At the highest point of the Shadow Keep, Messmer stared for a long time at the twin moons that had momentarily illuminated the entirety of Castle Ensis. Only then did he turn to face the Carian sorcerer who had come to deliver the message.
"Are you certain that Rellana personally confirmed all of this?"
"There is no mistake. Princess Ranni has indeed descended upon the Land of Shadow. In the presence of the entire Castle Ensis garrison, I believe the news regarding Lady Melina is also genuine."
"Ranni? That child actually... I understand. You are dismissed. Do not let the news of Melina spread."
The Carian sorcerer nodded, and his figure vanished into the darkness.
"Melina... why would you make such a choice? Is this also Mother's will?"
Messmer's expression became incredibly complex, a mixture of longing for the sister he hadn't seen in ages and a profound sense of bewilderment regarding the current state of the Lands Between and his mother.
He had shouldered these burdens alone precisely because he hoped the Golden Dynasty founded by his mother would endure forever, untainted.
But why had it come to this? Why would a Tarnished—one upon whom he was meant to deliver death—be granted the responsibility of lordship? What, then, was the point of his years of sacrifice?
His spear-sword suddenly erupted with dark, smoldering flames. Messmer steadied himself, once again suppressing the nature of the Base Serpent within his body. Turning away, his silhouette slowly dissolved into the shadows.
"Perhaps... it is time to see Rellana."
At dawn in Castle Ensis, Rellana stood by the city gates to personally see off the team tasked with retrieving the Shamans.
She could not participate herself. On one hand, her duties as Lord forbade her from leaving; on the other, she was simply too conspicuous. Even if she discarded the armor she rarely took off, she would still stand out like a crane among sparrows in a crowd.
"Ranni, I feel much more at ease with you following them. You must bring those Shamans back safely."
"Alright, Auntie. Stop treating me like a child. I know the safest way to handle these matters."
Ranni looked at her aunt with a hint of helplessness, as she had lost count of how many times the woman had cautioned her. However, a faint smile still played on her lips. Such nagging from an elder was a "happy problem" she couldn't have even imagined back when the Cuckoo Knights were laying siege to Caria Manor.
Turning around, she affectionately stroked Torrent's mane. She firmly grasped Gawain's hand as he reached out, flipping herself onto the horse behind him. Then, a convoy composed of Carian sorcerers, Black Knights, and perfumers began to slowly cross the bridge, heading toward the gaol not far away.
"Ouch... don't hold on so tight. My whole body still aches."
Ranni let out a couple of muffled giggles before teasing him. "It was just a small spar. Who told you to get so serious? The last time I saw you draw that weapon was during the Radahn Festival."
"Well, I wanted to put on a good show. I couldn't lose face at such a critical moment. Besides, the shadows here are exactly as I thought—they turn to ash the moment I burn them a little."
"Turn around. Let me see your eyes."
Gawain knew he probably couldn't hide it anymore. He obediently removed his helmet and looked back at Ranni. In his pupils, the flickering image of the burning Erdtree was reflected.
"As I thought... is this something every prospective Lord cannot avoid, yet must face? It seems you've prepared in advance. Is this also derived from the power of the flame within you?"
"Precisely. I wasn't entirely sure before, but after igniting the surrounding shadows for the first time, I could foresee a future where the Erdtree burns. I can accomplish this, and naturally, it requires no 'extra' sacrifice."
Ranni sighed, leaning tightly against Gawain's back. She grumbled in a slightly petulant tone: "That same thought again—leaving all the hardships to yourself to save others. Don't you think such a mindset is greedy? Even you will have a day when you burn out."
"Haha, it's precisely because I'm afraid that I have to burn as hard as I can while I still can. Otherwise, it'll be too late."
"...Suit yourself. When that time truly comes, I'll take the ashes you leave behind to Master Iji and have him put them in a jar. We'll make the strongest Warrior Jar in history. I just wonder if ashes that have been burned into nothingness can even serve as 'innards.'"
"Hmm... can I pre-order the color of the jar? Actually, my favorite is blue."
Ranni gave Gawain's shoulder a reproachful pat, giving up on further persuasion. The King she had chosen had always been this greedy, in every sense of the word. Since she had already made her choice, she could only accept her fate.
After crossing the bridge, the convoy led by Gawain avoided areas where enemies like Curseblades might prowl. Eventually, they reached the entrance of the Belurat Gaol without attracting too much attention.
"It's right inside. Follow me. Everyone, keep your movements light; do not disturb the Shamans."
He looked back at the team standing ready. These loyal warriors had been informed in advance exactly who the "patients" were that needed to be transferred. Trolls would soon follow with horse-drawn carriages for transport; these men were merely the vanguard ensuring the route was secure.
Gawain and Ranni walked at the very front and soon arrived at the central cavern of the gaol. It was clear that over the past few days, the former rebel Crusade soldiers he had recruited had transformed this place into a stronghold, with soldiers guarding every key position.
After a horn blast signaled that the area was safe, Carian soon emerged from a corner. He looked at Ranni's silhouette with a hint of hesitation. Isn't that the attire of the old Snow Witch from the Carian Royal Family? Who would wear such a thing? And is that... a doll possessed by a soul?
Of course, his attention was quickly drawn to the others who followed. He walked slowly toward a Black Knight, his fists clenched and his body trembling. Has the moment finally come?
They were once comrades who could entrust their backs to one another on the battlefield, yet when they met again, their circumstances were worlds apart.
