"Then, the focus now needs to be on the 'things not yet acquired.' Is it a Great Rune that can dictate the ending? No, that's not right…"
Haida and Yvonne looked at the vanished Dragonlord and Fran, lost in deep contemplation, then exchanged a glance of mutual helplessness and very tactfully remained silent.
---
Deep within the Haligtree, before the slumbering Malenia.
To get here under normal circumstances required enduring a series of trials. Including solving the puzzle of the Haligtree's roots, dealing with the Misbegotten blocking the path, and those heavily-armored Cleanrot Knights…
But thanks to the arrival of a mysterious guest, all these difficulties were resolved smoothly. Fran's entire journey could almost be described as a "welcoming party," giving a strong sense of homecoming.
"No one chased me the whole way, no traps, and the Cleanrot Knights are so polite when they see me… I'm a bit unaccustomed to this."
Yvonne's expression was somewhat dazed.
When a Cleanrot Knight carrying a spear saluted her earlier, she almost had a muscle-memory reaction to roll away and follow up with a Dark Moon Greatsword jump attack. The other's attitude was just too friendly; the Misbegotten even directly knelt and bowed upon seeing them.
(T/N: Friendly NPCs, are we sure this is FromSoftware universe?)
"After you become Elden Lord, all living beings paying homage to you will act this way. But I hope you never get used to it… that you can always draw your sword and slay enemies at any moment."
Fran teased, her gaze calmly fixed on the now-awakened Malenia.
She returned from a tranquil dream to reality, then put on her helmet and attached her prosthetic blade… only to suddenly discover that one of the visitors had a figure and presence so familiar. For a moment, she even doubted she was still dreaming, kneeling somewhat ethereally before her returned brother.
"Brother?"
"Mhm, it's me."
…The moving sibling reunion will not be detailed here.
After some negotiation by Fran, Malenia agreed to give Yvonne the Great Rune she held… and Miquella's asking price was to separate the Scarlet Rot within her.
This was a major undertaking for Fran because the Scarlet Rot within Malenia was almost as old as her birth and had, to an extent, already fused with her spirit and flesh.
But luckily, Miquella had considerable research on this. Using the experience he had mastered could greatly solidify and stabilize the corruption, allowing Fran to finally strip the contamination.
"After removing the contamination, the rest is much simpler. Your sister's congenital disability can also be handled incidentally; I have some experience with limb regeneration… blindness is also not a big issue; reconstructing the optic nerves will suffice."
After the surgery concluded, Fran spoke to Miquella beside her.
She felt a great deal of fondness for this youthful-looking Demigod, of course, not due to being charmed. It was more like mutual appreciation between professionals…
After all, this youthful Demigod worthy of being called lovely and moving was likely the pinnacle of the medical field in the entire Lands Between. Their collaboration was extremely harmonious; many principles didn't even need discussion, as both instinctively understood.
"Then I'll trouble you, Doctor… Also, please forgive my curiosity, Lady Fran. Where exactly do you come from? In your world, can even mortals perform such medical arts?"
Miquella's voice carried a youthful, somewhat awkward quality, polite and gentle. Even though his words were in arcane ancient language, it was hard to remain overly serious.
"In principle, yes, that's correct. The technology I possess doesn't have excessive demands on the user's physical constitution. But there are strict, rigid thresholds in terms of knowledge."
Fran blinked her eyes nimbly, as if engaging in technical exchange with a colleague from a different field.
"As for where I come from… let's put that aside for now."
Miquella cleaned his white robes stained with blood and looked toward the distant Erdtree.
"Next, that powerful Tarnished by your side will enter the final process of becoming Lord, correct?"
"Yes. When she truly ascends the throne and the cause of illness reveals itself, it will be time for me to begin the final treatment… and collect the payment for this entire journey."
Fran's tone was half reflective and half self-deprecating. Then she leaned slightly closer to Miquella, gazing directly without avoidance into the other's nearly flawless face.
"Currently, I have one more bottleneck to break through. Coincidentally, you've already invested considerable time in this project and achieved phased results. Why don't we deepen our collaboration a bit more…"
Miquella narrowed his eyes, his golden lashes fluttering slightly together. From Fran's amber eyes, he precisely captured this doctor's intent.
"You mean… the needle that suppresses flame?"
"Exactly, that's the final preparation. Since I've already received so many friendly warnings, it would be rather foolish for me to repeat the same mistakes…"
Fran clasped her hands lightly.
---
Inside the Erdtree.
Marika's body was impaled and bound upon a golden arc. As the Tarnished stepped in, the shackles gradually shattered, and her sculpture-like, broken body fell heavily to the ground.
