"A Carian Royal Wedding?"
After several months, Mohg finally received word from Rellana, and the news was a total bombshell: Queen Rennala of the Full Moon and Radagon of the Golden Order were officially engaged. The armies of both sides had entered a total ceasefire.
Radagon had publicly expressed his remorse for the animosity stirred between himself and the people of Liurnia during the war. Consequently, both parties set a date: in fifteen days, they would gather at the Church of Vows for a rite of atonement. That day would also serve as the wedding day for Rennala and Radagon.
When the news was finalized, the Knights of the Cuckoo and the Academy of Raya Lucaria were left utterly speechless.
The Knights of the Cuckoo were especially staggered. Their commander had hoped to use the Golden Order's might to crush Caria so they could plunder the Royal Palace and indulge their dark desires with the women of the Carian lineage. Now... they would be lucky if the Carians didn't settle old scores with them once the dust settled.
As for the Academy, while they were frustrated, they had no choice but to swallow their pride and endure it. Privately, they cursed Rennala for having no spine, choosing a marriage alliance over fighting to the bitter end. How are we supposed to plot a coup if you go and marry the enemy? they grumbled.
However, since the matter was settled, the Academy went quiet. They had already struggled to manage Caria's oversight from within; now that the Golden Order was involved, any further rebellion would be suicide. Given the Golden Order's domineering style, any troublemakers would likely find themselves hanging from a tree to "enjoy the view" by the next morning.
Ward, reacting with characteristic speed, immediately declared his stance: "As you know, I have always been a staunch supporter of the Carian Royal Family. I have no objections to the study of the Moon (despite his previous opposition), and I wholeheartedly support the establishment and stationing of the Erdtree Church within Academy grounds."
Seeing how sensible Ward was being, Rennala didn't press him too hard. She merely "borrowed" the records of the Primeval Current, several volumes of magical notes, and a significant portion of his hidden magical resources.
In the months that had passed, Mohg and his followers had established several small outposts across Caelid, though Fort Gael remained their only major stronghold.
Part of this was due to the Kouler Dynasty being incredibly cautious. They gave Mohg no excuses or opportunities to strike. In fact, barely a month after he seized Fort Gael, they had sent over the land deeds for the fortress and its surrounding territories, along with a mountain of gifts. Their submissiveness had actually dampened his desire to wipe them out for the time being.
The main reason, however, was that Mohg's own aggressive intent hadn't been particularly high during that period, so he accepted the "tribute."
Over these months, the agricultural lands surrounding Fort Gael had been fully restored, and many residents had migrated back. Combined with the steady flow of ore from the mines, the area had become a functional logistics base. Consequently, Mohg had relocated a significant number of Blood Warriors from the Dynasty's main seat to garrison the fort.
Furthermore, his cooperation with the Church of Dragon Communion had solidified.
After Zesko brought his message back, High Priest Hedeke appeared in person to meet with Mohg. The two reached an agreement regarding the hunting of drakes. Mohg promised that the hearts of any drakes they hunted would be handed over to the Church; in exchange, the Church would provide the dragon blood to Mohg. Additionally, Mohg secured the right to hire or borrow personnel from the Church.
Hedeke didn't object, merely stating that Mohg would have to negotiate with the individuals himself, as even the High Priest couldn't be sure what his followers might desire. Whether it was wealth, weapons, power, or beauty, those who had transformed into Wyrm-kin by plundering draconic strength often possessed intense worldly desires.
Once the matters at Fort Gael and with the Church were settled, Mohg sent representatives to establish contact with Sellia, the Town of Sorcery.
Connecting with Sellia proved far easier than dealing with other factions. Unlike the Academy of Raya Lucaria, Sellia was neither insular nor xenophobic, and they lacked the Academy's characteristic arrogance. Many within the town were pragmatists. While they maintained ties to the Academy, they largely acted according to their own will.
Master Lusat had been imprisoned behind Sellia because the townspeople similarly disliked the sorcerers of the Primeval Current. They viewed them as too radical—violating the original intent of magic and slaughtering their own colleagues.
The true reason the connection was so seamless, however, was the influence of Nokron. Unlike the Academy, Sellia had always maintained a dialogue with the underground world, exchanging resources and techniques to develop their magic. Many Night Sorceries had been born from this exchange. Sellia even housed the "Chair Crypts," the iconic architectural signature of the Eternal Cities.
Thus, Mohg's alliance with Sellia wasn't just a simple introduction; it turned into a deep collaboration. The Mohgwyn Dynasty shared information regarding the "Blood Star," as well as specialized tools like Cursed-Blood Pots and the cultivated Swarm of Flies—items that were perfect for assassination.
As is well known, many sorcerers in Sellia specialized in the art of the magical assassin.
Additionally, since Mohg himself had studied Academy and Carian sorceries, both sides engaged in an exchange of magical knowledge. Mohg managed to obtain basic Night Sorceries, such as Night Shard and Unseen Form, in a very smooth trade.
Beyond magic, they traded the Dynasty's local specialties—Cursed-Blood Pots and Bloodroses—for the unique exports of Sellia. Large-scale magic pots and various items from across the Lands Between flowed back to the Dynasty. Years of stability had allowed Sellia to develop a highly sophisticated marketplace. Since the town had not yet been ravaged by the Scarlet Rot, it remained an incredibly prosperous region.
