Mohgwyn Dynasty.
Numerous Blood Nobles, Bloody Finger assassins, and intelligence informants gathered in the center of the grand hall. Before them lay a pool of blood, gradually bubbling as if boiling.
The next moment, an Omen figure in opulent robes appeared – it was precisely Mohg. Even on that twisted, horned Omen face, anger was visible, but as a king, controlling his emotions was easy.
"Great Lord of Blood, praise His Majesty!"
People prayed and cheered one after another. Even the Albinaurics and Living Corpses far from the palace rejoiced.
Outwardly, Mohg gave a cold nod, but inwardly, he greatly enjoyed it, a wave of joy rising in his heart.
After all, back in the Golden Dynasty, not being spat upon was considered high courtesy from others. As an Omen, he had practically no rights.
Excellent. Legitimacy or not, only power could overturn and reshape everything. Now, there was another active player on the stage: Frieren, the demi-human hybrid, openly challenging the Golden Dynasty. In contrast, his brother Morgott, despite being called the Grace-Given King, never showed his face. What was he so afraid of? He guarded the Erdtree, yet hid himself away, claiming the Erdtree didn't recognize him.
"Hmph. Because the current ruler of Leyndell is full of indecision and lacks spirit, that's why he's grown weak. He's completely inferior to me," Mohg declared.
"Your Majesty is surely the strongest!" a follower chimed in.
"However, it's inconvenient for me to leave," Mohg stated. "Therefore, you must keep a close watch on Frieren's movements. We must dispatch more people to monitor the deployments in Stormveil Castle."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"My kindred," Mohg addressed them, "After five millennia of turmoil, the Golden Dynasty is nearing its end. The one tolling its death knell is the new demigod. The knell sounds from Limgrave. But she will not be the final victor. The Mohgwyn Dynasty will also make its move."
Then, Mohg spread his arms and laughed heartily. His subordinates, excited, joined in shouting praises.
He suddenly had a brilliant idea: Annoy Morgott as a side benefit. Leak the secret path to the Altus Plateau to the people in Stormveil Castle through intelligence channels. Frieren would even have to thank him.
Letting the Leyndell army heavily guard the Grand Lift all the time was too boring. Wouldn't that just become an endless stalemate? No, the world should become thoroughly chaotic. The more commotion the players on stage caused, the safer the Mohgwyn Dynasty would be.
After issuing a series of commands, Mohg dismissed his followers, preparing to rest. However, he didn't forget to create a clone to remain on standby. He might need to take action depending on the situation.
Stormhill, before the main gate of Stormveil Castle.
The heavy portcullis and gates stood wide open. A red carpet extended outwards, and festive decorations lined both sides of the road, placed there to bloom for the return of Limgrave's Queen.
Frieren, riding her spirit steed Torrent, acknowledged the fervent welcome with at least a wave. Many were so overcome with joy they were moved to tears, celebrating from the bottom of their hearts. Their cheers grew even louder.
"Your Majesty, you have completely pacified the monster lairs in both territories!"
"Our Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula are experiencing their first peace since the Shattering! We no longer have to worry about monsters running rampant!"
"Even the bandits have been captured!"
"The south is the most vibrant land in all the Lands Between; it will become the most prosperous!"
Confidence is more precious than gold. The now-stable domain gave people a feeling of boundless possibility. Production, trade, and training all held great potential.
Only after removing the immediate burden did they realize the world wasn't so bad, nor so dependent on the Erdtree. How many years had they endured? Finally, they had overcome the suffering, preparing to welcome an unprecedented recovery period. No one doubted they would continue to prosper.
Just look at the people in the welcoming crowd. Among them were quite a few Living Corpses, but under Frieren's healing, they were lively and active. Their actions were not much different from when they were truly alive. At the very least, they could serve as labor, adding bricks and tiles to the reconstruction. That's why everyone thanked the queen who brought all this: Frieren. Regardless, she had created a brand new Limgrave. The chapter of a new era was beginning to be written.
"Praise Her Majesty!"
Even Torrent's steps seemed prouder, head held high. After all, he hadn't experienced such pomp during previous travels across the Lands Between. Noticing his excited behavior, the silver-haired girl smiled and patted the steed's horns.
She turned her head and sighed, "Melina, if only you had a body. Then everyone would know that we share this achievement together."
Hearing this, the maiden couldn't help but touch her sealed eye. She turned away and advised: "Don't talk to me like that at a time like this. Respond properly, lest people think you're hallucinating and talking to thin air."
"It's fine," Frieren replied nonchalantly. "When you have a body and I introduce you to everyone, they won't be surprised then."
