Beside the coastal battlefield ruins of Castle Morne, Frieren and Edgar stood amidst the devastation, an atmosphere of confrontation hanging between them.
Their respective subordinates exchanged awkward glances.
They had fought side-by-side exhilaratingly just moments ago, but now faced an unavoidable question: Was the Tarnished force truly going to sweep the Weeping Peninsula's nobility along in raising a banner of rebellion against a Shardbearer?
Yet, the debt of having their lives saved was immense, leaving them torn between loyalty and righteousness.
What should they do?
The two at the eye of the storm, however, seemed calm and composed. The silver-haired girl picked up the Grafted Blade Greatsword as promised, wielding it effortlessly with one hand as if an extension of her arm.
"The sacred relic is rightfully yours, Lady Frieren. I implore you not to let it be buried away. But whether I should stand by while you provoke Lord Godrick? That's another matter."
She didn't answer, instead summoning a Hollow – a dull-witted, stiff-bodied figure.
The Lands Between had too many like him, living a fate worse than death, yet retaining enough labor capacity for simple tasks. Regardless, it was a portrayal of a desolate, dying world, a symbol of decay.
The silver-haired girl then cast Sunlight Heal, but different from before, it radiated a dense aura of soul.
Accompanied by a flicker of flame.
The soul flame reforged the target. A glimmer of spirit actually appeared in the Hollow's eyes; a few syllables escaped its lips, and its body even recovered slightly...
The onlookers stood up in astonishment, pupils trembling. What did this mean? Magic that repaired the soul? Supplementing the side effects of long-term inability to return to the Erdtree, even counter-acting upon the body to restore it – simply miraculous skill!
After a moment, the Hollow reverted from a severe state back to the initial stages of decay.
It was already a historic leap forward.
This meant restoring much of the labor force. For example, soldiers with some strength who had resisted Hollowing could directly return to normal. More people would be freed from the anxiety of Hollowing, without any worries holding them back.
"A miracle! This is a miracle surpassing any magic!" Edgar murmured.
"Thanks to you, Melina. Your existence allowed me to understand the rules of the soul in the Lands Between."
"It is your own brilliance."
"And thanks to Teacher Sellen, for helping me understand the magical systems here, which inspired my research into soul sorcery."
A spark of flame, cradled in Frieren's palm, carried hope, glittering brightly. In the eyes of the onlookers, it was no less radiant than the Erdtree itself scattering its golden light, like the morning sun rising slowly.
"Currently, I still cannot reverse mild Hollowing, nor can I perform large-scale operations, because I lack a certain resonance with the fundamental laws of the Lands Between. And the best medium for resonance is only one thing: a Great Rune."
"—I need a shard of the Elden Ring, and the best Incantation teacher, to help me complete my soul sorcery."
She presented her stance framed by a righteous cause, without mentioning any personal gain.
Everyone knew the significance of soul-healing magic.
Take the gamble!
Those who were wavering moments ago now had a firmer resolve in their eyes. Since a miracle occurred before them, why not try to believe? Let the Tarnished obtain a Great Rune; even if it was just an empty promise for now, it was worth it.
Irina spoke up at the right moment, persuading, "Lady Frieren has already saved many people, her achievements are distinguished. I believe she is a reliable leader."
No further words were needed; the Funeral Spellblade's deeds thus far spoke for themselves.
After a moment, Edgar took a deep breath and replied, "Too much has happened today. Allow me some time to consider. How about we clean up the battlefield together first?"
The silver-haired girl nodded.
The Castellan was a clever man, fully aware he shouldn't make decisions coerced by the circumstances, thus buying himself time to think. Moreover, working together itself fostered understanding and supported decision-making.
So, she also instructed her contingent of three hundred noble soldiers to join the work.
In the eyes of some, Edgar had already agreed. Otherwise, would he turn a deaf ear to the one who saved both his daughter and himself? That would likely be even more contrary to knightly honor.
Frieren chose to leave the father and daughter some private space, believing they could reach a conclusion.
Not far away, Melina beckoned.
The two partners went to the most remote part of the coastline. Behind a broken wall lingered the aura of the Frenzied Flame – emanating from a desiccated eyeball.
"Sometimes, the adherents of Frenzy leave traces behind, like this. Most people call it a Shabriri Grape."
"Who?"
"The mouthpiece of the Frenzied Flame. He likes to entice Tarnished to join his cause and can possess different bodies, making him hard to kill. He was once punished by having his eyes crushed for speaking slander against a great figure. Those eye sockets became lodging points for the Frenzied Flame."
"There seems to be some special buff magic reaction from him..."
"The legendary Howl of Shabriri, perhaps? It allows one to accumulate buffs at the cost of madness. Tarnished, you shouldn't get interested in inexplicable things."
"Okay, I know you hate them."
"It's not that I hate them; the entire Lands Between should hunt down the evildoers of Frenzy," Melina corrected with great seriousness. "Those who wield forbidden power should be punished. You must be careful."
Frieren didn't know why the Maiden cared so much, but she figured she'd understand eventually.
She picked up the eyeball.
Though rather strange, she accepted all kinds of collectibles. In the dazzling array within her inventory, this was far from the most malevolent item.
Meanwhile, the cleanup of Castle Morne proceeded smoothly. Some barely breathing Misbegotten were found and finished off. Additionally, some who hadn't rebelled from the start remained.
They originally served as servants. Since they had proven their worth, they could potentially be locked up and tamed; Winged Misbegotten, in particular, could serve as transport troops.
In short, the flames of war at the southernmost tip of the Lands Between gradually subsided.
Some civilians who had hidden or been imprisoned were also rescued. It was a happy outcome for all involved; at least they avoided the final step of a city-wide massacre. People couldn't help but think: Godrick's soldiers would have delayed until everyone was wiped out.
Thankfully, Lady Frieren led reinforcements; otherwise, they would all surely have perished.
"Long live!"
It's unknown which survivor first waved and shouted towards the silver-haired girl, but others soon responded, the cheers spreading like wildfire.
They thanked the Tarnished's help from the bottom of their hearts. Seeing this, Frieren waved back in response. This interaction made the common folk feel she was more approachable; after all, most great figures couldn't be bothered.
Though having endured hardship, the castle quickly regained vitality.
Suddenly, Irina approached, "I have persuaded Father. He invites Lady Frieren to the castellan's office for further discussion."
Obedience being the best form of respect, the silver-haired girl ascended to a simple office. A map lay spread open on the desk, even more detailed than the inscriptions she had copied.
Edgar performed a knightly salute.
"I won't give you an answer right now, but I can offer some advice: If you wish to fully mobilize the forces of the Weeping Peninsula, several key points must be cleared. For example, the underground dungeons and the Evergaols – they divide the different settlements."
"Tell me more."
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