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Chapter 6

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The Way Forward

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Ever since they had first met, Sir Gideon had been nothing but a condescending codger. The knight was inherently distrustful and believed everyone around him to be an incompetent leech. Though he rarely left his study, thank Marika, every time he passed someone who looked the slightest bit relaxed, he would be sure to call them a lazy whelp and berate them for not earning their spot in the Round. Even when he was being helpful, deigning to share the wisdom of the "all knowing", Sir Gideon always found a way to make the interaction unpleasant, usually via a series of sharp insults or exasperated sighs. By every measure, Sir Gideon Ofnir was not a friendly person.

Which is why the Tarnished surprised when Sir Gideon invited him into his study, his tone completely neutral and without a trace of annoyance. He had a feeling he knew what the knight wanted to speak about, seeing as he had just returned to the Round Table with Godrick's great rune. Though he had little desire for any extended conversation with Sir Gideon, he had a feeling that the knight would not take no for an answer and any protest would just sour his mood. Thus, the Tarnished followed the knight to his study, to discuss whatever the All Knowing had in mind.

As Sir Gideon took his place at the other side of the study's large oak table, he asked, "You've received the wisdom of the Two Fingers, have you not?"

"I spoke with the old woman, Enia," the Tarnished answered.

"And?"

The Tarnished shrugged. "She did not impart much beyond what I already know. The Greater Will has long since abandoned the demigods. Have their heads. Show no mercy and take all that they hold dear."

Sir Gideon nodded. "Good. Then, just as I promised, I bed you welcome as a true member of the Roundtable." The knight extended his armored hand in a surprising welcoming gesture.

The Tarnished took his hand, but did not quite know what to say. Though Sir Gideon had promised to invite him as a full member of the Roundtable Hold if he managed to claim a great rune, he honestly did not expect the knight to actually do so in such an open manner. Perhaps Sir Gideon was willing to turn a new leaf now that he had proven his worth? "Thank you… I suppose."

"Do not get comfortable, Tarnished. Just because I have invited you into the fold does not mean you have been given free reign to lounge about the hold like the others. And now that we've finished the pleasantries, it is time to determine your next course of action."

Ever the charmer, this knight was.

"You'll be after the next Great Rune now, eh? Then, as your fellow, allow me to impart a little knowledge." Sir Gideon unrolled a large map of the Lands Between on the study room table, carefully pinning down each corner before directing the Tarnished's attention towards it. "We of the Roundtable know the location of five of them. Four now that Godrick the Grafted has perished by your hand."

Sir Gideon first pointed to Caelid, the lands east of Limgrave. "General Radhan, who fought Malenia and her rot to a standstill yet lives in the Caelid Wilds." He then moved his finger towards Mt. Gelmir, a volcano lying in the far northwest. "Praetor Rykard, Lord of Volcano Manor remains in Mt. Gelmir, guarded by his despicable creations." Shifting eastwards towards the Capital, Sir Gideon stated, "and of course guarding the Erdtree itself as Lord of Leyndell is the Veiled Monarch, Morgott the Grace-Given. Do you follow thus far?"

The Tarnished nodded. While most their names were not familiar, knowing their locations was invaluable. It was an unpleasant thought, but the Tarnished figured he was actually in Sir Gideon's debt for sharing such information.

Sir Gideon was not finished, though. Moving his hand one last time, he tapped the region just above Castle Stormveil, labeled on the map 'Lirunia of the Lakes'. "I would advise you pursue the shardbearer just north of Limgrave, Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon and ruler of Raya Lucaria's Academy."

"Why her?" The Tarnished asked, trying to recall any word he had heard of the woman along his travels.

"Because," Sir Gideon answered, "While Rennala holds with her a great rune, she herself is no demigod. Her beloved, Radagon, left her to become Queen Marika's second husband, taking the title of King Consort. The great rune dwells within the amber egg that was Radagon's gift to her."

So, the Full Moon Queen was no demigod. Her lack of divine blood certainly her death an easier task, at least more so than the others. "If she is not of divine blood, then perhaps this will be an easier task than killing Godrick."

