Lands Between

"Hm?"

Lucian came back to himself from the strange sensation just now.

"I was just... touching Grace."

Lucian suddenly noticed something odd.

He had not fully trusted Hakan, yet the moment he saw Grace, he had instinctively ignored the potential danger and reached out to touch it.

That strange pull made Lucian feel like a moth in the night, drawn to a flame by its instinct for light.

No wonder there had been a school of "Erdtree conspiracy theories" when people discussed the game's story in his previous life.

Hakan's eyes widened.

"You can still see Grace?"

"Mm... it should be Grace."

Seeing there was no way to hide it, Lucian simply admitted it openly.

"...You truly aren't an Standard Tarnished."

"I don't think there's anything unusual about me."

Lucian shrugged.

"No. You've only just returned to the Lands Between; you don't know what it means to be able to see Grace in this age."

"The Grace on ordinary Tarnished was stripped away when they were cast out of the Lands Between."

"Every Tarnished who can still see Grace now is someone with the bearing of a hero."

"If Godrick of Stormveil learns about you, he'll definitely send an army to hunt you down."

Hakan spoke with great excitement, his words firing out like a barrage. Lucian had not expected this guy to have such a side to him.

"Is that so? It's fine. I'm pretty good at running away."

"Hah... Lucian, I... no, never mind."

Lucian was completely baffled. Could cryptic people just get out of the Lands Between already?

"It's fine, go ahead."

But Hakan's attitude suddenly became very resolute.

"No. I'm not qualified to say such things right now. In any case, I'm very happy to have met someone like you."

Hakan paused.

"Next, let's focus on getting back to the mainland. I'll do everything in my power to get you there."

Lucian was genuinely confused now.

What was with this guy? His attitude had become so respectful after learning that Lucian could see Grace.

"Then let's keep moving. Do you need to rest?"

"No need. I'm truly bursting with energy right now."

With that, Hakan hoisted his great curved sword onto his shoulder and continued scouting ahead.

Lucian shook his head and silently followed.

I don't get it.

The two of them wove through coffins and jars, soon arriving before a peculiar skeleton.

The skeleton sat propped against the wall, the bones of its hands and feet covered in red brands, like extinguished charcoal.

After Hakan searched carefully, he found two items: a Tarnished's Furled Finger and a Finger Severer.

As before, Hakan handed them to Lucian.

Like the Tarnished's Wizened Finger they had found at the Chapel of Anticipation, these two items were related to multiplayer.

Lucian had no idea whether these multiplayer-related items still worked, nor did he know how to use them.

Still, there was no harm in collecting them first.

They set out again. Within minutes, a circular hall appeared before them.

White candles burned here and there, illuminating the hall in full.

A massive dome hung high overhead. All kinds of debris lay scattered around, while six pillars stood at the center on a huge circular floor carved with patterns. Their tops connected, forming something like a pavilion, and six candles burned upon the pillars.

Lucian passed Hakan and stepped forward to examine it. Rings encircled rings on the circular floor, decorated with interwoven Erdtree roots. At the very center was a small raised section the size of a pot lid.

He knew this was something like an elevator in the Lands Between.

"Come on, we have a chance to get out."

Lucian turned and called to Hakan.

Hakan nodded to show that he understood.

"Do I need to do anything?"

"No. Bring your companions and stand with us between these pillars."

Hakan trusted Lucian greatly now and obediently did as he said.

Once the warhorse and White Wolf had also stepped on, Lucian walked to the center and stomped down hard on the mechanism.

With a rumble, the mechanism, silent for who knew how many years, began to operate.

The ground beneath their feet began to rise, carrying them steadily upward.

Hakan and his companions had never seen anything like this. The warhorse and White Wolf immediately sprawled flat on the ground, whimpering softly.

Hakan was not much better. His face remained cold, but Lucian could already see his legs trembling.

The elevator rose while slowly rotating.

When they reached the upper level, a flight of stairs leading higher appeared before them.

"I never imagined something like this could exist in the world."

Hakan's face had gone pale. White Wolf rose to its feet and howled, as though agreeing with him.

"Haha, it was obviously a fun experience. What's there to be afraid of?"

Seeing Lucian's smug grin, Hakan's face instantly flushed red, though he still stubbornly retorted:

"Who was afraid?!"

Lucian smiled, ignoring Hakan's bluster as he headed straight for the stairs.

There were not many steps, and they soon reached a door.

Lucian took a deep breath and used both hands to lift the heavy doors.

A dazzling light streamed through the gap, making Lucian squeeze his eyes shut, but his hands did not stop. The great doors were raised all the way.

Lucian's eyes quickly adjusted to the brightness. He looked out and beheld a breathtaking sight.

The colossal Erdtree stood upon the earth, piercing heaven and earth like a pillar dividing the sky from the land. Layer upon layer of branches covered half the sky, endlessly scattering light across the world.

Several similarly sky-piercing pillar-like structures stood scattered at varying distances. Some were close enough to reveal their grandeur in full, while others were hidden in the mist, leaving only their outlines.

On a towering cliff in the distance, a majestic castle lay wrapped in storm clouds, gazing coldly down upon the land.

Countless ruins of enormous shattered structures lay strewn across the ground, proclaiming that the glory of old was no more...

This was the Lands Between, a land watered by blood and fire, and also the battlefield where Lucian would ride forth.

For the sake of plot consistency, the game map will be expanded. Travel from one city to another will not take just a dozen minutes as it does in the game, and catacombs and caves will be enlarged or reduced as appropriate.