Limgrave – Stormhill Shack – Early Evening

The path through Stormhill wasn't particularly perilous. Although crowds of Godrick soldiers swarmed around the pale swordsman, he found it a waste of time to even acknowledge their pitiful existence. On Torrent's insistence, the swordsman decided to stop by a heavily guarded ruin, which yielded a much-needed map fragment. Vergil made sure to give Torrent some Rowa raisins, which the spirit steed was more than happy to consume. Using his updated map, Vergil was able to see a path to the Academy without going through Stormveil Castle. Assuming the scale of the map was correct, he would only need to ride for a couple more days until he reached his destination. Vergil took a stop by an abandoned shack after seeing a site of grace nearby. Seeing as it was situated near Stormveil Castle, the location would doubtless make for a convenient checkpoint to return to later on. As he stared at the golden plume shimmering before him, he wondered about the intentions of his unseen benefactor and what purpose it could have for bringing him to this land. Given how he was tasked with assassinating important figureheads, he could not help but think about why he was specifically brought back to life, weak as he was. Although titles like gods and demigods meant very little to Sparda's heir, he'd dealt with enough cutthroats to suspect when he was being manipulated. For now, his goals seemed to align with whatever unseen force was trying to guide him. Until he restored enough of his strength and determined his benefactor's true intentions, he had little choice but to cooperate. With the site of grace restored, Vergil summoned the Finger Maiden, Melina, to strengthen him further. He had a sneaking suspicion that she knew far more than she was willing to disclose, but he would get there once he learned more about these lands himself. Until then, he made sure to keep some distance between him and his strange companion.

Digging through his satchel, Vergil took out a whetstone he had gathered from an enemy camp, rolled out a mat to lay his weapons on, and unholstered his blade. The repetitive practice of sharpening his katana was comforting in its own way and provided relief from the constant fighting. That it enhanced and prolonged his blade's efficacy was an added benefit. Pulling the sword slowly out of its scabbard, Vergil couldn't help but notice the bluish essence that sometimes danced on its surface. He'd never noticed it before, but the Misbegotten smith was right…the blade had inextricably become linked to him. Through repeated use and constant infusions of his demonic energies, Vergil had inadvertently started to forge a new sword. He still needed more time to draw out its true capabilities, but for now, it served its purpose well enough. A small surge of demonic energy tinted the blade with a dark blue aura as soon as its wielder channeled his power into it, sharpening its edge and allowing it to cut slightly further than its physical form would allow. Like the Yamato, the ability needed concentration on its wielder's part, which meant that he needed to ensure that his movements remained measured and deliberate—no different from how he already fought. Regardless of this, the sword was still of mortal make and needed to be regularly maintained.

Melina sat and observed her companion's actions. The man was nothing if not methodical with how he handled his tools, and the maiden found it amusing how utterly entranced he seemed to be by the repetitive motions of sharpening his blade. Since leaving the Roundtable Hold, the maiden's companion appeared to finally be making his way towards the Erdtree, bringing her some relief in that she might finally uncover some of her past and purpose. She knew very well that her companion was slow to trust and far more stubborn than perhaps he would care to admit, but he never gave her reasons to distrust him once he'd proven that he was mighty enough to brandish the Elden Ring. Preferring to remain silent, Vergil mostly kept to himself aside from when he needed help to channel the runes he'd gathered, learn information on a newly encountered set of creatures, or begrudgingly ask her to decipher signposts when he'd exhausted all other options. Interestingly, since they left the Hold, Melina found that Vergil had started to pick up on the written language of the Lands Between, as he needed her to translate for him less and less. As it turns out, knowing how to read messages sent between enemy camps was a good way of learning the other camps' whereabouts and the rough location of caravans for raiding tools and other resources. She couldn't quite place why, but it was clear that despite his apparent age, her companion had experience befitting a general or at the very least some kind of tactician, and that he was no stranger to military operations. She thought to ask him about it at one point, but he always bristled at the mere mention of his past, prompting her to drop the matter unless he decided to bring it up himself at some point.

