Consort of Destined Death Chapter 32 (Patreon)

Harry found that the Academy of Raya Lucaria was indeed similar to Hogwarts, if a bit more theatrical and extreme in its architectural qualities. Where Hogwarts was blocky and built to survive the harsh Scottish winter, Raya Lucaria was instead built as a testament to the might of its inhabitants, centered in one of the Lands Between’s most inhospitable regions, and constructed on a high rocky outcrop overlooking Liurnia’s many lakes.

For any attackers, besieging the school of sorcery would be a near-impossible task, and the act of actually subduing its inhabitants once inside would be even harder. A maze of different buildings and towers made up the actual academy, filled with all sorts of positions that could be easily defended if the need arose. And then there were the academy’s residents, armed and knowledgeable in the dangerous arts of glintstone sorcery.

I’m just glad we got invited, and never had to break in here. For once, things had actually gone right in Harry’s life, and he didn’t end up in a fight. Much like months before when he was invited to Caria Manor, he had accepted Ranni’s invitation and entered the Academy of Raya Lucaria with Malenia in tow.

It was a relatively short trip to take the Grand Lift of Dectus down to Liurnia, with Malenia along with several hundred guards accompanying them. From there they rode straight for the academy itself, crossing over a gigantic stone bridge that sprawled over Liurnia’s swampy region to reach the Academy’s main entrance.

A stiff introduction with one of the Carian knights, Moongrum, and Harry along with Malenia were allowed inside while their entourage waited outside.

“This is as far as I will take you.” Moongrum led them to the entrance to the Academy’s largest hall, stopping before a lift that would take them up. “Princess Ranni and Queen Rennala are waiting for you both inside.”

“Thank you.” Harry nodded to the Carian knight, walking past him and standing on another lift with Malenia moving quietly at his side as they ascended.

“You alright?”

“Yes.” She replied sullenly. “Would it surprise you to know I never thought I’d be allowed inside this building?”

Harry blinked. “It would.”

“Radagon was my Father, and was Rennala’s husband before his marriage to my Mother.” Malenia said. “Due to the deceptive nature of their engagement… The relationship between my blood siblings and the Carian Royals has always been strained.”

“I can see why.” Radagon had left his marriage with Rennala for another woman, being Marika, who was Malenia’s Mother. It was one of the things that supposedly caused Queen Rennala’s sadness, and Harry could only hope the coming confrontation wouldn’t fall apart.

The lift came to a stop at the end of a long and massive hall, its length cloaked in darkness by the large windows which were covered by hefty curtains and bookshelves. A royal red and gold carpet led directly down the middle, from the lift all the way up to the center of the building’s dome where the Carian Queen’s throne sat.

It was a long and tense walk for him and Malenia, their footfalls echoing loudly in the vast hall as they marched its length.

“It happened an age ago, when the Elden Ring was shattered at Queen Marika’s hand. What ensued was a war which wrought only darkness, the demigods warring for each other’s Great Runes.” Ranni’s voice echoed all around them throughout the grand hall as they walked. “And now that war has begun anew, heralded by my serpent brother’s demise at the hands of thy Haligtree.”

At the end of the grand hall and in the center of the academy’s central dome sat Queen Rennala in her wooden throne, amber egg embraced against her chest. And at her side sat Ranni in her own smaller chair, like a steward watching over her Mother’s seat.

“A fractured world we endure, waiting for it to be brought together by the arrival of an Elden Lord, and the unification of the Elden Ring.” Ranni looked up at them both, a knowing glint in her gaze as she monologued. “But thou hast learned the truth, that the Elden Ring cannot be reached nor mended, and that the Erdtree denies all passage under the bidding of the Greater Will.”

They finally reached the end of the hall when Ranni stopped speaking, standing before Queen Rennala’s throne as the large woman looked down at them. When the time came for greetings, the whole world seemed to hold its breath. Even Rennala seemed to understand how intense the atmosphere was, looking down with a piercing gaze, staring directly into Malenia’s golden eyes.

How much power is in this room? Two demigods, a Carian Queen, and a Tarnished who was the Lord of Destined Death. It was strange to think that all three of them had killed Queen Rennala’s children in some fashion.

