Reane and Eleonora square off. Eleonora: ...I don't know if you've gone mad, Eleonora: so let me inform of you several things, lest you are merely ignorant.
Eleonora: Your stance conveys lack of confidence, Eleonora: and your grasp, lack of strength.
Eleonora: I'm not one to brag, Eleonora: but I've killed more than you. You have the scent of a lamb.
Eleonora: I'm inclined to be generous, if only for this brief moment, Eleonora: but once battle begins, there will be no hope for mercy.
Eleonora: And you, Eleonora: and you cannot hide it, Eleonora: have the grace of gold.
The Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, with Mohg in silhouette, his arms spread in a sign of ecstasy before his great lake of blood, which shines in gold. Eleonora: And how pleased with me would the Lord of Blood be, if I can make his blood lake shine with the Greater Will's beams!
Reane: Enough talk. Reane: Unless you've turned coward?
Eleonora leaps.
Reane cuts her hand, blood dripping from it.
She flings a Blood Blade at Eleonora.
The blade cuts through Eleonora's midsection in surprise, causing blood to flood from her abdomen. Eleonora: Urgh!!
Reane retreats into the Second Church of Marika.
Eleonora holds her abdomen. Eleonora: Clever...
She takes off her helm. Eleonora: I'll give you full respect.
Her face swells, becomes scaly.
She floods the church with fire.
The stones of the Church become glassy.
Eleonora enters the heated air of the Church.
She wanders around the Church, looking for traces of Reane.
Eleonora hears a footstep behind the Statue of Marika, which still stands.
She cuts the Statue of Marika in half.
The statue falls, collapsing on the ground.
Behind the statue is a boot, stuffed with clothing to make it fall heavier.
Reane is behind Eleonora, in the stance of the Piercing Fang. Reane is naked. (I have no idea if this offends people, but hanging around an enclosed area with a lot of heat is very...uncomfortable. It's not like Reane is so uncomfortable with her nakedness, anyway.)
Eleonora spins around, about to cut Reane.
A purple liquid is spit onto Eleonora's face. Eleonora: Ah!
Poison drips down Eleonora's eyes and mouth.
The Spirit Jellyfish, created from the ashes Roderika gave Reane a looooong time ago, attacked Eleonora.
Reane completes the Piercing Fang, piercing Eleonora through the neck, having missed her brains.
Reane struggles, trying to twist the foil around, widening the wound.
Eleonora, quivering, puts her hands on the foil, trying to stop its movement.
Eleonora's neck is covered in scales; her teeth sharpen, as fire flickers in her mouth.
Reane pulls the foil out.
She dives; the fire pours out.
Eleonora stops; she begins coughing blood. Blood stains her mouth and neck.
The Spirit Jellyfish raises one tentacle.
The Jellyfish swats down; she hits empty air.
Eleonora walks on the walls of the Church, climbing them.
She is on the vault of the Church, staring down Reane and the Spirit Jellyfish.
She falls, spinning rapidly in the air.
She cleaves the Jellyfish in two; it dissipates back into ash.
Reane cuts her hand again; her hand is covered in blood, and shaking.
Reane performs the Bloody Slash. Eleonora catches it, with a dragon's hand.
Eleonora, as proud as she is of her strength, bleeds from her hand and down her arm; it was a good technique. Eleonora: Mouse, you don't look it, but you're strong. Eleonora: But that gives me all the more reason to kill you.
Eleonora's features are distorted, as she turns into a dragon again. Eleonora: I can't give you, however, the consolation of remembering you. I remember nothing. Eleonora: Farewell.
Eleonora breathes fire.
The fires reach Reane.
The fires hit only feathers; Reane has performed the Mist of the Raptors, and is high in the air, above the fire.
She brings her foil through Eleonora's skull, piercing through bone; the foil punches through the cranium and down through the chin.
The fire stops from Eleonora's throat; blood spills all over her face. She and Reane collapse, falling on the floor.
Reane, having fallen on the floor quite harshly, and her body weak as it is, is recollecting her senses.
A shadow falls over her. Reane looks up, horrified.
Eleonora stands, her foil still stuck in her head. She isn't human anymore; she resembles Commander O'Neil, who fights for no reason anymore.
She puts herself in the stance of the Bloodblade Dance.
Eleonora leaps.
Reane dodges the blade, as Yura had - by walking in the opposing direction.
