Consort of Destined Death Chapter 15 (Patreon)

As the weeks went by, Harry found it was the secluded land behind Caria Manor that he and Millicent often visited, sparring and learning new techniques where no one would disturb them. Ranni had been kind enough to grant them access to that part of the Manor, originally having been private ground for the royal family to utilize.

The Lunar Princess had been evasive for the most part since his arrival, preferring to reside in her private tower. Yet sometimes he would spot her up there, watching him practice sorceries discreetly.

Since his stay at Ranni’s ancestral home began, his lethality had increased tremendously. Long hours spent studying in the library and examining sorceries engraved in ancient tomes had increased his magical arsenal tenfold. No longer was he limited to throwing around half-assed spells in a crude manner, instead gaining a firm grasp on sorceries he could use in an efficient way.

Glintblades in a phalanx to ward off any attackers, the signature Carian Greatsword that put his old Carian Slicer sorcery to shame, along with the Stars of Ruin. He also began refining his gravity magic, working to make it more efficient for use in combat, with the goal of having not to stop moving in order cast it.

Harry was finding that efficiency was key, as being able to quickly cast sorceries on the run was preferable to long incantations that kept him immobile. For example, casting ‘Stupefy’ with his wand was much quicker than vocalizing the words ‘Petrificus Totalus’. And in the same vain, conjuring half a dozen glintblades was much quicker than ripping rocks from the earth and flinging them with his gravity magic.

But on the occasion that he didn’t have time for magic, he continued training to use a sword. He still opted to use the Zweihander colossal greatsword on occasion, combining it with an incantation he had picked up called Bloodflame Blame.

Incantations were a whole separate branch of magic that seemed unique to the Lands Between. He had learned that some sorcerers even specialized in learning them and nothing else, mainly being the Erdtree faithful and those of the Ancient Dragon cult.

For him, covering his greatsword in red bloodflame was the main draw, as who wouldn’t want a flaming sword? The incantation itself wasn’t difficult, best for beginners like himself, and caused any enemies he hit with it to bleed substantially more from any inflicted wounds.

Hours spent training soon bled into weeks, pushing his magic to its limit each day he spent at the manor. He rose to greater heights than he thought possible before, and then some. And it was with pride that he actually began beating Millicent regularly in their spars, not that she didn’t make him work for it.

As much as he had improved, Millicent had more than kept up with him. The new prosthetic arm which Ranni gifted her made the redhead even more dangerous than before. That wasn’t to mention how her physical prowess increased by leaps and bounds since he first met her. That sickly girl wasting away in a Caelid church was long gone, replaced by a warrior who could challenge the strongest foes in the Lands Between with her swordsmanship.

She was strong, quick on her feet, and so damn attractive. Her body filled out more as time went by, thickening with muscles and curves in a way that left him flustered. Harry now had to struggle not to get distracted by her body mid-fight, eyeing the way her thick thighs or bum filled out her trousers, or the exotic way her golden irises went with that red hair.

Those days training left him horny and frustrated, something that he usually took out on Melina when he arrived back to his quarters at night. He was attracted to the redhead, that much was obvious, but he couldn’t help but feel like it was wrong.

In his mind, he viewed Millicent as the noble and kind girl that was still naive about the world. So much of her life had been spent with the Rot cult, wasting away in that church with no hope of being free. And then he had healed her, freed her, and went on to travel the world at her side.

She had seen and experienced so little of the world, being restricted to doing so at his side. And for him to suddenly lust after her… It felt like taking advantage, regardless of whether she desired him in turn.

And that wasn't to mention the other parts of his romantic life in his old world. He had Daphne, Susan, and even Fleur waiting for him back at Hogwarts, no doubt plotting their own moves against each other. Whether those relationships would fully work out remained to be seen, but eventually they would have to be introduced to his life - and love life - as a Tarnished in the Lands Between.

No, it’s not worth it. He and Millicent were friends, practically family at this point. And to drag her into the mess that was his romantic life was just cruel.

He took a settling breath, getting his feelings under control as he filled the packs attached to Torrent’s saddle with the remaining supplies needed for the road ahead. There was no telling how often they would come across a Site of Grace in the future, and he wanted to be prepared in case they became stranded.

Just then, Melina and Millicent entered the main courtyard of Caria Manor where he was standing with Torrent. The latter of which noticed the new attire he had exchanged his Hogwarts robes for.

“Finally decided to get some armor, I see.” Millicent noted with a teasing smile.

“Picked it up this morning.” It was a simple knight set of armor he purchased from one of the merchants working at Caria Manor. “Figured I could use it if we’re walking into a war zone.”

Proud as he might be of his new abilities, Harry knew that there were still plenty of warriors out there who outclassed him in ability. He had learned that he fought better at longer ranges, carrying a sword only as a last measure, knowing he would have to rely on Millicent in close quarters most of the time. And that played into his decision to finally purchase armor, not wanting to find himself in a disadvantaged situation where he couldn’t effectively use his wand and was outclassed. Better safe than sorry, as they say.

