"The Land of Shadow... What kind of place is that?"
Gawain was momentarily stunned by the term. Since when did such a place exist in the Lands Between?
Wait—a realization suddenly struck him. Could this be the 'Shadow of the Erdtree' DLC that had only leaked a single image before I crossed over? Well, it looked like he was about to play the actual DLC for free. He just hoped it didn't have the same "instant New Game+3" difficulty spikes that The Ringed City was famous for.
Ranni looked at his confused expression with a hint of curiosity. Given the deep knowledge he had displayed regarding the Lands Between, it seemed odd that he wouldn't know of the Land of Shadow. Nevertheless, she continued her explanation.
"I do not know much of the specific circumstances regarding the Land of Shadow myself.
At that time, the war between the Golden Order and the Fire Giants had only recently concluded. Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, had been hounded from the Lands Between. I was still at the Academy, learning from my mother, and my brother had only just departed for the town of Sellia to study sorcery.
Thus, my knowledge of regions beyond Liurnia was limited to hearsay. However, there is no doubt that a vast portion of the Lands Between was artificially severed and sent to an unknown place. It is said to be the final destination for all things abandoned."
"It is said? So, even you haven't seen the Land of Shadow?"
Ranni shook her head. As the youngest sister, she hadn't truly left the shores of Liurnia to become a member of the Golden Order's extended royalty until after Radagon abandoned her mother and headed to Leyndell to become King Consort.
She had only heard whispers of what transpired in the Land of Shadow. After all, the disappearance of such a massive landmass was a cataclysmic shift that no one could ignore. Her mouth twitched involuntarily as she recalled a memory, her voice taking on a grit of suppressed anger.
"In the period before the Land of Shadow was severed, the war with the Giants had just ended. Queen Marika then issued a total lockdown on all information concerning the Mountaintops, for reasons unknown.
From the fragments of records I found later in the Capital, it seems the god behind the Fire Giants was not the only reason.
Furthermore, the war did not end with the fall of the Giants. The Golden Order's army split in two. One part, led by the First Lord Godfrey, continued south to lay siege to Stormveil Castle, attempting to take the last bastion of the Storm Lord in one fell swoop.
The other force was led by a stranger—a man with red hair and pale skin. If I recall correctly, they called themselves the 'Crusade,' and they continued to fight enemies remaining on the Mountaintops.
However, at that time, Radagon had not yet become King; he was still living with my mother at the Academy. I am unclear as to what manner of enemy this 'Crusade' was fighting, but Queen Marika clearly intended to bury all records of it. Not a single trace was left behind."
The Crusade. Another unknown term, but based on the name alone, they didn't sound like a peaceful bunch. Gawain also noted the subtle nuance in Ranni's voice when she mentioned the red-haired man.
"Uh, why do I detect a hint of annoyance in your voice? And who exactly was this red-haired man?"
In his memory, only the demigods of Radagon's lineage possessed red hair—a trait inherited from the Giants' curse. He couldn't imagine who else would be leading this so-called Crusade.
Ranni seemed reluctant to speak of it, but she eventually sighed and revealed the identity.
"I only remember that the man called himself Messmer. He was a son of Queen Marika. During the period when the Carian Royals and the Golden Order were allied, he visited the Academy several times. When he left, he took a vast number of sorcerers from various classrooms with him.
Among them was my aunt—the sister of the Full Moon Queen, Rellana, the Twin Moon Knight."
"Wait... you have an aunt?"
This heavyweight piece of information left Gawain reeling. He suddenly remembered a line of dialogue from Iji in the game—how he specifically emphasized that Ranni was the "legitimate" princess of the Carian Royal Family.
It turned out that wasn't just idle talk. The Full Moon Queen actually had a sister, and she'd been whisked away? No wonder they had to emphasize "legitimacy" when there was another branch of the family out there.
And the Rennala sisters really seemed to have a weakness for redheads. Both of them had been charmed away by men with crimson hair.
But what kind of enemy was the Crusade fighting in the Land of Shadow that required them to bring so many elite sorcerers from the Academy? And why hadn't they returned? Was the war still going on, or was there another reason entirely?
And this red-haired 'Messmer'... based on the naming conventions of the demigods, he sounded suspiciously close to Melina.
Just how many kids did Marika have? Between the ones she birthed (Morgott, Mohg, Godwyn, Malenia, Miquella, Messmer, Melina) and the ones her 'other self' had with Rennala, she could practically field a football team.
As Gawain processed this, Melina, sitting on the other side, felt a sudden pang in her heart. Fragments of memory flickered through her mind. Why did the name 'Messmer' sound so familiar?
She felt as though she had heard that name before. Despite her missing memories, she felt that this person was important to her. The deep thrumming in her soul was undeniable. Would she have the chance to meet him in the future?
"You're saying your aunt went to the Land of Shadow with Messmer and never came back?"
A look of loss crossed Ranni's eyes. In her memory, though she hadn't spent much time with her aunt, they had been close. If Rellana were still here, perhaps her mother wouldn't have fallen into her current state.
"Exactly. Back then, the alliance between the Carians and the Golden Order required a gesture of sincerity. I remember that before my aunt left, my mother personally outfitted her with the finest weapons and armor.
The Giant blacksmiths of the royalty also forged exquisite gear for the sorcerers and knights chosen to follow her. Among them was Muritier, one of the most powerful Carian Knights from the Liurnian Wars."
