Chapter VII:
Nathaniel saw Melina performing her golden tree magic, a soft, radiant glow enveloping his wounds. He was half-unconscious, the pain ebbing away under her healing touch. When he finally awoke, he noticed his abdomen was bandaged. Pushing himself up, he staggered out of his tent and heard a voice.
"Hello there, Tarnished. May I have a word?" The voice was calm, gentle, and prestigious, not unlike Melina's voice. But it wasn't Melina. The woman before him, revealed by the mist, had pale blue skin. As he looked closer, he noticed she had four arms and another face bound to hers—a wraith-like countenance with a closed right eye. Her silvery-blue hair shimmered unnaturally under a massive witch hat.
"Oh hi." he asked quietly.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am the witch, Renna," she said, her tone regal and composed. "I had heard tales of a Tarnished hurtling about atop a spectral steed. Upon looking into the matter, I surmise it is thee. Thou art possessed of the power to call forth the spectral steed named Torrent, no?"
"Yeah, that's me," Nathaniel replied, rubbing his eyes to clear the remaining fog of sleep. "What do you want with me? You arrive right as I wake up?"
"Ah, thou art the person I had hoped for. I was entrusted this for thee by Torrent's former master." She pulled out an archaic, silver bell with etchings in the handle. It gleamed with an ancient, mysterious light.
"Thanks, I guess?" he said, taking the bell cautiously.
"'Tis a bell for calling forth spirits. Summon them with it, from ash unreturned to the Erdtree. The spirits will obey thy command but briefly, as they recall battles past. Now it is thine to do with as thou wishest."
"Wait, you mentioned Torrent's former master. Are you talking about Melina?" Nathaniel asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Forgive me, but I have no obligation to tell thee that. I am merely carrying out my duties," Renna replied, her evasiveness apparent.
"Uh, thank you, Renna. I, um, really appreciate it," Nathaniel said, feeling a bit awkward in the presence of such an enigmatic figure.
"I doubt we shall meet again. But all the same, learn well the Lands Between," she said, her voice carrying a hint of both wisdom and warning. "How long will it be, I wonder, before the Tarnished tire of obeisance to the Two Fingers?"
Melina had spoken of the Two Fingers before but never explained them to him. He felt a flicker of unease but pushed it aside. "Goodbye then," he said, not wanting to offend her. She seemed powerful, and he didn't want to test her patience.
"Farewell, Tarnished." Renna tipped her hat slightly and dissipated into the mist just as Melina often did.
Nathaniel stood there for a moment, the silver bell in his hand, pondering the cryptic encounter. The Lands Between were full of mysteries, and he had just uncovered another piece of the puzzle.
Nathaniel glanced around, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. His hand tightened around the bell he had just received.
"Melina?" he called out.
A soft voice responded, "Yes, Tarnished."
Nathaniel turned to see Melina standing before him, her ethereal presence a calming contrast to the chaotic world around them. He felt a surge of relief. "Good, you're here. Do you know somebody named Renna? She gave me these bells."
Melina's expression remained composed. "Aye, I serve her."
Nathaniel's thoughts raced. Who is this Renna, and what did she want with him? Why would Melina serve someone else? He pushed the questions aside for now, focusing on the immediate matter at hand.
"Oh, okay. So where the hell is Roderika?" he asked, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice.
"I have taken her to the Roundtable Hold," Melina replied calmly.
"The roundtable that reminds me of King Arthur. You know, King Arthur, the leader of the knights of the Round Table?" Nathaniel added, attempting to lighten the mood or perhaps seeking a connection.
Melina stared at him, her silence more eloquent than words. Clearly, King Arthur and his legends were not part of her world.
"Okay. Shutting up now," Nathaniel muttered, feeling slightly foolish.
Melina's gaze softened. "I can take thee there. I can take thee to the Roundtable Hold... gathering place of Tarnished champions, guided by Grace... Very well. Let my hand rest upon thee, for but a moment."
Nathaniel nodded and extended his hand. As Melina's hand met his, a sensation of warmth and light enveloped him. The world around them began to dissolve, and for a fleeting moment, he felt weightless.
