Atop the Siofra Aqueduct, a Crucible Knight clad in Tree-and-Leaf armor gazed toward the Night's Sacred Ground, her expression grave.
"Did you feel that? The aura of that weapon... it has been taken. There is no mistake; it must be that person's doing."
Beside her, a companion in Crucible Axe armor nodded. That weapon was the very thing they had been sent to find when they first led their company from the Deeproot Depths to Nokron. However, the chaos that followed prevented their return, leaving them stationed here in a long stalemate with the Nox hidden within the sacred grounds.
"What do you intend to do? Shall we go together?"
"No. Our responsibility here is too great. It is enough for me to go alone. If something goes wrong, at least you will still be here."
"If that is your choice, then so be it. I doubt he will make things difficult for you. I shall wait here for word."
Having secured her comrade's support, the Tree-armored Knight did not hesitate. A pair of golden, ethereal wings—an Aspect of the Crucible—manifested behind her, and she took flight toward the Night's Sacred Ground.
Inside the sacred grounds, now that the next destination was confirmed to be the Academy, Ranni secured the Fingerslayer Blade using her own methods. She then dissolved into wisps of blue light, planning to reawaken once they reached Raya Lucaria.
Though she didn't show it openly, she was quietly looking forward to reuniting with her mother.
Gawain stood watching the writhing Silver Tears below, lost in thought. He had just spent some time gathering specific information about them while making himself known to the Nox. He had to admit, these people had survived so long because they were each master of their own unique crafts.
During his inquiries, he learned that while "raw" Silver Tear blood was a potent toxin, that was merely a specialized modification made for the battlefield. The substance could be customized and "fine-tuned" according to one's needs.
This explained why the Tears were such perfect materials for rebirth. It wouldn't make sense to inhabit a new body only to have it come with a built-in defect like toxic blood.
Glancing up at Melina, who was staring at the false stars from the roof of the temple, Gawain felt his anticipation for the Academy trip grow.
He had promised long ago to find a way to give Melina a new life. Although he still needed Rennala's Great Rune to ensure the success of the Rite of Rebirth, getting the production of these Silver Tears under his control was a vital first step.
Oh, right—there's also Boc the Seamster, Gawain thought. I wonder if he's still dreaming of a new face?
And as for the souls tucked away within his Dark Ring... he wondered if this method could be used to grant them true rebirth as well.
As these thoughts swirled, a rhythmic, heavy thudding echoed from the distance. Gawain knew that sound well—the unique, metallic cadence of a Crucible Knight's stride. Did those two from the aqueduct decide to pay a visit?
Before he could go to investigate, a burst of golden light erupted. An explosion of Crucible power tore through the entrance of the Night's Sacred Ground. A cluster of writhing Silver Tears, sensing an intruder, transformed into various forms they had previously mimicked to establish a defensive line.
However, they hadn't recovered from their previous losses, and with the power of the Cradle Chalice now drained, they were powerless against this sudden assault.
The Crucible Knight, wings spread wide, dove from the air toward her target. Her spear erupted with light, shattering any obstacle that dared obstruct her charge.
Inside the temple, Avina noticed the uninvited guest but didn't panic.
This same Knight had once nearly led a legion into the temple, but that was before Marika shattered the Ring. The situation had changed drastically since then. The fact that they hadn't caused trouble for so long was because neither side could truly overcome the other. If she was coming now, it had to be for a different reason. Avina reached out and caught Lilian, who was about to rush out.
"No need for alarm. Even with two Knights and a legion, they couldn't break through before. They certainly won't now. Let us watch for a moment."
The Crucible Knight cut a path through the area with peerless momentum, reaching the front of the temple in short order. This was largely because the Nox had received word from their leader and stayed their hands, leaving only a few mindless Silver Tears to wander into the Knight's path.
Soon, the Knight saw a figure leap down from above, blocking her way. She didn't know who this was, but anyone standing before the temple doors was bound to be a formidable opponent.
She flared her wings to their full extent, channeling every ounce of Crucible energy into her spear. The power coiled into a swirling, torrential vortex as she unleashed her most powerful thrust.
And then... nothing.
The Knight watched in shock as the man before her blocked the blow with a strange barrier of light. Even if the hit were parried, how could his posture remain so utterly unshaken? Then, the man spoke.
"So, did you come here for something specific?"
Gawain had noticed during her charge that she hadn't actually intended to kill the Nox; she had simply knocked aside the Silver Tears in her way.
He deduced she hadn't come to steal the Fingerslayer Blade. Even for an elite Knight, charging into a den of hundreds of Nox alone was a suicide mission. She was coming specifically for him.
The Knight stood stunned for a moment, then lunged. Her left gauntlet manifested the visage of a dragon's head, and she swung a massive fist toward his face.