Sir Gideon scoffed. "You hold no memories, so I suppose your ignorance should be expected. Godrick was an impudent runt, far weaker than all the other shard bearers. Do not think the other shard bearers will die so easily."

Easily? The Tarnished would not have described his battle with Godrick as easy. "How does Rennalla measure up to the remaining demigods?"

After thinking for a moment, Sir Gideon answered, "Were you to fight her in her prime, you would stand no chance. However, informants within the Academy tell me that Rennala is no longer the proud Carian Queen she once was. Take that as you will. However, if you seek the second Great Rune you need to allow entrance into the capital, Leyndell, then the heartbroken sorceress is you best option."

As expected, Sir Gideon's logic was quite sound. No rune bearer would go down easily, so determining the next target was all a matter of comparison. If his options were fighting General Radahn or Lady Rennala, the correct choice was obvious.

"Another thing," Sir Gideon said, paying no mind to the Tarnished's silence, "I understand you've been speaking to Nepheli?"

"Yes?" The Tarnished answered uneasily, not quite sure where this question was leading.

"She is my daughter."

Now this bit of knowledge was surprising to the Tarnished. Even though he had never seen Sir Gideon's face under his helm, Nepheli's attitude, mannerisms and all-around demeanor were so different from his that the notion had not even entered his mind. From his perspective, the two could not be further apart. Not to mention, he could not imagine what poor misguided woman would willingly lay with Sir Gideon.

Detecting his misunderstanding, Sir Gideon quickly corrected the notion. "Before you ask, she is not of my blood. I took her in when grace abandoned her long ago. The girl is tough, a mere axe wielding barbarian, and her youthful credulity suited my purposes."

The Tarnished was beginning to understand just why Nepheli behaved so stiffly around Sir Gideon. Of course, the father which she spoke so highly of was none other than the all-knowing knight. But why bring this up? Was there something he was misunderstanding? "Why are you telling me this? If you have any concerns about my intentions-"

"Bah," Sir Gideon spat, clearly annoyed the Tarnished even concocted such an idea, "I have no concern for things so vulgar. If you wish to roll around together like beasts, I care only that you do so far from this hold. What I mean to convey is that you may employ her as you wish, should her services benefit you. As you already know, the girl is more than capable in the press of battle."

"Does she not have her own path towards the ring," the Tarnished asked, slightly uncomfortable that Sir Gideon had practically offered his daughter up as a servant without the slightest provocation.

"Don't be naïve," Sir Gideon said, "the girl is without a maiden and has lost her connection to grace once more. She has no future as Elden Lord."

His words were harsh, as always. But the Tarnished supposed they were true. He could not imagine getting this far in his quest without Melina and the golden light of grace. For those who had neither, perhaps it was simply out of the question. Even so, however, the idea of 'using' Nepheli as some means to an end did not sit right with him. "If she wishes to help me then I won't turn down her help. She is a strong fighter and a valued friend. However, should she choose otherwise I will raise no issue."

"Well aren't you the softest wolf I've ever met," Sir Gideon mocked, "I only extended the offer as a courtesy to a fellow member of the round. Do with it as you please."

Sir Gideon waived the Tarnished off, turning back to pouring through the tomes piled up around him. The Tarnished wasted no time taking his leave, having had his fill of speaking with Sir Gideon for a good long while.

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An Unexpected Invitation

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The young blonde woman smiled giddily as the Tarnished approached her on horseback. "You've returned in one piece," she said excitedly, running down the steps of the stone gazebo to meet him in the muddy waters. "I take it that things went well?"

The Tarnished nodded and hopped off Torrent. Reaching into his pouch, he produced a small golden pendent with the picture of a young woman in the middle. "Here's your neckless, as promised. Next time, be a bit more cautious in these parts."

She immediately snatched it from his hand and hopped up with excitement. "Oh, yes, this is it!"

The Tarnished smiled under his helm. She was a bit naïve, but her enthusiasm was endearing. "I don't know on whose behalf you're out here for, but they were reckless to send you without any protection."

