The seal was removed, and the stars were liberated... and with them, the destinies associated with the cosmos were set free. These were the gears of a brand-new destiny... gears forged from a constellation of entirely new stars.
"Disciple... you succeeded." Despite being in her dark, sunless cellar, Sellen could still feel the brilliance of the stars above and hear the sound of the shackles within her heart shattering. "The world shall sing the praises of my apprentice... This is a new feast of the stars... Hehe."
"Seluvis... you had better tuck your tail and run now... or else." Sellen removed her Witch's Glintstone Crown, her eyes, sparkling like starlight, flashing with a playful yet dangerous glint.
"Brother... rest in peace." Ranni, who had awakened at some unknown point, gazed up at the starry sky and lowered her eyelids. This was the path she had to walk... To escape the fate forced upon her by the Two Fingers, she was destined to lose many who loved her and many she cherished.
But what of it? Someone had to do it. Ranni did not believe herself to be merely following the whims of providence... she was just a rebellious young girl. "Radagon... let us see if the Two Fingers you believe in and the Golden Order you worship can truly be eternal... Why not have a clash with me?"
"Let us see if your shining Gold is stronger, or if my lonely, deep night reigns supreme."
Following the great battle with Radahn, the Tarnished and his companions remained on the field to rest, lacking the strength to move immediately. The surviving champions looked upon the Tarnished's valiant deeds with utter adoration; they had witnessed the birth of a new legend with their own eyes.
Yet, where there was joy, there was also sorrow. The cracked Alexander remained somewhat despondent, rummaging through the debris. What Radahn had shattered was not just his ceramic body, but the confidence he had built over a long time. Against Radahn, that confidence had been as thin as parchment, punctured at the first touch.
"No... I cannot be discouraged... I am Iron Fist Alexander..."
"Warriors are fighting every moment of their lives; they don't have the leisure for self-pity," the Tarnished said, crouching down in front of Alexander.
"You're right, brother! It was my own weakness... Look, there are so many bodies of great warriors here... Wahahaha!" Alexander's sorrow came and went just as quickly. Within moments, he had returned to his optimistic self, earnestly gathering the remains of the Cleanrot Knights and Redmane Knights who had fallen there.
"I shall be the mausoleum for these warriors... and they shall become the strength of Alexander! Wahahaha!"
"You make yourself sound like a villain," Blaidd teased.
Finally having a moment of leisure, Lionel and Tragoth approached the Tarnished after their own rest.
"Are you the White Wolf? Is it truly you?" Tragoth asked, somewhat incredulously.
"You 'discolored' Bull-Goat can't recognize me either?" the Tarnished joked.
"Hahaha! 'Discolored Bull-Goat'! Good! Good, it truly is you!" Tragoth patted the Tarnished's shoulder excitedly.
"So that's how it is... the one who founded the Roundtable Hold was..." The two fell into various states of contemplation as they processed this. It seemed much had happened without their knowledge. The "White Wolf" who founded the Hold was a mysterious figure who rarely appeared in public after its establishment. Everyone knew of him, yet none knew where he was or what he was doing.
"Lionel, has Fia contacted you recently?" the Tarnished asked.
"Fia...? I see. It seems you are the one she is looking for. No, she hasn't... I've been quite busy myself lately," Lionel said, adjusting his broad-brimmed iron hat.
The three reminisced for a while. Both Lionel and Tragoth had participated in the festival via their spectral forms; their physical bodies were still wandering the Lands Between. They did not aim to become Elden Lord; they simply wished to travel the world to see how many familiar faces and sights remained—and to help those in need along the way.
Their conversation didn't last long, primarily because they noticed someone was missing: Okina. He had slipped away without a word at some point. No one minded, though; Okina had never been talkative and was known for his eccentricities.
He had taught the Tarnished the techniques of the Land of Reeds purely to hone his own skills; he saw the Tarnished's martial potential and wanted to train an opponent for himself. Unfortunately, the Tarnished's growth far exceeded his imagination. After losing to him, Okina had vanished into the world once more.
"Friend, sorry to interrupt your reunion, but I think we should get moving," Blaidd interrupted with a hint of apology. Ranni's business was urgent; the longer they delayed, the more dangerous her situation became.
"You're right. But I still have a few things to finish. I'll head to the Divine Tower to claim Radahn's Great Rune first."
"Fair enough... you've been drained of your vitality and could use the nourishment of a Great Rune. I'll head back to Liurnia and wait for you there." The two split up. Blaidd hurried toward Liurnia while the Tarnished returned to the Site of Grace south of the Aeonia Swamp.
As he was about to use the Grace to return to the Farum Greatbridge, he spotted a graceful figure standing at the Sellia Gateway.
