CHAPTER 9:
A MOMENT OF CALM
"How kind of you." Despite the words, the sneer in her birth father's tone was too apparent to Hermione, and not for the first time, she wondered if it was worth coming here to this world. "But don't forget, the Tarnished have the goal of seeking the Great Runes and ascending to the throne of Elden Lord."
Hermione calmed herself with an effort. She hadn't told Gideon all she had learned from Ranni, but a few of the points. He certainly wasn't surprised that Ranni was still alive, after a fashion. "I don't see how that is a problem, for me, anyway. For one thing, I am not a Tarnished. For another, there are a number of Shardbearers who are actually threats to others. Godrick, Radahn, Rykard, just to name a few. Rennala was no threat to anyone in her previous state, save for those she experimented on, or those who attacked her. And don't you think an alliance with Ranni and Rennala of more worth than killing Rennala and plundering her Great Rune?"
"…True enough," Gideon conceded. "Rennala was once formidable, before she fell for Radagon like a swooning maid. With her faculties back, she can be formidable again. And given what happened, she has no real love for the Golden Order. From what I have heard, 'tis not like all Great Runes are needed to mend the Elden Ring. But I do not appreciate you doing things like this without my counsel."
"Your counsel…or your command?" Hermione asked pointedly. Perhaps a little needlessly, but she was getting nettled.
Gideon reared back as if slapped, and his face briefly twisted into a scowl, before he shook his head sadly. "Sorry. You're right, I'm too used to my title and my authority holding weight with these laggards and dullards. For all that she has an overdeveloped sense of honour, Nepheli hangs onto my every word with little question. Gods, I miss your mother, able to point out my flaws while still able to do what was needed. But Ranni is a master manipulator. She is also a demigod, and the demigods either seek the Tarnished's destruction, or their exploitation. An alliance with her is useful, but also dangerous."
"I know that. But if we can make even part of the Lands Between safer, then that's something, isn't it?"
"Once again, you're being too idealistic, but we'll agree to disagree for now. In any case, I have some information you may want to pass onto Ranni or her hound. Nepheli saw a group of Godrick's soldiers dragging a chained Bloodhound Knight to the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, near the border between Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula, specifically just north of the Bridge of Sacrifice. I don't know whether this is Darriwil, but given that his last known whereabouts were in Limgrave, it's as good a lead as any."
"And why pass this information along?" Hermione asked.
"Ranni may be a demigod and a manipulator, but if she honours debts, then having her in debt to us can be used to our advantage. Information is my business, and she can give extra insight into the workings of Raya Lucaria and Leyndell, to say nothing of her family. And she's no doubt forgotten more about Sorcery than I have ever learned. She may divulge a few spells for us to use. That being said, you should be cautious from now on. If Rennala's egg was truly cursed, then breaking that curse will have drawn attention to you. And if you aren't touched by Grace, you won't revive from any lethal attack. I couldn't care less for any foolish Tarnished who comes here seeking fame and glory who gets abandoned by Grace, but my flesh and blood are another matter. And despite my ambivalence about helping Rennala regain her sanity, or helping Ranni in any way, even doing that much is more than almost any other Tarnished here gets done. Those are at least risky ventures that could still pay off dividends." A faint smile twitched at Gideon's lips. "Ah, you remind me much of your mother."
Hermione wasn't sure what to make of it. Then again, she still wasn't sure what to make of her birth father. Once upon a time, compliments like that from those in authority would have had her falling over herself to get more approval and praise. But that part of her died a slow painful death, thanks to the abuses of authority by those in it. Even Dumbledore, who had the best of intentions, nonetheless manipulated Harry's life, and had manipulated her.
Her thoughts were broken when a by-now familiar dark-skinned form came through. Clad only in furs that only somewhat covered her modesty, the woman was nonetheless quite beautiful, in an athletic way. "Father," she said, her tone and words surprisingly eloquent for someone raised in a barbarian tribe. Then again, the tribes of the Badlands outside the Lands Between prized quick wit, poetry and song as much as prowess in battle. "I have brought back the latest reports from my scouting in the Weeping Peninsula. Tensions between the garrison at Castle Morne and their Misbegotten servants are rising. The winds are foul with anger and contempt."
"Huh. So Castellan Edgar hasn't managed to control them, huh? Heavy-handed fool," Gideon sneered. "And given that he guards one of the legendary weapons…well, I've sent him warnings before, but that fool dismisses my word. He and I have clashed before," he clarified to Hermione. "It doesn't help that he's a bootlicking sycophant of Godrick the Grafted's. A sycophant licking the boots of another sycophant."
"And yet, Godrick is terrorising Limgrave," Hermione pointed out. It was a bit hypocritical of her to say so, she spent several months in hiding after Voldemort took over Magical Britain, trying to find ways to fight back, but still, surely someone could have found a way to stop Godrick in that time?
