After receiving a portion of supplies from the Volcano Manor and requisitioning grain from a dozen villages along the way, the Leyndell army followed the Altus Highway across the plateau. Before long, the Royal Capital of Leyndell loomed in the distance.
Since a few days ago, the sky had been completely obscured by the sprawling canopy of the Erdtree. Even the Golden Sunflowers along the road no longer bowed toward the sun, but instead grew facing the Erdtree.
"One day, the branches and leaves of the Erdtree will cover the sky of the entire Lands Between," Corhyn said, his face filled with longing.
"If that happens, how much nourishment would such a gargantuan tree require? Can this land even sustain it?" Raven asked.
"Of course it can. That shall be the eternal age of prosperity for the Golden Dynasty, where the population of the Lands Between will flourish beyond imagination," Corhyn replied. "When we die, we all return to the roots; our souls coexist with the Erdtree. Mankind shall prosper alongside the tree."
He glanced at Raven. "Of course, a noble demigod such as yourself, Your Highness, is far more important than commoners like us. You shall be immortal and undying, an eternal defender of the Erdtree, enjoying its everlasting grace. Your Highness, do you not find this to be the most wonderful future for everyone?"
"Perhaps. Things always start out that way. But they rarely end that way." Raven gave a faint smile. "Master Corhyn, are there any other incantations I can learn next?"
They ascended the long stone staircase, which had taken countless masons a century to carve. They climbed from the afternoon until the deep dusk, finally reaching the entrance to the outer walls of Leyndell. If Raven had not miscounted, there were exactly twelve thousand, four hundred and fifty-six steps, and the staircase was wide enough for a hundred men to walk abreast.
Raven looked back, gazing down at the Altus Plateau beneath the twilight. Without him noticing, sparse lights had already begun to scatter across the land. In the distance, the chaotic scenery under the evening mist pulled this calm, composed night into the deep corridors of history.
Under the radiance of the Erdtree, the Divine Towers stood round and solemn, their wind chimes ringing crisply. As the group moved forward slowly, the three layers of the capital's walls appeared magnificent and vigorous in the night. The majesty of the gods was deeply felt here, in the sacred solemnity of the union between heaven and man.
At the gates of Leyndell's outer wall, a sea of burning torches stood waiting. Raven initially thought these were guards, but he saw the man at the front wearing a golden crown and heavy armor, mounted upon a snow-white steed without a single stray marking. His aura was that of a natural-born king, far beyond that of an ordinary general.
"King Radagon, we have awaited your triumphant return for a long time." He rode closer, his laughter hearty and bright.
"Prince Godwyn," Radagon spoke indifferently. "It is already time for rest. You should be in your chambers."
"Nonsense. If not for the lateness of the hour, we should have held a grand triumphal ceremony," Godwyn the Golden said, his gaze sweeping over those behind. "Where is Hector?"
"He is dead," Radagon said.
"Is that so?" Godwyn's eyes seemed to turn cold for a fleeting second before he relaxed again. "To lose such a peerless warrior on the battlefield is a great loss indeed. However, he abandoned his duty of guarding the capital to follow you on a whim to crusade against Caria. Had he returned, I would have punished him severely. In that case, please return his Draconic gear to me; I shall bestow it upon other loyal soldiers."
"Regrettably, his body was left on the battlefield. It was likely taken by the Liurnians."
"That is a pity indeed." Godwyn closed his eyes and opened them again. "And this is—?"
Raven rode forward and introduced himself.
Godwyn smiled warmly, reaching out to pat Raven on the shoulder. "I see. Welcome to the Royal Capital. Do not be formal; you are a member of our Golden Lineage. Within this city, no one shall dare disrespect you."
"Prince Godwyn, where are you taking him?" Radagon asked.
"As the firstborn of God, I find myself in immediate rapport with my dear cousin. I intend to hold a banquet to welcome him," Godwyn said. "You must be weary from the campaign, King Radagon. You should go and rest early."
"He should be kept under proper supervision."
"What talk is this? The Erdtree watches over everyone. In this capital, no one needs to be 'supervised'," Godwyn laughed. "My brother, come. The Royal Capital is far friendlier than you imagine—so long as you can distinguish who your true friends are."
