Iji stared at the Mirrorhelm that Lucian had casually taken out, and for a moment he truly didn't know what he ought to say. If he thought about it this way… didn't that mean Darriwil died completely for nothing?
Originally, Darriwil had only been dealt with because they needed to make room for Blaidd. There had been no choice but to strike him down. Yet Lucian had simply taken out another Mirrorhelm as though it were nothing.
Iji sighed quietly. Perhaps this calamity had been something fated for Darriwil all along. And besides… Darriwil could no longer be communicated with anyway.
Even now, Iji still found it hard to believe that Lucian had produced the Mirrorhelm just like that. If he remembered correctly, the Mirrorhelm was definitely one of the treasured relics of the Eternal City of Nokron, wasn't it?
So why… why did Lucian pull out a second one as if he were just retrieving a common iron pot?
He himself had spent countless years searching and had never found a second one. Not only had he not found it, he hadn't even known if a second one existed.
Returning to his senses, Iji suddenly realized that Blaidd's situation truly could be resolved now.
He hurriedly turned to Lucian:
"Lord Lucian… may I take a look at this Mirrorhelm?"
"If this is truly the Nokron Mirrorhelm, then our problem can be solved immediately."
Lucian nodded and handed the Mirrorhelm to him.
Iji held the helm with exaggerated care. In his large hands it looked almost comically small, yet he studied it as though it were the most fragile relic in the world.
After some careful examination, Iji finally set the Mirrorhelm down, disbelief written across his massive stone face.
"This… truly is a Nox Mirrorhelm…"
"With this, it really is possible to resolve Blaidd's predicament…"
This Mirrorhelm was many times smaller than the one he wore. But if it was only for Blaidd's use, then it was completely sufficient.
Iji turned toward Lucian, curiosity stirring in him. This wasn't something one could simply stumble upon in the Lands Between.
If one wished to find anything here, it always required some source of information—rumors, clues—then painstaking investigation, chasing one lead after another, validating every scrap of intelligence. And after that, the process of actually finding the thing was even more unimaginable.
Even with clear clues, it could take an exceedingly long time before discovering the object sought. And even then, failure—returning empty-handed was far more common than success.
The Mirrorhelm that Iji owned had taken him a very, very long time to find. The effort and time invested were impossible to quantify.
Lucian, of course, had many Tarnished under his command and could send them to all corners of the Lands Between. That was definitely a tremendous advantage, allowing him to save years—decades of effort.
But Iji still did not understand: for what purpose had Lucian sought this Mirrorhelm specifically?
"Lord Lucian, if I may ask out of curiosity… how did you obtain this Mirrorhelm?"
"You must have spent significant effort on it, surely?"
Lucian waved his hand dismissively.
"No effort at all. I simply happened to pick it up recently."
Iji blinked.
…This was something one could just casually pick up?
Lucian thought for a moment and added,
"If I had to explain it, I suppose it's simply that this item and I share a certain fate."
"It was destined for me, and so it fell into my hands easily."
"I didn't expect that, after hearing your explanation, it would turn out to be useful at exactly the right moment. Truly interesting."
Iji had no idea whether Lucian was telling the truth or making things up. But logically speaking, Lucian had no reason to lie to him. What did an old blacksmith like him have that was worth deceiving him over?
Still… this was a bit too unrealistic. Luck couldn't possibly be that good… could it?
Iji didn't know what he should say anymore. But one thing was certain: having a second Mirrorhelm was unquestionably a good thing.
Lucian looked at him.
"Old Master Iji, is this Mirrorhelm usable?"
"Looking at the shape, I doubt Blaidd can wear it as-is."
"It seems tailor-made for someone specific. Even a human would need to fit it exactly."
Iji nodded.
"Indeed. In its current shape, Blaidd cannot wear it."
"But there is no need to worry."
"The true miracle of the Nox Mirrorhelm lies in its material."
He set the newly found Mirrorhelm beside his own, letting Lucian clearly see the comparison. Aside from the differing design, the materials were identical.
"The material used in the Nox Mirrorhelm is extremely special. Even with my long lifetime of accumulated knowledge, I still have no idea what it truly is."
"I searched for clues for a very long time but found nothing."
"In any case, as long as we have the material, the shape is no problem."
"I can use this material to reforge a new helm that Blaidd can wear."
Lucian nodded with relief.If someone as professional as Iji deemed it feasible, then it surely was.
"Good. Then I'll entrust this Mirrorhelm to you."
"Please go to Stormveil afterward and prioritize forging a version suitable for Blaidd."
Iji accepted the Mirrorhelm and tucked it carefully into his travel pouch.