The punch landed, but Gawain didn't budge. It felt as though her fist had struck the ancient, petrified remains of the Great Ancient Dragon in the Capital. Black, jagged stone erupted from the man's armor—what kind of monstrous ability was this?
Gawain took the hit as if it were a mere scratch. After his battle with General Radahn, even an average demigod-level threat struggled to faze him. A Crucible Knight not even fighting at full capacity was hardly a challenge.
However, something caught his attention. He hadn't been mistaken; there was a faint trace of ice sorcery within that punch. It felt familiar.
He caught her fist in his hand. A powerful wave of gravity pulsed from below, reinforced by a sudden, violent gale. Without much effort, he executed a perfect shoulder throw, planting the Knight head-first into the ground.
The Knight scrambled up, looking rather disheveled. Aside from the time she had sparred with the First Lord Godfrey and been sent flying by a command grab, when had she ever suffered such an indignity?
Her Tree-and-Leaf helmet shattered, falling away to reveal a strikingly powerful face with features clearly originating from the distant Mountaintops.
Woah! It's a three-meter-tall Amazonian Crucible Knight!
Dazed by the impact, the Knight was slow to react and was immediately bound by a containment seal woven by the surrounding Nox using glintstone sorcery. She found herself unable to move.
Looking at the captured Knight, Gawain suddenly remembered the item descriptions for Siluria, which used female pronouns. It seemed the Tree-armored Knights were indeed women.
Though the scene was a bit different from the typical "captured knight" trope he might have imagined, he wasn't a villain. He was genuinely curious as to why she had charged in so recklessly.
"Calmed down yet? Tell me, why are you here? And where's your partner? I was planning to visit you myself, but you saved me the trip."
The Knight, having recovered her wits, simply studied Gawain, her expression shifting as if she were debating whether to speak.
"Fine, fine. You're going to be the silent type, are you?"
Gawain snapped his fingers. While he waited, he began to hum a tune—a powerful, rhythmic melody that sounded like an old classic.
Four figures draped in heavy cloaks emerged. Each was massive, standing a full head taller than their kin.
"Since you don't want to talk to me, let me introduce you. These are the Nox who prefer 'physical' methods for their assassinations. I call them the Fearsome Four.
Each of these four has their own specialty, their own secret techniques. Their fighting spirit and patience are legendary.
See that massive glintstone staff over there? That secret weapon will bring you... extra surprises.
I'll give you one more chance. Either you talk now, or I turn you over to them for questioning."
The four massive "Amazonian" Nox threw back their cloaks, revealing rather terrifying, "friendly" smiles. Since they had a captive today, they were eager to show some 'affection.'
Under normal circumstances, the Crucible Knight wouldn't fear these four. But bound as she was, with her armor shattered, these four loomed more terrifying than a billion Fire Giants.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Just... tell them to back off."
Seeing her finally fold, Gawain waved his hand, dismissing the eager "Quartet." They looked a bit disappointed but obeyed.
"Can you remove these bindings? And perhaps we can speak somewhere else? I have seen your strength... no wonder Naxir followed you so easily."
With Gawain's nod, the Nox released the seal. Given the situation, there was nowhere for her to run anyway.
"My name is Eivor. I am one of the knights who once followed the War-Lord Godfrey across the Lands Between. That throw just now... it was strong. Truly powerful. I acknowledge that you possess the strength to become Lord."
Hearing this, Gawain knew she was definitely one of Godfrey's people. And from her tone, she seemed familiar with Naxir. Did she see me pull Naxir off that broken bridge a while back?
That said, the history between the Crucible Knights and the Nox was complicated. In essence, what Queen Marika wanted was the same as what the Nox wanted, but the long separation of these Eternal scions had led to unnecessary conflict.
Fortunately, even during the invasion alongside the Falling Hawk Company, the greatest damage to the Nox had been the destruction of the Silver Tear defensive line, which merely took time to reform. Most Nox injured in battle recovered thanks to their unique physiology, so the two sides didn't harbor a deep, mutual hatred. Until Gawain arrived, they had maintained a delicate "mind your own business" balance.
After taking her to a place where they wouldn't be disturbed, Gawain asked his question.
"So, I assume you didn't come here just to get captured for fun."
Eivor massaged her shoulder, which was slightly out of joint. With a pulse of Crucible energy, the bone snapped back into place. She nodded solemnly; she had indeed come seeking help.
"I assume these Nox have told you of our history. Before the Night of the Black Plot, Queen Marika chose me and another comrade to lead a legion here in search of a legendary treasure.
That was when our War-Lord Godfrey was being hounded from the Lands Between. Though I didn't understand the Queen's reasoning, our Lord's final command was for us to find a new purpose according to our own wills—that one day, he would return to mend all that had been broken."
She sighed softly. After the Lord's exile, all Crucible Knights had faced a period of aimlessness.
