Of Unity And Moonlight
Chapter 1: Twin-Moon Knight
Castle Ensis, one of several monuments to the crusade of Messmer's legion, stood high in the middle of the Land of Shadows. As an essential crossroad between the Gravesite Plain, the Belurat Tower Settlement, and the Shadow Altus proper, whoever controlled this focal point ultimately controlled movement throughout the land. It is a heavily guarded fortress, an essential gateway for all foot traffic, allowing the soldiers of Messmer to pass through whenever they saw fit while choking off everyone else. The soldiers who guarded it were of vital importance to the crusade.
And it was those same soldiers that were currently being cut down by a single lone Tarnished.
Parvus was not what many would consider a violent man. Despite his body count, and the blood that stained his hands, he generally wanted to live in peace with those among him in the Lands Between. He wanted friends, families, and people as a whole to live their lives without interruption from the imposition of others. War, barbarity, cruelty, and domination were antithetical to his base desires.
So why was he so good at killing things? And why was he here?
That explanation was best left for those close to him.
He trudged along the long, winding halls of the castle, the bodies of several of Messmer's soldiers and a few Carian knights left in his wake. The first was a common sight across the Gravesite Plain, with roaming bands of soldiers interspersed with the masses of Shadow Undead.
The second, however, was peculiar. Parvus was unaware that any Carian knights were even outside of Liurnia of the Lakes to begin with. The few that he saw were either apparitions conjured to fight the Cuckoo Knights or were positioned in places or people of importance to the Carian royals. Was this castle somehow important to the Carians, even though it was outside of domain of the family of sorcerers? Or was there something, or someone, here that was important to them?
Either way, he would find the answers however he could. If there was one thing that drew his attention, it was a good mystery.
Parvus walked across the bridge, knocking down another Black Knight as it made to rush him. He groaned in exasperation as another able-bodied man fell before his blade, one that wouldn't appeal to reason. He was getting really tired of having to resort to violence at almost every turn. He had gotten enough of that with his time in the Lands Between. He didn't need that here.
The Tarnished could feel that he was getting close to the end of this elaborate fortress. He saw that the number of defenders had thinned out, with more empty rooms and hallways than before. Some of them even looked almost normal, with beds, storage rooms, and even a few small libraries arrayed throughout. If he didn't know better, he would've assumed it was in a living area, albeit one that was much more well-furnished than anything peasants or the common folk could obtain.
He marched up the stone steps, noticing that there was a Site of Grace in what appeared to be a dining hall of sorts, with a balcony opening up at the far end that allowed him to see the Gravesite Plain below.
He went over to touch the Grace, feeling Marika's light course through his veins with renewed energy. His flasks filled once more, refreshing him giving him the will to continue venturing forth into the unknown.
The man continued up another set of stairs, looking for where he needed to go next.
A yellow fog gate appeared to his right, it's murky aura obscuring any chance of him seeing what was on the other side. A chill ran down his spine, as it always did whenever he came across them. Whatever was on the other side was always a challenge to beat, no exceptions. He doubted this time would be different.
He looked around again, seeing if there was another way past.
No such luck.
"Damn it," he muttered to himself. He didn't want to have to fight another boss right now. The Divine Beast Dancing Lion in Belurat had already been difficult enough, with its power to harness wind, lightning, and frost allowing it to move seamlessly across the arena before Enir-Ilim. It defied its great bulk using such abilities, proving to be a formidable foe.
Still, the thing did fall, though it taxed his patience with its combined speed, strength, and durability. Keeping track of its movement was harder than something of that size should've been.
He breathed in deeply, steadying his beating heart as he realized what he had to do next. Whatever was on the other side had better not make this more difficult than it needed to be.
Parvus held his Carian Knight's shield aloft in his left arm, the Sword of Night and Flame in his right. He felt the armor over his body, feeling the forged plate as it gave off a dull grey. He felt the wolfskin cloak, once belonging to his good friend Blaidd, as it draped over his back, a reminder his purpose and the promise he made to himself.
He donned his Night's Cavalry helmet, feeling the touch of darkened steel engulf his head. He would stand tall before his opponent, even though almost everything he fought was taller than him. They would know why he was still here, still standing, while the rest of them fell.
Letting the air out of his lungs slowly, he placed his hand on the fog gate, feeling it part before him.
He stepped through.
What he saw on the other side of the gate was not at all what he expected. He thought he'd run into an animal, a bizarre creature of some sort he'd never seen before. He'd barely explored this new land so far, so there was no telling what strange and awe-inspiring things awaited him around every corner.
Instead, what he found was much simpler, though no less intriguing.
Inside the room was a large hall, almost like a sparring hall, simple and rectangular. On his left and right he could see various banners and embroidery. Blue flames lit up the room, bouncing against the wide, but shallow circle of water that made up the center. None of this mattered too much to him.
What was across from the pool did.
Standing on the other side of the water was a towering knight in gleaming silver armor. He could see the embossments and embroidery adorning the knight's armor, even at a distance, giving off a level of importance the other Carian knights of similar style simply didn't possess.