“I hath now seen thy face, thou who slew my blood.”

It was Queen Rennala who spoke first, staring directly at Malenia.

For her part, the red-haired princess held a hand over her chest and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, I can only ask for thy forgiveness for the pain my family has caused you. I have many regrets over the course of my accursed life, and what I did to thy son is among my greatest sins.”

Rennala didn’t say anything, merely frowning before she went back to holding her egg as if hoping it would comfort her pain.

Harry looked over to Ranni, who watched on quietly with her hands folded in her lap. “I got your letter, and it seems you were expecting us?”

“Aye, I knew thou wouldst eventually learn the truth about the Greater Will’s betrayal, and see the Two Fingers for the manipulators that they truly are.”

“I have always been an enemy of the Golden Order, sister, you need not convince me of such things.” Malenia replied. “We came here for answers, seeking to learn how we can stand before the Elden Ring with the Erdtree denying us passage.”

Ranni clearly knew something, but she didn’t immediately answer Malenia’s question. “And what then? What age wouldst thou bring without the Greater Will holding dominion over these lands any longer?”

“An age of kindness and compassion, just as Miquella intended.”

“Heralded by thee, a former Goddess of Rot? By thy Tarnished, the Wizard from another world intending to be thy Elden Lord?” Ranni sniffed in dismissal. “Nay, thy current plan is destined to end in failure.”

“I shall remind you that I am an Empyrean, sister, much like thyself and Miquella. If need be, I could be the next vessel of the Elden Ring, the god of these lands after Mother.” Malenia stayed calm. “Meaningless bickering about religion and alignment is inconsequential, when my only goal is to reclaim these lands and unite them in peace and prosperity as they once were.”

What she just explained was why Harry initially joined Malenia. The Lands Between were in rough shape, filled with monsters, murderers, and poor civilians caught in the midst of the slaughter and just trying to survive. The Shattering was mostly to blame, and so Harry had agreed to become Malenia’s consort to herald in a new age where everyone was safe.

“And so thou intends to be the next vessel for the Elden Ring?” Ranni asked.

“If Mother is… alive, then she will continue to hold that title.” Malenia hesitated at the mention of whether Marika was still alive. “If not, then I shall bear that burden.”

“Nay, thou intends to give the responsibility to thy brother, Miquella. It was always thy intent, to be at his side as his consort.”

“Miquella is lost to me, I do not know where he is.” The redhead admitted, not getting worked up at Ranni’s accusation. “It was his disappearance that preceded my confrontation with Radahn, my scouring of the continent that led me to Caelid to seek out his presence. Thy brother would not let me continue in my search, and knowing Miquella was near, we fought.”

“How did thou know he was near?”

“A feeling.” Malenia answered. “He is my twin, and I can sense his presence.”

“But how did Miquella get all the way to Caelid from the Haligtree?” Harry asked with some confusion. After all, Caelid was probably the farthest point away from the Haligtree in all the Lands Between, and it would be very difficult for someone to not only sneak into the Haligtree and kidnap Miquella in the first place, but to also transport him across the continent.

“He was abducted and taken there.”

“Was he?” Ranni asked with open suspicion. “Or was it his intention? A scheme by Miquella that brought thou into conflict with General Radahn. This would be after he abandoned thee and thy Haligtree, gave up on his dream and on you.”

Malenia’s expression soured, and her hand twitched as if she were fighting the impulse to draw her sword. “My brother was taken from me.”

“Nay, he eventually saw the futility in the age of compassion he preached about, realized that his Haligtree wouldst never supplant the Erdtree. And so he decided to bring in a different age, first manipulating thou to wage war on any who wouldst oppose him. And once thy usefulness was at its end, when the demigods lay broken at the end of the First Shattering War, Miquella sought out something different.” Ranni said brutally, and finished her explanation with a metaphorical gut punch. “Miquella the Manipulator.”

