After the convoy led by Gawain arrived, the atmosphere, which was expected to be bustling with excitement, suddenly turned cold. This wasn't due to any hostility, but rather because Aldia's appearance was far too horrifying.
Imagine a three-meter-tall tree-man slowly approaching in a "squirming" manner. Furthermore, because Aldia had deliberately fashioned a face that looked somewhat human, it hit a disturbing "uncanny valley" effect. In a sense, this look was more terrifying than an actual monster.
Had the garrison not seen Ranni sitting nonchalantly on horseback and the familiar robes of the Academy sorcerers behind her, they might have opened fire long ago.
"Melina, what... what is the deal with that tree-man?"
"My apologies, I am not entirely sure either. But do not worry. Gawain has brought back many beings I didn't know before, and every time, they have fulfilled their purpose."
This was also Melina's first time seeing Aldia in the flesh. Although she had her own private doubts, she was certain that the tree-man posed no danger. Thus, she took the initiative to step onto the stone bridge to welcome them.
Gawain saw the sea of complex, wary eyes on the other side of the bridge. He knew that in their eyes, Aldia probably had a "boss health bar" visible over his head. He dismounted first and helped Ranni down.
"Welcome back. And this... Mr. Tree-man is?"
Faced with Melina's inquiry, Gawain glanced back and sighed helplessly.
"Sigh, believe me, this is the most human-like form he can manage. Let me introduce him: his name is Aldia. He is the most learned Sage from the place I used to be."
In Gawain's view, there were two insurmountable mountains in the study of magic within the world of Dark Souls. One was Big Hat Logan, who, after obsessive research into Seath the Scaleless, created Crystal Sorcery—a peak that magic could not surpass.
The other was Aldia. Utilizing the power of the Ashen Mist Heart, he mastered Miracles, Pyromancies, and Hexes simultaneously while still a human. He was a scholar, a scientist, an archaeologist, a politician, and even possessed a degree of military leadership. Aside from being slightly inferior to King Vendrick in terms of raw combat power, he was arguably the most versatile genius in the Dark Souls world.
This was why Gawain felt safe entrusting the task of treating the Shamans to him. To use a metaphor for their expertise in souls: Gawain felt that looking at the people of the Lands Between was like looking at primitive humans, and Aldia likely felt the same way looking at him.
According to what the Fire Keeper had told him, Aldia had essentially "hitched a ride" to smuggle himself here. There was little point in debating whether a being whose essence was similar to the Everlasting Dragons had a physical body; after all, the man could hide himself inside a bonfire.
Gawain knew what Aldia had always wanted to witness, so there was no need for guardrails. He only needed to follow the path in his heart to the end, and Aldia would likely be even more eager than him to see the final result.
"A Sage? No wonder he turned out like this..."
Melina momentarily recalled the "Sorcerer Spheres" in the Academy. Apparently, sorcerers of the Primeval Current could turn themselves into material if they went too far. She assumed this Sage was in a similar situation.
"He's here primarily to help treat those patients. Also, for many... technical matters in the future, I'll need to consult his opinion. Don't worry, even though he looks a bit rough, he's a decent person... or, tree?"
Gawain truly didn't know how to evaluate Aldia. To call him kind seemed wrong, given the bloody human experiments he had conducted in his mansion. To call him cruel ignored his obsession with finding a way to sustain a false yet gentle world. Regardless of the past, the current Aldia was merely an observer waiting for an answer.
"Treatment... very well. I hope Sage Aldia can truly do it. I just... hope Sister Rellana isn't too repulsed by him."
"Don't worry, he'll prove himself through results. But first, come meet the Perfumers I brought. Philia and her team will need to follow you to understand the situation."
While the two were talking, Ranni was leading Moongrum toward the other side, with the two Crucible Knights following closely behind. As the King's consort, she naturally commanded their fealty. Each step the Crucible Knights took on the stone bridge produced a heavy, steady thud. Under the gaze of their former comrades—the Black Knights—they could not afford to lose face.
This peculiar combination had only appeared once before, during the brief intersection of "Moon and Gold." And now, in this Land of Shadow where time was frozen at the moment it was severed, two different eras seemed to overlap. The air was thick with a sense of trans-temporal vertigo.
At the bridgehead, once she confirmed the bizarre tree-man was not acting aggressively, Rellana's tense shoulders relaxed. The faint blue magical glow on her armor faded. She stepped forward alongside Muliitier.
As her gaze swept over the two Crucible Knights, she quickly recognized them. When she had followed Messmer to Leyndell to assemble the Crusade years ago, she had met them several times and retained some memory of them. She nodded to the knights, her posture dignified yet welcoming.
Moongrum and Muliitier's eyes met briefly in the air. Though separated by only a few meters, they merely gave each other a slight nod. There were no extra words, and certainly no loss of composure.
