"Are we heading to the Shadow Keep so soon? I thought Messmer would delay a while. After all, many in the Crusade wouldn't be too happy about letting a Tarnished like me inside."
Gawain emerged from the castellan's chamber onto the Moon-Gazing Grounds just in time to hear Rellana and Melina's conversation. He was genuinely surprised by how quickly the news had traveled.
The thought of Messmer, feigning indifference while secretly hovering in some corner of the Shadow Keep waiting for updates, brought a wry smile to Gawain's face.
"But this is good," Gawain added. "I've wanted to visit the Shadow Keep for a long time, especially to see the colossal Scadutree. There should be plenty of Scadutree Fragments there. Just a little more, and I won't have to hold back in fights anymore."
"You're here," Rellana said. "That child, Ranni... never mind, I won't pry. But you needn't worry about the Crusade. After fighting for so many years, I doubt many truly care anymore. Even he..."
Rellana sighed. As one of the few who had earned Messmer's complete trust, she naturally knew that his golden eye was false—a blessing granted by Queen Marika, yes, but also a seal designed to suppress the power of the Abyssal Serpent within him.
"I have already sent riders ahead to inform the troops along the way, so no one will block your path. However, even though the Scadu Altus is the headquarters of the Crusade, its vast size means there will inevitably be gaps in the patrols. It's not impossible for a few 'rats' to slip in, and occasionally troublesome Ghostflame Dragons appear. Just remain cautious."
She had originally considered sending a squad of Black Knights as an escort, but given Gawain's combat prowess, she realized it would be completely superfluous.
"Let us leave it at that. Pass through the gate behind the Moon-Gazing Grounds, follow the main road straight ahead, and you will reach the Shadow Keep. I have matters to attend to, so I will not escort you personally."
"Don't worry, Auntie," Gawain replied lightly. "We two have walked across more than half the Lands Between. This short distance is practically a sightseeing tour."
Hearing that title again, Rellana clenched her fists despite having long since accepted the reality of the situation. She released them helplessly and, without a backward glance, left the Moon-Gazing Grounds to tend to her duties.
Gawain just smiled at her retreating back. He and Melina then passed through the rear gate, stepping onto the soil of the Scadu Altus for the first time.
Before he could even marvel at the majestic scenery before him, his eyes were drawn to a golden mark—another Cross left by Miquella.
Approaching to investigate, he noticed something odd before he even touched it. Weren't there an unusually large number of Miquella's Lilies growing around it this time? Confused, he reached out and touched the mark. Words floated before his eyes:
"I abandon here my heart."
"Tsk, he even discarded his heart this time? No wonder there's so much blood around. This Miquella is truly ruthless."
Gawain frowned, but ultimately didn't dwell on it. He had seen pieces of Miquella discarded all along the way; throwing away a head or a heart was par for the course. For a demigod, discarding a body was trivial; as long as the Rune of Death remained sealed, the soul was immortal.
Averting his gaze from the Cross, Gawain looked past the wandering Furnace Golems and finally laid eyes on the imposing Shadow Keep standing upon the desolate plateau. Even having witnessed many wonders, he was momentarily stunned.
The Keep's structure was reminiscent of Castle Morne—a fortress city—but on a vastly larger scale. Not only did it cover a massive area, but its vertical construction was also exaggerated, making the difference in elevation difficult to gauge.
Behind the Shadow Keep, a towering spire stood proudly, piercing the clouds, its true purpose unknown.
In contrast, looking down from the sky, one could see that beneath the plateau, the Keep boasted extensive underground architecture leading to other regions.
Furthermore, the roads radiating from the Shadow Keep made it obvious that this was the true core of the Land of Shadow, much like Leyndell was to the Lands Between.
Gawain gazed at the tower reaching towards the heavens behind the Keep and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Worthy of a city built atop the Scadu Altus. In the Lands Between, perhaps only Leyndell, the Royal Capital, surpasses it. Even the scale of Stormveil Castle cannot compare."
"Before the Land of Shadow was separated," Melina recounted from memory, "this place neighbored Leyndell and naturally possessed its current scale. At that time, the Erdtree and the Scadutree were intertwined and inseparable. Sadly, things can never return to how they were."
"Intertwined and inseparable?"
Hearing Melina's words, Gawain suddenly recalled the spiraling imagery in the Tower Settlement. Perhaps those designs were modeled after the original form of the Erdtree.
As expected, everything left in the Land of Shadow was abandoned and forgotten—whether it was the Mother of Fingers, lost to history, or the Scadutree that had once brought an era of abundance. All were forsaken in this godless land.
Gawain raised his hand and blew his whistle. The crisp sound scattered in the wind. A moment later, Torrent, who had refused to appear in the Abyssal Woods, manifested, looking as carefree as ever.
Gawain mounted smoothly, then reached back and pulled Melina up behind him. Her arms naturally wrapped around his waist, her forehead resting gently against his back, as if deliberately shielding her vision.
They shared the mount. Torrent seemed to understand the mood, slowing his pace as they ambled down the main road. The wind carried the scent of wild grass. Gawain could clearly feel Melina's breathing, sensing the hidden excitement within it, while the occasional tightening of her grip betrayed her lingering hesitation.
He didn't speak. With her long-lost homeland right before her eyes, and family waiting for her return, it was only natural to feel timid when nearing home.
Along the way, they frequently encountered patrols of the Crusade led by Black Knights. Their black and gold armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight, longswords sheathed at their waists, exuding a deadly, elite aura. So close to the Shadow Keep, the true strength of the Crusade was finally on display.
