CHAPTER 33:
THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH…
"…Are you sure you'll be all right?"
Ranni pouted slightly at Harry as she readied herself the next morning. "Prithee, stop fussing over me as if I was but a little chit of a girl," she said. "I get ample of such things from mine mother. I hath an emergency Portkey to take me back here if need be, and I can communicate with the doll I left with Delphi. I will create a portal that will take thee to my location from this tower. Only use it if I send word."
"Right, okay, I get it," Harry said. "I just…I'm worried."
"…I know. And there is much to worry about," Ranni said solemnly. "But I am as prepared as I ever will be. 'Tis best that I tarry no longer."
Harry nodded. They were in Renna's Rise, in her little throne room. Harry had discussed what he saw in Leyndell with the others, with Rennala analysing what he had gathered with the instrument she had given him. Ranni had said her goodbyes to those present, save for Harry.
Eventually, after checking over her inventory, Ranni nodded, satisfied, before chanting softly and gesturing. A frame of stone appeared with a swirling vortex in it. And then, she looked up at him. She seemed to debate with herself, before she stood up on tiptoes, and kissed him. Not on the forehead, like she had done last time. Rather, it was on the lips.
"…Farewell," she said quietly after breaking off the kiss, her voice thick with emotion, before she went to the portal, and vanished. In the process, she left Harry with mixed feelings, and more than a little turmoil of his own…
"…Shabriri was not lying in one regard, at least," Rennala said solemnly, soon after she came back from Raya Lucaria, having checked over the readings Harry had taken of the thorns at the Erdtree. "The instrument I gave thee confirmed that Radagon's magical signature was within those thorns."
"Tis like I said," Godwyn said. "Many a great lie is built on a foundation of truth." She clicked her tongue. "…Poor Morgott…as much as I despise how he persecutes those who are divorced from Grace…I pity him more."
"…The question is, what could counter them?" Hermione mused, even as she watched Harry playing with Delphi and Teddy, Andromeda looking on as well. But their hearts weren't quite in it, not with Ranni having gone off on her dangerous mission. It had set a pall over all present. While the newcomers from Earth had been at the heart of their group, Ranni's presence of lack thereof was telling.
"Countering my former consort's magic would be a mere trifle," Rennala said. "However, the Greater Will boosting its potency complicates matters. Shabriri was telling the truth, in that someone, particularly a Finger Maiden or someone acting as such, could act as kindling, a catalyst of sorts, combined with the Fell God's flame in the Forge of the Giants, could set it aflame. But…t'would immolate that person." Rennala looked to the east. "And the Flame of Frenzy is naught to be trifled with. I hath received tidings of a village to the east, near the Church of Inhibition. They hath been plagued by Frenzy, so Melina hath told me. 'Tis where Vyke first unleashed the Flame of Frenzy when he was clasped by the Three Fingers, upon finding the corpse of his beloved Finger Maiden. To this day, the inhabitants art afflicted with Frenzy."
Blaidd nodded. "I can attest to that. I got close to that area once, not long after Vyke's tantrum. I barely made it out alive. Not because of those with Frenzy, they fall easily enough to a good sturdy blade. No, some of them summon a manifestation of the Flame of Frenzy on a ruined tower, one that attacks you with Frenzy if you draw its gaze. There's few things in this world I am truly frightened of. That was one of them. That sheer burn of Frenzy in your mind, threatening to scour your very mind and soul…I will admit, I booked it out of there."
"Then we avoid it like the plague it is," Hermione said grimly. After a momentary silence, she asked, "…Rennala, what awaits Ranni as she goes after her Two Fingers? She mentioned something called Baleful Shadows."
Rennala and Blaidd shared a look, before the latter said, "Look, Hermione, I'm Ranni's Shadow, right? Basically, a Baleful Shadow is the same thing, only completely loyal to the Two Fingers, rather than my being loyal to Ranni and Maliketh to Marika, and any control is a failsafe. They're assassins, sent to attack an Empyrean who has gotten too big for their boots. Several were sent against the Gloam-Eyed Queen when she rebelled, so they say. They didn't succeed."
