Fertility.
Though it might sound a little indecent, for the Albinaurics, this issue is second only in importance to their fundamental incompleteness.
Simply put, the Albinaurics are incapable of reproduction. The very Albinauric Bloodclot that forms their bodies is harmful to normal life—and it is this same blood that prevents them from receiving the Erdtree's blessing.
As for how this race has managed to persist and develop to this day despite being utterly infertile...
The answer lies in manufacturing.
Just like the Silver Tear of the Eternal City—the origin of their technological heritage—the Albinaurics possess their own version of the "Great Holy Grail."
But unlike the Eternal City's Holy Grail, which is an actual chalice filled with consumable droplets, the Albinaurics' Great Holy Grail... is an Albinauric.
Yes—Phillia.
"Why do you think she's so large? Because she isn't truly a person at all—she's a workshop."
"Even if every Albinauric in the world were to die, even if she herself perished, as long as her body remains intact, all one needs to do is input the data, provide sufficient materials, and her corpse alone could reproduce the entire Albinauric race..."
Why did no one in the Albinauric Village surrender their talisman, even on the brink of extinction? Why did Latenna possess half of the Haligtree Medallion? Why, despite claiming she would lead the Albinaurics to the Haligtree, was there not a single Albinauric at her side? And why did she show no surprise—indeed, seemed to have expected it—when her sister appeared deep within the Consecrated Snowfield?
All of these questions found their answers once Renna explained.
Latenna never intended to bring the Albinauric Village—or any other Albinaurics—to the Haligtree. Her plan was to relocate the factory that produced them—her sister.
The Albinaurics understood this, yet their lives were so wretched that even knowing the truth, they still chose to assist her, hoping only that the next generation might find a place to belong.
However, though the factory was successfully moved to the Consecrated Snowfield, an accident along the way caused them to lose the "Tear" that stored the design data for the Albinaurics. Worse still, the factory was damaged and fell into an eternal slumber.
Because of this, Latenna, who had already reached the Snowfield, was forced to return to the Albinauric Village to retrieve Phillia's "Initial Tear," hoping it could reactivate her sister.
Otherwise, even if the other Albinaurics reached the Haligtree, without a factory to create them, they would be like a tree cut off from its roots. Unable to reproduce, they would soon perish.
But later...
"In short, they've given up on the Haligtree. They plan to side with you instead."
"For now, the old production method could still work—but it's also one of the main reasons the Albinaurics are so despised. Beyond their innate traits, that method itself carries much of the blame. Even they can sense that something about it is wrong...
"So, whether for the survival of their race or to change their fate, their method of reproduction must evolve..."
"But you've raised Silver Tears before—you know the material their bodies are made of is poisonous to normal life, highly corrosive. Even the blessing of the Erdtree can't counteract it..."
"So even if I could design a reproductive module for them and minimize its corrosiveness, it still wouldn't be something an ordinary being could endure. Getting them pregnant would be almost impossible—and we'd have to consider their consent as well..."
"But as luck would have it, I've found just such a being—and he's standing right in front of me."
Renna tilted Lloyd's chin upward with a teasing smile.
"The only question is... does he agree?"
Honestly, if it had been anything else, Lloyd would have accepted without hesitation.
But this... this was different. It wasn't hesitation—it was...
"I can handle them."
Lloyd nodded, meeting Renna's eyes seriously.
"But can they handle me?"
Renna froze.
"Well..."
She hadn't considered that.
Lately, she'd been so consumed by her research on the Albinaurics that she'd forgotten one crucial fact: the man standing before her was also a monster.
After Lloyd explained his condition, Renna fell silent.
Thinking words alone might not be enough to make her understand, Lloyd briefly revealed his inner flame, letting her feel its power.
Then...
Renna's expression changed.
Not to fear or horror—but to blank astonishment.
This warmth...
Almost instinctively, the icy Snow Witch reached out, embraced the flames before her, buried her face within them, and greedily drank in that warmth.
In the Lands Between, there is a rumor that the royal family of Caria Manor holds a peculiar tradition—a fondness for red hair.
While this isn't entirely false, it does stray a bit from the truth. In reality, it's not the crimson locks they adore, but the flame that burns within them.
To trace this tradition back, one must journey to the ancient age of the Stargazers, the predecessors of the modern sorcerers. As the name implies, Stargazers were those who observed the stars. And to observe them properly—aside from the special lands of Lyenia—the higher the vantage point, the better.
Though sorcery and Incantation thrive in the Lands Between, the laws of physics have not vanished. High-altitude places perfect for stargazing are inevitably cold and unforgiving.
There is an old saying: since time immemorial, night and fire have always been companions—never apart.
It sounds poetic, but originally, it served as a warning to the Stargazers.
Those who continued their watch after the flames were extinguished often perished, forever frozen beneath those frigid, starry skies. Only those who stayed close to the fire, inseparable from it, survived. Generation after generation, they endured, their yearning for flame etched into their very being—passed down through their bloodline to this day.
Renna's case, however, was a little different.
