[My Ending] Chapter 5,6

Chapter 5

This time, Kale was well-prepared to meet his peculiar client. He’d even readied a leather armor set! Sometimes bandit attacks could be useful, after all, they expanded his inventory for free.

Extra runes were always a welcome bonus.

Kale had grown fond of Patches, the cowardly bald scoundrel who frequently came to him, always with a new gang and new goods. The stagnant life of the Lands Between had taught Patches nothing. Honestly, without such colorful individuals, existence here would be far more dull.

The increasingly famous Tarnished appeared in broad daylight, riding his faithful spectral steed. Rumors about him were spreading — particularly about his apparent dislike of clothing.

“Constantine of the Tarnished!” greeted Kale. “Always a pleasure to see you. Looking to buy something? I’ve got just the goods for you.”

The Tarnished, still not much of a talker, simply nodded solemnly and sat before the merchant with utmost seriousness.

“I have something to sell.”

Kale raised an intrigued eyebrow. His curiosity quickly turned to alarm as Constantine produced, seemingly out of nowhere, an enormous greatsword.

Edgar hadn’t even glanced at the blade, deeming it useless junk, so it ended up with Constantine.

At least, it was junk to him.

Of course, Kale recognized the treasure of Castle Morne immediately! This was a true relic, forged from the swords of an entire clan of warriors. A blade filled with the bitterness and burning fury of the defeated. Its mere presence radiated despair and overwhelming grandeur.

Yet Constantine seemed utterly unfazed by its aura. He looked at the sword as though it were an oversized, irritating toothpick.

“I… I can’t appraise this…”

Constantine frowned, lost in thought. Naturally, he wasn’t prepared for trading. Considering his needs, a smile of satisfaction crossed his face.

‘Yay! Less time wasted on grinding!’

“Then get me a crafting kit, some throwing knives, and arrows. Oh, and if you’ve got a bow…”

Not only Kale but also Melina, who was observing her chosen champion, felt a sudden darkening in their vision.

The value of this blade was incalculable. It wasn’t something you’d find discarded on the ground like trash — it was unique, connected to a demigod.

And this Tarnished wanted to trade it for… a crafting kit, throwing knives, and arrows? Ah, and a bow, of course!

For the first time, Melina felt a burning desire to manifest before someone other than her champion.

“Ahem…”

Kale cleared his throat. He glanced at the sword, then at the utterly serious Tarnished.

“I feel like if I agree to this trade, I might lose my head on the spot,” the merchant chuckled hoarsely.

He had no idea how close to the truth he was.

“Let’s do this instead. I’ll give you everything you want, a few valuable notes to help you on your journey, this leather armor I’ve prepared just for you, and… an additional ten thousand runes. I’ll be honest — this is far from the best deal, but it’s the most I can offer. And I doubt anyone else would risk offering more.”

Though Melina was still outraged at the sheer audacity of this robbery, she softened when she realized her Tarnished would at least get some clothing out of it. After all, who else would even consider making such a deal with him? Probably only these nomadic merchants.

Now it was Constantine’s turn to feel faint.

He’d expected maybe two hundred runes, at most.(1) It seemed to him that the game had been… misleading.

First, it turned out the map was just a rough sketch, forcing him to navigate on the fly. And now this — a sudden leap in the value of what he considered junk?

A whole treasure trove instead of two hundred runes?! Was he some casual (2) trying to simplify his playthrough?!

The brave warrior shuddered, feeling a sticky sense of dread and disgust at the vile word “casual.” He was sure he’d long since shed that loathsome title, but it seemed the world itself was against him.

“Fine,” sighed Constantine. “But you can keep the armo—”

He reflexively stopped mid-sentence, almost executing another roll after feeling a piercing gaze on the back of his head. A murderous gaze.

The mighty Tarnished grew even more forlorn.

“Meli Meli… Why?”

Kale wisely stayed silent.

For the first time in weeks, Constantine put on some clothing. Of course, he did so in an unusual way — the leather armor vanished from Kale’s hands and instantly appeared, perfectly fitted, on Constantine’s body. It hugged his form snugly, accentuating the swordsman’s physique.

