Ranni extended the wooden Carian Inverted Statue toward Lucian and said:
"Upon the eastern shore of Liurnia there standeth a structure most conspicuous. Mayhap thou hast looked upon it ere now."
"It is a hall of study, named the Caria Study Hall, once a seat of no small import unto the Carian royal house."
"But now… it is little more than a forsaken edifice, surrendered unto slow decay."
She let out a faint sigh.
The once-glorious Carian royal house had fallen into decline.
Under the leadership of her mother, the "Queen of the Full Moon" Rennala, Caria had once risen to rival even the Erdtree's golden dominion. But after Rennala's mind shattered, the royal house fell alongside her.
If Ranni had chosen to stand as the Princess of Caria, leading the remaining Carian knights and elder retainers, there might still have been a chance to restore its former glory.
But that was not her path.
Nor did she regret her choice.
Still… there were lingering sentiments.
She continued:
"Within that hall of study lieth a hidden way, leading unto the Divine Tower of Liurnia."
"In common course, that path may not be unsealed. To set foot upon it, thou shalt require this."
"The fashion of the Caria Study Hall is most… singular. I deem it shall not fail to give thee pause."
Lucian accepted the inverted statue and turned it upside down in his hands.
Atop the scholar figure's head, now serving as the base when inverted, was a slot. That was where it connected to the celestial globe mechanism within the Study Hall.
He stored the statue away and nodded.
"Very well. I'll take it."
After so many battles, this reward was only fitting.
Ranni inclined her head slightly, clearly satisfied with how readily he accepted it.
She disliked owing debts. Had Lucian tried to refuse, it would have unsettled her.
After putting the statue away, Lucian was about to check on Melina within the amber egg.
But Ranni's expression had grown visibly conflicted, hesitant, as though she wished to say something more.
She was so uncharacteristically unsettled that even Lucian could easily tell she had more to say.
And yet, she herself seemed unaware that her composure was slipping.
Seeing this, Lucian quietly turned his head aside and pretended to browse the bookshelves, giving her ample time to collect her thoughts.
After struggling internally for a while, Ranni finally spoke.
"There is… one matter yet."
"Thou hast stood within my rise ere now. When I am departed, shouldst thou so desire, thou mayest return thither and see if aught remaineth that thou hast need of."
"Books, relics, whatsoever thou wouldst claim, take freely."
"They are of no further use to me. Only… deal not overharshly with the place."
"…And there is… another rise."
"It were best thou set not foot therein."
Her voice grew softer and softer, though she maintained a composed expression.
Though she had spoken the words, her heart remained conflicted. She had yet to fully steady herself.
Lucian nodded solemnly on the outside.
Internally, however, he was celebrating.
The "other rise" she referred to was the final of the Three Sisters, the rise known as Renna's Rise.
Renna was the alias Ranni had once used. In truth, it belonged to the snow witch who had once been her mentor.
Within that tower lay a portal left behind by Ranni.
That portal led to the main course of the Ainsel River, from which one could reach the Eternal City of Nokstella, Eternal City.
Without using that portal, one would have to descend into the Deeproot Depths, reach the "Nameless Eternal City," and then ride a coffin along the underground current to access Ainsel River, a far more troublesome route.
Most importantly, though Ranni appeared conflicted and claimed it was "best not to go," she had still told him of it herself.
For someone as prideful and emotionally guarded as Ranni…
Well.
The implication spoke for itself.
Of course, all of this was Lucian's own interpretation.
Whether or not it was true, at least Ranni's questline could continue.
He accepted her conditions and thanked her for her generosity.
Then he tactfully moved the conversation along.
Looking at Ranni, who still had not entirely recovered her composure, Lucian asked,
"You said you are preparing to leave. When do you intend to depart?"
At the mention of serious matters, Ranni regained her usual calm completely.
"Indeed. I make ready to depart."
"When the rite of rebirth draweth nigh unto completion, I shall make it known unto thee. Thereafter, I shall take my leave.
As things stood, the rebirth process was proceeding flawlessly. There was nothing further she needed to do here.
And once that girl was fully reborn… it would be best to leave time for the two of them alone.
If she remained to witness their reunion, it would be rather… inelegant.