He could also tell that this knight was a woman, the shape of the breastplate a dead giveaway as to the sex of his opponent. Her body was covered head to toe in the fanciful armor, no doubt of a significantly higher quality than most. Even the Crucible Knights, Leyndell Knights, and Tree Sentinels couldn't hold a candle to the magnificence of the female warrior before him.
He saw the elongated tassets that hung off her hips, stretching down to cover the sides of her legs. A royal azure sash was draped over her right shoulder, crossing over her chest and wrapping around her waist. The ends trailed over her right leg and across her back. Her hands were fitted with leather gloves, a strange design choice compared to the metal shell over the rest of her. What was equally perplexing was the long dark ponytail dangling off the back of her head, going down her back and practically meeting her butt. It was strange, both regal and impractical at the same time. It was far too easy to accidentally get it snagged against any number of things.
She stared up at him, her distinct helmet staring down at him. Her eyes stared through the narrow slits, twin crescents framing the sides of her helmet.
Parvus looked briefly at the weapons in her hands, already drawn. He couldn't see much from them, only knowing that the light greatsword in her right had jewels and coloring of the same shade of blue as her sash. The light greatsword in her left looked almost burnt in comparison, lacking any color beyond charcoal.
He had little time to truly observe and appreciate the knight before him before she waved the sword in her right hand across her body. A wave of pure sorcery shot forth towards him, the blue light aiming to strike him in the chest.
Parvus rolled to the side, easily evading the damage.
However, the knightess had used the distraction to bound across the pool, rapidly closing the distance. She struck out with her blades, cutting down at him from an angle. She brought the weapons back up before he could retaliate, forcing him to step back. She spun around once more, slashing at him, all to no effect.
He crouched in a defensive stance, shield braced and sword drawn back. His gauntlets gripped the weapon tightly, knuckles getting white as he felt adrenaline course through his body once more.
So that's how it's going to be, Parvus thought grimly.
She lashed out again, this time going for an upper cut with her swords. They slashed at him one at a time. The first one he dodged like last time. However, the second one grazed his breastplate. It didn't bite deep, but it did leave a small fissure in his protective equipment. These swords, and the wielder behind them, were not to be underestimated.
She brought her blades down over her head, aiming to slam them down on his own. He brought his silver shield up, leg tensed as he dug his heels into the ground. The weapons impacted against the enchanted metal, forcing him to grit his teeth in exertion but otherwise not harming him.
Once the blades had passed, he brought his sword, striking out in retaliation. Unlike her strikes, however, he aimed the other end at her instead, striking her in the chest with the pommel. She grunted as she was hit, shuffling back slightly from the blow.
It was known that the knights across the Lands Between were deadly, and hardly pushovers in combat. This knightess proved to be no exception in that regard. She slashed out again, striking at him three times in rapid succession with the sword in her left hand. He blocked every single hit.
He backpedaled, attempting to distance himself from her deadly strikes. That proved to be a mistake as she waved one of her swords in front of her again, this time summoning a trio of glintblades. They floated over her head, all aimed straight at him. She waved again, summoning another cluster of magic projectiles with her Carian Retaliation.
She pointed one of her blades at him and the glintstone projections launched themselves towards him. He forced himself to roll several time, just barely staying ahead of their arc with his movement.
By the time he had returned to his feet, she was on him again, dashing to his side before twisting around and cutting at him in a wide arc. He ducked under the attack.
Almost immediately, she stabbed out at him with her other weapon. He felt the blade slip past his guard, digging into his shoulder. He let out a hiss as she drew first blood.
The wound was far from the worst thing he had experienced, having fought beings that could crush and bisect him almost effortlessly.
That didn't mean it still didn't hurt.
Reflexively, he struck her again, this time using the sharp edge of his weapon to attack. It landed against her armor, denting it but not puncturing. Feeling himself grow emboldened, Parvus stepped forward, getting well within her guard, and pommel striking her again in the chest.
He heard her hiss beneath her helmet, no doubt his blunter attacks having an effect on her.
The fight continued for several more minutes, with both sides dancing back and forth between each other's blades. The knightess was the far more aggressive one between them both, unleashing a flurry of combos with her greatswords and interspersing various offensive Carian sorceries at him. She even enhanced her glinstone sword with Carian Sovereignty once or twice, slamming the enlarged blade down before cutting across with a horizontal swing. He dived out of the way of both strikes.
Although it wasn't often, her blows did land every once in a while, leaving shallow cuts and indents across Parvus's body. When it got bad enough, he pulled out a Flask of Crimson Tears and downed it, mending his wounds and revitalizing him once more.
He wasn't without his own acts of aggression, though they were more sparse than hers. Every once in a while he would pommel strike and slash at her, the former attacks landing far more often than the latter. He even managed to parry her thrice, leaving her open for an easy counter.