"Instead, my mother, along with Maliketh, put paid to the Gloam-Eyed Queen and her Godskin Apostles," Godwyn said. "Destined Death was sealed away…until Ranni and the Black Knives working with Marika stole a fragment of it. I must say, though, being slain by it was a highly-overrated experience, I would not recommend it. Still…would Destined Death have any bearing on destroying those thorns?"
Rennala frowned, before she began scribbling anew in her notebook. "Hmm…mayhap it could…"
Harry knew he was whiling away time until Ranni came back…or needed his help. Delphi and Teddy seemed to know this too: in a short period of time, Ranni had wormed her way into their hearts. She was like a mother to them.
And she had wormed her way into his own heart.
This was in spite of Harry's disquiet about her ruthlessness. Over time, he had gotten to know her. And now, he was more than a little concerned. Ranni herself wasn't weak, far from it, but her doll body was still fragile, more so than a normal human body, despite the enchantments placed on it. Then again, time had taken its toll, and with Seluvis (or rather, Pidia) gone, her original source of maintenance was gone.
Suddenly, Harry heard the voice he was dreading. Ranni's familiar rasp came from the doll Delphi was holding. "Harry…prithee…come to me."
After a moment, he said, "I'm on my way, Ranni…"
He took a few minutes to say his goodbyes and to get some supplies, before hurriedly heading to Renna's Rise, activating the portal. Almost immediately, he was in a vast underground river. He inched forward with a Lumos active on his wand, before seeing a coffin. And in there, waiting for him…
He would have laughed had it not been for the seriousness of the situation. Ranni was now in a small doll form, peering up at him, looking rather put-out. Carefully, he pulled her out and put her in his pocket. "You okay?"
"I hath been better," she rasped, poking her head out of his coat pocket. "I hath managed to slay some Baleful Shadows, but another ambushed me, and I was forced to flee. This one is a great deal more powerful than the others."
Then, Harry heard footsteps behind him, and whirled, only to find Blaidd there, his blade at the ready. "Sorry. I've had enough of sitting around idly. I reckon I'm as good as I'm gonna be."
"Blaidd?" Ranni asked. "Tis too soon since thine recovery!"
"…Ranni…I haven't been able to serve you as well as I can, not to mention the fact that you're my bloody sister," Blaidd said.
Ranni, after a moment, smiled sadly. "Thou art truly dogged, Blaidd."
"…That pun was deliberate, wasn't it?" Blaidd asked with an irritated look on his now-human face.
"Mayhap it was," Ranni said, before her smile dropped from her lips. "There was a Malformed Star further down the passage. I hath dealt with it, and the Claymen. I believe Nokstella, another Eternal City, is down that way. Be wary…"
And they were right to be wary, what with the giant ants lurking in the tunnels Ranni directed them to. But soon, they found themselves in the beautiful outskirts of Nokstella. Like Nokron, an artificial night sky hung overhead. They hastened to a Shard of Grace, activating it.
Ranni clambered out of Harry's pocket, and toddled over to a space nearby, before changing back into her normal size. One of her arms was badly damaged, as was a leg, and Harry used a Reparo. As they slid back into place, Ranni looked to him, and nodded. "My thanks. Blaidd…Iiji…and you, Harry Potter. Thou art too willing to give much to me."
"Ranni, I cannot speak for Harry, or for anyone else we have back home who only just joined our cause," Blaidd said. "But while I was created as your vassal, you have earned my loyalty so many times over, and our bond as siblings. And Iiji is loyal to you, and to the Carian line, to the bitter end. As for Rennala…well, she will support you, no matter what."