"The legion we led was composed of defeated slaves; our combat strength was not great. Even when we finally reached our goal, we saw the defenses in place and chose to retreat rather than risk a reckless gamble.
The Queen's decree was that if we truly could not take it, we were to abandon the task for a time. She would carry out her will regardless.
The events that followed... I assume you know. The Night of the Black Knives occurred. That tragedy, which left the Capital in mourning, was the turning point for everything.
That was the last time I returned to the Capital. Together with my comrade Siluria, the lead Crucible Knight, we buried Prince Godwyn's body in the Nameless Eternal City beneath the Capital."
Gawain was shocked to learn she had participated in the burial. He pressed her for information on the Prince's current state.
The memory of Godrick's mutated form was still vivid. If even a weakling like Godrick could nearly ruin Stormveil, the consequences of a Prince of Death spiraling out of control would be catastrophic. He didn't fear demigods or gods in a fair fight, but a "cancer" that spread infinitely if not pulled out by the root was a nightmare to handle.
Eivor's expression turned heavy. This was exactly what they feared.
"That is why I have guarded the aqueduct for all these years.
After Prince Godwyn was interred, everyone realized the flaw within the Golden Order's system of 'returning to the roots.' It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Siluria chose to lead Godwyn's followers to watch over the body. Together with the Gargoyles—formed from the corpses of many heroes—they suppress the spread of the pustules. The soldiers who once followed the Prince voluntarily became spirits, guarding his body alongside the Walking Mausoleums.
The Prince's friend, the Ancient Dragon Fortissax, entered his dreams to battle death itself. Though it is a futile effort, his presence slows the spread of the corruption.
It took the combined efforts of everyone just to keep those filthy things from overflowing.
Meanwhile, I and another comrade personally guarded the aqueduct to ensure nothing went in... and nothing came out.
For all these years, I have not known what transpired on the surface, but my mission remains unchanged. Even if my entire legion becomes mindless husks, it is better than letting something far more terrible escape."
Gawain finally understood. He had wondered why the "cancer" that spread so quickly on the surface was contained within a small area in the Nameless Eternal City, only able to spread through the deep roots.
It was because of this collective effort, held together from the Night of the Black Knives until now. That was an incredibly long time to hold the line.
"So, why did you decide to abandon your post and come to me now?"
Eivor shook her head helplessly.
"Because the situation has become critical. For some time now, I have felt traces of the pustules and black bile flowing down with the river from upstream. I suspect these things have already spread throughout the Lands Between via the underground root system."
"You're right. It's exactly as you suspect. On the surface, people call the things that spread with death 'Deathroot.' Under its influence, things called 'Those Who Live in Death' have appeared.
I've actually dealt with a demigod who became one of them. To be honest, while I can handle them in a fight, cleaning them up is a massive pain."
"Is that so? I haven't been to the surface in so long; I didn't realize it had progressed so far. I sought you out because I saw you leave with Naxir.
From my post, I could only watch him from afar, trapped as he was. I am not suited for long-distance flight, so I couldn't reach him to help him escape.
I don't know why he was trapped at the Capital, but if he didn't fight you and was willing to serve you, then you must be a man of character. I can only hope you have the means to deal with this mess.
When I felt the aura of the Fingerslayer Blade, I knew you must have convinced those stubborn Nox to part with it. Rather than continue guarding a failing line, I chose to gamble and find you. Even if something happens to me, I still have a comrade left to carry the responsibility."
Gawain rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. This damn Lands Between... There wasn't a single day of peace where he could just focus on his original plans.
He was truly afraid that if the line in the Deeproot Depths broke, Godwyn's corpse would explode and drown the Lands Between in an instant.
Fallingstars were dropping from the sky, Deathroot was spreading everywhere, there was a literal time bomb in the Deeproot Depths, and the Scarlet Rot in Caelid was reaching a critical stalemate. It looked like he'd have to handle Caelid, the Academy, and the Deathroot all at once.
"Alright then. If I recall correctly, Naxir should be heading back to Stormveil soon to have his gear maintained. I can take you to see him, and then we'll figure out how to provide the help needed to maintain the seal.
By the way, is the passage you're guarding at the aqueduct still functional?"
Eivor let out a long breath. After guarding the line for so long, she finally had outside help. She had seen with her own eyes the terrifying power contained within the Prince of Death's eyes.
She would not allow that thing to spread, and for that goal, she was willing to set aside all other ideologies and Orders.
"Of course it is. The two Gargoyles there were brought down from the surface specifically to help me guard it. Why? Do you intend to use the passage to investigate?"
"No, no. I don't plan on going there just yet. I have matters on the surface to attend to at the Academy first. But as long as the passage works, that's enough. I've thought of a way—it might not be a total fix, but it should at least ease the pressure on those warriors in the Deeproot Depths."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (218 chapter - Ongoing)
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