"Once we reach the Royal Capital, will I be imprisoned?"
"I've heard that demigods have the right to form their own personal knighthoods. Do I have that right as well?"
"If I can form a knightly order, would you give it a name?"
"You don't wear armor on your upper body. From a defensive standpoint, isn't that a significant disadvantage?"
Raven rode his horse in circles around Radagon, yet from beginning to end, Radagon remained silent. Not a single flicker of emotion could be seen on his face, which looked as though it had been carved from marble.
With a heavy sigh, Raven accepted that today's attempt at communication had ended in failure once again. He turned his horse and headed back.
The Leyndell army had already left the Liurnia region. Having just passed through the winding tunnels of the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, they were retracing their steps back toward the Altus Plateau. For the first few days, Raven could still occasionally spot the Avionette Soldiers trailing them from a distance, but now they were nowhere to be seen. They were clearly far beyond the reach of the Carian Kingdom's influence.
In the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, the army had abandoned a large amount of heavy equipment that was difficult to transport, including ballistae and catapults. It was said that when they first arrived, they had disassembled the machines and forced Troll slaves to carry the parts over the mountains before reassembling them. Now, on the return journey, they lacked the strength and resources to do so again.
Despite traveling light, the army's food and water supplies were running low. The rations for the common soldiers had been cut by a third, and they relied primarily on digging pits for groundwater whenever they made camp. However, the water at the bottom of the valley was mostly foul; even after simple filtration, it remained difficult to drink. Dozens of soldiers had mistakenly consumed toxic water contaminated by Land Squirts, and nearly half of them had died before receiving treatment from the clerics.
The army's morale was visibly plummeting. The initial excitement of bloodlessly subduing the Carian Kingdom and forcing them to offer up their prince as a hostage was beginning to fade.
"Oh, Prince Raven!"
Upon seeing him, many soldiers greeted him warmly.
"Hey there, Auckland, Vash, Tacock..." Relying on a memory far superior to that of an average person, Raven easily called out a string of names as he dismounted. "Are the water rations still insufficient today?"
"Yeah, that bit of clean water isn't nearly enough to drink! Prince, please, use that magic of yours to make some ice."
"Of course. Come, there's enough for everyone." Using ice sorcery, Raven condensed moisture from the damp air, creating sticks of ice and distributing them to the men.
"Ooooh!" The soldiers cheered, taking the ice blocks and crunching on them happily. Zamor ice magic was considered heretical even in the magically prosperous Caria; Raven had only learned it by using his royal privilege to enter the restricted archives. No one else in the army could produce ice like this.
A nearby cleric of the Golden Order saw this and muttered something about "heresy" and "magic tricks," yet his body remained honest as he leaned in and accepted a piece of ice for himself.
"Master Corhyn, I'd like to test the incantation you taught me yesterday. Please point out my failings," Raven said humbly, handing a Golden Order prayerbook to the cleric with both hands.
"Such a studious attitude is a good start. You must maintain a posture of humility and follow the teachings of Queen Marika; the rest is diligent practice." Corhyn pulled out his Sacred Seal. "It is impossible to truly cast an incantation after only one day of study, but I can see the direction of your improvement from an incomplete prototype. Here, take this and let me see you try."
Raven took the Sacred Seal and, with a sharp snap of his fingers, cast an Urgent Heal on himself. He was already completely unharmed, but the spell immediately left his complexion ruddy and glowing, making him feel invigorated to the point of euphoria.
"Huh!" Corhyn's eyes widened. He cleared his throat and said, "Hmm, not bad."
Seeing Raven fluidly follow up with Flame Fortification and Cure Poison incantations, Corhyn nodded solemnly.
"This proves that your heart has moved away from sorcery and heretical beliefs, drawing closer to the Eternal Erdtree. As a cleric of the Erdtree, I find this immensely gratifying," Corhyn said. "In truth, King Radagon's understanding of Golden Order Fundamentalism is second to none in the entire Royal Capital. Why do you not try to get closer to your father and learn incantations from him?"
Raven shrugged. "Perhaps the King is still testing me."
Over the past few days, although Raven felt no genuine affection for this "father" of his, he had still tried his best to engage him in conversation. But no matter what he said—even the borderline provocative questions from earlier—Radagon remained neither angry nor pleased, existing in a state of inorganic coldness.
He couldn't help but wonder if Radagon was the one who had dispatched the Black Knife Assassins. If that were the case, why would he lead an army to seize him instead of killing him? Was it because the situation had changed, or was there another power in the Royal Capital keeping him in check?
