Kenneth's Commission

"My apprentice, shall we begin your studies? Before that, let me ask: do you have any grounding in magic?" Sellen studied the sturdy frame of her newly accepted apprentice and recalled the terrifying strength with which he had dispatched Pumpkin Head in five seconds. She had been observing his aptitude for magic all along, but still could not make it out.

There was an unwritten rule in the Lands Between: few could achieve perfect mastery of both physical combat and magic. The only person who had mastered all three disciplines-combat, magic, and incantations-was the red-haired hero who had been the sorceress queen's husband.

"That's right. To be honest, I thought about learning magic in the past, but those sorcerers kept telling me I had no talent for it."

"Oh..." Sellen nodded at his answer.

"Those senile fools at the Academy of Raya Lucaria really are useless. Every last one of them." A trace of contempt crept into Sellen's otherwise calm voice as she spoke of the academy's sorcerers.

"But don't worry, my apprentice. Even if you're a stone with no talent whatsoever, I will carve you into the most dazzling glintstone of all. Training an apprentice is a teacher's duty, after all." Sellen's tone softened. He was her first apprentice, and the only person who dared approach her and had an interest in magic. She would devote everything she had to making him a sorcerer without equal.

"I believe you will." The Tarnished smiled and nodded. Sellen had made a very good first impression on him-not because she was a woman, of course, but because she was different from the sorcerers he knew.

She made no attempt to hide her dark past and admitted it openly. That was someone worthy of being called a genius.

"My apprentice, to learn magic, you must also have a catalyst. Unfortunately, I have no catalyst suitable for you." Sellen looked around. There was nothing but countless books and blue glintstones.

The only catalyst was the staff in her hand. But her apprentice was a beginner, and an overly powerful catalyst would hinder his future progress rather than help him.

"A catalyst..." The Tarnished fell into thought as well. Indeed, he had no suitable catalyst on hand.

"Besides, since you were originally a warrior, an ordinary staff wouldn't suit you."

Indeed, he could hardly picture himself wielding a staff.

"But don't worry. The Carian Royal Family has a type of sword that can serve as a catalyst. It should suit you very well."

"Until you obtain that catalyst, I'll teach you some of the fundamentals of magic."

The Tarnished nodded, and Sellen began explaining the origins of magic.

Legend had it that, in ancient times, a comet fell from the stars and scoured the land, creating a low-lying region: Liurnia. Alongside the comet came life from outer space. They lived there for a long time, until one day a terrifying meteor shower destroyed them. Their flourishing civilization was driven underground, becoming part of the history of the Lands Between.

Time marched on. Hundreds of years after the Astrologer race had perished, new inhabitants began settling in Liurnia. Drawn to that ancient civilization, they studied it day and night.

They were the first Astrologers, and the first to discover the existence of star magic. But by then, the sky had been obscured, and the stars had long since dimmed. Unwilling to accept things as they were, the Astrologers used another method to create magic called glintstone magic based on the stars. Eventually, they built an academy of magic in Liurnia. They also exchanged knowledge with their neighbors at the time, the Carian Royal Family.

The magic practiced by Caria differed from that of the academy. The Astrologers studied Glintstone Sorcery drawn from the stars, while Caria studied the radiant full moon, a discipline also known as moon magic.

Eventually, the conflict between the Academy of Raya Lucaria and the Carian Royal Family grew ever greater. Then a figure worthy of being called a hero emerged in Caria: Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, the new Carian queen.

Upon her arrival, she overwhelmed and united the academy through sheer strength, and the academy was formally named Raya Lucaria.

The academy contained many factions, and its internal disputes never ceased. Yet no one dared rebel against Rennala's formidable power. It enjoyed a long-awaited period of peace, until Rennala's husband abandoned her.

The devastated queen lost her heroic spirit. Some even suspected she had gone mad. Her standing plummeted, and she was eventually confined to the library deep within the academy.

"So, my apprentice, both the academy's magic and the Carian Royal Family's magic were discovered among the stars. Beyond those, there are still many other kinds of magic," Sellen explained patiently.

"To truly master glintstone and moon magic, you must contemplate the stars with all your heart."

"I see. I think I understand. I've heard a little about Rennala, but I never knew some bastard had hurt her." Back then, he had still been fighting in the War of the Giant. The Liurnia campaign had taken place during that period, and he had paid little attention to it. Besides, not long after the campaign began, when the Expeditionary Army was preparing to march into Caelid, Marika had banished him.

He had no idea who Rennala's husband was, either.

"Ahem." Sellen cleared her throat a few times. "Queen Rennala is a truly great sorceress. Her gifts and abilities are rare in this world. Even I admire her. It's just a shame..." Sellen deeply regretted Rennala's plight, but as a pure scholar-and a somewhat mad one herself-she could not understand being trapped by love.

"I'll teach you a few basic spells as well. Make sure you have a solid grasp of the theory. Once you find a suitable catalyst, I'll test what you've learned. Don't disappoint me, my apprentice."

"Of course."

"Good. Quite some time has passed. You have your own duties too, don't you? Studying magic is important, but I know it won't be your whole life. You have other things to do."

The Tarnished nodded.