Their interaction wasn't understood by the onlookers. It wasn't the first or second time Her Majesty had chatted with the air. This level of eccentricity was much better compared to other demigods; at least she didn't do outrageous, inhuman things. Rather, the small quirks Frieren occasionally displayed made her seem more approachable. In contrast, the other demigods had long been inactive, making people wonder if they were just legends. Only the new demigod's campaigns in all directions made people feel the atmosphere of changing times.
It's coming. They might be about to witness the path to lordship, just like when the masses acclaimed the First Elden Lord Godfrey as he ascended the throne.
Frieren didn't recall Torrent until she entered the walled area. Before her were the nobles who had come out to welcome her, led by Kenneth Haight, beaming with delight.
"Your Majesty, have you noticed we've expanded the settlements outside the walls?" Kenneth asked eagerly.
"Yes," Frieren observed. "It looks quite prosperous. It could be considered part of the capital region."
"Everyone wants to pledge allegiance to the Queen of Soul Cinder, so they've gathered here, awaiting Stormveil Castle's command. Furthermore, you must have recruited people along your journey, which helped form the town."
It had been strange for a capital city like this to stand isolated on Stormhill before; it should have satellite towns, villages, and settlements around it. For example, Leyndell, the most prosperous city in the Lands Between, showed signs of several rounds of expansion, almost a city equivalent to a nation. This was how it should be. Stormveil Castle was recovering at an astonishing speed. A small town had already formed along the outer walls, and several nearby villages had also been revitalized. It increasingly had the prosperous atmosphere of a national capital.
Of course, the workload for administrators like Kenneth was also increasing daily, especially as certain issues piled up.
"Your Majesty, you can't go on such long trips anymore," Kenneth pleaded gently. "Many matters require your decision; they can't proceed without you."
"I understand. I'll return earlier next time," Frieren promised.
The key issue was that even with Sites of Grace, they weren't numerous when spread across the vast Lands Between. Most travel relied on Torrent's speed. If only she could fly. Or perhaps simple flight wasn't enough; she needed to travel freely like the ancient dragons...
Lost in thought, Frieren entered the city gate amidst the reporting voices of the nobles.
Creeaak! With the grating sound of dragging iron chains, the huge gate slowly rose, revealing the entire inner city.
At first glance, she almost didn't recognize it as Stormveil Castle. The main structures had all been repaired. The previous pits and holes were filled in, and it seemed to have been replastered, looking completely new.
Where have they taken me? Frieren thought in surprise. Although superficially Stormveil Castle hadn't changed drastically, a closer look revealed most bricks and tiles had been renewed. Furthermore, all traces of war damage had been completely cleared and repaired. The engineering capabilities of the Lands Between were beyond expectation.
On second thought, Frieren felt it was actually a return to normalcy. After all, the Golden Dynasty civilization had created so many wondrous structures. Once Limgrave began to restore production, simply repairing a castle left by predecessors wasn't difficult.
It stood even more imposing than before – no longer a dilapidated, evil stronghold amidst the storm, but a capital city in its prime.
The biggest change came from the atmosphere. Where did that atmosphere come from? People.
Unconsciously, Stormveil Castle had gathered a large population. Countless people, drawn by the news, collectively created a lively scene. Shops and stalls lined the roadsides, and hawkers' cries could be heard from time to time. Such a commercial avenue hadn't existed before; it must have been specifically created.
They greeted Frieren warmly when they saw her, and a considerable number of them were familiar faces – the people previously healed by her soul magic who had promised to come work in Stormveil Castle. They had indeed fulfilled their promise and become part of the reconstruction effort.
Kenneth Haight said sincerely, "Without the help of these people, our work wouldn't have progressed so quickly. It was Your Majesty who summoned them here. We don't possess such charisma; we couldn't unite people from all corners."
"It was merely a small effort," Frieren replied modestly.
"I once thought Fort Haight was magnificent," Kenneth reflected. "Coming to Stormveil Castle stunned me. But now, I must say, perhaps ours is the only true city left in the world."
Frieren nodded. "Indeed, I've heard that other major cities in the Lands Between still bear the scars of war." She had just learned that Volcano Manor was nearly destroyed, and the demigod residing there was even consuming life.
"We've met many traveling merchants; they brought much information," Kenneth continued. "From what we see, most major cities haven't recovered from the impact of the Shattering. They still resemble military fortresses. Only we have revived. We have moved beyond the war."
"The internal strife has ended, but external enemies still exist," Frieren reminded him gently.
"Your Majesty's reminder is correct. I heard about the incident at Lake Agheel. It must be the Mohgwyn Dynasty feeling restless. But Limgrave's march towards strength will not stop."
"Kenneth," Frieren observed, "it's been a while. You seem more composed and dignified than before."
