Luna
With a relieved sigh, she slowly stood back upright. Her muscles ached, and her eyes burned from allowing the Storm's power to run free once more. It ached her every thought as she desperately stuffed it away while the tree beside her faded back into dust and magic. Lost in the breeze as a golden trail of wind. Right as it did, she heard the thunk as an unconscious Marika materialized and fell to the dirt pathway heavy with exhaustion.
In a quick movement, the would-be savior rushed to her, quickly raising her onto her shoulder. She felt like she was trembling, and her skin tinged with the tightness of dehydration. "Had casting that drained even the nutrients from her..?" She pondered to herself as she carried her to the center of the dirt bridge where one more small spot of Grace had appeared. It wouldn't hurt to make camp and breathe there. Grace was a sanctuary, where foes stepped not.
???
Slow footsteps echoed along these ancient stone towers. Crystals grew out of nearly every wall, and the air was heavy with the scent of wolves and dragons. It hung even heavier with magic, so dense and abundant that it seemed like a great fog over all things.
The lady who walked along these halls took measured steps. Leather boots made heavy sounds on the stone despite her ease, and her cloak barely hung above the glistening brickwork as she walked. What could be seen was the palest visage that seemed to bear the tiniest hint of warm pigment, as if a dead thing dared to regain its warmth. Her steps led her up two flights of long stairs to a great elevator surrounded by trinkets and baubles of study. The traveler was curious as to each items origin, but knew she had little time.
Stepping upon the central stone as it sunk in, activating the pilons and slowly ascending the stone elevator for a few moments, into another chamber full of trinkets and books. Her curiosity burned, but quick was she to quiet it. This was far too vital for her wandering eyes. She stepped forward, turning around the winding outer wall stairwell that finally led to her quarry.
A room filled with small treasures, throned by a doll of blue complexion and six limbs. Clad in furs and a great pointed hat, one could mistake her for the priced project of some vain princeling, yet she was very much alive. The instant the traveler stepped in, the head of the doll perked up. A single eye met a single eye, and both women took moments to take in the other. For a good while, it was quiet.
Still, pleasant as the peace was there was much to do. "There has been strange happenings of late, Lady Ranni." the traveler spoke. Her voice was that of a flower, soft and heightened, yet beautiful on the senses and prettier still to the whispering ear.
"Strange, indeed." the doll responded. Her own voice was gentle, yet somehow both serene and spiked with fury. Like a dangling icicle, beautifu, yet dangerous.
"It would seem that sightings suggest... mother is alive," she said with a slow unsureness, "accompanied or perhaps even acting as the maiden to a knight adorn in dark, unfamiliar colors."
The doll's eyes narrowed with thought. What could this mean? The stars were still, and fate had not yet begun to turn. It could only mean this person was an imposter. A finger maiden pretending at greatness. "An imposter of little consequence."
"I had presumed the same until they saw to Morgott's shadow at stormveil. Not only did this knight seem to fend him off, but it was also said that the knight was healed by the sudden appearance of a small Erdtree." She said with a hint of trepidation. All of this brought worry beyond worry into her heart, and she feared for the lands between. If this was an imposter, they were a frightfully powerful one. Worse, that would be the better alternative. May the gods pity them if that was the real Queen Marika.
"You suggest these rumors be true.." she said, trailing off and hinting at just how dangerous the ground her traveler was stepping upon.
"True, I fear they are. I witnessed this knight, and they fought with a ferocity no tarnished could possess. She is swift, yet calculating. I suspect they could rise to be a great threat, perhaps even -"
"There will be no future elden lord, but whomever I decide to be our king consort."
Silence befell them as the words hung heavy before the mystic continued. "Should these rumors indeed prove true... then it would seem the supplanting of my queen may yet come swifter than we had hoped. Make plans and spread words to keep a watchful eye, but..." she trailed off, thinking quietly on this knight, "do not make any moves until I am certain of the risk. You have served our shared goals well, Melina. You have my thanks."
The near pale girl knelt her head subtly before turning on her heel. She would meet this knight herself. With or without her ally's permission.
Ranni
She watched as her dear friend and kin turned into a spirit once more, fading off into the distance and leaving her alone once again. In these days, she had grown weary of solitude, and yet her goals meant she would have to become near voidless of company for the rest of her days. Nearly.
Iji was wise and clever. He was also impulsive, and she knew someday that impulsivity would be his ruin. The giant would be sorely missed, but the moon princess feared her words could not stop what his spirit would bring to pass. He was not worthy of the role, tragically.
Blaidd was loyal, but that loyalty was a feature of his body. A body owned by the two fingers who so deeply detested her, and she did them. He was a kind and so very tender soul who deserved a life away from war, yet thrived thoroughly in the heat of it. Ever present was the worry, too, that the fingers would turn her beloved shadow upon her. He was not worthy of the role, either.
The thought of the pathetic puppet maker, even presuming the chance, made her thoughts cackle with hysterics and was quick to kill the very notion.
She pondered now on this strange knight and her maiden. The rumors were indeed intriguing, even if the implication was harrowing to her ends. Though this knight was fought by Melina's account with a talent rare among the Tarnished, and as far as Melina had stated, this was not Tarnished. It was a simple knight, untouched by grace, who managed to push back a shadow of Morgott.
The very idea made her long, dead heart stutter. She had to meet this strange knight. She had a plan.