"Am I the only one left...?"
Siluria murmured to herself as she watched Ordovis's silhouette fade into the distance.
It was just as Ordovis had said; the other Crucible Knights had already chosen their paths. Some had gone to travel the world, some to guard sacred sites, some to seek the hidden traces of the Crucible, and others to continue fighting under the banner of the Golden Dynasty.
As for her, she felt that the Golden Dynasty was gradually turning its back on the Crucible. Eventually, there would be no place left for them, and the world would no longer tolerate their existence. Thus, she was reluctant to remain here forever.
Yet, if she were to leave... she didn't know where she would go, or what path she should take.
Many were optimistic about the Golden Dynasty's future under the eventual succession of the Eldest Prince, Godwyn. But she felt in her gut that things would not be so simple. In the Lands Between, the changing of a King from one generation to the next was always accompanied by crisis.
"But no matter how I look at it... the Eldest Prince's side truly does seem like the most suitable place for the Crucible Knights..."
Siluria walked to the window and looked out. At that moment, Godwyn happened to be stepping out of his quarters, engaged in a conversation with some friends he had recently made.
Meanwhile, in the deepest chamber of the Fortified Manor in Leyndell, a colossal creature resembling two giant human fingers stood upright in the center of the room.
Beside it stood a woman with a graceful figure, her entire form enveloped in long black robes.
"The warriors who chose to follow the First Lord have arrived at the Capital, have they not?"
Ari, the Finger Reader, bowed slightly as she observed the Two Fingers tracing cryptic ciphers in the air.
"Yes, Great Two Fingers. Over the past few days, warriors have been arriving in succession. This should be the period of their highest numbers. There may be more later, but the frequency will surely decline."
"Good. Arrange for the members of the Church to select leaders from among them as soon as possible. The powerful warriors among them shall write their own epics in the stories to come."
Ari nodded, signaling her understanding. "I see. However, Great Two Fingers, there is one thing I do not quite understand."
"Speak." Facing the doubt of his Finger Reader, the Two Fingers moved its upper digits in a friendly gesture.
"Why do we care so much for these newly joined warriors? We are even granting them the Golden Grace. Would it not be better to use that power to allow the heroes within the Erdtree to return?"
"They possess immense potential. As time passes, the power of Grace will manifest within them, just as it once did for the First Lord, Godfrey." The Two Fingers slowly provided its explanation. "Furthermore, all of this is for the future. The stability of the Golden Dynasty requires more strength. Ra... Marika also requires this power. Their growth will ultimately provide even greater strength for the Erdtree after they return to its roots."
Ari's eyes lit up with realization. Simply put, these warriors were to become high-quality "fertilizer" for the growth of the Erdtree—premium potential stocks to be harvested later.
"I understand. Then, Great Two Fingers, shall I arrange for members of the Finger Crawler Cult and the Golden Church to make contact with them?"
"The Finger Crawler Cult is for you to arrange. As for the Golden Church..." The Two Fingers paused slightly. "They will make their own arrangements. You need not involve yourself there."
"Understood."
Ari bowed and retreated slowly. As she left the room, she pulled the heavy doors shut behind her.
Once Ari was gone, several illusions began to flicker around the Two Fingers.
"How is Radagon's growth progressing?"
"Very well. His strength is increasing rapidly, though there is still a long road between him and Godfrey."
"Mhm. Once his strength is comparable to that of the Moon, it will be time for him to serve his first purpose..."
"Marika has been making quite a few small movements lately..."
"...I know. But we still need her. Besides, Maliketh will keep watch over those things for us."
"She is still thinking of revenge."
"Let her be. From a certain perspective, it is a good thing that the child is far away from us. His fire is equally a threat to us."
"Once all of this is done, we must ensure the transition period is well-managed..."
"Indeed. Godwyn the Golden... he is the optimal candidate. Under his leadership, the Golden Dynasty will flourish, and the light of the Erdtree will shine even further..."
"Holy crap, what an ugly fish!"
Mohg stared in shock at the grotesque fish he had just speared in the sewer. Not only did it have no eyes, but its body was covered in wicked-looking spikes.
Wait... were there actually fish in the world of Elden Ring?
Mohg shook the fish off his spear and squatted down to observe it. He noticed that its body even bore certain traces of the Crucible.
"Looking at it this way, the lineage of this fish must be ancient..." Mohg murmured. He took a wooden stick and poked at the creature's body.
Suddenly, the fish whipped its body, firing the spikes from its skin directly at Mohg.
"Whoa!"
Mohg's face paled as he lunged to the side. The spikes thudded into the stone wall, sinking deep into the masonry.
The sight sent a cold sweat down Mohg's neck. If he had taken that hit...
Moreover, the fish's maneuver reminded him of a certain Golden Hippo he had seen in the game in his previous life...
"Better finish this quickly..." Mohg muttered, aiming his spear at the creature's head and thrusting downward. "I wonder what it tastes like..."
Lately, Mohg had been active in the middle and upper levels of the sewers, fighting the various creatures found there. Granted, most were just slugs and slimes, with the occasional "Crab-bro" or "Lobster-bro" providing a real thrill. He was careful to pick his battles.
The result of his efforts was the manifestation of the Primordial Crucible power within him. Combined with the training method Godfrey had left him, his body had already grown a full size larger.
However, perhaps due to a psychological block, Morgott's growth wasn't as fast as his. If one looked purely at their physical builds, Mohg actually looked like the older brother now.
Maybe it was because Morgott still couldn't fully accept the Crucible's blessing within him. Mohg didn't know how to solve that issue immediately. He could only try to "brainwash" his brother during their daily lives, telling him stories of the Crucible Knights, the primordial life force, and the ancient Erdtree, hoping to slowly change his "cheap" older brother's stubborn mind.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (63 Chapters – Ongoing)
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