Miniature Ranni sat kneeling in Lucian's palm, tilting her head in confusion.
Lucian had already told her that there was another former member of the Carian royal family in the Land of Shadow, namely her mother's younger sister.
Since Rellana had gone there to participate in the Crusade, it was perfectly normal for her to have brought Carian knights and sorcerers along with her.
Although Ranni herself had absolutely no idea that such a person existed.
However, Caria still had other sorcerers serving as professors, so she could go and ask them about it later.
As colleagues, they should know quite a bit about that Professor Ymir.
But... why would this sorcery professor go and study the Greater Will?
That wasn't exactly the sort of thing a professor of the Moon's Caria should be doing.
Miniature Ranni looked up at Lucian and asked,
"He is plainly a professor of Carian sorcery, and yet he has gone so far as to pursue the very same path as the Primeval Sorcerers?"
"If he were naught but an ordinary sorcerer, I could accept it. Each has the right to choose their own path."
"But he is a professor of Carian sorcery…"
"Would that not make him a traitor?"
Lucian furrowed his brow and began thinking about the matter as well.
"Hmm... perhaps?"
"But since you can still maintain contact with him, it probably isn't that serious, right?"
Lucian knew that the Carian royal family had certain opinions about the Primeval Current sorcerers.
But in his eyes, that kind of exclusion actually didn't make much sense.
After all, this wasn't purely an academic dispute between Caria and the Academy. Political struggles were mixed into it as well.
"Actually, I've always thought there was nothing wrong with the Primeval Current."
"Other than the fact that it's easy to take things too far and end up dragging yourself into the abyss."
"If they were simply exploring the stars and the Greater Will, it shouldn't have been enough to make them so hated, right?"
"After all, glintstone originated from the stars, and the Moon is only one part of them."
Miniature Ranni puffed up her cheeks and retorted,
"That is not how it works!"
"Loyalty that is not absolute is, in truth, absolute disloyalty!"
"As a professor of Carian sorcery, to do such a thing is nothing short of betrayal!"
al!"
Lucian chuckled twice and paid it no mind.
"Haha. Since you don't like him very much, I'll be the one to deal with him when the time comes."
"Hopefully, I'll be able to get some useful information from him."
Without anyone reliable constantly at her side, Ranni did indeed lack a certain sense of security.
Besides, Lucian wasn't a member of the Carian royal family, so it would be better to leave the matter to him later.
If they really could uncover the Finger that was hiding behind the scenes, Lucian would be able to feel much more at ease and simply focus on preparing to eliminate it.
Miniature Ranni nodded, agreeing with this arrangement.
Out of sight, out of mind. It was probably better not to interact with that fellow.
She was afraid she might lose her temper and personally clean house on behalf of her mother.
After calming herself down, Ranni looked at Lucian and said,
"Ahem. In any case, I'll leave the investigation to you."
"And... when are you coming to the Altus Plateau to find me?"
Lucian tilted his head in confusion.
Hadn't Ranni just asked him this?
He was pretty sure he had just answered her, too...
Unfortunately, Lucian had completely forgotten about the gift he had previously promised Ranni.
The gift she had specifically asked him to deliver to her personally.
At this moment, Lucian didn't think too much about it. Since Ranni had asked again, he simply answered her again.
"I'll come find you very soon. Don't worry."
A satisfied expression finally appeared on Miniature Ranni's face.
She was just about to continue speaking when the door suddenly opened.
Creak—
Although this was one of the finest rooms in Shadow Keep, specially reserved for distinguished guests, it had been without visitors for far too long. Inevitably, the old structure had begun to deteriorate, making even this faint creaking sound particularly jarring.
Lucian and Miniature Ranni simultaneously turned toward the door.
Melina had pushed it open.
Lucian's body stiffened as he looked at Melina, who was carrying books and scrolls in her arms.
Miniature Ranni immediately became completely motionless.
Even the cold surrounding her stopped flowing outward.
She looked exactly like an actual doll.
Meanwhile, Melina stood in the doorway and stared at the Miniature Ranni in Lucian's hands, a puzzled expression appearing on her face.
Was this... a doll modeled after Ranni?
Did Lucian have a habit of talking to dolls?
...
After resting in her own room for a while, Melina had left.
She hadn't actually exerted herself much during the previous treatment. All she had done was maintain the Minor Erdtree and soothe the emotions of her fellow Shamans.
The ones who had truly become exhausted were Lucian and Irina.
Melina, on the other hand, was full of energy.