Even Harry winced at that, but his reaction paled in comparison to Malenia’s own. She literally winced as if slapped, before glaring back at Ranni with eyes that had become bloodshot. The room’s temperature seemed to plummet in that moment, thrumming with power as if it were a powder keg about to go off. He knew the reasonable thing to do in that moment would be to deescalate, but something told him to press this opportunity while it lasted.

Ranni is right. He knew his consort wouldn’t have gotten so enraged if Ranni was making everything up, meaning that Malenia must have known something. She’s telling the truth and we all know it.

“Enough of thy lies!” Malenia hissed. “I will not tolerate such slander-”

“She’s right.”

Everyone froze, for it had been Harry who spoke, probably the person everyone least expected to argue against his future consort. But the words of the sphinx from the third task of the Triwizard Tournament repeated over and over in his mind, and he couldn’t hold back his knowledge any longer.

“What?”

He made himself meet her gaze, staring into Malenia’s wild golden eyes. The woman was downright terrifying in her current state, like a beast about to snap and go on a rampage, and it took all his willpower to stay calm and say what he spoke next. “She is right about Miquella, in that he’s not the person you thought he was.”

“…You would dare take her side?” Malenia looked downright livid, but her expression was shifting to look more like someone who was betrayed. “I-I thought you-”

“Miquella is no longer in the Lands Between. Rather, he’s in a place called the Land of Shadow, seeking godhood.” He stated quickly, cutting her off. “He abandoned you to go there. Abandoned the Haligtree, left you behind, and orchestrated your fight against Radahn.”

For some reason, that seemed to cut through Malenia’s anger. And not just her, as both Ranni and Rennala looked at him with undivided interest.

“The Land of Shadow…” Malenia didn’t seem angry anymore, and it was like a switch had been flipped as she went from shaking with rage to frozen in place. If anything, he would say she suddenly seemed downtrodden and contemplative from his brief words. “How could you know this information?”

“I was given it by a sphinx in my world, a magical and intelligent creature claiming to be from there.” Harry said. “The sphinx essentially said that Miquella gave up on trying to convince everyone to be kind, and instead began manipulating people into kindness. It said that he had left the Lands Between to this Land of Shadow place to find godhood…”

“To achieve divinity and herald his own age of compassion.” Ranni put the pieces together. “So that he may hold dominion over these lands under his own divinity, and not that of the Greater Will. A new Order, one without Grace, the Greater Will, or the remnants of the Golden Order. Only Miquella’s forced compassion.”

Malenia briefly glared at Ranni before looking away, the large hall suddenly going silent.

“…So you guys know what this Land of Shadow place is?” Harry asked at last, tired of feeling left out. It was like everyone else knew something important that he didn’t.

“It is the realm where my Mother was born, and was bestowed her power before coming to the Lands Between.” Malenia sighed then. “It is also where my brother, Messmer, was sent on his crusade centuries ago.”

“Crusade?” Harry couldn’t help but ask. Who is this Messmer guy? Can’t say I’ve heard of him before.

“Every noble family was expected to commit one member for the Golden Order’s Crusade in the Land of Shadow.” Ranni seemed to be thinking back. “For House Caria, it was-”

“My sister.” Queen Rennala spoke with a reminiscent smile. “Although Rellana has always been smitten with Prince Messmer, and was quite insistent she go with him…”

“Where is this place anyways?” He asked. “I haven’t heard of it, or any of the people you mentioned.”

“It is sealed away in a different dimension from our own, unreachable.” Malenia looked disturbed. “It is because of thy mention of it… for why I believe Miquella… might be there. The question of how he could gain access to such a realm remains a mystery to me.”

“Only Queen Marika, or those standing before the Elden Ring at the base of the Erdtree, could access the Land of Shadow.” Ranni explained to him. “With the Shattering and Marika’s disappearance, we are all blind to what happens there.”

Yikes. Harry winced, realizing what she was saying. It meant that Malenia’s brother, Messmer, as well as his army, was stuck in this alternate dimension without anyone able to get to them. It meant they probably didn’t know about Marika’s disappearance, the Elden Ring being shattered, or the massive war that had waged since.

“I will accept the possibility of Miquella being there.” Malenia said at last, coming to a decision. “Yet I cannot accept your words against his person until I confront him, face to face.”

