"First Prince, I have brought intelligence from the snowy mountains."
A man wrapped entirely in a black robe knelt on one knee after shaking the heavy accumulation of snow from his shoulders.
"There is no need for such formality, Messmer," Godwyn said, stepping forward to pull the man up. He placed his hands on the man's shoulders, his gaze complicated.
The figure beneath the black robe revealed his face: a mane of red hair as vibrant as a Fire Giant's, golden pupils, and a handsome countenance that stood in stark contrast to Godwyn's own aura. While Godwyn exuded warmth and sunshine, Messmer's appearance carried a heavy sense of gloom.
"It is the required etiquette. Prince Godwyn need not dwell on it; the news from the King and Queen is of far greater importance."
Godwyn nodded after a momentary silence. "What instructions do my Mother and Father have?"
"The King and Queen have commanded me to serve as the Vice-General for the expedition to Liurnia, assisting Lord Radagon in the crusade. They wish for you, Prince Godwyn, to remain in the Royal Capital."
"I understand."
Godwyn nodded. Even without that command, he would have remained to guard the Capital. As the Carians had surmised, the alliance with the Ancient Dragons and the stability of the Altus nobility required his presence.
"With you in the army, I can rest much easier."
"You overpraise me," Messmer responded flatly. Godwyn was used to this expression; it wasn't a sign of grievance, but simply the man's nature.
"What is the situation at the Mountaintops?"
"The situation is favorable. We have pushed to the summit of the snowy mountains. However..."
"However?"
"The Giants there are incredibly powerful. The King and his inner circle have personally entered the fray. Furthermore, the Fire Giants have begun to tap into the power of their god."
"I see. Then it will likely be some time before Father and Mother can return. The lake district will be left to you and Lord Radagon."
Godwyn spoke with absolute confidence in Godfrey; there wasn't a hint of worry in his voice regarding his father's safety.
"I shall give my all. However, I have yet to meet this Lord Radagon. What kind of man is he?" Messmer tilted his head slightly, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
Godwyn slowly shook his head. "To be honest, I don't know much about him either, but he gives me an incredibly familiar feeling... He is a hero who distinguished himself during the war with the Ancient Dragons and was subsequently chosen by the Two Fingers. His strength is not to be underestimated—in fact, he is quite formidable."
"How does he compare to me?" Messmer couldn't help but ask.
Godwyn looked Messmer over, mentally comparing the two. "I would say... you are evenly matched. He might even be slightly stronger than you."
Messmer paused for a beat before nodding. He trusted Godwyn's judgment; if Godwyn said so, the reality wouldn't be far off.
"A man that powerful, yet there was no word of him before now?"
"He was brought forth by the High Priest," Godwyn noted, a cryptic light in his eyes.
"A powerhouse cultivated in secret, then..."
Messmer didn't feel much about it. In his view, if the man was a warrior raised by the Church of the Two Fingers, he posed no threat to the Golden Order. Not that Messmer cared deeply for the Order itself—he only cared for his Mother, and... perhaps the man standing before him.
Messmer stole a glance at Godwyn. This was the child his Mother favored, her most beloved. Messmer had to admit he felt a pang of envy, even jealousy. Yet, after spending time with him, it was impossible to harbor any malice.
"As long as he is trustworthy and capable, there is no issue."
"Indeed. The army's preparations will take some time, and I still need to deal with that noble at the Grand Lift..."
"Leave that fellow to me," Messmer interjected.
Godwyn hesitated, a rare occurrence.
"Speed is the essence of war. At a time like this, the faster we move, the better. Since he is blocking the path, I will remove him."
"...Very well. But show some restraint."
"I will."
Messmer nodded and strode out of Godwyn's chambers with a purposeful gait.
Godwyn shook his head helplessly. He was satisfied with almost every aspect of this brother, except for his methods of handling things. Godwyn preferred a gentler touch.
Well, it would also be nice if Messmer weren't quite so formal and respectful; Godwyn preferred a closer, more personal relationship.
Furthermore, being "gentle" didn't mean he planned to do nothing—it just meant he planned to do it a bit later. After all, being gentle didn't make him a pushover. Did a noble who siphoned the Dynasty's wealth to feed his own ego really expect to be spared? What a joke.
As Messmer left the palace, he didn't return to his own quarters. Instead, he headed to a different location. There were few guards here—only two women dressed in white robes, their faces veiled in white cloth, stood at the entrance. The veils were embroidered with the patterns of the Erdtree.
