The sun leapt from the horizon, but the frost within the inner keep refused to melt. Don stood atop the magic tower, wrapped in a thick quilt, looking out at the ruins. The once-manicured garden had collapsed entirely; only jagged remnants of the outbuildings remained.
The memory of the previous night flashed through his mind, eventually centering on the display of Dark Moon sorcery. Don clenched his fist. The battle hadn't been long, nor the process overly complex, but it had served as a harsh lesson. It showed him exactly what kind of monsters and demons inhabited this land.
Occult assassins, Trolls of immense strength, spectral knights, and sorcery that bordered on the divine.
As expected of the Lands Between. What I've done so far is merely the prologue, Don thought with a bitter smile. In a direct confrontation, he couldn't defeat a single one of those entities. And they were but a fraction of the world's true power.
He had been in this land for barely a month. He felt no inferiority, but the revelation brought a crushing sense of urgency.
There was no time to waste.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps echoed, and a familiar, mirrored helm appeared outside the window. Don performed a knight's salute immediately.
"Master Iji. Have you finished clearing the field?"
"Indeed. I have buried those wretched assassins," the Giant replied, his tone warm. After a night of shared blood, Don had officially entered the inner circle. The war with the Cuckoos was a matter of state, but Ranni's personal enemies were a different matter entirely; Don't's participation was significant.
"By the way... how is the blade I forged?"
Don drew Starfrost three inches from its scabbard, stroking the metal with a gentle touch. "Peerless craftsmanship. Without Starfrost, I would not have survived."
"Hahaha, thou art too kind. I merely have a bit of experience with the forge; there are smiths far greater than I." Iji laughed, clearly in high spirits. He pointed toward the wreckage of the courtyard. "Dost thou know who those women were?"
"Martial experts. Assassins. Enemies of Her Highness," Don answered. In truth, he already knew. The Black Knives were directly linked to Queen Marika, the executors of the night that broke the world.
Godwyn the Golden died, shattering the concept of 'immortality' and creating a bug in the Golden Order. It was the fuse for the breaking of the Ring, which led to the Shattering.
"They are the executors of conspiracy, hounds without a master. Few in the Lands Between escape their blades. Thou must be vigilant," Iji cautioned, still speaking in riddles.
If they can kill Godwyn, they can gut me like a chicken, Don thought. He nodded gravely. "I wonder how I managed to offend such a group."
"To ruin the grand plans of others and expect a smile? Regardless, I must thank thee for yesterday. Even with my preparations, as a counselor, I did not wish for Her Highness to face such peril. Worry not; thou art safe within these walls."
But I can't stay here like a canary. The growth is too slow. If I wait for the Tarnished to return, I'll still just be an 'Elite Mob.'
But if I don't stay, what excuse do I have to go out and hunt?
Don looked troubled. Iji, assuming he was merely nervous, patted the side of the magic tower.
"Haha, thou shalt not be bored here. If thou hast the mind for it, I can teach thee the art of the forge. It is a good trade to fall back on. Ah, and Her Highness Ranni wishes to see thee. She likely has matters to discuss."
Iji turned and walked away, rubbing his lower back like an old man out for a morning stroll. Don stood stunned for a moment before heading toward Ranni's Rise.
I hope she isn't planning to execute me for that 'shameful' talk, he thought.
He passed the Glintstone Dragon, which ignored him, and took the lift to the second floor. Climbing the external spiral staircase, he glanced to the left. The air was clear, offering a view of half of Liurnia. Ranni's Rise was the highest point in the Manor. Beyond the ridge lay the Altus Plateau, the heart of the Golden Dynasty.
Don paused, feeling the vastness of the world. Staying in this northwestern corner of Liurnia felt stifling. His gaze drifted toward the Academy of Raya Lucaria. The massive structure looked tiny from this height, seemingly irrelevant to his current life—until a thought struck him.
Wait. There's a perfect opportunity.
Don't's pace quickened. At the top of the stairs, he entered the small chamber at the tower's peak. It was sparsely furnished; there wasn't even a bed. The majestic Ranni didn't need one. She sat in her high chair, head bowed, focused on something unseen. Beside her stood another figure.