Melina blissfully closed her single visible eye.

Her chosen one looked so good! She’d never imagined he could appear so manly! How would he look in a full set of armor?..

The maiden began seriously considering wandering the Lands Between in her spare time to gather armor for her Tarnished — unique, exceptional pieces. The living dead no longer needed them, after all, and someone aspiring to the title of Elden Lord ought to look the part!

It seemed the sight of a properly attired Tarnished had inspired her greatly.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” Kale remarked with a smirk.

“This feels… wrong,” Constantine muttered uncertainly as he tested his new outfit with a series of rolls.

Kale, meanwhile, was happily examining the near-priceless treasure he’d obtained for next to nothing, paying no attention to the rolling Tarnished.

“This outfit reminds me of Patches’ set,” Constantine murmured, inspecting himself.

“Oh?” Kale said, surprised. “You’ve run into that idiot too? He’s a frequent guest of mine. Anyway, never mind that. Me and Blaidd… Oh.”

The merchant’s thoughts trailed off. Looking at the rolling man before him, Kale realized this might be a good opportunity. A friend and client of his had recently come to him for help — though without much hope for success.

“Recently,” of course, was a very relative term in this Age.

“Have you heard strange howling in the Mistwood lately?”

Knowing Blaidd, who was as peculiar as Constantine, Kale was sure the half-wolf might be stuck there for weeks.

Time in the Lands Between was a flexible concept, after all.

Constantine, having already forgotten why he’d come to the merchant in the first place, nearly rolled into a wall. This was his quest! (3)

And Melina had dared to say he was bad at negotiations.

The Tarnished smiled proudly.

It seemed she’d been wrong.

Melina, floating in her immaterial state and fully aware of why her Tarnished had come to the merchant, silently lifted her gaze to the heavens, contemplating her purpose.

At this point, nothing could surprise her anymore.

__________________________________________________

Konstantin, of course, knew the right direction. Even though he had to adjust his route a few times, his sense of orientation was impeccable. After all, he had honed his cartography and navigation skills to perfection through countless quests in various Souls-like games.

He had gone through all five stages of grief so many times that he eventually developed an uncanny sense for locating north, nearby shortcuts, and the approximate positions of all key story characters. In a way, Konstantin had cultivated a literal sense for detecting the living and the dead.

Who knows? Maybe they were hiding some secret quests too...

Arriving at the designated ruins, a satisfied Konstantin dismounted his loyal steed and surveyed his surroundings. He had been hearing a distant wolf's howl for quite some time, marveling at its loudness. Occasionally, the howling would stop, causing Konstantin to wander a bit, only for it to resume shortly after.

Apparently, even the shadow and loyal servant of one of the best waif...—ehm, a powerful demigoddess—needed rest.

Melina, however, had very different thoughts swirling in her mind.

‘How long has he been stuck here? It can’t be... Is that a bear?!’

Among the ruins, Konstantin stumbled upon a massive sleeping bear. It was truly colossal, towering several times over a human. It radiated raw power, leaving no doubt as to the number of lives it had claimed. Meanwhile, the howling continued unabated.

Completely ignoring the oversized bear, the unbothered Tarnished stopped a short distance away, raised his hand, and snapped his fingers.

Most of Konstantin’s runes had been invested in self-enhancement. Not just agility, but his physical strength was also increasing by the day, pushing his attributes far beyond those of a normal human. It seemed his mastery over Grace and all his internal processes surpassed even the most skilled Finger Maiden. And to think, he had only recently begun using Grace, having learned it right in front of Melina!

It was terrifying, raised countless questions, and—let’s admit it—was awe-inspiring. Perhaps her Tarnished had lost much of his mind, but in the past...

In the past, he must have been a great and fearsomely skilled warrior!