She dodges the second swing by ducking vey low on the ground. Reane is a quick study.
Reane lunges at Eleonora, pushing her thumbs against her hands. The shock makes Eleonora drop her poleblade.
Eleonora brings her hands around Reane's wrists, crushing them.
Reane grits her teeth, bearing the pain.
Reane punches Eleonora's eyes back; the Bloody Finger's grip is released.
Eleonora staggers backward, unable to find her blade, and unable to breathe any more fire. Her flesh fails her; she has wounds in her brain, her neck and in her eyes; she is disoriented by pain, and her face is wet with blood.
She stumbles backward, falling.
She lays, eagle spread on the ground, dead. Reane's hands lay limply on her sides; they're crushed.
Reane breathes rapidly, hardly believing the battle is over.
She finally collects herself.
She collects the ash of the Jellyfish, putting them back in a pouch.
She pulls her foil out of Eleonora's head.
She picks up Yura's Nagakiba; she trembles, because her arms are weak. Eleonora's poleblade is on her back.
She stands over Yura's corpse.
Reane: ...I'm no good at rites. Reane: You were a selfless man. I suppose that's your fault. Reane: May your legacy be exactly as you wrought.
Reane plants both the katana and the poleblade beside Yura.
Varre and the Bloody Fingers have finally made it past the Banished Knights.
A Bloody Finger tries to press forward; Varre stops them.
Varre: ... Varre: So, you defeated Bloody Finger Eleonora. Varre: What is your intent?
Reane: Nothing. No intention. Reane: She dishonored my friend. I paid her back.
Varre: ...Will you let us through?
Reane: Hmm. I never thought anyone would ever ask my permission. Reane: I might as well come clean: I'm completely defenseless. Before, and especially after our duel.
Reane: I never negotiate with dishonesty. You could kill me now, if you so wish. Reane: There are only facts; this is the fundament of deals, and the rock on which parties should stand.
Reane: There are only the rules of the strong. Never the weak. Reane: For the latter, strength is doing what they can.
Reane: Therefore, I have but one proposition: Reane: Let me join you. Reane is holding up the bloody fingers of Eleonora that Yura had cut, and the finger she had taken from the march to Stormveil.
Back to Gareth and Rhys, after narrowly avoiding Eleonora. Gareth and Stalwart are keeping close to the cliffside, looking for a place to exit.
Gareth sees only steep drops. Gareth: Nowhere to run -
Stalwart descends. Gareth: Stalwart!
The ox grinds his feet against the rocks, trying to latch onto whatever slope there is.
All three land, the ox hitting the ground harshly. The drop was quite high. Gareth and Rhys fall off the ox.
Gareth: Stalwart! Gareth is attending the ox.
Rhys, hissing: Gareth. Rhys: Quiet.
Maleigh, on his litter, passes the valley leading to the Shaded Castle, Elemer walking close by. He is fondling the Valkyrie's Prosthesis, his good luck charm. Trolls attend his train.
Gareth: They came from the Shaded Castle. Morgott's executioners. Gareth: The knights told me about them.
Gareth: Their sword is the law. Gareth: Let's wait here. Rhys: Here?
Gareth: Aye. This is the least place they'll search. Rhys: Because of the camp. Gareth: Right...
Gareth: ... Rhys: They're adult men and women. Let's worry about ourselves.
Rhys: What about our pursuers? Gareth: I think few would be so stupid as to jump down cliffs so readily.
Rhys: ...So...concerning us... Gareth: Yes.
Rhys: Have you been able to speak to Reane? Gareth: No...neither Morrowe. Gareth is gathering leaves, to camouflage the pair / trio (if you count Stalwart) slightly.
Rhys: We should have taught that blades-for-brains how to...how to...Roundtable Hold-ing. Gareth: ...
The Banished Knights reach the plateau where Gareth and Rhys escaped Eleonora. They are exhausted after a day's hard battle. They see Gareth and Rhys retreating further, up the Erdtree-Gazing Hill.
They watch solemnly as their sworn lord abandons them.
Maleigh and his party arrive at the former Tarnished camp. The Tarnished are in shock; they are also in a state of gathering themselves, bandaging the wounded and resting after a night of defeat. Maleigh: Tarnished! Maleigh: Whatever's left of you. Maleigh: Tell me where the shardbearers are, Maleigh: and make it quick.
