Rellana, the Knight of the Full Moon, and the Ensis Castle army following her, gradually appeared before Arthur and Melina. The former princess of Caria instinctively drew her twin swords the moment she saw Arthur.
But very quickly, suddenly appearing memories began to assault her mind, making her press her hand to her visor while still insisting on pointing her greatsword at Arthur with her other hand.
The soldiers behind Rellana, seeing their lord so wary of the man in front of her, immediately shielded her.
Among them, a tall Troll wearing a Caria knight's helmet and a Caria knight wielding a Cham blue greatsword with both hands, stood at the very front of everyone, nervously watching Arthur.
"...Enough, Mullitir. Take the soldiers back. You will not be his match, and we are not necessarily enemies."
Rellana's weary words reached the soldiers, causing them to exchange glances.
The Caria knight, whose name was called, hesitated for only a few seconds before nodding silently, a pleasant female voice coming from beneath her helmet: "As you command, my Lord."
The soldiers of Ensis Castle were still very obedient to their lord's command. Led by Mullitir, they retreated behind Rellana.
However, the Troll and Mullitir did not return to the army but stood silently behind Rellana.
Rellana tacitly approved their actions, then removed her helmet, revealing a soft, beautiful face beneath, somewhat similar to that of Queen Rennala of the Full Moon.
Rellana's appearance was more heroic and spirited. Her black hair slowly fell down her back as she removed her helmet, and her tall, slender figure maintained an elegant posture.
Rellana sighed almost imperceptibly, then asked Arthur, "What should I call you? tarnished? Or Elden Lord?"
Arthur said, "Either is fine. Both are my identity. But now the people here call me 'Arthur,' and you can use that name to address me."
Rellana nodded, her eyes quickly sweeping over Melina, shrinking slightly, then immediately looking up at the twin Erdtrees behind her and the azure sky above, remaining silent for a long time.
Not only Rellana, but the soldiers of Ensis Castle, after being summoned, gradually had their attention drawn to the unfamiliar surroundings.
If it weren't for their excellent military discipline keeping them in formation, they would have probably started shouting and discussing where they had come from.
When she lowered her head again and looked at Arthur, she said, "Arthur... this is not The Lands Between, is it?"
Arthur admitted, "You observe very carefully, Lady Rellana."
Rellana looked around again and said calmly, "Mesmer once invited me to visit the Royal Capital of Leyndell of the Erdtree. Although I can recognize this church as the one in the very center of the Royal Capital, this... Erdtree intertwined with the Shadow Tree is not. Because the royal family of the Royal Capital of Leyndell would never allow the Shadow Tree to appear in The Lands Between, and the sky of The Lands Between... has never been so azure."
She paused, then sighed deeply and said, "But for us who are trapped in the Land of Shadow, being able to get out of that cursed place is already very satisfying. But there's no free lunch in the world. You must want us to do something in exchange for summoning us out of that cursed place. I am willing to accept your request, but on the condition that you answer one question for me."
Arthur thought to himself that he hadn't even shown Rellana Lani's ring yet, so why was this person so eager to agree to his unspoken request?
Rellana, on the other hand, was thinking that the tarnished in her memory was so powerful that he had killed her eight times, and she did not want to conflict with Arthur again before seeing Mesmer.
Since Arthur could get her and the soldiers of Ensis Castle out of the Land of Shadow, then he must also be able to rescue her beloved Mesmer from that damned Land of Shadow.
How much she wished to live with Mesmer under a normal sky, instead of guarding secrets that should not have been buried by them, day after day, year after year, in the gloomy, yellow Shadowland.
Arthur then asked, "Speak, what is your question?"
Rellana gently touched her chest and bowed respectfully, saying, "I only want to ask if your request of me will negatively affect Mesmer, or rather, endanger his life? If what you ask me to do is to be an enemy of Mesmer, then I will not hesitate to give up this life and will not agree to your request."
Is that all... I thought it would be something serious.
Arthur inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Rellana's tone had been so serious that he thought it was some tricky question.
However, Rellana's bowing to him was a courtesy Arthur could not accept directly, because from a family seniority perspective, the other party was his elder.
So Arthur turned sideways, letting Rellana's bow pass, and said to her in a very formal tone, "You worry too much, Lady Rellana. I will also need Mesmer's help later, so how could I make you hostile to him? However, I regret to say that I cannot summon Mesmer in a short time."
Although Rellana did not understand why Arthur had turned sideways to avoid her bow, her tone softened after hearing his answer.
She straightened up again and said gratefully, "Your promise to let me reunite with Mesmer in the outside world has already satisfied me. I ask for nothing else. Arthur, please tell me what you intend for me and the Ensis Castle army to do."
Arthur cleared his throat and pointed to the corner next to the church not far away: "Can we talk a moment aside?"
Rellana nodded and was about to follow Arthur, but was stopped by the anxious Caria knight Mullitir behind her, who called out, "My Lord, I will follow as well. My intuition tells me this man is very dangerous, and I am worried about you."
Rellana gently shook her head and refused, "No need. He is not the kind of treacherous villain who would deceive people. Besides, if he can release us from the Shadowland, doesn't he have a way to send us back there?"
Mullitir still said uneasily, "But, he also has a attendant following him..."
Upon hearing this, Rellana couldn't help but smile slightly: "Then you can be even more at ease about the young woman following him, Sir Mullitir. And I can be sure that young woman is definitely not an attendant, because I know her."
"After all, when I first met Mesmer, he introduced me to his sister."