Passing through a long, narrow valley, a magnificent city revealed itself to Gawain and his companions. Though it appeared to have been scorched by fire at some point, the remaining ruins bore testament to its former grandeur. Had it been in the Lands Between, it would have surely been a regional capital, comparable to Stormveil Castle's significance to Limgrave.
The architectural style of the Tower Settlement was unlike any of the common factions in the Lands Between. It featured a heavy emphasis on spirals—the hallmark of the Hornsent's unique culture.
Gawain recalled how, when Mohg accepted the embrace of the Formless Mother, his Omen horns had grown rapidly, intertwining in a spiral. This style was likely a reflection of the Hornsent's "Invocation"—their special ability to summon divinity.
While the city's scale was impressive, what truly caught Gawain's eye was the object shrouded in shadow high in the distant sky. That place seemed to lack a physical form; even staring through the semi-transparent veil of shadow, one could discern no internal structure. It looked like nothing more than a blurred, ethereal silhouette.
He could only guess that this was the source of the Hornsent's remaining strength—the reason they could still hold their own against the Crusade. Was Miquella courting the Hornsent for whatever lay hidden within that shadow?
Retracting his gaze, Gawain spotted two figures standing near the city gates. These were presumably the new companions Leda had mentioned. One wore verdigris-colored armor and was hunched over a large pot, tinkering with something inside.
The other was a somewhat frail-looking elder with a white beard. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing intently at a Cross of Miquella. Though he appeared to be an old man with limited mobility, he radiated the unmistakable aura of a powerhouse. Moreover... why did he reek of Cursed Blood?
It hadn't been long since Gawain's battle with Mohg, and he remembered the sensation of Cursed Blood exploding within his own body all too well. He could never forget that foul yet intoxicating scent—a substance capable of driving ordinary men to madness.
Great. Miquella's followers now included a Saber-lookalike in Leda, a Redmane Knight who lived only for the thrill of battle in Freyja, a Hornsent who looked like a villain, and now a Pureblood Knight. This group was becoming an eccentric mosaic. The Haligtree's reputation for "inclusivity" was truly well-earned. He wondered what other surprises were in store.
Wait, he remembered there were a bunch of Kindred of Rot at the Haligtree. Is a talking cockroach going to join us next?
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, he noticed the scent of Cursed Blood wasn't just coming from the elder. Following the mountain path to the left, the air grew thick with it. It seemed the Formless Mother had left her mark on the Land of Shadow as well.
As they drew closer, Gawain realized the purity of the Cursed Blood on the old man was staggering. During his journey to slaughter the Pureblood Knights, he had learned to judge a person's rank and strength by the intensity of the blood within them.
Clearly, this elder's blood was second only to the Lord of Blood, Mohg, himself. Gawain wondered why this man hadn't been present during his purge of the Mohgwyn Palace.
He briefly considered whether he should find an opportunity to eliminate the man. Every Pureblood Knight he had encountered so far had only reinforced his negative stereotypes of the faction; he had yet to meet a single "normal" one.
Leda noticed the shift in Gawain's expression and decided to offer an explanation.
"Do not be startled. What you see is the great power of Kind Miquella."
"Though we are all followers, our origins and faiths differ wildly. In any other circumstance, it would not be strange for us to come to blows."
"And yet, we are all currently drawn to Kind Miquella. Because of him, we have cast aside past grievances to walk hand-in-hand. It is a literal miracle, don't you think?"
Gawain's lip twitched as he struggled to keep a straight face. Miquella's insidious enchantment had almost affected him earlier. If he hadn't been warned by Millicent beforehand, he'd probably be obsessed with that androgynous youth by now.
"But is loyalty built on enchantment truly loyalty? If the charm were to break one day..."
Leda didn't deny his words. She knew there were one or two people here who weren't to be trusted. Had she not believed in Miquella's enchantment, she would have started "purifying" the ranks long ago.
As if recalling the past, she brushed the scabbard of her sword, her voice turning cold.
"At that time, I would naturally take the necessary steps to ensure the purity of our band. No traitor deserves to live."
"If such a day comes, can I count on your assistance?"
Gawain looked at Leda's serious expression and made a guess about her temperament.
"I've put down my fair share of traitors. For now, no one has crossed that line. If it happens, just let me know. I won't turn a blind eye to base betrayal."
Leda snapped out of her thoughts and exhaled, relaxing her grip on her hilt. She felt her old habits surfacing, but Gawain's answer brought a small spark of warmth to her heart.
"My apologies. I overstepped."
"The two ahead are our companions in the Land of Shadow: Ansbach and Moore."
"As you can see, Ansbach was once a trusted sage of the Lord of Blood, Mohg. He is also a veteran. He happened to be away when you fought Mohg, and thus knew nothing of the events at the palace. He has since followed Miquella's guidance to this land."
"The map I gave you earlier was his work. The Hornsent provides the intel, and Ansbach uses his veteran's skill to draft the maps for our use."
"The other is Moore, who, like me, hails from the Haligtree. Though he is a man of few words, he serves as our quartermaster, gathering supplies."
"If there is anything you need, speak to Moore. He and his friends, the Forager Brood, will do their best to provide."
After the introduction, Leda stepped forward to greet Ansbach, who was still contemplating the cross.
"Sir Ansbach, have you finished the map for Belurat, the Tower Settlement?"
The veteran turned around. Seeing Leda and a stranger, he took only a moment to realize who the newcomer was. He reached into a pot held by Moore and pulled out several maps detailed with complex terrain.
