After watching Thops gather his belongings and head toward Stormveil Castle, Gawain continued toward Caria Manor under Blaidd's guidance. To save time, he rode Torrent at a brisk pace; as a half-beast, Blaidd had no trouble keeping up on foot.
While the panoramic view of Liurnia's magical landscape from above was stunning, the filth hidden beneath the surface became impossible to ignore once one actually set foot upon the lake.
As they traveled, they could clearly see countless spirits lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush any passing living soul—including that notorious Royal Revenant. However, Gawain's Faith was currently staggering; the spirits didn't even dare to approach, fearing they might be forcefully "exorcised" on the spot.
Occasionally, they spotted giant lobsters and crabs engaging in territorial skirmishes with puppet soldiers that had wandered out from parts unknown.
Gawain recalled that the puppet soldiers were usually stationed near the shores of Caria Manor. Seeing so many of them deployed toward Stormveil suggested the Academy was extending its scouting range, likely monitoring the new King's movements.
To his slight disappointment, Gawain didn't see Rya at the gazebo where he remembered her being, nor was there any sign of her at the nearby shack. Perhaps he had arrived too early, or perhaps his earlier request for Ranni to deal with a few Recusants had slowed Rya's progress. Currently, Rya was likely still wandering elsewhere on her recruitment drive; given her somewhat airheaded nature, she probably wasn't having much luck convincing people to join Volcano Manor. While a bit regrettable, Gawain decided it was best to focus on his destination.
As they passed the Academy of Raya Lucaria in the center of the lake, the scars of war became stark. Groups of Cuckoo Knights held ramshackle defensive lines, locked in a tense standoff with distant Albinaurics. These Albinaurics were likely the ones loyal to the Carian Royal Family—after all, Caria Manor had once been home to Loretta, a knight who had traversed the land to find a sanctuary for their kind before eventually departing for the Haligtree.
Unlike the first-generation Albinaurics who suffered from congenital leg failure, the second-generation—despite their somewhat "dim" appearance—possessed individuals capable of learning sorceries that even "9 Intelligence" warriors would struggle with. Furthermore, they seemed to have a natural talent for weapon smithing. They were currently employing a sophisticated tactic that had been famous on Terra back in the "2k era": the "Home Exchange" strategy.
This tactic seemed universal across worlds. As the war dragged on, Caria Manor found its gates blocked by Cuckoo Knights, while the Academy was besieged by Albinaurics. The Cuckoo Knights, harborng their own ambitions, were distrusted by the Academy, leading to a three-way stalemate where everyone was stuck.
Bypassing the massive blue seals surrounding the Academy, Gawain and Blaidd finally sighted the towering spires of Caria Manor. However, a few eyesores still blocked their path. Several Cuckoo Knight camps were scattered along the road, engaged in a long-distance standoff with the spectral sorcerers wandering the ruins of the royal estate.
Gawain held no love for the treacherous Cuckoo Knights. Together with Blaidd, he systematically dismantled every camp in their way. The knights attempted to resist, but against such overwhelming power, their efforts were futile; they were broken and scattered in a single charge. Gawain didn't bother hunting down every straggler; once he took the Academy, there would be nowhere for them to run—not with the spirits and other horrors filling the wilds.
In the current state of Limgrave, even Runebears were mostly reduced to rugs hanging in the castle, with only a few kept as "protected species."
Blaidd looked at the wreckage of the camps with a hint of admiration. He could have cleared a camp alone, but it would have been a slog, and if reinforcements arrived, it could have turned into a messy affair. He was glad a person of Gawain's caliber was an ally.
The spectral sorcerers in the area were essentially puppets created by Seluvis, devoid of their own will. Upon seeing Blaidd, they parted to form a path. A previously solid wall at the end of the road vanished, revealing a hidden passage.
Beyond the passage stood a Trow giant wearing a peculiar stone mask, leafing through a massive book. Beside him were an anvil and a hammer suited to his gargantuan size. This was Iji, the War Counselor. While his forge lacked the luxurious private accommodations Hewg enjoyed at the Roundtable Hold, it was fully equipped for its purpose.
Sensing their approach, Iji lifted his masked head. It was a mystery how he could see through such a nearly seamless stone visor. He set down the book and straightened his posture.
