The question of what Queen Marika truly intended—ah, that is a riddle.
It has haunted countless scholars of the Lands Between. One can only scatter their thoughts through the game's scattered lore, weaving speculation upon speculation… yet something always refuses to fit.
The only certainty is this: Marika was dissatisfied with the Golden Order, even going so far as to scorn her own other half—Radagon—as nothing more than the loyal hound of that very law.
But why she felt such discontent remains unknown. There are too many possibilities.
Her motives are hidden. Her origins, shrouded in mist.
Why did she Shatter the Elden Ring? What was her true aim?
Marika gained nothing from the act. On the contrary, her body was pierced and bound within the Erdtree itself. Or perhaps… perhaps even so, her goal had been achieved?
No—enough. To wander further down this line of thought would be to let his own mind lead him astray. Without tangible proof, speculation was dangerous. The mind, once latched onto a theory, will twist every clue to fit it—until one sees not the truth, but only the reflection they wish to see.
Lucian forced himself to set the question aside.
He turned to Elyssa. "Earlier, you said you knew of the Banished Knights. Tell me—how do they connect to the snows of your homeland?"
Elyssa's eyes took on the faint gleam of memory.
"It was after the Storm King was defeated by Godfrey. The Storm King's knights were scattered, stripped of their titles, and became the wandering Banished Knights.
"Had they surrendered, the Erdtree's lords might have welcomed them into their ranks, for they were mighty warriors. But even after their king's fall, they stood united of their own will, leading soldiers in continued defiance.
"This defiance angered the Erdtree's faction. They were crushed, and all were to be executed.
"But then, under Godwyn the Golden, a general named Niall—he cut off his own leg to beg for their lives. Not to recruit them, but to honor their loyalty."
"And so, most of the knights pledged themselves to him. Those who would not were exiled to the farthest borders."
"After the war with the ancient dragons, Godwyn was granted Castle Sol in the snowy north for his deeds in ending the conflict. But he remained in Leyndell, leaving Niall and the Banished Knights to garrison the lonely fortress."
"We were their neighbors then, we Zamor folk. Still basking in the Erdtree's favor, we traded with them… and even exchanged techniques in battle."
Lucian listened in silence, until the threads finally wove together.
"I see… No wonder Niall and those spectral knights stand guard over Sol. And so their skill with the storm of Ice makes sense now."
The Ancient King had once spoken of them without disdain, as though relieved they had found a commander worthy of their loyalty.
Lucian pieced the timeline together in his mind:
The War against the Fire Giants ended; the Erdtree turned to unification. Godfrey waged war against the Storm King, while at the same time, ancient dragons struck at Leyndell—only to be repelled by Godwyn. Whether they were truly swayed by him or merely saw the Storm King's fall as inevitable, the result was the same; peace between Erdtree and dragonkind, and the teaching of dragon incantations within the capital.
By then, Godfrey's army had not yet been exiled. Vyke was chosen by Lansseax after this peace, and Godfrey's banishment must have come before the war with Caria… likely so Radagon's rise would not be overshadowed.
Radagon wed Queen Rennala of the Full Moon, only to abandon her for Marika. Then came the Night of the Black Knives, Godwyn's death, the shattering of the Elden Ring, and the war of the Shardbearers.
The frame of history now stood before him—empty spaces yet to be filled with proof, but the path was there.
Lucian's spirits lifted. The hardest step was beginning; the rest was patience.
He looked to Elyssa again. "In the Lands Between… where do you think I stand? What is my strength, compared to the rest?"
She thought for a moment. "I am far from my prime. Yet even then, I was counted among the strong—no less than a Crucible Knight or a Knight of Caria. As for you… in the days of war, you would have earned the title of hero."
Satisfied, Lucian asked his final—and most important—question.
"You've seen demigods before. Tell me… with my current strength, could I kill one?"
Her gaze sharpened. "Is that your aim?"
Lucian nodded. "Marika shattered the Ring and vanished. Some Demigods now hold its fragments. To claim the throne, I must take their Great Runes."
Elyssa's expression hardened. She had been caged too long to know the state of the world outside, yet she weighed the question carefully.
"It will be difficult… but not impossible. I have fought beside demigods. Among them, the gap between the mighty and the weak is vast. The weakest… even a warrior like me could fell them."
Lucian believed her. He recalled that the Dragon Knight spirit had once captured Godefroy the Grafted, earning the rank of hero. If Godefroy's skill mirrored Godrick's, then even with a Great Rune, he would not be beyond reach.
"As long as the gap isn't insurmountable," Lucian thought, "I can kill a demigod."
Elyssa seemed to sense his resolve. "Then I will go with you. My vengeance… will begin with the demigods."
Cold mist coiled from her body, the air thickening with the promise of blood and frost.