"It was a city of silence and beauty, untouched by the erosion of time. Rather, it felt as if time had stood still for all things, held in place by the eternally dim starlight cast down from a false sky."
"We walked along streets paved with lead, flanked by statues of black stone spheres. In the distance, one could see the silhouettes of countless silver towers, flickering between light and shadow. The air was thick with a strange fragrance, like the scent of sandalwood ash cooling in a brazier..."
Raven listened quietly to Loretta's description until her narration came to a pause.
"Raven, are you still listening?"
"Of course," Raven sat up straight and gave a thumbs-up. "To be able to recreate the scene so vividly through words alone—Loretta, have you ever realized you have a natural talent for being a bard?"
"That's because I'm reading from my diary," Loretta laughed bashfully, handing the notebook to Raven.
"Oh, may I? A diary is a private thing, isn't it?"
"This diary was written specifically for Your Highness to read. I once promised that we would witness the beauty of the Eternal City together. Though I could not accompany you this time, I thought that by writing down the events of the journey, it would be as if we experienced the adventure together when you read it."
"Thank you, Loretta." Raven flipped to the first page. The main text was written in a neat, print-like script, recording the day's events. At the end of each entry was a personal monologue; here, the handwriting shifted to a sweeping, elegant copperplate script. "I didn't expect you to write such delicate prose, Loretta. It's a surprise."
"Why?" Loretta seemed a bit slighted. "In your heart, Your Highness, do you see me as some unlettered brute?"
"Well, as for your image..." Raven thought for a moment. "A muscle-bound knight-errant big sister with Herculean strength—"
Thwack! A hand-chop landed on his head.
"Ow!"
"That is—that is too rude! Even if it's you, Your Highness, saying such things is incredibly disrespectful." Loretta's face flushed red as she retracted her armored palm. "I simply have a tiny bit more muscle than the average woman."
Raven nodded frantically like a chick pecking at grain, signaling his absolute belief in her words.
"After becoming a knight, I put a great deal of effort into my grammar lessons. It would be a laughingstock if a Carian Royal Guard were illiterate."
"And the sketches," Raven said, changing the subject as he flipped through the pages. "This drawing of the Dragonkin Soldier golem is quite imposing. Hmm, no wonder Ranni gave me the map. If the Carian Kingdom could obtain the technology to create Dragonkin Soldiers, they could replace living people on the battlefield and reduce casualties..."
"Dragon? What dragon!" Someone peeked over Raven's shoulder, eyeing the diary with curiosity. "Are you talking about me?"
"Lanss?" Raven was leaned over by Lanss's weight. "You didn't go back to the manor?"
"Heave-ho!" With zero ladylike grace, Lanss swung a leg over the bench and squeezed herself in between Loretta and Raven. "Don't worry, those Confessors have already retreated. I had nothing else to do, so I came back."
Raven shifted over to make room and introduced the two. "This is Knight Loretta; she has been protecting me since my time in Caria. And this is Lanss, the Ancient Dragon who carried us here earlier—she's also the Vice Commander of the Knights."
"Hello, Miss Lanss," Loretta said. "I shall continue to serve as Prince Raven's sword and shield. Please look after me."
"Welcome to the team!" Lanss waved dismissively before leaning back in to look at the diary. "Oh, isn't this a Dragonkin Soldier? I didn't expect them to have weathered so badly; I almost didn't recognize it."
"Are the Dragonkin Soldiers related to the Ancient Dragons?" Raven asked curiously.
"Mhm. The Nox of the Eternal City collaborated with us to develop them," Lanss nodded. "Back then, various races joined forces to crusade against the Goddess of Rot. We exchanged techniques and power, and these war machines—immune to the Scarlet Rot—were one of the results."
"You participated in the war against the Rot too?"
"Of course," Lanss said proudly. "We fought the Kindred of Rot for years, driving them all the way back to the Lake of Rot. That final battle permanently altered the course of the Ainsel River. I personally slew three of the seven Great Mushroom Kings and was known as the 'Blade of Farum Azula.' If we hadn't won that fight, the world might have ended."
"Saving the world... it really feels surreal." Looking at the silver-haired girl standing tall with her chest puffed out, Raven imagined her in the heat of war and couldn't help but smile.
"I know, you think I'm bragging," Lanss pouted.
"No, I'm just glad you made it through that battle safely," Raven said. Having witnessed the eerie and terrifying power of the Scarlet Rot, he could imagine how harrowing Lanss's battles must have been, regardless of how lightly she spoke of them now.
"Hmph, those bottom-feeders were nowhere near fast enough to hurt me," Lanss turned her head away. "If there's ever a chance, I'll take you to Farum Azula to see for yourself. The mushroom heads I cut off might still be hanging on the city walls."
"Have you not been back to Farum Azula in a long time?"
"The Golden Dynasty forbade my sister and me from going home. They're probably afraid we'd summon our father back from the rift in time," Lanss said. "In reality, we don't have that kind of power. But one day, I'm going to sneak back for a look."
"You won't have to sneak. I will let you return home with your head held high," Raven said seriously. "I promise."
"Hey, don't go getting any wild ideas. Maliketh the Black Blade is always guarding the Crumbling City. That traitor defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen in a direct confrontation; he's not someone we can deal with."
"In terms of raw martial might, the Black Blade may indeed be peerless in this world," Raven shook his head slightly. "But he remains far removed from the vortex of power and conflict. In the end, he will find that he cannot protect anything."
As if reaching a realization, he stood up from the bench and looked toward the capital's main thoroughfare.
Escorted by a squad of knights, a plain and understated carriage sped toward them, coming to a halt before the bench.
A knight opened the door and bowed as he withdrew. The scent of soothing incense wafted from the carriage. Inside, an old man with white hair and a white beard was sunk deep into thick cushions, appearing half-asleep.
"Grand Scholar Zeno." Seeing this elder of the Royalist faction, Raven bowed slightly in greeting, though he looked somewhat puzzled. "Are the others behind you? Have you come alone?"
"Before coming here, I had a brief meeting with the others to discuss how to handle this attack on the Royalists." The Grand Scholar pried open his drooping eyelids to look at Raven, pushing a hand warmer aside.
"An attack on the Royalists?" Raven frowned. "Do you mean this Scarlet Rot outbreak?"
"Prince Miquella has been taken by the Capital Garrison for investigation, on the grounds that he and Lady Malenia are suspected of being involved in the Scarlet Rot attack," the Grand Scholar said calmly. "This is the gravest of provocations against the Royalists. We have decided to issue a forceful response."
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(174 Chapter - Ongoing)
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