This was a private sanctuary in the Capital belonging to Queen Marika. No one was permitted entry except for Marika herself and Messmer.
Ignoring the two sentries, Messmer walked straight through the golden barrier at the threshold. Inside was a simply furnished room, devoid of ornate decorations but filled with a sense of profound tranquility.
The permanent furrow in Messmer's brow finally smoothed out. He turned his gaze toward a woman in a white dress sitting by the window. Sensing the gaze behind her, she slowly turned her head.
"Brother."
"Hey, Gwyn. I heard things haven't been going great for you lately."
"Nonsense. When has my life ever been bad? Or do you have some grievance against Princess Rellana?"
Mohg straightened his posture and gave Mu'en a strange look.
"Hey, don't put words in my mouth! I have nothing but the utmost respect for both Princesses!" Mu'en blurted out, panic flashing across his face.
"Alright, I'm just teasing. But Princess Rellana's special training has indeed been useful."
Mohg nodded, thinking of the combat techniques and the methods of weaving magic into weapon skills that Rellana had taught him during their spars.
"It seems Lady Rellana really is giving you special treatment," Mu'en said, his face awash with envy.
"I suppose so. Though the feeling of getting beaten to a pulp isn't exactly 'great'."
Mohg nodded and turned his gaze back toward the Grand Lift in the distance.
They were currently stationed near what would eventually become the Frenzied Flame Village. For now, it wasn't a den of madness but a region under Carian jurisdiction. Naturally, the Cuckoo Knights near the Grand Lift had tightened their security against the Carian forces, evidenced by the increased number of Cuckoo soldiers patrolling and monitoring the perimeter.
In a way, this worked in their favor. They weren't operating deep within Carian territory; instead, they were positioned on the outskirts, monitoring the Grand Lift from the buffer zone between the Cuckoo patrols and the main body of the Cuckoo Knights.
Over the past few days, Mohg had extracted a significant amount of magical knowledge from the Carians and sent it back to the Dynasty. He had trained under Rellana's guidance and had even managed one more conversation with Sellen.
The specifics of that meeting...
"Gwyn? What do you want with me?"
Sellen, her hair a bit disheveled and her eyes bloodshot, raised an eyebrow as she looked at him.
Gwyn was her primary link to Caria, and since he was someone she had frequent contact with at the Academy and was now a trusted member of Rellana's circle, she was willing to chat. As long as it didn't take too long and interrupt her research, of course.
After obtaining a portion of the Primeval Current sorcerers' notes and grimoires, she had temporarily set aside factional ideologies. Tangible, learnable magic knowledge was far more important than philosophy.
"I want to talk to you about the past and the future."
"The past and the future?" Sellen was stunned. She didn't understand why this man would bring up such a mystical, pseudo-religious topic. He wasn't a cleric, after all.
"That's right. The past and the future." Mohg nodded solemnly.
Though confused, Sellen stepped aside to let him in.
"Mage Sellen, as a researcher of the Primeval Current, you should know where magic originally came from, shouldn't you?"
"You know I'm a Primeval Current sorcerer? Well, I suppose it's not that surprising. But knowing that, you still approach me? Aren't you afraid I'll turn you into a magical experiment?" Sellen asked playfully, though Mohg could see the hesitation behind her eyes.
"Regardless, I do know a bit about the origin of magic. The Star-Gazers' observation of the ancient primeval sky gave birth to glintstone sorcery, and from that, the oldest Primeval sorceries were born."
"Indeed. Then do you know who the most ancient worshippers of the moon and stars were?" Mohg looked at her, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"It wasn't Caria... no..." Sellen instinctively started to say Caria, but she quickly frowned.
"It was the Eternal Cities underground, and the Uhl Dynasty. They were the first to truly study the stars and the moon."
"What are you getting at by telling me this?" Sellen narrowed her eyes.
"Founding Rain of Stars. The ancient star-gazers saw the primeval night sky rain down amber stars, bringing the source of magic. It is the starting point of glintstone sorcery. I know where that spell is located."
Clatter—
Sellen could no longer remain calm. She stood up abruptly and closed the distance between them.
"What do you want? If it's my body..."
"Wait, why on earth would you think that?!" Mohg's eyes widened in genuine bewilderment.