Still, the duel was far from over between both combatants. The knightess, potentially the head Carian Knight of the Royal family by his estimate, still had a lot of fight left in her. Her skill with blade and sorcery was perfect, hoisted by talent and honed by training and dedication. This woman warrior was far more gifted in mixed combat than any of the magic bladesmen and women he'd ever encountered.
Throughout the fight, he had noticed she was quite tall, at least a full head over his, perhaps a little more. That wasn't the most unusual thing, however it did raise some questions. The only things that were this tall were monsters and the various demigods that inhabited the Lands Between. Just who was this woman?
His introspection was interrupted when he saw her stand in the middle of the pool, arms drawn across her chest. The blades erupted to life, illuminating her in a glow of red and blue. The sword in her right hand was wreathed in pulsing azure sorcery, the energy drawing from the moon and stars themselves. The one in her left, in contrast, was bathed in fire and flame, the red and orange glow flickering with insatiable hunger and a desire to destroy.
Her weapons slashed across her body, haloing her body in warm and cold color. She was equal parts fierce and majestic, beautiful and deadly all at once.
She twisted her hips before spinning around, pillars of fire shooting out of the ground around her. He had to backpedal lest he get caught in them.
As the flames dissipated, the female knight glared down at him, drawing her weapons up in a pose, one pointed at him while the other was facing the other direction, ready to slice out at him.
And slice out it did. With one great step, she rushed forward once more, beginning yet another long series of combos. Parvus adapted without much trouble, but she had added new attacks to her repertoire, including various strikes with her fire sword that left lingering flame. Those flames exploded, blocking off areas of advance for him. She continued to use her glintstone sorceries, bombarding him at range every time he stepped back to take a breather. Carian Retaliations, Moonlight Waves, and Carian Sovereignties assaulted him, unrelenting in their advance. It got so bad that he was eventually forced to use Thops's Barrier to reflect the attacks back at her.
Parvus gritted his teeth as he felt his endurance be tested. He recovered fast, but he still needed breathing room every once in a while to keep fighting. And it looked like she was straining his recovery windows.
Still, he kept going, striking out whenever he could, giving her enough hits to make her realize he wouldn't go down easily. They continued back and forth once more, neither side able to gain an edge even despite extensive use of their ever-expanding plethora of tools and tricks. He wondered if he could beat her simply by driving her to her limit.
However, there was one more attack she had in store for him, one that was both parts exasperating and intriguing.
Curling up into a ball, the knightess began floating into the air. She floated higher and higher, far above his reach, before two orbs of white light formed around her, as if they were moons themselves. He'd seen this type of spell from only one person before, but he already had an idea of what to expect.
His hunch proved true when one of the moons slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that spread throughout the entire arena. He jumped as high as he was able, the energy passing harmlessly beneath his feet. Parvus had only just landed when the second orb fell, leaving the same impression. Once again, he leapt into the air, emerging unscathed once more.
Unfortunately for him, he wasn't expecting a third one. Uncurling herself, the female knight fell, slamming her swords into the ground and creating a third wave. It spread out, catching him unawares and sweeping him off his feet. He rose briefly into the air before crashing to the ground. Pain flared across his body as the hard stone floor offered little comfort.
The pain passed him as they both recovered, giving him time to relax briefly while she returned to a fighting stance.
More importantly than that, it gave him time to think.
Up until this point, the knight had imbued a variety of Carian sorceries in her fight, widely used, but still effective. He'd seen plenty of talented foes use such abilities, some as the bulk of their fighting power while others as merely an enhancement of their kit. However, there had only been two individuals throughout the entire continent that possessed the power of the moon itself. One belonged to the powerful, if now mentally broken, Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. The other belonged to that who he swore his allegiance to, one who wanted to bring about the Age of Stars: Ranni. As far as he was aware, they were the only ones to possess the power of the mighty celestial body that emerged only at night, sometimes even overshadowing the Erdtree itself in a few places in Liurnia.
This gave rise to a sneaking suspicion he had.
He had observed the various portraits and paintings depicting the various scholars and sorcerers that had contributed greatly to Raya Lucaria's success, allowing it to be a place of enlightenment and knowledge for all of those who possessed the talent to wield glintstone effectively. He had seen innumerable faces, including the likes of his teacher, the late Sorceress Sellen. But there were always five reoccurring portraits that were repeatedly seen, often in greater size than the rest. They belonged to the Royal Family. Rennala, Ranni, Rykard, and Radahn were the most known, their deeds and accomplishments well-known across the land.
The last one had remained a mystery until now.
Parvus had heard of a supposed sister of the now-distraught Queen, one mentioned at length in her histories and personal memoires. Yet, despite how close the two were, the portraits failed to show a face, merely an emotionless helmet, one that was worn by the same knight that he stood opposed to now. Next to no records remained of this mysterious sibling, but now he saw the answer clear as day. He knew who her sister was.
That sister was Rellana, the Twin-Mooned Knight. And she was standing before him.