It was Blaidd. His fur was damp with dew, suggesting he had ridden hard to return. Don feigned shock, instantly reaching for his hilt.
"Are you the real one or a fake!?"
The Wolf turned. Beneath the fur, his veins were likely bulging with annoyance. He gritted his teeth. "I am real, obviously!"
"Got proof?"
Are you looking for a fight? Blaidd gripped his own hilt, looking ready to bite Don't's head off. "Come. Let's go outside. I'll give you all the proof you need."
"Ah, seems it's the real one," Don laughed. He wasn't stupid enough to let Blaidd use him as a punching bag for his frustrations.
Ranni stirred at the commotion. She lifted her head, looking confused. "What are the two of thee bickering about?"
"Nothing, Highness. Just some lingering tension from last night," Don replied, his expression turning solemn. "Your Highness, why have you summoned me?"
"Do not be tense. It is no great matter. Thou hast experienced the events of last night; I felt there were things thou shouldst be told." Ranni sat up, a mysterious light in her blue eyes. "Don Wright... dost thou know what I seek? Where my path leads?"
Don didn't answer immediately. He knew her goals as a player, but as a Knight of Honor, he couldn't know too much. Spouting "classified" lore would be a death sentence.
"You mentioned it before. You wish to control your own destiny and escape the shackles of the Golden Law."
"I have already taken the first step, but it is not enough."
"Indeed. The Erdtree still stands, and the shattered Ring will eventually be mended. Once they recover, there will be no place for you in the Lands Between." Don followed the logic naturally. "Last night was proof. The Order will not tolerate your existence. Before the Ring is repaired, the shackles must be broken entirely."
The reasoning was flawless, based entirely on what a Carian Knight should know. Ranni nodded.
"The shadow of the Two Fingers still looms over me. Until that danger is removed, I cannot find a new path."
She began to explain the secrets of the Two Fingers—messengers of the Greater Will, strange entities that followed every demigod. They were called 'Blessings' by the Order, but they were effectively wardens.
Ranni had refused to walk the path they set. She had struck back.
"Until the Fingers are dead, I cannot be free. And without freedom, there is no path to seek."
"Then why not set a trap? Lure them out and kill them?" Don asked, playing along.
"The Fingers cannot be killed. As emissaries of the Greater Will, even Destined Death would be futile against them," Ranni shook her head. She looked at Blaidd. "My Shadow is searching for a way to slay the Fingers, but thus far, his search has yielded no results."
Oh? They haven't found Nokron yet?
The words were on the tip of Don't's tongue, but he swallowed them. A magic apprentice shouldn't know about Nokron, nor the god-slaying weapons developed by the Nox. He couldn't exactly say Marika had told him in a dream.
He needed an excuse to deliver the information.
Don performed a knight's salute. "Highness, I am also willing to search for a way to slay the Fingers."
Even if the conversation had been steered toward this, Ranni was surprised. Don was a native of the Erdtree's light. "This is an act against the Golden Order. Thou must think carefully. Furthermore, the Black Knives have marked thee. The world beyond is dangerous."
"Highness, I am not doing this solely for you." Don looked up, his tone bold. "Fate must be controlled by one's own hand. Why should the Erdtree decide my life or death? Besides... this thing in my eyes—is it a blessing or a curse?"
Don was already "stealing" from the Erdtree's table with his plundering power. Even without Ranni, he was destined to be an enemy of the Order. And how does one oppose an Order? By sitting in a castle as a cheerleader?
"My knight... thou dost indeed possess extraordinary courage." Ranni allowed a small smile. At this moment, Don had finally become one of her "own." "But do not be in such haste. When the Black Knives have turned their gaze elsewhere, I shall let thee begin thy journey."
"Ten thousand years is too long. I wish to seize the hour." Don shook his head firmly. "An opportunity has presented itself—one that can hide my movements and provide clues."
"What opportunity?"
Don leaned forward, his voice a whisper as he looked at Ranni.
"Raya Lucaria is recalling its sorcerers. I'm going back."