Lucian examined the items laid out before him, nodding with satisfaction.
The Sacred Flask and its Golden Seeds—treasures one could never have too many of. The runes, however, seemed fewer than last time. Likely, Godrick had already drained much of his reserves before the battle, leaving little chance to replenish them. A pity, but not something worth brooding over.
After all, during the campaign against Godrick, Lucian had already earned a fortune by making use of the fivefold rune gain. He had even tested a few rune items during that period, confirming that consuming runes within that window still benefited from the multiplier.
Thinking back, perhaps using two hundred and sixty thousand runes in one go before testing had been wasteful… yet he did not regret it. At the time, he had no way of knowing whether consumed runes would count under the blessing. Better to spend them than to risk losing a chance at survival.
But one thing puzzled him.
The Fingers had given him a surprising number of Rune Arcs.
He had barely used them before—honestly, he'd nearly forgotten they existed. In the game, without a Great Rune, Rune Arcs merely gave a slight increase to one's health. They were rarely consumed, their true purpose being to awaken the power of Great Runes. And even then, most players were reluctant to spend them, knowing how precious they were.
Yet here, in this world, there was no respawn after death. The notion that one Rune Arc could power a Great Rune "until death" was merely a game mechanic. Reality was different.
If a single Rune Arc truly offered endless sustenance for a Great Rune, then why not rename it Perpetual Source of Power? No, the Rune Arc was but a shard of the Elden Ring itself, fractured when the Ring was broken. Its true use must be far more complex.
"Great Fingers," Lucian asked aloud, "what is the true purpose of these Rune Arcs?"
The Fingers trembled, twitching their digits in silent speech. Finger Reader Enia squinted, carefully interpreting, then looked back at him with a weary sigh.
"The Fingers say: The Great Runes embody the truths of the world, and the Rune Arcs are bound to them. All answers lie upon the Divine Towers. You must climb, and see for yourself."
So vague. So frustrating.
Lucian inhaled deeply, clenching his fists to steady his temper.
Really? I'm standing right here. You could just explain it now. Must everything be riddles? Can't you spell it out before sending me to the towers?
Still, his face betrayed none of this. He gave a serene smile.
"Many thanks for your guidance, O Fingers. I will journey to the Divine Towers to seek the truth."
The Fingers shuddered again, speaking once more through Enia.
"The Fingers say: You hold a Great Rune already. But you must not rest content. Claim more, and grow stronger. This is your path."
Lucian bowed low, his tone respectful. "I understand. Your will be done."
Enia, smiling, produced a talisman pouch from her robes and placed it in his hands.
"Do not underestimate the other demigods merely because you have claimed one Great Rune. Take care in the battles to come. Accept this gift, and may you yet rise as Elden Lord."
—
The massive doors of the chamber opened once more.
Outside, countless Tarnished had gathered, their numbers greater than before. Word of Lucian's victory over Godrick had spread, drawing them like moths to flame. When Lucian stepped forth, standing tall upon the stairs before the chamber of the Fingers, a hush fell over the crowd.
At first, there was a low murmur of voices, but when Lucian lifted a hand, silence descended like a weight. All eyes fixed upon him, the air tense with anticipation.
His gaze was steady, his voice ringing clear:
"You have all heard the rumor—that a Tarnished has struck down Godrick the Grafted, and seized his Great Rune."
"It is true. That Tarnished… is me."
A collective gasp rippled through the assembly. To hear it from his own lips shook them far more than the whispers of envoys.
Lucian continued, his words like iron;
"Before the witness of the Two Fingers, I am crowned as Lord of Stormveil. Godrick the Grafted is no more. From this day forth, the lands of Limgrave shall lie open before you, free of his tyranny."
"Stormveil Castle and Castle Morne alike shall welcome Tarnished and all folk of the Lands Between. I will bring peace, and order, to this realm."