With too little information, Raven found it difficult to judge. He could only take it one step at a time.
"Halt the advance! All units, rest where you stand." A Leyndell Knight galloped past, issuing orders to the soldiers along the road.
"May I ask what has happened?"
"Prince Raven." The knight stopped and offered a bow. "Lord Rykard of the Volcano Manor has led his forces to support us. We have just encountered them ahead."
"Praetor Rykard?" Raven said. "He is my brother. I would like to go and see him, if it is convenient."
"Ah, of course. Shall I lead the way for you?" the knight asked respectfully.
"I won't disturb you while you're on duty. I can make my own way to the front," Raven replied with a smile.
Riding forward, Raven waved to the soldiers he knew along the way. Most of the knights he encountered stepped aside and bowed to him. Through his words and actions during this journey, the entire army had become familiar with him. Some of the less successful knights had even actively tried to curry favor, hinting that he should consider them when he eventually formed his own knightly order.
Raven noted the names of these knights one by one. Of course, it was highly likely that spies were mixed among them, and his "knightly order" was currently nothing more than a castle in the sky. He didn't believe for a second that the Royal Capital of Leyndell would be kind enough to authorize him to freely build his own armed forces. Even if they did allow it, they would likely pack it with double agents—bodyguards in name, but wardens in reality.
Arriving at the very front of the army, Raven saw the contingent from the Volcano Manor. It was a grand sight, with a significant number of troops. Radagon and Rykard were on horseback, engaged in conversation.
Praetor Rykard had eyes like a hawk and a majestic beard. His somewhat sinister countenance was enough to inspire dread. Perhaps due to the years spent interrogating prisoners and the immense pressure involved, he appeared older than his father, possessing the appearance of a middle-aged man—a look that seemed ill-suited to his status as an immortal demigod.
"When I heard the news of Father leading an army to crusade against Caria, I immediately gathered the troops of my domain and followed the trail of your march, intending to act as reinforcements," Rykard said. "I did not expect Father to return in victory so quickly. It was quite a surprise to encounter you on the road."
"You should have dispatched a messenger to inform me of your movements," Radagon said indifferently.
"An oversight on my part." Rykard bowed his head in apology, glancing at the somewhat disheveled Leyndell army. "Father's march this time was far too hurried, quite unlike your usual military style. It seems supplies are rather lacking as well? Did the Capital not provide full support for this campaign?"
"The weather and road conditions were poor; logistics were hindered," Radagon replied without addressing the question directly. "If you have surplus grain and supplies, you may share them."
"Of course. However, Mt. Gelmir is a barren place, and my army was assembled in haste. Our own supplies are not particularly abundant, but we will do our best to—"
"Near the Albinauric Village in the valley, my army abandoned a great deal of equipment. You can find it if you head there," Radagon said.
"That is excellent news. Tanith, you will handle the communication with the Leyndell quartermasters and do your best to meet their requirements." Rykard spoke to the woman wearing a white veil beside him, then turned his head to see Raven trotting over on his horse. "And this is—"
"Raven, at your service, Brother," Raven said, offering a polite greeting.
"Oh! I have heard of you." Rykard sized Raven up, his piercing gaze seemingly capable of seeing through everything. Then, a smile touched his lips—one that seemed slightly more sincere than the one he had given Radagon. "My full-blooded brother. I heard of the celestial disaster that befell Raya Lucaria; you have my deepest sympathies."
"It was truly terrifying," Raven nodded. "Fortunately, the casualties were not too severe."
"Astel, Naturalborn of the Void... I am quite curious as to why such a legendary monster would descend upon Caria." Rykard handed over a letter bearing the seal of the Volcano Manor. "If you encounter any trouble, you may show this to my subordinates and ask for their help. They will do what they can to assist you."
Raven accepted it, somewhat surprised.
"Thank you... Brother."
"You are welcome to visit the Volcano Manor in the future," Rykard said with a faint smile. "The volcano is remote, and I have been unable to visit Mother these past few years. If you have the chance, please give her my regards."
Raven could only manage a bitter smile. "I hope there will be an opportunity."
"Of course there will be," Rykard chuckled, giving Radagon a slight bow. "Please allow me to take my leave. I shall not delay the army's progress any further."
Rykard rode away, and the Volcano Manor troops slowly retreated to make way. Raven glanced at Radagon, thinking that if the Golden Lineage family all treated each other with this kind of "mutual respect," then Radagon's coldness toward him wasn't exactly special treatment.
"Let's move," Radagon said, his face as expressionless as ever.
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(56 Chapter - Ongoing)
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