Harry nodded. "I know things were a bit fractious when we first met, Ranni. But…you helped Delphi, she loves you like you're a big sister or an aunt or heaven forbid, a mother. And…well…I'll be honest, you've become my friend."
Ranni harrumphed, even as she shuffled along, getting closer to Harry. He had to admit, he liked her proximity to him, even as she leaned into him. In fact, her cool aura was soothing. "…I fear thou may hath become somewhat more than that," she said quietly.
After a moment, Blaidd chuckled, a rough bark of a noise, more suited to his former lupine features than his currently human features. "You really have fallen for him, haven't you, Ranni?"
Ranni shot him an irritated look, while Harry looked to her in his own turn. She had? Yes, he noticed she was becoming more affectionate and open, in her own understated way, but falling for him outright?
And what did that mean about his own feelings for her? They were complicated, not helped by her deeds or her guarded personality. Only recently did she start showing her feelings in general more openly.
"…I fear our current circumstances hath loosened my tongue overly much," Ranni said quietly. "Forget my words." As Blaidd opened his mouth to object, she snarled, "Forget."
"And miss out on the chance for some brotherly teasing?" Blaidd asked, causing Ranni to groan in irritation.
They soon moved off, Ranni now back to her normal size, as they made their way through Nokstella, avoiding or fighting Nox, Mimic Tears, and the like. They even had to deal with a massive spherical boulder right out of Indiana Jones, only it changed directions to follow them. But between the three of them, they made their way through, following Ranni's directions. They even had to deal with Nox mounted on giant ants at one point.
Another rest at a Shard of Lost Grace later, and they were making their way through more tunnels, away from Nokstella. Only, they had to avoid this world's Basilisks, frog-like creatures that sprayed Deathblight at them. A few sorceries put paid to them.
But then, there was an angry red glow ahead of them. And then, they saw it. A Baleful Shadow. It looked much like Blaidd used to, a humanoid armoured figure with a wolf's head, but not as grizzled. It was outlined in crimson light, much like the Bloody Fingers Harry had fought before. It was glaring at them.
"Oh Shadow…thou art the last," Ranni snarled. "When we send thee back to thine leash-holder, thou rabid cur…tell the Two Fingers that Ranni the Witch cometh to rend their flesh, with a fateful wound never to be healed."
The Baleful Shadow roared, before it leapt towards them. An Expelliarmus sent it flying, its sword torn from its grasp. Ranni then summoned up a Dark Moon, and sent it towards the Baleful Shadow, while Blaidd charged in, slashing at the beast when it was disoriented by the Dark Moon.
The battle didn't take that much longer. The crimson-outlined beast dissolved into ashes after being defeated. "…Beautifully fought, both of thee," Ranni said.
"Don't sell yourself short, Ranni, you acquitted yourself well," Blaidd said. "Honestly, that's the first fight I've had since getting this new frame, and I can tell I'll need more time to get used to it. Though are you sure that is the last one?"
Ranni nodded. "It will be some time before my Two Fingers can summon up more, from what I know of the lore. But it will be dangerous to fight it. I sense its presence not far from here. But Harry…Blaidd…this is my fight now." She came over to them, and hugged them both.
"…Ranni…" Harry said.
"No…this time, I must do it myself. I must sever the last chain holding me from my destiny," Ranni said, pulling out the Fingerslayer Blade. "And…if I do not come back…tell Iiji…and Mother…and Godwyn and Melina…and little Delphi…I love them." And with that, she dissolved into a flurry of light.
After a long, uncomfortable silence, Blaidd said quietly, "Nothing more to do than…well, let's get back topside, Harry."
Harry didn't want to leave…but he didn't protest either. Ranni had gone off on her own. Now, they could only wait…
It was late afternoon by the time they came back. They reported what had happened with Ranni to the others. All they could do now was wait.
The tension was thick in the air, even as they waited. Some small attempts were made to distract themselves, but that did little. Harry felt like someone waiting outside an operating theatre, where an operation that was a matter of life or death was taking place, and that he would only learn if the patient was alive or dead at the end of it.