"Aye, of course he is, Hermione. He may be the runt of the litter, his divine blood watered down like the average tavern ale, but he still has power, and he's grafted many Tarnished to himself. But compared to the other demigods, he's nothing. He once made the mistake of agreeing to duel Malenia when he insulted her, only to grovel at her feet for mercy instead of manning up and dying. When he made the mistake of attacking Leyndell, the Veiled Monarch spanked him soundly like one would an errant child, and he was forced to use a magic item to disguise himself as a commoner woman and flee with his tail between his legs. He prides himself on his bloodline, but his father, Godefroy, tried to usurp the throne during Gransax's attack on Leyndell. Any glory with his bloodline began and ended with his grandfather Godwyn…"
The meeting Hermione had with her birth father ended not long afterwards, and she left the study feeling ambivalent. But when Nepheli halted her, and had her follow her, she was glad for the distraction. They went past Hewg, down some stairs, to a particular haunt of Nepheli when she was pensive.
"What ails you, Hermione?" Nepheli asked.
"…Just about everything in this world, Nepheli. Demigods run amok, monsters slay the innocent, and the Tarnished are expected to follow this guidance of Grace, no matter what. I know running off half-cocked will get me killed, so does Harry, but…knowing the atrocities the likes of Godrick or Rykard are perpetrating…"
Nepheli nodded. "It's not easy, I know. I am Nepheli Loux, Warrior. But when you look at me, what do you see? Many see a mindless barbarian, focused on fighting and honour, and little else. But a true warrior of the line of Hoarah Loux knows when to fight, even if honour dictates it. After all, conviction without strength or intelligence is meaningless. I have no Finger Maiden to turn Lesser Runes into strength, not now, so I train myself every day, to ensure that, once I am strong enough, then I will ensure Godrick's foul stench taints the winds no more. And to pay him back for every innocent life he has taken from the world, and either slain, or grafted to his decrepit, degenerate body."
"But how long, Nepheli? How many more innocents will die before then?"
"…Too many, Hermione. Even one is too many. But I have sworn to end his tyranny and atrocities. Even if I cannot see the guidance of Grace, I have not lost my direction. I fight not to kill or to die. I fight to live, and that others may live. Besides…I am glad I have lived this long." A smile touched the dark-skinned woman's lips. "Because it means that I have met my sister, at long last. Father spoke little of you before your return. But when he did, his tone was filled with sorrow and regret. To know that you are alive, well, and helping us is a boon to his spirits, as it is a boon to mine. We are not siblings by blood, but blood does not matter. I was told Delphi was not Harry's daughter by blood, and yet, their bond is strong in spite of that. And you seem as a sibling to Harry too."
"Harry's been through a lot. He was…a hero in our world, only, he was treated like filth afterwards," Hermione said. "He has a saving people thing, and even though it's been tempered, it never truly changed."
"You admire him greatly, though I am sure your own valour is without question. You may be as much a scholar as Father, but you have a fire in your eyes any true warrior would be proud of. Your battlefields are simply different to my own. There are many kinds of strength. My people may prize physical prowess most of all, but we still prize those with keen minds. 'Tis what we were told by our founder, Hoarah Loux, who in fact was none other than Lord Godfrey."
"Godfrey? The first Elden Lord?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide in shock.
"Indeed. Godfrey was the name he took as Queen Marika's consort, but he was born Hoarah Loux. It is no great secret in the end. Those with his name are not necessarily of his blood, but I am, distantly, of his lineage, so I was told by my original guardian prior to Father. I do my best to live up to the legacy he has left us. Perhaps one day I may meet him. Rumour has it that he was revived by Grace, and travelled here. But we are not here to speak of things that should be or should have been. We are here to speak of things as they are now. And I am glad to have you as my sister, Hermione. May the winds grant us victory, and our enemies borne to rest or lamentation." She gave a strange salute, one of her people.
Hermione couldn't argue with that sentiment. For all that she was a warrior born, and had the veneer of a savage barbarian, Nepheli was far from stupid. Perhaps too honourable for her own good, a potential liability in this unforgiving world, but she had a keen mind and a warm heart.
And truth be told, if there was one undeniable boon to this business, to travelling to this world, it was gaining a sister. The closest she came to in that regard was Luna Lovegood, and Luna…was best handled in small doses. Ginny didn't quite act that way.
So she returned Nepheli's gesture, and said, "Virtus et Scientia. In an old tongue of the world I was raised in, it means with virtue and knowledge. They are words I always tried to live by. I haven't always succeeded, but…"
"You do well enough. I understand. Now, come…I wish to hear more about your adventures. Last time we spoke, you spoke about how you liberated both Harry's godfather and a Hippogriff. I am sure you have many more tales to tell…"
"…Who is this Goldmask?"