The snap was loud enough to attract the attention of not only the half-wolf but also the awakened bear. Startled by the sharp sound, the enormous creature growled aggressively, shaking the ground as it rose and charged toward the slightly surprised Konstantin. The Tarnished prepared to roll out of the way when, out of nowhere, he descended from the sky.

Blaidd the Half-Wolf was, in every sense, a "half-wolf": with a humanoid body and the head of a wolf, he represented just one of the countless races inhabiting the Lands Between.

The shadow of the demigoddess loomed over the completely calm Konstantin, standing a good three, if not four, heads taller. Blaidd's giant sword alone was larger than Konstantin, leaving no doubt as to the immense strength contained within his massive frame.

The enormous bear, ready to pounce on its new target, suddenly recoiled at the equally enormous obstacle. Blaidd let out a thunderous howl, causing the bear to whimper in fear and retreat hastily.

Melina noticed the irritated frown on the Tarnished’s face: clearly, he had already been counting on the extra runes.

"Actually, he's very nice. We've become friends," the giant half-wolf said, shaking his head as he turned to Konstantin. "Did Kale send you... Wait, where are your clothes?"

Melina covered her eye.

The Tarnished, who had been ready for a fight, reflexively removed his armor set. After all, he felt much more at ease when his rolls weren’t restricted.

There likely weren’t many sentient beings in the Lands Between who had the chance to witness the stunned, even shocked, expression of a humanoid wolf with a massive sword strapped to his back.

Magically, Konstantin’s clothes reappeared on his body, as if they’d never been removed. Blaidd blinked.

"You must be imagining things," the Tarnished replied stoically. "Yes, Kale sent me."

Hearing the confirmation, the straightforward half-wolf immediately relaxed, almost instantly forgetting the peculiarities of the situation.

‘And if the Tarnished had attacked the merchant and extracted the information by force? How could he possibly know?’ Melina mused to herself.

She wouldn’t have trusted anyone so easily.

"That rascal," Blaidd chuckled. "Hmm."

The half-wolf rubbed his wolfish chin thoughtfully.

"Maybe your oddities aren’t so odd to him. My name is Blaidd. I’m looking for someone named Darriwil. I’ve heard he’s hiding somewhere nearby."

"He’s imprisoned in the Weeping Peninsula, further south," Konstantin replied, pulling out a rough map from nowhere and starting to plot a route. "I’ll guide you."

He was, after all, pressed for time. While one waifu’s script was running, another’s might go completely off-track. However, thanks to his spectral maiden, he could somewhat manage all the quests he needed.

"So not only do you know this scoundrel, but you can also guide me to him?!" the half-wolf exclaimed happily. "Finally! I’ve been searching for him for so long! To give you some context, I’m terrible at navigating unfamiliar places..."

For the first time, Konstantin and Melina’s thoughts seemed to synchronize perfectly:

‘So that’s what it is…’

"If it weren’t for a mission from my lady to seek the Eternal Ci—" Blaidd abruptly stopped, coughing into his fist. "Ah, well, never mind. Forget I said anything."

Konstantin gave a brief nod, signaling that he had already forgotten. Blaidd laughed.

"I’ve always known that a friend of my friend is my friend! Let’s set off as soon as possible! For your help, I’ll reward you handsomely!"

Konstantin, who hardly had to say a word, grinned blissfully. Blaidd understood him perfectly and, as expected, was advancing the quest chain himself!

The two satisfied warriors set off to some destination only they understood. Konstantin rode on his spectral steed, while Blaidd kept pace with ease, bounding alongside him. His size and strength allowed the shadow and adopted brother of a demigod to keep up effortlessly with his new companion.

The spectral maiden watched their figures fade into the distance, as usual.

‘He let it slip so easily,’ Melina thought melancholically. ‘Does his lady feel the same way I do? M-maybe it’s me who’s the problem?’

Lately, she’d begun seriously doubting herself.

With a sigh, she went in the opposite direction of her Tarnished. She needed to track down certain individuals and ensure they were safe. She didn’t worry about her chosen one’s safety—she was more concerned about the safety of those who crossed his path.

