After Yura departed, Gawain looked up at the sky. The damp Liurnia of the Lakes had begun to catch a light drizzle. The Raya Lucaria Academy, which had been clearly visible under the sun, was now shrouded in a thin mist, lending it an even more ethereal, magical quality.
Under the cover of the misty rain, he mounted Torrent and headed toward the Academy Gate Town. As the most contested zone on the Liurnia battlefield, he didn't feel like wasting time slowly clearing out every last Cuckoo Knight just to get inside.
Ranni frowned as she looked at the Cuckoo Knights occupying the Academy gates. Though she despised these base mercenaries, she was saving her strength for her revenge against the Two Fingers, so she could only let them strut about Liurnia for the time being.
"How do you plan to get past them? The old-fashioned way?"
"No. There's no end to killing these guys. I don't want to waste time on them. This time, I'll take a more... stealthy approach."
"Infiltration? Do you intend to use the sorceries of the Sellians?"
"You mean unseen form? To be honest, I haven't learned those yet. But I have some suitable substitutes."
Gawain rose from his hiding spot, waved his staff to cast Hidden Body and Assassin's Approach to completely mask his presence and footsteps, and then strolled out into the open.
On a clear day, one might have seen a blurred silhouette, but under the current distorted light and rain, he merged perfectly with his surroundings.
"Hmph. An interesting trick. I wonder how many more methods you're hiding."
"You'll find out eventually. I still can't use some of the higher-tier magics yet."
Having masked his form, Gawain observed the distribution of the Cuckoo Knights along the path to the South Gate.
The Cuckoos seemed quite dedicated to the Academy's service; after all, they were being paid well to do a job. They had stationed a massive number of troops in the Gate Town, which had fallen into ruin due to the Academy's long closure.
Cuckoo Knights and soldiers were stationed at nearly every major intersection. Usually, a knight or two led dozens of soldiers, supported by expendable footmen, forming several defensive lines to keep the Albinaurics in the lake at bay.
Aside from the regular troops, the most eye-catching units were the terrifying Flame Chariots.
These chariots were top-tier war machines. Theoretically produced by the Volcano Manor, they were also used in Caelid as effective tools against the Scarlet Rot. The front was a bronze carving of a Fire Giant's face, with several "tongues" hanging from its open maw.
The thick metal plating granted it horrific defensive capabilities, while the flame-spewing tongues within could reduce anything to ash. That all-consuming fire was enough to remind the world once again of the terror of the Giants and their flame.
Gawain suddenly remembered something and circled behind a chariot to observe the driver. He nearly burst out laughing. This was a magical chariot that could only exist in a fantasy world, but it also contained a truly "unfortunate" reality.
The power source?
Who would have guessed that the power for this thing didn't come from some Giant's Flame, but from two men crouched near the wheels, hand-cranking them to provide motion alongside the driver?
Under the cover of Hidden Body, Gawain walked openly to the gates of the Academy. Before he could admire the magnificent seal, Ranni's voice echoed in his ear.
"Earlier, that man Yura called you a Carian Knight. Why didn't you correct him then? I don't recall having a knight like you in my service."
"Well... probably because I didn't see a reason to object. Even if it's not technically true, I've been protecting the legitimate Carian Princess for quite a while now. I think I qualify as an 'extra-mural' member at least."
Ranni was silent for a moment before she muttered softly:
"Carian Knights do not have 'extra-mural' members. Even if you wished to be one, there would have to be a formal investiture ceremony..."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Just get inside."
Gawain approached the seal at the Academy gate. He touched the glowing blue formation, which felt as smooth as polished glintstone.
"So, how do we get in? I don't have an Academy Glintstone Key. Do we have to use force?"
"This glintstone seal is far sturdier than you imagine. It is nearly impossible to break from the outside. Theoretically, as long as the glintstone within the Academy provides power, even an attack like my brother's would take multiple consecutive strikes to succeed.
Of course, the consequence would be the overloading of the Academy's nodes, causing explosions that would destroy many precious collections. I assume neither of us wants that."
Hearing this, Gawain abandoned his plan to unleash a Sunlight Spear or a Soul Geyser. Fighting his way in would be a pyrrhic victory.
"Since you haven't mentioned this until now, I assume you have a way in. I didn't come all this way just to go back out and hunt for a key."
"It is no matter. Before I left the Academy, I left an illusion behind to protect my mother's sleep. I can enter by resonating with that illusion. Since I am currently possessing you, I can take you in with me."
"Alright. Let's not waste time. Let's go."
Gawain didn't think much of it and stepped forward, only to slam his forehead into the seal and get bounced back. He looked confused—why hadn't Ranni given him access? Then he realized she had floated off his shoulder.
Miniature Ranni hovered in the air, scanning Gawain from head to toe. After a moment, a look of exasperation crossed her face.
"No, no. You cannot enter the Academy like this. Even though I have been gone for a long time, I cannot stand by and watch such a blatant breach of the rules."
"Breach of the rules? What rules?"
Ranni pointed downward.
"This is a rule personally established by my mother. No one is allowed to wear shoes within the Academy. One must be barefoot to enter."
"What?"
Gawain's lip twitched. It seemed all those Academy sorcerers were indeed walking around the classrooms barefoot—part of the classic "Miyazaki XP" package: blindfolds and bare feet.
"Fine. If it's the Full Moon Queen's rule, I'll play along. But why would the Academy have such a bizarre regulation?"
Ranni opened her mouth to explain but then paused. Asked so suddenly, she found it strange as well and couldn't quite name the reason. It had simply always been that way for as long as she could remember.
