Elden Ring: The Shattering!

Knock, knock...

The rhythmic sound of horse hooves approached swiftly from the south, accompanied by a gentle breeze that brushed against one's face, making it tempting to squint in satisfaction. The Caria stronghold grew larger in Kaelith's eyes. After crossing the narrow bridge, a majestic fortress came into view.

It was a quintessential Western-style castle, with three walls climbing along the mountain's contour, towering watchtowers, and a grandiose gate—practically spelling out "impregnable" with every detail.

"Whoa—"

Two warhorses arrived at the gates, their hooves lifted high. Dressed in casual attire, Knight Alain smiled and asked, "It's your first time at the stronghold, isn't it? What do you think?"

Kaelith didn't reply immediately. His eyes scanned the stronghold ahead before turning to glance back at the narrow bridge behind them. After some thought, he uttered a few words:

"Impenetrable. That bridge can't support a large army. The barren land in front provides no cover, leaving attackers exposed to long-range firepower. Surrounded by sheer cliffs, a frontal assault would be a field of corpses."

"You seem to know a lot about fortifications." Alain smiled approvingly. With one short comment, Kaelith had summarized the strategic characteristics of Caria's stronghold.

"I've only read some theories in books; it's nothing substantial," Kaelith replied humbly. In truth, his experience from Ashina wasn't entirely applicable in The Lands Between.

This place might lack cannons, but it had human-shaped weapons of mass destruction.

The two dismounted, handing their warhorses to the gate guards. These guards had thin bodies, unnaturally long necks, and slightly grotesque features. Their drooling speech drew Kaelith's curious gaze.

"Albinaurics—Caria's allies," Alain explained casually before patting an elder Albinauric on the shoulder. The gesture nearly sent the poor figure tumbling into the dirt. "Abs, last night seemed lively."

"Take it easy! You'll shatter my old bones," the Albinauric complained, clutching a Glintstone staff as he dodged aside. With worry in his voice, he added, "If the Cuckoos fail to take the manor, they might cause trouble for the villages."

The knight's face showed concern, though there wasn't much he could do. After all, Caria's forces were compressed into the northwest corner of Liurnia, making it nearly impossible to deploy large armies elsewhere.

"Don't worry. Her Highness will figure something out. If you're really uneasy, you could lead a group to check on the Village of the Albinaurics," Alain offered as reassurance before pulling Kaelith, who had been eavesdropping, further into the stronghold.

The Village of the Albinaurics hasn't been destroyed yet? Good thing I came early; exploring nothing but ruins would be far less interesting.

Kaelith's gaze shifted to the towering Carian royal banner above the stronghold. There were surprisingly few guards in sight. Passing through the silent castle gate, a thin layer of white mist enveloped the surroundings.

How odd. It was broad daylight just moments ago, but inside the stronghold, it felt dim and foreboding. Ahead lay a massive garden, with dense shrubs of flowers and trees. Glintstone crystals sparkled here and there, while a smooth cobblestone path stretched forward, flanked by intricately crafted statues.

Flowers, statues, fountains—this truly was the Carian royal city. If the mist dissipated, the view would likely be breathtaking.

"Don't wander off. This place is still dangerous," Alain called out from the front. But as soon as he spoke, Kaelith froze in his tracks.

His eye twitched as he saw two enormous hands crawling down the wall. Their spindly fingers moved like spider legs, pale gray skin covered in pustules that oozed painfully. Just looking at them made one's rationality teeter.

As these monstrous hands approached, stopping about a meter away, their giant, thigh-sized fingers began to stroke the air around Kaelith, much like a dog sniffing its prey.

Damn!

Kaelith nearly drew his sword but held back as the grotesque hands quickly scurried back up the wall, curling into themselves to lie in wait for new prey.

"These Fingercreepers are adorable, aren't they?"

Alain's cheerful voice rang out, and Kaelith shot him a glance. What part of these terrifying creatures could possibly be considered "adorable"?

The pair continued in silence. Caria's stronghold was just as complex as Kaelith remembered. Coupled with the thick fog, it was all too easy to lose one's way... and if one took a wrong turn, the burrowing Fingercreepers would undoubtedly emerge to capture their prey.

"Are you curious why such a sturdy stronghold would still allow for bloodshed and sacrifice outside its walls?" Alain asked. He led Kaelith toward the inner city along the connecting walls.

"Not curious," Kaelith replied, glancing out over the walls. He imagined stationing a team of crossbowmen here to turn any enemy in the gardens below into pincushions.

"Why not?"

"Because holding an isolated fortress is despair itself. This castle can't sustain too many soldiers. Starving to death while trapped inside is far worse than fighting valiantly in one final battle."

Kaelith licked his lips, speaking smoothly: "The Carian supply largely comes from Lake Liurnia, and the empty land below the city could easily be transformed into farmland. That would be enough to sustain a thousand Carian soldiers. However, sturdy defenses are far inferior to reliable courage. When the siege drags on, people will eventually turn on each other, and loyalty is meaningless in the face of despair."

