Elden Ring is the property of FromSoftware and Monster Girl Encyclopedia is the Property of Kenkou Cross. I do not own any of these properties.


Chapter 7: Duel

A young red-haired warrior stood in front of a tower, he wore his normal tunic and pants, with leather boots and light leather armor covering his form. Currently, he was practicing his swings in front of the tower, large blue crystalline spikes scattered the land as he continuously tested the weapon he had found while snooping around the place.

The moon hung overhead as he swung as if to watch his progress with a keen eye.

This was Elt, the newest member of Ranni's inner circle and currently, he was testing out his new weapon in front of her rise where there was enough space for him to move.

He had spent most of his time here at the rise, more so than even the roundtable hold. Whether it was to discuss plans with Iji, converse with Ranni, or just help out with any menial task they needed help with such as moving a few books or finding a smithing stone for Blaidd to use.

He recalled how he got here, how he found Blaidd after conversing with Kale, how he helped him take down Darriwill, how he met Iji after Blaidd pointed Elt at his direction, how he ignored his warnings and went into Caria Manor, how he met Ranni and how he was placed under her service.

He had already been through a few missions with them, with Blaidd specifically as the two went off to try and find the Eternal City of Nokron. Only after conversing with Sellen did they find out that The Starscourge Radahn needed to be put down for them to progress further.

And so here he was, waiting for the Radahn Festival to begin. It was set to happen in a few days, and so he had time to prepare. With this spare time, he moved through the Carian Manor and found a sword hidden within a chest. It was beautiful, far more than any he had seen before.

Not wanting for it to waste away inside a chest, Elt took the sword after leaving a note there that stated that he'll return it when he can. He stood in front of the manor, testing the sword's balance by practicing his swings.

"Swinging your sword quite wildly there, is that what I think it is?" An accented voice called out from behind. Elt turned to the source before he smiled. The voice came not from a man but a wolf standing taller than Elt. The wolfman was about twice his size, he wore large platted armor with a fur cape, and a large sword hung by his back.

This was Blaidd, Ranni's supposed Shadow and one of Elt's closest friends here in the Lands Between. The two had hit it off poorly at first, mostly on Elt's part. The Order's brainwashing had made him wary of the wolfman but soon he warmed up and the two became fast friends.

He too would participate in the festival, together with Elt where the two would face off against the might of a Demigod. One feared within legend and one that held the very stars at bay.

Elt shuddered at the thought, what Radahn was doing was something that only the Gods could've done back in his homeland. And here he was about to face against the Starscourge, though he was no longer the powerless child he once was when he first entered here in the Lands Between.

Gifted by the grace of the Erdtree he had grown in strength to the point where he could probably challenge Wilmarina Noscrim to a duel and potentially win. His strength, speed, and power allowed him to weather and match the worst that The Lands Between had to offer.

But Starscourge Radahn would've been on a whole different level than what he was used to. Godric The Grafted was considered a disgrace by The inhabitants of the Lands Between and the Rennala he fought had been naught but an illusion. Starcourge Radahn himself was said to suffer from the deadly ailment that permeated through Caelid, but even when infected he had still held the Stars at bay.

Radahn would've been his toughest challenge yet, so he needed to be absolutely sure that he could even take him on.

"You know what sword this is?" Elt asked as he held up the golden-colored blade with an ornate design.

"Hmm…" Blaidd muttered as he walked over and crossed his arms. His wolven eyes scanned the blade before he gave a small node. "Aye, I know what blade it is. A legendary armament that belongs to the Carian Royal Family It's called The Sword of Night and Flames." The wolfman answered.

Elt grimaced as he heard the name, he took the blade out of the chest mostly because it looked like it had been abandoned. If it was some kind of legendary weapon then he should probably return it before he got into trouble. Seeing the troubled expression on his face, Blaidd let out a small laugh.

"Relax, Elt. That blade hasn't been used by anyone in ages. If anything I'd say that you're worthy enough to wield it. I'm sure Lady Ranni would agree as well, but if you're still unsure you can ask her directly. She's the last living Carian Royal who is in any way shape or form sane." Blaidd stated.

"You think so?" Elt asked as he inspected the sword. It's a legendary weapon, one that once belonged to the Royal Family of Liurnia. Was he truly worthy enough to wield this? He had slain Godric and dispelled the illusion on Rennala, but he believed that those deeds weren't enough for him to warrant such a legendary weapon.

"Well, that's only if you want to, Elt. Sad truth is that the Carian Royal Family is long gone. Sure Rennala, Radahn, and Rykard still live but I doubt that they'd be able to be identified as a true member of the Carian Royal family with the state they're in. Well, other than Lady Ranni of course." Blaidd added.

Upon hearing that, Elt looked at the blade before he narrowed his eyes. With the Carian Royal Family being in shambles then it's clear that there'd be no one to truly use the sword for its original purpose.

"Hey, how 'bout instead of swinging that sword around in the air to test it, you actually use it in combat?" Blaidd asked as he stepped forward.

"Well I would, but I want to get a feel for it first before I try fighting someone. Besides I'm- Oh…" Elt muttered before he realized what his friend may have been implying. A spar between the two of them, huh? Well, he wasn't exactly against it but…

"Are you sure? I'm not sure I'm as skilled as you, though-" He was about to say before Blaidd cut him off. "You fought Darriwill with me and we ventured through the underground to find Nokron together. Don't underestimate your own abilities, Elt. If there's anyone who could possibly match me with the blade, it's you." Blaidd stated as he gestured to his sword.

"But if you really aren't feeling it then it's fine as well. I also want to sharpen my blade before we duel with Radahn. The choice is yours to make, Elt." He stated. Elt looked on at Blaidd before he thought about it. Was he just gonna cower because he perceived Blaidd to be stronger than him? When has that ever stopped him before? Even before he came to the lands between he had stubbornly tried to beat Mersé over and over only for it to end with the same results.

"...Alright, let's do it." He started as he moved towards an open space in front of the yard. Blaidd smirked at that as he pulled out his greatsword.

"Alright then, try to keep up," Blaidd stated as he pulled out his greatsword. The two looked on at each other with smiles on their faces. It was just a simple spar in front of the rise, two friends helping one another out in this cruel world.

As Blaidd had thought, there was something unusual about Elt. He was loyal, kind, and earnest, something that their circle would benefit from immensely. He would make a fine warrior too, especially after the two had journeyed into Nokron.

He held up his blade, regal in look and grand in its scale. He pointed it at Elt who did much the same with the blade in his own hands. The Sword of Night and Flames desired to dance, and the two shall deliver on that desire.

With that, Elt and Blaidd danced against one another.


Elt blinked as a memory flashed within his mind, this one was a lot less stressful than the others. It was a spar between him and someone he never remembered meeting. A wolfman no less, one that The Order would have definitely killed him for even speaking cordially with.

And yet Elt felt no terror when facing this man, rather he felt a sense of friendship and brotherhood with the wolf he was fighting against. A connection similar to the ones he created with his own unit, one forged in battle and war and one he would not give away for anything else.

And yet, despite this memory, he could not help but feel a bitter sorrow within his heart when thinking about this wolfman. He couldn't remember why, but he felt a pang of immense guilt when thinking about his dear friend. He needed to learn more, he needed to know why, he needed to-

"Ow!" Elt yelped out as a wooden sword struck his head.

"S-Sorry El!, are you alright?" Another voice called out as a certain blue-haired hero walked over to check on his injury. The two had been sparring for a while now, and this time the two weren't holding anything back and clashing with their utmost ability.

Well… almost. If the two were really not holding anything back then Wilmarina would've pulled out Orofuyo a long time ago. She looked over his head, moving his hair away to check on his head to see if there were any long-lasting injuries that she may have inflicted.

She wanted to stop, but Elt had insisted that they continued. While it wasn't a duel per se, if anyone would witness the two clash then it would've been clear who it was that was winning. Elt was on the defensive most of the time, she had struck him with her wooden blade more times than he did her and out of the two, Elt looked like he came out of the duel in a worse state than she was.

And yet as the duel progressed he continued to improve and improve at an unnatural rate. It was absurd for her to witness, as if the more they fought the more his abilities were unlocked. Tactics that worked before had stopped working, he was pushing her back more and more as the fight continued, and now he was even managing to strike her in a few places though never truly committing since he doesn't really want to hurt her.

"Yeah- I'm fine… I'm just a little bruised and all that, I'm used to it so-" Elt stated which only caused Wilmarina to frown and shake her head.

'What did he mean by used to it?' She thought to herself. She already knew that he lived a hard life, one that she wanted to repay somehow. But being used to pain like this is no good in her eyes, it just made her more worried.

"I think we should stop, El. I'm worried that I might go overboard." Wilmarina confessed as she looked on at his form. He was knocked down more than once during their little spar, and looking at his wounds made her wince. The fact that he decided to push on regardless of that fact both endeared and worried her.

How much was he willing to push himself just to remember? How much was he willing to get himself injured for this?

"...I'll be fine, Lady Wilmar-" He was about to say only to be cut off.

"Don't call me that… you already called me Mary, even if it's just when it's the two of us, I want you to call me Mary again…" She muttered, turning her head away as she did as a blush made its way to her face.

Elt himself blushed at that. She was right of course, he felt kind of horrible for doing that. Even after she started calling him El he still kept calling her Lady Wilmarina. He took a deep breath before he spoke up again.

"I-If that's what you want, Mary." He stated with an awkward smile.

At that did she smile again, a soft and sweet one reserved just for him. She knew that look, the one she wanted to monopolize all for herself. It was the look he made whenever he gave in to her whims. It warmed her heart to see, even after all these years he never changed.

"But… really, I'll be fine. I can keep going." Elt stated as he got up and readied himself for the spar.

Unfortunately for him, Wilmarina wouldn't budge. He was just as stubborn as he was before but lucky for her she knew of a way to get him to listen to her whims. He thought he could just appeal to their childhood memories to get what they wanted? Fine, two can play at that game.

"No El… Please… I don't want to hurt you…" Wilmarina muttered, doing her best to imitate how she used to make him follow her whims when they were children. She widened her eyes, as she looked at him awkwardly.

That seemed to do the trick, his face turned red as he looked away. She slightly smirked at that, it looked like she got her payback early. She'll relish that embarrassed look on his face all for herself. With a victorious hum, she moved towards him before leaning forward with her hands behind her back and a playful smile on her face.

"...Alright... I think we can stop here, I've gotten a few of the visions now..." Elt muttered with an awkward laugh.

Wilmarina smiled at that, she moved her hand on his head and checked to see if there were any major injuries.

"You have a few bruises on you." Wilmarina stated with a frown. Elt placed his hand where she touched and winced at the pain. She was right, he did have a few bruises. But things like those were quite normal for a soldier like him.

"Yeah, don't worry though, it'll heal." Elt reassured with a small smile. Wilmarina piffed her cheeks before she crossed her arms and spoke up.

"Is this how Mersé trains you? By senselessly beating you? I should file a complaint." Wilmarina huffed which just caused Elt to scratch his head.

"Please don't, despite her methods she's a really nice person. It's just how she teaches us, and it usually works." Elt stated.

"Usually?..." Wilmarina deadpanned. She wanted to complain, but Elt didn't really seem to mind it. As much as she wanted to protest, it really wasn't her business to do so. And so she just sighed and placed the topic to the back of her mind. She then decided to bring up another topic, one that was sitting within her mind ever since she heard of his condition.

"So... can you tell me about the visions you're seeing?" Wilmarina asked. Mersé herself didn't know what kind of visions he's been having, just that he did. Mersé was content to wait until they get back so she could discuss it with Mimil, Wilmarina however had no such reservations.

She wouldn't have much room to talk to Elt after this, so it was best if they got this out of the way first.

Elt paused as he looked on with a difficult face, obviously debating on whether or not it was safe to tell her. Sir Gideon's threat was still on his mind, not only that but getting her further involved in this might spell trouble for her. Mersé and Mimil were already in danger because of this, with them being the prime targets in his mind if Ofnir decided to act.

Wilmarina was considered the strongest hero of Lescatie, that much was made clear to him during the spar. She was holding back, but even then it was like fighting Lady Mersé when he was still a regular average soldier. He was getting stronger and stronger at a rate that was considered unnatural, but it was clear that she was still superior to him when it came to combat.

And even then, Sir Gideon proved to be far more powerful. Maybe it was just the trick of the light, maybe it was just because Sir Gideon had been merciless, but fighting Sir Gideon had been one of the most gut wrenching things he's ever done. It scared him, and he was somewhat afraid to admit it.

Seeimg his troubled expression, she gave a more thoughtful look. She paused before she took one of his hands and gently held it.

"El... it's alright, I'll be here with you." Wilmarina stated with a soft reassuring smile.

Elt looked on at her with a slightly stunned expression before a blush came onto his face. He cleared his throat, readying himself before he spoke up. He can never really say no to her, and so he decided to tell her.

"I... was fighting a wolf." Elt began. That caused Wilmarina to perk her brow a bit.

"He wasn't just a wolf, actually... he was a friend, a dear friend of mine, at least in my visions." Elt continued. A nostalgic smile came to his face, while he couldn't remember the full context he at least knew how he felt about it all.

"It started when I was standing in front of a giant tower, I was testing out a new sword so I could fight... someone named the Starscourge." He stated out loud, trying his best to remember who that was.

"Starscourge?" Wilmarina asked,

"He's a... I'm not really sure, but my mind keeps telling me that he was a powerful foe, and one that I had... trouble beating... I think he was related to Lady Ranni in a way..." Elt thought out loud. That was putting it lightly, he died around 50 times before he finally put the Demigod down. Best not to mention that part of it though, slightly because it was still somewhat unclear and mostly because it would probably give her a heart attack.

Fortunately, she didn't question the fight he had with Radahn. Unfortunately, she instead questioned him about someone else entirely.

"...Lady... Ranni?" She asked. Strange... Elt could've sworn that there was a dangerous glint in her tone. It was slight, almost unnoticeable but he could somewhat feel it.

"Uh... Lady Ranni is a friend of mine... a dear one at that... It's strange... out of everyone she's the one that eludes me the most." Elt muttered, a warm nostalgic smile coming to his face as he spoke.

Out of everyone, Lady Ranni was the one he knew the most and least about. The most in that he feels a strange connection with her, to an almost unnatural degree. She was his closest companion during his journey through the lands between, and someone he cherished within his heart.

At the same time, however, out of all his memories that were sealed... Lady Ranni's was the one that was kept the most tight. It was difficult to explain, Elt's feelings on the matter were somewhat jumbled.

If he were of a calm mind, then he would've realized that it was Lady Ranni who tried to contact him when he slept earlier.

Unfortunately, he was not of a calm mind.

Indeed, it was difficult to be calm of mind when your hand was currently being unconsciously crushed by the tight grip of the strongest Heroine of Lescatie.

She was currently giving him a smile, but he couldn't help but feel that it was a tad bit strained.

"...Mary... Mary my hand... Mary, you're crushing it... Mary?" Elt stated as he tried to get to her. Luckily, she seemed to have gotten out of a daze and had let his hand go with wide eyes.

She looked on at him with a worried expression before she spoke up in a stutter.

"I...I'm Sorry El I was... I lost control there." She stated, her head down and shame in her eyes as she spoke. Elt caressed his hand slightly, it was a miracle that it didn't break under the pressure. Even still, that hurt like hell.

He looked on at Wilmarina before he gave her a small reassuring smile. "I-it's alright..." Elt muttered with an awkward smile. He clutched his hand a bit, checking to see if it was alright and luckily there wasn't any permanent damage. He breathed a sigh of relief before he turned back to Wilmarina, only to see her standing there stiffly as if she had done something unforgivable.

Looking on at her, he gave her a small soft smile before he took her hand once more. "Mary, it's alright," Elt stated with a cheeky smile, one that Wilmarina returned with a small blush.

"You're unfair sometimes, you know that, El?" She asked rhetorically.

"Of course, you're better than me in every way imaginable. Beautiful, Strong... there's no way I'd be able to compete without cheating." He stated with a mischievous smile. One that caused Wilmarina to blush and look away. She took in a deep breath, there was no way she wouldn't get flustered at the sight of her childhood friend like that. And so, she decided to strike back.

"Does your hand still hurt?" She asked.

"Uh... A little bit, but I told you that it's fine." Elt muttered. Hearing this, Wilmarina gave a small grin, payback time.

"In that case, let's get you patched up," Wilmarina stated as she took Elt by the hand and dragged him towards their local healer. Elt blushed at the fact and wanted to protest, after all, if they were seen it could be bad for her and the unit.

"Wait!- Mary! I'm not sure walking out in public with our hands holding like this is a good idea-" Elt stated but was cut off.

"Don't worry about it, I'll just make an excuse about how you needed help moving… in fact…" Wilmarina muttered as her eyes narrowed before she moved in closer. She then wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him closer to her. This also had the added benefit of making it look as if she was holding him up.

"-This way I can make it look a little more convincing~" She muttered with a small mischievous smile, the same one she usually had when Elt was going with whatever whims she decided for him.

Elt looked on at that before he sighed. Some things never change, but not like he can complain since he's missed being able to talk to her like this. Though… she's a bit too close, isn't she? Not that he's complaining.

"Is it me, or did you get a little more troublesome over the years?" Elt asked with a small smile.

"Nope~ I'm the same old Mary you used to play with." She muttered with a smirk before the two continued on their walk.

The two garnered a few stares, but in the end, no one really thought much of it. As far as they were concerned, it was just the Hero Wilmarina helping another hero up after a long-fought battle.

No one but a few people would notice the way the two seemed to find comfort in one another's arms.


"Are you sure this stuff is real?" A brown-haired man asked as he turned to the files that were scattered across the table. One brow rose as he scanned through the documents, and the information placed within.

"Yes, I've already run it through my informants thrice over. The information here should be accurate unless you're telling me that all 12 of my different informants lied to me." Rylan stated as he placed a teacup in his mouth and sip its contents.

Akito and Rylan currently sat within the Inquisition's headquarters within the central area of Lescatie. Despite the amounts of files, books and other documents scattered around; the room itself was as lavish as it was large. The sunlight pierced through the clear windows, illuminating the room. The warm scent of tea covered the table.

Rylan and Akito were in their more casual wear, wearing a dress shirt with a vest on top without the accompanying crest that signified their allegiance to The Chief God.

Akito still had his blade strapped to his side, out of everything the man seemed to never want to let it leave his side.

"Dunno Rylan, maybe all 12 just so happened to be in a plot to fuck you over. That or you just picked 12 of the stupidest people in Lescatie to be your informants." Akito muttered with a shrug as he took a sip from his cup.

"By the Chief God, is there a law in this country that just states that coffee always has to taste like shit and piss grounded together?" Akito grumbled as he moved the cup away from his mouth.

"I already warned you to stay away from The Coffee in the headquarters, if we didn't know any better I'd say that they're just testing out a new type of poison." Rylan joked with a shrug as he picked up the files he found.

"Back to the topic at hand, from the looks of it, A Monster or Monsters had just been a seemingly minor barracks. With the Dark Matter, there's a high chance that it wasn't anything minor." Rylan muttered as he pulled out a small diagram of the layout of the barracks.

"The question is… why?" He narrowed his eyes as he looked on at the files of the different members of the unit stationed there.

"Why put this much effort into something so trivial? What could be on about Mersé's unit that the monsters chose their unit to raid?" Rylan muttered to himself as he cupped his chin and looked down at the table before him.

It just didn't make any sense to him, Mersé , while a renowned hero all to herself, wasn't of any strategic importance at least when it came to information. As far as most were concerned, she barely kept any secrets and is open about things to a degree that she probably shouldn't be.

All their doing by doing this is drawing in her ire. What could be so important that you'd risk the ire of one of Lescatie's strongest heroes?

"I do have a theory though, just a hunch," Akito muttered with a shrug. That caught Rylan's attention, Akito never really contributed anything to investigations other than a few snarky remarks and his blade if need be.

"I've done my own investigating, I went through the other barracks and I asked them all about what was up with Mersé 's unit. They were oddly defensive about it though, so I had to convince them to talk." Akito muttered which made Rylan sigh. When Akito wanted to convince someone, he usually did it with the threat of his blade and in some cases, he did act upon that threat.

"What they told me was interesting, they said that an Order Soldier managed to match Mersé in combat," Akito muttered as he crossed his legs and spread his arms out. That caught Rylan's attention, a soldier manage to match a Hero? Not just any Hero, but Lady Mersé of all people?

He wasn't sure what to think of it, it could've just been a rumor but… if it wasn't, then it would somewhat explain why there was a monster snooping around the place. They wanted to find this soldier, and perhaps even recruit him into their cause.

That or they were getting information on him, either way, couldn't be good. Still, this was nothing more than speculation on his part so neither could be too sure of its validity. But it's the only lead they had, and so they're willing to investigate.

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" Rylan asked. Akito looked down at the papers containing the files of every single soldier in Mersé's unit. He moved the files around, soldier after soldier being placed to the side until a few were left at the center of the table.

"Right after when the incident supposedly took place, Mersé gave a few of her soldiers a one-week break. On its own it shouldn't raise much suspicion but here's the thing: Lady Mersé has a reputation of being brutal with her unit when it comes to their duties as soldiers. Her suddenly giving a few of her own soldiers a break is out of character for her." Akito noted as he looked down on the files.

"That leaves us with a smaller pond to work with, and all we have to do now is to catch the biggest fish," Akito stated as he cupped his chin and looked down on the files.

Rylan looked on at the smaller number of soldiers. "That's still over 20 soldiers, but I suppose that it's a smaller number than what we had to work with. I'll gather some of my men to question the-" Rylan began before he was cut off.

"No need, Rylan. I already figured out who it is." Akito noted. That caused Rylan's brows to raise. This was somewhat out of character for him. Akito was never the one investigating these cases, most of the time it was up to him.

Not even when the case was something as severe as a Sabbath or a Heretic within the upper class.

"And who is it?" Rylan asked.

Akito smirked, pulling out a dagger from his pockets. He stabbed one of the files with enough force to leave a crack on the table. Along with that it also caused the papers around it to leave but one file on the table.

"Akito! Did you really have to do that! Now the table's broken!" Rylan yelled out. Akito just shrugged in response before he spoke up again.

"No, but it looked cool so I do believe I got points on that front. Besides, the table's still usable, isn't it? We don't need everything in this room to look pretty now, do we?" He started with a shit-eating grin. That just caused Rylan to shake his head and sigh. He was already used to his antics, though this would mean that they might get a hefty cut off their pay.

Looking at the file, Rylan raised his brow. From what he could see he was nothing more than an ordinary soldier. But… the more he read the more his eyes rose. Despite his seemingly normal status, he had connections with some of the nation's greatest heroes. Mersé Dascaros was obvious, but he was also the adoptive brother of Sasha Fullmoon and was seen interacting with Primera Concerto. He was also sighted to have been interacting regularly with one Mimil Miltie and along with that, he also once lived with the Noscrim family and had even played with Princess Francisca.

That was an awful amount of connections for someone who seemed so plain. No wonder Akito would've suspected him.

"I can see now why you suspect him… I guess I'll schedule an interrogation-" Rylan began before he was cut off once more.

"No need, Rylan. I'll handle his interrogation." Akito noted with a grin.

If Rylan's brow could rise any higher, it would've already done so. Investigating was one thing, but Akito never and he meant never showed up to any of their interrogations. Rylan usually handled that front, Akito served more as an executioner and field commander.

"You're being a little too into this case, Akito. Is there something about it that caught your eye?" Rylan asked incredulously. At that, Akito just grinned before he spoke up again.

"We're Inquisitors. Being inquisitive is part of our skill set." Akito responded with a shrug.

"Why do you think I'm asking you right now?" Rylan stated. Akito just waved it off before he spoke up again. Pressing his back onto the cushioned seat, he took another sip of coffee before he spoke up again.

"Call it a hunch, but there's something interesting about this guy. Something tells me that he's gonna be a very important boy in the future." Akito started with a grin as he tapped on the soldier's file.

There was something going on with him, Akito could feel it. He just wanted to be a part of whatever shitshow might come his way.

Who knows, it could be a fun way to pass time.


Elt sat down under a tree to recover and reflect on what happened the past few days. The last week was... eventful, to say the least. He didn't know the exact details of his condition, but whatever it was he knew that things weren't going to return to normal. It's been almost a week and a half and yet a lot of things happened, from matching Mersé blow for blow, reuniting with his old childhood friend, facing death at the hands of a phantom he had forgotten, and learning the true state of the nation he lived in.

All because of a simple dream, one of the stars and moon and one bathed in gold.

"Uh... Hey..." A voice called out, turning to it he was met by a brown-haired boy with yellow eyes. Peculiarly, his eyes reminded him of a wolf's... particularly one he considered a brother in all but blood. He recognized the boy beyond that however, he was the one he saved from the Amazons back then. Observing his form, Elt decided to speak up.

"Hey, uh- Are you alright?" Elt asked him. At that did the boy's brow raise.

'Why are you asking me if I'm alright? you were the one who literally stabbed your hand like a damn psycho...' He thought before he shook the thought away.

"I'm alright. If anything I should be asking you if you're okay, considering what happened to your hand." Isaac retorted as he placed a hand on his hips. Hearing this, Elt let out an awkward laugh before he spoke up again.

"Yeah, not really my smartest decision to be honest. But never mind me, it's good that you're alright then." Elt muttered with a small smile.

"...Okay then... Oh, right. Speaking of, I wanted to thank you for what you did back there..." Isaac muttered as he took a small bow of gratitude, seeing this, Elt's eyes widened before he held his hands up and spoke up again.

"No need to bow to me, I was just doing what I had to to keep everyone alive," Elt stated with a small reassuring smile. Hearing this, Isaac got up before he nodded.

"But... I came here to ask a few things if you don't mind?" Isaac asked. He had a few questions regarding Elt, regarding what he did, who he was, and how he fought like that. He was a Hero, he had to be, and yet he wasn't like any of the other heroes he's seen. Neither reluctant nor greedy, a simple boy who wanted to protect what was in front of him.

"Uh... sure..." Elt muttered. Shit... of course, someone was gonna have questions regarding what he did. He already revealed that he could fight like a hero, if he revealed more then it could spell disaster. This was gonna spread, no matter how much they try to suppress it what he did here would reach the rest of the nation.

He could've just said that he didn't have time to answer questions, but being who he was he just couldn't say no so easily. Like what was said before, it was one of his greatest and worst traits.

Elt braced himself for Isaac's question. Isaac nodded before he spoke up again.

"In that case, why did you help us?" Isaac asked.

'Huh?' Elt thought to himself. He was ready for a question akin to "How did you get so strong?" or "What's the secret behind your power?" or "Why did the Chief God choose you?"

But no, he was asking an extremely simple question. One that Elt would've had an answer to regardless of his newfound power or strength. No, there had to be something more to this question. And so, Elt decided to inquire further.

"What do you mean by that?" Elt asked.

"You didn't have to fight that hard, you didn't have to stab yourself just to keep standing, you could've run away with that strength and speed and yet you stayed and fought." Isaac continued before he scowled as a memory came to his mind.

"You heroes are usually all the same: arrogant, reluctant, and unworthy of the title. Cowards pretending to be idols just so they could satisfy their egos or whatever the Order tells them to do." Isaac continued, his voice rising in anger as he spoke.

There was a certain rage within Isaac, one Elt couldn't help but feel sorry for. From his tone alone he must've lived a hard life. He suffered through the arrogance of the Heroes, he lost people he cared about to the lecherous allure of monsterkind. He lost his brother because of the former's inaction and the latter's aggression.

"But what makes you so different, why stay and fight when you have nothing to gain? Why do you care?" Isaac asked.

Elt blinked before he took a deep breath. The answer to that was simple, but Elt didn't know how to word it. His words would've seemed hollow to anyone else who heard it, but it was the only real answer he could give.

"Because somebody should care. I couldn't abandon you, nor could I abandon my comrades to the monsters. I'm not a hero, not in any sense of the word... I'm just a coward fighting because I'm too afraid to lose anything." Elt muttered with a bitter smile.

His fight in the Lands Between had not been for Godhood, nor had it been for Glory, He did not fight for the good of the people there. He fought to return home, to his family who he loved dearly for he was too afraid to lose them. He had his ideals, his beliefs, his philosophies; but in the end, Elt was as selfish as they came. He was willing to sacrifice every part of himself for them because he cared too much for his family. A selfish type of selflessness, one that didn't care about the toll he took if it meant anything to those he cared for.

Hearing this, Isaac's eyes widened. There was silence, neither really knowing what to say. From his tone, Isaac sensed that there was a story behind those words, one that could be told over the campfire if anything.

"...I see..." Isaac muttered with narrowed eyes. There was silence, for a few good minutes the two just stood there waiting for something to happen. That was until Isaac spoke up once more.

"I want to fight you," Isaac muttered.

"...What?" Elt sputtered out as he processed his words.

"Fight, me and you. I want to fight you." Isaac declared this time. He was serious, after seeing him fight for himself and the village he wanted to see how he'd compare. To see how far he had to go in order to reach that level. In order to become like Elt and fight selfishly for the people he cared for.

"...I don't think that's a good idea." Elt trailed off, he didn't want to fight someone he didn't know. He could get seriously hurt for all he knew, hearing this the boy furrowed his brows before he walked off. Thinking that Isaac decided to give in, he relaxed a bit only to pause when Isaac came back with two wooden blades. A shortsword, similar to the one he wielded, and a long greatsword that Isaac would presumably use.

"If you're worried about whether or not I could fight, then don't. The Amazons caught me by surprise so I couldn't fight them off." Isaac stated as he tossed Elt his sword. Picking it up, he looked on at Isaac as he got into a stance. He would've just said no, for real that time considering that he didn't really want to fight but as soon as he processed the stance did he pause.

His eyes widened, he's seen that stance before... something from his dreams, one that belonged to an old friend of his. It was off, a bit different but similar enough for him to realize that he was taught the same stance as the one his friend used.

"...You... where did you learn that stance?" Elt asked.

Isaac's brows perked upwards, seeing this as an opportunity he spoke up.

"If you want to know, then you have to beat me first," Isaac noted with a wolflike smile.

Looks like there was no other choice. He didn't want to hurt Isaac so he'd hold back, just need to get him on the ground and get him to yield. Should be easy considering who he fought earlier.

With a reluctant nod, Elt got into a stance before he gave out his name. As per tradition when dueling someone you didn't know, one would state their name to each other before sparring. it was to denote the status between two opponents, the longer the name the greater the status.

"Elt." He spoke up, saying his name.

Seeing this, Isaac gave his own nod before he gave out his own name.

"Isaac." He muttered.

Before long, the two charged at one another.

...

It didn't really take too long for Elt to win, but the way Isaac fought was something he took note of. Fast, aggressive with large sweeping swipes that covered a vast area and slower deliberate strokes that left devastation in their wake. That being said, he wasn't as refined as he should and there were multiple openings Elt could take note of. The large sweeps usually take him too long to recover, and the deliberate strikes were easy to dodge. Overall if he had to rate his skill, he would've placed him at a similar level to his own skill before his sudden increase in strength.

Still, that didn't change a single fact that plagues his mind: He fought as a certain Wolf Elt knew too well, but what was their connection with one another? He dodged another sweep, moving to his back before he slid his blade across his body to simulate a cut without actually striking his opponent. He retaliated by swinging his blade in his direction moving it to his shoulder before he swung it downwards.

Deciding that it was time to end it, Elt moved forward and jumped onto the greatsword before he placed his wooden blade on his neck.

"Surrender, you lost," Elt stated as he placed the wooden blade in front of Isaac's eye. Isaac widened his eyes at this, his yellow orbs scanning for an opening before an idea crossed his mind. Stupid, reckless, and something incredibly foolish he grinned before he spoke.

"Lost? Me? Sorry... but I'm still standing, aren't I?" He asked, which caused Elt to perk his brow before his eyes widened at the next act. Isaac opened his mouth before he bit Elt's sword, doing so however also revealed a set of elongated fangs. 'Huh...?' Elt ask before he suddenly felt a pull on his blade as Isaac attempted to pull Elt's blade away using his mouth.

Seeing no other option, Elt let go of the blade before he ran up the sword and jumped onto Isaac's back. Quickly, he placed his hands around Isaac's chest before he pulled him down onto the soft grass with a small thud. Pinning him down, Elt then grabbed his blade from where they fell before he placed it onto Isaac's neck.

"I win," Elt muttered with a small victorious smile.

Seeing this, Isaac deadpanned before he spoke up again. "Gah! Alright fine... you win." He whined, struggling around as he did.

Hearing this, Elt got up before he dusted himself. He offered a hand to Isaac, looking on at it Isaac smiled before he grabbed it. Elt pulled him up before Isaac patted himself.

"You fought good, really good. Though, I'm not really sure I'd approve of the whole biting the sword tactic." Elt muttered as he cupped his chin. Hearing this, Isaac deadpanned before he spoke up with a snort.

"Says Mr. Stab myself in the hand. You've got no right to criticize my tactics when you're probably even more reckless." Isaac stated. Hearing this, Elt shook his head before he spoke up again.

"The difference is... my tactic worked," Elt stated with his own grin which caused Isaac's eyes to furrow. "Mine could've worked too! I was just... slow." Isaac stated as he paused slightly to think of the proper words.

Elt shook his head at that. "It's not that you were slow, it's just that you were swinging your sword widely without much thought. You need to think of your attacks like a pattern instead of just run-of-the-mill moves." Elt stated. He had no idea where he got this information from, but he supposed that it helped when he saw how deadly Isaac's style of fighting could be if done properly.

It was just a vision, just a dream but that wolflike style of combat was something he was very familiar with.

"With the size of your blade, positioning is a whole lot more important than you think. Swinging wildly like that without much thought could work against less experienced opponents, but when facing someone who knows how to fight then it might as well be useless." Elt continued. Isaac paused at that, a difficult expression came to his face as he looked away to hide it.

Noticing it, Elt paused as his eyes widened. Had he said something to offend? Shit... maybe he wasn't cut out for teaching people then.

"Uh- Sorry... did I offend you in any way?" Elt asked. At that did Isaac shake his head before he spoke up.

"No it's just... what you said is what my brother said to me before..." Isaac muttered out. Hearing this, Elt's eyes softened as he placed a hand behind his back.

"Ah... I'm sorry then, I didn't want to bring up some bad memories." Elt stated apologetically.

"I said it's alright, it wasn't your fault and I was said to get stupidly sentimental at times. I just... I don't know, I miss him..." Isaac stated.

"Ah... do you want to talk about it?" Elt asked. Isaac turned to him, his wolflike eyes narrowing. Elt took this as a sign that he didn't want to talk. Touchy subjects like this one weren't his strong suit. He spoke mostly through actions and not words, Sasha was a lot better at comforting people through words than was, anyways.

"Alright then..." Elt trailed off before he moved to the tree.

"My brother taught me," Isaac spoke up suddenly. Elt's eyes widened as his head turned to Isaac.

"Our deal, you won so you deserve at least that much," Isaac muttered. He then moved to a large rock before he sat on it, leaning his greatsword onto the tree before he spoke up.

"He was the best brother I could've asked for. He and I did everything together when we were younger. When the village scorned us because of our eyes, we stood and faced their bullying together." Isaac stated.

"And even when they did all of that, he didn't hate them. Damned idiot, he should've been a lot more selfish and petty... if he was, then he wouldn't have played hero when-" Isaac stopped himself before he revealed too much. He was basically ranting at Elt at this point, he took a deep breath before he spoke up.

"Sorry... I'm rambling..." Isaac muttered as he gave a small bitter laugh.

"Pathetic, ain't it? I'm telling you all of this even though you just learned my name." Isaac stated. Elt didn't really know what to say to that. He looked on at Isaac as his face turned to the horizon. The sun stood partially hidden by the clouds, its glow filtered by the slightly darkened skies. 'It might rain soon...' Elt thought to himself before he took a deep breath.

Standing up, he moved toward Isaac before he held out his hand. Isaac's eyes widened, his pupils turning to the hand before it moved up to Elt's face. His kind blue eyes stared at Isaac's yellow ones.

"I... had a brother once too," Elt muttered. That caught Isaac's attention, he turned his yellow eyes towards him as he waited for Elt to elaborate. Elt's memories were coming back to him, it was ever so slightly but there was one person he could faintly remember, someone he could truly call a brother in the Lands Between.

"We weren't bound by blood, but he and I went through a lot of hardships together. We became friends, brothers in all but blood. He helped me when I needed it, taught me how to use a sword properly, and he stood by my side when I faced one of my greatest challenges." Elt continued. Holding up his hands he looked on at his palm, marred by dirt and scars, and yet his visions showed him that they bathed in blood.

"In the end... I lost him, when he needed it the most I couldn't save him." Elt stated out loud as the faint memory of an anguished howl echoed in his ears. He remembered the sparks of their blades, the blood they spilled, and the hands that took the life of his friend away. It was his hands, hands that were marred by scars and dirt and forever covered in the blood he had spilled in the name of his lady and his quest to return home.

"But... I pushed on, it's what he would've wanted. I'm not qualified to tell you this, but wallowing in your own self-loathing isn't going to change things. The anger you feel is justified, just make sure that you don't let it consume the love you still hold in your heart." Elt continued on as he held out his hand.

"I have a lot to learn too, even after everything I'm still just a kid trying to support the people I hold dear. I have people I hate, but I also have people I love. I'm a selfish person, I don't want to lose any of them and so I try my best to keep them all happy so they'd stay with me. So, Isaac... let's be selfish together, for everyone's sake." Elt stated with a small bitter smile.

Isaac looked on at him with wide eyes. He gave out a small smile of his own before he chuckled, taking his hand he pulled himself up from his seat and shook the Elt's hand firmly.

"For a Hero, you've got a way with words... what kind of fucked up life did you live to say something so sappy?" Isaac asked with a smile, one Elt mirrored before he spoke up again.

"Not sure, I guess I'm just an idiot like that." He stated.

"You're absolutely right on that front," Isaac stated with a grin which just caused Elt to pout a bit before he laughed.

"It's nice to talk to a hero who's nice for a change," Isaac stated with a small smile as he leaned onto the tree bark.

"There are plenty of nice heroes out there, I know a few of them," Elt stated back. Now that he thought about it, it was kind of weird how he knew multiple heroes in the first place.

Was it fate? Some higher power leading him to all these larger than life figures?

He didn't really know, but what he does know was that he was glad to have known them all.

"I wonder why they keep sending us the shit ones then?" Isaac replied with an exasperated sigh.

"Maybe the Chief God finally answered your prayers, they sent Wilmarina Noscrim here after all." Elt stated with a shrug.

"...Hey, what's your relation with her by the way? You two seemed awfully close," Isaac stated, laying out his observations.

"We're..." Elt paused. At this point... what was his relation to her, really? Was she a friend of his? Something more? Or perhaps their relation was just a really cordial professional one. No, after their interaction from earlier there was no way he could call their relationship purely professional anymore.

Even still...

"...She's my superior, and someone I respect," Elt stated.

For the sake of confidentiality and for her sake too, their relationship needed to be maintained as one of professionalism. Things were a lot more lax here than back in the capital, and they had more room to breathe and interact casually. But even with that fact, it doesn't change the fact that there could he consequences should their relationship be found out.

"...Really? There's nothing more to it?" Isaac asked incredulously before he shrugged.

There was no point prying into that relationship, he was just curious to see a famed hero like Wilmarina interact so casually with someone who doesn't even look like he's in the same class.

"No..." Elt stated. Somehow, saying that kind of hurt.

"There's nothing more to it." He continued.


After a while, the soldiers were done packing their things and it was soon time for them to leave. Elt found himself standing in front of both Isaac and Leopold, with them having been the ones to treat them it was only fair that he greet them goodbye.

"I suppose you'll be leaving then." An old man stated as he looked at Elt's form. He stood in front of the house he rested in. He had an apologetic look on his face as he faced the old man.

"Yeah… I kinda wanted to stay a little longer to help but-" Elt muttered before he was stopped by Leopold. Leopold placed a hand on his shoulder and patted it twice before he spoke up again.

"Don't worry about us, with the Amazons gone, we won't have much to worry about. You already did more than enough for us, besides your duty lies not with us but with them." Leopold stated as he pointed toward the soldiers gathered among the caravan.

Mersé seemed to be happily chatting with Lady... no, Mary. She seemed flustered about something, looks like Mersé was teasing her. But Elt couldn't figure out what made her so flustered.

Turning back to Leopold, he tried to mouth another argument. They still needed manpower, with the way things are going they'd starve. Seeing this once more did Leopold speak up.

"If you're worried about the grain then don't be. We'll find a way to manage, with your help previously we should have enough to last us a week." Leopold argued.

But from the look on Elt's face it was clear that he wasn't satisfied with that much. Goodness, who knew heroes could be so troublesome even when they were genuine. He had the right to be concerned, they still lacked manpower and they still faced problems but Elt's duty here was over. There were other places where his power would be of far better use, and he had already done much for them.

"Elt, we'll be fine." Another voice chimed in. This time it came from Isaac. His yellow eyes stared on at Elt with a stern expression. Crossing his arms and leaning on a backrest, he opened his mouth to speak.

"Thanks to you we managed to deal with one problem, let us deal with the rest alright?" Isaac stated as he looked on at Elt. Seeing this, Elt didn't really know what to say. He wanted to help further but he knew that he needed to return home.

He had other matters to attend to, some more urgent than others. He gave a small bow, an apologetic one before he looked up at them again.

"I'll try to help out again if I can… if I find myself back out here again." Elt started with a small reassuring smile. Seeing this, the two widened their eyes before the older one spoke. It was a strangely endearing sight, so filled with innocence yet there was a stern sense of promise within it.

"That explains it…" Leopold thought loudly which just made Elt tilt his head in confusion.

"...Uh… Explain what?" Elt asked out loud which just caused Leopold to shrug.

"Just the senile thoughts of an old man," Leopold stated, he wasn't going to elaborate further. It was just a casual observation on his part, in any case…

"I think you should be leaving soon to be honest, I wouldn't want you leaving at nightfall," Leopold stated which caused Elt to nod.

It was still early, but the earlier they leave the earlier they can get back to the capital. Afterward, he'd be able to discuss matters about his condition to Mimil and Mersé, and perhaps even Wilmarina too as unlikely as that was. He gave one more bow before he bid his farewells.

"I don't want to say goodbye so… I'll see you later?" He stated. That caused Leopold to laugh before he spoke up again.

"Alright then, Elt. I'll see you later." He started as he patted Elt's shoulder once more. After that, he departed and moved back to his horse.

...

And soon, they were on their time after Elt left, and Leopold and Isaac were left within the room. Looking out the window, Isaac narrowed his eyes at the sights of the horizon where Elt took off to. Leopold saw this before his eyes softened, he moved to the chair before he spoke up.

"Isaac… you wanted to come with them, didn't you?" Leopold asked. That caused Isaac to turn his head towards his grandfather before he gave a small nod. No use hiding it, his gramps always had a keen eye for this type of thing.

"Do you want to?" Leopold asked as he turned to Isaac. Isaac looked on at him before he spoke up once more.

"I would, to be honest… it's just that someone has to stay here and help out. Most of the men already left for the capital, if I left then that's just one more to add." Isaac stated. He wanted to go with him, and after witnessing Elt fight and the talk he had with him earlier he was inspired to do the same thing. He wanted to follow in his footsteps, becoming a warrior and fighting off the monsters for his village.

It was what he wanted to do for the longest time.

He had dreams much like any other kid. He wanted to become a hero, to be a warrior of great renown and strength, to face off against the monsters and be a hero worthy of praise. But much like all dreams, the cold dose of reality had done well to ruin it for him. The heroes he once looked up to and believed in? Nothing but a sham. The monsters he wanted to fight off? They weren't anything like he imagined. It embittered his very soul, but that was not what broke his dreams forever more.

No, it was when he lost his brother to the monsters he so wanted to fight. He didn't know what happened, but as soon as he was struck by those weapons something had awoken in his brother. It wasn't lust, like any of the other victims no... it was rage, madness, and fury he had never seen. He fought like a wolf, tearing monsters apart limb from limb without much hesitation. It was a horrifying sight, and it was the last time he had ever seen him.

It was his brother who taught him how to fight, and it was his brother who showed him the ways of the blade. He was good, while not on the level of his brother he was good enough to be able to face off against most.

His little duel with Elt proved that much, he was just a little unrefined

His plan was simple, learn how to fight, go to the capital, join the Order, fight monsters and become renowned.

But then his parents died and so he and his brother had to move with his grandfather to a neighboring village. He didn't have the time to train his swordsmanship and now there was little chance that he would have been able to join.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth, all that hope he had built up was dashed in an instant. Multiply that bitter feeling with the sorrow of his parent's death and the uncertainty of their future and Isaac was left a very different boy than who he was before.

"I see… in that case; come with me, Isaac," Leopold muttered as he left the room and made his way to an underground cellar. Isaac tilted his head in confusion but followed suit.

Soon they arrived within the cellar containing grain, seeds, and a bit of wine. Kneeling down, Leopold struggled to pull out a chest hidden within a crevice before Isaac kneeled down and grabbed it for him.

"Thank you… anyways… have you ever wondered what happened to your brother?" Leopold asked.

Isaac furrowed his brows. 'This again? When are you gonna realize that he's gone… old man?' He thought bitterly.

He often told him to wait, that his brother had been alive and well. But he had stopped believing, hope was the sweetest of poisons and he didn't want to live in a dream anymore. His brother had gone missing after his brawl with the monsters, it was safe to assume that he was either killed or taken because no one would be able to face off against them without a scratch.

"This again? Come on old man, it's been a year… he's not coming back." Isaac muttered as he turned his attention to the floor. Leopold patted Isaac's head before he spoke up once more.

"Have faith in your brother, Isaac. He'll come back…" Leopold stated before he turned to the chest. "You know… he told me something before he disappeared, that once you came of age, I'd hand this over to you," Leopold muttered as he knelt down and patted the chest.

"It was supposed to be given to you when you reached 17 years of age. Last month was your birthday, correct?" Leopold asked which elicited another nod.

"In that case, who am I to open your birthday gift?" Leopold stated. Isaac looked at him suspiciously before he knelt down and undid the latches that kept the chest bound.

The clicking sounds of the undid latches echoed through the room before the creaking noise of the chest opening following suit.

Isaac's eyes widened at what he saw. He reached out to it with his hands but stopped just before he made contact.

"...Is that what I think it is?" He muttered. Looking at the boy, Leopold nodded before he spoke up again.

"Your brother often told me that he was a shadow… following behind the footsteps of someone greater than himself. He had no choice on who he served, and yet he told me how he served her dutifully even when he had lost his mind." He stated as Isaac pulled up the blade from the chest. It was large, almost as long as his own body and yet thin enough for him to carry.

It was ornate too, bearing symbols of things he knew nothing of. They didn't look like they were Order symbols. It was his brother's sword… or more accurately a smaller version of his brother's sword.

"But he wanted you to be a shadow to no one but yourself. While he didn't have a choice on who to serve, you however do. Whether it is yourself or someone you look up to, he leaves that choice to you and you alone." Leopold continued as he sat down on a bench nearby.

Isaac's brother told him everything about himself one night, he had scarcely believed him at first but now after witnessing what he just saw…

"And so this next choice is yours, you can stay here and aid me… or… you can follow your desires and follow your chosen destiny. The choice is yours alone, either way, I would not blame you and neither would the villagers." Leopold continued.

Isaac looked on at the blade before his eyes turned to the window hanging at the top of the cellar's walls.

He looked down upon the chest. There was armor in there, armor that would've been the perfect fit for him. He pulled it out, it was heavy but light enough for him to carry.

It looked menacing, with sharp edges and blackened armor, its cloak more akin to tattered rags than an actual voat and yet it added to the armor's beastial look.

He looked on at it with narrowed eyes. He wasn't sure if he was worth wearing something like this, he wasn't even sure if he could wield the weapon in his hand.

"You don't have to accept it now, Isaac. I swear on my life, this will remain here for you until you feel ready enough to wield them." Leopold muttered.

He wasn't even able to overpower an Amazon, let alone wield the sword in his hands properly.

"I... I'm not ready to use these..." Isaac muttered, his yellow eyes looking down upon the set left for him.

"If that is how you feel then I will not force you, but... I know that the only way you would feel worthy enough is if you follow in their footsteps. Staying in this village would keep your potential shackled, but it would also be a familiar and comfortable world for you to live in." Leopold continued before he sat down on a chair nearby.

"The choice is yours, Isaac." Leopold continued.

"What about the village? Wouldn't you need my help?" Isaac asked. Manpower was already scarce in the village, him leaving would've just made things worst.

"I'll be honest with you, Isaac... this village... it won't last any longer." Leopold muttered sadly. Looking at Isaac, he placed his hands on his cane.

"I've been going around the countryside in search of people who would be willing to take in the villagers. Luckily I've managed to find a few who were willing to take them in, and a few old friends of mine were willing to move us out of the country." Leopold stated, looking on at the window he sighed.

"Your calling isn't here, Isaac. It's out there in the world... I can see it in you... a spark unlike any I've ever seen. Your fate doesn't lie here, it lies out there in the world..." Leopold continued as he walked to the armor.

Isaac looked on at Leopold. His eyes narrowed before it turned onto the floor. He didn't know what to say, he already knew that deep in his heart that this village was done for, with or without the Amazoness' interference. But he had always hoped that maybe they'd pull through just a bit. Ironic, he who wouldn't cling to a fantasy where his brother lived would cling to another one where his village could be saved.

He wasn't even sure if Leopold was telling the truth about his deal with the neighboring towns and villages. It was just illogical for them to take in more people when they already had plenty of mouths to feed with nothing to feed them with. A white lie then, this village was doomed to fade away and the fates of everyone here would be unknown.

Elt gave them a temporary reprieve, but in the end, even he couldn't stop the inevitable end.

He had two choices then. Stay and watch as the village wastes away, and eventually move onto another town with an unknown fate for his future. Or... take up the blade, and become a shadow that followed whoever he desired.

Gripping the blade, he placed it over his shoulder before he made his decision.

"...Will you be alright without me, Old man?" Isaac asked.

"Better than fine, I wouldn't have such an annoying grandson with me." Leopold joked which caused Isaac to smile a bit, revealing a set of fangs.

"In that case..." Isaac began before he looked on at the cloak that came with the armor set. He then looked above to see his old training armor, a simple cheap gambeson top with leather armor over it. Walking over to it, he began putting it on, tightening the leather straps and placing the tattered cloak over his body.

"I can't wear the armor yet... but this should do," Isaac stated.

Leopold nodded at that, giving him a small nostalgic smile.

"I'll miss you, Isaac," Leopold stated.

"...I'll miss you too... Granddad... I'll come back soon, I promise you." Isaac stated. His yellow eyes filled with conviction.

Leopold said nothing on the matter, just giving Isaac a small sad smile before he turned to the chest.

"Even if the village is lost... this armor will stay here and await your return. Go on... young wolf... loyal and kind, fight on against the coming horde... against threats both golden and demonic." Leopold stated, his tone cryptic but laced with the promise of coming glory.

Isaac smiled at that. He didn't understand who he meant by Gold, probably the Order probably. But the demonic ones he understood. His hatred of the Monsters remained ever firm, he wasn't Elt... not by a longshot. He could never spare them like he could, both due to lack of skill and lack of desire.

Leopold looked at the sights sadly. Isaac's rage was one that needed to be fixed, he hoped seeing what he desired directly would change his outlook. Alas, he couldn't exactly say that Isaac was unjustified in that rage.

Still... if only he believed that his brother still lived, away from the grips of the monsters. But the truth could be a hard pill to swallow at times, especially to someone like Isaac.

"So... where would you be going," Leopold asked.

Isaac moved out of the house and into the doorframe, he turned to regard Leopold one more time.

"Isn't it obvious? To where the dumbass is... if anyone could train me to get stronger, it's him." Isaac muttered. It would be a long journey, he won't be able to get a horse until the next town over which would take him a few days at least if he moved uninterrupted.

Still, if it meant catching up to his hero, then so be it.


Authors Note:

Alright, New Chapter done,

The whole scene with Blaidd and Elt isn't in the game if that wasn't obvious. Gameplay-wise, the tarnished and Blaidd don't really interact much outside of a few dialogue options, the fight with Darriwil and Radahn, and his inevitable fall to madness. As such, I changed it a bit so that Blaidd accompanied Elt during many of his missions.

I might've made it a tad bit too obvious who Isaac's brother really is. I won't say it but if you played Elden Ring then you should know. The thing that I'd like to keep hidden though is the reason why Isaac has the wolflike features despite not being from the Lands Between. There's an answer for that, but what it is I'll keep to myself for the time being.

The sword of Night and Flames. Not gonna lie, I love this weapon to death in Elden Ring. It's the weapon I spammed the most before I got the Darkmoon Greatsword. So that's basically my inspiration on why Elt would use it first, since I'm basing some of what happened in his journey through Elden Ring on my own experience.

Akito and Rylan are really fun to write, Akito especially since I have a strange affinity for writing snarky assholes. He'll be playing a major role in this part and would serve as a gateway to the power struggles going on within Lescatie.

Otherwise, That's all for today. I'll see you all in the next chapter, though that might take a little more time since I'll be a bit busy. Please be patient until then. If you have questions, reviews, complaints, or criticisms feel free to PM me or write them in the Review Section.

Whamo Out!