Tarnished: Wh- Who are you?
Maleigh nods to Elemer.
A crimson glow emanates from Elemer's hand, where he is holding the Marais Executioner's Sword. He points the sword at the Tarnished.
The sword flies through the Tarnished's neck, decapitating them.
The sword returns to Elemer, the head on sword, as if resting on a platter.
Elemer, with one mighty swing, flings the head away.
The head rolls to the feet of the remaining Tarnished.
Maleigh: I am Maleigh Marais, castellan of the Shaded Castle. Maleigh: Leyndell's sanctioned executioners.
Maleigh: I have not been petitioned by Morgott to kill you, Maleigh: but I have not been ordered not to, either.
Maleigh: Your fate is yours. Maleigh: Answer me.
A Banished Knight is standing by the side. Banished Knight: ...
Banished Knight: Neither Sir Gareth nor Rhys have returned to camp, Banished Knight: and yet, even if so, I would never tell you.
Banished Knight: Do you understand?
The Banished Knight and Elemer square off.
The Banished Knight leaps.
Their halberd pierces Elemer's armor and sinks into his shoulder.
Elemer, like a golem, looks at the wound indifferently.
He grabs the Banished Knight by the helm.
His hand glows crimson; the Banished Knight floats into the air, with the Executioner's Sword twirling in the air.
Elemer violently chops the knight's head off his shoulders.
The knight's head rolls next to the Tarnished's, from before.
Maleigh: Well. Maleigh: That's all then.
The litter makes to leave. Tarnished: Wait! Tarnished: What is left for us?
Maleigh: I don't know. Maleigh: I'm not the Veiled Monarch.
Maleigh: You're hens in Morgott's yard, Maleigh: if you grasp what I mean.
Maleigh and his party wind through the camp, heading north. Bernahl and the Recusants are watching from Lux Ruins. Bernahl: Hmph. That's Maleigh Marais, and his champion.
Bernahl: Their joining the hunt makes things difficult... Recusant: There's only two of them. Can't you take the big one out?
Bernahl: Elemer of the Briar is no trifling foe. He even has a reputation, from his own world. Bernahl: There's a reason why he alone is sufficient to weed us out.
Bernahl: When should we settle, and just round up the Tarnished? Bernahl: And I wonder how the Pureblood Knights are faring in the woods...
Bernahl: Questions, questions...
Back to Reane and the Bloody Fingers, at the Second Church of Marika. Reane: Let me join you.
Varre: ...What?
Varre caresses his mask sensuously. Varre: I can't even... Varre: For what purpose?
Reane: I spoke with the Two Fingers. Reane: They didn't seem right.
Reane: Truly, naught but rambling, senile delusions. Reane: The Fingers harbor no love for our kind.
Reane holds the tangle of bloody fingers up. Reane: These...artifacts, or totems, or what have you, defy the pull of the Erdtree. Reane: I don't understand Mohgwyn's power, but your knights and I share the same path.
A Bloody Finger tries to shoot forward. Varre stops them. Varre: Man! What did I tell you?
Bloody Finger: You'll let her prate on and on?! After she killed one of our kind?! Bloody Finger: She herself admitted her weakness!
Bloody Finger pushes Varre aside. Bloody Finger: Let blood speak for blood -
Varre has thrust the Miséricorde through the Finger's heart.
The Bloody Finger kneels; the thrust was so quick and skillful, no blood comes out.
The Bloody Finger falls.
Reane is surprised; it's clear to her she has some leverage in this conversation, and Varre has taken an inexplicable interest in her.
Varre: ...Lambkin, Varre: I cannot admit you, as a Pureblood Knight. Varre: You are not qualified.
Varre: Yet. Varre: To kill a fellow Tarnished, is the first trial.
Varre: There is one more trial left.
Varre, to a Bloody Finger: You, lead the hunt. Varre: Call the other Surgeons if you must.
Varre: This hunt is out of control. The rabbits are cunning. Varre: And Marais is arriving in the west, and Volcano Manor is down south.
Varre: If the shardbearers descend the lift, then we'll have to snatch them from the Recusants. Varre: Gelmir, then we'll need more people.
Varre: I don't think they will seek haven in Leyndell... Varre: And if they descend the mines, then it's over.
Bloody Finger: What about the Shaded Castle? Varre: ...Ah. Good thinking.
