"Don't I, as your master, often stand on your side?"
"Then what about others??"
"That won't do. You are enough for the emotion of 'love'; others have no such qualifications."
Throne slapped his forehead, thinking to himself that he had wasted his breath again. Take it slow, he thought; if that piece of wood could bloom, then surely Sellen, who had already opened her heart, could too.
He gazed at the endless snowy plains and pulled his thoughts back. So, should I go look for that guy, or go find Melina? He didn't deliberate for long before making a decision: Melina. Putting aside the faint sense of crisis in his heart, the portal to the Mohgwyn Dynasty was in the south, and the Leyndell Army clearly hadn't retreated that quickly.
If those people pulled a flanking maneuver, he—having already left the cover of the Haligtree Army—would be walking straight into a death trap.
"Have you decided where to go?"
"Yeah, heading southeast to find Melina."
Sellen didn't mind where they went, but asked with some curiosity, "Are you sure she's in that direction?"
"This isn't an ordinary Spirit Steed; no matter how far away she is, I can sense Melina's presence."
Throne patted Torrent on the head. The latter neighed proudly, rolled its eyes, caught sight of Sellen's interested gaze, and darted off like an arrow. What a clever Spirit Steed. Sellen was even more interested than expected.
Watching the vigorous Spirit Steed and the young girl known as the 'Kindling,' she slowly narrowed her eyes. Melina? Seems like she might be interesting.
The wind and snow howled, with snowflakes the size of thumbs lashing against the slender figures' shoulders. Fortunately, Millicent and Melina were strong enough to press forward through the snow. This was a narrow canyon, barely wide enough for a few people to walk side by side, yet it provided some shelter.
"Millicent, are you sure we're walking in the right direction?"
Melina took off her hood and called out, sounding listless. She had had terrible luck on this journey, having flattened three catacombs, broken through two Evergaols, and killed a dragon that had just learned frost breath. As for poisonous flowers and monsters, she had lost count of how many she had killed.
"Yeah, I have a familiar feeling. If we go through this canyon, we can circle around to the north."
Millicent was in high spirits; the continuous fighting made her feel as though she were constantly growing stronger. Especially in the last few days, for some unknown reason, her strength had surged significantly, though that annoying call had also become increasingly distinct.
Sigh, what a terrible sense of direction.
Melina sighed helplessly. She finally understood what kind of strange skill Millicent had: she would head straight for wherever it was dangerous. Sometimes they would inexplicably stumble into some ruins, then swarms of monsters would rush out, and it would end in a bloody battle.
But there was no helping it; the Leyndell Army was blocking the path to Ordina, and she couldn't possibly force her way through with her. Melina, who knew Millicent's identity, remained calm. Throne was trying to find a way to deceive the Haligtree, so how could she hand over such a key figure to Leyndell? Thinking of Throne, her mood soured again.
Even though this wasn't the first time she had acted alone, in the past she could always hear that guy's orders, and no matter how unpleasant his tone was, it always put her at ease.
"But this time is different."
Melina pulled out the Voice Mask. The operator, the Ranni doll, had gone offline, so she couldn't contact Throne. Of course, she could still talk to Ranni, but who would want to chat with that annoying Lunar Princess!
"Sister Melina, are you thinking about Teacher again?"
Millicent turned her head and saw Melina staring blankly at the mask again.
"Yeah, I haven't heard his voice for a long time."
Melina readily admitted it, stuffed the mask back into her cloak, and added seriously, "But you aren't allowed to tell him about this."
"Then what should I say?"
"That I'm perfectly fine and living comfortably. No, wait, I should say that without his chatter around, I'm in an even better mood." Millicent gave a wry smile and asked, "Is that necessary?"
"Yes. He bullies me often enough as it is; if I show any weakness, wouldn't I be even worse off?" Melina declared firmly. As a straightforward and stubborn person, Millicent didn't quite understand why one would complicate a simple issue. It didn't align with the basic principles of swordsmanship; when the Lunar Princess was hesitant, shouldn't one strike while the iron was hot and seize the advantage?
"Teacher isn't that kind of person. Sometimes I think you should be more decisive and follow the desires of your heart."