However, Lucian needed to rest, so Melina didn't want to disturb him.
She lay on the bed, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling and spacing out for a while.
Then she suddenly thought of something and got up.
Lucian had said he wanted to collect some sorceries and incantations...
Since he wanted to rest for a while, why not bring over the things containing those sorceries and incantations for him?
And so Melina left the room and made another trip to the Specimen Storehouse.
The moment she arrived on the first floor of the Specimen Storehouse, Melina received an enthusiastic reception.
A female Fire Knight respectfully bowed to Melina before asking,
"Miss Melina, we have been awaiting your arrival."
"May I ask what brings you here today?"
The personnel of the Specimen Storehouse had already received orders from Messmer.
If Melina should come here, thou wilt treat her with the utmost care.
She is my most beloved younger sister, the princess of the Erdtree.
Not the slightest neglect shall be tolerated. Is that understood?
Even though Melina herself didn't care about the title of princess, there was no doubt that she received treatment befitting that status within Shadow Keep.
Faced with the Fire Knight's excessively deferential attitude, Melina appeared somewhat at a loss.
Their behavior was perfectly normal, but Melina couldn't help feeling...
It was a little difficult to get used to.
She had felt this way back in Stormveil as well, but that was a castle whose transformation she had personally witnessed.
And Lucian had always been by her side, so she hadn't really thought much of it.
But now, in the unfamiliar Shadow Keep, the feeling was much stronger.
Perhaps it was because everyone seemed to be trying a little too hard whenever they interacted with her.
Normal communication and conversation were much more comfortable for her.
Melina gently shook her head and stopped dwelling on these minor matters.
Looking at the Fire Knight, Melina said,
"Mm... I came here looking for some sorceries and incantations."
"I mentioned it to my brother earlier. I was wondering if you've finished preparing them?"
The Fire Knight immediately nodded repeatedly upon hearing Melina's request.
"Of course, of course."
"We began preparing everything as soon as we received the news."
"All the stone tablets and scrolls containing sorceries and incantations have now been organized."
"Please follow me. I'll take you to where they're being kept."
With that, the Fire Knight walked ahead and led the way.
Following behind her, Melina quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Perhaps she had simply been a spirit for too long.
She was a little out of practice when it came to communicating with people.
But then Melina thought about it again.
She seemed to have been more or less like this even when she was alive...
Following the Fire Knight upward, Melina finally got a full view of the interior of the Specimen Storehouse.
"Giants" covered from head to toe in horns from the Crucible; beasts of all different shapes and sizes, combining characteristics from several different creatures...
The Fire Knight also performed her role as a guide admirably.
Seeing that Melina was interested, she briefly introduced the identities and origins of the specimens along the way.
Looking at those species that had already become a part of history, Melina couldn't help but marvel at the significance of this extraordinary structure.
The first time she had come here, she had only explored half of the first floor before the tour was interrupted by the need to treat the Shamans.
Melina suddenly felt a little regretful.
She shouldn't have come here alone.
She should have come together with Lucian and shared this sense of wonder with him.
And if she took all the materials back, wouldn't it be even more of a shame if Lucian decided not to come here himself simply because she had already saved him the trouble?
Just as Melina was thinking about this, the corner of her eye suddenly caught sight of something unusual.
On the fourth floor of the Specimen Storehouse, a cross-shaped golden mark stood quietly, shining with a brilliant golden light.
There were quite a few people moving around near the cross, yet they paid it no attention at all, instinctively walking around it instead.
Looking at Miquella's cross, Melina's gaze gradually became serious.
The Fire Knight leading the way was still introducing the various exhibits when she suddenly realized that the person behind her was no longer responding.
She turned around.
Her distinguished guest had somehow stopped on the floor below.
The Fire Knight's eyes widened.
She had not noticed when Melina had left her side at all.
As expected of Queen Marika's daughter, the princess of the Erdtree.
If before, she had merely been following Messmer's orders, then now she genuinely felt admiration for Melina from the bottom of her heart.
But...
What was the princess doing, standing in front of that seemingly empty space?
Regardless of what the reason was, she couldn't simply leave her distinguished guest unattended.
The Fire Knight hurried back and quietly stood behind Melina without disturbing her.
Melina stood before Miquella's cross and examined it for a while before reaching out to touch it.
A message carved into the cross surfaced within Melina's mind:
I abandon my right arm here.
So it really was Miquella...
Melina turned back toward the Fire Knight and asked,
"Can you see anything in front of me?"
The Fire Knight looked at Melina reaching out and touching empty air, her expression becoming somewhat awkward.