Varre: Then there's no choice. Call for help. Varre: Make the decision among yourselves. Bloody Finger: Alright. The Bloody Finger snaps the nail of their finger, ready to "displace" fate.
Varre, to Reane: Now I can give my full, undivided attention to you.
Varre hands her a white cloth. Varre: Take this.
Varre: Soak the cloth with a maiden's blood. Varre: This is your final trial.
Reane: Maiden...? Varre: Oh, for crying out loud.
Varre: ... Varre: I'm not going to explain it now.
Varre: Here, give me one of Eleonora's fingers. Reane hands a finger to him. To be honest, I, the writer, have no idea what purpose Finger Maidens even serve. They really feel like an afterthought in the game too. Why do Finger Maidens guide the Tarnished, when the Finger Readers do the same thing? Why do they convert runes, when Melina just up and gives that ability to you, at some point in time? And it's like, one Finger Maiden for every Tarnished? That just seems like a logistical nightmare. The only role the Finger Maidens can fulfill is indoctrination, because 1) Marika doesn't have full control over the Finger Readers and 2) by limiting the Tarnished's ability to empower themselves she can ensure no one becomes too dangerous. BUT EVEN THAT MAKES NO SENSE IN THE GREATER SCOPE OF THE STORY. So, whatever, moving on.
Varre examines the finger. Varre: Yes... Eleonora's fingers bear great power. Varre: The pureblood favored her.
Varre: Well, I shouldn't be so jealous. Varre removes his glove.
Varre bends the nail on his precious index finger.
He points the bleeding finger to the sky.
The sky above the Erdtree.
A blood-red star, inexplicably, shines in the afternoon sky.
Varre points Eleonora's finger toward this same star.
The finger twitches.
It then changes directions.
Varre gives the finger to Reane. Varre: This is now attuned to the blood of a maiden. Varre: You have everything. Go now.
Varre: I will wait here for you, Varre: but if dusk comes, I will leave.
Reane: ... Varre: What's wrong? Hurry on now. Varre: I used my best finger for you.
Reane: Why are you expending so much energy on me?
Varre: Ugh. Why do you need to know everything? Varre: Do you think I wouldn't have your best interests in heart?
Reane: ... Varre: ...My motivation is very simple.
Varre: I believe in Mohgwyn. Varre: The Lord of Blood will dine in Leyndell some day.
Varre: And when that day comes, we few will take our places next to our lord.
Varre: Go now.
Reane: ... Varre: Oh come on. Why are you still hesitating?
Reane: I'm thinking. She stares at the wriggling finger.
She bends down, pointing the bleeding finger at the ground. Reane: You do it like this, right?
She paints a circle of blood around her feet.
The star in the sky shines. Reane sinks into the blood. Varre: !
Reane is fully submerged. The pool of blood dissipates.
Varre: Hmm... Varre: She's not a dullard.
Reane's head emerges from a pool of blood.
Reane emerges, somewhere along the road to the collapsed Greatbridge over the woods.
The Blood Star has led her to Lightseeker Hyetta.
Hyetta: Hello? Is someone there?
Reane: ...
Reane hears footsteps nearby.
She dives into a brush.
Maleigh, Elemer, and Maleigh's party arrive. Maleigh: Tarnished, Maleigh: move.
Hyetta: Oh-hhh. Hyetta steps aside. Hyetta: I'm sorry.
Maleigh: Hmm. The hunting party proceeds.
Maleigh pauses. Maleigh: You have...a particular face. Maleigh: What is your name? Hyetta: Hyetta, sir.
Maleigh: Are you blind? Hyetta: Yes.
Maleigh: Why are you alone? Hyetta: I'm...journeying in search of the distant light.
Maleigh: Child, Maleigh: sit on my lap.
Elemer roughly picks her up. Hyetta: A-ah!
Elemer puts Hyetta on Maleigh's lap. Maleigh has set aside the Valkyrie's Prosthesis. Maleigh: You know, I, too, was born a cripple. Maleigh: But I don't blame my bloodline.
Maleigh: You and I, were given harrowed fates. Maleigh: We should comfort one another.
Maleigh: What do you think? Maleigh: We'll journey together. Hyetta: ...
Maleigh: Tell me...what really is your "light"? Hyetta: I'm not sure... I see it's golden...and bright... Maleigh: Warm?