"Millicent? It looks like you've rested well." She was still wearing the Carian cloak he had given her. Millicent, who had been looking around, spotted the Tarnished below. She waved a shy greeting. The distance between them wasn't great, and it didn't take long for them to meet.
"Hello... I've been waiting for you." The girl looked much more energetic than before; her messy hair was now tied into a neat, practical ponytail.
"Seems you've recovered well," the Tarnished said without dismounting. He was truly exhausted. The battle with Radahn had drained his spirit; while Crimson Tears could heal his physical wounds, psychological fatigue required time.
"I'm sorry for losing consciousness back then... I didn't get to thank you... Thank you." Millicent tightened the cloak around herself before offering to hand it back.
"Keep it. It's yours now. It wouldn't look right if I sewed it back onto mine... besides, I'll just have Boc make me a new one." The Tarnished draped the cloak back over her shoulders. "Oh~ fits quite well."
"Th... thank you." Millicent felt once again the warmth that had shattered her nightmares.
"It seems the needle truly worked." Millicent's condition was significantly better. She gave a faint smile; since the needle was inserted, the nightmares had stopped, and she could stand and move freely. It felt like a miracle.
"I truly don't know where to begin to express my gratitude." Millicent bowed deeply.
"Say no more. Just stay true to yourself; that's a treasure in its own right."
"I... I don't believe I possess such noble character... I simply don't want to destroy a world that holds an infinite future," Millicent said, embarrassed by the praise.
"Don't say that. There are so many people in the Lands Between, and according to my statistics, only about 10% share your mindset."
"Is that so... you know so much." The girl couldn't help but feel impressed.
"Aren't you curious how I calculated that?"
"Uh... how?"
"I just made it up! Hahaha!" No matter how tired he was, the Tarnished couldn't stop his habit of talking nonsense.
"Ah, hahaha..." Millicent could only offer a polite, awkward laugh.
"I think... that wasn't funny."
"Eek?!" The sudden appearance of a girl gave Millicent a fright.
"Whether it's funny or not isn't the point. Millicent just needs to know she has a one-in-a-million quality." The Tarnished gave Melina a light flick on the forehead.
"It doesn't hurt..." Melina stared blankly at him. As long as she willed it, no one could hurt her in her spectral state.
"Tch..." The Tarnished felt the frustration of punching a cloud. Beside them, Millicent watched their interaction with a longing smile; she could tell the two were very close.
"Um... and this is? Could you introduce yourself?" Millicent asked, choosing the right moment as the two settled down. Melina briefly gave her name and her role as a traveling companion.
"Ah, are you going to the Royal Capital...?" Millicent assumed he was aiming to become Lord as well. The Tarnished was curious why she was at the gateway; even if she was waiting for him, she should have stayed at the shack.
Millicent explained that the moment the gold needle entered her body, memories that should have vanished into vapor began to resurface. Among them was an elderly figure she cared for deeply. She felt the man was in the shack near the gateway.
Regrettably, when she rushed there, although there were signs of life, the man was gone.
"That old man..." the Tarnished muttered. Seeing this, Millicent couldn't help but ask about him. The Tarnished told her the man was named Gowry, a self-proclaimed sage... he was the one who had provided the needle to suppress the rot and had claimed Millicent was his adoptive daughter.
"Then why does he avoid me...?" Millicent felt a wave of confusion.
"He said that old men shouldn't interfere too much in the lives of the young. He wants you to embark on your own journey without worrying about him."
"...Is that so..." Millicent turned to look back at the shack and bowed deeply. The debt of being raised could never be repaid.
"..." Melina had been thinking about something for a while. She felt the red-haired girl before her looked familiar, but she couldn't place her. Eventually, she gave up.
It was getting late, and the Tarnished prepared to head for the Divine Tower of Caelid. However, he was also curious about Millicent's plans.
"I... wish to follow his wish... and go on a journey," Millicent said firmly.
"Very well. I suspect we shall meet again," the Tarnished nodded. He was about to leave when a bashful Millicent called out to him.
"Please... wait... may I travel with you...?"
"Why?" The Tarnished looked at her, surprised.
"If one day... the Scarlet Rot within me loses control again... if it threatens those around me... I hope the one who puts an end to me will be you..." There was great resolve in Millicent's voice. She had thought about traveling alone, but the rot had never truly left her body; even the Tarnished's searing flames had only suppressed it.
If the rot ever broke through the shackles of the fire and surged again, Millicent had a premonition... it would be her true end. She was a ticking time bomb... but the Tarnished did not fear the Scarlet Rot. His flames would isolate it directly.
"Since you wish it, come along then... though you're wrong about one thing."
"Eh?" Millicent blinked in confusion.
"I never abandon anyone who follows me. That includes you."