Now it all made sense. The bladework, the mastery of glintstone sorcery, the size and skill, it all came together. Now he had an idea of the legacy of a warrior he was fighting.
He also had an idea of how to end this fight, perhaps without needing to resort to killing for once. He only hoped his gambit would pay off.
Rising to his feet, he faced the Knight once more, downing another Flask of Crimson Tears as he prepared to enact his plan.
She lunged forth again, glowing blades hungry to taste his blood, to dig into his flesh and extinguish his meager existence.
Instead of dodging, he rushed to meet her. Hefting his shield, Parvus brought up the metal plate, angling himself open and allowing her to breach his defenses. She struck out with her left hand, blade narrowly missing his body. He felt the heat of the fire seep through his armor and clothing, feeling almost like a burn.
He fought through the discomfort, angling his Carian Shield at a diagonal. He jabbed out, the edge of the instrument slamming into Rellana's wrist, where her leather gloves were. He put all the force he could into the blow, striking the joint holding the greatsword and forcing her muscles to clench.
It also forced her to loosen her grip on the fiery sword. Noticing the change, Parvus twisted around, dipping the shield back to him and catching the edge against the sword's guard. It snagged on the protrusion for a moment before coming loose. The sword left her hand, sailing across the air and landing several meters away from the both of them.
Rellana reeled back as he pushed her off of him, his strength invigorated as he found he had disarmed her of one of her weapons.
She took two steps back, bewildered by the fact that he had managed to do what seemed to be the impossible. But this was hardly the first time he had done the impossible.
And it wouldn't be the last.
Gripping her remaining blade in two hands, azure energy surged through the glintstone sword, burning in exotic power as she mustered all that she could into it. She drew it back behind her, looking to cleave him in two as payment for his transgressions.
Little did she realize that he also had one last move to make.
Reaching down to his hip, he pulled out his Mix of Wondrous Physique. He chugged the contents of the bottle down, feeling another aura wash over him. His muscles bulged, pupils dilated, and he felt an invisible force surround his body, one he knew would protect him, not for long, but long enough to work.
She brought her greatsword overhead, torrents of light crackling and jutting out at him. The edge came down, a final retribution coming to lay waste to this seemly unimportant Tarnished.
Parvus stepped forward, shield once again held high, unafraid of the death that loomed before him.
The sword landed, energy slamming down as it tore into him. Power capable of rending him limb from limb was unleashed to his body, enough that he wouldn't be so much as able to recover from it, even with the shield.
And yet it did not. The Opaline Bubbletear did its job, absorbing the killing strike with next to no effect on the lowly Tarnished. The energy disappeared, as did the near-invisible force that had covered his body.
Parvus took his chance.
Stepping under her guard, he struck her once more in the chest with the pommel of his sword, knocking the wind out of her, giving him the upper hand in the engagement. With his shield hand, he did the same as before, hooking the sword on the edge of his shield and wrenching it out of her grasp. The blade sailed away from them, landing in the pool of water some distance from them.
The knight fell to her knee as she struggled to recover, hand resting on it, looking down as she took in ragged breaths.
Parvus brought the tip of his sword up to her gorget, breathing just as heavily as her, but otherwise remaining unmoved.
She looked up at him from her kneeling form, her eyes coming level to his, even despite her position. Though she was now completely at his mercy, she refused to show weakness.
They stood in silence as they stared at one another, neither saying anything. For what was there to say? A lowly Tarnished had just beaten her, the greatest knight in Liurnia, possible all of the Lands Between.
He looked on in amazement as he finally got a chance to see his opponent for what she was. Rellana had a reputation unlike any other, one who gave up her birthright to follow Messmer, to serve at his side and see to his crusade's success. She had had everything she needed, nothing that she could not obtain. She had the skills, talent, grit, and determination to see that she was the perfect warrior, perhaps even rivalling Malenia, Blade of Miquella. She was nothing short of extraordinary.
And yet he had beaten her.
The woman glared at him through her visor, unwilling to stomach this passivity that was falling between them now. What was he waiting for? Did he mean to gloat? To savor this victory? Did he mean to put her down?
She had to know.
"What are you waiting for, Tarnished?" she spat, her voice filled with venom. "Finish me."
Instead, he surprised her by shaking his head. "I am not here to kill you, Princess Rellana."
Her eyes widened as he said her name. How did this Tarnished know?
She snorted in a very unladylike manner. "I have not been called a princess in ages. I gave up that title a long time ago."
"And yet you still are, even if it is not officially acknowledged."
"It makes no, difference," she told him. "I serve Lord Messmer, and I would die for him."
Parvus smiled beneath his helmet. "That is exactly why I have decided to not kill you." She cocked her head in confusion, but he continued. "I seek an audience with your Lord, and you are my best shot at getting to him without me having to needlessly shed more blood."
Now she was confused. "Why do you wish to speak to Messmer to begin with?"
"I want to bring him and his Legion back to the Lands Between," he told her. "They are the last coherent fighting force left still largely intact. Mistress Ranni believes you will all be useful."