Her golden long hair faded to a crimson like blood. The female many characteristics gradually vanished… He picked up the divine hammer beside him, like molten gold's hot light gradually flickered from the cracks in the hammer's body.
That was the body of a dead god, the self-protection law of the Elden Ring, "Radagon of the Golden Order."
The moment she saw the Elden Ring suddenly light up within Radagon's incomplete body, Yvonne felt an unprecedented, incomparable tranquility.
She knew this was the end of the journey.
In an instant, a magnificent symphony seemed to suddenly play in Yvonne's mind. She gently stroked the hilt of the Dark Moon Greatsword, closed her eyes, listening… nearly submerged in surging emotions.
---
Fran, who was playing the piano atop the Haligtree, finished a piece, let out a relieved sigh, and moved her somewhat tired fingers.
Then she saw many of the snowman-like Oracle Envoys wrapped in white veils facing her. Though their eyes were unseen, their expressions were full of obvious longing.
"Was that harmony and wind instrument playing from you all? Thank you very much… I'm a bit rusty with that piece, haven't played it in so long. Your voices perfectly concealed the flaws."
After thanking them, Fran didn't get up from the piano stool but intended to respond to the musicians' wishes and play another piece.
"Is Dr. Fran very proficient at playing the piano?"
Haida, who had been listening for a while, gradually approached Fran, who was contemplating what piece to play next.
Though Fran had said she was rusty, Haida hadn't truly heard any mistakes or rhythmic discord in the piano music. On the contrary, the rhythm flowed like water, yet also carried a thunderously heavy feeling, almost flawless.
"Just some insignificant skills. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Sister Haida. If you don't mind, I can teach you. Speaking of piano alone… there probably isn't a better music teacher than me in Norlington."
Fran stroked the alternating black and white keys, responding to her.
"After returning to Norlington, I will seek your guidance." Haida nodded slightly, accepting the invitation.
For invitations not related to surgery, she was quite happy to accept.
"What was the name of that piece you just played?"
Hearing this, Fran looked distantly toward the Erdtree standing above the sea of clouds.
The giant tree large enough to veil the sky was now burning with gold-red fire, so much so that the entire sky seemed ignited, withering leaves falling like ashes.
"'The Final Battle.' Luckily these little ones were willing to provide harmony and accompany with wind instruments… otherwise, relying on piano alone felt like something was missing."
As she spoke, Fran pointed at the round snowman-like Oracle Envoys on the ground. They were gently nudging Haida's body with their flutes, as if scolding her for interrupting the performance.
"Why did you start playing only after Yvonne left?"
"This is the final battle before she ascends the throne. Having been her teacher for so long… I should also prepare something grand for such an occasion. How can such a solemn occasion lack music?"
Fran's moist fingertips tapped rhythmically on the keys, stringing together a series of clear, crisp notes.
"Once Sister Haida learns the piano, I can try pieces requiring duets again. Oh, though I can play four-hand duets alone… but it always feels a bit strange, as if I have no friends."
She didn't seem worried about Yvonne at all, just quietly played soothing music. The surrounding Oracle Envoys gradually sank into it, almost forgetting themselves.
When another piece ended, a golden sigil appeared on the ground.
That was the trace of Yvonne using the "Furlcalling Finger Remedy." She had promised in their agreement to summon Fran when she had defeated all obstacles before the throne, so the doctor could witness this final moment.
"Let's go, Haida. Yvonne has completed her mission. This house call is finally ending."
Fran smiled and touched the golden sigil.
---
When Fran stepped inside the Erdtree, the first thing she saw was Yvonne standing quietly with her sword. Further in, she saw Ranni clad in the Snow Witch's fur-lined white robes.
She walked up to Yvonne and began an eager interview, like a tabloid reporter.
"Dear Yvonne, it seems you've defeated Radagon, and that beast born of golden stardust… Before holding the Ring, any final words?"
Yvonne pursed her lips, thought for a moment calmly, and finally shook her head.
"I cannot describe my thoughts at this moment, Dr. Fran… But I will proceed into the boundless darkness and unknown, cold void."
"Upholding the law of moon and stars, ending the interference and meddling of external beings for the Lands Between. This is the responsibility of a Lord, and the path I choose."
"But before that, Doctor, please tell me, what did you say to that nearly insane silver mimic back in the 'Eternal City,' Nokron? We agreed you would tell me when I became Lord."
Yvonne's memory was clearly excellent, actually remembering this detail. Haida, who had also been anticipating this answer for a long time, immediately focused intently, entering listening mode.
"Oh my, you actually didn't forget?… What a miscalculation."
