Nathaniel sat on the hood of Brian's car, staring blankly at the field stretching out before them. It was late afternoon, and the fading sunlight cast long shadows across the grass, adding a quiet stillness to the air. Brian leaned against the car next to him, his arms folded, a patient look in his eyes.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Nathaniel's mind was heavy with memories of his dad, the grief so familiar yet so isolating. He knew Brian was waiting, giving him space. Finally, with a shaky exhale, Nathaniel muttered, "Sometimes, it feels like… there's just no way out of this."

Brian didn't respond immediately. He looked down, scraping his shoe against the ground, as if searching for the right words. Then he put a hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, firm but gentle.

"Hey," Brian said quietly, his tone steady. "You don't have to find a way out. Not yet. Just… be here, you know? You don't have to go through it all alone."

Nathaniel looked at Brian, his face softened in the fading light, and managed a faint smile. Brian didn't offer empty words or promises that everything would be okay. He simply stayed there, steady and present, a reminder that Nathaniel's world hadn't completely fallen apart.

Brian handed him a soda from the six-pack they'd brought, nudging it into his hand. "Let's just take it one day at a time. I'm here, man. Always."

Nathaniel took a sip, feeling the weight on his chest lighten, if only just a little. They didn't have to say any more. For now, the silence was enough.

They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sky turn from orange to a deep purple. The field around them grew darker, yet Nathaniel felt a strange sense of peace, like the quiet was wrapping itself around him, allowing him to breathe again.

After a while, Brian spoke up, his voice low but firm. "You know, I'll be around for as long as you need. Just because I'm leaving for California doesn't mean I'm out of reach. I'm just… a text away, a call away."

"I know," Nathaniel forced a shrug, trying to sound light-hearted. "It's just… California is pretty far away, you know?"

Brian chuckled softly, though there was a tinge of sadness in his eyes. "Yeah, but I'll visit. And when you come out to see me, we'll make it like old times. Better, even." He looked at Nathaniel with that unwavering gaze he always had when he wanted Nathaniel to believe in something. "Distance doesn't change anything. I'm always here."

Nathaniel swallowed hard, struggling to keep his emotions in check. The thought of Brian being gone, his one true anchor through everything, felt like a weight he wasn't ready to carry. But he nodded, looking down at his hands. "Guess I'll have to get used to you annoying me through a screen."

Brian laughed, nudging him with his shoulder. "Exactly. I'll still be the same annoying guy, just in a different time zone."

They sat together a little longer, until the last light faded from the sky. As they climbed back into the car, Nathaniel felt an odd kind of strength settle within him, one that he knew he owed to Brian's quiet, steady presence. He didn't know what life would be like without him there in person, but he realized, for the first time, that he wouldn't be completely alone.

As they drove back, Nathaniel glanced over at Brian, who was humming along to the radio, his eyes fixed on the road. Nathaniel didn't say it, but he knew he'd remember this night—the fading sunlight, the field, and Brian's promise—long after Brian was gone.

Nathaniel and Melina were at the roundtable hold. Nathaniel and Melina stood together, their hands clasped as Melina channelled the power from his Great Rune into strength. A faint glow enveloped their palms, and as the energy surged, a sudden memory stirred deep within Melina's mind.

The Gloam-Eyed Queen's voice echoed in her thoughts, as vivid as the day it happened.

"Melina, thou wilt soon be my successor, my child. I grow old."

Melina had nodded in that distant memory. "Yes, mother."

"Thou must wield this sword to defeat the goddess Marika." The Gloam-Eyed Queen had handed her the ancient weapon—dark and formidable, a greatsword etched with the symbol of an eye and a star at the end of its handle. Known as the Twilight Greatsword. Its weight had not only been physical but symbolic, a burden Melina was destined to carry.

Melina's grip on Nathaniel's hand tightened briefly, but she forced herself to remain composed. She felt the power transfer complete, and the glow around their hands faded.

Nathaniel offered her a grateful nod. "Thanks, Melina. I feel stronger already."

Melina, however, was lost in thought, her mother's voice still lingering in her mind. The Gloam-Eyed Queen had entrusted her with a mission far greater than anything she had revealed to Nathaniel. She glanced at him, pondering whether she could continue to hide this truth from him.

For now, she kept silent, pushing the memory to the back of her mind. She couldn't let this revelation distract her. Not yet.

