At last, amid a string of miserable screams, Godrick went still.
And the Tarnished claimed his first Great Rune—the central fragment of the Elden Ring itself.
Only… this fragment had lost its blessing. It felt like a fossil in his palm, drained of power, and it would need to be restored atop a Divine Tower before it could truly function again.
"Tch. What a hassle."
He clicked his tongue as he studied the dull, lifeless Great Rune, irritation plain even behind the helm. He hated Divine Towers more than most people hated death.
Godrick's, Morgott's, Mohg's—those were fine. Their towers were at least easy to find.
But the others…?
Malenia and Radahn, for example. Their Divine Towers were practically designed by someone with a personal grudge—one nearly out in the middle of the sea, the other almost buried underground.
Sure, he could still mend the Elden Ring without restoring the Great Rune's power first, but a reawakened fragment could become a genuine advantage.
It was just… annoying.
"Master…"
A soft voice cut cleanly through his muttering.
He turned—and saw Kurara floating toward him, bringing Roderika and Sorceress Sorellina along with her.
"M-Master… are you alright?"
Kurara hovered in restless circles around him, anxious enough that her entire little body seemed to bob faster. She had seen him standing here for a long time without moving, and that stillness frightened her more than any battlefield.
"I'm fine," he said, easing his tone. "Just thinking."
Almost without realizing it, he reached up and gently patted the top of her head.
The sensation was surprisingly good—soft and yielding, cool in a comforting way, like touching clean water in the dark. It made him think, not for the first time, that the spirit jellyfish wandering the Lands Between all seemed strangely gentle.
They never attacked him unprovoked. When he approached, they even drifted aside as if making room.
He'd heard rumors, too—that many spirit jellyfish were the remnants of girls who had died young.
"Tch… the rare scrap of conscience this world still has."
Even as he complained, his hand grew gentler, slow and careful.
Kurara didn't pull away. She held herself steady, trying her best not to wobble, and even floated up just a little—quietly nuzzling into his palm.
Inside, she was practically glowing.
Master is touching me…
She had always been sensitive about what she had become, terrified that the Tarnished would see her as a monster. That fear had kept her quiet for so long, swallowing every word before it could reach her lips.
So she worked harder. Tried harder. Stayed useful.
And now, at last, it felt like it mattered.
"Heehee… Master's hand is so warm…"
While Kurara basked in that small, precious warmth, Roderika stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Tarnished. Thank you for defeating that evil lord."
"Mm. It's nothing," he said with a shrug. "Our goals just happened to overlap. Call it… a convenient favor."
Truthfully, he hadn't done it for her.
When he had moved, all he'd wanted was to butcher Godrick and avenge the Finger Maiden meant for him. If he could, he would have dragged Godrick back to life and killed him ten thousand more times—made him taste, again and again, the despair his Finger Maiden must have felt in her final moments.
But Roderika shook her head, stubborn even in gratitude.
"No… it still deserves thanks. Without you, I'd still be crying in that shack. I might never have found the courage to take even one step forward."
She bowed again—deeper, harder—then straightened and met his gaze. Her eyes flickered with hesitation, like she had something to say but didn't dare.
"What is it?" he asked. "Something else you need?"
Roderika nodded faintly, drew in a breath, and bowed once more as if bracing herself.
"Tarnished… could you allow me to follow you?"
Her voice trembled, but she forced it out anyway.
"I can't do anything right now. But I'll work hard—hard enough to become someone who can help you. Someone useful."
From the moment she had met him, she had envied him—especially when she saw how many spirits stood at his side, how naturally they gathered around him. It felt like a family she had never been allowed to have.
And he had been so gentle with her. He hadn't cast her aside as dead weight. He had brought her all the way to Stormveil and helped her fulfill the wish she never believed could come true.
She was… satisfied. More than she had any right to be.
Which only made her want to repay him even more.
But now that the words were out, fear rushed in behind them.
Will he accept someone as weak as me?
Regret prickled at her. She should have waited until she was useful. She should have—
"Lift your head, Roderika."
Her heart dropped.
So… it's no, then.
She straightened, eyes dimming as if the last light inside her was being pulled away.
Of course. What right did someone like her have to follow someone like him?
"Hmm?"
Her reaction caught him off guard.
Why did she look like she'd just been sentenced?
Then he understood—she thought he was about to reject her.
He almost laughed.
As if.
"Welcome," he said simply. "You're joining us."
And he offered her his hand.
A Spirit Tuner like her was priceless. Across countless cycles, he had only ever met one like Roderika.
There was no universe where he let that slip away.
"…Eh?"
Roderika stared at his hand, then up at his face, stunned into silence.
"I… I…"
The sudden acceptance hit her so hard her throat locked, and her eyes brightened all at once, as if the world had returned its color.
"What? You don't want to?" he teased.
"No—yes! I do! I really do!"
She seized his hand with both of hers and shook it eagerly, like she was afraid it would vanish if she let go.
"Thank you, Tarnished. I'll work hard—truly!"
Kurara drifted around her, practically dancing in the air.
"Welcome, Roderika!"
Even though Kurara hadn't met Roderika alone for countless cycles, she still remembered their very first encounter.
If it hadn't been for Roderika, she might never have met this Master at all.
As a friend—no, as something even closer than that—Kurara was genuinely happy.
Maybe this time… Master really can change everything.
She prayed it with her whole heart.
She never wanted to see him look that broken again.
"…Um, Tarnished," Roderika said, excitement settling into cautious nerves again. "I have one more request."
She swallowed, then spoke quickly, like ripping off a bandage.
"May I go and pay respects to my fallen companions first? I'll catch up afterward, I promise. So… may I?"
"Why wouldn't I allow that?" he replied, almost amused. "Go."
Then his tone turned firmer, practical.
"And after that, don't try to follow me into what comes next. The road ahead is dangerous."
He paused, recalling what Nepheli Lou would have told her.
"You know where the Roundtable Hold is now, right? Go there. Find a smith named Hewg—he'll look after you."
As he spoke, something else came to mind. He reached into his pouch and produced a Spirit Calling Bell he had once purchased from a merchant, along with the ashes of three wolves.
He placed them into Roderika's hands.
"If you're ever in danger, ring the bell. The three wolves will come to help you."
Roderika's eyes widened. She clutched the items close, as if they were lifelines.
"Thank you," she whispered. Then she bowed—deeply, decisively—and turned, running toward the corridor back through Stormveil, her steps lighter than they'd ever been.
He watched her go, and slowly, his mouth curved into a faint smile.
So far…
Maybe this cycle really could change everything.
Unlock 100+ advance chapters on Patreon — every follow inspires me to keep going!
patreon.com/legacyverse1