Stranded Graveyard

Lucian stepped forward and stood beside Hakan.

They had reached the end of the path. Ahead lay a vast space that they would have to jump down into.

Countless coffins lay scattered carelessly across the ground, while the roots coiling over them spoke of this place's age.

In the distance, a young Erdtree glowed golden, illuminating a path.

Mu Jin-brick steps extended upward toward the gate of a desolate, lonely ruin. Four statues of veiled women without hands stood in sequence along either side of the stairs, like guards judging those who approached.

"This is an ancient graveyard. There's no mistake about it."

Hakan said with certainty.

"Graveyards are dangerous. They have all kinds of Mu Jin statues guarding them, and some even have Those Who Live in Death that can't be killed no matter what."

"If it were under normal circumstances, with just the two of us, I would never enter a graveyard."

"And as far as I know, there shouldn't be another exit inside a graveyard, either."

"But we have no other choice now. We can only go in and try our luck."

Listening to Hakan's pessimistic words, Lucian was secretly delighted.

He knew this place far too well.

Although the Cave of Knowledge, that tutorial cave created for gameplay purposes, was gone, the terrain and scenery here were highly distinctive. This was the first place reached after leaving the Chapel of Anticipation in the game—the Stranded Graveyard.

This graveyard could be said to hold no danger at all, because it was merely a passage leading deeper into the Fringefolk Hero's Grave.

Only now did Lucian understand why it was called the Stranded Graveyard.

Falling from the Chapel of Anticipation and arriving directly at the entrance to the sealed Stranded Graveyard was clearly unreasonable.

In the game, the part where the player drifted to the beach and then made their way to the Stranded Cave had been omitted.

Yet there really was a place in the game where one could travel through a cave from the beach to the Stranded Graveyard: the Seaside Ruins.

Everything made sense now.

Lucian suddenly remembered that there seemed to be an item here that could be picked up, though he could not recall what it was.

"Hakan, there seems to be something over there. Could you shine some light on it?"

"Hm? Where?"

Lucian pointed toward a spot beyond the torchlight's reach.

Hakan extended the torch forward, revealing a skeleton before them.

The clothes on the skeleton had long since rotted and fallen apart, but something on its body reflected the firelight.

Hakan stepped forward, picked the object off the skeleton, examined it for a moment, then tossed it to Lucian.

"Huh? You don't want it?"

Lucian recognized the item. A line of small text identified it—the Sacred Dragoncrest Talisman.

"I've already collected enough payment. You take it. It should be a talisman that resists some sort of power, though its effect probably isn't very strong."

Lucian was a little surprised. This guy could even bring himself to ask for extra money, yet at a time like this, he was unexpectedly generous.

Lucian did not refuse. Although the item was not particularly useful and he had not intended to take it in the first place, he was simply struck by the urge to collect it. Since Hakan was generously giving it to him, he accepted it.

After confirming there was nothing else nearby, the two jumped down one after the other, with White Wolf following close behind.

The warhorse had more trouble. Horse legs were fragile things, and jumping from such a height could easily cause a fracture.

So the two of them held out their arms below to catch the horse, and after considerable effort, they finally helped it land safely.

There was not much else to explore. They only briefly searched for a hidden exit, and after finding none, returned to the entrance of the Stranded Graveyard.

The burned-out candles lining both sides and the women's statues staring at them put considerable psychological pressure on Hakan.

"This place looks like a graveyard of no small importance. We need to be careful."

Lucian nodded with a show of seriousness, wearing the expression of someone facing a great enemy.

Hakan stepped forward and forcefully pushed open the long-sealed tomb doors.

Cold white candles burned slowly, dividing the graveyard from the outside world like two separate realms.

Cobwebs covered everything, and dry bones lay scattered about.

Hakan carried his great curved blade over his shoulder and moved forward cautiously.

But after walking for a while and reaching the next chamber, they found neither traps nor Mu Jin statues standing guard.

In this chamber stood a wall shrouded in mist, with a small Gargoyle statue before it.

Lucian knew this was the entrance to the Fringefolk Hero's Grave, and it required two Stonesword Keys.

But more importantly, a bonfire radiating warm light emerged from the ground before Lucian—it was a site of Grace.

Lucian walked over and touched the warm flame with his hand.

Rather than a flame, it felt more like the lingering warmth beneath a lamp: warm and comforting.

Lucian felt something strange. He sensed an inexplicable connection forming between himself and the Grace before him.

"Lucian, what are you... doing?"

Watching Lucian suddenly reach out to touch empty space, Hakan had no idea whether Lucian had fallen victim to some sort of evil magic.