She equipped it to be safe.
Feeling the talisman's energy, Frieren breathed a sigh of relief. At the very least, it would reduce her need to draw upon other powers, preventing any unforeseen conflicts.
She needed stability now, at least until Miquella's charm was resolved.
The problem was waiting for him to break the seal. Setting aside whether he would even do so, ceding the initiative to another was not her style. A more proactive approach would be to give the stirring Old God a sound thrashing.
All she needed to do was re-solidify the First Flame's suppression.
Theoretically, the two powers could maintain a difficult, even balance, but that would turn the host into a monster.
Thus, Frieren had always sided with the First Flame, helping it suppress the Old God. This was why she only manifested the powers of a Lord of Cinder and not those of a Hunter.
But now, with the introduction of Miquella's charm, that biased suppression was becoming unstable.
She had to be careful.
Meanwhile, Melina completed her prayer before the statue, a trace of worry still lingering in her eyes. It was a concern for her mother, but also a question about this part of the plan for the Tarnished's mission; she did not know what the gods were plotting.
"Did the records speak?"
"No. Most likely because this place, unlike the Lands Between, lacks the complete liturgical rites of the Goddess's churches. In the Land of Shadow, this faith has long been abandoned."
"After all, the holy war army was abandoned first, and the Horned Folk have no love for Marika either."
"The Church of Cherished Grace... let it continue its slumber."
Even if the Land of Shadow were to one day prosper again, they would likely never rebuild the churches. The more Melina learned of these various lands, the more she felt the age of the Erdtree was over.
The people and events that represented that great existence were fading. Even if it were repaired, it would never be as it was yesterday.
A pity.
But it was only a pity. She was not as nostalgic as the Lord of Grace. The Golden Order was in the past; now, she chose the Tarnished, believing in the dynasty she would build with this person, not in the dynasty itself.
"How is it? Is there nothing else to explore?"
Frieren was still eager for more.
Melina spread a map and pointed. "Within the scope of the Gravesite Plain, there are indeed places like Dragon's Cave and River-end Cave, but they are all near Castle Ensis."
"So, they're on the other side of the great bridge, right?"
"Correct. If we were to explore there, we wouldn't be able to avoid the eyes and ears of the Carian army."
"The holy war army certainly picked a good spot. If Castle Ensis isn't conquered, a large portion of the Land of Shadow will remain inaccessible."
Although there were ways to fly or burrow to bypass it, the cost-benefit was too low. Besides, she had already decided to connect with Rellana as a channel of communication. Approaching Rellana directly would be a bit too provocative and could easily make her act rashly.
It was decided.
After a short rest at the Church of Cherished Grace, the two set off again.
Before that, however, Frieren used a Site of Grace to teleport and sync intelligence with her subordinates, describing the situation with the Nox in particular detail and ordering the Grafting Artisans to prepare.
Only after finishing all this did they set out with peace of mind. After all, they couldn't leave the many factions of the south in the dark.
Rellana had probably already notified the Haligtree army.
Their own side also needed to prepare. Both Frieren and Melina understood that the current state of the Land of Shadow was merely the brewing before the storm. A great event, one that could shake the Lands Between, would likely erupt in the sealed lands...
"Stormveil Castle".
Some time had passed since the conquest of the Mohgwyn Dynasty, and the high command reconvened.
Edgar and Kenneth Haight, who had been stationed there, naturally received the notice and realized a great conspiracy was unfolding in the Land of Shadow.
They watched as the silver-haired girl suddenly teleported in, rattled off a torrent of instructions like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, gave her final orders, and then vanished without a trace.
Is the Land of Shadow that much fun?
After traveling for a while, Her Majesty no longer gave "Stormveil Castle" a second glance, completely lost in pleasure, forgetting her home.
Fortunately, Frieren had brought something else reliable:
Travel logs.
Unfurled on the table was a long scroll, a rubbing of elegant and dignified calligraphy, interspersed with drawings, samples, and map annotations... it had everything. Everyone recognized Melina's handwriting; she was the one to count on for detailed intelligence.
They immediately began to read carefully, and combined with the key information Frieren had just provided, they were able to piece together most of the situation.
"I never thought Miquella would make such a grand move," Haight marveled. "If Her Majesty hadn't noticed in time, he might have secretly ascended to godhood."
"Ascending to godhood shouldn't be that easy."
Halfway through his sentence, Edgar became unsure. There wasn't enough evidence.
"You think Miquella lacks the support of a powerful king, don't you? Indeed, who could it be?"