There was no telling what dangers they would come across in the Altus Plateau, and so far they planned to be as stealthy as possible when navigating it. Rykard’s army was supposedly raiding and pillaging every inch of ground up there, slaughtering villages along the way and pressing anyone that remained into service as they marched on Leyndell to take the Erdtree.

Yet Harry had reached the conclusion that there was no point waiting for things to get better, as the throne of Elden Lord waited for no one. Cowering in Caria Manor and waiting out the storm would do him no good, and his two companions were of the same mind. It was time to leave.

They approached the manor’s entrance, Harry holding Torrent’s reigns while Melina and Millicent walked at his sides. But it was once they reached the main gate that an unexpected sight greeted them, being Ranni waiting patiently for him. He signaled for the others to go ahead, preferring to share private words with the Princess of Caria alone.

“Harry Potter.” Ranni greeted at his approach. “Hath thou finally decided to enter my service?”

He let out a slight laugh, as Ranni’s continued insistence that he work for her had almost become a running gag at this point. The Lunar Princess was persistent, he would give her that.

“I’m afraid that I’ll have to decline, once again.” He smiled.

“A pity.” She inclined her head, studying him. “Still, thou depart’st Caria with all thy limbs and breath intact. A small miracle, that.”

He shrugged. “I’ve had worse hosts.”

“Undoubtedly.” Ranni replied, as if her hospitality could go unquestioned. “So few are gracious as to refrain from killing thee outright. A pity that these lands find themselves in such a state. Yet it seemeth that a certain wandering wizard, marked by fate and folly alike, who draweth maidens to him as moths unto flame.”

A groan left his lips. “If this is about Melina—”

“And the scarlet born, Millicent, she who shouldst have fallen into rot and decay, yet did not. Two maidens, both bound by purpose, both drawn into thine orbit.” She regarded him closely. “Tell me true, dost thou court them both with intent? Or is it merely thy nature to meddle for thine amusement?”

Why is she so curious about my romantic life? It was a subject he tried to keep private, yet Ranni seemed strangely interested in it. For a moment, he wondered if it was because of Rennala offering him her hand.

“Is that what you do up in your tower all day when not scheming? Pondering my romantic life?” He deflected.

“Mayhaps.” She waved a dismissive hand, as if the whole conversation had been nothing but an unimportant thought. “Again, I must discourage thee from pursuing thy current path. The road ahead to the Altus Plateau lay fraught with danger. And the Mountaintops beyond even more so.”

“We’ll be fine-”

“And then there is the Blade of Miquella, and her Haligtree.” Ranni continued. “My sister is not one to be dealt with underhandedly. She is more likely to carve thee limb from limb upon thy arrival.”

“I’ll take your warnings to heart.” He settled on saying, knowing that this was just another attempted on the witch’s part to stop him from leaving.

He had listened to her warnings at first, working to get stronger all the while, but the time had finally come for him to leave Caria Manor. He had promised to get Millicent to the Haligtree, and Melina to the base of the Erdtree, and wasn’t about to back out now.

“Hmph. A stubborn ruffian as always, I see.” Ranni folded two of her arms, while the other two remained in her lap. “Tis’ goodbye then, Harry Potter.”

His lips quirked upwards. “Goodbye, Ranni.”

/////

With old, worn maps he had been able to purchase from some merchants, along with Melina’s guidance, the ride on Torrent from Caria Manor to the Grand Lift of Dectus took them less than a day.

Upon catching sight of it, he saw that the entranceway to the lift itself was grand, looking akin to something the dwarves from Lord of the Rings would build. If he didn’t know that the Altus Plateau even existed, he would’ve just thought it was a tunnel into the side of a mountain. But the strange elevation of the Lands Between was deceiving, as there was a whole other world up above their heads.

Dismounting Torrent, Harry and Millicent followed the tunnel and walked onto the lift itself. Ancient columns and old statues decorated a circular area that would rise skyward, looking to date back centuries or millennia. Its size could ferry hundreds of men at once, making it perfectly designed for moving armies between the different continents of the Lands Between.

“Here goes nothing.” Harry muttered as he stepped forward and held up the Dectus Medallion, silently hoping they hadn’t traveled this far for nothing.

Their surroundings shifted with movement in that moment, stone cracking underneath as the nearby statues shifted. He could feel the medallion thrumming in his hands, silently communicating with the ancient magicks that had been built into the lift.

Suddenly, they were moving upwards. Slowly at first, but accelerating in speed every moment, making the surrounding rock walls a blur as they rose higher and higher. They must’ve gone higher than the tallest skyscrapers in his old world, ascending thousands of feet of elevation in minutes until the lift finally slowed.

A bright light signaled their arrival at the top, as the lift came to a stop. He held up his hand to block the incoming light as his vision adjusted, with his redhead companion doing much the same. But when he finally got a decent look at the view in front of him, the sight took his breath away.

