Melina didn't want to have too much interaction with the man in front of her; after all, when the time for parting arrived, too much emotion would only bring pain.
But she didn't turn and leave immediately either. That wouldn't be beneficial for the relationship between the two, and she needed him.
Just talking for a moment shouldn't be a problem.
With that thought, Melina spoke softly: "About me? I am searching for the purpose given to me by my mother at the erdtree in the past, and the reason why I can still live even though my physical body was burned and I have become a spirit."
Hearing this, Xia Yu glanced at Melina's hands, which had burn scars. Does the burning of the physical body also affect the soul?
Seemingly noticing Xia Yu's gaze, Melina pulled her hands back into her black robe, letting the wide garment hide her exposed hands.
"Actually, I also want to apologize to you. I said I would take on the role of a Finger Maiden, but I have no way to guide you, because I am not a maiden, and... I have also lost my original purpose."
Listening to Melina's somewhat heavy voice, Xia Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. This feeling of face-to-face interaction was indeed incomparable to a game.
Moreover, in the game, you could only be a mute, but now it's reality.
"So what?" Xia Yu's sudden words made Melina look up. "I don't need guidance, because I know where my path lies, and I know the direction I'm heading."
"If you hadn't helped me convert the power of Runes back then, I would still be my weak self. You don't need to apologize; I should be thanking you instead."
"But..."
"No buts." Xia Yu interrupted Melina, saying seriously once more, "I will keep your help in my heart. That is a fact."
"..."
"If you've become lost regarding your own existence, then why not see this land with your own eyes together with me? Once we reach the end, then you can determine your purpose and the meaning of your existence."
"We are companions traveling together now."
"...Thank you."
Under the glow of the site of grace, she hid her face behind her pinkish-brown hair.
Silence fell between the two, but after a moment, Melina spoke again.
"Stormveil Castle on the cliff. There resides a Shardbearer, one of the demigods who possesses a fragment of the elden ring from when it was shattered."
"If you want to challenge the demigods, you can start with him, as he is the weakest of all the demigods, and the shard in his hand is one of the easiest shards of the elden ring to obtain."
I already knew this information, and I know much more than you, Xia Yu thought to himself, but he wasn't tactless enough to say it out loud.
"By the way, I also need to say sorry to you." After sharing the information, Melina looked up, her face emerging from her hair.
She had regained her previous cold expression, but the initial sense of keeping people at a distance was gone; the relationship between the two had grown much closer.
"Hmm? Why apologizing again?"
"Actually, I had been observing you all along, because I wasn't sure if you would stand up to the challenges. But now it seems I was worrying unnecessarily. From the beginning, Torrent believed in you..."
"It was I who was not sincere enough."
As she spoke, Melina bowed slightly, showing her apology to the man before her.
A sincere apology requires showing cleavage and belly, you bastard, that's basic common sense!
Although he roared this in his heart, Xia Yu kept his lips tightly shut and didn't speak. If he really said that, the favorability he had accumulated would probably turn negative instantly.
Melina didn't notice Xia Yu's odd behavior. Seeing that he didn't hold her accountable after the apology, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Without even realizing it, she had begun to care about the relationship between them, and her initial thought of not having any interaction had vanished.
"Although I cannot guide you like a maiden, there is one thing I can do, and that is to take you to the Table of Grace."
"The Table of Grace is a place where guided Tarnished and heroes gather. I can take you there."
"So, do you want to go now?"
Hmm... the Table of Grace. Xia Yu closed his eyes and thought. He definitely had to go there; after all, only there could he continue to progress and improve his strength.
But not now. Before going to the Table of Grace, he still had some things to do. Wait a bit longer.
After finishing his thoughts, Xia Yu opened his eyes: "Wait a bit. I'll go in a while, no rush for now."
"I see, I respect your wishes."
Melina nodded gently and stood up from the ground. She was about to leave.
This time Xia Yu didn't stop her, watching as Melina turned into azure light particles and then attached herself to him.
While breathing a sigh of relief, Xia Yu silently set a goal for himself: first, let Melina break free from her role as a 'little piece of wood'.
Saving this world doesn't require her to burn herself.
[elden ring]: So, brothers, step it up!
[elden ring] @[dark souls i] [dark souls iii]: You two, hurry up and meet the first flame. Once we have the first flame, I won't need to go Frenzied, and Melina won't have to sacrifice herself to the fire!
[dark souls i]:...Then you should just go Frenzied. It's fine, you won't die from going Frenzied, and you can gain the power of the frenzied flame. Although the frenzied flame can't compare to the first flame, it's still a source of power.
[dark souls iii]: Sacrifice one Xia for the happiness of ten million Xias!
[elden ring]:...I knew it would be like this. After all, I'm just that kind of guy.
Other Xia Yus:...Cursing even yourself, as expected of you, as expected of me!
[elden ring]: No more bickering. Anyway, whether it's the game plot or the reality plot, it's still early. Who knows, maybe a Creator God Xia Yu will join the group later?
[elden ring]: After all, I remember we did play a game called WorldBox: God Simulator back then. Although the game's own limitations prevented it from showing the true power of a Creator God, it's still a Creator God.
[marvel]: True. Even if there's no Creator God, a Minecraft Steve Xia Yu would be fine too.
[Xia Yu has joined the Chat Group!]
[Xia Yu has joined the Chat Group!]
[Xia Yu has joined the Chat Group!]
[marvel]: Speak of the devil. Is there a Creator God Xia Yu among the newcomers? If not, a God Xia Yu would work too!
[dark souls iii]: You're dreaming. Even a novel wouldn't dare write it like that. After all, even with newcomers, the number of people in the group isn't even ten yet? How could a Creator God Xia Yu appear?
[dark souls iii]: Unless the novel is failing and needs a Creator God for a forced ending.
[elden ring]: Reasonable and convincing.
[Xia Yu]: Cold? Shaking?
[dark souls iii]: Not bad, you have the best qualities among the newcomers this time.
[Xia Yu]: Hiss, could this place really be...!
[resident evil]: There is no big light ball here... well, not for now. All newcomers, click the group announcement in the top right corner and see for yourselves.
[dark souls iii]: Tsk, not a single cell of humor. You deserve to be transmigrated into resident evil.
[resident evil]:...If he couldn't beat him, he would definitely give Ashen Xia Yu two good punches.