Ranni continued:
"By thy hand, I need no longer keep vigil for Blaidd."
"And as for War Counselor Iji… his days henceforth I place in thy charge."
"The hour is come for me to set forth upon mine own path, downward into the dark."
"Now that I reflect upon it, 'twould seem fate itself did guide our meeting. Mayhap I owe the steed, Torrent, some measure of thanks as well."
"Though the span was brief… yet did I find our time shared not unpleasing."
She turned away, leaving Lucian only her back.
Yet moments later, she glanced back at him again, as though uneasy.
"Ah, mark this well."
"Thou shalt wait until I am departed ere thou payest visit unto those two places."
Lucian nodded.
He had originally considered taking advantage of the time to retrieve those items immediately. But since Ranni had made the request, there was no need to rush.
One of those places housed her discarded flesh, after all. It likely held special meaning for her.
There was no urgency.
Having said all she wished to say, Ranni floated upward once more and reclined in midair, resuming her reading.
This time, however, she turned fully away from him. The book in her hands was raised unusually close to her face.
Lucian, seeing that she no longer intended to speak, walked to the center of the Grand Library, where Rennala sat.
Within the amber egg, Melina's form was nearly complete.
Through the hazy shell of amber, her silhouette was indistinct, only a faint outline visible.
Curled like an infant, Melina floated peacefully within. Her hair drifted weightlessly around her.
Watching her resting form, Lucian finally relaxed.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
Come to think of it… it was about time to ask Boc to prepare some clothes for her.
Her usual attire would need to be recreated. And she would need spare sets as well.
If possible, Lucian hoped Boc could make something… a bit more stylish.
Would Boc be able to sew something like a maid outfit? Or perhaps a sailor uniform, if he explained the concept?
Hmm.
Wait.
Without body measurements… how exactly was Boc supposed to tailor anything?
Lucian couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
It seemed that when Melina awakened, he would first have to make do with ill-fitting clothes for her.
Her rebirth still required time, so Lucian did not linger any longer in the Grand Library.
It had also been quite some time since he had seen his teacher, Sellen. He decided to pay her a visit within the academy.
—
Ranni, who had been secretly observing Lucian through a sliver of spiritual perception, watched him teleport away with her own eyes.
Only then did she lower the book she had been holding before her face and rest it atop her abdomen.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"…In the end, I did place it in his keeping."
"The Cursemark of Death… mayhap it shall avail him to bear it."
"And I did leave unto him a path. Whether he shall choose to tread it…"
"No. I forbade him to go. By the measure of his former deeds, he is not like to defy that word."
"Yet I cannot but wonder… was this choice rightly made?"
She stared up at the ceiling, then closed her eyes.
"…Wherefore do I falter over a matter such as this?"
"Would I have him come… or would I not?"
"Ranni, Ranni… hast thou begun to dally in idle fancies?"
"Should the end prove other than thou didst foresee, thou shalt have none to fault but thine own self."
"…And yet, if he discern the path and follow after me… then mayhap I shall, though grudgingly, lend ear once more to that which men call fate."
—
Lucian teleported to Raya Lucaria Academy through the guidance of Grace.
Parts of the academy had already been repaired, though progress had initially been slow due to the lack of skilled craftsmen.
Fortunately, the workers Lucian had transferred from Stormveil Castle had now fully arrived. The pace of reconstruction had increased dramatically.
He found Sellen upstairs, watching over the construction crews at work.
Upon seeing him, Sellen smiled warmly.
"My dear apprentice, how cruel of you. Do you realize how long it has been since you last visited your teacher?"
"I'm no longer some troublesome witch in hiding, am I?"
"Still… even if you neglect your master, I have always kept you in my thoughts."
"While you were away, I have been diligently overseeing the rebuilding of the academy for you~."
Lucian could only laugh awkwardly and briefly recount his recent experiences.
The moment Sellen heard that he had entered the spirit world, her playful demeanor vanished.
Lucian himself had little experience with matters of the soul. But Sellen was different, she had once transplanted her own soul into a primal glintstone. She knew better than anyone that matters concerning the soul were never trivial.
She immediately questioned him in detail and then insisted on examining him thoroughly.
Only after confirming that his soul was unharmed, and in fact noticeably stronger, did she finally relax.