Though she was not the original teacher of Ranni, she too inherited the title of "Snow Witch," devoted to the study of pure, frigid snow magic.
In her case, she longed for warmth even more than other Stargazers. But her research had delved so deeply into the essence of cold that her very nature had changed. Ordinary flames—even those of the Fell God or the Frenzied Flame—could no longer give her the faintest sensation of warmth. She had long grown used to the cold.
But now, a new flame stood before her.
When Lloyd suppressed his power, its heat went unnoticed. Yet once he revealed it, that long-lost warmth stirred something buried deep within her heart. It pierced through her spirit in an instant, igniting feelings she had long forgotten and leaving her entranced.
It was like waking up on a freezing winter morning, unwilling to lift the blanket that shields you from the cold.
Having never felt such warmth before, Renna sank into it completely, only regaining her senses as the heat slowly faded.
Just as she awkwardly pulled away from Lloyd's embrace, wondering how she could explain herself, a flash of gold entered her sight.
Renna froze.
"Miss Alice? When did you arrive...?"
But Alice didn't answer. She simply studied Renna in silence for a moment, then turned her gaze toward Lloyd.
"I just thought of something."
"What is it?"
"She carries a certain 'cold nature' within her. It's not complete enough to form a Law or essence, but it's sufficient as a foundation for coldness."
Lloyd blinked.
"You mean..."
"If you deepen your Covenant with her, allowing more of that cold nature to merge with you, you should be able to gain some 'cooling' abilities."
Alice then looked back at Renna.
"So? Want to give it a try?"
Renna hesitated, speaking instinctively.
"Um, deepening the vow means..."
"It's simple. Just like before—let him 'warm' you."
Alice said this lightly, giving Lloyd a gentle push toward her.
"Besides, didn't you enjoy it?"
Renna faltered.
Truthfully, she had enjoyed that warmth. But she and Lloyd weren't... that kind of relationship.
And besides, he belonged to Ranni...
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her.
Her delicate body went stiff.
"Lloyd, you..."
"If we don't hurry, your Albinauric refinement project will be delayed, won't it?" Lloyd lowered his head, his tone earnest.
"Besides, there are many matters on my end that can only be handled once things 'cool down,' so..."
He looked at her.
"Can I count on you?"
A moment passed.
"I... I understand."
Renna averted her eyes, her expression flustered, yet her arms slowly wrapped around Lloyd in return.
"If this can help you... then consider it my repayment for everything you've done for me..."
Then, after confirming her consent and readiness, the residual flame on Lloyd's body flared once again.
And then...
"Ranni, I'm sorry..."
Burying her face in Lloyd's chest, Renna whispered softly, her voice trembling.
"But he's so... warm..."
"My mind... it's melting away..."
[Covenant Deepened]
[Acquired Weapon: Frostblade Claymore]
[Frostblade Claymore]
[A claymore forged from crystallized cold Magical Power]
[Its blade encased in eternal, unmelting ice]
[A weapon personally crafted by the 'Snow Witch' Renna]
[Materials and specifications identical to the Dark Moon Greatsword]
[Yet lacking the vital moonlight essence, as it never possessed its own moon]
[Instead, it carries a hidden sentiment buried within the cold]
[Exclusive Skill: Oath of Ice and Snow]
[Raise the blade high, binding it with the power of frost and snow]
[Temporarily enhances magic attribute attack power]
[Infuses the blade with frostbite chill]
[Charged attacks unleash a blizzard of ice and snow]
A fairly powerful weapon—though hardly a game-changer.
While it trades physical and Magical Power scaling for immense frost buildup, the effect can only trigger once per interval, making its damage far inferior to that of bleeding effects.
On top of that, it was still a Claymore. Though its range was impressive, its attack speed was relatively slow. So as a weapon, it had little practical value for Lloyd at the moment. But as a collector's piece or a display item, it was nothing short of breathtaking.
Simply put—it wasn't practical, but it was beautiful.
Judging by the design of the female Albinaurics alone, it was clear that the Snow Witch's aesthetic sense was quite remarkable.
As for the old man and the second generation?
The former was merely an early prototype of the Snow Witch's design, a test model never meant for actual use. Yet somehow, after her death, some fool dug it up from the trash and started treating it as a legitimate blueprint.
As for the latter, Lloyd had once casually mentioned that it too was one of her Albinauric designs. Renna had turned bright red on the spot.
"I never designed that thing! If you like it so much, you can claim it yourself!"
In the end, while the Ice Claymore might not have been the strongest in terms of raw power, its design—free from the constraints of practicality—was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. From the blade to the hilt, every curve, every shimmer of magic was crafted with an eye for beauty. It wasn't a "wheelchair weapon," but it was certainly a top-tier toy.
Even so, receiving the Claymore did deepen his Covenant with Renna.
However, due to the chaotic state within his body and the sheer heat of his flame, even after obtaining the weapon and integrating some of its cold nature, Lloyd still couldn't lower his body temperature to a level the people of the Lands Between could withstand.
In fact, he was still far from it.