At the same time, she could look for new outfits for her Tarnished. She wanted to surprise him.

_______________________________________

"We’re there, right?" muttered Blaidd thoughtfully, studying the tiny map in his oversized hands.

To Blaidd, the towering half-wolf, the map was indeed tiny.

Konstantin reached out and promptly took it, examining it closely. He blinked in surprise.

Yes, the particular quest Blaidd was pursuing seemed to grow more convoluted with each passing moment. The longer Konstantin lingered in the Weeping Peninsula, the clearer it became why Blaidd had spent so much time wandering this place.

Only the demigoddess he served could truly know how long he’d been wandering here.

"It’s upside down, Blaidd."

"I thought so," the half-wolf replied calmly. "So, are we there?"

Konstantin tucked the map into whatever strange space he used to store items and turned his gaze to the ground. A circular platform, woven into the earth and marked with magical runes, lay before them. Faint light still emanated from it, indicating it was active—likely a teleportation device meant to lead them to the fugitive Blaidd was so eager to end.

Blaidd truly was a good guy.

"Yes," murmured Konstantin, lifting his eyes to the sky.

The moon was full, as always.

‘I wonder how many phases this thing has…’

"What are you waiting for, Tarnished?" Blaidd boomed with a laugh. "It wasn’t that hard to figure out! Let’s go! Or are you expecting me to finish this scoundrel on my own? Of course, you’ve already done yo—"

Not wanting to lose the free runes this quest would undoubtedly reward, Konstantin decisively stepped onto the platform beside Blaidd.

"Now what?" the half-wolf asked, scratching his head. It was evident that his planning for this pursuit had been minimal.

Konstantin frowned. It was clear what Blaidd expected of him.

"Damn magic..." he muttered.

Leaning over the runes, Konstantin attuned himself to the energy flows coursing through them. As much as he despised it, magic was part of him now. More than that, he could wield it and strengthen himself using runes.

Commanding the platform was as simple for Konstantin as opening a door. It flared to life, responding to his will.

"You’re a mage?" Blaidd exclaimed in delight. "My lord—"

Konstantin felt the searing blow to his concentration, a mental strike so fierce it drained over half his HP. It was not the kind of damage one could roll away from.

"Never. Do you hear me? Never call me a filthy mage like I am some casual, again. Got it?"

A chill ran down Blaidd's spine. While his new companion appeared small and fragile, the deranged glint in Konstantin's eyes—something ancient, terrifying, and tryhard and hardcore—made the half-wolf genuinely uneasy.

It was as though a wrathful demigod, if not Marika herself, glared at him. And Blaidd knew such things—he was, after all, a shadow, a loyal servant, and a sworn sibling to a demigoddess.

"I said nothing!" Blaidd replied hastily.

Konstantin narrowed his eyes, his intense stare pinning the towering half-wolf in place. He couldn’t allow his honor to be tarnished. How would his waifu view him if he allowed himself to be mistaken for a mage?

The Tarnished shuddered and pushed the thought aside.

"That’s better."

The magical device whisked them away, into a twisted, folded space somewhere between the material and spiritual realms. The warped architecture around them was typical of the Lands Between—a world shaped by ceaseless meddling with space and reality, creating bizarre and otherworldly places. The Lands Between was a mythical realm where almost everything seemed deceptive or illusory.

Darriwil was waiting—or rather, trapped—in this liminal prison. Konstantin didn’t want to dwell on how the locals managed to imprison immortal criminals without truly ending their existence.

Darriwil’s grotesque form stood hunched on all fours, his armor clinking as he moved. Konstantin immediately recognized this as a signature trait of trained Bloodhound Knights. He shuddered at the thought of whoever trained these warriors to crawl like rabid beasts.

"Darriwil..." growled Blaidd, baring his sharp teeth as he unsheathed his massive blade.

He had wandered the Weeping Peninsula long enough for this moment. Their battle would be legendary.

"A prison is too lenient for you," Blaidd snarled. "No, your story ends here!"