The young woman wrinkled her nose at his comment. "I can take care of myself, thank you! I just let my guard down for a bit is all."

The Tarnished wasn't very convinced, but he figured if she had made it this long then she had some level of tenacity. "By the way," he said, shifting topics, "I don't think you've told me your name." Though he had heard it from Patches, he did not want to scare the girl. He was sure that she would feel uncomfortable if some man she had never introduced herself to already knew her name.

"Did I forget to announce myself?" she exclaimed, seeming slightly embarrassed, "I apologize for my lack of manners." The young woman brushed herself off before performing a brief curtsy. "I am Rya, in the service of Lady Tanith of the Volcano Manor. And may I ask yours?"

The Tarnished almost smacked himself for his lack of self-awareness. "I… ah, unfortunately I do not know my own name."

"You know not your name?" Rya cocked her head to the side, looking somewhat confused. "How did you lose such a precious thing?"

The Tarnished sighed, "I wish I could say. However, I do not know that either."

"You must be awfully lost. However shall I address you, then?" Rya asked, her voice filled with pity.

The Tarnished thought for a moment, then answered, "Some have called me wolf, though for what reason I do not know. If you would like, you may continue calling my Tarnished."

Rya frowned sadly. "That seems awfully impersonal. Are you sure that you are satisfied being addressed as such?"

"Perhaps," the Tarnished said, "but it is not so bad. After all, most I meet seem to call me such anyways. Going by such, I suppose I've avoided the need to introduce myself. Though, with so many of my kind around, I can understand if it gets confusing."

"Well, if it is what you wish," Rya told him, still somewhat unconvinced but willing to accept his choice. "Tarnished, then. I am glad to officially make your acquaintance. And, I am glad that you returned to me unharmed. I am truly in your debt."

"Think nothing of it," the Tarnished said with a shrug. "Retrieving it was of no issue. Honestly, it was little effort at all."

Rya gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. "Surely it was of some challenge?"

The Tarnished shook his head. Then, with a chuckle, he told her, "Not at all. I hope all my tasks going forward should require so little effort."

"You must truly be a great warrior, then! A one-of-a-kind champion!"

"Champion?" He did not exactly consider buying the neckless of the thief to be worthy of such high praise. Though he had been prepared for a fight, the tarnished who had robbed her, Blackguard Big Boggart, was more than content to part with it at a paltry price. In fact, the man had even shared some of his own dinner as a parting gift. All things considered, the errand had been a pleasant break from his usual struggles.

"Yes, to have felled that thug with nary a scratch. I think Lady Tanith would agree that you have the makings of a champion!" she told him excitedly.

The Tarnished raised an eyebrow to her response. This girl was clearly misunderstanding something. "Miss Rya, I-"

Before he could explain, however, the girl cut him off. "Please, take this," she told him, hurriedly pushing an envelope into his hand. "Per Lady Tanith's wishes, I have been seeking stalwart Tarnished who might join our house."

"Miss Rya if I could just- "

Again, she interrupted him excitedly, continuing her clearly practiced pitch. "You are brave. Not only do you possess a steady hand, but a steady heart, merciless, even to your own kind. Such strength is precisely what my mistress seeks."

Merciless even to his own kind? This offer of hers was beginning to sound far more ominous. For such a seemingly nice girl, Rya certainly did not keep pleasant company. Had she been sent here specifically to find tarnished willing to spill the blood of their own? It was no wonder she was acquainted with an unpleasant sneak like Patches.

Noticing his silence, Rya asked once again, this time somewhat more pleadingly, "I know the invitation is a bit scary. But, I truly believe that someone such as yourself could become a champion unparalleled under Lady Tanith's guidance."

The Tarnished grimaced and looked at the letter. Volcano Manor? Thinking back, he remembered Sir Gideon mentioning such a place. If he recalled correctly, the All Knowing told him that the Volcano Manor on Mt. Gelmir was where the shard bearer Lord Rykard resided. Though he knew little about the others who stayed there, he figured the letter could be his first step in finding the Lord of Blasphemy himself.

