PinkSnake - Elden Ring First Flame - 439

Chapter 439: All the Loneliness Beyond the Night

Time slipped by in silence. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Nolan stood quietly in place, gazing into the distance. His eyes crossed the vast expanse before finally settling on the majestic Magic Academy.

The academy rose on the far horizon like a towering fortress.

As Nolan looked at it, he could almost feel the ancient, powerful Magical Power flowing through the air.

A sea breeze brushed gently against his face, carrying a faint briny scent into his nose. It felt fresh and damp.

This sea breeze was different from the one he had felt in Limgrave. The coastline there also stretched on and on, but it was not like Liurnia of the Lakes, surrounded by water both within and without.

The scenery of Liurnia of the Lakes was beautiful, but for ordinary people living here, it had to be a hardship too.

He watched the Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons rise and fall across the sky. The disorienting chaos caused by the rifts in time and space was gone for good.

The Sky City of Farum Azula, that city already on the verge of collapse, had naturally been abandoned by him.

It had been crumbling from the start, barely held together by the power of time and space.

But in the end, it was an isolated city cut off from the world, far from the ideal Dynasty he sought.

In his Dynasty, nothing ought to exist outside this world.

He lightly clapped his hands, as if applauding his own thoughts, while also using that real, tangible sensation to rein in those grand visions that had yet to be realized.

Then he slowly turned around, leaving the lake, the mountains, and the Sky City behind him.

He stood silently atop the towering walls of Caria Manor, his gaze crossing the distance to land on the mudflats that had once witnessed Nolan repelling the Cuckoo Legion’s night raid.

That had been a night soaked in blood and violence, when countless brave Warriors fought the enemy to the death on that very land.

In his memory, there was still a young man named William.

Together with many other fearless warriors, he had fought to defend his homeland, for justice and dignity, and had ultimately left his life on those mudflats forever.

Now, tombstones had long since been erected before the bodies in the cemetery. When Nolan looked out, all he could see was an army packed thickly across the land.

A camp of one hundred thousand had been set up in neat order around Caria Manor, while the Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons were stationed around the Sorcerer’s Tower on the cliff above the military camp.

At some point, Borealis and Adula had ended up together. The former overlord of the Consecrated Snowfield looked openly disdainful, while Ranni’s Carian Knight seemed timid and uneasy.

More Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons lay across the mountaintop, their enormous bodies like small hills, completely motionless.

The sea breeze passed through the gaps in their scale armor, making a faint whistling sound, as if the giant beasts were growling under their breath.

Among these powerful beings, Lansseax stood out in particular.

She held herself with a lofty air, pointing and gesturing as she addressed the other Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons.

Sethlinsax echoed her from the side. From the look of it, they were issuing orders on behalf of the Lord of Cinder.

Before long, the dragons spread their wings and flew east under the lead of Josdasax and Florissax. The Magic Academy lay in that direction.

At the same time, in the Firelink Army’s camp, Vyke had gathered more than a dozen Fire Knights, including Nepheli, Dolores, and Eleonora.

When Borealis heard the horn, he left Adula behind at once, spread his wings, and flew to the lakeshore.

The Fire Knights boarded the ships with their soldiers, while Borealis circled overhead.

Their destination was also east, though compared to the Magic Academy, the place they were heading lay farther north.

“Have the Fire Knights take Borealis with them to support Messmer. Unless the Roundtable Hold can call out the Crucible Knights, I refuse to believe those people can still hold out.”

Nolan slowly turned his head, then put on a look of delighted surprise. “I thought Your Highness had already set out. I didn’t expect you to come see me.”

Ranni stood quietly behind him. Her wide sleeves fluttered slightly, and when they parted a little, they revealed a sight different from before.

No longer a lifeless puppet arm, but one covered in a layer of silver soft armor.

At her waist, besides the familiar staff, hung an exquisite Short Sword. Its hilt was set with gems that glimmered faintly.

The Short Sword gave her a touch of heroic bearing.

“You must have known I was here already. That expression is far too fake. And I didn’t come to see you. I was about to set out and happened to spot you, so I came over to say hello.”

The Lunar Princess lowered her head slightly, letting the wide brim of her hat hide her face, leaving only a faint, indistinct shadow.

“Besides, before attacking the Magic Academy, I need to meet Josdasax and the others at Gatefront Town. Miriam’s Vanishing can cover that distance easily, and it won’t take long to get there, so I’m not in a hurry.”

There was no need to explain that much, Your Highness.

Nolan pinched his chin. He did not know whether Ranni was in a hurry or not, but he did know that before the Dragon Legion had even set out, this princess had already been standing behind him, simply watching him without saying a word.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze gradually sharpening as his face drew closer and closer to Her Highness. Ranni’s cheeks flushed slightly, and her head lowered further and further.

What is this villain trying to do? He isn’t going to kiss me, is he? At this distance, I won’t be able to dodge.

The Demigod soul inside the doll trembled slightly. Fortunately, what she feared did not happen, because a towering werewolf stepped between them.

Just as Nolan’s face was about to touch the werewolf’s shaggy fur, he quickly drew back.

He retreated half a step, and a large, furry werewolf filled his sight.

Blaidd wore black plate armor. The muscles in his thick arms bulged as he gripped a Claymore and rested it on his shoulder, staring fiercely at Nolan.

The werewolf was just about to fulfill his duty as the Lunar Princess’s first knight and keep irrelevant idlers away from Her Highness when a stern voice came from behind him.

“Blaidd, do not be rude to our ally!”

Ranni’s voice was cool and pleasant. To Nolan, it still sounded as lovely as ever, and he could not help nodding.

He and Her Highness were in love with each other. What right did this monster... this werewolf have to object?

The werewolf, however, was far less pleased. His ears, which had been standing upright, drooped at once, and he could only move aside with the air of one who had lost all hope.

“This time, we part ways. I will go to the Magic Academy, and after I rescue my mother, I will seek out Two Fingers. I will use the gift you gave me to kill it.”

Ranni suddenly spoke with rare seriousness. “The Fingerslayer Blade was once the treasure I desired most. I have nothing more precious than this, so for now, this is all I can give you in return.”

There seemed to be a faint trace of apology in Ranni’s words.

She took a silver ring from her bosom. Set into it was a gem shaped like a dark full moon, and within it, Ranni’s silhouette seemed faintly visible.

“This gem is valuable enough, but what matters more is what it represents. As long as you are in Caria, seeing this ring is the same as seeing me.”

Nolan gazed at the gem. It truly seemed as if he could see Ranni within it. “It really does look like I can see you.”

A blush rose on Ranni’s face. “What nonsense are you saying? You must be mistaken.”

“All right. Then what does the inscription on it mean? ‘All the loneliness beyond the night belongs only to me.’”

“It has no special meaning. Interpret it however you like.”

“So whatever I take it to mean is correct, right?” Nolan pressed.

Ranni could only answer in a tiny, mosquito-like voice.

“Mm.”