Perhaps Darriwil, maddened by his time in magical confinement, had lost all semblance of humanity. He said nothing and immediately launched himself at Blaidd.

Their combat styles clashed in stark contrast. Blaidd’s strikes were slow but devastating, each swing capable of cleaving Darriwil in half. Darriwil, fully aware of this, refused to give him an opening. His erratic, skittering movements made him almost impossible to hit. Meanwhile, he inflicted bleeding wounds that Blaidd barely seemed to notice, healing in real time.

Even so, the relentless pace was wearing Blaidd down. If this continued, he might actually lose.

‘Has he grown stronger?’ Blaidd thought, unprepared for such a fierce fight.

Darriwil pressed harder and harder.

But then, everything changed. As the Bloodhound Knight prepared to strike again, a well-aimed arrow forced him into a defensive roll. He growled, switching his focus to the new threat.

The Tarnished stood before him. In nothing but a loincloth.

The bow and quiver vanished, replaced in one hand by a hefty club and in the other by a weathered wooden shield. Darriwil hesitated, his confusion only growing when Konstantin suddenly bowed.

He bowed with all the grace, dignity, and majesty of a knight, as though nothing could undermine his grandeur—not his crude weapons, nor his minimal attire.

"I have sinned," Konstantin intoned, gazing skyward. The disappointment in his voice was palpable. "I’ve stooped to summoning..."

In the following moments, Blaidd resolved never again to call the mad Tarnished a mage or a casual.

Konstantin was determined to finish this quest quickly and summon the best waifu as soon as possible. He’d sacrificed his pride for this, after all. Other waifus awaited him, their situations far worse.

And by the Great Will, if the demigoddess didn’t appear after this, he would put her quest on hold until he reached her very lair.

____________________________

(1) Of course the prices in the game are different. But if Kosta sold the priceless relic for 200 runes Melina would have gutted the moron

(2) ‘Casuals’ are basically just normal players. If you don’t sado-mazo yourself by trying to 100% the game without guides, busted builds, summons, magic, bleed and other things that ‘tryhards’ would label as overpowered, then you are a casual. TBH it’s a compliment, it means you got a life.

(3) Blaidd’s and Kale’s quests are connected. Player after hearing a wolf howl can talk to Kale about it and initiate Blaidd’s quest

Chapter 6

Recently, Melina found herself increasingly envious of the Tarnished’s peculiar ability to pull items seemingly out of thin air. This envy peaked as she lugged a large sack, brimming with clothes and armor, over her shoulder.

To an outsider, the sight was comical, at best—a delicate young woman hauling a sack nearly her own size. Despite managing the burden well enough, Melina couldn’t deny that she might have gone overboard.

The contrast was becoming too stark: the half-naked madman she accompanied was slowly being transformed into a poised warrior.

Even so, a nagging voice in her mind suggested she might have overdone it.

Sure, an aristocrat’s garb might suit her chosen Tarnished. But why had she thrown in rags from the imprisoned or the robes of sorcerers? Clearly, it was because she thought the robes were stylish and offered excellent magic resistance, but what would the Tarnished think of them?

Melina nearly tripped over a stone.

No matter.

She’d deal with the consequences later. While her Tarnished, Constantine, wasn’t the most adept at conversation, she could persuade him to wear armor—or at least some sort of outfit. The man obviously held her in high regard, though in his own peculiar way.

Someday, the Tarnished would need a personal tailor, someone to craft the finest attire in the Lands Between. Until then, though, the fact that she’d managed to get him dressed at all was a victory in itself.

One step at a time.

Adjusting the enormous sack on her back, she envisioned her Tarnished—dashing, fully clothed, and a future Lord of the Lands Between—trying on his new wardrobe.

Melina’s trip back was uneventful, but her mood shifted when she noticed the night sky. The full moon had risen, casting an eerie glow. This was no ordinary moon; its light felt… different, in an intangible way that tugged at her instincts.

She frowned.

‘She’s noticed him,’ Melina thought grimly.