Fran seemed somewhat troubled, but she clearly wasn't one to break promises. After recalling for a moment, she repeated the original words.
"At the time, that mimic asked me, 'Are you the curse of despair, the lurking death, the mad fire that destroys all, or the irreversible decay?' And I replied, 'None of those. What about you? Are you the perfect Golden Order, or the dark stars?'"
"She didn't answer me, merely chuckled softly and left. So I began to suspect this was a revelation left by the previous 'me' for myself."
Yvonne was long gone from the ignorant, clueless Tarnished she was in Limgrave. She had witnessed the Dragonlord in the spatio-temporal rift and learned much sealed, forgotten history from various secrets and conversations with Ranni.
"Those are… the directions of fate? Dr. Fran, you travel through different versions of the Lands Between?"
"Perhaps, but I have forgotten… I should have realized this earlier. I am so familiar with the Lands Between, yet why don't I remember at all who I treated the last time I came?"
Fran looked at Marika's remains containing the Ring. The expression in her amber eyes was excited and fervent, those moist pupils as if burning.
"The Age of Stars is the final piece I've been pursuing, Yvonne… Go, walk toward your future."
"Is this what you desired, Dr. Fran? As always, very much your style."
Yvonne gave a light smile, having no further reason to wait. This star gazer who once wandered lost in Limgrave had finally walked the path she sought…
When Ranni lifted Marika's head to restore it to her body and repaired the Ring, Yvonne knelt on one knee and took the Lunar Princess's hand.
A cold, azure, frigid dark moon rose accordingly.
In the moment before the final curtain, brilliant golden meteors fell like rain… nearly overwhelmingly twisting the entire sky.
That was the projection of the "Greater Will's" power.
Like a chess player with absolute power, angrily flipping the board after losing the game. Just as it compelled the Elden Beast to impale Queen Marika, who intended to defy the Erdtree.
This was an aberration and interference outside the trajectory, something that absolutely should not appear now.
"So this is why the previous 'me' failed? Alright, without an emergency contingency plan… this situation truly couldn't be handled. I understand her now."
Fran let out a light sigh, pulled at her tongue with her fingers, and slightly opened her mouth.
Beneath the slender, pink tongue was the crimson throat. Within the throat was a mass of violently burning mad fire!
The crackling of the flames was like the unrestrained laughter of a lunatic, lingering unceasingly. So intense, so vigorous, so fanatical, as if wanting to turn all in the world to burning embers.
At some point, she had removed the golden needle from Miquella that could completely suppress the Frenzied Flame from her slender, pale neck.
"Burn! Burn! Drag the god hanging beyond the sky into the fire and ash as well!"
At this moment, Fran became the "Lord of Frenzied Flame" of chaos and destruction, sweeping across and scorching over and over the sky veiled and covered by golden meteors until all golden radiance melted and dispersed.
The night sky was no longer shrouded in gold, returned to darkness, clear and clean as if washed.
And she also weakly knelt on the ground, exhaling a lingering wisp of pale smoke. Even the dark circles under her eyes seemed darker.
She looked at Yvonne, lips moving, as if trying to leave her with maxims using her last strength.
"Yvonne! What are you standing there watching for? You have a wife and forget the doctor, is that it? Hurry up and help me put Miquella's needle back in!"
---
When Yvonne and Ranni truly stepped into the dark stars, hazy pale mist enveloped Fran and Haida.
Time seemed frame-dropped and accelerated. Everything around was like a distorted, slow-motion shot; even stationary things seemed to flow. Untouchable by a hair's breadth.
When the surroundings stabilized, Yvonne sat upright upon a solemn, majestic throne. A wisp of spirit of Ranni sat lightly on the armrest of the throne.
"Welcome, Doctor."
Yvonne lifted her brows slightly, looked down upon Fran, greeting her with a detached, almost icy tone. Like a machine, a celestial body, or a truly transcendent -dimensional "deity."
"Yes, exactly like this! This is 'Severe Personality Dissolution'! It matches my initial conjectured illness model without the slightest discrepancy…"
Fran was visibly excited. She walked up to the throne, her expression almost intoxicated, smiling like a flower.
Yvonne still maintained her unchanging detachment. Finally, it was her turn to explain the situation to Fran.
"My humanity and self are about to dissipate completely. Perhaps this is the necessary price for mortals ascending. Perhaps, even though you sought out all possible fates for me, it cannot be reversed…"
She let out a sigh, which seemed to be the only emotion this now-Lord Tarnished could express.
+++
(T/N: I'm actually curious, did anyone actually complete the Frenzied Flame ending for shits and giggles? Also bonus chapters cause it's better to read the end of arc chapters all together.)
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL