It was a curious thing, to lose something that had been close at hand for so long. For War Counselor Iji—formerly now, he supposed he should have amended—that might have extended beyond the scene before him.

The Erdtree burned. It had been lit aflame some time ago, and though it had put up a valiant effort, it now seemed on the brink of total destruction. A good thing, Iji decided. Beyond its relevance to Lady Ranni's objective, the smell was beginning to grate on him ever so slightly. Leyndell was likely a mountain of ash, and anyone still somehow alive within the capital's walls would not be for much longer if they hadn't already abandoned it. Though, Leyndell's fall was likely the least of their worries by this juncture.

He would perhaps miss the massive tree a little, if only for the backdrop it provided while he was working. He would never think of saying as such to his mistress, knowing her temperament toward the symbol of the Golden Order, but it was a worthwhile companion while smithing. Constant as it was symbolic. For one as long-lived as he, constancy was a rare thing.

All things ended inevitably. Even the great Erdtree, as it finally toppled over upon what was once known as the Royal Capital, the impact enough to be felt even from Iji's small perch at the edge of Liurnia. Ash scattered throughout the sky, shrouding it in a hue of gray.

Iji cared little for spectacle, but there was a picturesque finality to the sight. Perhaps that was the part of him still clinging to the designs of his mistress. Designs once considered lofty, a time ago, when she had only just shed her Empyrean flesh and set out to tread the dark path. Perhaps even fairly recently were they considered no closer to her goal than when they had first set out.

Naturally, that had changed when he had arrived. The Tarnished.

He had come upon him unceremoniously, through the hidden exit of the Kingsrealm Ruins. His steps were quiet and orderly, a stark contrast to the splashes of bloodstains lining his garb. The smith in him was quick to point out the quality weapons grasped in his hand, lining his hips, and strapped upon his back. Armed to the teeth, this one.

Iji thought little of him, admittedly. Tarnished as a collective differed little compared to most humans in his eyes. Small in stature, short-lived, and driven by some ambition or another. The only real difference lay in how it ended for Tarnished—destined to die a crueler death than most, at the behest of the Two Fingers. Grafting, scarlet rot, simple combat. Even assassination from other Tarnished, in the case of those wretched ilk from the Volcano Manor. The Lands Between had no shortage of means to killing Tarnished. Such was the way it was.

This one in particular did little to sway him from the notion. Traditional warrior's armor, noticeably lacking a helm, oddly enough. It allowed Iji the chance to read the man's countenance, which betrayed little. Though even that was to be expected. He'd yet to meet a Tarnished he'd readily label talkative or expressive.

He'd almost expected the stranger to walk right by him, before the Tarnished's gaze landed on him, stony and unwavering. Iji supposed that was cue enough to speak. "Well. Look at you. We don't receive many visitors."

How interesting to remember that encounter. After all that had happened, with the Tarnished. Even now, as the Moon's dark miasma slithered across what had once been the great Erdtree, Iji allowed himself a smile beneath his Mirrorhelm. Perhaps if he squinted hard enough, he would see that same Tarnished he met those many moons ago, hand-in-hand with the mistress who loved him so.

Their union would be most fitting, and their epoch most glorious. Of that, Iji held no doubt. And could it be any more deserving for a land such as this? A demigod witch, freed from the whims and machinations of the Two Fingers, and her Tarnished consort, whom death and defeat could not impede.

Yes, all things came to an end inevitably. Not even he was an exception to that rule. He could feel them closing in on him—enemies he could not see. The Black Knives, he presumed. For what purpose was his death necessary, he did not know, but it was far too late for it to make much of a difference anyhow. He was content in taking solace in that tiny victory.

He'd lived long enough, he supposed. And so it would be that he would join Blaidd and Godwyn and Radahn and all the others that had perished. If there was any sense left, he would be the last casualty in this long and tiring struggle, he hoped. That there was no Elden Ring, no Golden Order, and no influence from the Greater Will, the people would be freed from the shackles of faith. Just as Lady Ranni wished it.

A pillar of blue light pierced the sky, rising from the capital. They were there, somewhere. It might have been fondness or madness that drove him to speak aloud to himself, but Iji spoke nevertheless.

"Farewell, Lady Ranni. Farewell, Brave Tarnished. May your union bring prosperity to the Lands Between forevermore."

His final parting words finished, he sensed them approaching. Silent to many, but not him. He'd lived far too long to be surprised by much.

Iji eyed his trustworthy smithing hammer. Perhaps these old bones had one final hurrah in them. He almost chuckled to himself—if the Black Knives didn't kill him, the strain from such exertion at his age likely would in their stead. Oh, Blaidd would get a laugh out of that, were he still around.

And so it was, that as his mistress and her one and only consort tread the path beyond together, the Lands Between would enter a new age of turmoil and fear. A fate left only to the people who inhabited the world as they knew it. What wonders and horrors would such a world bring? Only eons upon eons of time would tell.

And as Iji readied himself for battle one last time, his only regret was that he would not live the glory that was the Age of Stars himself.


I won't lie, I kind of forgot when it is Iji dies specifically in the game. So I wanted to do a little right by him and have him die after witnessing Ranni's goal achieved. Fanservice? Maybe. Does it ultimately matter? Not really.

I won't be thinking too hard about this series. I just want to imagine scenes that might have happened between Ranni and the gang during and before her questline. I loved every second of the Age of Stars, and I want to convey that with this work. Hopefully it resonates with all of you.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the ride.

~Slalem