The green grass that is wet from the morning dew is waved sideways, but strangely there is nothing or no one walking on it, so how is it that the grass is waving.
Magic, clearly it is magic, though to put it more accurately it is magic from Sellia, City of Sorcery. In such a place once practical young Radahn under the guidance of the onyx lords, who taught him gravitational magic and by which he stopped the stars as they were about to fall upon the city.
"I never would have imagined that I would ever see this magic without being on the receiving end of it."
Remaining clutching onto the driver leading the horse, even though Torrent is not, Sellen the mage with her ubiquitous stone mask guides her hand to her stone chin and squeezes the hand.
Clearly Sellen was amazed at the perfect control Aldrich shows over this magic, as making something motionless invisible is easy, but the instant it is made in motion the difficulty jumps several steps.
"The mage hunters?"
"Yes, they were always a nuisance with their control over this magic. Making their armaments disappear, fake noises, surprise attacks... It really was an unpleasant thing to deal with."
"I can understand you, I've been through the City of Sorcery before, Sellia. Though it had lost its former glory, they were still masters when it came to this magic."
Perhaps remembering something very unpleasant, probably having much to do with Sellia's invisible mages, Aldrich speaks as a fellow who has been through the same experience.
"We're approaching another checkpoint, I'm going to use the Vial of Crepus again."
"Go ahead, I'll take care of maintaining the stability of the spell."
"Right."
...Aldrich pov….
It's amazing how easy the situation can be made with the right tools. Crepus vial to erase all sound, Veil of Concealment to erase all presence when you're crouched, Sellia magic for when you're on the move and the Black Knife set in reserve... I can only say I'm the lord of the night.
Other than that I can rightly say that the situation is not the best, basically Nepheli is cornered in Necrolimbo West.
For perspective, behind the walls of Storm Veil is Liurnia under Ranni's command, part of Necrolimbo is overrun by Caelid deformities and the peninsula is under control of the frenzied flame... What a problem.
"So now we jump down?"
Awakening from the thoughts swirling in my mind, I see the opening leading towards the church area, the place where you first encounter Roger human.
Yes, we have entered the castle quite... illegally, but it's all for a good reason. Just think about it, among all those refugees behind the walls there must be a spy or two, ready to send my location to their masters.
"It's totally safe, it's a couple of meters at most."
"I'm a human mage, much like I could jump from two meters, and now you want me to withstand the fall of about five?"
Staring at the stone mask Sellen is wearing, which clearly isn't going to convey any emotion, I think about it for a few moments and accept it.
There is logic to what she says, basically not everyone is like me. Not everyone can wear full Crucible Armor, Lunar Veil and Dark Moon Sword equipped.
"It's understandable, well, hold on."
"Awkward posture."
"Just hold on for a few moments."
Silencing Sellen, who is under my arm, just as if he were a bag of luggage, he watched where the hole was leading us and jumped down without hesitation.
I can literally walk on lava, withstand blows from golem carrying halberds or bows with a shield, parry human-sized arrows... In other words, nothing surprising happened during the fall.
"Done, now... I guess it was obvious."
"It is, the worship of Queen Marika is one of the most natural and unchanging things in human thought. More so now that civilization is beginning to repair and they are looking for hope."
Good point Sellen has, Faith to Queen Marika is of the most natural things and the first thing that was going to be restored once order returned to the midlands.
Now if we add to that the chaos that reigns throughout Necrolimbo, you basically have all the necessary ingredients for a cocktail of religious followers to come out.
"Let's keep going, we're already close to the throne room."
"Glup, even more..."
Hearing clearly how Sellen swallows saliva as he notices that we have to advance even further, I extend my hand and make the turtle talisman appear, that one that gives an increase to the speed that vigor is recovered.
"Thank you, it is much appreciated."
"Sure, let's move on."
Laughing to myself at the desperation with which she grabs the talisman, she stopped watching the church that worships Marika regularly and I continue on with the journey.
There was no trouble at all during the journey through the castle, getting around the few soldiers on guard was child's play for Sellen and I, until we finally reached Godrick's combat arena.
"
The reaction from both Sellen and mine was not slow, we raised our staff and released the same spell the moment we noticed something tearing the air in our direction.
The first comet was split in half and scattered into blue particles, while the second one finally manages to stop the object, though the spell also disappears.
"Agh, another one? What is it now, a spy, an assassin... Maybe a thief, whatever since you've come let me unburden myself to you."
Along with the words of the beautiful woman with dark skin, black hair and rather light clothing, the surrounding wind begins to blow stronger and stronger.
This is Nepheli Loux, the warrior, ruler of Necrolimbo and one of the few people who declares herself a loyal follower of the Lord of the Circle, i.e. me.
"You don't plan to stop her?"
"Because I would, it is the duty of a Lord to confirm the abilities of his followers."
"Now I remember why I refused to teach you at first, in those times there were only swords in your thoughts."
"You make me look as if in those times I was an animal who only knew how to wave a sword, I was much... Fine, I accept that"
I can't deny it, before I went through Rennala's rebirth, I was a follower of physical damage, the bigger the sword, the much better for me.
"You guys are done, I'm waiting for someone, so I have to make this quick and you guys keep talking."
"
Tapping the staff against the ground, a strange cloud begins to form over the combat arena and the air becomes charged with mana. Now that I have the arena ready, it's time to play.