"Could he intend to charm Her Majesty? In my opinion, aside from the Lord of Soul and Cinder, there are no other strong contenders in the entire Lands Between. Some Shardbearers talk a big game, but in spirit, they are far inferior to the First Lord."
"You are a former Banished Knight and have seen Godrick. I believe you."
"Who else could be king? Could it be Godwyn? After all, his body is not dead, and the Land of Shadow possesses soul-related techniques. Furthermore, it is rumored that he and Miquella were close."
"It's hard to say."
The two of them pondered but couldn't figure it out, feeling as if a layer of fog obscured the key information.
They even considered the option of resurrecting Mohg.
"Forget it," Haight said, shaking his head. "It's pointless to rack our brains over things beyond our purview. I will prepare the Grafting Artisans as Her Majesty instructed and have them practice the procedure in advance."
"...Considering that the Nox will be settled here in the future, I will also contact the Black Knife Assassin. She should know something."
And so it was decided.
As an executor, he was always swift and decisive, always managing to carry out his superior's orders.
Edgar nodded as well.
"Although it's still early, and it may not even happen, I must plan for a scenario where the Southern Army clashes with the holy war army. How would we deal with those ancient powers?" For the time being, he couldn't find a good solution and could only proceed with caution.
"We just need to do what's necessary. Pass the intelligence to the Magic Academy; they should be able to make their own judgment."
After making their decision, the two went their separate ways to carry out their tasks.
Although Frieren, the monarch, and Melina, the chancellor, were visibly continuing their journey, the work at their home base could not stop. Besides, the time they spent away was nothing in the long-lived Lands Between. They had originally been prepared for years without news, so for now, everything was proceeding as usual.
Magic Academy.
An urgent message arrived by storm. While not as critical as an express military dispatch, its importance was no less, and the explosive news it contained was enough to subvert the perceptions of the people of the Lands Between.
Moongrum, having received the letter, hurried to the top-floor Grand Library to report.
He recounted the findings, piece by piece.
The intelligence gathered by the combination of Frieren, Melina, and the Mimic Tear was undoubtedly reliable. Since it also involved the Carian Royal Family, they had to prepare. But what preparations could they make?
How would the Twin Moon Knight, absent for so long, view the Academy of today?
The Queen of the Full Moon murmured, "It seems Rellana is doing alright in the Land of Shadow. She has found her love, unlike me. That's good. Not bad at all."
"It reminds me of the old days... carefree, with only magic. Simple and happy..."
But she couldn't go back.
The great turmoil of the Lands Between had swept up everyone, herself included. In contrast, the Land of Shadow seemed to have preserved its appearance from the age of plenty, perhaps even more bountiful than the South before Frieren's restoration.
It lacked new construction, but its foundation remained, whereas many places in the Lands Between were utterly ruined.
Moongrum threw a bucket of cold water on the notion, saying:
"But Miquella is currently plotting a conspiracy. The Land of Shadow will soon become restless, not to mention Her Majesty's activities there."
It was well known that Frieren was pugnacious and skilled at resolving conflict—specifically, by placing herself at the center of the conflict and then smashing all injustice, to everyone's delight. A truly kingly style.
Though she was exploring slowly and unhurriedly now, she was bound to make a move sooner or later.
One hundred percent.
"There's not much more I can do to help the Lord of Soul and Cinder, other than providing the support of my Great Rune and the secrets of life when she needs it. Since this is about healing the Nox, I will give my full support."
"I just don't know if Lady Rellana will be willing to cooperate with Her Majesty."
"I'm not certain either."
"Mother, I believe the two Dark Moon keepsakes are enough to explain the situation," Ranni's figure materialized atop a bookshelf.
"Your Highness, you have finally awakened from your slumber?"
"Yes, the wound left by the Two Fingers has healed. And thanks to Frieren's soul magic, I can remain active for longer. I will no longer fall into frequent slumber. I can become a stable combat force to help everyone."
Even Ranni's usually cool tone carried a hint of excitement as she enjoyed this rare freedom.
Otherwise, as a future deity, she would be too detached. She needed to build her own merits as well; she couldn't leave everything to Frieren, or she would not be able to command respect when she ruled.
Unfortunately, she had also received news that her consort was on a rampage in the Land of Shadow.
She couldn't go for the time being.
The Queen of the Full Moon replied, "Knowing Rellana's personality, she will surely test the one who has your vow. She will not grant her approval easily. At the very least, one must display the mettle of a king."
"That shouldn't be difficult. After all, she already possesses it."
The three of them deeply agreed. The Lord of Soul and Cinder was widely acknowledged as a king in the eyes of the people of the Lands Between. If worse comes to worst, they'll just have a fight; she excels at that.