"As your teacher, I should support you from behind the scenes. Though I cannot leave this place for now, you may come here whenever you wish."

"All right." The Tarnished felt warmth in Sellen's words. After saying goodbye to her, he activated the Site of Grace outside the door and continued his journey. Before leaving, of course, he shut the door again. He could tell that Sellen's circumstances were unusual. Though few people would come here, it was still better to keep up appearances.

As for the Site of Grace, others might not even be able to see it.

"It seems I've found myself a good apprentice." Sellen shook her head with a chuckle. How many years had it been since she had spoken to another person? Ever since the academy had branded her a heretic, expelled her, and imprisoned her, she had not conversed with anyone.

"This duplicate proved worthwhile after all." A smile spread across Sellen's face as she returned to the desk and began leafing through her books again.

"I ought to brush up on my knowledge as well. I can't go teaching my apprentice anything wrong..."

"Sellen... she's a good teacher." The Tarnished glanced back at the Waypoint Ruins with a smile.

His business at the Waypoint Ruins was finished. All that remained was the Flask of Wondrous Physick at the Third Church of Marika.

"The Third Church of Marika... it seems to be some distance from here. I remember it being north of the Mistwood." Relying on his memory, the Tarnished set off on foot toward the Third Church.

This route did not seem to require passing through the Mistwood, though. He remembered that following the main road from the Waypoint Ruins would also take him to the Third Church. But so much time had passed that he could not be sure whether it still matched his memories.

"Never mind that. I'll head there first and see."

The road was rather long, and the Tarnished walked along idly. Perhaps sensing the murderous aura around him, the small animals that had previously tried to butt him gradually stopped daring to approach.

"I'd better not have another incident like that goat." How could he let a mere goat bully him?

When the Tarnished reached the edge of the Mistwood, he heard someone shouting from up above.

"Is anyone there? Will anyone hear the plea of Kenneth Haight?"

"Anyone will do! Ah... revered Erdtree, please bring your servant to my side!"

"?" Looking puzzled, the Tarnished raised his head toward the person on the cliff. It was a middle-aged man in fine clothing, clearly a noble.

"Ah... you! The revered Erdtree has heard my prayers!"

"Oh... though you are a Tarnished... no, no, even a Tarnished is welcome."

"Regardless of station or birth, all with conviction in their hearts may uphold order." Kenneth seemed intoxicated by the very idea.

"Tarnished! I have a matter that requires your assistance. Please come to me, Kenneth Haight!" Kenneth called down to him.

Honestly, the Tarnished did not want to go. This man clearly had a severe case of Erdtree obsession, the sort who would fly into a rage if someone said the wrong thing. He really did not want anything to do with him.

"If you complete my commission, I, Kenneth Haight, will certainly reward you!"

A reward... At first, he sounded just like Varre, but his tone was sincere enough that the Tarnished did not find it irritating.

"Stop shouting. I'm coming up." The Tarnished waved a hand, cutting off the noisy Kenneth.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kenneth Haight! I am the eldest legitimate son of the Lord of Limgrave. Tarnished, I have a matter in which I seek your assistance. Afterward... well, as I said just now, you will be richly rewarded." Kenneth sounded immensely proud, apparently quite confident in his status.

"Tell me what you need first." The Tarnished let it go in one ear and out the other. He had no interest in listening to this boastful nonsense and wanted to get straight to the point.

"Oh, oh... very well." Kenneth was somewhat displeased with the Tarnished before him, but since he was the only person available, Kenneth suppressed his dissatisfaction and explained.

"Beyond that Mistwood lies my domain, Fort Haight. I would like you to reclaim the fort!" Kenneth pointed into the distance.

"Your castle fell too?" Arms folded, the Tarnished glanced toward Fort Haight, then turned his gaze back to Kenneth.

"Too... do you mean what happened at Castle Morne?"

"Oh, you know about that?"

"I've heard a little. But the situation at Fort Haight is different from Castle Morne. It's all the fault of the Knight Commander sent from Stormveil," Kenneth said angrily.

"The Knight Commander from Stormveil?"

"That fool became obsessed with blood, then began wreaking havoc inside the fort. Utterly brazen!"

"Please defeat this Knight Commander and reclaim Fort Haight."

Blood...? The Tarnished instinctively thought of Mohg. Hadn't his follower Varre said they were some sort of Mohgwyn Dynasty? They seemed to be recruiting followers as well.

"All right. I'll go take a look..." The Tarnished agreed at once. He had no other reason than wanting to see what trouble his bastard nephew was stirring up.

"Oh! Then I wish you a safe journey, Tarnished!"

"Oh, oh, but you must beware of Godrick's Tarnished Hunters," Kenneth reminded him.

"Tarnished Hunters? What are those?"

"They specialize in killing your kind. If you're unlucky enough to be hunted down, Godrick will use you for grafting."

"Grafting? Godrick, huh."

"Godrick is a beast! Neither his vision nor his strength is enough to place him among true lords. Letting him call himself a king is an insult to this land!" Kenneth cursed furiously. It was clear that he loathed Godrick.

The Tarnished looked toward distant Stormveil Castle, his eyes narrowing as a flicker of killing intent passed through them. Then I'll find some time to deal with him...