His attire was no different from the two Soldiers Mia had killed earlier.
Even his appearance was much the same.
Sunken cheeks, dehydrated lips, and a few strands of withered beard peeking out from under his helmet.
The long years had dried away any unique appearance a Soldier might have possessed.
All that remained was a monotonous, pale, and shriveled face.
But this Soldier’s eyes—his pupils—were different from the gray, colorless eyes of the Roaming Nobles; they were still full of moist life, his golden pupils flickering with the blinking of his bark-like eyelids.
The first moment Mia saw him look up, a thought appeared in her mind: ‘He’s different.
He’s not like those walking corpses who charge and slash at strangers without a word.’ “Where do you come from?
Little girl.” The Soldier asked slowly in a raspy voice, so slow it was as if he were just a swaying stone.
The muscles in Mia’s throat moved, and she swallowed nervously before answering: “I jumped down.” The Soldier nodded and said: “That is truly unfortunate.” “Why?” “We are also trapped here.” “I’m not trapped.
I’m about to leave.” The Soldier didn’t respond, tilting his head.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a young Soldier.” He sized Mia up unhurriedly, only speaking after a few breaths: “You’re a Tarnished, aren’t you?” Mia took a step back.
In the game, this world was not friendly to the Tarnished.
Seeing Mia’s cautious behavior, the Soldier added: “A Tarnished returned from beyond The Lands Between, why are you here?” “I jumped down,” Mia repeated, then asked back: “And why are you all here?” “As you can see, I am but a Soldier, a Soldier serving the Shardbearer Godrick—” He paused, reminiscing.
“You came from that direction; you must have seen my companions?” “Those…
well…” Mia hesitated, unsure if she should tell the truth—that she had beaten everyone she met on the way.
Noticing the girl’s hesitation, the Soldier knew Mia had seen his companions.
For some reason, he asked with a hint of anticipation: “Have they returned to the Erdtree?” “Do not worry, please tell me their current state as it is.
I will not harm you.” Even if you tried to harm me, it wouldn’t matter…
anyway, I have the strength and can resurrect…
Mia looked away guiltily.
“They…
well, they’ve lost their minds and tried to kill me as soon as they saw me…
I was just acting in self-defense.” After saying that, she clenched her left hand and watched the Godrick Soldier’s reaction.
Honestly, if she really had to kill someone who could communicate normally with her, Mia didn’t know if she’d have the resolve.
The walking corpses she had encountered before had neither the appearance of people in her memory nor the ability to communicate.
Although the Godrick Soldier before her also had a hollowed face…
at least he was very polite and possessed the sanity of a normal Soldier.
Hearing Mia’s words, the Soldier merely nodded.
“Is that so?” “What do you mean?” Mia asked.
“Well.” The Soldier paused.
“The People of Gold are born from the Erdtree’s grace, and upon death, both body and soul should Return to the Erdtree.
But after the elden ring was shattered, returning to the Erdtree became an extravagant hope for us.” “Those who have already died open their eyes again, their souls imprisoned in bodies that are gradually withering…
No one knows if they can still Return to the Erdtree, or when.
Most of the time, we wait, wait, and wait continuously, waiting for the day we can Return to the Erdtree.
It is said that by becoming a hero, one can Return to the Erdtree, so we take up arms and join the war, but the journey to Return to the Erdtree is simply too long.” “Some people’s bodies Return to the Erdtree, but their souls still wander the world.
Some souls have returned to the Erdtree, but their bodies refuse to leave the world.
And some have long been driven insane by eternal life.
To be able to die, some even touched the ominous deathroot and became Those Who Live in Death.” “But…
what’s the difference between those wandering ones who have already lost their sanity and Those Who Live in Death?” “Erdtree…
will I also be able to Return to the Erdtree?” Perhaps it was because Mia was a Tarnished that the soldier spoke so much.
“It seems they’ve become Hollows,” the soldier chuckled, referring to the fellows Mia had subdued along the way.
The soldier’s shrunken lips couldn’t hide his teeth at all; heaven knows how his muscles could still form a ‘smile.’ When he laughed, his gums were exposed in a ghoulish display.
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve seen many Tarnished,” the soldier continued.
“Not just those from across the sea.
The Erdtree can no longer grant grace to everyone, so since the war began, Tarnished have been born right here in The Lands Between.
They are thin, small, fragile, and short-lived—far weaker than you, the descendants of the heroes of the First Elden Lord.
Even if recruited into the army, they can only serve as laborers or common soldiers operating machinery.” “I truly don’t know if these Tarnished lost their grace because they were loathed or because they were favored.
Though they are weak, at least they can simply die and be done with it.” Mia pursed her lips; it was a heavy story.
Without realizing it, she had also found a rock to sit on.
“At least you’re still lucid, aren’t you?” Hearing these words, Mia also let down her guard.
“I don’t know how much longer I can remain lucid,” the soldier replied.
“I don’t know if I can Return to the Erdtree before I turn into a Hollow like them.” “Do you want to Return to the Erdtree that badly?” “I do, very much so.
One only needs to become a hero to Return to the Erdtree.
It was with that thought that I took up my spear and served King Godrick.” Mia heard his tone; though he was expressing his desires, there wasn’t a shred of passion or fighting spirit.
The girl frowned and asked, “And now?” “Now?
I’m just sitting here,” the soldier of Godrick replied indifferently.
“Why not go out?” Mia asked again.
It seemed these people had been staying in the Cave of Learning for a very, very long time.
“Ah,” the soldier said slowly.
“Let me think…” Mia was afraid he might fall asleep.
He thought and thought, for about two minutes, before finally speaking: “Our original mission was to escort several dignitaries to Castle Morne in the south, away from the flames of war.
We didn’t expect to get lost here.” “Then, for some reason…” The soldier looked up, staring at the ceiling of the grotto in deep thought.
“It seemed to be a dragon?
Or demi-humans…
Anyway, the cave where we took temporary shelter collapsed, and we were trapped here…” “Why not go out?” Mia asked with a frown.
For a Tarnished, this Cave of Learning required fighting through obstacles to leave.
But for a soldier of Godrick, it should only take a few steps.
After all, the boss of the Cave of Learning was a Godrick soldier wielding a greatsword.
“Of course we tried; we tried to excavate a tunnel.” The soldier raised his hand, pointing toward the narrow tunnel leading to the boss room.
“But just as we were about to succeed, that guy couldn’t take it anymore and went mad, turning into the kind of walking corpse you saw.” “That guy?” “Our leader,” the soldier replied.
“The strongest among us.
Just as we were about to be free, when I could already hear the Hollow echoes from the other side of the rock wall, he went mad.
Since then, he has stood guard there.
No matter who it is, if they get close, he attacks.” “Why not subdue him?” Mia asked.
“We serve the same Shardbearer; I cannot swing my sword against him.” “…” Blind loyalty…
Mia thought, propping up her chin.
“What if it’s me?
If I can subdue him, you can go out.” As soon as the words left her mouth, their eyes met.
‘It’s working.’ Meeting the soldier’s golden eyes, the corners of Mia’s mouth curled up.
“You want to leave this place, right?
Want to see the Erdtree again?
I can lead you out.” “As long as you do me a favor after you’re out—take me somewhere.” “How about it?” The soldier lowered his head, rubbing his hands together without saying a word.
Mia stared at him intently.
Waiting, until he looked up again.
“I agree.” The soldier replied.
Mia beamed with joy: “Great!” She stood up and patted the dust off herself with a girl’s poise.
“What’s your name?
I’m Mia.” “Wilden.
Soldier Wilden.”