As time ticked by, the veil of night gradually descended.
Mohg and his party were steadily approaching the vicinity of the Ainsel River Well. In this region stood the Great Study Hall, established by the Carian Royal Family near the Divine Tower.
The most striking difference from his memory was the sheer number of towns in this area—and the staggering weight of the defensive forces. A small Carian army was stationed here; one didn't even need to guess to know that powerful figures were likely overseeing the perimeter.
This gave Mohg a bit of a headache. He only wanted to borrow a path to the underground; why did it have to be this difficult? Was he really expected to negotiate with the Carian Royals?
Just the thought made his skin crawl. After all, his "mother-in-law" was destined to marry Radagon eventually. If a scandal broke out or things went south later, his plan to steal a march would be completely ruined.
Currently, the largest settlement in the area was a town called Toriland. Through the inquiries of Liana and the others, they learned that the local lord was one Camo Toriland, a member of the Carian nobility.
Mohg's only thought regarding the man was a wondering curiosity about whether he would eventually become an "old acquaintance"—specifically, a Royal Revenant.
"Let's scout the perimeter first. I want to see just how strong the town's defenses really are," Mohg said, turning to Liana.
Liana nodded. She left a blood mark in the area so that those following could track them, then settled in to wait.
Inside Toriland Town, Camo had just disentangled himself from his bed.
Compared to the increasingly tense atmosphere at Caria Manor and the Academy, this region in eastern Liurnia felt secure. With its favorable terrain and the town of Scariland to the north acting as a vanguard against any potential assault, Camo felt no sense of urgency whatsoever.
Furthermore, because of the ongoing exploration and excavation of the magic well, Caria had dispatched significant reinforcements to garrison the area. This only bolstered his sense of absolute safety.
Camo adjusted his clothing as he glanced at the woman beside him before stepping outside. There, he spotted another woman sitting cross-legged on a nearby roof, gazing at the distant moon.
She wore silver mail and black robes. Her pale skin and refined features, coupled with an ethereal aura, made Camo stare in a bit of a daze. However, he soon shook his head with a sigh of regret.
Though he wished to claim such a beauty for himself, it was an unrealistic fantasy. These were the Albinaurics—personal guards loyal only to the Carian Royal Family. He was a mere provincial noble; he wouldn't dare covet them. Besides, if she were unwilling, she could likely put an arrow through his chest before he could blink. Such women were far too dangerous for a common royal noble who only dabbled in a bit of sorcery.
"Lord Governor."
The door swung open suddenly, and a flash of irritation crossed Camo's face. The intruder hadn't even bothered to knock. However, he quickly suppressed his annoyance.
The man standing there was someone he couldn't afford to offend: Harold, the commander of the reinforcements sent to guard the Ainsel River Well and a member of the Carian Knights.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Commander?"
Harold's eyes swept indifferently over the panicked woman on the bed before he addressed Camo.
"Her Majesty has issued an order. All nobles are to lead their respective forces to Caria Manor for a general assembly. However, due to the unique nature of this post, you are permitted to stay. That said, you are still required to dispatch half of your troops to the manor."
"I understand. I will see to the arrangements immediately. Rest assured," Camo replied with a slight bow.
"Also... we have spotted traces of the Blood Faction—the one active in the Lake District—nearby. Please remain vigilant during this time."
"The Blood Faction?" Camo blinked, hearing the name for the first time.
"It seems you haven't been paying much attention to recent events in the lake," Harold remarked tonelessly. Camo gave a sheepish smile; it was the truth.
"In recent years, a new power has emerged within Liurnia. They worship an Outer God known as the Lord of Blood, or the Formless Mother. They are a group of battle-hungry maniacs, though they have a rather... peculiar reputation."
"A peculiar reputation?" Camo was confused. If they were lunatics, why would their reputation be "peculiar"?
"Because they do not kill civilians, women, children, or the elderly—unless those individuals possess significant strength themselves," Harold explained. "In any case, keep your guard up. Some of them are experts at infiltration. If they mark you, it will be a major problem."
"Understood."
Camo nodded, though his expression suggested he wasn't taking the warning to heart. In his mind, what could a small, upstart faction really do in this territory? Besides, if they only hunted powerful warriors, what did that have to do with a physically weak noble like him?
He didn't realize that nobles were very much on the Blood Dynasty's hit list. Many of Mohg's followers believed that noble blood was generally more potent and, since few of them were actually strong, they made for excellent sacrifices.
Meanwhile, Mohg, who had been scouting along the outskirts of Toriland, had found a location that left a deep impression on him.
It was the church where Radagon and Rennala would eventually wed: the Church of Vows.
However, it didn't yet bear that name. The area was surrounded by numerous gravestones, likely representing an older way of returning to death—a funerary rite leaning toward ancient traditions. Specifically, the rites of the Deathbirds, or perhaps the higher-ranking Twinbird.
Mohg observed the church. The current decorations were quite grand, and the doors stood open.
Unfortunately, his current vantage point made it difficult to see inside. He was genuinely curious if the "Turtle Teacher" was already there. He had a very good impression of Miriel; if it were possible, he'd even want to poach him for his own faction. But that was unlikely—the turtle was a true pacifist who had no interest in conflict.
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Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (286 Chapters – Ongoing)
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