"..." The queen and her subject exchanged a knowing smile. The understanding born from working together needed no further words. They had cooperated very well during this period, and the results were right before their eyes.
They proceeded directly inwards, passing through the prosperous street district and entering a courtyard with more densely packed buildings. The Tarnished Guild was located here. Some familiar faces greeted them happily.
Roundtable Hold had played a crucial role in Stormveil Castle's restoration; the diverse Tarnished personnel they provided compensated for unconventional productivity needs in magic. Limgrave had become a recognized active area for Tarnished, truly fulfilling the role of a starting zone. Previously, Tarnished were often beaten up by Godrick's soldiers; some even became part of the grafting process, a truly miserable fate.
Looking closely, the Tarnished Guild headquarters housed Perfumers, artisans, and clergy among others. In terms of composition, it was actually approaching that of Roundtable Hold.
Frieren couldn't help but think, could the Stormveil Castle guild I manage one day replace some of Roundtable Hold's functions? That would be good. Roundtable Hold had been located in the Royal Capital Leyndell for a time anyway; or rather, there was never a rule stating where it had to be.
She didn't mind weakening Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing. That fellow was not someone to be trifled with; he had subtly shown hostility during their first meeting, and according to player advice, he wasn't an ally either and warranted caution.
Moments later, the silver-haired girl crossed the courtyard and arrived at the castle's core. The former courtyards had been converted into several connected cabins, serving as temporary offices holding the entire kingdom's military and state records – truly the heartland.
And in the deepest hall, a throne was prominently displayed. Flanking it were familiar faces: A Black Knife Assassin, an Ancient Hero of Zamor, the Farron Captain, Sorceress Sellen, Edgar, and Irina were gathered together, along with some other nobles. They formed her core team.
"Everyone has worked hard during this time," Frieren said, taking her seat on the throne. "From now on, I will handle the backlogged work." Kenneth Haight didn't stand on ceremony and immediately ordered servants to bring in piles of documents. After all, some key decisions had to be reviewed by the monarch to comply with procedural legitimacy. But before that, there was a meeting.
"Sorceress Sellen," Frieren began, "my soul magic healing can now cover severe cases, and it can also be used on a large scale."
"Just as expected of you," Sellen replied. "I suspected as much when we received those people. So, can we start researching how to guide souls back to the Erdtree normally now?"
"It's difficult," Frieren admitted, "because the crux of the problem doesn't depend on us."
"You're right," Sellen sighed. "The Erdtree's cycle of rebirth system has been decayed for too long. At best, we can ensure souls enter the tree safely, but how they reincarnate is completely unknown. Unless we find all the elements the Golden Dynasty used to plan this system back then..."
"Such as?" Frieren prompted.
"Naturally, the Elden Ring, the Rune of Death, and the like," Sellen explained. "It's essentially the same as what's needed for you to become Lord. Frieren, right now, we can only provide minor auxiliary support at best."
Although Sellen really hoped to sort out the Erdtree return system, the difficulties were immense. Perhaps she should rededicate herself to studying the Primeval Current? Soul magic had more or less reached its peak for her anyway, and with Frieren's talent, her student could continue down that path alone without issue, especially since Sellen had trained some apprentices related to soul magic.
"I suspect there's more to it than just those elements," Frieren mused, resting her chin on her hand. "I've always suspected there are hidden secrets within the Lands Between."
"What do you plan to do?" Sellen asked. All eyes gathered on Frieren, knowing she wasn't one to speak carelessly. Her words were likely laying the groundwork for her real plan.
"The plan remains unchanged," Frieren stated firmly. "Besides, who says we must use a specific Mending Rune to reforge the Elden Ring? Perhaps we can create our own. More importantly, we need to traverse the Lands Between and uncover the truth. I can become Lord first, but not rush to repair the Elden Ring. Using the power base within the Lands Between, we will begin searching for the truth of the past."
"Only with a foundation of understanding the entire world will the Mending Rune and related laws we create be correct. Otherwise, wouldn't it just be another cycle of conspiracy?"
She paused, then added, "And speaking of mending, isn't what we're doing now a form of healing for the disaster of the Shattering?"
Indeed. People hoped for the Elden Ring to be reforged because of the current turmoil, attributing it to the Shattering, so they expected the Lord to act immediately upon entering the Erdtree. But now, that wasn't necessary. Frieren's research into soul magic had greatly alleviated the suffering caused by the Living Corpses in the Lands Between. With this largest and most direct disaster healed, the state of the Elden Ring wasn't as urgent. Even if she became Elden Lord, she would have time to seek better solutions, mobilizing resources with the power of a Lord.
_____
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