Then, suddenly, Rennala looked up. "…Something hath tripped the wards…Ranni!" With that, she headed outside, as they had been indoors, to find a grotesque sight, sprawled on the ground in the courtyard from where the Portkey left her.
Ranni's body was there, but it had been clearly been put through the wringer. The clothes were burnt off, and most of the ceramic covering of her body had been destroyed, revealing the twine-like stuffing beneath it. Only her head was relatively intact, and yet, there was no spectral mirror of her face, and her only open eye was only half open, and dull, with no light shining within it, though a faint, satisfied but sad smile was on her lips. Blood covered the ruined doll body, foul-smelling ichor. Clasped in one hand was the Fingerslayer Blade, covered in the same mephitic blood.
Rennala was on her daughter's form in an instant, and was already chanting spells. Eventually, she said, "…She still lives…but barely." She stood, and then cast a series of spells, starting with Terra Magica, a magic-enhancing spell. After the seventh spell or so, Ranni's body convulsed and spasmed, choking noises coming from her throat, her spectral face flickering back into existence, a ceramic skin growing back around her body. Harry, upon realising that Ranni was very naked in front of Delphi and Teddy, took off his coat and draped it over her body.
Ranni's breathing steadied, until she opened her eyes wide, one physical, the other spectral. She looked up at them, and gave a sad smile. "I did it. The Two Fingers that vexed me…vex me no longer. I…apologise for making thee all worry about me."
Harry, on an impulse, gathered her into his arms. He sobbed in relief, knowing his emotions were mirrored by everyone else present. Ranni had taken on her Two Fingers, and prevailed…and survived, if barely. Cause enough, then, to celebrate…
CHAPTER 33 ANNOTATIONS:
So, Ranni has finally taken on her Two Fingers. No Astel fight, no Adula fight…and no ring. But honestly, I find this a more heartwarming moment than the 'wedding', no? This'll mark the true turning point in Harry and Ranni's relationship here, though. Harry will come to accept Ranni's feelings very soon…and reciprocate them.
Now, am I nerfing Ranni somewhat? Making her weak? Well, keep in mind, I'm deriving what she did in canon. You find her doll in the Ainsel River, and she has you kill the Baleful Shadow for her. That suggests that she had killed others, but nearly got overwhelmed by the last one. And unlike canon, Blaidd's not been locked away by Iiji, and she has a bond of trust with Harry, rather than demanding he help her for having 'sullied' her good name.
I still couldn't resist one of her cattier tsundere moments, though. I'm not fond of tsunderes, but that bit where she urges you to forget what she said while musing on her growing affections for you is hilarious. Though honestly, Ranni is more of a kuudere than a tsundere, and I have a thing for kuuderes.
Anyway, while the next chapter is done, the one after that is another matter. It may be that this is the last chapter of this story…until December, anyway. Of course, if you're lucky…then we'll have the moment Harry and Ranni's relationship finally gets truly serious…
Review-answering time! ZLC genesmith and MWkillkenny84 both asked about whether Fiendfyre could burn the thorns away. I…am not sure, to be perfectly frank. It takes either the flame of the Fell God or the Flame of Frenzy to be able to burn it away, and combined with the catalyst of either Melina or the Tarnished, depending. That being said, in at least one crossover idea I had (in all likelihood, a Harry/Melina story involving the Gloam-Eyed Queen), I thought of the Black Flame those associated with the Gloam-Eyed Queen as a means, albeit amped up beyond what you can get in the game. But Fiendfyre? It could certainly do some damage, but it'd need to be massively amped up to work.
Sable Dawn: Good question, and I reckon the answer is yes. If it could kill one of the Two Fingers, then it could kill one of the Three Fingers. It is called the Fingerslayer Blade, after all.
No numbered annotations this time.
