Serious, humble, perfectionist... these were the adjectives the world used to describe Radagon. This was Radagon in the eyes of others... but in Ranni's eyes, he was the exact opposite. He was pedantic, extreme—a thoroughgoing Golden Order extremist.
Shortly after Ranni reached adulthood, Radagon had even become quite neurotic. Those "excellent qualities" others saw were not at all how Ranni perceived them. Though he was her father, Ranni could be said to be completely incompatible with him.
How could a young maiden seeking to hunt the Fingers and break the shackles of fate ever get along with Radagon, the loyal hound of the Golden Order?
"And that is how it was... In short, the Radagon I knew was such a man—a man who abandoned his wife and children in pursuit of power. I believe there is no need to discuss him further." He had abandoned her mother with such cold resolution that Ranni even suspected his past self had been nothing more than a facade.
Listening to Ranni's description, the image of Radagon in the Tarnished's mind became more three-dimensional. Based on the description alone, aside from his decent strength, the man didn't seem particularly special.
"Oh, one thing I forgot to clarify... after Radagon married Queen Marika, he founded Golden Order Fundamentalism. It consists of two basic principles: Causality, the pull of relationship between all things... and Regression, the gravitational pull of meaning that states all things yearn to converge into an unchanging state."
"Radagon's Fundamentalism has become the mainstream... Queen Marika's faith in the Golden Order has gradually been replaced by it. This is the Erdtree of today." Ranni had no interest in that Fundamentalism. In her view, the living beings of the Lands Between would only lose their sense of self and become inflexible if they came into excessive contact with so-called deities.
People might be able to keep going under the leadership of a Law, but who could guarantee that a future Law wouldn't shatter like the current Golden Order? The shattering of a Law has a massive impact on the people because they have never possessed their own thoughts.
They merely place their hopes blindly upon a Law... refusing to seek progress, offering only hollow prayers.
"Fundamentalism..." It sounded like an academic study. The Tarnished rubbed his chin and fell into thought. He had just assumed Radagon was an ordinary ruler like Godfrey, but he hadn't expected him to actually create his own form of Law that could even replace Marika's faith.
What was the situation here? Was this a struggle for faith between the two of them?
Furthermore, even though he had only heard Ranni's simple explanation, the Tarnished could understand what that Fundamentalism truly meant. The starting point and the end point of all things were Gold—were the Erdtree...
Fine, he really was a loyal hound.
"Oh, right, one more thing. Do you know where Blaidd went? I can't find a trace of him; I was wondering if you could contact him." Putting the matter of Radagon aside for now, the Tarnished moved to his other pressing question.
"Blaidd? Strange. Is he not acting with you...? I assumed you would be together until the Fingerslayer Blade was obtained..." Ranni was also confused by the Tarnished's words.
"..." Ranni attempted to communicate with Blaidd, but to her regret, there was no response. "I cannot reach him... Could Blaidd have...?" Sincerity is revealed in details; for a split second, Ranni's fingers curled uncontrollably. It seemed she anticipated that something had happened to him.
"What is it, Sister...? You can't reach him either?" Millicent was equally curious. Hadn't Master Iji mentioned that Blaidd had gone ahead to the Eternal City? Though they hadn't crossed paths, Millicent assumed he was a step ahead of them. It seemed that wasn't the case.
"Blaidd..." To say Ranni wasn't worried would be a lie. Blaidd had grown up with her and was her precious family... even though she had long anticipated a day when he might be forced to turn against her, she still wanted to struggle against that fate.
"Alright, I've got the gist of it. You go on with your business; leave finding Blaidd to us. Rest assured, we'll handle it."
"Tarnished, you..." Ranni's voice trembled. She clearly hadn't expected him to take on such a troublesome task when their alliance had already been fulfilled.
"What's with that face? Where is your Royal Princess aura?" Beneath his helm, the Tarnished's eyes were full of playful mockery.
"I..." Ranni was momentarily at a loss for words.
"You're very concerned, aren't you? To you, Blaidd is an indispensable family member."
"..."
"How about it? I am asking your true heart... not Ranni the Witch, burdened by sins... but Ranni, Princess of Caria." The Tarnished pressed further, his verbal offensive so sharp that Ranni was forced to look directly at her own feelings.
"I... I am... the Witch who betrayed everything... my path is a lonely one..."
"I won't let things go as you please. While I advocate for freedom of consciousness and respect the thoughts of others... that doesn't mean I accept everything wholesale." The Tarnished slowly leaned closer to Ranni.
"What are you doing... ow!" Suddenly, Ranni was flicked on the forehead.
"Just watch how I fill your path with all sorts of people." Leaving behind those words, the Tarnished grabbed Millicent and ran out of Ranni's room. He left Ranni alone, clutching a forehead that couldn't actually feel pain, unable to snap out of it for a long while.
"...Arrogant fool... the dignity of Ranni the Witch... has been defied by a terrible fellow like you again..." Ranni's tone was no longer cold; it was filled with the hope of her true heart... At this moment, an inexplicable emotion in her chest began to spread like water in a vessel.
"Um... Tarnished."
"Hmm?" The Tarnished, who was traveling, was called out to by Millicent.