"This is me following the desires of my heart. I am different from Ranni; my mission isn't as simple as freedom." Melina said, expressionless. After such a long time, even if Throne didn't say it, she had guessed a few things. Her mission was destined to prevent her from traveling with Throne, but if she abandoned her mission, what would be the value of her existence? Melina began to struggle with these thoughts again.
Before, when she was with Throne, she had an excess of security and rarely considered such things. Now, traveling alone, even if she didn't want to think about it, the intense call on a spiritual level could not be suppressed.
Sigh, I still need to reunite with Teacher quickly. Millicent sighed again. According to Teacher's instructions, they were supposed to be hiding somewhere, but seeing Melina so unhappy, she couldn't help but disobey her master's orders. The female swordsman took Melina's hand and walked toward the outside of the canyon, taking the opportunity to change the subject.
"Teacher should have already arrived at Elphael. Could you tell me what kind of person his teacher is?"
"Sorceress Sellen? I've never met her."
Melina was indeed easy to distract; her attention shifted immediately.
"Then what is the teacher that Teacher talks about like?" Millicent said, tongue-tied, not knowing what to call Sellen.
"Calm, wise, and a bit cruel. She'll stop at nothing to explore the origin, spending every day tinkering in her laboratory."
Why does Teacher's teacher sound like an evil person? Millicent, who had become addicted to playing the hero, frowned, then heard Melina change the subject.
"But she relies on Throne a lot, and they trust each other. Of course, this is what that guy said himself, so it's not very credible."
"It's certain that they have a deep bond; otherwise, Teacher should have turned back at The Shaded Castle. There was no need to take such huge risks coming to the north."
Millicent relaxed her brow; someone Throne trusted should be fine.
"That's true. Oh, right, the Lunar Princess seems quite wary of this Sellen; she even badmouthed her in front of me before."
Melina suddenly remembered something.
"Wary? What does that have to do with her?"
Melina looked disdainful.
"Tsk, it's just meaningless jealousy, afraid that this Sellen will get ahead of her." Millicent blinked and asked uncertainly, "But they are master and apprentice."
"So what if they are master and apprentice? Isn't that Sellen also a woman? I heard she's quite beautiful, too." Melina answered casually, then saw Millicent stop.
"Huh? Why are you staring blankly? Isn't this a perfectly normal thing?"
Normal my foot. How can master and apprentice... Millicent thought halfway through, then felt something was off. It seemed like no one had said it wasn't allowed. Besides, with someone as powerful and free-spirited as Teacher, why would he care about worldly judgment? But if that were the case, wouldn't I... It was as if she had opened the door to a new world.
Her already immature mental age grew significantly in an instant, and she only snapped back to reality when Melina waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"Why are you blushing?"
"I'm not! It's just the snow is too heavy. Let's hurry up."
Millicent waved her hand, steadied her sword, and rushed forward. Strange, but at least I don't have to answer this girl's questions anymore.
Melina didn't think too much about it and just continued traveling through the canyon. The pitch-black canyon was too monotonous, and keeping her nerves on edge for so long was exhausting. Occasionally, there would be caves in the rock walls, from which strange roars emanated.
In the past, Millicent would definitely have drawn her sword and charged inside, but this time she resisted her curiosity and just kept her head down and marched on. She didn't know how much time had passed, or how many giant ravens that had swooped down to hunt them she had slain. The rock walls ahead gradually turned into a trumpet shape, and they saw the endless snowy plains.
Finally out!
Both of them were exhilarated. They had finally bypassed the central mountain range. If they headed north, they could go to Castle Sol, and once they linked up with Throne, wouldn't they be able to enter Elphael smoothly?
Melina and Millicent exchanged a glance and couldn't help but quicken their pace, only regretting that they hadn't brought Torrent; otherwise, they would have been at Elphael already. But as they reached the canyon exit, Millicent, who was running in front, suddenly stopped. Melina, behind her, stopped in a hurry, her head nearly bumping into Millicent's back.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone's there."
The swordswoman was concise. With a flick of her thumb, she let the blade slide out of its sheath by a few inches. The slightly shorter Melina stood on her tiptoes, looking past Millicent to see ahead, her pupils slowly contracting. Five dark shadows stood quietly on the snow-white plain, some fat, some thin, but they were not strangers.
