Following the explanation by the Godskin Apostle, the Tarnished and Millicent gained a general understanding of the Gloam-Eyed Queen. However, they didn't rule out the possibility of a "beautified" history, as the Godskins were unwavering devotees. To the Tarnished, it didn't really matter—the Queen had nothing to do with him. Why should he care? It wasn't like she was his spouse.
"Tarnished," the Godskin spoke, his voice tinged with a lingering resentment, "as an ally, I have a request to make of you."
"What is it?" The Tarnished sensed something significant was coming. What followed nearly made his jaw hit the floor.
The Apostle recounted that shortly after the Elden Ring shattered, the Lands Between wasn't as desolate as it was now. Masters still roamed the lands, and the Two Fingers were still persuasive. It was during this time that a certain individual returned from the periphery of the Lands Between—a Tarnished.
This man had seized the secondary blade of the Queen's Greatsword and vowed to replace the failing Maliketh as Queen Marika's new shadow.
"??? What? What did you just say?"
"He was a man with grey-white wolf fur tucked into the nape of his armor. He took the other God-Slaying Greatsword to prove his prowess, then gathered the other returning Tarnished to establish an organization called the Roundtable Hold."
The Tarnished covered his face with his hand. (Good grief... he was quite the overachiever.) So the "White Wolf" from the stories possessed an incredible greatsword because of this?
"I hope you can find him for us and reclaim the greatsword. Even if it is a weapon the Queen no longer uses, it is not something those Golden lapdogs should be allowed to touch," the Apostle said venomously.
"Tarnished... what do you want to do? I'll follow your lead," Millicent said softly from the side. She trusted him implicitly; she only needed to follow him to the end of this journey.
(My reputation is in shambles... I'm no lapdog.)
"Fine. I accept. Once I have news of that man, I'll go immediately. Consider it a testament to our friendship."
"Then we Godskins shall also lend you our strength from this day forward."
"Since I can't take the Greatsword, and the other matters are settled, we'll be going." The Tarnished reached for Millicent to lead her away. But the moment their feet crossed the threshold, the God-Slaying Greatsword enshrined in the room flew toward them of its own accord, sinking directly into the Tarnished's right hand.
"What?! The Greatsword has chosen a master? How can this be..." The Apostle broke into a cold sweat. Though it was hard to tell if Godskins could sweat, his expression was one of pure shock. This had never happened before.
"Whoa, hey, look—the sword flew over on its own. I didn't touch it." The Tarnished attempted a quick explanation. The Apostle stood frozen for a long moment before dropping to his knees.
"I suppose we are no longer merely allies... but subordinates." The Queen's Greatsword choosing a master was the proof of being recognized as her Consort!
The Queen had never had a consort because no one could understand her mind. People feared death and thus rejected it; despite her supreme power and peerless beauty, many were repulsed by her killing intent. Until her defeat, she had never recognized a member of the opposite sex, let alone allowed a blade that shared a soul with her to recognize one. This was the difference between the true Greatsword and the stolen one.
The true blade possessed its own consciousness.
"Why are you kneeling? You're scaring me," the Tarnished said. He and Millicent were clearly unaware of the Godskin customs.
"Lord Consort... the Godskins are henceforth at your disposal... We beg you to liberate the Rune of Death." The Apostle's tone was filled with awe. Even if the Queen had vanished, this sword had spent ages with her, their souls long since fused. This was why they believed she was only missing: as long as the sword lived, the master lived.
"What do you mean 'Consort'?" The Tarnished was utterly bewildered. Millicent was staring at him with an equally strange expression.
"Hiss... that's a thing?" After the Apostle's further explanation, the Tarnished roughly understood. Millicent remained dazed for a moment before saying, "So you just... gained a spouse? That's incredible."
"Don't ask me. I'm just as surprised." Aside from Fia, this was the first person to be so direct.
"My Lord... we feel the same... the Queen is proud by nature and sparse with her words... but that only proves how perfectly compatible you are with her."
"Great... another silent type..." The Tarnished could already picture it. He seemed to have a destiny with such women—the Black Knives, Melina, and now this...
"My Lord, please summon the Greatsword. From now on, you should be able to use the flames personally bestowed by the Queen!" At the Apostle's urging, the Tarnished waved his right hand. The God-Slaying Greatsword shot out from his palm like a tongue of fire. As he swung it several times, the blade solidified, its spiral structure wrapping the black, blade-like flames together.
It was a form that struck primal fear into any living creature.
"As expected... no one but the Queen herself could drive this blade so perfectly." The Apostle was now certain.
(May this fire aid thee in achieving thy hegemony...) A blurred voice echoed in the Tarnished's mind. Though faint, it felt incredibly familiar. Was it the Gloam-Eyed Queen? But he had never met her—why did it feel familiar?