Hyetta: No... Hyetta: Burning, actually.
Maleigh is frightened.
He pushes her off. Hyetta: A-ahh!
Maleigh: H-heretic! Maleigh: Kill her!
Hyetta: W-what?! Maleigh: I can't be seen with you! Else, Morgott will have my head! Maleigh: EXECUTE HER!
Elemer raises his sword. Hyetta cringes.
Reane steps out.
Millicent steps in and thrusts her sword forward, deflecting Elemer's sword.
Millicent: Hyetta, are you alright? Hyetta: Y-yes!
Millicent: Good. Then run! Hyetta hurries away.
Maleigh: CORNER HER!
Elemer blocks Hyetta's escape.
Millicent: You rogue - Maleigh: Wait! Wait! I have no quarrel with you! Maleigh: Listen to me!
Maleigh: That woman seeks the Frenzied Flame. Maleigh: By the Veiled Monarch's orders, I cannot let her go. Maleigh: Her very creed is against the Erdtree.
Millicent: Creeds, thoughts, sayings. She's an innocent. Millicent: I could care less.
Maleigh: Marika knows I tried. Maleigh: Kill both of them.
Elemer raises his sword against Hyetta.
Millicent leaps.
She performs Malenia's famous kick, deflecting Elemer's arm again.
This he anticipated, however; with his other arm he grabs the shield on his back and slams it on Millicent, pushing her to the ground.
Elemer presses his foot on the shield.
Millicent struggles, trying to push him off with her only arm.
Maleigh comes down the litter. Notably, his legs are a little shaky. Maleigh: I admire your boldness, but your strength was lacking. Maleigh: And that's all that matters.
Maleigh unsheathes a rapier from his side. Maleigh: I'll execute you myself.
Maleigh pulls out the Antspur Rapier, a rapier with a deep-red blade. Maleigh: At the tip of this blade is the Scarlet Rot, Maleigh: a disease that eats away at the entirety of the Golden Order - mind, body, fate.
Maleigh: A concept that dissolves everything. Maleigh: But will it destroy? Can something be born anew, after dissipation? Maleigh: I want to find it. I crave to find out.
Millicent, struggling against Elemer's strength, is nonetheless horrified by the threat of the Rot (again).
Maleigh thrusts the rapier against Millicent. Maleigh: I pray you reach the other side. Maleigh: Otherwise, may your next life be kinder.
Morrowe grabs at the hilt of the rapier. Morrowe: No.
With the back of his hand, Morrowe bats Maleigh away.
Morrowe elegantly flips the rapier, and throws it at Maleigh.
Maleigh rolls away; the rapier lands in the ground. Maleigh: Eek!
The earth where the rapier lands on rots and becomes moldy.
Elemer quickly walks over Millicent, approaching Morrowe.
Elemer swings at Morrowe.
Morrowe parries him. Elemer's arm swings back. Morrowe: Hmph.
Elemer, however, recovers rather quickly. Morrowe: Hum. You must have some powerful muscles on your shoulders.
Morrowe: But none in your brain. Morrowe: Two defenseless girls? You make crooks look like saints.
Elemer thrusts his sword forward, but Morrowe parries again. Morrowe: Oh, come on!
Morrowe cuts off Elemer's head. I actually don't know if armor covers the neck part, so, here you go.
Morrowe did not cut all the way through; Elemer's head stands on straggling flesh.
Elemer returns his head back to its proper position.
Morrowe: Wha- Oh. Morrowe: The freaks in this land.
Elemer braces himself.
He performs his famous charge, knocking Morrowe back a few feet in the air. Reane crawls away from the site of battle, chasing after Hyetta without being seen. (Doesn't want people to know, you know, she's capable of indiscriminate - I guess this is partially discriminate - murder.)
Morrowe recovers from being knocked down.
He rolls; Elemer slams his greatshield on him.
Morrowe and Elemer square off.
Elemer swings.
Morrowe parries, again.
However, one sees that Elemer is controlling his sword in the air.
Elemer performs his famous levitating sword combo; Morrowe, as everyone has probably done at one point, panic-rolls.
The sword grazes Morrowe in the chest. Morrowe: Ah!
The sword thrusts into Morrowe, knocking him down. I assume this isn't that deadly, as the tip of the blade isn't that sharp, only the side of the blade is exceptionally sharp.