Godwyn kept his hand on Raven's shoulder. To an outsider listening to his familiar tone, one might think the two of them had bathed in the same tub as children and were the oldest of friends.
Radagon nudged his horse forward. At that moment, an ancient dragon descended from the sky, folding its wings beside Godwyn. It lowered its long, slender neck and nuzzled his hand affectionately.
"Fortissax, you've returned from hunting. Have you grown tired of the meat provided by the palace?" Godwyn stroked the beautiful scales on the ancient dragon's neck. Fortissax turned its head contentedly, its ruby-like eyes monitoring Radagon with a hint of a threat.
Just as Raven felt the atmosphere growing increasingly tense and wondered how to intervene, a rider galloped over from the inner city.
"A decree from Her Majesty, Queen Marika the Eternal! Prince Raven of Caria is summoned to the palace for an audience!"
Godwyn was somewhat surprised. "An audience? But at this hour... has Mother not yet retired for the night?"
"The Goddess awaits in the Queen's Bedchamber," the knight replied.
"The Bedchamber?" Godwyn lowered his head, his expression hidden. Then, he looked up with a carefree smile and moved his horse aside. "In that case, I shall take my leave. Prince Raven, you may visit my palace tomorrow."
Raven acknowledged him and prepared to move forward, but Radagon remained in front of him without moving, appearing as though he intended to block the way.
Several seconds passed. The surrounding people gradually began to notice the standoff. Just as Raven hesitated between speaking up or trying to bypass him, Radagon pulled his reins and cleared the path.
Raven glanced at Radagon with some confusion, but their eyes did not meet.
The knight urged him once more.
"Please, lead the way," Raven said to the knight, following him deep into the Royal Capital.
Leyndell was truly a city that never knew night. The glowing trunk of the Erdtree connected heaven and earth, illuminating the Great Road of the capital as if it were broad daylight; no streetlamps or torches were necessary. Exquisite statues lined the roadside, and groups of elegantly dressed people gathered by fountains, talking and laughing loudly while children and pet dogs ran in circles.
However, a single light source made the shadows even more pronounced. No matter how dazzling the Erdtree's light was, it could never illuminate the low, dark corners. Raven frequently glanced at the unlit spaces behind buildings and the deep, narrow alleys that branched off the main road—perfect hiding spots for Black Knife Assassins.
He saw no assassins, but in the depths of those alleys, he occasionally caught sight of gaunt silhouettes lurking in the corners where the Erdtree's light could not reach. On the rare occasion their eyes met, he seemed to feel the anger and pain within those gazes.
Carriage after carriage passed by on the road. The largest and most luxurious among them was not pulled by horses, but by a Troll. Metal stakes connected to heavy chains were driven into the Troll's back and protruded from its chest.
The Troll moved in silence, its head bowed as it took heavy strides that made the street tremble. Through its hollowed-out abdomen, Raven could see the membranes of its internal organs and the raw muscle within its thoracic cavity. They stretched with the Troll's movements, and with every footfall, a ripple shivered through its entrails.
As the carriage passed Raven, someone pulled back the golden curtain, revealing a veiled face. Her eyes were bright, seemingly curious about his distinct Carian robes and the Sword of Night and Flame at his waist.
Raven bowed slightly in greeting. The other person widened her eyes and then lifted her veil, revealing the face of a carefree young girl. A wisp of deep-purple incense smoke drifted from the carriage. Raven felt a brief moment of lightheadedness; by the time he snapped out of it, the girl had already closed the curtain, leaving only a trail of silvery, bell-like laughter echoing on the street.
They traveled for a long time, passing through several checkpoints until no more pedestrians could be seen, only sentries on patrol. The knight stopped before a building—no, a luxurious complex of buildings.
"Please dismount, Your Highness. Beyond here is the Queen's residence. It is not convenient for me to enter; please simply walk straight inside."
"Thank you." Raven dismounted and handed the reins to the knight.
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Elden Ring: The Unborn One's Journey Through Elden Ring(68 Chapter - Ongoing)
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