"Who are you? Why do you have my voice?"
Melina turned back, staring in astonishment at the stranger who had suddenly appeared before her. For a fleeting moment, she had actually thought she was the one speaking.
The newcomer, Yorshka, was clad in a gown of pure white gauze. A light, misty veil draped from her head, and beneath the moonlight, her rounded face exuded a sense of cold, ethereal beauty.
Her pointed ears set her apart from ordinary humans, and from beneath her veil, a thick mane of brown hair wound its way down, mingled with strange, tentacle-like strands. Purple markings snaked across her neck like cryptic veins, and traces of dragon scales shimmered faintly on her exposed skin, marking her extraordinary heritage.
A silver ornament on her brow glinted in the moonlight, making her eyes—reminiscent of the dark moon itself—appear unfathomably deep.
Unfortunately, the dignified aura was somewhat undercut by the fleshy tail thumping restlessly behind her and the look of sheer curiosity in her eyes. This caused Melina's first impression of the woman to crumble just a little.
"I am Yorshka, Captain of the Darkmoon Knights."
"The Darkmoon Knights?"
Melina fell into a brief silence as she searched her memories. She remembered finding Gawain on the Weeping Peninsula and overhearing him mention such an order to Irina.
"Indeed. It seems the Blade of the Darkmoon has not forgotten his identity. As his Captain, I must naturally be present to offer my blessings during such a momentous occasion for the order's only member."
Yorshka's dragon tail couldn't help but swish up and down. She turned to watch Gawain as he approached the cathedral, a smile spreading across her face. She had worked quite hard to get the Fire Keeper's permission to come out and play—or rather, to conduct an "inspection."
However, she didn't want to intrude directly. Instead, she had used their spiritual connection to manifest beside Melina. She had long been curious about this so-called "maiden," so she reached out a hand in invitation.
"Shall we go and take a little peek together?"
Yorshka's invitation made Melina hesitate. "But... is that truly alright? Should we really be doing this?"
"It is fine! I am his most respected Captain. Even if he discovers us, it won't be a problem. A member of my order cannot be allowed to miss such a significant milestone."
"Very well then."
After a brief internal struggle, Melina finally agreed. She was also curious about this lively Captain who shared her voice and wondered what kind of story lay behind her.
Gawain didn't notice what was happening on the distant hilltop. He had finally reached the entrance of the cathedral. Adula, the Glintstone Dragon, was being surprisingly well-behaved this time; instead of attacking on sight, the dragon lay quietly on the ground as if it had been waiting for him.
Adula leaned in to sniff him twice before letting him pass. The dragon then stood tall on all fours, scanning the surroundings to ensure nothing would disturb the events unfolding inside the cathedral.
Gawain took a deep breath and slowly stepped into the ancient, dilapidated structure that looked as though it might collapse at any moment.
The interior walls and floors were scarred with signs of battle. Several pillars lay shattered on the ground, the breaks looking fresh—clearly the result of the Two Fingers' final, desperate struggle in its death throes.
Through the dust-covered, long-neglected windows, he could see the brilliant moonlight cascading down like a silver waterfall. It spilled gently across the floor, interweaving with the mysterious blue glow of Starlight Shards scattered everywhere, creating a dreamlike, ethereal scene.
These were all Starlight Shards—said to be the remains of fleeting light from the stars, manifesting as illusory blue fragments.
He hadn't understood why such a vast quantity of shards had gathered here before, but now he realized they were likely the residue left behind after Ranni used her power to summon the Dark Moon.
When one destined for such a fate fulfills their mission, the stars in the heavens are inevitably drawn to them. The fragments covering the floor were proof that countless fleeting stars had once descended here, leaving behind these radiant traces.
At the deepest part of the cathedral lay a bottomless pit. The jagged gashes left by fingers on the surrounding stone told the story of what had happened recently.
In its pathetic state, the Two Fingers had tried to dig a path to escape, but it was ultimately caught and finished off by Ranni wielding the Fingerslayer Blade. The depths of this tunnel were the final destination of his journey.
Gawain took a deep breath and checked his appearance. He then realized his armor was so battered that there wasn't much point in checking, yet this was the Carian Knight Set gifted to him by Iji. Nothing seemed more appropriate than this.
He cast a Starlight spell above his head. Even if he could see in the dark, it was better than nothing. With that, he proceeded.
Gripping the Dark Moon Ring tightly in his hand, Gawain stepped forward and leaped into the abyss. Using gravity magic to buffer his fall, he soon reached the bottom.
The Starlight spell above him pulsed with an eerie blue light before suddenly splitting into countless motes of radiance. With every step he took, these motes filled the tunnel, illuminating the path ahead.
Turning several corners, he saw remnants of flesh and pools of undried blood. Some of the meat was even stuck with thick, black hairs—the discarded tissue of the Two Fingers as it was hacked to pieces.