But these soldiers had clearly received orders. Spotting them from afar, they stopped and offered the unique salute of the Crusade. Only after Gawain gave a slight nod of acknowledgment did they reform their ranks and resume their patrol along the road, the metallic clatter of their armor fading into the wind.
Even at a leisurely pace, unhindered along the main road, the two arrived before nightfall at the densely packed Crusade encampment before the Shadow Keep.
Feeling a familiar wave of heat from above, Gawain looked up. A dark red fireball descended from the heights of the Keep, smashing into the ground and creating a large crater. Gawain instinctively cast a storm spell to deflect the flying dust. The anticipated display of dominance had arrived.
He dismounted, but before he could say a word, Torrent beat him to it. The spectral steed snorted forcefully, blowing the dust from his nose, and charged right at Messmer before Melina had even dismounted.
Messmer clearly hadn't expected this. He had barely drawn his spear and stabilized his footing when he took the brunt of the charge. The tall demigod swayed slightly, then rubbed his forehead with a look of helpless exasperation, petting Torrent's mane.
"Behave. Now is not the time for playing."
Torrent just huffed twice, spun in a circle, and trotted back. Only then did Melina find the chance to jump down, looking with amusement at her brother's increasingly dark expression.
Evidently, not only did Messmer know Torrent, but the two had been on good terms—perhaps because of Melina?
This little interruption completely shattered the serious atmosphere. The reprimands Messmer had prepared for the Tarnished caught in his throat.
He glanced back. A large group of Crusade soldiers guiltily averted their eyes, then quickly scattered to pretend to be busy.
Extinguishing the dark red flame on his spear tip, Messmer forced out an incredibly stiff compliment with obvious reluctance.
"The... treatments your 'sage' provided for those patients... were highly effective. As agreed, the gates of the Shadow Keep are open to you. The companions you spoke of are currently in the Specimen Storehouse. Follow me."
Seeing Messmer's frustrated yet resigned expression, Gawain and Melina exchanged a glance, stifling their laughter. Gawain sneakily patted Torrent in praise, deciding to overlook the steed's earlier cowardice in the Abyssal Woods.
Gawain and Melina, leading Torrent by the reins, followed a short distance behind Messmer as they approached the city gates.
The two tacitly scanned the camp, observing the armored soldiers of the Crusade. They stood tall, their eyes still holding traces of fading battle intent and hatred for the Hornsent. Compared to the weary soldiers in Castle Ensis, their spirits were noticeably higher. These were the true guarantees that the Crusade would hold the core of the Land of Shadow firmly in their grasp.
As Messmer's footsteps echoed through the tunnel beneath the gates, the two humans and the horse followed him inside. They were met by a massive, ancient elevator. The mechanism activated, carrying them slowly upward. The wind rushed past the platform's edge until, a long while later, it came to a halt, revealing the interior of the Shadow Keep.
Stepping off the lift, a vast plaza stretched out before them. A towering statue of Marika stood imposingly in the center, dominating the view.
But upon closer inspection, rough, jagged marks marred the statue's neck. Like every other statue in the Land of Shadow, this solemn idol had been deliberately decapitated. The breaks showed signs of weathering, suggesting this had happened long ago.
Melina gazed at the headless statue. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but she ultimately lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously clutching the hem of her cloak.
Silence stretched for a moment before she finally raised her eyes to Messmer's back. Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremble.
"Brother... can you tell me? Why are all the statues of Mother in the Land of Shadow headless? I heard some things from Sister Rellana... are they true?"
Messmer didn't break his stride, nor did he turn around. His voice was as flat as if he were discussing something entirely unrelated to himself.
"Yes. Just as you suspect, I did it."
He paused, his tone betraying nothing as he plainly admitted to such a horrific act.
"The Crusade to destroy the Tower Settlement, the burning and purging of the Hornsent, the sealing of the Land of Shadow... all of it was for Mother. It was to prevent the truth of the past from leaking out, to keep a stain from marring what should have been a flawless Eternal Order."
Messmer gazed at the broken statue of Marika before him, his grip tightening on his spear, gritting his teeth as if to fortify his own resolve.
"To completely extricate Mother from these conflicts, I had to wipe out all malice directed at her. But malice doesn't just vanish into thin air. Those grievances and curses... someone has to bear them."
Here, his voice deepened, a faint, imperceptible smile touching his lips as if recalling something.
"I drew a clear line separating myself from Mother, drawing all the hatred toward me instead. I thought that by destroying the statues and taking all the blame—making the soldiers believe it was my fault, betraying our former allies, forcing Mother to abandon this cursed land—they would all turn against me. I never expected... that some would still willingly follow me. And that I would have the chance to see you again."
The plaza had been cleared; only the three of them and the horse remained. No other soldiers were present.
In this setting, even with Gawain standing nearby, Messmer felt no reservations about whispering the hidden truth to Melina.
He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Melina's face, a complex array of emotions written across it. His tone softened imperceptibly. Only in front of his sister—one of his few true remaining kin—could he slightly lay down his usual burdens.
"But rest assured, in my chambers within the Shadow Keep, there is still a statue for the two of us to revere together. I have never forgotten my purpose."
His words, like a gentle breeze, blew away some of the heavy tension. Melina stared blankly at her brother, who was forcing a relaxed facade, unsure of what to say.
The shock, heartache, and sudden realization piled in her heart intertwined. She let out a soft sigh, her voice laced with undeniable bitterness, finally condensing into a single sentence.
"Brother... it has been so hard for you all these years."
"Hard?"
Messmer waved his hand, his expression returning to calm as if discussing the most trivial matter.
"Wasn't our purpose set from the very beginning? Grievances or curses, I shall bear them all alone."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash
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