"What are you thinking so hard about?" The Tarnished waved a hand in front of Iji's mirrored mask, breaking the giant's trance.
"Oh, forgive me. I was merely wondering if there was any other way to repay you besides smithing," Iji said slowly.
"I see you have some Somber Smithing Stones in that chest. Give me a few of those, and we'll call it even," the Tarnished said, pointing to a small crate of rare ores.
"That is easily done... but it is not enough." Iji hesitated, his massive fingers drumming against the anvil. Seeing this, the Tarnished prompted him to speak his mind.
"Tarnished warrior... what is your view of the Erdtree? Do you intend to remain loyal to the Order and become its next Lord, or..."
"I have zero interest in that withered tree," the Tarnished replied without a second's thought. "In my eyes, it's already finished."
"I see. And your attitude toward the stars?"
"The night sky is beautiful. I have no quarrel with it," the Tarnished said. Iji fell into a contemplative silence once more.
"This may sound sudden... but would you be interested in serving a certain Lady?" Iji finally asked.
"No. I'm not interested in being anyone's subordinate," the Tarnished refused flatly.
"Then let me rephrase," Iji said, his tone turning more diplomatic. "Would you be interested in becoming a comrade-in-arms? Much like the Ancient Dragons and Demi-humans who once allied themselves with Queen Rennala as equals?"
The Tarnished cocked an eyebrow. "You're talking about the Lunar Princess, aren't you?"
Iji nodded. "Lady Ranni has her own path. She has long since cast aside her status as an Empyrean and turned her back on the Erdtree. She refuses to be a puppet of the Two Fingers... in that regard, I believe you two would find much common ground."
"Now that sounds interesting. Anyone who wants to tear down the Golden Order is someone I can get along with—provided they aren't insane."
"Rest assured... Lady Ranni is not of that lowly sort. If you are willing, I shall act as your intermediary." Iji's voice carried a hint of relief. He felt he had to keep this man close, especially after seeing the Crescent Blade. The moon does not manifest in objects without reason; it was a sign of destiny.
"I'll meet her. But whether we ally depends on her," the Tarnished said. He wasn't just curious; he wanted to ask Ranni about her father, Radagon.
As they approached the gates of Caria Manor, Aenophe whispered a warning. "Be careful, My Lord. The defensive arrays here are brutal. Many Cuckoo Knights were vaporized before they even reached the door."
The Tarnished slowed his pace. As if on cue, the sky above the manor flickered with blue light. Magic glintblades began to rain down from a massive skyward circle. The Tarnished whistled for Torrent and pulled Aenophe up behind him.
"Hold on tight," he commanded. He felt her cold, silver armor press against his back as Torrent surged forward. The horse's hooves sparked against the stone as he wove through the sapphire rain with impossible agility.
They burst through the final gate, skidding to a halt inside the courtyard where the rain couldn't reach. The Tarnished dismissed Torrent, but as the horse vanished, a rather comical scene played out: because Aenophe was taller than the Tarnished, her arms—which had been wrapped around his neck for stability—briefly lifted him off the ground as she stepped down.
"Put me down before you choke me," the Tarnished grunted, patting her hands.
"M-my apologies, My Lord!" Aenophe scrambled back, her face hidden but her panic palpable.
"Forget it. So, this is Caria Manor." The atmosphere was dim, choked with a silver mist that tasted of starlight.
As they moved through the lower gardens, they encountered the Manor's strangest guardians: Fingercreepers. These multi-fingered, hand-like monstrosities scuttled across the walls like spiders.
In the Lands Between, the "Hand" was a symbol of divinity and civilization—the tool used to build the world. But the Fingercreepers were born of Blasphemy. Legend had it that someone had taken the sacred image of the hand and twisted it into these hideous, mocking crawlers. They were even known to "flick" spells or raise a middle finger in a gesture of ultimate contempt.
Just as the Tarnished prepared to draw his sword, several Carian sorcerers appeared, shouting commands that made the creatures back away. Seeing the Tarnished's Carian Knight armor, the mages were surprisingly hospitable. They explained that the Fingercreepers—and the massive Abductor Virgins deeper in—were reinforcements sent by the second Prince, Rykard, to help protect his family's home.
The sorcerers, bitter over the Academy's betrayal, led the Tarnished to a locked room.
"The Academy dogs want this back, but we'd rather give it to a friend of Moongrum than see it in their hands," a mage spat. He handed the Tarnished a legendary treasure: the Sword of Night and Flame.
This blade represented the ancient alliance between the first Astrologers and the Fire Giants. It held the power of the primeval current in its "Night" stance and the searing heat of the giants in its "Flame" stance.
"A fine addition," the Tarnished said, sheathing it at his hip.
As he walked, he couldn't help but feel that Caria was far more likable than the Academy. They had class, and a lingering sense of honor. He found himself genuinely curious about the Princess. Iji said she had been resisting the Erdtree for years. How had she survived?
"By the way," the Tarnished mused aloud. "Caria is usually ruled by women, right? Something about the moon magic being more compatible?"
He imagined the hulking, muscular Godfrey trying to cast a delicate moon spell. The thought was so cursed he felt like the Erdtree might shed its leaves in disgust. "Ugh..." he shuddered.
•
And, that's for today! I have translated around 100chs of this series, and among it was few extras and interlude. However I won't post those additional chapter here. You can found more on my Patreon here—↓
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