In the blink of an eye, Melina and Nathaniel vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a whisper of their presence.
A man with black clury hair with silver armour and man with silver and golden armour.
The man with clury hair said. "Yes. I remember-"
Melina guided Nathaniel into the Roundtable Hold. "Welcome to the Roundtable Hold," she said.
The room was vast, dominated by a grand round table with a glowing aura floating above it. Numerous exits branched out, leading to other parts of the expansive area. Sculptures perched on pedestals, and a warm fire crackled in a fireplace along one wall.
Nathaniel's eyes widened in awe. "Whoa. This is the Roundtable Hold. This place is freaking awesome," he said, taking in the grandeur.
As Nathaniel admired the room, a circle of strangers began to close in around him. Melina stayed by his side, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the gathering.
One man in steely-gray armour, his face hidden in shadow beneath a helmet, approached. He leaned on a cane, exuding an air of ancient wisdom. Beside him was a peculiar figure dressed in what looked like a potato sack, blindfolded, with a wheel around his neck. Behind them, a noble-looking man with flowing, raven hair stood, his demeanor regal. Finally, a man in bronze armour with a metal face mask completed the assembly. He cradled a metal head protruding from his chest plate like a cherished object. Their penetrating gazes made Nathaniel feel exposed and uneasy, as if they were assessing him for some unknown purpose.
"A new Tarnished," the man with the cane said, his voice resonating with authority. "I can scarcely remember the last time a new one made it to the Roundtable Hold." He approached Nathaniel and extended his hand. "I'm Sir Gideon Ofnir, senior member and leader of the Hold." They shook hands.
"As your senior, allow me to give you a word of advice. You are a mere visitor to the Roundtable, nothing more. A house guest, yet to earn their keep. Remember your place, newcomer."
Nathaniel's brow furrowed in confusion and irritation. 'What's his problem?' he thought.
Melina stepped forward, her voice firm. "Do not speak to my Tarnished in such a crude manner, Sir Ofnir. Treat him with some respect."
Sir Ofnir's gaze remained steady, a trace of disdain in his tone. "Oh, is he aggrieved at the notion of only being a visitant here? I don't give my esteem to just anybody. Your Tarnished should remember the first words of grace spoken to him. Stand before the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord. Lay low the shardbearers and claim for himself a Great Rune. Only then will the inner chambers of the Hold open, and only then will he receive the wisdom of the Two Fingers. Once the wisdom of the Two Fingers becomes his own, I will impart a proper welcome."
Nathaniel stood there, his mind racing to process the unexpected hostility and cryptic instructions.
"Well, that was just lovely," another man chimed in, stepping forward with a friendly demeanor. "Forgive Gideon, that old lout. My name is Diallos, and I bid you welcome here, uh?"
"Nathaniel," he replied, trying to stay upbeat despite the awkward encounter with Gideon.
"Well, you're welcome here. Ignore Gideon," Diallos said with a dismissive wave.
"Yeah. The guy's got a thorn up his ass. From his voice, seems like an old man. The age is really getting to him," Nathaniel said, his frustration evident.
"Ha! I like you already. Allow me to introduce you to the other members," Diallos said with a grin.
He gestured to a tall figure standing nearby. "This is D, hunter of the dead."
D nodded in acknowledgment. "D."
"That sounds cool," Nathaniel remarked.
"What?" D asked, looking puzzled. "Forgive me, I do not know what that word means?"
"You mean cool? It means, um, impressive in the place I come from. America," Nathaniel explained, trying to bridge the gap in understanding.
"I've heard of no such land," D replied, his curiosity piqued but not further pursued.
"Okay. Now I am in no mood for chit-chat. I have duties to fulfil," D said, turning to leave.
Diallos continued with the introductions. "This is Corhyn."
Corhyn bowed slightly, his expression serene. "I am a man of the cloth. A prophet."
"You a priest?" Nathaniel asked, hoping for clarity.