Before long, dusk fell. Off to the distance, one could hear the distinct hiss of metal being sharpened and polished. A frantic rustling near the abandoned shack caused Vergil to take out his staff and call out a wave of spectral swords as he approached. Scabbard in hand, Vergil kept his eyes trained on the hooded figure, who instantly froze and nearly shrieked when she saw the spectral swords aimed directly at her. She immediately dropped to the ground and started begging for mercy when the wary swordsman dismissed his floating armoury with a handwave. He took one look at her, scoffed, and turned back towards the site of grace to resume his activity. His companion, however, saw fit to approach the hooded woman, who was too scared to look up, let alone realize that the white-haired man had left.

"Everyone's…been grafted."

The girl sounded incredulous like she herself couldn't believe what had transpired just hours before.

"Everyone who came with me. They crossed the sea for me. They fought, for me."

The maiden could only cast a sympathetic gaze as the hooded girl spoke.

"Heh…"

The girl's eyes were downcast, her face obscured by the embroidered crimson hood that covered her face. Her clean white attire suggested that she was no mere commoner, and her pristine leather gloves revealed hands that had never faced adversity, let alone seen the carnage and brutality of battle.

"Only to have their arms taken. Their legs taken. Even their heads…taken."

She trembled.

"Taken and stuck to the spider."

The girl, still feeling someone's presence around her, but too scared to look up, sank even further into the ground, wishing to be buried in silence. She just wanted to go home, but knew she wasn't wanted there. She set off on this journey, thrust with the honour of casting her chance at obtaining the Elden Ring. "I could never do that," she argued, and every time her gutless requests to stay behind were denied. Until she found herself on a ship heading off to a foreign land. Her men joined her in loyalty, but she knew that they looked at her in pity. She was aimlessly searching for something incomprehensible to her…praying for guidance that she never once saw. She chuckled at her misfortune, for a swift painless death was the best outcome she could possibly look forward to. She did not know what compelled her to speak, other than to perhaps stave off the inevitable. She did not know the man who she thought stood in front of her, nor did she know about his intentions. She had hoped that by continuing her mad ramblings, he would see reason to spare her from death—or worse, but she had no way of knowing, no way of telling what would happen next. Her voice subsided to the volume of a whisper as she kept her head near the ground. She didn't dare look up. The sight of the magic swords trained on her was enough to convince her not to try something foolish, and since she was still able to speak, perhaps this unknown person found her amusing enough to continue living.

"Did you know? If you're grafted by the spider, you become a chrysalid. It's quite the lark, when you think about it."

The maiden stood motionless in front of the hooded girl. She wanted to reach out a hand, or at the very least, say something to comfort her, but no words came. She knew that the girl would not last the night if something were to come after her. Still, she had to try something. So she sat sideways and gave the girl some company—the only thing she felt she could provide at any given time. The girl bristled at the sound of Melina's leather boots crinkling as she shifted positions, which caused her to look up and meet the maiden's eye. She looked around the shack and realized that the man was gone—or in her delirious state, perhaps he was never even there. She reached out her hands to grab the maiden's, who returned the gesture. The maiden pulled herself back ever so slightly to hide the burn scars that peeked out from underneath her bracers though at her current state, it didn't seem like the girl would be keen on noticing such a detail.

"You're all on your own, are you? And heading to Stormveil Castle? Enticed by the one in the white mask, I suppose." The girl looked at the still maiden, still holding onto her hands for comfort.

"Oh, you've come to be one with the spider? Well, that makes us two peas in a pod. But I don't have your courage." She looked down again, dismayed by her weakness.

"It's scary you know. Having your arms cut off. Or legs. Or your head. I want to be like everyone else, but I'm just too scared. I'm nothing but a craven."

The maiden remained in the awkward situation, unable to ascertain what she should do or say. Her companion had no interest in staying, and before the girl even started speaking, she could hear the repetitious sounds of stone sharpening metal. If she had her memory, perhaps she would know how one should react, but the words continued to escape her. She tilted her head as the hooded girl pulled something out of her pocket.

"Oh, I know. Can you take this little one along with you?"

It was a box of ashes. Melina sensed the power contained within and recognized the spectre that it could summon if given the chance. She took out a hand and accepted the strange gift. Her companion was not likely to use it, nor did he presently have the means to even summon the creature, but perhaps it could serve some purpose later on.

"The poor thing deserves someone braver than myself…And the spirits look rather fondly upon you."

The girl got one good look at her salmon-haired companion and sensed a trail of spirits dancing around her. She sensed that the maiden was no mere Tarnished, but also felt no animosity coming from her. This further vindicated her decision.