Gawain didn't know if this Muritier had any connection to Moongrum back at the Academy, but he had a different question: Just how much combat power is hidden away in the Lands Between that I don't know about?
No wonder he hadn't seen many Carian Knights at Caria Manor. Aside from those who fell in battle, the rest had followed the aunt to the Land of Shadow. Considering Rennala's current situation, he could understand why she had locked herself away in the Grand Library.
"Queen Rennala being imprisoned in the Academy... I suspect it's not just because she's heartbroken. With a large portion of her military strength taken to the Land of Shadow, the Carian Royals essentially lost their ability to control the Academy on their own.
With the Golden Order's help, the Queen could maintain the status quo. But once you three siblings left the Academy, she was left to stand alone. While fighting to the bitter end was an option, I don't think that's what your mother wanted."
Ranni nodded. Her mother had conquered the Academy through sheer strength. Even with the loss of many followers, those Academy hacks were no match for her. But what point was there in doing so if it meant destroying the work of her lifetime?
That was the unspoken agreement between her and the sorcerers. Since her mother had no heart left for administration, the Carian Knights loyal to her guarded the gates, while Ranni herself left an illusion there to ensure no one disturbed her mother's peace.
"In that case, our next stop is the Raya Lucaria Academy. I might not have been in such a hurry if I hadn't known about this.
But since there are such massive unstable factors out there, I need to consolidate the Academy's power. Whether it's researching how to deal with those threats from the stars or putting Nox technology to use, the greatest magical sanctuary in the Lands Between is indispensable."
Ranni pursed her lips, looking at Gawain with a bit of exasperation as he muttered to himself. He was basically declaring his intent to take control of the entire Academy right in front of her—the legitimate Carian Princess.
While she didn't care much for power struggles since discarding her body, she still felt a bit slighted.
However, seeing his earnest expression, she nearly laughed. Why bother getting serious with a man like him?
Since arriving in the Lands Between, everything he had done was completely different from the demigods who fought for their own interests. He truly seemed focused only on making the Lands Between a more stable place.
Since when did I start believing in his grand boasts? she wondered. It must have been the influence of the words her brother left behind.
Besides, she truly did need his help—both for the final obstacle ahead and for saving Blaidd.
"Very well. I shall accompany you to the Academy. The promise I made must be fulfilled. Though you will still have to handle whatever combat arises, I believe the Carian Royal Family still retains some influence in the Academy, even in its current state. I can at least ensure your path is met with less resistance."
With Ranni willing to help with the conquest of the Academy, Gawain felt the task would be much easier. If nothing else, maybe he could reach the Grand Library without a boss fight this time.
Without Ranni's interference, the only thing at the Academy worthy of a boss health bar was that paper-thin, red-furred wolf that looked incredibly weak to fire.
As for the other sorcerers who might resist? He suspected Master Sellen would be more than happy to help him 'resolve' those people.
While he was busy imagining what kind of "sorcerer ball" Sellen might craft this time, Ranni interrupted his fantasies.
"Whatever plans you have for the Academy's future, or whatever measures you take against those currently residing there, I do not care.
However, I expect you to agree to certain conditions. In exchange, I will teach you the complete steps of the Rite of Rebirth, as we agreed."
"Fair enough. As long as it doesn't involve me raising a bunch of your pet Fingercreepers in Stormveil, I'll do my best to help."
Ranni had intended to keep a formal face, but she nearly burst out laughing. She remembered watching him through the telescope at the Three Sisters; his twisted facial expression when he first encountered the Fingercreepers at Caria Manor had been quite entertaining.
"First, do not let outsiders disturb my mother's peace. Whether it be the sorcery scrolls of the library or the Great Rune required for the Rite of Rebirth, I want you to be as quiet as possible.
My mother has endured far too much over the years. Leaving her as she is... that is enough."
"That won't be a problem. If need be, we can station a few more Carian Knights there. That should put your mind at ease."
Ranni was satisfied with the arrangement. Letting Moongrum continue his post would be sufficient; no further changes were needed.
"Secondly, since you intend to travel to Nokstella, know that it is a path I must take for my revenge against the Two Fingers. On this journey, I must conserve my strength to ensure the plan's success.
Therefore, I need you to deal with the final obstacle—the Baleful Shadow sent by the Two Fingers."
"A Baleful Shadow? Sounds like it might have some teeth, but it doesn't matter. I'm tired of seeing those Fingers' assassins skulking around anyway. I've dealt with secret agents like that before."
With that guarantee, the last weight on Ranni's heart was lifted. All obstacles were cleared. After a long wait, she could finally see her revenge through to the end.
"And Blaidd?" Gawain asked. "What about him? He might be fine for now, but once you commit to the next step, the influence of the Two Fingers might become unbearable.
While there's a possibility of helping him now, I think we won't know for sure until I've had a chance to 'study' a set of Two Fingers."
Ranni frowned. This was indeed a problem that required attention. Even if the chances were slim, she was willing to try.
"Iji knows how to craft the Nox Mirrorhelms. They are tools capable of warding off the influence of the Two Fingers. Though their effect on a Shadowbound Beast is limited, they should buy some time.
If all else fails, I will have to ask Blaidd to remain in an Evergaol for a while. Spatial isolation should provide some protection.
Once the revenge is complete, I will personally investigate the source of the bond. All we can do is hope his will is strong enough."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (201 chapter - Ongoing)
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