"You could say that. I am a devout follower of the Golden Order," Corhyn explained.
"I wouldn't say that I'm that religious," Nathaniel admitted.
"By the way, do you still see it? The guidance of Grace, I mean," Corhyn asked, his gaze searching.
Nathaniel recalled Melina's instructions about not revealing his immortality to avoid complications. He remembered the grace is what provide his immortality. He hesitated. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh, that's a shame. Not surprising," Corhyn said, a touch of disappointment in his voice.
"Well, Corhyn, Nathaniel, I must go. It was nice meeting you," Diallos said with a final, friendly nod.
He touched the round table, and with a sudden flash, Diallos vanished from the room.
Nathaniel looked around, bewildered. Who were all these people? He felt a mix of curiosity and trepidation as he tried to piece together the strange gathering.
"Thou seemest to be quite welcomed," Melina quipped as they stood together in the bustling Roundtable Hold.
"These people aren't how I'm used to," Nathaniel replied, shaking his head slightly. "D was mysterious, Diallos and Corhyn were friendly. Except for Gideon, Gideon was a bit of a dick."
"Dick?" Melina asked, her head tilting in curiosity.
"It's a word we say in America. It's an insult for men," Nathaniel explained.
"Oh," Melina responded, her voice thoughtful as she considered the term.
"Do not let Sir Ofnir disturb thee. It seems he is wary of outsiders, as he hath no knowledge of them," Melina said gently.
"He said that he's the leader of this place," Nathaniel remarked, still feeling the sting of Gideon's dismissive attitude.
"Thou shouldst make peace with him. He would be a powerful ally. He is known as the All-Knowing," Melina advised.
All-Knowing. That's terrifying. How does he have so much knowledge? Nathaniel thought, the idea sending a shiver down his spine. Wait. If he is All-Knowing, that means he can tell me how to get back to Earth or why I have been brought here.
"So, Melina, where is Roderika?" Nathaniel asked, shifting his focus.
"She should be here. I know not why she did not greet thee with everyone else," Melina said, a hint of concern in her voice.
Nathaniel scanned the room, finally spotting Roderika in a quieter corner. "Hey, Roderika," he called out, walking over.
"Hello, Nathaniel. Hello, Melina," Roderika greeted, her voice soft and kind.
"The Roundtable Hold, covert quarters of the Two Fingers, and gathering place of champions who vie to become Elden Lord. I never knew the guidance bestowed upon us Tarnished had such fantastic roots. Although, it's all a bit much for me, in truth. I'm still looking for my own purpose," she admitted, her eyes reflecting a deep, earnest quest for meaning.
Nathaniel took a moment to absorb her words. "I get it, Roderika. This place is overwhelming. All these people, their roles, the history... it's like being thrown into a story mid-chapter. But hey, if you're looking for purpose, maybe this place will help you find it. Everyone here seems to be on some kind of journey."
"Okay, about this Gideon guy," Nathaniel said, breaking the silence.
"Thou needest to speak to him. He is the only one who couldst help thee obtain the Elden Ring," Melina replied, her voice calm and reassuring.
Nathaniel sighed. "I don't think he would talk to me," he admitted. "I haven't earned his respect yet or something like that. He wouldn't help me even if I asked."
"I think thou underestimatest him," Melina said, her early modern English adding a touch of formality to her words. "He is a man of understanding. If thou interesteth him, he will speak to thee. Thou art the most unique Tarnished in the Lands Between. So have no fear."
"I suppose it couldn't hurt," Nathaniel conceded. He glanced at Roderika and Melina, both of whom had been unwavering in their support. "You two should relax. Roderika, it's good to see you're okay. Melina, you work too hard for me. Just take a breather."
Nathaniel went off to find Mr. All-Knowing. He wasn't exactly difficult to locate; he was in the room with the most books, his own personal library. However, the room appeared to be guarded by someone wearing a skull-shaped helmet. Nathaniel took a hesitant step forward to gauge their reaction. Nothing. They didn't speak or move. So, he just walked in.
Gideon looked up from a book he was reading and said, "What do you need? I have little time to spare."