Nathaniel noticed the subtle shift in Melina's expression as their hands parted. Her usual calm demeanour seemed clouded by something distant, something she wasn't saying. He furrowed his brow, concern flickering in his eyes.

"You alright?" he asked softly. "You look... I dunno, lost in thought or something."

Melina blinked, her golden eyes refocusing on him. "I am fine," she replied. "'Tis nothing."

But Nathaniel wasn't convinced. "You sure? I know we've got a lot going on, but you don't have to keep everything bottled up. If something's bothering you, you can talk to me."

For a moment, Melina hesitated, the weight of her secret pulling at her. She could feel the trust between them deepening, but revealing the truth about her mother, the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and her destined role—it was too much. Not yet. Not with everything else they had to face.

"I appreciate thy concern. But truly, I am fine. 'Tis... just old memories."

Nathaniel studied her face for a moment longer, sensing there was more she wasn't saying. But he didn't press. "Alright, if you say so. Just remember, you don't gotta carry all that alone."

Melina nodded, grateful for his understanding. But as they continued their journey, her thoughts remained on the memory of the Gloam-Eyed Queen, the weight of her hidden destiny heavy on her shoulders.

Nathaniel stood before Gideon, bracing himself for whatever task came next. The weight of Godrick's defeat still hung on him, but Gideon, as always, was unfazed, his sharp gaze cutting through the air like a blade.

"You've received the wisdom of the Two Fingers, have you not?" Gideon began. "Then, as promised, I welcome you as a true member of the Roundtable. I expect you to remain constant."

Nathaniel nodded, unsure of how to respond. "Thanks, I guess..."

Gideon's gaze hardened, silencing the momentary casualness. "Don't get comfortable. Being a member here doesn't give you the luxury of laziness."

Nathaniel stiffened, the room's atmosphere heavy with the weight of Gideon's expectations. There was no warmth here, no room for levity or ease. Just the cold, stark path forward.

"You've proven yourself against Godrick," Gideon continued. "But he was merely one piece of the larger puzzle. The road to the Elden Throne is littered with adversaries far greater than him. You must be prepared."

"What's the next step?"

"Your next objective is at the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon, resides there. She holds one of the Great Runes. You'll need it to continue your journey."

Nathaniel frowned. "Rennala? Another demigod?"

Gideon shook his head. "No, not a demigod. She's human. But don't be fooled—she is more dangerous than Godrick ever was. In her prime, she could have annihilated you without lifting a finger. She's steeped in sorcery, her mind as sharp as her magic. You'd do well not to underestimate her."

Nathaniel hesitated. He had fought Godrick, a demigod, and survived, though barely. The idea of facing a mere human didn't seem as daunting. "She's just a human. What harm could she be?"

"Just a human?" Gideon repeated, his tone cold. "Don't let arrogance blind you. Rennala may not be of divine blood, but her power in sorcery is unmatched. Her magic will shred you if you go in thinking this will be easy."

The gravity of Gideon's words settled in Nathaniel's chest like a stone. His usual confidence wavered. He had faced beasts and demigods, but this… this sounded different. More cunning. More dangerous.

Nathaniel nodded. "Understood," he said. "But I won't go in blind."

Gideon's gaze remained hard, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Good. You'll need every bit of preparation. The journey to the academy is perilous, and the sorcerers within are not to be taken lightly. And remember, Rennala is grieving. Her mind is fragile, but her power is still lethal."

Nathaniel stood to leave, but Gideon's voice stopped him again. "And Nathaniel..." he said, his tone low and warning. "Don't forget your purpose. These distractions—your little victories, your moments of celebration—they will get you killed if you lose focus."

Nathaniel glanced back at Gideon, his jaw tightening. "Distractions?" he muttered under his breath, but he gave a curt nod. "I won't forget."

As he exited the room, the thought lingered in his mind: Rennala, not a demigod but a force far beyond what he'd imagined. He had been ready to treat this as a simple task, another victory to claim. But now, doubt gnawed at him. Gideon's words echoed in his head, louder than ever.

Rennala might not have divine power, but she had something far more dangerous—a mind sharpened by loss and a lifetime of mastery in sorcery. If he wasn't careful, she wouldn't just defeat him. She'd destroy him.

As Nathaniel left Gideon's chamber, his thoughts swirled. 'Rennala isn't a demigod... this should be easier than Godrick,' he told himself, feeling a fleeting sense of relief. But doubt lingered. Gideon's warning echoed in his mind: "Her mind and magic are her weapons."