"I'll be glad of your company, I think, the little'un."

The sound of metal being sharpened ceased and a light rustling indicated that the white-haired swordsman had finally decided to resume the long ride towards Liurnia. This was further confirmed by the sound of a high-pitched whistle that beckoned his spectral steed to materialize. The maiden saw this as her signal to get up. The hooded girl looked up and saw her companion about to leave. She let out a weak smile as her trembling finally started to cease just as she was starting to get used to the stranger's comforting presence.

"It was a pleasure to see you. Oh, can you pass on a message for me, if you see the little chrysalids in Stormveil Castle? Tell them I love them. And that, despite my craven heart, I'm sure I'll be joining their club soon enough." The girl chuckled. "I'm finally getting the hang of this whole 'pain' thing, you know."

"Understood." The maiden said a single word and slowly stepped away from the shack before she vanished into the blue mist, away from the girl's view. The hooded girl, however, sensed the spiritual energy that dissipated when the maiden did this and headed towards the direction where she went. She saw spirit trails leading towards a freshly abandoned campsite and reached for a small mound of dirt where the spirits seemed to gather. She faintly saw a path ahead and vanished into a blue mist.

Liurnia of the Lakes – Scenic Isle – Midnight

A large plume of ghost flame sizzled around the ankle-deep waters that seeped through every inch of the region of Liurnia. Another Ghostbird attempted to ambush the pale-haired rider and his steed, only to meet a barrage of spectral swords, magic waves, and a veritable storm of cuts from the warrior's slender sword. It was led to charge in front of the collapsed structure that it tried to ambush from, only to have the very same wall collapse on top of it, crushing it with the ruin's sheer weight. It yielded a talisman that the warrior pocketed until the next time he found a site of grace. Until then, he needed to ride further north until he reached the academy.

Liurnia of the Lakes was a vast wetland that stretched on for days. Its forests were permanently blanketed in fog, and its shallow waters gradually swallowed vast numbers of half-sunken structures into the ground. The uneven shingles of stony rooftops could be seen littered around the region, acting as brief resting spots to dry one's boots and equipment. The vastness of the Erdtree could still be seen off to the distance to the east, while a quick look in any other direction would reveal an endless sea of stars that littered the night sky. Two minor Erdtrees could be seen perched atop the mountainous cliffs that surrounded the landmass—destinations that could yield some rewards if Vergil took the time to reach them and cut down their guardians. Taking a stop by a telescope, Vergil came across another woman situated upon a small stone pavilion. The hunchbacked girl slithered into Vergil's periphery and immediately caught his attention. The girl was a mere child from what it looked like, and although she possessed human-like features, the swordsman was able to immediately sense her true form hiding underneath. While the girl's human countenance wore a mask of misguided confidence, her true form revealed an inner turmoil and fear that started boiling over after meeting the swordsman's piercing gaze. She couldn't quite discern what the feeling was, but it was almost like he saw right through her illusion. Worse yet, she could vaguely sense that like her, his human-like appearance was nothing but a mask that contained a terribly monstrous being. Still, she was tasked with an important duty by her mother, and, sensing his strength, she knew that he could be recruited for the cause. However, she had something important taken from her that she first needed to be returned.

"Hello. It's rather chilly here, isn't it? My mistress sent me off on an errand…"

She trailed off, clenching her fist and trying to shake away the fear that gripped her the moment she drew the man's attention.

"But I was accosted by a ruffian, and now I'm in a bind. Could I ask you to lend a hand, perhaps?"

Recalling the girl who'd escaped Castle Morne, Vergil grumbled in frustration and brought a hand to his forehead.

What is it with these damsels constantly seeking my assistance? Do I have some sort of beacon that draws them near? This is far too reminiscent of Fortuna…

He started turning around when the girl practically tripped over herself to get to him, her dress instantly soaked by the lake water that surrounded them.

"That thug made off with a precious necklace. I need someone to retrieve it. Only…he too, is a Tarnished. If you have any qualms confronting your own, I shall find-"

He ignored her and walked towards the academy's direction, which the girl mistook as agreement to her request.

"Ohh, thank you dearly. What a blessing that we've met like this." She practically skipped every time she spoke, but the man continued to ignore her, instead reaching out for his ring to summon Torrent.