"I have a question?" Nathaniel said, his voice betraying his lack of confidence. Man, where was his confidence?! Although, it was sort of hard to have intellectual confidence when standing in front of a man literally called the All-Knowing. He mentally kicked himself. Come on, Nathaniel, get it together.
"Fitting to ask me, isn't it?" Gideon replied, his tone dry and impatient.
"Yeah, I suppose," Nathaniel mumbled, feeling like an idiot.
"What is it? If it's trivial, leave."
"I need to get to the Elden Ring," Nathaniel stated firmly. He hoped the confidence he was faking would stick.
"And what business do you have with the Elden Ring?"
"I need it to get back home. Earth."
"Earth?" Gideon echoed, his brow furrowing.
"Yeah. Ever heard of it?" Nathaniel asked, trying to keep his tone steady. Surely the All-Knowing had heard of Earth.
"No. I have never heard of such a land."
"What? But you should know. You are the All-Knowing... I thought you would have access to knowledge of other worlds," Nathaniel insisted, feeling a surge of frustration. If even Gideon didn't know about Earth, what hope did he have?
"Yes. I should have..." Gideon trailed off, lost in thought for a long moment. Nathaniel watched him, anxiety gnawing at his insides.
"You okay?" Nathaniel asked, his voice softer. He couldn't afford for Gideon to zone out now.
"Yes, I'm just pondering."
"Yeah, so about the Elden Ring. Some creature is in my way. An ogre, to be exact."
"The ogre you are talking about is Margit the Fell Omen. He is the gatekeeper of Stormveil Castle."
"Margit the Fell Omen, that's his name?" Nathaniel repeated, trying to commit it to memory.
"Yes."
"So, how am I gonna defeat him?" Nathaniel asked, hoping for a straightforward answer.
"Do you think I am just going to help you? You are a mere visitor, an outsider. Don't get your head up your arse. You haven't given me a reason why I should help you," Gideon snapped. Nathaniel felt a wave of irritation. The old man was right, but his attitude grated on Nathaniel's nerves.
He was not wrong. Nathaniel knew he needed to offer something valuable. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
"Why do you need the Elden Ring? You have no ambition of being an Elden Lord. Why shouldn't I give somebody else the task?"
"If you help me, I can help you," Nathaniel blurted out, hoping he could sell this.
"And how would you do that?" Gideon asked, his skepticism evident.
"If I get to be Elden Lord, then the throne is yours. You can rule the Lands Between or do whatever you want," Nathaniel offered. He hoped it sounded as good to Gideon as it did in his head.
"Ha! You are naive, boy. Fine. I will indulge you. If you manage to beat Margit and take the Great Rune from Godrick, then I would admit that I am wrong. But if you don't, then I have no use for you."
Nathaniel thought, 'He is harsh but reasonable.' At least he was willing to give him a chance.
"I will give you a task. You need to meet someone by the name of Patches. He has a tool to shackle the omen; it can help you have an advantage, but if I'm being honest, I have no hope for you."
'Dick,' Nathaniel thought, biting back a retort.
"Okay. Patches. Do you have a map that I can borrow?" he asked, deciding to be pragmatic.
"Here. I will mark it." Gideon handed him a map with a marked location.
"Thanks," Nathaniel muttered, taking the map.
"You are dismissed," Gideon said curtly.
Nathaniel shook his head and immediately left the room, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. This whole situation was beyond ridiculous, but he had no other options. As he walked away, he couldn't help but think about how he'd ended up in this situation. He needed to find this Patches guy and get that tool. It was his only shot at getting past Margit and one step closer to the Elden Ring. And then, maybe, just maybe, he'd get back home to Earth.
Nathaniel entered the darkened workshop, the smell of hot metal and sweat hitting him immediately. The creature looked up at him, then glanced over at Melina. "So, this is the Tarnished you wish to outfit with better armor?"
Melina nodded. "Indeed. I only ask thee to provide more advanced protective wear than what he already has."