"Alright, I accept your offer," the Tarnished told her, reluctantly storing the letter in his leather pouch.

Rya beamed back at him, almost as if she had not applauded his (alleged) slaying of Big Boggart. "Excellent, I am so happy to hear your decision! Now, brave Tarnished, when you finish your business here in Lirunia, seek the Altus Plateau, the realm of the Erdtree. Most tarnished are doomed to wander the outskirts of the Lands Between, but you are no ordinary Tarnished. Once that is proven, the Volcano Manor will fully extend its invitation to fight amongst a family of champions!"

The Tarnished was starting to think he made a mistake taking the letter, but he couldn't bring himself to dampen the girl's excitement. With a reluctant smile, he said, "It may be a bit. I still have much to do here in Lirunia."

"I understand. A warrior such as yourself must have many responsibilities." Rya paused for a moment. Then, slightly blushing, she said, "but, please do hurry. I… I would very much like to see my champion once more."

"Do not worry," the Tarnished assured her, "I am sure we will see one another soon enough."

Rya flashed him an innocent smile. "I will look forward to our reunion, then. But, for now, I must be off. Though my mistress will be pleased to hear of your acceptance, there are others I must reach out to before returning to Mt. Gelmir." With one last waive, the girl turned her back and ran off, clutching her pendent close to her chest.

Once Rya was out of sight, the Tarnished asked aloud. "What do you make of this?"

Melina, ever present, appeared by his side. He pulled out the letter from his pouch and handed it to her. The maiden opened the note recited it aloud. "Brave Tarnished, seek the Altus Plateau in the realm of the Erdtree. Prove yourself by making this journey, and the Volcano Manor will fully extend its invitation to fight amongst a family of champions." Slipping the parchment back into its envelope, Melina said, "The Volcano Manor recusants are straightforward as ever, it seems. Do you intend to make good on your word?"

The Tarnished nodded. "With no other leads this is my best chance to get to Rykard. I'm sure this is some sort of trap, but unfortunately, I don't think I have much of a choice."

"There is truth to your words," Melina agreed, "However, I feel obliged to remind you that the Two Fingers only require that you retrieve two great runes before entering the golden capital and standing before the Erdtree. Once you claim Rennala's rune, you need not pursue the other shard bearers."

The Tarnished had not forgotten. In fact, he had given the matter much thought. With Rennala and Godrick's great runes he would have all he needed to ascend to the throne of Elden Lord once he reached the capital. The task of killing the other demigods would be a monumental burden of his own making. It was difficult to tell whether or not such an undertaking would be a worthwhile endeavor. However, after careful consideration, he arrived at the conclusion that, for his quest to ever truly end, every demigod in the Lands Between needed to fall.

"While it is true Rennala's rune is the last I need to enter Leyndell, claiming the title of Elden Lord with but two great runes would be meaningless."

Melina gave him a curious look. "Why do you so believe?"

The Tarnished elaborated on his thoughts. "If I claim the throne while the other shard bearers still roam free, then the Lands Between may never know peace. The other demigods would maintain hold of their realms, leaving these lands fractured still."

"So, to secure your rule you would slay every demigod in the Lands Between?"

The Tarnished nodded, "Partially. However, even if I do am not the one to claim the title of Elden Lord, I still would like these lands to turn a new chapter. When someone ascends the throne, we must look to the future and forge onward. If the demigods still live by the time that happens, I fear the Lands Between will never move on from the Shattering."

The Tarnished watched as Melina mulled over his words. After thinking a bit, she responded, "You speak with wisdom, my Tarnished. Then, to that end, keep the letter with you. I do not know what Rykard plans, but I am sure that, by the time you reach the Volcano Manor, you will be well prepared."

With those final words, Melina once again disappeared, leaving just him and Torrent. The Tarnished approached the steed and gave him a pat on the neck. "Well Torrent," he said as he climbed onto the steed's back, "we should be off. We still have an academy key to find."