"Understood."
"Once again, we are indebted to you."
"Sigh… I truly don't know how to thank you…"
Lucian didn't think much of it. After all, he would definitely be marrying Ranni. They would become a family eventually. Iji and Blaidd were like Ranni's own kin, and according to Lucian's values, he naturally had to protect them well.
"It's nothing."
"Oh, right—Master Iji, can you contact Blaidd directly?"
"I've already obtained the Fingerslayer Blade."
"I'm worried the Two Fingers may realize something ahead of time."
"If possible, call him to Stormveil so he can wear the Mirrorhelm the moment it's complete."
Iji was surprised Lucian had already acquired the Fingerslayer Blade. He had assumed Lucian only visited him while passing through the area.
This made him even more joyful—Lady Ranni's wish was truly within reach.
Iji smacked his broad chest reassuringly.
"Leave it to me."
"As soon as I finish forging it, I'll summon Blaidd and have him put it on immediately."
"There is no need for concern."
So they did indeed have a means of communication. Lucian felt curious, how exactly did they communicate across such distances?
He had longed for such a method for a long time. Communication among Tarnished was extremely undeveloped.
Back in Limgrave, Lucian could barely use Stormhawks as messenger birds. But once outside Stormveil, there was no way to contact anyone at all.
So Lucian asked Iji directly.
"I'm curious, how do you communicate?"
Iji stood up and led Lucian out of the sealed gaol.
"Lord Lucian, look up at the sky."
Lucian raised his head.
Beyond the canopy of the Erdtree, the massive moon still hung in the far distance. Though dim in comparison to the golden brilliance of the Erdtree, it was still clearly visible.
Unlike the faraway sun, the moon felt impossibly close—almost as though it were pressed right against the Lands Between. A moon that enormous was difficult to even comprehend.
Iji explained:
"As long as one is under the range of the moonlight, anyone who bears the mark personally granted by Lady Ranni can communicate."
"Although in truth, only Lady Ranni, myself, and Blaidd use this ability."
"Oh, that reminds me—Lord Lucian, you should also have the mark left by Lady Ranni."
Iji was familiar with Ranni's tendencies. If Lucian had worked with her so closely, then he must certainly carry a mark.
Lucian was surprised. He never expected Ranni had left a mark on him without his knowledge.
No wonder during Radahn's final moments, the General had told him to relay something to Ranni…Unfortunately, Radahn collapsed before finishing his words. So back then, Radahn had sensed Ranni's mark on him.
If that was the case… then was Radahn beating him so ferociously because of that mark?
Probably when he and Ranni had sworn their pact under the moon.
Lucian looked down at himself, but saw nothing. Of course, a mark that was easily visible would have been noticed long ago.
"So I have a mark as well? I had no idea at all."
"And Ranni never told me it had these functions."
Iji scratched his chin.
"Ah… that, I'm not sure."
"But if Lady Ranni left you a mark, she certainly intended for you to use it."
So Iji began teaching him hands-on.
Under Iji's guidance, Lucian quickly succeeded.
'Can you hear me?'
'I can hear you. Look, success.'
'Hmm? Lord Lucian?'
'…Tch.'
Lucian felt he heard the faintest click of someone clicking their tongue. He wasn't sure if he imagined it.
After experiencing this new communication method, Lucian immediately began wondering how he could replicate it.
No matter what, he wanted a method for long-distance communication. In the Lands Between, even normal communication was troublesome.
Usually messages had to be sent through birds, which might crash halfway for all sorts of reasons. Only demigods seemed to possess some extraordinary methods.
If Ranni could allow communication through the moon… perhaps in the future, he could enable communication through the sun?
But that was impossible for now. He would need to resolve the matter of the Faded Sun first.
Speaking of long-distance contact…
Lucian suddenly remembered the Glintstone voice-transfer device that Stella had once shown him. It functioned like a magical voice transmitter, and he had been quite interested.
It was likely the simplest communication tool currently available to him, and possibly within reach to manufacture.
He still had a sample, so he decided to ask Iji whether he could reproduce it.
Lucian took the Glintstone block from his storage disc and handed it to Iji. The block was etched with the Academy's sigil and crest.
"Master Iji, I obtained this magical tool in Sellia."
"It's something made by the Academy—two of these are created as a pair and can communicate across distances."
"Communication with my subordinates is rather inconvenient right now, so I was hoping you might help me craft more of them."
Iji accepted the small object and examined it closely.
"Hm… so this is what it is…"
"I never expected the Academy lot to be capable of making something like this."
"Mm—wait… huh?"