Finally, beyond these expected contacts, they encountered a faction that truly surprised Mohg: the representatives of the Bestial Sanctum. From the followers of the Sanctum, he learned that the current Bestial Priest was not yet Gurranq.
In other words, Maliketh had not yet transformed into his beastly avatar to guard the Rune of Death in Farum Azula. This made sense, as Maliketh only truly sealed the Rune of Death away after the Night of the Black Knives. Before then, he simply held it quietly in his possession, active as Marika's Shadow.
The Bestial Priest currently residing in the northern Sanctum of Caelid was named Mobris, a follower of the intelligent beasts and the Ancient Dragons. He was immensely powerful but indifferent to the existence of drakes—the primary reason he was allowed to remain undisturbed in the north. Mobris was essentially a recluse. Unless someone actively provoked him, he never left the Sanctum.
He spent his days teaching incantations and combat techniques to followers of the beasts and dragons. Their faith was simple: hunt powerful beasts or enemies and bring back their trophies to be buried. Returning to the earth was the beastly way to let a soul find peace, and the burial of trophies represented their respect for a fallen foe.
"Sister, how do you feel?"
Rellana, dressed in a flowing blue gown, leaned against a wall with her arms crossed as she looked at Rennala.
Rennala was seated before a mirror, adjusting her silver-and-blue robes—a gown specially designed by the Carian Royal Family for the Queen. Hearing Rellana's voice, she shot her sister a playful, sideways glance.
"You still have the energy to tease me? I suppose you've been quite idle lately."
"A little, I suppose. Since we've entered a total ceasefire with the Golden Order." Rellana shrugged, not bothering to deny it.
"Mind your posture. Your dress is getting wrinkled," Rennala reminded her.
"I only wore this because you insisted... I told you I'm not used to these clothes..."
"On an occasion like this, a Princess must wear a formal gown. It's non-negotiable."
As she spoke, Rennala adjusted the ornate crown upon her head. With her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her regal aura was now tinged with a subtle, enchanting softness.
"...Sister, are you really going through with this? With Radagon?"
"I've told you many times, Rellana. You should start calling him 'Brother-in-law.'" Rennala interrupted before her sister could finish.
"...Fine. But are you truly happy to marry him?"
"You've asked that so many times, Rellana." Rennala smiled at her sister.
Rellana looked away, feeling slightly awkward.
"I know you have your prejudices against him," Rennala continued. "But I must say, he is a remarkable man—perhaps the finest I have ever met. He is powerful, noble of character, and handsome. He treats his subordinates and subjects with kindness. Our past hostility was merely a matter of differing allegiances. Now, we are becoming one."
"I know, but you..."
"I am satisfied. And I can feel that he is not without affection for me. Through our months of contact and our duels, I have felt his love. I have feelings for him too. What more is there to say?"
Rennala shook her head with a gentle smile. After a moment of silence, Rellana nodded.
"I understand... but if he ever treats you poorly, remember to tell me. I'll bring Mohg back here to settle the score with him."
Rennala couldn't help but chuckle. "Very well. It's good to know I have someone to back me up."
"Sister..."
Rellana stepped forward and leaned into Rennala's embrace. Rennala's gaze softened instantly, and she gently stroked Rellana's hair.
"What is it?"
"Once I leave for the Mohgwyn Dynasty... will we become enemies?"
"Never. In my heart, no matter where you are, you will always be my sister." Rennala shook her head and spoke soothingly.
Truly, she couldn't imagine a day where they would be foes. While she was marrying Radagon and aligning Caria with the Golden Order, it didn't mean her fundamental stance had changed. She would always represent the interests of the Carian Royal Family.
She also believed that Mohg, as the Lord of Blood, would never take action against Caria. With the Royal Family and the Golden Order in their "honeymoon phase," there would be little friction in the Lakes. As for what happened elsewhere... that was beyond her concern. She only wished to protect her small corner of the world. The Lands Between were simply too large.
After a moment of shared quiet, the two sisters left the room together. Today was the day they would host various factions—guests from the Golden Order, Carian nobles, the Academy, and even the Knights of the Cuckoo had arrived. As the star of the show, Rennala couldn't stay hidden for long.
"Lord Mohg, it shouldn't be long now before Lady Rellana contacts us."
"Mhm. I know."
Mohg nodded to Lyanna, pulling his gaze away from the distant Carian Royal Palace.
"Let's head back. I have returned to my peak, and Rellana is about to join the Dynasty. It is time to meet the King of the Storm."
This time, he didn't plan on a polite visit. Given the strength of the Storm Dynasty and the personality of the Storm King, Engvall, as described by Nibbla... being overly polite would only be interpreted as weakness. To gain respect, one had to show strength from the very first meeting. "Playing the hidden card" depended entirely on the person you were facing and what you hoped to achieve.
With a flick of his cloak, Mohg swirled a mist of blood around Lyanna and himself, vanishing into a blood pool.
Meanwhile, as the news of the Carian-Golden alliance spread back to the capital, Leyndell began preparing for the next Great Expedition.
Once the campaign in the Mountaintops of the Giants concluded, the next target would be Limgrave!
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