"The thug should be resting at an abandoned home down the way…Please, I must have the necklace back."

Liurnia of the Lakes – Boilprawn Shack – late evening

Vergil grumbled again, then rode off. As he approached the mountaintop that housed Raya Lucaria, he smelled the unmistakable scent of boiled prawn. Since he arrived in this strange land, he'd had to forage for whatever he could find, hunting springhare and deer that he'd come across, but food was a resource that was starting to run low as he ventured through the vast continent. Though Godrick's soldiers often provided enough sustenance, their rations were less than savoury at best. He approached the shack, the idea of the girl's necklace sitting somewhere firmly in the back of his mind. Once near, he found a haggard man wearing an iron mask and a dirty rag. The man noticed the swordsman's presence.

"What are you lookin' at? You trying to start something, mate?"

Great…

Vergil sighed and put a couple of fingers to his forehead, shaking his head as he did so.

"Are you selling prawns? If so, I would like to purchase some."

"Oh, I see. You want some of me prawn? Freshly cooked it is. Alright then. It's yours, if you can meet me price. I could be persuaded to sell you some other bits too, if you've got the runes."

Vergil kicked himself internally for not thinking to take some currency from enemy camps. Fortunately, he saw a site of grace near the shack and summoned his companion. The masked man seemed to take offense to Vergil walking away without a word.

"Think you're bloody clever, do ya? Then how about you piss off? Fore I crack you in 'alf."

Vergil was not one to take the insult and flicked a sliver of his sword out of his sheathe, only to be stopped by the maiden who immediately stepped out, shocking the masked man before he could think to attack.

"Please, allow me."

The maiden offered her hand and summoned a gold swirl that flowed from her to the masked man, who then immediately became more agreeable. For what Melina gave him, the masked man was willing to part with an entire pot of his stock. Vergil sat down on a nearby log rather awkwardly, discarding his gloves, and trying to recall the last time he ate prawn. Having had little experience herself, Melina was similarly confused about how to approach the shelled morsels. There were no utensils in sight and no way to consume the prawns neatly, much to Vergil's chagrin. However, he was no stranger to eating crustaceans and was not about to resort to Dante's messy eating methods. So instead, he neatly discarded the shells, setting them aside in a separate bowl while he parsed through the meat. He made sure to leave enough juice on his plate to enhance the flavour of his meal and once everything had been set in order, he began to eat. Melina was confused. As a semi-corporeal being, she was not accustomed to feeding habits. She observed her companion and how, just as with everything else, he sorted through the shells as neatly as possible before indulging himself. She attempted to follow in his example and eventually made progress in her ordeal. By the time she had finished stripping one, Vergil was already wiping his mouth after devouring an entire plate of prawns. The masked man laughed heartily.

"Marika's tits, you must be 'ungry."

It had been some time since Vergil had eaten anything this well-prepared or properly seasoned. Though he had a burgeoning desire to lick his fingers, he was aware that he was with company and did not wish to be perceived as undignified. Adding to the embarrassment was the knowledge that his brother had done something similar in the past, not caring for the presence of company. Vergil rested a couple of fingers on his forehead out of habit and realized too late that his hands were still covered in sauce. He grumbled and got up to wash his face on the lake. Hoping that none had noticed his embarrassment, he motioned for Melina to impart more runes to the seller, who had just finished cooking another pot. He made a mental note to ask the maiden how to transfer runes later, as it would avoid needless interactions such as this.

"Alright, mate. Want some more prawn, do ya?"

Vergil nodded and offered up his plate then sat back in the solitude of his log.

Melina eyed the meat curiously. The flesh was soft and white but was covered in a thin reddish membrane. Her food was hot to the touch, though much warmer than the shells themselves. It was plump and moist and interestingly segmented. She gulped in apprehension before finally taking a bite, not knowing that the masked cook was observing her having her first taste of prawn. Her golden eye almost bulged in surprise. It was delicious. The masked man smiled at the maiden's satisfaction.

Once finished with his meal, Vergil neatly put away all the discarded shells and stacked his plates in an orderly fashion. As he put it away, he noticed a shining necklace hanging on a wall.

"Oh, that necklace what you're after, is it? Hmm, well…Show me what it's worth to you, and I'll consider parting ways with it. I'm not in love with it or nothing."

"How did the girl lose it?"