It made sense. Her Tarnished’s presence was unforgettable. While Torrent, the spectral steed, certainly contributed to his unique image, the half-naked lunatic himself was a far more prominent factor.

And then there was his… particular interest.

Melina narrowed her single visible eye, her spiritual form sharpening in focus.

__________________________________

‘Of course,’ she realized. ‘He knew all along. He wasn’t looking for Blaidd the Half-Wolf but for his mistress.’

The thought should have been obvious, yet it felt so absurd she hadn’t entertained it seriously until now.

Still, there was no denying the situation.

Hiding behind the ruins, clutching her sack of clothes, Melina watched.

A campfire illuminated the scene. Blaidd, the merchant Kale, and Constantine were gathered around it. Though the Tarnished said little, sitting with a sternness that could shame a demigod, the others were slowly succumbing to drowsiness.

Little did they know, the demigoddess’s spell was lulling them into sleep.

Constantine alone remained alert, unfazed by the thickening mist surrounding the camp. Once the others were fully under the spell’s thrall, he rose to his feet, a knowing expression on his face. His gaze was so intense Melina half-expected him to challenge the Elden Beast itself right then and there. (1)

Though, strangely, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d look at the Elden Beast differently—almost fondly.

She shook off the thought. She’d spent too much time with her Tarnished.

The demigoddess awaited him. Perched atop the ruins, she was as striking as she was dangerous.

Swathed in blue, her doll-like body, complete with four arms and two faces—one physical, one spectral—created an image both otherworldly and innocent.

But it was a lie.

Melina knew the truth. This witch in the grand hat was as cunning as they came. It was her schemes that had sparked the madness of the gods and the war of the demigods.

Melina’s single visible eye narrowed.

To be fair, her Tarnished was free to form alliances as he wished. But how could she remain calm knowing her mad, half-dressed Tarnished was willingly walking into the clutches of such a dangerous being?

And with such enthusiasm!

Melina nearly huffed, tightening her grip on the sack of clothing.

“This way, Tarnished. May I have a word?”

Without hesitation, Constantine approached the doll-like figure, stopping before her. Though she sat on the ruins’ ledge, her tiny, delicate form was evident.

Ranni’s spectral face softened into a faint smile.

“A pleasure to meet thee, Tarnished.”

At the sound of the demigoddess’s calm, melodic voice, the stoic mask of Constantine cracked. His eyes fluttered shut, a look of bliss overtaking his features.

Such was the power of one of the Lands Between’s finest waifus.

Ranni tilted her doll-like head, studying the man with curiosity as his oddities continued to reveal themselves.

“I am Ranni the Witch,” she said at last. “I'd heard tell of a Tarnished hurtling abou atop a spectral steed.”

She paused, as though awaiting a response.

Fortunately, the ever-resourceful Constantine understood the situation. He knew he wouldn’t leave without answering. He had learned to socialize.

To a degree.

Though, as memories of Sellen’s questline flashed in his mind, his resolve wavered.

On one hand, Sellen was undeniably a waifu. And waifus were rare in the Lands Between. Ignoring her had never been an option.

On the other hand, her quest had required him to study sorcery—and it ended horribly. (2)

It had been a trap, one that had forced him into becoming a mage.

The shame of that casual playthrough was something he’d rather forget.

“Constantine,” he said at last. “You can call me Kosta.”

Ranni nodded, seemingly pleased.

“Constantine of the Tarnished. Aye, then it must be thee of whom I’ve heard. Thou art bonded with Torrent, the spectral steed, art thou not?”

Melina, still observing from the shadows, instinctively reached for her blade. The witch’s spectral form briefly turned her gaze toward the spirit maiden, locking eyes with her.

Ranni’s smile grew sly, almost teasing.

‘Thou hast led me to him,’ it seemed to say.

‘Witch!’ Melina bit her lip.

The foolish demigoddess had yet to witness her Tarnished’s rolls! Let her try something, and he’d dodge… oh, how he’d dodge!

Melina clutched the sack of… completely practical garments for her Tarnished, her ghostly knuckles whitening.

