Trying to communicate through riddles wasn't working. Unless Melina explicitly stated the Kindling Maiden's mission, it would be difficult for Frieren to grasp her meaning; instead, the latter just felt like Melina was laying the groundwork to ask for help later.
Frieren seemed to possess a peculiar mindset: she appeared quite eager to uncover trouble surrounding a person and then resolve it.
What would happen if Melina voiced her own expectations?
She worried Frieren might charge clear across the Lands Between, sparing no effort from Caelid to the Haligtree, just to see it through completely. Yet, burning the Erdtree seemed the only way.
Forget it.
"It's still too early to talk about sacrifices. Let's discuss it later. Don't take it too much to heart; I was just feeling a bit emotional after hearing Bernahl's words, especially since he doesn't have his own Maiden."
"I understand. But you should remember too, there are always more solutions than problems."
Melina nodded and changed the subject, "About Castle Morne—since we didn't hear anything from Godrick's soldiers, but Bernahl informed us, the rebellion must have just begun. The castle has numerous soldiers and strong fortifications, and its castellan, Edgar, is a skilled warrior. It should hold out for a long time."
"If we go too early, we won't gain much glory and might end up competing with the defenders for credit. Perhaps it's better to proceed slowly, in your style."
"Besides, the status of a Tarnished isn't exactly welcomed everywhere. Showing up suddenly when the castle defenses are strained could easily lead to conflict."
It sounded a bit callous, yet it aligned perfectly with a Tarnished's interests.
As Frieren's Maiden, naturally, Melina had to think from her partner's perspective. Moreover, she didn't believe Castle Morne would fall easily, meaning there might not be much opportunity to make a name for themselves there.
No need to rush.
Comparatively, the spar with Bernahl held the most significance. News of the "Funeral Spellblade" would likely spread quickly through the warrior's circle, so Melina wasn't particularly interested in aiding nobles loyal to Godrick.
"I've thought about it, and you're right. Plus, moving slower gives us a chance to explore any dungeons we find."
"So you really enjoy exploring every place thoroughly? Most Tarnished avoid them like the plague."
"Of course! It's one of the joys of traveling."
Frieren showed a rare hint of eagerness. An aura of death lingered ahead, a dark, deep atmosphere – promising potentially good loot.
Her seclusion in the elf village hadn't cultivated the habits of a shut-in. Quite the opposite; having weathered the storms of her 'game' experiences, she had grown fond of adventure, especially finding well-designed, compact areas like dungeons most appealing.
"You seem to have traveled extensively. What kind of homeland produces a Tarnished like you?"
"It was filled with conflict, ravaged by monsters called 'Demons' that slaughtered everything... But compared to that, the places outside the Lands Between you mentioned seem a bit better."
As they spoke, a small stone archway came into view ahead, emanating an undeniably deadly magical aura.
Frieren dismounted her spirit steed and carefully observed the cave entrance:
Sure enough, numerous skeletal monsters appeared, brandishing claws and weapons, howling and roaring. They sometimes collided and shattered, only to reform moments later and resume wandering. They were clearly undead units.
Melina explained, "After the Night of the Black Knives, improper death led to the emergence of countless monsters carrying the taint of Death. They are incredibly difficult to eliminate..."
She went on to clarify concepts like the malfunction of the Erdtree's cycle, Deathroot, and the hunting of Those Who Live in Death.
"In short, it's one of the direct calamities resulting from the Night of the Black Knives, and it has plagued the Lands Between for many years."
"So, repairing the Elden Ring and restoring proper death to the world would at least eliminate this major scourge?"
"Correct."
Understanding the sequence of events further motivated Frieren. The Lands Between was currently suffering under several negative effects. Clearing them one by one would restore a vibrant world, or at least one easier on the eyes.
The Undead were indeed repulsive and needed to be purged.
Having decided to explore the first dungeon—this compact zone—of her 'new game,' Frieren naturally prepared thoroughly. First, she activated the Site of Grace at the entrance. Next, she switched to her 'player view':
Entered [Deathtouched Catacombs]. Primary enemies: Those Who Live in Death. Weapons include curved swords, bows, etc.
Caution was warranted; the bloodstains covering the ground signified numerous player failures.
She checked the messages:
[Be careful, Those Who Live in Death ahead. Use holy attacks; the right method kills them instantly.]
[But I don't have any, so annoying. Gotta look up a guide again.]
[I hate gimmick enemies the most.]
[Miss Black Knife (╯▽╰) So fine~~]
[Count yourself lucky, this is one of the few easy early-game dungeons. Remember, beating the boss gives a very useful Talisman for progressing.]
Beyond the messages, Frieren examined the bloodstains, revealing a wide variety of deaths. The most common involved rolling repeatedly, then suddenly standing still for a moment before dissolving into dust.
The difficulty of dungeons never stemmed solely from monsters; the narrow spaces inevitably hindered combat effectiveness.
Sitting at the Site of Grace, she prepared various flasks, ready for use at a moment's notice. She then switched to the Golden Halberd obtained from defeating the Tree Sentinel earlier and cast Golden Vow for a buff.
Dealing holy damage was also manageable; reality offered magic specifically targeting the undead, and now was the time to test it.
Swish!
A beam of light swept across, annihilating the target. The downed skeleton monster attempted to rise again, its body still swirling with gray energy, seemingly about to re-engage. However, the next moment, it suddenly crumbled, finally dissolving into ash, unable to reform.
Witnessing this, Melina couldn't help but remark, "Your homeland outside the Lands Between must be quite formidable, possessing even methods to deal with Those Who Live in Death."
"Just a lucky coincidence, really. Anyway, it seems effective, so this should be straightforward."
Frieren felt grateful for her habit of collecting magic.
If she had remained content within the confines of the elf village, she would undoubtedly have become weak. Even with game-like magic, she wouldn't have had the 'starting capital' power. She likely would have suffered greatly in a high-difficulty world. Therefore, collecting magic from any source was essential.
Doing it all alone, over and over, was exhausting. One day, when she controlled her own faction, she could collect and research magic on a grand scale.
"Let's begin."
The silver-haired girl switched to her most frequently used style: shield and staff.
Even possessing such strength didn't stop her from tiptoeing stealthily inside. Whenever possible, she used backstabs to eliminate enemies, absolutely refusing to engage outnumbered or face-to-face if avoidable.
Sparring with fellow humans might call for martial honor, but that courtesy didn't extend to monsters. In Frieren's eyes, Demons, Those Who Live in Death, and Hollows were all the same – entities that should be eradicated.
Under such a ruthless, relentless advance, Those Who Live in Death crumbled, turning to dust one after another without posing much of a threat...
Swish! Swish!
Suddenly, several sharp arrows shot out from a dark corner. Frieren, with her quick reflexes, easily blocked them.
Only then did she notice the pillars and beams overhead teeming with shadowy skeletal figures. There were so many! This supposedly small dungeon hid a surprising number of enemies. But today, they would all become Runes.
____
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