She perked up at the familiar name. "You know of little Ranni?" she asked curiously.
He nodded. "Aye. I am an extension of her will, her mouthpiece. And I am also technically her consort, here for her to bring about the Age of Stars."
Rellana blinked in surprise. She never, for the life of her, would've expected her niece to choose a lowly Tarnished as her consort. They were brittle, frail, far too easy to dispose of, and next to worthless beyond cannon fodder in many respects.
His actions, however, proved to make him an exception. She had rarely fought against anyone as fiercely skilled as him. He was competent, relentless, and yet strangely disciplined and merciful. All of these traits she could see Ranni wanting in a potential partner. He was clearly not a puppet or emotionless drone, otherwise she had no doubt he would've killed her. Ranni was merciless when action had to be taken into her own hands.
She pondered the information brought before her, seeing the curiosity she was bearing witness to. A Tarnished, the hand of one who was willing to fulfill the will of the moon, their house and that which gave them power. He also was far from unskilled or crass. Willing to talk to her instead of slaying her without mercy. And he had a voice that was quite pleasing on the ears.
Rellana had plenty of questions for this stranger, this man before her. However, only one was importance to her for the moment.
"What makes you think I can provide an audience with him?" she asked.
"You are his Sword, are you not?" he asked back.
"I am," she acknowledged.
"Then that is all that is required," he reasoned. "Being his right-hand, your power and influence gives you way more sway into his decision-making than most. You can tell him that which would normally be discarded as unimportant if spoken by anyone else."
She couldn't help but agree with his deductive reasoning. And she was continually impressed by what she saw. Not only was he a great warrior, one capable of staying his hand when required, as well as having met with her niece, as well as her sister most likely, but he had a keen mind, intellect, hardly an inelegant brute or slab of muscle.
"Very well," she relented. "I will take you to him."
Seeing that her answer was satisfactory, he withdrew his blade from her throat, sheathing it and giving her free reign to move once more. She rose to her feet, water splashing as she stood to full height, towering a full head over him. He stepped to the side, allowing her to freely retrieve her fallen armaments. She took the hint and moved to them.
His eyes followed her, noticing the slow gait she took when moving. His blows must've hurt her more than he intended and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty. He was never a fan of hurting people if he could help it, including predators and the various enemies he came across. Every time he was made to fight and kill, he always tried to do it as quickly and painlessly as possible. The desire to make others suffer was sick and twisted. It made his stomach churn.
As she grabbed the individual blades off of the ground, putting them back into their scabbards, he also noticed that the yellow fog gates had dissipated. That was curious. He had never seen them disappear like that before, not while the supposed 'boss' was still alive in it. This was a first for him.
He hoped it wouldn't be the last.
The pair stepped out of the north entrance of Castle Ensis, seeing the rolling lands of dull gold around them that made up much of Shadow Altus. Scattered clumps of forest and rocky outcrops could be seen off in the distance along with the distant fires of camps and burnt embers that were the remains of Messmer's flames.
Off in the distance, a massive tower made what appeared to be black stone could be seen, it's presence dominating over the Altus. It stood among the rest of the land like an oppressive giant, domineering in stature.
That was where Messmer and most of his Legion resided. And that was where they were heading.
The two began their trek across the field, following a dirt road that connected both strongholds to each other. Rellana took the lead, her stride slow but steady. Parvus followed along easily, allowing her to be his guide. It was a refreshing change of pace compared to him having to direct himself to wherever he needed to go.
As they made their way down the road, Parvus couldn't help but notice a glowing golden pole jutting out of the ground to his right, an almost-complete ring sticking to the top. It was one of Miquella's Crosses, one of several he had seen throughout the Land of Shadow. Each represented a sign of his passing, where he had shed a part of him. Why the demigod had shed different aspects of his being was beyond him, but that was a question for another time, another mystery to solve, and another reason he was here.
"Keep up, Tarnished," the female knight called out to him. He did as instructed, abandoning the Cross for later and jogging to catch up with her.
Though he couldn't see it, off in the distance was the form of Needle Knight Leda in her black and gold armor, her white and gold cape striking against the backdrop of the plains. She watched him go, following alongside the Sword of Messmer, curious as to he how he managed to entice Rellana to bring him to the Lord of the Shadow Keep instead of killing him.
The pair traveled down the road, eventually coming to the massive encampment set before the entrance. Soldiers and Black Knights were strewn about, resting or otherwise socializing as they remained on guard. There was even a massive Furnace Golem in the middle, an imposing presence much like the Keep itself.
As they got within two or so dozen meters of the camp's entrance, a voice called out to them. "Halt!" it ordered.
The warriors stopped in their tracks, doing as instructed.
A Black Knight stepped out to meet them, a number of other soldiers and Knights not far behind. Off in the distance, several archers could be seen nocking their bows and training their sights upon the Tarnished.
"What is your business here, my lady?" the lead Knight asked in a gravelly voice.