After thinking for a moment, she lowered her head and answered honestly,
"Forgive my ignorance, but I truly don't see anything."
"From where I stand, there is nothing in front of you. You're simply reaching out and touching empty air."
Melina nodded and continued asking,
"Then, does my brother usually come here?"
The Fire Knight shook her head.
"Lord Messmer used to come down here from time to time to admire these spoils of war."
"But after so much time passed, one inevitably grows tired of looking at the same collection. Lord Messmer rarely comes down here anymore."
The Fire Knight thought for a moment before adding,
"Nowadays, even when Lord Messmer travels around, he only uses the more convenient lifts or simply flies."
Having received her answer, Melina already had her conclusion.
It seemed Miquella's power was still working.
These knights and the other people in the Specimen Storehouse would all unconsciously overlook this place because of the faint charm carried by the part of Miquella's body he had abandoned here.
And her brother, who was capable of noticing that something was wrong, hardly came here anymore.
Memorizing the location, Melina planned to inform Lucian later and decide what to do afterward.
Turning around, Melina continued walking toward the place where the sorceries and incantations were stored.
The Fire Knight was completely at a loss, but silently returned to leading the way.
Although she found it strange, since Melina had not offered an explanation herself, the Fire Knight had no intention of investigating further.
It was better to simply do her assigned duties.
Asking about things she shouldn't ask about could easily lead to trouble.
It wasn't long after they continued that they reached their destination.
The Fire Knight spread both arms and proudly presented the area to Melina.
"Miss Melina, we've arrived."
"This is where we collect all kinds of arcane arts, whether they are sorceries, incantations, or even hexes."
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the most valuable section of the Species Repository."
The Fire Knight pointed toward one of the tables.
"To make things easier for you and Lord Lucian to search through, we've separated the more powerful ones and organized them individually."
"Which ones would you like to take with you this time?"
The Fire Knight thought to herself that since Melina had come alone, she would presumably only be borrowing them.
Melina looked at the considerable number of different materials in front of her, somewhat conflicted and unable to make a decision for the moment.
After all, these were things Lucian wanted.
With him not here, Melina found it a little difficult to decide.
But after thinking for a moment, Melina quickly came up with a solution.
"All of them."
Since she didn't know exactly what Lucian needed, she might as well take everything.
The Fire Knight leading the way froze for a moment upon hearing this.
Her eyes, hidden beneath her helmet, twitched twice as she looked at the table piled high with stone tablets and books.
'Hmm... this might be a little difficult to carry...'
But then she thought about it again.
It was Melina's request, so all she needed to do was agree.
Besides, she was a Fire Knight.
Why should she worry about the affairs of a Demigod?
"Of course. Please, take whatever you wish."
Melina looked at the various materials before her and reached out her hand.
One small branch of the Minor Erdtree after another grew from the floor in front of her, gradually lifting the various materials from the table.
Countless branches moved like a conveyor belt, effortlessly carrying everything away.
Following Melina's path, the branches and leaves of the Erdtree continued to grow.
The devout believers of the Erdtree throughout the Species Repository all put down whatever they were doing and gazed upon the golden radiance they had longed for day and night.
Witnessing the light of the Erdtree spreading throughout every part of the Species Repository, the believers were all filled with joy.
What a miracle!
This was surely the blessing of the Erdtree's princess!
...
Carrying the sorceries and incantations back with her, Melina arrived at Lucian's room in a cheerful mood.
She was just about to open the door when she suddenly heard Lucian talking to someone inside.
After thinking for a moment, Melina pushed the door open anyway.
Seeing Lucian holding a doll modeled after Ranni in his hands, Melina silently closed the door.
A few seconds later, the door opened again.
Lucian looked at Melina and weakly said,
"Melina, it's not what you think..."
Melina tilted her head and calmly nodded.
"I know. I didn't misunderstand anything."
"Don't worry. I won't think you're some strange person who talks to dolls."
"You must have been discussing serious matters with Miss Ranni."
The corner of Lucian's mouth twitched, but there was no good way for him to explain himself.
Melina once again looked toward Miniature Ranni and asked,
"Though, I'm more curious about how Miss Ranni became like this."
Miniature Ranni realized that Melina had recognized her presence and lifted her head to look at Melina.
"Why art thou so calm?!"
—
[T/N: Sorry for not uploading any chapters these past few days! I was in the hospital and needed some time to rest. Thank you so much for being patient with me. Don't worry, I'll be back now with the daily updates.]