"Ah, the honored guest has finally arrived. Though we have met once before, allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Iji. I once served the Carian Royal Family as a blacksmith. Though my skills have waned with age, I am not yet ready for retirement. I currently serve as Mistress Ranni's War Counselor."
Gawain looked at the hammer, which was larger than he was. He found himself wondering how Iji managed such delicate work on Carian Knight armor—did the mirror-helm and the magnifying glass play a part?
Blaidd took the lead in the conversation. "Master Iji, I have successfully escorted Mistress Ranni's guest. Along the way, we dismantled the Cuckoo Knight camps blocking the road. I'll leave the cleanup to you."
He pointed toward the spectral sigils in the air. "Also, could you temporarily disable the manor's defensive sorceries? It is safe for the moment."
Iji nodded. He produced a massive bow decorated with glintstone and fired an arrow toward the manor. Shortly after the signal reached its mark, the faint blue glow over the road vanished.
"That should do it. Blaidd, escort our guest inside. I shall handle the matters here and send a phantom to the meeting shortly."
Holy crap, is this Gough reborn? Gawain thought, experiencing a massive wave of déjà vu. He stared at the bow—a type he had never seen in the game, bearing a distinct Carian Royal aesthetic.
It confirmed his suspicion: blacksmiths in Souls-like worlds were invariably powerhouses. If Iji weren't a top-tier fighter, he wouldn't have been able to take several Black Knife Assassins down with him when he was eventually ambushed. After all, Black Knives were terrifying in numbers; their percentage-based health drain could kill anyone. Just look at a certain "God-named" demigod in the Capital who was assassinated in his own bed before being dumped in the Deeproot Depths to become a mermaid.
"Master Iji, don't forget to pack your things. Jerren has been waiting at Redmane Castle for you to forge weapons for quite a while," Gawain added.
"Rest assured, I am nearly prepared."
The next leg of the journey was a walk. As they traveled, Blaidd recounted the details of the siege of Caria Manor. From his description, it had been a brutal affair; the Cuckoo Knights had actually breached the interior before being repelled.
The environment bore witness to his words. Shattered armor and weapons littered the ground. Some had been sliced clean through by massive laser sorceries, others crushed by puppets, and some appeared to have been squeezed to death by something gargantuan.
Gawain saw the massive finger-marks on several corpses and felt his skin crawl. If he recalled correctly, the first floor of Caria Manor was infested with those giant "hand-monsters." These poor bastards had been squeezed until they were dry. Even after seeing many "abstract" horrors in Caelid, the thought of those giant hands still made his hair stand on end. Oh well, I've seen it all. One more nightmare won't hurt.
Soon, they reached the manor's main gate. A giant hand-monster stood there, partially upright and slightly curved, as if welcoming them.
Blaidd showed no unease at the "servant" meeting them. He approached and gently patted it. The massive hand seemed to relax, moving aside to find a hole in the ground to bury itself, leaving only its sharp nails exposed.
Blaidd noticed Gawain standing stiffly and scratched the back of his head. He realized the sight might be difficult for someone new to stomach.
"Relax. Those are called Fingercreepers. I know it's hard to imagine such creatures exist if you haven't seen them before, but once you get used to them, you'll find they're quite friendly. Sometimes I feel they're almost too clingy."
Gawain's eye twitched. He remembered the first time he entered Caria Manor in the game; the moment that giant hand erupted from the ground and grabbed him, he nearly turned his computer off. To a player grinding through the night, that wasn't "friendly"—it was a heart attack.
This was the first time he had heard them called "Fingercreepers"; he had always habitually called them "Hand-monsters." The game's lore on them was sparse. In his memory, they were found in places related to the Carian family (excluding the Academy), the Leyndell sewers, and the Mountaintops of the Giants—where a truly massive one resided. Logically, the Mountaintops were likely their original habitat.
He decided to ask Blaidd for more information. "Friendly? Well, I can see that one likes you. Where do these things come from? Do they have a connection to the Two Fingers?"
Blaidd considered the question. It wasn't forbidden knowledge, though even he didn't know everything. As a Shadow sent by the Two Fingers, he only knew his mission and the Empyrean he served.
