped forward, step by step.
Until she passed by a drunkard. The man saw that Irina was a blind girl. He found it amusing and immediately had bad intentions.
After Irina checked the front with her cane, he quietly extended his leg and placed it before Irina's feet.
The others saw this and didn't warn her. They waited for Irina to make a fool of herself.
Irina was caught off guard and tripped over the leg that had suddenly stretched out. She immediately lost her balance and fell to the ground with a thud.
When everyone in the tavern saw this scene, they immediately burst into laughter.
The man who had set up this joke solemnly stood up, helped Irina up with a smile, and said, "Miss, why are you so careless?"
Irina, a little embarrassed and not understanding what was happening, was about to thank the man who had helped her up. But he suddenly pushed her hands away and shoved Irina back to the ground!
When Azan saw this, he was disgusted. This detestable man and the drunkards of the entire tavern were using this poor blind girl for their amusement.
He had always adhered to the spirit of chivalry. He couldn't help but get angry and was about to intervene!
However, before he could say or do anything, he saw a figure flash beside him, flying like a swallow, sweeping across the ground, and catching Irina just as she was about to hit the ground!
Irina was pushed down and terrified, but she was caught again. Everything happened so fast that she was momentarily stunned and didn't understand what was going on.
Of course, Nidhogg couldn't watch a poor blind girl be tormented like this again and again. Not to mention that this blind woman still held the clues he had been searching for for so long. So he acted.
"You..."
The man who had tripped Irina saw a gust of wind in his face. Irina was lifted up by Nidhogg before him. He couldn't even see the movement clearly.
If he had been sober, he would have panicked and retreated. But he had drunk an unknown amount of wine, and the wine was strong. He became angry, his face flushed, and he angrily grabbed at Nidhogg!
"How dare you ruin my fun?!"
Nidhogg paid no attention to the man. He kicked out from under his Vagabond Knight cloak, striking the man in the chest. The man was immediately sent flying backward, crashed into the wall, and fell to the ground.
The man was kicked, his whole body in pain. It felt like his bones were broken. He couldn't get up. He couldn't help but be terrified. Much of the wine-induced courage suddenly vanished as he realized he had messed with someone he shouldn't have.
He didn't dare speak anymore. He just lay on the ground, whimpering in pain.
The entire tavern fell silent instantly. All the drunkards who had just been laughing at Irina, seeing this kick and then seeing the armor on Nidhogg's body, also sobered up considerably. They lowered their heads one by one, not daring to make a sound.
Nidhogg scanned the entire tavern. Ensuring that no one dared to say anything, he picked up Irina's crutches, held Irina, and walked out the tavern door.
After walking some distance from the tavern, Nidhogg set Irina down on the ground, stood there, and returned her crutches.
Irina hadn't been blind since yesterday. She had long been accustomed to days in the darkness, relying on hearing and association. She finally guessed what had happened earlier. Taking her crutches, she said cautiously, "Thank you..."
At that moment, Nidhogg didn't reply to Irina. Instead, he sharply turned, reached out, and pinched the tip of a longsword that had thrust at him like lightning!
His three fingers exerted force. The trapped longsword could neither advance nor retreat. The thrust could neither pierce nor be withdrawn.
Serpico, who had thrust this sword, had no choice but to sigh, silently release the hilt of his sword, step back, and stand beside Azan, who had also emerged. He shrugged and said:
"It doesn't hurt to try. Maybe it would have worked."
Serpico and Azan had quickly recognized Nidhogg after his attack. Although he had changed his clothes, his extremely strange skills and unique character couldn't be hidden.
They saw Nidhogg save Irina and then leave the tavern. So they looked at each other, silently stood up, paid their bill, and immediately followed him.
Seeing that Nidhogg always had his back to them, as if he didn't notice their pursuit, Serpico couldn't help but stop Azan, who was about to ask aloud. He himself drew his longsword, quietly following, intending to make a sneak attack.
Serpico understood perfectly well that if he wanted to learn Farnese's whereabouts from Nidhogg, he would have to try to subdue him.
But, based on experience, in a head-on fight, even together, they would be no match for Nidhogg. So they could only try to ambush him, at least wound one of Nidhogg's arms, and then talk.
Unfortunately, Nidhogg seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. As soon as Serpico raised his hand, he turned and stopped the longsword with just three fingers, disarming him again.
It's just as well. No matter how anxious he is, Serpico is forced to drop his longsword and retreat.
It seems he can only follow Azan's method and try to negotiate with the other party.