"Ranni! Ranni, are you awake? I have something to tell you!" Blaidd called out as he reached Ranni's Rise. He saw Darriwil still kneeling at the base of the tower.
"Blaidd? I already know what you wish to say... My brother can finally rest. Our plan must proceed... please continue to assist the Tarnished in obtaining that item." The awakened Ranni remained calm and collected.
"Darriwil is still there, isn't he?"
"La... Lady Ranni..." Darriwil's body trembled. He was terrified.
"Darriwil, you betrayed me once... rightfully, we should have no further connection. But I am a witch who has betrayed and discarded everything; I will accept anyone or anything that can be utilized. Since you have returned, continue to serve me." Ranni's tone sounded arrogant, but those close to her knew this was her unique way of accepting an apology and forgiving Darriwil.
"Thank you, My Lady! Thank you! Even if you no longer have your brilliant red hair, I, Darriwil, shall pledge my loyalty to you! What are four arms? Four arms are also very—"
"Darriwil, don't say—" Before Blaidd could stop Darriwil from stoking the fire, Ranni's composure broke.
"SHUT UP! Do not mention the four arms again!" An invisible pressure made Darriwil's head spin.
"Even when the Tarnished isn't here, he still manages to irritate me... and you make me feel ashamed..." Inside the room, Ranni clenched her small fists in anger. She hadn't cared about her appearance before, but since meeting that Tarnished, whenever she heard the words "blue" or "four arms," she couldn't help but lose her temper.
"Friend, what on earth did you say to Ranni... to make her react like this at the mere mention of it?" Blaidd thought curiously as he left Ranni's domain. It was the first time he had seen her get angry so easily, but seeing her so lively made him, her "little brother" who grew up with her, very happy.
"Ugh...!" Just as Blaidd turned his head with a gentle smile, the expression froze. An unbearable, sharp pain felt as if it were tearing his brain apart.
"Hah... hah... what was that...?" Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. That split second of pain was more intense than all the injuries he had sustained in a lifetime of combat combined.
"Blaidd... I have something to talk to you about." Iji approached from a distance. His face was hidden behind his mirrorhelm, so Blaidd couldn't see his expression. The pain had also caused Blaidd to momentarily lose his sense of danger.
"Master Iji... why are you here... HM?! Master, what is the meaning of this?!" They were now quite far from Ranni's Rise. Blaidd was suddenly seized by Iji. Iji's strength was immense; as a Troll, dealing with a Blaidd weakened by pain was an easy task.
"Blaidd... I am sorry... but your existence will endanger Lady Ranni... I must do this... forgive me." Iji carried Blaidd to a gaol and activated the seal, tossing him inside.
"Master! Master, what are you doing? I would never betray Ranni! Master, are you in your right mind?!"
"Blaidd... the curse of the Two Fingers... is too terrible." Iji ignored Blaidd's calls and walked away without looking back.
"Lady Ranni... I do not know how much longer we can stay by your side... You must remain safe." Iji looked toward Ranni's Rise with a look of sorrow.
The Tarnished and Millicent left the Divine Tower as dusk began to fall. They planned to find a nearby spot to adapt to their newly acquired powers. Millicent was diligent; in her free time, she threw herself into training the drawing and sheathing of her blade.
She craved strength and speed, hoping to train her left arm to be as capable as the right one she had lost.
"Millicent, stop. That's enough for now." The Tarnished signaled her to halt. A tall, dangerous silhouette appeared not far away—it was a Bell Bearing Hunter. He hadn't expected to find him in Caelid as well.
"Tarnished..." The Bell Bearing Hunter, who usually had no interest in anyone without a bell bearing, rushed forward as if seeing a mortal enemy. Then, his eyes fell upon Millicent. He skidded to a halt, a name escaping his lips. "The Valkyrie... Malenia!?"
"Malenia? No, I am Millicent..." Millicent said, confused.
"Hm? You can fool others, but not me... I didn't expect the missing Valkyrie Malenia to be here... and traveling with a Tarnished." The Hunter drew his greatsword.
"I said I am not Malenia, my name is... ugh... ah?" Suddenly, a wave of long-buried memories surged into her mind. It was a valiant, slender, one-armed swordswoman wandering a battlefield. Her fluid swordsmanship cut down enemies, their blood forming an image of blooming flowers.
(Do you feel it... what it means to be the Blade of Miquella... Malenia's swordplay...) Although the face of the girl in the memory was hidden by a helmet, Millicent remembered... it was a feeling of soulful intimacy... She didn't feel like a "sister" to her. Was this her biological mother? But... she looked so young... in terms of appearance.
Aside from the body ravaged by rot, her age and looks were so close to her own... who exactly was she?