Compared to Millicent's eagerness to fight, Melina, after a brief moment of shock, actually calmed down, even feeling a sense of relief from her inner struggle.
"Throne was right after all; they really could find me."
"Enemy."
Millicent simply drew her blade, held it to her face, and breathed onto the edge. She was warming the blade. In the distance, the Godskin were slightly stunned.
As apostles who hunted gods, they naturally saw that this was not a human, but that didn't matter. Clang—
A tall, thin Godskin apostle drew a peculiar sword. The grayish-brown blade was very ornate, and the spiral-shaped edge burned with ominous black flames. It ignored Millicent, looked at Melina, and moved its lips.
"I will take you to fulfill your mission."
The tone was strange, but the content was very clear. Melina took a deep breath and answered decisively, "If I want to do it, I will. Do not try to twist my will."
The apostle's gaze remained indifferent. It put its hand into its robe, fumbled around, and pulled something out.
"Then, you should first reclaim your memories."
It was a silver dagger, the blade having an elegant curve. It was just a weapon, but Melina stared at it, wide-eyed. The sea of fog permeating her memories was dispersing. In a trance, she saw a golden figure, beautiful, brilliant, and kind, who gifted this dagger to her, bestowing a blessing upon her journey. Melina felt as if her throat had been gripped. She opened her mouth, gasping for the cold air, her chest heaving.
"You're wavering! Don't be deceived by them!"
Millicent was sweating profusely, anxious, and shouted quickly, but she could do nothing. Those figures in the distance posed a fatal threat to her. Very strong, terrifyingly strong.
"This isn't any deception. A person missing their memories cannot make a choice."
Melina took a step forward, only to be blocked by Millicent.
"Then if you reclaim your memories, will that make you qualified to choose? All this spectacle—just to give you the freedom to decide?"
Melina stopped mid-step. Millicent's words struck like lightning, jolting Throne's voice back into her skull:
"I respect your choice. But my purpose is to ensure you have that freedom. No tyranny. No power twisting your will."
The Godskin before her made those words heavy as stone. Another promise surfaced—'If you trust me, I'll fulfill that mission.' Clang—
The Black Knife slid free. Red-black Destined Death flickered in the Godskin's pupils. They trembled—not with fear, but hunger. Masks off now, blades out, Peeler swords and stitchers gleaming as they advanced in eerie silence.
"Their target's you. Run. I'll hold them—" Millicent's warning died as Melina's hand clamped her shoulder.
She turned. The girl was smiling. Not the vacant stare from before—real joy, burning through her like kindling catching fire.
"Thank you. For helping me find why existence matters. For showing me the weight of living."
Melina shoved her back, slight frame blocking the advance.
"Find Throne. Tell him to keep his promise!"
East of the frozen river, snow choked the ruins. Time had gnawed them into shapeless bones. Torrent's hooves stilled.
Throne stared at the rubble, then jerked his head sideways.
Sellen guided her mount closer.
"Problem?"
"Don't know. Bad gut feeling."
He rubbed his sternum.
"Something's happening."
Experience taught him to trust that itch. He studied the collapsed walls again.
"Feels familiar. Astrologer ruins?"
"Correct. That recognition means you're not entirely hopeless."
Sellen smirked, gesturing at the debris.
"Sorcerers began as Astrologers. Glintstone magic? Born from the stars. This is where it started."
First came sky-gazers, not spellcasters. The ones who cracked infinity's code by studying constellations. But that was ancient history. The Astrologers split—Liurnia or Caelid. Seeds of Raya Lucaria and Sellia.
Throne scanned the horizon: ice-locked river, jagged peaks, frostbitten forest, the Erdtree's glow.
"Scenic. Good vantage point."
"Ugh. Such pedestrian observation."
Sellen rolled her eyes.
"This place hums with power. Can't you feel it?"
"Treasure?"
"Typical. Even if there was, looters took it centuries ago. I mean the energy—how stepping here stills your mind."
She inhaled, eyes shut, letting the wind comb through her hair.
"Feel it carefully; even the wind is filled with the aura of wisdom."