"The magic well here requires Stonesword Keys to activate. It seems the people on the surface of Caelid haven't put this lift to use yet."
"What do you mean? Are all wells that require Stonesword Keys like this? Can't you just pour mana into them from above to use them?"
Mohg looked at Lansseax with curiosity, prompting her to explain.
"No. The power source for this magic well primarily comes from the sigils inscribed upon the well itself. These sigils are ancient and incredibly complex. If someone who isn't intimately familiar with them tries to alter them, they'll simply destroy the entire well."
Lansseax explained as she patted the head of a nearby imp statue. Mohg nodded in understanding.
"I stand corrected. That's good to know."
"This information is recorded in the archives of many factions; it's not exactly state secrets. You only missed out on this because you were locked in the sewers since you were a child."
"True enough. It couldn't be helped," Mohg shrugged. "Since we need Stonesword Keys to unseal the lift, let's just fly up."
"Mm, works for me."
Lansseax nodded, spreading her wings and taking the lead as she ascended. Mohg shook his head and followed suit. He found it quite convenient having Lansseax break the wind for him; it saved his face from the stinging drafts of the shaft.
Soon, the two reached the top exit, where a heavy stone door blocked their path. Mohg drew a staff and gave it a light tap. A point of teal light flared to life, illuminating the darkness.
It was one of the fundamental glintstone sorceries: Starlight. Almost every glintstone sorcerer had to learn this spell; it was often the first lesson given to apprentices.
"You know sorcery?" Lansseax looked at Mohg, momentarily baffled.
"Uh... don't ask obvious questions. I used magic back at the Dynasty stronghold."
"Hey, hey! I never saw you use sorcery there. Where did you learn it?"
"A bit of everywhere. The Academy and the Carian Royal Family."
"???"
Lansseax stared at Mohg, her face a mask of utter confusion.
"Hold on. You're a 'Lord of Blood' who worships the Formless Mother... how exactly did you end up in Carian territory learning sorcery?"
"Ahem. That involves a bit of... classified information."
"Hey! We're supposed to be on the same side now, aren't we? Why the secrecy?" Lansseax pulled up beside Mohg and threw an arm over his shoulder.
"Fine. I used my current appearance to forge a fake identity in Caria and joined their ranks."
Lansseax's eyes sparkled, her expression clearly saying: Why didn't you tell me there was something this fun going on?!
"Forget it. I can't let you come over and 'help' me. Your traits are too obvious; you'd never blend in."
Lansseax deflated instantly, knowing Mohg was right. Even in human form, the aura of an Ancient Dragon was unmistakable to anyone with a modicum of strength. Furthermore, in Carian territory, those masters of sorcery would easily see through a transformation technique so similar to their own. Besides, she didn't fancy her chances against the two "Moons" of Caria; their fame was written in blood.
"Fine, fine. Let's just get back to the mission."
Seeing that Lansseax had abandoned her ill-conceived idea, Mohg nodded and pushed against the stone door, slowly forcing it open. The moment the door cracked, fresh air rushed into the shaft.
Mohg and Lansseax looked out at the horizon. Lansseax felt nothing special, but for Mohg, the sight was jarring. In his memories, Caelid was a red, blighted wasteland. But before him lay a lush, vibrant forest.
Thick green grass and flourishing trees surrounded the magic well, making the area look like the dwelling of wood elves from a fantasy tale. Beyond the trees, Mohg could see high cliffs flanking the exit and, in the distance, Rock Slugs writhing slowly along the ground.
"I see even these magical constructs exist here... It seems the people of Sellia have explored this area but haven't found a way to activate the exit well," Lansseax remarked, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the Rock Slugs.
"Have you been to Caelid before?" Mohg asked, turning to her.
"Once. Why?"
"It's better to understand the layout and the situation here beforehand. I'd rather not go running around like a headless fly."
Though he had arranged for subordinates to establish a foothold in Caelid, the progress wasn't great. They hadn't gathered much Intel on the overall state of the region and couldn't access high-level secrets. Lansseax, as an Ancient Dragon, was a natural enemy of the Drakes here; she likely knew the layout of her foes better than anyone.
"Hmm... let me think. We should be on the outer fringes of Caelid, though technically still 'below' the main plateau."
"Are there any major powers here?"
"There are several martial Caelid clans. They've established powerful militias, and some of them are quite tough nuts to crack."
"The Storm Lord sent troops to Caelid a while ago. Do you have any idea where they might be?"
"Don't you have one of his men working for you? Hasn't he stayed in the loop?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you. It would be easier if you knew the general location," Mohg replied.
"Fine. I suspect they're still in the western regions, having not yet ventured into the heart of Caelid. I doubt they have any intention of going deep."
"Why not?"
"Because the heart of Caelid belongs to the Sorcery Town of Sellia and the Drakes. Beyond that, there's the influence of a Lost Dynasty."