"This Tarnished is with me, Commander," she answered, stepping up to him. "He seeks an audience with our Lord and I am seeing to his request."
The Knight, for his part, looked unfazed by the request, looking up at her, then down at Parvus, then up again, his helmet betraying no emotion. "You realize that we still have orders to kill all of those without the Grace of Gold, right?" he questioned. "Those orders have not changed."
"I am aware," she said, looking down upon the shorter soldier. Rellana gestured to the man behind her. "But I am making an exception with this one. He carries a missive from the Lands Between, all the way from Leyndell itself. Would you be willing to explain to our Lord why you have delayed possibly vital information from the Golden Order, from Queen Marika?"
The Black Knight stumbled back, clearly taken aback at the implied threat. "O-of course not, my lady!" he stammered out, clearly shocked by the potential news before him. He turned back, gesturing to his guards to lower their weapons. They did so, sheathing swords, returning polearms to raised positions, and de-nocking arrows. Even the golem seemed to relent, its stance relaxing slightly as it stood tall.
He stepped aside, gesturing them onward. They obliged.
The mass of men parted before them like a curtain, allowing them to pass through the camp unobstructed. However, none of them took their eyes off the Tarnished. Parvus was keenly away of the sheer amount of men whose were staring at him, all daring him to make a wrong move.
They passed on by, moving around the legs of the Furnace Golem. Its features remained impassive, but he had a feeling it could spring into action at any moment, ready to crush him as easily as a man could an insect.
The pair moved past them, eventually coming up to the drawbridge that led into the massive structure. The contraption was down, allowing for free access inside. They moved through it, stepping onto a large lift that would take them into the keep.
As the lift began to move, a loud crash shook the air around him. To him, it sounded like a pane of glass breaking. His head darted back and forth, seeing sparkles of gold cascading around him almost like snow. The whisps and pieces descended, fading before reaching the floor he was on.
Rellana looked back at him, eyeing him curiously as he saw the shower of gold specs. "Is something the matter, Tarnished?" she asked.
He blinked, wondering why she wasn't reacting to the array of golden sparkles around them. Did she not see them?
The answer seemed obvious now that he thought for more than a second.
She did not.
Now he was wondering if he was real, or he was simply imagining things.
What was that?, he thought to himself.
The answer came in the form of a whisper, a voice in his head.
Somewhere, a seal has been broken.
Well, at least that told him something. But whose seal was it? And why was it important?
They ascended, the lift only taking a few second, perhaps a minute, to rise before it rested. As they stepped out and began their journey up Messmer's chambers, Parvus couldn't help but stare at the vast area around him. He had seen how big the Shadow Keep was from the outside, but he couldn't quite wrap his head around the sheer scale of the interior as well. The wide open moats of water, the looming towers, and engulfing walls all portrayed a sense of scale and darkness, like the aftermath of a firestorm.
He was also quite amazed at the array of personnel inhabiting the inside of the Keep. Messmer's soldiers were par for the course, as were the Black Knights. However, the Militiamen was surprising, as were a variety of Shadow Undead. He saw a new enemy type, one had that was unfamiliar in every single sense. Draped in bright red robes, the Fire Knights marched down the various halls, their armor clacking and echoing against the halls. They wielded swords and spears, all of which were burnt or of a glowing ember color. He had no doubt they could ignite in the same way Rellana's flaming sword could. Like the various armored men of the Lands Between, these men were likely a level above the normal chaff, able to challenge and possibly kill him if he wasn't careful.
They moved on to what appeared to be a large storehouse, with shelves upon shelves of books covering just about every wall in sight. He looked up to see that the walls spiraled up a multitude of stories, with zigzagging staircases connecting each floor in an almost haphazard fashion. Suspended in the air were a variety of massive fauna, many of which looked to be of a similar size as the wyverns and drakes that had inhabited the domain of the Erdtree. He could hardly tell what he was even looking at half of the time.
The Carian princess moved on ahead, not giving him time to drink in the sight of so much knowledge, so many things to ponder. He picked up his pace once more, making sure to not lose sight of his guide.
The storehouse was a labyrinth to say the least. With constant twists and turns, plus more than a few ascents and even an elevator or two, he found it difficult to keep track of things. And yet she seemed so sure of where she was going that her pace barely slowed the entire way up. How could she navigate this place so flawlessly?
Eventually, though, they crossed a bridge, one that connected to a separate tower, one that looked like the peak of the Keep itself.
They passed yet another Fire Knight, one that gave a simple nod in greeting before returning to his vigil. He didn't even question why Rellana had a Tarnished with her.
The pair ascended another flight of stairs, coming up to a pair of thick steel doors, the metal taking a burnished finish, as if it had been scorched. She pushed them open without preamble, no ceremony, no pomp, not even a knock to signal their arrival.
The chamber inside was dim, barely a source of light. He could hardly see what was in front of him, only the faint glow of embers from extinguished candles giving him any indication as to the possible shape of the room.