Moongrum said, "In any case, I must return to prepare the army. Although I don't know how to get through the barrier to the Land of Shadow—it seems only Miquella can grant invitations—I believe we should strengthen our forces, treating the holy war army as a hypothetical enemy."
Mother and daughter voiced their approval, watching as the chief Carian Knight took his leave.
He left the two of them space. After such a long separation post-slumber, they surely had much to discuss.
"The letter mentioned speculation about a 'Gate of the Gods' ritual. What are your thoughts, Ranni? To become a god, that step should be indispensable, or at least hold ritualistic value."
"I will have to go to the Land of Shadow to know for sure."
"Furthermore, the existence of the Mother of Fingers is also very dangerous. It would be best to check the records of the Eternal City. They should know something."
"Understood. You should rest. Leave the rest of the investigation to me."
Ranni, of course, hoped to witness the forefront of this sudden turn of events with her own eyes. Unfortunately, apart from Miquella, no one could authorize free travel to and fro. She imagined Frieren was also considering this, so she could only wait and see.
Far away in the Land of Shadow, at the edge of the Gravesite Plain.
The rolling knotweed gradually faded as the sky grew brighter—a sign they were approaching the Scadutree. Ahead, the grand silhouette of a cluster of buildings came into view.
Holding the reins, Frieren raised a hand to shield her eyes, thinking that everything in the Land of Shadow was veiled.
Not that it was indistinct, but rather that it was cast in a peculiar color.
Melina, sitting sidesaddle behind her, said, "The power of the Shadow Seal is growing stronger, and the terrain is rising. That area ahead should hold the shapes of both Castle Ensis and Shadow Keep. We are getting closer."
"There are many presences."
Ballistas and shield soldiers, heavily guarded.
They were defending to the standard of repelling an army, more than enough for a lone warrior and her companion.
After all, the holy war army knew of the vast number of Horned Folk remains in the Tower Town. Since they were difficult to eliminate, they could only maintain a posture of suppression, sending out skirmishers to set up camps for harassment and surveillance while heavily reinforcing the main road to their headquarters.
They had no fear, even if those wretched creatures organized an army.
The Ellac Greatbridge was easy to defend and hard to attack. Though wide, it was fortified with numerous offensive emplacements. Moreover, the other end of the bridge faced the encampment outside Castle Ensis, directly opposing the firepower from the high beast-warding walls. Under normal circumstances, attacking such a fortress would be a bottomless pit of casualties.
And it was slanted.
This meant that attackers on the first half of the bridge could not see the ground deployment on the other side, making it easy to charge headfirst into a trap.
"There are only two of us. How about we go around or sneak past?"
"Melina, do you really think we haven't been spotted yet? They've already taken formation. How could we timidly leave?"
"Just like how you insisted on breaking through the main gate of "Stormveil Castle"."
"Exactly."
"Very well. The people of the Lands Between would certainly prefer a direct, domineering monarch. Just try not to cause too much damage. Let's charge through. We will enter Castle Ensis openly and with honor."
"I can sense their wariness, but not killing intent. It seems the message was received. Caria is also hesitant. I will show mercy and give them a chance."
Before her words had even faded, Frieren tugged on the reins.
Her spectral steed beneath her reared its head and neighed, then galloped at full speed, its resounding hoofbeats crossing the entrance to the bridge.
As expected, just past the halfway point of the bridge, they were met by neat rows of cheval de frise and shields, forming a veritable wall, poised for battle.
Crossbows were already aimed—
Bolts powerful enough to be used in a siege flew forth. Even against the renowned quasi-monarch of the Lands Between, they could not simply grant passage. This was the pride of the Carian army, demonstrating their stance with a grand welcoming ceremony.
Yet the silver-haired girl made no grand move; a Carian Phalanx simply materialized around her.
With a series of clanging sounds, she deflected great force with little effort. Only a precise strike was needed to knock a crossbow bolt off its trajectory and neutralize the threat, leaving nothing but sparks glittering in the air.
It appeared as if the bolts were actively avoiding her.
It was too fast. Before the defenders on the bridge could react, a great gust of wind swept past them. Was she truly charging the line alone?
It was true. An ice storm that erupted almost simultaneously tore their defensive line to shreds. Soldiers were either frozen to the ground or blown away, and a gap was brutally torn open in their once-tight formation.
Such immense force!
They could only watch the departing back of Frieren as she rode off, and Melina waving with a hint of smug satisfaction, as many of them were left bruised and battered.
"It's the spectral steed Torrent! That's right, the wise beast who chooses the monarch."
"But why is it with a Tarnished?"
____
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