"Ahem... my mother naturally had her reasons. Perhaps it is a special ritual known only to her; perhaps it is one of the reasons the Academy reached its peak under her rule. Now, take off your boots so I can take you inside."
Left with no choice, Gawain complied. He stood barefoot on the ground, and Ranni, satisfied, returned to his shoulder. A soft blue light enveloped him. It seemed he could pass now.
Before he touched the blue seal, Ranni gave a final instruction.
"Once you have reclaimed the Academy, I doubt my mother will mind you taking the power of the Great Rune. However... do you remember the Baleful Shadow I mentioned?"
"Of course. Can you sense it now?"
"It is merely a premonition. After the theft of the Fingerslayer Blade, the Two Fingers are becoming increasingly anxious. I expect we will find its trail soon. Once the matter of the Shadow is settled... I suppose it will be time for us to say goodbye."
"Goodbye? Don't be so sure," Gawain replied. "Do you really have the heart to leave Iji and the others with me without ever coming back to check on them? And what about the Mother of Fingers, likely hidden in the Land of Shadow? You don't care about those things anymore? Just admit it: you still need my help. And in my plans for the future of the Lands Between, your position is indispensable."
"Indispensable...? Do as you wish. Just hurry and settle things. Wake me when we reach my mother's library."
Ranni turned her head away, spoke petulantly, and then went still, as if she had turned back into a simple doll.
A smile touched Gawain's lips as he stepped forward. Unlike in the game, he wasn't instantly teleported to the Academy square. It seemed he would have to walk this long, narrow stretch of the path himself.
In a place he didn't notice, a mechanism was triggered. A faint shimmer of glintstone light, masked by the darkening sky, swept across his position, but nothing happened.
Inside the Raya Lucaria Academy, the current leaders of the various classrooms had gathered once again, discussing the disturbance from the Academy's seals with tense intensity.
During the Academy's closure, the professors were sensitive to any movement at the entrances. Even the slightest fluctuation was enough to draw their attention, supported as they were by specialized detection sorceries.
"Who obtained a key? A sorcerer wandering outside?"
"Who knows? Didn't we install anti-invisibility magic at the gate? Why can't we see anything?"
"Don't ask me! I installed that glintstone array myself. Theoretically, even the invisibility spells of the Sellians should be dispelled. All we know is that a stranger has broken in."
"We know nothing about them. Friend or foe, we can't say. We only know they entered through the South Gate. What on earth are those Cuckoo Knights doing?"
"Do you think... could it be the Storm Lord?"
The moment those words were spoken, the other sorcerers stopped talking and looked at the Lazuli sorcerer who had spoken.
Without a doubt, that was the absolute worst-case scenario. They had already received word that the Storm Lord and the Carian Royals had wiped out a Cuckoo Knight camp. Surely he wouldn't come knocking so soon?
An Olivinus sorcerer spoke up to refute the idea.
"Impossible. Utterly impossible. Based on our intelligence and the Storm Lord's usual methods, he typically launches a direct, frontal assault."
The other sorcerers shared a look. That did seem to make sense. Against someone who could face General Radahn, they didn't imagine the Cuckoo Knights at the gate could hold out for long.
"But... what if he just didn't want the hassle? After all, sneaking in means fewer enemies to deal with. And usually, unless the Storm Lord is facing a powerful opponent, he doesn't like to make a scene. Are we... truly considered powerful opponents?"
The atmosphere, which had just begun to relax, fell into a weird, heavy silence at those words from a corner of the room. Finally, the professor of the Olivinus Classroom spoke up.
"In any case, regardless of who has entered, our task is the same. Raise the lifts immediately! Otherwise, he'll be upon us in no time!
And send more men down. We must find this intruder."
"You came from outside the Academy, didn't you? How rare. It's been so long since I've spoken to anyone."
On the slope leading to the Academy square, a nomadic merchant looked at the stranger with some excitement. The man had appeared as if from thin air. Initially wary, the merchant had relaxed after a brief exchange and found his tongue loosened.
"Yes, I came from the outside. I didn't expect to see a merchant here. I thought this place had been sealed for a long time."
The merchant rubbed his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"Bad luck on my part. After the Full Moon Queen lost her mind, the Academy split into two factions. One side launched an immediate rebellion to imprison the Queen, while the other believed that even if she could no longer rule, she was the indisputable master.
The former succeeded and drove the latter out. Then, the Academy was suddenly sealed. No one could get in or out. I was doing business inside at the time and found myself trapped. The sorcerers didn't care about me, so here I am.
I don't know what you're here for, but you'd best stay away from the square. You can stay here in peace for now, but if those sorcerers find you, they'll attack."
Gawain looked at the square not far ahead and smiled. He pulled out several pieces of glintstone and began to construct a simple array—something Master Sellen had taught him beforehand.
"It's fine. I didn't exactly come for peace. You seem like a decent sort, so just stay here for now. After tonight, the Academy won't be sealed anymore."
The merchant didn't know who this stranger was, but the Carian Royal crest on his armor was unmistakable. It seemed a major event was about to shake the Academy today.
As Gawain completed the array on the ground, a blue light flashed, and a striking figure stepped out from the radiance.
With her fair, bare feet stepping onto the long-neglected stone slope, Sellen appeared without her stone mask, wearing only a thin sorcerer's robe. Under the misty rain, her proud figure was fully revealed.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of the air. Her eyes held an irrepressible excitement and a lethal intent as she gripped her glintstone staff.
"Has the day finally come? Well done, Apprentice.
Now... it is time to remind those professors of the terror of the Graven-Witch."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (218 chapter - Ongoing)
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