It was circular, or maybe octagonal, with the faint outlines of guardrails along the edges. The floor, and all of the walls, were made of stone, muted and dim, of quality construction but lacking any ornamentation. There were a series of unlit candles at the far end of chamber, and what looked like a chair or throne on a raised dais. He saw the barest shape of… something… on it. It looked like a man, but the lack of light put that supposed fact into question. That and whatever the being on the throne was wearing obscured its form, turning it into a barely-seen mass. Whoever, or whatever, was back there did not wish to be gazed up immediately.
Rellana stepped forth, not even a hint of hesitation as she approached whoever was at the other end. Her armor clacked and scrapped against the stone, which made up the only sound in the entire room.
Parvus trailed a ways behind her, unsure how close he should follow, if at all. What was the procedure here? Should he wait outside until summoned? Stand beside her as an honored guest?
The Twin-Moon Knight reached the center of the chamber and knelt, right hand clasped over her heart in a salute. "My lord," she greeted.
A voice rumbled out, the source of it coming from all around them, as if from the shadows themselves. "My loyal Sword," it greeted. "What is that thou hast brought me here today?"
Parvus noted that he voice itself was not especially deep, similar in several ways to some of the men he had encountered back on the main continent. However, it etched itself through the air with a slither, as if it were a snake given a voice. It was masculine, on the deeper side, but it was hardly grating on the ears. Surprisingly soft, if he could describe it.
"Hmmm…" the voice murmured, the noise coming from behind him. He turned around reflexively, but saw nothing. The dim lighting made it hard to see anything with clarity.
The man circled around once more, seeing more of the same. In which he didn't see anything beyond shadow and muted light. Where was that voicing coming fro-
The head of a serpent stared at him, crimson scales burning like a deep red pyre. It's hazel eyes gazing into his own. The slits that were its pupils stared with an impenetrable blackness, like a void. Quite thematic for the 'shadow' that made up the very essence of the Keep.
It's tongue darted in and out of its mouth, wafting the air between them. Its pupils bore into him, emotionless, lidless, as if observing him like he was prey.
"Ah," the voice said. "Thou art Tarnished, it seemeth." The snake withdrew, allowing him to see that the rest of its slender body was hanging in the air, disappearing among the shadowy ceiling.
"Why hast thou brought this lightless creature before me, Rellana?" it continued. As the snake withdrew, floating across the room and heading back to the throne, the candles grew brighter. The shadows retreated, allowing color and light to return. He could firmly see the platform, the circularity of it, and a gap that separated it from the walls at the periphery. He could now more easily see the throne and, more specifically, who was on it.
The man positioned on it was thin, almost lanky, with his arms and legs slender, pale, almost boney for how thin they were. A cape of deep red covered his body, but he could see the lengths of the snake coming out of him. In one of his hands was a massive spear, it's metal charred black. He wore a winged metal helmet, with the heads of two snakes plastered on the top, hissing and waiting to strike. His face was pale, and his hair was strikingly red, like Radagon, Malenia, and Radahn. A single eye of gold stared at him while the other remained permanently closed. Strikingly enough, that reminded him of Ranni and Melina.
There was no doubt that this was Messmer the Impaler, First Son of Queen Marika the Eternal.
"My lord," he began to speak, bowing so as to show respect. "It is an honor to be in your presence. I have heard tales of your deeds, your wrath, and pow-"
"Thou may dispenseth with thy pomp and grovel," Messmer cut in. He looked down at the Twin-Moon Knight. "Why hath thou brough me such a lowly man before me?"
"Lord Messmer, he sought an audience with you, willing to speak with you instead of merely slaying you," she answered, still knelt on the ground.
"And I see he has kept thou alive and well," the lanky demigod surmised, "likely in hopes of getting in mine good graces. Is this so?"
He stared over at the Tarnished, his gold eye peering into his soul.
Parvus swallowed. "It is, my lord," he answered. "I do not wish to kill those I would rather seek diplomacy with. That includes both you and her."
"And why is that?" he questioned. His hand gripped his spear tightly, easily ready to spring into action.
"I have seen far too much needless death in my time in the Lands Between," the Tarnished explained. "I would rather I made friends instead of foes, no matter their size, strength, or background."
Messmer chuckled in bemusement. "Thou wishes to be friends with mineself?" He let out a laugh. "Thou art but a naïve child for believing so."
"And yet I have set foot in Leyndell with this attitude," Parvus pointed out. "And I have been to the foot of the Erdtree as a result."
The demigod's smile disappeared, as did his laugh. "Surely thou jest?" he asked, his tone dead serious. "Thou has been to the foot of the Erdtree. And surpassed Leyndell's bastion and its guard. 'Tis impossible for a mere Tarnished to get past such defenses."
Parvus shrugged. "It's not that hard when the armies are scattered to the winds and the fortifications are left in disarray. Getting past the knights and soldiers who remained were of no challenge.
