The petite Frieren hefted the enormous Golden Halberd.
Don't let the mismatched appearance fool you; she wielded it with surprising ease, her movements just as fluid as the Tree Sentinel's had been.
While the 'Souls' world often adheres to the principle of "the stronger the being, the larger the body," and Frieren could easily adjust her form to match her stats, she simply preferred her current appearance.
Still, it felt clumsy.
Although her inventory held a vast array of weapons, she almost exclusively used her staff from start to finish. Why wouldn't she? In her own world, she was a mage.
It would be disastrous if, someday during a battle against demons, she fumbled while trying to switch to the correct weapon.
Therefore, Frieren deliberately standardized her combat style: primarily a mage, with other weapons serving as supplementary tools. When necessary, she could function as a one-elf party.
Of course, the Golden Halberd's inherent skill was quite good. Golden Vow: Assume a prayerful stance towards the Erdtree, temporarily boosting attack and defense, manifesting as a radiant golden aura. It's one of the most popular support abilities in the Lands Between – a personal favorite, often featured in flashy 'show-off' builds, she mused.
Game text sometimes presented itself in two ways:
One, from the perspective of the world's inhabitants, often filled with praise or biased accounts. Relying solely on this for lore or secrets could be misleading, as everyone had their own agenda.
Two, from the perspective of player reviews, sounding much like the commentary you'd hear from a seasoned co-op partner giving advice.
Stow.
With a mere thought, the massive weapon vanished. Frieren didn't forget to give Torrent a reassuring pat before dismissing the spectral steed, who still seemed a bit shaken.
She walked back up the slope, where the White Mask watched her with a complicated expression.
"To defeat a Tree Sentinel right from the start... It seems you were quite skilled even before coming to the Lands Between. I must admit, I misjudged you. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
"It's fine," Frieren replied nonchalantly. "Let's continue our conversation. You were saying something about recruiting me?"
"Yes, you could pledge yourself to the Mohgwyn Dynasty..."
Varré proceeded to extol the supposed benefits of becoming a Bloody Finger, though he remained frustratingly vague or glossed over the truly crucial details. What was important was the introduction of a new faction and the revelation of her next likely destination:
Stormveil Castle, ruled by the Shardbearer, Godrick.
This Godrick was effectively the lord, perhaps even the king, of Limgrave, commanding his own legion and bearing ill will towards the Tarnished.
Frieren's brow furrowed slightly at the mention of "the Grafted." It certainly fit the game's usual, often grotesque, style.
After sharing this information, Varré once again expressed goodwill and respect, stating that the Mohgwyn Dynasty always welcomed the strong, before taking his leave. Throughout their entire exchange, he never realized that this Tarnished actually had a Maiden and wasn't alone at all.
At the Site of Grace, Melina's spectral form gradually materialized. She glanced at the resting Frieren, then towards the spot where the Tree Sentinel had fallen, still looking unnerved.
"You should have gathered some Runes just now. Would you like me to help you convert them into strength?"
"Focus on Intelligence and Vigor, please."
As Frieren spoke, her body shimmered momentarily, as if switching something internally – unknowingly to Melina, she was shifting focus from her 'main' essence to her 'Astrologer' aspect. Melina didn't inquire further, simply respecting the Tarnished's request.
Nourished by the Runes, Frieren felt a subtle increase in power. Her various 'accounts' or aspects existed in separate multipliers; they didn't stack directly onto each other, but they did enhance her core self. Ultimately, she was the one becoming stronger.
The essence of the game's magic, she surmised, was likely to allow the user to experience diverse systems of power, absorbing and integrating all they could offer.
"Lady Frieren, how did you manage to defeat the Tree Sentinel?" Melina asked, breaking the silence.
"Just as you saw," Frieren replied simply. "Sweat and effort."
"Yes... every facet of your strength is traceable, yet the combination is simply unbelievable. That's what makes it so astonishing."
"If I intend to become Elden Lord, this level of challenge is nothing."
Her confident declaration eased Melina's worries. Although she had countless questions, they weren't familiar enough yet for such inquiries. Regardless, this turn of events was advantageous for Melina; finding a Tarnished this capable was a once-in-millennia occurrence.
If just anyone could have helped her, Torrent wouldn't have been needed to screen candidates, nor would she have wandered the Lands Between for so long, unable to make progress.
How fortunate.
"Where do you plan to head next?"
"A trip to Stormveil Castle is definitely necessary, but first, I want to scout its defenses. The actual assault can wait. After getting the lay of the land there, I'll explore this immediate area more thoroughly. I need to grasp the basics before moving on."
As a veteran player, Frieren knew she was likely still in the starting zone. Rushing off on a grand expedition immediately was unwise.
She wouldn't be satisfied without a thorough, map-clearing sweep for collectibles. Every seemingly insignificant detail held the potential to advance her understanding of magic, providing inspiration that could benefit her back in her own world. Why pass up such an opportunity?
"A wise decision," Melina agreed. "Our current strength is nowhere near enough to challenge the demigod Godrick. It's best to consolidate our power first."
Probably.
In truth, watching the novice Tarnished handle the Tree Sentinel so easily suggested she might already be capable of challenging the weakest of the demigods. However, prioritizing safety, Melina still recommended focusing on the Weeping Peninsula first, advising against rushing. After waiting for so many years, what was a little more time?
Frieren, meanwhile, pondered a different question: if she was aiming to become Lord, would she need to build her own faction?
This lack of clear guidance is frustrating, she thought. Does this mean I should eventually gather allies, storm the capital, and unify the Lands Between? For now, it was best to take things one step at a time.
"Alright, I'm heading out. Aiming for the next Site of Grace."
"I would suggest heading towards the Gatefront first," Melina advised.
"By the way, Melina," Frieren paused. "Are you always confined to this spectral form? Can't you travel with me physically?"
"It's... complicated to explain. For now, this is how I am. I haven't found a suitable vessel. To those who cannot see the Grace, I likely appear as nothing more than a wandering spirit. Does... does this bother you?"
"Not at all," Frieren stated plainly. "What I mean is, sooner or later, I'll find magic capable of granting a spirit a physical body."
She refused to believe that the combined magical knowledge of several worlds couldn't solve this problem. Besides, her inventory still held some extraordinary items; once she could access them fully, creating a physical form might be entirely possible.
There are always more solutions than difficulties.
The elf's characteristic broad-mindedness and acceptance left Melina momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected such a promise, but she didn't elaborate further.
On one hand, a Maiden shouldn't become too deeply involved with her Tarnished.
On the other hand, her own problem was unsolvable – and perhaps didn't need solving. Once the Erdtree was burned, it would all be over anyway.
With their own thoughts swirling, the two exchanged a bit more information before deciding to set off towards the Gatefront. Leaving the sanctuary of the Grace, Frieren summoned Torrent, while Melina dissolved into spirit form, merging with her as they rode towards the massive castle looming in the distance.
It's vast.
After riding for some time, Frieren gained a rough estimate of the Lands Between's sheer size. It was likely comparable to a continent in her world, and that didn't even account for regions potentially lying beyond its known borders.
The path to becoming Lord wouldn't be finished in a day or two. Long-term planning was essential.
She gazed towards the distant Erdtree, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Conveniently, time was the one thing elves had in abundance. Now that the journey had begun, Frieren had all the time in the world to understand, and be understood by, this vast new world.
...
PS: This book has been contracted. From an experienced author, please add it to your collection~
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