Seeing Godfrey respond so enthusiastically to Mohg's goal, a flicker of confusion crossed Morgott's eyes. He didn't quite understand.
Wasn't his father the King of the Golden Dynasty? Why did he seem to dislike Morgott's own goal in comparison?
At the same time, a sense of disappointment inevitably welled up in his heart. Being compared to his younger brother was a sting; no matter how mature his mind was, at the end of the day, he was still just a child.
Godfrey naturally saw Morgott's reaction, but he offered no words of comfort. To him, if Morgott could change his way of thinking, it would actually be a good thing.
While Godwyn's performance in every aspect was outstanding—making him an almost perfect choice for the crown prince—it was always better if his other two children could become equally exceptional.
"Today, I shall teach you two a very simple truth."
Godfrey pressed his hands onto their heads, his golden eyes staring intensely into theirs.
"Power. Power alone is the reason for a crown. No matter the era, the world is always a place where the strong prey upon the weak. In our world, only those with sufficient strength possess the right to speak, the authority to change anything, and the qualification to protect anything."
As he spoke, Godfrey placed a hand against the sewer wall and gave it a sudden, sharp jolt.
THUD!
Crr-crack!
In an instant, the sound of stone shattering echoed through the chamber. Horrific fissures snaked outward from the point of impact, climbing up the walls and across the ceiling.
Watching this, Mohg's mouth twitched.
I know you really want to show off, but this is a sewer! Aren't you afraid the whole place is going to cave in?!
"Father... is this place going to collapse?"
Mohg didn't hesitate to voice his concern. After all, once this "old man" left, he didn't have to live here—but Mohg and Morgott did!
"Ahem... don't worry about such trifles. I'll have your elder brother send some people down later."
Godfrey let out a light cough and sat back down, tearing off a large chunk of lobster meat.
"Oh, looks like it's done!"
What a clumsy subject change...
Mohg grumbled inwardly. He took the opportunity to glance at Morgott, who seemed to have snapped out of his funk after the commotion. From the look in his eyes, however, it seemed Morgott had reached some sort of new realization...
Godfrey took a massive bite of the lobster. After swallowing, he rested one hand on his knee and gestured. "You two, come here."
Mohg silently retracted the hand he had just reached out toward the food and moved to Godfrey's side.
"I came to find you today primarily for another reason... Our campaigns are about to begin. In the coming days, I likely won't have much time to visit you. So... before I leave, I intend to teach you this."
Godfrey reached into his tunic and produced a book bound in the hide of an unknown beast, handing it to the brothers.
"Contained within are the spiritual training methods of my homeland. They should suit the two of you well."
Mohg reached out and took the book, looking up at Godfrey. A genuine smile finally graced the King's face.
"The path ahead is yours to walk. I look forward to seeing what you become when we meet again."
With those words, Godfrey slowly rose and walked toward the ladder, offering a casual wave over his shoulder.
Morgott and Mohg stood there, looking at each other before turning their silent gaze toward the book in Mohg's hands.
"Let's study it together," Mohg suggested.
Meanwhile, as Godfrey exited the sewers, his gentle expression gradually shifted back into one of cold majesty. He paused to look back at the sewer entrance one last time before striding toward the palace. A squad of Leyndell Knights had been waiting for him nearby for quite some time.
In the days to come, even the sewers may become dangerous. As the wars begin, all sorts of scoundrels will emerge from the shadows... Morgott, Mohg, my sons... I hope you can grow strong under the crucible of this war...
After a period of study, Mohg and Morgott gained a general understanding of the techniques. They hadn't fully mastered them yet and planned to dive deeper into the training once they returned to their living area.
From what they could tell, these were savage methods from the Badlands. They involved slaughtering beasts, bathing in their blood, and constantly tempering one's bones and sinews through brutal physical hardship to increase bodily strength.
What puzzled Mohg was the concept of "Spirituality" mentioned in the text. Although he didn't understand the underlying principle, it seemed to have a connection with gaining power through the act of killing beasts. It was vastly different from the methods Godwyn had taught them—it felt far more ancient. Yet, perhaps because of that antiquity, it seemed even more compatible with their natures.
The book also included specialized breathing and meditation techniques to ensure the recovery and growth of physical stamina and mental energy.
After stowing the book away, the two returned to their feast. The giant lobster was barely half-eaten, and their powerful digestive systems allowed them to extract massive amounts of energy from its meat.
As he ate, Mohg pondered which specific "campaign" Godfrey was referring to. In his mind, it had to be the War against the Giants. If that was the case, the Royal Capital would soon have to deal with the Ancient Dragon War.
The Ancient Dragon War broke out during the conflict with the Giants, triggered by an assault by the Great Ancient Dragon, Gransax. Mohg couldn't quite remember the specific reason why Gransax attacked Leyndell. Perhaps it was out of rage that the Golden Dynasty had usurped the position of Elden Lord?
He wasn't sure, but he knew for a fact the attack was coming. Gransax would breach the city walls and cause catastrophic damage. When that happened, even the sewers wouldn't be safe; plenty of opportunists would surely try to fish in troubled waters.
However, it was also through this conflict that the Ancient Dragon Cult would be born in the capital, along with the Draconic Tree Sentinels. His elder brother, Godwyn the Golden, would eventually turn the Ancient Dragons from enemies into allies.
"So, I still need more power..." Mohg murmured under his breath while chewing on lobster meat.
He made a silent decision: once he had trained his body to a certain level, he would head to the deepest part of the sewers.
The power of the Formless Mother... it carried a certain risk, but... it was also the power he could obtain most easily and quickly. By using his Crucible bloodline to tap into the power of blood, he might even be able to further awaken the Primordial Crucible energy within him.
The only problem was what he might end up looking like...
Thinking of the original Mohg's horrific appearance, he couldn't help but shudder. He craved a Larval Tear now more than ever.
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (88 Chapters – Ongoing)
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