Elemer picks Morrowe up.
He has Morrowe in the same stance as with the Banished Knight: Morrowe and his sword are suspended in the air, dancing.
Millicent is in the stance of the Waterfowl Dance.
Millicent cuts Elemer.
Morrowe and the sword fall down.
Elemer tries to defend himself with his hands, but Millicent cuts him up.
Marais: That's... Millicent continues. Elemer is helpless.
As has been seen before, Millicent, her body moving before her mind can recognize what it is doing, is trying to perform the last part of the Dance.
As in Caelid, the sword flies. Millicent: Ah! Elemer is like a statue, his hands pressed away from his chest.
The sword flies and lands next to Maleigh, into his litter. Maleigh is stunned.
Elemer pulls his sword back into his hand.
Elemer, as if nothing has happened, is ready to resume battle. Maleigh: Wait.
Maleigh, to Millicent: That was the Waterfowl Dance. Millicent: Yes.
Maleigh: Do you know whom that dance originates from? Millicent: I believe so.
Maleigh: Do you know that same dance can inspire religious ecstasy? Millicent: ...
Maleigh: You couldn't finish it, because you don't have a right arm to distribute your weight properly. Maleigh: Hold on.
He climbs into his litter.
He throws the Valkyrie's Prosthesis towards Millicent.
Maleigh: Put it on.
Millicent looks at the Prosthesis, with some curiosity. Millicent: ...
Instinctually, she seems to know exactly how to put it on.
Now she's moving the Prosthesis about, rather elegantly.
Maleigh: Here. Maleigh throws her sword toward her.
Millicent grabs it perfectly, with the Prosthesis.
Maleigh: Now do it.
Maleigh: Elemer: stand down.
Elemer looks to Maleigh, almost with a forlorn look on his face. Millicent gazes at the executioner with almost-pity. Millicent: ...
Elemer resumes the posture as before: hands pressed out before his chest and stomach, so as to reduce damage to his vitals.
Millicent takes the stance of the Waterfowl Dance.
Millicent leaps at Elemer, sweeping her sword down.
Balanced now on one foot, she sweeps again.
Hopping on the other foot, she sweeps again.
She twirls, cutting.
Now she builds power by pressing powerfully on one foot.
She cuts again,
and she cuts again.
Now, the part where she hitherto has failed: she presses her feet very powerfully on the ground. In the game Malenia does this move mid-air, but we'll sidestep the anime physics for now.
Millicent literally flies through the air, becoming a cutting ball; her slashes fill the air like the wings of the titular Waterfowl. The bird literally takes flight. Elemer is pushed back very hard.
Maleigh: Amazing.
Millicent lands, her sword low on the ground, the tip of it very close to her feet.
Millicent sweeps the sword from the ground into the air, blowing the flowers on the earth away.
Then, with one more motion, she pushes her arm behind her and by the side, ready to end the Dance.
The sword comes up in one athletic sweep; her sword is high in the air, like a statue of victory.
Slashes arise from her feet, as if flowers displaced by the Waterfowl's landing. Apparently, anime logic again, she has actually cut so rapidly that her slashes are faster than the human eye can perceive. Again, stupid logic, but Malenia.
Elemer is heavily wounded.
He is over the cliff; it looks like he is near-fall.
He manages to fall forward, collapsing before Millicent as if kneeling before her.
Maleigh and Morrowe are amazed.
Maleigh starts clapping. Maleigh: Incredible.
Maleigh: One more proposition: Maleigh: become my champion.
Elemer's panting form.
Millicent: No.
Maleigh: Then that's all. Maleigh: I was in the wrong, you were in the right. Maleigh: Keep the Prosthesis.
Maleigh: Madam, if I can do anything for you, call on me, at my castle underneath the valley. Maleigh: Again, I was horribly, destestably, pigheadedly wrong. I want to apologize with full sincerity, and tell the young woman so too.
Maleigh: Clearly, I don't perceive the shardbearers being here. Maleigh: Elemer, come. Let us return to the hens.
Elemer is panting, heavily wounded. Recall that Millicent nearly killed a dragon, with only part of the Dance.
Maleigh: Come on, fellow, walk it off. Maleigh: ...Where's my rapier?...
Elemer picks himself up.
The party, also consisting of Trolls who were mostly watching, return back to the south. Morrowe: ...
Morrowe: How the hell did you do that?
