After several days of marching along the western shore of Liurnia of the Lakes, the expeditionary force finally reached the Eastern Tableland, where the entrance well was located. Throughout the journey, Sellen had been monitoring the area from high above atop her dragon, and she had detected no abnormalities.
"I've always wondered how a subterranean campaign handles its logistics," Raven remarked, observing the cramped entrance well. He estimated that, at most, ten people could be lowered at a time. "The Carian Kingdom certainly isn't providing supplies."
"The transport units will return the way they came. Only the elites are heading underground," the Monitor replied.
"Even so, there are nearly a thousand men."
"You will understand when the time comes, Your Highness. Queen Marika has already made arrangements," the Monitor said smoothly. "Everything is under control."
Raven frowned. After Malenia had expressed her lack of interest in serving as the commander-in-chief, this Monitor sent by Marika had taken over the reins. Neither Fortissax nor the Priest Selenzo had any objections; after all, neither of them would ever allow the other to command them.
However, while this Monitor seemed unremarkable in every other respect, Raven couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to them than met the eye.
To one side of the camp, Rya was clutching Lansseax, her small face a mess of tears.
"I tried so hard, but—" She hiccuped, unable to finish her sentence.
"I know. It's not your fault, Rya," Lansseax said, kneeling down and patting her back to comfort her.
Malenia had not taught Rya the Waterfowl Dance. Or rather, she hadn't taught her any sword technique that an ordinary person would recognize.
"What I have given you is a seed," Malenia had explained back then. "Every Flowing Swordsman is unique. The Waterfowl Dance suits me, but it does not suit you. One day, you will possess a sword of your own."
"But Rya just wants to be like you."
"And I want you to be stronger than me," Malenia had said with a faint smile. "By the way, from now on, can you try to refer to yourself as 'I' instead of 'Rya'?"
"But Rya is Rya!"
"A name is just a label. You must find your true self before you can find your own sword."
Raven tiptoed over, watching as Rya buried her face in Lansseax's chest.
"Is she feeling any better?" he whispered, flicking a small spark of Dragonbolt into the air.
"What do you think?" Lansseax gritted her teeth, a flash of electricity sparking at the tips of her hair.
Raven patted his cheeks, bracing himself. Just as he was about to step forward, Rya lifted her head. She wiped her tears with her sleeve, gave Lansseax one last tight squeeze, and then let go.
"Goodbye, Sister Lansseax."
"Rya?" Lansseax asked, concerned.
"I'm leaving now," Rya said, sniffing. "Once I've mastered the Flowing Sword technique, I'll come find you all."
"We'll come to see you very soon," Lansseax promised.
"Maybe I'll be the one to find my sword first." A smile broke through the tear tracks on her face. Rya pattered over to Raven and gave him a big hug as well. "Goodbye, Raven."
"Yeah. Don't forget to say goodbye to Malenia too." Raven used glintstone magic to manifest a crystal comb, using it to tidy her hair.
"I've already completed my apprenticeship," Rya said, sounding like a little adult. "'The destiny of flowing water is to separate, but it will eventually reunite somewhere.' A graduated Flowing Swordsman must set out to find their own sword. Only after finding it can they meet their master again."
"I see," Raven said, lowering the comb. "Sellen will take you. She's the sister wearing the stone mask next to the Glintstone Dragon. Also, when you see Rennala, don't let it slip that I'm with the expeditionary force..."
"You've reminded me so many times already! I know." Rya waved and walked away, but after a few steps, she ran back. "Can I keep this comb?"
Raven had been about to let the conjured item dissipate, but he paused.
"I made this with glintstone magic. If I stop providing it with mana, it will crumble and evaporate within ten days or so. Let me give you something else as a gift—let me think—"
"That's exactly why it's worth treasuring. I'll learn magic and pour my own mana into the comb," Rya said, snatching it. "Goodbye!"
With one final farewell, Rya ran toward Smarag, the Glintstone Dragon. Raven watched her small retreating figure, his waving hand gradually slowing. A strange sense of melancholy washed over him.
"What's wrong? Sad to see her go?" Lansseax asked, slapping him on the shoulder with her usual boisterousness, though Raven could see her eyes were also slightly red.
Raven nodded, then shook his head.
He stood still for a moment, then suddenly closed his eyes. A faint, pale-blue form, like wispy smoke, separated from his body, looking as though it might scatter with a single gust of wind.
"A spirit body?" Lansseax poked the spirit's shoulder. "So this is what you've been researching these past few days. I have to say, this spirit is incredibly weak."
"Well, I'm just starting out. It'll probably dissipate before dawn," Raven's consciousness settled into the spirit body as he tested his limbs. "But this is enough."
Smarag the Glintstone Dragon lay prone on the ground. His claws, bent elbows, shoulder joints, and the first sections of his wing muscles formed a four-step staircase, yet it was still a daunting climb for an ordinary person.
"Don't be afraid. Just follow me—"
Sellen began to instruct Rya, only to find the girl had already leaped onto the dragon's claw. She scrambled up with agile precision, gripped the spikes on the dragon's wing, swung her body through the air, and flipped onto the dragon's back. Once there, she turned around and reached out a hand to pull Sellen up.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary." Sellen, naturally, did not need help. With every step she took, a glintstone platform appeared beneath her boots, adhering to the dragon scales and allowing her to ascend with ease.
Smarag spread his wings, crouched, and leapt straight from the Eastern Tableland into the wind. His trailing tail left a long furrow in the grass as he took flight.
After settling Rya into the crook of the dragon's neck, Sellen gave her a brief introduction to the Academy, patiently answering one whimsical question after another. It was only when a long silence followed that Sellen realized Rya had leaned against a dragon scale and fallen fast asleep.
Sellen leaned on her staff and stood up to stretch her numbing legs. When she turned around, she was surprised to see a faint blue spirit standing at the edge of the dragon's back, seemingly gazing down at the lakes and forests of Liurnia shrouded in night.
Sellen raised her staff, then lowered it. "Raven?"
"Shh. Don't wake her. She's worked very hard during her training these past few days." Raven's spirit turned around. "Do you want to rest for a bit too? I'll keep watch here and wake you if anything happens."
"It's fine. I have delved deep into the Primeval Current; this body never tires," Sellen said. "Your spirit body is unstable. I'll have Smarag speed up so you can see the Full Moon Queen."
"No. This look is enough."
"You're not going to see her?" Sellen studied Raven. "I don't understand any of you. Ranni is the same, and so are you—not to mention the Starscourge and the Praetor."
Raven remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a sigh. "Every star has a predetermined trajectory. Perhaps that is the destiny of the Carian royal family. I will certainly break free from the shackles of fate... but not today. Not now."
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(192 Chapter - Ongoing)
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