After the Numen had fully fallen asleep, Melina turned to Lucian.
Pressing her lips together, she asked softly.
"Lucian… did you find any others?"
"I want to try to care for them."
Lucian nodded.
"I did. I found a prison used by the hornsent."
"That's where I found her."
"I suspect there are still quite a few surviving Numens there, but their mental states are poor. Some attack anyone they see."
"At the time, I couldn't manage any more possible survivors, so I brought her out first."
Lucian pointed to the faint pink mist still lingering around the sleeping Numen.
Melina recognized it immediately and understood that Lucian had used a Bewitching Branch to calm her and bring her here safely.
Seeing that Melina's small golden tree had soothed the woman's emotions, Lucian felt somewhat relieved.
"If the power of the small golden tree can calm them, then we can bring the others out as well."
Melina nodded, though in truth, the small golden tree was never meant to have such an effect.
Because the lives of her kin were at stake, she did not dare be careless, and quickly explained.
"The small golden tree normally doesn't do this. I only felt that I had to do something for her just now."
"So… I still don't know whether it can truly soothe all the survivors."
Lucian considered it in silence, then decided it was still worth trying.
Even if it could not reliably calm them, it was better than doing nothing.
"It's fine. If they can feel kindness from one of their own, they'll surely be able to let their guard down."
"As for healing them afterward… I'll think of something."
First, they needed to get the Numens out of the prison.
How to save them could be dealt with later.
Once they returned to the Lands Between, he could call in favors, seek help, and perhaps find hope somewhere.
Melina nodded, then reached out and poured more power into the phantom tree.
As magic flowed into it, the image of the small golden tree became more solid and radiant.
She placed a hand on its trunk, confirming its condition.
She had left behind a considerable amount of power. It would remain here for quite some time.
Then Melina turned to Torrent, who had followed them outside.
"Torrent, stay here and help me look after her."
Torrent shook his head gently, then walked over to the base of the golden tree.
Melina turned back, took Lucian's hand, and he gave her a nod.
Then he swiftly lifted them both into the air and flew toward the prison once more.
—
Lucian stood atop one of the giant jars suspended by chains, using his Swordspear to pry open the lid that had been sealed shut with hardened resin.
A wave of foul decay rushed out at once.
Lucian dispersed the stench with wind magic, but his heart still sank.
He already knew what he would find.
As expected, the inside of the jar was a revolting sight.
Broken remains were piled together in disorder. Thick fluid had pooled inside, the upper layer frozen by the cold.
Within that sheet of ice rested the head of a Numen, its expression frozen in despair.
Lucian sighed and closed the lid again.
Melina stood beside another jar nearby, pale-faced as she slowly sealed its lid once more.
Lucian looked up at the countless giant jars hanging throughout the prison and abandoned the last of his unrealistic hopes.
This was not the first jar they had opened.
Because jars had been used as instruments of punishment, they had thought perhaps some Numens might still remain trapped inside.
But so far, every sealed jar they had opened contained only the dead.
Not every jar had held a Numen.
Most were simply filled with hornsent corpses, laid inside whole and untouched, never fused with anyone.
Those jars had merely been containers for bodies.
The remains of the Numens varied greatly.
Some had become dry skeletons.
Some had decayed heavily.
Some looked as though they had only recently died.
If that was the case, then it was still possible some living Numens remained.
But the chances were terribly small.
At least among the sealed jars they had opened so far, all the Numens inside had already perished.
Lucian did not know whether the jars had been sealed because the Numens died and were no longer useful, or whether their deaths had always been the intended outcome.
Perhaps placing a dead Numen together with those meant to be "reborn as good people" inside a jar was considered the completion of the ritual.
Lucian sighed again and gently took hold of Melina, who still did not wish to give up.
"For now, let's go look for the ones who already escaped."
"We need to see whether their hearts can be calmed. Only then can we decide what to do next."
Melina glanced once more at the closed jar, said nothing, and allowed Lucian to lead her away.
—
Following the route Lucian had explored before, the two quickly returned to the deepest point he had previously reached.
Further below were a Warrior Jar and several smaller jars.
Perhaps they had been forgotten for too long, because none of them showed any desire to fight.
For living jars, simply having a quiet place unknown to others seemed enough.
Before long, Lucian and Melina found more Numens.
Perhaps out of fear of the cold, two of them had hidden inside the giant jars that once imprisoned them.
Sensing the approach of the living, they slowly crawled out from the jars lying on their sides.
Melina looked at the two members of her people, their bodies burdened by fused flesh, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
Seeing her state, Lucian stepped forward and took her hand.
"Try the small golden tree."
Feeling the warmth in his palm, Melina's trembling gradually eased.
She took a deep breath.
The cold prison air filled her lungs and sharpened her focus.
'Queen Marika… Mother… please…'
'Let my power bring comfort to our people…'
Melina opened her arms.
A small phantom golden tree appeared within the prison, shining with gentle radiance.
Its warm golden light illuminated the cold darkness completely.
This was gold without law.
Gold of pure kindness alone.
When the two Numens were touched by that light, they felt the warmth within it.
The gentle gold of one of their own.
As the two women gradually became calm, the weight pressing on Melina's heart finally lifted.
She looked at the small golden tree before her, fingers clasped together before her chest.
"I did it… thank goodness…"
"Mother… your revenge has ended."
"And my healing will complete what you could not."
"I swear by the Erdtree… I will do everything I can to heal our people."
Seeing the Numens settle into a calmer state, Lucian also let out a breath of relief.
The small golden tree had produced an unexpected result at exactly the right time.