Finally, he reached his destination. Before him, the massive body of the Two Fingers was still twitching instinctively. It had evidently died not long ago; every visible nerve and vessel had been severed, stripping it of all movement.
Ranni's puppet sat quietly upon a stone before the broken Two Fingers. She lacked her usual elegance; the blood of the Two Fingers had soaked into the puppet's body, dyeing the original blue into a deep crimson.
The rough cordage that composed the puppet's joints was exposed and messy, but it wasn't due to external injury. It looked more as if she had used too much force while hacking at the Two Fingers, causing the already fragile puppet body to come apart at the seams.
Her lower pair of hands rested loosely at her sides, the blood-stained Fingerslayer Blade lying nearby. Her upper left hand rested on her lap, while her right hand was extended in mid-air, her ring finger slightly raised as if waiting for something.
With a smile, Gawain pulled out the Dark Moon Ring, which had grown warm in his palm. Recalling the process from his memories, he knelt on one knee, gently took her hand, and tenderly slid the ring onto her finger.
Before he could push it all the way on, her ring finger suddenly twitched forward, meeting the ring halfway. The sudden movement startled him, catching him off guard.
The moment the ring was donned, the Dark Moon crest upon it erupted with a brilliant blue light, enveloping Ranni's tattered puppet body.
A moment later, a pristine Snow Witch puppet appeared in its place. A voice, gentle yet tinged with a hint of sighing wonder, came from above.
"So, thou art my Lord... It seems my warnings were in vain, regardless of how many I gave. Still... I am glad. I am glad that my Lord is thee."
Before Ranni could finish, she was pulled into a tight embrace. She froze for a heartbeat before affectionately wrapping all four of her arms around him, gently patting his back.
"I missed you too, Ranni," Gawain whispered. "I've dealt with the Outer God of Rot below, and the Great Swamp in Caelid is the same. At least beneath the Altus Plateau, there is no longer any room for the Scarlet Rot to exist."
"Mmm, thou hast done well. If my brother could see this, he would surely find comfort in it. I am glad I chose the right person. Tell me of today's events—though this is no place for idle talk. Come with me."
Ranni began to glow with a blue light, enveloping them both.
The next instant, they were teleported to the top of the massive Moonlight Altar outside the cathedral. They sat side-by-side atop the plateau, the two moons in the sky shining down on them—and on two curious spectators hiding a short distance away.
With a wave of Ranni's hand, Gawain's shattered armor was restored to its original state. She nodded in satisfaction and settled into an attentive posture.
"This is much better. Now, tell me of the battle, my Lord."
The tenderness in Ranni's voice sent a thrill through Gawain. As expected of a tsundere—once the prickly side passed, only the sweetness remained. He gathered his thoughts and began to recount everything that had happened since they parted.
Once he started, Gawain became increasingly animated. His desire to show off in front of the woman he loved surged; he spoke excitedly of the creative tactics he used against the Outer God of Rot, even floating into the air to give a brief demonstration.
Under the moonlight, the silence of the Moonlight Altar was broken by strange noises, punctuated by occasional laughter and the sound of clapping.
After a long while, Gawain finally finished his tale.
While Ranni had listened intently, she was also mentally reviewing the details of the war. Her experience in dealing with Outer Gods was still relatively sparse; she had previously focused all her attention on the Two Fingers.
"Truly, a magnificent battle. My own path was far less eventful. By the time I found the Two Fingers, it was at its wit's end, attempting to burrow a tunnel to escape. I pursued it until it could no longer move."
She produced a letter bearing the seal of the Carian Royal Family, her face reflecting an unconscious joy.
"After settling my scores with the Two Fingers, I examined its remains. It seems a certain part of its core had been artificially removed. If I am not mistaken, this is the key to how they were able to escape the influence of the Mother of Fingers. Take this letter to the sorceress Sellen. I believe she will understand how to help Blaidd. I leave this in thy hands."
Gawain went silent for a moment before finally speaking about the events at the Academy, feeling a headache coming on as he recalled the elusive Lord of Blood.
"So, that's the situation. The Academy's losses are still being tallied. Master Sellen wishes to use the spare body she left with the Carian Royals—it should still be in the basement, right?"
Ranni's expression clouded with uncertainty. She hadn't expected such an occurrence and felt a pang of regret. Had she known the Two Fingers would be so pathetic, she wouldn't have recalled the power she left in the Grand Library just to be safe. Fortunately, her mother was unharmed.
"Mohg, the Lord of Blood... Hmph, that one who does nothing but strike from the shadows? He truly is persistent."
She recalled the coalition of kings that had collapsed due to the bloody conspiracy. Had that accident not happened, perhaps her brother Rykard would not have been forced to merge with the Great Serpent before he was ready, becoming that blasphemous monstrosity.
"Then it is time he faced judgment. Originally, I planned to gather strength before marching on the Altus Plateau. Now, it seems I must go to the Consecrated Snowfield via the waygate at the Four Belfries. There must be a passage left behind from when Mohg abducted Miquella. I cannot rest while such a dangerous enemy remains."