"Why is Sister Ranni so dishonest with herself... when she clearly cares so much?" Millicent didn't quite understand Ranni's awkward personality... after all, the two were effectively opposites. As awkward as Ranni was, Millicent was just as straightforward.
"A contradictory little girl. It's likely due to the environment she grew up in. Plus, she has no shortage of troubles; I think she's very repressed."
"Then Blaidd is..." Millicent was also concerned about Blaidd's fate. Since she considered Ranni her sister, then Blaidd, Iji, and Darriwil were naturally her family as well. She couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Have you heard of Shadows?" In response to the Tarnished's question, Millicent showed she was only half-informed. Thus, the Tarnished explained to her in detail what a Shadow was.
They were beasts assigned to Empyreans by the Two Fingers. They were both the blades that protected the Empyrean and the executioners who prevented the Empyrean from escaping control. The purpose of a Shadow's existence was not just protection, but also the duty to kill the Empyrean on the spot should they ever harbor intentions of rebelling against the Two Fingers.
For this reason, Shadows were generally stronger than the Empyreans they served.
"How could it be like that... but how could Blaidd treat Ranni that way? They grew up together, as close as real siblings!" Millicent was clearly angered by this unprovoked malice.
"The Two Fingers have the power to twist the will of others, and the effect is particularly strong on Shadows. Even Blaidd finds it difficult to resist the spiritual erosion of the Fingers. Even if he doesn't strike at Ranni, he will lose his mind."
"..." To toy with sincere feelings like that... is this truly a god?
Regarding Blaidd's whereabouts, there were not zero clues. And that clue was Iji himself... as Ranni's war counselor, as a wise Troll, and combined with his previous suspicious behavior.
It was easy to understand that Iji was behind it. It likely wasn't that Iji had rebelled, but rather that he discovered Blaidd was showing the early signs of being influenced by the Two Fingers.
"Tarnished, it is you... I am grateful that you could fulfill Lady Ranni's long-held wish. As her servant, I thank you from the bottom of my heart." Aside from the joy of seeing Ranni's wish nearing fruition, he showed no other emotion. The disguise was perfect.
"It is indeed good... but it would be even better if her followers could be preserved." The Tarnished stared intently at Iji. Iji's hands paused mid-motion; he set down his hammer and book. A heavy sigh escaped from within his mirror-helm, sounding utterly helpless.
"Difficult... it is too difficult..." Iji let his hands hang powerlessly. He knew the fate of these followers all too well; only death and fading awaited them... yet they never once regretted following Ranni. Even in death, they would eventually become tiny specks of starlight in Ranni's night.
"Where is Blaidd?" Between clever men, there was never a need for wasted words.
"...I think even you cannot—"
"Whether I can or not is for me to decide. Everything requires an attempt. Don't play dumb; just tell me."
Faced with the Tarnished's almost interrogative tone, Iji couldn't help but smile bitterly. The tables had truly turned... he had been just as inquisitive when he first met this man.
"Limgrave. The Forlorn Hound Evergaol... go if you must." Perhaps Iji, too, was waiting for a miracle—waiting for the miracle to be shown by this man destined to meet Ranni...
"Dammit... what is wrong with Master Iji? Why did he suddenly lock me in this place..." Blaidd pounded on the prison, but he found that an Evergaol, once used, was very difficult to break through in a short time.
"No... Ranni is still waiting for me. I absolutely cannot... hmm?" The Evergaol holding Blaidd was a used and slightly damaged one; thus, compared to an intact prison, it had many flaws. For instance, the sound of footsteps and conversation outside was heard clearly by Blaidd.
"Is that you, mate?! It's me, Blaidd! Give me a hand!" Hearing the familiar voice, Blaidd immediately called for help. The Tarnished, who seemed to be looking for him, said nothing and shattered the prison once more.
"Phew... mate, you've been a huge help... and this is?" It was Blaidd's first time meeting Millicent, but that red hair was very familiar to him. "This... Malenia? No, that's not right either..." Blaidd fell into confusion.
"Pleased to meet you, Blaidd... My name is Millicent. I consider Ranni to be my sister, for the time being..." Millicent was also meeting the Half-Wolf for the first time.
(He's like a big doggy... No, no, no, that's too rude.) Millicent shoved the impolite thought out of her head.
"Ah... it seems many things happened while I was locked up. Since Ranni allowed you to call her sister, you are family to me as well." Blaidd was genuinely happy that Ranni had gained a new companion. "Oh, right, mate—how is the progress?"
After that, the Tarnished recounted everything he and Millicent had seen and heard in the underground to Blaidd.
"I see... now that the treasure is found, Ranni can continue her march... Thank you, mate... and you too, Millicent." Even if he wasn't the one to hand the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni, as long as her goal was achieved, Blaidd didn't care about the rest.
The freed Blaidd was quite exhausted, occasionally venting his frustrations about Iji to the two. He didn't believe he would ever betray Ranni or become a danger to her. While he could understand that Master Iji acted out of kindness, he felt the old Troll had far too little confidence in him.
"..." The Tarnished remained silent. He had his own reasons for releasing a "time bomb" like Blaidd. Besides, the moment he pulled Blaidd out of the prison, he had already put a safeguard in place.
(Let that curse of the Two Fingers serve as my flagpole for rebelling against the gods...)