The knight turned his head, glaring: "You're far more clear-headed than me. I was only considering how retreating troops and losses would impact morale."

"It's just knowledge from books," Kaelith said with a modest smile, though in truth, he himself had risen from a defeated army.

The two climbed up and down steps, ascending on a lift accompanied by the grinding sound of gears. Finally, they entered the inner city, passing sturdy walls, spacious halls, intricate gardens, and hundreds of stone steps. Anyone with lesser physical stamina would collapse halfway.

"This place is too big," Kaelith remarked as he stood atop a stone terrace, gazing out at Liurnia, most of which lay within view. He couldn't fathom how the Cuckoo forces intended to breach this fortress—it seemed an impossible mission.

He had started his journey in the afternoon, and now the full moon had risen. Yet, the Ranni Magic Tower was still a distance away.

"Just a little further; we're almost there," Alain encouraged, wiping sweat from his brow as they climbed to the second tier of steps. Ahead, a Troll sat cross-legged on the ground.

The Troll wore an unusual helmet made of countless lenses and held a massive book in its hand, reading intently. As they approached, the Troll closed the book with deliberate care, sensing their presence.

"Master Iji, by the order of Her Highness, I've brought Kaelith Light to meet you," Alain announced.

"Ah, I've heard of him." Iji's voice lacked the ferocity typical of Trolls, instead exuding a peculiar intelligence. He bent down, bringing his head close to Kaelith, studying him for a long moment before nodding. "Not bad. You show no fear, your aura is as vast as the sea—truly a talent."

"Master Iji flatters me," Kaelith replied, neither arrogant nor humble. He knew this Troll was the Carian tactician, capable of crushing the Cuckoo Knights like salted meat.

Iji nodded again but didn't step aside to clear the archway behind him. Alain, slightly puzzled, was about to speak when the Troll asked:

"I have a question for you. The Cuckoo Knights clearly have the strength to launch an attack. Why have they retreated to their main camp instead of advancing?"

Was this a test?

Kaelith raised an eyebrow. He hated riddles but saw no need to withhold his thoughts. After a brief pause, he answered:

"Liurnia has three main factions: the Raya Lucaria Academy, the Cuckoo Knights, and the Carian royal family. This balance…"

"Wait a moment. The Cuckoo Knights are just the traitorous lapdogs of Raya Lucaria Academy."

Kaelith smirked, his expression full of mockery. Of course, he couldn't reveal that he already knew the inner workings. Instead, he offered a different perspective: "If they were truly loyal, the Academy wouldn't have stood by idly since the war began. If sorcerers had joined the battle last night, we wouldn't have held out. This proves that the two sides don't fully trust each other."

Iji, already aware of the truth, nodded. "Good. Continue."

"The three factions form a delicate balance. Once the Cuckoo realized breaching the fortress was hopeless, they would only continue the assault if they were fools…"

"Instead, they need a seemingly strong Carian presence to prevent the Raya Lucaria Academy from shutting its gates entirely. The Cuckoo cannot breach the Academy, but we have a way."

Kaelith spoke deliberately, weighing his words with precision. A minor skirmish at an estate had ripple effects that changed many things… For instance, the Academy's precondition for closing its doors was the mutual destruction of the Cuckoo and Carian forces, allowing them to remain neutral and uninvolved while the two sides tore each other apart.

"So, as long as a Carian force capable of counterattacking exists, the Academy wouldn't dare abandon the Cuckoo. The Lands Between are rife with war; the Cuckoo forces can always find employment elsewhere… But those sorcerers have nowhere to go. If Caria reclaims lost territory, how would the Academy stop us from forging new defenses?"

"Well said!" Iji clapped his massive hands together, the sound like boulders colliding. The scene reflected a harsh reality, but Kaelith's analysis was undeniably sharp.

"You are both courageous and wise, far better than this idiot Alain," Iji declared.

"Hey! Why bring me into this?" Alain protested, raising his hand in mock offense, half-understanding the conversation.

Iji ignored him and continued, "Strength can be honed through training, and Caria is not short of powerful warriors. But judgment and intellect are gained through experience. I've read your records and can only say: true genius always stands out."

Kaelith said nothing. His sharpness was evident, but why hide it? As a man of principle, he saw no reason to feign weakness. Who would be fooled by such pretense?

"Proceed. Her Highness Ranni is waiting for you," Iji said, rising slowly and stepping aside to reveal the archway. Kaelith hesitated briefly, thinking he still had some distance left to the Magic Tower.

Adjusting his disheveled armor, he stepped forward. As he passed through the archway, the scene before him expanded magnificently. A shimmering pool lay ahead, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Moonlight blanketed the water, reflecting another moon within its surface.

The pool was as still as a mirror, the serene moonlight bathing a young maiden entirely. She sat in the high-backed chair opposite the archway, her head slightly bowed, obscuring her face. Yet she exuded an extraordinary calm and mystery.

This sight imprinted itself deeply in Kaelith's mind, a stunning tableau etched into his memory.

Under the moonlight, the maiden was a vision of unparalleled grace.