"You may stand with me as blades to protect others. Or seek refuge, and I will guard you as equals. All who desire a place shall have it beneath my rule."
The Tarnished stared wide-eyed, struck dumb by his audacity. Peace? Order? In the shattered Lands Between? Could such a dream be real?
They did not know. But they yearned for it.
The restoration of the Elden Ring promised order, and that was why they had returned, branded and forsaken though they were. Now, in a few words, Lucian had ignited something greater; Hope.
Then his voice grew sharp as steel:
"But if you would oppose me… know this; I shall be your executioner. Peace will be guarded by my blade, and my blade alone."
Thunderous cheers erupted, rolling through the Roundtable Hold. Tarnished who had long wandered aimlessly now looked upon him as a beacon. To them, Lucian had become not merely a warrior, but a leader—perhaps even a king of destiny.
—
Later, in the chamber of the Two Fingers, Lucian stood before Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing.
The Roundtable Hold had been shaken by Lucian's declaration; Gideon, unsurprisingly, had summoned him swiftly.
"Indeed, you have claimed a Great Rune," Gideon said, his gaze sharp beneath the helm that hid his face. "Nepheli speaks highly of you—praising your strength and your noble spirit. And now, this vision of a city of Tarnished… I must admit, I had not expected such ambition from you."
There was a faint edge of reproach in his tone.
Lucian knew why. Gideon had not anticipated that his staged ally would outshine him so brilliantly. Their original arrangement was simple: Lucian would slay Godrick, with Gideon's support, then rule Stormveil in name while Gideon held influence in truth. Lucian would stand beside him as an equal—nothing more.
But that plan had crumbled.
Lucian's spectacular victory, his mighty blade sundering the heavens, and now his public proclamation had won him not only power, but loyalty. He no longer needed Gideon's shadow to prop him up.
And Gideon knew it.
Lucian's reply was calm, his eyes unflinching.
"True, we are allies. But that does not mean every design must be laid bare between us. My city of Tarnished does not oppose the Roundtable—it is simply another gathering place. You, too, move in secret, Gideon. We merely pursue our paths in parallel."
The silence between them was thick. Gideon's raid upon Stormveil's library had not gone unnoticed by Lucian, though he said nothing of it now. Beneath the helm, Gideon's expression was hidden, but surely he felt the sting.
At last, Gideon chuckled darkly.
"You are right. I should not meddle in what lies beyond our pact. And the Fingers care little for such matters anyway. Very well… let us speak of our next cooperation."
Lucian raised an eyebrow, half expecting demands of recompense. Yet Gideon's offer was unexpectedly direct.
"I desire the books and records that remain in Stormveil. In return, I will provide intelligence, or sorceries known only to me."
Lucian considered, then nodded. "Agreed. A fair trade."
Though he suspected Gideon's true aim, it was too soon to sever ties completely. This way, at least, he might glean hints of what Gideon truly sought.
The pact made, Gideon dismissed him coldly, the alliance thin as glass, ready to shatter at a touch.
—
Back at a site of grace, Melina approached him.
"Well? What of Gideon?" she asked.
Lucian shook his head. "His heart is too deep to read. He said little, though the Tarnished's response to my speech has unsettled him. Still, he values Stormveil's records more than I expected. That may be a thread worth tugging."
Melina frowned. "Be cautious. A fox such as Gideon does not make mistakes so easily. If he left books behind, he did so knowingly. Whatever he seeks, he already knows where it lies."
Lucian sighed. "True. A foe lurking in the shadows is the hardest to strike. But for now… let us not dwell on it. The Fingers rewarded us well this day. Let us see how far these gifts may strengthen us."
He spread the treasures across the round table: Sacred Flask, Golden Seeds, talisman pouch, runes, Rune Arcs.
A rich bounty, enough to make even Melina smile.
"Then let us use them now," she said softly. "Godrick is fallen, and you stand crowned as Lord of Stormveil. Today, we turn his legacy into your strength."