"That is actually why I have sought you out as well." The smaller man stood tall, his earthy brown eyes looking back up at the child of Marika with steel and determination. "Ever since the Shattering of the Elden Ring, the Lands Between has fallen into disarray. It's armies have fragmented, their demigods resorting to infighting or petty squabbles. There is no unity left. I am here to change that.
"You, and your Legion, are the last unified force that remains of the Lands Between. My mistress, Lunar Princess Ranni of the Dark Moon, is requesting your return, to be that unifying force that your home needs."
Messmer said nothing as he looked down upon the Tarnished. His face remained motionless, processing the request, but betraying no sign of emotion.
After seemingly minutes of dead silence, the demigod spoke once more. "Why should I follow in the footsteps of Ranni the Witch? She has no authority, and neither doth thou. Mine Mother still commandeth me."
"Your mother has not spoken to anyone in countless years. My mistress aims to be a voice where she lacks. And she aims for the freedom of the stars. Is that not something to strive for?" Parvus said without hesitation. He truly believed in Ranni's cause, what good it could bring to the people in the Lands Between. He was tired of the Greater Will, its meddling and its endless, broken cycle of decay, one that continues to derail the longer it exerts its influence.
Messmer, to his surprise, nodded in agreement. "Thy words speak of no falsehood, even if thou hast next to nothing to back it up beyond a connection to my Sword."
The demigod sighed. "But I will consider thy offer."
Parvus's ears perked up at the answer. Did he hear that right?
"You will, Lord Messmer?" he asked, hope leaking into his voice.
The redhead nodded. "I will."
He looked down at Rellana, her form still unmoving in its kneeling stance. If she was thinking anything about the possibility of returning home, she didn't show it.
"In the meantime," he addressed her, "give our esteemed guest a room in the Keep. I am sure he is tired and requires some rest."
She bowed her head lower. "It will be done, my lord."
Without hesitation, Parvus bowed in gratitude and made his way out of the chamber, his boots shuffling against the ground. Rellana rose, standing back to full height before moving to follow him.
"Rellana," she heard Messmer call out. She stopped in her tracks, looking over her shoulder. "Thou will escort him wherever he goes while he is here. That is thy penance for failing to kill him earlier."
She looked back at him, her face hidden behind her helmet. If this was a surprise to her, she did not show it. "Yes, my lord," the Knightess acknowledged. She left the room, the doors slamming behind her with a clang.
"This will surely be interesting," Messmer spoke to himself, now that the chamber was empty. The candles dimmed once more, allowing him to ponder, to brood.
Outside, the Tarnished and Carian royal made their way down the stair, away from Messmer's chamber, passing the Fire Knight once more without a word. Parvus let her take the lead, following behind her flowing sash as she moved forth. They remained quiet as they disappeared back into the Shadow Keep proper.
As they went downstairs, past the various soldiers, guards, and shadows, he couldn't help but think what came next. Just what would Messmer think of Ranni's new age? Would he accept that she was trying to push away the influence of the Greater Will, that she desired freedom from the endless cycle of death and rebirth that was plaguing the land? Would he be okay with the fact that Parvus was to become the new Elden Lord, and that he would have to answer to him? Would he be okay with his Legion returning home, to be used as Ranni saw fit?
Would he be okay with Rellana returning home?
There was no doubt that Rellana had been away from home for quite some time. He knew next to nothing about the woman, but surely she missed her family, especially her dear sister. What would she think about Rennala's broken state? Could she handle it?
There were far too many variables to think about, so many unknowns. So many mysteries that could not be answered or even thought of. He didn't know if he was ready for them.
The Knightess came to an abrupt halt, standing before a seemingly inconspicuous door, one at the end of a long, narrow hallway. A glowing blue flame, one just like the arena they had fought in, was lit, the only one of its kind in the entire labyrinthian Keep.
"We are here," she told him. Turning to face him, she pushed the door open, allowing him to see inside.
The room itself was sparse, little more than a bed with a simple red-and-gold comforter, blue sheets highlighting the edges. It had two fluffed pillows, white and looking as light as the feathers they were no doubt stuffed with.
Beside it was a small nightstand with a lantern and matches for his use alongside a cabinet to fill with whatever meager selection of clothes he had brought. On the opposite side was an armor stand, one he could hang his stuff on whenever he desired. A weapon rack was next to it, empty. A window on the wall was next to that, the darkness of the night sky and moonlight spilling in and giving the room a blue hue.
As he stepped in, she said behind him, "I will be in the room opposite yours. While you are a guest here, you are not to leave from here without my presence or permission. Do I make myself clear?"
Parvus nodded, looking up at her. He still couldn't make up anything from her emotionless visor, only azure-blue eyes from the slits.
"Thank you," he told her. "Good night, princess."
She said nothing, instead closing the door behind him, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
As he moved to the bed, and began to undress, he couldn't help but feel both uncertain and excited at the situation before him. Maybe there was hope to finally get a demigod on his side, and not have to resort to violence.
Whatever the next few days held, he was ready for it.
Or at least he hoped he was.