The Academy of Raya Lucaria wasn't just some fortress; it was a place of immense learning and deep sorcery, where knowledge itself could be as deadly as any blade. "Magic's tricky, but nothing I can't handle," he mused, though the thought felt hollow even to him. There was a weight to Gideon's words that Nathaniel couldn't ignore.

Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon, might not possess the raw, brutish strength of Godrick, but Nathaniel had seen enough to know that strength didn't always come from muscle.

With his resolve tightened and his nerves still buzzing, Nathaniel prepared for what lay ahead at Raya Lucaria. This would not be like facing Godrick; this would be a battle of wits, magic, and survival.

Roderika approached him. "What did he say? What's next?"

Nathaniel sighed. "The Academy of Raya Lucaria. We're going after Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon."

Roderika's eyes widened. "Rennala? She's one of the most powerful sorcerers alive... Are you sure you're ready for that?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ready or not, it's the next step. But I won't be going in without a plan."

Corhyn, standing nearby, joined the conversation. "Raya Lucaria is a fortress of knowledge and sorcery. I've heard that the academy's scholars are fiercely protective of their secrets, and their magic is potent. You'll need to be cautious."

Nathaniel nodded. "I get that. I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Rogier, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "I can offer some insight. I've spent time studying sorcery, and while I'm no match for Rennala, I know a thing or two about countering magical attacks. If you want, I can come with you."

Nathaniel considered the offer, grateful for Rogier's support. "I'll need all the help I can get. Thank you."

He then turned to Roderika, who looked determined but worried. "I'll go with you, Nathaniel," she said firmly. "I'm not letting you face this alone."

Nathaniel gave her a grateful smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

With his team gathered, Nathaniel felt a renewed sense of purpose. The path ahead was dangerous, but he wasn't facing it alone. Together, they would make their way to Raya Lucaria, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they began preparing for the journey, Melina watched from the shadows, her gaze fixed on Nathaniel. She still hadn't spoken much after the celebration, but her thoughts were on him, wondering if he truly understood the gravity of his mission.

Nathaniel, Roderika and Melina gathered their supplies, making sure they were well-prepared for the journey ahead. The academy loomed in their thoughts, its distant towers heavy with unknown dangers. The air was thick with tension as they finalized their plans.

Roderika glanced at Nathaniel. "You ready for this? This isn't just brute strength like Godrick—it's going to take a different kind of fight."

Nathaniel nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, I know. But we've got the right people for it. I've got you, and Melina. We'll make it work."

Rogier, who had been quietly adjusting his staff, spoke up. "The academy is a maze of traps and magical wards. They guard their secrets with both subtlety and force. The key will be keeping our wits about us, and not getting overwhelmed by the sorceries that they wield."

Corhyn, his brow furrowed in thought, added, "And the students… some of them might still be loyal to Rennala, even if she's lost her way. Be cautious about who you trust in there."

Nathaniel looked at his companions, a determined fire in his eyes. "Then let's make sure we stick together and keep our heads clear. No surprises."

As they prepared to leave, Melina appeared from the shadows. Her sudden presence was quiet, but it drew the attention of the group.

"Nathaniel," she said, her voice soft yet resolute. "This be a crucial step upon thy path. But take heed, for the journey to Raya Lucaria is beset not only with foes but also with distractions of the mind. The academy is a realm of both knowledge and madness. Thou must keep thine focus unwavering."

Nathaniel tilted his head, confused. "Distractions of the mind?"

Melina's eyes darkened slightly. "The academy was once a place of great wisdom, but now… its halls echo with something darker. Rennala's grief has twisted her, and it may affect those who enter her domain. Be wary of more than just the physical dangers."

Her words sent a chill through the group, but Nathaniel stood firm. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Melina."

Without another word, Melina faded back into the shadows, leaving the group to themselves.

Nathaniel turned to his companions. "Alright, let's move out."

The four of them began their journey to the Academy of Raya Lucaria, the path ahead uncertain, but their resolve unshaken. The wind howled around them as they set out, leaving the safety of the Roundtable Hold behind. The towering structures of the academy, visible even from a distance, seemed to beckon them with a mixture of allure and danger.

Whatever awaited them inside those ancient walls, they would face it together.

Author's Note: The Gloam Eyed Queen's Lore didn't seem very Christian to me. I made lore changes, especially the names.