Harry couldn't see Corhyn's eyes behind his blindfold, but he could tell they widened in shock. "You have not heard of…oh, right, I forgot, you are a newcomer to this world. The noble Goldmask was a great scholar, a wandering ascetic who foresaw the advent of the guidance of Grace to the Tarnished. I have heard word that he has come to the Lands Between, seeking to contemplate the Golden Order. If you should see him on your travels, please let me know. Also, I heard you made trips to Liurnia. The Church of Vows and its Pastor, Miriel, reside in the east of that area. He is famed for his…tolerance, so perhaps he could help you in your own journeys in the Lands Between with teachings of Sorceries and Incantations I may not know."
Harry nodded. For all that Corhyn was a bit of an arse, he could be civil, at least. "If I see Goldmask, I'll let you know. Just…don't fanboy out over him." On Corhyn's puzzled look, he said, "Never mind."
He went to go and find Delphi, who'd wandered off while he was speaking with Corhyn, only to find her speaking with Melina near that creepy statue of two desiccated corpses. "…Not open this door, Delphi. Please. I beg you." Melina indicated a nearby closed door.
"Dung Eater sounds like a silly name," Delphi complained.
"Dung Eater?" Harry asked.
"Ah, Harry," Melina said, looking to Harry, who brought Delphi close to him. "I found your daughter attempting to open this door. I stopped her. You see, beyond this door lies…the Loathsome Dung Eater."
"…Weird name," Harry said. "And yet you said it in such a way that I'm guessing they're bad news?"
"Yes, he is. A Tarnished of considerable infamy, one who was being executed for his crimes when Grace came to him, in a perverse jest of fate," Melina said, her face twisted in a scowl of distaste. "A man who does not just kill his victims, but defiles them in such a sickening way that their souls are forever tormented. I have heard he was imprisoned deep beneath Leyndell soon after he arrived there, but…there is a projection of him that has made that room his lair. He should not be able to harm you, the Grace protection covers that room, but for your sake and your daughter's, do not enter that room."
Even Delphi seemed to understand, given Melina's urgent tone, what was going on. "How did he get in here, then?" Harry asked. "I mean, many of the Tarnished here aren't exactly friendly, but this guy sounds like a serial killer at least."
"I don't know." Her golden eye met Harry's own. "On another note, you have been to Liurnia of the Lakes…and have helped Ranni."
"…What of it? Are you going to say that's a bad idea?"
"All I shall say is to treat her with caution. Healing Queen Rennala is sure to change the balance of power in the Lands Between, for good or for ill, as does helping Ranni."
"Hey, Ranni told me to make up with Dad when I was mad at him! He kept who my parents were from me, but…she had me make up with him…and I'm happy she did so," Delphi said.
"And that was long before we came to this world. Whatever Ranni is, Melina, she helped keep my daughter and I together, when it wouldn't profit her. What does that say about her?" Harry asked pointedly.
"…That she is capable of kindness, even when it does not profit her," Melina conceded. "But caution and prudence should be your watchwords regardless, as it is with me. That being said, should you venture into the Lands Between once more, call upon me at the nearest Site of Grace. I have a gift for you that will help your travels across the Lands Between."
"We've got broomsticks, but thanks for the offer, Melina," Harry said.
"Oh, believe me, it is yours when you are ready. It's a surprise," she said, with a coy smile.
"The good kind of surprise?" Delphi asked.
"Of course…"
CHAPTER 9 ANNOTATIONS:
The fallout from helping Ranni and Rennala, as well as some character interaction. But what's this surprise Melina has in store?
BTW, just so you know, if you're wondering about the Dung Eater, I go by the theory about his modus operandi Zullie the Witch posted in one of her Youtube videos. Basically, there's a part of Japanese folklore that posits that the soul is stored in a certain organ in the anus, and that kappa can steal this organ. It seems likely that the Dung Eater removes or else mutilates this organ with his curse. You see something similar with a certain attack with the Headless enemy in Sekiro.
Review-answering time! NecrorexSparda Juubi-No-Kishin: I've no idea. I've only played a little of Prototype, which I think is what you are referring to. But remember, the Scarlet Rot is the manifestation of a deity.
jgkitarel: I am somewhat aware that the Japanese version of the Age of Stars ending is worded differently to the localisation, but I've consulted other sources. Her intention is still anarchy: in the original comic of V for Vendetta, this was V's intention on a smaller scale, to give people a chance to govern themselves without deferring to leaders of any kind.
As for the Erdtree, that may be the point, but VaatiVidya's discussion of the Erdtree being a parasite on the original Crucible is too appealing to ignore.
No numbered annotations this time.