For them, there was no need for small talk or hugs. Confirming the other was safe through a steady gaze was enough. This unspoken understanding, born from their respective duties, far exceeded any bond of blood.
"Aunt, do you see those sealed carriages in the back? Those are filled with Glintstones that the sorcerer professors had hoarded to maintain the seals. They have no use for them now, so we brought them all. Also, besides the representatives from the Manor and the Academy, we have Perfumers from Stormveil. While they might be less experienced than your own, they should be enough to meet the upcoming demand for personnel."
Rellana nodded slightly. She walked up to Moongrum and patted his shoulder appreciatively. She was aware of his years of steadfast guardianship of the Grand Library. It was a pity that she no longer had the authority to grant rewards, having cast aside her status in the Carian Royal Family to pursue that flame.
"Let us enter the city first. That... Sage may enter as well, but keep it low-profile. At least, try not to cause too much of a stir."
Meanwhile, inside the Shadow Keep.
Leda could still hardly believe how smoothly their journey had been. She had reunited with Ansbach not long ago and heard the news from him.
To be honest, she hadn't believed it at first. They had gone through hell to take the dangerous side-path to bypass Castle Ensis, and then her teammate just walked through the front door and said Messmer had agreed to let Miquella's followers enter the Shadow Keep?
And Gawain had personally negotiated these terms without her even knowing.
This made her recall the sun of Frenzied Flame she had seen rising from the Abyssal Woods before everything returned to peace.
"Is this what you traded with Messmer? Resolving such a massive disaster in exchange for our safe passage?"
Though Leda seemed to have developed a strange misunderstanding, it didn't stop her from leading a group into the Shadow Keep to test the waters.
Dryleaf Dane, the leader of the followers, was still searching for Miquella's crosses in other parts of Scadu Altus, accompanied by that survivor Hornsent. Leda knew that the man, twisted by hatred even under enchantment, was an unstable factor, so she had sent him out to be useful one last time.
Other than that, there was only Thiollier, who had lost contact shortly after entering. Compared to Miquella himself, Thiollier worshipped the Empyrean's half-self, St. Trina. He was likely hiding somewhere tinkering with his strange concoctions.
Seeing the Crusaders—who clearly looked displeased yet refrained from attacking and even acted as necessary guides—Leda had to admit this ridiculous fact. The image of the Golden Hippo snarling at her when she entered was still fresh in her mind.
The powerful demigod Messmer did not show his face. But from the subtle atmosphere in the city, she could tell the Crusade was preparing for something behind the scenes.
"Perhaps... I should officially say thank you when we next meet," she murmured in a voice only she could hear, before leading Freyja and Ansbach into the depths of the Shadow Keep.
In a small chamber deep within the keep, Messmer listened silently to the report from a Fire Knight. He didn't care much for the irrelevant outsiders; he had already marked out the restricted zones. To accelerate the progress of events, he had even allowed them access to some scrolls in the Specimen Storehouse.
Truthfully, he was curious as to how Miquella intended to complete the rite of godhood. Perhaps he could find some clues from the scrolls those outsiders were perusing.
A look of contempt flickered across Messmer's lips. If he was willing to overlook the Empyrean's minor maneuvers before for the sake of his mother, he now had no reason for mercy after confirming the man had conspired with the Hornsent.
"For the sake of Queen Marika, let the spear of fire be used against the Golden Order!"
Inexplicably, those words echoed in his mind again. During his days of solitude and reflection, he had repeatedly questioned his heart: did he hunt the Tarnished for the sake of Grace, or was it truly his mother's will?
When those two things came into conflict, which side would he choose? Perhaps the answer had been obvious the moment he hesitated and failed to strike down that Tarnished.
"Lord, there is one more piece of news. A Carian sorcerer sent a report via an emergency portal. That Tarnished has brought a massive shipment of supplies from the Lands Between, including a vast amount of Glintstone. Accompanying them are Carian warriors, a team of trained Perfumers, and two Crucible Knights. Furthermore, the treatment for Queen Marika's kin seems ready to begin, led by a unique... Sage."
Messmer frowned at the report. What a bizarre composition. How were the components of that group more complex than his own mixed Crusade?
However, that Tarnished knew how to conduct himself, knowing exactly what Castle Ensis lacked and bringing a massive shipment of it. Ranni was truly unguarded, seemingly sharing the ownership of Caria Manor directly.
Wait, why was he having such strange thoughts? He must have been influenced by meeting Rellana several times lately.
"However... a 'Sage' who can treat the Shamans?"
He whispered the title. Although a trace of unease remained, he trusted Rellana and his sister Melina. If those two didn't object, then the treatment plan must have some feasibility.
"I hope this time, you can give me another surprise. Otherwise... even if Melina is unwilling, I will not let her stay by your side."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash
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