White Mask Varré

Lucian stared blankly at the scene before him.

Ever since arriving in this world, he had either been in the perilous Chapel of Anticipation or in dim, oppressive caves and graveyards, to the point that he had forgotten the artwork-like scenery of Elden Ring.

Bathed in the Erdtree's radiance, Lucian seemed to recapture the awe he had felt when he first played Elden Ring.

It was pure joy. Simply opening the game had made him excited for what came next.

The warmth of the Erdtree's light, the faint fragrance of flowers, the sheep wandering about lazily.

It was hard to imagine that such a harmonious scene could exist upon land watered with blood.

For the first time, all this beauty made Lucian feel that he was truly alive in this grand and fantastical world.

His unwillingness to face the fact of his death in his previous life, his doubts over whether he had truly crossed into another world—everything that had lingered and piled up in Lucian's heart was cast aside at that moment.

He no longer dwelled on it. Since he had already come to this world, he might as well enjoy it properly.

Hakan walked over to Lucian's side.

"How is it? Pretty breathtaking, isn't it? Though the Golden Order has shattered, the Erdtree still stands."

Lucian said nothing. Only after a while did he speak.

"I've decided. I'm going to bring peace to the Lands Between."

"What? You... are you serious? Do you know how difficult that is?"

"It may have been a spur-of-the-moment decision, but my resolve is genuine."

Lucian spoke seriously.

Hakan's expression became extremely complicated.

He did not think Lucian could succeed, yet he unconsciously began to imagine such a sight.

"Sigh. I wish you success. When the time comes, maybe I can ride your coattails and experience a peaceful age."

Hakan sighed. He still could not imagine such a thing happening in the Lands Between.

He patted his warhorse and swung himself into the saddle.

"Our journey should end here. It was pleasant traveling with you. I hope we never meet with weapons drawn."

Though his final words did not sound very auspicious, Lucian knew such a tragedy truly could happen in this land.

"Haha, I still have to buy you a drink. Just don't go dying in some corner first."

Lucian bid Hakan farewell with a grin. Hakan looked back, and the two exchanged smiles.

As if remembering something, Hakan took an item from his warhorse's pack and tossed it to Lucian.

"Catch."

Lucian easily caught it. It was a metal helmet, its back and crown covered in scale armor, its face protected by fine chainmail, with only the eyes exposed.

Lucian was greatly surprised. It was the helmet of the Kaiden Mercenaries. No wonder he had never seen Hakan wear it—it had been stored in his pack all along.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

Without turning his head, Hakan merely waved.

"A helmet is armor worthy only of a warrior. You happen to lack one, and I happen to have no use for it anymore."

"I'm no longer a warrior."

Holding the helmet, Lucian said nothing more.

"You must stay alive and wait for the future Elden Lord to buy you a drink. If you die first, I won't let you off."

"HAHAHAHA! Then I'll look forward to it."

Lucian had already come to regard Hakan as a friend. After this parting, he did not know whether they would ever meet again.

But neither of them would stop in consideration of the other.

In the Lands Between, everyone had something they needed to do.

Lucian looked toward the distant ruins of a church and set off down the road ahead.

After walking for around ten minutes, Lucian followed the guidance of Grace and arrived at a small slope on high ground.

Lucian could not help but complain.

"It really isn't like the game. The map is bigger by who knows how much, but this feels more realistic."

"Riding over a hill in a few minutes in the game was ridiculous. They only shrank the map's scale for gameplay."

A Site of Grace burned warmly before him.

But just as Lucian was about to touch the Grace, rustling suddenly came from the bushes beside him.

Lucian held his breath and watched closely, both hands resting on his weapons, ready to fight at any moment.

But the sound quickly fell silent again, as though some small animal had passed by carelessly.

Yet Lucian knew there was someone who appeared around here.

"Stop hiding. I can still tell the sounds made by a person apart."

"Rustle, rustle—"

The bushes were pushed apart, and a figure stepped out.

The newcomer wore a White Mask with a smiling face, a set of white clothes, and was covered in old bloodstains that had blackened with time.

Lucian knew him. He was White Mask Varré, a subordinate of the Lord of Blood.

Once a battlefield physician who granted mercy to others on the field of war, he had been abducted by Mohg, the Lord of Blood, and forced to accept cursed blood, only to willingly begin serving Mohg afterward.

"Hehe, what keen observation."

His cloying voice spared no praise.

Just hearing that voice made Lucian feel sick.

It was as though Varré spoke while chewing his own tongue and mouth, his mouth full of blood yet thoroughly enjoying it, even wanting to smear that blood into the listener's ears.

And he was a fop, too.

Lucian resisted the urge to cut him down with one stroke and pretended not to know him.

"Who are you?"

Varré folded together his gloves, discolored by soaked-in blood, and slowly rubbed them together like a fly washing its hands.

"Oh, Tarnished, yearning for the Elden Ring, and thus arriving in these Lands Between."

"But how truly tragic and pitiful... you have no Maiden by your side."

"You cannot draw power from Runes, nor can you receive an invitation to Roundtable Hold. You will likely die unknown and unnoticed. Hehehehe..."

Lucian gradually furrowed his brow. This guy was even more obnoxious than he had been in the game.

Perhaps noticing Lucian's disgust, Varré slightly restrained his revolting smile.

"But don't worry, my dear. Even without a Maiden, you still have a glimmer of hope—"

"I happen to know you need a little help right now, and you just so happen to have met me, Varré."

"You know Grace, yes? That golden light which allows you Tarnished a brief rest. Follow where that light points, and you will find the path you Tarnished are meant to take."

"Yes, Grace guides you—where you should go, or perhaps... where you should be buried."

"I do not know whether you are among the few Tarnished who can see Grace, but I imagine its guidance surely points toward the castle upon those cliffs, Stormveil."

Lucian patiently listened to Varré's explanation to the end.

It seems the setting and timeline haven't changed much from the game.

"What is your purpose in appearing here?"

Lucian asked.

Varré chuckled a few times before answering.

"I was ordered by a certain lord to set Tarnished without Maidens back onto the proper path."

"Now then, hurry along. Go forth to Stormveil, where that old and ugly demigod, Godrick the Grafted, resides."

"If you crave the Elden Ring despite having no Maiden, then that is what you must do. Hehehe."