"It's not that? I'm a bit surprised... I thought that was your goal in approaching me. My mistake." Sellen furrowed her brows and muttered.
Mohg nearly lost his composure after that interruption.
"Phew... But it's close enough. I want you to help me. In exchange, I will help you obtain the Primeval sorceries, push the boundaries of magical development, and help you understand more schools of magic. Glintstone sorcery has never been a single lineage. Surely you want to know the secrets behind the other schools as well?"
Sellen was moved. Ever since being influenced by Mohg back at the Academy, she was no longer a "pure" Primeval Current sorcerer; her views had shifted more toward the philosophy of the Karolos Conspectus—or rather, she wanted it all.
"Wait... you said 'help you'? What does that mean?" Sellen narrowed her eyes. She didn't think he was speaking as a fellow member of the Carian faction.
"Literally. I want you to join my faction."
"Ho~ so you're a spy who infiltrated Caria." Sellen looked him up and down. Her eyes said: I didn't expect a straight-edged guy like you to be a traitor.
" I have no ill will toward Caria. My goal is to help them—for the time being. But I want my own forces to grow stronger, so I need your help. Join us."
"I ref—"
"Don't be so quick to refuse, Teacher Sellen. Think about what will happen to you, a Primeval sorcerer, after the war between the Golden Order and Caria ends. Even if Caria wins, Rennala only needs you to study Primeval sorcery so she can have more powerful weapons."
"And then? If I'm not mistaken, she has likely already mastered the signature spell of Master Azur, the 'Comet Azur,' hasn't she?"
Sellen fell silent. Her own deductions matched his. The notes she was currently researching belonged to Azur's lineage, but she couldn't understand how Rennala was learning them so quickly. It was as if... as if Rennala already understood the principles of the Comet Azur long ago.
"Powerful magic is only her temporary need because she faces the threat of the Golden Order. You are just a spare piece on her board. And as a spare piece..."
"I could be discarded at any moment. That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?" Sellen finished.
"Precisely." Mohg nodded without a hint of concealment.
"Well said. But I need to know your true identity."
"I am the Sovereign of the Blood Dynasty, follower of the Mother of Truth. I am also the successor to the Uhl and Uld Dynasties."
Mohg revealed his identity directly.
"Sovereign? You are the leader?" Sellen was genuinely surprised. "Aren't you afraid I'll reveal your identity to Caria?"
"I am not. If this body dies here, it is of no great consequence."
That was a lie, but Sellen didn't know that.
"So, it's a clone?" Sellen's expression turned to one of intense interest. She stepped forward and pinched Mohg's arm. "No wonder your strength doesn't match Rellana's. You're a clone with a hidden identity. I'm curious about this clone of yours. Will you let me study it?"
"...Later. Besides, you haven't agreed to join me yet."
"I agree."
"Huh?!" Mohg looked at her, stunned. He had said so much and she had been hesitant, yet now she agreed just like that?
"As you said, the Carians have a different attitude toward the Primeval Current than the Academy, but essentially, they dislike 'unstable factors' like us. Even if my views have diverged from the traditional Primeval Current, they won't believe me. Simply put, I don't have many choices. And you, as the founder of a faction, have offered excellent terms. Plus, I'm genuinely interested in this clone ability. So... I accept."
"In that case... welcome to the fold, Sellen."
"So... can you take off your clothes and let me study your clone? Does it have to do with the soul? Can I perform a dissection?"
Remembering that scene, Mohg still felt a headache coming on. As expected of "Teacher"—that thirst for knowledge was overwhelming.
But it was understandable. The Primeval Current's notes likely contained information on Primal Glintstones—the study of a sorcerer's soul. For a Primeval sorcerer, crafting a new body and resurrecting wasn't a rare concept. That was why she was so interested in Mohg's "clone." Perhaps she wanted him to help her make a clone for her own research? Using a clone to study the Primeval Current and soul mutations?
Mohg felt that was highly likely.
"Gwyn, there's movement at the Grand Lift!"
"Hmm?!"
Mohg's train of thought was snapped back by Mu'en's shout. He immediately looked toward the Grand Lift, pulling out his telescope for a closer look.
Sure enough, a moment later, the Grand Lift began to slowly groan into motion. The Cuckoo soldiers and knights began to contract their formations into a defensive posture. Even the scouting parties were pulled back, leaving only a few scouts to gather intel.
This was the signal. The Golden Order was arriving!
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (Full)
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