Demi-Humans

Over the next few days, Lucian practiced all kinds of storm-based Ashes of War in Castle Morne.

He also picked up footwork techniques like Quickstep, allowing him to dodge attacks in battle with less effort.

During those days, supplies from Stormveil arrived, along with a large group of residents.

According to Irina, these people were residents of Godrick's territory who normally lived in villages out in the wilderness.

Now that Castle Morne was short on manpower, Godrick had simply assigned them here.

This was good for both Castle Morne and the residents.

Recently, Irina had come to see Lucian quite often.

Edgar had found a prayer instructor who believed in the Erdtree from Stormveil.

She had arrived at Castle Morne with this batch of supplies, and Irina was now studying incantations with her every day.

While Lucian trained outside the castle, she studied incantations within it.

Whenever Lucian had free time, she would have a servant bring her over to chat with him.

She would talk about the difficulties she encountered in her studies and occasionally complain to him.

Lucian had observed that prayer instructor from afar. She was an old woman who looked deeply devout.

Irina said she was currently learning Golden Vow, and once she mastered it, she could come help Lucian.

Lucian agreed aloud, but he did not want Irina involved in battle.

Combat was dangerous to begin with, and her impaired vision meant he could not protect her at all times.

But seeing how happy Irina was, he could not bring himself to refuse her.

A few more days passed. Lucian could now skillfully use all kinds of storm-based Ashes of War, and their power was astonishing.

Though there were still areas that needed polishing, he no longer needed Edgar at his side to guide him. Edgar therefore returned to his work.

Lucian did not intend to keep training behind closed doors in the castle. He planned to head out for a day or two to explore the Weeping Peninsula and refine these Ashes of War through combat.

Lucian remembered that there were two Sacred Tears on the Weeping Peninsula, as well as Radagon's Scarseal.

He decided to collect those important items first.

After informing Edgar and Irina, Lucian set off.

Lucian sat at the Grace by Castle Morne's main gate, and Melina appeared beside him.

"Getting ready to leave?"

"Yeah. I'll explore the Weeping Peninsula first. I saw churches marked on the map, and there might be Sacred Tears there."

Lucian took out a map he had borrowed from Edgar. It had previously hung on the wall in Edgar's room.

The area marked on this map was vast, encompassing all of Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula.

A number of routes within Stormveil Castle were also marked. They would come in handy when he fought Godrick later.

Lucian handed the map and parchment scroll to Melina.

"Could you copy this map onto the parchment too?"

"Mm, no problem."

Melina took the map, examined it carefully, then pulled out her tools and began drawing.

Lucian took the opportunity to plan his route.

He would teleport over shortly and start from the Grace outside the castle walls.

First, he would go to the first church for a Sacred Tear, then open the Evergaol and take Radagon's Scarseal.

Finally, after taking the Sacred Tear from the second church, he would head down to the ruins at the foot of the hill below it.

Lucian remembered that the ruins held Sellen's physical body sealed away. He would take a look first.

As for caves and catacombs, Lucian could not remember anything particularly worth obtaining from the caves or catacombs of the Weeping Peninsula, so he would not consider them for now.

There would not be many weak enemies along this route. Those enemies could not hone his skills at all and would only waste time.

The sealed Ancient Hero of Zamor was Lucian's intended opponent. Its strength was not to be underestimated, and its humanoid form made it suitable for practicing moves.

Once he had collected everything he needed, it would be time to formally bid farewell to Castle Morne and head to Stormveil to fight Godrick.

After Melina finished copying the map, she teleported Lucian to the Grace outside the castle walls, where he had previously encountered the Frenzied Flame enemy.

Rising from the Grace, Lucian did not see the wandering merchant Yanogo, which did not surprise him.

Yanogo had a cooperative relationship with Castle Morne. Since the rebellion there had been put down, he had been traveling back and forth constantly, and Lucian had already seen him several times in Castle Morne.

He blew the whistle, and Torrent appeared beside him.

Torrent snorted, excited for the unknown destination ahead.

During the days Lucian had been training, Melina had ridden him around near Castle Morne. He had grown tired of the scenery there.

Lucian patted Torrent's head, mounted him, and rode toward his destination.

Following the narrow path on the map, Lucian traveled through dense woods.

A cloud of smoke suddenly rose from the ground nearby. Amid the smoke, several saplings transformed into ugly little creatures resembling goblins from fantasy stories.

They were Demi-Humans using Mimicry.

As they shed their disguises, they howled and banged their weapons and shields.

They were trying to intimidate the rider before them. This was their usual trick for robbing travelers, and it had always worked.

Unfortunately, they had picked the wrong target today.

Lucian had indeed been startled at first, but once he realized they were Demi-Humans, he did not panic in the slightest.

Demi-Humans did not merely look like goblins. Their combat ability was about the same as goblins' too.

The Demi-Humans roared and shouted, yet the man and horse before them showed no reaction at all, merely watching their performance in silence.

The horned horse even snorted impatiently.

The Demi-Humans looked at one another, then finally decided to swarm them, kill them, and take their belongings.

Then Lucian blasted them to death with a storm.

Lucian continued onward on Torrent, suddenly remembering that he had told Boc to wait for him there.

He wondered whether Boc was still there. He would check on the way when he headed to Stormveil later.

A suspension bridge crudely made of wooden planks and ropes appeared ahead. Before it, a Demi-Human chief, sturdier than the others, lay resting.

Lucian pulled Torrent's reins to a stop and silently dismounted.

The Demi-Human chief was not a formidable enemy, perhaps only a little stronger than a Scaly Misbegotten. It was not enough to make Lucian take it seriously.

It was simply too close to the suspension bridge, and Lucian did not want the storm to blow the bridge apart.

The Demi-Human chief heard the movement as well. It rose, drew two short blades, and lunged at Lucian on all fours.

"I'll use you as an appetizer."

Lucian drew his greatsword, fixed his eyes on the charging Demi-Human chief, and used Lion's Claw.

A storm wrapped around him, accelerating his spinning motion through the air. The Demi-Human chief had no time to react before more than half its body was severed from the shoulder.

The storm coiling around the blade tore through its body, then erupted with a boom. The Demi-Human chief was shredded from within by the storm, its remains scattering across the ground.

Lucian swept the blood from the blade away with the wind, sheathed his greatsword, mounted Torrent, and continued onward.

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