It was a fortunate surprise.
Since its power truly could soothe the minds of the surviving Numens, then gathering all those still trapped in the prison became possible.
Once they found everyone still inside, they could bring them out and care for them on the surface.
The prison's atmosphere was oppressive, and the cold alone would only worsen their condition.
Lucian looked over the vast chambers stretching deeper ahead, thought for a moment, then said to Melina.
"Melina, keep this small golden tree here for now."
"There are bound to be more survivors further in. If we summon a new tree every time we find one, it'll become troublesome."
"For the moment, let this place be our base."
"We'll bring the Numens we find back here."
"Once we've gathered everyone, we'll take them all to the church."
Melina nodded.
Then the two of them continued deeper into the prison, searching for survivors.
—
Before long, they arrived at a large altar where an enormous jar stood.
The vessel was immense, placed at the center of the platform. Whether it held remains within, neither could tell.
The path leading to the altar had long since collapsed, though that posed no obstacle to either of them.
At that moment, however, Melina suddenly noticed a large number of giant jars far below the broken walkway.
She blinked, then turned to Lucian.
"Lucian, I'll go check below."
As soon as she finished speaking, she leapt down without hesitation.
Lucian thought for a moment, then chose not to follow.
There was little danger within the prison, and Melina's strength needed no concern.
Besides, splitting up would make the rescue effort faster.
"Then I'll continue searching above."
He called down to her, received a response, and continued onward alone.
—
While searching for more survivors, Lucian gradually reached a peculiar section of the prison.
He stepped into the strange cell and looked around.
Suddenly, a small figure rushed him from the front, a blade slashing swiftly toward him.
Lucian casually drew the massive Ruins Greatsword and raised it before him, easily blocking the unexpected strike.
The attacker immediately flipped backward and widened the distance.
Lucian focused his gaze and finally saw who it was.
A demi-human.
He wore a ragged cloak, and his face was clearly aged. This was an elderly demi-human.
In his hand was a strange sword, slender and curved, set with fragments of glintstone crystals of varying sizes.
The crystals formed a line running along the blade.
Lucian studied it closely and soon noticed something unusual.
The bends in the sword did not seem random.
Several larger glintstones were embedded precisely where the blade curved.
The overall shape…
resembled a constellation drawn across the night sky.
As Lucian considered this, the cloaked demi-human attacked again.
The sword flashed, and a brilliant arc of light instantly closed in on him.
Lucian merely tilted his body and let it pass with ease.
At the same moment, the old demi-human's figure dissolved into starlight, then reappeared above the path of the slash.
Using that strange technique, he had instantly crossed the distance and brought his blade down in a fierce overhead strike.
Lucian gave the attack a sideways glance.
He had not expected a demi-human to possess such skill.
The slash descended with great speed, and failed to even brush the edge of his clothing.
The sword struck the ground instead, carving a deep mark into the stone.
Lucian looked at the old demi-human and asked.
"Are you a prisoner here too?"
"Or are you one of the people who ran this place?"
The elderly demi-human silently stepped back.
The Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze said nothing, focusing only on searching for an opening in Lucian's stance.
Yet no matter how carefully he observed, he could find none.
It was not that Lucian had no openings.
On the contrary, his relaxed posture was full of them, as though he did not regard Onze as a threat at all.
But the swordmaster's instincts warned him that if he attacked any of those apparent openings, the one who would suffer for it would be himself.
Seeing no intention to answer and lacking his usual patience, Lucian spoke flatly.
"You attacked me without warning and won't answer my questions."
"Then you're an enemy."
"And I'm already in a bad mood."
—
Deep within the prison, Onze's disciple, Yoshi, finally lost patience.
Seeing such a seemingly vulnerable opponent, he chose to strike.
Until now, Yoshi had concealed himself completely.
He charged from behind Lucian at high speed, his small frame giving him extraordinary agility.
His figure vanished soundlessly, then appeared in an instant at Lucian's back.
Seeing Lucian's unguarded rear, Yoshi did not hesitate. He slashed.
But in the next moment, an arm formed from silver mist suddenly emerged from Lucian's body and seized Yoshi by the throat.
Yoshi was stunned by the impossible sight, but reacted quickly, swinging his blade at the arm.
As Asimi had not yet fully formed and was still partly vapor, the grip loosened and Yoshi escaped.
He sprang backward repeatedly, clutching his neck in disbelief.
Onze frowned and turned his attention to the figure gradually taking shape.
Asimi's body slowly flowed out from Lucian, condensing into full form.
"Two against one, and with a sneak attack too."
"That's hardly honorable."
"My lord, I'd like to move around a little."
Lucian nodded.
Asimi immediately formed a weapon and rushed at Yoshi.
Yoshi refused to yield, raising his sword as the two clashed fiercely.
Lucian looked once and immediately understood the gap between them.
That demi-human was no match for Asimi.
So he ignored that side of the battle.
Instead, he turned his eyes back ahead and began walking toward Onze step by step.
The elderly demi-human was clearly the stronger of the two.
Seeing Lucian approach, Onze charged forward, his sword glowing with a deep blue light.
As soon as he reached striking range, he twisted and spun, unleashing two rapid returning slashes.
The twin-star sword traced beautiful yet lethal arcs of light through the air, swallowing Lucian's figure.
Then—
Boom.
The Demi-Human Onze was sent flying backward, smashing through rows of stone pillars within the prison.
His small body had been hurled away in an instant by Lucian's counterattack.
Shock still remained on his face.
The brilliant Line of Stars technique he had unleashed, had been shattered in a single moment by this human.