"A wise choice. I entrust all the remaining power of the Carian Royals to thee. If it aids in thy crusade against Mohg, use it as thou seest fit, my Lord."
"And what about you? Now that your revenge against the Two Fingers is complete, what will you do next?"
Ranni looked up toward the starry sky. After a moment of hesitation, she finally made up her mind.
"My apologies, but I may not be able to remain by thy side at all times. There are many things within the stars that I must explore."
Gawain took Ranni's hand—the one wearing the ring—and put on a reluctant expression, his voice tinged with a feigned sense of grievance.
"You're leaving so soon?"
"Mmm. My Order resides with the stars and the moon. Now that the Two Fingers can no longer bind my fate, I must naturally venture into the heavens to seek my Order. Why? Art thou loath to see me go?"
"Of course I am. I just put the ring on your finger, and you're already talking about leaving before the night is even over. How could I not be?"
Ranni glanced at him from the corner of her eye, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. She could tell immediately that he was acting. She teased him in return: "Then, my Lord, in thy view, when would be the appropriate time for me to depart?"
Gawain pretended to think, then held up three fingers with a grin.
"Even a man as cold-hearted as Radagon sired three children with the Full Moon Queen before he left the Academy. As a Carian Princess, surely you won't be outdone by Radagon? Don't worry, for the sake of the children, I won't lose my mind like the Queen did."
Ranni looked at him helplessly, pouting as she muttered under her breath, "So thou simply dost not wish for me to leave... My body was long ago slain by the Cursemark of Death."
"What was that?"
"I said, by the time I find a way to restore my body, thou wilt likely have surrounded the Royal Capital and unified the Lands Between. If thou truly desirest three children, I fear I would never have the time to complete our Order."
Gawain's eyes widened. He looked at Ranni's tsundere expression in shock. He had been joking, yet she hadn't even thought to refuse—she was actually worried about the timeline? Then, her other words caught his attention.
"Did you say our Order?"
Ranni nodded, her thoughts drifting back to their conversation at the Divine Tower.
"Yes. Our Order. I have thought long on what thou saidst to me. Indeed, as thou hast claimed, taking all the Laws and leaving the Lands Between to let all life ponder the future for themselves... it is perhaps too much to ask. In the end, I find I cannot truly betray everything.
"While I must still venture into the stars to find my own Order, the Elden Ring is far more forgiving in what it can manifest than I imagined. Things should never have turned out this way. Thus, continue on thy path to become Lord. Once thou hast devised the Order best suited for the inhabitants of the Lands Between, I shall be at thy side to mend the Elden Ring together."
"Now that's more like it. It would be a waste for a tool as useful as the Elden Ring to only display one fixed, unchanging Order. In my view, there is no such thing as a 'best' Order. Even an Order that seems perfect now might become unsuitable for the Lands Between after some time—or it might develop a malignant flaw, like Godwyn. Constant mending and refining is the right way. Otherwise, if you stay stagnant and hope for a permanent solution, you won't even notice when you've been parasitized by something like the Scarlet Rot."
Gawain reached out and pulled Ranni close. After surveying the horizon for a long time, he gave a soft sigh.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. Go to the stars and find your Order. Just remember to come back and see me every now and then."
Ranni didn't leave immediately. Instead, she smiled and held out her hand. "Give me thy hand. I have one more gift for thee before I depart."
Gawain paused, reading something in her expression. He nodded and offered his hand with an expectant gaze.
Ranni took his left hand. In her other palm, she manifested a ring remarkably similar to the Dark Moon Ring, though the central crest representing the dark moon was absent, leaving only a void of black.
She slid the ring onto his ring finger. The moment it was donned, the black center began to glow with a faint, shimmering light—a mixture of flame, starlight, and moonlight.
"Keep this ring well. it reflects the color of thy true essence and possesses the power to convey messages. If thou wishest to see me, infuse it with sufficient power; I shall return to thy side instantly, regardless of where I am.
"But remember, this ring is now bound to thee. Even if damaged by external force, it can be mended by thy own power, but it cannot be removed from thy finger by thy own will, lest it lose its function. That is all. Farewell, my Lord."
With those final instructions, Ranni's form vanished. In her place remained a massive blue greatsword—the weapon traditionally gifted by Carian Queens to their consorts.
Infused with Ranni's power, this Dark Moon Greatsword symbolized the cold, dark full moon. It possessed both magical properties and radiated a subtle frost.
Gawain picked up the Dark Moon Greatsword and examined it for a moment before crossing it behind his back alongside the Sword of Night and Flame. His fingers traced the ring Ranni had given him, and the words engraved inside it rose to his mind:
"Only the Promised Lord of the Dark Moon may possess this. All the loneliness beyond the night, I shall face with thee."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (267 chapter - Ongoing)
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