Constantine, ever truthful to waifus (especially the best ones), saw no reason to lie.

After all, a true Tarnished would never lie to a waifu.

The man gave a firm nod.

Ranni, noting the straightforward honesty in the Tarnished's reply, crossed her four arms one over the other, suddenly more intrigued.

She had no idea how deeply mistaken she was.

“Ah. As I had hoped. I was entrusted this, for thee. By Torrent's former master.”

In the demigoddess’s hands appeared a spectral bell, instantly recognizable to Melina. The young woman was shocked to see the artifact in the witch's possession, certain she’d lost it long ago.

Even if this conniving witch hadn’t outright stolen it, the bell was still hers!

Melina huffed indignantly.

Not that it mattered. She would have handed it to the Tarnished herself eventually. As long as it helped her chosen one, she could overlook this slight.

Ranni, oblivious to the lack of surprise on Kostya's face, continued speaking in her calm, deep voice:

“'Tis a bell for calling forth spirits. Summon them with it, from ash unreturned to the Erdt-”

"I can’t accept it."

The unexpected words, spoken with unmistakable anguish, silenced Ranni mid-sentence.

"You can’t? You must not understand its true—"

"I do," Kostya replied firmly, lowering his gaze as though wrestling with inner demons. "This is a tool for filthy casuals. If it came with the Mimic Tear (3) instead of wolves, I might…"

Ranni's spiritual visage faltered slightly.

How does he know I was about to give him the wolves?

Ranni's gaze flicked briefly to Melina, who stood in the shadows with a venomous smirk on her lips. The look all but said: ‘You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.’

And truly, the demigoddess didn’t. This was only the beginning.

"I am so sorry, Ranni…"

Kostya realized the situation had spiraled out of control when he saw the shock—and even faint fear—in the witch's expression.

Still, Ranni was not a demigoddess for nothing. She quickly composed herself.

"Very well," she said with a faint smile. "So, you know who I am, Tarnished?"

Kosta, sensing the script had gone completely off the rails, almost groaned aloud.

The shame of having betrayed the honor of a fair duel had been too much to bear. He couldn’t hold it in any longer.

"Even forum dwelling lore masters would break their brain in half trying to remember your names! Seriously, why are they all so similar? Ranni, Rennala, Renna—who thought this was a good idea? And don’t get me started on Radahn, Radagon, Melina, Malenia, Millicent, Marika, Morgott, Margit… You trying to play ‘spot the difference’?! Surely there must be a bett—" (4)

Kosta abruptly cut himself off as he met the frozen witch’s gaze.

From her hiding spot, Melina hadn’t felt this much vindictive joy in ages.

‘Take that, you scheming witch!’

Kostya shifted uncomfortably under Ranni’s stare. Then, to everyone’s shock—including his own—he dropped to one knee.

"I never meant to offend you, my beautiful waifu. Please forgive me."

Ranni blinked once, then twice, then a third time.

Her spectral form took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Beautiful?"

Both Melina, who could not fathom how a "blue, four-armed puppet" could be called beautiful, and Ranni herself shared the same incredulous thought.

The last time someone had called her beautiful was before her body had been consumed by a terrible flame. And now, this bizarre Tarnished—fully aware of her origins—was kneeling before her?

What an enigma.

"You have surprised me," Ranni murmured softly, lost in thought. "Truly surprised me. I will forgive you if you accept my gift. Torrent’s former master entrusted it to me."

Melina's eyebrow twitched.

‘I didn’t ask you, you vile witch.’ (5)

Ranni offered the summoning bell to Kosta, who, with a heavy sigh of defeat, took it. As the bell vanished into his inventory, it resonated with a spiritual ash, bonding to it.

At the edge of his consciousness, the mournful howls of spectral wolves echoed, ready for battle.

Something inside Kostya died a little. Then again, in the Lands Between, such losses were common.

As the bell disappeared, Ranni visibly relaxed.

"An impressive magic, Kosta of the Tarnished. I would like to study it someday. For now, heed this advice: learn all you can about the Lands Between."

