Witch

Lucian gradually woke up, though he had no idea why his face felt so itchy.

Lucian opened his bleary eyes and saw a fair, clean face almost pressed against his own.

He jumped in fright, then suddenly realized it was Irina's face.

Irina's head bobbed little by little like a pecking chick, and a glistening trail of drool hung shamelessly from the corner of her soft pink lips.

Several fine strands of hair had fallen across Lucian's face. As Irina's head rubbed against him, they were what had made him itch.

Did she fall asleep?

Seeing Irina's adorable sleeping posture, Lucian could not help taking a few more looks.

Though the girl usually made little gestures now and then that revealed the lively mischief appropriate for her age,

Lucian knew that the rebellion at Castle Morne had left a deep wound in her heart. Only rarely could that cuteness and playfulness break through the clouds in her mind and reveal themselves.

That was why this utterly defenseless appearance was both the most captivating and the most heartbreaking.

If not for the rebellion at Castle Morne, she probably could have lived without a care in the world forever.

Lucian carefully watched Irina's face so close to his, committing that defenseless sleeping expression firmly to memory.

You would have died horribly in the game, but not now.

Lucian lifted his head from Irina's lap, then rolled away, successfully escaping without waking her.

Lucian got to his feet and brushed the dirt and grass from his backside, only to suddenly realize that something was wrong.

It was still the middle of the night.

The nomadic merchant and his skinny donkey had their heads lowered, both fast asleep as well.

When Lucian had met the nomadic merchant last night, the man had already set up his little tent. There was no way he would sleep outside like this just because he was tired.

Lucian drew his greatsword and looked around, only then noticing a thin layer of pale blue mist covering the ground.

It was so faint that it would have been impossible to spot without looking carefully.

"Tarnished, come here."

"Could you come over and chat for a moment?"

A voice as cool and clear as moonlight drifted over. Lucian already knew who it was—the Princess of the Moon, Ranni.

What Lucian had not expected was that Ranni would appear here.

Lucian sheathed his sword and looked toward the voice.

A figure seated atop a massive fragment of ruins came into view.

A huge snow-white pointed hat adorned with a ring of silver thread, a luxurious shawl made from the fur of some unknown creature, and beneath it, a long robe and dress of the same snowy color, yet utterly plain.

Blue skin, with two pairs of hands folded atop her lap.

One physical form, one spirit, two faces beneath the broad brim of her hat.

Yes, it was indeed Ranni.

Lucian walked before the ruin fragment. Since Ranni sat atop it, towering far above him, he could only look up at her.

"First meeting, Tarnished. I am the witch Renna."

"I heard that a Tarnished riding a spectral steed called Torrent was trying to cross the Bridge of Sacrifice, so I followed the trail here."

"It seems that was you?"

Lucian admitted it openly.

"That's right. I can summon Torrent, and I'm traveling with him now."

Seeing Lucian admit it, Ranni nodded. Her two right hands each took something from beneath her shawl.

"I have something to pass on to you. Torrent's former master entrusted it to me."

The image of the Grafted Scion thrusting swords at him with both right hands suddenly surfaced in Lucian's mind. It was strangely similar to this.

Ranni took out the items. Seeing Lucian's odd expression, she somehow felt he was thinking something impolite, as though he were associating her with some lowly, ugly creature.

Ignoring that strange thought that had suddenly arisen, Ranni held a delicate silver bell in one hand—the Spirit Calling Bell Lucian had been longing for.

In her other hand was a small box, presumably containing the ashes of the Lone Wolves.

Ranni handed the Spirit Calling Bell to Lucian first and explained its use.

"This is called a Spirit Calling Bell. It can summon spirits from ashes that have not returned to the Erdtree."

"Those spirits will temporarily acknowledge you as their master, take on the forms they had in life, and fight for you."

"However, some spirits are not so easily summoned."

Ranni stared at Lucian's small travel bag. Lucian knew she was referring to the Stormhawk—Ancient King.

Ranni handed over the small box in her other hand as well.

"These are the ashes of three Lone Wolves. I hope you'll treat them as well as you treat Torrent."

Without waiting for Lucian's reaction, Ranni began to scatter like snowflakes once she had given him the items.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Tarnished. I don't believe we shall meet again. Savor the Lands Between carefully."

Before completely dispersing, Ranni glanced, intentionally or not, toward the Grace beside them, as though something there concerned her.

Ranni had come and gone in such a hurry that Lucian had barely had a chance to speak to her. It seemed he would have to make contact again later.

Lucian had no intention of going back to sleep. Holding the items, he sat before the Grace.

He shook the bell, producing a crisp chime. At once, Lucian felt himself establish a special connection with the ashes he carried.

He could faintly sense their consciousness. As long as he supplied them with magic, he could summon them.

The Stormhawk Tinnie and the three Lone Wolves were all like this, but the Stormhawk Ancient King remained as aloof as ever.

Lucian focused his mind and tried to establish a connection with Ancient King.

But in the end, he still failed. Ancient King's will came from within its ashes.

It roughly meant: You brat may be someone I acknowledge, but you're still not qualified to summon me. Now hurry up and equip the Storm Stomp Ash of War.

Lucian scratched his head. It seemed Ancient King could not be summoned for the time being.

Lucian took out the Whetstone Knife and examined it over and over for quite a while, unable to figure out how to use it.

"Melina? Are you there?"

Melina's figure appeared beside him and spoke first.

"Lucian, that person just now... her soul. I feel as though I have some connection to her... but I can't remember it."

Lucian had not expected Melina to say something like that, but he did not know what connection there was between Melina and Ranni either.

Lucian was still thinking about how to respond when Melina shook her head herself.

"No, perhaps it was only an illusion. Do you want to attach an Ash of War to your weapon? I can help with that."

"You can even do that?"

Lucian was surprised by how versatile Melina was.

If there had been this many interactions in the game, he did not dare imagine how popular she would have been.

Melina took the Whetstone Knife, Ash of War, and halberd Lucian handed her and began working on them.

"It's nothing. My memories simply happen to contain such a method."

"Just as you yourself are gradually mastering the skills of battle, it is simply innate."

I'm such an idiot T-T. I didn't properly read the requirements for the new-book library recommendation, and only realized today that I missed it. If I hadn't gotten a round of recommendations already, I'd be devastated.