That night felt like a dream, except the sensations were far too real. When he opened his eyes, however, he was back in the familiar room.
Was that woman trying to obtain a child of gold and fire?
Nolan didn't know. He felt it couldn't be so simple, and no matter how vivid it had been, a dream was still just a dream.
Over the following months, he immersed himself in the study of Primeval Sorcery alongside Sellen, while also working closely with Thops to refine the theory of force field magic.
From time to time, he would visit a small town within the royal domain, enjoying moments of leisure and savoring rich, aromatic fruit wine.
Back at the academy, he was still regarded as an exemplary student, outstanding in both conduct and learning.
Thops wasn't foolish either. He understood all too well that if his research into the Barrier continued, it would inevitably become a nightmare for both sorcerers and holy clerics alike.
An apprentice deflecting a lecturer's sorceries, an ordinary mortal body standing against divine power. In all the vast Lands Between, how many places could truly tolerate someone like that?
After finishing their drinks, the two of them walked from the royal domain back toward the fortress, chatting and laughing along the way. When someone approached from the opposite direction, their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
"Lady Loretta," Thops said at once, bowing deeply. Nolan followed with a polite nod.
An apprentice deflecting a lecturer's sorceries, an ordinary mortal body standing against divine power. In all the vast Lands Between, how many places could truly tolerate someone like that?
After finishing their drinks, the two of them walked from the royal domain back toward the fortress, chatting and laughing along the way. When someone approached from the opposite direction, their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
"Lady Loretta," Thops said at once, bowing deeply. Nolan followed with a polite nod.
One look at her expression told Nolan she had come specifically for him. With a brief exchange of glances, Thops tactfully took his leave and moved on ahead.
"Knight Nolan. It's been some time. I trust you've been well?"
"What business does Your Excellency have with me?"
Silence lingered for a moment. Just as Nolan's confusion began to deepen, Loretta gave a slight nod and spoke.
"I'll spare you the pleasantries. On behalf of Her Highness the Princess, I formally invite you to serve as a guest commander of Caria Manor. Lord Miquella is of the same mind."
As soon as she finished speaking, Loretta remained where she was, waiting for his response. Nolan frowned, and at last understood what had happened.
"Godwyn is dead?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Loretta's eyes. Remembering who stood before her, she quickly regained her composure and lowered her voice.
"That's right. Leyndell is suppressing the news for now, but it is the truth. The lords of the four corners have likely already learned of it. The Lands Between won't know peace for some time."
Even she couldn't help but admire her princess's audacity. To dare commit such an act…
A towering, red-haired Demigod reduced to a small, four-armed, blue-skinned doll. The Carian Knights weren't blind. How could Ranni's secret stay hidden from those who lived and fought beside her day after day?
Taking part in the murder of the Golden Prince. Stealing the Destined Death. Casting aside the body of an Empyrean.
Each one was an unforgivable crime.
And yet, the Golden Order Dynasty remained strangely inactive.
Leyndell had fallen into an eerie silence. Radagon and Marika made no response at all. No one knew whether this stillness was the calm before a storm.
Nolan said nothing. He simply raised his head, his gaze fixed on the distant Erdtree, towering and magnificent.
Beneath that dazzling golden radiance, faint figures could be seen swaying atop a boat on the clear lake below.
Their clothing looked worn with age. The rippling water blurred their forms, and the dull, yellowed tones cast a heavy, oppressive mood.
Nolan felt as though he was seeing something.
It was like the chaos of raging war, yet also the loneliness of fallen heroes.
More like a long, damp, decaying dream, one that left him feeling powerless. He wanted to do something, yet in the end, nothing could be changed.
...
Days passed one after another, like water flowing through a lake, and everything unfolded just as Loretta had predicted.
The death of the Golden Prince was impossible to conceal. The entire dynasty was thrown into unprecedented turmoil and unrest, carrying the clear sense of a storm about to break.
And at such a moment, the Eternal Queen seemed to lose her reason entirely, shattering the very symbol of the dynasty—the noble Elden Ring.
The golden ring that embodied the laws of the world was smashed apart blow by blow under Her Majesty's hammer. Its scattered fragments felt like an omen of a world on the brink of collapse.
People searched everywhere, only to discover that the Queen had vanished. Worse still, the Lord Consort Radagon, who should have stepped forward to stabilize the situation, was also nowhere to be found.
That was the final blow. With no one left to lead the dynasty, the Golden Lords could no longer restrain themselves, and war was ignited almost inevitably.
While Godrick, a Golden descendant holding Leyndell, was being hemmed in by his aunts and uncles, trapped in his own home and living in constant fear…
Not far away, at the center of Liurnia of the Lakes, atop the highest floor of the Academy of Raya Lucaria, a group of powerful sorcerers sat around a round table, exchanging silent looks.
Dim glintstone lamps lit the ancient conference chamber, bathing the space in a muted glow. The room itself was defined by a stark, simple palette of black and white.
Portraits lined the surrounding walls. The figures within them, both men and women alike, all wore long robes of red and blue.
At the very center of the chamber hung an enormous frame, depicting a beautiful woman.
She was the ruler of Liurnia of the Lakes, the exalted Queen of the Full Moon, Rennala.
Perhaps out of respect for the Queen's power, even though the sorcerers gathered here were already considering overthrowing the Carian Royal Family, the looks they cast toward her portrait still carried a trace of reverence.
Counting carefully, four sorcerers sat around the round table. They were the professors of the four conspectuses, excluding the Lazuli Conspectus.
The Carian Royal Family had always ruled through a monarchy.
Now, with the Queen clearly no longer capable of fulfilling her duties, and the princess having gone to Caria Manor and never returned, all internal affairs of the academy were being jointly overseen by the professors.
Elkario swept his gaze across the room, tapped the tabletop lightly, and spoke in an unhurried tone.
"The Redmane Army has withdrawn. It seems the Starscourge General has no intention of involving himself in the conflict between the academy and the Carian Royal Family."
The Preceptor Twinsage spoke calmly, but his eyes were grave.
"I doubt it's that he doesn't want to intervene. He simply can't."
An unpleasant voice echoed through the room. Seluvis crossed his arms and spoke with clear irritation.
"Enough with the roundabout talk. Get to the point. My time is valuable. I don't have much of it to waste here."
Though displeased by his attitude, the other professors still nodded. The Preceptor Twinsage had been deliberately tactful in his wording.
For the Redmane Army of Caelid to march on Leyndell, the terrain of the Altus Plateau made a naval advance impossible. They would have to pass through Limgrave and Liurnia of the Lakes.
Limgrave was territory long held by the Golden lineage. The Golden Prince had ruled it for years and commanded many loyal supporters.
Local nobles were already dissatisfied with Radahn's near-rebellious actions, and the armies of the Haligtree and Volcano Manor were advancing toward Leyndell as well.
If Radahn still harbored ambitions of becoming Lord, he wouldn't waste his strength attacking the academy.
Leaving aside how long it would take to capture it, once a war began, the long supply lines could not afford to be disrupted.
A handful of professors retreating into the deep mountains and forests, emerging only occasionally to stir up trouble, would be more than enough to cause serious headaches.
Leyndell's walls were tall and unyielding, and the Golden Army was strong and well equipped. Even so, none of the professors believed Godrick could hold out for very long.
A demigod's influence on a war was simply too great, and among the direct bloodline of the gods, this Golden descendant was widely regarded as the weakest. He might not even be able to keep the heroes of the royal capital in line.
Elkario turned to look at Seluvis, without the slightest hint of anger. It was clear he had long since grown used to this sort of attitude.