Ranni suspected this encounter would not be their last. The Tarnished knew too much—far more than she had initially thought. That made him dangerous, but also… intriguing.

‘Torrent has chosen him, and she has accepted that.’

Her ghostly eyes scanned the man still kneeling before her, and her lips curved into another faint smile.

She hadn’t intended to involve herself further with him. This could have been their final meeting. Yet, his actions and words made her reconsider.

‘He knelt before me and called me beautiful. Befriended Blaidd intentionally. Does he wish to be my vassal? How unexpected.’

It was a promising prospect. Ranni had not taken a new servant in some time.

She still didn’t quite understand what "waifu" meant, but it probably wasn’t something bad. Maybe she could look it up later if she had a free moment. It didn’t seem urgent. After all, the Tarnished clearly had a few screws loose.

But would he survive the demigods?

They would test him for her. If he prevailed, he would prove himself worthy of serving her. If not, his dangerous knowledge would die with him.

‘Fate will decide,’ she thought.

Looking up at the stars, Ranni adjusted her wide-brimmed hat.

"I am Ranni the Witch. Forgive me for my earlier deception. This will not be our last meeting. I wonder if you will rise against the Two Fingers…"

She didn’t expect a reply. Her words were more directed at the one watching from the shadows. Her sly smile returned as she prepared to leave—but then…

The great warrior wouldn’t let her go so easily.

Kosta, noticing her gaze drawn to the night sky, nodded solemnly. He knew how crucial it was for her to defeat the strongest demigod and set her destiny—or something like that—in motion, along with the stars above.

How it worked and why—who the hell knew? Konstantin wasn’t some accursed sorcerer to figure all that out. Heck, he wasn’t even much of a lore master. If it had to be done, it had to be done.

"I will do everything in my power to set your feet… er, your fate in motion once more," he said, stumbling over his words.

He really needed to practice speaking more; he talked far too little.

In a burst of starlight, the demigoddess vanished, her spectral eye bulging at Kostya as if to judge him one last time. The mist dispersed, and the full moon in the sky lost its mystical allure, as though it had never been there at all. An eerie silence descended.

"Magic?" muttered the Tarnished, confused. "No, this isn’t magic—it’s just in-game mechanics…"

Normally, this kind of thing would at least provoke some frustration in him, but not this time. For one, it had come from his waifu. That changed a lot.

Secondly, there was another, far more immediate problem.

Kosta cautiously stood up, glancing around. As a seasoned Soulslike player, he had an instinctive sense for when a roll was needed—a skill so deeply ingrained it worked even in his dreams.

For some reason, that feeling was especially strong now. Not sharp, but…

Oppressive. As if with each passing second, the danger grew exponentially.

The Tarnished slowly turned around, only to find himself face-to-face with an unusually furious Melina. Behind her hung a sack nearly as large as she was.

Under normal circumstances, the sight would’ve been almost comical, but…

"I bring you news, Konstantin."

"Meli… Meli?"

For some reason, he wasn’t particularly thrilled that she’d decided to call him by name for the first time.

Meanwhile, Blaidd and Kale, blissfully unaware, continued to dream as if nothing had happened.

________________________________________

(1) (AN:) The Elden Beast, the game’s final boss, was clearly meant to be terrifying. In reality, the cosmic worm floating through space mostly leaves players scratching their heads rather than instilling the awe of an epic final battle.

(2) The sorceress Sellen’s quest assumes the player actually wants to learn magic from her.

(3) One of the most powerful Spirit Ash summons in the game, the Mimic Tear allows players to summon a full copy of themselves, including weapons and armor.

(4) Original names didn’t seem to be a big thing in the Lands Between.

(5) (AN:) This is me taking creative liberty. The original story leaves the relationship between these characters ambiguous at this point in the game. Considering their vastly different goals, however, it’s unlikely they’d cooperate. Worst case, call this an AU. This setting is full of vague or debatable elements, so take this as a heads-up for anyone who disagrees. ಠ_ಠ)