"Indeed, it is here."
Ranni took the ring, turned, and walked towards Nidhogg, standing still before him.
Nidhogg recognized it at first glance. It was the Dark Moon Ring—their engagement ring.
"A great ring made in the image of the dark full moon. It was originally a cold covenant ring, given to her partner by the 'Moon Princess' Ranni. If Ranni is the god, then the so-called partner is the lord."
"Engraved on the ring is a warning: no one shall take this thing. All the solitude on the other side of the night belongs to me alone."
Originally, Nidhogg had needed to go through some twists and turns to obtain the Dark Moon Ring and put it on Ranni. But at this moment, Ranni easily produced it. She pinched the ring and stared at Nidhogg.
"My mother cannot live without me for now. The Carian royal family and the Magic Academy also need my presence. I will stay here until you plant the Minor Erdtree and connect the three zones at the Junction."
She exposed the fingers of one of her hands. The magic hidden there dissipated, revealing the ring on her ring finger. It was also a Dark Moon Ring.
Only then did Nidhogg understand that Ranni had been wearing the Dark Moon Ring he had put on her finger, but she had used magic to conceal its trace.
What a cunning "Moon Princess."
"This is the Dark Moon Ring you put on me at the beginning. But perhaps even earlier, I decided that even if it meant a solitary night, I would go forward with you."
"Now, my journey into the darkness of the night can no longer continue. And although I don't intend to give up completely, I should also turn back and stop for the sake of those I love..."
Ranni carefully lifted one of Nidhogg's hands, gently removed his armor, exposing his fingers. She didn't look up to meet his eyes. She just lowered her head and slipped the Dark Moon Ring onto his ring finger.
"From now on, our fates will grow closer and closer. Even if we are thousands of miles apart, with this Dark Moon Ring, it will be as if I am by your side. You can still cast high-level sorceries."
Nidhogg only glanced at the ring on his ring finger and looked up again, because he was more concerned about Ranni's expression at this moment.
It's just that Ranni cunningly lowered the brim of her Snow Witch hat. Nidhogg could only see her delicate chin.
Moongrum, who had been watching the whole process from the side, was stunned for a while!
This... this... my speculation was indeed correct... This is Lady Ranni's partner... He will become Lady Ranni's knight, and also Lady Ranni's lord.
I saw this scene with my own eyes!
Nidhogg didn't object to Ranni staying here. As Ranni had said, Rennala's current state, the current position of the Carian royal family, and the current situation of the Magic Academy all required her to stay here.
"In that case, this scepter returns to its original owner."
Nidhogg took out the Carian Regal Scepter and handed it to Ranni.
"I don't need to use it as a medium to release sorceries. It's enough to have you and the Dark Moon Ring. So this scepter, symbolizing the Carian royal family, should be returned to your hands."
Ranni hesitated for a moment, then took the Carian Regal Scepter. She lifted her head slightly and smiled at Nidhogg.
Nidhogg turned his head again to look at Moongrum and said solemnly, "I ask you to protect Ranni and Rennala for now."
Moongrum was momentarily stunned. Then he looked at the Dark Moon Ring on his finger, made a decision, and replied, "Please rest assured, Lord Nidhogg. I will never let an enemy cross my line of defense."
Nidhogg nodded and said to Ranni, "Next, I will help you and Moongrum deal with the rebels in the Magic Academy. The rest, I leave to your discretion."
"Good," Ranni agreed, then smiled coldly. "You can be assured. I am not a weak person."
"Although I haven't fully regained my power, there is no one in this academy who can rival me, except for you and my mother."
"If the Magic Academy still wants to place the Carian royal family under house arrest based on illusions, then I don't mind making them understand that the name 'Moon Princess' is not just a fictitious title."
Ranni, holding the Carian Regal Scepter, had already shown her long-lost arrogance at this moment.
---
Dawn broke.
Thops, who had been sitting on a stone meditating, woke up to the movement at the gates of the Magic Academy. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the barrier had opened again, and a Carian Knight emerged, blood on his armor.
Thops stood up, staring blankly at the Carian Knight approaching him, until the opponent pushed back his helm.
"Lord Nidhogg? Is that you?"
"It's all over." Nidhogg approached calmly. "The rebellion in the Magic Academy is over. The mages who did not accept the authority of the Carian royal family have been executed. Now, the Magic Academy is once again in the hands of the Carian royal family."
"The 'Moon Princess' Ranni will take the place of the temporarily incapacitated 'Full Moon Queen' Rennala to handle all affairs within the academy. Thops, you can return to the academy and receive the respect you deserve."
"From now on, you are a mage of the Carian royal family. No one in the academy will be able to hinder your continued study of sorcery."
Thops listened to Nidhogg say all this in a daze. Then he suddenly pinched his arm. The pain made him realize this was not a dream. He couldn't help but be overjoyed.
"Thank you, Lady Ranni! Thank you, Lady Rennala! Thank you, Lord Nidhogg!"
The bald mage almost knelt before Nidhogg. But as soon as he saw this action, Nidhogg immediately lifted him up and wouldn't let him kneel.
"Alas... I was just excited... I truly don't know how to repay..."
Suddenly, Thops had an idea. He looked at Nidhogg with slight embarrassment.
"Actually, if you don't mind my jest, I have created a sorcery called 'Thops's Barrier.' It can create a magical force field to dispel sorceries and incantations."
"The mages in the academy all mocked the sorcery I created. They thought it wouldn't actually work. And even if it did work, the effect wouldn't be better than glintstone sorcery... But I know perfectly well that it works."
"I don't know if this sorcery will help. If you want, I will teach you all the sorceries I know about 'Thops's Barrier' so you can learn this magic."
Of course, Nidhogg agreed. If this barrier magic is used correctly, it can work wonders.
As for the cynicism of these Magic Academy mages, on one hand, they always looked down on Thops and naturally didn't want him to actually create useful magic.
On the other hand, they were probably a little envious too. If this magic really worked, then the glintstone sorcery they studied would be suppressed by this barrier magic.
In a sense, "Thops's Barrier" is simply another version of "Rennala's Full Moon" and "Ranni's Dark Moon." It poses too great a threat to them as pure spellcasters.
Thus, the root cause of Thops's exclusion and death after returning to the Magic Academy was found.
Thops was overjoyed. For the first time, he met someone who didn't dislike the magic he taught. He immediately, without hesitation, imparted it to Nidhogg.
Nidhogg also took the opportunity to obtain "Thops's Barrier."