“And what of the age thou wish to herald in?” Ranni prodded. “Will it truly be that of kindness and compassion, or this newfound age of manipulation?”

Malenia gave the Carian Princess a look of warning, but still answered her question. “Our priority will still be reunifying these lands and making this a realm of peace and prosperity for all its inhabitants. We will not bow to the Greater Will’s machinations, nor that of any other so-called gods.”

Ranni took this in before nodding. “And thou asks for House Caria’s support in this endeavor? An alliance between ourselves and the Haligtree, thou seek?”

“Yes.” Malenia answered. “But such an alliance is mostly pointless unless we can get past the roots blocking the Erdtree’s base. I will not squander my armies against Leyndell’s walls, nor that of Liurnia’s, until a solution to reaching the Elden Ring is found.”

Ranni nodded. “To eliminate the roots that block thy path, and reach the base of the Erdtree, thou must first eliminate all of the Two Fingers to weaken the influence of the Greater Will.”

“Two Fingers?” Harry perked up, having heard of such an entity, but not knowing exactly what they were.

“They are emissaries of the Greater Will, creatures which communicate guidance and commands directly to the Golden Order. They are known to live at the top of the divine towers.” Malenia explained.

“Not anymore.” Ranni suddenly said. “I hath killed all of the Two Fingers, except for one that still eludes me. To find it, thou must first herald in the age of stars once again. And to slay it, thou must first travel down to the underground city of Nokron, and claim the Fingerslayer blade.”

“Of course it wouldn’t be easy.” Harry felt a headache coming on, having more questions than answers in that moment. “Nokron? Underground city? Doesn’t ring any bells to me.”

He had traveled all the way from Caelid to the snowy mountaintops, and had never once heard mention of an underground place called ‘Nokron’.

“Throughout the Lands Between, one can find underground lifts that delve deep into the earth where vast underground dwellings reside.” Malenia let out a sigh. “These places are home to the more… unpleasant races that were shunned by the Golden Order, forced underground for their own survival.”

“And so there is a city down there too, called Nokron?” He asked, to which the group nodded. “If that’s the case, why not flood the underground with troops to find it? Several thousand men should be able to find a hidden city better than just us, right?”

I’m really getting the hang of this. Harry felt like patting himself on the back in that moment, so confident in his idea as he was. He was technically a General in the Haligtree’s army after all, and could command the men to carry out this plan if need be.

However, rather than complimenting him on having such a good idea, the group looked at him as if he were a moron. Even Rennala looked up at him from her golden egg, a pitying look in her eye.

“What?”

“The underground parts of the Lands Between are dangerous to the extreme, filled with ants the size of horses, starbeasts, and silver tears.” His redhead lover grimaced. “Flooding such tight caverns with our soldiers would result only in a meat grinder.”

“…Right, forget I said anything.” Harry slumped, before turning to Ranni. “Any suggestions for how to begin?”

The four-armed witch interlinked her fingers in anticipation, raising her chin. “As was spoken before, first the age of stars must be heralded, meaning the scourge of stars must be defeated at last.”

“You don’t mean…”

The witch nodded. “Thou must be victorious in the Radahn Festival.”

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the Age of 18

A/N:

Ranni’s quest begins!

As a major change to the game’s canon story, instead of burning the Erdtree to get past its roots, Harry will instead have to kill the remaining Two Fingers as part of Ranni’s quest. This is explained by the Two Fingers channeling the Greater Will’s influence to block the Erdtree’s entrance, thus killing them will stop this.

This is one of the hardest and most important dialogue scenes I’ve had to write overall, so I hope it’s alright. Here are some notes/references just because

Greater Will - Formless cosmic entity, essentially a God, that is worshipped by the Golden Order

Golden Order - The Government that controls Leyndell. Formed by Marika and currently commanded by Morgott

Two Fingers - Direct emissaries of the Greater Will, like antennas that can communicate with their god

Age of Stars - The stars are unmoving due to Radahn, and killing him will ‘unfreeze’ them

Marika / Radagon - Separate people in this story. I know in game most believe they are the same person, but I’ve never liked that concept overly much