The smithing creature, Master Hewg, grunted. "A custom job requires runes, lady. And as you've said, you do not have many. I may be a prisoner here, but I don't do things for free."
"Is there anything that we can give you?" Roderika asked, her gentle voice cutting through the tension.
"What's going on here?" Nathaniel cut in, feeling out of the loop.
"I am trying to ask Smithing Master Hewg a favor. Thou wilt need new armor and weapons," Melina explained.
"How are we gonna pay for that?" Nathaniel asked, skeptical.
"That's exactly my question," Hewg said, eyes narrowing. "It's quite simple, maiden. If you have runes, you get my labor. If you don't, you can leave me alone."
"But let us go back to Roderika's question," Melina said, her tone calm and diplomatic. "Is there anything that we may do to pay for the wares sans the runes?"
Hewg scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, I suppose the blond girl could work for me. She may not be able to smith, but she does have a talent for spirit tuning."
"I… have a talent?" Roderika asked, surprised.
"Yes," Hewg said, nodding. "I've seen another one like you, long ago. You both shared the same hue and shimmer in your eyes."
"If I do have this talent, I suppose it's only right that I attempt to hone it," Roderika said thoughtfully.
"Become my apprentice, and I will overlook the cost of the armor and blade," Hewg offered.
"We'll find some other way," Nathaniel interjected. "No, no, it's okay," Roderika said, "I believe I would be much better suited for this than a warrior."
"Are you sure?" Nathaniel asked, concern lacing his voice. "Because I don't want you doing this just because I can't afford some pieces of metal. We can find another way."
"I am sure. It's not like I will be confined to only doing this. The desire to slay Godrick still burns hot within my chest. However, afterward, I may retire to spirit tuning if it is my calling."
"I see," Nathaniel said, nodding. "So you don't want to become Elden Lord?"
"Goodness, no," Roderika replied, a soft smile on her lips. "I just don't believe it is the life for me. However, I will be able to aid you in your journey to restoring the Elden Ring."
"So is it settled?" Hewg asked, his impatience growing.
"Whatever Roderika thinks is best," Nathaniel said, "I have no objection if she wants to do this."
"I will become your apprentice," Roderika stated firmly.
"Brilliant," Hewg said, a rare smile breaking his stony demeanor. "Now, let me take your measurements, Tarnished."
"Can I be the one to design the costume?" Nathaniel asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Hewg replied, surprised.
"I'm gonna draw you it. But not now. I will get back to you when I am done," Nathaniel said, excitement evident in his voice.
"Whatever," Hewg grunted.
"Awesome," Nathaniel pumped his fist. "Man, this place is like paradise. All I want to do is sit here, lift my legs up, and who knows, maybe somebody else will take the Elden Ring for themselves. That idiot will be doing the dirty work for me. It will be easier for me to get home and not worry about it."
Melina's expression tightened slightly. "If that is the case, then I shall find that Tarnished instead."
"What? Do you actually mean that?" Nathaniel asked, his tone suddenly serious.
"I have a duty to fulfill and I will not be hindered by your laziness," Melina said firmly.
"I was just joking, Melina," Nathaniel said, though part of him was unsure. He didn't really want to go through this dangerous quest to get home, but he didn't want someone else to take the Elden Ring for themselves, either. "You're seriously gonna drop me off for someone else if I'm useless to you!?" he demanded.
"Elden Ring is no mere jest. I only partnered with thee because Torrent chose thee. We are not friends or companions, Nathaniel. Thou should know this. If thou art not equal to the duty, then I shall not delay to forsake thee for someone more capable," Melina replied, her tone icy.
"So it's true, you are using me to further your goals, but why am I not surprised. I could say the same thing to you, Melina. The only reason why I am with you is because you could get me home. If that's how you truly feel then I—" Nathaniel began, but Roderika cut in.
"Well, I am going to break this up and continue with something else," she said diplomatically.
"Okay," Nathaniel said, his anger simmering but controlled.
Nathaniel walked away. Nathaniel's relationship with Melina hasn't advanced yet. They are still not friends but maybe one day that would change.