But that didn't really matter.
After assimilating the cold nature, Lloyd could feel a clear improvement in his ability to regulate—or rather, suppress—his temperature. Though he hadn't mastered it yet, at this rate, a few more deepened Covenants and further integration of cold essence would allow him to finally bring his heat under control. And then...
Lloyd shook his head.
"Speaking of which, where's the Regal Ancestor Spirit?"
After setting Renna—now limp and nearly melted—back onto her chair, Lloyd suddenly remembered he hadn't seen the Regal Ancestor Spirit during this visit.
She hadn't been much of a conversationalist during his previous visits either, but she had always been nearby. Now, however...
"Her...?"
Reluctantly tearing her gaze away from Lloyd, Renna thought for a moment about the recent behavior of a certain horned woman. Her eye twitched slightly.
"She should be... off playing cards."
"...Playing cards?"
"Dueling."
Renna sighed as she said it.
Recently, card duels had become a growing trend in the academy. Busy as she was, Renna had still decided to make herself a deck—partly to stay connected with the rest of the world, partly for a little relaxation.
However, she soon lost interest. Between her workload, her lack of enthusiasm for games, and the shallow understanding of souls involved in dueling, she quickly grew bored and returned her focus to her Albinauric research.
But that wasn't the real problem.
The real problem was that during that period, since the Regal Ancestor Spirit was also a master of souls, Renna had persuaded her to build a deck as well. That way, during breaks from research, Renna wouldn't have to find others to play with—she could just duel the Regal Ancestor Spirit directly.
What she hadn't expected, however, was how it would turn out.
Despite Renna's constant urging, the Regal Ancestor Spirit had only reluctantly agreed to build a deck, grumbling things like "this is an affront to the souls" while doing so.
But once the matches began, she became completely addicted.
From pretending to resist at first, to gradually accepting it, and now—long after Renna had lost interest—the Regal Ancestor Spirit was still obsessively playing, crushing opponents all over the place with her deck. She even declared she would spread the game among the Ancestral Followers.
"Oh, right. Speaking of which, you're the one who started this, aren't you? I heard you even set up a Duel Classroom or something..."
"Though she's been somewhat restrained so far, letting her keep going like this doesn't sit right with me. But when it comes to matters of souls, I'm no match for her—I can't defeat her, and I can't talk her down..."
"When you have the time, go check on her. Maybe let her lose once—it might help her cool off a little."
"Alright."
After agreeing, Lloyd gave Renna's cheek a gentle pinch before teleporting back to the Consecrated Snowfield. He still needed to reach the Haligtree.
This time, the distance was short and there were no obstacles, so Lloyd arrived directly in Ceremony Town.
Originally, Ceremony Town housed a sealed Evergaol containing two formidable monsters.
But those two monsters...
"So, you're the sisters Latenna mentioned guarding this place? Come on, don't be shy. In a cold place like this, how about some steaming hot spicy shrimp?"
—They were the Platinum Sisters who had once accompanied Latenna here.
"Completely invisible, even while attacking? That's a great skill. Think you could teach me that?"
"Oh, right. Speaking of which, I've got some of your sisters over on my side. Want to meet them?"
—This was the Invisible Black Knife who guarded Ceremony Town.
After effortlessly "dealing with" them—having even convinced them to help unseal the town—Lloyd took a look around to make sure nothing was left behind, then approached the teleport gate beyond the seal.
Upon touching it, a familiar wave of dizziness washed over him. When his vision cleared, Lloyd found himself in a new land.
It was a tree.
A colossal tree.
Its branches alone were wide enough for a person to walk upon, and its trunk stretched skyward until it vanished from sight.
Yet what drew Lloyd's attention—and that of his companions—was not the immense Haligtree itself, but the dark crimson rot covering its surface.
Yes, dark crimson—not scarlet.
And layered atop that corruption were creatures all too familiar to Lloyd, yet alien to those born in the Lands Between.
Human-sized flies that spat out parasites.
And grotesque crawling things made of writhing maggots, wailing as they slithered across the bark.
Even Millicent, accustomed to rot, furrowed her brow at the sight. Elizabeth wrinkled her nose in open disgust, waving a hand dismissively.
"This is the 'beautiful Haligtree' you spoke of? Doesn't seem very... splendid."
"No. The Haligtree in my memory wasn't like this."
Staring at the corrupted landscape before them, Seriel's expression darkened.
"Something must have happened here after I left. This isn't Scarlet Rot... or rather, not just Scarlet Rot."
She turned toward Lloyd.
Lloyd nodded.
"Yeah. It's more than just Scarlet Rot.
And it looks like an old friend of mine is here too."
[Dungeon Name: Dual Corruption · Miquella's Haligtree]
[Special Domain: Dual Corruption]
[Dual Corruption: Scarlet Rot inflicts a continuous bleeding accumulation effect. Triggering Bleed also spreads Scarlet Rot, greatly amplifying both Bleed and Rot damage.]
[Abnormal Status Ahead]
[Objective: No Damage]