"Yes. I have a fair grasp of the situation in the Tower Settlement. While there are bound to be omissions, it should suffice for your needs."
"I see we have two new companions. I shall have to increase the map production."
Gawain took the map. The style was indeed identical to the one Leda had given him previously.
Just as he tucked the map away, he felt Ansbach's gaze scanning his chest, as if the old man were suspicious of something. After a moment, the gold in Ansbach's eyes flickered, and he retracted his scrutiny, speaking calmly.
"My name is Ansbach. I once served Lord Mohg."
"As for now, as you can see, I am drawn to Kind Miquella like the others, following his lead."
"That said, I am but a decrepit veteran. I can offer little help in matters requiring the drawing of blades."
"Instead, I have turned my efforts to reconnaissance. I fear my map-making skills have dulled with age; I ask for your patience."
Gawain looked at the bloodstains on Ansbach's clothes and the lingering bits of what looked like insect limbs. He didn't believe for a second that this man was "decrepit." A scout of his caliber would be elite in any army.
It also seemed that while the Hornsent were cooperating with Miquella, the actual residents of the Tower Settlement weren't exactly welcoming to these followers.
"No need for modesty. The map of the Gravesite Plain was excellent. I'll be relying on you for the maps ahead."
"Based on your tone, you've already explored the city?"
Ansbach nodded. He and Moore had indeed gone inside, gathering useful items along the way. He had personally held the rear as they exited.
With a wave of his hand, Moore held up his large pot, showing the contents to the group.
"Ah... first time meeting you. Welcome."
"Work together... for Kind Miquella. For everyone... I have prepared good things."
Gawain ignored Moore's stuttering speech; the boy seemed to be quite introverted. He noticed the pot was divided into sections containing various plants and items. Most notably, in the center, were Scadutree Fragments and several clusters of... gray dust?
Ansbach picked up a Scadutree Fragment and explained.
"I assume you have realized by now that the Land of Shadow rejects outsiders like us. To restore your strength, you must absorb the power of these fragments."
"These are fragments I found during my exploration. Leda, I am giving these to you as a gift for our new companions."
Knowing the fragments were essential, Gawain wasn't about to refuse. He felt a slight rise in his opinion of this veteran. Is this man really from the Mohgwyn Dynasty? His vibe is completely different.
"What about you? Don't you need them yourself?"
"No matter. Moore and I have already used a few. We will continue to gather them as we follow Kind Miquella. His forager friends will help as well."
Moore nodded dopily in agreement.
Leda looked at the number of fragments and hesitated on how to distribute them. Gawain had been personally invited by Miquella, and she wanted him to regain his strength quickly. There were too many monsters in this land; having a powerhouse as backup was a logical necessity.
However, her innate distrust of others—which even the enchantment couldn't fully erase—made her worry. She feared that if he recovered too quickly, he might become more than she and the others could handle if things went south.
While Leda was conflicted, Gawain received a mental ping from Asimi. The mimic seemed very interested in the dust-like substance.
"Ansbach, what is that clustered dust? Could you explain?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. Those are offerings of the Hornsent, known as Revered Spirit Ash. They seem to nourish spiritual bodies."
"To use an analogy, they function similarly to Glovewort, though like the Scadutree Fragments, they only work within the Land of Shadow."
"Why? Do you want the ash?"
"Yes," Gawain replied. "Can I take all the Spirit Ash? I gathered several Scadutree Fragments at the Scorched Ruins already. I can feel that to restore my strength further, I'll need more fragments than I thought. I'll hunt for those myself."
"But I am very interested in this Spirit Ash. I'll take these."
Leda breathed a sigh of relief. She understood how the fragments worked; they were effective at first, but the more powerful the individual, the more fragments they required for further growth.
Still, it was a bit absurd. The amount she had would be plenty for someone of her level, but he felt it was too little? At that rate, he might not fully recover until he reached the base of the Scadutree.
Seeing that Leda agreed, Ansbach had no reason to refuse. He was merely curious. These items were for spirits; he wondered which soul Gawain intended to give so much ash to.
He didn't pry. Everyone had their secrets. He simply turned toward the gate not far ahead.
"Do you intend to enter the city to explore?"
Leda looked toward the shadow at the highest point. Miquella's guidance told her that was their destination.
"Yes. This is a city of the Hornsent, our allies. Did you encounter any obstacles inside?"
Ansbach recalled his experience, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"The Hornsent inside won't give you a friendly face just because we are allies. I'm sure you experienced that on your way here."
"Ultimately, it is Kind Miquella they recognize, not followers like us."
"Were you attacked inside?"
Ansbach nodded. He had only gone in for a casual stroll and to "borrow" a few things—Scadutree Fragments, Spirit Ash from Hornsent corpses, historical records, and the like. The Hornsent Warriors had attacked immediately; they weren't very friendly.
"The mindless shadows go without saying, but there are Hornsent Warriors in Belurat who can still use the power of Invocation. They are difficult to deal with. They attack all outsiders, including us."
"There are also giant scorpions nesting in the city. If I hadn't retreated quickly, these old bones might have stayed there permanently."
Gawain looked at the scorpion legs still stuck to Ansbach's clothes and finally knew where they came from. He rolled his eyes internally. This guy is definitely a 'wolf in sheep's clothing.'
The man had waltzed through the front gate, packed up their supplies, fought his way through, and walked out unscathed. Did he think the Hornsent had no pride?
"You mentioned those Hornsent Warriors can use the power of Invocation. Can you tell me more about that?"
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (330 chapter - Ongoing)
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