Millicent scratches her temple with a finger. Millicent: Even I don't know.
Morrowe kneels before Millicent; she is surprised. He takes her left hand, the real hand.
Morrowe: Can you teach me? He kisses her hand.
Millicent: Are you subject to gravity? Morrowe: Yes. Millicent: I think it will be very difficult, then.
Millicent: Hyetta. Morrowe: Ah.
The two move toward the greatbridge, searching for her.
They find Hyetta dead, her abdomen stabbed through.
Morrowe: Damnit. Millicent is upset.
Millicent: Let's bury her. Millicent: Give her some dignity.
The two stand over a makeshift grave for Hyetta, near the bridge.
Millicent: I felt a kinship for her. Millicent: I feel a kinship for all travelers.
Millicent: So many people have a notion of what they want, Millicent: and pilgrims like Hyetta are searching for the smallest glimmer of what it is they can walk toward.
Millicent: To have one's pilgrimage end, at nothing... Millicent: 'Tis cruel. Morrowe: ...
Morrowe: Did you find what you were looking for? Millicent: Not at all.
Millicent: In my mind, there are flashes...of memories, either mine or someone else's... Millicent: They confuse me... In fact, they wound me...because I can't call them my own.
Millicent: When I looked over all Leyndell, I felt a slight twinge of clarity. Millicent: As if from a dream, I felt my emotions calcify. They took shape. I still don't know to whom they belong to, but I have a glimmer as to why I feel the way I feel, if that makes any sense.
Morrowe: ...Where do your emotions lead you now? Millicent: The windmill up north.
Morrowe: Then that's where we'll go. Millicent: Now? In the panic, of the Tarnished being hunted, in the aftermath of the battle?
Morrowe: Millicent, the most important person to you is yourself. Morrowe: I would be a villain if I stopped you from being happy.
Millicent: ...And yet, I feel that wouldn't be right. Millicent: Gareth failed because of my neglect.
Morrowe: Do you think you can protect all the world in your hands? Millicent: ...
Morrowe: ...We have all the time in the world. Morrowe: Whatever you feel is right, is right.
Millicent: Thank you. Millicent: No, truly. You put order to my thoughts.
Millicent: I want to protect the Tarnished, if I can. Millicent: Let's return south.
Millicent: Will you accompany me? Morrowe: Of course. Apparently he has forgotten Reane entirely.
Millicent walks away. Millicent: ...You're a good man. Millicent: Thank you for being my friend. Again.
Morrowe: I... Morrowe: ... It appears he also can't put his emotions into words or logic.
Morrowe follows her.
Reane returns to Varre. Notably, she has the Antspur Rapier by her side. Varre: Ahh, my lambkin. Varre: Back so soon? Giving up? Varre: It's fate's fault, not yours.
Reane: Incorrect. Reane: I have it. She is holding up the Blood-Soaked Favor.
Varre: ...You've completed your final trial. Varre: With this, you are a formal inductee.
Varre: A knight, a Pureblood Knight, who will assist Luminary Mohg in the establishment of a new dynasty.
Varre: Now, give me your finger.
Reane, hesitantly, gives Varre her finger.
Varre produces a rusty nail, painted in blood.
Reane looks frightened. Varre: Look away, if you have to.
Varre slips the nail between the gap of Reane's nail and the flesh.
Reane's hand trembles. Varre: Oh, clench your teeth or something.
Varre pushes the nail inside.
Reane clenches her teeth, perhaps against her other hand.
Varre pushes and pushes. Blood drips down from the finger.
Finally, the finger accepts the nail; the nail sinks inside of her hand.
Varre: There. It's done. Varre steps back, his hands in the air.
Varre: Never forget that feeling of agony. Varre: For it is what binds you to Luminary Mohg, and your fellow knights.
Varre: Heh. Reane: What is it?
Varre: You have the sweetest scream, lambkin. Varre: I have high expectations for you. Of a sort.
Varre extends his hand. Varre: Let us go. Reane: Where?
Varre: To the future, of course. Reane takes his hand.
They both descend into the blood.
The scene from Chapter 21, where the Prophet has ridden off alone; in the twilight he is staring at Mt. Gelmir, with Melina.
Voice, offscreen: H-hello? They turn.
They see Hyetta, covered in soil with the wound untended to. Hyetta: Is... Is someone there?