"Greetings, traveler from beyond the fog. My name is Melina..."
As Xia Yu regained consciousness, a somewhat indifferent female voice echoed in his ear.
Melina? Little Wood? I'm not playing elden ring right now, so why am I hearing Melina's self-introduction? Besides, I've already finished three playthroughs and haven't started a new one.
Though Xia Yu had many doubts, when he opened his eyes, they were all replaced by utter shock.
Before him stood a one-eyed woman with pinkish-brown hair. In her open right eye, he saw the reflection of his own dazed face.
Melina looked at the seemingly dazed Tarnished before her without showing any particular emotion. She knew her appearance was sudden and it was normal for him not to react immediately, so she continued.
"I offer you an accord. Have you heard of the Finger Maidens? They serve the Two Fingers, offering guidance and aid to the Tarnished..."
Finger Maidens? I've transmigrated!
Xia Yu jolted, but instantly realized someone was in front of him and he couldn't act too abnormally.
Moreover, he clearly remembered that this was a critical moment in the elden ring plot, vital for his future growth. If he scared Melina away and was left without a maiden, he wouldn't even be able to increase his own power.
On the other side, Melina didn't seem to notice Xia Yu's abnormality and continued on her own: "But you are maidenless. I can play the role of maiden. I can turn your runes into strength."
"If you seek the elden ring, this will surely be of use to you."
"...So, I ask of you—take me to the foot of the erdtree."
After speaking, the one-eyed woman named Melina stared fixedly at Xia Yu, waiting for his answer.
In the game, the choices were to accept the accord or refuse, though for gameplay reasons, the refusal option would eventually lead back to acceptance.
But now that Xia Yu had transmigrated into what seemed like the real world of elden ring, his choices wouldn't necessarily lead to a single outcome like in a game, so he didn't hesitate for long.
"I accept the accord."
Seeing the Tarnished agree to her terms, Melina's expression softened slightly, the corners of her mouth twitching upward by a single pixel.
"...Then it is settled. When you wish to turn runes into strength, please call for me at a site of grace."
"Oh, and one more thing..."
As she spoke, Melina reached out her right hand and opened her palm, revealing a gold-colored ring with openwork carving.
"Take this ring. Use it when you must travel great distances. It will summon the spectral steed named Torrent."
The spectral steed whistle?
Xia Yu took the ring from Melina's hand, examining the piece of equipment that had accompanied him from start to finish in the game.
After handing over the ring, Melina spoke again: "Torrent has chosen you. Treat him with respect."
Of course I will. My good brother Torrent accompanied me through lava and poison pools; he's much more useful than you, you piece of wood, Xia Yu thought to himself as he gripped the spectral steed whistle.
Throughout the entire game, the number of times one saw Melina could be counted on one hand, whereas his good brother Torrent accompanied him as he ran wildly across the entire map.
Seeing that Xia Yu had reached an agreement with her and the spectral steed whistle had been handed over, Melina prepared to stand up and vanish as a spectral phantom.
"Wait."
Melina's form paused as she was suddenly called back. Though her face remained expressionless, one could sense her confusion.
"I want to turn the runes within me into strength."
Xia Yu explained. Although he had just transmigrated, during the conversation just now, he had quietly sensed his current physical condition.
His powerful body felt the strength contained in every muscle even while sitting still. Besides physical strength, he could also feel two types of energy within him.
One was warm and golden, the other cool and azure. For some reason, he could even perceive the colors of these two energies.
Unsurprisingly, these two energies were Runes and Mana.
Runes were plundered from others, equivalent to experience points, and could increase one's strength. Mana was the other power contained within oneself, used to cast sorceries.
However, after a brief comparison, Xia Yu discovered that his Mana was actually much higher than his physical strength.
My starting class is actually a Sorcerer? Impressive.
"Only for a moment. Let me touch you..."
Melina's voice interrupted Xia Yu's thoughts. She reached out her right hand and asked Xia Yu to touch her.
Looking at the right hand marked with burn scars, Xia Yu raised an eyebrow. This scene appeared in the game as well, and he was quite familiar with it.
With that thought, he also reached out his right hand and grasped Melina's small, extended hand.
The next moment, Melina began to chant a complex incantation, whispering softly like a sleep-talker.
At the same time, Xia Yu felt the golden energy within him being pulled by an indescribable force, guiding it to merge into his body.
Of course, the specific direction of this integration was still his to choose.
In the game, the attributes upgradable with Runes were Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane.
But in reality, there were no such convenient options. He could only channel the Runes into general directions, such as physical toughness, mental mana, speed, strength, and so on.
Since his starting class was a Sorcerer, his reinforcement direction would naturally be... physical toughness!
As a certain crime-fighting master luo once said, a mage should look like a mage. What kind of mage can't even lift or carry things!
A true mage should dual-wield colossal swords and swing them with the force of a gale; as for spells, knowing Starlight is enough.
His Mana was currently sufficient, but his strength, speed, and constitution were all lacking. If he met other mages in the future, he'd be embarrassed to even step forward and shake hands.
Of course, memes aside, strengthening his constitution was indeed Xia Yu's plan. After all, a better constitution meant it was easier to survive. Having transmigrated to this world, survival was the primary objective.
With this in mind, Xia Yu focused his mind, settling his heart to guide the golden energy into his constitution.
In an instant, the golden energy within him was rapidly consumed, turning into warm currents that spread through his limbs and bones, increasing his weak constitution.
"This feeling... isn't bad at all."
After the reinforcement was complete, Xia Yu opened his eyes, which were now bright and full of spirit. His whole being felt refreshed.
"Then I shall take my leave. May your journey be fruitful."
After completing the reinforcement for Xia Yu, Melina nodded and stood up. Her body naturally turned into azure stardust and dissipated into the air.
Of course, having played the game, Xia Yu knew Melina hadn't actually left. She had simply turned into a spectral state and attached herself to him. After all, one of the conditions of their accord was for him to take her to the foot of the erdtree; she certainly wouldn't abandon him.
Thinking about it now, having a soul attached to him at all times was like having a guardian spirit. It was a pity Melina couldn't help him in battle normally, otherwise she could be used like a Stand, and he could call himself a Stand User.
Tsk, why didn't I transmigrate into the world of JoJo Part 3? I want to be a Stand User!
In order to write elden ring well, I've started a new save file, so wherever I play to, the protagonist of the book will go.