The Erdtree was bigger than ever, the girth of its trunk taking up his entire vision. Branches stretched overhead, seemingly endless as they went to the very edges of his vision and beyond as they stretched out over the entire continent. The tree was more gold and ethereal than ever, making him feel as if he had entered a different plane of existence entirely.

Everything, from the grass, to the clouds, to the very leaves on nearby trees appeared gold due to its proximity to the Erdtree’s light. But it was only once Harry’s mind moved on, and he was able to accept the presence of the giant glowing tree, that his eyes laid upon the next mind-breaking sight.

The walls of Leyndell.

A wall so tall and so large that it appeared like its own mountain range in the distance. Nothing, not even Hogwarts’ own astronomy tower could compare to its height. Its construction went unquestioned, ancient and ornate, made to withstand the might of any army no matter what weapons they brought to bear against it.

It stretched from one end of the landscape to the other, concealing an area of gargantuan size that was the royal capital region. It might’ve been a trick of the mind, but the soldiers guarding the wall looked like tiny specks upon the gargantuan structure. He knew in that moment that any mediocre attempts to cross it would be folly, more likely to result in death rather than success.

And to think this is only the outer wall, with an inner wall hiding behind it.

“There’s no way we’re getting through that.” Harry breathed out.

It was an understatement if there ever was one. Perhaps it was fitting that a godlike structure like the Erdtree was protected by such impenetrable walls, with its entrance sitting at its base.

“It’s…” Millicent began as she stared up at the Erdtree, before she stopped. She shook her head slightly, red hair looking even more beautiful under the tree’s golden light. “I knew it would be grand. But this…”

“It’s too much.” He finished quietly.

She nodded in agreement. “Yes. That.”

A noise caught his attention then, as several soldiers approached the lift from a nearby path. He could immediately tell that they didn’t owe allegiance to the Erdtree, not wearing any gold, meaning they were likely from Mount Gelmir. To think Rykard has reached this far already...

They looked less like soldiers and more like bandits. Haphazard armor faded gray, wielding worn down swords and spiky clubs for weapons. Clearly out on some patrol, and had likely heard the noise from the lift and come to investigate.

“You tread where thou art not welcome!” The lead soldier called as they approached. “This land is claimed, and all who pass owe tribute to the God-Devouring Serpent!”

“We don’t want any trouble.” Harry called back, wanting to avoid a fight.

The group of men stopped, and one of them gained a foul expression at the sight of him. “A Tarnished.”

“Not just him, but a rot-breed.” Another eyed Millicent Lecherously. “Do you think I’ll get scarlet rot if I impale her with my cock?”

His wand discreetly found itself into his hand, and Harry wanted to teach these men a lesson they would never forget.

“It’s not worth the effort.” One of the soldiers replied. “Let’s split that Tarnished from balls to brain, and slit the girl’s throat. After that we’ll have our fun with her, as it’s not like her corpse can give us the rot if she’s dead.”

He wasn’t standing next to Millicent anymore, as instead he had launched himself forward. Six glintblades conjured themselves over his head before shooting off and impaling themselves in the closest man, and before any of the others could react, he was upon them.

His wand was raised up, and a blue glintstone blade appeared around it, before getting bigger, then bigger. He swept the Carian Greatsword down in a mighty slash, and bisected one of the soldiers in two, sending the two halves of his body down onto the golden grass below.

The last soldier roared in rage, raising his blade high to strike him, but Harry didn’t bother moving. Millicent’s blade whooshed in and cut off his head, sending his headless corpse falling to the ground beside him with a thump.

She wiped her blade clean and turned toward him with a confused expression. “Harry, why did you…”

Harry opened his mouth to answer, and instead felt his stomach twist violently.

He staggered a few steps away, barely managing to brace himself against a nearby stone before retching. The taste of bile burned his throat as he heaved, the enormity of what had just happened crashing down on him all at once.

He had killed before - arguably in self defense - but nothing like this. He could’ve stunned those men. His mind whispered treacherously, and subconsciously he was trying to justify his actions. They would’ve committed even worse crimes if they lived!

Millicent approached more slowly this time, concern plain on her face. “What’s wrong, Harry?”

He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, forcing down another wave of nausea. “I thought… After everything, I’d be used to it.”

She shook her head. “Then you wouldn’t be the same Tarnished I know.”

He straightened slowly, drawing a deep breath as the golden light of the Erdtree remained ever present above.

“Come on.” He said hoarsely, forcing himself not to look at the men he had just killed. “Let’s keep moving.”

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the Age of 18

A/N: No, Harry isn’t getting into Leyndell easily. In fact, an overarching part of this story will be about getting past those walls and to the Erdtree

As for Ranni, expect to see her more and for Harry to do her questline, only that it will be later on

Expect to see Harry and Millicent get together soon!