Twin Moon Knight Rellana and the Ensis Castle army following her gradually appeared before Tarnes and Melina. The moment this former princess of Caria saw Tarnes, she instinctively drew her twin swords.
But soon, suddenly emerging memories began impacting her mind, making her press against her visor with one hand while still steadfastly pointing her greatsword at Tarnes with the other.
The soldiers behind Rellana, seeing their master so wary of the man before them, immediately shielded her behind them.
Among them, a large troll wearing a Carian knight helmet and a Carian knight wielding an azure-blue greatsword with both hands stood at the very front, tensely watching Tarnes.
"...Enough, Moonthryll. Take the soldiers and stand down. You would be no match for him, and we may not necessarily be enemies."
Rellana's weary words came, making the soldiers exchange glances.
The Carian knight whose name was called hesitated for only a few seconds before silently nodding, a pleasant female voice emerging from beneath her helmet. "As you command, my lord."
The soldiers of Ensis Castle were very obedient to their master's orders. With Moonthryll leading, they retreated behind Rellana again.
However, the troll and Moonthryll didn't return to the army but silently positioned themselves behind Rellana.
Rellana tacitly allowed their behavior, then removed her helmet, revealing a gentle face that bore some resemblance to Full Moon Queen Rennala.
Rellana's appearance was more heroic and spirited. Her black hair slowly fell across her back as the helmet was removed, her tall and upright figure maintaining an elegant stance.
Rellana let out an almost imperceptible sigh, then asked Tarnes, "How should I address you? Tarnished? Or Elden Lord?"
Tarnes said, "Either is fine. Both are my identities. But people here now call me 'Tarnes.' You can use that name to address me."
Rellana nodded, her gaze quickly sweeping over Melina and slightly contracting, then immediately looked up at the twin Golden Tree behind her and the azure sky above, remaining silent for a long time.
Not only Rellana, but also the soldiers of Ensis Castle were also gradually having their attention drawn to the unfamiliar environment around them after being summoned.
If not for their good military discipline keeping them in formation, they would probably have started loudly discussing where they had come to.
When she lowered her head again and looked at Tarnes, she said, "Tarnes... this is no longer the Lands Between, is it?"
Tarnes acknowledged, "You observe very carefully, Lady Rellana."
Rellana surveyed the surroundings once more and said calmly, "Messmer once invited me to visit the Golden Tree's Royal Capital, Leyndell. Though I can recognize this cathedral as the one at the very center of the royal capital, but... this Golden Tree entwined with the spectral tree is not. Because the royal family members of Leyndell would never allow a spectral tree to appear in the Lands Between, and the sky of the Lands Between... was never this azure."
She paused, sighing deeply before continuing, "But for us people trapped in the Land of Shadow, being able to leave that cursed place is already very satisfying. But there's no free lunch in this world. You summoning us from that cursed place must be to have us do something in exchange. I'm willing to accept your request, but first please answer one question for me."
Tarnes thought to himself that he hadn't even shown Ranni's ring to Rellana yet. How was this person so eager to agree to his unspoken request?
What Rellana was thinking was that this Tarnished from her memories was powerful enough to have killed her eight times. She didn't want to conflict with Tarnes again before even seeing Messmer.
Since Tarnes could bring her and Ensis Castle's soldiers out of the Land of Shadow, he could certainly also rescue her beloved Messmer from that damned Land of Shadow.
How much she wanted to live with Messmer under normal skies, rather than day after day, year after year in the gloomy yellow Land of Shadow, guarding secrets that shouldn't have been buried by them in the first place.
At this point Tarnes asked, "Go ahead, what's your question?"
Rellana slightly touched her chest and bowed respectfully. "I only want to ask whether your request of me will have a negative impact on Messmer or endanger his life. If what you're asking me to do is to oppose Messmer, then I would rather sacrifice this life than agree to your request."
Just this matter... I thought it would be something serious.
Tarnes felt relieved inside, as Rellana's serious tone had made him think it was some troublesome issue.
However, Rellana bowing to him was something Tarnes couldn't directly accept, since in terms of family seniority, she was his elder.
So Tarnes stepped aside, avoiding Rellana's bow, and said to her in a very formal tone, "You're overthinking, Lady Rellana. I will also need Messmer's help later. How could I make you oppose him? Unfortunately, I cannot summon Messmer in the short term."
Though Rellana didn't understand why Tarnes stepped aside to avoid her bow, her tone softened after hearing his answer.
She straightened up again and said gratefully, "That you can promise my reunion with Messmer in the outside world already satisfies me greatly. I ask for nothing else. Tarnes, please tell me what you plan to have me and Ensis Castle's army do."
Tarnes cleared his throat and pointed to a corner beside the nearby cathedral. "May we speak privately?"
Rellana nodded and was about to follow Tarnes when the Carian knight Moonthryll behind her called out worriedly, "My lord, let me come along too. My intuition tells me this man is dangerous. I'm not at ease with you going alone."
Rellana shook her head in refusal. "No need. He's not the kind of cunning villain who would deceive people. Moreover, if he can liberate us from the Land of Shadow, couldn't he also send us back there?"
Moonthryll still said uneasily, "But he also has an attendant following him..."
Hearing this, Rellana couldn't help but smile slightly. "Then you can be even more at ease about the maiden following him, Sir Moonthryll. And I can confirm that maiden is definitely not an attendant, because I know her."
"After all, when I first met Messmer, he introduced me to his sister."