"The Fingercreepers weren't always part of Caria Manor. After the union of Queen Rennala and the hero Radagon, they were sent as rare specimens—a gift from the Royal Capital of Leyndell. Much like the Golden Order itself, which traces its origins to the Mountaintops, these creatures are native to the snowy peaks. They aren't just physically powerful; they possess a natural aptitude for sorcery. With a bit of training, they can cast offensive spells. Believe me, an enemy does not want to be on the receiving end of those in a fight."
Blaidd led the way into the manor, pointing out the groups of Fingercreepers of all sizes hiding in the soil and buildings.
"During the defense of the manor, these Fingercreepers were a vital part of our strength. As you can see, most are stationed on the ground floor. When the Cuckoo Knights tried to force their way in, these creatures showed no mercy. They are communal creatures and often appear in packs. They possess an organ that can receive signals; the Two Fingers can issue commands to them. It is said they were used in the wars of the Lands Between in the past."
Gawain was fascinated. "The Two Fingers can command them? Then why can you still control them now?"
Blaidd walked a few steps and scooped up a wriggling small Fingercreeper. It struggled briefly before settling down. He flipped it over and pointed to a subtle spot where a blue glintstone had been embedded.
"Just as I said, the Fingers need to transmit a signal to control them. Naturally, we can modify the receiving organ, severing that connection and replacing it with our own commands. It's not as difficult as it sounds. Often, you only need to modify the largest 'Mother' creeper, and every new individual split from her will follow instructions just like this one."
Gawain processed this new data. He had long suspected a connection between the Two Fingers, Three Fingers, and these Fingercreepers; they shared too many physiological traits. Blaidd's explanation confirmed his theory.
The Fingercreepers functioned similarly to the Two Fingers, acting on external signals—much like the Two Fingers followed the Greater Will. Here, they had been reprogrammed to be absolutely loyal to Caria.
Thinking deeper, perhaps the "Two Fingers" were also a collective species. Every Divine Tower had a deceased one, and the Three Fingers were locked in the Capital's sewers. Did the Fingers also have a "Mother" receiving commands? Was the Greater Will like the Carian Royal Family, controlling the "Mother" to execute its will through the Fingers?
However, he couldn't recall any game text supporting this. Perhaps the Nox beneath the earth had deeper research into this. After all, they had done something to earn the personal wrath of the Greater Will, which sent a meteor to destroy them—a "privilege" few other factions enjoyed.
Gawain carefully avoided the small Fingercreepers carpeting the floor. They were important assets for the manor's defense and potential sources of lore. In the future, if those Leyndell Fingercreepers try to jump me in the sewers, I won't be nearly this polite.
Climbing to the upper levels, they found spectral soldiers shimmering with blue light—more of Seluvis's creations to ensure a steady supply of manpower. A few surviving living soldiers and Troll Knights stood guard before the Royal Moongazing Grounds as the final line of defense. Gawain spotted several figures in Carian Knight sets among them.
Without exception, these knights watched his every move. Though their faces were hidden, the way they gripped their hilts suggested they were ready to dice him into mincemeat at a moment's notice.
Gawain was quite interested in these powerful knights. Lore-wise, there were only twenty of them—slightly more than the Crucible Knights—but each was an elite among elites. During the Liurnia Wars, the Academy's forces, led by the Queen, were able to fight the Golden Order's heroes to a standstill largely because of these knights. It had eventually forced Radagon to "marry into" the family to conquer the Academy.
It seemed the surviving Carian Knights—aside from the one guarding the Queen's boss room—were mostly here, guarding the Princess.
Several lazy white wolves lounged about, watching the stranger. A few were even interacting with small Fingercreepers; the sight of tiny hands "scratching" the backs of the wolves was bizarre and slightly unsettling to Gawain.
They crossed the central plaza of the Moongazing Grounds. The sky had darkened, and the stars and Dark Moon were clearly visible—truly a magnificent place for moongazing. Gawain could even see his own "Sun" flickering faintly among the stars.
Gawain didn't see Loretta's phantom. It seemed the combat phantom was a defensive mechanism that only triggered for intruders, much like Godfrey's phantom in the Capital.
He looked toward the three tall mage towers ahead. Their destination was finally in sight.
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