"Oh, so you met the girl, did ya? Alright, well, sod the particulars of the matter, but it ain't my fault she's stupid enough to get duped, is it? Bloody fiend thought to take off with me prawns without payin' for 'em. I figured it was tit for tat and all..."

Vergil nodded.

"Anyway, she ain't all right, that one. Lucky she ain't dead on the bloody roadside, I reckon."

"Of that, I must agree. The child seemed rather…obtuse..."

"Child? You don't look that much older than 'er, mate, but no matter. That's none of me business."

Vergil produced a sack to store more of the prawns for the journey ahead. This time, he was the one to extend a hand to the iron-masked merchant, having asked Melina to briefly teach him how to confer runes to another while she was busy gorging down the contents of her plate in an unladylike fashion. The merchant introduced himself while passing off the remainder of his stock into the sack.

"You're Tarnished too, ain'tcha? Can you see it then? The guidance of grace, I mean. I can't see it at all no more. Makes no bloody sense anyway, why some no-name shithead like me should get called to the Lands Between."

Vergil raised his eyebrow at the man's mention of being called to the Lands Between.

"Cruel bloody joke, you ask me. Maybe something went tits up with it. Maybe…it's been broke for a good long time. The Erdtree, I'm sayin'."

Vergil took his words into consideration and nodded. He would have to find something about what brought him here once he reached the academy's archives. Perhaps searching for information on how the Tarnished came to be would lend him some of the answers he needed.

"It seems we share a similar predicament. I too am unaware of how or why I was brought here."

"I'll drink to that if I 'ad any liquor on me. Tell ya what, mate. You cleaned out me stock and got me in a good mood. Take the necklace; it's on the 'ouse. And tell that stupid girl to pay 'fore she nicks someone's food away next time."

Vergil considered abandoning the necklace altogether, but he remembered how it felt to lose an important heirloom. He summoned Torrent and cursed as he clutched onto the necklace. He made the short detour to the pavilion and tossed the necklace by the girl's feet.

"Oh, yes, that is my missing necklace. Thank you kindly. I am in your debt."

"Don't. Lose. That."

The girl bristled at his harsh tone and began to stutter, slithering towards the swordsman as he turned away with his horse.

"D-did I forget to announce myself? I am Rya, in the service of Lady Tanith of the Volcano Manor."

Vergil made to take off but ceased upon hearing mention of the Volcano Manor. From what he gathered from the Roundtable Hold's library, this was likely where he could find and challenge Praetor Rykard. He dismissed Torrent and walked back towards the girl.

"Tell me what you know."

"I seek stalwart Tarnished who might join our house. You are very brave yourself. Not only a steady hand, but a steady heart, merciless, even to your own kind. Such strength is precisely what my mistress seeks."

The girl extended a sealed letter.

"Please, take this."

Vergil examined the elaborate crest that sealed the letter from entry. It looked legitimate and issued by some kind of royalty judging by its construction. He put it in his pocket to refer to later then looked at the girl to continue.

"Oh, and…One more thing, only for you…This land of Liurnia is connected to the Altus Plateau by the Grand Lift of Dectus, beyond the High Road. But the lift has been defunct for an age, meaning there's no simple means of passage. Instead, you must seek the old ruins in the cliff."

Vergil took out his map and the girl pointed out the location she spoke of.

"At the base of the valley near the Grand Lift, there's an old tunnel. It was excavated from both ends, linking Liurnia to the Altus Plateau."

Vergil marked the location on his map. It could be his next destination after he concluded his business with Raya Lucaria.

"I have faith in you, a champion, through and through."

Vergil called for Torrent and rode off towards the Academy in the distance. The girl waved but the gesture was not reciprocated.

"I do hope we can meet again."

Liurnia of the Lakes – South Raya Lucaria Gate – Early morning

Vergil had just ridden past a sunken town, fighting off yet another array of soldiers and hostile wildlife. He noticed yet another site of grace conveniently placed by the entrance and restored it then hopped back onto Torrent to go forward into the gate. As expected, it was sealed off with a magic spell. He could sense a dimensional anomaly within the barrier, which meant that unless he possessed some sort of key, he would have no way of gaining entry. He grumbled at how easy it would have been to cross the barrier with the Yamato, but like with everything else, that was simply a luxury he did not have. As always, his journey was never going to be that simple.