When she finished listening, she spoke in a half-joking tone:
"Well now, who would have imagined such a thing?"
"Next time you go, should I accompany you? I would hate to miss something so fascinating."
Lucian shook his head.
"No need. Please stay here and continue overseeing the academy for me."
"That place isn't much of a challenge, for me."
Though she had spoken lightly, if Lucian had agreed, Sellen would certainly have followed him.
But there was no way he would allow it. He refused to expose her to the constant erosion of soul-damaging forces within that realm.
Seeing his refusal, Sellen did not press further and instead spoke about recent developments.
"My apprentice, thanks to Stormveil's construction team, the academy is being restored rapidly."
"In another two days, it should return to its former glory."
Lucian looked down at the Tarnished laboring diligently below and nodded.
They were all capable Tarnished, strong and efficient. Having already renovated Stormveil, their workmanship was exceptional.
At that moment, Lucian noticed something surprising among them.
A living corpse.
For such a being to appear here, it must have proven itself exceptionally capable to be specially included.
A prodigious undead construction worker?
That was… unexpectedly impressive.
Still, Lucian did not dwell on it. At the end of the day, it was simply a somewhat unusual undead.
Speaking of reconstruction, Sellen drew Lucian aside and pointed toward a towering structure.
The spire stood at the heart of the academy, rising from its depths and piercing straight through the clouds.
Gazing up at it, Sellen said:
"At the summit of that bell tower lies what may be the greatest and most important magical formation in the academy's history, the Terra Magica."
"In the past, it covered the entire academy."
"Clear successes, sudden flashes of insight, if I exaggerate, it could turn a child who cannot walk into a mage in an instant."
"The academy's former brilliance was inseparable from its blessing."
"But for some unknown reason, it has completely malfunctioned. It no longer grants its effect."
"I have searched throughout the academy, but found no route leading up there."
"Now that you have learned gravity sorcery, and can combine it with storm techniques, you should be able to fly, yes?"
"Why not take a look?"
Lucian nodded.
The enhancement granted by the Terra Magica was indeed extraordinary.
It was a percentage-based amplification, effectively increasing one's intellectual capacity. In practical terms, it directly enhanced magical study and research.
Even ordinary sorcerers benefited greatly. For masters, the boost would be even more pronounced.
It had to be repaired.
And Lucian now possessed the ability to fly. If necessary, he could even request Selinsax's assistance.
Still, this time he intended to follow the route known from the game.
Through the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel, past the pair of Crystalians.
He had long wanted to see them in person.
The Crystalians were a communicative race, connected not only to the academy but to other factions as well. There even existed Rot-infested variants.
Perhaps it was time to speak with them, to understand the so-called "wisdom within stone."
Before leaving, Lucian also asked about the movements of the Cuckoo Knights.
Though they had declared submission, he did not fully trust them.
They had existed since the age of the Nox and had long maintained mutual suspicion with the academy. Their surrender would not be so simple.
Moreover, Lucian needed to monitor them. Their previous excesses could not be allowed to continue.
Unfortunately, the academy's surveillance extended only across portions of the lake region and certain key locations, such as the place where Sellen had once been imprisoned.
The Cuckoos' movements were difficult to track.
Perhaps this had once been their own demand, to prevent becoming complete subordinates of the academy.
Based on how they behaved when the Stormveil construction crews arrived, they seemed… normal enough.
But that could easily be an act.
Lucian decided he would have to see for himself what they were truly up to.
—
[T/N: Renna is not a separate person from Ranni the Witch, they are the same character. Renna is the alias Ranni uses when she first appears to the player at the Church of Elleh in Limgrave, where she gives the player the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes.
To survive, she orchestrated the Night of the Black Knives, assassinating Marika's son Godwyn with the Rune of Death, then killed her own body to escape control. She now exists in a doll-like form, modeled after her mentor, the Snow Witch Renna, who is believed to be a real historical figure and possibly her secret mentor.
While some fans theorize Renna was a real person and Ranni merely adopted her appearance, the official lore confirms Ranni is the one who assumes the identity of Renna, using it as a disguise. The name "Renna" likely draws from her mother's name, Rennala, and symbolizes her role as a witch and successor to the Carian bloodline. ]