Was the Captain who led them in rebellion years ago wrong? No, the Captain's choice was born of the most sincere loyalty to the Golden Dynasty.
Was Messmer, who shouldered all the secrecy, curses, and grievances alone, wrong? No, he was Queen Marika's most loyal child, having sacrificed everything for his mission.
They clearly shared the same goal, yet ended up with such a result. One could only sigh at how cruelly fate plays with men.
"Carian, Lady Rellana is already aware of what you've done these past few days. Do you wish to rejoin the ranks? Lord Messmer has never held a grudge over your rebellion."
"Mhm. If it is still possible, I wish to return to the Shadow Keep and apologize to his lordship personally. But our Captain... he should not be blamed either."
The two did not dwell further on the matter. Regardless, the stagnant gears of fate had finally begun to turn once more. Whether for better or worse remained to be seen, but it was far better than the current stalemate.
"The Shamans are receiving treatment below. Lady Melina has been guarding them without leaving their side. Please, follow me."
They didn't have to go much further before reaching the area where the patients were settled. Even though these men were battle-hardened elites who had seen every manner of corpse, they still gasped at the sight of the twisted masses of flesh before them.
Even after the miracles had provided as much healing as possible, it was still a horrific sight. It was hard to imagine the waves this news would cause within the Crusade if it were to spread.
After finishing her care of the patients with Ashmi's assistance, Melina, who was busy with the final touches, suddenly felt a wave of warmth on her shoulder. A warm hand patted her gently. Turning around, she saw that Gawain had returned.
Only then did she realize she had been so focused on the Shamans that she hadn't noticed how much time had passed.
"Welcome back. Are these the people you brought from Castle Ensis? And... is that...?"
Melina caught a glimpse of Ranni from the corner of her eye. She hadn't expected the other to come to the Land of Shadow, but on second thought, it wasn't surprising—the Lord of the castle was, after all, the Full Moon Queen's sister. Visiting family was only natural.
But why was Ranni looking at her with such a meaningful gaze?
She didn't have time to dwell on it; transferring the patients was the priority. She looked at the Shamans gathered around the Minor Erdtree and spoke with a tired voice.
"I believe this is all we can do for now. While the power of the Minor Erdtree can soothe their spirits, the Golden Order itself implies eternity and stagnation. Thus, while they haven't worsened, there won't be any further improvement."
"Let's move them to safety first. I'll head back to the Lands Between later to find a solution."
Gawain knew this was the best they could do. According to the information from Rellana, even the doctors under Messmer were powerless. The only good news was that many of the Shamans in the Shadow Keep had been treated promptly and hadn't been tortured for long, allowing them to retain some semblance of self-awareness.
"Let me," Ranni said, looking at the Shamans. She felt a flash of disdain for the Hornsent's methods. Even that wretched Seluvis would, at the very least, turn people into mindless puppets before "savoring" them.
To put living people in jars and fuse them with the flesh of their "sinful" kin while they remained conscious... by comparison, even cutting off the horns of an Omen child and throwing them into the sewers seemed almost humane.
A mist emanated from Ranni's outstretched hand. This was the same mist that had once lulled even the Black Blade to sleep. She had used it once on the nomadic merchant in the Church of Elleh when she first met Gawain; it was perfectly suited for these Shamans.
Watching the Shamans gradually drift into a deep slumber, Melina couldn't think of a better way. Such a profound sleep would minimize the shock caused by the change in environment.
The accompanying perfumers had prepared sleep pots, but seeing that Ranni's mist was more effective, they naturally began assisting with the transfer.
"Leave the rest to them. You've worked hard these past few days. Take a rest."
Melina nodded slightly. Seeing the perfumers skillfully lifting the Shamans onto simple stretchers, her worry eased. She looked at Ranni beside her and asked with curiosity:
"Just last night, the sentries reported seeing twin moons illuminate all of Castle Ensis, followed by signs of battle. I assume that was your doing?"
"Indeed. That was Aunt Rellana's technique. She insisted on a spar, but the result was positive, and that is what matters."
"Did you hear anything about my brother? Carian told me a lot about the Crusade's internal strife these past two days. I am truly..."
Gawain patted Melina's shoulder, answering in a light tone.
"Don't worry. Your brother, Messmer, is fine for now. He's mostly just shouldering too much mental pressure. I think once he hears you've entered the Land of Shadow, he might even leave the Keep to see you himself. Come on, let's not stay in this freezing gaol any longer. Follow me back to Castle Ensis."
"But first, we must see these Shamans safely transferred."
The return journey was much more complicated than the trip there. They relied on the Troll-led convoy that arrived later to transport the patients. To avoid drawing too much attention, the patients were returned to the city in batches, guarded by the Black Knights and attended to by the perfumers. They were then sent directly to a prepared secret chamber for proper care.
Throughout the journey, the Carian sorcerers maintained an invisibility spell similar to the one used in the Town of Sellia. While not perfectly invisible, it was highly effective. Any Hornsent they accidentally encountered on the road were dealt with silently, preventing unnecessary battles.
Finally, before nightfall, Gawain and Melina personally escorted the last batch of Shamans to the gates of Castle Ensis.
The rank-and-file Crusade soldiers at the gatehouse didn't know exactly what had been transported back with such effort, but they knew that another noble figure had arrived at Castle Ensis—reportedly, the biological younger sister of Lord Messmer.
Melina followed behind Gawain, curiously observing the Carian-style city. She took in the various emotions of the Crusade soldiers. The situation looked even worse than she had imagined, but at least she hadn't arrived too late.
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash
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