"A Lost Dynasty?" Mohg narrowed his eyes. He had never heard of such a faction.
"Well, it's not exactly a secret. An ancient dynasty once existed on this continent. The deity they worshipped was..." Lansseax pointed a finger toward the sky.
Mohg followed her finger and saw the sun hanging high in the sky, looking somewhat insignificant next to the brilliance of the Erdtree.
"The sun?"
"Exactly. They worshipped the sun. But records of them are sparse, so I don't know much. Ever since the Erdtree descended, the faith of the sun has gradually faded away."
"Gradually faded... I haven't even heard stories of the sun. Even though it still hangs there, providing light to the Lands Between, no one talks about it. Isn't that strange?"
"If a Golden Order zealot from Altus heard you say that, they'd hunt you down," Lansseax noted. "Perhaps it has something to do with your people—the ancient Hornsent, the Uhl Dynasty, and the like. Those were all sun-worshipping civilizations."
"What?!" Mohg snapped his head toward her. This was news to him.
"You didn't know? Ah, right. You just got there and haven't started your formal research yet..." Lansseax nodded as if explaining it to herself. "Hornsent worship was actually a form of sun worship. But as you suspected, the sun was replaced by the Erdtree. Over the long course of history, those beliefs were swept into the trash bin. What remains of sun worship is rare, but it's not non-existent."
She gave Mohg a meaningful look, but he was deep in thought, his brow furrowed, and he didn't notice.
In the game, there were several sun-related or "sun-adjacent" elements. The eclipsed sun symbolized the Prince of Death, while the Sun Realm Shield directly referenced a sun-worshipping civilization. Even the image of the Fell God was strikingly similar to a sun. Some even speculated the Frenzied Flame had solar connections, or that Death was a force that "consumed" the sun.
Life is the Erdtree, Death is the Sun?
Mohg felt his head start to ache. He shook the complex thoughts away. Better to handle the task at hand first.
"Let's put that aside. It's not something I can figure out right now. Let's go find some Drakes. Which way?"
"East. If we're lucky, we might find a lone stray before we even reach the main Drake territory."
"To be fair, this is Caelid. You won't find much solar lore anywhere else. Well, maybe Mt. Gelmir," Lansseax added as they both spread their wings and flew up the cliffs.
"Why those two places?"
"The Golden Order doesn't have much influence in either. The leaves of the Erdtree don't reach those corners."
"I see. By the way, is it safe for us to just fly around like this?"
"It's fine. This area has been abandoned for ages; no one will notice two figures in the sky. Besides, if you go deep enough, you hit the Great-Jar's Colosseum. There are battles there almost every day, which draws a lot of people."
Mohg blinked. Lansseax's words reminded him of that massive, massive jar. "The Colosseum... is there a giant jar there?"
"Yes. Because of that Warrior Jar, no one dares cause trouble in that sector. No one tries to seize the territory, either. It's both the safest and most dangerous place in Caelid."
"Most dangerous?" Mohg could understand the "safest" part—peace through overwhelming force.
"Because they value duels and competition above all else. Life and death are decided in the arena. Once you step into that Colosseum, it becomes the most dangerous place in the world."
"Understood."
Mohg nodded. By then, they had reached the surface.
"We can't fly here for now. We'd be mistaken for Drakes or something else and shot down by one of the local factions," Lansseax warned after checking their position.
"You know this place better. You call the shots." Mohg had no complaints; he was happy to let her do the thinking.
They traveled east along the road, and Mohg took in the unique sights of Caelid. Along the way, they passed caravans traveling the main roads—groups made of Misbegotten, Humans, and Demi-humans all mixed together. He even saw humans drinking and laughing with Misbegotten. Passing through small towns, the rugged, hardy nature of the locals was evident. He saw a man discipline a child with a wooden stick the size of an adult's arm, and disputes were settled with a quick brawl.
But beyond the rugged charm, Mohg also saw the chaos. Bandits and highwaymen were far more common here than in Altus, Liurnia, or Limgrave. Every region had its "specialty." Altus had the oppression of Beastmen and Nobility; Liurnia had the Academy and the Cuckoos; Limgrave was a mix of everything, which was exhausting in its own way.
"This land... I imagine the Frenzied Flame would have a hard time taking root here."
"Mm. With such a rugged and optimistic population, it's unlikely the seeds of the Frenzied Flame would find fertile soil. Though, if someone were to stir up trouble intentionally, who knows?"
SCREE!
A dragon's cry echoed from above. Both of them looked up instantly, locking onto the silhouette of a Flying Dragon gliding not far from the ground. Lansseax's eyes lit up with predatory excitement.
"It's Aeboral!"
"You know that dragon?" Mohg asked, surprised.
Lansseax ground her teeth. "Know him? We're very well acquainted!!"
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (512 Chapters – Full)
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